Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-03-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Consul General Lee, which was
adopted by the Senate without a
dissenting voice, is intended to
solve the mystery as to the truth
of the sensational statements say
ing that General Lee had either
actually rendered his resignation
as Consul General to Cuba, OF
threatened to do SO, unless the ad.
miuistration gave him better back
ING than it has been giving him in
his fight to secure justice for
Americans arrested in Cuba. 1t
ia also believed that it was intend
ed as an affront to Preside Mt
Cleveland. 1t is customary in
such resolutions to request the
President to furnish the desired
information, if in his opinion it is
compatible with public interests.
Senator Hillignored the President
entirely, and his resolution asks
Secretary Olney for the informa-
ton. Congress feels very ugly
towards the administration on ac-
count of it's Cuban policy, but
there is no time left to do anything
now, except to pass the appropria-
tion bills.
| Mr.. Bryan was in Washington
two days this week, and was the
recipient of much attention. He
was also the central figure in sew
eral important political confer
ences. .......
Representative Bailey, of Texas,
gave the republicans a good-na-
tu1ed rakrng over III a speech
which did not overlook the assist
ant republicans, about their en-
barrassment in distributing 10000
Offices among 100000 applicants,
and made the prediction that every
one of the fifty Congressional dis
tricts which the republicans car
ried last November by majorities
of less than 1000 would go demo-
cratic at the next election. "Four
years ago." said Mr.. Bailey, ''you
laughed at< our embarrassment;
now we laugh at'yours. You have
no more chance Of escaping the
wrath of the office-seekers at the
next Congressional elections than
we had of escaping the disapproval
of the people for the maladminis-
tration of the ADMINISTRATION about
to retire from power"
That majority of the republi'
cans Of the House would like to
see the civil service law thrown
overheard was shown by the hearty
applause with which they received
the assertion of Delegate Fly nm, OF
Oklahoma, that if he had his way
he would wipe out the civil SER
vice law and fill every Office with
a republican within twenty-four
hours after McKinley's inaugura-
tion, Representative Grosvenor,
of Ohio, also jumped all over the
civil service law and declared his
belief that it should be repealed.
Representative Bailey in reply
to direct question as to what ne
thought of the law promptly said:
II think it is a humbug," and
when asked why the democratic
party didn't repeal it when they
had the power he said: "We didn't
have sense enough then, but we
shall know better hereafter"
Representative Brosius, OF Pa,
chairman of the House Committee
on Civil Service Refo1 N, defended
the law, and accused Grosvenor OF
having in his little talk against it
*'feshed sword in the heart Of
the President-elect," whatever
that may mean. Whatever Mr.
Mckinley may do there is little
doubt that Grosvenor will have
numerous support if he wishes te
lead a fight against the law in the
next House, and it will not be sur
prising if he does it.
The Senate Committee Oh Pub
lie Lands has this week been try