The Red Cloud chief., 1897-11-12
WASHINGTON Votes

Senator Platt, Of Connecticut, who is
regarded as on. of the most influential
republican members of the senate com.
mittee on finance, and a man who very
seldom allows himself to be quoted in
the newspapers, has, in IA short inter-
view, given u pointer, not only To the
gentlemen composing the sclf'appoint.
ed monetary conference, but to the al.
uinistration. Mr.. Plat didn't beat
around the bush at all, but stated in
the fewest possible words that so far
rs practical results are concerned, it
will simply be n waste Of time, to pro-
pose and discuss q currency measure at
the coming session Of congress, owing
to the supporters Of the administration
lacking q majority in the senate. There
Was nothing in Senator Platt's
words, but inasmueh as the memory OF
the public is Pr~ovsrbially short and
many persons, in and out OF print, have
been seriously discussing the sort OF fl
naacial legislation congress is likely 10
give us at the coming session, 1t is well
that they were spoken, and will be bet
Tor II they are needed and no time
wasted in useless efforts to compel the
opposition senate TO accept financial
measures favored by the administration
or by others.
Representative Hooker. Of New
York. says Of the coming session OF
congress: at ought to be short
There is nothing to demand an extend
ed sitting. | think that the Cuban and
Hawaiian questions will, in q way set
tie themselves, aud certainly ought no
to take up much time in congress
There will be an effort made by extrem
lists to change our monetary system, bu'
amajority Of congressman are conserve
tive, aud, unless it Is shown, beyond al
question that such a change is de
sirable, aud for the good Of the Who'll,
country, our finances will be left a
they are. In my opinion, it is bette
that they should be left alone. We ar,
getting on very well, and agitation i
uunecessaryan hurttsl.'
Commissioner of Pensions Evans
not only fails to predict, a. his predo
cessors in TIA, oh,c did, al carly d.
crease in the number Of pensions pai'
by thus government, but calls attention
to the failure Of such predictions. A
the close of the ii.cll year, June 30
there were 16,0li pensic uers on tn
rolls, a net increase in a year Il
5,336. The annual report1oi the com
missioner doesn't say so, bat all tn
same, IL Is reasonably certain that tn
net increase Of pensioners for the cur
rent fiscal year will be much large
than during the last fiscal year, OWN
10 the change of policy in the conduc
of the pension bureau, which no,
gives preference Ia applications fo
original pensions. The commissions
makes two recommendations, whic
seem TO be in line with everyday bus
ness sense. First, that a complete Ii
of the names aud addresses OF pensioI
ers be published, and second, tn
congress make it Illegal for the widow
of veterans Il the late war who mari
after this time TO draw pensions. III
last is intended to break mp the d
moralizing practice, the eXte't
which is extraordinary, OF wom'
marrying the old gsoldiers when tn
are on their death-beds, solely for u
purpose of drawing a widows pensio
Under existing laws, pensions cam
be- denied to these women, even wh'
they are known to be disreputable'
Washington is likely to see much
the wire pulling that will be done