Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-03-03
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

American citizens arrested by the
Spaniards in Cuba, will not be posi-
lively known until Secretary Olney
replies to the senate resolution calling
for copies of all the correspondence
between General Lee and the state
department., and there seems actually
to be doubt as to whether Olney will
comply with that resolution. The
feeling is general in congress that the
administration has never taken con-
gress entirely into it's confidence as
to its relations with Spain and as to
it's official information, and nothing
but the fact that the administration will
retire next week prevents some vigor-
Gus action on the part of congress that
would make things warm for Cleve-
land and Olney. 1t would naturally
be supposed that Olney would have
given Senator Sherman, who is so
soon to succeed him as secretary of
state, all the information in his
possession, but it is known that he
has not done so. On the contrary, he
told Senator Sherman that there was
no important news from Cuba, when it
is known that he had in his possession
communication from Consul General
Lee that was of the utmost Importance.
1t is difficult to account for Olney's
peculiar action in this matter, which
has vived much of the ugly talk
about his personal relations with the
Spanish minister, which was so pre-
valent some time ago.
t. S. Ellison, of Minnesota, called
upon an official of the 0 toffice depart
ment, who is a personal friend, to get
some idea Of the places outside of the
Civil Service rules in that department,
for a friend at home who has official
aspirations. In Mr.. ElliSOn's own
words, this is what occurred after he
had greeted his friend and told the
nature of his errand: HE told me to
get sheet of paper and write down
the places that the law excluded as
he called them off. | got a sheet of
foolscap, and in my innocence ina
gined that rather big job lay in front
of me. First, said he, the postmas-
ter general and a private secretary;
then four assistant postmaster gener-
ais Here he came to pretty long
stop, and thinking that he was wait
ing on me, | indicated my readiness
to proceed. That's all he said
Holy smoke! You can't mean it!
What! Only six places in one of the
biggest departments in Washington
outside Of the Civil Service rules?
But he did mean it and recited moth
ing but the cold facts, as ! found upon
notification of his statement
As a rule Republicans in congress
think the address issued this week by
the senators and representative who
| bOlted the st. Louis convention would
better have been left unissued. The
signers of it-amOng them is Senator
Jones, of Nevada, who at the last ses-
sion of congress announced that he had
left the Republican party and become
Populist-put forth the claim that
they are still Republicans, although
they bolted the Republican national
convention and at the present session
of congress declined an invitation to
enter the Republican caucus. and ask
other Republicans to sustain them by
| joining in the organization of a Silver
Republican party. This address was
signed by six senators and four repre-
sentatives.
Visitors to previous inauguratiOns
have criticized unfavorably the failure
to decorate the public buildings when
money is SO lavishly spent to decorate
private buildings. There will be no
such criticism this time. as the public
! buildings are to be handsomely decor
ated and also Illuminated on the night
/ of March 4, as they have not been
| since the capture of Richmond in 1865.
The first member of President Nc
Kinley's cabinet to arrive in Wash
ington was Hon. James A Gary, of
Maryland, and the second, Hon.
Lyman Gage, of Illinois. They are
both on the lookout for residences for
their families. They received cor
dial welc me from Senator Sherman,
their colleague-to-be in the cabinet,
and from the other Republicans in
congress. Neither of them would
consent to be quoted on public matters,
on the ground that it is not yet time
for them to speak. Both gentlemen
already knew many senators and
members of the house and nearly all
have since made their acquaintance,
and those who met them for the first
time have nothing but good words to
say of their impressions of both men.
Congress has got to do some lively
work to get the appropriation bills all
disposed Of by the close of the session.
The senate this week began meeting
at II o'clock, and there is talk of
holding night sessions in both branches
of congress.
Mr.. Cleveland has issued the usual
proclamation calling the senate in ex-
ira session on March 4, to receive
communications from the executive
THE HOT SPRINGS