Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-02-10
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent !

their assertions. England has a long
diplomatic record, and it is practical
ly all one way-that of turning every
thing possible to her own advantage.
When one studies that record and
brings little everyday common sense
to bear upon that arbitration treaty
he is very apt to arrive at the conclu-
sion that the amendments reported to
the senate by the committee on for
eign relations are wise and necessary
precautions to prevent England taking
future advantage of the United
States by claiming the right to sub
nit matters to arbitration which
should not be so submitted And no
one who will take the trouble to as
certain the obligations of King Oscar,
of Sweden, to England, ought to doubt
the wisdom of striking out that clause
of the treaty which made King Oscar
the umpire. No matter how honest
man may be he cannot help being
biased in favor of those to whom he
is obligated. In addition to these
arguments in favor Of the amendments
to the treaty, the criticism of them by
the English press indicates very plain
ly that the original treaty was consid-
cred more favorable to England than
to the United States.
Although the Republicans are as yet
only certain of having forty-three sena-
tors after March 4, there is no longer
any doubt about the senate passing the
Republican tariff bill at the coming
extra session of congress. Indeed,
the votes to pass it are already Sc
cured. The ways and means commit
tee is making good progress in the
preparation of the new tariff bill, and
Chairman Dingley has no doubts about
its being ready to be reported as soon
as the new house is ready to receive
it. The Republicans of the committee
have been unusually harmonious in
their opinions on the schedules of the
bill that have up to this time been
completed, and there is no reason to
suppose that they will be otherwise
upon any portion of the bill.
There is more or less discussion
among Republicans in congress on the
views of Mr.. Gage, the secretary of the
treasury-select, based largely upon q
letter he wrote TO the chairman of the
house committee on banking and cur
rency in 1894, and a recent newspa-
per interview purporting to quote
Mr.. Gage. In view of this discussion
the opinion expressed of Mr.. Gage
by several Republican members oil
the present house committee on bank
ing and currency is both timely and
interesting. Chairman Walker said
Il think Mr.. Gage a very able and
practical man, and a business man
before he is banker. | think, when
he realizes what the public sentiment
IS, that he will accomplish what he
has suggested in his letter in way
that will be acceptable to the people
Certainly after a study of the situa
tlOn he Will act as circumstances will
compel him to do when he takes the
management of the treasury Repre-
sentative Brosius said: i do moi
think the views expressed by Mr.
Gage two years ago are such as he
would deem wise at the present time.
have great faith in his intelligence
and experience as a banker, and be-
lleve that he has d conscientious pur-
pose to do his best to relieve the
monetary situation from its difficulties,
which will guide him to a suitable
safe and conservative policy in rela
ton to our money" Representative
McCleary said: Regarding the in.
crease of bank circulation and the
reduction Ofthe tax thereon | presume
there will be much difference of opin.
ion. What the process should be for
the retiring of the greenbacks without
unduly contracting the currency ] am
not willing to say off hand ! think
while Mr.. Gage has given his views in
perfect good faith, the fact that he
now is to assume the responsibility
himself, as with every right-minded
man, will serve to intensity his
thoughts. The passing of thought
through that hot crucible will refine
it IN some ways that he himself is not
now conscious of. " There is a general
disposition among Republicans to ex-
press confidence in the successful ad-
ministration of the treasury by Mr..
Gage.
Representative Curtis, of Kansas,
says of the Free Homestead bill, which
is now on the house calendar: HThe
bill was intended when introduced by
Mr.. Flynn, the delegate from Okla
homa, to be only local measure, but
it was amended in the senate so that
it became a general bill, and my un-
Outstanding of it now is that it covers
all public lands where the title has
not been perfected. The bill has not
yet become law, and it is by nc
means certain that it will"
The senate has given up aconsider-
able portion of this week to the Mica
ragua canal bill and the several reso-
lutions dealing with the somewhat
complicated relations of the govern
ment to the Pacific railroads, while
the house in addition to the appropria-
ton bills has settled several contested
election cases. Two important amend
ments have been offered to the Nicara-