The Red Cloud chief., 1897-02-26
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY
Entered at ne pos, once a. Red Cloud, Neb. -
second class mall matter.
WASHINGTON NOTES.

WASHINGTON NOTES.
With all its boosted dignity and de-
liberation the Senate Is not above a bit
Of claptrap now and then. In view Of
its studied ignoring Of the inhuman out
RACES In Cuba, right at our doors, so to
speak, It's latest effort In this line-the
adoption Of a resolution expressing
sympathy with Greece for its stand 10
behalf Of liberty 10 far away Crete-was
about It's worst. As long as nothing is
to be done for the cause Of liberty In
Cuba, it would seem to be good taste to
say nothing about liberty elsewhere.
The House Committee on Coinage
has favorably reported the Senate inter-
national monetary conference bill, but
ii has added amendments which may
cause the bill to fail, net because Of
opposition, but for lack of time. It is
the opinion Of nearly everybody that
there Is only a meagre chance for any
legislation other than that which can be
put on some appropriation of the SEES.
sion, There is much work yet to be
done on several Of the appropriation
bills, and a disposition, especially in
the House, to wrangle over small items.
An amendment offered to the sundry
civil appropriation bill In the Senate,
may have a ~far-reaching effect upon
tho fodorol "a m L.lJac, 10 Il ,Lo,ll
be adopted. II authorizes the president
TO examine and review all the rules
promulgated since ~theipassage Of the
Civil Service Act, and to revise, modi.
~, or enlarge them In accordance with
the conditions Of good administration
and the true purpose OF .the act. There
is no doubt about the meaning Of this
amendment. IL is intended to open the
way for the appointm ent of a larger
number of men in political sympathy
with the incoming administration.
There are, however, a number Of repub.
licans who regret that this amendment
has been brought forward. irhey claim
that the President already has the au.
thority 1t proposes to confer, and they
like not the intimatioa3carried by the
amendment that he has not.
There will be some very spirited talk.
ing Ia the House when the Naval APP
preparation Bill, just completed, is tax.
IN up, but time and the rules will pre-.
vent its being long drawn out. 1t is
expected that the principal fight will be
against the item Of 81, 7a0,O 0 for armor
plate for vessels previously authorized =.
The objection TO the item Is that it vir.
tually authorizes a continuance of the
monopoly Of the Bethlehem and earn.
egie Companies; notwithstanding the
proof before the Committee that these
companies sold to Russia for S249 a ton
exactly the same grade Of arm0r that
they charged the U. S. $3.50 "a ton for.
The ignoring of the offsr OF the Ills.
Steel Company, ~ of the largest con.
Germs Of its kind, to enter iuto a con.
tract to furnish the Government all the
armor plate 1t will require for the next
twenty years at a uniform price Of $40
a ton, Is not liked A. all. 0Representa.
tive Hall Of Missouri, q member of the
Naval Committee Is expected TO lead
the light against this item oflthe bill.
1t is already evident that q strong Of
fort Is going to be made to induce
President Mckinley to ::revoke Presi.
dent Clevelsuds recent order abolishing
nine pension agencies. Tennessee and
Kentucky republicans a~rs:already tax.
ing steps to bring the matter to Presi.
dent McKiuley's attention just as soon
IS he assume Office, and they will prob.
ably be joined by othersfrom states In
which agencies were abolished. A Son.
ator who has not committed himself
said; "If the argumentsladvanced for
the a%bolishment Of half of...the jpension
agencies are good, then.all sof them
should be abolished, and .ths.checks for
pensions be mailed direct..from Wash
ington; at least, that is the way it
strikes me now. Imay think.dilerent-
Is when | have time to look deeper into
the subject than | have been able to do
up to this time"