The Arizona sentinel., 1897-03-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, Feb. g, 1S9

ducted by the Senate Committee on
 public lands may lead to scandal
 involving MT, Cleveland, although
 every patriotic American will hope
 not. The investigation is of land
 patent recently issued by Secretary
 Francis to Mir. Perrine, Mrs. Cleyc- lands step-father, and his associates. The patent covers 23,OOO acres of
 iand in Florida, and if 1t has been
 legally issued, the present occupants of the land will have to move or to
 make terms with MT. Perrine. The original grant of this land was made
 to Dr. Perrine, father of the presen Mir. Perrlne, and his associates, i'll 1S41, and the contention of the set tiers on the land, who are represented by Ex-Congressman Brookshire, of Indiana, is that it was forfeited by failure to occupy it within the legal limit. The old part of the issuing of this land patent is the manner in which it has been hurried along since Mir. Francis became Secretary of the Interior, and the apparent anxiety of Assistant Attorney General Lion benger, who was put in office by Secretary Francis, to get the patent issued for the land before the close of the present administration. The Committee. may find the transaction all right, and that the relationship of MT. Perrine to MT. Cleveland has not figured in the matter at all, but there is lot of ugly gossip about it just now, and it will probably get into court anyway.
 The smart alecks who have been industriously circulating reports as to the intention of the House Committee on Coinage to smother the Senate bill authorizing President Mckinley to appoint delegates to any lnterna- tion monetary conference called by any other nation, or to one called by himself if in his discretion, he sees fit to call 1t, got a knock down blow when that Committee reported the bill favorably to the House with two amendments, one broadening the au- thority of the President by authoriz- ing him, If he sees fit, to appoint one or more special commissioners or en- voys to negotiate with other nations for the calling of such a conference, and the other repeating the Act of 1895 for the same purpose, so as to prevent any complications that might arise from two acts on the same sub- ject.
 Congress diI sensible thing in abolishing the title of "Private Se- cretary to the President" and making the title of that very important and useful official Secretary to the Presi- dent" Of late years, especially during the first term of MT Cleveland and during President Harrison's term, this position has been filled by men who have been in reality confidential advisers of the President, and it was farcical to designate them as private secretaries, In view of the popular idea of the duties performed by a private secretary. The change was made in compliance with request of President elect Mckinley.
 While no Republican in Congress believes that the reelection of Senator Kyle, by the aid of Republican votes in the South Dakota legislature, was brought about by any deal. there is a general belief that Senator Kyle will, if necessary, help the Republicans of the Senate to pass @ tariff bill at the coming extra session. And owing his reelection to Republican votes will not be likely to make him antagonistic to other Republican measures. So long as a straight out Republican could not be elected, there is no occasion for Republican grumbl- ing at the reelection of Kyle. His populism is much less fanatical than that of others who might be named, and personally he is a very likable sort of a fellow.
 Nothing but praise is heard of the arrangements that are being made for the Inaugural parade by General Porter, Chief-Marshal. His idea of making the parade attractive by it's quality, rather than imposing and tiresome by its quantity and length, is generally approved. At previous inaugurations few of the spectators, except those who were obliged to remain, saw the whole parade, which upon several occasions did not end until after dark. According to Gen. Porter's arrangement, 12,000 men in line will pass given point in one hour, which will bring the entire parade inside of four hours, which is about as long as that portion of the spectators-hy (ar t.e largerst-not Comfortable hOuSel and seated. can