Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-12-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 1897.


Democrats and Populists are not behind
the Republicans in joining in the general
sympathy extended to Mr.. Mckinley be-
cause of the great sorrow which has come
upon him through the dying agouies of his
mother For the time, the strong opposi-
ton to the recommendations of his annual
message is held in allegiance, and the criti-
cism to which the message is open remains
unspoken. In the presence Of the angel Of
death, as it were, any display of partisan
ship would be unseemly.
The opening of the session of Congress
was, owing to the circumstances, quieter
than usual, although the crowds were
there as usual. There were numerous
empty seats in both House and Senate,
although the attendance was, on the whole,
about up to the average of opening days.
Senator Daniel was warmly congratulated
by his colleagues on his unanimous re-
nomination by the Democratic caucus OF the
Virginia legislature.
Because it happens that all Of the out
spoken opponents of the annexation of
Hawaii in the Senate are Democrats, it has
been stated that party lines are to be
strictly drawn in the discussion of the
treaty, and that Democratic caucus is
likely to be held for the purpose of declar-
! ing against annexation. There is no dis
position on the part of those Democratic
Senators who are opposing the ratification
of the treaty, to make it party question,
although they will do all they can to de-
feat the treaty. This ought to be apparent
to all when Senator Morgan, of Alabama, a
Democrat of the rock-ribbed kind, is one Of
the foremost ADVOCATES of the ratification of
the treaty While the ADVOCATES of an
nexation are just as confident as ever that
it will be accomplished, not few Of them
express doubts of the ratification of the
treaty, and believe that it will have to be
done by joint action of Congress.
Representative Allen, of Mississippi, who
enjoys the reputation of being the wittiest
man in the House says: Down in Miss
issippi, we have not, as yet, been delayed
carrying long time on his way to our
section. TupeIo, (Mr. Aliens town., is
waiting for him and will give him brass
band reception. Our people, however, are
not suffering for the necessities Of life. We
live modestly and contentedly and are long
on hog and homiDy, however short we may
be on filthy Iucre. We do not go much on
clipping coupons, but as the poet well says,
| We are the people"
Senator McLaurin, of South Carolina, is
| opposed to the Postal Savings Bank scheme,
unless material changes are made, because
| he thinks it would impose haTdships on
owners of real estate, especially farm lands.
He says that the National Banks having no
| legal right to make loans on real estate, the
private and savings banks are the princi-
pal sources from which such loans are
necessarily obtained, and that the operation
of the Postal Savings Banks would drive
all the idle money into the United States
| Treasury and the National banks, leaving
no place where land owners could borrow
money If the scheme be amended so that
the money deposited in the Postal Savings
Bank can be loaned to land owners, Senator
McLaurin will gladly support it.
Ii is a real pleasure to be able to give
this administration credit for SO commend
able an action as the official action of the
Post Office Department, closing the mails
TO all newspapers that print advertisements
Offering chances in any disguised lottery
scheme, such as..missing letter words, guess
ing, etc. These swindiers have been shown
up almost as often as the green goods
business, but SO long as they could adver-
tise they could always find new victims.
Although it is perfectly clear that large
M. jority of the House are just as strongly
in favor of adopting the Morgan resolution
for the recognition of the bslIigerency of
the Cubans, which was adopted by the
Senate at the extra session, as they were at
the extra session. it is equally clear that
they will not do it Gear Reed and his
lieutenants agree with the Mckinley policy
of waiting, and will not give the House the