Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER
SHERMAN TO BE SECRE-
TARY OF STATE.
Mr.. Plat to Re-enter the
Senate.
TARIFF BILL BEING WORKED UPON.
From our regular Correspondent
WAsHINGTON. Ian. 18th 1897

WAsBIEGTON, Jan. 18th 1897.
Congratulations have been showered
upon Senator sherman sine he return
ed TO Washington and made the for
NAL announcement that he decided to
become secretary Of State under Pres
ident Mckinley, and cor gratulatiOns
have also been wired to Major McKin-
ley on his success in getting so able
and experienced a man for his Secre-
tary of State The great business in
terests of the country will welcome the
selection OF Senator Sherman for this
important post, because his well-known
conservatism is a guarantee that while
the foreign policy Of the Mckinley ad
ministration will be firm aud strongly
American, il will not be tinged with
the disturbing element of jingOism-it
will MAINTAIN the rights OF Americans
at home, but it will not get up war
scares for political effect, which disar
range all branches of business and add
to the timidity of capital The corner
stone OF the Mckinley administration
will be confidence, and no one thing
could have made that palmer to the
country than the choice of Senator
Sherman TO be Secretary of state. Mr.
Sherman's resignation as Senator will
not take effect until the close of this
session OF Congress, as he is deeply in
terested in matters which may be leg
islated upon by this Congress Besides
it would not be good policy to have
a vacancy in the Craftsmanship of the
Committee on Foreign Relations at
this time, as there is no certainty that
the Senate, as at present composed
would allow the republicans to name
his successor.
NIcAURAGUA CANAL BILL.
The republican steering Committee
Of the Senate has given the Nicaragua
Canal bill the right OF way in the Sem
ate A similar bill has passed the
Senate several times, and there is lit
tie doubt that this one VIII pass, but
its chance for getting consideration in
the House is not considered especially
good.
NEW COMMISSION,
Senator Gear has reported his bill to
the Senate for the appointment OF a
Commission to be composed of three
members OF the Cabinet to determine
upon just and equitable settlement
of the indebtedness of the Pacific Rail
roads TO the Government, together
with q unanimous report from the
Committee on Pacific Railroads, of
which he is Chairman, in its favor. The
fate of the bill is dependent upon fay-
orabie action by the House on a SINH
lar bill, as il would be mere waste of
time for the Senate to pass it until as
sured of the House. Meanwhile the
legal officers of the government are
getting ready to apply TO the Courts
for an order foreclosing the Mortgage.
MAY MARX THE SPOT.
Col. Fred. ID. Grant, representing the
"a nd
s. b. Lee, of Mississippi, representing
the Confederate Veterans Association,
made a joint argument before the
House Committee on Rules for the
setting apart of day for the consider
alton by the House of the bill for the
purchase of ground around Vicksburg,
in order that future generations may
see the battle-ground and study the
maneuvers made by General Grant
which resulted in the capture of what
was known as the Gibraltar of the
Confederacy General Grants first
really great military achievement
Speaker Reed, who is Chairman of thai
Committee, told the gentlemen that
inasmuch as the Bill carried an appro.
priation, il could not be considered
from a sentimental standpoint alone
and that the committee could
not at the time make a positive pro
mise
coNKLING AND PLAT.
The return OF Hon. Thomss @. Plat
to tue Senate by the New York legis
tgfe. recalls the remarks made by him
self and Senator Conkling, when they
resigned from the Senate. Mr.. Conk
ling said This ends me so far as pc
litics is concerned. / shall never
again allow the use of my name il
connection with any political office.
am done for all time with the game o
politics." Mr.. Platt said: Il will re
enter politics at this very moment ant
stay in until die-MayDe to get ever
with certain perfidious scoundrels VIII
have deceived us, and may be to g
back to the Senate of the United
States"
FREE HoMRsrEAD BILL.
Before passing the Oklahoma Ere
Homestead Bill, the Senate amends
ir by making its provisions apply to al
homesteads on lands acquired froI
the Indians, and the amended bill
now in the hands OF the House Com
mittee on Public Lands. So far as ca
be learned, the reports of an attemp
to kill the bill in Committee have n
better foundation than guess work.
A NEW TARIFF BILL.
The republican members of tn
House Ways and Means Committee ar
making progress on the new tariff bi
but 1t is not probable that the bill ca
be completed before about the first {
April, even with the most diligen
work. Attempts, which have bee
made, to give any SEIZED ule of the bill
at this time are simply silly. Chair
man Dingley himself would not try {
do it