Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-02-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Investigation Of Land Grants in
Florida.
The Monetary Conference Bill Reported
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Kyle May Act
with Republicans - Inau-
guration Parade Ar
rangements.

WASHINGTON, Feb, 22.-The in
vestigation now being conducted by
the Senate Committee on public
lands may lead to a scandal involv-
ing Mr.. Cleveland, although every
patriotic American win hope not
The investigation is of land patent
recently issued by Secretary Francis
to Mr. Perrine, Mrs. Cleveland s
step-father, and his associates. The
patent covers 23, 900 acres of land in
Florida, and if it has been legally
issued, the present occupants of the
land will have TO move or to make
terms with MIR. Perrine. The ogi-
ginal grant of this land was made to
DIR. Perrine, father of the present
Mr.. Perrine, and his associates, in
1871, and the contention of the set
tiers on the land, who are represent
ed by Ex-C Congressman Brookshire,
of Indiana, is that it was forfeited
by failure to occupy it within the
legal limit. The odd part of the
issuing of this land patent is the
manner in which it has been hurried
along since Mr. Francis became Sec
retary of the Interior, and the ap.
parent anxiety of Assistant Attorney
General Lionberger, who was put in
office by Secretary Francis, to get
the patent issued for the land before
the close of the present adm inistra-
tion. The Committee may find the
transaction all right, and that the
relationship of Mr.. Perrine to Mr..
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 any
way.
The smart Alecks who have been
industriously circulating reports as
to the intention of the House Com
mittee on Coinage to smother the
Senate bill authorizing President
Mckinley to appoint delegates to
any international monetary confer
ence called by any other nation, OF
to one called by himself if in his
discretion, he sees fit to call it, got
a knock down blow when that Com
mittee reported the bill favorably to
the House with two amendments,
one broadening the authority of the
President by authorizing bim, if he
sees fit, to appoint one or moro
special Commissioners or ENJOYS tC
negotiate with other nations for the
calling of such conference, and the
other repeating the Act of 1895 foI
the same purpose, so as to prevent
any complications that might arise
from two acts on the same subject
Congress did a sensible thing in
abolishing the title of 90 Private Sec
retary to the President" and max.
ing the title of that very import
ant and useful official "Secretary to
the President. y OF late years, es-
pecially during the first term of Mr..
Cleveland and during President Har
rison's term, this position has beer
filled by men who have been il
reality confidential advisers of the
President, and it was farcical tC
designate them as private Secretar
les, in view of the popular idea OF
the duties performed by a private
Secretary. The change was made
in compliance with a request of Pre-
sident- elect Mckinley.
While no Republican in Congress
believes that the reelection of Sena
tor Kyle, by the aid of Republican
votes in the South Dakota legisla-
ture was brought about by any deal
there is a general belief that Sena
tor Kyle will, if necessary, help thu
Republicans of the Senate to pass a
tariff bill at the coming extra ses
sion. And, owing his re election t,
Republican votes will not be likely
to make him antagonistic to othe
Republican measures. So long as q
straight out Republican could not b,
elected, there is no occasion for Re
publican grumbling at the re-elec
ton of Kyle. His populism is mucl
less fanatical than that of others VIII
might be named, and personally h
is a very likeable sort of a fellow.
Nothing but praise is heard of tn
arrangements that are being mad
for the Inaugural parade by Gen
Porter, Chief Marshal. His idea 0
making the parade attractive by it
quality, rather than imposing ant
tiresome by its quantity and lengtl
is generally approved At previou
inaugurations few of the spectators
except those who were obliged +
remain, saw the whole parad
which upon several occasions di
not end urtil after dark. Accord
ing to Gen. Porter's arrangement
12, 900 men in line will pass a give,
point in one hour, which will brin
the entire parade inside OF fou
hours, which is about as long as tina
portion of the spectators-by far th
: largest-not comfortably house
and seated, can get enjoyment ou
of such a spectacle. Other plan
are also being perfected to make th
spectacular part of the inauguratio
more compact and consequent
more enjoyable.
The time within which the r6
manning appropriation bills must b
passed is growing 50 short that tn
most the Senate could do in homo
of Washington s Birthday was I
! listen to the reading of Washington
farewell address by Senator DAME
After that, business went on just a
though the day were not nationl
holiday. The House took no of
cial notice of the day, being in tn
} midst of a more or less bitter squal
, BILE over the appropriations to /
made for its employees,