El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-02-15

In a Funny observation-disclosures to the
Seed Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON, Feb g Special. The
chances are that the general arbitration
treaty between this country and Great
Britain will now be ratified by the senate.
1t is almost certain that vote will not be
reached during the present congress, or, If
one be reached, that the treaty will be re-
jccted. In this connection it is true that
the silver men of the senate are showing
their teeth toward England. Mr.. Teller,
who is the leader of all the silver forces in
the senate, admitted to me the other day
that those who sympathiZe with him were
in part led to antagOnizc the arbitration
treaty because of their desire to impress
Great Britain with the fact that they are
still of some importance in the upper
branch of the American congress. The sill
yer men are of some Importance in the SEN
ate. They now hold majority over all,
and even after March t they will not fall
far short of majority. They expect to
have at least 80 silver votes in the next
senate, and they may have 81. If they
wished to do so, they could combine with
the antisilver Democrats who are opposed
to Republican tariff legislation and defeat,
or at least greatly harass, the tariff bill
which President Elect Mckinley hopes to
place upon the statute books by July l.
But the understanding among the silver
senators is that they will not offer any fac
tious opposition to the Republican tariff,
but will permit it to go through, so that
the dominant party may as soon as posi-
BILE be made completely responsible for
whatever happens TO the prosperity of the
country under its regime.
Cuban Matters.
Among the public men of Washington
I find very few who believe the Cuban in
surgcnts will accept the reform plans which
Spain has decided to offer them. 1t is true
that President Cleveland and Secretary
Olney hope the insurgents will lay down
their arms on n compromise basis. But
the president and the secretary of state get
all their information concerning the situa-
ton in Cuba from the Spanish. They do
not hear the other side of the story at all.
This is so in the nature of the case. BY
diplomatic usage they are forbidden to
have anything to do with the representa-
tiVeS of the insurgents. There is a so called
Cuban legation here, with a minister and
two secretaries, but the state department
has no dealings with it, not even any of an
unofficial and informal nature. Those
senators and representatives who have tax
en- the trouble to keep themselves well in
formed concerning the developments of the
Cuban war have little faith that Spain
really intends to institute genuine govern
mental reforms in Cuba, and still less that
the insurgcnt leaders Will accept anything
short of absolute independence for the is
land.
Secret Letters.
At the SO called Cuban legation today l
was told that they have letters from all
their leaders in Cuba, and every man de-
clarGS for independence or death. The Gu
bans in this country have not much trOu-
bic in communicating with their friends
in Cuba. They send letters to General
Gomez and to President Cisneros by means
of expeditions. They also intrust their
communications to travellers who are going
to Havana and to other seapOrts, where
they fall into the hands of friends who
smuggle them out into the country to the
men to whom they are addressed. Often
these communications are placed in the
solcs of boots, between the layers of leather
The bearer of dispatches may be searched
by the Spanish if he be so luckleSs as to
fall into their clutches, and they will dis
cover nothing contraband upon him. Or
letters written in invisible ink. Many
important documents have come through
the Spanish and American mails in this
way All letters that go into Havana are
opened by the authorities. The harmless
ones are permitted to go on to the United
States. But the Spanish, shrewd as they
are, cannot always detect the letters which
bear secret tidings, for upon what appear
to be perfectly blank sheets there is some
times invisible writing. Upon the arrival
of such letters in this country they are sub
mitted tOa chemical process and there the
characters stand out as plain day.
An Alleged Joke.
One recent day the house of representa-
tives fell into funny mood. The house
sometimes does this. Tho oldest and stead
lest members catch the spirit of fun, like
so many schoolboys and great sport fol-
lows. On the occasion in question the pro-
life subject of appropriations for seeds for
free distribution to the constituents of SEN
atorS and members was under discussion.
Many were the jokes and gibes submitted.
One of the best was cracked by Mr.. MCr-
Ger, the representative from the Omaha dis
trict of Nebraska. Oddly enough. Mr..
Mercer, though hailing from purely agri-
cultural state, opposed the appropriation
for free seeds, and be expressed his opinion
very neatly by means of an amendment
which he had read from the clerks desk.
1t was as follows:
"That the secretary of agriculture dis
tribute to each senator, rel rCScntatiyc and
delegate in congress six chickens, six cat
tie and six horses, all thorough reds, and
ulNluCQ as 10 sex nan ana nttII.
The reading of this satiricsl amendment
caused great laU2h to run through the
hall, and the mcrriment increased when
Mr.. Mercer, with a sober face and angry
micn, objected to having his amendment
called joke. lit is no more of joke than
the proceedings which have taken place
upon the floor of the house all day with
reference to seed distribution, - he contend |
cd ''ThCrc has been complaint after com
plaint and wranglc after wranglc about
this or that packing" of seeds. Some Nom |
Der finds that he j. two or three packages |
short, and he comes here and gcrOwls about |
the department of agriculture and the gov
crnmcnt in general There are farmers out
in my district who do not care for the seeds !
which we sand out to them, and they have
come to the conclusion hat if they can
have such things It's seeds free of cost they |
would prefer turkeys and horses and hogs
md cartridges and cattle "And hound |
pups, - suggested MIR. Bartlett of Georgia. !
But Mr.. DlercCr'S proposition was voted
down, and the farmers Will have to get
along without chickens, hogs, cattle horses
and hound pups from the government.
WALTER WELLMAN.