The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-03-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the WING.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25, 1897.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 25, 1897.
The investigation now being conducted
by the Senate Committee on public lands
may lead to a scandal involving Mr. Cleve-
land, although every patriotic American
will hope not. The investigation is of
land patent recently issued by Secretary
Francis to Mr.. Perrine, Mrs Cleve' and's
step-father, and his associates. The patent
covers %, 600 acres Ct 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 Mr.. Perrinc. The
original grant of this land was made to Dr.
Perrire father of the present Mr. Perrinr,
and his associates, in 1871, and the conter-
ton Of the settlers on the land, who are
represented by 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
Secretary of the Interior, and the apparent
anxiety of Assistant Attorney General
Lionberger, who was put in Office by Sec
rotary 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 Mr.. perrine to Mr.. Cleve-
land 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 Alexis who have been indus
triously circulating reports as to the inten-
ton of the House Committee on Coinage to
smother the Senate bill authorizing Pres-
dent Mckinley to appoint delegates to any
international monetary conference called
himself if in his discretion, he sees fit to
call it, got knock down blow when that
committee reported the bill iavorably to
the House with two amendments, one
broadening the authority of the President
| by authorizing him, if he sees fit, to
appoint one or more special commissioners
or ENJOYS to negotiate with other nations
for the calling OF such conference, and
the other repeating Act Of 1895, for the
same purpose so as to prevent any compli-
cations that might arise from two acts on
the same subject.
Congress did sensible thing in abolish
ing the title of "Private Secretary to the
President" and making the title of that
very important and useful official "Secre
tary to the President. OF late years. espec-
tally during the first term of Mr.. Cleve
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
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 Da
kota Legislature, was brought about by any
deal, there is general belief that Senator
Kyle WILL if necessary, help the Republi-
cans Of the Senate to pass tariff bill at the
coming extra session. And owing his re-
election to Republican votes will not be
likely to make him antagonistic to other
Republican measures. SO long as straight
out Republican could not be elected, there
is no occasion for Republican grumbling at
the reelection of Kyle. His Populism is
much less fanatical than that of Others who
might be named, and personally he is
very likeable sort of a fellow.
Nothing but praise is heard of the
arrangements that are being made for the
tInaugural parade by Gen. Porter, chief
marshal. His idea of making the parade
attractive by its quality, rather than i'm
posing and tresome by its quality and
length, is generally approved. At previous
inangurations few of the spectators, except
those who were obliged to remain, saw the
whole parade, which upon several occa-
sions did not end until after dark. Accord
ing to Gen. Porter's arrangement, $4,000
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-by far
the largest-not comfortably housed and
seated, can get enjoyment out of such
spectacle. Other plans are also being per-
fected to make the spectacular part of the
Inauguration more compact and conse-
quently more enjoyable
The time within which the remaining
appropriation bills must be passed is grow
ing so sholt that the most the Senate could
do in honor OF Washington's birthday was
to listen to the reading of Washington's
farwel address by Senator Daniel After
that business went on just as though the
day were not a National holiday. The
House took no official notice of the days
being in the midst Of a more or less bitter
squabble over the appropriations to be
! made for its employps