The Press., 1897-07-29
Washington Letter.
Washington, July 19th. 1sQ;

Washington, July 18th, 1s0T
 Speaker Reed would be more than human If he did not get a little bit swelIed on account of the several open references made on the floor of the senate to his power as exercised over the housse, and the open acknowledgement on the part of the senators that he had succeeded in coerolng the senate, not only in pushing the tariff bill through. but in shaping the bill itself. These acknowledgements are among the most remarkable ever made in the senate, which has heretofore prid- ed itself on always having It's own way in all matters pertaining to legislation. The speaker of the house has always been the most powerful individual factor in the control of congressional legislation, but, unless these senators are badly mistaken, Speaker Reed has been more than a factor he has been a dictator. think his power in this case has been greatly exaggerated.
 The extra session of congress that met In March Is now part of the country's legislative history, and the tariff bill, up- on which the continuation of the republi- can party in power depends, Is now the law of the land. That portion of the ad- ministration that Is welded to the cur rency commission idea Is not entirely satisfied with the work of the extra session because no such commission was authori- zed, and those who wish Legislation con- f2 ho far rd ha aaaafnn as having been entirely successful. What the people think of the work of the session will not be known for sometime yet, and will depend upon their experience under the workings of the new tariff. Tho average ci izen is not a bitter partisan, and Is always ready to say good word for the bridge that carries him safely over rough waters regardless of the builder. If the tariff helps him he will pronounce 1t good, if not, he pronounce 1t bad and help to overthrow those responsible for it.
 Senator Morgan added to his reputation as a man of common sense by the manner in which he announced the abandonment of the attempt to delay vote on the con- ference report on the tariff bill until cot ton ties and bagging were restored to a free list and the duty on white pine lumber was reduced from $2 to $1. He frankly stated that he would have been willing to have remained all summer and to have kept congress in session had his support been sufficient to justify hope of final success, but not having that he did not care to have the batteries of the press concentrated upon him, and was therefore willing to vote on the report.
 One thing that was done while the new tariff law was before the conference con- mittee is sure to be widely commended. That Is the insertion of a clause prohibit ing the manufacturers of tobacco or cigarettes offering any sort of prize or premium with their goods. The only pity Is that similar law could not be made to apply to everything else, for there Is little doubt that the introduction of lottery methods into business, which has grown to a great evil. is demoralizinR in it's effects upon our people as a whole.
 At least one offlce-seeker who has re . ceived an appointment Is still disposed to be dissatisfied. He Is constituent of repre- sentative Deliver of Iowa, to whom he wrote as follows after he was no flied by the state department that he had been selected as council to Trinidad ''If this government had any diplomatic relations with hell, 1 think l would have been selected for the consulship there. have been asked to appear and be examined 1 for Trinidad. I have talked with people who have been there, and l have read all can find in books about the placn. IL seems to have nothing but blazing skies above and boiling pitch beneath. It Is ar ante-room of hell" Perhap Mir. Delivers constituent has heard of the troublesome office-seeker who carried a note from President Grant to the secretary of state asking that he be sent to a warm climate
 Oral testimony is now being taken ir the disbarment case against ohn WeddeI have ample proof of every charge oi fraud 1t has made against Wedderburn Co. The hearings are attracting wide at. tention, and there is not room in the patent office to accommodate all the patent lawyers who wish to attend.
 The minute the tariff bill was out oi the way President McKinley's special currency commission was fired broadsidt at congress. The senate paid no attention to this request for Legislation before ad- l hut hnnnn alfhn.Ruh CT Reed and other republican leaders were understood to be opposed to a cur rency commission, took up and passed the bill authorizing the appointment of such n commission. If the senators re- turn to Washington, next December, with the same ideas on this subject that they have now, 1t Is extremely doubtful whether this bill will be passed by the senate.