Middletown transcript., 1897-02-27


recently issued by Secretary Francis to
Mr.. Perrine, Mrs. Cleveland's step
father, and his associates. The patent
covers %, 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 Mr..
Perrine. The original grant Of this
land was made to DIR. Perrine, father
of the present Mr.. Perrine, and his as
sociates, in 1841, and the contention of
the settlers on the land, who are repre-
sented by Ex-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 Inter-
ior, and the apparent anxiety of As
sistant 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
administration. The committee may
find the transaction all right, and that
the relationship of Mr.. Perrine to Mr..
Cleveland has not figured in the mat
ter at all, but there is a lot of ugly gos-
sip about it just now, and it will prob
ably get into court anyway.
The smart alecks who have been in
dustriously circulating reports as to
the intention of the House Committee
on Coinage to smother the Senate bill
authorizing President Mckinley to ap-
point delegates to any international
monetary conference called by any
nation, or 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 fayorably to
the House with two amen dments, one
broadening the authority Of the Presi-
dent ty authorizing him, il he sees fit,
to appoint one or more special COM
missioners or envoys to negotiate with
other nations for the calling Of such a
conference, and the other repeating the
Act of 1895 for the same purpose, SO as
to prevent any complications that
might arise from two acts on the same
subject.
Congress did sensible thing in abol-
ishing the title of 'Private Secretary
to the Presidentn and making the title
Of that very important and useful ofic- |
ial ''Secretary to the President"
OF late years. especiall y during the
first term of Mr.. Cleveland 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 desig- |
nate them as private secretaries. in |
view OF the popular idea Of the duties
performed by private secretary. The |
,hange was made in compliance with a
:equest of President-eIect McKinly.
While no Republican in Congress be- |
ieyes that the re-electioo of Senate or
Kyle, by the aid of Republican votes in
he South Dakota legislature, was
brought about by any deal, there is q
general belief that Senator Kyle will,
necessary help the Republicans Of
If the Senate to pass q tariff bill at the |
coming extra session. And owing bis |
reelection to the Republican votes viii |
not be likely to make him antagonistic
o other Republican measures. So
ong as straight out Republican
,ould not be elected. there is no ocea-
lion for Republican grumbling at the
.e-eIection Of Kyle. His populism is
much less fanatical than that of others
who might be named, and personally
le is very Iikabie sort of fellow.
Nothing but praise is heard of the
arrangements that are being made for
The Inaugural parade By Gen. Porter,
Chief Marshal. His idea OF making /
he parade attractive by Its quality,
rather than imposing and tiresome by
tsquantity and length, Is generally ap-
pToged. At previous inangurations
lev Of the spectators. except those who
were obliged to rem ain, saw the whole
parade. which upon several occasions