The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-12-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


Republican conferences are the
order of the day, as Senators and
Representatives arrive in Washing
ton. President Mckinley having
finished his annual message to Con
gress and got it into the hands of the
printers, is devOting a considerable
portion of his time to comforting with
prominent members of his party as to
the legislation of the session. He is
particularly anxious that whatever
party measures are brought before
Congress shall have the united sup
port of Republicans, and he is losing
no opportunity to impress that idea
upon those with whom he talks.
While not expecting that all his rec
concentrations, financial or otherwise,
will be favOrably acted upon by Con
gress, he believes that by good man
agement, some of them can be put
through. There are reasons for belief
that a sufficient number of Senators
will under certain circumstances vote
with the Republicans in the Senate
to pass several bills that will greatly
strengthen the administration and
benefit the country. 1t is not deemed
eXpedient to specify these measures
at this time, but just wait and see if
the President does not Justify his
reputation as harmOnizer.
IL is refreshing after reading the
numerous lingo schemes advanced
just now to find the following sensible
language in the annual report of the
Secretary of the Navy: "Additions
to our feet may be hereafter neces-
sary to bring it up, in case of an
emergency, to an extent commcnsu-
rate with the growing necessities of
the country, especially i'll view of the
development of Alaska, which is a
continent in itself, and of the possible
annexation of islands III the Pacific.
On the other hand it is a mistake not
to recognize that our naval power has
more than doubled within the last
few years; that the case of any emer-
gGncy beyond our present resources
is the very rare case; that until it
comes ships will be gradually taken
out of commission and put in reserve
in order to reduce running expenses;
and that due regard is necessary to
the relation of the National expendi-
lures to the National revenues. The
department therefore recommends
that the authorization of new ships
by the coming Congress- be limited
to one baJtleship for the Pacific coast,
where, after the five now under con
structiOn are completed, there will be
only two, while boats and torpedo
boat destrOyers, both of which are
comparatively this swift, mobile, and
handily effective arm of the service up
to its place in the general scheme for
coast defense"
Senator Pritchard, of North Caro-
lima, Chairman of the Committee that
is, under Senate resolution, investi-
eating the workings of the civil ser
vice law, says the Committee will re-
sumo work during the first week Of
the session of Congress, paying par
ticular attention to the internal reve-
nue. service, and that its report will
probably be submitted to the Senate
early in January. Senator Pritchard
will not attempt to say what the re
port of the Committee will be. further
than that he thinks it will probably
recommend modification of existing
rules, but his personal opinions, which
he freely gives, are believed to be
about what are held by majority of
the Committee, and probably are in
line with the report that will be made.
He said: "a too broad extension of
the civil service law is calculated to
| weight it down and render it unpopu-
lar thereby endangering its continu-
ance. a good principle to adopt
would be that scholastic examina-
ton is proper to determine the fitness
of persons for clerical positions, but
|
mine the fitness of man to fill a posi-
ton where the duties are executive.
The idea that the law is a sort of
blanket to cover everything is very
unpopular"
EX-Speaker Keller, of Ohio, is re-
newing old acquaintance in Washing
ton. He says he isn't in active poll
ties, but tries to know what's going on.
OF Ohio matters he says: Senator
| Hanna will be elected if he lives: no
possible combination can be made to
beat him." and of the silver question.
1T is very etfete question in nv
section 1t is seldom that you hear
any mention of the subject in Ohio.
and out in Nebraska, where | visit
my Oldest son occasionally, | observe
| that there is really but little interest
taken in the 16 to idea 1t is true
that the Republicans were beaten
this year in Nebraska, but it was
merely rebuke administered by the
voters on account of the conduct of
former Republican state officials.
| Later, you will see Nebraska getting
| hack into tba Ram,