The herald., 1898-01-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER


mittee. Then 1t was decided that II
would be better for the ecause for west
ern man to be in charge. The names OF
nearly all the leading western repre-
sentatives were canvassed. A name
which carried with it great deal OF
strength was that OF Thomas c. McRae.
the congressional veteran from Arkan-
sas. The leading spirits went so far as
to go to Mr.. McRae and tender him the
position and ask him If he would accept
1t. He replied that he would not make n
fight for the position, but If it were ten
dered him he would accept 1t. For
time everybody was saying that McRae
was to be the chairman. Then 1t appear
ed that echoes were begun to be heard
on the contest for the leadership of the
house in which Representative Bailey
of Texas was successful. In that con-
test McRae was for McMillin and
strongly against Bailey. 1t is said that
the Bailey people returned that old an
tagonism by vigorous opposition to Nc
Rae. Anyway, the scene changed and
Osborne of Wyoming was definitely
slated for the place.
WHITES SELECTION
DClOiC UOiHC ildfiiC CdulC up tiht
of Representative James Hamilton Lew
Is of Washington was much discussed.
Mr.. Lewis did not wish the position. 1t
is understood that he is to be a candi-
date for senator at the next election
in Washington and that the chairman
ship would require too much labor in
other directions. In the midst of it all
the speakership of the next house got
tangled up in the situation, and the
latest decision of the wise men is that
the craftsmanship had deter remain
in the senate. At this writing it is the
full intention to place Senator Stephen
NJ White of California in charge of
the committee. Unless unexpected
changes occur, it will be Chairman
White. And a better selection, consid-
ering the entire scope of affairs and the
work to be done, could not be made.
Be it remembered that, while all this
change of front has been taking place
in regard to the personnel of the chair
man, the program to be carried out as
to party policy has been steadily shap-
ing itself as above outlined.
THE REPUBLICAN PROGRAM
The position OF the Republican party
on the money question Is exactly op-
posite to that of Democracy. The view
of Senator Wolcott of Colorado to the
contrary Notwithstanding, Secretary of
the Treasury Gage represents the f1nan-
cial branch of the administration. Be
fore the house committee of banking and
currency he has at all times sustained
his propositions for currency reform,
based on the continuance of the gold
standard. What he has said and the
way he has said 1t, and the decision that
he remain member of the presidents
cabinet, show clearly that he speaks for
the administration. No one claiming to
represent the president has voiced con-
trary views. The committee has the
sire of the administration is to maintain
the present gold standard.
SUCH A BILL
If this session brings any currency bill
before the house 1t will contain, accord
ing to Representative Johnson of In
diana, strong member of the commit
tee. first, reaffirmation of the present
gold standard; second, the retirement of
the demand obligations of the govern
ment; third, the divorcing of the treas
ury from the functions of a bank of is
sue; fourth, the substitution for retired
demand obligations, to avoid a contrac-
tion of the currency, of circulating me-
dunn of bank notes based, to a reason
able extent, upon commercial assets.
Should such bill ever get to the
White House there is no doubt that the
president would sign it.
WOLCOTT-GAGE
There is an interesting little story of
one cause of antagonism between Sen
ator Wolcott and Secretary Gage. It is
said that Secretary Gage wrote letters
to the purposes of the bime-
tallic commission to certain foreign OFF,
cials and that two or three of these let
ters came to the notice of Senator VOL
colt. When Senator Woicott referred in
his recent speech to pretended states
ments in letters in interviews of the sec
retary of the treasury" which had seri-
ously interfered with the work Of the
commission, he had in mind these letters.
They were reported to have been written
to friends of Lord Salisbury In England
and to several officials in France.
HENRY r. EJ,ANn