The times., 1898-12-07
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP


such construction. 1t is customary for
the Speaker of the House to pay formal
call at the White House at the beginning
of session of Congress- A failure on his
part to do so would be regarded as a
fragrant breach of official etiquette. Mr..
Reeds visit at the White House yester-
day was merely an official formality. He
did not remain with the President more
| than three minutes by actual count and
their conversation was of a strictly per-
functory character. The Speaker inquired
after the Presidents health and the
President expressed the hope that the
Speaker had enjoyed good health since
the adjournment of Congress. Each COM
phmented the other on his general ap-
pearance and after commenting on the
state OF the weather Mr.. Reed with
drew.
Since Mr.. Mckinley has been President
Mr. Reed has made just four official calls
at the White House. 1t is said that he
has never been there on a social or per-
sonal errand. and has never asked Mr..
Mckinley TO grant him a favor in patron
age or otherwise He did not, 1t is under
stood, ask permission to name the post
master or collector of the port at his
home town of Portland. The position that
Mr.. Reed took regarding these two ap-
pointments was that the Administration
ought to show him the courtesy of re-
questing him to indicate his choice If he
had any. The Administration did not
take this view of the matter and two
men We're appointed who were personally
Objectionable to Mr. Reed
careful poll of the Senate is said to
show two more than the necessary two
thirds majority in favor of the ratification
of the treaty of peace with Spain. Only
seven Senators are known to be openly
against the ratification of the treaty
These are Caffery. Hale. Hoar Jones of
Arkansas, Morrill,. Tillman and McEnery
In the doubtful class are Bacon. Bate.
Barry, Chiffon. Clay. Cockrell, Daniel
Harris. Kenney. Mason Mills. Mitchell
Money, Pettigrew. Roach, Turley Turpie
| Wellington and White.
SiXty-two votes are counted as definite
ly assured for the treaty These are AL
drich, Alien. Allison. Baker. Burrows.
Butter. Cannon, carter. Chandler Clark.
| Cuiiom. Davis. Deboe, EIkins, Fairbanks.
Faulkner. Foraker Frye, Gallinser. Gear.
Iormar, Gray, Hanna Hansbruugh. Haw-
| ley. Heitfeid, Jones of Nevada. KYLE.
Lindsay. Lodge Mcbride. McIaurin Nc
Niiian, Mallory. Mantle Martin, Morgan.
Murphy Nelson, Pasco. Penrose, Perkins
Pettus. Platt of Connecticut, Plart of New
YORK Pritchard, Proctor. Quay, Rawlins
Seweil. Shoup, Simon. Smith. Spooner
stewart. Teller, Thurston, Turner. War
rem, Wetmore, Wilson and Wolcott.
| Senator Hoar. 1t is confidently predicted.
VIII hnaIly vote for the treaty Senator's
Money, Turpie, Wellington and Daniel.
| a ola
prooaoIy vote In the end for ratification.
|
Representative Fowler of New Jersey
looks so much like Mr. Mckinley that he
Is frequently mistaken for the President
ny strangers. He is member Of the Com
mittee on Banking and Currency. Mr..
| Fowler believes that it will NOT be nos
sible to avoid an extra session of the
F1fty-siXth Congress. In conversation
yesterday. he said
AT the end of t@o squarely fought cou-
| tests over the single gold standard and a
sound currency, the Republican marty
hnds that it will be in power in every
legislative branch OF the Government
after the 4th Of March, 1899 Under these
circumstances, what is wisdom What is
duty? Clearly IL would be unwise for the
Committee on Banking and Currenc, to
take up, during the present session. for
consideration, discussion and determine
tion IN the House any single proposition
affecting our Government finances or
looking to currency reform. 1t would be
worse than foolish to attempt TO secure
any proper legislation In the Senate as
| now constituted.
The whole subject sh lllld be made the
occasion for calling an extra session Of the
Fifty-sixth Congress, Immediately after
the 4th of March. for the exclusive pur-
pose of dealing with this most important
matter. The most intelligent public
thought on the question demands an extra
session; the people expect it. and the fail.
ure of the President to call it ,yould le-
suit in bitter disappointment for all must
realize that such failure on his part in
wolves the pledges of the Republican
party. involves the financial TRANQUILITY
and commercial prosperity of the country
and. indeed, might involve our nationa
honor itself.
81 firmly believe that the President
spoke in the utmost good faith III New
York last Winter, when he said that
words would no longer do but that yvt
must have action. Certainly an extra
session should be called Indeed it mus
be called, if the President and tn. Re
publican party hope to escape the just
| retribution of an outraged Duolic senti
ment because faith with the people haC
been broken
Representative Odell of New York, who
is chairman of the Republican State com.
mittee of the Empire State, said yesterday
that there was no longer any doubt about
the election of Chauncey II. Depew to sue.
ceed Hon. Edward Murphy, jr., in the
Senate. In his Judgment, Mr.. Depew's
name would be the only one mentioned il
the Republican caucus. Mr.. Depew woult
probably be elected. Mr.. Odell said. by ac
clamation In view of the fact that MI.
Odell has been mentioned as a possibl:
aspirant for the place, his statement is
significant, particularly as he doubtless re
fleets the sentiments of the Republican or
ganization of his State.
The death of Judge William H. Robert
son. of New York, yesterday, recalls al
interesting if not tragic event in politica
history. 1t was the nomination of Rob
ertson by President Garfield to be col
lector of the port of New York which lee
to the designations of Conkling and Plat
from the Senate and started the row
which resulted in the assassination o.
Garfield and the disruption of the Repub
lican party. Senator Platt is about tn.
only conspicuous survivor among the act
ors in that memorable contest.
Judge Robertson. who had been out o
politics fer the past few years. was TO
many years the leader of the Halfbreet
Republican faction in New York State II
was a close friend of Blaine and it wa
mainly due to his efforts that Conklin:
was prevented from getting solid dele