Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1898-01-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FROM OUR KnGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, JAN. 3RD. 1898.

what will be accomplished this year az
existed on the first day of the session,
nearly mouth ago. Instead of bring
ing the Senators and Representatives
closer together. the holiday recess has
served to accentuate their difference
their difference and to show how far
apart they are upon almost every sub
ject upon which legislation viii. be at.
tempted. The extreme gold standard
republicans are insisting that the party
must put legislation through the House,
in which they have maj ority. that
prove the sincerity Of the party towards
the gold standard; the republican sill
yer Senators are talking of the certainty
of big party detection if this advice is
followed, and the conservative repub
licans are trying to get tho consent OF
their radical colleagues to program
that will either let finance alone en-
tirely or only include some measure
that can be supported by all members
of the party. The democrats and pop
ulists, having declared Themselves in
caucus to be opposed to all the financial
recommendations of President McKin.
ley and Secretary Gage, are now merely
watching their opponents and waiting
for them to try to do something.
The opponents Of existing civil ser.
vice conditions haye 80 far only been
able to agree upon one thing-that they
want change. Tho committee ap.
pointed at the caucus Of republicans to
prepare bill is divided in sentiment,
and likely to report two bills, one to
modify the law and one to repeal i:
outright, and it ls stated that neither
can command the solid vote Of those
who attended the caucus. The demo
Gratis have in caucus agreed to vote for
bill for the repeal of the law, but
against any bill modifying it, and the
popuiists have decided to vote against
any bill proposing a change. Just
after that republican caucus was held
it was stated that President Mckinley
had decided to forestall legislation on
the subject by materially modifying
the extent of the civil service rules.
but he is said to have changed his
mind since he ascertained the divided
condition of the opponents of the law.
Senator Teller will eeldom express
bis opinion on what Congress will or
will not do, but of the outlook for
financial legislation. lie said: There
will be no currency legislation passed
by the Senate at this session, ADD pre-
dict that the forcing of Mr.. Gage 8
financial scheme will result in split
between the President and the bi-met.
talic Senators. There is no possibility
of any legislation touching national
banks that will be of a character to
satisfy the banks and permit them to
issue greater circulation than they have
now, although. although | have no
doubt that the attempt will be made
by the administration party to do 60. -
Mr.. Teller is going to put the Senate
on record, he Gays, by offering a reao-
luton, originally offered by Senator
Stanley Matthews, in 1878 and adopted
by the Senate, declaring that all U. S.
bonds are payable in silver dollars at
the option Of the government.
1t has been suggested by those who
favor making public the pension rolls
but are not certain as to whether they
will support the bill authoring the
government to print it, because Of the
money it will cost--about 5000, 600
that it would be cheaper and would
place the names before many more PEG.
pie if the list of pensioners of each
county were published in the newspa-
pers Of that county. Whether this plan
would be cheaper is matter of doubt,
as Congress would hardly have the
nerve to ask the press of the country
to perform such service without com,
pensation, however much individual
Congressman may impose upon the
generosity Ct individual publishers, but
there can be no doubt about its being
the best way to got the list before the
public. Every intelligent man reads
the newspapers, while only those who
some particular reason therefor would
take the trouble to even glance at the
contents OF twelve or fifteen ponderous
volumes, even were they placed where
access to them would be easy.
Secretary Sherman has again denied
the truth of the report revived for
about the Tooth time that be intended
resisning. His friends say that his
health is as good as it has been at any
time during the last five years, and
that unless it gets worse. he will remain