The Press., 1898-02-03
washington Letter.
washington, Jan. 81, 1897.

~NS~~~@S
washington, Jan. 81, 1897.
The president and the leaders of the |
several parties in congress are just now |
engaged in playing the old and fascinating |
game of politics The silver men have
been making their plays with the object
of making the congressional campaign a |
square fight between silver and gold, and
for time the administration appeared to
be willing to aid them in bringing that re-
suit about But there has been change,
and now the administration has made
plain its purpose of sticking to the inter-
national bimetallism plank OF the st.
Louis platform, at the same time declar-
ing its intention to maintain the present
gold standard until international bimet-
allism is secured. Ofcourse, the silver
men say that this is merely an attempt to
be fiddle the issue. The senate, which
is controlled by silver men, fired its first
broadside when it adopted the Teller reso-
luton. 1t was at first intended that this
resolution should be quietly smothered In
republican leaders decided that as an off
set to the action of the senate, the resolu-
ton must be defeated by a vote of the
house, and that action was taken today.
The silver republican senators have de-
cided that the country must have some
explanation of their support of the Teller
resolution and they will be given through
speeches on the floor of the senate. So a
fresh flood of financial oratory may be ex-
pected, as it is not likely that the other
side will allow the talking to be monopo-
LIKED by the explainers.
The Cuban situation in congress was
eased for the time to a marked extent by
the sending of that warship to Havana,
but the advocates of action are getting
restless again under the numerous reports
that the warship was merely trick to
gain further time, and they may start
some sort of movement any day.
There is disposition on the part of a
considerable number of senators who
strongly favor some positive action on the
part of this government in behalf of Cuba
not to allow vote to be taken on the
treaty for the annexation of Hawaii until
the administration has made palmer
showing of it's Cuban policy. Nothing
positive has been agreed upon, but 1t ie
significant that the senators who are agi-
tating the matter are in political accord
with President Mckinley and in favor Of
the annexation of Hawaii, but are i'm.
patient at the slowness with which the ad
ministration's Cuban policy is developing
and anxious to hurry it up little. Ar
intimation of their feelings has been giver
the president. The senate has SO otter
shown it's sympathy for Cuba that there
is little doubt of the success of a motion
to postpone indefinitely the consideration
of the Hawaiian treaty, if it we're made il
connection with statement that it wal
done to help Cuba.
: President Dole, of Hawaii has now beef
in Washington nearly week, the CUES
: of the nation. On every side he Is praised
: for the discreet manner In which he i
) conducting himself as we'll as for hi
7 modest and unassuming ways Although
he is naturally deeply interested in seeint
the annexation treaty ratified, he asks M
e ques ions of the senators who call on him
t contenting himself with giving full infor
nation in reply to questions asked him
He shows wisdom, for the least bit o
oficiousness on his part in behalf of an
nexation would be exploited by the anti
as offensive meddlesomeness.
The moral cowardice displayed by som
senators in the votes upon the severa
amendments to the Teller, resolution, de
claring bonds payable in silver at .th
option of the government, which wa
adopted by a majority of fifteen, was no
calculated to increase the esteem felt TO
:. them by their constituents. Although t
vote against the Teller resolution was /
i, effect to endorse the present policy c
:, paying bonds in gold, there were onl
twenty-four senators willing to go on re
cord as voting for the Lodge substitute
- which specifically stated that all bond
= should be aid in gold or its equivalent
while thirty-two voted against the Telle
resolution. Can anybody blame the cor
stituents of the six senators who vote
g against the Teller resolution and eithe
+ declined to vote or voted against tn
e Lodge substitute for calling them fnanci
s al hair-splitteIs. The congressiona
= record, containing the votes in detail 0
e the Teller resolution and the amendment
" offered thereto Is likely to be CAREFUL
k studied in mole than one state, and
n make trouble for more than one senator
g The house has passed a bill appropra
: ing 1898, 900 for the relief of the Boo
# Publishing Company of the Southor
J. Methodist church. This claim, whic
h arose from losses by the company, inc
O dental to the war, has been before col
n gress in one or another shape for twent
Y odd years. The bill passed by the hous
" was substitute for senate. bill, whic
) authorized the claimants to bring suit fl
the money in the Court of Claims, an
will, therefore, go back to the senate.
81
IS -... His Wife Won.
!; A Georgia man, who was unpopula
in his community, insured his life fC