Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-01-05
WASHINGTON Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent I

w WASHINGTON, D0ComO DER 81, lS91.-
President Mckinley does not insist
that members Of his cabinet shall be
mere clerks, as some of his predeces-
sors, notably Mr.. Cleveland, have
done. Had this fact been fully under
stood by the public, the tommyrot
about there being friction between
President Mckinley and Secretary
Gage and the latter having rendered
his resignation would have been re-
ceived with even less credence than it
was. There is not and has not been
any friction between the president
and the secretary of the treasury. and
there has been no tender of resigna-
ton and no occasion for such tender.
That there is a difference in the fnan-
clal Ideas OF the two officials was
made apparent by the presidents
message which made specific recon-
mendation of certain financial legis-
latlOn and asked congress to give
careful consideration to the recon-
mendatiOns contained in Secretary
Cages annual report to congress.
But it is not difference over which
there has been or is likely to be any
friction. 1t is simply the difference
| OF two honest men as to methods.
| They both have the same object
| making the money of the United
States as good as the best money in
the world at all times and under all
circumstances. Secretary Gage, in
making positive denial of he report
that be had resigned, or made up his
mind to do so, said: ga ca binet off
l. I
to surrender his office at the call of
his chief, the executive, but | have
not the slightest reason to believ
that such action on my part is even
remotely desired by the president.
The desires Of other people in that
direction | am not disposed to con-
slider"
Represent ative Codding, of the Fiji
teenth Pennsylvania district, which
has almost. if not quiteas many per-
sloners AS any congl essional district
| In the country, says he has received
no protests against Commissioner
Evans recommendation to have a
complete list Of pensioners printed,
but from his personal knowledge of
| them he thinks many of the veterans
are sensitive about having their dis
abilities made public ard would pre-
fer that no such list should be print
ed. The proposed puhlica ton of the
pension rolls is not new thing; the
rolls were published in 1888.
According to Chairman Dingley's
figures. which are always trustworthy,
congress, by authorizing the refunding
of the public debt into ~ per cent.
gold bonds, could save the people of
the country S12, 1000. GOO a year in
interest. Mr.. Dingley saws a bill pro.
viding for this may be reported from
the ways and means committee. It
could easily be passed by the house,
but 1t would have no show in the SEN
ate. Whether the bill will be put
through the house will depend upon
whether the Republican leaders deem
such action expedlent at this session.
Knowing the position of Canada,
no one in Washington was surprised
when Great Britain again declined to
join with the United States. japan
and Russia IN stopping open sea seal
ing IN the Pacific. The Canadian game
to exchange it's consent to stop open
sea sealing for commercial reciprocity
and other concessions is we'll known,
and being well known it cannot'possi-
bly, succeed. Canada is playing hog
at its own expense. The president
has signed the bill prohibiting open
sea sealing and shutting out seal
skins.
The British islands in the West In
dies wish to renew the reciprocity
trade arrangements they had under
the Mckinley tariff with the United
States, and negotiations with that
end in view were this week opened by
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador, with Hon. John A. Kas-
son. reciprocity commissioner.
Elk Senator dubois who Is said to
be affiliated with the lobby which is
trying so hard to prevent the annex
alton of Hawaii, adopted somewhat
peculiar tactics when he wrote pro
test against annexation. which was
laid before the senate, and later
printed as senate documents; but
some Of the language of the protest is
even more peculiar. For instance.
the following, which is little short OF
a personal insult to the senator's,
repres entatlves and Others of prOmi-
hence who have returned from Hawaii
stronger advocates of annexation
than they were before visiting the
islands: cit is my calm, deliberate
Judgment that there is not a just
minded, unbiased, disinterested
American living who would favor an
nexing the islands to the United
States after ascertaining the condi-
tions existing there, through a fair
and personal Investigation
PERSONALLY CONDUCTED TOUR
THROUGH MEXICO.
The Northwestern line has arranged
fer personally conducted tour through
Mexico, under the auspices of II T.
Grafton. the we'll known excursion m ana