The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-01-20
Washington Letter.
washington, Nov. 20, 1897.

hoping for international bimetalism, be-
cause i, was thing impossible of accom-
plishment. He did neither. He says
the work of the commission was not an
absolute failure; that it isn't over, and
that he expects it to have something sub
stantial to show for its next effort. And
he intimated quite plainly that President
Mckinley shared his views, In part, ifnot
entirely That is what those who are
trying to force gold legislation at this
session of congress dislike the most.
Hints have been dropped that President
Mckinley did not regard the need for
gold legislation at this session as being
so urgent as Secretary Gage and the re-
representatives. of the monetary conference,
who have been much in evidence by
reason Of their statements before the
house committee on banking and currency
in favor of their bill, have made it ap-
parent that they did.
Speaker Reed is said to have become
convinced sometime ago of the impossi-
bility of important currency legislation at
this session, and to have said that it
would be an impossibility to construct
bill that six of the leading members of
his party in the house would agree upon
in all it's details. He is also credited with
having advised that financial agitation be
dropped as far as possible for the re-
mainder of the session. That is much
easier said than done, now that the ex-
tremes of all the parties have get under
full head of steam There is bound to be
financial talk.
Some day it is likely that presidents of
the U. S. will be inaugurated on April 30
tn, when there is much more probability
of good weather than there is on March
4th. For some years past, joint resolu-
ton proposing the amendment to the con-
stitution necessary to the change has been
offered in each congress, and every time
inaug uration day is cold, wet and dis
agreeable, as so many Of them have been,
the sentiment in favor of the change in
creases. 1t is bound, sooner or later, to
become strong enough to win. Senator
Hoar has offered the usual joint resolu-
ton 1t provides for the extension of
the term of President Mckinley and of
tors as would otherwise expire on March
4th, 1901, to the same date. The change
would add nearly two months to theshort
session of congress, which has more than
70 hn
sary business.
The house had the usual spat over the
appropriation for the free distribution of
seeds by the department of agriculture,
with the usual result the making of the
appropriation.
President Mckinley has asked con-
gress to appropriate $473, ISL, 26 to pay
the damages awarded the owners of seal
ing vessels under the British flag, by the
arbitration commission, as compensation
for the seizure of their vessels by this
government land congress probably will dc
il, although it will not be done with good
will.
The A. P. A not only failed to prevent
the nomination of Attorney General Nc
Kenna to be justice of the supreme
court, being favorably reported, but it got
knock downs on the floor of the senate
from both friends and opponents of Judge
McKenna, for trying to inject religious
issue into the matter. At the request Of
Senator Allen, the senate postponed vote
| L. NJ 81 Ia
week, to enable him to investigate some
of the charges filed, but confirmation may
be regarded as certain. The A: P. A. has
upon more than one occasion controlled
the house, but it has never won even a
skirmish in it's numerous attempts to con-
troll the senate.
More than one advocate of the annexa-
ton of Hawaii regrets that Mr.. Dole, the
president of the republic of Hawaii, did
not stay at home while the annexation
treaty was under discussion by the senate
instead of rushing to Washington, where
his presence cannot possibly do any good
and where it may do harm. The result
of the debate on the treaty, as far as il
has gone is not as encouraging as the
friends of the treaty expected it to be
They are still short of the number OF
votes to ratify the treaty, but the op.
ponents are also short of the number
needed to defeat it. The fate of the
treaty is in the hands Of the five or six
senators who have announced themselves
to be in doubt and to be open to convict.
ion either way.
The fusion which supported Mr.. Bryan
is to be continued in the congressional
campaign of this year, to the full extent
of the power and influence of the nationa
committees of the democrats, the popu.
lists, and the silver republicans. The
chairmen of those committees have sign
ed joint address to the voters of all the
three parties, urging them to unite upon
one candidate in every congressional dis.
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