The Press., 1898-02-03
Washington Letter.
Washington, Jan.

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 a 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 It's purpose of sticking to the inter- national blmetallism 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 fuddle the issue. The senate, which Is controlled by silver men, fired Its first broadside when it adopted the Teller reso- lutlon. It was at first intended that this resolution should be quietly smothered In the house, but upon consideration, the republican leaders decided that as an off set to the action of the senate, the resolu- tion 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- llzed 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 a trick to gain further time, and they may start some sort of movement any day.
 There Is a 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 I showing of its Cuban policy. Nothing positive has been agreed upon, but 1t Is significant that the senators who are agi- tatlng the matter are in political accord with President Mckinley and in favor oi 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 1t up little. An intimatlon of their feelings has been giver the president. The senate has so often Is little doubt of the success of a motion to postpone indefinitely the consideration of the Hawaiian treaty, if 1t were made 1T connection with statement that it wal done to help Cuba.
 President Dole, of Hawaii has now beer in Washington nearly week, the gues of the nation. On every side he Is praised for the discreet manner In which he ii conducting himself, as we'll as for hIi modest and unassuming ways. Although
 he Is naturally deeply interested in seeing the annexation treaty ratified, he asks nc ques ions of the senators who call on him
 contenting himself with giving full infor
 nation in reply to questions asked him
 He shows wisdom, for the least bit O officlousness on his part in behalf of an
 nexation would be exploited by the anti' as offensive meddlesomeness.
 The moral cowardice displayed by some senators In the votes upon the severa
 amendments to the Teller resolution, de
 claring bonds payable in silver at lth,
 option of the government, which wa
 calculated to increase the esteem felt fo
 them by their constituents. Although tt
 vote against the Teller resolution was fl
 effect to endorse the present policy O 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 con
 stituents of the six senators who votet , against the Teller resolution and eithe declined to vote or voted against tn Lodge substitute for calling them financi al halr-splitters. The congressiona record, containing the votes in detail ol , the Teller resolution and the amendment offered thereto is likely to be careful
 studied in moIe than one state, and t, make trouble for more than one senator , The house has passed bill appropriat
 ing $29S, 900 for the relief of the Bool [ Publishing Company of the Southerl Methodist church. This claim, whic arose from losses by the company, incl , dental to the war, has been before con l gress in one or another shape for twent odd years. The bill passed by the hous r was a substitute for a senate. bill, whic . authorized the claimants to bring suit fo
 the money in the Court of Claims, an
 will, therefore, go back to the senate.