The times., 1898-12-09


tired list for the past twelve months on
account of III health. That he is not COM
pletely restored to health is demon
strated by his espousing the cause of the
aEti-expansionists. The George Graham
Vest of few years ago would never have
been found in such company as ne is to-
day. However. even the Senator Vest of
today is a decided improvement on Sena-
tor Caffery. He represents at least glo-
rious past If not a brilliant future. Sena-
tor Carfery has neither.
The Introduction of Senator Vests joint
resolution against expansion may in the
Judgment of impartial observers serve
some good purpose. 1t will afford the
members of the Senate who have views
on the subject an opportunity to free their
minds in advance of the submission of
the treaty of peace to the Senate for rati-
hcation. Having given vent to their SEN
timents and fully freed their minds on
the subject they can hardly expect to &C.
cupy much time in debate over the ratifi-
cation of the treaty when 1t finally
reaches the Senate.
Gen. Longstreet attracted considerable
attention at the White House recently.
When he entered the ante room where
all callers are held up and compelled to
submit to some kind of an examination
before they are permitted to pass into
the sacred precincts beyond. there were
at least twenty-five or thirty persons
waiting for an audience with the Presi-
dent. Gen. Longstreet walked up to Ar
thur, the faithful colored man who has
stood guard over Presidents for the past
twenty-five years. What is the prospect
today?' he said.
Very good, sir, 1 think" said Arthur.
opening the door TO the Presidents room
Wont you walk In, generaI?"
The people who had been waiting any
where from one TO three hours Just for
the privilege of sending in their names TO
the President We're naturally curious as
to the identity of the venerable looking
man to whom all doors at the executive
mansion seemed 10 be open. When they
learned that ii was Gen. Longstreet
the comment was interesting.
Il never thought" said a man with a
New England accent, that ! should have
lived to see the day when Gen. Long
street would have the right of way at the
White House over Union soldiers. / was
at Gettysburg myself and have a vivid
recollection that Gen. Longstreet gave
us a great deal of trouble at that time.
OF course l know that the war is over
between the States. but at the same time
it does appear a little strange to see an
old Confederate officer received an
bonored guest at the White House by
Republican President. Times do certainly
change"
The situation in West Virginia re-
garding the control of the legislature Of
that State appears to BE- very much
complicated. The Democrats have an
apparent majority in the assembly.
while the Republicans will organize the
senate. The vote on joint ballot is in
dispute. owing to contests which have
been made in several districts. The
secretary of state is Republican, and 1t
is said that he intends to issue certif-
Gates of election to the Republican cam
didates in all the districts where there
Is any dispute as to the result of the
election. If this is done the Republi-
cans will undoubtedly obtain control of
the West Virginia legislature and elect
a member of their party to succeed SEN
ator Faulkner ,in the United States Sem
ate. II is said! however. that the Demo-
cratic leaders have by no means given up
the fight for the senatorship in West
Virginia. They intend taking the matter
to the courts, and are confident of OBJ
taining a final judgment in thir favor.
II 1t should transpire that the Demo-
Gratis are TO control the West Virginia
legislature on joint ballot the chances
are that John T. McGraw. the unsuc
-F,,l gc candidate
gress in the Second district will be chos-
en- to succeed MIR. Faulkner.
Senator Stephen b. Elkins, of West
Virginia, who was at the White House
yesterday, expressed the opinion that the
Republicans would control the legisla-
ture of his State and elect senator.
THE matter is still in doubt" he said
but ! believe that it will come out all
right
"All right from Senator Elkins's
point of view is open TO different con-
structions 1t does not necessarily mean
that the election of a Republican success
sor to Senator Faulkner is assured.
Senator Elkinss father-in-law. Henry
c. Davis, who is supposed TO be DEM
ocrat, is candidate for the Senate, and
Mr.. Elkins would probably think that
everything was ''all right II the choice
of senator by the West Virginia legis
lature should happen to fall in the lap
of his father-in- law.
The talk of an extra session has not de-
creased since the publication of the Pres
idents message. Many of his closest
friends express the opinion after care
full survey of the situation, that it will
be almost impossible TO prevent an extra
session. They say that even in the event
of the passage of the regular appropria
ton bills and the ratification of the treaty
of peace before the 4th of March. an ex
ira session will be demanded from the
standpoint of political expediency. 1t is
somewhat significant that the Hon. Mark
A. Hanna still favors an extra session.
Representative Tawney of Minnesota,
who is the sponsor of the bill TO retire
superannuated clerks of the civil service,
said yesterday that the friends of that
bill had not decided whether it shall be
pushed at this session.
Il think that action upon the bill will
depend largely upon developments" said
Mr.. Tawney IF the civil service is to be
extended, or if it is to remain as at pres
ent, covering such wide range, the pas
sage of law of this kind will be in
evitable 1t will be only question of
time when the superannuated employees
will have to he provided for by law. or
we will have in existence virtually pen
sion roll for the civil list
Chairman Brosius, of the Civil Service
Committee, having charge of the bill. said
today he thought the prospect was not
favorable to the consideration of the bill
at this session. He thought the pressure