Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-01-27
Washington Letter

The democrats in the house be-.
live that Cnba deserves recogni-
ton at the hands of this govern
meut; the republicans, whatever
they believe, voted this week to a
man t" help Spain, by a continua-
tion of the d".u"thing policy. Aud
in addition, Diugle. the republican
floor leader, admitted that the
Cuban question WAS a partisan
question. Surely the democ attic
party could not ask for more good
campaign material to be given
them IN siugle week by their ap-
ponents, If the democrats get
the votes of all who believe that
it is the right and duty of this
country to end the war in Cuba by
aiding the Cubans to gain their in
dependence, at the congressional
elections, they will get about three
fourths of the entire votes of the
country. Mr.. Disgley may dare
to make opposition 20 doing any
thing to help Cuba the platform
upon which he will appeal for
votes in his own district, to be re-
turned to congress, but there are
few republicans in the house who
will dare to do the same. But no
matter what these men may do or
say at home they cannot escape The
record they have this week made
by voting down the democratic
amendments to the consular and
diplomatic bill declaring for re-
cogni,ion of Cuba by this govern.
ment. Let that record be kept be-
fore the voters.
rhe istration in its anxiety
to keep down the appropriations
in order to wipe out the treasury
deficit has made one mistake that
may give it coDsir' cradle trouble.
That is, in reducing the number of
letter carriers in cities. There
was some plain talk on this sub
ject in the senate from republican
senator's. Senator Hoar said:
"It is absolutely intolerabIe that
this great branch of the public
service slDoul stop or be crippled.
Many Of the smaller cities of the
country are to be deprived practi-
ca|ly of mail delivery facilities,
and it is time that something be
done to avoid serious business en-
barrassment" And Senator ALI
son said: "The point is, that the
postmaster general has presented
estimates to congress too low to
cover the expenses Of his depart
'aeut." The cut in the appropria-
ton for the district of Columbia.
which has no representatives. in
congress to make a fuss about it. is
the deepest Of, the amount being
nearly two million and half dol
lars less than the estimate of the
commissioners, and more than
half million less than the appro-
priation for the current fiscal year.
All Of this cutting is done for the
purpose ofenat ling tbe1 epublicans
to make good showing in the
congressional campaign of this
year, regardless of the inconveni-
ence it may cause.
The slowness of the debate in
the senate on the treaty for the
annexation of Hawaii has not pre-
vented its reaching an acute stage
aud there may be some sensational
developments before it is ended
The bringing Of the president of
Hawaii to Washington by the adj
minlstration, for there is little
doubt that Mr.. Dole came to the
U. S. at the request, direct or i'm
piled, of Mckinley, is being some
what harshly criticized and many
believe that his presence in Wash.
ington will be much more likely
to make votes against annexation
than for it. It is admitted by
senators who favor annexation
that they have not yet secured a