The age-herald., 1898-01-06
POLITICAL GOSSIP
 FROM WASHINGTON
Special to The Age-Herald.

as shown today The breach between the administration and it's supporters in con- gress, and the more conservative repub- licans, is growing daily. The refusal of the president to accept the resignation of Mir. Gage, and his consequent Endorsement of the latter's currency views, is rapidly alienating the support of republicans who do not believe in Mir. Gage's plans. The democrats are doing all they can to help the republicans to fall out among them selves. They are united and are going to fight with a vim. Internal discensions in the party have all been put aside and they present today, more united front than they have since the Fifty-second congress-
 Mir Gage bids fair to be the rock on which his party will be wrecked. Already several republicans. having little to hope from the administration, have signified their intention of severely arraigning MT. Gage on the floor of the house when oc- casion offers. They will call attention to the fact that MT. Gage is not a republican, that he voted for Cleveland in '92, and that he was appointed to the treasury portfolio over the heads of grizzily veterans of the republican party to satisfy the banking in- terests. They will protest against the pres ident allowing himself to be swerved from the path of republcanism by the secre- tary. claiming that the republican platform said nothing about the retirement of the greenbacks. The latter they will claim, is a scheme of MT. Cleveland, and has nothing to do in the tenets of the republican party. The fight in the house against any legsla- tion favorable to the gold standard will probably be lead by Hepburn, of Iowa. He is an ardent believer in international bi- metallism. and as greatly opposed to the gold standard as is Senator Chandler. who will lead any fight in the senate if such bill is introduced into that body.
 The democrats will vote with the western republicans against any currency bill that may be reported. They will be lead by MT. Bailey, of Texas, who is ardent fighter and is at his best on the currency ques- tion. All opposition to the latter's lead ership has passed. It has come to be re- alized that he is the man for the place, and the democrats will support any course he may decide on Loyalty.
 It is seldom that there are so many inn there are before this congress. One of the
 
 considered after the appropriation bills are passed will be the bankruptcy bill. The general features of this bill have been al- ready outlined in these columns. The meas ure was reported to the house previous to adjournment for the holidays. It is on the lines of the Torrey bill passed by the last house, with some of the more objectiona- ble features eliminated. As over 80 per annf nf y,anr her of fv, favor of some bill of this kind, there seems no doubt of the ultimate passage of this bill It may be slightly amended, but 1t is thought that it will go to the president and be signed by him precisely as reported to the house.
 The Lodge immigration bill, imposing ed- ucational qualifications on intending mmi- grants, will be voted on by the senate on Jan. T. It is certain to pass that body. The committee on immigration in the house will report the bill within week after its passage by the senate, and it is expected to be put through the house at an early date. The president has time and again expressed himself as in favor of restricting immigration and will sign the measure as soon after he receives it as possible.
 There are something like dozen contest ed election cases before the house com mittees. Three elections committees have been appointed The hearings have all been set for some day in January. The speaker, as well as the leaders both sides, are anxious for early action on these cases They take the stand that the contestant if he is entitled to his seat, should have it at as early date as is possible. On the other hand, if the sitting member is entitled to the seat, his title should be cleared of the cloud a contest brings to it. It is expected that early action will be taken on these cases.
 The Loud bill, intended to correct abuses in the postal system, has already been re- ported to the house and will be taken up at an early date. There is strong senti- ment in favor of the passage of this bill, which it will be remembered passed the house at the last session of congress. The newspapers of the country are united in support of the measure as are also most of the large business houses These are of the opinion that if this bill is passed and the annual deficit of ten millions of dollars in the postal service is wiped out, Uncle Sam will carry letters for one cent an ounce instead of two as at present. It is well known that the government makes an enormous profit in carrying letters at two cents an ounce, but this is wiped out by the millions it loses on second class mat ter which it carries for one cent a pound. There is no objection to carrying the news papers and magazines of a legitimate na- ture at this rate. The authorities object, however, to- allowing the publishers of cheap, trashy novels issued in the form of serials, the benefit of this rate, which is so much less than cost. Another advan- tage taken of these low rates, is by large business houses who get up advertising sheets and circulars in the form of news papers, which are transported at this rate and therefore put into competition with legitimate newspapers. The bill will prob- ably pass, that is, unless the publishers of these publications that would be exclud- ed under the law, are able to rally to their support a large number of the members now in favor of the measure.