The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-12-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

himself as personal guardian of Con-
gress, as Mr. Cleveland did. There
fore he and almost the entire Cabinet,
together with members of their f4mi-
lies will go South tomorrow, to be
away from Washington eight days,
without any fear that Congress will
be guilty of anything very naughty
while they are away. His long ser
vice in Congress makes President
Mckinley know how to treat that
body in such a manner as to keep che
goodwill of its members, regardless
of party. 1t is always a good thing
place when You are dealing with him,
equally good for both parties. as it
tends to treating the other fellow as
you would like to be treated your
self. This trip will be relaxation for
President Mckinley and no duty will
be neglected, as the original copy of
the treaty of Peace, signed Saturday
night, cannot possibly reach Wash
ington before he gets back.
Speaker Reed uses his wit without
regard to the status of those who hap
pen to be with him when he sees an
opening for it. He was the guide of
Sir Wilfrid Laurier and a number of
members and attaches of the Cana
dian American Joint High Commits
sion, in their tour of the Capitol the
day that Chairman Dingley enter
tanned them at a luncheon in his Com
mittee room. Mr.. Reed procured his
visitors admittance into numerous
rooms that would not have been
opened to ordinary visitors, or in fact
to hardly anybody, except upon an
order from the Speaker. This was
appreciated by Sir Wilfrid, but when
there was a slight delay at the din
ing-room entrance, owing to some
confusion in arranging the tables and
chairs, he thought to have little
fun at the Speakers expense, by say
ing: your authority here, Mr.. Reed,
doesn't seem to be absolute The
Speakers eyes twinkled as he replied,
in his customary drawl: "Oh, it isn't
hair trigger, but it will be all right in
minute" The delay was forgotten
in the laughter which followed.
The House showed its intention to
make this a business session by pass
ing two bills the deficiency appropri-
alton bill and the anti-scalping bill,
during its first week, and it is now
pegging at the d. G, appropriation
bill.
Representative Berry, of KY, al;
though democrat is red-hot eX-
pansiOnist. He said: IF we do not
grow, there will be decay. Growth
brings life, energy and development.
As to the Philippines, think Mill
tary government should continue for
a year until we can determine what
kind of permanent government is
applicable"
The House Census Committee held
its first meeting this session today
and got right down to business.
Chairman Hopkins of the Committee,
says he hopes to be able to report a
bill before the Christmas recess. The
Census bill that was passed by the
Senate at the last session does not
seem to meet the views of the mem
bers of the House Committee, in a
number of more or less important
particulars, but it has not yet been
decided whether to amend the Senate
bill, or to report an entirely new
measure. One thing appears to be
absolutely certain-the employees of
the Census Bureau will not be put
under civil service rules.
In response to request from Ad
miral Dewey, q number of light draft
gunbOats will be sent to him, they
being more suitable to the work of
cruising among the numerous Philip
pine islands than the large vessels he
now has, the most of which will be or
dered home as fast as they can be
spared.
Christmas packages may be sent to
L. S. soldiers in Cuba, Porto Rico, and
the Philippines, without the payment
of tariff duties imposed upon other
merchandise sent to those islands.
BY direction of President Mckinley,
the War Department has issued an
official order to that effect.
Senator Morgan to-day called up
his Nicaragua Canal bill, which now
has exclusive right of way in the Sen
ate until disposed of. He says. he will
push it until it is passed. There is no
doubt of its passage as soon as a vote
is reached. This bill makes this gov
ernment, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica,
the sole owners of the stock of the
Maritime Canal Company, which
holds concession to build the Canal,
majority of the stock to be held by
this government, which is to guaran-
toe G100 600 O00 i'm the bonds of the