Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-12-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON. Dec 10, 1898.

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WASHINGTON, Dec 10, 1898.
The reception given Col. Bryan by Demo
cratic Senators and Representatives shows
very plainly that he 10 still recognized by
them as the party leader. One probable
result of Col. Bryan's visit to Washington
will be that with one or two possible
exceptions, Democratic Senators will offer
no opposition to the prompt ratification OF
the treaty of Peace by the Senate, they
having, after talking the matter over,
agreed with Col. Bryan that the question
of expansion was not involved in the treaty
and will not necessarily be affected by
that document. Col. Bryan is very en-
phatic in expressing his belief that we
should accord the same treatment to the
Philippines that will be given to Cuba.
Representative Swanson. of Virginia, goes
further than Col. Bryan in opposition
expansion. He said, while discussing Mr..
MeKinley's Atlanta speech, ia which he
asked who would haul down the Flag p
IN the Philippines: Il ana one of the men in
Dixie who would haul down the flag over
the Philippines. I would rather establish
a republic in the Orient than destroy one in
the Occident. The Philippine islands should
be turned loose and their people be
allowed to establish and maintain their
own government But there are other
Democrats who favor expansion. For
instance, Representative King, of Utah,
who hopes soon to be Senator, said: THE
Democratic party will never 60 on record
as party in opposition to expansion. We
will oppose imperialism, but not expansion,
and we will advocate giving all persons
under the sovereignty of the United States
the greatest degree of self-government OF
which they are capable" and Senator Sui
Ivan said Col Bryan tried to convince
me that was wrong but / firmly believe
that the United States should not relin-
quish anything it has fairly earned by the
war - Among other Democrats who openly
express their belief in keeping what we
won by the war, are Senators Morgan and
Money, Representative Berry, of Kentucky,
and Livingston, of Georgia. There are
many Democrats who decline taking
ground either for or against expansion
until it can be officially learned what inter-
oretaiion the administration intends to put
upon the term.
The Democrats of the House, who solidly
opposed the measure, are gratified at their
success in defeating the bill for incorpora-
ton of an international American Bank
This victory was won with the assistance
of the votes of some Western Republicans
and the absence when vote was taken OF
others. The vote was 148 to 1G3. Repre-
sentative Dingley, the. Republican floor
leader could not conceal his chagrin at the
defeat of the bill The Senate bill, incor
porating this bank is in the hands of the
House Committee on banking and currency,
and when 1t is reported to the House, the
fight may have to be made over again.
Representative Rixey, of Virginia, fully
endorses the opinion of Mr.. Mckinley.
that the government ought to help take
care of the Confederate dead, and goes
further, by advocating its helping to take
care of needy living Confederate soldiers
he has introduced bill providing that all
manned, crippled and needy soldiers and
sailors, who served in the Civil War, shall
be admitted upon the same terms to all
Soldiers Homes and other institutions
wholly maintained by the United States
government.
The Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections has referred the charge OF
bribery made against Senator Hanna, by
the Ohio Senate, to a subcommittee, COM
posed of Senators Hoar Spooner and Turley
for investigation and report. There will
be white-wash report for the majority OF
the subcommittee, and that will end the
matter, so far as this committee is con-
cerned
A joint resolution for the usual two
week Christmas recess of Congress has
been reported from the House Ways and
Means Committee, and it will be promptly
adopted. Congress very seldom turns
down an opportunity for holiday.
The war investigation commission will
take Christmas holiday, although for any
thing it is accomplishing, it might just as
well take permanent holiday. The next
prominent witness it will hear will be
Gen. Shafter. The commission has been
having little trouble of its own. Hall
of its force of stenographers went on a
strike. because they said they were tired OF
doing all the work, and that the other hall
were incompetent.
There is regular cat and dog fight
going on among the Republicans over
whether an extra session of next Con
gress shall be held in the Spring, and it is
growing more bitter all the time Mr.
Mckinley and the Republican leaders in
both Senate and House, agreed at the
beginning of the session that an extra ses-
sion should be avoided, if possible but
the men who want financial legislation as
soon as the Republicans control both
branches of Congress, are working on Sena
tors and Representatives, in order to make
an extra session necessary, if they cannot
compel Mr.. Mckinley, by all sorts of pres
sure, to change his mind and agree to call
one. Democrats are not taking any part in
his wrangle. most of them believe tina,
Republican financial legislation, at an
extra session, would benefit the Democratic
party.