The Press., 1898-01-27
Washington Letter.


 There Is an air of expectancy around the capitol and among visitors to the white house-offlcial visitors. Cuban matters came dangerously near to reach ing c crisis last week, through action of the house on the belligerency resolution. It required all the power cf the admin strAtlon and If Speaker Reed to keep the republicans in line, and If Chairman Hit, of the house foreign committee, had made his speechin which he virtually stated that the administration stood ready to respond with armed vessels when ever Consul General Lee pressed the button, they might not have succeeded. The nerves of congress are on edge, so to speak. The attendance Is unusually large in both branches, and the opposi- ton leaders arewatchlng each other. The number of consultations the president has had with prominent members of his party also indicates the probability of some move on his part.
 Owing to the Teller resolution, the senate will not devote much time to the annexation treaty this week. Its fate Is still In doubt.
 Judge McKenna, whose nomination was confirmed last week without a roll call, will be sworn In as an association justice of the supreme court, on Wednes- day, and if the senate acts upon the nomi- nation of Gov. Griggs, to which there Is no opposition, In time he will assume the duties of attorney general on Thursday.
 It is not believed that President Mo Kinley will allow himself to be swayed by the schemers who have candidates whom they wish to succeed the late Hon. Benjamin Butterworth, commissioner of patents, whose death was so generally lAmented. He knows the valuable work done by Mir. Butterworth, in reforming criminal abuses In the practice of patent attorneys; also, that acting commissioner Greedy was an important factor in that work, second, in fact, only to Mir. Butter worth himself. Others regard Mir. Greeley Gs the logical successor to Mir. Butter worth, and 1t Is believed that Mir. Mc- Kinley also 30 regards hlm.
 The Teller resolution, declaring U. s. bonds to be payable in silver dollars, at the governments option, is now being discussed by the senate and will be voted upon Thursday of the present week, and, of course, adopted. When 1t goes to the house, 1t will he smothered in committee. The country will doubtless be glad that tho financial debate on this resolution will be so short. It will probably get all the financial discussion 1t wants and much moro, in the coming congressional cam paign.
 If A bill which has been favorably re- ported to the house becomes a law, first class mail matter will not be forwarded after the first of next July, unless the postage ls fully prepaid. At present a two-cent stamp on q letter will insure It's being forwarded, no matter how much the postage may be, the government depend ing upon collecting what Is due, before 1t Is delivered.
 Instead of reportinga bill, the house civil service committee has started to giving public hearings to all interested. That is what the senate committee has been doing since the extra session. As far as the house committee Is concerned, this Is regarded as merely move for time, In order that 1t may be seen how far the modification of the civil service rules which Mir. Mckinley has decided upon will go. Perhaps the fact that the committee has been unable to agree up- on the details of . bill may also have had something to do with these hearings.