The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-12-01
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent. j
Washington d. c., Nov. 26 1899.

Washington -. g., Nov. 70 1899.
President Mckinley ard Speaker-to-
be Henderson are the closest of friends,
personally as well as politi ,ally, and
the first thing Col. Henderson did
after his arrival in Washington, for
the session OF co gress, was to call at
the White House and hold long con-
ference with the President on the
work that is expected to be accom-
plished at this session. This personal
harmony between the President and
the man who will preside over the
House, augurs we'll for the country
and for the republican party; it means
that the executive and legislative
branches of the government are TO
work together much smoother than
they did in the last congress. The
President and Mr.. Reed were never
the slightest bit unfriendly in their
personal relations, but there were sew
eral important questions OF party
policy on which they were only not in
accord, but were actually antagonistic
in their opinions. This naturally led
to embarrassment, and in some cases
to the failure altogether of legislation
which the President would Ike to have
seen put through congress, but would
not attempt 10 push because of his
belief that Mr.. Reeds opposition
would give The democrats an oppor
tunity to say that the party in the
House was divided into factions, led
by himself and Mr.. Reed. In the
coming Congress, the President and
the Speaker of the House will work
together in all things, and the result
is bound to be beneficial both to the
country and to the party. There is
some talk about a change in the House
rules, but the confidence of memL, rs
of the House in Col. Henderson is 80
great that it is perfectly safe to say
that his wishes will be allowed to gov
ern the matter entirely, and that any
changes made will be upon his sug-
gestions.
The board which has been consider
ing the bids recently submitted to the
navy department, for the construction
of the six armored cruisers provided
for by the last Congress, has recon-
mended that each of the following
firms shall be awarded contract to
build one cruiser: Union Iron Works,
San Francisco; Lewis Nixon Crescent
Ship-Building Works,) Elizabethport,
New Jersey Bath Iron Works, Bath,
Me-; Trigg Ship Building Comp pany,
Richmond, Va; Fore River Engine
Company, Braintree, Mass, and Neafie
and Levy, Philadelphia, Pa. The rec
ommendation must be acted upon by
Secretary Long, before it becomes eff
fective, but there is no doubt OF its ap-
proyal. The price for each cruiser,
exclusive of armor, slightly exceeds
one million dollars. Moran Bros. of
Seattle are not included in this list.
Owing to the large republican ma
jority in the Senate of the congress
shortly to assemble, the Senate Com
mittees will be changed so as to give
the republicans nine of the committees
having thirteen members and seven of
those having eleven. This will make
the Finance committee anti-silver for
the first time in years, and will insure
the prompt reporting Of any financial
bill that the republican leaders may
wish to pass. This will be fair ap-
portlonment of the committee men,
berships, as the republicans will have
fifty-one Senators, without taking ac-
count Of the four vacancles-one each
from California, Delaware, Pennsyl-
vania and Utah-if Senator Hayward,
OF Neb. lives, and fifty if he dies and is
succeeded by dem pop, while there
are only thirtyfye Senators-twenty-
eight democrats and seven populists
or silver republicans,-on -on the opposi-
tion side. It will not cause any silver
Senator to be removed from the FL
nance committee, as there are two
vacancies left by the retirement of
White and Turpie; these will simply
be filed by republicans which will
make the committee stand seven gold
to six silver mer.
Boss German is again in the saddle
in Maryland. This was fully shown
at secret conference, held at Cor
mans Washington residence, at which
Gov.-elect Smith was instructed by
Gorman just how to dispose of the
state patronage to the best advantage
Of the German machine.
Representative Curtis, OF Kansas,
said emphatlcally kansas will give
Mckinley not less than 5000 major
ity over Bryan in 1900. I know how
strong the President is in our state
and over the West generally, and how
thoroughly in accord with his views
Dur people are"