The times., 1899-02-17
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.


VIII Gas AddicLs Win .-There
is wild and weird rumor abroad that
Gas" Addicks is likely to realize the
dream of his ambition and capture the
senatorial toga in Delaware Addicks ac-
cording to the story that is in circulation
in well informed circles, has finally got
things fixed at Dover so as to insure his
election to the Senate beyond a doubt.
While the report is received with more or
less incredulity on the part of the political
wiseacres that occupy the free benches in
the hotel lobbies, it is nevertheless not
altogether improbable. Addcks has money.
a great deal of it, in fact. and it is usually
found to be a very potent argument in a
close senatorial contest. II is evident even
at this distance that a crisis has been
reached in the Delaware senatorial con-
test. Something is likely to happen at
Dover within the next few days, but whsth-
er that something" will be Addicks, Gray,
or a dark horse remains TO be seen. Ad-
dicks friends claim to have the inside
track; they are morally certain" that vic
tory will eventually perch upon their ban
ner, but in a contest such as has been go
ing on in Delaware for the past few months
the wise man waits for the cat to jump be-
fore predicting where II is likely to land.
1t was made known some time ago that
the Administration would prefer the cleo
tion of Gray to Addicks. The President
and his friends, in fact, would regard the
election of Addicks as a political calamity.
What influence the Administration has
thought proper to exert in the matter has
been to prevent the election of Addicks
and help Senator Gray.
Addicks has quite a unique personality
He is more of a resident of Philadelphia
and Boston than of Delaware, although he
has claimed a residence in Delaware for a
number of years. He first went cunning
for the senatorship about ten years ago
His candidacy was received with shouts of
derision al Dover; no one apparently re-
garded it in serious light. Six years later,
however, Addichs again appeared in the
ring and held a sufficient number of votes
TO prevent the election of any Republican.
The Legislature adjourned without elect
ing anyone, and as the succeeding Legs-
lature was Democratic Addicks did not fig
ure in it. When the Republicans again got
control of the Delaware Legislature last
autumn. however, Addicks bobbed up once
more and he has been very much in evi-
dence since II requires TWENTY-FIVE or
twenty-th three votes to elect a Senator in
Delaware. Addicks started in with fifteen
votes and he has made several accessions
speaking distance of the goal. VIII he be
able to land? Time will tell Addicks has
had no experience in legislative life that
is as member of a legislative body. He
is said, however, to have procured fran
chises and other valuable things from Leg
islatures and is familiar" with legislation
to that extent. II he should happen to be
elected there is no danger of his rivaling
Daniel Webster as an expounder of the
'nn CT inn hut he,
know quite as much about gas as even Nc
MILAN or Spooner.
SPnin's S2O.OOO.OGO Indemnity
Chairman Hopkins ruling yesterday which
resulted in knocking out the $40, 600. 900 in
demnity to Spain item from the sundry
civil bill does not necessarily defeat the
appropriation of the money to pay the in
demnity at this session. although, of
course, it renders it less likely. The mat
ter can come up as an independent propo-
sition. but, as Uncle" Joe Cannon, of the
House Appropriations Committee. is at
present in very economical frame of
mind, he may take notion not to report
the bill providing for the appropriation.
Chairman Hopkins ruling of yesterday is
sharply criticised by good many of the
Presidents friends If he had merely,
they say, decided against the placing
OF 'rider' on an appropriation bill no
one could have seriously objected, as the
rider system is regarded by the majority
OF public men as both pernicious and
vicious. However toward the close of a
session it is often the only way that spe-
cial legislation can be accomplished. The
regular appropriation bills having the right
OF way, nothing else can be considered un-
less it be brought forward in the form of
rider" The gst of Mr.. Hopkins argu-
ment yesterday seemed to be that inasmuch
as Spain had not formally ratified the
Treaty of Peace 1t was not binding and it
would not be proper for this country TO
appropriate the S20,0000G0 called for. Mr.
Hopkins ruling is almost infantile. Mr.
Hopkins, of course, knows that the ratifica-
tion of the Treaty on the part of Spain is
only a fornlality, and is as certain to take
place as that the sun will rise tomorrow:
also that the $4,000, 900 must be appropri-
ated within three months from the date of
the signing of the Treaty. Therefore. If the
money is not appropriated at this session,
the President ;iwill be compelled to call an
extra session or permit the Treaty to be
come void through failure on our part to
live up to its stipulations. is ii possible 4"
Mr.. McKinley's friends are asking that
Mr.. Reed would prefer to put the country
IO lue EXPENSE OF an extra session merely
TO gradfy a little petty jealousy and
spite?" 1t would seem so. If. as seems
to be believed, Speaker Reed inspired the
ruling of the committee chairman yester-
day, he has placed himself in very unen-
viable and unpatriotic light.
What has occurred today" said an Ad-
ministration leader last night. in the
House emphasizes the necessity of our pre-
venting the election of Mr.. Reed as Speaker
of the Fifty-sixth Congress. He is block
ing the wheels OF progress and he must be
removed. With all of Mr.. Reeds ability
and size, he is not big enough to take a
broad statesmanlike view of existing con-
ditions. He is still nursing fancied Sights
and imaginary wrongs"
Don Cameron and His OvercOnt.-
Il have heard ii said and used to have
the same impression myself, that Don
Cameron was cold blooded and selfish, %
said a Senator recently. Il will tell you
how | came to change my mind. | was n
member of party that went out to Pitts
burg few years ago to attend banquet
at some club, think it was the Americus
II was about this time of the year. and
the weather was bitterly cold. When we
started back from Pittsburg 1t was in the
teeth of raging blizzard. Right on Top
of the Allegheny Mountains we ran into an
immense snowdrift and stuck hard and
fast In our party We're Quay, Chris Ma
gee, and perhaps a dozen Senators and
pnV nt.tf NLn hal