Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-11-27
WASHINGTON LET TER.


Washington, NoU. 2Oth, 1899.
President Mckinley and Speaker
to-be Henderson are the closest of
friends, personally as we'll as politi-
cally, and the first thing Col. Hender-
son did after his arrival in Washing
ton, for the session of Congress, was
to call at the White House and hold a
longconference with the President on
the work that is expected to be ac-
complished at this session. This per-
sonal harmony between the President
and the man who will preside over
the House, augurs we'll for the coun-
try and for the republican party; it
means that the executive and leglsla-
tive 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
several important questions of party
policy on which they were only not
in accord, but were actually antago-
nistic in their opinions. This natur-
ally led to embarrassment, and in some
cases to the failure altogether of leg
islation which the President would
like to have seen put through Con-
gress, but would not attempt to push
because of his belief that Mr.. Reeds
opposition would give the democrats
pfr1p tu RI
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.
Col. Henderson can hardly be said
to have opened headquarters, since
his unanimous nomination to be
Speaker by the republican caucus,
was assured many months ago, but he
is in his Office daily and is glad to
have members of the House call and
talk to him about their committee as
signments. There will be nothing
even remotely resembling shake-up
among the old chairmen of the House
except in cases where they express
a wish for a change, they are likely to
get their old places-but there are
several important chairmanships va.
cant. For instance, that of the COM
mittee on the Judiciary which was
filled by Col. Henderson in the last
House, and that of the committee on
Banking and Currency, held by Mr..
Joseph Walker, of Massachusetts,
who was not candidate for re-elec-
ton to the present House. Whether
the ranking republicans on those COM
mittees will be made chairmen or
new men be put at their heads, is
question that Col. Henderson will de-
eide, and he declines to say publicly
one word about either the committees
or the works of Congress-, saying that
he prefers acts to do his talking.
There is some talk about change in
the House rules, but the confidence
of members of the House in Col. Hen
derson is so great that it is perfectly
safe to say that his wishes will lie
allowed to govern the matter entirely,
and that any changes made will be
upon his suggestions.
The Board which has been consid-
ering the bids recently submitted to
the Navy Department, for the con-
struction of the six armored cruisers
provided for by the last Congress, has
recommended that each of the follow
ing firms shall be awarded a contract
to build one cruiser: Union Iron
Works, San Francisco; Lewis Nixon
(Crescent Ship Building Works. ,Eliz
abethport, n. j.; Bath Iron works,
Bath, Me-; Trigg Ship Building Com
pany, Braintree, Mass, and Neafie
and Levy, Philadelphia, Penn. The
recommendation must be acted upon
by Secretary Long, before it becomes
effective, but there is no doubt of its
approval. The price for each cruiser,
exclusive of armor, slightly exceeds |
one million dollars.
Owing to the large republican ma
jority in the Senate Of the Congress |