The times., 1899-02-23
GENERAL WA SHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

Is the Administration BIuGinG:-
notwithstanding the ultimatums that have
been issued from the White House during
the last ten days that the Hull Army bill
must be passed in its original form or an
extra session would be called, there is i
growing impression up at the Capitol mat
the President is indulging in a game "t
bluff. There are good many signs that
point to this conclusion. One of them is
that Senator Hanna and other close friends
of the President are acting on the ap-
parent conviction that there will be no
extra session: they are making prepara-
tions TO get away from Washington rlgnt
after the adjournment of Congress on
March T. 1t is believed that they have
knowledg. which convinces them that an
extra session can and will be avoided.
And yet the Administration leaders
stated yesterday in the most posi-
tive terms that there would in all proba-
bility be an extra session. There Is no
indication that the Democratic Senators
who have been antagOnizing the Hull bill
have weakened. Apparently they are as
determined as ever to maintain their
ground, Negotiations for a compromise
must, they say, come from the Admins
tration.H 1t was intimated yesterday that
the President had finally consented TO ac-
cept the Proctor amendment notwith-
standing the protest of Secretary Aiger
and the War Department clique. If this
should prove to be true it would be
long step in the direction of the adoption
of compromise measure. At the same
time Mr.. Alger and his friends could hardly
regard it as less than a personal aifront.
Mr.. Alger has hung on to his position so
tenaciously up to the present time. how
ever that very few persons believe that
even a rebuke of this pointed character
would move him to tender his resignation
senator Whites Opinion.-"I cannot
for the life of me-" said Senator White OF
California yesterday, see how Congress
can dispose of the important matters on
hand in the short time remaining to the
present session. 1t appears to me that
the majority do not want to escape an eX-
ira session. We have not held a single
night session yet. If the majority leaders
were very much in earnest in their efforts
to dispose of the urgent matters and pre-
vent an extra session they would manifest
it in some way. particularly BY insisting
upon holding night sessions. / do not be-
lieve that the Army bill can be passed; ;
certainly not in its present form. AS for
myself. | shall vote against 1t. even IL
Senator Proctor's amendment should be
adopted. The Proctor amendment removes
Il very serious ODJeCllOH 10 tHt nun
but for my part | am utterly opposed to
increasing the size of the regular army up
to 100, 900 men. II seems to me to be alb
solutely unnecessary Many of us believe
that this question should be settled by
the next Congress. The Republicans Will
have undisputed control of both branches
of the Fifty sixth Congress and they should
be made to take the responsibility for in
creasng the size of the regular army to
the point contemplated in the Hull bill.
Five or six Senators. by insisting upon
talking. can prevent a vote on the army
bill at this session, but whether they will
do so or not l am not prepared TO say at
this time. My own belief is that there
will be an extra session.
The Twelfth Ccnsus.-There is a
strong impression that the bill providing
for the taking OF the Twelfth Census will
| be amended in the Senate to place the
employees in the classified service. AS the
bill passed the House the positions Great
ed under it were left open to the spoils
hunters The members of the Civil Service
Commission and the friends of the civil
service system have been actively at work
in the Senate, however, and they are con-
ident that the Senate will restore the
civil service feature to the bill. If the
bill should become law as ii passed tn
House it would be a rich mine for Sena-
tors and Members who have constituents
on their hands whom they wish to pro-
vide with places. 1t is said that the Presi-
dent has indicated that he would prefer TO
have the employees of the next Census
placed in the classified service. The civil
service reformers are considerably e,ated
over their apparent victory and are saying
all kinds OF pleasant things about the
President in consequence. Mr. Mckinley.
they say, has become genuine convert to
the civil service idea. This is indicated
by the fact they point out. that he has
recalled his Contemplated order taking
several thousand places in the Internal
Revenue Department out of the classified
service.
samuel June Barrows.-There is
considerable opposition to the confirmation
of Representative Barrows OF Nassachu-
setts as Librarian of Congress. 1t is con-
sidered doubtful if Mr.. Barrows is con-
firmed at the present session. II appear,
that neither of the Massachusetts Sena-
tors is particularly interested in his con
firmatiOn. Secretary Long is said to be
chiefly responsible for Mr.. Barrows ap-
pointment. Senator Lodge il is claimed
actually protested to the President agains
the selection of Mr. Barrows for the pO-
sition of Librarian. II is also said that
about nne-ten OF the employees of the
Library are working quietly against the
confirmation. Upon the whole the out
look for the confirmation Of Mr.. Barrows,
at the present session. at least. is not
regarded as first-Class. Should he fail OF
confirmation it is said that the President
viii not renew his appointment, but will
select some new man. MIR. Barrows was
not Mr. McKinley's first choice for the po-
sition. His preference was for some eX-
perienced Librarian.
Trouble in store for Hannn.-As has
| been well known. Senator Hanna has prac
tically dictated the majority of the Federal
| appointments in the South. Very few men
! have been appointed to Federal positions
| in that section by Mr.. Mckinley il is un-
| derstood, that did not bear the Hanna
brand 1t appears however that Mr.. Han
ma has stirred up hornets nest down in
! Louisiana. The contest over the Federal
| plums in that State was most intense and
| hung fire long time. Recently the Presi-
| dent sent to the Senate long list of Lou
! isiana appointments. and it was found that
| the Hanna slate won. Former Governor
| Henry c. Yarmouth, who is a very infiu-
! ential Republican, was on the losing side.
| He is after Senator Hanna it is said with
| a very sharp stick. He has prepared a
pamphlet in which he scores the Ohio Sen
| ator in the most caustic terms. He gives
| a history of Mr.. Hannas connection with
| the politics of Louisiana. dating back to
! 1896, and it is said to make very entertain
| ing reading. Mr. Yarmouth ii is under
| stood, intends to distribute this pamphlet
extensively throughout Ohio in the coming