The evening times., 1899-04-19
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP


The Pennsylvania senatershiD-A
gentleman who left Harrisburg at o'clock
this morning said today that the scheme
to elect former Representative Mccormick,
of Williamsport. as Mr.. Quay's successor,
by the aid OF Democratic votes had been
abandoned. They could get only twenty
four Democrats to agree to vote for NC
Cormick," he said, land as that was not
sufficient to ensure his election, the mat
ter was dropped. The chances are more
than 100 to / that there will be no election
of a Senator at this session of the Penn
sylvania Legislature. The Democratic
leaders want the legislature to adjourn
| without electing anyone as they believe by
| keeping the split in the Republican party
open that they will stand a show OF captur-
ing the next legislature and with it Sem
atorship. The fight among Republicans in
the Keystone State is very bitter and is
not likely to blow over soon. 1t would not
be surprising II 1t resulted in turning the
State eventually over to the Democrats. 1t
seems almost ridiculous to suggest that
the Republicans could lose Pennsylvania
in Presidential year. but more amazing
things have happened in politics in the
past than that would be. Pennsylvania
has elected a Democratic governor twice
since 1882, and it may be Just as well for
the Republican managers to keep that fact
in mind
Roger Q. Mills.-The friends of for
mer Senator Roger Q. Mills of Texas are
talking about his recent good fortune in
striking oil on his farm in Texas. The in
dications are that Mr.. Mills will soon
have to be rated up in the millionaire class.
Although Mr.. Mills was in public life for
over thirty years, he was not the type OF
| man to get rich out of politics. He left
the Senate on the 4th of last March, not
much better of financially than when he
first entered the House many years ago.
Mr.. Mills announces that he has no inten-
tion of trying TO get back into politics
His friends believe that he is wise to try
to enjoy the ease and comfort that have
come to him in his declining years.
Mr.. Platt ON the Stand:-It is re-
ported that Senator Thomas c. Platt a
little later on will make an appointment
with the Mazet Investigating Committee
and take the witness stand. While the
story seems improbable il might be ar
ranged in such a way as not to do Senator
Platt or any of his friends any harm. A
list of the questions that would be asked
could be drawn up and submitted to Mr..
Plat in advance. Then il Mr.. Moss. the
counsel Of the committee. would give a
heavy bond not TO deviate from the 'Of1-
cial'' list of questions MIR. Platt could come
off with flying colors and have the laugh
on Croker.
II is admitted privately by New York Re-
publicans that unless the Mazet COM
mttee makes at least show OF investigat-
ing the Republican leaders the investi-
CATION will prove TO be boomerang and
| likely to do the Republican party through
out the State more harm than good. Mr..
Croker, they think. played trump card
when he said Why don't you investigate
| the firm of Tracy. Boardman L. Platt?
II the committee ignores this line OF en-
quiry the public will have a right to be-
lieve that the investigation is a one-sided
| partisan fake.
Mr.. Reeds Retiremcnt.-Thomas B.
| Reed. will. il is announced make known
his decision regarding the offer of $5O,o00 a
year TO quit Congress and join a New York
| law firm tomorrow. II is generally believed
| that he will decide 10 accept.
II think that Mark Hanna is behind this
| offer to Reed" said a Republican last
| night. 1T is all plot to remove Reed
| from the Administrations path. l will bet
| all / have got that Senator Hanna and
! some of his wealthy friends are putting up
| money to make the guarantee good. l am
| surprised that Mr.. Reed has not seen
| through il, but then $4,000 a year is a
| pretty big temptation to almost any man"