The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-22
GENERAL WA SHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Significance of Serene Payne's APP

and Means Committee. position which
carries with it the leadership of the ma
jority on the floor, of the House politicians
are wondering just what it portends. If
anything. Some are inclined to see in Mr..
Paynes selection modification OF Mr.
Reeds attitude toward the Mckinley Ad-
ministration. Mr.. Payne will naturally eX-
pect to retain his present position in the
next House if Mr.. Reed is reelected
Speaker While he has been classed as
a Reed man, he has also been very friend
ly with the President. He is known to be
heartily in favor of Mr.. McKinley's eX-
pansion policy, while Mr.. Reed has been
accused at least of secretly opposing it.
The question the politicians were asking
last night was: Has Mr.. Reed extended an
olive branch TO the Mckinley Administra-
ton through Mr.. Payne's appointment? 1t
would seem So but at the same time 1t
must be said that some of Mr.. Reeds
closest friends do not take this view OF
the case. They say that Mr.. Payne's ap-
pointment has no particular significance;
that Payne was chosen because he was next
in line for the promotion and there was
no special reason why he should be ig-
nored. 1t does not follow. they assert, that
Mr.. Payne will be continued at the head
of the Ways and Means Committee in the
next House That will be matter. they
think, that will be governed by circum
stances. In the meantime, they say, Mr..
Payne will be on probation during the re-
mander OF the present session. If he
prove himself equal to the task that is set
before him in Mr.. Reeds eyes, then he
will be reappointed, but otherwise not.
This is assuming, of course. that Mr.. Reed
will be the Speaker Of the next House.
Mr.. Payne is a loyal supporter of Senator
Thomas C. Platt's organization. Probably
If he were compelled to choose between
loyalty to Plat and loyalty to Reed. he
would cast his lot with the New York
statesman. Senator Platt's political status
is undoubtedly strengthened by Mr.. Payne's
appointment. He is in a better position TO
do business, whatever that may mean.
II Mr.. Reed has partially surrendered to
the Administration, many people be-
iieVe. 1t Is important, as it will probably
mean the expediting of the Administra-
tons measures through Congress from
this time on.
Fate of the Nicaragua Canal BILL
The passage of the Nicaragua Canal bin
through the Senate yesterday was some
thing of surprise. The opponents of
the Peace Treaty had been using it as a
ouHer to prevent action on the Treaty, and
there was every indication that they had
nitely. While the passage of the bill
through the Senate clears the way for the
consideration of the Peace Treaty it by
no means. In the judgment of careful oh
servers. insures the final enactment of the
Nicaragua Canal bill by Congress at the
present session. 1t still will have to run
the gantlet OF the House and it is re-
called that Speaker Reed, on a former
occasion, smothered a Nicaragua Canal
Whether ha Wi do in
open question. Under the most favorable
circumstances it Will require very prompt
and energetic action to get it through the
House in the brief time remaining of the
present session. However, the Admins
tration is known to be strongly in favor
OF some legislation on the Nicaragua Canal
at this session and it is said that the
amendment offered by Senator Spooner of
Wisconsin that was adopted by the Senate
meets with approval in Administration cir
Giles II Mr.. Reed expects to keep on good
terms with the Administration it was
stated last night, he will not block the
way Of the Nicaragua Canal bill in the
House.
VIII Merriam Succeed AIger.-
| The report was in circulation yesterday
that former Gov. ". K. Merriam, of Min
nesota, was slated TO succeed Russell A.
Alger in the Cabinet. The most serious
obstacle. it was said. to Merriams ap-
pointment, that of the opposition of Sena-
tor Cushman X. Davis, had been removed.
But for the opposition of Senator Davis il
is generally believed that Merriam would
| have either been member of the McKin-
ley Cabinet or received an important Dip
lomatic appointment at the beginning of
the present Administration. 1t is said now
however, that white-winged peace hoyers
over the situation. Mr.. Merriam's ap-
pointmcnt as Secretary of War will proba-
bly, follow when Mr.. Alger makes up his
mind. or has it made up for him. that he
has been sufficiently ''vindicated'' in the
eyes of the public by the Alger Relief
lends color to the rumor of Mr.. Merriam s
coming appointment Mr.. Ayers sue
cessor is the fact that he recently pur-
chased handsome residence in this city.
The Genuine YHnkee.-At Chamber
Inns last night there was gathered half a
dozen congenial spirits from various Sec
tons of the United States. Seated around
round table, they spent a most enjoyable
hour in sampllng Virginia apple Toddies
and discussing affairs of state The con-
versatiOn ranged from embaImei beef 10
imperialism. from Porto Rico to the Phil
ippines. and from the Gar OF Russia to
the Car of the House.
After doing full justice to all these great
subjects land incidentally the apple tod
diesD they naturally compared notes about
their respective States, and it developed
that the States so ably represented around
the board We're Georgia, Texas, Colorado.
California. Massachusetts, and Connecti-
cut
In the course of the conversation. which
had now become more social a question
arose about the definition of the word
Yankee. To help solve the problem the
gentleman from Connecticut took the lead
by remarking. From the European stand
point every American is called Yankee"
The party ConCurred.
He then suggested that from the South
ern point of view every Northerner is
called a Yankee. Again the party con-
Cured.
He next asked, What is the strict def
milton of the Yankee AS the others hest
tated. he said According to the diction-
ar4es. Yankee is a native of one OF the
six New England States" Once more the
party COncurred.
To put the finishing touches and also
get the next round of apple toddes on
Massachusetts, the gentleman from Con-
nccticut said. What is a genuine Yam
kee?" Again he had to take the lead in
this most Interesting discussion and said:
Gentlemen. there is but one genuine
Yankee in the world, and he is a native
of Connecticut He has inventive talent
enough to manufacture wooden hams.
wooden clocks. and wooden nutmegs. but
in all my life. in that State. | never saw
one smart enough to sell wooden nutmeg
in Connecticut. He would cross over the
line into Massachusetts, and soon dispose
of his whole stock.
OF course the Massachusetts Yankee"