The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-01-26
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent


"Publish copies of every record in
my administration if called for" is
the sum and substance of President
Mcklnley's instructions TO the men,
bers of his Cabinet. That is the
straightforward answer of the man
who knows that the closer his official
acts are studied, the higher his ad-
mlnistraton will stand, to the round
| about attempts of the democrats and
assistant democrats to play politics by
offering all sorts of res buttons asking
for all sorts of Information, SO worded
as to arouse suspicion in the minds of
the suspiciously inclined that their
authors know of something discredita-
BILE on the part of some branch of the
administration. This offer to furnish
any. information desired by Congress,
together with President McKlnley's
request to the republican leaders in
both branches of Congress that they
would not take advantage of the re-
publican majority to defeat resolutions
OF inquiry offered by democrats, has
disconnected the democrats, and they
seem to be in doubt as to what thew
shall do next.
The democratic Senators seem to be
even more afraid OF the financial ques-
tion than were the democrats in the
House during the debate on the re-
publican financial bill. There was
something almost pathetic in the at
titude of Senator Jones, of Arkansas,
when he asked Senator Aldrich, who
IS in charge of the financial bill, if no
more republicans intended to speak on
the bill, and acknowledged that no
democrat was ready to speak Sena-
tor Aldrlch promptly replied that the
republicans were ready to vote on the
bill, but were willing to allow it's op-
[ponents to do all the speaking against
it they wished. So far the only speech
in the Senate against the bill has been
made by Senator Stewart, who is a
long ways from being democrat, not
withstanding his radical silver views.
Mr.. Bryan is expected in Washington
this week, enroute to the Eastern
States, where he is going to try to con,
vince the prosperous people that the
country isn't getting along all right.
Perhaps after they confer with him,
the democratic senators will be ready
to do more talking, although rumor
says that Mr.. Bryan himself has
promised not to do mucn silver talk
ing in the East.
The Roberts report will go to the
House this week, and there isn't the
slightest doubt that Roberts will 90
back to Utah, wiser, if not happier
man.
Mr.. G. M. Lambertson, who, in ad-
dition to being one of Nebraska's lead
ing lawyers, is an authority on state
politics, is in Washington on legal
business. In answer to questions on
the political outlook in the state, he
said he was absolutely certain that the
next legislature, which will elect two
senators, will be republican.
Mr.. F. B. Shepard, who is U. s.
Commissioner at st. Michaels, Alaska,
says the action of President Mckinley
in making Alaska a military division,
under command of Gen. Randall, will
be joyful news to the law abiding resi-
dents OF that territory, as under exist
ing conditions, the civil authorities
are powerless and military authority
is absolutely necessary to preserve
order. He thinks that the size of
Alaska will soon make it necessary to
divide it into two territories.
The House committee On Interstate
and Foreign Commerce, will fayorably
report Chairman Hepburn's bill, pro-
viding for the construction of the
Nicaragua Canal, by this government,
as soon as the required territory is ac-
qulred from Costa Rica, and Nicaragua
and Mr.. Hepburn thinks the bill will
pass the House at this session. That
the sentiment Of the House favors the
bill is unquestionably true, but the de-
sire on the part of some members to
wait for the report of the Canal Conn.,
mission, which will be available next
winter, may prevent action at this
session.