West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-11-29
WAsHINGToNLETTER.
The Republicans in Congress Have
Dropped the Talk About the
Reduction Of MembersFrom
the South.
Onice Seekers 10 be taken care or i'm
Spite OF The Civil Service.
+ rom our Regular Correspondents.


from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 90, 1000
The project for giving the Re-
publican party mortgage on the
government by reducing the repre-
sentation of the South in Congress
and the electoral college is dead.
1t was killed by Its cool reception
by the public and by the knowledge
that it it had been been attempted
the Democratic Senators would have
blocked all legislation at this SEES
OF Congress. Instead of angering
the Democrats, the Republican
leaders have adopted a jollying
policy toward them, and indulge in
lots of talk about making this a
business session of Congress, free
from partisan chickering's. If they
really wish to do that, il can easily
be done, as the Democrats are dis
posed to meet them halfway in
helping along legislation that is not
tainted with partisanship, but they
need not expect to pull the wool
over Democratic eyes by labelling
notorious jobs, such as the ship
subsidy bill, Commercial legisla-
tion." Democrats will see that no
legislation will go through at this
session under false pretenses. They
will not attempt to prevent the
majority carrying out its will in
general legislation, but they will see
that the nature of every bill pro-
posed is fully explained to the
country before it is allowed to get
through. Under the House rules
this cannot be done there, but it
can be done in the Senate.
Mr.. McKinley's administration
does not lack shrewdness in keeping
up its prestige. The drift of affairs
in China indicates the probability
of the United States being frozen
out of the concert of powers. See
ing this the administration proceed
ed to discount its possible effect by
announcing through semi official
channels that in certain contin-
gencies this government might find
1t necessary to withdraw from the
concert of powers in China and pro-
tect American commercial interests
by dealing with China independent
ly, although it would prefer to do
so in concert with the other powers.
Even the Department of Agricul-
ture shares in the general tendency
to increase the ordinary expendi-
lures of the government tendency
which is bound to make much trou-
BILE if not checked. The estimates
for appropriations for the Depart
ment of Agriculture for the next
fiscal year, now ready for submits
sion to Congress, aggregate 81, 65o,-
$50, which is an increase Of 10 per
cent over the appropriations for the
current fiscal year.
/ / /
Holders of government places
who have no strong pull to fall back
on, or who spoke, worked, or
voted for Bryan in the late cam
paign are being made to feel some
what shaky by the knowledge that
there is greater pressure for small
appointments under the government
than there was ever known before.
Some time ago there was a report
In Washington that Republican
workers in some of the doubtful
States had been told to pitch in and
work with all their might, and that
they would be taken care of if Nc
kinley was reelected, regardless
of the civil service law. Not much
attention was paid at the time to the
report, but the present activity of
of Republican office-seekers indi-
Gates that such promises were made.
Time will show whether they are
to be kept.
/ tt
Senator Wolcott, of Colorado.
will be succeeded by a Democrat
when he retires next March, but
from the talk in administration
circles it is considered almost GER
tain that he will be rewarded for his
support Of McKinleyism by big
position in the diplomatic service.
probably an ambassadorship.
TIT
The Democratic members of the
House Ways and Means Commit.