The Press., 1900-11-15
Washington Letter.
washington, Nov. 12, 1900.

Washington, Nov. 12, 1900.
Nearly every senator and representative
who has been to Washington since the
election, regardless of political afiliation,
has expressed pleasure that the result OF
the election was so overwhelming that the
talk of fraud and corruption, which has
disgusted SO many after some of our ma
honal elections, has been conspicuously
absent this time. 1t is also almost gener-
ally agreed that 1t was the great prosperity
of the country that brought about the
result rather than blind devotion to any
political party. That belief Is based up
on the general idea that the average man
who Is doing we'll Is averse to taking the
chances involved In making a change,
even when he believes that the change
might be beneficial. The rejoicing of the
dominant party has also been remarkably
free from partisan rancor, which has had
a good effect upon the spirits of the de-
feated and added to the all around pleas
antness.
Postmaster General Smith, who accom-
panied delegation of Philadelphians to
the white house, succeeded in getting a
conditional acceptance from the president
of an invitation to attend the founders
day banquet of the Union League club, of
Philadelphia, to be given on the twenty
fourth inst
Senator Mason, who, by the way, Is
again regular and welcome visitor at the
white house, has announced his intention
to champion at the coming session of
congress what he regards as the most i'm
portant internal Improvement contemplat-
ed in the middle west-legislation provid-
Ing for a survey to enlarge to regular
ship canal and extrnd the present Chicago
drainage canal to connect the great lakes
rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. He says
the undertaking is of the greatest COM
mercial Importance to practically the en-
tire portion of the U. g., between the AL
legheny and the Rocky mountains. He
will endeavor to get the president to help
the project along by giving it a good word
In his annual message to congress, and Is
confident of success. If hard work and
perseverance will win, Senator Mason will,
as he is full of both.
Judging from what is being printed on
the subject, it might be supposed that all
the campaign liars have been assigned to
the job of writing up the proposed magnifi-
cence and grandeur of the second inaugu-
ration of President Mckinley. In order
to make their stories picturesque and
startling, not few of these writer's have
entirely dispended with that very useful
articles known as common sense. The
mere ceremony of swearing in the chosen
ruler of more than 76, ,0OO, 900 will of itself,
Sse Imposing and magnificent, and there
can be no doubt that it will occur amidst
proper surroundings. But all the talk
about surrounding it with all the gorgeous.
ness and costliness of the greatest royal
pageant Europe has ever seen, the Lon
don jubilee procession lis poppy cock,
and can only find believers among those
who do not know where the money
comes from to pay the expenses of inaugu.
rating president. Not one cent comes
out of public money. The residents Of
Washington always subscribe in advance
the amount the committee estimates will
be needed, so that the committee will not
be hampered In its work by lack of ready
money. The receipts from the sale oi
tickets to the inaugural ball, privileges tc
the street stands, ETC., usually aggregate
an amount large enough to pay all ex'
penses, and the money advanced to the
committee Is returned to the subscribers
but it Is not always SO, and the committee
does not bind itself to return it. 1t must
be evident that the amount raised in this
way will not be large enough to provide
much royal gorgeousness.
Representative Payne, of New York
chairman of the house ways and means
committee, which will meet on the 20tl
inst. to consider the question of reduc
tion of internal revenue taxes, does no
pretend to say what the committee will
do, but it Is very evident from his guard
ed talk that he isn't expecting bill tina
will make sweeping reductions. There i
good ground for the belief that the bill
which will be reported to the house will
not make reductions of more than 800,
600, 900 a year, and even that much woul'
be doubtful If the president had not 81
strongly committed himself in favor of re
ducing these taxes. The prevailing ide
In official and congressional circles seem
to be that uncertainty as to the immediat
future in China and in the Philippines
make it advisable for this government t
have stiff surplus of cash on hand t
meet any possible emergency.
1t is officially denied that Secrrtar
Roots visit to Cuba has anything to d
with the Cuban constitutional convention
now sitting In Havana, although it
official and will be utilized in visiting sec
tions of the island not reached by hir
when he was over there some months age
Many believe that Secretary Root ha
gone to Cuba as the personal represents
tive Of the president, and that his repol
of existing conditions will be an impor
ant factor in the future attitude Of th
government toward the island. Inasmuc
as the work of the Cuban constitutions
convention will, If completed in time, b
at once submitted to congress, 1t is M
thought that the presidents annual me'
sage to congress will contain any impor
ant Cuban recommendations.
. ROBBED THE GRAvE.-A startling Inc
q dent, OF which Mr.. John Oliver OF Phil'
delphia, was the subject, is narrated
him as follows: 81 was In most dreat
. full condition. My skin was almost ye