Gloucester County Democrat., 1900-02-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Jan. %. 1900

WASHINGTON, Jan. ~ l9UU
Col Bryan returned to Washington to attend
the Gridiron Club dinner He is delighted with
the reception he has met with in the East and
says the Republicans will be surprised when the
votes are counted, IL they really believe, as
they pretend to, that all of the Eastern States
will support Mr.. Mckinley and the present
policy of the adm inistration. He says he has
found the Democrats everywhere he has been,
preparing to put up a stiff fight this year. and
encouraged TO believe that they have good
chance to elect the next President.
The sturdy opposition to the ship subsidy job
has frightened Mr.. Mckinley no little, and it is
among the probabilities that the bill providing
thereof, may be held over until the next session.
This isn't because the Hanna-McKinley crowd
have any idea of abandoning the job, but because
they are beginning to be afraid that If it is
jammed through before the Presidential cleo
ion, it viii defeat the Republicans and elect
Democratic President and Congress-
Senator Scott of West Virginia, is getting
little uneasy about his seat, notwithstanding the
big Republican majority in the Senate. The
Democrats are hot after Scott. Able arguments,
showing the necessity for an investigation were
made before the Senate Committee on Elections,
They told the Committee that a very short in
vestigation would SHOW the illegality of Scott's
election, and that among the witnesses they
would like Summoned, was the Governor of the
State, who threatened to call out the militia to
force the recognition of a rump legislature.
Germany has made a formal protest against
customs regulations of the United States, appli
cable to merchandise imported from Germany,
and Secretary Hay has referred the protest to
Congress, accompanie led by a letter from Secre-
tary Gage, saying that no changes in the regula-
tions. can be made without amendment of the
Dingely tariff law.
The growing extravaganza in public expendi-
lures may well be regarded with alarm by the
conservatives. 1t is not confined to any one
branch of the government, but may be found in
all of them, and if not checked, will sooner or
la ter lead to ruin. A mem Der of the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, figures that the cost of
educating each cadet at Annapolis, after the
proposed new buildings there are completed,
allowing legal interest on the money invested in
the plant, will not be less than $4,000 year.
The House Committee on Military Affairs will
begin the investigation, ordered by the Sultzer
resolution, of the Idaho labor troubles and the
connection of United States troops Herewith, on
February IA General Merriam, who commanded
the troops, and the Governor and Auditor of
Idaho, who have been summoned as witnesses,
and the names of others will be furnished the
Committee by Representatives Sulzer and Lentz,
who have been active in pushing the iEVestiga-
ton.
Representative Moody made hit when he
made few remarks in opposition to a bill,
authorizing the Secretary of State to pay TO
British company the cost of repairing the Manila
Hong-Kong cable, cut by Admiral Dewey. He
aid with strong emphasis: Before we spend
any money doing grace to citizens of Great
Britain, let that government pay what it owes
to the citizens of the United States" He sug-
gested that the Secretary of State, instead of
urging the passage of this BILL send to the House
a list of the claims against the United States and
Great Britain by the citizens of those countries
with view to legislation for the establishment
of commission to settle them ALL Representa-
tive Adams, of Pa, made an appeal for the pas
sage Of the bill, recommended by the President
and the Secretary of State, as an example for
Great Britain to follow, but Mr.. Moody spoiled
the appeal by remarking: "But she doesn't
follow; we continue making examples and she
refuses to follow" The bill was not acted
upon.
The Republican Senators have been compelled
to change their program on the gold standard
bill. They had not intended to do any speaking,
but under the taunts of Senator Jones. of Ark. j,
Senator Allison announced that himself and
other Republicans would speak in defense of the
bill. The action of the Democratic caucus n
deciding 70 offer a free coinage substitute for
the gold standard bill, at the proper time, has
been well received by Democrats. While this
substitute cannot pass it will receive. the votes
of all the Democrats who supported the Chicago
platform, of all the Populists and of all the
silver Republicans, and will spike a few Repub-
licans guns.
The Roberts case may not end the action of
the House, as he has been advised to appeal to
the Courts, on the ground that the House violat-
ed the right of sovereign state in declaring his
seat vacant. Mr.. Roberts admitted that he had
been looking up the law and that he believed
that he would have good case on that ground,
but declined to say whether he would go into the
Court with it.