The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-01-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, Jan. LIST, 1900.

Washington, Jan. Isl, leuo'
Old as the White House, yet new
and interesting each year Is the an
nual pageant which passes through
the White House the LIST of January,
and Is known as the Presidents New
Year Reception. Today's pageant
has never been eclipsed for brlllian-
cy as a show, and the attendance
has seldom, if ever been larger.
The reception lasted two hours and
a half, the first hour and a half, be-
ginning at eleven o'clock, contained
the picturesque part Of the show,
the diplomats IN their gorgeous Court
Costumes, gold lace and medals,
and the officers of the Army, the
Navy, the Marine Corps, and the
local militia in full dress uniform
and the last hour was given up to
vox popnll. Gen. Miles and the Of
ficers OF the Army we're received a.
head of Admiral Dewey and the Of
ficcrs of the Navy, just as Army Of
ficeis have been received ahead of
Navy officers ever since the Presi-
dents of the U. s. began to hold
New Year receptions. There was
an attempt made to change this in
order that Dewey might be given
precedence as special mark of hon
or for his accomplish ments in b half
of the country, and for a time, it
looked az though 1t might succeed,
but the President finally decided TO
leave the custom as he bad found it.
Representative Taylor, who is
Chairman of the Roberts Commit
tee, says the report on the case will
be made in about two weeks, unless
some unexpected complication turns
up to delay il.
II is evident from the talk Of
Senator'S that the Senate Is likely to
adopt some sort Of a resolution deal
ing with the Senator Morgan, which
is the shortest OF them all, about the
only one that would be likely TO &c,
support from both sides Of. the ex.
pansion question. 1t reads as fol-
lows: "Resolved, that IN pur-
suance Of section Of Article Nv
Of the Constitution, the u. s. guar
au,ee to the people Of Porto Rico,
HAWAII, the Philippine Islands and
all other states and people within
itS sovereign Jurisdiction and control,
republican form Of government,
and will protect them against inva-
si1n. "rhere may be other reso.u.
tons offered that will le more &C.
ceptacle, hut this one is more favor.
Ell than any OF those offered.
The movement TO place the clerkt
OF members Of the House on the an
nual pay rcll and to require them to
be sworn IN, which failed in the last
Congress, il again being agltated.
The law provides that each member
Of the House be allowed $1,000 .
year for the employment Of a clerk.
All the membe,s draw this money,
but il IL an open secret that many VI
them use but small portion Of it 10
hire a clerk. Some have their wives
daughters, sons, or other relatives
Ia some iniances, scbool-children-
sign vouchers a. the clerk, and peck.
ct the money themselves. and man,
employ clerks AZ cheap as they can
get them aud keep what remains Of
the 800 moa,h. after paying them.
This law Vas not intended to add to
the perquisites OF members; It was
intended TO supply them with clerl.
cal help which they were supposed
10 need, and few Of them actually
do spend twice that amount in the
employ Of clerical help. II i.L't 3
very big thing, but participating in
the profits Of email abuse often
prepares man for stretching his
conscience into endorsing big alb
use.
The reciprocity treaties nego-
tiated under the Dingley tariff
law must be ratified by the Senate
and approved by the House, be-
fore becoming effective. That fact
b being taken advantage Of by the
interests affected by the several
treaties to try to defeat the treat.
las, and members of the houe
being more susceptible to influence
than Senators. are being mt mn