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Washington Letter

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Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
January
Year
1895
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Washington, D. C.,.J:in. 14, 181.). The rainbow which your correspondent thought he saw through the clouds in the democratie sky last week was a mirage. There was a rift in the clouds, and sanguine democrats thought the rainbow was just behind and that the long storm was over, that the sun was again about to shine upon a united democracy. But even while congratulations were being exchanged the rift was closed, darkness again prevailed, and the storm demon was again supreme in the black and lowering clouds which shroud the future of the democratie party. Secretary Carlisle was naturally isappointed that forty-odd demorats should have joined with the epublicans and populists to prevent lis currency reform bill from reaching a direct vote in the house after it had been approved by a democratie caucus, but he spent no time in "worrying over spilied milk" - he isn't that sort of a democrat. On the contrary, he went right to work to ascertain the reason for that democratie opposition and whether it was possible to overeóme it. His investigation encouraged him to believe that a curreney bilí can yet be passed, and he is now engaged in perfecting it, and expects to submit it to the house committee in a few days, possibly during the present week. This is a sufficient answer to the new batch of Wall street rumors concerning Secretary Carlisle's res ignation. Democratie senators are also trying to arrange a curreney reform bilí that can be passed, and the senate finance committee, profiting by the experience of the house banking and curreney committee, which reported a bilí before ascertadning the sentiment of a maiority of the house towanis it, will report no bill until it agrees upon one that is certain to pass the seríate, if that is possible. Certain senators are wasting valuablc time in trying to defeat the appropnation for the collection of the income tax. There is no probability of their success, but even if the appropriation failecl, the tax would still be collected;theonly differencc being that with the appropriation made the tax will be easier collected. The suspicion is gaining ground that the real object is not to defeat this appropriation but to kill time and thus prevent other legislation. The house naval committee has informally agreed that the building of three battleships recommended by Secretar'y Herbert shall be pro vided for in the naval appropriation bill shortly to be reported to the house. Again pressure is being brought to bear upon President Cleveland to send a special message to congress, urging the necessity for financial legislation at the present session, but he has not yet consented to do so, because he has not been convinced that it would do any good. A number of minor officials connected with the land office may soon find themselves dropped from Uncle Samuel's pay roll, because of their having engaged in a linie scheme to raise money to pay the expenses of a lobby which was to try to defeat the legislation necessary to carry out Secretary Smith's iiuus cuncermng cnanges in the land office. The secretary has publicly shown his disapproval of the scheme, which was only lately brought to his attention, and intimated that he thought the good of the service demanded the dismissal of those activeiy engaged in working it up. How Jittle it takes to build up a Washington sensation may be judged trom soine people seeing, or pretending to see, in a dinner given to Joe Jefferson, the actor, by Secretary Lamont, a few evenings ago, a movement for a non-partisan financial bilí in Congress. The only reason for such a belief was the attendance at the dinner of a number of prominent republicans and democrats, includine Secretarv Carlisle. Attorney-General Olney, Chairman Wilson, Senator Hill and Represen tative Everett among the democrats, and ex-Speaker Reed, Senators Mor rill, Sherman and Hawley among the republicans. It seems a pity to destroy such an interesting story bui it can be stated upon the very best authority that the guests a this dinner vvere as usual in such cases, invited because they were known to be personal friends of the guest of honor - Mr. Jefferson - anc not with any idea of making the dinner a factor in the congressiona situation.

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News