People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1894 — FROM WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

FROM WASHINGTON.

An Interesting Batch of WeWn Front the Capitoh From tttir Regular Oorrespcffident. Washington, Dec. 14. The financier, public and private, has baen very much in evidence this week in Washington, owlog to the hearings given by the House coirfrftittee OU banking and currency. Every man who has appeared before the Committee did heft have a currency plan of his CM'H to propose, although new plans have Mieh plentiful,- but every man had soihh abijeetion to Secretary Carlisle’s plan, eitiie'f rt whole or to some of its details. It is doubtful whether the hearings, which will probably not be extended beyond this week, have strengthened or weakened Secretary Carlisle’s plan in Congress. It is taken fyr granted, from the talk of members of the committe, that a bill embracing substantially the Carlisle plan will bo reported to the House before the Christmas adjournment, but, owing to so few members of the House having committed themselves either for of against the plan, it would be but a wild guess to attempt to shy whdt disposition the ilbiise Will make of the bill. Hut it is not guessing to say tfidt ho bill based on the Carlisle plan can get through the Senate. It is fact based . on statements made by Senators. A noteworthy feature of the hearings by the House committee is the apparent antagonism of bankers to the Carlisle plan. There is a suspicion that tn is feeling is feigned by the bankers, believing that their open support would be certain deith to the bill.

• • • According to the gossip of the politicians, the administration dies not evpect any currency legislation at this session of Congress and has merely pushed the Carlisle plan into prominence as the first step towards maki g Secretary Carlisle the administration candidate for the democratic presidential nomination in 1896. • • • Senator Sherman stated the Nicaragua Canal question in a nutshell when he said after the speeches of Senators Morgan and Dolph in favor of the pending bill, that all the arguments which could be made on the subject had already been made, and that it was needless to further trespass on the time of the Senate. The only question that bothers Senator Shermau in connection with the canal is how to dispose of the claims of the Maritime Canal Co., for the work already done on the canal. *He says he is not satisfied with the provisions of the bill now before the Senate on that subject. He believes, and the belief is shared

by thousands, that the Maritime Company would be justly dealt with if the money it has actually spent on the canal were returned to it. That is just the weak spot in the whole business. Although the Canal Company is hopelessly bankrupt and its! tffairs and the little tangible' property it has are in the hands ■ >f u receivei, the bill proposes to pay it a fancy price for its j stock, franchises, etc., and some i body is so confident that the 1 deal will go through that money is furnished to maintain an ex- j pensive lobby to push it along. • • • The bill permitting freight pooling by railroads was passed by the house by the unexpectedly large vote of 166 to 110. The Populists voted solidly against the bill, but the Democrats and Republicans divided regardless of party lines, prominent members of both parties voting on each side. Friends of the meas-w ure think they can easily push it through the senate, but they may be mistaken. A very few senators can, under existing rules, prevent action by the senate on any measure.

• • • Mr. A. D. Shreve, of Virginia, has written Secretary Carlisle a long letter accusing him of having reversed his position on the silver question since he became awember of the cabinet, and closing thusly f '‘For many years I have watched your course with jealous care, and yon have been the brightest star in my horizon, at Whose shrine' I was early taught my first lessons in political economy,' but it is with frih*i and regret that I see you in thd evening Of life turning to the golden sunset, whose seductive rays are alluring you from the Democracy of Jefferson, and the 'lark cloud which is gathering has il<j silver lining to cheer and to give hops? to the toiling masses.” • • • The senate official!}' decided two very important things this week. By a vote <,f 27 to 23 it defeated Senator Gray’s motion to take up the sugar bill, which means that there is to be no more tariff legislation by this congress. The Populist senators and Blanchard, Martin and Roach voted with the Republi cans against the motion. By a vote of 34 to 24 the senate refused to take up Senator Vest’s cloture resolution, which means that the rules are not to be changed, and that no legislation which is seriously opposed is to go through.