Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1892 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

- Tho House, Saturday, passed the free cotton bagging and cot ton ties bill. Yfoas, 166; nays 45. Senator Wolcott addressed the„Senate Wednesday, ostensibly on the silver bill, but particularly to the administration of President Harrison, condemning bis having intimated that he would veto a silver bill if passed by Congress. He believed the free coinage bill would relieve the farmers of many of the ills of which they are now sufferers, etc. ““7“

The free wool bill was passed by the House Thursday after a speech by Representative Wilson, of West Virginia. The vote stood: Yeas, 191; nays, GO. The Indiana members Voting for it were: Bretz, Brookshire, Brown, Bynum, Holman. Martin, McClellan, Parrett, Patton and Shively. Mr. Johnson voted against it. Cooper add Waugh were not present. The cotton tie bill was called up and discussed for a time, but went over on a motion to adjourn. ___ A report is current that ex -Speaker Reed contemplates retiring from political life and that he will enter business enterprises. He recentfy bad a conference with Thonas C. Platt in New York city, and it is said that he has been offered a position in the legal department of the United States Express Company, far more profitable than continued service in the House of Representatives. These negotiations are in progress, and it is not improbable that the ex-Speaker will hereafter give attention to business instead of politics.

A Washington special to the Cincinnati Enquirer says: A great effort is being made to get the Secretary of Agriculture, Jerry Rusk, to enter the race for the Republican presidential nomination. This is on the supposition that Blaine is no longer in the race. A syndicate of Wisconsin Republicans has offered Rusk 8100,000 for convention expenses if he will declare himself a candidate, and promise him the support of six of the Northwestern States on the first ballot. So far the Secretary has resisted this temptation, but it is believed that any weakening in the support of Harrison will bring him on the track. _____ . ‘ Attorney-Genera) Miller has decided that the decision of the Treasury Denarttnent “withholding 846,000 of the direct tax fund for Indiana as an offset for overpayments in accounts heretofore audited for the State was legitimate and proper. Indiana therefore will not receive any more of the direct tax refund than the difference between the account owing the department(B46.oQO) and the 850,000 withheld, pending a settlement of overpayments, at the request of Gov. Hovey. The Secretary es the Treasury referred to the Attorney-General the question whether the amount retained was a legitimate off-

set, and . the Attorney-General .has su« J taiued the Secretary. ' <<_ A sensation was sprang unexpectedly the Raum investigation Thurudiy morning, when Mr Enkte asked if the secretaries of Congressmen ever sold information of the status of, clainis to pension attorneys. Mr. Raum had a big bundle of papers and was prepared for just such a question, for he produced them and read letters in which the charge was made that Samuel R. Hersey had, through Ragan & Co., of Kenton, 0., a'nd H. C. Peet, of Columbus. Ind.. carried on quite a business of this] sort, charging $3 to each claimant. It was then shown that Hersey had called up these eases on Congressional slips, signed by Repfeseutativo Cooper, of Indiana. one of the prosecutors in the case. Hersey also worked for Mr. Brookshire, of Indiana, and Mr. Gantz, of Ohio, but it was not shown that Hersey’s connection with them had been the same as WitlrCooper, the Investigation directed by- the Commissioner havittgrelated solely toMr. Cooper. “If President Harrison succeeds in perp mancntly closing ;p the dispute over the Behring sea seal questions, Ko will have accomplished enough to make for himself a:i important nlch U history]” said one of the heads of legation at Washington, on Sunday. He added: “The seal fishery q’.restibn has undoubtedly been a menace to your foreign office for many years, and until It is permanently and satisfactorily closed up it is not only likely to break out at any time in a very troublesome manner, but,to be an excuse aSfbme criticfiE period for English interference in'Auierican rights. Why, if the United States had gone to war with Chili the Behring sea troubles would undoubtedly have been brought up by England for the purpose of embarrassing this country and fqrcingut to capitulate. These diplomatic differences should never be permitted to drag along. They always, come up at a time to make most trouble, especially xvfieretliey countries not on very frleiidrjTfeiatipasjiis is ti -ne with England. I recall the fact thatdrirttTgTour iate war .Englund jeauted to inter f bro Ju behalLof your Confederacy. Franco at that moment renewed a diplomatic problem she had with England, and those two countries came near having a collision. I have not the least doubt ‘.hat had England interfered to help the Confederacy. France would have forced her issue witli England at a moment when the Queen’s country had her hands full. President Harrison no doubt has hud these facts in mind of late, and he intends to put this dispute with England out of the way permanently.”