The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-10
POLITICS IN BRAZIL.
Talk With an Ex-South Ameri.
can Merchant.
BLAlNE's RECIPROCITY POLICY
Lieufenant Governor Laushton's ExpIa
nation OF His Alleged Connection
With tho school Book scandal.


Posr-ISTELLieEscER reporter last even
ing ne said
II think Brazil has settled down to its
new form of government. The revolution
came very suddenly, bu; the people are
very content with the provisional govern
ment, which is composed OF able men, and
they have proposed constitution on the
lines OF ours, though it is an Improvement
on ours in many respects. They make the
term OF the president six years, bat he is in
eligible for reelection for ten years
after the expiration OF his term. This will
prevent him from exercising hts power
with view to reelection and make him
more independent in his policy. They
also propose to have their senator's elected
six and nine years.
The oniv people who are at all dis
coniented with the new order of things are
the older generation of Brazilians. They
had high admiration for Dom Pedro and
wanted to see him finish his reign. with the
understanding that there would be no more
emperors, but that q republic should
follow him. Still they are prepared TO ac-
cept accomplished facts. TIE younger
men were almost all republicans. | saw
there was not man over 25 years old
1.-The revolution was the work OF day.
Da Fonssca. who Is a heartless man just
suited for the purpose. started military
meeting. and the republican leaders took
advantage OF its success to hang repub-
lican flag out OF their window, proclaim a
republic and form provisional govern
n1ent in support of Da Fonseca. They or
dered the emperor to leave the country and
within forty-eight hours he was on board
ship with his family, aud the republic was
finally established. II he had remained
there would have been some trouble. out
his departure prevented It. l left Rio
few days before the revolution.
but spent several days in Per-
nambuco, Bahia and other cities.
and Witnessed several demonstrations
there OF course the country will require
little time to settle down thoroughly to
the new order Of things. but the provision
al government is composed OF men of great
ability and they are popular"
do you know anything about the Ar
gentine Republic ~
"No. have only been in Brazil. =
.What do you tnink OF Blaine's reci-
prccity policy Pr
press an opinion. certainly think the
sugar duty ought to be entirely removed.
1t was Imposed when the Louisiana plant
ers we're producing about 10000 tons
year, and the country was con-
Stunning about that quantity. The
consumption Is now about LOO 600
tons and we only produce about 10000
tons. Thus the duty has not stimulated
the industry, and the people are taxed
about $50, 900, eco year for the benefit of
the sugar trust and the Sandwich islands.
/ believe the Mckinley bin reduces
the duty so as to only protect
the refineries, but the trust has
raised the price 2 cents pound and has
made about SIC, 600 600 out of it. so think
it can do without any protection at all
But what interest has this section in South
American trade ~
Mr. Rollins was informed that Puget
sound already exported considerable lum-
Der to the Argentine Republic. and hoped
to cultivate trade with the Pacific coast OF
South America as well as With Brazil. He
was asked whether there was any opening
for lumber trade with Brazil. and replied:
Nearly ali the buildings in Brazil are of
stone and brick. as the white ant eats all
wood except pitch pine. They have album
dance of hard wood and white pine. but
little of il is cut If there is plenty of
pitch in your fir and cedar,
you might work up an export
trade in your Lumber. The Argentine Re-
public will be good country for that
trade. for they use great quantities of Ium-
Der there"
Mr.. Rollins is q relative of ex-Surrogate
Rollins, of New York. but. unlike him, is
not an active politician, though staunch
Republican.
Lieutenant Governor Laughson has re-
turned to Olympia after few days stay at
tine Rainier hotel. Before his departure he
gave the following account 10 a Posr-IN-
TELLIGEScER reporter of how his name
came TO be mixed up in the school book
bribery scandal:
II returned TO Olympia from my home
in 0kanogan county on the Friday after the
school book contracts were let. On the
following day | examined the bids and
found that in all OF them the retail prices
named for the books were only ABOUT 10
per cent. above the Wholesale prices named.
This struck me as a very small margin and
figured out the cost OF delivering the books
at my home in 0kauogan county.
leaving nothing for the country store
keeper who would have 10 sell the books at
retail. / went TO lfr. I.eech and protested
against the letting of the contracts on such
terms. On the following Monday Mr.
E,mes, whom know well TO be man of
large property, and representing q
company worth 100000. came to
my Office and in the presence OF
my clerk asked me If had blank check
on a certain bank replied that I had
not. but had one on the First National
bank OF o ympia. / opzned the back of
nv check book, tore one out and gave it to
him. | gave him nay seat aud he lilled in
.be check. bIosted it and left it back up-
wards. I did not see what be wrote.
for I did not look over his shoulder.
Re asked me TO write my name on the
back TO identify him and said IN 20 TO
The bank with you and identity yon.' He
said. No. that's not necessary: Just
write your name ON the back and identity
me. / accordingly sat down, and, without
looking Of the cbeck. wrote Iny name on
the hack Mr.. Eamss then took il and
went out.
.The next day Mr.. Leech made bis
charges OF attempted bribery. and moved
q reconsideration OF awards. This wss en-
tirely illegal, a. the supreme court decided
two years ago that when The CO tracts
lave been once awarded. they cannot be
RECONSTRUCTED. II that were allowed. there
might be no end 20 reconsfderasions. and
the contractors would never kfsow where
they stood. As regards Mr.. Edwards. il
w. he Who prepared se srhcol Law, and
the Americsn Book companys which hs