The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-23
TESTERS TRIP SOUTH.
The First Districts Representative
on the Situation in Congress.

Question Beyond Doubt-What the
Trouble Is-The Result to Make Sill
yer the Issue in the Next Campaign.
No Immediate Change Likely in the
Local Ofices-The New Public
Building.
Hon. Rufus E. Lester arrived in the
city yesterday morning from Washing
ton on his way to attend Bulloch county
court. Col Lester spent yesterday with
his son-in-law, Mr.. Edward Karow, and
left last night for Statesboro. He will
probably spend a few days in Savannah
on his return from Bulloch county, unless
called to Washington in the change Of
the situation there.
Col. Lester said to a MORNING NEWS
reporter that the lower house of
congress is doing practically nothing
now, merely waiting for the Senate to
come to some decision on the silver ques-
tion.
II think a compromise will be reached
in the Senate very soon now,n he said in
answer to a question. THE indications
all point to a compromise very much on
the line indicated in your dispatches. The
decision will probably be to discontinue
the purchases of silver one year hence,
and in the meantime to continue the pur-
chase of silver and its coinage, as required
by the Sherman law, until the time
named for its expiration"
"Will this compromise be accepted by
the President, do you thinkl'' Col. Lester
was asked.
A COMPROMISE PROBABLE.
"Well think it very probable that it
will be. The Senate leaders would hardly
come to such decision unless they had
some indication that it would be accepted
by the President. The question will then
como back to the House, and we will have
to pass on it again"
The House, Col. Lester said, will very
probably accept the conclusion reached
by the Senate without material altera-
ton, and an early settlement of the silver
question may be hoped for.
what is the matter with the Senate"
Col. Lester was asked, that it cannot
agree to unconditional repeal2"
The trouble with the Senate" he re-
piled, lis the doubt as to what total repeal
means and what will be its result I'm
doubtedly hegeneral sentiment is largely
in favor of repeal, both in the House and
Senate. The question is, after repeal,
whatl The friends of silver fear that a
repeal of the Sherman silver law means
the complete establishment of gold mono
metallism. They fear that total repeal
would leave them without any resource
whatever. The stand taken by the
President does not encourage them
to believe that he would exercise his
influence for the maintenance of silver
coinage, should the bill be repealed.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE.
'True, President Cleveland is a bimet-
allist, but he seeks to bring about bimet-
allism by international agreement. and
the fpip06c nf ciluaV. houo 1iEfIo ho,N 0e
any favorable result from international
conferences. The Sherman silver law is
regarded by majority of both parties as
unsatisfactory, but the friends of silver
see nothing to hope for in the Presidents
attitude toward silver, and that is the
reason for the long and weary fight that
is still in progress
Col. Lester intimated that the majority
in favor of repeal in the Senate was only
apparent, and that many senators whose
votes were counted upon for repeal would
be very glad to avoid the final test This
is why he regards a compromise as GER
tain.
Col. Lester does not regard the probable
result as at all satisfactory. He says it
will make silver theissue in the next cam
paign, with the result of producing strife
and dissension within the party lines,
and confusion generally in politics.
The WA1b AND MEANS COMMITTEES TASK.
Col. Lester said the ways and means
committee of the House is now at work
on tariff bill. The task is not an easy
one and the prospect of a successful issue
to their labors is not yet in sight The
general opposition to the Mckinley bill
on the one hand, and the evident fact
that the government cannot well get
along on less revenue than it is receiving
at present, complexities the situation, he
said. 1t is proposed, as one means of re-
lief, to repeal the sugar bounty and re-
place the tariff on sugar. This would cut
both ways. reducing expenditures and in
creas1ng the revenues at the same time
The sugar interests, which are well cared
for under the present law, are opposed to
any change, however, and many
democratic congressman oppose the
placing of a tariff on sugar on the
grounds that it is an article of general
consumption, and practically a necessity.
This is one of the tough nuts that the
committee will have to crack, and there
are good many more besides.
THE LOCAL OFFICES
Col. Lester does not give much en-
enlargement to the gentlemen who are
anxious to serve Uncle Sam, in Savannah.
He said he has no idea when the changes
in the custom house and poStoffice will
take place, nor could he say who would
be appointed. He did not seem to think
that the government lightning would
strike in this direction Immediately.
The plans for Savannah's postofice are
now in the hands of the government
architect, Col. Lester said, but he appre-
hends there will be considerable delay
before the work is begun here. The lack
of money in the treasury is the drawback
at present
Col. Lester said that if action is taken
by the Senate on the silver bill and the