The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1893-12-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ls, 1898.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l8, 1898.
representative Holman, chairman of the
democratic caucus has, after consulting with
his democratic colleagues decided not to call
the caucus which it has been determined 10
hold to cons der the Wilson bill, until after
the Christmas recess. There are several
reasons, all good, for this decision. Many
democrats have already gone home 10 spend
Christmas aud if he caucus had been held
this week it would consequently have been
slimly attended. Besides, those who spend
their holiday ut home will get an oppor-
tuLity TO learn just how the Wilson bill has
been received by their constituents which will
enable them TO lay before the caucus any
objections which may exist. 1t is in fact
very fortubafe that the bill has been delayed.
1t will enable the democrats to do what has
never been done before-co1suit the people
about the details of II tariff bill.
The republicans Of the House have an
nounced with a great flourish of trumpets
that thev will not vote with democrats who
oppose any section of the Wilson bill to amend
the measure. A more unnecessary announce
meut was never made 1t was, OF course,
made solely for the purpose OF misleading
the cuuntry into The belief that there are
to succeed in doing 80, if the republicans
would oply vote with. them. There are it is
true a number of democratic Representatives
not so large, however, as the republicans
would like the country 10 6elieve-wbo will
endeavor 70 get the bill amended ia CAUCUS,
but failing in that there are not Eve of them
who will refuse to vote for the till.
The House has shown itself to be thor
oughly in accord with the policy of the
democratic party by taking I'D vantage of the
unavoidable delay 10 getting the tariff bill
ready, to pass bills admitting to statehood
Utah, Arizons and New Mexico, although
republican flibustering made it necessary
for the Committee on Rules TO report
continuing orders before it could be done.
The people Of these territories are not likely
to forget this republican fiibus,ering
Congressmen, particularly those who have
been 80 precipitate in their eriticiem, will do
we'll TO spend par, of their Christmas holi-
day in studying President Clevsland's specisl
message and the Hawaiian documents Of
which it ireats. 1t will not be necessary for
them to endorse the Presidents Hawaiian
policy in It's entirety to discover how absurd
Senator Hosr's remarks about impeachment
were There bias been neither technical nor
actual violation of either the fstter 0r~the
spirit OF the Constitution by the President;
the idea that there had been WAS conceived
by uaiignsnt partisanship and nurtured BY
such men rs Hoar.
Ar }. R. Sovereign, the new head Of the
Knights Of Labor, is in Washington, in
attendance upon the conference OF the
Executive committee of the Bi-metalic
he 10 in m Y
Speaking of the tariff he said: ~ am An out
and out free trader. The so-called protection
OF American labor il n deluson. Labor is
not protected Invested capital receives
bonus in The form of protection, and it Is then
optional with the capitalist TO givea share OF
the oonus to labor in the form OF Increased
wages. But this option is seldom, II ever,
exercised" There is food for reflection III
these words of Mr. Sovereign, who is certain
ly in position to speak from the point OF
view of the American wage-earher.
Representative Culher,son, chairman of the
House Judiciary committee considers II very
doubtful whether bankruptcy bill OF any
kind will get through the House At this
session, although Representative Bailey, will
TO push his voluntary bankruptcy
bill and Representative Oates will introduce
new bill modifying The TORY bill, which was
recently killed in the House.
II has about been decided that the lnterna!
revenue bill shall include an inheritance tax,
but .1s still an open question whether this
tax shall take the place Of the psoposed income
tax or shall he in addition thereto. II IS not
considered probable by members OF the Ways
any Means committee that The internal revenue
bill will be reported to the House until after
the HOLIDAYS. The tariff till will be reported
to the House Tomorrow, unless something now
shall prevent, hut it will not be
called up for debate until after the recess