The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-06-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our regular Correspondent

II slaE -ltl III -
bers of the Senate Finance committee,
of each and all Of the sensational sto
ries which have been printed concern
ing tie sugar trust ard its alleged in
fuence In the making of the sugar
schedule of the tariff bill. has CON
WINGED all fair-mlnded people that the
alleged sugar trust scandal had no
firmev foundation than tiIe idle gossip
of irresponsible persons. based entire
IL upon conjecture and there Is little
room for doubt that the investigating
committee will so report n tile close
of the taking of testimony. and that
the report will be signed by every
member of the committee. Present
indications are that the Scotch YER
dict. mot proven will be rendered
on tire charge that certain Senators
specialized III sugar stock Hflie the
character of the sugar schedule OF the
tariff bill was in douht. on account Of
the difficulty of obtaining convincing
evidence on that subject. It Is zen
orally regretted. outside Of the Senate.
that the committee shOnld hayt raised
the old question of the right Of the
Senate to compel newspaper men to
Civ the source OF information receiy-
ed by them. III connection with this
investigation. No good can come out
of il. and. as Senator Hill aptiy said,
much harm may.
Tie last concerted effort of the re
publican Senators against the tariff
bill Is now being made against the su-
gar schedule. This is not because
they are SO much opposed to the sugar
sciledule-aS a matter Of fact a num-
Der of them are known 70 favor it
but because they believe that if they
a put sugar on the free list enough
democrats will refuse to vote for the
bill 20 enable them 10 defeat it. But
the scheme will not work. 1t is 0
as certain as anything net yet done
can be that democrats enough 10 make
a majority cannot be drawn into this
trap. although there are a number of
democratic Senators who would like
to see sugar on the free list. As soon
as the sugar schedule is adopted, it is
believed that the republicans will
agree to set a day to vote upon the
bill. rs they admit that If they cannot
beat the sugar schedule they cannot
beat the bill.
The southern democrats in the House
are making a determined fight to Sc
cure the repeal Of the tax on State
bank notes. The debate has been go
ing on all this week aud will probably
continue for a week or te2 days long
er, tire Enacted upon appropriation
bills having been temporarily laid a
side. The result is in doubt, depend
ing. many believe, on the attendance
when the vote is taken. If the at
tendance exceeds $50 the probabilities
are that repeal will be defeated. as the
largest claim made By the friends of
repeal Is 40 votes. But inasmuch as
those Aho favor the repeal Of the tax
are more interested in securing it than
those who oppose it are in preventing
1t. the chances are in favor of lie re-
pealeIs mastering their full siren 9Th
on the floor of the House when the
time to vote and winning, if
they can get the no votes claimed.
Some very interesting ard Instructive
speeches have been made BY demo-
Gratis both for and against repeal. The
republicans have not up TO this time
taken a conspicuous part in the de-
bate. although they are solidly onpos-
ed 10 repeal. Representative Black.
of Georgia, made a strong and bold
speeca, III favor of repeal, III which he
took The ground that the general gov
eminent had no right under tile con
stitntjon to impose such a tax. aud
stated his belief that the L. 5. Supreme
Court had no more right to bind the
action Of the House ina tie House
had TO bind the Supreme Court.
The investigation of the alleged ar
MOI plate frauds by the House com. !
mitree On Naval Affairs has SO far !
brought out nothing startling. The
committee will visit Homestead to see
If anything more than was found out
by Secretary HerbeIt's naval experts
can be learned.
Postmaster General Bissell doesn't
endorse the idea of the government
running the telegraph lines of the
country in connection with the Post
Of &c department. and he has written
a letter 10 Chairman Wise. OF the
House Commerce Committee. giving
his TeaSons. He thinks that the Post
Office Department has all that il can
do justice to in extending and perfect
ing the mail facilities of the country.
and II al the expense Of a telegraph
system would be IL of all proportion
to the benefit that Wculd be derived
therefrom by the people.
President Cleveland and Secretaries
Gresham. Carlisle. Smith and Morton
attended the Memorial Day exercises
at Arlington as guests Of the Grand
Army Of the Republic.