The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-30
COL. LESTER On THE TARIFF
His Views Upon The Work Of the
Recent Session Of Congress.

the Democratic Majority VIII Be
Reduced in the Next Conzress-He
win Take the Stump at Once in
Behalf of the Party Takes No Stock
in the Sugar Trust Charges, and
Says Jip Hines Will Be Roundly
/ Beaten.
/ Col Rufus E. Lester arrived in the city
I yesterday from Washington after bidding
/ President Cleveland pleasant goodby
I the day before. Col. Lester is the picture
Of hearty good health Evidently the
/ long session and the hard work have had
no i'll effect upon him. He was kept busy
( yesterday wherever he went, receiving
the hearty greetings Of his friends II
can be safely said that there is no con-
/ gresham from Georgia whose personal
I popularity with his constituents is so
great as Col Testers.
A MORNING News reporter called on
Col Lester yesterday and had a very
pleasant talk with him on the work of
the recent session Of congress and the
prospects of the Democratic party this
fan. Col. Lester does not regard the
prospects of the Democratic party at the
fall election as at all bad. He feels salts
fed that both the republicans and the
pOpulists will make small gains, but not
more than is usually the case in off years,
when the party in power usually suffers
small reyerses
The next congress will be demo-
cratic, " he said. The democratic ma or
ity viii hardly be as large, though, as in
the present congress. Losses may be ex-
pected in the eastern states, and IN the
northwestern states. The republicans
viii make some gains in the east, and the
pOpulists in the northwest. The effect
viii only be TO reduce the democratic ma
jority from its present unwieldly size TO a
working basis
TUE TARIFF ELL ALL RIGHT.
Col. Lester regards the tariff bill as a
fairly satisfactory measure He would
rather have seen free coal and free iron
ore in the bill, because the Democratic
party had promised the coun-
try these things, but the influences
brought to bear in the Senate
made this impossible He would also
have been glad for President Cleveland to
have signed the tariff bill thereby giving
his Endorsement TO the work of the demo
cratic congress and furnishing the
democratic congressman a strong argu-
ment in their campaigns this fall
However, | do not know but what he
is right said Col. Lester. HE is al
most always right. The bill does not
carry out his ideas, and after the pro-
nOunced position which he had taken he
could hardly be expected to give the bill
his Endorsement. That letter of the
Presidents to Congressman Catchings Of
Mississippi Is a great document, and will
make strong campaign material
MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
How do you regard the tariff bill2n
Col. Lester was asked
Il think, all things considered, that it
is very satisfactory measure he re-
piled. 1T is true that it might have been
better, but considering how long we have
been in the bondage of the protectionists
I regard the bill as a very long step,
indeed, away from protection and toward
free trade Because we have only gotten
part of the way up the hill, is no reason
why we should turn loose and go back to
the bottom A great deal has been &C
cOmplished, and the work of tariff reform
hereafter has been greatly simplifed and
made easy for future congresses, The
effect of the bill in restoring prosperity
TO the country, 1 think, will be i'm
mediate.
The duty placed upon sugar has created
some dissatisfaction. But l think this
has been greatly maRnifed. 1t is true
the duty is not entirely satisfactory. 1t
should have been arranged so as to give
no advantage to the sugar trust, which is
NLA1OUDuou4N VIC NdoC do INC jill now
stands Sugar is rightly considered a
revenue article, and in a tariff for revenue
there is no reason why duty should not
be placed upon sugar, but IL should have
been simply for revenue and not given
any advantage to the refners.n
THERE WAS NO CORRUPTION.
"Do you think that the charges Of cor
| ruption against certain of the senators in
regard to the tariff on sugar were well
fOunded?N Col. Lester was asked.
II do not believe there was any corrup-
ton whatever" was the reply. Certain
| senators seemed to be determined that
the sugar retiners should be given a GER
tain amount of protection, and the gen
eral Ceusure and comment which their
| actions produced seemed to have the
| effect of simply making them more stub
born. do not believe that Senator Cor
man was under any obligations whatever
TO the sugar trust, or that he and the
other senators with him received any
emolument directly or indirectly for their
efforts on this line. The fact that they
We're in opposition to the President
doubtless had the effect of making them
more stubborn.
How about Senator Hill2 What is
| thought of his position"
Hill is a dead cock in the pit He en-
deavored to antagonize the whole Demo
! cratic party ana succeeded admirably,
! Vests great speech showed Hill up in his
/ true light. His acrobatic performances
met with no favor among his colleagues"
THE INCOME TAX VERY POPULAR.
In speaking of the tariff bill, Col. Les
ter said that the income tax feature was
the most popular feature of the bill, ana
would prove of much benefit TO the Demo
cratic party.
When the income tax measure was
/ first proposed, said Col. Lester, lit was
! supposed that it would prove very unpop-
ular, and that the Senate would hardly
pass 1t. The result was somewhat sur
prlsing to those who fathered the meas
ure. In short while the income tax
/ became the most popular feature OF the
bill. and no bill could have been passed
through either house which did not con
tain this feature. The Senate became
even more pronounced in its favor than
/ the House"
I Col. Lester said he could not say what
/ financial measures would be proposed at
the next session OF congress There
/ would, doubtless, be a mum Der of propo-
siJions, he said.
From the Missouri west to the Pacific
the people have but one political creed"
/ he said and that is silver. Whether
/ they call themselves democrats, repubH-
/ cans or ropulists their creed Is the same.
and this is almost the sole topic OF dis
/ cuSsion. The Democratic party seems to