The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, June IL, 1894

!"
Senator Harris believes ,ha. be can reach
the fnal vote on the tariff bill before next
Saturday night, if every Senator who has
promised to vote for the bill will stand by
him, to the extent of little personal incon-
venience and discomfort, and he has during
the last 4s hours been trying hard to get
them to agree. He has the promises Of all
the democratic Senator'S be has seen, but he
had not up to this morning, owing 10 the
absence of several democratic Senators and
the sickness of Senators German and
Mcpherson, succeeded in getting the assur-
ance of the quorum it will be necessary for
him to have behind him to succeed in forcing
vote. 1t is now almost certain that the
republican Senators have been wilfully de-
ceiving the democrats in leaving them under
the impression that they were on the eve Of
agreeing 20 name day for taking the final
vote. 1t is not probable that they will ever
agree to set date until forced to do so by
the democrats. There is no earthly reason
for continuing the debate beyond this week,
yet the republicans are talking Of keeping it
up until the middle of July, and they will do
it, too, if the democrats do not prevent it BY
keeping quorum of their own present to
shut them of.
There is much dissatisfaction among demo.
Gratis in the House over the sugar schedule of
the tariff bill as it has beeo adopted by the
Senate, and the prediction is freely made BY
democrats that the House will never agree 10
it in its present shape. 1t is argued by its
opponents that the tariff on refined sugar is
prohibitve and will result in no possible
benefit for anybody except the sugar trust
and an attempt is now being made to organ
ize the democrats 10 the House against it and
IN favor of free refined sugar.
The only one of the reciprocity treaties
made under the reciprocity clause of The
Mckinley tariff law that was ever Of any
practical benefit in increasing the sale Of
American products abroad-thst with Spain
providing an exchange of certain products
with Cuba and Porto Rico-will soon be
abrogsted BY Spain. The State department
has official Information that the Spanish
Cortes, will, By direction Of the government,
pass an act suthorizing Cuba and Porto Rico
to collect ,ransitory duty of "a per cent on
al articles now on the free list Of the reci.
procity treaty.
The House Commerce committee has de.
ided that none of the Nicaragua canal bills
before it were satisfactory, aod has directed
subcommittee to prepare new bill with
these four objects in view: to prevent the pay
ment to the present Nicaragua canal company
of an excessive sun Of its property and con-
cessions; to keep spectators from pro6ting
by the project; to provide for the issuance of
United States notes for the cost Of the con-
struction of the canal rather than bonds,
and to secure complete aud permanent con-
troll to the United States government Mem
bers of the committee express the belief that
a bill along these lines can easily be passed.
aud that it will be approved by the people of
the country.
The overwhelming defeat in the House of
the bill for the repeal of the tax on state
bank currency is regarded as an indication
that there will be no financial legislation at
this session of Congress, although Represen-
,ative Springer has not abandoned hope
OF getting action on his bill for a national
currency.
Coxey and his two lieu,enants we're released