The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-21
T T
WASHINGTON, March II. 1894.

D0moCidIo, eVeu tuOSe WHO are
personally opposed to some Of the
changes made, are glad that the Senate
Finance committee has at last got the
tariff bill in. a shape to make its passage
by the Senate certain. 1t is really
surprising, in view oftbe radical change
made by taking sugar. iron ore, coal
aud lead ore from the free list and put
ting a duty upon them. that the demo-
Gratis of the House are not louder in
their objections. But they regard the
matter from a common sense point Of
view. knowing that the democrats Of
the Senate Finance committee yielded
nothing that it was not absolutely
necessary to yield in order to get the
votes necessary to pass the bill, and also
that they will have another chance at
the changes when the bill goes to con-
ference after its passage by the Senate.
The republicans Of the Finance COM
mittee would like to waste a month or
so by keeping the tariff bill 10 COM
mittee, but the democrats will not allow
aoy such time. If they will agree to
have the bill reported in a week the
democrats will allow them that much
time ; if not the bill will be reported
sooner without their consent.
Secretary Herbert's answer to the
House resolution asking by what autbori-
ty be ordered Admiral Skerrett to obey
Mr.. Blount when he went to Hawaii
as Special Commissioner. was, in short,
that it came from the COMMANDMENTS
Chief of the Army and Navy-the Presi.
dent of the United States and be cited
seven presidents for the action, dating
from 1923 to 1881.
Senator Blanchard assumed his new
duties to-day and Justice White, bis
predecessor, was sworn in as a member
Of the Supreme Court. If Mr..
Blanchard makes as good a reputation
in the Senate as be leaves behind him
in the House the people of Louisiana
will doubtless ratify the selection Of the
governor by keeping him there.
Representative Kilgore, of Texas.
was cot altogether wrong, although
rather too general, when he said in the
course Of the debate on the District of
Columbia appropriation bill. concerning
the newspapers of Washington 1.-The
newspapers of Washington have never
failed to advocate any scheme, I don't
care how Infamous it was. that looked
to the expenditure of the public money
in the interest of spectators 10 and
around the city. l never knew Of an
instance in which they did rot advocate
such schemes" In reply to a protest
from Representative Blair Of N. H..
Mr.. Kilgore continued .4Well, I make
the distinct charge that the newspapers
are corrupt and that they advocate
every corrupt scheme that has been
introduced into Congress to plumber the
Treasury in the interest of private
interests.
| Democrats in Congress are in
thorough sympathy with the Depart
mental Compression Commission which
has been engaged for many months in
looking into the business methods Of
the Government Departments, With a
view to recommending changes looking
to a reduction Of unnecessary red tape
aud Of unnecessary officials. Every
recommendation Of the Commission has
been promptly acted upon by Congress,
the last one-for abolisbing the Bureau
of Customs Of the Treasury Department
having been passed by the House
without an hours discussion. Slowly
but surely the leaven Of reform is work.
ing. The results Of thirty years Of
extravaganza and favoritism cannot be
overthrow 10 a day. or a year, but
they will be overhrown in the end.
This the democrats are determined upon.
Senator Mcpherson has this to say
about the charge that the sugar clause Of
the revised tariff bill gives the sugar
trust undue advantage: LAS I drew
the sugar schedule. ought to
know what it means, and [
certainly know what it was intend to
mean. The entire discriminating duty,
according to my calculations, thas
refined sugar is accorded by the bill it
sixteen hundredths Of one cent. Now.
when you take into account the
bounty paid by Germany for its export
ed sugar, and the fact that German
sugar is shipped in bags which are not
dutiable, and which can be used over
and over again, it will be seen that the
American re6ner is given no advantage
over his German competitors. In truth.
the German exporter has one hundredth
Of a cent per pound advantage over the
American re6ner after he has paid our
import duty. Now. if any one disputes
these figures of mine, and can show me