The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Senator Hills fight against the income tax
was a futile one, and be did not get even the
support of all those be had counted spon.
Whether it was that fact or something else be
conducted the fight with such bitterness that
be has made enemies among the democratic
Senator'S who will never forgive him for the
language he used and the manner in which be
used it. Senator Hill could have made
fight against the income tax without Offend
ing single democrat who favors 1t, but he
chose to do otherwise, and even those who
agree with him in opposing the tax are now
unanimous in saying that Ee has made
mistake that he will never be allowed to for
get. No man objects more TO being driven
than he. Yet he tried 70 drive his democratic
colleagues.
The end of the fight agaiast the income tax
is the end Of the legitimate fight against the
tariff bill, and unless there is some republi-
can trickery the bill Will pass the Senate and
be n the hands Of the conference committee
before the close of this week. Such republi-
can Senators as Aldrich, Sherman aud Teller,
W.. do nothing to prevent II vote being
reached, the Legitimate debate being over, but
there is a gang of guerillas on the republican
side of the Senate (men like ''litte Billy"
Chandler, of N. H. which may attempt to
fllibuster against vote, not with any ex-
pectation Of defeating the bill, but just because
of their ''pure cussedness Public interest,
recognizing the early passage of the bill, is
now centered upon the changes that will be
made in it by the conference committee.
That there will be number Of changes is
regarded as certain, and il is fair TO presume
that they will all lean towards the original
Wilson bill as il was passed by the House,
although probably in few, if any, instances
going all tae way. TIE Sugar schedule is
regarded as one OF the certain changes to be
made, but i; will hardly go as far as free
sugar, because OF the opinion that some
reveGue must be raised from sugar.
Senator Brice. who is chairman Of the
Senate committee on Pacific Railroads, has
treat in store for the members Of tha! COM
mittee, which vii combine pleasure with the
accumulation of useful knowledge Of the
property with which the committee has to
deal. As soon as Congress adjourns be will
take the committee in his private Car on a
tour over the entire Union Pacific, and Cen
trail Pacific railroads.
The Hatch anti-op,on bill, which passed
the House By vote of $50 10 81, has been
before Congress in one or another shape for
the last FIVE years. II was shown by the
manner in which party lines were dsTegarded
when the vote was taken-tor the bill, demo.
Gratis SO, republicans Al, and popuists To-;
against, democrats 81, republicans 26-that
politics did no. Influence the members to any
marked extent. The anti-option bill was
originally introduced in the Fifty-6rst Con-
gress by Representative Funston, OF Klaus,
who was chairman Of the House committee on
Agriculture at that time, and it was intro
duced in the preseo, and in the Ffty-second
Congresses by Representative Hatch of Mis-
souri,, DOW at the head OF the Committee of
Agriculture.
By the way, Speaking Of Funston, Of Kans.,
the House committee on Elections has decided
that he is not entitled TO the seat he now holds
in the House, because Mr.. Moore, his demo-
cratic competitor was legally elected thereto.
Speaker Crisp, who was confined to his room
nearly all Of last week by a Troublesome
attack ofndigestion, is again presiding over
the House, which is once more peggiug away