The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-09
TO TALK FREE SILVER
CONFERENCE OF DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS IN WASHINGTON
NEXT WEEK.
SENATOR JARVIS TO Be PRESENT.

the Best Method for the Silver Men
to Adopt to Insure II Silver Plat"
form and Silver Candidate in the
Next National COnventiOn---The
Comptroller and the Sugar Bounty.
Special to the News and Observer
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. s.
Ex-senator Jarvis is expected here next
week to attend the conference of Demo
cratic leaders to discuss the silver ques
ton. Senators Harris of Tennessee, and
Jones of Arkansas, are already here. 1t
will not be in the nature of convention,
and a very large attendance is not de-
sired. The chief object of the meeting is
to discuss the best method for the silver
men to adopt to insure silver platform
and silver candidate in the next Dem
ocratic National Convention.
The apparent growth of the gold senti-
ment in Kentucky and Georgia has al
armed those silver Democrats who be-
lieve that the only hope for the party in
1895 lies in devotion to the white metal,
but they say that this increased senti
ment in favor of gold is more apparent
than real, as will appear later on.
1t is not known whether any North
Carolinians other than Senator Jarvis
will be present at the conference.
The Comptroller and the Bounty.
The matter of chief interest here is the
argument before the Comptroller in re-
gard to the payment of So, 900, 900 boun-
ty to the sugar growers. The leading
papers of the country are so busy de-
nouncing the Comptroller for what they
call ''usurpation," &C., that they give
only the sugar bounty grabbers' side of
the controversy. Mr.. W. W. Scott, of
North Carolina, who holds an important
position here in the Treasury Depart
ment, gives a statement that ought to be
read before passing criticism. Mr.. Scott
writes:
'The sugar bounty, which was appro-
priated by the last Congress, has created
a little stir in some quarters by the &C
ton in regard to it of the Comptroller Of
the Treasury. Hon. r. B. Bowler, the
present Comptroller, is from Ohio and
comes from good old Democratic stock,
being nephew of the late Senator Geo.
Fl. Pendleton. Judge Bowler, as head of
this powerful Bureau of the Treasury
Department, has demonstrated his ca
pacity as a lawyer and has proved him
self possessed Of the qualities that go to
make up broad gagged, discriminating
Judge. His decisions all tend to sim
plifying and bring to state OF logl
cal uniformity the practice in the audit
ing bureaus. The first volume of his
Decisions is just from the press and is
luminous commentary upon the subjects
treated therein, furnishing stable and
unwavering guide, not only to the in
dividuals interested in the subjects con
sidered, but to auditing officers. In ad
dition to coming to the high office of
Comptroller whose powers were enlarged
by the last Congress), fully equipped as
a lawyer aud well endowed for entering
upon the intricate duties of this trying
position, Judge Bowler has manifested
a capacity for indefatigable exertion and
has devoted himself to the advancement
of the work and to the simplifcation of
the methods within his Jurisdiction. 1t
is an exacting position and the matters
of detail involved in the administration
of the Office require high order of ex
ecutive ability in the head of the Office,
who is besides, of necessity, held to the
consideration of profound and intricate
questions in his judicial capacity, not to
speak of the labor of compiling and di-
costing, in connection with his decisions.
lit is an Office that requires judgment
and tact in its administration and the
late sugar bounty ripple shows Judge
Bowler to be possessed of both. He has
aaf1 nd hnf oil a
sugar bounty people to do all the talk
ing, in which they have (unconsciously,
on their part completely indicated the
action of the Comptroller. What | say
here about it is all gathered from the
newspaper stories, which were inspired
by the sugar bounty people. The last
Congress appropriated So, 900, 900 for the
payment of certain sugar bounties
There arose doubt of the constitution
atty of the act authorizing the payment.
If the act is unconstitutional the gov
eminent ought not to pay out any money
under it, That is self-evident propo-
sition. There is only one way to test the
cons.itutionality of an act of Congress
by a decision of the Supreme Court
How to get it before the Supreme
Court The account for the payment
of the money, of the S., 600, 900, came
before the Comptroller for his decision
If he had approved it, the money would
have been paid over to the benefciaries,
the IS 900, 900 appropriated by an act
whose constitutionality was doubted,
and once paid would be gone forever
If the Comptroller finally disapproyes the
account on the ground thatthe act is IN
constitutional, it will be because that is
The only way open for getting the matter
before the Supreme Court. The sugar
bounty people we're insIncere in saying
there IS 10 appeal from the Comptroll
er's decision Technically there may not
be, ba, practically there is. The ques
ton ear oe heard by the Supreme Court,
either By m4ndamuS or through the in
strumeutaiiry of an independent sGi,
That is all there is OF it. The Comp
L. 1.