The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-13
And Swanson Will Do His Best
to Abolish Tt.
1T HAS COST MILLIONS
And Many Innocent Men Have
Been Prosecuted.
BY THE REVENUE OFFICERS
Or. Mott Opens Headquarters at Wash
fngton and Settles Down to
Fight Out the Free Sill
YER Battle.

Washington, Feb 10 Special =
Congressman Swanson, of Virginia,
has taken some little interest in the
controversy that has been going on be-
tween the News and Observer and
Marshal Carroll. it viii be remem-
bered that | have several times made
reference in my letters to a bill of Mr..
Swanson's, which, in many respects, is
full of merit, and which he is pushing.
Mr.. Swanson was talking to me last
night of the abuses possible and, in
his district actual under the present
law. His bill is, Therefore, directed
against the fee system, giving the
United States Commissioners $1,000 a
year, and the marshals salary, |
think, of $4,000, as | have before stated
Mr.. Swanson has the statistics cover
ing the whole subject, a more detailed
reference to which | may make later.
Meanwhile he tells me that last year
half the cases handed up were frivol-
Gus and mo good" and that millions
of dollars were uselessly spent by the
Government IN fees, etc.
x Y
4 shrewd politician was talking to
me about the Senate nominations in
the Republican caucus, and made some
figures, which may or may not ac-
count for the high dudgeon'' of older
Senator's. The highest vote in the
caucus that nominated Grant was 49,
1t took 20 to elect. OF this 90, Is Sena-
tors we're from the following new free
silver States: Utah (2), Wyoming (2),
Washington ~, Oregon ~, Idaho (2l,
Montana (2), the two Dakotas (2),
there being Democrat from each, and
California az, the other being a Demo
crat. These young bucks" ran
away with the caucus in a
way that afterWard brought the older
Senators (both gold-bug and other
wise) to their senses, and these old
timers called halt. which viii proba-
bly, continue good for the rest Of the
session And just here il may be well
enough to say that in Sunday morn
ing's News and Observer. it was first
statedand before any other paper
anywhere that there had been d slip
The information | had came straight
from the Populist caucus. and almost
straight from the lips OF Quay, and ac-
cidental, though it was, it turned our
to be the announcement that did not
appear in the Washington papers until
Monday morning, the Sunday papers
having announced that the re-organiza-
ton would take place March lst.
x
Mr. r a. Anderson, an old Raleigh
boy, is here and Is an expert electro
clan. | went with him yesterday to
the room of the committee on Naval
Affairs, where a model boat was on ex-
hibition. Tt is to be propelled by elec-
tricity, and marks the first application
of electricity to boat 1t has three
screW-wheels on each side and two
astern, and, according to Mr. Ander-
son. viii cross the Atlantic in 8 DAYS.
malSipg 80 knots an hour 1T is the in
yention Of Mr.. Richard b. Painton, Of
Pennsylvania, who wants TO apply his
invention to the e. S. cruisers. The
bin is III charge of Representative Ar-
mold, Of pennsylvania, and Senator
Hill. and has passed second reading In
both Houses. If Ii goes through, II
viii be quite a feather IN Mr.. Ander
sons cap,
DR.. Mott yesterday opened his head
quarters In the Baltimore Sun building.
He will be permanently in Washing
ton until the close Of the national CAM
paign ard will direct the fight Of the
independent silver forces from here.
Temporary offices have been procured
ID the Sun building, which is also the
headquarters of the Binefallic lnion.
The two organizations can work 70 the
same end.
j. II. Devine, v no was secretary Of
the BimetaIlic Union. Is secretary Of
the executive committee OF the new
party Ite is a shrevd politician, and
much is expected Of his work
Chairman Mott says that since The
silver conference here Il few weeks
ago he has been at his home ip North
Carolina arranging his business al
fairs TO come here to take charge Of the
fight Of the silver people. While he has
done little SO fdY, II has been ascer-
tanned that the silver leaders have been
active and that In some states they arc
even now arranging to bring out an
electoral ticker, III anticipation that
the old parties will 80 back on silver,
and that the new party viii be forced
to become a reality.
The silver leaders say that the new
party with tire single idea is taking
enthusiastically ia every State and
viii reach formidable proportions
within few months, They eNultng-
Iv declare that from Merry York State
they have received le9eas, piedging
allegiance, from men If prominence
and influence III the old parties. 70
mention. they say, tie authors OF these
letters would create big sensations.
From the West ard South, il Is assert
ed. thousands of encouraging letters
have been received
SIR. J. d. Murphy, AshevilIe's we'll
known lawyer, arrived this morning,
and is az the Metropolitan. am told
that the new Asheyille morning daily