Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1897-05-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Special Correspondence

lnis Week, Indn TO CrltlClSe 1t. The
bill contains a number Of surprises,
but they know that Senators Aldricb,
Allison and Plat, Of Connecticut, who
compose the subcommittee which
drafted the amendments, had good
reasons for every amendment they
added, and that all three of them are
protectionists. The bill will be taken
up for debate on the 18th of this month,
and by that time the amendments will
have been thoroughly digested. The
bill was not accompanied by q report,
but both majority and minority will
make one later. Senator Allison saws
the addition Of "A cents a barrel in the
tax on beer and the placing of a duty
of 10 cents a pound on tea, both of
which are only to be collected up to
January /, 1900, were intended to sup.
ply revenue that will take the place of
what will be lost by reason of advance
im%portations.
The Senate has filled its committee
vacancies, passed the free homestead
bill, and rejected the arbitration
treaty.
Hon. w. j. Deboe, the new Republic
can Senator from Kentucky presented
his credentials and was sworn in this
week. He received many warm con.
CALCULATIONS.
senator Foraker has no cause to feel
ashamed of his maiden speech, altho'
1t was made on the spur of the moment,
In reply to some remarks of Senator
German charging that the Sundry
civil appropriation bill, which failed
to become a law at the last session and
which was before the Senate this week,
carried ~extravagant appropriations.
AS an amendment proposed by Senator
Foraker had drawn this scolding upon
the Senate, Mr.. Foraker promptly re-
piled. He began by calling attention
to Senator Germans having shouted
extravaganza at the Indian appro
priation bill, and to his having failed
then, and again in this instance, to
specify M single item that was ex.
travagant or unnecessary. Then warm
ing up Senator Foraker said: 80 far
as the tariff policy and the tariff bill
referred to by the Senator are con-
cerned, let me say that they need no
defense from me or from any other
Senator on this side of the chamber.
In view of the experience this country
has had during the last four years the
tariff policy of the Republican party is
speaking for itself more eloquently
than any human tongue can speak.
So far, Mr.. President, as the pensioners
OF the Government are concerned, the
Senator need not have the solicitude
he manifests. They will be taken care
of. They have never failed to be taken
care of under Republican admiuistra-
tons. For the next four years it is the
purpose OF the Legislation we propose
that the Government of the United
States shall have sufficient revenue TO
meet its ordinary expenditures; that it
shall have q sufficient revenue to make
it unnecessary to issue bonds to meet
the current obligations; that it shall
have a sufficient revenue to pay PEN
sions to the men who are entitled to
them, and it will all be discharged"
Senator Shoup, Of Idaho, says of the
amended Dingley tariff bill: II believe
'the committee made an honest effort
to treat all sections of the country
fairly and impartially. 1t is a we'll
recognized fact, how ever, that no bill
will meet THE unqualified approval of
all parties. The West, in my opinion,
has received favorable consideration.
We did not receive quite all we had
hoped for on wool, but on the whole
think the committee did the best it
could and strained a point to do it.
We had a hard fight on the lead
schedule and were lucky to get what
we did,"
Following a decision of the United
States Supreme Court, that pension ex-
aiming surgeons were not government
officials, but simply agents to be hired
and discharged at will by the Com
missioner OF Penions, Commissioner
Evans will not recognize those posi-.
lions as being under the civil service
rules. Speaking OF the matter Com
missioner Evans said: II can not 20
back on a Supreme Court decision, and
/ shall not hesitate about removing the
Democrats on all pension boaros at
once, and appointing Republicans in
their places" More than 200 boards
in the large cities will be affected by
this conclusion, and about 900 Repub.
licans will thereby get places on these
boards.
Senator Wolcott has gone to New
York where he will be joined by his
fellow commissioners, ex.Vice Presi.
dent Stevenson and Gen. Paine, and
tomorrw they will sail for Europe, for
the purpose of ascertaining by diplo.
matte negotiations the attitude of the
European nations towards information.
al bimetallism.
Speaker Reed got the laugh on those
who were charging him with bossing
the House and refusing to appoint the
committees 80 that general legislation
might be taken up at this session when