The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-09
PROTECTION THE RULING IDEA.
NO WAVE OF PROSPERITY ROLLING
IN, COL. LESTER SAYS.


He Does Not Think the Mckinley Adj
minIstration VIII Make Everybody
Rich Just Yet-The Manufacturers
VIII Have Full swing-PrOsDects
For Financial Legislation Not
Brisht-COI. Lester Thinks the
south Is Entitled to Protection
Upon Its Industries While That
Policy IL in VOguc-Undecided as
Yet About Sea Island Cotton.
Hon Rufus e. Lester arrived home yes
terday and will remain until Friday. when
he will return to Washington to assume
his duties as a member of the Fffty-fifth
congress. He is stopping with his son-in-
law, Maj. Edward Karow.
Col Lester is looking much better than
he did when he left Savannah about three
months ago. His face has a better color
and his voice is stronger. He is suffering
from a sprained ankle just now. While
walking on the icy pavements Of Wash
ington a week ago he slipped and gave
his ankle a severe wrench. This compelled
him to lay up for a few days and prevent
ed his witnessing the Inauguration Of
President Mckinley That does not seem
to cause him any great regret, however
When seen yesterday by a Morning News
reporter, Col Lester expressed himself
freely on various matters of national in
terest. He is well acquainted with Pres
ident Mckinley and thinks well of him per-
sonally. but he does not look forward to
his administration with any hope for the
reason that he believes Mr.. Hanna and his
crowd will have full sway, and with them
the Savannah congressman has very lit
tie in common.
Protection, he is satisfied, vii. be placed
before financial legislation, and in the ar
rangement of the new tariff bill he expects
to see the manufacturers get all the fat
and the producers get the crumbs or MOTH
ing. This is one reason why he thinks
the request of the sea island cotton plant
ers for protection for their product against
Egyptian cotton will not be granted,
though he has not satisfied himself as yet
that protection would prove a benefit to
the cotton growers.
IF protection is to be the rule" said Col.
Lester. 1.-THE south should get what benefit
1t can from the system. The lumbermen
in the north have a good strong pull and
the duty on lumber will doubtless be in
creased. AS to rice and other southern
products the prospect is doubtful"
win new tariff bill be framed at once
and pushed through congress?" Col. Lester
was asked.
Hardly" he replied, though that is
what the republicans would like to do
Framing the new tariff bill will not be
such an easy matter. The revenue must
be increased in order to prevent a deficit
If high tariff is adopted it will be prac-
tieally prohbitive and the revenue will be
decreased instead of increased. The cas-
lest way to increase the revenue would be
to lower the tariff and let in importations,
but then 1t would not be a protective tariff.
rs there any prospect of legislation for
financial relief?" Col. Lester was asked
Il do not see any prospect whatever of
such legislation" he replied. "a bill win
probably be passed to increase the power
of the national banks by giving them the
right to issue currency on their bonds up
to the face value, but this viii do little
good unless the banks are required to issue
currency up to the face value of their
bonds. Mr. Mckinley will probably be
authorized TO appoint commissioners to
an international monetary conference
which means that nothing will be accom-
plished."
Col. Lester said he did not know what
would be done with the numerous bills
left unsigned by President Cleveland
though probably some effort will be made
to rush them through the present con-
gress, in order that they may be signed
by President Mckinley. Unless something
of the kind is done some of the depart
ments of government work will be Sc
riously Inconvenience. The sundry civil
bill, which includes the appropriation for
the Savannah harbor work, is in the lot
BY a compromise agreement reached by
the House and Senate conference commit
tee, the horizontal reduction of % per
cent. in the appropriations of the bill by
the Senate was cut in half, making the
reduction only 1919 per cent. This makes
the Savannah appropriation $S50,000 pro-
vided the bill is gotten through the pres
ent congress all right.
Col. Lester fails to see any indications
of the approach of the wave of prosperity
which has been announced as about 10
roll over the country ever since the last
November election, and he thinks times
will continue hard for some time to come