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

III thhV ClVJ uuu WIN Lne ceremonies
attending the dedication of the monu
ment to Gen, Grant, in which he was
a distinguished participant.
The Republicans of the Senate Fl.
n Committee will present the
amended Dingley tariff bill to the full
committee the first of next week, and
the date upon which the bill will be
reported to the Senate depends entirely
upon the tactics of the Democratic
members of the committee. They say
that they have no intention Of delay
ing the reporting of the hill longer
than necessary for them to digest the
amendments, but there are circum
stances which have aroused the sus'
picion that they do not intend to hurry
themselves in "digesting" the amend
ments, However, it isn't exactly fair
to accus them in advance.
Republicans generally are pleased
that the Kentucky Legislature has
elected a Republican Senator, but those
from Kentucky who are applicants for
Federal offices are especially pleased,
because all Kentucky appointments
had been held up on account of legis
lative deadlock. Although the vote of
Senator Deboe will not make q Repub.
lican majority in the Senate and was
not needed to assure the passage of the
Dingley tariff bill, he will get a warm
welcome from his Republican col.
leagues in that body.
Both branches of Congress met yes.
terday, but in accordance with the
agreement made last week adjourned
without t%ransacting any business, until
Monday. There was not q large at.
tendance in either House or Senate, rs
many Senators and Representatives
have not yet returned from New York.
When Secretary Gage took charge of
the Treasury department he found a
rulei in force by which all official letters
prepared in all the bureaux of the de-
partment for the signature of the Sec
rotary or of any of the Assistant Sec
retaries, must be first SEN to the chief
clerk. This rule was made 80 tat
Logan Carlisle, who was chief clerk,
could examine every important official
letter sent out by the Treasury while
his father was Secretary, but Secretary
Gage couldn' t see that any good pur.
pose was served by such a method, sc
he promptly abolished the rule as soon
as his attention vas called to it, and
present chief clerk is almighty glad OF
1t, as he thinks he has quite enough to
do without attempting to supervise al
the official correspondence.
AT the Grant birthday celebration OF
U. S. Grant Post G. A. R., Pension
Commissioner Evans made a speech in
which he clearly outlined the policy he
intends to pursue in the management
of the Pension Bureau. He said: I'm
my official position 1 find myself con
fronted by grave responsibilities. But
l want to say, l shall endeavor to dc
my duty to the old soldiers. l am moi
here to send spies out through the land
to see how | can prevent giving pen.
sions to old soldiers. | simply wan
the Government to do its duty by the
old soldiers, the men who saved thic
nation. want to grant to them such
pensions as the law allows. We dc
not want any hair splitting over these
pension cases. but at the same time we
do not want to let the machine run
away with us. AS q public servant
shall strive to do my duty both by the
Government and my old comrades.
with q full appreciation of the respon
sibilities involved in the performance
The Representatives. of Hawaii in
Washington have become alarmed a
the fight that is being made on the
reciprocity treaty, and Mr.. Thurston
who is in this country as specia.
commissioner from the Government Of
Hawaii, has presented a long and care
fully prepared statement to the Senate
Finance Committee opposing abroga
ton of the treaty. According to Mr.
Thurston, the debtor and credit col
umns between the United States anC
hawaii since the reciprocity treaty ha,
been in effect stands as follows: Ha
waiian duties RENTED on American
products Sal 000, 900; profits made by
Americans from freights, commissions
ship building, insurance, sugar, anC
merchandising S52, 251, 1906, existing
property acquired by Americans S43,
731, 544, making a total of the accrued
benefits to the United States of SIC,
982, 949. And against this he charger
500. S99, PAL, the amount of duties re
mitted bv the United States on Hs
waiian products. which gives a balance
in favor of the United States of $61,
OS3, 500. As il is the general belief tina
the annexation Of Hawaii is only
question of time, is rot likely that tn
reciprocity treaty will be sbrogated
although most persons regard Mr.
Thurston's figures as much exaggerated
as to our financial benefit Hereunder
There are weightier reasons than dol
lars and cents why this country mus
either own or control Hawaii.
Those Telephones.
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