The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-05-08
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
Democratic Party'' Civil Service-Ding-
ley Tariff Bill-HaWaii.
Regular Correspondence of the WING.

The Republican msmLers Of the Senate
! Finance Committee have completed the
work of amending the Diugley tariff bill,
and unless the Democratic members of the
committee cause some unnecessary delay
the bill will he reported 10 the Senate, this
week. The bill has not been made public,
but it is <u Iwn that it has been amended
in nearly every schedule, aud that as a rule
the amr''' ..ru's provide for slightly low
ching the duties iroHI those in the original
bill, although in some cas es they are raised.
The bill is still IA distinctly Republican
protective measure, just as everybody knew
it would he, but whether on the whole it
Is an i'm proyrnrnt upon the original bill
is of course, largely a matter of personal
opinion. The average Republican ouIy
asks for tariff that will protect all Amti-
can industries and products alike, and 1t is
not disposed to haggle over the precise iae
Of duty 10 be Imposed on any particular
article oI articles. Il is claimed by the
Senator's who have framed these amend
ments that they are intended to increase
the revenues of the government without
any sacrifice of the principle of protection.
Senator Frye doesn't believe the abroga-
ton of the reciprocity treaty with Hawaii,
which the sugar trust is demanding through
its lobby, is possible. He said, "The
representatives. of the Sugar Trust are now
seeking the ahrogation Of this treaty with
more than usual ENERGY and activity They
are deeply interested in abrog,tion, and |
don't know Of any one else who is In
their efforts to ~rcuIe their own interests
they are miSreprrS'nting the Disadvantages
to the United States from this treaty and
conceajng the advantages. The advan-
tages are manifold and the disadvantages
small"
There are few people around Washing
ton, who do not believe that the annrXa-
ton OF Hawaii is one OF the certaintes Of
the near future. Whether the recently
reported attitude If Japan towards Hawaii
VIII result in fastening annexation is yet
to he determined. An official speaking of
the matter said: This government is not
alarmed or annoyed Ivy the reports OF
japanese restlessness and load war talk.
That nation has not recovered from its
victory over China yet. and it feels as if it
owns the world. a little buster will do
no harm to any one, but you may rest
assured that the Japanese will do nothing
more than buster. After the tariff bill
has been disposed OF, the Senate may have
an opportunity to act upon treaty pro-
viiing for the annexation Of Hawaii.
Meanwhile you may be sure that the L. $.
Navy will back Hawaii in enforcing its
immigration laws, against the japanese or
any other nationality
President Mckinley touched the electric
BUTTON that started the machinery OF the
Tennessee Centennial Exposition, at Nash
Vile, and later he expects to visit the expo
stion in person and to carry with him a.
many members Ct his cabinet as can 90
He has expressed much interest in the sue
cess of the exposition.
If President Mckinley had never until
within the last ten days thought of annul-
ing some of the extensions Of the Civil Ser.
vice rules made by Mr. Cleveland, the facts
brought out during that time would have
started him to thinking about it Testi-
mony taken by the Senate committee that
is Investigating this subject has already
made it plain that the whole thing was
manipulated to the advantage of Demo
Gratis and the disadvantage of Republicans,
and entirely regardless of the best interests
of this committee letters were read from
Postmaster General Gary and from Sccre-
tary Long, in favor of changing, and Public
Printer Palmer fired this broadside: "As
applied to this Office Government Printing
Office while is simply great manufacture
ing plant, involving varied branches Of
skilled labor OF high grade, the civil ser.
vice rules are, in my judgment, an obstruc-
ton rather than an aid to efficiency and
economy In my opinion the civil service
rules as promulgated for enforcement here
should be modified radically, suspended OF
repealed" Hon. \. r. Scott, the West
Virginia member of the Republican
National Committee, who has been ten.
dered the position of Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue, says that he docsn't
want the place and will not take it unless
the extension of the civil service rules tc
collectors and guagers is rescinded.
Secretary Alger has abolished the spy
system of keeping the time of the EN-.
ployees of the War Department, which was
adopted under the Cleveland admintratior
and which has been source of much irri
tation to the employees. General Algei
takes the ground that man who cannot
be trusted to do his duty without being
watched is unworthy of employment by
the government, or by anybody else and
the War Department clerks will hereafter
work on honor.