The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-05-07
W ashingtOn Letter.
JFrom our regular Correspondent

prominent persons VINO VIII take par1
in or view the dedicatory ceremonies
President Mckinley and his cabinet
the diplomatic corps, the Supreme
Court, Mrs. Grant and members of the
Grant family, and delegation ol
prominent Army and Navy officers
and their families went on one special
train today. The Senate and House
Committees, which go as the official
representatives of the legislative branch
of the Government went on regular
trains and to suit individual cOnven-
ience, but the members will meet and
remain together during the ceremonies.
Many other Senators and Representa-
tives have also gone, as it was agreed
beforehand that no business whatever
should be transacted at the meetings
OF the House and Senate today, and
those to be held on Thursday, they
being held merely to comply with the
constitutional requirement as to the
length of time that either branch of
Congress may adjourn without the
adoption of a concurrent resolution.
1t is expected that President McKin-
ley will shortly modify the civil service
rules. He has had an extended con-
ference with the Civil Service Commits
sion. Secretary Wilson stated before
the Senate subcommittee, which is
investigating the workings of the civil
service law and rules, that the present
rules hampered him in selecting ef-
ficient scientific subordinates, and in
written communication, Secretary
Gage expressed the opinion that
modification of the rules would be
beneficial to his department.
Representative Dorr, of West Vir-
ginia, has introduced bill for the out
right repeal of the civil service laws,
and he declares his intention to do
everything he possibly can to get the
bill acted upon.
Nothing could better illustrate
President McKinley's idea of the rela-
tions that should exist between the
Federal administration and the public
than the official announcement of the
selection of Judge VIM. r. Day, of
Canton, Ohio, to be First Asst, Secre-
tary of State, and Ex-Representative
Bellamy Storer, of Ohio, to be U. S.
minister to Belgium, three days before
their nominations were sent to the
Senate. President Mckinley believes
that as soon as anything has been de-
termined upon, the people have a
right to be informed of it, and acts
accordingly.
Secretary Wilson is much pleased
with the reception Of his effort to in
crease the culture of sugar beets in
those sections of the country where
the climate and soil seems to indicate
success with this crop. So great has
been the demand for the seeds that
the large supply contracted for by
Secretary Wilson when he first took
charge of the Agricultural department
has been almost exhausted.
The Death of Representative Milli-
ken recalls the fact that no number of
the Maine Congressional delegation
died in office before Mr.. Milliken,
since 1888, when Representative
Jonathan P. Cilley, of Maine, was shot
dead by Representative Graves, of
Kentucky, with whom he fought a
duel.
Senator Allison, who is member of
the subcommittee engaged in going
over the Dingley bill before it is re-
'ported to the full Finance Committee
by the way, this subcommittee is
not taking any holiday either night or
day this week-gave caller a good
idea of the manner in which the work
of revision is being done, when he said
"Here is letter from a manufacturer
of backing How many ingredients
! do you suppose there are that enter
into its manufacture? Well, more
than dozen. Some of these ingredi-
ents have been transferred from the
free to the dutiable list. Some have
had the rates increased and some de-
creased. Each article has a direct
| bearing on this mans business. He
writes us that blacking is sold in pack
ages of certain size, which cannot
we'll be varied also that most of the
blacking is imported from France, and
that the industry in this country is in
its infancy, but is making fair progress.
If we retain the House rates on certain
ingredients he mentions, he asks that
we also make small Increase on
blacking and suggests that 1t will
be easier to do this than to change the
rates OH the dozen articles which enter
into his product. His request does
not seem unreasonable, does it, if the
facts are as he states? Well, we have
looked into the rates on every one
of the ingredients mentioned and their
bearing on his product, and find his
statement correct. That is the way
we are doing our work on the tariff
[ bill, and think it is better than to do
j this man an iniustica and nossiblY