The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-07-15
WASHINGTON.
v,om our Regular Correspondent.

Another proof has been given of
The power of the money kings over
This administration. Mr.. Mckinley
has virtually been compelled to send
a special message to Congress, asking
for legislation to carry out the wishes
of the bankers for the appointment OF
a commission to report what financial
legislation the country needs Mr..
Mckinley must know that the silver
Senators will not allow this legislation
TO be voted upon at this session if
he doesn't, he will very soon learn if
an attempt is made to push it in the
Senate.
The Senate this week passed the
tariff bill the House declined to ac-
cept the Senate amendments, and the
trust-trade document is now in the
hands of conference committee.
The confidential agents of the various
trusts are in Washington in force to
see that their interests are taken care
of by the conference committee. The
length of time that the bill remains in
conference will depend entirely upon
the strength Of the light that will be
made against some of the extraordi-
nary favors granted the trusts.
knowing that the will of Car Reed
his utter disregard of the Constitution,
and his parliamentary somersaults
when cornered as Representative Nc
Milhn cornered him this week when
he moved to suspend the rules and
adopt the Morgan Cuban resolution,
are sufficient to prevent any action by
the House, the republican Senators
are trying to bamboozle the voters of
the country by little anti-Spanlsh
buncombe. This week Senator Lodge,
from the committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. reported a resolution authoriz-
ing the President to use force, if nee.
essary, to compel Spain to pay the in
demnity demanded by two naturallzec
American citizens who were illegally
arrested in Cuba in 1895. If there
were any intention to put this resolu
ton through Congress, it would be
commendable thing to bring it forward
as Spain has refused to pay any atten
ton to diplomatic demands for thi
indemnity for two much wronged clt'
zens of the United States; but TO brln
it forward with no real intention c
having it adopted by both branche
of Congress, merely as political play
is adding insult to to the injury a
ready received by the two unfortunate
For some unexplained reason tn
members of the Senate committee o
Foreign Relations have changed the
minds about not reporting the treat
tor the annexation of Hawaii until tt
regular session, and will report it
once with recommendation that
be ratified. An attempt is being mac
to get the consent Of the opponen
of the treaty to vote at this sesslo
it having been ascertalned that Il
necessary votes to ratify can be O
tanned.
1t is not surprising that men of
dinary comprehension should hnd
difficult to understand the theory
''protection" upon which the repub
can tariff bill, passed by the Sena
this week, was constructed. la
coal, for instance. The duty on #
eign coal is advanced from forty Gel
to sixty-seven cents ton. yet Sena
Elkins, himself heavily interested
coal mines, says the increase will
result in adding one cent to the
of the miners, although h he admits Il
the price of coal to the consumer
undoubtedly advance. In other wo
the 81 cents ton added is a gradu
to the mine owners. Senator Jor
of Ark, thus expressed himself
this subject 1.-THE coal min
would be justified in asking and
pecting higher wages after the !
tariff goes into effect, if the repu
cans were sincere in their argume
in support of higher tariff taxes.
burden of their speeches on the
duties, and on every schedule In
bill, was that higher rates were ne
sary to protect American labor
the competition of cheap for
labor, and to enable American
ployers to pay higher wages,
every one knows that is not what
tariff was increased for. 1t was
give the coal mine owners and c
employers of labor large pre-
Notwithstanding the increase in
duty on coal from 40 to 81 Gel
ton, the miners will be fortuna1
their wages are not reduced ms
of increased. Consumers will
to pay more for coal, and the incl
will go to the mine owners and
railways. The tariff was not inc
ed for the benefit of the wage ear
Notwithstanding the declaration
L. L. Il