Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-05-05
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON, April 80, 1877
President Mckinley returned from his
trip to New York much benefited by
the temporary change of scene and
very much pleased with his reception
in that city and with the ceremonies at
tending the dedication of the monu-
ment to Gen Grant, in which he was
a distinguished participant.
The Republicans of the senate fl
nance 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 en-
tirely upon the tactics of the Demo-
cratic members of the committee.
They say that they have no intention
of delaying the reporting of the bill
longer than is necessary for them to
digest the amendments, but there are
circumstances which have aroused the
suspicion that they do not intend to
hurry themselves in "digesting" the
amendments. However, it isn't fair
to accuse them in advance.
At the Grant birthday celebration
of u. S. Grant post, G.. A. r., Pension
Commissioner Evans made speech
in which he clearly outlined the policy
he intends to pursue in the manage
ment of the pension bureau. He said:
''ln my official position | find myself
confronted by grave responsibilities.
But | want to say I shall endeavor to
do my duty to old soldiers. [ am not
here to send spies through the land
to see how | can prevent giving pen
sions to Old soldiers | simply want
the government TO do its duty by the
old soldiers, the men who saved this
nation. | want to grant to them such
pensions as the law allows. We do
not want any hair splitting over these
pension cases, out at the same time
we do not want to let the machine run
away with US. As a public servant I
shall strive to do my duty both by the
government and by my old comrades,
with a full appreciation of the respon-
sibilities involved in the perform
ance.n
The representatives Of Hawaii in
Washington have become alarmed at
the fight that is being made on the
reciprocity treaty, and Mr.. Thurston,
who is in this country as a special
commissioner from the government
of Hawaii, has presented long and
carefully prepared statement to the
senate finance committee opposing
abrOgatiOn of the treaty According
to Mr.. Thurston, the debtor and Gre
dit columns between the United States
and Hawaii since the reciprocity trea-
ty has been in effect stands as follows:
Hawaiian duties RENTED on American
products, $21, 900, 600; profits made by
Americans from freights, commissions,
ship building, insurance, sugar and
merchandising $50, Psi, 1876; existing
property acquired by Americans, $43, :
731, 544, making a total of the accrued
benefits to the United States Of $116,-
9S2, $40. And against this he charges
500, S99, 24l, the amount of duties re-
mitted by the United States on
Hawaiian products, which gives a
balance in favor of the United States
of SCI, 083, 500. As it Is a general be-
lief that the annexation of Hawaii is
only question of time, it is not likely
that the reciprocity treaty will be alb
rogated, although most persons regard
Mr.. Thurston's figures as much exag-
gerated as to our financial benefit
hereunder. There are weightier
reasons than dollars and cents why
this country must either own or con-
troll Hawaii.