The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-13


check for 1880. Mr.. Bryan inciden-
tally remarked to the committee of ar
rangement who had secured his servi-
ces, that he had never earned 30 much |
money in one day before and that the
amount was more than had been guar
anteed him. Perhaps the thought &C.
Cured to Mr.. Bryan that this days re-
ceipt could be exchanged for five thou
sand Mexican silver dollars, but it is
more than likely that his eyes were
turned in another direction, and that
he was deeply immersed in thought on
the calamitous condition of the country
under gold standard.
A GREAT many who regarded the
sending of commission to Europe to
treat with the governments over there
on the feasibility of the adoption of in
ternational. bimetallism as chimerical,
when it was first proposed by Senator
Wolcott, are now convinced that the
Commission has really been of some
service. 1t has, for one thing, made
the government of Great Britain for
the first time give serious consideration
to the subject of international bimetal-
lism, instead Of CURLY dismissing it, as
it had always previously done. Of
course this does not make it certain
that Great Britain will eventually
agree to international bimetallism, but
it is a, longer step in that direction
than it seemed possible awhile ago to
make Great Britain take, and the credit
is certainly due to the efforts of Sen
ator Wolcott's Commission. Arrange
ments have just been perfected for
series of conferences between the Com
mission and Ambassador Hay with the
British Chancellor of the Exchequer
and other officials, for the purpose of
fully discussing the matter in all its
bearings. -
IN recent after-dinner speech be-
fore the Middlesex Club in Boston,
Governor Wolcott gave some excellent
advice that would apply outside the
limits of the Bay State. He eau
toned the legislature of Massachu-
sets in advance against extrava-
gance in the expenditure of the
peoples money. He said there were
emergencies when it was the duty of
the governor to fight in the ranks, but
he recognizes no such emergency in
Massachusetts at the present time, and
thinks his energies might better be
devoted to the cares of his office. In
the matter of public economy, Govern
or Wolcott said there is evidence of a
liberality of expenditure in Massachu-
sets which approaches dangerously
near the point of extravaganza. This
was appreciated and cheered by his
hearers, and would apply equally well
in Vermont, as is well known by those
who have noted the tendency of recent
legislation in this State. 1t is hope
full sign that the governor was warmly
applauded for this statement of facts by
an audience composed largely of men
active in politics. His declaration that
the "heaping up of debt is curse to
State and city," while only Ia common
place truism is one that Legislators need
often to have forcibly brought to their
attention.
SECRETARY GAGE will appeal from
the decision of the board of appraisers,
that the Dingley tariff did not become
operative until the minute that it was
signed by the President, to the courts,
and The question will be passed upon
by the United States Supreme Court
at an early day as there is prov
vision of law under which customs
cases are advanced on the docket
of the Supreme Court. Secretary
Gage had previously decided that
the tariff law was retroactive, and
his decision will be followed by collec-
tors of customs until it is reversed by
the courts. If the courts uphold the
decision of the board of appraisers, the
government will have to refund about
100000 to importers whose importa-
tions were entered at the customs
houses on Saturday, July "a, before the
signing of the tariff act by the Presi-
dent. Secretary Gage holds that the
bill became law on the day that it was
signed by the President, and all goods
entered that day were liable to the new
duties. The bill was signed in the
afternoon, after the close of the bust.
ness day of the custom houses, and the
decision of the board of appraisers
would, if upheld, make all goods enter
ed that day subject only to the old
duties. Treasury officials are confident
that Secretary Cages decision was
right and that it will be upheld by the
Supreme Court.