The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-07-16
" ashingt0n Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

WoihON Ldiu W SOo VIZ ooilH Uil
through the Senate last week, but fate
in the shape of several undisposed oil
amendments, could not be over come
and the bill is still before the Senate
and the Senators are working when
most other people are celebrating In
dependence Day in some more pleas
ant manner But they have have the
consolation of knowing that they will
certainly pass the bill this week.
Probably no amendments added to
the tariff i'll by the Senate will give
more general satisfaction than that
which imposes a tax on every certifi
cate Of stock and bond ether than
those issued by the Government, Ma
tlonal, State or Municipal. In addi-
ton to raising revenue to large
amount from a class who will not find
it burden, this amendment, if it re-
mains in the bill until it becomes a
law, as it probably will, will drive the
places known as "bucket shops" out
of business, because to fail to pay the
tax on each transaction will be to ac-
knowledge that they do not actually
sell the stock, bnt merely accept bets
on whether the price will go up or
down, and to make their proprietors
amenable to the laws against gamb-
ling; to pay the tax will bankrupt
them. 1t will probable also lessen the
business done in the legitimate stock
exchanges, because the tax will add to
the expense of buying and selling
stock for speculation, but there are
thousands who Will regard it great
blessing to the country if stock specu-
latlon as business was entirely bro
ken up. 1t is a business that pro-
duces nothing useful and adds nothing
to the real wealth of the country,
while it annually demoralizes and
drives to the dogs thousands of busi-
ness men who might continue to be
useful citizens if it were not for stock
speculating.
There was an unusually large at
tendance at the meeting of the House
today, as all republican absentees had
been notified to be present, because of
the expectation that the tariff bill
would be sent back from the Senate.
All of the republican representatives.
now in Washington, will remain in
reach until the tariff bill is disposed of.
The House took its usual adjournment
until Thursday, and it is hoped that
the Senate will have passed the tariff
bill before that day.
The last democratic Senator to find
out that Senator Chandler is always
loaded, was White, of California. Mr..
Chandler was making few remarks
on the reciprocity amendment to the
tariff bill, which was reported from
the Finance Committee and adopted
by the Senate, when Mr.. White tried
to be "funny" by asking him if he had
been commissioned by the Finance
Committee to occupy the floor until
until the next amendment was ready
Quick as flash, Mr.. Chandler re-
sponded, with an exasperating smile
ooh no! I have been asked merely tc
occupy the floor to look for anything
that the Senator from Californi" may
say worthy of notice. AS nothing ol
the kind has occurred, will continue
to confine my remarks to reciprocity
Mr.. White dropped into his seat anc
sought consolation by putting extrs
vigor in the movement of big palm
leaf fan, while Senator Tillman, who
had received his dose of Chandler
drops several days before, made no at
tempt to conceal a broad grin.
1t is learned from authoritative
source that President Mckinley may
send a special message to Congress in
a few days, strongly recommending
legislation for the appointment of
Commission to investigate and repor
upon the reform needed in our presen
currency system. If this message il
sent to Congress, it will not be will
the, expectation that the matter viii
be acted upon at the present session
but for the purpose of getting it before
the country for discussion and sugges
tion. It is pretty thoroughly under
stood that no other legislation will bt
taken up by Congress after the tarif
bill is disposed of.
Mr.. N. B. Scott, the West Virgini,
member of the Republican Nationa
Committee, says he has information
that the big strike in the coal mine
is part of democratic scheme to carry
Ohio. He says the idea OF the demo
cratic instigators of the strike is tina
it will cut off the supply of coal ant
result in at leasta partial paralysis 0
the big manufacturing industries o
Ohio. Then they will charge the re
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