Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-05-29
Busiaess L. Better.

ttp WIN nc
Business L. Better.
Special Washington correspondence:
One OF the important features Of the
week was the test vote In the House on
Jerry Simpsons demand that the
Speaker should appoint the committees.
This had been a troublesome question
10 the Democracy. for that element
which favored cooperation with the
POpuliSts in the last campaign had
clung to Simpson and supported his de-
mand while Mr.. Bailey, who was the
Democratic caucus nominee for the
speakership, has opposed Simpsons
proposition. This had already created
q division between the members of the
party favorlng q continuance Of the al
lance with the ropulists and those who
were opposed TO further association
with this element OF American politics.
The feeling between these two factions
had grown intense and the final strug-
gle came in the vote on "A motion 10 re-
quire the Speaker TO appoint commit
tees. Upon this motion one-half OF the
Democrats voted with Bailey after he
had made a strong appeal TO the Demo
Gratis In the House to cease qnarrelling
among themselves, while the other half
voted with Simpson.
1t appears that the Democratic party
In the House is split squarely in the
middle upon the question Of further CO
operation with the Populists. This Is
especially Interesting in view of the fact
that all the Democrats in the House be-
long to that wing Of the Democracy
which supported the Bryan ticket in
1896. This makes it apparent that even
the Bryan wing of the party Is split In
the middle. When ii is taken into con-
sideration that the gold Democrats are
still maintaining their organization as
q party and that the considerable sec
ton OF the silver Democrats are nov
favoring protection and even voting for
It in Congress. 1t will DC seen that the
Democratic party Is more hopelessly d.
vided to-day even than 1t was in the
campaign OF 1896.
The Tariff Bill.
~ tdtlh pli mas DSfh 'ORsp ~ ~
far as relates to the Senate Finance
Committee and is now ready for on
slderation by the Senate. How long It
will be before that body cannot OF
course be foretold, but the outlook for a
reasonable degree of speed In its con.
sideration appears to he good, and there
Is good reason to believe that ii will be
upon the statute books by the end Of
the fiscal year. Members OF both par
ties are recognizing the fact that moth
Ing so disturbs the business conditions
Of the country, both among the manu-
lecturers and others, as the tendency of
4 tariff measure OF any sort, because OF
the fact that business contracts and un-
iertakings cannot be entered upon
without definite knowledge as to what
the prices OF imported articles or the
rates of duty will be. These facts are
!eading men. irrespective of party, to a
desire for prompt action, since they
know that a business revival cannot be
expected by anybody until the tariff
can be put into operation and the i'm
mense stock Of foreign goods now COM
ing into the country disposed OF and the
market opened TO our own manufac-
tureN.
The Farmer aud the Senate,
The farmer is likely to be well taken
,are OF by that dignified body, the Unit
ID States Senate. The tariff bill, report
ID from the Finance Committee Of that
body on Tuesday, has added a duty OF
IA cents per pound III hides, increased
the rate on wool OF tho third class, and
sut out the clause in the House bin
which exempted Hawaiian sugar from
duties, thus reducing that competition
With beet sugar. The duty put on hides,
tea and other articles which were for
nerly on the free list will improve the
opportunities for advantageous recip-
focity treaties for which the Senate will
provide, and which will greatly benefit
the farmer. 1t Is believed the House
rates on woods of the first and second
class will be restored by the Senate or
conference committee.
Importations of March and April.
If anybody Is In doubt as to the accu-
tacy Of the recent statement of Chair
nan Dingley that a years supply of for
sign goods will probably be In the
warehouses of the country by the time
ME new tariff bill can get upon the
statute books, let him examine the fol-
owing figures showing the customs re-
ceipts since the election of Mckinley
and a protective Congress. They are
IS follows: November, 1896, 50. 93O(3S5:
December, $10,770,412; January, 1897,
S11, 276,S74; February, ST., 5S7, go;
March, $22,S33,Sj6 April, 24,454 ,35l.
When 1t Is remembered that these fig
ures relate only to the dutiable goods,
and that there has been an especial
rushing In Of non-dutiable goods likely
10 be transferred to the dutiable list,
It will be seen that the food Of importa-
lions now passing through the custom
house of the country Is something enor-
nous.
The Japanese statesmen must have
been laughing IN their sleeves at the
United States during the late campaign.
Japan was being held up as the most
striking example OF prosperity among
silver using nations and at the same
time, It appears, these statesmen
knew that Japan was going to adopt
the gold standard, because free silver
was destroying her prosperity.
Business Certainly Improving.
In spite Of the fact that the tendency
Of a tariff bill always unsettles trade
and manufacturing the reports from
the various parts Of the country are
very encouraging. Advices here from
all sections, especially the Mississippi
valley and the Eastern States, show
improved business conditions. Reports
to a prominent commercial agency on
May ! state that In Seattle ''trade Is
good and shows an Improvement over
April Of last year.; In San Francisco
"the retail trade Is reported as fairly
good; In Nashville "the local retail
trade Is somewhat ~improved"; In Au-
gusta "the retail trade IL reported
good; In st. Paul trade continues good
In all lines In which the busy season Is
not over and collections are also good;
In Duluth, 'since the opening of nayfga.