The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-05-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.

The republican members of the Sen
ate Finance Committee have completed
the work of amending the Dingley
tariff bill, and unless the democratic
members of the committee cause some
unnecessary delay the bill will be re-
ported to the Senate this week. The
bill has not been made public, but it is
known that it has been amended in
nearly every schedule, and that as a
rule the amendments provide for
slightly lowering the duties from those
in the original bill, although in some
cases they are raised. The bill is still a
distinctly republican protective meas
ure. just as everybody knew it would
be, but whether on the whole it is an
improvement upon the original bill is,
of course, largely a matter Of personal
opinion. The average republican only
asks for tariff that will protect all
American industries and products alike,
and is not disposed to haggle over the
precise rate of duty to be imposed on
any particular article or articles. 1t is
claimed bv the Senators who have
framed these amendments that they
are intended to increase the revenues
of the government without any sacri-
flee of the principle OF protection.
Senator Frye doesn't believe the alb
Hawaii. which the sugar trust is de-
handing through its lobby. is possible.
He said: "The representatives of the
sugar trust are now seeking the abroga-
ton of this treaty with more than usual
energy and activity. They are deeply
interested in abrogation and / don't
know of anyone else who is. In their
efforts to secure their own interests
they are misrepresenting the disadvan-
tages to the United States from this
treaty and concealing the advantages.
The advantages are manifold and the
disadvantages SMALL
There are few people around Wash
ington who do not believe that the
annexation of Hawaii is one of the GER
tainties of the near future. Whether
the recently reported attitude of japan
towards Hawaii will result in fastening
annexation is vet to be determined.
An official speaking Of che matter said:
"Ths government is not alarmed nor
annoyed by the reports of japanese
restlessness and loud war talk. That
nation has not recovered from its vic
tory over China yet, and it feels as if it
owns the world. A little buster will
do no harm to any one, but you may
rest assured that the Japanese will do
nothing more than buster. After the
tariff bill has been disposed of, the
Senate may have an opportunity to act
upon treaty providing for the annex
alton Of Hawaii Meanwhile you may
be sure that the L. S. Navy will back
Hawaii in enforcing its immigration
laws, against the Japanese or any other
nationality"
President Mckinley touched the cleo
trio button that started the machinery
of the Tennessee Centennial Expos
ition, at Nashville, and later he expects
to visit the exposition in person and to
carry with him as many members of his
cabinet as can go. He has expressed
much interest in the success of the ex-
position.
If President Mckinley had never
until within the last ten days thought
of annullng some of the extensions of
the civil service rules made by Mr..
Cleveland, the facts brought out during
that time would have started him to
thinking about it. Testimony taken by
the Senate committee that is investlgat-
ing this subject has already made it
plain that the whole thing was manip-
ulated to the advantage of democrats
and the disadvantage of republicans,
and entirely regardless of the best in
terests of the public service. At the
last meeting of this committee letters
were read from Postmaster General
Gary and from Secretary Long, in favor
OF changing, and Public Printer Palmer
fired this broadsfde: "As applied to
this Office Government Printing Office
which ls simply great manufac turing
plant, involving varied branches Of
skilled labor of high grade, the civil
service rules are, in my Judgment, an
obstruction rather than an aid to
efficiency and economy. In my opln-
ion the civil service rules as promul-
gated for enforcement here should be
modified radically, suspended, or re-
pealed." Hon. n. B. Scott, the West
Virginia member OF the Republican
National Committee, who has been ten
dered the position of Commissioner of
Internal Revenue, says that he doesn't
want the place and will not take it I'm
less the extension Of the civil service
rules to collectors and gaugers is re-
scindeG.
Secretary Alser has abolished the spy
system of keeping the time of the en-
| ployees of the War Department, which
was adopted under the Cleveland ad-
ministration and which has been a
source Of much irritation to the en-
ployees. General Alger takes the
ground that man who cannot be
! trusted to do his duty without being
watched is unworthy of employment by
the government, or by anybody else,
and the War Department clerks will
| hereafter work on honor.
Color Photography.