Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-04-02
PLEBEIAN LUXURIES.
SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE DiNGLEY
BILL.
That IN what Representative Me-
Mullen says They Are-Another
Example of NepOtisnI, Cousin Os.
bOrne-Civil Service Must Go to
Make Places for the Faithful.

Example of NepOtisni, Cousin Os'
bOrne-CiviI Service Must Go Il
| Make Places for the Faithful.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 2Gth, 1897.
The Mckinley tariff bill got som,
very bark knocks in the House tbi
week, and the outside pressure was 8,
heavy that Mr.. Dingley was compelled
to announce that the Ways and Mean,
committee had decided to strike out
that clause of the bill placing a duty
on books and scientific instrument,
for educational institutions and ado
an amendment putting those article;
on the free list, as they are at present
The Democrats of the House made
the most OF the almost numberles
unjust and uncalled for discrimination,
made by the bill in favor of the few
against the many, but the speech made
by Representative McMillin naturally
received the most attention., both
from the opponents and friends of the
bill, because OF his position as the
ranking Democrat of the Ways ant
and Means committee. and because or
account of his long experience in tariff
matters he had been requested by
Representative Bailey to make the
leading speech against the bill. Ir
reply to Representative Dingley's
statement that the increased burden
of taxation imposed by the bill was on
luxuries, Mr.. McMllin said: 1.-THE
claim that the increased burden is or
luxuries is not sustained by the facts
Are coarse shawls and knit good.
luxuries? Are wool hats and overcoat.
luxuries? Are knives and forks in
this urbsne age luxuriesi And beg
with all Difference to ask whether in
the State Of Maine a clean shirt has
become such rarity that it is classet
with the luxuries? ask him when
among Americans, the sugar thai
sweetens tea and coffee became q
luxury - when trace chains became
luxury to farmers? Sir. not only j.
the bill itself higher, but the different
schedules average above those OF the
Mckinley bill" Mr.. McMillin also
called attention to the fact thai
foreign governments are already pre-
pairing to resist this new assault upor
commerce. He also reminded the Re
publicans that a purchased verdict
such as they obtained last November
would not be allowed to stand.
Senators and Representatives have
had an excellent opportunity to Oh.
serve the sublime cheek and impudence
of the individual who bobbed up in
the late campaign as" Cousin Osborne,
and who has secured the position Of
Consul General to London, one of the
best paying positions at the disposal
of his cousin, Mr.. Mckinley. 1t seems
that in seeking and obtaining this posi-.
ton " Cousin Osborne" had overlooked
an order of Secretary Olney, issued
last October, regulating consular fees
which has resulted in reducing the in.
come OF Consul General to London
from $4,000 to $40, 1000 year to about
$4,000. When "Cousin Osborne
found this out he was indignant, al
through there are people who say that
the reduced income OF the Office is
about six or seven times as much az
he has ever been able to earn in private
life. Be that as it may, cousin
Osborne" applied to Mr.. Mckinley to
have that order Of Secretary Olney
set aside and the old scale OF consular
fees resumed, but Mr.. Mckinley
feared the scandal that would follow
such action on his part, and said he
would not do it unless Congress di.
rected it to be done. This week
"Cousin Osborne" has been personally
canvassing Senators and Representa-.
tives to get their support for what
would be practically making him q
present OF something like $4,000 q
year. He hasn't received much en-
couragement.
Whether the administration will
make any use OF the decision OF the
U. S. Sureme Court sustaining the
Sherman antitrust law and including
railway pools and agreement within
its scope, is a question that many Con
gressmen are much interested in. l,
was maintained by Mr.. Cleveland 4
two Attorney Generals - lney anC
Harmon-lhat nothing could he done
under the Sherman law because of the
decisions Of courts against its validity
Now that the highest court has
reversed those decisions and declared
the law valid, there is an opportunity
for this administration 10 clear itsel
of the charge of being too friendly to
the trusts, by vigorously prosecuting
them, if it isn't afraid to do 80.
The civil service law which stands
between the Republicans and the
offices, was very viciously attacked
by Senator Gallinger and Others in the
debate which preceded the adoption
without a dissenting vote, of Senator
Aliens resolution for an investigation
of the methods pursued by the Civil
Service Commission, and the end il
not yet. Senator German was the
only Democrat who took part in the
debate and merely took advantage Of
the opportunity to good naturally nag
the Republicans a little about Their
anxiety to get at the offices. If il
comes to direct vote on repeal of the
present civil service law, there are
plenty of Democrats who will vote
"aye," although they know that il
would mean the replacing of every
Democrat in a Federal Office by Re-
publican. A bill to repeal has been
introduced. Dem.