Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-08-04
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 80, 1897.-Presi-
dent McKinJey's amendments to the
civil service rules, made public after
his departure on his vacation, are
the most important made since
there was a civil service law. His
first amendment provides that no re-
moval from the classified service shall
be made except for cause and upon
written charges, of which the accused
shall have notice and an opportuni-
ty to make defense; his second
amendment includes the employees Of
all custom houses IN the classified
service, and his third excerpts from
the CIVIL service rules the following
places: In the customs seryice-one
cashier IN each district, one chief or
principal deputy in each district, and
one principal deputy collector in
each support or station; internal
revenue service-one employein each
district, who shall act as cashier or
chief deputy or assistant collector,
as may be determined by the Treas
ury department, one deputy collector
In each district where the number of
employees in the office of the collector
exceeds four, and one deputy collect
or IN each stamp Cor branchl office.
1t was expected that the chiefs of di-
visions In the executive departments
would be excepted, but they were not.
They may be later on.
Assistant Secretary Howell, of the
Treasury department., who has high
reputation as a tariff experC, and who
will have Immediate charge of the en-
forcement of the Dingley tariff, has
been studying the new law very closely
and as result says of it:
The new tariff is particularly free
from antiquities, which, despite
the most careful efforts, are IL
able to creep in such measure :,
1t Is a revenue measure and, in my
opinion, viii produce at least $685.
100000 during the present fiscal
year, and look for it TO produce at
least 1920, 100000 during the next"
Mr.. HoweIl's estimates are close to
those OF Senator Allison and Chair
man Dlngley as to the amount of revC-
nue. the new tariff will produce.
1t IS regarded as partially certain
that Secretary Long will find it neces-
sary to appoint a board of naval
officers to frame plan for the estab-
hshment OF a government plant for
making armor plate for our vessels.
He Is only waiting to hear from a
number of ship-builders who have
been asked if they wish to furnish
armor plate, at a stipulated price,
$500 Il ton, as the Carnegie and
Bethlehem Steel companies have al
ready refused to do so.
At first the decision of the Treasury
department, that the tariff law
signed on the afternoon of Saturday
by the president went into effect at
midnight of Friday, strikes you as
being wrong, but the more you study
1t the stronger 1T becomes. The law
does not recognize any fraction Of
day, and the tariff bill having pro-
vlded that the law was to take effect
when signed by the president it must
necessarily take effect from the first
second of the day upon which it was
signed. Such has been the decisions
OF the courts and the treasury Off
Gals are confident that they will be
upheld IN the appeals that have peen
taken to the courts. The amount Of
money involved is not over 100000.
Secretary Wilson, ever on the alert
In behalf OF the farmers OF this Coun-
try, has sent two Agricultural depart
ment agents abroad to obtain infOr-
nation as to what, if any, effect the
opening of the Trans. Siberian rail
way, which traverses the fertile grain
sections OF Siberia, expected to take
place in 1900, will be likely to have
upon the interests ofAmerican wheat
growers. 1t has been claimed that
this railway would put Siberian
wheat In European markets at a
price with which Americans could not
compete. Secretary Wilson hopes
to ascertain whether there is foundu-
ton for the claim.
Only those who are ignorant Of ex
listing conditions can be made to be-
lieve there is danger OF war with
Japan because of the annexation OF
Hawaii There isn't the remotest
danger of our having any trouble
with Japan. No nation in the world
is more diligently cultivating our
friendship and adopting our methods
than Japan. and that accounts FOR
much European envy and lying.
A fresh and choice line of meats
will be kept constantly on hand at
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