Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1897-12-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Opposition to Annexation of
Hawaii.
Revenues and Expenditures The civil
Service Law - Congress Session to be
short The Hawaii Annexation Mat
WASHINGTON, Dec. is, 1897.

nGAdtlDn VI IUMuiAs lh1 bGlOhlt 81
pronounced since the reassembling
Of Congress, is fully explained by
story that is being told among the
knowing ones in Washington. Ac-
cording to this story, the Democra
tic party has been sold by its leaders
in Congress to the sugar trust, which
all the world knows is willing to
spend an enormous amount of money
to prevent the annexation of Ha-
waii. The sugar trust has agreed to
furnish a corruption fund which the
Democratic leaders believe to be
large enough to enable them to elect
Democratic majority of the house
next year and Democratic Presi-
dent in 1900, if the Democratic lead
ers can succeed in preventing the
annexation of Hawaii, either through
the ratification of the treaty or by
direct legislation. That is why the
Democratic senator's, with two ex-
ceptions, are all Working against the
ratification of the treaty, and why
the Democrats of the house will this
week, in caucus, declare against an
nexation. But this disgraceful deal
cannot be carried out, because the
Democrats cannot prevent the an
nexation of Hawaii.
No date has been set for the re-
turn of President Mckinley to Wash
ington, but it is expected that he
will start back Immediately after
his mothers funeral.
Chairman Dingley's emphatic
statement in the house about the
prospective revenues and expendi-
lures of the government, disposed of
the whole batch of misrepresenta-
tions as to Republicans seriously
considering legislation to furnish
additional revenue. OF course
everybody in Washington knew
that these stories were purely i'm
aginary and that the only object in
circulating them was to discredit
the administration and the Repub-
lican party. Mr.. Dingley did not
simply make the assertion that the
revenues of the government would
exceed its expen4 4lres by at least
100000, 900 during the next fiscal
year, but backed his assertions with
figures which had the unqualified
endorsement of President Mckinley
and Secretary Gage. No legisla.
ton providing more revenue is con-
templated by the Republicans in
Congress, for the simple reason that
none is needed the Dingley law is
steadily increasing the revenue and
will provide all the money necessary
to economically administer the gov
ernment.
The fact that ~ Republican men,
bers of the house participated in a
conference called after they had
each signed paper stating that the
conference should consist" of such
Republican members as favor the
modification of the civil service law,
or a more honest enforcement of its
provisions, or q more certain defini-
tion of the extent of its applica-
ton" convinced even the most
doubtiug that there is serious Re-
publican opposition to continuance
of the present civil service situation.
These Republicans believe in real
civil reform, but not in the sham
article for which Mr.. Cleueland is
responsible, which covered with the
protecting cloak of civil service re-
form, thousands of Democrats who
entered the public service by the
dismissal of Republicans, for no
other cause than their Republican
ism. Reduced to what they consid-
or its legitimate function, every one
of these Republican representatives
would vote for a continuance of the
civil service law, but rather see it
continued in it's present shape, they
will work for its repeal or Gripping
in any manner within their power,
and they will not lack for staunch
supporters among the rank and file
of the party throughout the coun-
try.
If this isn't the short, business
session of Congress that it ought to
be, the Republican leaders of the
House are fully determined that nc
blame shall be laid at their doors,
Since the first day Of the session
they have been hustling. Last week
the Pension Appropriation Bill was
reported and passed, and this week
the legislative and judicial appro-
priation bill will be put through
The disposal of two Of the regular
appropriation bills before the Christ
mas recess will be a record If which
the Republicans of the house may
we'll feel proud.
A little thing like a fact never
brothers those who lie through
choice. When Senator Hoar pres.
ented the petition of some native
Hawaiians, against annexation, tC
the senate, the liars all rushed q
statement off that Senator Hoar wal
the champion of the petitioners and
intended to fight annexation. Now
where do you suppose Senator Hoal
got that petition From Secretary
Sherman, one of the stanchest ad
vocates of annexation. 1t was tax
en- to the State Department by th'
Hawaiians, and Mr.. Sherman told
them he would have it laid befor
the senate, which had the treat.
under consideration, and he aske'