The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-04-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Regular Correspondence of the WING.
WASHINGTON, March 80, 1897

Chairman Dingley made short work of
the Juggling of percentage figures by which
the Democrats in the House sought to
make it appear the Dingley tariff bill,
which will this week be passed by the
House, carried higher average rate of
duties than the Mckinley bill did. Said
MIR. Dingley: Notwithstanding the fact
that in this bill in every schedule except
earthenware, glass, tobacco, sugars and, |
think, silk to some extent, Notwithstanding
that in every schedule except these the
present bill carries actual duty less than
was carried in the Act of 1890, and not
withstanding the fact that in many of the
schedules it carries duties substantially the
same as those in the present (Democratic)
law. yet if You convert these specific duties
into al valorem percentages, not taking
into consideration Che changes of value be-
between 1890 and 1896, you appear to have
an increase of duties imposed when, as a
matter of fact the actual duties imposed
are less"
No better refutation could be given of
the mischievOus stories alleging the physical
breaking down of President Mckinley
than that after hard days work at his
desk he attended the dinner given by the
Gridiron Club in honor of the President
and his Cabinet and for several hours en-
jOyed himself as much as the youngest man
present.
So many complaints have reached Wash
ington concerning the introduction of
lottery methods into the business of obtain
ing patents, that Senator Hansbrough has
introduced a bill making it msdemeanor
for any person or firm engaged in the bust
ness of soliciting patents to conduct II
premium or prize scheme by Offering in
ventors a prize as an inducement for them
to enter an alleged competition of ideas. 4
similar bill will probably he introduced in
the House, thus giving both branches of
Congress an early opportunity to protect
the |. :. Government, which is practically
a partner in the patent business, from the
odinm necessarily attached to lottery
methods.
The Democrats in the House are now
very sorry that they said a word about
trusts in their fight upon the Dinley tariff
bill. They got il fool idea in their heads
that they could frghten the Republicans
by Yell II trusts at them They know
better now. That line of attack gave the
Republicans an opportunity to call the
attention, or rather to joy the memory of
the public to the indiSputable fact that the
trusts have been more numerous and more
gIaSplnG under the administration and
tariff law than ever before, and that tn"
Democrats made their last campaign solely
III the interests ot what Gen. Gr0svenor 50
aptly called 'the trust which controls il
monopoly Of what God gave--the silver
trust The fact is also recalled that when
the Sherman antitrust law, recently M
held by IA decision of the t. ). Supreme
Court, was before the House, the lealu.
Democratic members voted against its be-
ing taken up for consideration, although
they did not dare VOTE against the b II it
self when it was put upon its final passage
They found the trust argument a veritable
boomerang, and about the only excuse they
had to offer was that they were not re.
sponSible for Grover Cleveland.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations
although not controlled by Republicans,
has endorsed the action of the House in
passing those left over appropriation bills
without change, by reporting the agri-
cultural bill to the Senate just as it passed
the House, and will probably do likewise
with the other bills.
President Mckinley has told several
SehtleheH WHO WIRE appilcantS TOT tne
same position they held under the Harrison
administration that he would not appoint
them, no matter how strongly backed they
were, because he had made up his mind
not to make such appointments, except in
cases where there might be some extra
ordinary circumstances justifyiug devia-
ton from the rule. This is not because
he has not high opinion of the ex-oilicials,
but because he thinks others should now
have an opportunity to share in the party
honors.