The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-02
TARIFF BILL HOLDS SWAY.
THE MACHINE IN CONTROL AT
WASHINGTON.

THE MACHINE IN OONItOL Al
WASHINGTON.
Reed Dictates and the Republican
Majority Submits-COl. Lester Talks
of Tariff Legislation and other Ma
ttonaI Matters-COnRress to Do
Nothing Until the Tariff Bill
Passes-NO Financial Legislation
I'm Prospect-The Present Admin
fstratiOn Not IA Friend of Civil Ser
vice.
Hon. Rufus Z. Lester, accompanied by
Mrs. Lester, arrived yesterday morning
from Washington. They will remain here
about two weeks When Col. Lester APP
peared upon the streets he was heartily
greeted by his friends, all Of whom were
pleased to see that he was evidently much
stronger and better IN health in every
way than when he left Savannah for
Washington in January. His complexion
is clearer. and the difficulty in articulat-
ing, which caused him so much trouble,
after his attack last summer has almost
disappeared.
Col. Lester said that congress is doing
nothing now, but simply awaiting the
action of the Senate upon the tariff bill,
the plan of action or inacdon outlined by
Speaker Reed being that no business shall
be transacted until the tariff bill has been
disposed Of This being the case there
was no reason why he should remain in
Washington. Congress simply meets and
adjourns every three days.
''The Dingley tariff bill, or something
like 1t, will be enacted" said Col. Lester
1.-The republicans are united in this, and
are working very hamoniously. They are
now planning to secure a majority in the
Senate on the tariff question, and have
no doubt they will succeed. There Is a
sort of Kentucky deadlock in oregon, but
the indications are that the result will
be the same in Oregon as in Kentucky.
The Senate committee is now working on
the bill The probability is that the bill
agreed upon by the Senate committee win
be concurred In by the leaders of the
House committee, and the bill, as it passes
the Senate, will be Immediately put
through the House"
The bill is entirely In the interest of the
eastern manufacturers, Col Lester said,
although some pretense has been made
of caring for the farmers by placing du-
ties on various agricultural products
There is no prospect of any financial
legislation being undertaken by the pres
ent congress, Col. Lester said The policy
of the republicans is evidently to do moth
ing on that line.
Col. Lester said that Mr.. Reed Is as
much of a car as he ever was
THE House is no longer a deliberate
body" he said. 1T Is controlled entire
" nv the sneaker II 10
publican majority allows itself TO he
gagged in the interest of harmony. AS for
the democrats they have no choice. The
democrats are without leaders. Mr.. Bal
ley of Texas has made some effort to at
tain leadership, but he does not meet with
the approval of the older members of the
party in the House They regard him as
somewhat erratic and Eighty IN his ideas.
Still, Bailey is a man of cOnsidera bic
ability. If Senator German is defeated for
the Senate next year, and the indications
are that way he would doubtless become
a candidate for congress from his district
and if elected would in all probability be-
come the leader of the House"
Col Lester says he has not thought il
worth while to interest himself in the dis,
tribution of the federal patronage In this
district as his wishes he thinks would
have but little weight with the admins
istracion. He does not think the President
will appoint any negroes 10 office in Geor-
gia with possibly the exception of Lyons
as postmaster at Augusta.
Buck will arrange the Georgia patron.
age before he leaves for Japan" said Col
Lester. The policy of the admnistra-
ton is to consider the wishes of the nar-
ty leaders in each state i'm the distrlbu-
ton Of patronage 1t is without doubt the
most partisan administration ! have ever
known. 1t is run entirely in the interest
OF the republican machine"
Col. Lester does not think that Presi-
dent Mckinley has any great regard for
the civil service and in his opinion a good
many fellows who believe they are safely
secured In thier positions under the civil
service will find themselves mistaken.
1T will be an easy matter to get rid Of
q man when he is not wanted" said Col
Lester The fourth class postmasters will
soon begin To go by the board. Republicans
will be put in where a republican lit 20
hold the office can be found. and where a
republican cannot be found a populist will
be put in. Mighty few democrats stand
any chance Of retaining their Jobs under
this administration"
Col Lester visited the court house dur
Ing the afternoon, and spent some time
chatting with the officials aud attaches
there. He dropped In to the superior court
room just as the days work was being
finished. and enjoyed a pleasant CONVERSE
ton with Judge Falligant and the attor-
neys present.
TO ATTEND THE GRAIN CONGRESS.