The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-23
W ashington Letter.

WIZ ptoUaUIJ ustet Ctue "uetuST Hir.
Mckinley is sagacious enough to re.
taio the undivided support of Congress
in his Spanish policy Il will all de-
pend upon the action he takes on the
report of the Naval Court Of Inquiry,
which be now has. IF he acts prompt
ly and properly on that report and thea
sends the report and statemec. of what
he has done to Congress, be will be
squarely and unanimously supported by
Congress to any estent. But if he plays
into Spaio 3 band by making a weak
demand and delays the matter by keep
ing the report away from Congress,
there will be trouble right away. A
large majority Of both branches of Con-
gress have made up thoir minds that
Senator Proctor was right when he said
that no settlement of tie Cuban qaes.
tion could possibly be satisfactory that
left the island under the Spanish flag.
and if Mr.. Mckinley doesn't lay his
policy along that line, he will probably
iod Congress taking the mater out Of
bis hands. He cao control the situa-
tion if be does the right thing; other
wise not Much will depend upon his
first move, which should be made this
week.
A statement prepared at the Pension
Office shows that more than $40, ,000,-
900 have been legally paid by pension
ers to pension attorneys during the last
seven years. Just how much the attor-
neys have illegally gotten from the PEN
sioners is more or less uncertain, but
there is data enough in the Pension
Office to show that the illegal exactions
more than equal the legal fees. 1t is
not surprising that the Pension attor-
neys should be able to maintain
powerful lobby
It is q relief, 10 the midst Of SO
much war talk. to read of the triumphs
of peace, as shown 10 the greatness and
progress of American industry through
its association with the U. s patent
system. In an annual report Of thirty
pages. Hon A P Greeley, Acting
Commissioners of Patents, has incorpo-
rated much valuable aod importans In
formation for inventors, manufacturers,
capitalists, publicists. and in fact, for
everybody who is interested in indus
trial progress, of which the press
synopsis that has been published gives
q faint idea. This pamphlet will be
mailed free upon request, by the Com
missioner of Patents. Washington,
D. C.
Fool talk is as plentiful 10 Washing
ton as fools are everywhere, but it need
not catch anybody who chooses to use
a little bit Of common sense, 10 analyz-
ing it. For instance, Just see how
absurd, wheo this test is applied, is the
story. one Of the latest. that the five
great European powers had united for
the purpose of demanding that the
Government of the U. S. should state
whether i: intended to annex Cuba, and
il so, that it should proclaim tariff
policy for all time that would not be
affected by changes of administration.
The absurdity of European nations de-
mandiog what any bright school child
knows to be impossible under eur form
of government-tbe binding of its sue
cessors By an administration Effect
ually disposes of this story. but others
equally absurd are continually started
Many Senators and Representatives
are sharply criticising the administration
for counteuancing the presence in
Washington of the three alleged Cuban
Commissioners, who jointly with the
Spanish minister form what they are
pleased to call, the reciprocity COM
mission. and who have actually had
the audacity to take the preliminary
steps towards the negotiation of re-
ciprocity treaty with Spain. to include
Cuba. What adds to the audacity is
the fact that these so-called commission
ers are not acting in good faith. are not
what they claim to be, but are engaged
10 lobbying for continuance of autono-
my in Cuba, although to do SO they
have to practically call liars several o..
s. Senators, Consul General Lee, and
every intelligent newspaper correspoD
pondeDt who has recently besu 10 Cuba,
as all of these have declared 10 unmis-
taxable terms that autonomy has been
from the 6rst fat failure It's thought
by number of gentlemen who are IA
milliar with the game that these agents
of Spain are trying to play. that the ad-
miuisfratioD would be justi6able 10
sending them home. but it is whispered
teq2 the ADMINISTRATION wants them just
where they are, and that potwishstand-
ing the sentiment Of Congress and of
the public 10 favor of free Cuba, six
members of Mr.. McKinley's Cabinet
favor policy on the part Of this gov
Il IL