The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-01-28
ashingtOn Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. G. Jan. 23, 1898
Secretary Wilson's report on Sena-
tor Lodges resolution, which was
adopted by the Senate, asking for full
information as to beet sugar and what,
if any, foreign sugars 1t comes in COM
petition with, and what effect if any,
the importation of Hawaiian sugars
has or could have upon the beet sugar
production of the United States, is ex-
pected to knock out one of the argu-
ments which have been used by the
sugar trust lobby to make certain
Senators, whose states are large and
increasing producers OF sugar beets,
doubtful OF the policy of annexation,
by showing that no injury to the beet
sugar interests of this country will, or
possibly can follow the annexation of
Hawaii. 1t is not surprising that
Senators should have been temporarily
caught by the specious arguments OF
the agents of the sugar trust against
annexation, because of the injury it
might do to the sugar beet industry
in this country. Secretary Wilson
was himself once doubtful on the SUBJ
ject because he believed annexation
might injure the American beet grow
ers, but investigation convinced him
that it would not, and his facts on the
subject will convince the Senators who
have doubts. There are hourly con-
Trajectory stories around Washing
ton as to the attitude of Senators to-
wards the annexation treaty but Sena-
tor Davis, who is in charge of the
treaty, is still confident that it will be
ratified with votes to spare.
Senator Wolcott's speech bears out
Senator Chandler's recent statement
that President Mckinley does not re-
gard as final the efforts made by the
Commission which visited Europe in
OCnd1I vi luUVlIdtlOjdl OllllOUdlllolI,
and that he does not regard their fail
ure to get England committed as end
ing all hope for an International
agreement. Senator Wolcott believes
that the visit of the Commission to
Europe materially advanced the idea
of international bimetalllism, and that
it will yet become an accomplished
fact.
Representative Jenkins, of Wiscon-
sin, has introduced bill providing for
the establishment of a National Mill
tary Park, at Appomattox, Va, and
for the erection of Peace monument
upon the spot where the agreement to
cease hostilities was executed. There
are several bills of this nature, includ-
ing that providing for making a Ma
tional Military Park of the Vicksburg
battlefield, and the general sentiment
in Congress is favorable to them, but
they are all likely to be shut out at
this session under the general rule that
no bill carrying an appropriation for a
new PROJECT shall be passed by the
House, until the receipts of the gov
ernment exceed its expenditures.
Whatever may be the personal opin
ion of President Mckinley as to the
business of the damages awarded to
British subjects for losses alleged to
have been sustained by reason of our
seizure of their sealing vessels in Beh-
ring sea, by the Arbitration Commis-
sion acting under the treaty of 1895,
he knows that we are in honor bound
to pay them, so he has sent special
message to Congress, urging the early
appropriation of $473, ,151.25, in order
that they may be paid and the matter
closed.
The reports brought to Washington
by trustworthy men do not square with
the claims of the silver democrats as
to the increase of silver sentiment.
On the contrary, they show heavy
decrease in silver sentiment. For in
stance, Ex-senator Moody, of S. D.,
says of his state: Though Bryan
carried the state in 1896, by slender
majority, he will never be able to do
so again. A good wheat crop and
great gold productions have knocked
Organism out in S. d. which is now
third in output of the yellow metal,
and its resources in this line are only
in the early stages of development.
With the advent of prosperity, the ag-
itation over free silver has subsidized"
Inasmuch as Consul General Lee
can have one or more u. s. warships
! in Havana harbor within six hours
after he deems their presence neces-
sary, the administration has not been
worrying over the yellow journal war
scares of the last few days.