The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-01-21
Washington Letter.
From our regular C Correspondent

WASHINGTON, ID. G. Jan. 2, 1898
The treaty for the annexation of
Hawaii was today taken up by the
Senate, and the intention is to hold
daily executive sessions for its consid-
Grafton until it is disposed of. The
policy of the friends of annexation is
to allow its opponents to do most OF
the talking, so as to get the debate
over as soon as possible, in order that
there may be no excuse for delaying
vote. 1t is now the general belief that
the treaty will be ratified, owing to
the announcement of the number OF
Senators who were in doubt of their
intention to vote for ratification.
The last European nation 20 take a
place in the line of applicants for
reciprocity treaty with the U. S. is
Germany, the country which made
bluff when the Dingley tariff bill was
pending that was promptly called by
Congress and President Mckinley.
The clause of the tariff that brought
Germany's pride do Yn to asking for
reciprocity is that which imposes ad-
ditional duty upon sugar brought
from countries that pay an export
bounty on sugar. When the German
ambassador requested that reciprocity
negotiations be opened he was inform
ed that his Government must take the
first step by agreeing to remove the
restrictions now imposed upon Ameri-
can cattle and beef imported into
Germany.
The administration is doing every
thing possible to expedite the sending
Of food to the Klondike region, as the
President and all the members of the
Cabinet believe that relief will he
needed by the gold seekers before regu-
lar traffic is resumed on the Yukon
river. Agents of the Government are
now bringing number of reindeer
from Norway to carry the food, which
will all be ready and on the ground
when the reindeer get to Alaska.
There is probability no provision of
the Constitution of the us. that fur
nishes more proof of the wisdom of it's
makers, or that is more revered by our
people, than that which provides for
our judiciary system.
But nothing suits the Populists, except
personal notoriety or gain for them
selves, and Senator Butler, of N. c.,
who aims at being the Populist boss,
wants an entirely new judiciary sys-
tenn, the Judges to be elected for terms
of eight years, has offered joint reso-
luton proposing to amend the consti-
tuition in accordance with his ideas.
There isn't the slightest probability of
any such change, but that it should be
even proposed is warming to the
country OF what might be expected
should the people ever allow the Bryan
ties to get on top.
During the three days that the SEN
ate was in session in the week Just
closed President Mckinley sent more
nominations to the Senate than in
any single week since he was inaugu-
rated, but some of them were recess
appointments.
Old accountants were not surprised
when it was found necessary to aban-
don the Dockery system of auditing
postmasters accounts, because of dis
covered frauds. This system was
adopted during the Cleveland admin
istration as the result of an investiga-
ton by a commission, headed by Rep
resentative Dockery of Missioui, and
it was pointed out at the time that it
was full os opportunities for fraud.
No less than nine ways in which dis
honest postmaster could rob the Gov
ernment have been discovered by
Sixth Auditor Castle, who has thrown
out the system and introduced new
one. The new system was especially
intended to detect the frauds made
possible by the Dockery system and
although it has only been in operation
week it has done so in number of
cases. The Government was probably
robbed of many thousand dollars under
the Dockery system of auditing P. O.
money order accounts. Auditor
Castle will ask Congress to authorize
the employment of special force to
go over and check up the old accounts,
believing that the stolen money can
be recovered, and the thieves punish
ed, by securing proofs Of the thefts,