The leader., 1900-01-10
WASHINGTON LETTER,
Novel Tariff Question - Jus
tice Gray's Humor.
Especial Correspondence.l


There are some new and interesting
questions OF position and precedence In
that complicated organization known
as official society. One Of these Is sug-
gested by the recent matrimonial de-
parture of Admiral Dewey. Ii is long
since Washington society has had a
full fiedged admiral to deal with. and
there has been some misrepresentation
as to the exact niche In the social struc
ture to which his wife Is entitled. 1t
has been said and published frequently
that on account of her husbands ex
allied position Mrs. Dewey would take
precedence of the cabinet ladies and
rank next to Lady Pauncefote. the wife
of the British ambassador. This Is a
mistake. Mrs. Dewey will hold only
the place which belongs to her husband
by reason of his position at the head
of the navy. and which Is no greater.
therefore, than has been held formerly
by the senior rear admiral of the serv
ice.
The regular order of precedence sane
toned by long usage in Washington is
as follows: The wife of the president,
the wife of the vice president, the wife
of the senior ambassador and then the
other five ambassadors In the order Of
seniority. the wife of the secretary Of
STATE and the other ladies Of the cabi-
net In order. the wives of foreign min
listers in order of seniority as deter
mined by their husbands service. the
wives of supreme court judges the Ia
dies of the army and navy and then the
wives of senators and representatives.
The latter as Is generally known. are
so far along the line that. unless they
have special social recommenda tons,
they never arrive" to use a technical
society expression.
A Novel Tariff Question.
The treasury department is wrestling
with as novel problem as ever came
before it. 1t is considering whether II
shall levy a tariff duty on an electric
fluid generated in Canada and supplied
to number Of manufacturing con-
Germs on the American side. The ques-
ton comes before the treasury depart
ment In complaint from the Niagara
Falls Power company against the On
tariO Power company. a rival concern
on the Canadian shore. The Canadian
company proposes as rapidly as 1t can
to extend its lines 20 several Of the lit
tie towns along the American side and
is therefore competing seriously with
the American company. The Niagara
Falls company represents to the treas
ury department that the fluid is man.
ufactured commodity and should be
subjected to duty the same as any
other manufactured article. The COM
pany claims that the fluid comes under
the dragnet clause of the Dingley act
which makes all unenumerated manu-
featured articles dutiable at 20 per cent
ad valorem. There is precedent In
the case. Several years ago a secre-
tary of the treasury held that an cleo
trio current was not dutiable. Secre-
tary Gage is personally inclined to hold
otherwise, but he is soliciting opinions
upon the subject. The Ontario compa-
ny hinges its defense on the meaning
of the word article" In the Dingley
tariff act. 1t insists that an electric
current Is not an article and that 1t
does not enter the same classification
as potatoes or corn.
On a Large Committee.
Representative George w. Foster
had his first interview the day after
the announcement of the house COM
mittees. After his introduction Mr.
Foster, who received only one commit
tee appointment and that a very OBJ
scure one, said:
81 am ON a fine committee. Mr..
Speaker"
glad. Mr.. Foster. you like your COM
mittee appointment" he said. 81 al
ways like to please the gentlemen of
the house."
"Oh," said Mr.. Foster solemnly, 81
refer to the committee of the whole!
You know, am a member of that"
And while the speaker was gasping
for breath the new member from Chi
cagO added. "At the same time. if you
are very anxious to please. | would
not object to being in your debt for
some other good committee"
And the speaker passed his box of
Philippine cigars.
| Justice Gray's HumOr.
| 1t Is not often that the judges on the
supreme court bench are given to jok
ing with the attorneys arguing cases
before the court. Therefore there was
some surprise and considerable sup
pressed laughter when Justice Gray
the other day interrupted one Of the
counsel In presenting his case. The
attorney was using a small map and
pointing to it in the course Of his argu-
ment when Justice Gray asked what
the map was. The lawyer promptly
replied. ~Why. your honor. 1t is just
birdseye view of the land In con-
troversy."
"Well," replied Justice Gray, II wish
you would bring the map little closer.
have not got birds eye"
Representative F. w. Cushman of
Washington tells this one on himself:
At political meeting one night Cush-
man was introduced by an admiring
county chairman as the Abe Lincoln of
the west. AS he finished his speech
plain spoken old farmer approached
him.
|