Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-11-30

PROJECTFORREDucINc soIIrH.
ERN REPRESENTATION.
A Virtue of Necessity in Settlement Of the
China Question -WoIcott will be Cared for
Reduction Of the War Taxes-The Army
Will Be Increased.

Reduction Of the War Taxes-The Army
Will Be Increased
ttrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Nov. 90, 1900.
The project for giving the Republi-
can party a mortgage on the govern
ment by reducing the representation
OF the South in Congress and the cleo
toral college is dead. 1t was killed by
Its cool reception by the public and by
the knowledge that if it had been at.
tempted the Democratic Senators
would have blocked all legislation at
this session of Congress. Instead of
angering the Democrats, the Republi-
can leaders have adopted a lollying
policy toward them, and indulge in
lots of talk about making this a
business session of Congress, free from
partisan chickering's. If they really
wish to do that, it can easily be done,
as the Democrats are disposed to NEE,
them halfway in helping along legis-
lation that Is not tainted with parti.
sanship, but they need not expect TO
pull the wool over Democratic ewes yb
labelling notorious jobs, such as the
ship subsidy bill, commercial leeisla.
ton" Democrats will see that no
legislation will go through at this ses-
sion under false pretenses. They will
not attempt to prevent the majority
carrying out its will in general legis.
lation, but they will see that the ma
ture of every bill proposed is fully ex-
planned to the country before it is al
lowed to get through. Under the
House rules this cannot he done there.
but it can be done in the Senate.
Mr.. McKinley's administration does
not. lack shrewdness in keeping up its
prestige. The drift of affairs in China
indicates the probability of the United
States being frozen out of the concert
OF powers. Seeing this the admins
tration proceeded to discount its DOS.
siblc effect by announcing through
semi-ofticial channels that in certain
contingencies this government might
find 1t necessary to withdraw from the
concert of powers in China and pro-
tect American commercial interests bv
dealing with China independently, al
though it would prefer to do SO in
concert with the other powers.
Even the Department of Agricul.
ture shares in the general tendency to
increase the ordinary expenditures of
the gOvernment-a tendency which is
bound to make much trouble if not
checked. The estimates for appropri.
atoms for the Department OF Agricul.
ture for the next fiscal year, now
ready for submission to Congress, az.
gregate 1869, $50. which is an in.
crease OF 10 per cent. over the appro.
priations for the current fiscal year.
Holders OF government places who
have no strong pull to fall back on, or
who spoke. worked, or voted for Bryan
in the late campaign are being made
To feel somewhat shaky by the knowl-
edge that there is greater pressure for
small appointments under the govern
ment than there was ever known be-
fore. Some time ago there was a re-
port in Washington that Republican
workers in some of the doubtful States
had been told to pitch in and work
with all their might, and that they
would be taken care OF if Mckinley
was reelected. regardless of the civil
service law. Not much attention was
paid At the time to the report, but the
present activity of Republican office
seekers indicates that such promises
were made. Time will show whether
they are to be kept.
Senator Wolcott, OF Colorado, will
be succeeded by Democrat when he
retires next March, but from the talk
in administration circles it is consid-
cred almost certain that he will be re.
warded for his support of Mckinley
ism by big position in the diplomatic
service, probably an anbassadorship.
The Democratic members Of the
House Ways and Means Committee,
which met this week to consider a bill
for the reduction of war taxes, will
not be allowed to have any say in the
matter until the Republican members
have completed bill. The Republi-
cans OF the committee have conferred
with Mr.. Mckinley, Secretary Gage,
and Commissioner Wilson of the In
ternal Revenue Bureau, since they
came together. Mr.. Mckinley told
them that some reduction must be
made in order to make good his ante
election promises to the country, and
Secretary Gage told them that the re-
auctions must not under any circum.
stances exceed $3O,OOO,OOO. The
Wholesale druggists and owners of pro.
prietary articles have delegation in
Washington, anxious to see that they
get share of any reductions that may
be made, and other interests are rep
resented by lobbyists. The brewers
are credited with leaving their inter-
ests in the hands Of the big Republi.
cans who exchanged promises for
their campaign contributions. 1t will
not be surprising if big scandal
comes to the surface before this bill
gets on the statute books. Democrats
are not inclined to spare the Republi.
cans if evidence of crooked bargains
can be secured, and there are good
reasons for the belief that it exists in
quantities.
If things do not change, there may
be q regular Cat and dog fight among
the Republican, in Congress over the
bill for the increase of the regular
army. Prominent members of the
party are every day declaring opposi-
ton to as large an army as Mr.. Nc
Kinley seeks to have provided by Com
gress, and the situation in the Philip
pines makes early action on some sort
OF An army bill q necessity.
MISS ROSA McAHAN OF BUTTE.