The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-23

Fear Of Impending Defeat RENDERS
Them Irritable-Cannon and Hep
burn Qoarrel-Bil1ingss In the
House-Protest Of the Soldicrs-In
the Grip of Buccnneers-Senato
Hoar on True StatesmaHship-Indi-
ana Elections.
Especial Washington Letter.l
An unnecessary tax is an unjust tax.
The federal treasury contains i vast
surplus which is increasing every day
and which is produced by the continual
ton of the Spanish war taxes.
Therefore these taxes, being unnec-
essary, are unjust and should be
abolished.
But the signs indicate that the Re
publican leaders will not permit any
change at this session of congress of
any feature Of the Spanish war reve-
nue. bill. not even of those features
which are the most irritating to the
people and the least productive of reye-
nue..
Everybody knows that the bill was
hastily prepared, passed under whip
and spur as a temporary measure and
abounds in crudities and inequalities.
Still we are not to be permitted to
change it, even in the estimation of a
hair. because the Republican bosses
have so willed it.
The stamp taxes on medicines are 20
times what the rates are on John ID.
Rockefeller's products, but no change
must be made, because the bosses don
want it, don't you know.
Stamp taxes on small notes, con-
tracts, mortgages, ETC., are more pro-
ductive Of profanity than revenue, but
they must stand, because the bosses
have so willed it.
By the end Of the year the surplus. at
the present rate, will be betwixt $50,-
100000 and S70,0o0,0o0, but the bosses
appear to deem that an evidence OF
craftsmanship, hugging to their breasts
the delusion that people don't know
that every dollar of that surplus is un-
justly wrung from the overburdened
taxpayers Of the land.
4 surplus in the treasury is stand
ing invitation to every rascal in the
land to move on Washington with some
scheme to deplete Uncle Sanuefs pleth-
oric pocketbook, but the bosses de-
cree that matters shall remain in statu
quo.
Thomas Jefferson's declaration is as
good and wise today as when first
made-"Economy in the public expense
that labor may be lightly burdened"-
but the bosses care nothing about Ia
Dor or its burdens SO long as they can
point with pride to huge surplus. the
result of unnecessary taxation. They
could easily double the surplus by the
simple process of doubling the taxes
There is 20 end to such a plan. except
the exhaustion CT the peoples patience.
Republicans Irritable.
What seems to be the certainty OF
impending defeat renders the Repub-
Ican leaders irritable, querulous and
Kilkenny catfish. They yowl and
how; and claw and otherwise disport
themselves to the infraction of the pub
lie decorum. They use loud. violent,
abusive and tumultuous language to-
ward each other in such q reckless
manner as to disturb the peace Of their
Democratic neighbors, who are in a
peculiarly happy frame Of mind con-
templating what reforms they Will
work when they come into possession
of the government at high noon March
4, A. D. 1901.
During the debate on the Nicaragua
bill Uncle Joe Cannon Of Illinois,
chairman Of the great committee on
appropriations, and Colonel William
Peters Hepburn Of Iowa, popularly de-
nominated Colonel Pete, chairman OF
the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce, committed mouth as
saults upon each other with intent to
kill end murder-at least to do great
bodily harm.
On the 7th day Of this month Uncle
Joe WdS Ot SttA'o VIZ AA>N' -
house a quarter of a ceGtury and
should know better than 10 quarrei
like fshwife.
Colonel Hepburn is past GO, 1housh
he does no. look it. He has been IN
congress many years, was once soilc-
itor Of the treasury. and it would ap-
pear that he has seen enough years 10
..cool his heart of fire.
Not so, however. These two veteran
statesmen fell a-foul Of each other, like
two Greco-Roman wrestlers. and tug
ced. strained. tore up the ground in such
dissraceful manner that Charlie
Wheeler of Kentucky demanded that
they be called to order. but nobody
paid any attention to his call. as every
body wanted to see tic two illuStrlous
Republicans wool each other to Their
hearts content. but ii must be confess
cd that when row gets too hot TO
please n Kentuckian things are liable
to melt. Perhaps Wheeler was dis
custcd because they were coniInin"
themselves to shaking fists a29 hurting
cpit!ots instead Of adopting Che kesl'
L - lt1.