Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

Washington, Jan. 6. 1900.
That queer things occur in politics
everybody knows, but nobody ever ex-
pected to see republican members Of con.
gress trying to get democratic members
to assist them in resisting what they cali
an undetermined attack on the protective
tariff system by the republican admins
tration. Yet that is precisely what is
being done. Republicans representing
sections which produce articles affected
by the several reciprocity treaties, nego-
tiated under the Dingley tariff law, which
require the approval OF the house as well
as the ratification Of the senate, are try
ing to get democrats to help them defeat
the treaties.
Mr.. Mckinley pulled off his New Year
reception without a scrap between those
who have been fussing for weeks over
whether Gen. Miles or Admiral Dewey
should be given precedence. Gen. Miles
was given precedence under the rule
which has always been followed.
There is another row on between Gen.
Miles and Adjutant General Corbin. 1t
was started by the recommendation OF
Gen. Miles that this years West Point
class be graduated in February, instead
of June, in order that the graduates, in
stead OF civil appointees. might fill the
numerous vacancies in second Lieutenant
cies in the regular army. For some
reason, Gen. Corbn bitterly antagonizes
this ecommendation-of course, he, as
adjutant general Of the army, has no per-
sonal interest in the appointment OF
civilians to be second lieutenants in the
regular army. Secretary Root is said to
lean towards Corbin little, although he
has not actually decided the question
yet.
While no one in Washington seriously
believes that the republican caucus will
dare to indorse the bill OF Representative
Crumpacker, Of Indiana, which proposes
to reduce the congressional representation
and the electoral votes of number OF
southern states, Representative Wilson,
of South Carolina, who is an able consti-
tutional lawyer, has gathered number
Of legal decisions showing that congress
has no constitutional authority to do
what Mr.. Crumpacker's bill proposes,
even if it had the inclination, which he
doubts. Mr.. Wilson quotes several de-
cisions OF the U. S. supreme court, one OF
which contains the following plain Ian
guage: "The right to vote is privilege
regulated by municipal law, and inhering
exclusively in the state" He also points
out that the right to vote has been de-
MED by large number OF states. For
instance, an educational qualification is
required by Maine, Massachusetts, Con-
necticut, South Carolina, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Colorado, and Wyoming, while
the payment of certain taxes is required
before citizens can vote by Rhode Island,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee,
and Nevada. Mr.. Wilson says the edu-
cational qualification imposed by Massa-
chusetts debars larger number OF citi-
zens than are effected by the constitution
or laws of any southern state, and that
he feels sure the best sentiment of the
country, regardless Of politics, sustains
the solution which the suffrage laws OF
South Carolina and other southern states
have secured to the people Of intelligence
Of those states.
Secretary Cages expressed willingness
to answer any questions congress may
ask him, concerning his choice Of New
York bank to receive on deposit all
moneys collected from internal revenue
taxes-about 81 100000 day-and to
distribute the same to banks in all parts
of the country, as may be ordered by the
secretary Of the treasury, is likely to be
put to the test very soon, as there are
several things about this transaction
which many senators and representatives
would like very much to know. For in
stance, even among those who concede
the legal right Of the secretary OF the
treasury to give the free use OF govern
ment money to some banks and not to
others, which many do not, there is Curl
osity to know why bank controlled by
one OF the biggest and worst OF the trusts
the Standard Oil Company-was made
the distributor OF these funds, and how
long that bank is allowed to retain the
money before distributing it to the other
favored banks, and whether those banks
are given the free use Of the money for
any specified time. 1t was this same
New York bank that bought the old Gus
tom house property in New York. and
while questions are in order, Secretary
Gage will be asked to explain the legal
jugglery in delaying the transfer Of title
from the government to the purchaser,
by which the bank has escaped the pay
ment OF city taxes amounting to more
than 100000. Boss Hanna was right
when he said that the talk about Secre'
tary Gage resigning was bosh. The in
erests which put Mr.. Gage in the cabinet
l.vo .~.,.o ,,,orl, fo~ hin, ~ do for thoiv