The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, Jan That queer
things occur in politics everybody
knows, but nobody ever expected to
see republican members of congress
trying to get democratic members to
assist them in resisting what they
call an upderhanded attack on the
protective tariff system by the repub
lican administration Yet that is
precisely what is being done Re
pubicans representing sections which
produce articles affected by the sew
eral reciprocity treaties. negotiated
uoder the D;ngley tariff law, which
require tue approval of tae house as
we'll as The ratification of the senate,
are trying to get democrats to help
them defeat the treaties.
Mr. Mckinley pulled of his New
Year reception without scrap De,
tween those VINO have been fusslng
for weeks over whether Gen Mics
or Admiral Dewey should be given
precedence Gen Miles was given
| precedence under the rule which has
aIu eys been followed.
There is another row on between
Gen Miles and ADJ Gen Corbin it
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, instead of civil appointees,
might dl the numerous vacancies in
second lieutenapcies in the regular
army For some reason, Gen Corbin
bitterly antagonizes this recommend
ation-of course, be, as adjutant
general of the army, has no personal
interest in the appointment OF civil
ians to be second lieutenants 10 the
regular army Secretsry Root is
said 10 lean towards Corbin little,
although be has not actually decided
the question yet.
While no one in Washington
seriously believes the republican
caucus will dare to indorse the bill
of Representative Crumpacker. o
indiana, which proposes to reduce
the congressional representation and
the electoral votes of number Of
southern states. Representative Will
SOP, of South Caroline, who is an
able constitutional lawyer. has
gathered number of legal decisions
showing that congress has no consti
tutioual authority to do what Mr.
Crumpacker's bill proposes, even if
it had the inclination, which be
doubts Mr. Wilson quotes several
decisions of the United States su-
preme court, one of which contains
the following plain language "fhe
right to vote is privilege regulated
by muaicipal law, aud inhering e1
clusively in the state " He also
points out that the right to vote has
been denied by large number OF
states For instance. an educational
| qualification is required by Name,
massachusetts,, Connecticut, South
| Carolina, Mississippi, Louisaoa, Col.
orado and Wyoming, while the pay
men. of certain taxes is required
before citizens can vote by Rhode
Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
South Ca,olina. Georgia. Florida.
Mississippi. Tennessee anc Nevada
Mr Wilson says the educational
qualification imposed by Massachu
se.ts debars larger number Of c!ti-
zens than are effected by the cousti-
tuition or laws of any southern state,
and that he feels sure the best sentl-
ment Of the couatry. regardless o.
politics, sustains the solution which
the suffrage laws of South Caroline
and other southern states have Sc
cured to the people of intelligence o1
those states
Secretary Cages expressed will.
ingness to answef any questions Con
gress may ask him. concerning hlt
choice of New York bank to re
cei7e on deposit all money collected
from internal revenue taxes-abou'
81, 100000 a day-aud to distri'
butte 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, al
there are several things about thu
transaction which many senators ano
representatives would like very much
to know For instance, even among
those who concede the legal right 0
the secretary of the treasury TO give
the free use of government money te
some banks and not to others. whlct
many do not, there is curiosity t.