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

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Washington, Jan 1.-That queer
things occur in politics verybody
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 underhanded attack on the
protective tariff system by the repub
lican administration Yet that is
precisely what is being done. Re
publicans representing sections which
produce articles affected by the sew.
eral reciprocity treaties. negotiated
under the Dingley tariff law, which
require the approval of tMe house as
we'll as the ratification of the senate,
are trying to get democrats to help
them defeat the treaties.
Mr. Mckinley pulled off his New
Year reception without scrap be.
tween 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 Adj Gen 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. instead of civil appointees,
might fiIl the numerous vacancies in
second lieutenancies 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 to lean towards Corbin q little.
although he 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 Crempacker.
Indiana, which proposes to reduce
the congressional representation and
the electoral votes of . number of
southern states. Representative Will
son, of South Caroline, who 10 an
able constitutional lawyer. has
gathered q number Of legal decisions
showing that congress hss no consti,
tutioual authority to do what Mr.
Crumpscker's bill proposes, even il
it had the iuclinstion, which be
doubts Mr. Wilson quotes several
decisions Of the United States 60.
preme court, one of which contains
the following plain language "The
right to vote is privilege regulated
BY muaicipal law. and inhering ex
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.
NJ Massachusetts, Connecticut, South
Carolina, Mississippi, Louisaos. Col
orado and Wyoming, while the pay.
ment of certain taxes 10 required
before citizens can vote by Rhode
Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
South Carolina, Georgia. Florida.
Mississippi. Tennessee and Nevada
Mr. Wilson says the educational
qualification imposed by Massachu.
setts debars a larger number of citi.
zens than are effected by the coust-
tuition or laws of any southern state,
and that be feels sure the best sentl.
ment of the country. regardless of
politics, sustains the solution which
the suffrage laws Of South Carolina
and other southern states have Sc
cured to the people Of intelligence Of
those states
Secretary Cages expressed will.
ingness to answer any questions Con.
gress may ask him. concerning his
choice of a New York bank to re-
ceive on deposit all money collected
from internal revenue taxes-about
81 100000 dsy-and to distri.
butte the same TO banks in all parts
of tho country, as may be ordered by
the secretary OF the treasury, is likely
to be put to ,he test very soon, as
there are several things about this
transaction which many eenators and
representatives would like very much
to know. For instance. even among
those who concede the legal right Of
the secretary Of the treasury to give
the free use Of government money to
some banks and not to others. which
many do not, there is curiosity to
know why bank controlled by one
of the biggest and worst Of the
trusts--the Standard Oh Company
WAS made the distributor of thaaa