The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-07-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

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Secretary Gage is chatting under
the muzzle that has been put upon
him by the Administration, and
some predict that it may result in
his resignation. Since turning the
matter over to the diplomatic
branch of the Government, with
the hope of reaching a satisfactory
settlement of the tariff war with
Russia, into which the Secretary's
laundering construction of law
plunged this country, Mr.. McKin-
ley informed him that he must
cease talking for publication about
the acts which led to the tariff
war. This Mr.. Gage is inclined
to regard as double reflection on
his judgment, but whether he will
take it seriously enough to resign
is not yet apparent. Those best
informed express the opinion that
the interests which placed Mr..
Gage in charge of the financial
branch of the Government will in
tervene, if necessary, to prevent
his resigning, as they do not wish
to take any chances with new
man.
The Republican fight over the
control of the Pension Bureau is
growing sensational Commits
sioner Evans this week made a
statement-his first public resist
ance to the demand for his remov-
al-that breathes defiance between
the lines, and may be considered
dare to Mr.. Mckinley to redeem
the written promise of the Repub-
lican National Committee to Gen.
Daniel E. Sickles, during the cam
paign last year, that Evans would
not be continued at the head of the
Pension Bureau during this Ad-
ministration if Mr., Mckinley was
reelected. Mr.. Evans intimates
that in addition to the desire of
the pension sharks to control the
work of the Pension Bureau, there
are Republican politicians who
wish a chance because they have
not been allowed to dictate, in de-
fiance of law, appointments and
promotions in the bureau. Taken
all in all, this statement of Mr.. |
Evans would be ''hot stuff" in
much colder weather than that
which Washington is now passing
through, and his friends say that
he has unlimited ammunition of
more of the same sort, and that
having become tired of being
abused for doing his duty and
between the Government
md ring of pension looters, he
will use it without regard as to
who is hit if the fight against him
q kent M. Democrats are play
ng the role of interested specta-
ors in this fight. Gen. Sickles,
Who used to be Democrat, and
Who is a leader on the anti Evans
ide, was Mckinley stumper in
1896 and 1900, and Corporal"
who seems to be second
n command, is Republican who
vas summarily kicked out of the
flee of Pension Commissioner by
he late Benjamin Harrison for
oing the very thing that Evans is
icing fought for not doing.
The opinion is increasing among
that the Republican talk
bout revising the tariff SO as to
it trust-controlled articles is
othing more than a vote-making
luff. In many congressional dis
riots in the West and middle
Vest there is a strong sentiment
mong Republican voters against
rusts. 1t is to keep this vote
rom being lost to the party that
be tariff revision talk was started, !
nd it is expected that a consid-
rable number of Republican rep
from that section will :
lake speeches during the coming :
ession of Congress in favor of 4
aking the duty off trust-controlled .
rticles, not because they expect 4
r really desire any legislation
long that line, but because the !
peeches will make good campaign !,
in next years Congress +
ional fight. +
1t seems that Secretary Cages =
rder imposing q countervailing !
uty on Italian sugar, on the sus- 5
icion that Italy was paying an /