The Opelousas courier., 1902-08-09
Washington, d. e., News.
From our Regular Correspondent.

w ASH1NGTON. aug. 4, lJUZ.
The report made by Secretary of
tho Treasury Shaw for the month
of July is in entire accordance with
the predictions made in these let
ters some months ago. The deficit
for the mouth was little oyer
S7,0OO.000. Some of the best iE1
formed etficials of the department
place ttj deficit for the next month
at S4,0bO, 900, and predict that they
will increase Continuously from
thatdtime on. While the cause of
thisI deficit is partially due to the
repJal of the war reSenue taxes, it
is aken more due to tho high tariff,
wJfch has resulted in a falling Oft
ef imports and q proportionate de-
crease in customs receipts. 1t is
claimed that inside knowledge of
the affairs of the government
prompted Secretary Shaw, at the
last minute, to throw the weight of
his influence in favor of the tariff
revision plank in the Iowa plat
form, for he has come to appreciate
that reduction of the duties will
increase imports and more revenue
will be paid into the treasury. On
the other hand, now that Iowa has
declared her sentiment in favor of
revision, there is likely to be an
effort Oh the part Of the administra-
ton to belittle the Importance of
the Iowa declaration. Past expert
ence has taught the treasury Off
cials that the prospect of tariff re-
duction is invariably accompanied
by q reduction of imports, as the
importers reduce their orders to the
smallest possible figure in order not
to be caught after the change with
goods on their hands on which they
have paid the higher rate Of duty.
Such reduction of imports would
so far curtail the receipts of the
government as to seriously jeopar
die existing prosperity, and would
doubtless result in q Democratic
landslide in 1904. The hope of the
administration is to mislead the
people into the belief that the Re
publicans are in earnest in their
promises of tariff reform; to make
the merchants and importers be-
lieye that there will be no tariff re-
duction, and, at the same time, to
devise some means of remedying
the evils of tho present high tariff,
in SO far as it's tendency to reduce
customs receipts is concerned. The
problem is not an easy one, and it's
solution will require all the political
and economic acumen which Mr..
Roosevelt and his advisors can
summon. In the meantime, the
Democratic leaders are contemplat
ing the situation with certain
grave satisfaction. They deplore
the prospect of "hard times" and
the suffering of the poor which it
will imply; nevertheless, they ap
preciate that it will take a bitter
lesson to teach many of the Repub-
licans the fallacy of the policy Of
the administration.
AS heretofore announced, no lit
erature is to be sent out in any
quantity by the Republican Com
mittee That committee appreciates
the danger of committing itself on
paper. Mr.. Roosevelt will be urged
to keep the public interested in his
mysterious plans for controlling the
trusts, while the other leaders of
the party will solicit campaign
funds and will insure the trust
magnates that the Presidents ut
terances are all for political effect,
because the respected public must
be fooled to keep it contented. Mr..
Littlefield will play the role of
Sphinx and will say nothing, while
the reports are kept busy guessing
as to what are his plans. With the
fall campaign out of the way, at
tention will be turned to bracing
up the treasury receipts and posi-
bly, some brief tariff bill, which will
have that end solely in view, will
be passed. The public will not for
get, however, to inquire occasion
ally as to the location of that huge
surplus which was going to build
tue Panama Canal and accomplish
other wonders without any hard
ship to the people.
Mr.. Louis A. Pradt, assistant and
at present acting attorney general,
has made public a statement, in
which he says: "The result in the
| coming election in Wisconsin is un-
certain. The Democrats are alive
to the situation and will nominate
o ticket that will receive the sup.
port of many Republicans who pre-
fer anything else to La Folletteism
But whatever the outcome this fall,
the fight will 60 on until Wisconsin,
is cured of the disease of popnlism
which has had it's run in other Re
publican States" When he made
these statements, Mr.. Pradt had
lust returned from Wisconsin, where
he went to attend the State conven
ton, and his views are corroborateG
by advices received at Democratic
headquarters. In fact, the chances
| Of carrying Wisconsin for the Dem
ocratic party are regarded as par
ticnlarly bright.
Mr. Powell Clayton, United State
| IN ssadnr To Mexico has ak las