Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-08-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Aug. A. 1902.

From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Aug. A, 1902
The report made by Secretary Of the
Treasury Shaw for the month of July, is
in entire accordance with the predictions
made in these letters some months ago
The deficit for the month was little over
S., 600, 600. Some of the best informed
officials of the Department place the de-
felt for next month at So, 000, 600, and pre-
dict that they will increase continuously
from that time on. While the cause of
this deficit is partially due to the repeal of
the war revenue taxes, it is even more due
to the high tariff which has resulted in a
falling off of imports and proportionate
decrease 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 i'll favor of the tariff revision
plank in the Iowa platform, for he has
come to appreciate that a reduction of the
duties will increase imports, and more
revenue will be paid into the treasury. On
the other hand, now thai Iowa has de-
clared her sentiment in favor of revision,
there is likely to be an effort on the part
portance of the Iowa declaration. Past
experience has taught the treasury officials
that the prospect of tariff reduction is in
variably accompanied by 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
a reduction of imports would so far cur
tail the receipts of the government as to
seriously jeopardiZe existing prosperity,
and would doubtless result in Democratic
landslide in 1904. The hope of the adj
ministration is to mislead the people into
the belief that the Republicans are in earn
est in their promises OF tariff reform; to
make the merchants and importers believe
that there will be no tariff reduction; and,
at the same time, to devise some means of
remedying the evils of the present high
tariff, in so far as its tendency to reduce
customs receipts is concerned. The prob
lem is not an easy one, and its solution will
require all the political and economic acu-
men which Mr.. Roosevelt and his advisors
can summon. In the meantime, the Demo-
cratic leaders are contemplating the situa-
ton with certain grave satisfaction. They
deplore the prospect of ''hard times, " and
the suffering poor which it will imply;
nevertheless, they appreciate that it will
take bitter lesson to teach many of the
Republicans the fallacy of the policy of
the administration.
AS heretofore announced, no literature is
to be sent out in any quantity by the Re
publican Committee That committee APP
preciates 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 CAM
paign funds and will assure the trust mag
mates that the Presidents utterances are
all for political effect because the respected
public must be fooled to keep it contented.
Mr.. Littlefeld will play the role of sphinx
and will say nothing, while the reporters
are kept guessing as to what are his plans.
With the fall campaign out of the way,
will be turned to bracing up the
treasury receipts and possibly some brief
tariff bill, which will have that end solely
10 view, will be passed. The public will
not forget. however, to inquire occasionally
as to the location of that huge surplus
which was going to build the Panama Canal
and accomplish other wonders without any
hardship to the people.
Mr.. Louis A. Pradt, assistant, and at
present, acting Attorney General, has made
public statement in which he says that
THE result in the coming election in
Wisconsin is uncertain. The Democrats
are alive to the situation, and will nomin-
ate ticket that will receive the support of
many Republicans who prefer anything else
to La FolIetteism. But whatever the out
come this fall, the fight will go on until
Wisconsin is cured of the disease of popu-
ism which has had its run in other Repub-
lican States. " When he made these state
ments, Mr.. Pradt had just returned from
Wisconsin where he went to attend the
State Convention, and his views are corrob-
o ated by advices received at Democratic
In fact, the chances of
carrying Wisconsin for the Democratic
party are regarded as particularly bright.
Mr.. Powell Clayton, United States Am
bassador to Mexico, has at last been forced
to admit his connection with the Ell Carmen
Mining Company, connection he has long
denied. Some time ago, the State Depart
ment called the attention of the Ambassa-
dor to the fact that he was charged with
pany, aud Mr. Clayton came to Washing
ton and stated to the President that he
held few shares in the company, but that
they were held in trust for relative, who
was herself unable to protect her interests,
and had transferred her stock to him for
that purpose Mr.. Clayton now admits
that he is actual holder of one hundred
shares, and is director in the company.
This admission is most significant in the
face of the charges brought against Clay
ton, and incidentally against the Solicitor
for the State Department, by Senator
Bailey, and which resulted in the personal
encounter which occurred between Senators
Bailey and Beveridge. 1t will be remem-
bered that Senator Bailey charged that
AMBASSADOR Clayton had practically refused
to protect the rights of one DR.. Scott as
against the mining company above named !;
that the presumption was that he had done
so because he was a director of that com
pany, and that Solicitor Penfeld had sup
pressed certain papers in order to protect
Clayton aud defeat Scott The admission
of Clayton at this late date, and after de-
NAL of the actual facts, has been made to
the President, constitutes victory for
Senator Bailey, and places Senator Bever-
dge and the officials Of the State Depart
ment in a most embarrassing position. 1t
is also significant that none of the daily
papers, in making public the statement of
the Ambassador, refer to the connection of
the admission to the charges made by Sena-
tor Bailey on the floor of the Senate.