The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-01-20
OUR WASHINGTON BETTER.
WASHINGTON. DC, Jan. II, 1898

|. WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. II, 1898.
Secretary Wilson's report on Sena-
tor Lodges resolution, which was
adopted by the Senate asking for
full information as to bset sugar, and
what, if any, foreign sugars it comes
in competition with, and what effect,
if any, the importation of Hawaiian
sugars has or could have upon the
beet sugar production of the United
States, is expected to knock out one
of the arguments used by the sugar
trust lobby to make certain Senators,
whose states are large and increasing
producers of sugar beets, doubtful of
the policy of annexation by showing
that no injury to the beet sugar inter
ests of this country Will, or possibly
can follow the annexation of Hawaii
1t rs not surprising that Senators
should have been temporarily caught
by the specious arguments of the
agents of the sugar trust against an
Hexation because of the injury it
might do the sugar beet industry in
this country. Secretary Wilson was
himself once doubtful on the subject
| because he believed annexation might
injure the American beet growers,
but investigation convinced him thatS
it would not, and his facts on the sub
ject will convince the Senators who
have doubts. There are hourly con-
Trajectory stories around Washington
as to the attitude of Senators towards
the annexation treaty, but Senator
Davis, who is in charge of the treaty,
is still confident that it will be ratified
with votes to spare.
Senator Wolcott's speech bears out
Senator Chambers recent statement
that President Mckinley does not
regard as final the efforts made by
the commission which visited Europe
in behalf of bimetallism, and that he
does not regard their failure to get
England committed as ending all
hope for international agreement.
Senator Wolcottt believes that the
visit of the commission to Europe
materially advanced the idea of inter
national bimetallism, and that it will
yet become an accomplished fact.
| Attorney General Mckenna's nom
| ination to the Supreme Court would
have been confirmed last week had
not Senator Allen seen in it an oppor-
tunity to secure a little notoriety for
himself. When Senator Hoar presen-
ted the report of the Judiciary Com
and asked that q vote be taken, Sen
ator Allen was the only director, and
he consumed four hours in making it
plain that his only object was to draw
public attention to himself. He first
| asked for a postponement of two
weeks, but was in the end satisfied to
get the vote postponed until next
Friday. There is nothing uncertain
about Judge McKenna's confrma-
ton. At the outside, there isn't likely
to be more than six votes cast in
opposition, and it is possible that
there will be none.
Representative Jenkins, of Wiscon-
sin, has introduced a bill providing
for the establishment Of a national
military park at Appomattox, Va,
ap6 for tho arao+iOp of q ,,aooa D1op,1
ment upon the spot where the agree
ment to cease hostilities was executed.
There are sevaral bills of this nature,
including that providing for making
a national military park of the Vicks-
burg battlefield, and the general
sentiment in Congress is favorable to
them, but they are likely to be shut
out at this session under the general
rule that no bill carrying an appro-
priation for new project shall be
passed by the House, until the receipts
of the government exceed it's expen-
ditures.
Notwithstanding the use of whole
week in the discussion of civil service
matters, the House has made good
business record since the reassembling
of Congress. 1t has passed the legis-
lative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill, the urgency deficiency
appropriation bill, and the agricult-
ural appropriation bill, and is now
considering the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill.
Whatever may be the personal
opinion of President Mckinley as to
the business of the damages awarded
to British subjects for losses alleged
to have been sustained by reason of
our seizure of their sealing vessels in
Behring sea, by the arbitration com
mission acting under the treaty of
1886, he knows that we are in honor
bound to pay them, so he has sent a
special message to Congress, urging
the early appropriation of $475, Isl .26,
in order that they may be paid and
the matter closed