The Press., 1900-03-01
Washington Letter.
Washington, Feb. 26, 1900.

Washington, Feb 96, 1900
Another striking example Of legislation
by conference Is furnished by the finance
bill, reported from the conference COM
mittee 1t is practically new bill, en-
bodying the principal features OF both the
house and senate bills, but expressed un-
like either. It is more flat-footedly In
favor OF the gold standard; provides for
refunding the bonded indebtedness of the
government In two per cent. gold bonds,
upon which national banks may issue cur
rency to the full face value, and 1t retains
the senate bimetallic amendment, but in
more meaningless form. There is no
doubt about the adoption of the bill, re-
portGa by the conference committee, by
both house and senate, probably before
the close Of the present week.
The republicans Of the house who op-
posed the Porto Rican bill, as reported
from the ways and means committee,
forced the party conference to agree to q
modification Of the bill. AS modified,
the bill will be passed this week. It's de-
feat would have been certain had the
modification not been made. The object
ors knew the bill could not be passed
without their votes, and they made the
most of their knowledge. Representa-
tive Littlefield of Maine, whose speech
in the Roberts case placed him in the
ranks of the best legal orators in con-
gress, clinched that position by speech
against the Porto Rican tariff bill. Like
his fisst effort. his last speech was made
as minority member Of his party, but
that did not lessen Its effectiveness. In
dependence of opinion is admired by the
average man, even when it is against his
own.
The debate in the senate on the bill
providing territorial form Of govern
ment for Hawaii has not developed much
opposition. Amendments offered by SEN
atorsson both sides of the chamber have
been adopted without division, and it is
certain that as soon as all the senator's
who wish to make speeches on 1t have
had an opportunity to do SO, that it will
pass.
The senate committee on commerce has
favorably reported bill providing for a
commercial commission to be sent to
Asia, for the purpose of investigating and
reporting upon the best methods Of in
creasing American commerce in that part
of the world. The commission Is to be
composed of five business men, one from
each of the geographical divisions of the
country.
The new Philippine commission is now
complete, unless some of the members
should back out. Its members are Judge
w. Ell. Taft Of Ohio, Prof D. G. Worces-
ter Of Michigan, Gen. Luke e. Wright OF
TeaBessee, Judge H. G. Ide of Vermont,
and Prof. Bernard G. Moses Of California.
The present plan is to have the commits
sion start to the Philippines about the
first of April.
War department officials are wrestling
with a problem which they would gladly
evade. They are called upon to decide
whether the country is in state OF war
or peace. The problem has been raised
by the application of number of soldiers
for the purchase of their discharge from
the army, which the law says may be
done in time of peace. A peace decision
would enable these men to purchase their
discharges, but it would also result in re-
ducing the pay of soldiers serving in the
Philippines who are, In the absence of a
decision, drawing the increased pay au-
thorized by law In time of war. On the
other hand, war decision would raise
complications abroad, which might be-
come dangerous. The solving of this
problem is likely to be deferred as long
as possible.
That the scheme for the sale of the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue-about
the most Improbable real estate in Wash
ington-to the government as sites for fu-
ture public buildings, is nothing more
than big money grabbing real estate
deal, has been demonstrated by the hys-
terical opposition Of the principal news
paper organ of the schemers to the pro-
posal, endorsed by the committee, CON-
posed of the governors Of states and terri
tories, representatives, senators and prom
inent citizens Of Washington, which met
last week to arrange for the celebration
of the centennial of the establishment OF
the capital of the u. s. at Washington, to
lay out new Federal avenue, from the
capitol to the proposed memorial bridge
across the Potomac to Arlington, upon
which all future federal buildings shall be
erected. The proposed avenue would be
entirely on ground already owned by the
government, and no ground would have
to be bought; hence the squealing of the
speculators.
The vote by which the senate took up
the Quay case-A to 28-is regarded as
having settled two things. Fist, that a
majority of the senate upholds the claim
that anything affecting a senator's right
to his seat is a question of the highest
privilege and can be called up at any time
regardless of what Is before the senate
and. second, that Mr.. Quay will be- award.
ed the seat.
All Women Are Beautiful
| II they have clear, delicate and rosy
skin and bright, sparkling eyes. All wo
men can have those requisites to true