Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-02-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 9TH LOO

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9TH, 1900.
Mr.. Mckinley can change his
opinions as quick as other men can
change their coats, when he finds it
necessary, and he can smilingly pre-
tend that he is thoroughly pleased
with his last Que. His latest light
ming change act was i'm connection
with the Porto Rico bill. 1t is well
known that the Payne bill, provid-
ing for free trade with Porto Rico, was
prepared under Mr.. McKinley's in
structions, but the Republican revolt
grew so rapidly that the Republicans
of the House Ways aud Means Com
mittee jumped into the breach with
a compromise in the shape of sub
st;tute for the Payne bill. This sub
stitute provides for the collection of
IA duty on Porto Rican products, of
20 per cent of the duty levied upon
similar foreign products, and it will
be pushed through as a party meas
ure. 1t has already been endorsed
by the Senate Porto Rico Committee.
Notwithstanding all his previous
talk to Porto Ricans and others i'm
favor of free trade, Mr.. Mckinley
now pretends to be perfectly satisfied
with the 25 per cent bill. In other
words, he is once more demonstrate
ing that he is follower, not the
leader Of his party; and that he has
no opinion that he would not sacri-
ice rather than take any chances of
missing denomination. But the
trouble among the Republicans over
this matter isn't yet ended, as Sena-
tor Platt, of Connections, who start
ed the revolt, has given notice of his
intention to offer an amendment in
creasing the tariff on Porto Rican
products to 80 per cent.
Representative Talbot, of South
Carolina, has served notice ON the
House that no pension bills are to be
passed except when there is a quorum
present. In the course of a short.
but emphatic speech, he said 81
believe the pension laws are suffi-
GENTLY liberal to pension every de-
serving soldier and widow, and ! am
to sitting here every Friday
night, as a Court of Appeals, to pass
special cases who have been refused
by the Pension Bureau. If il is TO
be done, there must he Quorum.
Members cry aloud their love for the
old soldiers, but they will not give
up their pink teas and poker parties
and that sort of thing to vote. pen
sions."
Secretary Gage, in officially mott
tying the national. banks which have
been receiving the internal revenue
receipts on deposit, that the money
would not hereafter be sent to the
:ity National Bank of New York for ;
distribution, as has been done since ,
December 18th last, but would be :
sent to the yarions sub treasures as ;
usual, virtually acknowledged the ,
Justice of the Democratic attacks ,
lpon his favoritism. That acknowl- :
,dgement has not, however, stopped !
he pressure in either House or Sen
tie for an investigation of that fa-
Soritism.
Senator Aliens remedy for trusts,
IS given by him in public speech. {
8 so plain that he who runs may
cad and understand. He said: ",rhe
'emedy is in the ballot box. Go to 8
he polls next>November and cast J
our vote against the present trust
idden administration, and you will !
lave remedisd the evil Of these gi-
Iantic corporations and their pnr- a
hased press. Redeem the country by
he ballot" q
The Washington end of Taylor's |
anne was up when Mr.. Mckinley,
y advice of his cabinet, decided to f
eep his fingers out. Since then /
'aylor's friends have been trying in a
very way to get that decision recon y
Idered. Their last dodge is to ask n
lr. Mckinley to send a commission n
D Kentucky to investigate.