Middletown transcript., 1900-03-10
WASHINGTON LETTER
President Mckinley is Pleased With
His Trip to New York.
CLARK TESTIMONY ENDS
Our Trade Relations With the PhIii-
pines Being Much Discussed Ger
many Not Likely to Invite
Tariff war--Other Notes.
WASHINGTON. March 5.h. 1860.

WASHINGTON. March 5.h. 1900.
All The testimony has been taken iu
tie Clark bribery case, and very dis.
gusting lot of testimony it was, too,
almost without exception. March 20
has been set to begin the hearing OF
arguments, each side TO have six hours
% speak 10 and to be allowed 10 file
printed briefs.
All OF the Republican members of
the House have peen requested to bs
in their seats every day during ine
present week, and the request has
greatly alarmed the Democrats. The
reason for the request is simple enough,
but it cannot be seated at this time
without betraying party secret to the
enemy.
President McKinley's trip to New
York, to attend the annual dinner of
the Ohio society, from which he re-
turned today, was pl .asant break in
protracted season of very hard work.
Mis- Mckinley accompanied him and
both expressed themselves as having
had very enjoyable time. The con-
CALCULATIONS offered the President on
all sides on the able and timely speech
be made at the Ohio dinner were re-
ceived with his usual modesty. That
speech answers many of his critics.
Secretary Hay will not discuss the
report that this government has
threatened Germany with a CONNER
cial war, IL the Meat bill reported to
the Reichstag becomes law, but from
other sources it is learned that repre-,
sentations by Ambassador White to the
German government, caused assur-
ances to be given that the features OBJ
jected to by this government, will rot
be in the bill when it becomes a law.
No uneasiness is felt in Washington.
Germany has more TO lose that we
have by tariff war, and will not be
likely to invite one. 1t is believed
that the German Emperor is merely
playing little game of home politics
in order to get support for some of his
pet schemes, including a large applo.
priation for the increase of his navy.
Senator Furaker's statement that
while we were bound by the Peace
Treaty with Spain, to maintain the
"open door'' commercially in the
Philippines, we cannot give the Philip
pines free trade with US, has caused
the question Of our trade relation with
the Philippines, to be much dicussed.
The attitude taken by the Republicans
in passing the Porto Rico tariff bill is
that Col gress has the right to impose
whatever duty it may see fit upon the |
products of any outlying possession of
the United States. While it is believed |
that the Supreme Court will sustain |
that attitude; no man can say with cer-
tainty in advance what the decision of |
that court will be; hence the discussion.
One thing is reasonably certain, and |
that is, that IL called upon TO sur
render the protective tariff or the Philip
pines, the Republican party would de-
eide to give up the Philippines, because
as Senator Foraker said, to give the
Philippines free trade would be to open |
our markets to all the world through |
them.
President McKinley's message to
recommending that the
money collected, under the Dingley
tariff law, on Porto Rican products
some $4,000, ,000-and that which
will be collected until the new law
goes into effect be used for the benefit
of Porto Rico, which is in such imu ed
late need of money, was d surprise to,
tuS 1OmOCAdIcs out hOt W shO AOoPuS 4
Iiean leaders, who knew that it was to
follow the passage of the Porto Rico
tariff bill, being part of the plan to
give the ISLAM the money it needs for
public expenditures. The
House deserves credit for the prompt
ness with which it met the Presidents
recommendation by passing bill plac'
ing the money at his disposal. The
Democrats, with few excep ions, op,
posed the bill, which was passed by a
vote of 1862 to LOT, although acknowl-
edging it TO be good oue and to be
necessary. They explained their ad-
verse votes hy the himsy excuse that
they objected because the bill placed
the money at the Presidents disposal,
instead of spproprialing it for specific
purposes. The Senate will pass the
bill without any unnecessary delay.
Then the rejuevhaiiOn of Porto Rico
will be assured, as this money, together
with the Is per cent duty which will
be imposed Nv lha new tariff bill for
two years, will Iurni, b ample revenues
for the time being. But the best thing
about the bill giving the President
authority 70 nse the money already cob
lacted. for the benefit of Porto Rico, IS
thlt it heads off ths Democratic ats
tempt to make political capital Of
claiming that the Republicans were
disposed To be unjust to the Forte
RicaRs