The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-11-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent

From ous regular correspondent
wAsurseroS, Nov. 26.--1his government
has once more taken the diplomatic lead
in Chinese affairs. firing OF the seeming
ly endless deadlock of the foreign minis
tiers at Pekin, and believing that their
experiences had aroused their
nre;udices 10 such an extent that it would
be we'll nigh impossible for them to agree
upon the demands to be made upon the
government of China, for the punishment
of the meters of the Boxer troubles ana
the amount of the money indemnity which
should he paid the powers, this govern
ment has boldly taken stand In favor oil
ending the deadlock by stopping the pres
eut negotiations and making fresh start
by the appointment of representatives. oil
each of the powers concerned, to an inter-
national commission or Congress, to meet
at the Hague, or some other place OUTSIDE
of China. and formulate the demands
which the powers shall make upon ohina.
The idea has been endorsed by several oil
the powers and it is expected to get the
approval of them all. 1t seems to oiier a
commonsense way out of the mix-up IN
Pekin. which has steadily been growing
worse instead of better.
The reply of Ex-senator Wilson, OF the
State of Washington, when asked "na'
brought him to the national cap'a' at
this time. NAV be considered somewhat
un;one. compared with the object OF other
gentlemen who are, like Mr.. Wilson, MEM
hers Of The dominant party. He said; u
want nothing, and came here to ask Tor
nothing. Ny wife and | have come East
where our daughter is in school. want
cd 70 cet away from business and politics
for a little while and planned to stay away
until after Christmas.
Whatever the beer aud tobacco men ca"
do on the floor of the House, where they
threaten to carry the fight, there IS nc
doubt of their having been completely
routed in the first battle oil the bill ioi
the reduction Of the war taxes, maze De-
fore the subcommittee composed OF hep-
resentatives Payne, of New York, Daizei'
of Pa. and Hopkins, of H., wfich mas
nrenared n hill, estimated to cut the an
nual revenue between twenty ana 'h'r',
million dollars, without reducing the TAX
on beer or on any class OF tobacco. Inc
bill NAV, of course, be changed before re-
ported TO the House, during the hrst week
of the session, but as it now stands, IL re-
meals only those stamp taxes about whlch
there has been the most complaint. 1t II
said that the beer men might have got
reduction had il not been for the report sc
generally circulated during the campaign
that Senator Hanna had promised them
reduction in exchange for campa gn con-
tributions. 1t was pointed out by man
influential party men that If the brewer
taxes we're reduced it would be accepted
by the public as confirming the report.
Representative Hit, of ILL.,, Chairman
of the House Committee on foreign affairs
does not expect that committee to take
conspicuous part in the legislation oil tn'
session. He said, when asked OF The prop
able work ahead of the committee: II sup
nose there will be some questions for dis
cussion before the Foreign Affairs com
mittee, this winter, although cannot say
that there will be much important bust
ness to be brought before the House
The diplomatic appropriation bill Will D'
repaired early, as usual at the short ses
sion"
| Representative Russell, of Conn,
member of the House OF Ways and Mean
Committee, expressed his opinion OF th
work of the session: 81 think the reyenu
lbill will be the first important measur
taken up. 1t will probably come ahea
of the appropriation bills and the arm
bill, as il will be ready for presentation
the first day of the session. The army bil
NAV be the next important measure take
up. Neither will require much time an
both should he disposed of without delay
| cannot see that any legislation VIII
necessary at this session, for the PhIlip
pines or Porto Rico. A reapportlonmen
bill should be passed before the end OF tn
|
bill should also he passed. Little can b
done for Cuba until the result of the Con
stitutional Convention is known
1t has been expected from the first tina
the Canal Commission would report in ia
vor of the Nicaragua Canal and no on
was surprised when it was learned tina
the preliminary report, now in the hand
of the President, strongly favored th
Nicaragua ronte, because OF its beln
cheaper and easier to construct than
would be to complete work on the Panam
route. The Presidents message wi
probably follow the recommendations
the Canal Commission and il seems reas
enable to suppose that Congress will d
likewise, but the Panama cOmpsny's lot
byists now in Washington, have by n
means abandoned the field. They ha'
succeeded in heading off legislation fC
the Nicaragua Canal before. when Col
gressonal and public sentiment was Owe
whelmingly in favor of it, and they hop
to do so again. 1t is fight tor life viii
4 A.