Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-04-26
NOTES FROM Washington
Legislative Movements in House
and Senate and Their Po1it-
zeal Significance.
BILLS SIDES ARE STRUGGLING OVER.
Porto Rican Affair - Democrat is
Want Armor Plate Factory Man
aged by GOvernment-Repre senta-
tive Dicks Explanation, Etc.
Especial correspondence

Especial Correspondence
| The house republicans feel some
| what in need of repairs since the pas
sage of the Porto Rican bill. 1t was
one of those victories more costly than
| defeat.
| The house intends to confine its at
| tention strictly TO the appropria ton
OF money for some time. There are
{ three big bills and any number of
minor measures that must be sent to
| the senate by the middle OF May if
! there is to be the proposed adjourn
! ment by the middle of June.
! The naval appropriation bill Will en-
gage the attention of the house at
once. Then there are the post Office
sundry civil and general deficiency
measures. The latter will be held
back until the last moment because it
contains material for pointed demo-
cratic criticism. 1t is the epitome of
the expensive plumbers which the adj
ministration has beer. cos-I1.i.tt,.-.~
The consideration of the nav:.; ;>p-
| propria ton bill will precipita.s Dit
ter struggle in the house over the
question of armor plate. The MAORI
ty will contend for free hand" as
Senator Beveridge would say. 1t is
willing to pay s545 ton and as much
more as the Carnegie company may
demand.
The democrats will contend for an
armor plate factory built and man.
aged by the government. 1t has been
shown that the best armor plate can
be manufactured for about $500 a ton,
and that it is in the interest of econ
omy to have this work done by the
government instead of by trust. The
democrats will also urge the building
of ships in government yards. rather
than by a subsidized combine. The
republican majority will, of course,
vote down both propositions. but the
debate will be an instructive one, and
close understanding and sympathy
the democrats will be allie to show the
with trust interests which underlies
the republican request for big naval
appropriation. Just here it may be
noted that the combined army and
navy appropriation asked by the adj
ministration approximates closely to
S200,OOO.O00 for the fiscal year.
The Porto Rican Matter.
The administration forces have felt
that it would be the part of wisdom
to let the Porto Rican matter drop
out of sight. now that the bill is
passed. 1t is recognized that if popu-
lar agitation continues on the matter
it will seriously endanger the chances
of republican success in the coming
presidential campaign.
~ of
not be quiet Congress is simply del
uged with letters and newspaper at
tacks-from republican sources, too
expressing the utmost indignation at
the passage of the measure.
So desperate has become the condi-
ton that the suave and ingenious Rep
resentative Dick, secretary of the re-
publican national committee. has
deemed it advisable to have himself
interviewed and to explain the
measure.
The democrats think that he is
scarcely as happy as usual in his
choice of arguments. He says that
the Porto Rican tariff Twill be prece-
dent in our legislation for our new
possessions in the Philippines" He
goes on at great length to point out
the dangers to American industry and
labor unless various unconstitutional
barriers are raised against the new
possessions.
The democrats pointed out the dan
gers in the beginning. They ques-
toned the advisability of the sort of
expansion which takes in millions of
people of alien races and entirely diff
ferent character OF civilization from
our own. The democrats assumed
that if such people were taken at all
they must be under the protection of
the constitution and entitled to the
rights guaranteed by that instrument.
If the new possessions could not come
to us in that way the United States
was better off without them.
Representative Dick shows very
clearly in his official statement that
the republicans desire to institute
system of colonial possession. over
which an irresponsible congress and
administration shall be the dictator.
irresponsible. because acting without
the guidance or control of the consti-
tuition. He intimates plainly that the
republicans are striving to establish
the precedent that the constitution
does not apply to the insular posses
sions.
The democrats are entirely willing
to go before the people with imperial
ism thus clearly defined, and they are
rather pleased that Representative
Dick thus foreshadows so definitely at
this time the republican attitude in
The campaign.
Running Mate for Mckinley.
Mark Hanna has been conducting a
lively campaign to find a running
mate for Mckinley. Mr.. John ID.
Long, secretary of the navy, is
now said to be the favored candidate.
The search this time is not SO much
for the modest citizen who will con-
tribute literally to the campaign fund
in return for the honor of the NOM
nation, as for some one who viii BOZ
ster up Mr.. McKinley's reputation and
bring into line the thousands upon
thousands of republicans who regard
him with distrust-not to say any
thing worse.
The kaleidoscope may change num-
Der Of, times before the country, but
Mark Hanna is looking for the upright
and rc6nseientious man who will add |
real .mdfaf strength to the ticket Mr..
Hapna can manage the campaign fund, |
when it comes to that, and he now feels |
assured that he has the machinery suf- |