The Washington weekly post., 1900-05-29
For Adjournment.

Russell. wyo.. s73oO0
For Adjournment.
The House Wednesday adopted resolu-
ton presented by Chairman Payne, Ct
the Ways and Means Committee. for the
adjournment Of Congress on June .. Be
fore the adoption OF the resolution there
was spirited debate in which the Demo
Gratis took the ground that Congress
should not adjourn without some action
for the repeal OF war taxes. This orig
mated In the presentation of a resolution,
at about the same time as the resolution
for adjournment. allowing the Committee
on Ways and Means 10 sit during the re-
cess Of Congress and prepare for reducing
and revising the war revenue laws
After Mr. De Almond had declared
that the entire session had been frittered
away Mr.. Payne explained that the total
surplus for the ten months and twenty
two days of the present fiScal year was
$50. .313. The surplus had averaged ~
10000 a month until April. when II fell 10
1900 600, and for the first twenty-five days
of the present month to less than mil
lion.
Mr. Richardson, of Tennessee, declared
emphatically that Congress ought not 10
adjourn until some provision had been
made for the reduction OF the war taxes.
The government could get along without
the enormous sum now being collected as
war taxes. The report Of the Secretary
of the Treasury showed that the surplus
at the end of the fiscal year would be sSO,-
100000 The gentleman from New YORK
might juggle figures, but he could ret
get away from the fact that the Secretary
of the Treasury said there would be
vast surplus June 80. Congress should not
adjourn without giving the people some
relief
Mr.. Robinson. of Indiana. called atten-
tion TO the statement of the Republican
leaders On. the occasion Of the passage OF
the war revenue act, that the act Wouid
be repealed as soon as the emergency
passed, and notably the statement OF MI
Cannon ;hat IL the war lasted but SIN
months the law would be repealed a. the
end of six months. and Mr.. Underwood
of Alabama insisted that the tax upon
the brains and energy Of the country
should not be continued while unproddc-
tive wealth escaped.
Mr.. Hopkins. of Illinois, said that the
statement of Mr.. Payne furnished ample
reason for postponng action. Gen. GroS-
venOr called attention to the straits 10
which the government had sometimes
been put by failure of confidence IN ad-
ministrations.
The adjournment resolution was adopted
without division.
The resolution to permit the Ways ana
Means Committee to sit during the recess
to which objection was made earlier IN
the day, was finally adopted without dl-
vision or debate.
The presentation in the House OF the
resolution for Sittings of the Ways ana
Means Committee during the recess vas
preceded by meeting OF that committee,
and the resolution agreed 10 by party
vote The committee defeated MI NC
Clellans motion TO discharge the SUD
committee having charge of the beer tax
reduction. On Mr.. McClellan's motion,
Gen. Grosvenor voted with the Democrats s
The committee approved, without dlvl-
, sion, the Senate bill for A collector OF
customs at Honolulu at salary OF So'VVV,
and such deputies as may be required.
The President Wednesday sent to the
Senate a series of letters from the Chi
nese Minister. WI Tingfang, setting forth
reasons why, in the opinion OF his gov
ernment. the Chinese exclusion laws
should not be made applicable to the
Philippine Islands. There are five OF these
| letters, the first being dated FEBRUARY 3'
| 1899 and the last May I, 1890. In the hrst
letter the minister says that Tor CEN
turtles very important intimate relations
have existed between China and the phil
| ippines, owing to their cOntiguity and the
| favorable trade and industrial conditions
| Commercial intercourse is extensive, ne
saws, between the Philippines and South
ern China, and the Chinese population
int 1FTil gTG
| being frequent. The Chinese have, he
| said, been always welcome, and up to the
! present time there has existed free in
| tercourse and unrestricted trade. He eX-
| presses the hope that this will continue
| to be the case, and contends that our
Chinese exclusion laws were enacted sole
| Iy because of labor conditions in the Unit
| ed States proper.
| The second note, dated September u, is
| a protest against Gen. Otis exclusion or
der of September 26, 1898. In this letter
| Mr.. WI complains of the failure of Sec
retary Hay to give him previous notice
| of this policy, saying that he had been in
| formed that nothing would be done until
| Congress should act. He then enters a
strongly worded protest against the en-
| fOrcement of the order as contrary To
| international law and comfy, in viola
ton of the spirit of existing treaties, and
| in utter disregard of the friendly relations
| which should exist between the two gov
| ernments." He continues by saying that
| the order is not warranted as military
| measure, because it is a departure from
! the announced policy OF the President to
| leave the status of the newly acquired
possessions unchanged until Congress
| shall determine the relation they shall
sustain TO the United States" and be
| cause il is a great injustice TO a numerous
body of Chinese subjects, and will dis
turb the friendly relations which should
be maintained between the governments
of the United States and China"
After recalling the historically close in
tercourse between the Philippines and
| China he continues: When by the for
tune of war the United States was
brought into much nearer proximity, my
government has seen in this event an ad-
| ditiOnal reason why these friendly rela-
tons should become more intimate and
harmonious. 1t cannot be that the Pres
ident of the United States, with his eX-
alted sense of justice and his earnest de-
sire TO promote good will among the ma
| tions, will allow a military commander
| 10 continue 10 enforce an unjust and
peaceful inhabitants, which cannot fail 10
disturb the intercourse with a neighbOr-
ing nation. which desires TO continue and
enlarge its cordial relations with this gov
| eminent" He closes this communication
| with an especial appeal TO the President
and the Secretary Of State to cause the
order TO be Withdrawn.
A communication dated November l.
last is a protest against the enforcement
! OF Gen. Otis' decree against not only
| laborers. but merchants and others OF
| the exempt class He says this complaint
| is more aggravated than the former, and
| renews his previous protest, asking that
instructions be sent TO Gen. Otis TO cease
the violation Of the treaty Of 1891"
| On December II Minister Wa acknoWl-
edged the receipt Of a note from the Sec
! retary. saying that the exclusion order did
not apply 10 the exempted classes The
letter OF the 7th instant is a request for
the transmission OF this series of Letters
to Congress