Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-16
THE POLITICAL. POT.
HoWiTs sUBsLlNGs ARE VIEWED
IN WASHINGTON.

IN WASHINGTON.
People Get an Object Lesson in I'm.
periaIistic Splcndor and Its Cost
Mark Hanna's Ready Made Platforms
to Republican State Conventions,
Washington correspondence.
Secretary Root, in his report on
Cuban expenditure to the Senate, has
furnished the people object lesson No.
on imperialism in practical operation.
This policy is no longer rainbow-tint-
ed dream lowering about President Nc
KInley's Imagination. 1t is an actual
and solid reality, which costs money to
support. This report from the War De-
partment shows the extra salaries
which our military officials have been
allowed to draw from Cuban revenues
In addition to their legal and regular
salaries as officers of the United States
army. Here are most important items:
ITO the Governor General of Cuba,
$500 per year."
Military Governor of Havana, $1,000
per year"
Collector of Customs for Cuba,
800 per year"
Treasurer Island of Cuba, 81 500 per
year."
Secretary Root very frankly states
that this extra allowance was made in
order that these officials might live in
style more befitting their positions.
He assumes without question that our
"carpetbag' Imperialism must outshinc
the princely splendor Of the Spanish
tyrants from whom we delivered the
Cubans. The old ideas Of Jefferson!an
simplicity have been entirely forgotten.
The law is very explicit in prohibiting
extra allowance to army officers, but
Secretary Root says that the payments
were authorized by the President on the
oraladyice of the Attorney General. An
attempt is made to justify the expendi-
ture by citing the fact that allowances
We're made to army officers performing
civil functions in Mexico and Califor-
mia, and were sanctioned by Congress
In 1S49 and 1858, but Secretary Root
conveniently forgets that Congress in
1910 passed the law specifically prohib-
itlng extra allowances. Republicans
have strenuously maintained on the
floor of the Senate that these allow
ances In Cuba were not in the nature of
extra salaries, but the official order of
the War Department, dated March /,
1899, shows that the amounts were
termed salaries" when ordered to be
paid out Of the revenues of Cuba.
1t Is not stated what the impovertsh-
ed Cubans think of this spectacle of
having their island revenues spent more
lavishly for the purposes of our mill
tary occupation than they ever were
under Spanish regime. The Cubans,
being under martial law, are not in
position to make known any criticisms
Of their new masters.
The Cuban item is not SO very large
In ITSELF, but 1t is the thin end of the
wedge. IL that amount can be taken
every year from insular revenues, why
not any other sum up to the limit of the
revenue-producing capacity of the ISL
and? The same sort of q raid is plan
ned in Porto Rico, and Congress is
asked, as mere matter of form, to
give Its sanction in advance to the plum
dering of the stricken people of that
island.
Under all the fine talk about bringing
the blessings Of our institutions to the
Fillpinos lies this very scheme of MAX
Ing them the helpless subjects of lot
Of irresponsible officials who will loot
eyerything In sight. OF course it will
be done in n gentlemanly manner and
with the sanction of the administration,
but it is no wonder that certain inter-
ests are SO loud in the defense of i'm
perinlism. They see already whnt OPP
portunities are going to be presented
for private spoliation IL only the prece-
dent can be established that the Presi-
dent and his Congress are above the
Constitution.
Mark Hanna is taking pains that no
Republican State Convention shall be
allowed to criticise the Porto Rican
pleasure or any other matter pertain
Ing to this administration. Unfortu-
4 Iately for his dreams of four years
more in which to strengthen the i'm
perial policy, the people may choose
litter all to vote for man who will rec
pgnize the authority of the Constitu-
lion in relation 10 the insular posses
sions and other important matters.
Ready Made Platforms,
Much interest is felt in Washington
II the State conventions which are be-
ng held at this time. Mark Hanna and
ais lieutenants not only sent ready
made platform to Ohio, but it looks
IS II Indiana, Wisconsin and Massachu-
,etts received duplicate copies in order
20 guide their action. Hanna feels that
here must be Mt least the appearance
II surface harmony, but 1t is suggested
\ lerc that he might have managed a
little more variety Of diction in the va
.ious platforms. Hanna and Dick re-
turned from Ohio in the best Of spirits
and seem really to have persuaded
themselves that their shifty and eva
;iye platform would convince voters
That the administration is all right and
pnly needs more time and more power
IN order that everybody shall be happy.
The trust planks in the State plat
forms are noticeably weak, and 1t is
said that the representatives of sew
eral of the big trusts served notice on
Hanna before he left Washington that
If they We're to put up the fund for his
campaign they expected to be treated
with respect and Difference. The trusts
nave gotten so far away from the peo-
pie that 1t is difficult for them to see
why their agent Mr.. Hanna, should
aven take the trouble to dissemble his
contempt for the mere mob which
casts votes.
Mr.. Quay and his friends have seen
at to indulge in good deal of bitter
pess over his failure to be seated as a
Senator. 1t was n lesson to those who
get into the comfortable belief that
when the Legislature and the pre-
scribed forms become an obstruction to