Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-02-08


instructions, but the Republican revolt
grew so rapidly that the Republicans OF
the house ways and means committee
jumped into the breach with COM
promise in the shape OF a substitute for
the Payne bill. This substitute pro-
vides for the collection on a duty on
Porto Rican products, OF 25 per cent OF
the duty levied upon similar foreign
products, and it will be pushed through
as party measure. 1t has already
been indorsed by the senate Porto Rican
committee. Notwithstanding all his
previous talk, to Porto Ricans and
others in favor OF free trade, Mr..
Mckinley now pretends to be perfectly
satisfied with the 25 per cent bill. In
other words, he is once more demon
strating that he is a follower, not the
leader Of his party; and that he has no
opinion that he would not sacrifice
rather then take any chances OF missing
a denomination.
/ !
1t is very likely that the president
will soon be "called down" even by
members of his own party for the way
in which he has been abusing the ap-
pointive power by creating swarm Of
new major and brigadier generals In the
regular army. In less than three years,
forty-two such appointments have been
made. OF these twenty-ssven have
since been retired, two of these have
died, and only twelve now remain In
the service. In other words, the re-
tiremsnt list has been used for the pur-
pose Of promoting colonies and lieuten-
ant colonels to the rank and pay Of
brigadiers, and then retiring them to
make way for others who are IN tu n
retired. The country is willing to re-
ward its war generals with lberality,
but when the president goes into the
| business wholesale, as he has done,
| there is sure to DO objections sooner or
later.
| 1t is understood that President Nc
Knley was anxious to send troops to
Kentucky, and decided not to do so only
through fear Of the political consequ ances
of such an act. The constitution
authorizes the president to employ
United States troops in case Of insur-
recton in any state against the govern
ment thereof ION application of the
| legislature OF such state, or of the ex-
ecutiye thereof, when the legislature
cannot be convened. ."ClNo provision
permits the use OF troops where the
governor himself is a usurper and is
opposed by the legislature and declines
| to submit himself to the state courts.
| Further, no government has the right
to call on the president for troops whom
the legislature is in session, nor has he
the right to forcibly adjourn the legis-
lature for the purpose Of creating a
condition under which he may call for
troops.
| The best lawyers in the senate, re-
gardless OF politics, are of the opinion
that the refusal OF Taylor, to Issue a
certificate OF election 10 Senator elect
Blackburn, OF Kentucky, will not pre-
vent the seating Of Senator Blackburn.
1t has only been few years since
Senator Call was seated without obiec-
tion in the face OF the absolute refusal
OF the governor Of Florida, to give him
a certificate Of election. Mr.. Call mere
ly presented a copy OF the proceedings
OF the legislature whom he was elected,
and that will be all Mr.. Blackburn will
have to do.
Various notifications in the shipping
bill have been forced by congressman
from interior states who are sceptical as
to the advantages to be derived from
the bill. The total annual expenditure
is now limited TO 100000 and tho
provisions have been extended so as to
apply to ships which may be bought
abroad and naturalized within a certain
period. This last amendment tends to
nullify the only really certain benefit OF
the bill-its encouragement OF the do
mestic ship building industry. 1t is
now only plain out and out robbery.