Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-18
HOUSE IS DISTURBED BY PORTO
RlCAN TARIFF BILL.
Senators Accused of Evading the Issue
and Charged by Speaker Henderson
with Being Controlled by Certain In
Observation-Disclosures in Quandary.

Il sAAV1yo ASaNhS NoAAtAOAAGd Ny Va SoAa AZ
terests. In order to have his say
Speaker Henderson broke all the un-
written rules as to the dignity surround
Ing his exalted position and allowed his
criticism of the Republicans In the Sen
ate to appear in the guise Of letter
written to friend In Iowa. 1t was,
however, given out in Washington.
While Speaker Henderson was assert
ing that the people did not understand
the Porto Rican tariff bill, Senator
Davis Of Minnesota was making
speech in the Senate in which he de.
clared for free trade with Porto Rico
and warned his party that the country
understood the Porto Rican tariff very
well indeed and that as representa-
tive of the people he proposed to heed
their indignant protest. To complete
the absurdity of the situation the youth
full orator from Indiana, Senator Bev-
eridge, took an opportunity to declaim
loudly that the Constitution was a
worn-Out and useless document and
that Congress was entitled to "a free
hand" in deciding the destinies of Porto
Il AsANS "a NAAJ OthSl pOooCSSiOhs toCAatOl
Beveridge had heard sufficiently from
his constituents TO advocate free trade
in this particular instance. But he
rather spoiled the effect of his speech,
from the popular point of view, by CIV
ing an exhibition of Anglomania that
would have done credit to Secretary
Hay. Senator Beveridge spent much
eloquence in depicting the superiority
of English methods to those of the
United States. So it goes. the Repub-
licans find new causes for disagree
ment every day. 1t is impossible to
say what they will do.
The one point on which administra-
ton and all grades of Republicans are
agreed Is that the party will not admit
that the Constitution covers the insular
possessions. The Democrats are sim.
ply standing by and allowing the Re-
publicans to manufacture campaign
material for them. The Democrats
contend that the Constitution follows
the fiag," and leave 1t to the Republi-
cans to reconcile the people to any
other doctrine.
Secretary Hay seems to have a de.
ctded talent for making himself ridicu-
lous. For months he has been insinu-
ating that he was completing some
great diplomatic triumph by which
the open door" in China would be
agreed upon by exchange of notes with
other powers, and that some great
trade advantages were thus to be Sc
cured for this country A resolution of
inquiry from Congress secured the
publication of the documents In the
case. 1t now appears that Secretary
Hay received bland assurances from
the other powers that they would pro-
coed in relation to China and this
country just as they had before. There
had been noquestion of the "open door"
and no new advantages were secured
by Secretary Hays diplomacy. Still
Mr.. Hay has to be amusing himself
with something, and this sort Of thing
is less mischieyous than the Hay
Pauncefote treaty.
The wet season Is about to set in and
the army in the Philippines is to be
kept there, wading through and chas-
Ing elusive guerrilla bands. The sick
now In the hospitals are to be bundled
home, so that there will be space for
the increase in the sick list which Is
sure to come with the rainy season.
Gen. Otis is reported broken in health
and about to return. 1t is said that the
administration would have permitted
him to come home some time ago, only
1t did not want to admit the truth of
the popular criticism as to his ineffi-
cheney. The Democrats, however, point
out that, whatever his mistakes, Otis
was at all times carrying out the policy
Of the administration.
The Philippines are evidently to be
kept indefinitely on military footing.
There are to be four generals in charge
of as many military departments. The
10000 troops are to be retained in tho
islands and recruited up to the full
limit. This explains why the army
appropriation bill now before the
House asks for $115, 600, 900 for the fix
cal year.
Representative Dic.. and the Eepybl:-
can majority of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs are conducting the inves.
tigation Of the Occur d'Alene mining
troubles IN a way which tends to ag-
gravate the original sense of inquiry,
Col. Dick continually dubs Represen-
tative Lentz the attorney of the CON-
plainants, because Representative
Lentz accepts the task of conducting
the examination of the complaining
miners. The latest Republican scheme
Is to Introduce a paid attorney and
have him make the objections which
the Republicans have not the courage
to make for themselves. The atte1.ipt
Of this attorney to prevent Representa-
tive Lentz from asking Governor
Steunenberg, of Idaho. certain cues.
tons nearly precipitated riot in the
committee. The attorney apologiged
and things We're patched up, but the
Republicans are taking the precautlon
to have every question to which they
object erased from the record. Gov
ernor Steunenberg's testimony admits
every offense that the miners charged,
from Illegal detention in the bull pen
to the enforcement of the permit"
sysem. The Republicans are dragging
out the investigation, hoping that Con.
gress will adjourn before they report.
There is every indication that the Re-
publicans propose to spend an enor-
nous amount of money in trying to
save the next House from Democratic
control. Representative Richardson,
Chairman of the Democratic Congress
sional Committee, says that their Con-
gressional campaign is being organized
In Il score of doubtful districts where a
change of q few hundred votes would
elect Democrats, and the chances of a
Democratic majority in the next House
are excellent. The disgust and jndig-
nation of all classes of people with the
Republican policy in this Congress is
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