West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-03-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Administration In Deep Water
Over the Porto Rico Tariff Bill.
A WAY POINTED OUT TO CURy THE
TRUST ROBBERIEs.
Mckinley Called ON to Know II lie Has
Changed His Mind Again Lately.
From our Regular corrosDondont.


The Democratic National Com
mlttee, which met in Washington
this week, did not please everybody,
but they came about as near TO il as
any committee ever did. In the
very nature of things such decisions
must always cause some personal
disappointments, but the rank and
HE are pleased with both city and
date, and better pleased with the
reports of the members of the COM
mittee on the steadily increasing
brightness of Democratic prospects.
Democratic speeches against the
Porto Rico Tariff Bill have made it
clear that the Democratic construc-
ton of the Constitution as it applies.
or should apply to Porto Rico, is
the proper one, and is upheld by
the contentious of long line of
statesmen as well as by decisions of
the Supreme Court. So many good
speeches have been made by Demo
Gratis that it seems unjust to men
ton any particular one without
mentioning others, but the following
words of Representative Swanson
condenses what was said in other
words by number of them and is
gwen as showing the line Of Demo
cratic arguments eff Congress shall
govern the territories and new pos
sessions without the constitutional
limitations, it will create
Congressional despotism precisely
similar to that claimed by Great
Britain at the time of the Reyolu-
tionary War. The power claimed
to enact this bill is precisely the
power that was claimed by the
British Parliament for the enact
ment of the Stamp Act. The pres
ent bill, denying, as it does, to the
inhabitants of all territories and
new possessions any of the rights of
citizens and imposing heavy penal
ties on them, will have tendency
to give new life to the instruction
In the Philippine Islands and make
the inhabitants have little faith in
receiving justice from this country.
The passage of the pending bill will
end the history of the Republic and
open the history of the empire. !"
The Republicans have called eau
Gus for the purpose of whipping the
Republican opponents of the bill
into line.
The fact should not be lost sight
of that it was Republican objection
that knocked out the proposition to
set day for the consideration of
the Hepburn Nicaragua Canal bill
by the House. After asking Mr..
Hepburn whether there was any
thing in the bill recognizing the
existence of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and being assured that there
was not, Representative Richard
son, the Democratic leader, stated
that there was no objection on the
Democratic side TO setting a time to
take up the bill. Then Represen-
tative Cannon objected, and later.
when another attempt was made by
Mr.. Hepburn, Representative Payne
objected.
The Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee is now ready
for work, having this week elected
the following officers: Chairman,
Representative James D. Richard
son, of Tenn; Secretary, Hon.
James Kerr, OF Pa; Treasurer, Mr..
James l.. Norris, of Washington
Sergeant-at-arms, Mr.. George Rae,
of Texas. Headquarters will b,
opened inWashington in a few days
Col DENLY, who was member
of the old Philippine Commission,
has declined appointment as :
Democratic member of the new
commission, and Gen. Luke r.
Wright, of Tenn, has been ap.
pointed.
Representative Richardson ha,