The state herald., 1900-02-02
The second do . 5 debate in the House

Had he been he would have heard the
most scathing excoriatiOn of the Nor
mons ever delivered upon the floor of
the house. Mr.. Lands of Indiana, the
young orator who distinguished him
self during the last Congress In an ora
torical duel with Mr.. Johnson of his
state, won new laurelS. He charged
that Utah had been admitted to the
| Union as a result of u Mormon con
spiracy, and reviewed the history of
the apostles of the church. whom he
charged with living in open and flag
rant violation of the state law against
polygamy, to show that they had base
ly broken their solemn pledge to the
government.
A report prepared by Frank H..
Hitchcock of the Agricultural Depart
mcnt shows there has been great
| development of our trade with China
and Japan during the past decade. In
| the fiscal year 1899, the value of the
merchandise exchanged with these two
countries, including the port of Hong
Kong. reached SS1.30i.6SS, against
only SAG, ,20i, ,1G1 in 1899. Figures given
show that in the decade there was IL
| gain of S2S.303, ,l5G, or 25G per cent
in exports. while the increase in i'm
ports amounted TO only S12,GlS.365, or
thirty-siN per cent. During the last
few years. in fact, the imports dis
closed an actual falling off, the value
for 1899 being 81 164. 131 less than that
for 1896, which was recorded Mt $IS.-
9I9, l66 Our exports. on the other
hand. more thsn doubled during the
three years succeeding 1S0G.
| Mr. r,p, l.a ,f
| treasury. has rendered decision to the
effect that common carriers which do
an Interstate business and give party
rates" TO theatrical and other organiza-
tons, must give the same rates to the
general public under similar condi-
tions, and also to the government in
the transportation of troops. He says:
"A second question involved is whether
these party rates are subject TO reduc-
tion when the service is rendered To
the government by the free or the tif-
ty per cent. land grant railroads. The
ground upon which l hold that the gov
ernmcnt Is entitled to the benefit of
party rates Is that said rates are avail
able for the general public and there
fore for the government. As party
rates are charges. the general public
in cases like those now under consider
alton no more than fifty per cent. of
said rates can he charged"
The War department has made pub
lie II statement showing the imports
at the port Of Manila for the three
months of July, August and Septem-
ber last. being the first official data re
lating To imports during so long pc
riod since American occupation The
total value OF merchandise entered ut
the Manila custom house from the
three months named was S5.S02. Isl. In
addition there was S52,5o0 in gold coin
and S255,294 In silver coin from Brit
lsh India. and S332.I IOI in silver coin
from China. bringing the aggregate OF
imports up to S6.443 102. or at the rate
of more than 25.300.Oo0 n year from
Manila alone The growing nature of
the trade Is shown by n COMPARISON
with the amounts for all Philippine
ports for the fifteen years ending with
1891. during which time the average
yearly imports of the archipelago only
amounted to s17.039.Oii. or approx
mately two-thirds of the valuation in
dicated by the trade of three months
ending with September, 1850. FOR Ma.
Mia alone.
The hat has gore forth from both
Senate and White House that the rc.
clprociiy treaties. against which yi-ur.
Gus protests have recently been filed by
western senators and representatives.
are to be- abandoned. The Stale De.
pariment has discovered that there l.
little chance for the ratification of the
treaties, owing To the fact that unless
this action Is takcn within the next six.
~ days, the treaties VIII expire hy linn.
iintlon. When the treaties were ncgo.
tiatcd period was fixed In each with.
IN which ratification must take place or
the treaty Will fail. The Argentine
treaty was concluded on July 10th last.
ana required 10 bc ratified within seven
months from date. Or by February
ION; that with France requires ratifi-
cation before March 9th: those with
the British Wesi Indies before March
22nd. With the unlimited debate rule
In the Senate. aud the well organized
opposition To the treaties II ls recug-
niZcd that ratification before the dates
OF expiration by limitation is on, Of the
question. and senators are advising
their constituents, whose interests Were
threatened by the reduction of inrir
duties proposed 10y the treaties, that
danger from this cause Ii ended.
The Senate committee on Puerto Rico
has decided. so far as II can decide.
that the island whose affairs II has I'M.
der It's particular care shall be known
Ms Porto Rico and not Puerto Rico. ms
liked by n recent executive order The
question came up saturday In the meet.
Ing Of the committee In connection with
the Foraker bill providing for n form OF
government for the island. and the de.
clslon ON the spelling of the name was
unanimous. The committee went over
the bill In detail. deciding upon many
changes In phrnseology and some alter.
ntlons In the general provisions of the
measure. Probably one OF the most I'm
portnnt changes was 10 strike out the
word Constitution" wherever II np.
pcnred In the original print OF the blll.
which extended the provisions Of the
constitution as well ns Of the laws to
the Island. The change was made be-.
cause Of the opinion generally express
cd by the members of the committee
that our constitution is not suited To
the Puerto Rico people. The opinion
was ulso quite general that the cxirn.
sion or the constitution was no, ncces,
snry. Some " the senators expressed
tho opinion that the natives OF the
island were not yet prepared for Jury
trials. Another Important amendment,
provides for the retirement OF Puerto
Itlcnn coins aud substitutes for them
the coins Of the United States.
The ease of Brigham II. Roberts. the
Mormon rrprcscninilvc-clcct from
Utah. which hns occupied 80 much of