The Press., 1900-04-19
Washington Letter.
washington, April IS, 1900.

Whatever others may think of his can
didacy for the presidency, there isn't the
slightest doubt that Admiral Dewey re-
CARDS his chances as excellent. He Is
hard at work on his statement defining
his position on the questions of the hour,
which he says he will make public In a
few days, probably during the present
week. He belives that the people want
him for president, and that he can be
nominated and elected In spite of the pol
iticians. Either he or the politicians will
be up against big disappointment In the
near future.
May is likely to become red letter
day In Porto Rican history, as that is the
the date upon which the island will be
turned over to the new civil government.
The new tariff will also go into effect on
that day. Congressional sentiment COM
mends the presidents selection of Hon
Charles 81. Allen, now assistant secretary
of the navy, to be civil governor of the
island. Mr.. Allen has proven himself a
capable man, and is likely to become
popular In Porto Rico.
1t seems almost impossible for the PEN
sion question to be discussed In congress
without breaking parliamentary rules, to
say nothing of those of good manners.
Representatives Talbert of South Caro-
lima and Fordney of Michigan engaged in
a battle Of words, precipitated by the
statement of the latter that he would not
believe the former on oath, from which
the following is quoted: Mr.. Talbert-
"I have read somewhere in the Bible
where 1t says, a whip for the horse, a
bride for the ass and rod for the FOOLS
back Now, l do not know which cate
CORY to put the gentleman from Michigan
n, but want to say that it may be that
he may be put in each of them: want
to say that If the gentleman means to
impute untruthfulness to me, I hurl it
back down his rotten throat, and say
that he states something that is unworthy
of gentleman upon the floor of this
house." Mr.. Fordney-"l want to say
to the gentleman that am a firm be-
lever in the Bible. The Bible says that
a man must be born again. When it
comes time for the gentleman from South
Carolina to be born again, hope to God
want to say that there is no danger of the
gentleman's being born again, because the
devil has has got him, has got bill Of
sale of him now" 1t requires something
OF thon ordinary ovooiOht To
any signs of craftsmanship In that sort of
talk.
Lobbying is catching. Senator Chand-
Ter created sensation at meeting Of the
senate committee on Interstate commerce,
by reading circular letter, sent out by
the secretary of the interstate commerce
commission, asking it's receivers to bring
pressure to bear upon senators and repre-
sentatives to support the Cullom bill, to
enlarge the powers of that commission.
Three thousand copies of this letter have
been sent to boards of trade and cham
bers Of commerce, throughout the U. 8.
By the overwhelming majority of 24O
to Is, the house adopted resolution pro-
viding for constitutional amendment for
the election of senators by direct vote of
the people. Sentiment in favor of this
change was largely increased by the in
, vestigation Of the Clark case, which re-
suited In the report Of the senate commit
tee on elections, declaring unanimously
that Mr.. Clark of Montana was not en-
titled to seat In the senate. Some idea
OF how senator's view the proposed change
may be gathered from the following ex-
pressions of opinion: Senator Chandler
-"It does not appear that by electing
senators by direct votes of the people, we
shall get any nearer to the popular wishes
than we do now. If senators are elected
by the people, state conventions of the
political parties will name the senators.
Is it any more difficult to Improperly con-
troll the bare majority in the state con-
vention, than in the legislature? Is po-
litical party caucus any more likely to
act Independently, honorably or wisely
than the legislature ?" Senator Pettus--
"There will be abuses in any system, and
the people have their remedy in the cleo
ton of proper legislators" Senator Hoar
-"Such method of election, involving
the manipulation of party conventions,
will create new temptations to fraud and
corruption" Senator Pritchard-'I am
inclined to believe that the nomination OF
senators by the party conventions would
result In just as much scandal as COM
| planned Of now. 1t would be just as easy
for rich men to buy up conventions as it
is for them to buy up legislatures"
It has been made practically certain In
both house and senate that those who
manage the legislative business of both
bodies do not intend to have the Nicar.
aqua canal bill acted upon at this session
: of congress, If they can prevent.
The navy department has purchased
the submarine torpedo boat, Holland, fol
300, 900, and agreed to purchase Other
boats Of the same type for $175, ZOO each
q q This action, which was taken in spite Of
d an adverse report from a board of nava
"a officers, made last year, was brought about
largely by the favorable showing made by
the Holland in the exhibitions given OF
the Potomac river near Washington.
- -
Does Coffee Agree with You?
If not, drink Grain-O-made from pure grains
A lady writes: ''The first time made Grain-(
did not like it, but after using it for one weel
nothing would Undue me to go back to coffee.
| 1t nourishes and feeds the system. The children
J. can drink it freely with great benefit. 1t is tn
strengthening substance OF pure grains. Get
& nackaoe tn.dav from vo,lr urocor 1ko and 05c