The age-herald., 1900-04-11
THIS WEEK SETTLES
 THE PORTO RICO BILL

Washington, April 1O.-(special)-This week will see the Porto Riean question set- ted The house will, by very narrow majority, concur in all the amendments added to the bill by the senate, and the president will sign it just as soon as it Is placed on his desk. This will, for the time being, settle the Porto Rican question, though there is no doubt that the demo- erats propose to make campaign issue of the question of free trade with Porto Rico and to benefit as much as they can from the republican division on this sub ject.
 Democrats are taunting the republicans with natural delight because of their in- tention to accept the senate amendments without changing a comma or dotting an ii" They rejoice that they now have an opportunity to 'get back at the republi- cans for the jeers and taunts to which they were subjected In 1894, when they passed the tariff bill as German, and Jones of Arkansas, and Brice and other democrats in the senate had amended it. The repub- licans reply to the criticisms of the demo- crats by saying that though they do yield 10 the senate, they never did say they would see the Porto Rican bill fail before surrendering, the democrats did when Judge Crisp was speaker. It really seems that though the republicans take consola- ton in the fact that they did not threaten to stand out forever, there is little ground for making any real distinction between the two situations. The acceptance of tho senate amendments by the house republi- cans is just as bitter as was the acceptance Of the senate changes in the Wilson bill by the house democrats in 1891.
 In connection with this Porto Rican busi- nes 1t is to be said that the democrats have not given up the hopes of finally pre- venting concurrence. They asert that there are number of republicans purposely ab- sent who do not want to be paired, and that there are enough of these to defeat the bill provided all absent democrats re- turn to town. This seems to be too opti- mistic a view. The bill will pass
 The fact that Senator Davis does not intend to ask for vote on the Hay Pauncefote treaty at this session means that the treaty is dormant for the present, and probably dead. It also makes more improbable any legislation for the Nica- raguan canal this year, though Represent tative Hepburn states that he has been promised rule for the consideration of the Nicaraguan bill in the house, and Sem ator Morgan of Alabama is waiting for a chance to ask the senate to pass the Nicaraguan bill.
 The report on the naval appropriation bill made by Representative Foss of Ili- nois, acting chairman of the naval commit tee, contains one piece of information that will gratify every patriotic American. It is that so per cent of the officers and sea- men in the American navy are American citizens, and that the 12 per cent that are not American citizens three-fourths have taken out their first papers. Ninety-one per cent. of the apprentices are native born Americans.
 Seventeen years ago, Congressman Floss shows, the United States stood twentieth on the list of naval powers. Now we are fourth Great Britain being first, France second and Russia third, with Germany a very good fifth. Since 1883 the United States has expended almost a hundred mill lion dollars on new ships for it's navy. The exact sum is s9S,529,51185, while the vessels now under construction will cost us s62,- 061O.23.
 On the first of April the total money in circulation in the United States aggregated s2,021, ,214, ,506, or s2612 for each inhabitant of the United States, calculating our popu- lation at 77,395,0OO. On April l, 1899, the per capita circulation was $2545. compared to $23.69 in 1898, s2S.O1 in 1897 and $21.53 in 1S96 On April l our total gold circulation amounted to $7S5, S45549, compared to s727,- 74S.591 on April l, 1899; s61S, 44S9i1 April l, 1898; $5545S2,0 096 April 1, 1897, and $4S9, 505 on April 1, 1896.
 A WOMAN'S WIT
 From the New England Magazine.