The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-02-09

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. ID. c., February 9Th.

Mr.. EDIToR:-Mr Mckinley can change
his opinions as quick as other men can
change their coats, when he finds it neccS
sarv, and lie can smlingly pretend that he
is thoroughly pleased with his last one.
HIS latest lightning change act was in
connection with the Porto Rico bill. 1t is
well known that the Payne bill. providing
for free trade with Porto Rico, was pre-
pared under MI Mckinlcy's instructions,
but the republican revolt grew so rapidly
that the republicans of the House Ways
and Means Committee jumped into the
breach with compromise in the shape of
Il substitute for the Payne bill. This sub
stitute provides for the collection of a
duty on Porto Rican products of p per
cent. of the duty leveled upon similar for
eign products. and it will be pushed
through as Il party measure. 1t has al
ready been endorsed by the Senate Porto
previous talk, to Porto Ricans and others
in favor of free trade. Mr.. Mckinley now
pretends to be perfectly satisfied with the
% per cent. bill. In other words, he is
once more demonstrating that he is fol-
lower, not the leader Cf his party; and
that he has no opinion that he would not
sacrifice rather than take any chances of
missing a denomination. But the trouble
among the republicans over this matter
isn't yet ended, as Senator Platt, of Con.
necticut. who started the revolt, has given
notice of his intention to offer an amend
ment increasing the tariff on Porto Rican
products to 80 per cent
Representatives Talbot, of South Car"
lima. has served notice on the House that
no pension bills are to be passed except
when there is Il quorum present In the
course Of short bu, emphatic speech h'
said: Il believe the pension laws are SUI
ticiently liberal to pension every deserving
older and widow, and am opposed to
sitting here every Friday night as a Court
of Appeals to pass special cases which
have been refused by the Pension Bureau
If ii is to be done there must be i quorum
Members cry aloud their love for the old
soldiers, but they will not give up their
pink teas and poker parties and that sort
of thing to vote pensions.
The best lawyers in the Senate, regard
less of politics, are of the opinion that the
refusal of Taylor to issue certificate of
eIection to Senator elect Blackburn, of
Kentucky, will not prevent the seating of
Senator Blackburn when the term of Sen
ator Lindsay, whom he was elected to
succeed, expires, which, by the way, will
not be until March :3rd, 1901. 1t has only
been Il few years since Senator Call was
seated without objection, in the face of
the absolute refusal of the Governor of
Florida to give him a certificate of cleo
ton. Mr.. Call merely presented certi-
fed copy of the proceedings of the legiS-
lature when he was elected, and that VII
be all that Mr.. Blackburn will have t. do
Secretary Gage. in officially notifying
the national banks, which have been re-
ceiving the internal revenue receipts on
deposit that the money would not here
after be sent to the city National Bank of
New York for distribution, as has been
done since December 18th last but would
be sent to the various sub treasures as
usual, virtually acknowledged the justice
of the democratic attacks upon his favor
itism. That Acknowledgement has not ),
however, stopped the pressure in either
House or Senate for an investigation of
that favoritism. The only way that can
be stopped is for the republican majority
to vote down the investigation resolution,
and if they do that it will be an acknowl-
edgement that they fear an honest invest
igation. If they are willing to take that
stand, they have the power to do SO; but
they will thereby increase the already
bright prospects for democratic success in
the Presidential! and Congressional elec-
tions.
The Washir gton eld of Taylor's game
was up when Mr. Mckinley. by advice of
his Cabinet, decided to keep his fingers
out. Since then Tavlor's friends have
been trying in every way to get that de-
cision reconsidcrcd. Their last do dye is
to ask Mr.. Mckinley to send Il commission
to Kentucky to investigate. There is one
reason which makes i. quite sure that this
request will not be granted: Mr. McKin-
ley has no authority to appoint such a
commission. There is good reason for
the assertion that Taylor has lost much of
the sympathy he had from members of the
administration Ivy his hi gh handed and
illegal actions since the dastard'y assassi-
nation of Mr.. Gobel. Senator Dcboc is
said to have become disguised with lay
lor's acts. and to have told him So by tcle-
graph and to have advised him n ,, t, o.