News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-02-21
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
Men and BRETHREN

"thundering down the ages" as the
inventor and patentee of "doc-
trine," which has ever since guided
the destines of his country, and it
now looks as if Senator Ross had
also thus immortalized himself. [
doubt if the Senator had any idea of
the fame which his recently enunciat-
ed doctrine as to the legal scope of
the Constitutionregardin the Philip
pines and our other Colonies would
bring him, and the immediate accept
ance of his ideas by his party and
their immediate acceptance must be
in the nature of surprise to him.
Nothing was heard of this Constitu-
ton in the counsels ofthe party until
after his speech on the subject, but it
is now the settled policy of Congress.
The administration bills for the gov
eminent of the Colonies are all framad
with the idea that the Constitution
does not apply to them, and that
they must be governed by Congress,
by special legislation and by the
President arbitrarily without refer
ence to that document. Ofcourse if
the Constitution applied the govern
ment could not levy duty on i'm
ports from the Colonies, as is now
proposed, but the Senator's prescrip-
ton has been swallowed, cork, bottle
and all, and it is now the established
republican policy. think he had an
idea that whatever form he might
acquire would come from his bill to
reform the consular and diplomatic
service, now incuba ting, and his in
Simultaneous celebrity has rather as
tonished him. The democrats of
course insist that the Constitution
embraces the Colonies, and that it is
a sufficient law for their government.
The issue is thus made up, and the
passage of the bills now before Con-
gress for the administration of the
affairs of the various Colonies will be
fought out on these lines. The prime
democratic objection is to the tariff
tax on Colonial imports, and on this
issue they will certainly put up a
strong fight. 1t has heretofore been
supposed-untiI Senator Ross revela-
tion-that the United States included
all Unita1 State territory, and many
people will hesitate to give up this
idea.
The congressional correspondent
of a prominent local daily paper
says; Representative Powers of
Vermont was on the floor of the Sen
ate yesterday and spent considerable
time in conversation with Senator
Ross. Mr.. Powers represents the
First District of the Green Mountain
state, and is one of the most promi-
nent lawyers in New England" The
two judges are sworn personal and
political friends and have been for
many years, and if they see fit to en-
ter into an offensive and defensive
combine it would add avery lively in
terest TO Vermont politics during the
next few months. Again a congress
sional combination embracing other
parties would probably be at least
equally effective. We will see.
The Senate Committee on Com
merce has favorably reported the bill
to create department ofCommerce
and Industries" the head of which
would be II cabinet officer and add
another member to the Presidents
official family of advisers. The bill,
among other things, gives to the new
department general jurisdiction over
the foreign and internal commerce of
the country except internal Revenue
and Customs, over transportation
facilities by land and water, except in
cases under the jurisdiction of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, over
the Geological survey, all Mining in
dustries, the Fisheries and over all
Manufacturing Industries, including
the securing and extension of foreign
markets. The vast growth and ex-
tension of the business interests of
the country evidently necessitates
the creation of such a department,
and the bill will very likely become a
law. The administration is said to
be very much in favor of the pIopos.
ed measure, and it is difficult to see
what objection the democrats can
find to it. This proposition is of es-
pecial interest to VermOnters from
the fact that Senator Proctor is al
ready spoken of as the first incumb-
ent of the office. The slightest con-
sideration will assure anyone that
the Senator has great and especial
qualifications for such a position,
and thus far it has been Impossible
to suggest anyone approaching him
in training and fitness for the place.
1t would be much more to the Sena.
tors taste than the position of Sec.
rotary of War, formerly held by him
1t is not yet known, however, if be
would give up his present. position
even to enter the Cabinet.
The funeral of Gen Lawton at Ar.
lngton last Friday was one of the
most solemn and impressive events
of the kind that ever took place ever
in that theatre of National history
The day was like June in all save the
lack of the foliage in that season o
the year. A vast number Of people
were present, including the President
and members of the Cabinet, thu
heads and officials of the various de
partments, the Supreme Court, g