The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-09
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Our Correspondent Talks in
General About Wash
ington.
(CoInmunicated)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9Th, 1900.

finds it necessary, and he can
smilingly pretend that he is thor
Oughly 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 was prepared under Mr..
McKinley's instructions, but the
Republican revolt grew so rap
idly that the Republicans of the
House Ways and Means Commit.
tee jumped into the breach with
a compromise in the shape of a
substitute for the Payne bill.
This substitute provides for the
collection of duty on Porto
Rican products, of twenty five
per cent. of the duty levied upon
similar foreign products, and it
will be pushed through as a party
measure. 1t has already been
endorsed by the Senate Porto
Rico Committee. NOtwithstand-
ing all his previous talk, to Porto
Ricans and others in favor of
free trade, Mr.. Mckinley now
pretends to be perfectly satisfied
with the twenty-five per cent.
bill. In other words, he is once
more demonstrating that he is a
follower, not the leader of his
party; and that he has no opin.
ion that he would not sacrifice
rather than take any chances of
missing a denomination. But the
trouble among the Republicans
over this matter is not yet ended,
as Senator Platt, of Connecticut,
has given notice of his intention
to offer an amendment inereas-
ing the tariff on Porto Rican pro-
ducts to fifty per cent.
Representative Talbot, of S.
O., has served notice on the
House that no pension bills are
to be passed except when there is
a quorum present. In the course
of a short but emphatic speech,
he said: 81 believe the pension
laws are sufficiently liberal to
pension every deserving soldier
and widow, aud | 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 it is to be done, there must be
a 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 things to vote pension"
The best lawyers in the Senate,
regardless of politics, are of the
opinion that the refusal of Taylor
to issue certificate of election
to Senator elect Black burn. of
Kentucky, will not prevent the
seating of Senator Black burn,
when the term of Senator Lind
say, whom he was elected to sue
coed, expires, which by the way,
will not be until March 3, 1901.
1t has only been a few years since
Senator Call was seated without
objection in face of the absolute
refusal of the Governor of Flori-
da, to give him a certificate of
election. Mr.. Call merely pre-
sented a certified copy of the pro-
ceedings of the Legislature when
he was elected, and that will be
all that Mr.. Blackburn will have
to do.
Secretary Gage, in officially
notifying the National banks
which have been receiving the
internal revenue receipts on de.
posit, that the money would not
hereafter be sent to the City Nat.
ional 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 &C.
knOwledged the justice of the
Democratic attacks upon his ia.
vOritism. That acknowledge
ment has not however, stopped
the pressure in either House or
or Senate for an investigation of
that favoritism. The only way
that can be stopped is for the Re.
publican majority to vote down
the investigation resolution, and
if they do that, it will be an &C
acknowledgements that they fear an
honest investigation. 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 elections.
Senator Aliens remedy for
trusts, as given by him in pub.
lie speech, is so plain that he
who runs may read and nnder-
stand. "He said: "The remedy
is in the ballot box. Go to the
polls next November and cast
your vote against the present
trust.ridden administration, and
you will have remedied the evil
of these gigantic corporations