The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-30
Washington Letter.

rFOm our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON. March 20, 1900 Boss Hanna
having failed to convince all of the Republican
Senators, by telling them that the passage of
the Porto Rico tariff bill was necessary to get
certain big campaign contributions, is now
vigorously welding the party whip on the
shoulders of the kickers, with able assistance
ON the quiet from Mr.. McKenley. 1t was to
help him that Senator Foraker got the Senate
Porto Rico bill sent back to Committee. This
leaves the deck clear for the House bill, which
deals exclusively with the Porto Rico tariff.
Every energy is amendment. Five or six Re-
publican Senators still threaten to tilibuser
aginst a vote.
Senator Cockrell, speaking for the Demo-
cratic Senators. just before the Senate passed
the bill authorizing the appointment of Com
mission to go to China and Japan and make
report Commercial conditions in those
countries. said: 1.-The Republican party is III
absolute control, and this side of the
Chamber are powerless to prevent the enact
ment Of any legislation coming from the Rs"
publican party and deemed necessary by it. l
will not antagonize this bill, although do not
agree with it in principle. 1 want it under
stood now, and understood distinctly, that
hereafter, absolute responsibility must rest
upon the Republican party for the passage OF
all resolutions and bills"
Senator TiIlman utilized his pitchfork, to toss
a few aggravating questions to the almost dis
tracted Republican Senators, which furnished
considerable amusement to the occupants OF
the galleries and to the Democratic Senators.
Among the questions, which no Republican
seriously attempted to answer, were the
following: Has the President changed his
mind or not? Is the President for free trade
with Porto Rico today, or is he not? Is he
leading his party or has he surrendered to tie
dictates of special interest, following the
triumphal car like prisoner of war? Will
some gentleman please tell me whether the
President is for free trade with Porto Rico, Or
is he not?' After waiting in vain for reply
to his questions, Mr.. Tillman said with a sar-
donc laugh: "a dumbness falls upon us ALL"
He then vividly sketched the present troubles
of the Republican party, and predicted that
the people would sweep it from power, for not
recognizing that the flag, the Constitution and
liberty must travel together, and charged the
Republican party with indrection, hypocrisy,
and dirty work. Senator Spooner sought to
detract attention from Senator Tillman'5 plain
talk about Porto Rico 10y shifting the debate
to the suppression of the negro vote in South
Carolina, but Fir. Tillman met him at once by
declaring that he had no apologies to make fer
the action of the white people of South Caro-
lima, adding: when you could set nothing
more from us by law, you turned Il horde of
negroes and carpet baggers loose upon us to
steal everything we hid left. We are here to
stay, and we demand our rights. We are not
to be trampled on and hammered and PATRON
lied any longer. l say that as Il South Caro-
linian, l am the equal of any Senator on this
floor. propose to have my suy here, no mat
ter whose feelings arc hurt"
After ten years service in the House, Repre-
sentative Cox, of Tenn, has announced that
he will not be candidate for reelection.
When asked why, he answered In three words
Tired ofit.'' He will be missed by the Demo-
Gratis of the next house, as he has won
place as an able champion of Democratic
principles.
That the government overpsys for low-gra
work and under pays for high-grade work has
again been emphasized by the resignation of
Hon. A. P. Greedy. Assistant Commissioner of
Patents, because of his small salary, to engage
in practice in Washington, make speciality of
trademarks and foreign patents. The retire
ment of Mr.. Greeley is a decided loss to the
government. He has been in the Patent Office
for sixteen years, has filled many important
positions including that of Commissioner, be-
sides writing several works recognized as
authority on patent law, and not only proved
his ability, but exhibited an amount of back
bone seldom found 10 government official.
The latter was particularly noticeable in the
long fight which resulted in disbarring the
notorious John Wedderburn and other crooked
patent attorneys.
Representative Caldwell, of ILL.,, believes that
Senator Cullom will be succeeded by a Demo-
GRAFT He said: II think 1 have right to be
sanguine in my hopes that we shall elect a
Democrat to the U. s Senate. The present
law districting the state makes it possible for
us to carry the legislature, although the Re
publicans have majority in the state some
where between 25, O0O and 45 ,O0o.''
One result of the investigation, now being
made by the House Military Committee of the
| use Of Federal troops in Idaho, is the re soltl-
ton offered in the House by Representative
Leutz, of Ohio, and in the Senate by Senator
! Allen, of Nebraska, calling for the withdrawal
of Federal troops from the Coeurd Alene dig
trict in Idaho; the revocation of the labor per-
| NIT system. and the restoration of the right OF
| habeas corpus. The resolution declares that
| the further use of o. s. troops in aiding and
| assisting the maintenance of martial law Is
| improper, unnecessary and unlawful.