The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-10

few transportation magnates; ana the
free loan of hundred million dollars Of
public money to the Standard OIL bank in
New York. We might. and may, mention
several other matters Of equal interest
which are painstakingly ignored
Remembering that whatever hope of re-
election Mr. Mckinley may entertain rests
upon the contributions of the great trusts
and monopolies whose aid he has earned by
subserviency to their will and interests
during the past four years. IT is not strange
that he should deliver his necessary as
sauit upon them with as great degree OF
mildness as political exigencies will per-
nit On this subject he says that COM
| binations of capital which control the mar
ket in commodities necessary to the gen.
eral use of the people. by suppressing nat
ural and ordinary competition, thus en-
HANGING prices to the general consumer,
are obnoxious to the common law and the
general welfare. They are dangerous con-
spiracies against the public good and
should be made the subject of prohibitory
or penal legislation" The remedy sug-
gested is homogeneity of State laws and
much publicity. The publicity recon-
incubation is excellent since it is TO pub
licity that We owe public knowledge of the
fact that Mr.. Mckinley departed from what
he had officially declared to be ''our plain
| duty and also violated the Constitution.
in order to give group Of these danger
Gus eonspiracies against the public good"
monopoly of trade with Porto Rico. 1t is
10 publicity also that We are indebted for
information regarding the "hold-up" meet
ing between Mark Hanna and the trust
magnates at the New York Life Insurance
Company's Offices in New York, when the
final deal for their valuable assistance in
the present campaign was consummated.
There Is great deal to be said in favor OF
publicity,
AS We approach the middle of this in.
terminable letter. we are comforted to find
its labored periods lightened bit by
dash OF humor. The subject is civil serv-
ice reform, and Candidate Mckinley is
happy to state that il is one which has al
ways had the support and encouragement
OF the Republican party. The future OF
the merit system is safe in its hands,
We should say so. Judging from its past in
the same hands. Mr.. Mckinley comedies
the fact that Important amendments TO
the Ciyii serviss .fulesl were promulgated
by executive order. under date of May 90
1899. having for the principal purpose the
exception from competitive examination
of certain places involving fduciary re-
sponsibilities or duties Of strictly conf
Dental. scientific, or executive character,
which it was thought might better be
filled by non-eompetitive examination, or
by other tests of fitness in the discretion
of the appointing officer" The change. We
are told. has worked charmingly in the
opinion of its author. and has raised the
standard Of the service What really hap
pened was that Mr. Mckinley threw open
over FIVE thousand places previously in the
classified list, and they were rapidly filled
by the relatives. favorites, or political
Ec1chmen of 'sthe appointing officer" It
IS notorious that at no time in the last I
thirty years have the Departments swsrmed |
rs they do row with incompetent or vicious |
persons. the Legitimate offspring Of Mr. |
McKnley's new spoils system But he is /!
determined to pose as a civil service re- I
former. his record to the contrary not
withstanding. He actually has the assur-
ance to say that the merit system as far
as practicable is made the basis for ap-
pointmant to Office in our new territory"
DENLY. Rathbone Nicely, and others are /
shining examples Plainly in practice, /
practlcabiiity does not go very far.
We hold Porto Rico by the same title !
We do the Philippines" says the letter /
Some people might detect difference he 1
tween occupation with the full consent |
Of the inhabitants. as in the case Of Porto /
Rico, and against armed resistance as
IN that of the Philippines; but Mr.. Nc
Kinley considers both on all tours. It Is
useful to remember also that General
Miles promised the Porto Ricans all the
rights of American citizens. as he was
entitled to, and that his promise bound
the Government. Generous treatment"
In imposing tax upon the domestic trade
of the island in defiance OF the Constitu-
tion. has. the Letter tells us. revived
business and manufacturer The people
who, under the old regime were repre-
scented in the Spanish Cortes by four sena-
tors and twelve Representatives, under the
United States have the privilege OF
voting for members of the lower house of
the insular legislature; a questionable
good since the real legislative power is
vested in a carpetbag governor and coun- !
ell Yet, Mr. Mckinley is satisfied that |
Porto Rico is rapidly showing the good !
effects of her new relations to this ma
ton" So she is, II loss OF trade, oppres-
sion by American trusts, and general dis |
content and misery are good effects"
The Republican candidate has little rea
son TO be proud of his share in denying |
to the people OF this American territory |
the rights guaranteed to them by the !
Constitution of the United States.
At the end of Philippine narrative Mr. |
Mckinley states that 1T is our purpose
to establish government suitable to the !
wants and conditions of the inhabitants, |
to prepare them for self government. end |
to give them self-government when they !
are ready for it That" he says. Il am |
aiming to do under my constitutional au-
thority, and will continue TO do until !
Congress shall determine the political |
status OF the inhabitants OF the archI- |
pelago.' Here. again. we have n fresh |
Executive assertion Of the claim that |
Congress, and not the Constitution, is |
supreme over annexed territory-a dan
gerous fallaey which alone ought to con-
sign the present Administration to defeat |