Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-02-22
PUERTO RICAN BILL
BEFORE THE HOUSE.
The Contending Forces are Arraying
for Battle Royal when the De-
bate in the House Begins--
Other Capitol News of
General Int crest
General Interest.


President McKinley's willingness to
subordinate his personal opinion when
it doesn't agree with that of the COM
bined leaders of the party in Congress,
is one of the reasons why he is more
popular with Congress than any other
President has ever been. A case in
point is the Puerto Rican tariff bill,
which Chairman Payne, of the Ways
and Means Committee, called up in the
House to-day and which will be kept
before the House until it is passed.
President McKinley's opinion, as stated
in his annual message, was that Puerto
Rico should have free trade with us,
but when the party leaders in Congress
concluded that it was best to put a
small duty-one fourth of what foreign
countries pay-on Puerto Rican pro-
ducts, he at once stated that he would
not attempt to pass his personal opinion
above that of Congress, but would sign
any bill passed by Congress. The
principal object of the duty is to raise
money to be spent for the betterment
of Puerto Rico.
1t is absurd to say that the failure of
the Republican caucus to put the Quay
case on the legislative programme of
the Senate, was either a defeat or
victory for Mr.. Quay, as some persons
have said since the caucus was held.
The reason why the case was not in
cluded in the programme was simply
because question involving the right
of Senator to his seat is one of the
highest privileges and can be called up
at any time; it needed no place on the
programme.
Secretary Hay has begun an investi-
cation to ascertain whether the charge
of Charles E. Macrum, who practically
deserted his post as u. S. Consul at
Pretoria, because this government did
not take sides with the Beers, that his
official mail was opened by the British
Military Censor at Durham, was true.
The first that Secretary Hay, or any
body in Washington heard of this
serious charge was when Mr.. Macrum
published a statement, over his sigma
ture, giving his reasons for running
away from his post. If the charge be
true, an apology will, of course be de-
manded from the British government.
The bill providing territorial form
of government for Hawaii is now the
unfinished" business before the Senate
and will remain such until passed. A
similar bill has been favorably reported
to the House.
At the fourth annual banquet of the
West Viginia Republican Association,
Representative Pearre, of Maryland,
who spoke to the toast, president Nc
Kinley-one good term deserves an
other" aroused great enthusiasm by
naming Senator Elkins as suitable
man for the second place on the ticket;
also when he said that VIM. Mckinley
was the great constructive leader of
the great constructive party of the
country.
The joint resolution providing for
constitutional amendment, disqualify-
ing polygamists for election as Senators
or Representatives, and prohibiting
polygamy and polygamist associations
between the sexes, has been favorably
reported to the House by the Com
mittee on Election of President and
Vice President. The report says the
proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton is designed to remove all doubtful
construction Of the law; that, while the
House decision in the Roberts case
established precedent, it is not one of
absolutely binding force, and Consti'
tutional enactment is desired.
Secretary Root, i'll response to a