The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From the HERALD's Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March II, 1900.

WASHINGTON, March II, 1900
Republican senators are showing
disposition to get together on the
Porto Rican bill. While it cannot yet
be stated to certainty what changes
will be made, itseems likely that the
bill will be amended so as to provide
for the free entry of all American
goods in Porto Rico.
The action of the senate committee
on foreign relations in amending the
Nicaragua canal treaty so as to re-
serve to the United States authority to
defend the canal in any way it may see
fit in time of war seems to meet with
general approval. There is no reason
to suppose that the amendment will be
objected to by England. In fact, II
cannot very we'll be objected to since
the amendment is in almost the exact
language of clause in the treaty un-
der which the Suez canal was con-
st:ucted.
In view of its effect upon our reve-
nues, referring to the reciprocity treaty
with France to the senate finance CON-
mittee for consideration and report be-
fore voting upon it, seems a sensible
move. There is much guessing going
on as to when the treaty will be voted
upon, but those who ought to know,
believe that it will be acted upon at the
present session. -.
Representative Hepburn OF Iowa,
has introduced short bill that would,
| il enacted into a law, put an end TO
prize fighting in this country. 1t pro-
| vides that no picture or description OF
any prize fight or pugilistic encounter,
or description or any proposal for bet
ting on a fight, shall be transmitted
through the mail or by any common
carrier engaged in interstate COM
merce, whether in newspaper or period
ical, or in any other form. Without
publicity, prize fighting could not be
made to pay; and the money made out
of it is the only reaso for its existence.
Representative Brosius, of Pa, who
has earned a reputation for level-head.
edness, voiced the opinions OF many
republicans when he said: ''There is a
difference between a philosopher and
a statesman. A statesman must keep
his feet on the ground while a philoso
pher may be permitted to do more or
less theorising. Therefore l regret
this tendency to yell out against the
republican party at this time, particu-
larly on the part of some very promi-
nent republicans. I firmly believe
that the republican party is able to
meet successfully any problem that
confronts it. and we ought to be willing
to wait with patience for the solution
OF the great problems attending the
possessions of our new islands. "
Col. George Bohon of Kentucky, who
is credited with knowing the politics
of his state, said to a group OF
friends, in Washington hotel: ''Un-
less the Goebel law is repealed, Ken
lucky will go republican as sure as
candid ates for the Office of president
are nominated, and the state will go
republican SO hard that it will never
get back into the democratic ranks"
An object lesson on the credit of ma
tions was furnished by the action of
British government in Offering English
consols, bearing q per cent interest, to
American investors-the first time
such an offer was ever made-at 984
per cent of their face value, and by the
Finance bill, devised by republicans,
which will this week become a law.
This bill provides for refunding the
entire bonded indebtedness of the Uni
ted States into two per cent bonds,
lower than any nation has ever. float
ed bonds, and assurances have already
been received that the new bonds will
be gladly taken at par by the holder
of the old ones. That is the sort of
craftsmanship the republicans give
this nation. They were not satisfied
that our credit should be as good as
that of any other nation. but have
made it better than that of the best
The passage by the German Reich
stag, of the bill aimed at American
meat products, las not produced a
pleasant feeling in Washington, but
neither in congress nor in admins
tration circles is there any disposition
to publicly criticise the matter in its
present stage. 1t is easy to infer, how
ever, from what is said by those who
are in position to make good their
words, that if Germany deliberately
invites a commercial conflict with us,
she will be made to deeply regret hav-
ing done SO.
The senate declined to accept Sena-
tor Hoar's proposal to the pension the
ex-queen of Hawaii.
An acting successor, the late Mahlon
N. Gilbert, bishop coadiutor of the
Protestant Episcopal church of Mime