, 1900-03-01

~ ItthN Abat ~ VI tic
correspondence from the department
was opened. Tn British government
has instructed Lord P~auncefote to say
that If Mr.. Macrum's mail was tamper-
ed with ii was done in violation of or
ders, n must have been an accident.
This can be easily established, as the
censor placed his initials upon the
'sticker" with which he resealed the
envelope.
The plan Of government for Puerto
Rico which will probably be adopted
by the House also, provides for a civil
governor to be appointed by the Presi-
dent for -four years., and to be confirmed
by the Senate. Such n governor is to
have all the power usually exercised
by the governors of territories. and is
to be assisted by an executive council,
consisting of n secretary, an attorney
general, a treasurer. an auditor, a com
missioner of the interior, a commission
err of education, and five other persons
of good repute who shall he native in
habitants of Puerto Rico, appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
Senate. These officials shall perform
such duties as are usually assigned to
similar officials in the United States,
the commissions of the interior having
charge of public works. There is TO be
a Legislative assembly. of thirty-five
members. elected biennially. to be
caned n House of Delegates, to be voted
for by such persons as possess the
qualifications of voters under the laws
and military orders in force on Febru-
airy LIST last. No person, however, shall
be eligible unless he can read and write
the Spanish and the English languages
and is possessed of taxable property
situated in Puerto Rico. The COVER
nor has n veto. which may be over
come by a vote of two-thirds of the
House of Delegates and the Executive
Council, but Congress reserves the
power, If deemed advisable, to revoke
and annul all laws and acts passed by
the Legislative Assembly. The island
of Puerto Rico is made a judicial dis
trict and attached TO the Second Judi
cial circuit of the United States. The
present local courts are to remain as
they are. but the President Is empow-
cred to appoint a district judge. a dis
trict attorney, n marshal, a clerk and
such commissioners as may be neces-
sary, just rs in the United States, and
all proceedings in the courts shall be
conducted in the English language.
The right of appeal is to be the same
as in the territories of the United
States.
senator Gear of Iowa occupies the
first seat of the second row on the mid
die aisle of the senate chamber, where
Roscoe Conkling sat for eight years
and William Pitt FesSenden for six.
Mr.. Allison sits beside his colleague
and has occupied the same desk for
nearly eighteen years. Mr.. Gear years
an old-fashiOned black SLOUGH hat, and
for some reason or another never hangs
it or the peg that is assigned to him in
the Republican clOakroom, but wears
1t into the chamber and drops ii on
the floor beside his desk, where every
body who comes down the middle of
the aisle is likely to step upon it. Sen
ator Stewart, who occupies the seat be-
hind him, is in the habit of shuffling
when he walks. and seldom passes
without kicking Senator Gears hat as
far as the desk of the official stenog-
rapher. Senator Tfllman, who sits
across the way, is a frequent speaker,
and whenever he takes the floor he
prances around n good deal. The 9TH
er day, when he had a controversy
with Mr.. Allison On the currency bill,
he crossed over to the Republican side,
jumped up and down on Senator Gears
hat for about ten minutes, until feel
ing some irregular substance under his
feet he gave it an impatient kick which
sent 1t about halfway across the cham
Der. The pages who sit on the steps
of the vice presidents platform are so
accustomed 10 SUCH l1ltltltHlS tHdL lltN
always run after the hat like the boys
who chase the fouls that go over the
fence at a ball game. Then when 1t is
recovered they take it INTO the loa
room, carefully brush it off and return
it to Senator Gear, who sits through
the proceedings blissfully unconscious
of the treatment that part of his ward
robe is suffering. Something occurs to
that hat almost every day. 1t is either
tramped on or kicked down the aisle,
and there Is a strong suspicion that
some of the senator's do it purposely, al
though they are, of course, so digni-
fed that they would resent any such in
situation. The other day somebody
suggested that those who are guilty OF
such re~prehensible conduct would be
wise to abstain hereafter, because SEN
ator Gear has decided to put a brick in
his hat, and several senators are equity.
The subcommittee of the Senate
committee on foreign relations has pre-
pared an elaborate historical report
sustaining the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
generally, but suggests certain amend
ments. The opponents are preparing
n minority report which will recon-
mend the rejection of the treaty on
the following grounds: First, because
it comedies the vitality of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, which has been dead
for years and repudiated by almost
every administration of the govern
ment, either directly or Indirectly.
Second, by cOnceding the vitality of
the treaty the United States admits
the right of Great Britain to interfere
in American affairs, which Is a viola
ton of the Monroe doctrine. Third. by
declaring the neutrality of the canal
the United States admits foreign
powers TO equal rights upon its coast
line, because If the canal is built it
becomes as much a part of the juris-
diction of this government as any
navlgable water within our bound
aries. Fourth, by inviting foreign ma
lions to assist in preserving the neu-
trality of the canal the United States
surrenders Jurisdiction over its own
territory and invites the Interference
of foreign nations in American affairs,
which is in violation of the Monroe
doctrine. Fifth, when invited to par
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