Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-03-08
THE WEEK IN CAPITOL CIRCLES.
Foraker on the "Open Door"--Porto
Rican Affairs Stir Democrats
House to Consider Mica
ragua Caual Bill.
WASHINGTON, March 5, 1900


WASHINGTON, March 5, 1900.
President McKinley's trip to New
York to attend the annual dinner of
the Ohio society, from which he re-
turned to-day, was pleasant break in
a protracted season of very hard work.
Mrs. Mckinley accompanied him and
both expressed themselves as having
had very enjoyable time. The con-
gratulations offered the President on all
sides on the able and timely speech he
made at the Ohio dinner were received
with his usual modesty. That speech
answers many of his critics.
Senator Foraker's statement that
while we were bound by the Peace
Treaty with Spain, to maintain the
'open door" commercially in the Phil
ippines, we cannot give the Philippines
free trade with us, has caused the trade
relations with the Philippines to be
much discussed. The attitude taken
by the Republicans in passing the
Puerto Rican tariff bill is that Congress
has the right to impose whatever duty
it may see fit upon the products of any
outlying possession of the U. S. While
it is believed that the U. S. Supreme
Court will sustain that attitude, no man
can say with certainty in advance what
the decision of that court will be; hence
the discussion. One thing is reason.
ably certain and that is, that if called
upon to surrender the protective tariff
or the Philippines, the Republican
party would decide to give up the
Philippines, because, as Senator For
aker said, to give the Philippines free
trade would be to open our markets to
all the world through them.
Secretary Hay will not discuss the
report that this government has threat
ened Germany with commercial war,
if the Meat bill reported to the Reich
stag becomes law, but from other
sources it is learned that representa-
tions by Ambassador White to the
German government, caused assurances
to be given that the features objected
to by this government will not be in
the bill when it becomes law. No un-
easiness is felt in Washington. Ger
many has more to lose than we have
by tariff war, and will not be likely
to invite one. 1t is believed that the
German Emperor is merely playing a
little game of home politics in order to
get support for some ofhis pet schemes,
including large appropriation for the
increase of his Navy.
President McKinley's message to
Congress-, recommending that the
money collected under the Dingley
tariff law, on Puerto Rican products
some $4,000, ,000-and that which will
be collected until the new law goes
into effect be used for the benefit of
Puerto Rico, which is in such immedi-
ate need of money, was surprise to
the Democrats, but not to the Republi-
can leaders, who knew that it was to
follow the passage of the Puerto Rican
tariff bill, being part of the plan to
give the island the money it needs for
immediate public expenditures. The
House deserves credit for the prompt
ness with which it met the Presidents
recommendation by passing a bill
placing the money at his disposal. The
Democrats, with few exceptions, op-
posed the bill, which was passed by a
IN ,f1 t0 oil
edging it to be good one and to be
necessary. They explained their adj
verse votes by the flimsy excuse that
they objected because the bill placed
the money at the Presidents disposal
instead of appropriating it for specific
purposes. The Senate will pass the
bill without any unnecessary delay. Then
the reiuvenation of Puerto Rico will be
assured, as this money, together with
the Is per cent. duty which will be i'm
posed by the new tariff bill for two
years, will furnish ample revenues for
the time being. But the best thing
about the bill giving the President au-
thority to use the money already col
lected, for the benefit of Puerto Rico, is
that it heads offthe Democratic attempt
to make political capital by claiming
that the Republicans were disposed to
be unjust to the Puerto Ricans.
1t is now practically certain that the
House Committee on Rules, will report
a rule for the consideration of the Hep
burn Nicaragua Canal bill, aud there is
little doubt that the bill be passed by
large majority.
No time has been set for voting on
the Quay case, and since his being
seated became a certainty, his friends
are not disposed to hurry Sena-
tors who wish to make speeches on the
case.
We, the undersigned, do hereby
agree to refund the money on two