The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-11
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

VIII Pass Today.-There is no doubt
whatever that the Porto Rloan Tariff bill,
as amended by the Senate, will pass the
House today by the same vote with which
the original measure was put through.
Speaker Henderson yesterday had his Com
mittee on Rules limit debate on the bill TO
three hours. This will give practically no
time for the opposition to fully set forth
Its position, and, Of course, that is why
the unusually limited time for debate was
fixed by the Rules Committee. Very few
Republicans care to speak on the meas
IRE. 1t being understood that most of them
are In the embarrassing condition OF the
small boy who had nothing TO say The
reason so little time for discussion has
been allowed by the Speaker is said to be
the agreement of the Republican managers
to reduce to the minimum the opportunity
Tor Congressional ventilation of the civil
government features of the amended Dill
Men who have carefully looked into this
subject declare that the civil government
for the island devised by Mr.. Foraker and
others in the Senate is now the worst
feature of the bill-much more fraught
with tempting opportunities for unfair
dealing than anything else that has yet
been proposed in the effort to adjust the
relations between the Federal Government
and the new insular possessions in har-
mony with the Republican programme OF
Imperialism Under the bill which will be-
come a law today the civil government Of
Porto Rico will be absolutely in the hands
of the President. There is a thin veneer
ing Of home rule over the civil govern
mert clause but it is said TO be so thin as
to plainly reveal the opportunities for loot
and plumber which will be open to favored
interests. The executive council provided
for will be controlled by appointees of the
President and this body will have abso-
lutte and unquestioned jurisdiction over all
franchises and other valuable rights In
Porto Rico. Favortes of the White House
can grab everything of value in the ISL
and. provided, of course. they get the con-
sent of the executive council. The original
Oxnard bill sought only TO levy discrim-
mating tariff tax on the productive ener-
gies of the Porto Ricans in favor of GER
tain industrial trusts. mainly those OF the
sugar, tobacco, and rum interests. This
provision still stands in the bill, but 1t Is
overshadowed in Importance, according to
the judgment of competent experts who
have given the completed measure close
study. by the civil government feature
which opens wide the door for unscrupu-
lous men to enter Porto Rico and through
the island without let or hindrance. The
Democratic managers are preparing to
make even more political capital out OF
the completed Foraker bill than out of the
Oxnardized bill that reached the Senate
from the House.
'The Worst Ever.''-"If Mark Hanna
and the other Republican managers are
wise-and nobody who knows anything
about them thinks they are fools-they
will insist upon as early an adjournment
Of this session OF Congress as is practical
bie," said SeEator-elect J. c. S. Black
burn, to a Times representative. yester-
day. I'm my Congressional experience OF
twenty-five years l have never known
Congress In the control Of either party
that made as many political blunders
Cleveland raised hob with us Democrats |
once. and we paid for it dearly the first |
time the people got whack at US; but Mr. |
Cleveland did not put us into as many |
holes as the Republicans have been driven |
into by various acts of this Congress. Ii I
We can't wipe out the Republicans in No |
rember on the blunders made thus far by |
The Fifty-sixth Congress We ought to 20 !
out OF business. They have made up the !
issues of imperialism. militarism, and |
trusts exactly TO our liking. Indeed. If /
A good job of it for US they could not !
nave done better. Having these facts in /
mind / feel certain that the Republican
managers will hasten the close of the ses-
lion. and welcome the day when they can
breathe easy again so far as Congress is
concerned. For this reason l do not be-
leve any effort VIII be made 10 force the
Ship Subsidy bill through. The Repub-
leans are not looking for more trouble,
lnless they have gone crazy-and 1 don't
relieve they have"
Mr.. COoper's Distrcss.-!t is said that
10 member of the aouse regrets more
genuinely the adoption OF the Porto Rican
ill as party. measure than does the
Ion. Henry Allen Cooper. of Racine, Wis.
ar Cooper is known by his close friends
8 one of the most earnest anti-imperial-
SITS In the country. But he Is so circum-
tanced at present that he cannot assert
lis Independence Of the party dictum.
,peaker Henderson picked him out with
nut any solicitation on the part Of the
man, for Chairman of the In
ular Committee which is destined to be-
ONE one OF the most important commit
ees OF Congress. II Mr.. Cooper should
low place himself in autagonism to the
dominant element OF his party and run
ounter to the programme marked cut ~
he Republican managers. he would DO
imself great deal OF harm without the
highest hope of accomplishing any good
or his party or the country. He is said
0 be aware CT the risk of defeat ne would
IN il he should vote or speak against the
ct measures of the party at this lime.
hough il is stated that he expresses very
RELY and with considerable feeling his
pposition to various schemes now afOot
hen he is called into the party councils.
n justification of his course 1t is pointed
ut that Representative Cooper vote
yainst the Porto Rican bill would nos de
eat that measure, as the party has de- n
ermined to ram it through at all haz-
rds and he would only bring down upon
jmself the wrath of Mr. Hanna AMI the
Their managers of the Republican ma
hIne. with the probable result OF either
eina defeated for denomination This year
r of being sidetraclied by the Speaker of
ne House, who could, il he chose, make
ne Insular Committee one OF the utmost ,
instead of power and pres
ge.
Pleading for OIeumargarine. - 4
valy war is now on in the Ways and
leans Committee and the Committee on
griculture between the oIeomargarine
.akers and the dairymen. The light is
ot only national in scope. but partisan in
,aracter. The Republicans OF the House .
re committed to a tax which will drive
,e oleomargarine makers out of business. |
is not denied that they are seeking to
npose a prohibitIve internal revenue tax
10 cents a pound on Oleomargsrine and
S by-products at the behest OF the daiTg
terests, which are now among the most
cavity capitalized interests in the coun