The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-02-16
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Our Correspondent Talks in
General About Wash
ington.
(C'ouInunicated)

the Nicarguan Canal treaty,
which the administration has ne-
gotiated with England and sent
to the Senate, and the Porto Rico
tariff bill, which has been report
ed to the House, and will be
taken up this week and jammed
through as a party measure, is
thoroughly American, and con-
sequently right. The treaty
gives more than it provides for
our receiving. 1t allows us to
build canal with our money,
provided we agree to let every
nation in the world, even those
we may happen to be at war with,
have exactly the same privileges
we take for ourselves in using it.
That is not the old Democratic
idea of American control of the
canal, and it is really surprising
that there is single Democratic
Senator who is willing to vote for
the ratification of the treaty.
Without Democratic votes, it
would be bound to fail. One of
the strongest arguments in favor
of the construction of the canal,
has been the advantage it would
give us in a war with a foreign
power. Under the present treaty
we should have no advantage, as
our enemies could make just the
same use of the canal.
Imperialism is the real question
involved in the Porto Rican tariff
bill. 1t makes one of the issues
upon which this years presiden-
tial campaign will be waged. The
Republicans in their report on
this bill, which imposes twenty
five per cent. duty on Porto Rican
products, have come out tiat-foot-
ed in favor of ignoring the Con-
stitution, and of having Congress
assume the authority to deal with
the territorty recently acquired
by the United States as colonies,
and with their people as subjects.
The Democrats contend that the
Constitution is the supreme law
of the republic, and that it rec,
ognizes neither colonies nor sub
jects; that every foot of ground
belonging to the United States
is a part of the United States and
every resident of territory belong
ing to the United States, a citi
zen. The Imperialists have the
votes to win in Congress, but it
remains to be seen whether tho
can win before the people.
The Democratic substitute for
the gold standard bill is short
and plain. 1t was introduced by
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, and
it provides for the opening of the
minis Of the United States to the
coinage of silver, as provided by
the Act of January 18th, 1887,
upon the same terms and subject
to the limitations and provisions
of law regulating the coinage
and legal tender quality of gold;
and that when the silver coins
shall be received into the treas
ury, certificates shall be issued
for them as now prescribed by
law. Unfortunately the Republi.
cans have the votes to pass the
gold standard bill-Chandler is
the only Republican who will
vote against it-but the substi-
tute will give the Democrats an
opportunity to record their votes
in favor of "the dollar of our
dadies." The vote will be taken
on Thursday of this week.
Adjutant-G General Corbin, who
gained some noteriety during the
war with Spain, through being
Alger's tool in carrying out the
several schemes for the humilia-
ton of General Miles, as we'll as
by lobbying during the last Con-
gress, for Legislation to give him.
self the rank of Major General,
! is again playing the roles of lob
byist for the same purpore.
He gave an elaborate Sunday
dinner at a suburban club house,
to twenty odd members of the
House, including the Military
Committee. AS Secretary Root
also attended the dinner, it is as
sumed that he is helping the ef-
fort of Corbin for promotion.
Notwithstanding the denials on
the floor of the House, by Gen.
GrOsvenor, and other administra-
ton men, of the charge made by
Roberts, that Utah polygamists
had been appointed to Federal
offices by Mr.. Mckinley, the
House Committee on Post Offices,
which has been investigating,
now has to report to the House
that Postmaster Graham, of
of Provo, had an Indictment
for polygamy hanging over him,
when he was appointed. In
oder to soften this proof of
the charge of Roberts, the CON-
mittee accompanies it with a