The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1900-03-08
WASHINGTON LETTER,
TFrom Us HnaALD's oorrespondentl

1NANo. khOAAthAOJ 0SSohAPouASA htiu 6uQ
both expressed themselves as having
had very enjoyable time. The con-
CALCULATIONS offered the President on
all sides on the able and timely speech
he made at the Ohio dinner were re.
ceived 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, wecannot give the Philippines
free trade with us, has caused the ques-
tion OF our trade relations with the
Philippines, to be much discussed.
The attitude taken by the republicans
in passing Porto Rico tariff bill is that
Congress has the right to impose what
ever duty it may see fit upon the pro-
ducts of any outlying possession of the
United States. While it is believed
that the United States supreme court
will sustain that attitude. no man can
with certainty in advance what the de-
cision of that court will be; hence the
| discussion. One thing is reasonably
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 Philip
pines, because, as Senator Foraker
said to give the Philippines free trade
would be to open our markets to all
the world through them.
All of the republican members of the
House have been requested to be in
their seats every day during the pres
ent week, and the request has greatly
alarmed the democrats. The reason
for the request is simple enough, but
it cannot be stated at this ti,ne without
betraying a party secret to the enemy.
The senate will this week adopt the
conference report on the finance bill.
Secretary Hay will not discuss the
report that this government has
threatened Germay with commercial
war, if the meat bill reported to the
Reichstag becomes a law, but from
other sources it is learned that repre-
sensations by Ambassador White to
the German government, caused as
surance to be given that the features
objected to by this government, will
not be in the bill when it becomes a
law. No uneasiness is felt in Wash
ington. Germany has more to lose
than we have by tariff war, and will
not be likely to invite one. 1t is be-,
lieyed that the German emperor is
merely playing little game of home
politics in order to get support for
some of his pet schemes, including "a
large appropriation for the increase
of his Navy. ,..'s :. -, :. h..
President McKinley's. message to.
congress, recommending that the
money collected, under the Dingley
tariff law. on Porto Rican products
some So, 600, 900 and that which will be
collected until the new law goes into
effect be used for the benefit of Porto
Rico, which is in such immediate need
of money, was surprise to the demo-
Gratis, but not to therepublican leaders,
who knew that it was to follow the pas
sage of the Porto Rico tariff bill, be-
ing part of the plan to give the is
land the money it needs for immediate
public expenditures. The house de-
serves credit for the promptness with
which it met the presidents recon-
mendation by passing a bill placing
the money at his diposal The demo-
Gratis, with a few exceptions, opposed
the bill, which was passed by vote of
1872 to 107, although acknowledging it
to be a good one and to be necessary.
They explained their adverse votes by
the fimsy excuse that they objected be-
cause the bill placed the money at the
presidents disposal, instead of appro-
priating it for specific purposes. The
senate will pass the bill without any
unnecessary delay. The the reiuvena-
ton ofPorto Rico will be assured, as
this money, together with the Is per
cent. duty which will be imposed by the
new tariff bill for two years. will fur
nish ample revenues for the time being.
But the best thing about the bill giving
the president authority to use the
money already collected, fer the bene-
fit of Porto Rico, is that it heads off
the democratic attempt to make politi-
cal capital by claiming that the repub-
licans were disposed to be unjust to
the Porto Ricans. fF
All the testimony has been taken in
the Clark bribery case, and very dis
gusting lot of testimony it was, too, al
most without exception. March 20,
has been set to begin the hearing of
arguments, each side to have six hours
to speak in and to be allowed, to file
printed briefs. aa, /. III
1t is now practically certain that the
house committee on rules, will report
a rule for the consideration of the Hep
n