Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-29
THE WHITE HOUSE
Senator Hansbrough Says Porto
Rican Bill Will Pass.
CAREFUL CANVASS OF SENATE
General Grosvenor Thinks It VIII
Pass the House.
IN BEHALF OF Mr.. ROSS

can whip of the Senate was with Pres
ident Mckinley fifteen minutes this morn
! ing going over the prospects of the passage
| Of the Porto Rican bill by the upper house.
| OF Congress Senator Hansbrough has made
| careful canvass of the Senate and was
able to prophesy that the amended tariff
bill will go through by a reasonably safe
| majority. The senator, it is said, has like
| wise made, in conjunction with Others a
careful canvass of the House, and was able
| to assure the President that the bill, practi-
| cally as it now stands, will become law,
going through the House as safely as the
Senate.
The President Gratihed.
| President Mckinley expressed gratilica-
| ton that the measure is likely to become
| law at an early day. He has recently re-
| peated a declaration he has frequently
| n';.de-that the country will eventually sus-
| tain the position which has been taken by
| him and his party 1t is part of political
history now that the Senate would probably
have brought up and defeated the bill long
ago had 1t not been for the tenacity AMI
backbone shown by the President. Senators
who have been on the point of weakening
and who have gone to the White House to
frankly express their doubts, have remained
| In line after listening to the Presidents
view of the matter.
He has never for moment weakened, de-
| spite the storm Of protests which has COW
| cred the country and flied even the White
House itself. The doubling senators were
| not requested at any time to stand by the
| President. They have been strengthened
because they found the chief executive him
| self thoroughly convinced as to his duty and
as to the probab BILE wind-up of the feeling
throughout the country.
Abatement of Opposition.
Action by the Senate has been put off
long enough for congressman and officials
of the administration to get occasional let
tiers declaring an abatement of the opposi-
ton. The question has been talked of until
it has become somewhat of a party affair,
| it is said, and this has naturally led num-
per OF republlcans 10 go to the relief of
their party. Others Will continue to do
this, conveying an impression that the
country is rapidly changing front.
Senator HansbrouSh tod the President
that there has been nothing like the re-
volt which has been painteA in the news
papers. The senator arrives at this con-
clusion from his experience with the peo-
pie of his own state.
During the whole affair." he said, Il
have received only eleven letters and one
telegram expressing opposition to or doubt
OF the course being pursued. In each in
stance, after having pointed out the facts
and explained our position, l have received
answers telling me to go ahead. | VEN
| ture the assertion that if the question is
made an issue that the republicans in
4>oiti lldhold WILL ilOt lose lnTee votes.
GrosvenOr is Also Satisfied.
Representative Grosvenor is likewise sat
isfied with the outlook. He saw the Presi-
dent this morning and received the latter's
congratulations on his denomination, and
on the platform which was adopted by the
convention. THE republicans are all one
way in Ohio" said Mr. Grosvenor ''rhe
people are beginning to comprehend every
point involved, and can be depended on TO
sustain U.S. The tariff bill will pass Con-
sress In some form that will demonstrate
the right of Congress to legislate as il sees
mt L do not care cent about the amount
of the tariff 1t Is the principle involved"
Senator Platt of New York, who was with
the President short time, said he thought
the amended tariff bill would pass by a
good majority.
They Favor Commissioner Ross
The first local delegation to visit the
White House in connection with the ap-
pointment Of District Commissioners saw
the President today.
Commissioner Ross was indorsed for re-
appointment by q delegation of colored
men, among whom were Rev. Sterling n
Brown. pastor Park Temple; Rev. w. J.
Howard, Zion Baptist Church; DIR. l.. B.
Moore, Howard University; Jas. F. Child of
Alabama, and Rev. D. E. Wiseman, Church
of Our Redeemer. Rev. Mr.. Brown, as
spokesman, said to the President:
AS representatives of the colored people
of the District of Columbia we come to ash
FOR the reappo1ntment of Mr.. John w.
Ross to the position of District Commits
sioner. The public life of Mr.. Ross has
been SO conspicuous for its integrity, can
dor and fidelity to the trusts committed
to him that he is honored by all peoples
and parties; especially do the colored peo-
Pile recognize in him a true friend. To
them he has endeavored to be considerate,
fair and just We feel sure, in asking for
his reappointment that we express the wish
OF the colored people of this District, and
assure you, Mr.. President that your favor
able action in his case will be highly pleas
ing to them"
The President received the delegation cor
daily, but made no statement beyond the
fact that he would give the recommenda-
ton consideration.
Day Of Delegations.
The President received three large delega-
tions and several small ones during the
day. The first OF these was headed by Rep
resentatives Mahon and Ziegler of Pennsyl-
vania, and consisted Of Col. James F. Nor
rison, Maj. William Ensley. Capt. George
w. Skinner, Capt. j. G. Mitchell, Capt. ]. D.
Patterson, Maj. L. McCurdy and Col. T.
Semple, officers of the Pennsylvania G. A.
r. They extended the President an invita-
ton to attend the annual encampment of
the department of Pennsylvania at Gettys-
burg, June and 8. and guaranteed him an
would like to make the visit and would
give the invitation full consideration.
The President promised last year to visit
the battlefield of Antietam on the occasion
Of the dedication of a monument to the
dead of both armies to be erected under the
Antietam battlefield commission of Mary
land, but the members of the commission
today visited him and presented him with
a formal invitation fixing the date for the
dedication Of the monument as May 80, Me-
mortal day. The monument will commem-
crate the heroic deeds of Maryland soldiers
of the federal and confederate armies. The
members Of the commission who were pres
ent were Col. B. F. Taylor, Dr. George r
Graham, Col. Osman Latrobe, Can't. Will
lam Gibson, Capt. Theodore j. Vannenan
Capt; William H. Farquhar and H. K.
Douglas.
Unless something unforeseen prevents.
the President will visit Antietam at this
time and make an address,
Still another delegation consisted of Can't.
John r. King, Capt. ]. ]. Janney, Capt.
W. Gibson and Dr. George r. Graham, a
committee representing the Union Veterans
Association Of Maryland. The committee
invited the President to the thirty-fffth an
nual banquet of the association to be held
at Carrollton Hotel, in Baltimore, on April
W. DHa ~