The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 10, 1900.

ycI D6 sUdIcu W d Certainty WHdU
changes will be made, it seems like
ly that the bill will be amended so as
to provide for the free entry of all
American goods in Porto Rico.
The action of the Senate Committee
on foreign relations in amending
the Nicaragua Canal frosty SO as to
reserve to the United States authori-
ty to defend the canal in any way it
may see fit in time of war seems to
meet with general approval. There
is no reason to suppose that the
amendment will be objected to by
England. In fact, it cannot very well
be objected to since the amendment
is in almost the the exact language of
a clause in the treaty under which
the Suez Canal was constructed.
In view of its effect upon our reve-
nues, referring the reciprocity treaty
with France to the Senate Finance
Committee for consideration and re-
port before voting upon it, seems
sensible move. There is much guess
ing going on as to when the treaty
will be voted upon, but those who
ought to know, believe that it will be
acted upon at the present session.
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa,
has introduced short bill that would,
If enacted into law, put an end to
fighting in this country. 1t provides
that no picture or description of any
prize fight or pugilistic encounter, or
any proposal for betting on fight,
shall be transmitted through the
mail or by any common carrier en-
gagged in interstate commerce, wheth-
er in newspaper or periodical, or in
any other form. Without publicity
prize fighting could not be made to
pay, and the money made out of it is
the only reason for it's existence.
Senator Lodge thinks the officer
commanding our army should have &
higher rank than any other officer,
and he has introduced a joint resolu-
ton giving to the senior Major Gen
eral, while commanding the army,
the rank, pay and emoluments OF
Lieutenant General. Representative
Moody, of Massachusetts, offered the
resolution in the House.
Representative Brosius, of Pennsyl-
vania, who has earned a reputation
for observation-disclosures, voiced the opin-
ions of many Republicans when he
said: "There is difference between
a philosopher and statesman. A
statesman must keep his feet on the
ground while philosopher may be
permitted to do more or less theoriz-
ing. Therefore l regret this tendency
to yell out against the Republican
party at this time, particularly on the
part Of some very prominent Repub-
licans. firmly believe that the Re-
publican party is able to meet sue
cessfully any problem that confronts
it, and we ought to be willing to wait
with patience for the solution of the
great problems attending the posses
sion of our new islands,
Col. George Bohon, of Kentucky,
who is credited with knowing the
politics of his state, said to a group
of friends, in a Washington hotel:
sunless the Goebel law is repealed,
Kentucky will go Republican as sure
as candidates for the office of Presi-
dent are nominated, and the state
will go Republican so hard that it
will never get back into the Democrat
ic ranks.n
An object lesson on the credit of ma
tions was furnished by the action Of
the British Government in Offering
English Consols, bearing 81 per cent.
interest, to American investors-the
first time such an offer was ever made
at 9s4 per cent of their face value, and
by the Finance Bill, devised by Re
publicans, which will this week be-
come a law. This bill provides for
refunding the entire bonded indebt-
edness of the United States into per
cent. bonds, lower than any nation
has ever fioated bonds. and assuran-
ces have already been received that
new bonds will be gladly taken at
par by the holders Of the old ones.
That is the sort Of craftsmanship the
Republicans give this nation. They
were not satisfied that our credit
should be as good as that of any other
nation, but have made it better than
that of thr best.
The passage by the German Reich
stag, OF the bill aimed at American
meat products, has not produced 8
pleasant feeling in Washington, but
neither in Congress nor in admins
tration circles is there any disposition
to publicly criticise the matter in iti
present stage. 1t is easy to infer
however, from what is said by those
who are in position to make goot
their words, that if Germany deliber