The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-11-30
JOUR WASHINGTON LETTER..

WAsuINGToN, D. C., November Goth
Mr.. EDIToH:-"Wh else is left
undone, hurry with the army bill That
is the sum and substance of what Mr.. Nc
kinley says to every prominent repubh-
can Senator and Representative who goes
to the White House. The reason he wishes
the legislation for the increase OF the army
hurried is, that he has received Il hint that
the decision of the United States Supreme
Court will be against the constitutionaity
of the Porto Rico act, which would mean
that the United States would have to re-
linquish ownership of the Philippines,
and would consequently have no use for
"a large standing army. He wishes to get
the big army provided for before the court
hands down its decision, and it will not
be surprising if the Attorney General so
manipuatcs the case as to prevent its con
clusion until after the end Of this Congress,
as Mr. Mckinley might prefer not having
Congress in session should the decision
be adverse. This story sounds incredu-
lous but it is being seriously talked about
in political circles, and there have been
other cases in which administrations have
been given advance hints of important de-
cisions of the Supreme Court Any MEM
Der of the court can usually make pretty
nearly correct guess of how his col.ca cues
will stand upon important decisions from
| their talk in general way to each other.
Whether the whole story is correct or not,
it is absolutely certain that Mr. Mckinley
is plainly showing his anxiety of the
speedy passage by Congress of the Army
bill.
The Isthmian Canal Commission has
handed Mr. Mckinley its preliminary re
port AS expected it favors the Nicara-
qua route for the Canal. The Panama
| Company's lobbyists are moving heaven
| and earth to prevent Legislation by Con-
| gres> in favor of the Nicaragua Canal.
According t. Representative Hal,
Chairman Of the House Comm tee on
Military fairs. which is now irving to
| put together an army bill that wi be sup
| ported by ali the republicans, many of
| whom have publicly expressed widely diff
| fering opinions OF what tie bill Should
| provide for, especially as to the number
| of men, the volunteers in the Philippines
will not be brought home until regulars
enli-. ed und. the ill not even vet writ On,
| cln be sent to take their places AZ least
| that is a fair construction to p'Hct upon
Mr. iIuii's Owl wor i - Til" arl.iy II w
| in t. PniliI 5 A1.l ave t t't ,.,u 1t
| hon, in the sumner, that is, those OF tAe
| men who do not care to re enlist. The
| transports which 90 out for them should
| depart laden with the troops who are to
| replace them"
Representative Champ Clark, of Mis-
souri, returned to Washington feeling rs
| chippy as usual. He said: Il not
| downcast or discouraged by the licking
we got The most unpleasant feature is
it will take US six or eight years to get
the Senate. AS to the proposition TO TT
organize the democratic party, it is f:ct
in natural history that the tail cannot wag
inc uUE: Az ltlt SAINT IL u IL! pDIIilCS
The party doe net need reorga niziug to
begin with. II is thoroughly organized,
and even if it were to be rcOTganiZed it
would not be from the outside. We want
everybody to come in that feels like help
ing US, but we have perfect organization
of our own" OF the probable work of
this session of Congress Mr.. Clark said:
Il think this will be an extremely busy
session The main thing the republicans
will do will be to rHtify the Hay Paunce
fote treaty and pass Il Nicaragua Canal
bill in accordance with t, and to pass
Mark Iiannu's ship subsidy bill. If the
Supreme Court q, cilrs the Porto Rican
act unconstitutional, then the republicans
will run races with US as to which viii
drop the Philippines first. But if it is de
ciGed to be constitutional, then this scs-
sion of Congress will have to pass some
kind of bill for the government and
control Of the islands. This, with the
routine measures and the new appnrtiOn-
ment under the last census will make it
an exceedingly busy session.