Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-16

Whether military tribunal had the |
right to try for the crime of murder.
We did not even argue the question of |
the Constitution, and dismissed it as
Irrelevant and immaterial." 1t will be
however, that the decision
of the supreme court rendered in the
bred Scott case that the Missouri Com.
promise was unconstitutional, was also
q "dictum" not necessary to the case at |
issue. Judge Lochren, by the way,
though appointed to Office by Cleveland
is an expansionist, Endorses the policy
of President Mckinley and voted for
him in 1896.
Mistakes in the Porto Rican act con-
tinue to crop up. The latest is that the
law, as construed by the treasury depart
ment, puts an additional penalty on
Europeans who desire to trade with the
island via United States ports. If a
European sends goods direct to Porto
Rico from the old world, he pays the
Dingley rates; if he sends them to New
York for shipment to Porto Rico he
must pay the Dingley rates and fifteen
per cent additional. That is to say, the
republican party in its wisdom has d.
rectly Disseminated against this coun-
try as port of call between Europe
and Porto Rico and to encourage direct
lines from Europe and Porto Rico. Of
course, this is all very well for the trusts
that wish to control the Porto Rican
market, for their protection is in
creased Is per cent over the already
monumental Dingley rates. Whether
they had part in drawing the verbiage
of the bill with the idea of getting this
additional duty or whether it was an
unexpected stroke of fortune for them,
cannot be said. In either case, it is
hard on the Poto Ricans.
If action on the Nicarsguan Canal is
secured at this session it will be over
the protest of Senator Hanna and the
national administration. This was
made abundantly plain at the last meet
ing of the senate committee on inter-
oceanic canals, when MI. Hanna and
Mr.. Sewell, of New Jersey, both of
whom had been posing as friends of the
canal as long as they hoped that the
house would smother it, changed sides
completely and set themselves against
any action, urging that nothing be done
until after the -Pauncefote treaty,
now pending in the senate, had been
ratified Mr.. Hanna particularly was
insistent that it would be piece of bad
faith and an affront to Great Britain
for this Government to enact such a
measure into law with 80 Important q
treaty as the Hay-Pauncefote conven-
tion bearing upon the same subject re-
naming on the calendar Enacted upon.
He threw out hint that if the com.
mittee insisted upon making q
favorable report on the bill it would be
antagonized on the floor, and that
the party machinery would be brought
to bear against the proposition. In
other words, Mr.. Hanna as much as
gave his associates on the committee
to understand that If the committee
acted fayorably on the house bill, the
steering committee would refuse to
give the measure any standing, and
would prevent it from coming to vote
during this session, at least. In this
Mr.. Hanna was supported by Mr.. Sew
ell. Senator Morgan, however, has not
abandonedhope. He will carry his
fight to the floor of the senate, hoping
that Insufficient number of friends of the
canal will stand to their colors to com.
pei its being taken up even against the
desires of the president. OF course,
Mckinley could kill the measure at any
time, if he dare to do so, but he will
undoubtedly prefer to stay in the back
ground and oppose it in such WY
that he can change front in moment
If necessary. He does not propose to
be caught in any more "plain duty"
tangles if he can help it. Hence, the
conclusion seems inevitable that the
Hepburn bill will linger in the senate
along with the Hay Psuncefote Treaty
until the presidential election is over.
If the bill should be reported by the
committee, it is thought Senator Nor
gan could manage to get test vote on
the measure, if he would press his sd-
vantage with the view of developing
beyond peradventure the Administra-
tion's exact position on the canal ques-
ton in its relations to the transconti-
mental railroad interests that are known
to be opposed to- it, and at the same
time this vote would expose the Ad-
ministration's understanding with
Great Britain and this is just
what the president does not want.