Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-04-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, April I6. 1900.

WASHINGTON April 40, l5UU
Administration Senators and Representatives
are wrangling tearfully over the plums made
available by the Porto Rico Act, which goes into
effect May l. Nearly everyone Of them IS grab
bling after at least one of the biggest and juciest
OF these plumg for a constituent and they are
making Mr.. Mckinley very weary by their per
sistency. The selection OF Mr.. CT n. Allen 10 be
Governor was entirely personal on the part OF
Mr.. Mckinley. just as the same gentleman was
personally chosen by Secretary Long to be AS
sistant Secretary OF the Navy when Teddy
Roosevelt resigned that Office to become
rough rider If some OF the men who are after
the other places over their succeed in getting
them, Mr. Allen win have to keep his eyes wide
open to prevent his administration of the affairs
OF the island getting into the breakers OF scan
dal
1t is little puzzling to understand why the
administr is preventing action on the
Nicaragua Cane bill at this session Of Congress,
but perfectly plain that it is doing so, through
its agents In both House and Senate. There is
something behind the desire TO postpone this
legislation. which has been endorsed by all the
political parties and by the public sentiment OF
the country as we'll OF course, Mr.. Mckinley
isn't openly antagonsztng the Canal BILL but
it was administration Senators who voted down
senator Morgsn's motion to take up the Canal
bill and 1t has been administration Representa-
tives who have headed off Representative Hep
burns several attempts to get date set FOR us
consideration by the House.
Nothing could more surely snow the steady in
crease Of public sentiment In favor OF the cleo
ton of Senators by direct vote of the people,
than the adoption by the House of a resolution
proposing a constitutional amendment for so
electing Senators, by vote Of 24O to 10. A
similar resolution has been adopted by the
House in q previous Congress, but not BY such
large vote whether the Senate win respond to
public sentiment by adopting this resolution, Is
yet to be seen. but it is doubtful.
1t is bad enough for paid lobbyists to engage
in manufacturing public sentiment in favor Of
or against pending legislation in Congress, but
| it is infinitely worse for bureau OF the govern
mept to engage in such business The Inter
| State Commerce Commission has been sending
out thousands of circular letters. printed and
mailed at public expenses. asking that letters be
written TO Senators and Representatives to make
them support the Cullom bill, for the enlarge
ment of the power of that Commission. The
exposure of this official lobbying has caused a
sensation in Congress, and it ought to cause the
summary dismissal OF every official who either
participated therein or countenaneed it; but
Mr.. McKinley's backbone is hardly equal to
such heroic treatment of the case.
A bill to make more Republican patronage,
which can be utalized to the coming campaign,
has been reported from the House Census Com
m ittee 1t provides for the creation Of a Census
printing office, with Superintendent at 81 $50 a
II and f<aol
binders In previous censuses. this work has
been done at the government printing ofiice,and
there is no other reason than greed for more
patronage on the part Of Republicans why it
should not be done there for this census.
| Under orders from Republican boses who
wish to keep down the total of appropriations at
this session of Congress, the House Military
Committee. which had previously agreed to in
crease the annual appropriation for the support
of the National Guard of the States to $s,OOO,Oo0
has reduced the amount to $i.OOOO00.
| Only one Democrat in Congress is publicly
supporting Admiral Dewey for the Democratic
nomination for President. That is Representa-
tive Levy, Of New York, who is q very nice
gentleman, but who has not been recognized as
one of the Democratic leaders. Admiral Dewey
now openly says that it is the anti-Bryan Demo-
Gratis from whom he expects support enough to
get the Democratic nomination. but where he
expects to find enough of that brand of Demo-
Gratis to come within hundred miles Of nomin-
ating him, is something that is beyond the com
prehension Of ordinary folks. A proposition in
connection with AdmiralS Deweys candidacy
is being talked about in Washington, and it
would be good thing 10 carry out. 1t is that
Admiral Dewey and Colonel Bryan shall pledge
themselves to support the ticket nominated by
the Kansas City Convention. before their names
are presented as candidates. Every Bryan man
to whom this proposition has been submitted
has endorsed it. Admiral Dewey says he Will
make public this week statement of his posi-
ton on public questions 1t is awaited by the
public with more curiosity than anxiety.