The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
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WASHINGTON, d. c., March 10, 19(

bonded indebtedness of the country
into the per cent. bonds authorized
by the new finance law, which is now
well under way, every mail to the
Treasury being filled with applica
tions for exchanging the outstanding
issue of the new bonds will be dated
April 1, and they will be exchanged
as fast as possible. in the order of APP
plication, the accrued interest on the
old bonds being paid in cash.
President Mckinley regrets the fail
ure of his tender of the good Offices of
this Government to Great Britain to
assist in bringing about peace in
South Africa, but recognizes that Lord
Salisbury had a right to decline the
tender on behalf of his government.
The general impression in Washing
ton is that nothing else can or will be
done by this government, and that
the language of Lord Salisbury's de-
clination is in effect a strong hint to
European nations not to attempt
mediation
Secretary Root has, in answer to a
request from Gen. Otis, cabled him
permission to encourage the love of
music among the Filipinos by enlist
ing them as musicians in the regimen
tai bands of his army.
Admiral Dewey has endorsed fav-
orable report made by Lieut.. H. H.
Caldwell, his aid, on the recent tests
of the submarine torpedo boat Hol-
land, in the Patomac river, just be-
low Washington. Lieut.. Caldwell was
on the boat during the entire test,
lasting nearly three hours, and says
in his report that determined enemy,
with boat of the Holland type could
have made the occupation of Manila
Bay by Admiral Dewey's squadron
impossible. Admiral Dewey sent
Lieut.. CaldweIl's report to the House
Committee on Naval Affairs, with a
letter of his own, endorsing it strong
ly.
By solid Republican vote, aided
by the vote of Senator Lindsay, of
Kentucky, the Senate has decided in
favor of the Republican contention
that the Constitution does not follow
the flag into acquisitions of territory
outside of the boundries of the United
States proper, without an act of Con-
gress providing for such an extension.
In other words, that territory may
belong to the United States without
becoming part of the United States.
The vote was on the amendment of
fered by Senator Allen to the bill pro-
viding for turning over to the Presi-
dent, to be used for the immediate
necessities of Porto Rico, the money
collected under the Dingley tariff law,
on Porto Rican products, up to the
list of last January-a little more than
100000 which was afterwards pass
ed without a division. The question
was squarely presented in the defeated
amendment, which asserted that the
treaty of peace with Spain extended
the Constitution of the United States
over Porto Rico. This action of the
Senate endorses the position of the
Republican majority of the House, as
well as that of President Mckinley,
and there is very little doubt that the
decision of the supreme court, when
the question reaches it, will be to the
same effect.
No time has been set for vote on
the other Porto Rico bill, dealing with
the government of the island and the
tariff, but it is not likely to be for
several weeks, as Senators Aldrich,
Plat, of Connecticut, and Teller, who
are much interested in the measure,
have gone to Cuba, and will not re-
turn for about two weeks. Mean
while, the debate will go on. The
passage of the Emergency Porto Ri
can Bill has made it unnecessary to
hurry in disposing of this one.
Although always intensely parti-
san, Senator Tillman has way of
frankly expressing what he believes
which makes men admire his honesty,
even when they entirely disagree with
him. He made some of the Demo-
Gratis open their eyes when he said, on
the floor of the Senate: lam always
willing to trust William Mckinley.
He is patriotic and noble man"
During the same colloquy, he said to
the Republican Senators, referring to
their differences on the Porto Rican
tariff question: You are the best or
ganized party ever saw, and no mat
ter how you talk, have no doubt you
will all round up on the vote"
The militia officers representing 80
states who have been in Washington
for some days, have won their prelim-
mary campaign, and the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs has favor
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