The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-04-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON. April rs lgf

WASHINGTON, April Is, 1900
Administration Senators and Repre-
sentatiyes are wrangling fearfully over
the plums made available Ly the Porto
Rico Act, which goes into effect Nav
lst. Nearly everyone Of them is grab.
bing after at least one Of the biggest
and jniciest Of these plums for con-
stituent aud they are making Mr.
Mckinley very weary by their persis-
tency. The selection Of Mr.. {. II.
Allen TO be governor was entirely per
sonal on the part Of Mr.. Mckinley.
just as the same gentleman was per.
sonally chosen by Secretary Long To be
Assistant Secretary of the Navy when
Teddy" Roosevelt resigned that Office
to become a rough rider. If some Of
the men who are after the other places
over there succeed in getting them.
Mr.. Allen will have to keep his eyes
wide open to prevent his administra-
ton Of the affairs Of the island getting
into the breakers Of scandal.
It's a little pulling to understand
why the administration is preventing
action on the Nicaragua Canal 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 a well. OF course. Mr.
Mckinley isn't openly antagonizine
the Canal bill, but it was administra-
ton Senators who voted down Senator
Morgan's molten to take up the Canal
bill, aud it has been administration
Representatives who have headed of
Representative Hepburu's several at
tempts to get date SIT for its consider
alton by the House.
Nothing could more surely show the
steady increase Of public sentiment in
favor Of the election Of Senators bv
llrect vote Of the people, than the
id option by the House of a resolution
constitutional amendment
or so electing Senators, by a vote Of
40 to 10. A similar resolution has
'een adopted by the House in a
previous Congress but not by such a
arge vote. Whether the Senate will
espond to public sentiment bv adont-
ng this resolution is yet to be seen.
nat ii is doubtful.
1t IL bad enough for paid LOBBYISTS
D engage in manufacturing public
eminent in favor Of or against pend.
X legislation in Congress. but il i
worse for bureau Of the
overnment to engage i'm such business.
he Interstate Commerce Commission
as been sending out thousands Of
rcular letters printed and mailed at
l0lIc expense, asking that letters be
rltlen to Senators and Representa-
yes TO make them support the Cullum
H. for the enlargement Of the power
lhal Commission. The exposure Of II
Is Official lobbying has caused a Il
lSation IN Congress, aud it ought to
use the summary dismissal Of every Is
lcial who either participated therein o.,
countenanced it; but McKinley's :,
'kbone is hardly equal to such heroic L
atment Of the case. q
\ bill TO make more Republican
ronage, which can be utilized in al
coming campaign, has been report -
from the House Census Committee. /
provides for the creation of a Census
lting office, with superintendent y
s2,5OO year, and large force Of
llers and book-binders. previous
suses, this work has been done at
government printing Office. and -
'e Is no other reason than agreed
more patronage on the part Of Re
llcans why 1t should not be done AMI
e for this census. law
nder orders from the Republican gini
es, who wish to keep down the A.