The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-19

Bill Affecting Insular Possessions
Both the House and the Senate,
and There Is Promise of a Battle
ROyal-Mr. Merriam Busy Laying
Out His Census Plans.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S-(Special.)-1t
Is said by we'll posted men in Washington
that the annexation sentiment is not
only growing in Cuba, but that the an
nexationists in congress are doing sue
cessful missionary work among their
colleagues. At this time it is not prob,
able that the intelligent Cubans would
vote in favor of becoming a territory OF
the United States. They would probably
by large majority favor strict inde
pendence and a government for the ISL
and fashioned somewhat after that ex-
listing in the United States. In view of
the fact that very little action will be
taken respecting Cuba at the first session
of this congress, there is a possibility
that the anneXationists will be able to
change the prevailing sentiment on the
island, and that a year hence, or possi-
bly, in the Forty-seventh congress, ma
jority of their own free will will ask the
United States to permit the island to
come under its protective wing, and rules
of government established something af-
ter the plain outlined for Hawaii in the
bill which is now pending.
The sentiment in the United States,
could vote be had, would possibly be in
favor of annexation, though a majority
in congress at this time would undoubt,
edly vote against such action AS before
stated, some shewd statesmen are of the
opinion that it would be much better for
the natives of Cuba and also for the
4. United States to have the island annexed
rather than to have a republic set up
and the United States be compelled to
practically assume proteetorate over it
for years to come The United States
would doubtless be benefited financially
by such course, though we might have
trouble in successfully governing the ISL
and for several years to come.
CHANCE FOR WORRY.
The Puerto Ricans are going to give
Uncle Sam a good deal of worry during
the next few years. There is no doubt
whatever upon this point. If there has
been any doubt in the past it has been
expelled since the delegation of Puerto
Ricans reached Washington early this
winter. 1t is impossible, it is understood,
to satisfy them in any way and the leg
islation pending in congress regarding
Puerto Rico is by no means agreeable to
majority of them. Members of congress
who have come in contact with the Puer>
to Ricans will be glad when the legisla
tion proposed is enacted into law if ii
ever it, so that they will not have to
bother with them any longer. There will
be considerable debate before the bills
providing laws for Puerto Rico are put
through both houses. If an agreement is
ever reached regarding this legislation
the president will, of necessity, be COM
PEELED to approve it.
MR. MERRIAM BUSY.
Director of the Census Merriam is get
ting everything in his bureau in excel
lent shape for taking the eleventh census
Nearly all the blanks necessary for talk
ing statistics are prepared and will be
ready for mailing when the work of be-
ginning to take the population is started
and all the plans, so far as taking sta
agreed upon between the director and his
bureau chiefs. The most important ques
ton, of course, is to get an accurate
count of the population. In the tenth
census there were many inaccuracies, as
has been discovered since the count was
completed. Director Merriam proposes
that there shall be no errors in taking the
population and is bending his energies to
have the first count correct, so that there
will be no necessity of having recount
anywhere or under any condition
In addition to the population the agri-
cultural statistics to be collected will
probably be considered next in import
ance. The plans devised by Director
Merriam for these statistics are far better
than those acted under by any previous
director The farmers have been inter
ested in getting these statistics conveyed
to the department accurately. This will
be of great assistance to the director
and those associated with him in gath
ering this information. The statistics re-
garding mining interests, irrigation. ETC.
are important, Of course, and the ex-
perts under the director, with his advice
have a policy outlined by which all these
statistics will be gathered and compiled
so that the information secured will be
satisfactory to the people interested in
these matters.
PURE FOOD LAW.
The present indications point to the
failure of the advocates of pure food
legislation in getting any measure
through before congress takes its usual
summer recess. Very little activity has
been displayed by members of either
house who have introduced pure food
measures to force them to the front
Senator Mason Is probably the most earn
est advocate of a pure food measure. but
his time has been so taken up with mat
ters of great Importance In the senate
that he has had little time to devote to
endeavoring to get early action on the
measure he introduced last session and
reintroduced this winter. pure food
convention will be held in Washington
this month, and, as delegates will attend
from nearly every state in the Union. It is
more han likely that interest In pure
food legislation will be revived and there
is just bare possibility that some bill
may pass through one or both houses be.
fore adjournment
PACIFIC CABLE.
There are so many conflicting interests
here endeavoring to secure legislation for
the laying of Pacific cable that If is
doubtful If any of the bills that have
been introduced viii be enacted into law
either at this session of congress or the
next Were it not for the fact that there
are opposing interests here there is a
possibility that congress would enact .
IaU for he iaUiur of n bIo