Middletown transcript., 1900-03-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
"A Bill introduced to Stop Prize
Fighting in This Country.
THE PORTO RICAN BILL
The Republican senators to Get To.
gether ON That Measure-On1cer
Commanding the Army to
Have a Higher Rank.

WASHINGTON, MARCH, 12, 1900.
The Senate declined to accept Sena.
tor Hoar's proposal to pension the ex-
Queen of Hawaii.
Representative Ray is to be chairman
of the special committee Of seven, au-
thOrized by Representative Overstreet's
resolution to consider bills and resolu-
tions relating to trusts.
Republican Senators are showing a
disposition to get together on the
Porto Rican Bill. While it cannot yet
be stated to a certainly what changes
will be made, it seems likely that the
bill will lie amended so as to provide
for the free entry of all American
goods in Porto Rico.
Senator Elkins has put stop to the
talk of his being candidate for Vice
President, by saying that he doesn't
wish the Office ard that he does wish
to remain in the Senate. He also ex-
pressed the opinion that President Nc.
Kinley should be allowed to choose the
candidate for Vice President.
Senator Lodge thinks the officer comr
manding our army should have higher
rank than any other officer, and has
introduced a joint resolution giving to
the senior Major General, while COM
manding the army, the rank, pay and
emoluments of Lieutenant-Genera
Representative Moody, of Massachu-
setts, offered the resolution in the
House.
In view of its effect upon our revenr
ues, referring the reciprocity treaty
with France to the Senate Finance
Committee for consideration and re-
port before voting upon it, seems a
sensible move. There is much guess
ing going on as to when the treaty will
be voted upon, but those who ought to
know, believe that it will be acted upon
at the present session.
Colonel George Bohen, of Kentucky,
who is credited with knowing the poll
ties of his state, said to group of
friends, in Washington hotel: "Unless
the Goebel law is repealed, Kentucky
will go Republican as sure as candi-
dates for the Office of President are
nominated, and the state will go Re-
publican so hard that it will never get
back into the Democratic ranks"
The &C! ion of the Senate Committee
on foreign relations in amending the
Nicaragua Canal treaty so as to re-
serve to the United States authority to
defend the canal in any way it may see
fit In time of war seems to meet with
general approval. There is no reason
to suppose that the amendment will be
objected to by England. In fact, it
cannot very we'll be objected to since
the amendment is in almost the exact
language of a clause in the treaty
under which the Suez Canal was con-
structed.
Representative Hepburn, of Iowa,
has introduced short bill that would,
if enacted into a law, put an end to
prize fghtiug in this country. 1t pro-
7ides that no picture or description OF
any prize fight or pugilistie encounter,
or any proposal for betting on fight,
shall be transmitted through the mail
or by any common carrier engaged in,
interstate commerce, whether in a
newspaper or periodical, or in any
other form. Without publicity, prize
fighting could not be made to pay, and
the money made out of it is the only.
reason for its existence.
The passage by the German Reich
stag, of the bill aimed at American
meat products, has not produced a
pleasant feeling in Washington, but
neither in Congress nor administration
circles is there any disposition to pub
licly criticise the matter in its present
stage. 1t is easy to infer, however,
from what is said by those who are in
position to make good their words,
that if Germany deliberately invites q
commercial conflict with us, she will
be made to deeply regret having done
so.
Representative Brosius, of Pennsyl-
vania, who has earned reputation for
level-headedness, voiced the opinions
of many Republicans when be said:
@There is difference between a philo-
sopher and statesman. A statesman
must keep his feet on the ground while
philosopher may be permitted to do
more or less theorizing. Therefore I
regret this tendency to yell out against
the Republican party at this time, par.
ticularly on the part of some vety
prominent Republicans. I firmly be-
lieye that the Republican party is able
to meet successfully any problem that
confronts it, and We ought to be will
ing to wait with patience for the solu.
tion Of the great problems attending
the possession of cur new islands.
An object lesson on the credit of ma
tions was furnished by the action of
British Government in Offering Eng
lish Consols, bearing "a per cent. in
terest, to American inyestors-the arst
time such an offer was ever made-at
98a per cent. Of their face value, and
loxt tha Ein0n.n4 Rill 6av,s.,3 ~, I, ,,,..t )