Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-12-14
ON Blended KNEES
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS BEG
TO BE LET OFF

ak from DSSI-IheS F'oPoSS q No"'P'N
miss-Ths First Act Of Imperialism, Increase
of the Army The Ship Subsidy BiIl-Samp.
1 son to be Vice Admiral. if 1t is Possible to
! Make Him One-More of Willie's Webbing
-Pettisrew Still "Want, to Know"
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 1900.
The Republican leaders in Congress
are on their knees to the brewers, beg
ging to be let off with small reduc-
/ ton in the tax on beer, instead OF the
entire war tax, as demanded by the
/ brewers. All this has been brought
about in a week. A week. ago the
Republican members OF the Ways and
Means committee refused to even con-
slider q reduction in the beer tax.
Since then Representative Babcock.
who was chairman of the Republican
Congressional Committee and knew
all about campaign contributions and
promises, has succeeded Deliver, of
Iowa, who has gone to the Senate, as
member OF the Ways and Means
committee, and has told the Republi-
can members thereof few things, as
Mr.. Hanna has also done. Now it is
no longer a question of whether there
will be reduction of the beer tax,
but of how small reduction the
brewers can be cajoled into accepting.
The bill as reported from the Ways
and Means committee, makes reduc.
ton OF 40 cents barrel in the beer
tax, but it is not yet certain that the
brewers will accept that.
While the Democratic caucus on
the Army bill, which was railroaded
through the House this week, did not
agree upon any party policy in oppos-
ing the bill, the Democrats who spoke
against the bill In the limited time al
lowed them were practically unani-
NOUS in Directing to the imperial
powers given the President, of increas-
ing the regular army from $1,000, the
minimum number provided by the
bill, to 100000 men whenever so dis
posed and of retaining it at the high
est figures as long as he wanted to.
The Democrats agreed that it was
more power than Congress ever placed
in one mans hands and more than
should be given to any man. Other
Objectionable features were pointed
out by Democrats, but that is all that
they could do. Mr.. McKinley's orders
had been issued to Speaker Hender-
son, and of course the bill was passed.
Senator Clay, of Georgia, made a
strong point against the Ship Subsidy
bill, now the regular order OF business
in the Senate, when he compelled
Senator Frye, who is in charge of the
bill, to admit that il it became law
the annual subsidy of twenty-one
knot ship would be 1904 600. Sena-
tor Clay also called attention to the
fact that the ten and twelve knot
ships which carry the agricultural
products of the country will not re-
ceive more than one-third OF the SUBJ
sidy provided for the fast passenger
vessels which carry no agricultural
products. Senator Vest offered an
amendment to the bill repeating all
laws prohibiting the purchase of for
eign built ships for use in the foreign
carrying trade OF the United States or
imposing taxes or restrictions upon
such, and giving American citizens
the right to purchase vessels anywhere
and for any purpose and to have them
registered as ships of the United
States.
Representative Crumpacker, OF In
diana. has introduced an Apportion-
ment bill which cuts down the Con-
gressional representation of four
Southern States - North Carolina,
South Carolina, Louisiana and Missis.
sippi-but nobody has any idea that
the bill will ever receive any serious
consideration. Crumpacker himself
says the bill represents only his per-
sonsl views and WAS introduced with.
out any assurances that it would be
supported.
Senator Tillman got bill through
the Senate without opposition, appro.
priating $4,000 for a government
building at the Interstate and West
Indian Exposition, to be held at
Charleston, South Caroline. Dec. l,
1901 to June l. 1902, and $250,O0O to
aid the furtherance of the exposition.
1t is understood that the revival OF
the grade of Vice Admiral, recon-
mended by Secretary Long aud pro-
vided for in the bill introduced by
Senator Hale, is to make a place to
which Rear Admiral Sampson can be
promoted by Mr.. Mckinley. Rear
Admiral Schley has many warm
friends in Congress and they may
have word or two to say about this
scheme before it gets through.
Students of human nature as ex.
hibited in the political world are try
ing to reconcile Mr.. McKinley's words
with his acts. In the closing para
graph Of his message were words
which read like patriotic warning to
Congress not to be led into making
extravagant appropriations just be-
cause there was lot of money in the
Treasury, and now Mr.. Mckinley is
using all his power to drive Directing
OCHhIOIs IutO Tile support
of one of the most extravaganza appro-
pristions ever before Congressional
for ship subsidies, which will put mil.
lions into the pockets of the already
rich owners of the fast mail and pas.
senger steamships and next to moth
ing in the pockets of those who own
the slow freighters. which carry our
manufactures and products.
With the taking of the vote in the
House on the Oleomargarine bill one
OF the longest and most bitter fights
that ever took place in the House, in
which there was no partisan politics,
was brought to a close, although it
will doubtless be renewed in the Sen.
ate.
Senator Pettigrew reminded the adj
ministration that he was still in the
ring, and that he had heard about the
suppressed report of the expert &C.
countant on the stealings in Cuba, BY
offering resolution calling for any
additional information that had been
received by the government about