The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1900-02-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
PROM our Regular correspondent

q w AoAAAAN0 lON A4GA GANs
Qrom Our Regular Correspondent
MINGroN, d. c., Feb. 9th, 1900.
M. Mckinley can change his
opinions as quick as other men can
chanE their coats, when he finds it
neeeT sary, and he can smilingly pre-
tend that he is thoroughly pleased
With'his last one. His latest light
ming change act was in connection
withthe Porto Rico bill 1t is we'll
known that the Payne bill, providing
for free trade with Porto Rico, was
prepared under Mr.. McKinley's in
struetions, but the republican revolt
grew so rapidly that the republi-
cans of the House Ways and Means
Committee jumped into the breach
with a compromise in the shape of a
substitute for the Payne bill. This
substitute provides for the collection
OF a regular tariff duty on all Porto
Rican products, of 25 per cent of
the duty levied upon similar foreign
products, and it will be pushed
through as a party measure. 1t has
al&yady been endorsed blythe Senate
Port to Rico Committee Notwith-
standing all his previous talk, to
Porto Ricans and Others in favor of
free trade, MIR. Mckinley is now per-
fectly satisfied with the 25 per cents
bill In other words, he is once
more demonstrating that he is fol
lower, not the leader of his party;
and that lie has no opinion that he
would not sacrihce rather than take
any chances of missing a renomina-
ton But the trouble among repub-
licans over this matter, isn't yet
ended, as Senator Flatt, of Connec-
ticI, who started the revolt, has
given notice of his intention to offer
an amendment increasing the tariff on
Porto Rican products to so per
cent
Representative Talbot, of S. c.,
has served notice on the House that
no pension bills are to be passed ex-
cept when there is quorum present,
In the course of Il short, but emphat-
ic speech, he said: Il believe the
pension laws are sufficiently liberal
to pension every deserving soldier
and widow, and am opposed to
sitting here every FRIDAY night, as a
Court of Appeals, to pass special
cases which have been refused by the
Pension Bureau. If it is to bedone,
there must be quorum. Members
cry aloud their love for the old sol
diers, but they will not give up their
pink teas and poker parties and that
peetr-r q vning I'd vote PENSIONS
The best lawyers in the Senate, re-
CARELESS of politics, are of the opin-
ion that the refusal of Taylor, to
to issue a certificate of cleo
ton to Senator elect Blackburn, of
KY, will not prevent the seating OF
Senator Blackburn, when the term
of Senator Lindsay, whom he was
elected to succeed, expires, which, by
the way, will not be until March 8,
1901. 1t has only been a few years
since Senator Call was seated with
out objection in the face of the alb
solute refusal of the Gov. of Florida,
to give him Certificate of Election.
Mr.. Call merely presented a certified
copy of the proceedings of the legis-
lature when he was elected, and that
will be all that Mr. Blackburn will
have to do.
Senator Berry's speech on the cur
rency bill was heard by only small
number of senators, most of whom
were Democrats. Senator Chiffon
sat on his right, and Senator Jones
on his left. There were not more
than half dozen Republicans pres
ent, and they paid scarcely any at
tention to the speech, although it
was forceful one Mr.. Berry spoke
at times with great fervor, and COW
cred the points in his case fully. SEN
ator Stewart was a close listener,
and large audience in the galleries
listened 20 the Senator's remarks.
Senator Jones had occasion to re-
moustrate at the noise on the floor
during speech by Senator Teller,