The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-15
WASHINGTON NOTES.
Cream of Specials in Metropolitan
 Papers.

Chicago Record-He
 Complications have arisen in the ne- gotiations for the purchase of the Dan- ish Islands in the West Indies by the United States. One of these was brought about by the change of ministry at Co., penhagen, and the new ministers there discussed again for their benefit This was done. The Danish Government is willing to sell to the United States, but insists that 1t shall be stipulated in the shall be immediately recognized as cit zens of the United States. entitled to all rights as such The State Department cannot agree to such a provision. The to grant such rights to the people of the Danish islands. in case they fall under the sovereignty of the United States, but this request raises the whole question of the colonial policy of our Govern ment.
 The Supreme Court decided last spring that the Congress has the power to rule colonies or possessions under the territo- rial clause of the Constitution. with free hand and without taking such ter ritory within the United States in the full constitutional sense. The trend of opinion in Congress appears to be toward exercising this power without tncorpora- tion of our new possessions, and the tn- dications that this is to be the policy of our Government are so strong that the State Department does not now think it would be Justified in an agreement to a contrary course for the benefit of the people of the Danish islands.
 Cuban annexation is another semi-for- eign question which may possibly come to the front at an early date, as the eco- homie situation in that island Is inevit- ably pressing more and more toward an- neXation for the sake of securing the great market of the United States. But | there is a strong feeling, both in the cabinet and among Republican Senators that Cuban annexation should not be thought of at least for some years to come. When Secretary Root was in Cuba last fall he told the people there there come when they would ask for annexa- ton, but" he added, instead of the people of the United States wanting, to have to beg long time at the gate be- | fore you are taken in." The prediction may be verified before many years have passed.
 If there is one important domestic question now pending here 1t may be said to be the trust question, It has been known from the first day Mir Roosevelt succeeded to the Presidency that in his first message to Congress he would recommend antitrust legislation. l It has also been known that his ideas take the form of publicity concerning the affairs of large corporations. secured by Federal statute 1t is still understood l that the President will discuss the trust
 
 very good reason for saying that he is not going to indulge in anything that could be regarded as revolutionary or sensational. In the opinion of many public men the trust question is not very practical one at this time, and they do not expect any actual legislation to follow the Presidents recommendations.
 While the Eastern protectionists ap- pear to be in control of the situation so far as tariff revision is concerned. and while the Senate is relied upon to stop all practical efforts to institute a broad reciprocity policy. this does not necessarily mean that war tax reduction will be all that Is accomplished by the coming Congress.
 | President Roosevelt has under consid- eratinr a suggestion to recommend the l appointment of a commission of experts i to take up the whole question of our | tariff and trade relations with foreign 1 countries. to report to Congress after | fun investigauutl. He has not reached | any decision. The old idea of a tariff | commission is not very popular, as every ] one understands. Congress must in the | end settle all questions pertaining to l rates and concessions.
 | There is also more or less talk about | adopting the European scheme of max | imum and minimum tariff rate on all | articles giving the executive authorty to | conclude reciprocity arrangements with | foreign countries within those limits.
 Congress of Baptists.