The Iola register., 1901-10-11
CAPITOL
COMMENT
The Registers Correspond
ent Outlines the
Work Of the Coming Con-
gress-Tariff Revision,
Isthmian Canal
The PHILIPPINE LEGISLATION
The Pacific Cable and Sever
al Other Great Questions
Make it Certain that the Ap-
preaching Session Will
be a Long one
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, Oct. THE chief
topic OF discussion in the national
capital this morning is ex-Secretary
of War Alger's forthcoming book on
the Spanish American war. From the
advance pages we learn that, Cen
eral Miles comes in for some very
severe structures and Admiral Samp-
son will receive uncomplimentary
notice. Among the more serious
minded, however, the approaching
session of Congress furnishes the
greatest interest.
The most Important matter that will
come before the Fifty Seventh Con-
gress will be the revision of the tariff
law, which seems unavoidable. OF
course, it is impossible to predict its
extent at this time, but it is clear that
some revision will be imperative: good
politics good craftsmanship and the
judgment of the Chief Executive and
accredited party leaders all demand
it. Once taken up with the numerous
and conflicting interests which it will
so seriously affect, it will require an
amount of consideration and adjust
ment, which of itself, would serve to
occupy Congress for considerable
time. preventative Babcock, of
Wisconsin, who is now in Washing
ton, declares his intention of pushing
the passage of the bill he introduced
last session, and which places on the
free list certain iron and steel sche-
dulles and his lead will probably be
followed by other Congressman.
Our relations with Cuba will neces-
sarily come up for consideration. It
will be remembered that before the
Cuban Constitutional Convention ac-
cepted the "Platt amendment" and
embodied its provisions in the Consti.
tuition, a committee, with DR.. Diego
Tamayo, as chairman, visited Wash
ington and conferred with the Presi-
dent and with Secretary Root. On its
return home it held ont hopes that
were hardly warranted by the facts,
and as result it seems to be the be-
lief in Havana that the administration
in Washington will urge upon Con-
gress legislation admitting sugar and
tobacco TO the Uuited States free of
duty. 1t twill tax President Roose-
velt's diplomacy TO the utmost to
handle this matter in his message and
it will call for the exercise OF states
manship by Congress to so legislate
as to avoid antagonizing Cuba, and
at the same time provide protection
for American interests. A treaty that
will prove satisfactory to all con-
cerned must be framed and the under
taking will not prove an easy one.
The time has come to more definite
~ elaborate our policy in regard to
the Philippines and it is believed Con-
gress will DO so during the coming
session. 1t may be that some "anti-
expansion" pyrotechnics may be in
dulged in by the Democratic side but
for all practical purposes opposition
to our retention of the Philippine
Islands has ceased to exist. The Ag-
uinaldo scoop which has taken place
since Congress was lasti in session and
the establishment of civil government
over the greater portion of the archi-
pelago has smothered much 1urid ora
tory that was ready to burst forth in
Washington and in the New England
branch of the Philippine Junta.
The question of who shall lay and
maintain the Pacific cable to Hawaii,
Guam, and the Philippines will have
to be decided at the next session Of
Congress. hreefactions will probably
be represented, one favoring the pay
m ent of subsidy of SO, 900, 900, to a
private corporation upon the compile
tion of the laying of the cable by that
concern, another favoring the laying
and maintenance OF the cable by the
government and third advocating
the granting OF permission to the Jno.
w. Mackay company to make the
necessary landings without expense to
the government. Representative
Corlies, of Michigan, was in Wash
ington this week for the purpose OF
urging upon the President the advisa-
bility of government ownership of the
cable.
Senators Lodge and Morgan have
both given notice that assoon as Con
gress assemblies they will move the
abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwel
treaty and such action will place tn,