Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-10-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington, Oct. 9TH, 1901.
The chief topic of discussion in the
national capital this morning is Ex-
Secretary of War Alger's forthco ming
| book on the Sp tnish- American war.
| From the advance pages we learn that
Gen. 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 congress
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. Representative Babcock, of
Wisconsin, who is now in Washington,
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 schedules
and his lead will be followed by other
congressman.
Our relations with Cuba will neces-
sarily come up for consideration. 1t
will be remembered that before the
Cuban constitutional convention ac-
cepted the "Platt amendment" and
embodied it's 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 out hopes that
were hardly warranted by the facts,
and as result it seems to be the belief
in Havana that the administration in
Washington will urge upon congress
legislation admitting Cuban sugar and
tobacco to the United States free of
duty. It will tax President Roosevelt's
diplomacy to the utmost to handle
this matter in his message and it will
call for the exercise Of craftsmanship
by congress to so ]egislate as to avoid
antagonizing Cuba, and at the same
time provide proper 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 defiuite-
ly elaborate our policy in regard to
the Philippines and it is believed con-
gress will do so during the coming
session. It 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 Philippines has
ceased to exist. The Aguinaldo scoop
which has taken place since congress
was last in session and the establish
ment of civil government over the
greater portion of the archipelago has
smothered much lurid oratory that
was ready to burst forth both 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. Three factions will proba-
bly, be represented, one fav oring the
payment of a subsidy of $4,000, 900, to
private corporation upon the COM
pletion 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
Corliss, of Michigan, was in Washing
ton 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 as soon as con-
gress assemblies they will move the
abrogation of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty and such action will place the
Isthmian canal question in position
requiring prompt action. There is
some likelihood that the Hepburn
canal bill will pass. At all events the
sentiment that something should be
accomplished in the matter is too
oonoral to ha disreoardad