Gilpin observer., 1901-02-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. C., Feb. 10, 1901.

OF the hfty Sixth congress remains, une
best informed men in Washington can
not say with any degree of certainty
whether there will be an extra session
Of the next congress because of neces-
sary work left undone at this session.
The Ship Subsidy bill is still stun
bling block in the senate. Its opponents
say there is no hope for it to be voted
upon at this session, and some of its
supporters agree, but those in charge
of it refuse to allow it to be shelved
With the possible exception of the
River and Harbor bill all of the regular
appropriation bills seem in fair way to
b. disposed of bul the River and Harbor
bill has not even !tteen reported to the
senate, and some rather thinly veiled
threats have been made on the floor
that it would not be allowed to go
through il the Ship Subsidy bill failed.
OF course they may have been merely
bluffs, but some think that the report
of enormous increases in the bill, which
as passed by the house breaks all records
by the senate committee are being put
out for the purpose Of arraying the con-
servative element, both in the senate
and in the country, against the bill on
the ground that it is extravagent, in
order to discount the howl that will be
heard from the sections directly inter
ested in the appropriations in the bill
if it should be allowed to fail.
The senate held night session this
week, but it was only to consider a bill
dealing with the codification Of the laws
now in force in the District of Columbia.
In reply to numerous requests, Secre-
tary Long has announced that the next
four war-ships authorized by congress
will be named respectively, Connecticut,
Louisiana, Tennessee and Washington.
The present naval appropriation bill
authorized four new wsr-ships, but the
clause was struck out in the senate, it
is charged because the ship yards ex-
pected to be busy building merchant
ships to participate in the bounties to
be paid under the Ship Subsidy bill.
The charge may or may not be true,
but the Naval bill is now in conference
and the officials Of the Navy depart
ment are confident that the clause au-
thorizing the four xarships will be re-
stored to the bill before it goes to the
president for his signature.
The fact that Speaker Henderson
will have no opposition in his own party
for reelection speaks for his popularity
as party man, but tributes like the
following, Representative Small, speaks
for something better than partision pop
ularity: "As a democrat, l have been
particularly impressed with Speaker
Henderson's uniform courtesy and fair
ness to the minority. So far as l have
observed there are no favorites who re-
ceive consideration at the expense OF
modest members, but each member is
treated according to the merits Of his
measure.
From remarks made by justices OF
the supreme court the idea is now pre-
valent that the decision in the insular
cases, involving the constitutionality OF
the administrations Philippine and
Porto Rico policy, is not likely to be
handed down before some time in May.
DR.. II. l.. E. johnson, who was vice
president of the Pan-American Medical
Congress, recently held in Havana, has
brought some interesting views OF the
perlexing Cuban problem. He said: IL
went to Cuba impressed with the idea
that it ought to be free and independ-
ent. ! have returned convinced that
the American flag must never be taken
down from the island. The moment the
flag comes down there will be civil
war. No one who knows the conditions
in the island can dispute this statement
Annexation to the United States is the
one hope and prayer of all the people
whose opinions are worthy of consider.
alton. / talked with all classes, and
found the sentiment for annexation ex.
pressed by everybody except those WIN
hold Cuban bonds, and who. because
we will not take the bonds would sell
them to any other nation, without re-
gard to the international complications
which might ensue. In my judgment
and / speak advisedly, the duty OF the
United States is to courageously declare
that the Teller resolution, while right
and proper, is not applicable to present
circumstances, and ought to be repealed
or disregarded. The reputation of the
United States for honesty and fair
dealing will sustain US in this action"
1t is feared that Secretary Gage in
ordering retaliatory duty collected on
Russian sugar equal to the sugar export
bounty paid by Russia-nearly one cent
n pound-will result in commercial