Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-02-01
THE WASHINGTON LETTER.


(From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. c., JAN. 2S, 1901.
President Mckinley is too wise
statesman to cross the extra session
bridge before he gets TO it, He has
called the attention of Congress to
the legislation he considers neces-
sary, as it is his duty to do. If
Congress fails to act, it will then he
his duty TO consider whether an ex-
ira session will be necessary. Nat
urally, he would prefer avoiding an
extra session, but he will not allow
his preference to cause him to shirk
his duty Whether there will be
an extra session depends upon Con-
gress, not upon the President
The lawyer who wins the most
cases naturally gets the most clients.
c. A. Snow & Co., the Washington
Patent Lawyers, get moro allow
ances of patents than any other
firm practicing before the U. S. Pat
ent OGice-last year they got 1497,
many of which had been previously
rejected
The amended Revenue Reduction
Bill which will be taken up by the
Senate this week, makes about the
same re uction in the revenues
$40, 900, ,OO0-that the House bill did,
but the items differ widely. The
Senate bill reduces the tax on beer
to 81 so, which the House refused
by vote to do.
Rapid progress is being made in
both House and Senate in disposing
of the regular appropriation bills,
and it is not probable that any of
them will fail, whatever other legis-
lation may be left unacted upon at
the close of the session.
Senator Depew has received many
congratulations on his speech in fa-
vor of the Ship Subsidy bill. Hav-
lag been a railroad man all his life,
he is thoroughly familiar with the
transportation of freight both on
land and sea. He cited numerous
excellent reasons why the Subsidy
bill should become a law, not the
least of which was contained in
these words of his 1T is estimated
that there is paid by American pro-
ducers 60 foreign ship owners in
freight charges, at least $175, 900, 900,
a year. Four per cent on this would
give us an American Merchant Ma
rine, and the expenditures of much
the larger part of this money in our
own country.
Presidents McKinley's message to
Congress, transmitting a report of
the Philippines commission, OH ex-
isting conditions and needs in the
islands, although not long, is re-
ceiving much attention. 1t con-
cludes with these words: 81 earnest
ly reccomend legislation under which
the government of the islands may
have authority to assist in their
peaceful industrial development in
the directions indicated by the Sec
retary of War" The Philippine
Commission strongly urges the pas
sage of the Spooner Philippine bill
by Congress, saying of it "Until its
passage no purely central civil gov
ernment can be established no pub
lie franchise of any kind granted
and no substantial investment of
private capital in internal improve.
ments as possible" OF the need OF
civil laws in the islands, the report
says 1.-THE Army has brought the
Philippines TO the point where they
offer a ready and attractive field foI
Investment and enterprise, but &c
make this possible, there must be
mining laws, homestead and land
laws, general transportation laws
banking, and currency laws" Oh
the general condition the report
says, after noting the favorable eff.
feet of the reelecting of President
Mckinley From now on conditions
in these islands will grow steadily
better. and however formidable the
difficulties really are, the possibili
ties that present themselves of i'm
proving the condition of the people
in education, wealth, comfort, anC
/ in the knowledge of how to govern
themselves, cannot but awaken thI
deepest enthusiasm on the part o.
every friend of civilization, familiar
with the actual conditions" Nam
believe that President Mckinley viii
call an extra session if this Congress
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