Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-06-05
Washington Letter.

Kinley are again in the White house,
and the imprOvementin her health con-
tinues. President Mckinley is pleased
with the insular decisions of the SUI
preme court, especially with the one
which is practical endorsement of
his insular policy, and has warmly
congratulated Solicitor General Rich
ards, who had charge of the cases for
the government. He has no idea OF
calling an extra session of congress
because of the contention that the
Porto Rican decision will operate to
make free trade between the United
States and the Philippines. He
doesn't support that contention, but
agrees with those who think that the
failure of the court to hand down a
decision in the Philippines case leaves
matters concerning those islands just
where they were before the Porto
Rican decision was announced. Secre-
tary Gage under whose supervision
the matter comes, said ofimports from
the Philippines: eve will go right
along collecting duties on imports from
| the Philippines, The supreme court
| has not decided that we cannot collect
| duties on imports from the Philippines,
and until such decision is rendered
we will continue to collect the duties.
The importers can file their protest
with each payment of duty, and if the
court finally decides we had no right
to collect the taxes, the money will
have to be refunded.n Solicitor Gen
eral Richards said: Il do not think
the decision in the Porto Rican case
in any way controls the decision of the
Philippines case. The special resolu-
ton adopted by congress with refer
! snce to the Philippines shows that the
government never intended to treat the
Philippines as part OF the domestic
territory of the United States. and l
believe that the court will SO hold. !"
Among the prominent Republicans
who hold other views as to the effect Of
the Porto Rican tariff decision is
ex-senator Chandler, who said: 1.-The
effect of the decisions is that all goods
coming from Porto Rico before the
Foraker act and all good coming
from the Philippines at any time
are free of duty, and any pay
ments exacted contrary to the prin-
ciples of the decisions must be re-
funded; so that we are to have free
trade with the Philippines until con-
gress legislates. -
Ohio Republicans who visit Wash
| ington these days decline to take seri-
| ously the Democratic attempt to make
it appear that there is Republican OPP
position to the denomination of Gov
ernor Nash. Mr.. Henry G. McMani-
GAL one Of the Republican leaders of
Hamilton county, said on the subject:
''All this talk about Republican
leaders not desiring the denomination
of Governor Nash emanates from
Democratic sources and is the msrest
rot. If Nash desires denomination,
| and there is not the slightest reason
to believe he does not, it will come to
him without opposition.
In accordance with the wishes OF
| the president, and Secretary Root, that
Adjutant General Corbin's inspection
of the army in the Philippines shall be
! thorough in all branches. it has
been decided that he shall be
accompanied by General j F. Weston,
commissary general, and General
George M. Sternberg surgeon general,
and Colonel Charles NJ Humphrey,
of the quartermaster's department,
who is now in the Philippines, has
been ordered to join them at Manila
and assist in the inspection.
The War department is arranging,
1T the request of the Philippine COM
mission, to appoint and send 600 school
teachers to the Philippines on govern
ment transports, and General Bird,
who has charge of the transport SCR
vice, says they will all be in Manila
by the middle of August and one-third
OF them about a month earlier.
After d short talk with Secretary
Root the five dismissed West Point
cadets concluded that their efforts to
get reinstated were a waste of time
! and decided to abandon them and to
accept positions offered them by a
Central American railroad company.
General Frederick D. Grant arrived
in Washington this week, on visit
TO his mother, Mrs. U. S. Grant.
Speaking OF the situation in the Philip
pines, he said: Il am very hopeful
in regard to the Philippines. The
army over there has done excellent
work and the conditions are improving
all the time. While in Manila lived in
the house adjoining that occupied by
Aguinaldo, but / did not go to see
him. His influence had greatly dim
inished when General Funston went
after him, but as long an he WAS in
the field the younger Filipino officers
who were refusing to accept the au-
thority of the United States had the
excuse of saying that they opposed the
Americans by orders from Aguinaldo.
/ think the Filipinos are now ready
for civil government. y General
Grant is looking we'll and expects to
return to the Philippines shortly. He
called on Secretary Root as soon al
he reached Washington and they had
! m extended talk on Philippine affairs.