The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-12-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Court rendered its decision in the -Four
teen Diamond Rings" case, declaring that
the Philippine Islands are an integral part
of the United States and that the provi-
sions of the Dingley tariff law do not,
therefore, apply to shipments between the
islands and the United States. This, of
course, leaves the trade absolutely free and
threw the protectionists into paroXysms.
With this incentive in view The dilatory
methods which usually attend the first
weeks of "a new Congress have been aban-
doEed, Speaker Henderson has already
named the members cf the Ways and
Means Committee and it has held ses-
sion with view to reporting bill pro-
viding for tariff regulations between the
United States and the Philippines. 1t is
believed that the bill will simply apply the
provisions of the Dingley tariff without
changing any of its rates.
The Presidents message was received
with almost unqualified approval by the
republicans, and the democrats, while they
could detect the erroneous deductions,
which are the inevitable concomitant of
the acceptance of the protection fallacy
in every line that dealt with economic
subjects, could not but admire the frank,
direct expression of the individual views
of the author. Apart from the specific
economic recommendations and reasoning
the message is an admirable paper.
Congress has received the report of the
Isthmian Canal Commission and the Sen
ate is in receipt of the HayPauncefote
treaty. The latter has been referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations ard
that committee has voted unanimously to
report the convention for the favorable
action of the Senate. 1t will be promptly
ratified. Senator Morgan has reintro-
duced his bill providing for the construc-
ton of the Nicara guam canal il accord
ance with the recommendation of the
Commission, which favors that route, but
to the person who reads carefully between
the lines there is reason to suspect that
there is, in the promptness with which all
this is being done, something in the nature
of a ruse and that it is the hope of the
promoters of the canal to bring the own
ers of the Panama route to reasonable
terms. They now hold out for approxi-
mately $4,000, 900 more than the Commits
sion believes their plant to be worth.
The Presidents advice on the tariff
question quite accords with the views of
the high protectionists of his party and
when those Congressman who have advo-
Gated tariff revision have ventilated their
opinions to ar extent which they believe
will satisfy their constituents, and perhaps
gain for them some concessions in the
way of patronage or local appropriations,
they will graciously consent to have their
bills buried in committee and will soon
forget that they ever contemplated the
heresy of tariff revision-at least until
they have to ask their friends at home to
re- elect them.
Entirely apart from the question of the
merits OF the Presidents message as
demonstrative of craftsmanship, etc, it is
an exceptional success from political
standpoint. 1T has won the approval of
the people and of the capitalists, by no
means easy attainment. and that has in
spired in the members of Congress a re-
spect which is not unmixed with fear.
They appreciate that a president who can
at once appeal to both people and vested
interests is a man who is not easily downed
and they are one and all anxious to stand
high in the good graccs of the Chief Exec
utive. 1t is, therefore, safe to predict that
his strong recommendation on the subject
of Cuban reciprocity will exact far greater
consideration than it would have had not
the message proved so popular a docu
ment. After ALL the only people to be
sacrificed are the beet sugar growers and
the cane growers, and they are not either
of them of sufficient weight in the IN alter
of ballots to compel very muci respect
from republican congressman.
There is &c r,commt nGatiJE in the
Presidents message mich should receive
the cordial supp; T. of Congressman ire
spective of party, and that is his appeal
for support CT the Postmaster General in
his efforts to remove the abuses which
have crept into the administration of the
laws in regard to second class mail matter
Mr.. Roosevelt says that although second
class matter constitutes nearly sixty per
cent of the mails, cut of a total revenue
of Sill ,G3l 1913 the Post Office Department
received only 1895, AS for the transmits
sion Of that Class of mail. He goes on to
say if the pound rate were Unite ! to the
legitimate newspapers and periodicals
actually contemplated by the law no just
exception could be taken" In his annua
| report the Postmaster General deals Will
this subject extensively and cites a single
| instance of a publication whose admission
to the pound rate as not originally con
| templated by the trainers of the law ant
which cost the government for transpor
tation and handling 81, 657.40, again
which the publishers paid postage amount
lag to $2,236SS, leaving net loss to TIE
| Department of $l3,320 per weekly issue
An amusing incident occurred the Other
day. While st Standing in the anteroom o
the Presidents reception room | saw ;
| Congressman g NJ 20 the President as he
! and Senator LODI e came out and say, -
want to say word for Mr., Blank, who
holds small office in my district
What" the President interrupted. Il:
| knew him when | was on the Civil Ser
vice Commission. Yes, I'll remember
/ him And he left The amazed legislator
and passed out With the Senator.