The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-12-27

As was to be expected the House
of Representatives passed the
Philippine Tariff bill as reported
b. the Ways and Means Commit
tee, despite the protestations Of
the Democrats, who pointed out
that it was meritricious measure
from every point of view, and Of
a small number of Republicans
who were unwilling to blindly sub
nit to the fiat Of the party leaders.
The fact, however, that Represen-
tative Mccall, Republican member
of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, and q small number of follow
ers had the courage to oppose the
imperialistic measure, is taken by
the Democrats Is be a good sign
and it is hoped that before this
session of Congress has come to %
close Mr.. Mccall may have sue
ceeded in organizing a considerable
faction that will stand by the
Democrats in their opposition 70
the extreme and unwarranted sub.
version Of American principles
which will be the object Of the Re
publican leaders.
Almost simultaneously with the
expression of these principles in
Congress that body has received
an appeal to confer on the Taft
Commission greatly increased
power. Not satisfied with their
already autocratic prerogatives,
the gentlemen Of this Commission
have made recommendations at
which even the Republicans stand
aghast. The Commission desires
that it be authorized to issue bonds
with which to purchase the lands
owned by the religious communi-
ties in the islands, to expend the
sum Of 100000 on the water
and drainage systems Of Manila,
that it be empowered to grant
charters to railroads, award land
grants to the same and even guar
antee the interest on the invest
ments. 1t desires to be allowed
to make such qualifications for sui
frage as would exclude the large
majority of the inhabitants and
numerous other powers more APP
propriate to despotic monarch
than to the repre,e ntatives of
republican government. What
will be done with these recommen-
dations remains to be seen, but it
seems incredible that they will be
granted. 1t would seem more
probable that Congress will ask
for more specific recommendations
and reserve to itself the power to
enact the important legislation
necessary.
The Senate has ratified the Hay
Pauncefote treaty by vote of y
to 6. With the treaty out Of the
way the bills providing for the
construction of canal will be the
next consideration. In the Senate,
the bill proposed by Senator Nor
gan has been favorably reported
by the Committee on Interoceanic
Canals, Of which he is the chair
man. In the House the Hepburn
bill will probably be taken up soon
after Congress reassembles and
there is every reason to believe
that it will be passed.
There has been an effort made
in the Senate to replace Senator
Morgan by Senator Hanna, as
chairman of the Committee on
Interoceanic Canals, but the better
Judgment of the Republicans has
prevailed and confidence in Senator
Morgan's extensive knowledge Of
the subject together with an appre-
ciation Of his long devotion to the
cause Of an isthmian canal have won
for him anew that important chair
manship even at the hands Of an
overwhelming majority. There
has been some criticism of the
promptness, not to say preclpi-
fancy, with which Senator Morgan
has accepted the recommendations
of Admiral Walker in favor Of the
Panama route, hut it is more than
4 30 4 a.