Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-12-19

WAsHNaroN, Dec. is. l9Ol.

The first public example of the
dignified and concerted opposition
which will be offered by the demo
cratic minority in Congress was af-
forded by the dissenting report OF
the democrats of the House Com
mittee on Ways and Means, on the
Philippine tariff bill which was pre-
scented to the House on last Friday.
Mr.. Richardson presented the mi
nority report which denounced the
measure as another step in the well
marked line of Imperialism. The
report goes on to say that I'VE OPP
pose the whole policy of the majority
in dealing with the Philippine Archi-
pelago. We believe that instead OF
the effort they are making to set up
and hold permanent colonies, there
should long since have been in
augurated a policy assuring to the
people ofthose islands stable govern
ment. and their ultimate independ-
ence."
The report goes on to demonstrate
how thoroughly impractical, even
from a commercial standpoint, is the
republican policy and submits that
in addition TO the original S20, 000, 600
paid to Spain for the islands, il has
cost the government the past year
$50, 900, 900 to maintain the army OF
occupation, without taking into ac-
count the increased expense of naval
service and the appalling number
of lives which have been sacrificed.
In return for all this the United
States has received from the islands
trade amounting, during the past
year, to s., 427, 706, while foreign
nations have received Philippine
trade amounting to SIS, 900, 900 dur
ing the same period.
The minority report will, of course,
have no effect upon the course of the
majority and the bill will be discuss
ed during the next two days and on
Wednesday afternoon will be passed
by the House. Mr.. Richardson s
report may, however, have the effect
of opening the eyes of the. public to
the frightful price the country is
paying for the qualification of re-
publican imperialistic ambitions.
There has been no party division
on the question of an isthmian canal
and after full discussion of the pro-
visions of the Hay Pauncefote treaty
it will come up today fer ratification
by the Senate. 1t will meet with
no serious opposition. The majority
of the Senators who will vote for
ratification believe that under the
terms of the treaty the United States
will have the right to fortify the
canal, to grant concessions in the
way of rates to her own coastwise
trade and to close the canal to an
enemy in time of war.
The Senate Committee on Isthmian
Canals has reported Senator Nor
gan's bill, providing for the con-
struction of the Nicaraguan Canal
and carrying an appropriation of
$3.50, 900, 900. The House committee
on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce has voted to report favorably
the Hepburn bill providing for the
construction of the same canal. The
vote in favor of the bill included all
the members of the Committee with
the exception of Mr.. Fletcher of
Minnesota. Chairman Hepburn was
instructed to push the bill for i'm
mediate passage in the House and,
as he will have the assistance of
both parties on the floor of the House
it is probable that it will come up
for discussion Immediately after the
holiday recess.
Senator Frye has come out with a
defence of his ship subsidy bill
which, by the way, does not defend
but which will be made the most OF
by the republicans in favor of the
bill. 1t is more than probable that
in view OF his position as president
OF the Senate he will be able toexert
sufficient influence to carry the
measure in that body but it is doubt
full If even the combined efforts of
Senators Frye and Eanna can make
it 60 down with the House. Ii has
always been the House that has stood
between the people and this sort of
class Legislation and as far back as
1891 that body defeated a similar at
tempt ON the part OF the Senator