El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-09
ID. OFF," Writes
From Washington
In Lighter Vein


as l understand matters. AS long as
pensions are recognized by law, they
should be made matters of law and the
opposition to the creation of a court
to interpret the law is a mere subter-
fuge. Whether a pension system is de-
sirable or not, is another question. Any
law on the statute books should be a
matter on which courts could pass.
The Cuban Constitution.
One of the matters for the new ses-
sion-if there should be one-is the
Cuban constitution, though it is not al
together evident that congress need
pass on it Teller, author of the ia
nous resolution which upset the Span
ish kettle of fat, says that it has the
force of law and that the president is
able to withdraw from Cuba without
further ado. merely sending the treaties
with the new republic to the senate for
confirmation in the usual way. In his
view congress has nothing to do with
the new constitution. Per contra. the
Teller resolution, say others, was mere
ly resolution. 1t was not an act, and
is not law or statute. but merely an
expression of opinion. Our forces hold
Cuba and the further disposition of the
island is matter for congress to deal
with: constitutions and such things be-
ing subject to revision, approval or
diSapproval. You can take your pick
of the views. Myself, l think that the
time when Cuba becomes a world
power. is pretty far ahead. A scatter
Drained conglomeration OF politically
uneducated Spanish and off-color half
breeds. alleging themselves TO be
free and Independent republic" is not
a desirable neighbor to have across
the straits of Florida, particularly as
we will be expected to play big brother
to it.
Standard Oil Playing Big Part in Sub
sidy Bill
The subsidy bill is dragging its
weary length along. I'm trying to find
somebody who has an opinion worthy
of respect who will figure out the mer-
it's and dement's of it for me, but I'm
having a worse hunt than Diogenes did
when he started after the Standard Oil
The Standard Oil. by the way, is play
ing a big part in the discussion. No
body wants to pay a subsidy to Its oil
tank steamers and if the bill does pass,
it will be amended to exclude these
vessels from it's benefits. AS the meas
ure stands. they would draw mileage.
The democrats are lining up in fierce
opposition to the whole business,
which tends to convince me that a sub
sidy is good thing. Otherwise l
would have my doubts. Pitchfork Till
man announces that he intends to have
the debate continue until the bill is
finally disposed of and to keep the re-
publicanS in their seats, letting the ap-
preparation bills take their chances.
So yesterday the point of no quorum
was raised every time there was
chance. There were two roll calls
within an hour.
Castro Says He Has No Control Over
Actions or Umcers of Bermudez.
One of our political chickens has
come home to roost. In the past We
have often been in trouble about out
RACES against foreigners, in the states,
where the national government has
taken the position that it was power
less to interfere, for instance the lynch
ing of the Italians in New Orleans
years ago. The Washington govern
ment had to tell Italy that it was very
sorry, but had no right to interfere
with the administration of justice in
Louisiana, nor to coerce the state in
any way. Castro of Venezuela. has TAX
en- the identical position in regard to
the asphalt troubles, telling us that he
has no control over the actions of the
officers of the state of Bermudez,
where the deposits are situated. The
local authorities have taken the posi-
ton that the arming of employees OF
the New York firm is violation of
the peace and he cannot interfere. So
Uncle Sam, not being able to deal \di-
rectly with the state of Bermudez. will
have to stand by with arms folded and
let matters take their course-at least
in theory-contentingh himself with col
nj o.
essary. The asphalt trust has been
representing that it was menaced by
revolutionists. which does not seem to
be strictly accurate, if the state auth
critics are doing the menacing as al
legged. However we have parcel or
mosquito men of war on their way to
the seat of trouble to see fair play. Az
ter all. the row is between trust and
a competing crowd which wants to be
trust, so we can afford to let them fight
it out The competitors are Irish
Judging by the name 'Warner-Quin-
lan-Sullivan Syndicate'-andt they can
probably hold their end up. Anyhow.
it is the trust which is doing the
squealing.
Beet Sugar Trust On the Fight.
Talking about trusts. there is a live
ly little scrap on between our beet
sugar trust which wants the president
to discriminate against Russia and the
other business interests which don't.
We buy say 100000 of sugar year
from Carbon and we export $1O,5OO.-
900. largely in the form of iron and
steel goods. machinery. etc. So the
Cramps and the locomotive people are
down here arguing against discrimina-
ton Under the Dingley act. the pres
ident is empowered to collect the
<>ft nv