The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-02-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G.. Feb. II. 1901

Republican Senators and meeting
Presto" Mt McKinley's wishes as to
legislation providing civil govern
ment for the Philippines. 1t is short
but comprehensive, giving the Presi-
dent authorization the establish
ment of civil government and for
maintaining and protectin g the in
habitants of said islands in the free
enjoyment of their liberty, property
and religion; provided that all fran
chises granted under authority hereof
shall cont9 in a reservation of the
right to alter, amend or repeal the
same" If the Democrats do not fill
buster to prevent this amendment
will be adopted. An amendment to
the same bill is now being prepared
by Republican Senators, naming the
conditions under which the Pr 3ident
will be authorized to Withdraw our
military authority from Cuba, and
will be submitted this week. 1t is
believed by Republican Senators that
if these two amendments can he put
through the necessity for an extra
session of the next Congress will be
obviated, as the last named will
tell the Cubans exactly what they
must do to get our troops withdrawn,
thus meeting the Presidents wishes
that Congress should name the con
ditions.
1t is little difficult to say whether
the attempt to force a vote on the
Ship Subsidy bill, by holding night
sessions last week, improved the
chances of the measure or not. Its
supporters still express confidence
that it will be passed at this session,
and it is known that negotiations are
going on looking to an agreement to
set time to take vote, but it's op-
ponents are still outwardly putting
up stubborn opposition. The real
trouble seems to be that some of the
Republican Senators decline to con
slider the bill Il party measure. They
are not opposing it, and if the bill is
voted upon they will proba bly, vote
for it, but they are not actively try
ing to get it to a vote, and to that ex-
tent are playing into the hands of its
opponents. There is considerable
talk of the River and Harbor bill be-
ing used as a club to force the oppo-
nents of the shipping bill to allow it
to be voted upon. 1t cannot be posi-
lively stated that this will be done,
but it is a fact that the River and
Harbor bill has not been reported to
the Senate, and when Senator McMil-
Ian, chairman of the Commerce Com
mittee, which has charge of it, was
asked when it would be reported, he
replied: wait until the Ship Subsidy
bill is out of the way and | will tell
you more about it." Another Sena-
tor expressed the opinion that if the
shipping bill failed the River and
Harbor bill would either fail or be cut
in hall
The State Department will take no
action on the private letter written
by the Chinese minister, criticising
Gen. Otis, for having applied the Chi
nese exclusion laws of the United
States to the Philippines, the Minis
ter having voluntarily called at the
Department and explained that the
letter was not written for publication,
and that he meant no discourtesy
either to Gen. Otis or this govern
ment. He also called attention
to the fact that he had publicly pro-
tested, under instructions from his
government against the application
of the Chinese exclusion law to the
Philippines at the time it was done.
1t is fortunate for the Chinese Minis
ter that he is personally popular with
the officials of this government. Had
he been otherwise, the Otis letter
would probably have gotten him his
walking papers.
Senator Thurston has again stated
that under no circumstances will he
allow his name to be used to break
the deadlock in the Nebraska legis-
lature. He says it is absolutely ne
cessary for him to resume his law
practice and make some money, and
that he could not be induced to re-
main in the Senate six years longer.
There is quite tangle in the House
over the Senate amendments to the
Revenue Reduction bill, and there is
possibility that it may result in the
failure of the bill at this session.
Senator Chandler declares that his
resolution providing for the meeting
of the Fifty Seventh Congress on the
second Monday in March, 1901, and
for the meeting of each future Con
gress on the second Monday in the
March following the election of its
representatives was not intended as
a joke, but was meant very seriously,
and to meet state of affairs which
exists at the closing or short session
of every Congress. Mr.. Chandler
L.. I