Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-02-21
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON. Feb. l3. 1902

members OF late, for the best talent on
the Democratic side OF the Chamber
has been devoted to painful analysis
OF the Administrations policy in deal
ing with the Philippines. Senator
Teller still has the floor, as he has not
yet completed the speech which has
now occupied large portion of three
days. The gloom OF the proceedings
was, however, dispelled on Tuesday
when the venerable Senator from
Massachusetts rose to refute some of
the fallacies propounded by Senator
Plat Of Connecticut, in his criticism
of the position of the Senator from
Colorado.
With a burst OF oratory seldom ex-
celled, Senator Hoar ridiculed the
statements of his colleagues from Con.
necticut and with scathing irony
drew the picture of the free schools in
the Philippines where the child who
read the Declaration of Independence
or recited the famous speech OF Pat
rick Henry would be guilty OF treason
"and must be sent first to the coal.
bin and later to the penitentiary"
under the tyrannical laws and edicts
of the Taft Commission. He lam.
pooned the election of the provincial
governors and defied Senator Plat to
produce platform on which they
ran. resolution placing them in nom.
ination or q political speech in their
favor, in country "where to advance
political opinion was treason"
Senator Plat made a reply brilliant
from an orstorical standpoint but re.
plete with fallacy and sophistry as his
opponent subsequently pointed out.
No important legislation has been
enacted in the Senate since the date
Of my last letter, although the resOlu.
ton changing the date OF the inaugu.
ration from the 4th of March to the
last Thursday in April was adopted by
the necessary two-thirds vote, and the
Committee on Judiciary has reported
q bill providing for the protection OF
the President and those in the line OF
succession from attacks by anarchists
and others, q novel feature OF which
is the commission to the Secretary of
War Of the safety of the Chief Execu.
tive and the authorize ton of that Of
fetal to assign . guard composed OF
members of the regular army to carry
out the provision. The Secretary is
empowered to prescribe q suitable cos
tune or uniform and make such rules
governing the guard as may be deemed
appropriate.
The House Of Representatives has
devoted itself to the consideration OF
the .oleomargarine bill to the exclu.
sion of all other business, and the de-
bate has been spirited and at times
amusing. Only the maniiestly prejn-
diced decisions OF the chair prevented
the bill from being amended out of ex-
istence. On motion Of Allen OF Ken
lucky il was amended q as to provide
for the inspection and branding Of
renovated butter and passed by an 60.
timated vote Of lis to 162, no division
being called for.
The Ways and Means Committee is
still wrought up over the question of
reciprocal relations with Cuba and
many covert attempts have been made
10 force declaration of their position
from the Democratic members, who
consistently refuse TO commit them.
selves until some definite measure
shall be presented for their considera-
ton. Representative Newlands told
me yesterday that he had reason to
believe that the sentiment in favor of
his resolution inviting Cuba to be.
come annexed to the United States
under territorial form OF government
was growing. II have been told BY
several Republican members that
they were in favor OF my resolution"
said Mr.. Newlands, land ono of them
went 90 far as to say that he believed
1t it were put TO vote OF the people
three fourths Of them would vote Tor
II. Some influential Cubans, who
have been in Washington in the inter.
est OF reciprocity, have also talked to
me on the subject and one of them
told me he believed that If the cues.
ton OF annexation could be placed be.
fore the people Of Cuba not moro than
five per cent. Of the population would
vote in negative. Ny policy is to
grant 40 per cent. reduction OF the
present tariff rates for year, at the
end of which time am confident that
large majority Of the Cubans will be
glad to accept an invitation to become
annexed TO this country. Some Of my
colleagues opposed the resolution
when / first introduced il, because
they feared that were Cuba admitted
a. . Territory it would be long time
before Statehood would be granted.
While ] appreciate that there is dan.
ger OF that I do not apprehend that it
will prove serious, and / would regard
u - . mistake to admit the Cubans 10
Statehood until they have had grea Tor
opportunities for familiarizing them.
selves with our methods and our in.
stitutions."
Referring to the Hill bill, which wis
recently introduced in the House and
referred 10 the Committee on Banking
and Currency, Mr.. Cochran of Mn.
souri, said to-day: "The bill provides
Tor the coming of all the seignioraee
in the treasury. into subsidiary coin,
gives the Secretary Of the Treasury
discretionary power TO coin silver dol.
lars into subsidiary coin and makes
silver dollars exchangeable for gold At
the treasury. just - greenbacks are
now exchangeable for gold.
I'm my judgment it 10 . travesty
on reason and common sense. II
the silver dollar is to become q mere
token like the greenback-a sight
draft on the Treasury gold reserve
why continue it in existencef If our
treasury is to adopt this policy Why
not fabricate demands upon the gold
reserve OF paper At q cost OF 4 small
fraction OF l per cent. instead OF max.
ing token out of silver 1T q cost OF
% cents? What . grotesque PROPOSE.
ton it 10! What . commentary unon