Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-03-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1902.

WAcd1NGIUN LETTER.
from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 3, 1902
By its staunch adhearanee to the con-
stitution and its logical exposition of the
law, as voiced by Senator Bailey, of Texas
the Democratic minority in the Senate
scored a signal victory last week and
forced President pro tenn Frye to recede
from the autocratic position which he had
assumed Following the personal encounter
between Senators Tillman and McLaurin
which had occurred last Saturday and to
which only the unjustifable action of
Senator Frye leads me to refer, the Presi-
dent pro tenn caused to be erased from the
rolls of the Senate the names of the two
Senators from South Carolina For the
reason named, when the Philippine bill
was passed on Monday afternoon neither
Senator was given an opportunity to vote.
Senator Bailey, however, SO ably presented
the unconstitutionality of the action of the
Chair that their names were restored on the
following day and the Republicans caused
an immediate adjournment of Tuesday s
and Wednesdays sessions because they
feared to act in the matter until the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections had
reported. Thursday the Senate met in
joint session with the House to participate
in the memorial services held for President
Mckinley, and on Friday the above COM
mittee reported, censuring both Senators
for having violated the dignity of the
Senate and removing from them the stigma
of contempt which had been placed upon
them by the whole Senate in executive
session.
There is further report due from the
above named committee. 1t has been
instructed to investigate the charges of
Senator Tillman that Mr. McLaurin was
bribed with the promise of the Federal
patronage of the State, to vote for the
ratification of the treaty of Paris. AS is
well known, the junior Senator from South
Carolina had made speech in the Senate
denouncing the treaty, and later, after a
call at the White House, he voted for its
ratification. He has since been adopted by
the Republican caucus and has dictated the
Federal appointments in his State. The
Democrat Senators declare that the Re
publ cans dare not persue the investigation
of Mr. Tillman's charges and say that no
further report will be brought in
On Friday the Senate passed the perma-
nent census bill. 1t was passed by the
House on the same day, and the President
will have now an opportunity of demon
strating how sincere he is in his protesta-
tions of regard for civil service reform, as
the bill is the severest blow to the reform
and the aims of the Commission which has
been struck by Congress in years. By its
provisions it gives precedent in the line of
appointment, to about 1900 employees of
the Census Office who were appointed by
the ''spoiles spstem" over nearly equal
number who have passed civil service ex-
aminations and are eligible to appointment
as soon as vacancies occur.
Senator Rawlins of Utah, who is a
member of the Philippine Committee, and
has been in constant attendance at the
hearings of that Committee gave me yester-
day some of the impressions and views
which he has formed on the Philippine
question. HThe policy of the administra-
tlon," he said, 'Eas is made evident by the
investigation and testimony before the
committee and the policy of the Republic
cans so far as they have announced it, is
contrary, not only to Democratic principles
out to every precedent in the government
of this country, and the only outcome must
be, if these plans are carried into execution,
the virtual surrender of the islands to large
capitalists and the attendant enslavement
of the people. AS you know, there is
scheme now on foot to purchase the land
held by the friars. That is all right as far
as it goes but now the Taft Commission
represents that it will be impractical to dis
pose of these lands, as has been the custom
with government lands in this country, to
the small owners and settlers. Great CAPT
tai, they say, is needed to develope the
islands and accordingly they would sell or
lease immense tracts Of land to large cor
porations. 1t will then be their policy to
admit Chinese immigration. At the present
time the labor in the islands is employed,
in so far as it is willing to be, but they
wish to import Chinese labor for the de-
velopment of the islands again, which
will work for from S. to $40 per month and
find itself This labor will be employed in
the production of sugar and other profit
able crops and will result in menace to
American industries.
st is true that the Democrats believe
there should be free trade between the
islands and the United States until such
time as the Filipinos are made independent
and there is nothing to fear from their COM
petition under ordinary circumstances, but
If the plans Of the capitalists who now
dominate affairs are carried into effect,
practically free land is used for production
and cheap Chinese labor employed, the
competition will prove serious. Then the
Commission desires authority to issue bonds
which will have to be guaranteed by this
country for the development of the islands
and so place upon the Filipinos burden of
Indebtedness they are ill-prepared to bear
and so attach them to the United States
by ties of Indebtedness as to forever pre-
vent the requirement of their freedom.
There are SO, 900 acres of sugar lands in
MindOra alone which will yield magnificent
profits under this nefarious scheme"
Senator Rawlins also alluded to the rail-
road franchises, contracts for public work
and other benefits which will be awarded
to "the favored few'' if the administration
is able to carry out its present plans. Apro-
pos of the Senator's remarks, Governor
Taft states that it will require from So, 600
900 to $4,000, 900 to purchase the friar's
lands.
The memorial exercises of the late Presi-
dent held on Thursday were elaborate and
impressive. The half-masted flags, the
playing of the Presidents favorite hymns
by the Marine Band, and the eulogy of
Secretary Hay, which was remarkable for
the elegance of its diction and the beauty
of its metaphors, all combined to produce
an atmosphere of sombreness that took one
back to the last sad rites which occurred in
the Capitol in September. Prince Henry,
of Prussia, was present and preserved
throughout rigidity of military decorum
remarkable from on American standpoint
Although 1 watched him closely, can
safely say that he never moved an inch dur
ing the entire hour-and-a-half which was
required for Mr. Hay to deliver his address.
The visit of the Prince to the national
capital was great success and he made
friends with all who came in contact with
him. ''He is a genuine sailor and that
means jolly good fellow" remarked a
member of the Committee on Naval Affairs
who had himself sailed the high seas, and
that, perhaps, tells the whole story.
WILLIAMSTOWN.
Mrs. Stinson is very sick with pneumonia