Middletown transcript., 1902-02-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

fore the Senate and there seems to be
concerted effort on the Democratic side
Of THE chamber to delay its passage. What
the Democrats have to gain by filibuster-
ing is not apparent unless they are hop
ing TO embarass Secretary Root and the
Philippine Commission, nevertheless
that appears to be their policy. So for
eign to the question have been the dis
cussions of some Of the senators in
speeches supposed to be germane to the
measure that Senator Hear recently sue-
gested that the Senate consider the life
and character Of Mary Queen of Scot" !"
Senator Lodge has not attempted to press
the passage because he first desired that
the Philippine Committee have an op-
portunity of listening to such testimony
as Governor Taft might have 10 offer.
The Governors statements have all sup
ported the contention of the admins
tration that peace is being rapidly estab
lished and that, with the funds neces-
sary to carry on thepublic improvements
required in the islands, the last yestige
Of theinsurrection will disappear. With
out the building of good roads, however,
some of the brigands, in the more mac
cessible portions are likely to make trou-
BILE for some time to come.
-
1.-The Senate has passed bill providing
for the establishment of a Department of
Commerce and Labor and favorable ac-
tion is expected in the House. Particu-
larly is this assured because the House
has already passed measure making the
census bureau permanent, feature
which is practically incorporated in the
Senate's measure. The Republican SEN
issors have determined upon 8 program
for the remainder Of the session which
provides that the Philippine tariff bill,
the Isthmian canal bill, the Philippine
government bill, the subsidy bill and the
Cuban reciprocity bill shall be considered
in the order named.
] Senator Cullom recently delivered a
speech setting forth his views in regard
to the treaty making powers of the Sen
ate and the Executive in which he
claimed that the provisions in the Ding
ley bill relating to treaties was uncon-
stitutional because it had tendency to
limit the powers conferred on the Senate
by the constitution. An attempt was
made by Mr.. Richardson, the Democratic
leader in the House, to make trouble be-
tween the Senate and the House in re-
gard to this matter by the appointment of
committee to investigate the powers of
the Senate, but the superior judgment of
the Republican leaders prevailed.
~
The Ways and Means Committee has
determined upon the abolition of the
special war taxes and the Democratic
press has been industriously engaged in
an attempt to place the members of the
Committee in wrong light before the
people. When asked for an interview
on the subject, Chairman Payne handed
to your correspondent a statement which
is too long for reproduction here, but
which says, in part, that the Committee
had no thought Of disposing of the Cuban
question by reporting in favor of the re-
duction Of the war taxes, that the CON-
mittee bad had no conference on the Gu
ban matter, and that 'sthe bill to reduce
war revenue taxes was taken up because
it was the sentiment of the committee
that the burdens resting upon our own
people should be lightened before we
turned out attention to tightening the
burden of other people," Mr.. Payne
further assures me that the Cuban matter
will receive full and careful consideration
before a decision is reached and that it
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