The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-06-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 9th.

MR.. EDITOR:-"Once we get this Philip
pine bill out of the way I will be able to
give you some definite information" re
marked Senator Allison some time ago
when | asked him of the probable date of
adjournment, but the Senator is more at
sea than ever now and so is everyone else
at the Capitol. Representative Payne,
who, in his capacity of Chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee, should in
troduce the Adjournment resolution, as
sured me yesterday that he had rot even
given the matter any thought and Repre-
sentative Cannon stated that "no one had
the slightest idea when they would get
through" The fact is that the repubii-
cans are badly divided and there is almost
no prospect Of harmony The considera-
ton of the Philippine bill in the House is
source of grave concern to the party
leaders, but the Cuban reciprocity bill is
causing even more anxiety.
Daily conferences are being held be-
tween the administration Senators and
the "Elkins BOXERS" as Senator Platt
calls the beet sugar Senators, but nothin G
is accomplished and the boxers" assert
that they will be successful in the end.
The President has had nearly all of the
recalcitrant Senators at the White House
and has used his most strenuous argu-
ments on them without avail. Now he
talks of sending special message to Con-
gress urging concessions to Cuba. He
characterizes his opponents as obstinate
to the last degree" and they say that the
President Will learn that they "are not to
be buldozed." What the end will be no
man can say, but one result is certain and
that is that Mr.. Roosevelt is rapidly losing
any influence he may have had as IA party
leader in Congress and the democrats are
going to gain by his persistence and by
the subservient allegiance to Mr. Oxnard
which his opponents are displaying.
The republican leaders in the House are
meeting with unexpected resistance to
their wishes in regard to the Philippine
bill. 1t had been their intention to report
rule which would compel the adoption,
with comparatively little debate, of the
Lodge bill in place of the bill framed by
the 1nsular Committee, but those repre-
sentatives who became awakened to a
realization of their power by the beet
sugar revolt have given notice that they
do not intend to be coerced and the lead
ers are none too confident Of their OWE
strength. The Speaker has set the con-
sidcration of the Philippine bill for June
18th, in hope that the lateness of the date
will make the majority more supine as a
result of their anxiety to adjourn, but
there are number of members who, hay
ing once felt their power, propose to exer-
else it. The House bill is by no means as
autocratic in its provisions as the Senate
measure. 1t provides for Philippine
congress, the upper house to consist prac-
tically of the Philippine Commission and
the lower house to be elected by the peo-
pie; whereas the Senate bill, as l have be-
fore pointed out, simply continues the
present autocracy of the President. The
House bill also provides for the establish
ment of gold basis for the currency of
the islands, whereas the Senate measure
continues and extends the currency on a
silver basis. The differences in the House
bill have strong advocates and it is doubt
full if they will yield even to the scourging
of the party whip.
During the final hours of the Philippine
debate in the Senate. Senator Culberson
presented some official papers, the most
important being the letter of private
soldier, Andrew W. Weir, formulating
This letter had reached the War Depart
ment year ago, and there had followed
an investigation which resulted in report
from Capt. P. W. West, who stated that
"a thorough investigation would substan-
tiate Wer's charges" that Arnold had at
least condoned cruel and inhuman treat
ment Of prisoners. On receipt of Capt
Vests report, General Miles recommended
that Arnold be court martialed, but evil
IDENTIFY his recommendation was ignored
for nothing further transpired until the
22nd of May when Senator Culberson in
troduced a resolution calling on the Secre-
tary of War for copy of Weir's charges
This resolution resulted in the announce
ment that Arnold had been ordered before
a court martial, after having continued in
the exercise of his official authority for
full year after the filing of Wers char ges
Why Secretary Root had failed to act on
General Mics recommendation and court
martial Arnold is not disclosed.
There is, however, sequel to the tale
Senator Culberson, by some unknown
means, secured copy of Weir's charges,
Vests report and Miles recommendation
and read them in the Senate on June end
Root is, of course, intensely angry at this
exposure of the workings of his depart
ment and is conducting an investigation
to ascertain how copies of these papers
were obtained and Senator Bcveridge, by
remark which he considered he had best
have eliminated from the Congressional
Record, directly implicated General Mics
by asking Culberson if he obtained the
papers from Miles. Cu!berson denied
that he had done so, but it is known that
every effort is being made by Root to i'm
plicate Miles and if he succeeds the Prcs-
dent will doubtless Immediately retire the
General. 1t may be that such Star cham
Der proceedings are necessary concomi-
tants of an imperialistic policy, but the
suppression of the facts, the ignoring of
the General Commanding the Army and
the failure to act on the confirmed charges
of brutality and inhumanity against an
army officer will inevitably incense the
people and disgust them with the present
administration of the War Department.
The past week in the Senate has been
devoted to the consideration of the Mica
1agua canal bill and in the House to the
discussion of the bill for the protection of
the President The latter will be followed
by Representative Lacey's bill, transfer
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