The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-01-03

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., December 80. h.

Mr.. EDITOR: are still a good
many people in Washington VIII" believe
that Congress will take up the Schley
| matter in the form of an inquiry into the
| affairs Of the Navy Departmet and it is
said that the only reason that Secretary
Long remains in the Cabinet is because
the President believes it only fair to per-
nit him to stay there. in the event of
| of such an inquiry. he will he in position
to defend himself and his official acts.
The temper of the people in Washington
was shown Friday evening when AID:
mral Schley attended {, performance at
one of the Washington thcatcrs. He was
cheered to the echo, the large and fashion
able audience rising to their feet and re-
naming standing until the Admiral had
come to the front of the box and bowed
his Acknowledgements. General Miles has
resumed his duties in the War Depart
ment and has concluded to ignore the
rcprimand he received. He well knows
that he has no friend in the admnistra-
ton and that both Corbn aud Root will
rejoice in his humiliation. His statement
in support of Admiral Dewey, however,
has received the approval. of the people
and of the press all over the country.
There is now little doubt but that the
Senate will be compelled to materially re-
wise the Philippine tariff bill which was
passed by the House. The measure, as it
stands, is receiving the condemnation of
a large number of republicans, some OF
whom characterize it as ''protection run
wild" The most ardent eXpanslonlsts
arc not in favor of governing colonies
along Spanish lines and il policy of OPP
preston will no, be tolerated even if ii
is dictated by the protected interests. 1t is
believed that Judge Taft will make repre-
sensations at the White House as soon as
he arrives in Washington which will IN
sure the p eSidrnlS support of tariff con-
ccssions to the Philippines and which will
offer an excuse for the Senate to reverse
.he work of the lower House.
The President is known t" be in alu:n
Diary as to where to place Judge Taft.
Personally he .avors sending HIM back to
the Philippines but the Secretary of War,
who is a close friend of Mr.. Roosevelt, is
strongly opposed to the continuance of the
Taft regime. He considers that the Taft
Commission has seriously failed in the
Difference it owes to General Chaffee and
The military branch Of the service. Taft
=. L., f> -in1I -
dictates of the bureaucrats in the War De-
| partment. Secretary Root believes that if
he could secure the appointment OF man
| at the head of the Commission who would
recosnize in him the lord of his destinies
| there would be greater subserviency shown
| to the Secretary of War.
While the friends of the administration
deny that politics were at the bottom of
the selection of Gov. Shaw to succeed
Secretary Gage, it cannot be denied that
the move was very shrewd one from
political standpoint. By it Mr.. Rose
welt attached to himself a man who was
| an important factor in the Western situa-
ton and who, in case Mr.. Roosevelt
should by any act ALLEVIATE Western re-
| publicans, would have stood an excellent
chance for the presidential nomination.
Governor Shaw is man of much abili-
tv and he has the happy faculty of max
ing friends easily. The President already
| realizes that his impulsiveness and his
action in the Miles censure and the de
termination to uphold Secretary Long at
all cost has forfeited him many of his
| western admirers and it wonld seem that
he was casting an anchor to windwald
| when he selected Il popular and ambitious
Iowan to preside over the Treasury.
AS soon as Governor Shaw takes the
reins he will probably dispense with all
of Mr.. Cages assistants. Allies, who is
very Young man overwhelmed with his
own Importance, will go first, General
Spalding, who has been in the Depart
| ment so long that he is deScri'et as sui
ferinr from dry rot will soon follow
and only t. strength of his political pull,
which is not inconsiderahle. will save
Horace \. Taylor, who has never demon
strated the ability for financial and ad-
ministrative affairs which characterized
his previous efforts at growing cranber-
ries
Although the friends of the Nicaraguan
canal threaten to apply the lash and to cry
treason every time the Panama canal
is mentioned in the House or Senate there
is every prospect that it will be mention
ed many times before the Morgan or Hep
burn bills are passed. The United States
is rich bat TINT is MT re garded as good
reason why she should inv est millions in
the Nicaraguan canal if millions can be
saved by tho purchase Of the Panama
ditch 1t may transpire that nothing
could be gained by the purchase of the
latter but Admiral Walkers report does
not prove it and there will be 4 good
many members of Congress who will ask
for proof before they vote to appropriate
$3.50, 100000 for the construction of a
canal over any route.
Rear Admiral Evans is authority for the
statement that the recently acquired Pearl
Harhor site in Hawaii is not su passed by
any naval Stl,inl in til W ,rltl. Army
en- rueers are now engaged il cutting
throu III the c,ral reef which bars the en-
trance to the harbor and whel that is &C
complished and the harbor fortified, as will
be done, the United States will possess a
naval base of great strategic value and
refuge for vessels where absolute safety
from an enemy or the elements will at al!
times be assured.
Mrrr,xa or STOCKHOLDERS.