Middletown transcript., 1902-05-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHIsoros, April 2stlp, 1907

/ WASHINGTON, April 2Sth, 1902.
| WHILE the Democratic wrangIers ar
W rending the air of the Senate cham
her with their denunciations Of RepuE
lican policy in the Philippines and tn
House of Representatives is deyoting it
labors to the regular appropriation bills
the Republican Senators are quietly an,
industriously working out the solution
of the Cuban reciprocity problem. Oh
Friday the Committee on Relations will
Cuba adopted that portion OF the TelIe
resolution which calls for an investiga
tion of the amount of Cuban sugar helG
by the American Sugar Refining Com
pany. Senators. Platt, Burnham ani
Teller will conduct the investigation
which, in view of the fact that most 0,
the desired information is in the posses
sion of the War Department, will not, ir
the judgment Of Senator Platt, occupy
but short period. In the meantime
the Committee viii devote its attention
to framing a straight reciprocity bill as q
substitute for the measure passed by the
House.
*x*
A senator who stands very close to the
administration told me Saturday he be.
lieyed that simple bill, authorizing the
President to negotiate reciprocity
treaty on basis of 25 per cent reduction,
would be acceptable to a majority Of the
senators. He further said that he did
not believe that the Democrats in the
House would dare to vote against such a
bill because Of the popular demand for
relief for Cuba understand that Sena-
tor German in expected to use his in
Huence with the House Democrats to pre-
vent such suicidal course on their part.
Resolutions passed by the Beet Sugar
Manufacturers Association OF Michigan,
condemning the House bill, and the
statement made to the President one day
last week by Mr.. George H. Barbour of
Michigan, who is prominently associated
with the beet sugar interests OF his state,
that a reduction of rs per cent in the Gu
ban Tariff would not iniure the Michigan
beet sugar industry have done much to
strengthen the position Of the pro-reci-
procity senators.
*x*
The State Department has practically
its arrangements with the gov
of Colombia and with Nicara-
qua and Costa Rica and they will be SUBJ |
nitted to Congress Immediately as the
President is most anxious that some
hing towards the promotion of an 18th
anal should be accomplished at this ses-
ion. Mr.. Roosevelt believes that the
,eople desire to see prompt action in this
natter and that they win criticise the
controlling party if such action is not
AIKEN. understood that the amount to
'e paid to the interested governments is
he same in both cases, namely, 81, ,OOO,-
L
00. Should the Panama route be chosen
he whole of this sum would be paid to
colombia and in the event of the Nicara-
uan route being selected 81 900, 600
Vould go to Costa Rica and 81, COG, COO to
While an annual rental
Tould be paid for either route, the
mount would be practically nominal
nd would be more for the purpose of
ontinuous recognition of the sovereignty
{ the interested governments than re.
for the use Of the land.
~
The Philippine debate on the floor of
he Senate has, 50 far, been entirely one
ided. During a portion of three sessions
enator Rawlins of Utah delivered all
7earisome and monotonous presentation
I the Democratic attitude. He was fol-
owed on Friday and Saturday by sena-
Or Carmack of Tennessee, who succeeded Fl
4 filling the chamber and .affordingI
luch amusement to his friends and op-
onents, but his oratorical buffoonery
nd his slangy epigrams, while theyi
unused for the time being, were not in
seping with the dignity Of the Senate
or the importance of the subject and
le Senator's personal attack upon Gem
raj Funston was as seriously lacking ii
pod taste as it was in justice. The Till
ian style Of oratory. which unfortpnatel
,ems to be growing more prevalent d
ne democratic side OF the chamber
ound to detract from the influens
ne Democratic party, for it is often
, the common sense and good tas
ne American people.
~
The work of the House durini fhe
asst week has consisted OF passii the
lilitary Academy bill. carrying an
ropriation Of $5, 500, !, 900, the re Fl to
difference of the oleomargerine i hi and
be Chinese Exclusion biz, the former
18th some unimportant amendments and
he latter with instructions to TIE con. !,
srees to hold out for certain cliaiiQes cal
ulated to make the measure more dFas-
e, the passage Of the l45 peslsion bilk
nd the consideration of the AGRICULTURAL ;
ppropriation bill Saturday afternoon
'as devoted to eulogy Of the late Rep-
Stokes Of South Carolina,
-
On Satur6a' Representative Mercer Of .
Iebraska, reported to the House the om-
ibus Public Building bill which carries = :
,tal appropriation Of Sl5, 800, 600 and to-
ay a special rule for the Consideration If
le bill will be brought IN. Il il ex- I
ected that under this rule flat three | d
ours will be allowed fof general discus-
on, the time to he eQliaIly divided he
yeen the two sides al tile SSfd,,ee The 7