Milford chronicle., 1902-06-13
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Monday, June 9, 1902.

Monday, June 9, 1902.
As if to confirm the wisdom of
the Senate in passing the Lodge
bill providing for the further extern
sion of civil government in the
Philippines, "a report has justreached
Root from Mr.. Luke
Wright, Acting Governor Of the
Philippine Islands, and a Demo
crat, stating that the instruction
in the islands is practically at an
end and that there is now no obsta
Gle to the extension of civil gov
eminent to all of the archipelago,
aside from the Moro country. Gov
ernOr Wright advises that in some
provinces the army be retained in
control until the crops mature in
August, for the reason that, because
of the perfect organization of the
military branch assistance may be
more readily extended to the ma
tives until such time as they receive
the results of their agricultural
labors. Secretary Root has issued
a general order by which the per-
manent military establishment of
the government is to be reduced to
$4,000 men, a reduction of 10, ooo
In the light of these facts the con-
tentions of the Democratic parti-
sans appear particularly ridiculous.
The Philippine bill, which was
passed on the date of my last letter,
carried by a vote of 48 to 80, Sen
ators Wellington, Hoar and Mason
being the only Republicans to vote
against it.
The Nicaraguan Canal bill is now
the unfinished business in the Sen
ate. The advocates of the Panama
, route claim that they have made a
canvass of the Senate and that they
now have a comfortable majority
and it seems to be the general opin-
ion that the Spooner resolution
will be adopted eventually, whereby
the President will be authorized to
select the route, at least to this ex-
tent The President will be author
lied to investigate the ability OF
the French Company to deliver a
clear title to its property at the val
uation placed lit by the Isthmean
Canal Commission, $40, 900, 900,
and to purchase it if satisfied with
the title and to continue the work
of the great engineer, De Lesseps
but if the title is unsatisfactory the
President will begin work on the
Nicaraguan route in accordance
with the provisions of the Hepburn
bill. So far, Senators Morgan
Mitchell and Harris have spokei
in advocacy of the Nicaraguan anC
Senator Hanna in support of tn,
Panama route. Senator Hanna
scored an effective point during
the course of his remarks when h
stated that much of the testimon,
presented by Senator Mitchell il
support of the Nicaraguan rout,
came from parties interested in tn
old Maritime Canal Company, who
in the event of the United State
selecting the last named route
would Immediately claim damage
on the ground Of their old fran
ceise.
The question of Cuban reciproc
ity is still causing considerabl
concern to the President and hi
supporters in the Senate, and on il
termination undoubtedly hangs tn
date of the adjournment Of thi
session of Congress. The bee
sugar Senators, who have come t
be known as "Elkins' boxers, pei
sist in their opposition with grea
pertinacity. Last week there wa
circulated a rumor that the Pres
dent had intimated to Senator Gu
lom that he would be satisfied wit
bounty paid to the Cubans out
the Treasury, but Senator Cullol
assures me that the President h:
not changed his views in the lea
degree since he sent his first me
sage to Congress. From anoth,
source l learn that within a wee
Mr.. Roosevelt has asserted that
Congress adjourns without actiC
on this question he will call a spe
ial session. Such action, it is free
conceded, would be a mistake fro
apolitical standpoint, but those WI
know the President best, apprec
ate that if he has conceived such
cource to be his duty no consider
tion of his own political succe
will deter him.
All of last week in the Hou
was devoted to the consideration
the bill for the protection of Il
President. On Friday evening Il
general debate was closed and Il
House has determined to begin Il
consideration of the Philippine b
on Wednesday, the 18th. T.
chief difference between the mea
ure passed by the Senate and tn
reported by the Insular commit
of the House lies in the curren
plank, the former providing for t
continuance of the silver standa
and the House bill STIMULATING t
substitution of the gold standa1
When this provision was adopte