Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-06-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent

Washington, June 9.-"Once we get
this Philippine bill out Of the way I
will be able to give you some definite
information, remarked Senator ALI
son some time ago when asked him of
the probable date of adjournment, but
the Senator is more at sea than ever
now and 80 is everyone else at the
Capitol. Representative Payne who,
in his capacity of Chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee, should
introduce the adjournment resolution,
assured me yesterday that he had not
even given the matter any thought and
Representative Cannon stated that mo
one had the slightest idea when they
would get through" The fact Is that
the republicans are badly divided and
there is almost no prospect of harmony.
The consideration 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 moth
ing is accomplishing and the "b0xers"
assert that they will be successful in
the end. The President has had near
ly all Of the recalcitrant senators at
the White House and has used his most
strenuous arguments on them without
avail. Now he talks of sending spe-
cial message to Congress urging con-
cessions to Cuba. He characterizes
his opponents as obstinate to the last
degree and they say that the Presi-
dent will learn that they ''are not to
be bulldozed." What the end will be
no man can say but one result is GER
tain and that Is that Mr.. Roosevelt is
rapidly losing any influence he may
have had as party leader in Congress
and the democrats are going to gain
by his persistence and by the subservi-
emit 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 Philip
pine bill. 1t had been their intention
to report rule which would compel
the adoption, with comparatively lit
tie debate, of the Lodge bill In place
of the bill framed by the Insular COM
mittee but those representatives who
became awakened to a realization of
their power by the beet sugar revolt
have given notice that they did not
intend to be coerced and the leaders
are none too confident Of their own
strength. The Speaker has set the
consideration 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 a number of
members who, having once felt their
power, propose to exercise it. The
House bill Is by no means as autocratic
in its provisions as the Senate meas
ure. 1t provides for Philippine con-
gress, the upper house to consist prac-
tically of the Philippine Commission
and the lower house to be elected by
the people; whereas the Senate bill, as
1 have before pointed out, simply con-
tinues the present autocracy of the
President. The House bill also pro-
vides for the establishment of a 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 |
doubtful If they will yield even to the
scourging Of the party whip.
During the final hours Of the Philip
pine debate in the Senate, Senator Gull
berson presented some official papers.
the most important being the letter of |
a private soldier, Andrew K. Weir,
formulating charges against one Lieu
tenant Arnold. This letter had reach.
ed the War Department year ago.
and there had followed an inuestiea-
lion which resulted in a report from