The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-05-02

WASHINGTON, ID. c., April oS;h

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April oS;h,
Mr.. EDITOR past week in the
Senate has been characterized by a scath
ing arraignment of the republican policy
in the Philippine Islands During the
major portion of three sessions Senator
Rawlins, of Utah, delivered a speech
which set forth the aims and intentions of
the administration and pointed out how
the franchises and special concessions of
the islands were to be farned out to ad-
ministration favorites at the expense of
the Filipino people. On Friday and Sat
urday Senator Carmack delivered bril-
liant address especially noteworthy for
its demonstration of the inconsistency of
the President in condemning those who
have defended the rights of the Filipinos
and its denunciation of Brig Gen. Fun
ston, whom he described as the "most
valiant captain that ever marshalled die
tionary to battle array, the mghtiest Sam
ass as a weapon of war" The unquali-
fed condemnation and the accompanying
bitter sarcasm of the Tennessee Senator
produced their effect on his opponents
and there are prospects that Senator
Lodges edict, LET the democrats do all
the talking" will be defied and that those
Senators who will soon be compelled to
go before their constituents for re election
will insist on making some reply to the
charges which have been made against
their spirit of justice and Americanism.
In almost entire support of the demo-
cratic position has been the testimony re-
Gently taken before the Philippines Com
mittee, and finally the news has come
from Manila that General Jacob H. Smith
has admitted to the court martial before
which he is being tried, that he gave orders
to Major Waller to kill and burn and make
Samar bowling wilderness and that he
especially ordered the killing of all Fill
pinos over ten years of age. AS if to sub
stantiate democratic claims that the islands
have been the scene of untold outrages,
and that the policy of the administration
has been to suppress the facts, continually
augmented evidence has been presented
of the use of the water cure and other
forms of torture and oppression, in abso-
lutte violation of all the tenets of civil
lied and enlightened nation.
Tariff reform will be one of the lead
ing issues of the next and especially of
the next presidential campaign" said SEN
ator Money, of Mississippi, yesterday,
when l asked him of the prospects of
Cuban reciprocity in the Senate. The
republican party" continued the Senator,
"dare not reduce the tariff which it has
built up. Great moneyed interests pro-
test at any reduction because such reduc-
ton curtails their profits and these inter
ests are stronger than the party. The re-
moval of the differential on refined sugar
was step in the right direction. The
profits of the Sugar Trust would have
been reduced to the material benefit of the
people, but the bill was not amended in
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would pass, but rather with the belief that
the amendment would kill it and there is
no chance for the bill, as amended, in the
Senate. Notwithstanding the fact that
many of the Dingley rates were made pur
posely high with view to providing
margin for the negotiation of reciprocity
treaties, no treaties are confirmed by the
dominant party, no reduction of tariff
rates is made and the people naturally
turn to the democratic party for relief
and they will get it,
Opinion in the Senate is still greatly
divided as to the outcome of the Cuban
reciprocity bill 1t is now certain that
straight reciprocity bill will be reported
and, as far as can learn, the democrats
will try to amend it as was done in the
House. That they will be successful is
possible, as they are likely to have the
support of the Beet Sugar Senators and
if they do SO it will probably kill the bill
on its final passage. The present indica-
tions are that the republican Senators will
be satisfied if they can secure the passage
of a straight bill in the Senate and will
permit it to die in conference with little
regret. The republicans will shed few
tears over the death of the bill in confer
ence," was the reply of a democratic Sen
ato1 who is in a position to know, when |
questioned him on the subject Saturday.
The House of Representatives during
the past week has passed the Military
Academy bill and has returned to confer
ence the Chinese exclusion and oleomar-
gerine bills. 1t also attempted to make
record on Friday by passing 145 pension
bills in a few hours. The Agricultural
appropriation bill is now under discussion
Today special rule will be reported for
the consideration of the Omnibus Public
Building bill, which will be taken up to-
morrow. The bill thoriZes the eNpen-
diture of public funds in all but two States
and carries Il total appropriation of SIS
SEQ, 600. ANY anxiety when may have
been felt earlier in the session as to the
surplus in the Treasury is rapidly disap-
pearng as this promises to be a billion
and a half dollar Congress-
The constant recurrence of rumors of
Senator Hanna's aspirations for the next
presidential nomination, notwithstanding
the Senator's gentle deuials, renders his
political methods particularly interesting
at this time. Apparently the Senator from |
Ohio is particularly proud of his reputa
ton for standing by his friends" stand
ing by ones friends under fire." believe |
it used to be called in the time of Presi- |
dent Grant. Two conspicuous examples |
have recently attracted public attention.
One, the case of Rathbone, the Cuban
postal fund embeZzler who was found |
guilty and sentenced to a long term of
imprisonment. Senator Hanna has made
the most strenuous efforts in Rathbonc's
behalf and has finally succeeded in secur-
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