Middletown transcript., 1902-03-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.


- floor of the SeEate Chamber a FL
fight engaged in by the senators iron
South Carolina. The Senate immed
| lately went into execution session am
declared the offenders ''in contempt
1t had been my intention to permit till
disgraceful episode to pass unnoticed bu'
the events which followed make it rec
essary to refer to it. On Monday wheI
the Philippine revenue bill came to {
vote, President pro tenn Frye refused tc
the senators in contempt an opporrunit,
to vote and precipated a protest from Il {
minority, who claimed that the acti 4
of the president was unconstitutional in
that it ''disfrancllised sovereign state. u
The Chair adhered to its decision and Il &
bill passed by strict party vote.
~
On Tuesday Senator Frye, while affirm .
ing that his position had been correct and
that senators IT, contempt had neither
vote nor voice on the floor, restored their
names pending the report of the commit
tee to which had been referred the ques-
tion OF censure, etc. Immediate ad.
journment was taken by the Senate on
Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday was
devoted to the joint session referred to
below and on Friday the Committee on
Privileges and Elections reported Gen.
suring Senators Tillman and McLaurin
and relieving them from contempt. On
that day the Senate approved the perma-
nent census bill, as reported by the con-
ference committee, as did also tile House
and with tie signature of the President
it will become q law. The Senate then
took up the irrigation bill which was
next on the calendar.
~
Senator Penrose, at the request of your
correspondent, recently made a brief
statement of Republican policy in the
Philippines. tThe United States will
stay in the Philippine Islands," and will
convert them to prosperous portion of
the country. They will, I presume, be
given territorial rights in time, and res
ident Commissioner as Porto Rico now
has. The resources of the islands are in
calculahle and when they are developed
by American capital and American en-
terprise it is my opinion that they will
not only be adequate 20 meet the current
expenses of the territory but will afford
it and its residents the many advantages
of higher civilization now enjoyed by
the citizens of the United States. I'm
der the guidance Of the Philippine Com:
mission the islands now enjoy infinitely
better educational advantages, better
courts of justice and, in word, better
facilities for the attainment of civilization
than they ever had or ever would have
enjoyed under Spanish rule. With the
exception of few professional fighters,
the people are happy and contented and
the time is not far distant when they
will be more so. With the iIsurrection
ended the United States will be in posi-
ton to still further carry into effect the
benefcent intent which she has in view
and satisfied and prospereps people will
bless the county ior their deliyerance
from Spanish dominion"
~
The consular and diplomatic appropria-
ton bill was passed by the House during
the past week and a committee was ap-
pointed to confer with the Senate COM
mittee on the Philippine bill. On Fri
day the House devoted itself to the cal
endar and exceeded all previous records
by passing l59 bills in three honrq, It
then adjourned until this morning. The
question of reciprocal relations with
Cuba is still unsettled and the best
thought in the lower chamber is being
devoted to the solution of the problem.
y will be considered in caucus this even
ing.
80
On Thursday Congress went into joint
session in the House of Representatives
md with its guests. the President and
his Cabinet, Prince Henry of Prussia and
bis suite, the diplomatic corps, the JUS
ices Of the Supreme Court anda number
If invited guests, participated In the
memorial services at which Sec
-etary Hay delivered an eloquent eulogy
If William Mckinley. Adjectives will
not do justice to the glowing tribute
which the Secretary OF State paid to his
lead chief.
~
Your correspondent was present at the
exercises in the House Of Rep
and noted particularly the
oearing and presence Of the distinguished
and especially the foreign visi-
ors. Prince Henry Of Prussia was ush-
'red into the ball twelve or fifteen min
ties hstpEa the President arrived: He
'owed slightly to the Speaker and to the
Indience and then bringing himself to
he military attitude OF attention" stood
or fully ten minutes as ssiff and in..
movable as a pillow, fa0kfnE neither to
lie right nor to, tue ssieiEhntif tie arrival
Il the President. ne then bowed to
he President ana took !hisseat.s The ad-
Iress OF sesratafs Hay vas delivered
n monotouous tone ana was fully an
,our and twenty-five minutes III length,
Turing which time / observed particu.
ariy tile bearing of the Prince, He sat
Jolt upright with his feet evenly in front
4 him, apd I think may say with IS.
urance that during -thstt long ordeal
here was not the movement of h limb or
MUSCLE. It was a revelation of the in.
luence Of rigid military training and eti-
Luette as practiced in country re-
'owned for its vigorous observance Of
orm., In marked contrast was the ma
ural expression Of fatigue of President
who sat by him. The Presi-
lent shifted his position again and again,