The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-02-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsHINGToN, D. G., February "a h.
Mr.. EDIToR:-The past week in Con-
gress has witnessed ii tedious iteration
and reiteration of republican miSgovern
ment as applied to the affairs of the United
States and its ''possesslons." Beginning
with the tyrannical rule, which was
adopted by the republican majority in the
House of Representatives and which
effectually prevented the amendment of
the bill abolishing the war taxes, and
ending with the admission of Governor
Taft that the newspapers of the Philippine
Islands are deprived of the right of free
speech and that their editors would be
liable to the law promulgated by the Com
mission, of which he is the head, if they
were to publish any article favorable to
Philippine independence, the week in
Washington has borne sad testimony of
the extent to which the government under
republican administration, has departed
from the great principles of liberty and
the spirit of the constitution.
Not only are the newspapers of the
Philippines muzZled, but so also are those
of the United States Senator Ledge has
seen fit to exclude from Tie rooms of the
Philippine Committee, before which Gov
ernor Taft is testifying, all newspaper
representatives except those of the three
principal press associations. In admitting
the latter he appreciates that he is safe
from adverse criticism as they all serve
m"ny republican as we'll as democratic
papers and, therefore, dare not report
many facts which would offend republican
editors, as to 90 so woulc lie Ito run
counter to the business office
The week in the Senate has been devoted
to tie consideration CT the Philippine
revenue bill, which comes to a vote this
afternoon. Many and severe have been
the charges made by the democratic sena-
tors, but all have been met with a style of
oratory on the republican side at times as
irridescent as the sparkle Of champagne
and quite as lasting. That the bill will
be passed goes without saying. The rati-
fication of the treaty with Denmark. by
which the Danish West Indies are coded
to the United States, was accomplished
without opposition, as was also the pass
age of the bill providing for a permanent
census.
The House of Representatives, appar-
-,
the war tax repeal bill without word OF
debate, has worked throughout the week
in a semi lethargic state, although the
leaders have succeeded in passing the
Indian Affairs bill and number of private
claims bills. The dull monotony which
has pervaded the chamber was stirred for
a brief period on one occasion when Mr..
Burleson, of Texas, availing himself If
the latitude which the Speaker had seen
fit to accord the republican members, drew
a graphic comparison between Theodore
Roosevelt Vice President and Theodore
Roosevelt President. Quoting from Mr..
Roosevelt's Minneapolis speech in which
he said, The vast individual and cor
porate fortunes, the vast combinations of
capital which have marked the develop
ment of our industrial system, create new
conditions and necesstate change from
the old attitude of state and nation toward
property Mr.. Burleson proceeded to
contrast the utterance of the President in
regard to the trusts in his message to
Congress and deplnred the environment
and education which ha,. lead 1.-The siren
uous one" away from the path of duty and
had rendered him deaf to the appeals of
the vast number of the people who are to-
day suffering injustice at the hands of the
trusts.
what an edifying example of harmony
my republican brethren are presenting to
the country" said Mr. Swanson, of Vir-
ginia, when l asked him of the prospects
of the Ways and Means Committee re-
porting bill favorable to Cuba. There
is every likelihood" continued Mr.. Swan
son, that they will determine upon some
feeble measure. but what they do is of
little Importance as the President will
control enough votes in the Senate to
secure the amendment to the bill along
such lines as he may desire" Mr.. Swan
sou refused to say what would be the atti-
tude of the democrats if the republicans
were divided as to the best measure to
adopt, and no democratic member of the
Committee would express an opinion
based upon the supposition. The fact
that such men as Payne, Grosvcnor, Tal-
zcll and Long have yielded to the views
of the President against their own ju1g
ment is sufficient evidence of the inf lence
Mr.. Roosevelt possesses When he Cares to
exert it.
The fact that Mr.. Roosevelt has seen fit
to confer commission as lieutenant of
artillery on the son of Senator Mitchell,
whose amendment to the Philippine bill
seemed likely to make trouble, and that
before Senator Plat, of Connecticut,
chairman of the Committee on Cuban Re-
lations, expressed himself as favorable to
Cuban reciprocity his son received an APP
pointment as United States Judge, is re-
garded as significant that the President
does not hesitate to make friends in Con-
gress by way of the appointing power.
Notwithstanding, Senator Mitchell in
formed me, some time ago, that a fifty
per cent. reduction of the Dlngley tariff
rates on imports from the Philippines was
absolutely essential to the welfare of the
Pacific Coast, he has refrained from max
ing any vigorous effort to secure the adoI-
ton of his amendment, and the view S
which Senator Plat has made public on
the Cuban matter are entirely contrary to
what had been expected of him and are in