The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1902-01-04
Washington, d. G., News.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, DEC. 30, 19'

There are still good many peo.
pie in Washington who believe
that Congress will take up the
Schley matter in the form of an
inquiry into the affairs of the
Navy Department, and it is said
| that the only reason that Secre-
tary Long remains in the Cabinet
is because the President believes
it only fair to permit him to stay
where, in the event of such an
inquiry, he will be in position
to defend himself and his official
acts. The temper of the people
in Washington was shown Friday
evening when Admiral Schley at
tended performance at one of
the Washington theatres. He
was cheered to the echo, the
large and fashionable audience
rising to their feet and remaining
standing until the Admiral had
come to the front of the box and
bowed his acknowledgements.
General Miles has resumed his
duties in the War Department
and has concluded to ignore the
reprimand he received. He well
knows that he has no friends in
the administration, and that both
Corbin and Root will rejoice in
his humiliation. His statement
in support of Admiral Dewey,
however, has received the appro-
val Of the people and of the press
all over the country. a
There is now little doubt but
that the Senate will be compelled
to materially revise the Philippine
tari IF bill which was passed. by the
House. The measure, as it stands,
is receiving the condemnation of
a large number of Republicans,
some of whom characterize it as
"protection run Wild The most
ardent expansionists are not in
favor of governing colonies along
Spanish lines, and Il policy Of op-
preston will not be tolerated even
| if it is dictated by the protected
interests. It is believed that
Judge Taft will make representa-
tions at the White House as soon
as he arrives in Washington which
will insure the Presidents sup
port of tariff concessions to the
Philippines, and which will offer
an excuse for the Senate to re-
verse the work of the House:
The President is known to be
in quandaTy as to where to place
Judge Taft. Personally he favo ors
sending him back to the Philip
pines, but the Secretary of War,
who is a close friend of Mr..
Roosevelt, is strongly opposed to
the continuance Of the Taft re-
gime.. He considers that the Taft
Commission has seriously failed
in the Difference il owes to Gen.
Chaffee and the military branch
of the service. Taft is too big a
| man to yield supinely to the die
tates Of the bureaucrats in the
War Department. Secretary Root
believes that if he could secure
the appointment of a man at the
head of the Commission who
would recognize in him the lord
of his destinies there would be
greater subserviency shown to the
Secretary Of War.
General Leonard Wood, before
his departure for Havana, did
some effective work for the cause
Of reciprocity with Cuba. He said
"Cuba must have a reduction of
the tariff on sugar exported to the
United States or the island will
have to face poverty and oonse-
quent disorder. She would then
become menace to our health
aud the United States would have
no business relations with her
worth speaking about . He said
that if reciprocity were estab-
lished the United States could
count on doing a business with
the island amounting to $3.50, ,000,-
900 year within three years. He
further said that theUnited States
produced but 100000 tons of SUI
gar and consumed 100000 tons,
and that sthe consumers ''paid
about two cents pound for the
privilege of fostering this artifi-
cial industry Mr.. Oxnard, of
the American Beet Sugar Com
pany. is making vigorous fight
TO prevent legislation inimieal to
his interests, and is said to have
seriously interested the President
in his scheme Of paying bounty
to the Cuban producers in lieu of
reducing the duty.
While the friends of the admin
istration deny that politics we're
at the bottom of the selection of
Governor Shaw to succeed Secre-
tary Gage, it cannot be. denied
that the move was a very shreWd
one from political standpoint.
By it Mr. Roosevelt attached HIM
self to d man who was an impor-
tant factor in the Western situa-
tion, and who. in case Mr. Roose-
welt should by any act ALLEVIATE
/ Western Republicans, would have