Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-06-12

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.)
Washington, June 9th, 1902.

Edltor PTeSS:-
AS if to confirm the wisdom of
the Senate in passing the Lodge
bill, providing for the futher
extension of civil government in the
Philippines, a report has just
reached Secretary Root from Mr..
Luke Wright, Acting Governor of
the Philippine Islands, and
democrat, stating that the insur-
Eection in the islands is practically
at an end and that there is now no
obstacle to the extension of civil
government to all of the archipelago
aside from the More country.
Governor Wright advises that in
some provinces the army beretained
in control until the crops mature
in August. for the reason that,
because of the perfect organization
of the military branch assistance
may be more readily extended to
the natives until such time as they
receive the results of their agricul-
tural labors. Secretary Root has
issued a general order by which
the permanent military establish
ment Of the government is to be
reduced to &C, 900 men, reduction
of 10000. In the light of these
facts the contentious Of democratic
party appear particularly ridicu-
lous. The Philippine bill, which
was passed on the date of my last
letter, carried by vote of IS to so,
Senators Wellington, Hoar and
Mason being the only republicans
to vote against it.
The Nicaraguan Canal bill is now
the unfinished business in the
Senate. The advocates of the
Panama route claim that they have
made a canvass of the Senate and
that they now have comfortable
majority and it seems to be the
general opinion that the Spooner
resolution will be adopted event.
ually, whereby the President will
be authorized the select the route,
at least to this extent: The Pres
ident will be authorized to investi-
gate the ability of the French
Company TO deliver a clear title to
its property at the valuation placed
on it by the Isthmian Canal
Commission, S4O,00O,OOO and to
purchase it if satisfied with the title
and to continue the work of the
great engineer, De Lesseps; but if
the title is unsatisfactory the
President will begin work on the
Nicarrguan route in accordance
with the provisions of the Hepburn
bill. So far, Senators Morgan,
Mitchell and Harris have spoken
in advocacy of the Nicaraguan and
Senator Hanna in support of the
Panama route. Senator Hanna
scored an effective point during
the course of his remarks when he
atated that much of the testimony
presented by Senator Mitchell in
support of the Nicaroguan route
came from parties interested in the
old Maritime Canal Company who,
in the event of the United States
selecting the last named route,
would Immediately claim damages
on the ground of their old franchise.
The question of Cuba reciprocity
is causing considerable concern to
the President and his supporters in
the Senate and on it's termination
undoubtedly hangs the date Of the
adjournment of this session of
Congress. The beet sugar senators,
who have come to be known as
'Elkins' boxers persist in there
opposition with great pertinacity..
Last week there was circulated q
rumor that the President had
intimatsd to Senator Cullom that
he would be satisfied with a bounty
paid to the Cubans out of the
Treasury but Senator Cullom
assures me that the President has
not changed his views in the least
degree since he sent his first message
to Congress. From another source
learn that within Il week Mr..
Roosevelt has asserted that if
Congress adjourns without action
on this question he will call q
special session. Such action. it is
freely conceded, would be amistake q
from a political standpoint, but
those who know the President best
aDDreciatp that If he has connaiva1