The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-07-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

June 80, 1902.
All hinges on the Philippine Bill, :"
said Chairman Payne of the Ways and
Means Committee, Saturday, when /
asked him the probable date of adjourn
meut, and it is no exaggeration to say
that the attention of every member of
congress is centered on that measure.
The House passed its own bill on Thurs
day by what was practically party vote,
but one republican voting with the dem
ocrats. On Friday the conference COM
mittee began its work and on Saturday a
number of differences between the House
and Senate bills had been adjusted.
#*s
The currency provision, the House hav-
ing legislated for gold standard in the
Philippines and the Senate having con-
tinued the currency on the present silver
basis, is giving the conferees the greatest
amount of trouble, but the provision of
the House that there shall be established
a Filipino legislature, whereas the Senate
provides only for census which is to be
made the basis for establishing legisla-
ture at some future period, is almost
equally difficult of adjustment. It is ex-
pected that other bills in conference will
be reported and the Sargeant-at-Arms will
have difficulty i'll maintaining a quorum
in the House from to-day on as there is
a very general desire on the part of the
members to spend Independence Day at
their homes.
~
Apart from the bill establishing the
Appalachian Forest Reserve there has
been little important legislation in either
chamber since the passage of the Phil
ippine Bill. The Appalachian Bill, as
passed by the Senate, carries an appro.
priation of $40, ooo, 900 and requires the
Secretary of Agriculture to file with Con-
gress plat of the land he proposes to
purchase. The Bill will not come up for
action i'll the House at this session, al,
though the House Committee on Agricul.
ture has considered it and has determined
to report it favorably early in the next
session.
W.
The immigration Bill passed by the
House will also wait action until the short
session. The Senate Committee on I'm.
migration reported the bill favorably AMI
there is little doubt that it will pass, but
the time intervening between now aud
adjournment is not considered sufficiently
long to permit Of proper consideration Of
so important a measure. The Senate
Committee threw out the provision of tbs
Senate bill which prohibited the sale OIL
liquor, on the ground that the amend.
ment was not germane to the subject. In
a previous letter l intirnated that the
House counted on such action by the
Senate when it accepted the amendment
and subsequent events have justified the
prediction.
~
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Admiral Dewey appeared before the Phil
ippine Committee and furnished valuable
and interesting testimony in regard to The
taking of the city of Manila and the sub
sequent initiation of the Philippine In
surrection. The Admiral maintained
that from the first lie regarded Aguinaldo
as merely all adventurer and that he con
sidered shis object in coming to the
islands as predictions, his purpose being
personal gain. In reply to question
| from one of the senators as to why he
| Dewey, had afforded assistance to mar
whom he regarded as no better than
thief, the Admiral replied that "all's fail
in war;" The testimony reveals certaii
amount of unwritten history which AID
miral Dewey admitted he had not mad,
public because he had intended TO iucor
porate it in book which he expected t.
publish "some day"
~
Acting Secretary of State Hill, by di
rection of the President. has already com
menced negotiations with Senior Ouesada
Minister from Cuba. looking to the for
mutation of areciprocal treaty with tn,
Island. This treaty will be completed
aud presented to the Senate early III tn,
short session. With a view 10 securin,
the prompt ratification of the treaty, til,
President will accept invitations to speal
in those states whose congressional dele
cations have opposed his Cuban polio,
and will strongly advocate relief of Cub
by means of a reciprocal treaty. Mr.
Roosevelt believes, according to my in
foruant, who stands very close to the adj
minstration, that in this way he will b,
able to establish so strong a sentiment il
favor of Cuban reciprocity thu: he vii
meet with less opposition when Congress
convenes in December
~
! The engrossed copy of the Panam,
Canal Bill is now at the White House an,
requires only the signature of the Presi
dent to become law. The necessar,