Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-04-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

great opportunity for Highland and
she should not throw it away.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent
Washington, March 31.-No event
in the history of the Fifth-seventh Con-
gress has produced the CONSERVATION
that was occasiOned Oh Thursday when
Representative Richardson, of Iennes,
see. rose to question of privilege ana
introduced series of resolutions re-
citing that one Captain Charles Christ
mas. ouasi-agent of the Danish gov
eminent, had, in secret report to his
government, stated that he had, as q
promoter of the treaty conveying the
Danish West Indies to the United
States, pledged brides 70 the amount
of 10 per cent. of the purchase price
to effect the sale to this country. Mr.
Richardson 8 resolutions further called
for the immediate appointment OF an
Investigating committee AS the clerk
proceeded with the reading OF his reso-
buttons a number of the members are
said to have turned pale and there was
intense excitement in the chamber.
Representative Payne claimed that the
resolutions were not in order and hep
resentative Cannon protested against
immediate action, but Speaker Hen
derson ruled that the point OF ORDER
was not well taken and finally the
resolutions were adopted and an inves-
tigating committee consisting OF three
democrats and four republicans was
appointed. ,
Speaking Of the subject later, Mr..
Richardson told me that he knew moth
ing as to the correctness of Christmas
assertions but he believed the matter
was of sufficient Importance to warrant
it's being probed to the bottom. He
criticised Secretary Hay for not hav-
ing called the attention OF Congress to
the report before, so that 1t might De
investigated and repudiated before the
ratification of the treaty. The hon
our of Congress is at stake" said Mr..
Richardson, land it this thing Is a us
sue of ISLANDERS that is all the more
reason why 1t should be so branded"
A democratic senator, speaking on the
subject, said: Il cannot believe that
any member of the Senate has permit
ted himself to be br1bed. However.
Christmas statement shows that be ap-
preached very near the fountain head
of certain legislation. His statement
that magnate of the Standard Oil
Company claimed that be could control
the votes Of twenty.slX senators Is not
new. That these things are done by
bribing is not true, but that great cor
porations influence legislation, Is, I'M
fortunately, far truer than it should
be. The general extravaganza OF
Christmas allegations is demonstrated,
however, by his statement that Sena-
tor Lodge is the only man in American
political life who will not take bride.
That is, of course, nonsense! antlcl-
pate that the investigation will de-
monstrate that Captain Christmas is
an unprincipled adventurer who may
or may not have expended money along
lines which he believed would influence
legislation. The one grave error in
the affair seems to me to have been
made by Secretary Hay in having any
dealings with a man who was not only
not properly accredited but who had
not even an introduction from the
Danish Minister" In reply to a ques
ton the senator said: my respect for
the late President precludes my ex-
pressing myself in regard to Abner
Mckinley"
The democrats are also getting some
amusement out of the friction which
has developed between the Senate
Philippines Committee and the House
Committee on Insular Affairs. The
former has determined to recommend
silver standard for the islands while
the Honse committee holds out for q
gold standard. That the republicans
themselves, after their extravaganza
claims in regard to the benefits to be
derived from the gold standard, should
find themselves divided on such ques
ton is one of the inconsistencies for
which that party is noted.
The minority of the Philippines
Committee will propose to the Senate
plan which provides for the independ-
ence of the Filipinos as soon as the
President can proclaim that the insur.
rection is ended. The SIC. OO0, 900 which
the United States paid for the islands
| is to be paid back to this government
and the United States is to secure, by
treaty, pledges from all foreign nations
that the neutrality of the Islands shall
be preserved. This is the plan with
which the democrats will confront
senator LOQge'S 1mperlallStlc measure
on the floor of the Senate.
At a meeting held ON Friday evening
"the committee Of seven of the demo
cratic National Committee, elected
Representative Griggs, of Georgia, as
Chairman of the full committee, sub
ject to ratification by the latter, which
will, of course, follow.
The news is being whispered in,the
Capitol lobbies and cloak rooms that
the President intends to execute a
coup d etate which he believes will
secure his re election and will rob the
democrats of one of the issues which
they intend to carry into the next ma.
tional campaign. Mr.. Roosevelt's plan,
| as outlined to some republican mem
bers who have complained because no
tariff revision is permitted at this ses-
sion, is to send message to this Con
gress. during it's closing hours, recon-
mending tariff revision along the most
important lines. He will then call. in
extra session, the Fifty eight Congress,
for the express purpose Of amending
the Dingley tariff schedules. AS the
time indicated is still year away there
may be mauy slips before Mr.. Roose-
welt carries his plan into execution and