The Saint Paul globe., 1902-02-17
REPUBLICANS
CAN'T AGREE

Continued From First Page,
| of all the Republican senator's. for along
came Senator Foraker with a proposal to
| make IS per cent cut 1t may not cron
out in the debate, but it is known that
| there are among the majority senator's
few men who believe at heart that free
trade with the islands ought to be grant
ed
The Philippine government bill hasn t
yet come from committee, but when it IS
brought out into the open ii will surely
be demonstrated that the majority party
is not Of one mind as to what ought to
be done. With the light now at ha,sN
some of the ablest members of congress
are opposed to legislation extending civil
government in the islands. While they
believe progress is being made in pacify-
ing the possessions they maintain that it
is by far too early to trust the natives
very far with the responsibilities of local
government. On the other hand there are
senators and representatives, optimistic
in their views, who believe military rule
ought to be gradually withdrawn and
civil government pushed ahead
Everybody Wants the Ditch.
On the subject of an isthmian canal the
Republicans are practically a unit in fa-
voring the building of a waterway; and
the Democrats are with them on this
proposition. But there are DIVERGENT
views as to where the canal should be
located. The enactment of a law at this
session depends on the majority getting
together in favor of route The prospect
is not bright just now, but it may change
for the better any time. 1t is for the Re
publicans in the senate to settle the ques-
tion. True the house is, by the passage
of the Hepburn bill, committed to the
Nicaraguan route, but that is not signif-
icant The members who are standing
for reelection, and most of them are in
that plight, want canal, and will be
quick to approve anything the senate
may do.
The ship subsidy bill is still occupying
a back seat, but one of these fair days
it will be marched to the front, and when
that time comes the majority party win
again be divided. Apparently the opposi-
ton to the bill is not as formidable as
it was in the last congress, but it is alive
and will be heard from 1t will come
largely from the members from the Mid
die West, who, while they may not have
any very decided views on the subject,
are bound to voice the sentiments cf
their constituents. 1t is another of the
subjects that is bound to have a bearing
on the coming congressional elections.
The last of the larger subjects on which
fI6puDllCdIS are QiNIu6u Is TIE pro-
posaI to reduce the tariff on trust-cou-
trolled products. Representative Babcock,
the author of the bill that is lying in the
ways and means committee, has behind
him a large and aggressive following.
which, if it can ever get an opening, will
start trouble to which there will be no
end this session. Among his followers
are West and Middle West members Of
the house. who not only favor a reduction
in the tariff on trust products, but who
believe there would be wisdom in a gem
eral revision of the tariff. They hold to
the view that the Dingley law is not a
sacred measure which must remain un-
touched for all time to come. Arrayed
against these so-called tariff tinkerers'
in the house is the speaker and the
ways and means committee, the control
ing force, and so no man can foretelI
what the success of the do something
faction will be in its effort to get hear
ing.
1t Is being remarked on every hand
that the serength of the majority party
in congress is being wasted on account
of its inability to get together on the
great questions up for consideration.