Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-11-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
CFrom our Regular correspondent


Washington, D. g., Nov. 23.-Sena-
tor Dietrich, republican from Ne
braska, has had little success in in
ducing the President, Attorney Gen.
eral or his republican colleagues to aid
in saving him from the Indictment for
bribery and corruption, found against
him by the Federal Grand Jury Of
Omaha, in connection with the appoint.
ment of Jacob Fisher to be postmaster
OF Hastings, Nebraska. Nineteen of
the twenty members of the jury, which
was chosen from all over the state,
voted for the Indictment, which charges
the Senator with receiving 81 300 in
money and property for indorsing the
appointment of Fisher. Friends Of
the Senator join him, In declaring that
the charges are the result of political
conspiracy, but the facts Of the case
show that there were at least some
grave irregularities in the manner in
which Fisher was appointed and there
are still many rumors of other and
serious charges in connection with the
Nebraska appointments.
Owing to the support of the demo
Gratis the bill making effective the
Cnban reciprocity treaty passed the
House with only q dissenting votes.
BY an arbitrary use of power the re-
publican maj ority refused to allow the
consideration of amendments, and the
debate, of the few days proceeding the
vote, was general tariff discussion,
in which the democrats pointed out
The stinginess of the present conces
sions to Cuba and the injustice Of the
D1ngley Tariff act. The bill has been
sent to the Senate, where despite the
protests of the minority, it will be
considered by the Committee on For
eign Affairs instead of by the Finance
Committee, which corresponds to the
Committee on Ways and Means which
considered it in the House. The bill
will, OF course, pass the Senate as TWO
thirds of that body have gone on re
cord as in favor of the Cuban Treaty,
which it renders effective.
Senator Newlands, of Nevada, has
introduced joint resolution in the
Senate, inviting Cuba to enter the
Union as state. 1t pro
vides that Porto Rico be joined to Cuba
as county, that the president and
vice president of the republic become
the governor and acknowledgements,
and that the bonds which Cuba is
about to issue, shall be given out as
state bonds. By becoming a state in
the Union, Cuba would gain free trade |
with this country, which would in
crease the value of her sugar .produc |
ton to the extent of doubling her in |
come; she could make her loan much !
easier and at three per cent. instead of |
five, as her bonds would be guaranteed |
bv the United States government; and
she would doubtless decrease her pros |
perity in every way. The union would |
not be the annexation of subject or
dependent state. but an admission up |
on equal terms as a sovereign state of
the United States. Senator Newlands !.
declares that we should make the offer |
and that the present moment, when
Cuban affairs are before Congress, is
an opportune time.
By the promptness of it's negotia-
ions, and the value of the concessions
made by Panama, the Administration
Is trying to make amends to the Ameri-
can people for its utter disregard for
jhe rights of sister republic involved
n the immediate recognition of Pana-
ma. The treaty just signed by Secre-
AIRY Hay and Minister Varilla grants
20 this country absolute sovereignty
,ver five miles of territory on each
tide of the canal, possession of several
stands in the vicinity, a perpetual
of all means of cOmmunica-
ion across the isthmus, either by {
anal Or railroad, and finally the right
0 preserve order and sanitary condi-
ions in the terminal cities of Panama 8
nd Colon, using force when necessary.
We have also the right of fortifying the
anal In return, we guarantee the {
Of the Republic of Pana. +