Middletown transcript., 1903-12-26
WASHINGTON LETTER

THE Chinese ~
ratified BY the ia
sition. Mr.. Nelson of Mimi
cised it for not giving the BniNaR
sufficient concession in the way of open
ports and placed the blame for this on
Russia, whose attitude in Manchuria
might, he said, lead to trouble with this
country. Other Senators agreed with
Mr.. Nelson, but it was argued that the
treaty was the best China could give un-
der the circumstances. Senator Lodge
urged that it be ratified Immediately as
such action was held by the State De-
partment to be essential. He added
that the ratification OF the treaty would
have good effect in the settlement OF
the Eastern question.
~.
By bitter attack on the Administra- |
ton, which reminded one OF the days |
when he hailed Aguinaldo as a second
George Washington, Senator Hoar caused
sharp party debate on the Panama
question. The Senator read his speech
from a carefully prepared manuscript,
and this fact made his violent statements
all the more remarkable. The following
citation gives an idea of the character of
| his speech. 81 want to know and
think the American people want to know,
and have right to know whether this
mighty policeman, instructed to keep the
peace on that isthmus, seeing man
about to attack another, before he had
struck his blow manacled the arms of
the attacked so that he could not defend
himself, leaving the assailant free, and
then instantly proceeded to secure from
the assailant the pocketbook of the VIC
tim on the ground that he was the de
facto owner" This speech caused de-
light among the Democrats, who would {
like to attack the Administration, but I
many Of whom fear that opposition to
the treaty would be booming to the
party. Mr.. Bailey congratulated the
Massachusetts, Senator on being with the t
Democrats the question, and Mr.. German 1
aided in the attack on the Administration /
by calling the President second Napo- 8
leon indeed. Has it come to this that
the United States must have Napoleon
to shape its destinies and to distort the
Presidential office from its proper func- ]
ton. Senator Foraker made a serious,
able and dignifed reply to these oratori- I
cal attacks on the President His re- :
marks much annoyed Senator Hoar,
who then attempted to tone down his 7
written speech before it went into the \
Record. Mr. Foraker de-
manded of Senator Hoar what right he
had to call upon the President to prove q
that he had spoken the truth in his mes
sage to Congress. Congress has now ad-
journed until after the holidays, when A
further debate on the Panama question A
is expected. There is no doubt that the Q
treaty will be ratified. I'll
~ Sc
By reaching an agreement by which =
The land of the Philippine friars can be y
purchased by our government, Governor p'
Taft has solved one of the most irritating q
problemns in the island. The terms OF C
he agreement are that all the land of
he friars shall be bought by the United
States for several million two hundred
md fifty thousand. Tie Pope's appro-
'al of the agreement has been obtained
md that of the War Department is now
waited. The friars first asked $l5,OOO,-
100. As the money for the purchase of
he lands will not be paid by the people
# the United States and as the purchase
will meet the general approval of the
natives, President Roosevelt and Sec
etary Root will no doubt ratify the &C.
ion of Governor Taft.
~
The House Committee on Post Offices
nd Post Roads deciede to make public
he entire Bristow report, and that doc
ment has now been printed and every
member OF Congress supplied with sew.
raj copies. The report of Sepecial At
ornies Charles ]. Bonaparte and Hol-
nes Conrad has also been published. 1t
elares that Perry S. Heath was directly
for the abuses in the Washing
OH Office, and blames former Postmas-
er General Charles Emory Smith for in
Inference to the warning given him of
buses in the Department under his Ad-
Post Office Affairs are
nuch debated in the House and there is
till possibility Of a Congressional In
~
President Roosevelt has signed the
,uban reciprocity bill, which passed the
enate by vote of 81 to 49, Many DEM
Gratis voted for the bill and but one Re-
ublican opposed it. Just before vote
ias taken Senator Bailey OF Texas made
long speech in which he tried to show
hat the action Of the President and Sem :
te in negotiating treaty, which called
Or reduction OF the tariff, was viola
ion of that part of the Constitution
Thich declares that all revenue legisla-
ion shall originate in the House. Mr..
pooner answered Mr.. Bailey in an able
peech, but the entire discussion had no
feet upon the vote, on the measure.
,nemies Of the bill may take the ques-
on to the Supreme Court but the deci-
on will doubtless be against them.
~
The Senate Committee on Military
fairs will vote on January 4th on the
omination of General Wood to be Ma
'r General. A favorable report by the
'mmittee is assured and it is equally GER
i'm that the Senate will confirm 1t.
riends of the General are pleased with
'e decision that all the testimony in the
l. 4