Middletown transcript., 1904-08-27
1904
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., August 20

purpose OF considering local legislation
Some OF the Commissioners replied that
the time had already come. Since then
they have sent a petition to the President
by the hands OF Secretary Taft. urging
him to take the matter into serious and
early consideration. One reason for their
so doing is the fact that the T. S. Philip.
pine Commissioners have promulgated a
series of international revenue laws,
which, with the customs duties, the
Filipinos think this will be of deep in
terest to the inhabitants of the island.
Since they must provide tine revenue they
ask for the privilege of having something
to say about the objects for which the
money shall be appropriated. In any
event they think their law should be
considered and ratified by the represen-
tatiyes OF the people. Your correspon-
dent called to-day at the revenue division
of the Treasury and was informed that
thus far the Government has no internal
revenue officer in the Philippines, but
there is one in Hawaii: 1t was also
thought at the Treasury that only Con-
gress can pass laws for purpose of taxa
ton, since that is the way provided by
the Constitution, Under these circum-
stances it is understood that President
Roosevelt will soon do all he prudently
can to aneloriate commercial conditions
in our Eastern possessions. And he may
issue orders for calling together a Ma
tional Assembly, with limited powers,
much sooner than the "anti-imperalists"
imagine. Signs are not wanting that a
number of American houses stand ready
to make investigations in the Philippines
as result of what they have seen at the
St. Louis Exhibition.
*x*
Owing to the fact that it is understood
that the Democrats will make desperate
effort to reduce pluralities in Vermont
and Maine, announcement is made that
next week Secretary Taft will deliver
speeches in Montpelier, VT, and in Port
land, Me-, on his way to join his family
at Murray Bay, near the mouth of the
St. Lawrence, where they are spending
the summer. Secretary Wilson, Of the
Department of Agriculture, will visit the
same State little later With the de-
parture of the President to-day for an
other months outing at Oyster Bay, very
few Cabinet ministers will remain in town.
Secretary Metcalf is already on his way to
California to close up his private business,
which he says he left at two days notice.
Morton is touring along the Atlantic
coast and has Atty. Gen. Moody with
him. Secretary Hay, having warned
foreign powers what they can and what
they must not do, will soon return to
New Hampshire. He is receiving mum.
erous kilograms of congratulation over
the news of the birth of grandson
John Hay Whitney, the mother of whom
was pleasantly known here in Washing
ton as Helen Hay. Secretary Shaw will
also 60 to the Pacific coast, making
speeches in the states west Of the Rocky
mountains, and one or two in Utah.
~
All the news which drifts into Wash
ington from drifting politicians, and
otherwise, regarding the prospects and
progress of the campaign, is full OF cheer
and hope for the Republicans. 1t is con-
sidered very unwise, politically, to force
to an issue the negro suffrage question in
West Virginia; the Georgia lynchings
will lose tens oil thousands of Democratic
votes in the North and West to the party;
and the tricks resorted to in MARYLAND
will probably land that state in the Re-
publican column. Fish Commissioner
Bowers, of West Virginia, predicts Re-
publican plurality OF 1900 in that state. |
1t is denied by Congressman visiting in
this city that there is any likelihood of |
Wisconsin, Indiana or Illinois going
Democratic.
~
Confidence in the future that things
will be for the next four years, as they |
have been for the past four years, is
manifest here in Washington by the great
building Improvements and vast enter
prises which are going on. The value of |
new buildings here last year was $l3, ,OO0,-
900, large increase over the previous
year. Ten new school houses had to be |
erected to keep pace with the population.
Six great railway corporations have united |
to build immense freight yards just ont of |
the city which will cover five square
miles, and cost several millions of dollars.
These yards will be able to handle 10000 |
OF freight daily, and are designed |
to be the traffic gateway to the South.
The Seventh Day Adyentists are to build |
a large college, while the Government is
spending untold millions on public
buildings and the general improvement
of the city.
There is only one charitable wav of ac-
counting for the undignifed fanfaronade
which Mr.. Williams mouthed at the
White Sulphur Strings notifying Mr..
Davis of his nomition for Vice President
too much libation. Alas, Knight!
whenever did see thee so put out? Me
thinks thou never didst unless canary put
me out.
~
Gen. Corbin, who is to command the
30, 600 troops at Manassas, in few weeks,
wishes it to be understood that there is to
be no sentiment in fighting over again
the Bull Run battles. They have been
projected simply to show the young SOL
dier how to behave in the face of the ell
emy; how to learn the lesson Of modern
warfare. The War Department wishes
to show to the world what it lis able to do
in quickly preparing for war; how quick
It can get the men into the field, tent and
Iced them, as we'll as thousands of horses,
without delay or confusion. The grounds
t) be covered by the soldiers amount to
seventy two square miles. Thus far most
OF the farmers have leased them To the