Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-05-20
Washington Gasip.

Washington, d. c., May 16 Looking
into the House of Representatives YES
terday | found two members still ling
ering In their seats, pulling cut letters
from their desks and strewibg the f1ocr
with the Fragments. Tbey looked
lonesome and probably felt s'like one
vino treads alone the banquet hall &c.
serted" A dozen or two Democratic
congressman are still in the city con-
ferring and score or two of Republic
ems whose seats are not in danger
still hang round the White House and
offer valuable suggestions concerning
| the campaign.
1t is generally agreed that the House
got ahead of the SeEate in the wind
up, Uncle Joe and other prominent
| members having seconded the indign-
ant speech of Bourke Cochran concern
ing the supuratiors of the President
and Senate. The Senate bill proyid
ing an elaborate scheme of government
for the Panama Canal zone was relent-
lessly turned dowa by the House and
the great river and harbor bill was
lung into the waste basket Just as IT
came from the Senate. These evidence, 8
of resentment on the part of the HOu, 9
made an impression and it is conceded
that the good result was largely due
t. the vigorous cooperation of the
Democrats. In personnel the St n ,.e
is much more masterful than the
House. Indeed, people are inquiring
what is to become of the House unless
the present leaders are superseded by
stronger men. Cannon, never a great
leader, like Reed. is now off the floor;
GrOsvenor is a sort of insane, clown:
Hill is dominating only in his speciality,
banking; Dalzell pipes Ouly in faIsetto;
Ia ypey. the blacksmith, has not forged
any thunderbOlts yet, and Hepburn
and Littlefield are so Independent of
party trammels that they are always
considered insurgents by the Republi- |
can captains. Even Payne, chairman |
Ways and means, and ex-Officio leader, |
is always in the attitude of a sluggish |
follower. The old lead "Steers" of |
s ranch badly need reinfOrc.
ing if they would hold their own.
Secretary Taft, in an interview with
your correspondent few months ago.
to justify the subJugation
of the Philippines by 1.-THE seizure of
Louisiana under the purchase" as he
termed it. suggested that the
Louisiana province was not seized, but
was appropriated with the full consent
Of the people who dwelt there. l see
that the Governor is out again ex-
plotting the Louisiana Purchase as a
Justification of our criminal aggres-
zion in the east. Does he not remem.
)or that Jefferson refused to use force
II Louisiana and that be sent Cover
Tor Claiborne as a commissioner to as
;ertain the wishes of the people Gov
,rnor Claiborne went to New Orleans
nd consulted the population, and, af-
er obtaining authority to exchange
he French flag for the America, re-
'orted to President jefferson. 1--WE
aised the stars and stripes yesterday
mid the acclamations of the inhabi-
ants" Governor Taft knows perfect
= we'll that that is not the way the
tars and stripes were raised in various
arts of the Philippine Islands while
e was governor there. AcclamatiOns
instead of excorations Does he really
hink there Is a least resemblance be
ween the two?
There is no doubt that the tariff ques
ion in It's various phases will be promi-
tent in the platforms of both par ties f
nd in the fall campaign. The Repub- 8
leans will exclalm I'VE stand pat G
'ut when we think the tariff needs re q
islon, we'll revise it," The Democrats
7ill retort that a party which has r
an unjust law IS not a par
y to be trusted to amend it in the ir-
crest of Justice. Senator Aldrich,
be Senate leader of fin nee, was great
Y annoyed by Charles NJ. Sch wab's let
er demonstrating that steel rails sold
D Americans for $2S a ton were, under
be tariff. delivered in England for $19
ton, clear robbery of the American
onsumer of fifty per cent. Aldrich =
nmed, perspired, quibbled, and even
enied but made no effort whatever to
isprove the assertion. This revela-
ion will enter into the campaign as
veil as the potency of the tariff as
It is very curious that, although :
'orto Rica is said to belong to the Uni
ID States, Porto RicAn has none of
le privileges of O. citizen of the United
tates. A native of Porto Rico who
graduate of Cornell University and
.av school, writes me that he is deaied
bo right to be examined for the New =
ork bar on the sole ground that he
5 not & citizen of the United Slater. Z
either Porto Rican nor Filipino can
,e admitted to the bar ill this city.
inquired at the State Department yes
erday if Porto Rican could get a
'assport TO enable him to travel in
Europe and they said no; the only pro- {
&c ion he could have would be pass
ort from the Governor of Porto Rico,
about as mnch protection in Russia
r Turkey as Il passport from the Gov
rnOr of Arizona would be. And this
j justice.