Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-03-24
WASHINGTON LETTER,

kG En-,
prom our Regular Correspondent.l
Washington, d. c.. March Is All
hope or ratifying the dominican pro-
tOcol has been abandoned by the Presi-
dent and the Republican leaders but
the Senate has not yet adjourned sine
die, remaining in session on the ground
| that there are certain judicial nomi
nations which must be confirmed be-
fore final adjournment can be taken.
bama, sprung sensation OH the Senate
by attempting to show that William
N elson Crom we'll. the lawyer who en-
gineered the sale of the Panama canal
property to the United States and who
is suspected by some Democrats of
having melted the Panama revolution,
had been the deus ex machina of the
San Domingo situation.
Senator Morgan exhibited to the
Senate letters from Mr.. and Mrs.
Reeder, formerly of Alabama. in which
they charged that Cromwell had de-
feated treaty between Santo Domingo
and the United States, which has been
prepared by Mr.. Reeder, and that he
had caused to be substituted the pro-
tocol now under consideration by the
Senate. When the proposed" Reeder
treaty was read in the Senate it was
found to afford every advantage to
the Republic of Sant0 Domingo and to
1.-THE Reeder Syndicate" but none to
this country and it occasioned cons d.
cradle ridicule at the hands of che Re-
publicans, but there are many Demo-
Gratis who believe that they may be
some foundation for Mr.. Morgan's
charges, at least sufficient to warrant
very thorough investigation. Sena-
tor Morgan has Introduced in the SEN
ate a resolution instructing the COM
mittee on Foreign Relations to con-
duct such investigation, by sub-cOm-
mittee or otherwise, but ut present
there seems little likihood of it's adop-
ton. Meanwhile, MIR. Cr0m we'll has
himself emphatically denied that he
has now or ever had any connection
whatsoever with Santo Domingo or
that he would profit in any respect
from the ratification OF the protocol.
There is a mystery in Washington
affecting the proposed modification of
the tarifischedules by Congress at it's
next session. The mystery attaches to
the promoters of report that the Re-
publican leaders are contemplating
placing a small duty on coffee with a
view to avoiding the necessity of re-
vising the tariff so that it will afford
less protection and produce more reve-
nue.. 1t is obvious that some method
of increasing the federal revenues must
be found as the federal expenses have
materially increased and the admins
tratl0n will be compelled to draw
heavily this year. as it did last. on the
accommodating surplus. but it is not
true that there has been any thought
of placing duty on coffee, or tea, as
is reported. This report has been in |
dustriously circulated in Washington |
for some days but for time no one of |
the more reliable newspapers could be
induced to father it. Finally it was |
cOnfided to firm of newspaper writer's
whose business consists of circulating |
reports for pay, and then one OF the
leading newspapers of the country dis
played it prominently in it's columns.
The questions naturally arises. Who
is to profit by the circulation of this
report? To whom is it of sufficient
Importance to warrant their paying
professional newspaper writer's to cir
culate it !? Is it stock jobbing deal
Does it emanate from German diplo-
matte circles and is 1t put forth with
view to estranging Brazil from the
United States for the benefit of the
German trade2 These are some of the
questions which ars being asked and
to which no satisfactory answer is as
yet forthcoming.
There is no doubt but that President
will urge the next Congress
to revise the tariff, but there is consid-
cradle doubt as to whether or not the
Congress will heed his recommends
lions. There are strong indications
that the Senate will be ready to re-
spond to the executive urging-in fact
that body has already taken the first
step by authorizing its Finance COM
mittee to sit during recess, hold hear
ngs and sub poena witnesses-but the
Senate can do nothing with regard to
the tariff until the House takes the mi
siaIive and that the Speaker and the
little coteria which with him control
the lower chamber persistently refuse
10 do. The initiation of a revenue
measure is the one prerogative granted
TO the House by the constitution in
which the Senate does not share and
The members are very chary of doing
anything which might appear like
yielding to the Senate On that point,
80 that it is possible that the Senate .
action, looking to a compliance with
the Presidents views, may have a de-
berrent effect upon the House.
The President has, it is maintained
BY prominent members OF Congress,
exceeded his authority by accepting the
services of certain prominent archi-
tects who volunteer to act as an ad
visory board to Indicate where public
shall be placed and the char
acter Of their construction. In the
General Deficiency appropriation bill,
passed there is provision
any official of the govern
ment from accepting the voluntary
services of any one not now employed