Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-01-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
tprom our Regular CORRESPONDENT

sides which 1t says STANDS some now Oh
getting hearing after Congress reas-
sembles. 1t is just the old ship subsidy
bill in a new guise and its only virtue
seems to be that it does not on the face
of it reach quite SO deep into the Ma
tional Treasury as did some OF its pre-
decessOrs. But briefly, the bill pro-
poses to net the Treasury gain of
half q million dollars in increased reve-
nue. in the first year and thereafter
creep up at the rate Of about a million
year for the next ten years when the
maximum ''subventiOn' will be paid.
There are great many compromising
advantages claimed for the bill. 1t
will, according to the committee, re-
suit in the establish ment of ten new
steamship lines and result in b 9
strengthening that is to say divided
paying power, of several of the exist
ing lines. 1t is to add 200,0 900 tons to
the country's merchant marine, all of
it available az auxiliary couisers in
time of need, and will add naval re.
serve of 10000 men to the navy much
ON the same footing and relation as
the national guard to the army on
shore. 1t is a very cheerful program
and one for which good many lead.
ers Of the House are determined to
work. So many unexpected things
have happened since the assembling OF
Congress that 1t is quite possible this
scheme may get a serious hearing. But
it hardly seems likely that such a
measure can get through Congress
that is prOfessedly committed to a
policy of retrenchment in all branches
of the public service.
The Philippine Federal party has
come out with manifesto. Just
where the party got its authorization
to speak for the islands the document
does not say. But copies have been
received here and beside them
the territorial organization of the Isle
of Pines dwindles into insigniticance.
The Federal Party wants not only
home rule of sort that would almost
satisfy even Ireland, but it would like
fivs representatives in Congress. There
are a lot of other provisions in the
manifesto, all of more or less academic
interest. But the only one that looks
like concession to the United States
at all Is that the President of the Uni
ted States shall retain the veto power
over measures passed by the Philip
pine House of Representatives. The
manifesto doubtless will be presented
to Congress. There is always some
one found who is willing to introduce
anything in Congress up to a subsidy
bill for flying machines. But it il
doubtful if the manifesto will have any
material effect Oh the government be
yond swelling the revenue to the ex.
tent of the postage that was necessary
to bring it here.
Senator Morgan has announced that
he will move for the consideration OF
the Santo Domingo treaty in open SEES
sion under the form of joint resOlu-
ton when it comes to the Senate. The
bulk of the Democrats are behind him
and there probably will be a good deal
of plain speaking over the treaty and
against the position in which it has
placed this country of acting as bill
collector for European citizens in
South America. 1t is pointed out in.
deed that this country has established
a very dangerous precedent in admin
istering the finances Of SantO Domingo.
and that the Monroe Doctrine is woe.
fully distorted when it not only ex.
cludes European power from terri
torial foothold in the hemisphere but
makes the United States the policeman
to keep the little South America states
in order. Senator Morgan's position
in that this country should stop where
the Monroe Doctrine has been sup
posed to stop since it was first enuncl-
ated, and leave the European powers
to deal with their subjects financial
interests in South America and the
West Indies by process Of information
al law. The little states are prone
enough to borrow at any rate of inter
est the lenders chooses to demand. I'm
der ordinary circumstances their Dor
rowing power would be limited by their
own credit. The people who loaned
them money would know the risks
they ran and charge commemorate
rate of interest. But if the United
States undertakes to act as bill collec
tor, the small republics will have prac
tisally the credit of this government
behind them and foreigners will be
much more ready to lend their money,
knowing that his government will see
it repaid. Senator Morgan and his
colleagues do not believe that this is a
good position for the government to
place itself in, and there will be q lot
of very bitter criticism of the whole OF
the governments Santo DOMINICAN
policy as soon as the treaty is sent to
the Senate.
Gen. Davis, chairman of the board OF
consulting engineers of the Panama
Canal, has just left Washington fol
Brussels, where he will meet the other
consulting engineers and sign the re
port OF the board on the sea level canal
project to which the engineers commit
ted themselves while in session In this
country. There is little question that
the report will be signed just as prep
pared in Washington and it's contents
will be officially announced some time
in January.
Howard Life Prisoner.
The Supreme Court of the United