Middletown transcript., 1908-02-08
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., February 1st, 1908.
THE Presidents message dealing with
recent decisions of the Supreme Court
eceived more enthusiastic reception
han any hitherto accorded to any of the
emarkable list Of state papers he has ad-
lressed to the national legislature. His
earless and manly denunciation of evil, I
lis scathing rebuke to the Standard Oil /
Company and other great corporations
which have sought TO deceive the voters
md poieon the public mind against him
md his policies. were the occasion of |
,urats OF applause in the House and when
he reading OF the document was con-
,luded the members, irrespective of party, |
burst into cheers. In the Senate, where
10 applause is permitted, Senators sat |
Iuietly in their seats, listening to every
word, and the absolute silence constituted
IS remarkable tribute from the upper
as the more noisy demonstration
Of the House.
president Roosevelt has by this mes
sage nominated Taft or elected Bryan"
was the comment heard on all sides in
the Senate. 1t was generally conceded
that the great mass Of the people, who
almost IdA1ize Roosevelt, Wouft n6Eer ao-
cept as their ckieftaia half way, conser-
vatiye, half hearted, follower of his poll
cies or a reactionary. The utterance OF
the President, which in the reeommenda-
tions for further legislation borrows the
ideas expressed in Secretary Taft's Cooper
Union speech, is in striking contrast with
the cautious utterance of Governor
Hughes, made before the New York Re-
publican Club, in which, for every word
be said in support Of the Roosevelt poli-
cies, the Governor added reassuring
statement for the benefit of his Wall
Street friends.
~
Governor Hughes declaration in favor
of the Roosevelt policies is regarded as
excellent politics, in Washington, the
only defect being in the lack of force with
which the Governor expresses his views
which leaves the reader wondering if he
really believes what he says. 1t is prob
able that Mr.. Hughes does believe in the
views he expresses, although he is not
specific, but be is not man of force or of
very decided opinions, and that naturally
robs his remarks Of that ring which the
public has come to look for in the
speeches OF public men.
~
Charles E. Magoon, Provisional Gov
ernor Of Cuba, is in Washington, hay-
ing come here to confer with the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of War concerning
certain difficult problems that have grown
out of the various administrations which
have had charge of Cuban affairs in the
last few years and of the corruption of the
Palma government The most difficult
problem in Cuba, these days, is the ad-
justment Of contracts and damages COM
ing out of the granting of concessions, the
abrogation, their regranting, etc., which
have resulted from the successive Wood,
Palma and Magoon administrations and
it is to consult with the President, Secre-
tary Taft and possibly the Attorney GEN.
eral regarding four complicated affairs
Of this character that Governor Magoon
has come to Washington. As soon as So
lutions can be reached the Governor will
return to Havana to remain, presumably,
until Cuba is again made free, on Feb
ruary lst, 1909.
~
The AIdrich financial bill has finally
been reported to the Senate and on Mon
day, February 10th, will begin the debate
which will, in some respects, be most in
teresting. 1t is generally believed here
that the bill will become law before
Congress adiourns.
-
Although there will be little general
legislation at this session of Congress,
Rep. Sulloway has introduced in the
House measure which it is generally
believed will pass. This bill provides
that the widows of all soldiers who served
ninety days or more in the Civil War
shall be pensioned at the rate Of $12 a
month; raises the pensions of all widows
now on the rolls from S. to $I2 month;
and removes the present restriction which
makes it impossible for widow to secure
a pension if she has an income from other
sources of $3.50 year, or more. The
benefits Of the bill, however, can be con.
ferred only on those women who were
married to veterans before the passage of
the act of June, 1890. 1t is estimated
that the measure will add SO, ,000, 600
year to the cost Of pensions, and as the
estimated cost under existing law is for |
the coming year $15l, ,045, 600, should this
bill become law it will raise the total
to something over $lG0, ,0OO, 900.
~
The attempt to revive the third-term
gossip is confined to certain class of poll
ticians, described by some Of President
Roosevelt's friends, as either fools or
knaves. This reiuyenated rumor is not
given the slightest credence by any of the
Presidents friends and they have little
patience with those politicians of the op-
posing factions who are stupidity attempt.
ing to ctthis political ghost to serve
their own purpose.
50
The members of the House Of Represen.
tatiyes were treated to sensation one
morning this week when the blind Chap
lain, Mr.. Conden, made the following
prayer which was loudly applaudsd:
GOOD Lord, deliver us we beseech Thee,
from the iingo, the demagogue, the bigot,
and all other undesirable citizens, and give
us instead the patriot, the statesman, the
broad-minded, generous hearted, manly.
man, that Thy kingdom may come and