Middletown transcript., 1909-06-05
WASHINGTON LETTER

question in tile Senate this week, it
believed to foreshadow victory for the
Republican leaders in their plan to refer
both the Bailey aud Cnmmins amend
ments to the Judiciary Committee. The
vote to defer consideration Of the income
tax amendments until June 10th means
that no amendments to provide for special
taxes will be taken up by the Senate until
the schedules Of the tariff bi are adopted
and il is the intention, Of course, OF the
Finance Committee to show that the new
customs duties will raise sufficient reVe-
nue. tosupport the government and that
any special tax is wholly unnecessary.
~
The sensational character OF the dispat-
ches sent out from Washington concern
ing certain defective armor plates which
have been found in the construction Of
the battleships North Dakota and Della.
ware, is greatly deprecated by the officials
at the Navy Department. They ex-
plain that defective plates always are
and always have been found from
time to time; that it is not known
what causes the blisters and, therefore. it
has been impossible thus far to prevent
their occasional occurrence. It has been
the custom, heretofore, merely TO reject
the plates when found defective, without
saying anything about it, but recently the
department. has adopted a new policy.
As nothing was to be gained by secrecy,
no effort is-now made to conceal the fact
that such defective plates have been found
and rejected, although the first informa.
ton to reach the public has received
wholly unwarranted prominence.
Representative Hayes has acted on the
suggestion made by Representative Taft
recently at dinner rendered by num-
Der Of Washington business men, in in
Producing resolution in the House, this
week, providing for the restoration to the
District OF Columbia Of the land which
was ceded to Virginia in 1S46, and which
prior to that time has been part of the
District of Columbia. This land com.
prisee many thousands of acres in Alex
an1ria County, across the Potomac River
from Washington and is used chiefly for
agricultural purposes, although the town
Of Alexandria is included. Mr.. Hayes
resolution provides thatthis land be again
made part of the District, except the town
o.: Alexandra, and authorizes the Presi-
dent to open negotiations through the
War Department. and to complete the
transfer by July let, 1910, and authorizes
an appropriation Of $lOe, 900 for the trans
action. In his address to the business
men the President expressed the opinion
that the act of Congress in receding the
land to Virginia was unconstitutional and
that the District of Columbia should re-
gain it. Mr.. Hayes resolution has been
referred to the District Of. Columbia Com
mittee and will not be acted on until the
next session, but Representative Hayes
believes that President Taft's interest in
the plan will insure its passage.
~
President Taft and Secretary Knox are
not a little disturbed over the reports
which reach them Of conditions in Cuba.
It seems that the new Cuban government
is just awakening to its freedom from
i American restraint and is in a fair way
to muddle the finances of the island if II
does precipitate national bankruptcy.
The government is devoti"g its energies
| to the indulgence of varied and numerous
extFaVagances while making small effort
to supply the treasury OF the island with
funds. Those familiar with Cuban affaiFs
know that unless this epoch Of extraya-
gance is soon checked it will precipitate q
situation such as to cause the foreign
creditors Of Cuba to turn to the United
States for assistance, making necessary
another assumption Of authority over the
island. President Taft considers the sit.
uation down there far from satisfactory
and 10 much concerned over it.
#4#
The action Of Senator Bailey in go far
forgetting himself as to indulge in fistic
encounter with Washington representa-
tive of metropolitan daily is much GEN.
sured throughout official circles, and BY
his conduct he has completely justified
the expectations OF those who have long
believed that with brass knuckles aud 9
blackjack he could down any man half bis
size, provided he could succeed first IN
hitting him from behind. This is not the
first demonstration that Mr.. Bailey has
given Of his inability to control his tenn.
per and while such outbursts are always
seriously depIored by bis colleagues, they
iniure no one but the Texan who has
thereby impaired his standing almost
hopelessly.
~
President Taft will have conferred on
him, on June Sd, honorary membership
| in the first blue lodge of Masons composed
entirely of Americans in Great Britain,
aud the President says that on the occa-
sion of the opening Of the new lodge he
| will send cable message Of congratula.
ton.
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