The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1892-12-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, Dec. (, 1909

Speakers chair came together over
the XII, and they were accentuated
by a sharp rap with the gravel he
held uplifted in his right hand 4; and
the last session of the Fifty second
Congress was open for business.
The attendance was fairly good for an
opening session, although the numbet
! of empty seats on the democratic
side was entirely too large for those
who fear that absenteeism may give the
party leaders as much trouble at this
session as at the last. However let
us not take the shaded view of the
future, but rather give the democratic
members of the House credit for
| sufficient love of party and patriotism
! to see that a democratic quorum is
not lacking at any time when it be-
comes desirable to have it present,
and that is practically all the time.
Mr.. Harrlson's annual message
will not 90 to Congress until to-
morrow, but your correspondent has
read it, although it was an onerous
duty to wade through its more than
$1,000 words, and not a pleasure.
1t strikes me as being in the nature of
a skilful lawyers plea for the acts OF
the present administration ard for the
legislation of the republican Con
gress, and altogether useless and un-
necessary one, inasmuch as the Court
of final appeal the people-rendered
Its verdict in the case nearly
month ago. The general style of the
message is far below that of those
previously written by Mr.. Harrison
but, come to think of it the circum-
stances under which this message was
prepared were such as to make 1t un
fair to crticise it from literary point
of view. 1t demonstrates one thing
very clearly. Mr.. Harrison still Clings
to protection and the other republican
ideas which were SO overwhelmingly
condemned by the American voters
on the eight of last month.
The attendance at the opening
session of the Senate was better
proportionatcly than that in the
House, but that may have been
largely owing to the fact and by a
resolution adopted at the last session
the anti option bill was made the
regular order for to-day, which gives
that measure, which it will be re.
membered has already passed the
House, the right Of way as unfinished
business until i. shall have been dis.
posed of or the session shall come to
close. There is decided difference
of opinion as to whether this bill will
be disposed Of by vote of the Senate
or by the close of the session. Its
opponents claim that enough Senators
from the South have changed their
minds abou: the bill to make it GER
tain that they can defeat it on a
direct vote, but all the same they are
now scheming to prevent vote be-
ing taken.
There are number of important
measures, from a democratic stand
point, which may be brought forward
and passed by the House at this
session or may be held until the be.
ginning of the Fifty third Congress,
just as the democratic conference or
caucus, shortly to be held, may decide.
1t is believed that there are enough re-
publican Senators willing to vote with
the democrats to repeal the present
silver law, provided an agreement can
be reached on a substitute, and some
of them have expressed themselves as
favoring return to the Bland law if
nothing more satisfactory can be ar
ranged. No help is expected by
democrats from the International
monetary conference, now sitting, in
solving the silver problem.
Unless several republican Senators
shall vote different from the way
they talk it is probable that the House
bills for the admission to Statehood of
New Mexico and Arizona will be
taken up and passed by the Senate at
this session. This is very desirable
for several reasons, not the least of
which is that it is believed that both
states will send democratic U. S.
Senators in time to take their seats
next winter.
The cholera scare is being worked
for all it is worth to work up senti
ment IN Congress in favor of 4 sus-
pension Of immigration for one year,
and it is to a certain extent succeed
ing. Once convince Congress that
there is real danger Of the cholera get
ting ioothold in this country next
year, through immigration. and the
vote will be unanimous in favor of
suspension, Notwithstanding the efforts
OF the steamship lobby.
A majority of the democrats in
this Congress appear to think that
present indications point to the
necessity for an extra session Of the
next Congress, and those in 4 posi-
ton TO know saw that Mr. Clavelapd