The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-03-09
" ashingtOn Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., March 3. 1904
1t is not generally known, but it is none
the less true, that the remarkable series
of caucuseS held by the Democratic SEN
ators this week on the tariff bill were the
direct result of suggestions from PreSi-
dent Cleveland before he went away.
Several Democratic senators told Mr..
Cleveland that they were dissatisfied
with the bill as the sub committee in
tended to report it to the finance COM
mittee, and to each of them he suggest
ed the idea of holding "A caucus in order
that the bill might be changed sufficient
ly to receive the solid vote of the Demo
Gratis. Senator Vorhees, although sat
isfied with the bill as arranged by the
sub committee, was perfectly willing
that caucus should pass upon it before
it was reported to the full committee.
That is why the bill was turned over to
the caucus, instead of being reported to
the full committee.
While there are some regretable cir
cumstances connected with the holding
of SO many caucuSes, it is far preferable,
either from party or general point of
view, that concessions be made in par
ty caucus than that they be forcibly OBJ
tanned with the aid of Republican votes
on the floor of the senate. Whether the
bill as finally reported by the finance
committee, to which the caucus returned
it, will be a better or worse measure than
was the Wilson bill as passed by the
House, may be a debatable question,
but that the votes of at least AZ out of
the Al Democratic senators will be neceS-
sary to pass any tariff bill is a fact, that
admits of no debate, since two of the
populiSt senators have said that they
would not vote for ii unless the sugar
schedule is pleasing to them. At this
writing every indication points to an
agreement that will result in a bill that
can be passed by Democratic votes with
out any aid from the populist senators,
and President Cleveland being absent
from Washington cannot be charged
with influencing the senators, or even
trying to do so.
Some Republicans in the House-no-
tably Bingham, of Pennsylvania-are
wrOthy because Postmaster General Bis
sell gave the contract for printing post
age stamps to the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing, Notwithstanding the efforts
of well-paid lobby to prevent his saw
ing money for the government by doing
50, and some of them are talking about
having "A congressional investigation.
1t is little short of nonsensical for Con-
gresS to investigate the right of the gov
ernmen. 10 do its own work, but if an
investigation would expose the names
and methods of the lobby which was
employed in this particular case it should
by all means be held. | know that
neither Postmaster General Bissell, who
gave the contract, nor Secretary Carlise,
who authorized the Bureau of Engrav-
ing To accept the work, would raise any
objection. On the contrary, they both
could and would, aid a congressional
committee in showing up the stamp lob
by, which was headed by an ex-member
of the cabinet.
Representative Somers, of Wisconsin,
who is a personal friend of Judge Jen-
kins, whose injunction against the right
of employees of the u. z. r. r. to strike
while the road was in the hands of court
receivers, the House Judiciary commit
tee has decided should be investigated,
has been hunting up precedents, and he
finds that injunctions of a similar nature
have been issued by Judge Kicks, in
Ohio; Judge William IL. Taft, in Penn
Sylvania; Judge Pardee, in Texas; Judge
James II. Beatty, in Idaho; Judge FL
mer ). Dundy, in Nebraska, and Justice
Brewer, of the u. : Supreme court,
while presiding over a court in Missouri
Mr.. SOmers says he has no objection to
an investigation, but that he does object
to singing out Judge jenkins to be in
vestigated when there are so many
Judges who issued the same sort of in
functions before he did. ''Include them
all, and am ready to vote for the in
vestigation," said Mr.. Somers at the
conclusion of a conversation on the sub
ject.
A popular bill is that introduced in
the House by Representative Byran, of
Nebraska, providing an amendment to
present law, making the votes of three
fourths of a jury constitute legal YER
dict in all civil cases. With that amend
ment in force hung juries would be al
most unheard of in civil cases and the
cost of litigation would be largely re-
duced. The lawyers are about the only
people who are likely to oppose the
change; it would cut into their fees quite
heavily.
Common sense again assumed its
sway in the House this week and the
Democrats disposed of the Bland bill
and ceased to furnish the Republicans
with campaign material by again cut
ting down to business after tie-up of
more than two weeks. Speaker Crisp
made decided hit just before a quo
rum voted, when asked to enforce the
rule compelling members to remain in
their seats and to vote when their names
were called, by saying in reply: 1.-The
chair is the organ of the House, not its
master, and as long as the present occu-
pant is ir the chair he will never make
a rule" NJ.