The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-11-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Washington, November 18th, 1897
Senators and Representatives alread :
in Washington are discussing with much
interest the probable length Of the com.
ing session OF Congress. The hope is
general chat the session may not exceed
six months, but the opinion is also gen
eral that it will depend entirely upon
circumstances. If no financial legisla-
ton is attempted it will be COMPARE
lively easy to complete tie business o.
the session by the first OF June, possibly
as early as the first of May. as no time
viii have to be lost in organizing and
selecting the House Committees, as is
usual at the beginning of the long SEES
sion; but If financial legislation of inn
pOrtancc is to be put through the House
and to be attempted in the Senate,
everybody may as well make mp their
minds to an extended siege, with prob
able failure in the end. Knowing the
situation i'll the Senate, many republl-
cans favor letting financial legislation
alone until it is certain that something
+ 9Th Dt accom- pa SIItAI. IltN III que tIIit
the agitation that would necessarily ac-
! company an attempt to legislate on the
subject would hurt business and could
/ do no good.
I |, is thought 0y those who ought to
! know that the Presidents action in Is
! suing proclamation eXempting Next
/ can vessels in ballast and steam vessels
/ from the payment of tonnage duties
usually imposed upon foreign vessels III
orr ports, viii give American coal com
/ plete control Of the Mexican market
/ 1t was an act Of reciprocity, as Mexico
makes the same exemption in favor of
our vessels.
| The probable choice of the republican
majority of the Maryland legislature of
| 4 successor to Senator German contln-
ues to figure largely in political CONVEX
sation in Washington. Owing to the
number of eIigIbles, there are wide diff
ferenCes of opinion as to who Will be
chosen. The legislature meets on the
first Wednesday in January, but it is
probable that the republican caucus
will nominate a Senator a dav or two
before. rs thirtvfonr votes will be a
majority OF the caucus. and Baltimore
will have tWentv-one OF them, it would
seem that Baltimore can easily name
the man if its votes can be kept togeth-
er, but that if has already assumed
formidable proportions.
1t is not thought likely that the CON
fercnccs now going on between Hon.
John \. kasson, Special Commissioner
representing the United States, ana SIR
Niitrid Laurier, The Premier of the
Canadian government, VIII result III the
speedy negotiation of a treaty of recip-
rocitv between the United States and
Canada, although that may be the Ill
innate result. The present conferences
are expected to define the positions of
each government, and, of course, each
will wish to get the most it can for its
citizens, regardless of the interests Of
the other. Later negotiations with
Great Britain's representatives
ada cannot negotiate a treaty-wiil de-
termine whether the give and take
spirit is mutual enough to result in a
reciprocity treaty. Secretary Wilson
Will oppose any reduction III the duties
on any Canadian products which com
pete with those Of our own farmers
The Canadian officials and the ladies
who are with them are receiving many
social courtesies. Dinners have been
given them by the President, Secretary
sherman and EX-Secretary Foster
Chairman Cannon. of the House APP
preparations Committee, doesn't intend
that the work Of his committee shall
furnish any excuse for lcngthcninC the
coming session Of Congress. He has
announced all OF the subcommittee
ana notified the members to report for
work on the appropriation bills il their
charge on the 9TH inst, more than a
week ahead OF the assembling of Con-
grcss.
is President Mckinley has never
had doubt that the Senate would ratlfy
the treaty for the annexation of Hawaii.
he was not surprised at the publication
Of trustworthy poll of the Senate
showing that more than the required
two thirds of the Senate had stated
their intention to vote for ratification.
HE only thing that can make trouble
in this connection Will be for the hand
iuI of Senators who are opposed to rati