Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-28
COMING CONGRESS
Senator Mason Talks on Probable
Legislation.
NO RADICAL TARIFF AMENDMENT
Feeling Of the People in Regard
to Expansion.
n G. A r A G q AN NAL

Senator William E. Mason of Illinois.
who has arrived in the city, says he does
rot anticipate the enactment of very muck
general legislation during the forthcoming
session of Congress.
Il do not think there will be anything
done on the currency question: he said
this afternoon to Star reporter. of
course, have no means to judge any bet
ter than the rest of my colleagues, but I
believe the time of the session will be fully
occupied with the regular appropriation bills
and work Oh the prospective peace treaty.
l am doubtful as to whether it will be wise
to attempt any currency legislation. We
still have the fag end of the silver question
to settle in this country. With good man
agement we can clean up that issue at the
polls at the next election for once and for
ever. The recent elections indicated that
with good generaiship We can kill the sill
Yer question In 1909. ] am opposed tc
bringing the currency reform question to
the front, FOR the reason that it will only
furnish another issue upon which our op-
uonents can wage war against u.s."
Tariff Amendments.
What will he done regarding the amend
mert of the existing tariff laws?" was
asked.
so far as the tariff is concerned, have
heard of number of proposed amend
| ents, where some injustice is being done
certain classes by various sections of the
law but | believe there will be no material
tariff legislation during the session. We
| will need the revenue produced by the war
tariff measure for at least a year longer.
Consequently, L do not think that that
measure will be repealed or amended rad
icaly.
Il do not think there will be an extra
session of the next Congress. as l can see
no need for it. We have got the enemy in
| good shape. We have him beaten, and We
should not begin this business of calling
extra sessions and creating new issues for
the democrats 10 Try their case on.
! "Wil the Senate ratify the peace treaty
in case it provides for the retention of the
Philippines in their ent!rety?"
Il dislike to say anything on this sub
ject. l am trying 90 get all the informa-
tion L can. Most every senator will feel
inclined to waive anything that seems
small compared with the great desire Of
| the people for peace.
What is the sentiment of the people Of
Illinois regarding expansion?'
| Sentiment on Expansion.
The people all started out as they did
| on many other questions affecting terri
| torial expansion. There are a great many
! people in Illinois. however, who believe
that we ought to keep all our promises,
who think that a nations word ought to
! be as good as a ans. and that we ought
not to attempt to subject a people without
their consent. 1t looks to as though
| the destiny of cuba and Porto Rico has
been settled. The Philippine question is
! the open one. | think that Cuba will even
| tually seek annexation just a Hawaii did.
| but If she comes to us at all, l want her
| TO come out of love for our institutions
and not because she is afraid of our guns.
| | want her to come to us through affection.
| and not through fear"
! What will Congress do regarding the
shaping of a form Of government for the
| new colCnies?''
| Il do rot know | dislike the thought of
! fixing a government for a people without
| their consent. l am a great believer in
home rule. Government only comes by
evolution. a people never learn to govern
themselves until they have tied. / think
| they ought to have an opportunity to try.
You cannCt learn to swim without going
| into the water. The use of power de-
velops the power. King George thought
| tfat we could not govern ourselves, but
when given an opportunity our forefathers
! built the greatest nation on earth. Every
| slave owner has told his slaves that he
! kept them in slavery for their own good. |
| do not believe in government at long range.
l do not believe in the Congress at WASH
| ngton making laws for Japan or any other
| oriental country, which has different eli
mate and different religion from those OF
our own country. If any of these coun-
| tries should ask US to assist them as Ha-
wal: did then l am ready to help them"
Nicaragua Canal.
What are the prospects of legislation
| favorable to the construction of the Mica
ragua canal?''
There is such a growing demand among
! the people fer work this waterway that
| something must be done at the earliest pos
| sible moment. And the more | study this
| subject the more l convinced that our
government will be obliged to take the mat
| ter in hand and build the canal. l hope
| the Congress at the coming session will do
something with this subject.
Il am especially interested in two matters
| of general legislation, nancy, the bill es
tahlishfng a postal savings bank system,
which has been favorably reported from
! the Senate post office and post roads com.
mtttee, and resolution providing for the
investigation of the adulteration of food
products.
I'VE are the only civilized country i'll
| the world which does not protect it's citi-
zens in the matter of food adulteration. and
| this bill affects all articles of food which
are subject to such adulteration. 1t is a
| notorious fact that some of the brewers of
! this country sell most outrageous stuff for
/ beer. Our tea and coffee, vinegar and
spices and at least 80 per cent of everything
else that goes upon our table Is adulterated
Some of it is deleteriOus to health and
life, and all of it is fraudulent. This reso-
luton has been favorahly reported by the
committee manufactures, snd / hope to
secure it's passage.