The Press., 1899-12-14
Washington Letter.
Washington, Dec. il, 1899

Senator Mason will lose confidence In his ability as sensation-maker, If he makes 8 few more attempts in that line that fall as flat as his resolution of sym pathy for the Boers and his speech there on. If he really thinks, as he says he does, that the case Is similar to the case of the Cubans when they were in revolt against Spain, he thinks practically alone. The war in Cuba was right at our doors and affecting the interests of thousands of Americans, while the war in South Africa is thousands of miles away and effects the interest of about as few Americans as any foreign war could. Of course, every American would like to see peace over there, but as the belligerents have not asked for our good offices. 8 fact noted by the president in his message, it would be sort of international impertinence for us to interfer in any way, and the adopt ion by either branch of congress, of resolution of sympathy for either side would certainly and rightly be regarded as interference. This government is neutral, and because of that neutrality, the president referred 8 petition from the Hollanders of Michigan, asking him to use his good offices to bring about peace, to the department of state without action.
 The house committee that is investiga- ting Roberts, is holding daily sessions and hopes to get It's report ready in a few days. It requires no gift of prophecy to say that the report will be adverse to Roberts, but the attempts to say just what shape 1t will take, which are being made, are simply guesses. The committee will conclude the investigation before deciding the scope of its report. Mr. Roberts shows very plainly by his talks before the com mittee, that he doesn't expect to get the seat, or rather to keep it, if allowed to be sworn in also that he Is pretty shrewd lawyer, and well posted in parliamentary practice.
 The resolution offered by Senator Lodge, and adopted by the senate, re- questing the department of state to in- vestigate the report that Great Britain was negotiating with Ecuador, for the purchase of the Galapagos islands. has l.been referred to the U. s. minister at Quito, for an investigation and report. It Is known, however, that there has been no negotiations by Great Britain, and thought that the sole object of the reso- lutiou is to open the way to the purchase of the islands by this government, to be used as 8 naval station, their location making them especially desirable for that purpose, after the Isthmian cannal has been constructed. The navy department has already had the islands examined by an officer, and ascertained that only one of them is now inhabited, and that only by one man, naturalized American.
 That Speaker Henderson knows how to drop hint was shown when he said {: '1 never had anything to say to any speaker, regarding my personal wishes, or desires. do not remember ever en- tering Carlisle's room when he was speak or, and only called once upon Crisp, and that was with my delegation. I never went to call upon Reed-save to pay my respects unless he sent for me. knew they had too much to do to be bothering with me-"
 During the first week of congress, more than $500 bills and resolutions were in- 1 troduced in the house alone. Nine-tenths of these were introduced in the last con. gress and never acted upon, and the same fate is likely to meet an equal percentage of them again. The number of bills in. troduced in the senate is much smaller, not only because of smaller membership. but because senators, do not as rule in. troduce so many bills in which they feel no personal interest, just to please some constituent.
 Senators are much interested in the cases of Senator Scott, of West Virginia
 wo Is charged with not having been le- gally elected, because the vote cast for him was not majority of the entire member ship of the legislature; of Senator Clark of Mont, who Is charged with having ob- tained his election by briber, and of Mr.
 Quay, who claims seat, on the appoint
 ment, of the governor of Pa., and who is opposed by the claim that the governor had no constitutional right to make tn. appointment, all of which are now in tn,
 hands of the committee on privileges or elections, and will be disposed of as rapid
 ly ..as possible. The phrase 'possessiol is nine points of the law" is especially ap
 plicable to the cases of the two senator
 who are already seated; the senate neve
 unseats member, except upon ths lstrongestr kind of frproof that he -haa n.