Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03

question remains dead they will stand a
fair chance of attaining their statehood.
The shipping subsidy bill introduced in the
senate by Mr.. Hanna and in the house by
Representative Payne of New York, but not
voted upon, will be introduced again in the
early stages of the session. Its object. as
claimed by its sponsors is the revival of our
merchant marine upon the high seas
The Roberts case in the house as the
movement to oust the Utah representative
is styled, attracts much attention. So far as
the movement is directed against him be-
cause he is a Mormon, it is idle. Under the
constitution and laws of the United States
a Mormon has the same right to sit in con-
gress that a Christian or a Jew has, the
same right, no more, no less. So far as it
concerns his alleged practice of polygamy, It
is a matter of proof as to the facts and OF
construction as to the law. 1t will per-
haps be found that the case is rather one
against the state of Utah for breach OF the
compact under which it was admitted into
the union than against Roberts. If Utah has
violated its compact with congress, Roberts
seat may be vacated and new election had
The senate has its own troubles over the
rights of members to seats Matthew STAN
ley Quay will present himself with an ap-
pointment from Governor Stone Of Penn
sylvania, made after the legislature of the
Keystone state had tried for many weeks to
elect. 1t presents the old question of the
right of the governor of a state to appoint
senator when the legislature has had an
opportunity to elect and has failed The SEN
ate has consistently refused in recent years
to seat gubernatorial appointee under such
circumstances. The only doubtful factor in
his case is the view the new senators will
take of the matter. The senate as rule Is
great stickler for precedent and all pre-
cedents have been against Quay's contention.
The senate may be called upon to act. as
to charges against Senator Clark of Mon
tana and Senator Taliaferro OF Florida.
Their election by the legislatures of their
respective states is beyond dispute, but the
claim is made in each case that the elec-
ton was brought about by improper means.
In the case OF Clark the fight against him
is waged by Marcus Daily and his agents;
in that of Taliaferro by former Senator Call,
whom he defeated for reelection.
In Senator Clark's case the aminus is
purely personal DAILY is a democrat as well
as Clark. Both are multimillionaries, each
having made his money out of copper, DAILY
as the managing owner of the Anaconda
mine, Clark as an individual operator. There
was a time when they were friends, but
DAILY grew jealous of Clark when the latter
began to forge ahead as a fnancier and poll
tician and, as he is a famous hater, set out
to block Clark's ambition at every turn. He
succeeded in 1883 in defeating Clark for the
house by electing Tom Carter, now Clark 8
colleague in the senate. This kept Clark
in the background until last winter. The
legislature was democratic and after pro-
longed and bitter struggle Clark pulled
through. His rival refused to abandon the
fight and is now carrying it to the senate.
Clark Is a short, slender man with dark
eyes, brown hair, and reddish brown nous
tache and beard. He is a great patron Of
fine arts, as was demonstrated when he out
bid George Gould and other New York
millionaires, paying $4,000 for Fortuny's
celebrated painting Choosing a Model"
Senator Taliaferro OF Florida, whom his
predecessor Call, is trying to keep out OF
his seat, is as yet unknown to Washington.
in both branches of congress this winter.
The Industrial commission provided by the
last congress has been taking testimony in
regard to trusts and their effect and will
report early in the winter. A senate COM
mittee has also been taking some testimony
bearing upon this veXed subject. One result
is apt to be legislation strengthening the
hands of the Interstate commerce commits
sion. Legislation looking to the restriction
OF the vast corporations will be attempted,
that is as to such OF them as are engagei
In interstate traffc. Radical and drastic
measures 10 regulate them will doubtless
be introduced, but congress is not likely to
take any action that would lead to violent
disturbance of business affairs
The military arms of the government will
both seek increase, the navy OF ships and
men, the army of men, II is argued that II
the United States is to maintain the naval
prestige gained in the Spanish war it Is
necessary to enlarge the navy by adding
more battleships, more cruisers, and more
fghting machines generally. Legislation in
regard to the army will be imperative, 1t is
urged, inasmuch as the law under which
the new United States volunteer regiments
have been raised will expire June 30, 1901.
The limit usually fixed by the advocates Of
an enlarged permanent establishment for
the army is 100000 men, including Infantry,
cavalry field artillery, and coast defense
artillery Congress will do something for
both army and navy
Finally is left for consideration what this
congress will do on the monetary question.
The joint conference committees appointed
last winter by the republican caucuses OF
the two houses have framed their bill and
reported it TO the bodies from which they
derived their authority to act. In the main
# seems to be satisfactory but it has to
pass through the regular committees OF the
two houses and afterward through the
houses It may be that nothing more than