The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-11-22
The Coming Session Of Congress.

will be in many respects an excit-
ing one. 1t will be short one, ex-
piriug by limitation ON March 4
next, but will he crammed full of
incident. Three important meas.
ures will he taken up-the ship
sn sidy steal, the army increase
bill, and the new Congressional re-
apportionment. The first named Is
undoubtedly one of the most shame
less raids upon the Treasury at
tempted since the bonanza of the
salary grab and the Credit Mobili.
ger, thirty years ago. That bill,
when enacted, will be a heavy
drain upon the Treasury for years
TO come and will furnish the oppor-
tunity for another gigantic trust to
control shIpbuilding and ocean
transportation. 1t will for years
stand as one of the obstacles in the
way of any reduction of taxation,
and after 1t is firmly established its
repeal will be. declared impossible
on account of impairment of "vest-
ed interests" It is likely that
othing will stand in the way of
the enactment of the bill at this
session. 1t was introduced last
winter, but was allowed to go over
on account of the election.
The arrant had faith Of the Re-
publican administration is shown
by the fact that while the votes
we're being cast an order was being
prepared in the War Department
revoking all orders for the return
of the volunteers from the Philip
pines. This, it was frankly declar-
ed was to be issued no matter
which side should win, and it has
now been issued. In other words,
it was practically confessed that
all the talk about retiring the vol
unteers because the war was over
was merely prediction CUFF, in
tended to fool the voters and not to
be carried out. While it is not
stated when the instructions to be.
gin the transportation of volunteers
home will be renewed, it is expect
ed that under present arrange
ments the entire force Will remain
on duty in the Philippines until
February or March, and meantime
it is the understanding OF the War
Department officials that the com.
ing session of Congress will adopt
some law for the increase of the
army, 80 that IL may not be neces-
sary to return the entire force.
This must be done this winter as
the army will be reduced by exist
ing law to about 27,000.0OO on July
l next. The theory of Congress in
passing the law, was that tho con-
guest of the Philippines Islands
would be completed by the time it
expired. But the strength and
spirit of the people of those islands
and their love OF liberty we're un-
derestimated. 1t is. now necessary,
If their conquest is to be completed,
to continue the army on u war foot
ing possibly for an indefinite period.
Provision has already been made
for the education of a larger mum.
ber of officers at West Point, thus
indicating that the Administration
has no expectation of ever reduc-
ing the army to 25,000,00O, which
was the total before the Spanish
war.
There will be bitter fight over
the new apportionment if any at
tempt is made to reduce southern
representation on the plea that the
negros have been disfranchised.
Fortunately, it is extremely diff
cult to frame a law that will hit the
south, without also injuring north
ern states like Massachusetts,
which DISTINGUISHES all illiterates.
Probably, if it is resol we'd to at
tempt to pass such a law, the whole
matter will be postponed until the
next Congress, as the new appor-
tionment will not be used until the
election of 1902, though it is desir.
able to adopt it as soon as possible,
so that the various legislatures
may redistrict their territory in
accordance with possible changes
in the number of their representa-
tiyes,