The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-27
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

Rumored Mc-sngc.-It is being
quietly whispered around the corridors of
the Capitol that the President is preparing
a special message TO Congress, covering
the = hole subject Of the Administration S
colonial policy. Presumably Mr.. Mckin-
ley believes this to be the safest course to
pursue now. In neither end Of the Capt.
tol have any of his party's leaders shown
themselves capable OF setting forth to the
country in satisfactory manner the Admin
istration's position and intentions. Innu-
merable members of the House have taken
whack at it, but have only made mess
of it. as revealed by the powerful logic of
the Hon. Charles f. Littlefield of Maine. to
say nothing of the telling assaults made
by the Democratic leaders of the House.
In the Senate M. Beveridge undertook,
more than a month ago. to exploit the Ad-
ministration's policy, burt the position he
defined has been repudiated by several OF
his Republican colleagues, Mr.. Woicott
making the first attack upon it. Since Mr..
Beveridge's failure Mr.. Foraker, Mr..
Spooner Mr.. Perkins. and Mr.. Fairbanks
have tried their hands at the explaining
business. all to no effect. The Oxnard bill
is the lion in the path of all Of these gen.
tlemen, and the burly Senator Tillman has
put TO route all of the defenders of the
party's policy. Mr. McKinley's rumored
intention to send a communication on the
subject of the insular possessions is taken
as an indication of the realization on his
part of the necessity of an ADLER and
clearer defence of his policy than has yet
been made. II is said that he will give the
reasons that induced him to repudiate his
plain duty" message Of December and
use the great power of his office to coerce
timid members OF the House into support
OF the Oxnard bill. If the message is sent
it will mark one of the most peculiar pro-
ceedings ever taken by an occupant OF the
White House. and will be evidence that
there is more uneasiness in the party coun-
ellis at present than the Mckinley mana
gers are willing to admit publicly.
stu DiscOurnEed.-The st. Louis
Worlds Fair boomers continue to be very
unhappy. Though they have finally in
duced Speaker Henderson to treat them
with the poor courtesy of appointing spe-
cial committee to look into the project, yet
the special committee has never held
meeting, and it's chairman, Representative
Tawney of Minnesota, has gone away from
Washington to save himself from destruc-
lion at home for the part he took in fore
ing upon the party the OXnard Porto Fican
bill Then, again, Speaker Henderson put
upon the committee six Republicans and
only three Democrats-an unusual, indeed,
an unprecedented partisan predominance in
constituting a committee charged with
such purely nom partisan duties. Until Mr..
Tawney returns there can be no meeting
of the committee and as business in Min
nesota will probably keep him there sew
era! weeks, il is evident that the st. Louis
Worlds Fair bill will be delayed until the
end Of the session is in sight. Speaker
Henderson placed upon the committee The
Hon. Charles Felicity JOY one of the he
publican Representatives from St Louis.
who occasionally visits the House, but NJ.
Joy is so far down on the list of memoirs
that he cannot hope TO WELD much inTiu-
ence in shaping the required legislation.
Speaker, for some inexplicable reason. is
opposed to the St. Louis project and that
the enterprise will have to be abandoned |
unless the Federal aid asked is granted at
this session of Congress. 1t is the first |
time in the history of such affairs that 50
many obstacles have been thrown in the
way by Congress. The States comprised
within the Louisiana Purchase, the CEN |
tennia of which II is desired to celebrate |
dl 81 l-uutS III lSV'. nave otHSHtS -oLV
members in the House and thirty in the
Senate. This is nearly one-fourth of the
joint membership of Congress, and it
would seem that this large proportion |
ought to be able to exert more influence in |
the National Legislature than is manifest |
ed by the slow progress made by the St. !
Louis bill There can be no politics in the |
unless it is that the railroads |
and other influences of the Northwest are |
afraid of the effect upon that section CT the |
country should those States make exhibits |
of their resources alongside of exhibits |
from the naturally rich but poorly devel- |
oped States of the Southwest. IL is init |
mated that this is what causes Speaker |
Henderson and other representatives of |
the Northwestern States to show such sn |
apparent lack of interest in the fair.