The Press., 1900-05-03
washington Letter.


Little more important legislation, out
side of the regular appropriation bills,
need be expected from this session of
congress. This has been plainly indicated
on the floor of the senate, where the
power of the minority is not a tradition,
but an insurmountable fact. This Is
presidential year and the minority scent
politics in every measure of Importance.
In other presidential years, the majority
has fought for measures, not to pass them
but to emphasize political issues; but
this year, the majority seems to regard
fighting unnecessary for that purpose and
to be anxious to hurry the necessary bust
ness through and adjourn. That is the
situation to-day. A single speech on
either side may upset all calculations and
precipitate political fight, which may
lengthen the session beyond the early
June days in which adjournment is now
confidently expected.
The house will this week take up and
pass the Nicaragua canal bill, and Sem
ator Morgan is confident that 1t will pass
the senate, but others are not so confident.
It is an open secret in Washington that
the administration would, for several
reasons prefer that the senate leave the
bill Enacted upon at the present session,
although it will not go to the extent Of
openly antagonizing measure that Is so
popular, but there are tricks In all trades,
and it will be an easy matter for expert
enced parliamentarians to SO manipulate
the business of the senate that the canal
bill will not get to a vote in the senate, at
the present session, without seeming to
be seeking to delay that measure.
1t Is denied by officials Of the depart
ment of state that any intimation has
been received of objection on the part of
Russia or of any other European govern
ment, to pressure being exerted by this
government to compel the sultan of Tur-
key to pay the claims for American
missionary property destroyed by Turks.
There has been much gossip because
of the nomination of the president and
confirmation by the senate Of Rev. John
J. Girimondi, of Mimi, Catholic priest,
to the U. s. Consul at Santos, Brazil.
About the only reason for the gossip
appears to be that no other Catholic
priest has ever been given place in our
consular or diplomatic service. An Of
fetal connected with the department of
state, said of that phase of the matter :
Dc f,1fi
mercial, and if Father Girimondi is the
first Catholic priest to be given the po-
sition, it is probably only because he is
the first one who has applied with support
enough to attract the favorable notice of
the appointing powers, as the selection OF
ministers of other denominations to be
consuls has been quite common, and no
reason exists to my knowledge for dis
eliminating against the Catholic clergy.
In this particular case, 1t Is probable that
American merchants doing business with
Brazil, asked for the appointment, be-
lieving that it would be good policy to
have their commercial interests represent
ed by Catholic in a country where the
influential elements are Catholic" 1t is
| the Catholics who are doing the most
| talking about this appointment, and some
of them are predicting that the church
| authorities will interfere and prevent
Father Girimopdi accepting the position.
| The vote of SO against and for the
motion of Senator Pettus, of Ala. to send
a resolution declaring Senator Scott. OF
West Virginia. entitled to his seat. back
| to the committee on elections. with in.
structions 10 investigate further, makes
| it certain that the senate as at present
composed, fully accepts the doctrine that
the senate has no legal right to go behind
the election Of senator by state legis.
lature. The three dissenters we're Sen
ators Morgan and Pettus, of Ala, and
Turner. Of Washington.
Under the rules of the senate. 1t Is i'm
possible to force vote upon any measure
opposed by determined minority. Sen
ator Jones, of Ark, the leader of the
democrats, has publicly statedssthat the
army reorganization bill, which provides
for making Gen. Miles a 'lieutenant-gen
eral, and Gen. Corbin, a major general
for increasing the artillery branch of the
regular army, and for doubling the mum
Der of cadets at the West Point military
academy, will not be allowed to pass a.
this session of the senate. The admins
tration has been pressing this bill fol
sometime, and it was to quiet some O
the opposition thereto that the promotion
of Gen. Miles, who is not a favorite O.
the administration, was included therein
Considerable interest has been displayed
in congressional circles in an oficia
statement of Gen. Wood, showing tina
sc, 800 men In Cuba have registered them
selves as citizens of Spain, temporarily
residing on the island, In accordance will
the clause of the Paris treaty, giving al
foreign born residents of Cuba, one yea
to decide whether they would retain thei
allegiance to their mother country, or be
come citizens of Cuba. 1t is somewha
surprising to most persons that so man,
should have chosen to remain subjects O
Spain, which will shut them out of an,
participation in the government of Cub,
when our military government is with
drawn.
| COLD STEEL OR DEATH. -"There is bu
one small chance to save your life, and tina
prospect set before Mrs. I. B. Hunt O
Lime Ridge, Wis, by her doctor afte
vainly trying to cure her of frightfu
case of stomach trouble and yellow jaun
dice. He didn't count on the marvellou,
| nower IF Elecrric Rittoro tn ouro Stonoo al