The Republican., 1900-11-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. -, 1900

his annual message to Congress, upon |
which he is now working. Only two I
weeks remain in which the message |
must be written and printed, and it |
will necessarily be quite long docu-
ment.
1t is generally understood that Con-
gress will provide for a Trans-Isth-
mian Canal at thissession, but wheth
er it will be the Hepburn Nicaragua
Canal bill that passed the House at
the last session and which was by
resolution of the Senate made the
special order for December 10, will de-
pend upon the recommendations
made by the Presidents message,
which will be accompanied by the re-
port of the Canal Commission upon
the most feasible route, all things
considered, for the Canal. The pre-
ponderance of sentiment in Congress
favors the Nicaragua route and that
the Canal shall be constructed and
controlled by the United States gov
ernment.
When a man yells before he is hit,
it is usually because he knows he de
serves to be hit. That is about what
is the matter with the Democrats
who are howling about the intention
OF the Republicans at this session of
Congress to pass reapportionment
bill reducing the representation of
those Southern states which have dis
franchised a large portion of their
voters. They know that the Repub-
licans in Congress haye the power to
do this thing and they fear it will be
exercised, as it would be by the Dem
ocrats if conditions were reversed. If
the Republican leaders have any in
tention of putting such legislation
through Congress, they are not Civ
ing any indication OF it at this time,
although few of them have public
ly said that it would be no more than
just punishment for those states. 1t
is not at all likely, however, that the
punishment will be administered.
There is much anxiety in Washing
ton because of the serious illness of
Senator Davis, of Minnesota. In ad-
dition to friendship for him because
of his many likable qualities, there is
a feeling that his counsel will be need
ed at the coming session of Congress.
His long experience as member of
and as chairman of the Senate Com
mittee on foreign relations has made
him an authority on everything per-
tanning to the foreign relations of this
government.
Attorney General Griggs is the only
member of the Cabinet who has yet
declined the Presidents pressing in
vltatiOn to the entire Cabinet to re-
tain their portfolios under his second
administration, and his declination
was based upon personal reasons-he
is poor man and cannot afford tC
remain in office where it costs him
more to live than the salary he re-
ceives, when there is lucrative law
practice awaiting his attention
There are two other members of the
Cabinet who are wavering between
their personal desire to retire and
their wish to please the President by
remaining in office, while it is under
stood that the other four have decid
ed to accept the Presidents invita-
ton, although they had not formally
done so.
The House Ways and Means Com
mittee will at once begin considering
the question of reporting bill to re
duce the internal revenue taxation
and Senator Aldrich, Chairman o
the Senate Committee on Finance
will call meeting of that committed
for the same purpose. Senator Al
drich said of the probable action o
his committee: ''It is impossible a
this time to say whether we can &C
complish anything in the way of re
duction. We hope to do SO, but how
much the amount will be or what di
rection we will take in securing tn
reduction, cannot be predicted unit
the Committee gets together ant
carefully reviews all the information
which is to be furnished by the Treas
ury Department" Secretary Gag
estimates the surplus of the presen
fiscal year at S0,000,000, and that o
the year beginning July l, 1901, a
$50, 0,000,000 the latter being based up
on continuation of present interna
revenue taxes.
Senator Hawley, Chairman of th
Committee on Military Affairs, eA
presses the opinion that the bill TO
the reorganization of the army, whic
Congress is expected to pass at tn
coming session, should provide for a
least 100000 men. Gen. Miles in hi
annual report, reiterates his recon
mendation that the army shall col
sist of one private for each thousan
of our population.
Senator Spooner, whose bill for til