The Press., 1900-11-22

Washington, Nov. 19, 1900.
A quorum of the senate could easily be
mustered in Washington to-day. Senators
Of the dominant party are talking very
cautiously of what will be done at this
session of congress, and some of the most
influential of them are frowning down the
idea of reducing the repr esentation in
congress and the electoral college of those
southern states which have constitution
ally disfranchised some of their voters,
and the president is also being quoted
against the scheme, which now seems to
have next to no chance of going through.
Minority senators are reticent. They say
that it depends entirely upon the attitude
Of the majority whether the session is a
business one or political bear garden.
Senator Harris, of Kansas, one of the
minority said. "We face grave questions
that must be solved and they ought to be
acted upon with all the wisdom and fore
sight the nation can summon. 1t would
be folly for the republicans to prevent
harmonious action on those subjects by
angering the minority through the passage
of a reapportionment bill that would de-
crease representation from the southern
states. I do not believe the republicans
will try such thing. They want harm
ony at this session of congress-"
That the cut In war taxes cannot be
made very deep by this congress Is made
apparent by Secretary Cages estimates
for the current and the next fiscal year.
This year the excess of receipts over ex-
penditures will be about $50 ,OOO, 900, but
the estimates for the next fiscal year is
that it will only be $50, 900 600, If the war
taxes are left undisturbed and the present
average of receipts therefrom be main-
tanned. That is why 1t is not believed
that the bill for the revision of the war
taxes, which is now being considered by
the ways and means committee of the
house, will reduce the war taxes more
than $15, 1000, 600; and If the wrangling
among the various interest seeking re-
duction or repeal of some of the war taxes,
gets too warm, there may be no reduction
at all.
Gen. Miles, in his annual report, again
urges the necessity for thorough re-
organization Of the army and for the en-
largement of the regular army to at least
one man for every thousand of our popu-
lation., He Is very emphatic in declaring
that we have not enough regular troops
at home. In his own words "The force
has been so much reduced, that at the
present time there are not one-fourth
enough troops properly to care for and
man the Notifications which have been
erected on the sea coast at an expenditure
of nearly $55, 900, ,OOO."
Congressional Investigations are never
treated with any too much respect i1
Washington, because very few Of them
have ever been SO conducted as to com,
mand the respect of unprejudiced persons.
Present indications are that the investiga-
| tioR Of the expenditures and receipts In
Cuba, since it has been under American
control, ordered by resolution adopted by
the senate at the last session of congress
when the Nicely case was disgusting
honest people, will be no exception to the
rule. The senate committee on relation
with Cuba was charged with making this
Investigation, and as starter, it called
on the war and other departments for q
complete statement of m oneys handled In
Cuba. Although that was months ago
the committee only held its second meet.
ing several days ago, and after carefully
excluding the newspaper men, solemnly
adopted motion to adjourn subject to the
call Of the chairman, because the informa-
tion asked for was not complete, which
probably means that no actual investiga
tioh will ever be made by the senator's
Some day they may make report on the
figures submitted to them by the depart
mehts.