The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-05-10
Washington Letter.
Washington, May z, 1900.

Ifeonfidence In himself and in the bill
he advocates could Of itself win, Senator
Morgan would succeed in getting the
Nicaragua canal bill, which was passed
in the house last week, through the SEN
ate at the present session; but it will re-
quire votes, which the exigencies of poll
tics, or at least the will of political lead
ers, have placed beyond Senator Morgan's
reach. Senator Allen stated the case In a
nutshell when he said, speaking for the
majority: "We want to adjourn in six
weeks or less time, and we cannot permit
new legislation to be brought forward
and thus probably prolong the session
beyond the time we have determined upon
bringing 1t to close"
The talk OF few senators makes it
reasonably certain that the Clark resolu-
tion will not be voted upon in hurry,
ard there is a possibility that it may not
devoted upon at the present session.
Seeing no probability of early action on
the Nicaragua canal treaty, by the senate,
Secretary Hay and the British ambassa-
Dor have signed an agreement extending
the time in which ratifications of the
treaty may be exchanged seven months
from August 5, next.
The senate, by vote of A to 8, de-
clared its approval of the clause of the
army reorganization bill, providing that
the senior major-general commanding the
army shall have the rank and pay of a
Acknowledgement, and approved without
a division, the clause providing that the
adjutant- general of the army shall have
the rank and pay of a major general. AL
though no names are used, everybody un-
derstands that these promotions are in
tended for Gen. Miles and Gen. Corbin,
two officers who have little love for each
other, and who have been on opposite
sides of every army controversy connect
ed with the war with Spain. The army
reorganization bill also provides for an
increase of 100 In the number of cadets at
West Point, two from each state and ten
at large also for an increase In the artil-
lery branch of the regular army. The
curious thing about this legislation is that
only week ago Senator Jones Of Arkan-
sas publicly stated that the minority
would allow none of 1t to get through the
senate. The minority apparently under
went change of mind.
/ Ben Butler once said that congress had
never enacted law that four-horse
team could not be driven through. That
may have been an exaggeration, but it Is
a fact that thorough legislation is almost
unknown. Public attention Is seldom
called to the error of omission and COM
mission in minor laws, but who remem-
bers an important law passed that did not
Isse to be followed By legislation to wipe
out flaws or fill gaps? Although the bill
providing form of government for the
territory of Hawaii was before congress
for months, it Is far from being even a
reasonably perfect law, and additional
legislation must be had before the law
goes into effect. The new law failed to
provide for collector of customs for Ha-
wall, although it establishes four ports of
entry it leaves doubt as to the author
ity of Secretary Gage to pay the Hawaii an
public debt as provided by the annexa-
| tion treaty; also as to the right of the
postmaster-genera to extend the postal
laws to the island without further legisla-
tion. One of the things that congress
ought to have is thoroughly competent
bill editor, whose sole duty it should be to
go carefully over every bill before final
vote Is taken upon it, and report whether
| it is properly drawn to accomplish whaI
1t is intended to accomplish. Whether
there is man living fitted for such po.
sition is an open question.
| 1t Is daily becoming more doubtful
whether the senate committee on elections
will make report on the joint resolution
passed by the house providing for a con
stitutional amendment for the election o.
senators by direct vote of the people
The subject was discussed at the las
meeting of the committee, but the talh
did not indicate early action.
The investigation by the house military
committee of the use of federal troops IL
Idaho, in connection with the mining la
Dor troubles, which has been going OF
nearly three months, closed to-day. It'll
practically certain that the committet
will make two reports, the majority justi
flying the use Of federal troops and tn,
declaration of martial law by the govern
ment, and the minority condemning both
1t is also probable that the division in th'
committee will be on political lines.
Delegations continue to come to Wash
ington for the purpose Of arguing for tn
repeal of this or that portion of the staml
taxes, although it is perfectly we'll under
stood In congress that nothing will b
done until next winter. If men hav
money to waste in travelling expense
they can, of course, do it; this is fre
country.
Logical.