Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1900-12-06
Washington Letter.
(From Our Regular Correspondent).

This government has once more taken
the diplomatic lead in Chinese affairs.
firing of the seemingly endless dead
lock OF the foreign ministers at Pekin,
and believing that their personal ex-
perences had aroused their prejudices to
such an extent that 1t would be well nigh
impossible for them 10 agree upon the
demands to be made upon the govern
ment OF China, for the punishment OF
the inciters OF the boxer troubles and
the amount OF the money indemnity
which should be paid the powers, this
government has boldly taken stand in
favor OF ending the deadlock by stopping
the present negotiations and making q
fresh start by the appointment of repre-
sentatives Of each Of the powers con-
cerncd, to an international commission |,
or congress. to meet at The Hague, or
some other place outside OF China, and
formulate the demands which the |
powers shall make upon China. The
idea has been endorsed by several Of the
powers and it is expected to get the |
approval of them all. 1t seems TO offer
commonsense way out OF the mix'up
in Pekin, which has steadily been grow
ing worse instead OF better.
The reply Of ex-senator Wilson, Of the
state Of Washington, when asked what
brought him to the national capital at
this time, may be considered somewhat
unique, compared with the object OF
other gentlemen who are, like Mr.. Viii
son, members of the dominent party.
He said: 81 want nothing, and have
come here to ask for nothing. My wife
and have come East where our daugh
ter is in school. wanied to get away
from business and politics for little
while and plan to stay away until after
Christmas "
Whatever the beer and tobacco men
can do on the floor OF the House, where
they threaten to carry the fight, there is
no doubt Of their having been complete
y routed in the first battle on tie bill
for the reduction OF the war taxes, made
before the subcommittee composed OF
Representatives Payne. of New York
Dalzell, Of Pennsylvania, and Hopkins,
OF Illinois which has prepared bill,
estimated to cut the annual revenue he
tween twenty and thirty million dollars,
without reducing the tax on beer or on
any class OF tabacco. The bill may, Of
course, be changed before being reported
to the House, during the first week Of
the session, but as it nov stands, ii re-
peals only those stamp taxes about
which there has been the most com
plant. 1t lie said that the beer men
might have got reduction had ii not
been for the report 80 generally circu-
lated during the campaign that Senator
Hanna had promised them reduction
in exchange for campaign contributions,
1t was pointed out by many influential
party men that IL the brewers taxes
weie reduced it would be accepted by
the public as confirming that report.
Representative Hit, Of Illinois, chair
man OF the House committee on foreign
affairs, does not expect that committee
20 take a conspicuous part in the legis-
laton of the session. lie said, when
asked OF the probable work ahead Of the
committee 81 suppose there will be
some questions for discussion before the
Foreign Affairs committee, this winter,
although cannot say there will be much
important business to be brought before
the House. The diplomatic appropri-
alton bill will be prepared early, as
usual at the short session."
Representative Russell, Of Connecti-
cut, a member Of the House, Ways and
Means committee, expressed this
opinion Of the work of the session: 81
think the revenue bill will be the first
important measure taken up, II will
probably come ahead Of the appropria.
ton bills and the army bill, as it will be
ready for presentation the first day Of
the session. rhe army bill may be the
next important measure taken up.
Neither will require much time and both
should be disposed Of without delay. |
cannot see that any legislation will be
necessary at tins session, for the Philip
pines or Porto Rico. reapportion-
menl bill should be passed before the epd
Of the session, and | believe the ship
subsidy bill should also be passed
Little can be done for Cuba until the
result Of the constitutional convention
is known"
II has been expected from the frsI
that the Canal commission would repor
in favor Of Nicaragua Canal and no on,
was surprised when Il was learned tina,
the preliminary report, now in the hand
Of the president, strongly favored th'
Nicaragua route, because Of its bein,
cheaper and easier 10 construct than j
Noulu ut W Aohplhlf NgIh bH tl'
Panama route. The presidents messag,
will probably follow the recommends
tons Of the Canal commission aud !
seems reasonable to suppose that con
gress will do Likewise but the Panaml
company'z lobby ists nov In Washington
have by no means abandoned the field
They have succeeded in heading of leg
islAtion for the Nicaragua canal before
when congressional and public sentimen
was overwhelmingly in favor Of II, an,
they hope to do 30 again. It is a hgh
for life with the Panama company, az /
will be az good ~ dead the minute tha
this government il fully committed Il
and the money provided for the con
' struction Of the Nicaragua canal