The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-11-30
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondents

aSnlngtOn u. u, NOV. LZd, ISUl
! is generally understood that Con
gress will provide for Prans-I Isthmian
: canal at this session, but whether it
will be the Hepburn Nicaragua Canal
that passed the House at the last ses-
sion and which by resolution of the
Senate made the special order for Dec.
10, will depend upon the recommends
tions made by the Presidents message
, which will be accompanied by the re-
port OF the Canal Commission upon
the most feasible route, all things-c con-
sidered, for the Canal. The prepon-
derance of sentiment in Congress fa-
vors the Nicaragua route and that the
Canal shall be constructed and control
led by the U. S. government.
When a man yells before he d 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 bowling about the intention OF the
republicans at this session of Congress
to pass reapportionment bill reducing
the representation of those Southern
states which have disfranchlsed a
large portion of their voters. They
know that the republicans in Congress
have the power to do this thing and
they fear it will be exercised, as 1t
would be by the democrats if the con-
ditlons were reversed. If the republi-
can leaders have any intention of put
ting such legislation through Congress
they are not giving any indication Of
it at this time, although few of them
have publicly 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 admins
tered.
Attorney General Griggs is the only
member of the Cabinet who hasyet
declined the Presidents pressing in
vitation to the entire Cabinet to retain
their portfolios under his second ad-
mlnistration, and his declination was
based upon personal reasons-he is a
poor man and feels that he cannot af-
ford to remain in Office where it costs
HIM more to live than the salary he
receives, when there is a lucrative law
practice awaiting his attention. There
are two other members of the Cabinet
] who are wavering between their per-
sonal desire to retire and their wish to
please the President by remaining in
office, while it is understood that the
other four have decided to accept the
Presidents invitation, although they
have 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 Aldricb, Chairman OF the
Senate. Committee ON Finance, will
call a meeting of that committee for
for the same purpose. Senator Aldrich
said of the probable action of his COM
mittee "It is impossible at this Time
to say whether we can accomplish
anything in the way of "a reduction.
We hope to do so, but how much the
amount will be or what direction we
will take in securing the reduction,
cannot be predicted until the Commit
tee gets together and carefully reviews
all the information which is to be fur
nished by the Treasury Department"
Secretary Gage estimates the surplus
of the present fiscal year at $50, 900 900,
and that of the year beginning July 1,
1901, at $50, 100000, the latter being
based upon a continuation of present
internal revenue taxes.
Senator HawleyI Chairman of the
Committee on Military fairs. express
ses the opinion that the bill for the re-
organization of the army, which Con-
gress is expected to pass at the coming
session, should provide for at least 100,
600 men. Gen Miles, in his annual
report, reiterates his recommendation
that the army shall consist of one pri-
vate for each thousand of our popula-
| ton.
Senator Spooner, whose bill for the
government of tile Philippines Is PEN
ding, said of probable action ;."I be-
lieve that my bill ought TO pass and ]
hope that action will be taken. I
have not had an opportunity, however
to consult with my colleagues and /
cannot say what will be done. 1t may
be that they will consider it wiser to
wait until the situation in the Philip
pines is clearer before enacting any
| legislation atall.
/ Congress will have its attention
strongly called to the necessity for an
American trans-P Pacific cable by the
annual report Of Gen. Greely, Chief
Signal Officer oi the army, and the re-