The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1900-12-06
In SESSION
E Legislation that will
Come Up this Term.
ARMY OF 100000 men.
lecOmmen nded.-AISO Building Of
Nicaragua Canal.

Nicaragua Canal.
VaShington, December Con
Is is in full blast. The great COM
ees on Ways and Means, Rivers
Harbors, Merchant Marine, Re-
p1 ionment and Agriculture have
most important measures on
ch they desire action at this ses-
and each is now crowding for
liberation for its bill. Add, the
arauguan Canal bill and the CO.
led Hay-Pauncefote abomina-
and treaties with Nicaragua
Costa Rica, will have to be con-
red, to say nothing of fifteen
at appropriation bills, it will be
that the session will be a busy
So busy will it be that reap
tionment and ship subsidy are
b likely to be allowed to 60 over
the next session. Certainly, if
Democrats care to make a fight
inst them, as they certainly will
inst the latter and probably will
inst the former unless it is drawn
suit them, their passage can easily
prevented. The same is true of
1 -Pauncefote treaty, but the
mocrats will be chary of fighting
Il, although they will vote against
because if they do SO they will
bably be held responsible for the
ay in constructing the Nicarau-
bn Canal.
On army legislation, there will
bbably be little or no opposition,
bess the Republicans attempt to
ce through some measure faslen-
a standing army on the country.
Ie Democrats, it is understood,
1l stand ready to give the Presi-
bit whatever army he wants, if he
b consent to have it ge out of ex-
|ence when the Philippine situation
Ill permit. If the Republicans in
b on the Root bill, however, a fight
eertain. Secretary Root has sent
Rtter to the Military Affairs Com
Zee asking Congress to authorize
army whose minimum
lie shell be about $4,000 and
hose maximum shall be alittle over
900. The actual number at any
ne between these limits is to be
ed by the President, who will in
ease it or reduce it by enlisting OF
priyates, the regimental
rmations remaining unchanged,
We regiments of cavalry, five of in
ntry, five of artillery and two bat
ions of engineers are asked in ad-
lion to the present standing army
$4,000 men, the minimum force
each being as now provided by
". The Secretary says, that ex-
rience with volunteers has shown,
at by placing experienced officers
their head they become remarka-
' efficient in very short time, but
at the experiment has been a most
pensive one for the country, COM
red to what would have been the
Sc had the same number of troops
en- raised for three years. service
regulars. This excess of cost
ises from the necessity for sending
ese regiments many thousand miles
,ay from home for a short term of
ryice, during which the allowances
E much greater than would be the
se if their service extended over
rec years. The Democrats will
oppose this bill unless the
hit of the President to increase
E army to the maximum is made
nditional on the existence of war,
the Philippines or elsewhere, and
not left to his mere whim.
The Republicans will again make
bluff at passing the reciprocity
,aties negotiated last winter but
owed to 60 over until after the
.ction, owing to the protests OF
ople whom the party managers
not dare to ignore at that time.
le chances are, however, that
thing will be accomplished.
fact, we might as well strike
out of our national pol
:, although it has been prominent
republican platforms for many
ars. The history of legislation on
is subject demonstrates, that while
:, as nation are in favor of the
inciple, we are opposed to the
actice. One of the first reciprocity
eaties ever made in the United
ates was negotiated by General
rant with the Republic Of Mexico,
arly twenty years ago, and if it
d been allowed to go into effect
E would now have monopoly OF
e trade Of our nearest neighbor,
nich amounts to something like
5O,OOO,OOO a year; but through
e influence of the cattle growers,