Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-22
HE PREFERS TO WAIT
Would Not Anticipate Supreme Court
Decision.
M'COMAS ON NEGRO SUFFRAGE
Matters Likely to Be Taken Up by
Congress.
CANAL AND SUBSIDY BILL

Senator McComas of Maryland gave to
a Star reporter today his views on pros
pective legislation during the coming session
Of Congress, with especial reference to the
subject Of reapportionment and the prop
osition to decrease the number of representa-
tives from the SOUTH He said:
Il am informed that the House will pass
a reapportionment bill. hope that this
measure may increase the unit of represen-
tation, rather than the number of members.
1t Is better to have one member for every
100000 people than to have a large in
crease in the membership of the House. I
do not expect any legislation respecting the
suppression of the governed in the four
southern states, that is, Mississippi,
lima.
From the standpoint of the white demo-
crat, it is not fair that one white democrat
In South Carolina or Louisiana should count
two as against white democrat in Illinois,
who counts but one. Nc matter is settled
until it Is settled right, and this subject
would no doubt provoke much discussion.
To Await Judicial Decision.
1T would seem wise to await the decision
of the Supreme Court of the United States,
which must pass upon the grandfather
clause of the constitutional amendments
adopted in Louisiana and North Carolina,
before any action is taken. 1t is safe to
assume that the Supreme Court will shed
some light on this subject, and we will thus
be furnished with far more information
than could be brought out in a general dis
cussion at this time. think it wise for the
country and best for the country that there
should be no long and heated discussions
over the ADDOrtiOnment diminished
reSentat1on bills in this a very short and
crowded session. Should the Supreme
Court decide that the grandfather clause
Is unconstitutional, then this movement to
suppress suffrage In the black belt may fall
to the ground. The race question is a large
question for the southern people, and l fear
they have been shortsghted about it. The
slave has become a citizen. and they will
not solve the problem by degrading the citi-
zen to the level of a serf
: 1t may be difficult to do, but 1t may be
better plan to try to improve the negro
However, the reapportionment bill may well
Congress. perhaps. may await the decision
OF the Supreme Court before reaching
conclusion"
Canal and Subsidy Bills.
Il think the subsidy bill will pass during
this session." continued Senator McComas.
This bill will be pressed for early consid-
GRAFTON and vote, and I think that con-
servative measure will be agreed to by the
two houses. The Nicaraguan canal bill
will also be pressed. Everybody is in favor
OF this project, but everybody fears COM
pfcations which make predictions regard
ing the disposition of the bill unsafe per
sorally, I am in favor of the construction
OF the canal, and I am convinced that
American control must be unequiyocally
asserted,
Army REORGANIZATION.
THE bill for the reorganization of the
army is, Of course, imperative, and Con-
gress before framing and passing this bill
will be obliged to pay great heed to the
ideas and advice Of the War Department.
The amount Of taxes now accruing from
the war revenue act must be reduced and
have no doubt that 1t will be- l think il
more important to get rid of vexaticus
taxes than to abate the amount of reve-
nue. in any given sum. The navy will no
doubt be literally provided for curing the
session.
The Spooner Resolution.
II hope that Senator Spooner's general
resolution providing the proper legislation
for the Philippines will pass. This resolu-
ton is repetition of Jeffersonian demcc-
racy applied to new territory, and has been
sufficiently debated. This measure gives
the President discretionary power in the
government Oh lne fnlllpplne lSlanQS.
Apart from the extraordinary appropria-
tions entailed by the bills have mentioned
l trust appropriations in general may be
decreased wherever possible. The country
Is in very prosperous condition, and can
support extraordinary expenditures for new
matters that are of benefit to the whole
country, but in every other direction hope
for economy.
The Cuban Situation.
What we should do regarding the Cuban
situation depends on what has already been
done. In any event we are going to be
honest and straightforward and carry out
our pledges. Should the people of that is
land prove that they are worthy of self
government and capable of administering
their own affairs then they will be given
their independence. If they should fail to
manifest their capability in that direction
then the United States will stand respon-
sble before the world and when We cease
to be surety may eventually be COM
PEELED to become the principal