Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-12-12
WASHINGTON Letter.

President Mckinley has taken occa
sion to express his pleasure at tn
business-like manner in which con
gress has got down to work, to sena
tors and representatives who hav,
called on him. The house has beer
especially active. One of the big ap
preparation bills-legislative judicia
and executive-has been reported; thu
army reorganization bill, providing
for regular army of from So, 900 to
100, 900 men, in the discretion of the
president, has been reported anc
passed; the oleomargarine bill has beer
passed, and the revenue reduction
bill has been reported from the ways
and means committee. In the senate
the ship subsidy bill, which was taken
up by vote of SO to 20. the affirma-
tive votes being all Republican, is being
considered, and unless the Democrats
resort to fillibustering tactics will
shortly be passed; progress has been
made, in executive session, toward the
ratification of the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty, and the army bill has been in
troduced and referred to the military
committee. These are only the out
ward accomplishments. There has,
in addition, been an enormous amount
of work by the committees of both
house and senate toward preparing
other measures. All in all it is re-
markable beginning for the session,
and reflects credit upon both branches
of congress.
The men who are directing the
work of congress are thoroughly in
accord with the advice in the presi-
dents message concerning the danger
of being tempted into making extrav-
agant appropriations by the prosper
Gus condition of the national treasury.
The tempters are on hand in the per
sons of those who are asking for ex-
travagant appropriations for all sorts
Of things, but there will be no ex-
travagance. The country is rich
enough and prosperous enough for
liberality, but the Republicans do not
believe that any country is ever rich
enough or prosperous enough to, Justify
extravaganza, and no extravaganza
will be authorized by congress.
Senator Wellington declares that he
is still Republican, but in every vote
taken since the senate reassembled in
which party lines were drawn he has
voted with the Democrats, consequent
ly he is judged by his acts
and not by his words. While
Mr.. Wellington has not been cut by
the Republican senators, it must be
clearly evident to him that they shun
him.
Senator Fairbanks has introduced a
bill for the admission to the union as
a state Of Oklahoma, and providing
for two representative in congress.
The report of the Isthmian canal
commission favors the Nicaragua
route, as expected, and there is no
doubt that the bill for the Nicaragua
canal will become law at this session
of congress, although the Hepburn
bill which passed the house at the
last session and is now pending in the
senate may be amended before it is
passed. Owing to the number of
negotiated with England by Secretary
Hay during the last session of con-
gress, providing for the abrogation
of that portion of the Clayton-Bal-
wer treaty which pledges the United
States and England not to construct
an Isthmian canal without the consent
of both, should be ratified before the
canal bill is passed, Senator Lodge.
who has charge of the treaty, is push
ing it so as to clear the way for the
canal bill.
One feature of the ship subsidy bill,
now being considered by the senate as
the regular order of business. it's op-
ponents are careful to say nothing
about. 1t is that clause of the measure
which provides that all vessels re-
ceiving subsidy are required to carry
the ocean mails of the United States
free of charge, and in case Of war
may be impressed by this government
as auxiliary cruisers or transports.
The Nebraska Republican club, of
Washington, held a jollifcation meet
ing tonight that was a corker. Among
the prominent speakers who assisted
the Nebraskans to rejoice over the re-
turn of their state to the Republican
column, where it is likely to stay.
were Senators Hanna, Burrows, and
Dolliver, and Representative Grosven-
or. President Mckinley sent letter,
the reading of which aroused the en-
thusiasm of the meeting to the highest
pitch.
A section of the army bill gives the
president authority to satisfactorily
dispose of the Egan case by placing
him on the retired list. The section
in question empowers the president
to retire any officer who is suspended
by a court-martial for period to Or
within one year of the date of his COM
pulsory retirement for age. 1t is
understood that this clause was put in
the bill because General Eagan de-
clined to apply for retirement under
the voluntary law.
A Gil al