Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-01-03
Washington Letter.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent.
W.suxoroS Dac o. 1ooo

government, than the current talk abou
v the decision of the supreme court, in tn
cases involving the constitutional statu
4 OF Porto Rico and the Philippines, on
OF which was argued just before tn
court took holiday recess, and will b
decided in the near future. Will
opinion is mnch divided as to what tn
decision will be, ii is unanimous that
will settle the much argued question
In other words, that no matter whethe
this decision shall uphold the construc
ton put upon the constitution by the ad
ministration in its dealings with ou
new possessions, or shall upset it are
make an entire reversal of policy neces
sary, it will be accepted as final b.
everybody. There have been decisions
OF the supreme court that were unpopu
lar. but there has never been one tina
was not accepted. This reflects as much
credit upon the good sense and patriotism
OF the people, as upon the wisdom ant
integrity of the men who have beer
honored by membership OF that court
which has been called 1.-THE Greatest
Legal Tribunal on earth" The second
case involving the same general question
has been set for argument on January
9TH, after which the court will, it is ex-
pected, consider the cases and prepare
its decision.
A comparatively small nun Der OF
senators and representatives remain in
| Washington for their holiday, and the
capitol is almost deserted today, excep!
by the sight seers and few OF the
regular employees. None OF the House
or senate committees are sitting during
the recess, which is something unusual.
Senator Chandler has met the charge
that he had lost the support of his party
associates by his attitude on the silver
question, by securing letters of endorse.
ment and praise from twenty four re-
publican senators. These letters have
been printed for circulation in New
Hampshire
The senate committee on agriculture,
which has been giving hearings on the
oleomargarine BILL: will not sit during
the recess, but will resume the hearings
January 8, the day thaj congress re-
assemblies. The fight over this bill
promises TO be quite as vigorous as It
was in the House, but il vote is reached
1t will probably pass.
Chairman Burton, OF the house river
and harbor committee, has made public
the river and harbor bill, just completed
by that committee, and which will be
reported to the house as soon &c con-
gress reassembles. The bill carries in
round figures $50 900, 900 Of which about
$23, 900, 900 is in direct appropriations and
about S37 100000 for the payment OF con-
tracts for continuous work authorized by
previous bills. Large as the amount
carried by the bill is, there is much dis
satisfaction among members because
projected improvements in their dis.
tricts are not provided for, and it is
among the possibilities that the bill may
be amended in the House. The largest
amount ever carried by river and Lar.
Dor bill was in the bill OF 1897, which
provided for the expenditures of $72,.
275 ,954.
Gossip is busy with the doiugs Of the
Panama canal lobbyists and the names
OF severel United States senators are
mixed up in the stories told. Accord |
ing to one of the stories, more than one
senator's being Iayishly entertained on a
costly Christmas pleasure trip, with
Panama canal money. OF course, this
might be true and yet the senator In
volved might not be guilty Of anything
worse than bad judgment For instance,
a man whose egotism is great enough,
and egotism is a marked characteristic
OF most men, might easily be fatlered
into accepting an invitation to 20 on
pleasure trip with some man whom he
believed to be his personal admirer and
friend, without deyoting any thought to
where the money was coming from to
pay the bills, or whether the man ex-
pecled any legislative favor in return for
such expensive social couriesies and
yet be man Of honest intentions. To
accept surh invitations, however is
pretty strong Indication hat the man is
ioL properly equipped for a successful
congressional career. The best and
most serviceable friends .the lobbyists
iaye in congress, are those who are
never seen in their company aad who
iogld not be induced TO make trip in
he company OF anyone known to be
Connected with any SOFT OF a lobbying
cheme,
The supers.ilious are again finding
mems around the White House. just
'eiore the presidents mother died
eyeral years ago, a shadow was seen by
hem every morning when the sun shone
N The poriico Of the White House, which
hey declared represented the bent form
{ an old woman. After Mrs. McKin.
ay's death, it was seen 70 more. Late.
2, every fair day, about eleven O'Clock
n the morning, the same persons have
cen and pointed onta shadow on one
{ the big pillars at the east Of the
ortico, in the form Of forearm and
and, with the forefnger held up with
n air Of protest or warning, and they
re predicting that this is an advance
office Of some sort Of calamity.
About the only thing accomplished by
ecretary Hay when he made public the
greement signed by the foreign min
tiers in Peking, was to confirm what
ie newspaper men bad published
'ng ways ahead Of the secretary. ,