Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-01-16
Washington Letter.


would have passed the army reOrgani-
cation bill before this, but the debate
on the .scanteen'' and other amend
ments has been more prolonged than
there was the slightest necessity for.
The debate has in the main been
legitimate. although Senator Petit
grew and one or two other opponents
of the bill have made use of it for
purposes of delay, and the friends of
the bill have not felt called upon to
try to close it. It is certain that the
bill will pass, whether the vote be
taken today, tomorrow or next week,
and with that the friends of the bill
are utilizing all their patience to
make themselves as contented as
possible, although it is we'll known
that every day of delay adds to the
embarrassment of the war department.
The senate can legislate quickly when
so disposed, but no man can say when
it will be so disposed, and no certain
method of expediting it's meth ods has
become known. The senate voted to
abolish the "canteen.'
The house after passing the reap
portionment bill took up the river
and harbor bill and passed it. Those
two bills represent q good weeks
work for that body.
The senate committee on finance
devoted it's meeting this week to a
general and free discussion Of the
revenue reduction bill, but no attempt
was made to decide either upon the
whole or upon any particular feature
thereof. As one member of the COM
mittee put it, 1.-THE meeting was mere
ly free exchange of opinions. An
other member said the bill would pro-
badly be ready for the senate as soon
as the senate was ready for it.
No aneasiness is felt in official circles
on account Of the backing and filing
of the Chinese government about
authorizing the signing OF the de-
mands of the powers which have been
accepted by its accredited ENJOYS at
Pekin. 1t is regarded as character
istic of the Chinese mind and no
doubts are entertained Of the ultimate
outcome, but, like all negotie tions
with the Chinese, it will take time.
The grip is again prevalent in
Washington. It is no respector of
persons. President Mckinley has
been confined to his room with a
mild attack all this week and his
physician advised as matter of pre-
caution that the official reception to
the Diplomatic corps he postponed;
Secretary Hay has been confined to
his house for week with similar at
tack and Speaker Henderson was
kept indoors for three Or four days,
but is again presiding over the house.
Hon. John Goodnow, United States
| consul-general at Shanghai, China, is
| in Washington. In the course OF q
conversation on Chinese affairs he said
Il am located thousand miles from
Pekin, where negotiations are being
conducted for q settlement OF the
| Chinese difficulties, but l am near
enough to know that throughout the
East it is coming more and more to be
realized that by following the course
laid down by the United States, and in
no other way, can the vexatious prob
lens presented be solved with justice
to all. The Chinese trust the United
States thoroughly, knowing as they do
that this country has no grabbing
designs, and while they do not hope to
escape the payment of just retribution,
they know that back of all OF our de-
mands there is spirit of justice and
fair play The American policy will
triumph in the end, and the world il
coming to know that William McKin'
ley leads the nations in the diplomacy
of the East"
| The senate committee on agriculture
has closed the hearings on the oleo.
margarine bill, and is now considering
the arguments for and against the
measure which have been submitted.
1t is regarded as practically certain
that the bill will be favorably reported
to the senate
The expansion idea in the house
proved too strong for the census com
mittee's reapportionment bill, which
left the house at its present member
ship, and the Burleigh substitute,
which adds 20 to the present member
ship after March 3, 1908, making a
total of 1856, was passed by a majority
of 63. The 20 additional representa-
tives are apportioned among 18 states
Arkansas, California, Colorado
Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Mas
sachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Wash
ington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
one each; Minnesota, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania, two each, and Illinois,
New York and Texas, three each.
The ratio is one representative for
every 194,182 of population. Senator
Hale is credited with the authorship
of the plan of campaign which enabled
the Burleigh bill to defeat the COM
mittee bill, but the ability and shrewd-
ness of such Republicans in the house
as Burleigh and Littleield, of Maine;
Long and Curtis, of Kansas; Russell, OF
Connecticut; Heatwole, of Minnesota