Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-12-20
NIGHT HAS FALLEN.
THAT'S WHAT'S THE MATTER
WITH HANNA.

pines-lntrod Of Bills, Nearly 1000
First Day-Mrs. McKinIey's Pension Likely to
Establish Bad Precedent-The President
Message Very Generally Approved.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 1901.
There has been little that was re-
markable about the opening Of the
Fifty-seventh Congress and the recep-
ton of the Presidents message.
There was the usual crush in the SEN
ate galleries and on the floor OF the
House, the usual abundance of flowers,
largely provided by the polite lobby
lists, and the usual self congratulation
OF the party in the majority. A nota-
BILE incident in the Senate was the ex-
treme discontinue of Senator Hanna
as the todies gathered around Senator
Lodge who is now recognized as the
Presidents representative in the Sem
ate, position which the Senator from
Ohio has occupied with great compla-
cency for a number of years.
The Senate caucus determined to
reduce Democratic represen tation on
the committees by the adoption Of
new rules. Heretofore the Republi-
cans have been content with a major
ity of one on all important commit
tees. but under the new rules the DEM
ocrats will b completely barred from
representation on q number OF the
committees, among them Agriculture,
Appropriations, Finance, Civil Service,
Education, Labor, Philippines, Pen
sions, Post Offices, etc. This is, Of
course, . serious violation OF the rights
Of the minority, but there is nothing
the Democrats can do but abide by
the rule Of the majority and reflect
that when it comes to explaining their
mistakes to the country the Republi.
cans will have only themselves to
blame.
I understand that it is the intention
of Speaker Henderson to follow the
precedent set by the Senate to some
extent, At least, and cut down Demo
cratic representation on the various
House committees. In the House all
responsibility for such action will rest
on the Speaker, and it is therefore pos
sible that he will hesitate about going
as far ~ has the Senate where the &C.
ton is the work Of the majority.
There 10 little doubt that on one
ground or another the Republicans
will appropriate to themselves practi.
cally everything worth having.
The decision Of the Supreme Court
which was rendered on Monday fell
like = bomb in the Republican camp.
By it absolute free trade is established
between the Philippine Islands and
the United States and effects Of the
decision are retroactive, 30 that prob
ably some n. 600 900. which have been
collected a. duty on goods shipped
both to and from the islands, win have
to be refunded. Secretary Gage said
at Tuesdays Cabinet meeting that he
thought the repayment of moro than
one-fourth this amount could be avoid
ed, but it is difficult to understand
how this is to be done.
From the fact that duty on Philip
pine sugar imported into the United
States has already amounted to ST.
Az, 900, it will be easy to appreciate
what q saving the perpetuation OF
present conditions would mean to
American consumers, to say nothing
of the increased prosperity to the
Philippines, but Congress will imme.
diately take steps TO remedy this con.
dition Of affairs. The present pro-
gramme is to rush through joint res
olution Of Senate and House enacting
the Taft Commission tariff. The OK.
nard people are most active in their
efforts to promote immediate legisla-
ton which will prevent the admission
OF Philippine sugar free of duty.
Tho introduction of bills of all kinda
and descriptions has begun at a rapid
rate. In the House. Representative
Littlefield, of Maine, has introduced
an antitrust bill drawn on lines SINH
lar to those Of the measure passed by
tho House last session. 1t provides
for publicity, as advised in the Presi
dents message, but goes much farther
in its provisions and provides penal
ties, etc., for combinations of capital
which, in view of the caution of the
Presidents message, will hardly meet
with the approval of the Senate even
if it should pass the House.
There were number Of Represents
tives who desired to pose as friends oI
the farmer and introduce an anti-oleo