The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-12-26
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Reciprocity Will Be Considered at
Length in Both Houses.
,,siop of the TnriT VIII Also Come
Up for Discussion-Renl Estn'e
scheme In Mckinley
Memorial.
Ispeclal washington Letter.l

~ VERY good citizen of the republic
X, is interested in his government
- Now that the congress is in ses-
sion the people will want to know ali
about the legislative branch of their
government; what it is DONG anu
what it proposes TO do.
One who has opportunity to Na'cn
the statesmen for considerable mum
her of years becomes interested III 'he
changes which come over the minus OF
mon who make history for us. For
example, in 1880, william Mckinney
CONGRESSMAN from Ohio, chairman OF
the committee on ways and means III,
dignantly resented the interference oi
The secretary of state, James u. B.alhe'
who insisted that the subject OF reci-
procity should he taken up in tarili
hin. When the same man, Mckinley
became president and was charged
with the powers and responsiblIlt'eS Oh
that high office, he championea recI-
proeity. and his last public utterance
was in favor of the pending reciprocity
treaties
One of the leading defenders OF recl-
procity in the senate to-day is senator
Allison, of Iowa. And yet the strong
est argument ever prepared III oppo-
sition to that idea was prepared ny
Mr.. Allison while he was member OF
the house of representatives in the
Eortv-second congress. Mr.. Allison
then claimed and ably demonstrated
that the senate had no CONSTITUTIONS
right to originate revenue ieGlS'atloH'
He ouoted and commented upon the
Main statement of the constitution
that "all bills for raising revenue shan
originate in the house of representa-.
tiyes." Now that he is the leader OF
the senate. Mr.. Allison claims that the
constitutional power o"amenu mouse
bills carries with it the right TO SUP
stitute" new revenue legislation IN th'
senate. This matter will bring fortl
many hours of debate during the hrs
session of this congress.
President Roosevelt stands for reel
procity as President Mckinney ulu
Thus, the president, with the aiu o
the senate, purposes to make recl
procity treaties with some IA or
countries. and thereby declare tarii
duties with those countries I'M
the leaders in the house OF repre-
sentatives will strenuously oppose
They claim that if it is once granite
that the president and the senate sha
have the power now sought to be eNei
cised. the repre- of the pee
ple NAV have no functions in the futur
other than to come together for tn
purpose of passing appropriation Dill
and then adjourning. How TINS pro
lem NAV be concluded no one ca
safely predict at this time.
You may hear great deal about u
shipping subsidy bill during the cor
ing months, and will wonder whe th'
or not there will be such IegisIatlo
Well, the Fifty-siXth congress beg'
at noon on March 4, 1899, and durll
that entire session of congress u
writer predicted that the bill wou
not become law, stating that 1t HI
been killed on March 2, 1899, two ga
before the Fifty-siXth congress car
into being. The reason was neV
given, but it may be given now' Wh
Senator Hanna succeeded in haVi
William r. Merriam made director
the census, he made personal enemI