Middletown transcript., 1901-01-12
Washington Letter.

THE Senate has made considerable pro-
gress IL considering the Army Reor-
ganization bill, and, although no time
has been set for vote, it is believed that
the bill will be passed during this week.
The debate has compelled the opponents
OF the bill to acknowledge that the troops
provided for in the bill are needed in the
philippines. They have been compelled
to base their opposition on details of the
bill, and some of them have gone SO far
as to propose furnishing the men in some
other way. There is no ikihood of such
a proposition being accepted, however,
as, with the exception of Senator Hoar,
every Republican is believed to be pre-
pared to vote for the bill. He is the only
Republican who has spoken against it.
Senator Teller rather amused his col
leagues by stating that he withdrew his
speech of two years ago, in which he
scoffed at imperialism under the Ameri-
can flag, and professed to see imperialism
in the acts of the Philippine Commission,
which is engaged in setting up civil gov
ernment in the pacifed portions of the
Philippines. Some of the Democrats
pretend to see in the bill discrimination
against the volunteer officers now in the
Philippines, but that is tie veriest nom
sense.
~
The report on the River and Harbor
bill, submitted by Chairman Burton,
contains much information concerning
the appropriations carried by that bill,
total OF S59, 1886, ,415. The total number
OF improvements provided for are 4O8, of
which 232 are rivers and 146 harbors.
These were selected from improvements
aggregating $300,0OO,0OO, which United
States Army engineers had estimated for.
~
Both supporters and opponents of the
cleomargarine bill passed by the House,
are putting forth their strongest argu-
ments in the hearings before the Senate
Committee on Agriculture. Present in.
dications are that the bill will be favor.
ably reported to the Senate, but whether
it will get acted upon will depend upon
other legislation largely
~
G. A. Snow & Co., of Washington, D.
c., secured the honor of filling the first
application for United States patent, in
the twentieth century, for DIR. Calvin J.
Pollock, of Kirksville, Mo.
~
Senator McComas predicts the forma-
hon of Socialist party in the United
States and that Mr.. Bryan will be its ,
leader and candidate for President. He
cites Mr.. Bryan's speeches in the late
campaign as proof that he is already
more of a socialist than anything else.
~
Those who pretended to see antagon-
SIN to the Ship Subsidy bill in the vote
If the Senate giving the Army Reorgani-
;ation bill the right of way held by tie
Shipping Bill are ignoring the facts. 1t
vas agreed at the time the Shipping Bill
vas made the regular business of the
senate that if it were not disposed of
when the army bill, which is an urgency
MEASURE, was reported to the Senate, it
hould give way to that measure. That
he move was in no way prejudicial to
he Shipping Bill was shown by the fact
hat not single vote was cast against the
notion to put the army bill ahead.
~
Some surprise was felt and expressed
~ the Republican leaders of the House,
Who had long ago decided that the ques-
ion of the restriction of suffrage in the
outh should not be taken up. at this
ession of Congress when Representative
Olmsted, without conferriBg with anyone
nd entirely upon his own responsibility,
ffered resolution providing that such
n investigation should be made before
he re-apportionment bill was acted
pom. Although Mr.. Olmsted has a
erfect right to do this, it was somewhat
and of course, could have but
ne result-the shelving of his resolution,
y sending it to the Census Committee.
wen if there had been no other obiec-
on, it would not be possible to procure
ne information upon which to make
ven the most hurried investigation with
| the life of the present Congress. There
as regrettable wrangle between Chair
ian Hopkins, of the Census Committee,
le author of the Committee Reappor-
onment Bill, and Representative Little
cid, of Maine, who is supporting the subs
itute introduced by Representative Bur-
Ugh, Of Maine, in which both gentlemen
'ed unparliamentary language, and had
be called to order by Acting Speaker
alzell. It is natural enough that Mr..
ittlefeld and the other Maine members
lould support the Burleigh bill, which
tains the present number of members.
om their state, while the Hopkins bill
duces it by one, but it is none the less
grettable that he should have seen fit to
axe personal attack upon Mr.. Hopkins
supporting the bill. The fight over this
Il is likely to go on all this week. It's
ltirely outside of party lines.
~
Hon. M. S. Quay is at his Washington
,me When asked whether he enter
ined any doubts of his election, be said
very positive tone: 'I am iuEt as
nfdent of being elected to the Senate,
I live, as I am if the PennsylFania
gislature will meet on January 18th.
r. Quay declined to discuss the story
at he contemplated resigning shortly
ter re-entering the Senate, bit his
osest friends say the story is all noon
line, and that, unless something not
w expected should occur, should cause
m to change his mind, be viii serve
e entire term. So certain i his elec-
IN regarded in Washington HAT he is
ready being congratulated on Ills return
the Senate, where he has many warm
nudG