The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-12-12
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

markable about the opening of the |
Fifty-seventh Congress and the recep-
tion of the Presidents message. |
There was the usual crush in the |
senate galleries and on the floor of
the House, the usual abundance of
flowers, largely provided by the poll
tic lobbyists, and the usual self con-
graduation of the party in the MAORI
ty. A notable incident in the Senate
was the extreme discontinue of Sena-
tor Hanna as the toadies gathered
around Senator Lodge who is now
recognized as the Presidents repre-
sentative in the Senate, position
which the Senator from Ohio has oc-
cupied with great complacency for
number of years.
The Senate caucus determined to
reduce democratic representation on
the committees by the adoption Of
new rules. Heretofore the republi-
cans have been content with ma
jority of one on all important COM
mittees but under the new rules the
democrats will be completely barred
from representation on a number of
the committees, among them agricul-
ture, appropriations, finance, civil
service, education, labor, Philippines,
pensions, post offices, etc. This is, Of
course, a 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 explain
ing their mistakes to the country the
republicans will have only themselves
to blame.
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
possible that he will hesitate about
going as far as has the Senate where
the action is the work of the majority.
There is little doubt that on one
ground or another the republicans will
appropriate to themselves practically
everything worth having.
The decision of the Supreme Cour,
which was rendered on Monday fel
like bomb in the republican camp
By it absolute free trade is establish
ed between the Philippine Island:
and the United States and effects O.
the decision are retroactive, so thai
probably some 81, 700, 900 which hav,
been collected as duty on goods ship
ped both to and from the islands, will
have to be refunded. Secretary Gag,
said at Tuesdays Cabinet meeting
that he thought the repayment o
more than one e-fourth this amour
could be avoided but it is difficult tC
understand how this is to be done.
From the fact that duty on Philip
pine sugar imported into the Unitet
States has already amounted tt
$I,4oa,ooo it will be easy to appre
ciate what saving the perpetuatiol
of present conditions would mean t
American consumers to say nothing
of the increased prosperity to tn
Philippines but Congress will immedi
ately take steps to remedy this con
dition of affairs. The present program
is to rush through JOINT resolution
of Senate and House enactlng tn
Taft Commission tariff. The Omar
people are most active in their effort
to promote immediate legislatio
which will prevent the admission c
Philippine sugar free OF duty.
The introduction of bills of q
kinds and descriptions has begun at
rapid rate. In the House, Represent;
tive Littlefeld, of Maine, has intro
duced an antitrust bill drawn O
lines similar to those of the measur
passed by the House last session.
provides for publicity, as advised
the Presidents message, but gos
much farther in its provisions an
provides penalties, etc. for combin;
tions of capital which, in view of tn
caution of the Presidents messag
will hardly meet with the approval (
DEAFNESS CANNOT BE CURED
local applications, as they came
reach the diseased portion of the c;