The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1901-02-08
Washington Letter.
From our regular Correspondent

From our regular Correspondent
Washington d. c., Feb. l, 1901.
President Mckinley is too wise a
statesman to cross the extra session
bridge before he gets to it. He has
called the attention of Congress TO the
legislation he considers necessary, as it
is his duty to do. III Congress fails to
act, it will then be his duty to consider
whether an extra sersion will be neces-
sary. Naturally, he would prefer
avoiding an extra session, but be viii
not allow his preference to cause him
to shirk his duty. Whether there
viii be an extra session depends upon
Congress, not upon the President.
Senators and representatives who
have called at the White House in the
interest of constituents who seek com
missions in the Army, under the Re
organization Act, have been very plain
ly informed by the President that so
far as it is possible to do so, these APP
pointments will be given to the Off
GERS and men who have served with
the volunteers in the Philippines.
This position is such just one that
nobody has uttered one word of protest
against it.
| The amended Revenue Reduction
Bill, which will be taken up by the
| Senate this week, makes about the
same reduction in the revenues-$40,- :
OO0, ,000-that the House bill did. but
the items differ widely The Senate
bill reduces tax on beer to 81 so, which
the House refused by a vote to do.
Rapid progress is being made in
both House and Senate in disposing OF
the regular appropriation bills, and it is
not probable that any of them will fail,
whatever other legislation may be left
unacted upon at the close of the session.
The lawyer who wins the most cases
naturally gets the most clients. c.. A.
Snow & Co, the Washington Patent
Lawyers &c. more allowances of patents
than auy other firm praeticing before
the u S. Patent Office-last year they
got 149, many of which had been pre-
viously rejected.
!; President McKinley's message to
Congress, transmitting a report of
the Philippine commission, on exist
ing conditions and needs in the islands
although not long, is receiving much
attention. 1t concludes with these
words :" earnestly recommend legis-
lation under which the government OF
the islands may have authority to as
sist in their peaceful industrial develop
ment in the directions indicated by the
Secretary of War" The Philippine
Commission strongly urges the. pass
age of the Spooner Philippine, bill by
Congress, saying of 1t: sUntll its pas
sage, no purely central civil govern
ment can be established; no public
| franchise of any kind granted, and nc
substantial investment of private capi-
tai in internal improvements is posi-
ble." OF the need of civil laws in the
islands, the report says: "The Army
has brought the Philippines to the
point where they offer ready and at
tractive field forinvestnlent and enter
prise, but to make this possible, there
must be mining laws. homestead and
land laws, general transportation laws.
banking, and currency laws OF the
| general condition the report says, after
noting the favorable effect of the re-
election of President Mckinley p
From now on conditions In those
islands will grow steadily better, and
4 however formidable the difficulties
really are, tne possibilities that present
themselves of improving the condition
of the people in education, wealth.
comfort, and in the knowledge of how
| to govern themselves, cannot but
awaken the deepest enthusiasm on the
part of every friend of civilization, fa-
miliar with the actual conditions" I"
/ Many believe that President Mckinley
will call an extra session if this Cong
ress fails to act upon has recominen-
! dation, as lack of time may compel it
to do. Senator Lodge, Chairman of
the Philippine COMMITTEES, expresses
confidence that the Philippine legisla-
ton recommended by the President,
can be pushed through the Senate in
. few days, but that confidence Is not
| generally shared by Senators. His
committee is now considering the best
method of accomplishing the desired
end.