Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-05-22

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whole history Of Congressional leg
islation in which the company named
has been interested is of the most
unsavory character but this bill is
the most infamous of all the meas
ures so far passed and the circum-
stances which attended its passage
are, to say the least peculiar. On
Wednesday evening there was man
ifest very general determination
to return the bill to the committee
which framed it and vote at that
time would have undoubtedly so re-
suited but the friends of the bill Sc
cured the postponement Of the vote
until Thursday. What happened in
the interim cannot ascertain but
on Thursday morning, at an hour
when ordinarily but few senator's
are present, practically all were in
their seats and by an almost straight
party vote the bill was passed.
Senator Hansbrough, who warmly
urged the adoption OF substitute
which provided for municipal own
ership Of the depot, voted against
the measure. After the vote was
taken it was everywhere remarked
that Senator Hanna was regaining
his former leadership. While the
Department of Justice is proceed
ing in the courts against the north
western railway Merger" and
against the Beef Trust, the repub-
licans in Congress are practically
ratifying a merger Of the Pennsyl-
vania and Baltimore & Ohio lines
and granting a subsidy ofl$7 ,000,-
600 TO the railway trust. Here is
magnificent opportunity for the
President to exercise his power of
veto to the great embarrassment of
his political rival, Hanna, and at
the same time prove his sincerity
in his opposition to trusts. Itshould
be remembered that, of the amount
stated, large portion will be paid
directly out OF the United States
Treasury and the payer will
have Subsidy Hanna" to thank.
Nv
The Philippine debate is not yet
concluded but Senator Dubois has
agreed that, beginning today, the
democratic senators will be prepar-
ed to speak continuously until the
discussion is closed. Senator Spoon
err will speak for the republicans
and Senator Lodge will probably
sum up. Senator Dubois told me
yesterday that he thought the vote
would be cast the last of the week.
w.
1t is with no little enjoyment that
the democrats view the, present dis
conjecture OF their opponents. The
republicans are facing a serious di-
vision of opinion in their own ranks
and which faction will win no one
can definitely predict. The oppo-
nents of Cuban reciprocity are de-
termined that the isthmian canal
shall take precedence over the form
er measure when the Philippine
bill is disposed of. Senator Platt,
manager of the Cuban bill, is not
yet sufficiently sure of the support
which straight reciprocity bill
would secure in the Senate to urge
it's immediate consideration and he
appreciates that if he reports the
bill as passed by the House, while
1t will receive the unanimous sup
port of the democrats, the friend
ship of the Sugar Trust would be
forfeited, The only way out of the
dilemma would be adjournment as
soon as the Philippine bill and the
two remaining appropriation bills
are passed but the obstacle to that
course, which is being considered,
is the publicly announced intention
of the President to call an extra ses-
sion in case Congress adiourns with
out acting on the Cuban bill. View
ed from any standpoint it is o seri-
Gus dilemma and the republicans
are facing it with a bad grace. If
the President will yield almost i'm
mediate adjournment will follow.
If q sufficient number of "beet-su-
gar Senators " can be whipped into
line the Cuban bill will be passed
and there will be no canal legisla-
ton, but the fear is that the canal
bill will have to be taken up and
that would mean the postponement
of adjournment for many weeks.
~
Tomorrow or the next night the
republicans of the House expect to
call a caucus to consider the advis-
ability of passing the Fowler bank
ing and currency bill. There is no
hope that the bill will be passed or
even considered at this session by |
the Senate and there is little likeli- |
hood That the Sonata will ,,nc, n ~.