The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-03-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 26, 1902.
Exceptional industry has marked the
course of events at the Capitol during the
past week and gratifying amount Of
legislation has been disposed of. AS soon
as the ship subsidy bill was out Of the way,
it having passed the Senate on Monday
afternoon, that chamber turned its atten-
ton TO the bill for the protection of the
President. Although favored by the
large majority of the senators there were
a number who objected to the provisions
of the bill OIL the ground that they we're
too sweeping and that they might be
made, in time Of political excitement, the
means of persecution Senator Hoar,,
however, proved obdurate and conteuded
that in these days of enlightened public
opinion and remarkably equitable courts,
the fears expressed we're groundless. He
refused to accept any of the amendments
offered and on Friday the bill passed.
The measure provides the death penalty
for assault on the President, Vice. Presi-
dent or any member of the Cabinet, or
the sovereign or chief magistrate of any
foreign country who may be in the Unit
ed States territory. 1t further provides
that any person who shall instigate, adj
wise or counsel the killing of any of the
officials named shall be liable to inl-
prisonment for a term not to exceed
twenty years. On Friday the Senate
passed the war revenue repeal bill seEt up
from the House. The only change from
the House measure consisted in permit
ting the tax on "bucket shops" to remain
intact On Friday evening the Senate
adjourned until Monday noon when the
oleomargerine bill was takenup.
The entire week in the House has been
devoted to the consideration of the River
and Harbor Appropriation bill On Fri
day the bill passed without division: 1t
carries total appropriation of 500, 6SS, 267
Saturday was devoted to the private
calendar.
*x*x*
The testimony of DR.. Wiley before the
House Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce, apropos of the pure food
bill, is attracting much interest. The
Doctor, who is the Chief of the Bureau of
Chemistry of the Department of Agricul-
tnre, presented for the inspection of the
Committee large number of samples of
adulterated foods. Among them were
fruit buffers, bearing different labels but
all identically the same article. They
were made of the refuse of evaporated
apples and glucose. Sample jars of "pre-
served strawberries" contained glucose
aniline dyes, and about twelve strawber.
ries to the jar, and other fruits were in
the same prop ortion. Beautifully green
French beans were colored by the use of
copper Canned peas were shop worn
and worm-eaten dried peas saturated with
water. There were also shown clarets
and port wines which contained no grape
Juice but were made from fermented glu.
cose, dyes, etc. Numerous food products
contained borax, benzoic acid, coal tar
dyes, and other ingredients most Injurious
to delicate or immature stomachs. DR..
Wiley's testimony produced a great i'm
preston on his hearers and will probably
result in the passage of one Of the pure
food bills
xx***
On Thursday the Senate Committee on
Military Affairs called General Miles be-
fore it to testify as TO the expedency of
passing the army reorganization bill, of
which Secretary Root is practically the
author. The Gneeral severely con-
demned the measure and even threatened
to resign if it became law. Some of the
Generals statements cast reflections on
the administration and at Fridays Cab.
met meeting the advisability of repri
handing the General, or of immediately
retiring him, was discussed but no action
taken, pending the publication of his
testimony by the Committee. That anv
such action will be taken, however, is not
likely as it would be opposed by the SEN
ators. who argue that if a subordinate is
punished by the president for testimony
given before congressional committee
such committee will, in the future, be
unable to secure from such subordinates
reliable information in regard to the
workings of the executive departments.
*x*x*
In previous letter quoted a repub-
lican Representative who is an ardent
champion of reform in the consular ser.
vice, and have been assured by Senator
Lodge of his interest in this movement,
he having introduced bill providing for
such reform aud having secured its report
to the Senate. Representative John 7.
Feely. one of the new members elected 10
the Fifty'seventh Congress, and, | be.
lieve, the youngest member of the House,
is also deeply interested in this move
ment. ~ do not know how many DEM
ocrats are favorable to the REFORM" said
Mr.. Freely, when asked him his views
one day last week. "but do know that
every democrat aHd every republican,
entirely irrespective Of party lines ought
10 favor It and to take personal interest
in securing the reorganization Of the
service along lines that are creditable TO
The eeaatry. 1t seems sad commentary