The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-05-08
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, May 4, 1902.

AS all of the appropriation bills
with the exception of the general de-
ficiency bill which will not be reported
until the last of the session have been
reported, it is possible to make an ap.
proximate estimate OF the total appro-
priations of the session and to a GER
tain extent of this Congress. The
general appropriation bills so far re-
ported, some of them already laws,
aggregate $65S,85I,2o8. This is with
out taking into account the$I7,ooo,ooo
appropriated on Tuesday Tor public
buildings and numerous other special
appropriations. AS it is estimated that
the general deficiency bill will approx
mate several millions it is considered
safe to predict that this will go down
in history as billion. and-a half dollar
Congress-" for 1t is safe to assume that
the appropriations Of the short session
will at least equal those made this
year. Should the Nicaraguan Canal
bill become a law that would add
$3.50, 900, 900 more to the aggregate.
In this connection, too, it is worth re-
membering that, by the repeal of the
war revenue taxes, the annual receipts
of the government have been curta:l-
ed by sum estimated at $40, 900.
The greatest incentive to lavish ex-
penditure at this session of Congress
has been the apprehension on the part
OF the protectionists that surplus in
the Treasury would lead to tariff re-
duction and their object has been to
expend the surplus, irrespective of
necessity in order to obviate any re.
vision of the tariff schedules. Later
they will advance, against the agitation
for tariff revision, the argument that
the revenues are no more than is
needed for the expenses of the govern
ment and the unthinking element of
the voters, without rejecting that as
now framed the tariff laws are calcu-
lated to produce a maximum of pro-
lection and a minimum of income,
will accept the specous reasoning OF
the republican leaders.
The methods employed to secure
the passage of the Omnibus public
building bill last week serve as an ex-
cellent example of the manner in
which the dominant party effects its
ends. This bill contained many APP
preparations for worthy objects and
some long needed public buildings
but 1t also contained provisions for
others which were little short OF "loot-
ing the Treasury" In order to secure
the passage of the unworthy bills the
republicans consolidated all bills for
public building into one measure. Op
position to one would mean opposition
to all. They went even farther and
included in the bill a provision for
some public improvement in almost
every state in the Union SO that any
Representative who voted against it
would be voting against the wishes of
his constituents. A special rule was
adopted which made 1t impossible to
amend by striking out any OF the no
torlously unworthy provisions and
limited the debate to three hours,
manifestly too short time in which
to consider bill with objects SO num-
erous and diverse. | cite this case
merely as sample of republican
methods in the House.
Senators Carmack, Teller and Sim
mons have made speeches in the Sen
ate analyzing republican policy in the
Philippines and have, at times, almost
provoked the republican side into re-
plying but the famed republican dis.
cipline has prevailed and no speeches
have been made on that side of the
chamber. Senator Lodge has attempt
ed to fix the hour for the vote and it
is his desire to occupy the entire time
from the conclusion of the last demo-
cratic speech until the vote, so that
the democrats will have no time to re-
ply. That the Senator will be able