The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-02-15
Our Washington Letter.
Washington, Feb. 8, 1902.

at the White HOnSe are over, the So
cial life in Washington is as replete
with fashionable events as ever and
there will be no lull until Ash Wednes.
day ushers in the sack-cloth and ashes,
which in polite society in the Capital
usually takes the form of small, early
and perhaps more enjoyable func-
tions, high-teas and dinners. Mrs.
Roosevelt has held an afternoon re-
ception at which, contrary to the
former custom, she was assisted only
by her daughter, and she will give an
other next week. Lady Pauncefote
gave most enjoyable musicale yes
terday at which the guests were enter
tanned by the popular English barry
tone Wilfred Russell, and that was
followed by dinner given by Mrs.
Letter and in the evening occurred
the last of the Bachelors Cotillions.
To-day all society will attend the
wedding of Miss Hay and Mr.. Payne
Whitney, and the President and Mrs.
Roosevelt will be among the select
number of guests invited to the house
the former having been invited to
propose the toast to the bride.
Much interest attaches to the pro-
posed visit of Miss Alice Roosevelt to
England where she will witness the
coronation OF King Edward. She
will go as the guest of Ambassador
and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid but, it is now
expected, will also be accompanied by
her uncle and aunt, Commander and
Mrs. Cowles. Of course Miss Roose-
velt goes abroad in an entirely pri-
vate capacity and not as the repre-
sentative of the United States or of
her distinguished parent; but it is,
nevertheless, believed that her posi-
ton will be recognized to an extent
that will make her visit extremely
pleasant. The President has been
greatly opposed to having his daugh-
ter go, both because of the trial it
will be to have her absent from home
so long a time and because he has
feared that her visit at this time
might be construed as having some
official or political significance, but,
like many men with young daughters,
he has found it difficult to refuse her
petitions, SO the young lady with the
help of her mother and her aunt has
finally secured the desired permission.
Little of Importance has transpired
at the Capitol during the past few
days. In fact, Congress may still be
said to be in a more or less embryonic
state. The Ways and Means commit
tee has reported favorably the bill
providing for the abolition of the
war taxes imposed u. the time the
Spanish war was declared and as soon
as the measure is taken up lively
debate is expected. When the meas
ure was still in committee Representa-
tive Babcock, of Wisconsin, made an
attempt to incorporate with it, in the
form of an amendment, his bill reduc-
ing duties on certain steel products
and the amendment was lost by a
vote of 6 to Z. Representative Steele
also moved to amend the bill so as
to grant the concessions to Cuba
which the President has SD vigorously
advocated. but on request of Chair
man Payne withdrew his motion.
TheSenate is still devoting itself to
the consideration of the Philippine
revenue bill with variations, diverg-
ing from time to time to take up 9TH
er subjects. Governor Taft is still
testifying before the Philippines Com
mittee and when his testimony has
all been printed and the Senators had
time to read it, Senator Lodge will
push the passage of the bill. A lead
ing Democrat told me yesterday that
his party would contest every step of
the way VI hen the amended bill came
up for passage in the House, but it
will doubtless pass on strict party
lines.
For theta few days the House has
been discoursing on the subject of
butter and oleomargerine, and incl
dentally some of the members have
been revealing an extraordinary igno-
rance on the subject. The friends OF
the counterfeit butter" as the dairy
men call it, are making a vigorous
fight, but it is doubtful if they can
win. The farmers and dairymen of
the country have been flooding their
members with petitions and letters
and vigorous fight WILDE made to
secure the passage of the Henry bill,
as it is called, and which places n tax
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