Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-04-03
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Mar. oath, 1902


course OF events at the capitol during
the past week and a gratifying amount
of legislation has been disposed OF. As
soon as the ship subsidy bill was ont Of
the way, it having passed the senate on
Monday afternoon, that chamber turned
its attention to the bill for the protection
Of the president. Although favored by
the large majority OF the senators there
were number who objected to the
provisions of the bill on the ground that
they were too sweeping and that they
might be made, in time Of political ex-
citement, the means of persecution.
Senator Hoar, however, proved OBJ
durate and contended that in these days
of enlightened public opinion snd re-
marsably equitable courts, the fears ex-
pressed were groundless. He refused to
sccept any of the amendments offered
and on Friday the bill passed. The
measure provides the death penalty for
assault on the president, vice president
or any member OF the cabinet, or the
sovereign or chief magistrate Of any
foreign country who may be in United
States territory. 1t further provides
that any person who shall instigste,
advise or counsel the killing Of any Of
the officials named shall be liable to
imprisonment for term not to exceed
twenty years On Friday the senate
passed the war revenue repeal bill sent
up from the house. The only change
from the house measure consisted in
permitting the tax on bucket shops"
to remain intact. On Friday evening
the senate adjourned until this noon
when the oleomargerine bill will be
taken up,
The entire week in the house has
been devoted TO the consideration Of
the river and harbor appropriation bill.
On Friday the bill passed without
division. 1t carries total appropria-
ton of 500, ,6SS,267 Saturday was de-
voted to the private calender.
The testimony OF DR.. Wiley before the
house committee on interstate and
foreign 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 agriculture, presented
for the inspection OF the committee a
large number of samples of adulterated
foods. Among them were fruit buffers
bearing different labels but all identical.
y the same article. They were made
of the refuse Of evapOrated apples and
glucose. Sample jars OF preserved
strawberries contained glucose, aniline
dyes, and about twelve strawberries
to the jar and other fruits were in the
same proportion. Beautifully green
French beans were coored by the use ol
copper, Canned peas were shopw orn
and wormesten, dried peas saturated
with wafer. There were also shown
Clarets and port wines which contained
no grape juice but were made from
ieImented glucose, dyes. etc, Numerou,
food products contained borax, benzoic
acid, coal tar dyes, and other ingredient,
most injurious to delicate or immature
stomaths, DR.. Wiley's testimony pro-
duced great impression on his hearers
and will probably result in the passage
Of one of the pure food bills.
On Thursday, the senate committee
on military affairs called General Miles
before it to testify as to the. e1pediency
of passing the army reorganization bill,
Of which Secretary Root is practically
the author. The general severely con-
demned the measure and even threat.
ened to resign il it became law. Some
Of the generals statements cast rehec'
tions on the administrati n and at Fri
days cabinet meeting the advisabllily
OF reprimanding the general or OF i'm.
mediately retiring him was discussed
but no action taken, pending the pub
lication Of bis testimony by the com.
inittee, That any such action will be
taken, however, il not likely az it would
be opposed by the senators. who argue
that il a subordinate is punished by the
president for testimony gwen before a
congressional committee, such committee
will, in the future. be unable to secure
from such subordinate reliable iniorma
ton in regard to the workings Of the
executive departments.
In previous letter | quoted repub-
lican representative who is an ardent
champion Of reform in the consular ser.
vice ,snd have been assured by Sens
tor Lodge OF his interest in this move
ment, be having introduced a bill pro-
vidng for such reform and having
secured it's report to the senate. Repre-
sentative John J. Feeley, one Of the new
members elected TO the fityseventh
congress aud, believe the youngest
member OF the house, is also deeply
interested in this movement. 81 do mol
know how many democrats are iavsr
able to the REFORM" said Mr.. Feely
when | asked him his views one day asl
week, "but | do not know that every
democrat and republican, entirely ire
spective OF party lines, ought to favor
it and to take a personal interest in