The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-05-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, May 10, 1902.

The past week In congress has seen less
accomplished than any previous week OF
the session. The only important bill
passed by the senate is that providing for
the erection of union railway station,
which, according to Senator Martin, will
eclipse the capitol In architectural beauty:
and which will, with the proposed Inn
provements called for by the bill, cost
about 40,000,000. The Philippines bill
is still the unfinished business" before
the senate, but the prospects are that 1t
will be disposed of some day this week.
The greatest interest Is being taken in
the program of the senate steering COM
mittee for the time remaining after the
passage of the Philippine bill. Some
weeks ago Senator Allison, chairman of
that committee, told me that the Mica
raguan canal bill would be considered
next, but he refused to confirm that state
ment on Saturday, and said that the COM
mittee had not yet settled upon the order
of procedure. 1t Is rumored that when
the present bill Is out of the way the SEN
ate will rush through the remaining ap.
preparation bills and that congress will
then adjourn. There Is, however, a seri-
GUS obstacle to that program, in that the
president has said that If congress ad-
journed without acting upon the Cuban
bill he would call it In extra session.
Whether he has fully determined to do
so is the question all are asking. The
friends of the isthmian canal are anxious
that their bill should be considered first,
as it is freely predicted that If the Cuban
bill Is first taken up 1t will be useless to
try and secure consideration Of the former
at this session. The opponents of the Gu
ban bill have joined forces with the dem
their attitude seriously complicates the
situation.
The whole of last week In the house of
representatives was devoted to the naval
appropriation bill, which passed on Sat-
urday, and which Is the last of the regu-
lar appropriation bills, save the general
deficiency bill, which is not yet reported.
II was hoped by the house leaders that
the senate would have sent over the Phil
ippine bill before the naval bill passed,
and that would have followed Immediate
ly. No program for this week has yet
been determined on, but the Fowler bank
ing and currency bill may be considered
before taking up the Philippine bill, Or
consideration of the Philippine bill re-
ported by the house committee may be
begun.
A number of society women called up
on Representative Payne one day last
week, and urged upon him favorable con-
sideration of the Mccall amendment to
the Dingley tariff law. This amendment
increases the limit placed upon personal
effects by the Dingley bill and would, it
is believed, greatly minimize the annoy
| ances of Americans returning from abroad.
That the ladies made an impression on
the chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee was evidenced by the fact that he
Immediately held a conference with some
of his associates. 1t is quite possible
that favorable action may be taken on
the amendment.
| Kaiser Wilhelm does not propose, In
the enthusiasm aroused over the unveil.
Ing OF the Rochambeau statue and the
cordial relations which it is anticipated
the unveiling and the ceremonies attend
ant thereon will promote between France
and the United States, that Germany
shall be forgotten, and he has therefore
written to the president saying that it will
afford him pleasure to present to the
United States statue of his illustrious
ancestor, Frederick the Great. The pres
ident has replied to the kaiser's commun
ication, accepting the gift, and has an
nounced that he has selected site fol
the statue In the arsenal grounds In Wash
ington, In which grounds the proposed
school of warfare will be located. Mr.
Roosevelt, In accepting the present ane
designating the site for it, has acted with
out the consent of congress, apparently
assuming that the matter was not of suf
ficient Importance to bring to the atten
tton of the national legislature, and it |,
possible that certain members of tina
body may criticise him for so doing, tu
congress will doubtless find an opportu
nifty of shouldering it's share of the re
sponsibility when it comes to making ap
preparations for erecting the pedestal Oh
which the statue will stand and providing
for the entertainment of the "distin
guished guests" who will doubtless b.
present. The preparation for the unveil
ing Of the Rochambeau statue, whicl
will occur on Saturday, are PRACTICAL.
completed, even the seats for the guest
having been erected. A senator VIII,
stands very close to the president sail
yesterday that Mr.. Roosevelt welcomes
every act of friendliness from a foreigl
government, as he believed that they al
tended to promote peace and to furthe
the Industrial relations which already ex
ist between this country and its foreigl
friends.
Last Thursday the president reviewe'
tho Woohiprf0n hiuh oohoOl ooHnte No