The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-25
News ano Gossip ef Washington
BY LucIzN JULIEN wALKER

eciprocity seems to have been unnis-
 akable by those who a few months ago sept In touch with the trend of popular bought. In the earlier months of the omowhat bitter outcry all over the coun-
 ry against what was called the beet uxar trust" People lost sight of that gigantic monopoly ''The" sugar trust sugar combination. which as measured by
 he standard of the big trust Is as a pull .ng infant alongside a Birmingham pud- Her in rolling mill.
 THE OLD STORY.
 the beet sugar interests stood in the way 1f Cuban reciprocity. which the people altogether understanding.
 When the lcSIp4 J~--. Jlil came up III
 he House. it will be well to remember, 1t provided for a 20 per cent reduction n the tarin on raw sugar rom Cupa The President sent a special message to substantially in this form. though 1t was generally understood that he favored e greater concession to the Cubans.
 Forty Northwestern Republican mem Ders joined with the Democratic minority and the coalition of the two elements succeeded In amending the bill so as to put refined sugar on the free list, all
 hough the Republicans so voting were confessedly opposed to any sugar .ha,r retb neihg od of defeating the % per cent reduction on Cuban raw sugar, since they were confident the bill could not pass the Senate in its amended iorm Events proved them to well informed. Stlli the war between the factions of the Repuo- licans in Congress served an excellent Democratic Party service.
 The temporary unity or acton betWeeh the beet sugar Republicans and Demo- crats placed the administration in most embarrassing position, for the adminis- tration had exhausted all honorable means to secure the passage Of the measure Tn the form which Mir Roosevelt's powerful personal prestige had got it reported 10 the House in spite of the primary oppo- sltion of the Republican leaders ot that body. It is well known that MT. Rocse- welt had set his heart and staked all his influence on the passage of the bill. He lost Thereupon he set to work on reel procity treaty, and this treaty now comes up to plague the beet sugar Congressmen. But how is the President to bring around the beet sugar Senators?
 AS TO VENEZUELA.
 The public need not repose in the be- lief that the danger of the Venezuelan situation so far as this country Is con- cerned is passed for the situation gives no warrant for such belief. Danger is still great, for the reason that no one can tell what may happen in the British Parliament or In Congress. Happily Far liament has been proronged until Febru- ary and Congress stands adjourned, until after the new year. Within that time passion may have period for cooling
 This prorongation of Parliament and re- cess of Congress may save the world from disaster. We cannot tell, for blood is very hot in Washington and in London. CURRENCY REFORM.
 A New York banker who hes been quietly studying the outlook for currency reform at the present session, and is fa- miliar with conditions in Congress-, but who requests that his name be not used, suggests that if the friends of thls cause want to help 1t along, they must bring strong pressure to bear on the Senate. The House may pass the new Fowler bin, which is much simpler than the old one with perhaps some notifications. But the inertia of the Senate will not be readily overcome, unless there is a substantial agreement among the banking and bust ness classes and forceful expression of terms.