The National tribune., 1902-06-19
CONGRESS- BUSY.
In Haste to Adjourn, But Worried About
Cuban Reciprocity-The lsthmian Canal
Bill Goes to Vote-The Irrigation Bill.
Other Matters.


able activity which prcccdcs an all-pervad-
ing anxiety to get home. Were 1t not FOL
the Cuban Reciprocity problem, there IL no
question, but that the few remaining large
appropria ON bills which await final ac-
ton would soon be disposed of. Blu:
| there's the rub.
So far as can be distinguished through
the dust that is constantly rising. there
has been as yet really no material! chang.
N the situation There is no question
but that the opposition Senators wonid
be glad to see their way clear to support
the Administration proposition to niaug
urate Il reciprocal trade arrangement Win
Cuba, and as usual Senator Spooner has
been delegated TO cooper mp some sort OIL
| Il compromise measure that VIII De ac
cpntable.
On Friday of last week the President
| sent n characteristic message TO the Sen
| ate and House, urging our duty to Cnbh
| and the necessity of reciprocity arrange
| ment, and announcing that III his JudS
ment 10 American interest would he III,
| iured thereby A Presidents special
message always has weight, for members
OF his own party in the House, and
esDecially those in the Senate, are very
| reluctant to lock horns with the appoint
| ing power. Still, it is not clear that III
| this case the message has changed any
votes. There are evidences, however tina;
| the Republican IiCml els OF the Senate
especially who have been ar:aycd against
the proposed reciprocity, would he very
glad If Mr. Spooi:er should be successful
| IN his task 1t joiner wmk. There is Il
| GOOD deal of confidence that he will sue
| cccd. because he is Il past master iii tn,
| business of framing legislative compro,
| misses.
An agreement to finally come to vote
| this week upcn the Isthmian Canal Bili
-. n,,ly Of
On the Part OF Congress to see some sort
of disposition of this long standing prob
| lem, but also of that tired feeling which
! ycarns for adjournment, us it is the only
/ sufficient remedy.
The House of Representatives has beer
! commercially active during the past week
| Having disposed of the Ant:-Anaichy Bill
| it plunged at once into the consideration
of the proposition to turn over the vast
| forest reserves Of the country to the Agr:
| cultural Department, taking them from
| the jurisdiction of the Interior Depart
ment.
Mr.. Cannon. Chairman of the Appro
Driations Committee. threw his influence
| into the balance against the measure
| claiming that it would caiisc Il large in.
| crease in expenditure, and warning the
| House that Congress had already apprO
| priated more money for the coming fiSca
year than the estimated receipts, by sew
eral millions. He called upon the House
| to kill the bill by cnttinslof its tail just
behind the ears" This was done by m
overwhelming vote, by striking out tho
enacting clause. sas4
The same fate awaited the bill to con
| struct cable from the Pacific Coast T.
the Philippines by way Of Honolulu. This
bill was killed and Il substitute passed
authorizing the President to permit 4
private corporation to lay the cable by
granting the usual landing privileges.
On Friday. after Il debate which LASTED
the better part Of two days, the Irrigation
Bill was passed, thus disposing Of n sub
ject which for years has been before Con
| gress in one shape or another. The bill
| proposes to appropriate the proceeds q!
sales of public lands in the arid States aud
| Territories to irrigation work, under the
| direction of the Interior Department. The
| States and Territories to he benefited are
Arizona. California. Colorado. Idaho, Kan
sas, Montana. Nebraska. Nevada. New
Mexico, North Dakota. Oklahoma, Ore
gon. South Dakota, Utah, ana Wyoming
The bill provides for the use of nj
| money obtained from land sales for irri
CATION purposes, less only the amount pait
to local land officers. and FIVE per cent
| for the support of Agricultural colleges
| The colleges are protected from loss
| should there be deficiency. by providns
| that any lack in the amount due for theil
maintenance shall be paid ont of the Fed
eral Treasury. There was vigorous op
| position to the bill on the part of seyera
Of tie leading members. and the advo
| Gates of the measure were yisibly nervous
| over the outcome of the vote, and wer,
somewhat surprised b. the substantial
majority of 146 to 80 which resulted from
the roll call.
The passage Of this bill is notable. il
| that it commits the Government to gen
eral irrigation operations for the frs
time in its history
The House also reached an agreemen
to take up the Philippine Civil Govern
ment Bill, passed by the Senate, and t,
vote upon it next Wednesday.
Both Senate and House passed mum
her of private pension bills last Saturday
a list of which will be printed next week
ED