The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-03-21
The News From Washington.
(By Our Regular Correspondsnt.)

While the terms Of agreement be.
tween the beet sugar republicans, %
they have come to be called, and the
republican organ ization Of the House
have not been announced, 1t is be-
lieved that they will bind the party
to vote for the Ways and Means bill
granting 20 per cent reduction of the
Dingley tariff rates on Cuban imports,
to be met with similar reduction on
American goods going into Cuba, tho
concession to be limited to September
1st., 1908. and the whole accompanied
by the pledge Of the leaders that the
Senate will not amend tho measure
by increasing the rate or extending
the time limit.
The demand of Senator Berry of
Arkansas for report on tho Joint
resolution amending the constitution
to permit of the election of Senators
by popular vote was met with the
promise OF Senator Burrows, Chair
man of the committee to which the
resolution had been referred, that it
would be reported in the near future
and since then tho democratic soma
tors have been vigorously agitating
the question. Senator Vest Of Mis-
souri, is opposed to tho change and
Senator Morgan Of Alabama declined
to tell me where he stood, but the
remainder Of the democratic Senators,
most of whom have spoken to on
the subject, seem to favor it and some
Of them say that they believe 1t will
be made a campaign issue IL tho
resolution is defeated at this session.
Colonel Bryan was at the Capitol
Thursday Of last week and saw many
Of the Senators and Representative
in regard to this question.
1t is serious question whether
the Hague treaty promotes the ends
desired. 1t is favored by many
humane persons because they hope
it will make war less terrible. Others
equally humane contend that tho
more terrible war is, the more caro-
nations will take to avoid 1t, but there
is no doubt that the most humane
motive prompted the Senators to
ratify the treaty.
Following closly upon the resigna-
tion of Secretary Long comes the
that Civil Service
Commissioner Rodenberg has resign
ed his position, presumably for the
purpose Of entering the field of active
politics. The appointment of Mr..
Rodenherg's successor is awaited
with considerable interest rs upon the
personnel Of the commission depends,
to very large extent, tho effective
ness and integrity Of it's work. Mr..
Rodenberg was never regarded as .
very strong advocate Of the principles
which brought the commission into
existence but he has carried out the
provisions of the law not tho less
faithfully.
The Senate has devoted itself oil
the past week to the consid deration of
the ship subsidy bill although there
is not the slightest reason to believe
that single vote has been changed
by the debate.
Its sponsors, Senator Frye and
Hanna, express themselves as con.
tident that the bill will pass and will
be received with approval by the
House and will become q law; but
other republican senators, have told
me that they believe that it has
little chance in the lower chamber.
After passing the rural free delivery
bill, SO amended as to provide for a
salary not to exceed 5000 per annum
for rural carriers, the House turned
it's attention to the consideration of
the postoffice appropriation bill and
passed it on Friday. Saturday was
devoted to the passage of private
bills. This is the appropriation bill
that the House has disposed Of this
session. A resolution was adopted by
the House on Friday authorizing the
President to invite tho families of
the Count de Rochambeau, and tho
Marquis de la Fayette, and tho pso.
pie of France to be present at the
Of the statue OF Rocham-
beau at Washington on MAY 9th.
and appropriating S20, 900 to defray
the expenses which would be incurred,
The Presidents veto Of bill re-
moving the stigma of having been
"a deserter from the navy" from the
record Of John Glass, his first veto,
BY the way, ,-has caused general
reconsideration Of similar bills in the
committees OF Congress. These bills
first provide that "honorably dis
shall be placed after tho
name Of men who have deserted,
and sooner or later there appears
another bill affording the former de-
serter u pension. Many of these bills
have been passed in former years and
the President doubtless realized that
the veto OF the first such bill that
came to him for approval would check
the practice. | have in mind similar.
thought not precisely analogous case,
which happened during the Fifty
Sixth Congress. A bill was passed
placing "honorably discharged" after