The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-22
Washington Political Gossip.
fractional Rows in Republican
Party--The Senate Grasping
For More Power.

adroit leadership IN DoCn Gno Oeuato
and the House has alone prevented the
DEVELOPMENT Of serious factional dis
turbances in republican ranks during
the week just passed and 1t is only
a1etsion of time when they will break
ont in a violent form on the floors OF
Shose bodies. It is difhellt for one
not actually on the scene TO appreciate
to what an extent the House Of Repre-
sentatives has ceased to be dellbera-
tive body. For a time TIE republican
members felt themselves repaid for
their loss of power by the example OF
perfect discipline which they set to
the country but, now that they are IN
SO great a majority as to believe them
selves relieved from the danger OF
democratic aggressions, they are long
ing for the birthright which they par
tered.
Smarting with sense of their loss
OF influence the representatives are
humiliated by the arrogance OF certain
Senators who today openly say that
the attitude of the House towards any
of the important questions which Con-
press must answer is Of no Importance
as the Senate can and viii rectify the
errors Of the impulsive and irrespon-
sible'' lower body. Senator Cullum
IS today preparing speech in support
of his contention that the House has
no right to be heard in the matter OF
reciprocal treaties which are, the Sen
ator alleges, a matter for the Senate
and the President alone to consider.
In view of the very important 'suo1ecS
Of reciprocity with Cuba which must
soon be determined the position OF the
senior Senator from Illinois and a
large number of his colleagues IS par
ticularly exasperating.
There is no mistaking the intent OF
the Dingley bill which says that such
treaties must be approved by Con
gress.,, ,, but Senators Cullom. Lodge,
Srooner. FRYE, Hanna and others hold
TO the opinion that, according to the
constitution, the President and the
Senate "alone constitute the treaty
making power Senator Lodge mod
lies his opinion somewhat, however,
hy saving that he believed that 1T
would be courtesy to consult the house
because any reciprocal treaty affects
the question Of raising revenue.
The Philippine tariff bill will be re-
ported to the Senate today or tomor-
row and it is predicted that the deoate
on its provisions will last for a month;
Senator Lodge processes to believe That
1t will be eventually passed as report
ed but there are members OF his own
party who greatly differ from him and
who say that it will have to be refer
red back to the committee. Proml-
nent among these is Senator Mitchell
of Oregon. After the bill gets through
ths Senate it will have to pass the
House and if the Senate persists IN
It's determination to exclude that body
from voice in the Cuban reciprocity
affair there is every possibility that
Mr. Payne, chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, and his colleagues
will treat the measure with little con-
sideration, as they believe that Sena-
tor Lodge, in his capacity Of cham
MON of the administration, will be
Tins brought to terms and will be
forced to oppose the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee in order to re-
Eeye Secretary Root from his present
embarrassing position.
The Isthmian Canal, while by no
means partizan question, IS capable
of causing trouble that may develop
along partizan lines. Senator Morgan,
who is as firmly committed to the
Nicaraguan route as ever. called at the
White House recently and came away
seriously dissatisfied with the result
of his interview with the President.
He IS also much disturbed at Senator
Hanna,s apparent disaffection in favor
of the Darien route. This route wonld
REQUIRE TIE construction Of tunnel
five miles long, through a solid gran
lite mountain and the Senator from
Alabama considers it lacking IN feas-
ibility and its agitation merely an at
tempt to delay canal legislation.
The Senate Committee on Com
meree has authorized favorable re-
port on the Hanna-Frye ship subsidy
bill by a strict party vote, every
democrat on the committee voting
against it. Senator Frye makes the
most extravagant claims for the bill
and in the main mis- colleagues are OBJ
iiged to take his word in the matter as
there is probably no other man IN the
Senate who can tell just how the bill
will work when put in practice. 1t
now seems probable that the bill will
pass the Senate under pressure Of the
party lash, but it is very doubtful If 1t
car get through the House. Every
democrat in the House will vote
against it and there are said to be
number Of republicans who regard a
yote for the bill as political suicide.
s'The anarchy bills are going to
make trouble in the House, said
democratic member from New York,
when asked him why Congress was
doing nothing in matter on which
all the members seemed to be much of
one mind. There is little difference
in the minds of the members as to the
necessity of passing a bill to prevent
anarchists coming into the country but
there is great jealousy in the commit.
tees in regard to the mater. General
Shattuc, chairamn of the Committee
ON immigration, does not consider
shat the Judiciary Committee has the
right to pass on any measure which
deals with immigration. The mem
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