The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-03-20
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.


equalled in bitterness of feeling or in
the momentous possibilities of its re-
suits since the Civil War. Cuban re-
ciproclty is the easNS 6eLH and the |
belligerents are the President, Speak
er Henderson and the Ways and
Means Committee on the one side,
and the beet sugar interests, headed
by Representatives Tawney and Will
liam Alden Smith on the other. So
far the democrats have taken no part
in the struggle but they are on the
alert and will seize upon any opportu-
nifty to relieve the people from the
burden of taxation which has been
dictated by the thrice. protected trusts.
So intense has become the situation
that it is a common occurrence for
republican senators to come over to
the House end of the CAPITOL to try
and influence their recalcitrant breth-
ren. Senator Quay has telegraphed
from his residence in Florida, to all
members of the Pennsylvania delega-
ton to support the administration.
Senator Hanna occupied large por-
ton of the floor of the House on
Tuesday, trying to convert unruly
republicans and the beet sugar men
are predicting that the contest will
wres: from Mr.. Roosevelt the next
Presidential nomination and that,
whatever may be the complexion OF
the Fifty Eighth Congress, Mr.. Hen
derson will not be its Speaker, while
some of them predict that If the Ways
and Means measure passes i, will
mean a loss of at least twenty mem.
bers in the next House.
AT present the indications are that
Messrs. Henderson and Payne will
win in the conferences, the fourth of
which was held on Tuesday evening
without result, but the beet sugar
men declare that the Ways and Means
bill can never be successful on the
floor of the House. They say that it
must be preceded by the adoption of
rule similar to that under which the
repeal OF the war revenue taxes was
accomplished and which prohibited
any amendment to the measure. The
adoption OF such rule, they say, is
impossible, as nearly fifty republicans
are sworn to vote against it. Mr.. Hen
derson well realizes that, were the
bill reported without such rule, the
tariff revision republicans would join
forces with the democrats and the re-
suit would mean tariff revision on a
wholesale scale. Every form of pres
sure known to the party whips is
being used. Senators are suggesting
to the obstinate opposition that there
will be new aspirants for Congresslon
al nomination in their districts, ETC.,
but to no avail for, as said member
10 me yesterday, "What difference
does it make who is the candidate il
the action of this Congress assures
the election of democrat anyway
Mr.. Roosevelt is making no attempt
to conceal the fact that he desire:
denomination but the strength O
Senator Hanna is looming up on the
horizon in a most startling manner
There is little doubt that the Senator
from Ohio can control the Southern
delegations and the Presidents actor
in defeating the wishes of Congress
men, that their protegees should b'
afforded the protection of the Civ
Service Commission by means of TIT
bill creating a permanent Censu
Bureau, has seriously weakened th'
President with his party Mr.. Roose
welt is a consistent civil service re
former which is not what the republi
can politicians desire as a leader an
they are naturally turning to his oppc
site as typified in Senator Hanna.
K~
The Senate is still considering tn
ship subsidy bill and on Monda
Senator Vest made a brilliant speec
on the subject. 1t was picturesqu
and inspiring sight as the "Littl
Giant of Missouri" crippled and a
most stricken down with disease, CAV
evidence by his caus,c logic and pc
fec,ly turned periods, of the intellec
ual fire that burns undimmed despi,
his physical infrmitles. The Senate
has said himself that this would pr'
baby be his last set speech in til
Senate and his colleagues of bo'
parties paid him the compliment
gathering around him and listenir
with marked attention to his arraig
ment of a measure so dear to repub
can interests and policy.
-
AT the instance of Senators Ber
and Mitchell, Senator Burrows h
promised that his committee will r
port one of the several resolution
providing for change of the cons
tuition so that senators shall be elec
ed by direct vote of the people ar
the debate which will follow the