Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-01-27

hr. OnUSTWOOQ OF AlaOama enter
tanned the newspaper men with one
Of his inimitable stories, in the house
lobby, his eleven conferrers gained
the minority room by devious paths.
So great was this attempt at secrecy
that ten minutes before noon some of
the committee denied all knowledge
of the meeting. However, no sooner
had Mr.. Richardson called the meet
ing to order than the cacophonious
oratory, SO characteristic of a demo-
cratic Glove FEAST, penetrated to the
uttermost chamber of the capitol and
corps of correspondents thronged the
corridor while ever and anon some
catapult of democratic wisdom would
thunder thr ough the mahogany doors
and be eagerly recorded by the rep
resentatives of the press. Free sill
yer, reciprocity with Cuba, Tam
manyism and the Philippine tariff bill
all contributed their share to the
interest of the discussion, and the
vigor and acerbity which predomi-
mated the original caucus was not
lacking. Just as the sound money
faction promised to overwhelm the
Texas Bryanites, Mr.. Henry cast a
bomb into the caucus in the shape of
resolution declaring that no demo-
cratic caucus had the power to over
throw national platform. Immedi-
atelY Representative Ball moved to
substitute the Chicago platform for
the Mcclellan resolution and again
the merry war waged fast and
furious.
Finally, a resolution was intr oduced
bidding the committee to report that
in its judgment all resolutions should
be laid on the ia BILE, it being argued
that would be non -debatabIe, and
therefore a caucus, at least super
ticially harmonious, might be held,
but sufficient votes could not be OBJ
tanned to carry it and Representativ
Robertson again started the ball
rolling by a resolution binding the
minority to oppose all reciprocity
with Cuba. Worn out with their la
bors the committee then adjourned,
every member having been pledged
by Mr.. Richardson, who imagines
himself modern Richelieu, to the
most absolute secrecy. Another
meeting will be held, but in the mean
time Mr.. Richardson will work with
the members individually to secure
harmony.
Out of courtesy to the democratic
members of the Philippines COM
mittee, Senator Lodge did not submit
the report Of that committee on the
Philippine tariff bill last Thursday, as
he had intended, but will probably do
so tomorrow. Speaking on the sub
| ject last week, the senator told me
! that he believed the recommendation
! of % per cent. red uction of the
! Dingley rates would meet with the
approval of the senate and that there
would be but little trouble in securing
| u.
Senator Mitchell said yesterday that
he was more than ever determined
to stand out for the 80 per cent. re-
duction embodied in his amendment
as the business men on the Pacific
coast believe that such reduction is
essential to their interests.
| A member of the senate committee
on inter- oceanic canals said Satur-
day; The canal question is decidedly
up in the air. 1t is Impossible at this
time to predict how it will end but l
begin to fear that there will be no
| de finite canal legislation this year.
The Walker commission is again in
session and while nothing is de Unite
ly known, it is said that the commits
sion will recommend the Panama
Route. That would necessarily de-
lay legislation very seriously. Sena-
tor Morgan had an unsat isfactory
Interview with the president on
| Thursday. The Senator is firmly
convinced that the Nicaraguan route
is by far the better, but Mr.. Roose-
welt does not seem to be convinced
and opposes acting with what he calls
precipitation. Senator Hanna seems
to have some leanings in favor ofthe
Darien route and that, if true, means
new obstacle to contend with"
The beet sugar men determined on
a new move recently and decided to
go to headquarters, as they expressed
it, in order to prevent any reciprocal
arrangement with Cuba. According
lv they called at the White House
and had a conference with the pres
ident. They supposed that they
could bring sufficient influence upon
him to induce him to change his
views but they found him very
STRONGLY antrenched in his OpiniOn