Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-27

is favorable to the Dill, and he may
be able to secure favorable action on
the part of the committee and report
bill to the house, but that is likely to
be as far as the measure will proceed
at this session.
AS a matter of fact the calendar is
pretty we'll numbered up with material
asking for legislative action, at this
time. Only one or two of the great
appropriation bills have been finished
and there is vast amount of legisla-
ton eager for chance to be heard.
If the congress should remain in SEES
sion until the middle of June, which
seems probable, it will have it's hands
full without taking up the subsidy bill.
Then it is limited that next session
would be more opportune time to
take up the bill. anyway. The con-
gressional elections would have been
determined and certain members
would feel less restraint about voting
one way or the other Of course, such
considerations should not influence
congressman, but they do
Amend Banking Law
Congressman Smith, member of
the committee on banking and cur
rency has reported in favor of an
amendment to sections 5l91 and 5192
of the revised statutes, SO as to make
it possible for banks in cities of 15,-
900 or over, to act as reserve banks
for government funds. At the
present time only banks in
cities of $4,000 people are eligible,
Des Moines being the only city of that
class in Iowa The banking and cur
rency committee recommends that
the amendment be made.
Defeat Embitters.
The anti-concession republicans are
still very sore over their defeat-if it
should ultimately turn out to be a de-
feat-and are still breathing out
threatenings and slaughter. There are
a multitude of rumors and whisper
| ings, but as near as can be gathered
the program of the beet sugar people
is as follows: 1t is said the ways and
means committee has decided that the
question may be better handled With
out a rule, consequently none will be
brought in when the Payne bill max
| ing twenty per cent concession IS
| brought in. The speaker will be de-
pended upon to maintain the situation
| by his rulings. 1t is said that when
| the anti-concessionists move an
amendment it will be held not to be
germane and ruled out of order. Right
| here will be the opportunity the beet
sugar folks long have sought. They
may appeal from the decision of the
chair. 1t is stated to your correspond
ent by one of the ants, that they will
be able to muster thirty-seven of the
faithful" who, IKE the immortals at
Thermopylae, will forever bar the
progress of the ways and means bill.
That this may be done. if there are
thirty-seven congressman who Will
stand out against the ruling of the
speaker no one will question. That
there are thirtyseven men who Will
join the democrats upon this PROPOSE
ton is seriously questioned. For ex-
ample there are, perhaps, five Iowa
congressman opposed to the twenty
per cent concession to Cuba. They will
not go to the extreme of voting with
the minority to defeat the decision of
/ the chair: not one of them. 1T is
probable there are many more than
thirty-seven republican members op-
posed to concessions. so likely the new
er-die thirty-seven have no Iowans
among them.
i However, when it comes to the actual
point of open rebellion against the
judgment of the majority, there will
not be thirty-seven nor seventeen. Ger
tain republicans may join the minority
but the ways and means measure will
in all probability pass.
i 1t is utterly impossible to get any
j line on the senate Some say the bill
will be talked to death in the senate.
others say the twenty per cent will
be raised to thirty in the senate. 1t is
quite certain the two Iowa senators
will favor a proposition in the main
similar to that of the ways and means
committee.
1t does not appear probable that any.
thing will be done in the line of illves
tigating the southern representation
Yin congress with a view to ascertain
ing the facts. The Iowa delegation
takes a conservative view of the case
The members believe the facts should
!, be brought to light yet they question
the eXpediency of action at this time
, Frank ! Stillman