Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-20
Washington. March

| WdSHllSlOl, MAI I'll IL.
scenes change so rapidly and views
surfer modification SO subtly that one
fnds it difficult to keep pace with the
swift current of events in Washington,
these days.
! In the house of representatives the
beet has the floor to the exclusion,
practically, of every other considera-
ton. The debate upon the postotfice
appropriation bill continues; congress
men stand in their places and talk fer
Vldly upon every other topic under the
sun, save the postoffice bill, while
nlne-tenths of the membership ignore.
utterly, the question under discussion
and engage each other in earnest de
bate as to what is the best thing to do
with and for Cuba.
Senate Warming UP.
Until recently the interest has been
confined very largely to the house end,
but now it is quite noticeable that the
senate is waking up to the fact, that,
whether there is any justification for
the tempest in a teapot" or not, the
tempest is on, and they seem disposed,
now, to load up with information with
a view to eventualities,
administrator Has INSIDE.
The best posted men in the house
admit that the administration has the
inside track; that 1.-The beet sugar peo-
pie of Michigan. Wisconsin, California
and Louisiana have made their best
showing 1t is conceded that at the
caucus of March 6, the = beet sugar
folks had the upper hand, and, had they
had the temerity at that time to have
4 forced the issue, might have carried
through a resolution favoring the in.
definite postponement of the PROPOSE.
ton to grant tariff concessions to Gu
ba. However, this was not done and
now it can not be done. The caucus
/ Tuesday night demonstrated this. The
! beet sugar interests were not able to
command the support of the preced
ing caucus, and it is confidently pre-
dicted that at the caucus next Tues,
day night resolution will be passed
substantially in harmony with the
ways and means report, with a time
limit; the Sibley proposition, in fact
This limits the reduction to two years
being practically the compromise
point which was effected in the Porto
Rican question two years ago.
what VIII be Done.
While this is likely to be the caucus
result, that is not saying that the
house will pass a bill incorporating the
conclusions Of the caucus. The bill
will then be subjected to all kinds OF
opposition from within and without
:. Upon the foor the debate will be fast
and furious, with other factors than
those thus far appearing upon the sur.
! face taking a hand. 1t may be the
ways and means compromise will pre-
vail in the house. In emergencies the
republicans have a way of pulling
: themselves together and getting out OF
a tight place.
AS previously limited at this sugar
question is not big thing but the
house has permitted the newspapers
to induce it tine house) to become ex-
cited over it, and now the fat is in
the fire. sU
Will Fight to End.
4 The opponents to concessions to
Cuba practically concede they are
beaten. However, they do not admit
that the game has been played out
There are still number of moves up
on the checker board and the more
radical of the beet sugar people, not
ably some members from Michigan
and California, say the fight will be
carried into Africa.
Beet Sugar Talks.
These members represent sections
of the country where the sugar beet
industry is getting well under way
and where large manufactures are in
rtar LOT hn NJ
gress in this matter, they claim, is
of vital Importance to them, although
prominent beet sugar man from Col
orado says the reduction of 20 pei
cent of the Dingley tariff rates will
not materially affect the industry in
this country. However, the people in
sections of Michigan and California
look to their representatives to defeat
this proposition and the members viii
adopt practically and retaliatory meas
ure that bids fair to cause the ways
and means committee and followers
to hesitate. H
Where insurgents" Figure.
While large number Of the suga
beet element will yield to the will Of
the majority, as will undoubtedly be
expressed at the caucus Tuesday
night, favoring the administration pol
, icy, yet there will be a gooG-sized body
Of ''recalcitrants' or insurgents" who
propose to fight. :; 1t is whispered
about on the quiet that the plan Of
the anti element is to join with the
democrats and make all the trouble
possible. 1t is proposed to open the
tariff question and enact Legislation
that will be extremely distasteful tc
, the ways and means committee high
protectionists. Whether or not this
is threat not really to be carried into
execution, cannot, of course be deter
mined at this time. All that the 'in
| surgents' claim they will do, may BIZ
l done by them. Acting with the min
GRITTY they will hold the balance o
{ power and may vote down every rule
presented and carry amendments
5 without let or hindrance 1t is yer!
questionable if any considerable nun
Der would 60 into the enterprise wheI
no net results would be possible. The
, house might pass all kinds &c radica
/ legislation, involving the country ant
the republican party, but at the othel
r end of the building another body O.
) statesmen are doing business and leg