Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-01-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent

is again in session and democrats and
republicans appear eager to grapple
with the knotty problems with which
they are confronted. The news that
the Panama Canal Company g property
can be bought for $40, 600, 900, which,
by the way, bears out the prediction 1
made some time ago in these letters,
that the prompt action of the canal
committees in both the Senate and
House was taken with view to bring
ing the French company to reasonable
terms, was extensively discussed by
the members in the Hobbies but it seems
probable that the leaders will press for
action the Hepburn bill in the House
and leave to the Senate the final dis
cussion and decision. There is an evil
dent, growing inclination, always dis
cernable when the republicans are in
control Of Congress, to treat the House
of Representatives as more or less
irresponsible body which must be Civ
en- it's own way like spoiled child and
with reliance on the fact that the Sem
ate has power to reverse all it's deci-
sions and render futile it's actions.
The persistence of Senator Cullom,
who has the moral support of the
junior Senator from Illinois, in bis in
tention to drag to light the reciprocity
treaties negotiated by Commissioner
Kasson and which were supposed
to be safely buried in the Committee
on Foreign Relations, is causing no
little annoyance to the leaders of his
party. AS Chairman of the commit
tee Senator Cullom has power to re-
port the treaties and Senator Mason
has spent his holiday recess in prepar
ing brilliant. oratorical digest on the
subject of reciprocity. but there is no
harmony among the republicans on the
subject and the members of CuIlom's
party are deploring his persistence In
course which they regard as bound
to reveal that fact to the country.
Senator Cullom's attitude is that
these treaties should be thoroughly
discussed, their Objectionable features
emphasized, if necessary. and that they
should be either amended or disposed
of so as to make room for others and |
this is precisely what the high protec
ton wing objects to. So long as the |
present treaties remain with a Senate |
committee the plea can be made that |
the Senate is considering the subject |
and the way is blocked to all similar
legislation. By this means the repub-
licans had hoped to hoodwink the adj
vocates of reciprocity without forfeit
ing the support of the trusts, whose
interests would suffer from any rec
iprocity treaty worthy of the same.
Senator Cullom refuses to see the logic
of this argument and his colleagues
are at loss to attribute his density to
a guilessness which is "childlike and
bland, or to a wiley attempt to curry
favor with the advocates of tariff re-
1uctiOn in the West.
Illinois promises to contribute her
'ull quota to the difficulties of the par
~ this session. Senator Mason, who
s prone to be little unruly, told me
that he was heartily in favor
# reciprocity with Cuba. ITO what
xtent % I asked. ITO whatever ex- !
emit is necessary to insure Cuba's s
he replied, II voted
gainst the PlatJ amendment' he con- :
inued land warned the Senate that c
y it's adoption we were laying our e
elves open to embarrassments which 5
7ould surely follow. We adopted the =
and now we are face to n
ace with the results predicted. We 8