The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-02-27
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, February FL, 1902.
That the House of Representatives
has ceased to be a deliberative body
and has degenerated into a mere
machine doing the bidding of small
number of men, by courtesy called
leaders but actually dictators, has
been appreciated for number OF
years by those in close touch with It's
workings, but never in its history have
the high-handed and tyrannical meth
DDS adopted by the present Speaker
and his colleagues TO secure the pas
sage OF the war revenue repeal bill
been equalled or even approached.
The proceedings last monday were
source of humiliation to every member
of the House possessed Of sufficient
intelligence to comprehend their
| meaning
Approaching that a large contingent
Of their own party, and consequently
of the republican members, were ur
gent in their demands fol- tariff reform
and would seize the opportunity to
amend the measure framed by the
| Ways and Means Committee, appre-
ciating their own inability as leaders
and intent on securing their own ends
and protecting the vested interests
whose money has. long perpetuated
republican rule, the leaders anlcipat-
ed the introduction of the revenue re-
duction bill by proposing for adoption
a rule which not only limited the de-
bate on measures calculated to re-
duce the revenues of the government
| by $7s,ooo,oo per anpum but posi-
lively prohibited the amending of the
same in any manner. Mr.. Richard
son, the democratic leader, protested
and appealed to the rulings of Speak
er Reed, but to no avail. Mr.. Hend-
erson repudlated all known authorities
and declared himself supreme. On
an appeal from the chair the rulings
of the Speaker were sustained by a
strict party vote. Mr.. Richardson
appreciating the futility OF appeals to
logic and patriotism and realizing the
powerlessness of minority, requested
an immediate vote and the measure
carried without one minutes discus
sion of its provisions, one moments
delberatlon, and a precedent had
been established of the gravest portent
to the future of the nation.
simultaneously with the above ac.
ton of the House, the Senate was
establishing another precedent which
portends no good to this country.
The last named body, on Monday,
ratified the treaty by which the Unit
ed States purchases the Danish West
Indies and in SO doing the argument
was advanced On the floor of The Sen.
ate that because the Monroe doctrine
precludes the requirement of add.
tonal territory on this hemisphere, and
these islands were for sale, the United
States must purchase them. Would
the same argument apply to Hayti,
| for instance, and to all the possessions
of European countries in South
| America When European govern
ments have extracted, by means OF
misgovernment, etc, all the wealth OF
these countries and desires to be rid
OF the wrecks will the United States
have to purchase them? This is not
a party question for the vote was
practically unanimous for the ratifica,
ton of the treaty, but 1t is serious
question.
Since the passage of the revenue
bill the House has accomplished nc
important legislation. The Senate has
passed the bill providing for per
manent census bureau and has fixet
upon next Monday for final debate
and vote on the Philippine revenue
bill. The Senate Committee on Agrl
culture is considering the olemargarln'
: bill and the indications are that it vii
,, pass. 1t is quite probable that tht
committee will eliminate the claus,
relating to renovated butter for, as
, Senator from Iowa pointed out yester
day when / asked him of the likllhoot
of the bills passing the Senate, Con
gress has no authority to legislate ii
regard to the manufacture of any foo
product unless it is on the ground tha
it is for the purpose of raising revenu
and there is no tax placed on renovat