Evening star., 1902-03-24
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
Bills That May Cause Eric
tion in Congress.
PARTY LINES DRAWN
BOTH SIDES TO GRASP FOR POLL
TICAL CAPITAL.
Democrats to Make Vigorous Cam
paign in the Coming Congress
sional Elections.
PARTY LINES DRAWN

Congress is getting down to work with
swing and the next six weeks will witness
progress In important legislation. Party
lines are to be drawn sharply on all meas
Of consequence where it Is possible
to make political division, and each side
will grasp for political capital
The furry in the House over the Cuban
reciprocity bills has abated. The beet
sugar protectionists, being confronted with
the impossibility Of winning their fight, are
being appealed to by the leaders to refrain
from making a party split over the ques-
ton. Some of the beet sugar protectionists
are inclined to the view that proposed
amendments to the Cuban reciprocity bill
affecting other schedules of the tariff act
will not be germane, and that the Speak
er's decision to that effect will be sus-
tanned, even democrats being constrained
to vote to uphold the decision.
AS heretofore stated. the great desire of
the House leaders now is to secure ma
jority for the bill with republican votes; 1t
is thought that by the time the bill is
brought into the House. which probably
will be week or ten days hence the most
Of the opponents of the measure will con-
tent themselves with putting their protests
on record in the general debate and then
voting with their party for the bill.
The War Tax Bill.
The bill to reduce the war taxes. which
has passed both houses. went into confer
erce committee To-Day. The principal item
of disagreement between the House and
Senate is the provision taxing bucket
shops The House took off the tax and
the Senate restored it. 1t is understood that
i the provision can he shaped so that legit-
innate brokers cannot be affected by the bill
the House would susta!n the conferees in
restoring the tax. The other amendments
proposed by the Senate are regarded un-
important and not likely TO cause friction.
The Ship Subsidy Bill.
The next subject likely to cause trouble
for the republicans in the House Is the
ship subsidy bill. Four republicans of the
committee on merchant marine and interior
Mr.. Fordney of Michigan, Mr.. Miner of
Wisconsin, Mr. Stevens OF Minnesota and
Mr.. Jones Of Washington-are disinclined
at present to favor the bill. If they hold
out in their opposition it is probable that
they will command a following In their dei-
egations which will seriously embarrass the
bill if reported to the House. The demo-
Gratis will almost solidiy oppose the bin.
Southern States Apportionment.
A bitter contest between the democrats
and republicans will occur over the Crum-
packer apportionment resolution IL the
present temper of some Of the democratic
leaders holds good. The rules of the House
forbid an effective f1libuster. but some OF
the leaders are in as near an approach to a
f1libuster as possible. 1t is suggested by
these men that II the republicans insist on
passing the Crumpacker resolution every
legisla tive motion thereafter shall be sub
jected to roll call and the attention of
the country directed to the proceedings.
and the cause.
This suggestion does not worry Mr..
OH nd w
aim is publicity of southern election laws
and disfranchisement, but the chairmen in
charge of other committee work would
probably be considerably fretted by such a
program Gen. Grosvenor Of Ohio, who
will report the resolution from the COM
mittee on rules went west Friday and will
return in about ten days, when the sub
ject will be brought up.
The Chinese exclusion act, the pure food
bill. the oleomargarine bill and the regular
appropriation measures will occupy the at
tention of the two houses for the immedi-
ate future. with the Nicaraguan canal bill
and Philippine legislation looming up close
after.
The Congressional Elections.
But the subject that now Is nearest the
heart Of the average representative In
Congress is his own denomination and cam
paign for reelection. The new member has
hardly warmed mis- chair until he must be
up and doing to retain his seat against
the onslaught Of the ambitious young men
of his district. The nominating conventions
are being held from time to time in the
different districts and half q score Of rep
resentatives have already learned their
fate. The leaves Of absence granted men,
bers Of the House "on important business
are increasing each day, and there is a no
ticeable movement countrywards.
The Campaign Committees.
One Of the most significant features Of
the political situation in the House Is the
preparation of the democratic party for
| the congressional campaign. There is a
strong movement among the House demo-
Gratis to select northern man for chair
man of the executive committee, even If
choice; and it is practically certain that the
executive committee will contain prominent
eastern democrats.
I'VE need men in control who can raise
money" said one of the democratic lead
ers to a Star reporter today. I'VE want
men who can get in touch with the corpo-
rate interests that used to help us and
which now contribute to the republicans"
Ben Cable Of Illinois, Lewis Nixon OF
New York and ex-senator Faulkner Of
West Virginia are mentioned as probable
members Of the executive committee.
There Is no doubt that the democrats have
been encouraged within the past few weeks
to undertake q hearty campaign and they
are now looking for practical politicians
as managers to cope with the coterie Of
skillful and experienced men who have
stood at the head Of the republican con-
gressional committee In the last two or
The republicans are expected to make
Babcock, Hull, Overstreet and Loudensla-
ger get back into the traces for another
pull.
PLAGUE IN THE PHILIPPINES.