Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-03-27
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18th, 100.

organization OF the mouse have not been
announced, it lie believed that they will
be today and that they will bind the
party to vote for the ways and means
bill granting 20 per cent reduction OF
the DinRley tariff rates on Cuban i'm.
ports, TO be met with similar reduc-
tion on American goods going into Cuba,
the concession to be limited 10 Septem.
ber lst., 1908, and the whole accom-.
panied by the pledge OF the leaders that
the senate will not amend the measure
by increasing the rate or extending the
time limit. The accomplishment Of this
agreement will prove disappointment
to the democratic members who hoped
to be able to secure, through the division
OF the republicans, some reduction OF
the tariff on various schedules. 1t also
means, no doubt, that the bill proposed
by Representative Babcock, Of Wis
consin, will not be considered at this
session.
The demand OF Senator Berry, OF
Arkansas for report on the joint resolu.
ton amending the constitution 10 per.
init OF the election Of senators by
popular vote was met with the promise
OF Senator Burrows, chairman Of the
committee TO which the resolution had
been referred, that it would be reported
in the near future and since then the
democratic senators have been vigor-
ously agitating the question. Senator
Vest, Of Missouri, is opposed to the
change and Senator Morgan, OF Ala
bama, declined to tell me where he
stood, but the remainder Of the demo-
cratic senators, most OF whom | have
spoken to on the subject, seem to favor
it and some OF them say that they be-
lieve it will be made campaign issue il
the resolution is defeated at this session.
Colonel Bryan was at the capitol Thurs
day OF last week and saw many OF the SEN
ators and representatives in regard to this
question. Senator Burrows was in the
marble room during Mr.. Bryan's call and
the Colonel remarked to him that he was
glad to know that there was one point
on which he could agree with the
senator from Michigan. Senator Bur
rows favors popular election.
1t is a serious question whether the
Hague treaty promotes the ends desired.
1t is favored by many humane persons
because they hope TO make war less
terrible, Others equally humane con-
tend that the more terrible war is, the
more care nations will take to ratiiy the
treaty.
Following closely upon the resignation
OF Secretary Long comes the announce.
ment that Civil Service Commissioner
Rodenberg has resigned his position,
presumably for the purpose Of entering
the field OF active politics. The ap.
pointment of Mr.. Rodenberg's successor
is awaited with considerable interest as
upon the personnel Of the commission
depends, 10 very large extent, the
effectiveness and integrity OF it's work.
Mr.. Rodenberg was never regarded as a
very strong advocate Of the principles
which brought the commission into
existence but he has carried out the
provisions OF the law none the less
faithfully. Messrs. Proctor and Foulke,
his associates, are both ardent advocates
OF civil service reform and the appoint.
ment OF another enthusiast, which 10 eI.
pected OF the president, will render the
commission a greater power for good
than ever.
The senate has devoted itself all the
past week TO the consideration OF the
ship subsidy bill although there ia not
the slightest reason 10 believe that a
single vote has been changed by the
debate. The measure comes TO a vote
today and the vote will doubtless be on
strict party lines. Its sponsors, Senators
Frye and Hanna, express themselves
as confident that the bill will pass and
will be received with approval by the
house and will become a law; but other
republican senator's, although they
refuse TO permit their names TO be used,
have told me that they believe that 1t
has little shance IN the lower chamber.
Alter passing the rur.l free delivery
bill, 30 amended as TO provide for a
salary not to exceed 5000 per snnum for
rural carriers, the house turned its at.
teDtion 10 the consideration OF the post.
Office appropriation bill and passed 1t on
Friday. Saturday was devoted TO the
passage ol private bills. This is the
sixth appropriation bill that the house
has disposed Of this session. A resolu.
tion was adopted by the house on Friday
authorizing the president 10 invite the
families Of tho Count de Rocham beau
and the Marquis de la Fsyette, and the
people OF France TO be present at the
unyeiling Of the statue Of Rocham beau
at Washington on May Path, and sp
propriating $4,000 10 defray the eI
penses which would be incurred.
The presidents veto Of & bill remov
ing the stigma Of having been "a
deserter from the navy" from th,
record Of John Glsss-his first veto, by
the way-has caused general reconsider.
alton Of similar bills in the committees
Of congress. These bills first provid.
that "honorably discharged" shall be
placed after the name Of men who have
deserted, and sooner or later there sp.
| pexrs anotker hill aHordino the fo,r,.,