The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-24
Oleonargarine Bill Now
Unfinished Business,
With Right of Way.
CHINESE EXCLUSION FOLLOWS
Senator Morgan as Yet Unable to Get
His Nicaraguan Canal Bill Placed on
the Calendar-Chance Only of Its Be-
ing Heard Before Exclusion Bill.

/ portant measures the shipping bill. the
bill for the protection of the President.
and the bill repeating all the war revenue
taxes. In addition it got through with
| practically everything in the way of minor
measures on the calendar. and there are
at present almost an unprecedentediy
small number of measures pending.
| The three important bills now in sight
are the Nicaragua Canal BILL the oIeo-
margarine bill, and the bill providing for
the exclusion of the Chinese Today the
Senate will take up the oleomargarine
bill, an agreement having been reached
last Friday making IL unfinished BUSH
ness. The anti-Chinese measure at pres
ent has the next right of way, but it may
be displaced by the Nicaragua Canal bill
or some House or committee measure.
The oleo bill is technically known as
an act to make oleomargarine and other
imitation dairy products subject to the
laws of any State or Territory or the Dis
trfet of Columbia. into which they are
transported. and to change the tax on
oiecmargarine, and to amend an act en-
titled AN act defining butter. also inlpos-
ing tax upon and regulating the manu-
raeture. sale, importation, and exporta-
ton OF oleomargarine,' approved August
z, 1856. The bill has passed the House.
but the general opinion seems to be that
1t will have a hard time getting through
the Senate
In the last session it passed the House,
out got no further in the Senate than
a favorable report from the Committee
On Agriculture. This year it has ad-
yanced as far as that. and further. In
being taken up for consideration by the
senate itself. but it has many deter
mined enemies, who talk confidently Of
the efficacy of their arguments What
ever its fate. there are likely to be a
great number of speeches and, perhaps,
something dramatic in the way of a
squabbie may get into the debate
The opponents of the bill and friends
OF oleomargarine say that they will pro-
pose an amendment placing butter that
mas been colored under the ban with 9TH
er limitations" They say the eyperts
have testified that the dairies use more
coiorfng matter than the makers of oleo-
margarine. The beef and cotton seed
oil people seem to have great faith in
the potency of this amendment.
Anti-Chinese Legislation.
There is some dissatisfaction at the
terms of the anti-Chinese bill, or rather,
perhaps. of preference for the present
Geary law in the Senate. The Commit
tee on immigration has reported the new
bill favorably. but would very likely give
it up if the sentiment should seem to be
strong in the other direction. The Geary
law goes out of existence in May and
some legislation for Chinese exclusion is
said to be certain before that time.
1t is not understood that Senator Nor
gan has as yet secured from the Senate
Steering Committee any positive assur-
ances as to when the canal bill will be
given the right of way. but he is in hopes
that it will get hearing in the Senate
at least after these two measures, and
perhaps before the Chinese bill
The river and harbor bill will reach the
upper mouse in the near future, but .ha
members of the Appropriations Commit
tee are not likely to finish their work on
it for some time to come.
Election of Senators
4 beginning has been made by the Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections on the
amendment to the Constitution
providing for the popular election OF Sem -
ators. The committee will devote their
ready to report to the Senate shortly.
This is more than could ever have been
said before. and the friends OF the popular
election are much pleased with the out
look. 1t is said however. by those vino
have made polls of the Senate that there
is really very little chance of securing
the two-thirds vote for the proposition
that would be required for its adoption by
the Senate. to say nothing of the two
thirds vote of the country on the amend
ment afterward.
The Senate Committee on the Philip
pines will not hear witnesses this week.
for the first time since the holidays al
most One or two witnesses may be heard
by the subcommittee on the question of
the financial system to he adopted for
the archipelago. Advocates of the gold
standard idea have not yet been heard
1t is not believed that the subcommittee
will make its report to the full committee
his week.
The Committee on Interstate Commerce
IS now considering the Elkins bill to iii
crease the powers of the Interstate Com
ncrce Commission and to allow the rail-
ways to enter limited pooling agreements.
rhe measure is one of the most important
hat will be considered by the present
Congress. as il il is passed it will legal
re railway combinations having much
he same effect in practice as the North
,rn Securities Company, the constitution
llty of which is now under discussion in
he courts.
The Senate District Committee will re-
,ort personal tax bill for the District
hts week and also, in all probabi the
ill for the union railway station.