Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-07-11

deavor to SheIve Mr.. Roosevelt-The lrrisa.
ton Bill Was Only Passed by Democratic
Aid-The Philippine Bill is a Makeshift-
The Canal Bill a Compromise-The Coinage
Bill aStraddIe. Notwithstanding Profession.
Of Solidity for the Gold Bass-The Party i,
Split hopelessIy on Cuban Reciprocity
Trusts Are Riding High ilorses-Consrss.
Simply Ignored Some Of the President.
Recommendations and Others Come to
Nausht-The Expenditures Of the Govern
ment Far Exceed the Billion Mark-stl
Congress Left Important Work Undone.
tFrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, July 4, 1902.
The Fifty.seventh Congress has
completed its first session and has
left behind it record which presages
victory for the Democratic party at the
fall elections. Between their subser.
viepcy to the trusts and monopolies
and their desire to eliminate Mr.
Roosevelt from the Presidential posi-
bilities of 1901, the Republican leaders
have converted a session of Congress
during which their party has had con.
troll, not only of both branches of the
legislative but OF the executive depart.
ment of the government as we'll, into
sad fiasco. OF the legislation rec.
commended by Mr.. Roosevelt, but few
measures have been enacted and most
OF those were passed contrary to the
dictum OF the leaders and only by the
aid Of Democratic votes.
The Isthmian Canal bill, which has
never been a party measure, has been
passed. it is true, although the infiu-
ences which prompted the substitution
of the Spooner resolution, providing
for the selection of the Panama route,
are we'll known and it is further
known that none will be more sadly
disappointed than they if the exami-
nation OF the Attorney-G General reveals
the fact that satisfactory title can be
furnished by the Panama Canal com.
pany. The passage OF the Hans.
brough. Newlands Irrigation bill was
opposed by Speaker Henderson, Repre-
sentatives Dalzell, Payne. Grosvenor
and other Republican leaders and only
a coalition OF Democratic and Republi.
can members secured its consideration
and passage by the House. The Phil
ippine bill is . sad makeshift which
accomplishes nothing except the ex.
tension OF the powers Of the Philippine
Commission. The Republicans, who
have long boosted of the solidity and
harmony Of their party on the cur
rency question, were obliged, at the
eleventh hour, to eliminate the coin
age provisions because the Republican
members OF the Senate and the House
could not reach an agreement on
either q silver or a gold basis.
The breach in Republican ranks
made by the opposing trusts in the
Cuban Reciprocity contest is too re.
cent to require more than mention
here. Even the urgent special mes.
sage OF the President was fruitless in
the face Of the power of the trusts.
Mr.. Roosevelts earnest recommends
tons in regard to governmental SUPER
vision and publicity for the trusts fell
upon deaf ears, or rather upon ears
whiah had for so long lietened to the
siren voice Of the great monopolies that
they recognized no other. Mr.. Roose.
velt's recommendation that the prin.
ciple of general reciprocity be extended
received no consideration. The tariff
protected interests care not for reel.
procity and the interests OF the people,
the consumers, are Of small import to
the type Of statesmen which Republi.
can conventions select for Congress.
The Department of Commerce advo.
Gated by the President came to naught
and the same is true OF the anti.an-
archy bill the necessity for which
he 20 ably set forth.
But there was one accomplishment
in which the Fifty-seventh Congress
failed not, the expenditure of the pub.
lie funds. Even according to their
own financier, Senator Allison, the ap.
preparations for the session aggregate
$500, 49,, 1888, nor does this include the
contracts authorized and which are
the equivalent Of 80 many promissory
notes which must be paid At some fu.
ture date, and which, according. to
Representive Livingston, of the APP
preparations Committee, amount to
$259, 573.215. The total appropria.
tions of the session correctly stated,
therefore, will amount to $l,O59, 567,.
052. In view of tho estimate of Mr..
Cannon, made June 10th, that the rev.
enues for the current fiscal year would
amount TO but $639, 0OO, 900, the outlook
10 not encouraging. That this kind OF
inanceering will be countenanced by
the people or that the voters at the
fall elections will indorse the party
which has 90 recklessly distributed the
public funds is hardly to be expected.
Tuesday mornings Cabinet meeting
was the most interesting that has been
held for long time. The practical
close OF Congress had removed from
the realm of uncertainty number of
important matters and that fact, to-
gether with the approaching departure
OF the President, made it necessary to
consider . number Of important sub
jects. The adjournment OF Congress
without action in regard to the Pacific
cable, leaves the Commercial Pacific
Cable Company practically in posses
sion OF the field aud that company has
made . proposition to the Secretary Of
the Navy offering certain concessions
in return for the cable survey made BY
the United States ship Nero. Naval
and military reasons demand the
prompt completion OF . cable line to
the Philippines and for that reason
Secretary Moody was inclined to pm.
ply with the request Of the cable com.
pany, but the President and his advis.
ers deemed it wise to first submit the
proposition of the company to the A.
torney General for examination and
pending his report no action will be
taken.
The President had already signed
the Panama Canal bill and accordingly
the provisions of that measure were
extensively discussed. No time will