The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-03-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, March 18th

republican members of the house of rep
resentatives, the energy with which the
democrats In the senate have renewed the |
agitation in favor of the election of sena-
tors by popular vote and the ratification
by the senate Of the Hague treaty, formu-
lated at the Hague peace conference and
by (which it Is hoped to make warfare
more humane.
While the terms of agreement between
the beet sugar republicans, as they have
come to be called, and the republican or
ganization of the house have not been an
nounced, it is believed that,,they will be
to-day and that they will bind the party to
vote for the ways and means bill granting
20 per cent. reduction of the Dlngley tariff
rates on Cuban imports, to be met with a
similar reduction on American goods
going into Cuba, the concession to be
limitedto September 1st., 1908, and whole
accompanied by the pledge of the leaders
that the senate will not amend the meas
ure by increasing the rate or extending
the time limit. The accomplishment of
this agreement will prove disappoint-
ment 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. It also
means, no doubt, that the bill proposed
by Representative Babcock of Wisconsin
will not be considered at this session.
The demand of Senator Berry of Ar
kansas for report on the joint resolution
amending the constitution to permit 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
vigorously agitating the question: Sena-
tor Vest of Missouri Is opposed to thel
change and Senator Morgan Of Alabama
declined to tell me where he stood, but
the remainder of the democratic senators,
most of whom have spoken to on the
subject, seem to favor 1t and some of them
say that they believe 1t will be made a
Cduphlku 16Su0 IL bu0 EO6OAublOu 10 OClOhI"
ed at this session. Colonel Bryan was at
the capitol Thursday of last week and saw
many of the senators and representatives
in regard to this question. Senator Bur.
rows 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
Burrows favors popular election.
1t Is serious question whether the
Hague treaty promotes the ends desired.
It Is favored by many humane persons be-
cause they hope it will make war less
terrible. Others equally humane contend
that the more terrible war Is, the more
there Is no doubt that the most humane
motives prompted the senators to ratify
the treaty.
Following closely. y.upon the resignation
of Secretary Long comes the announce
ment that civil. service commissioner
Rodenberg has resigned his position, pre-
sumably for the purpose of entering the
field of active politics. The appointment
of Mr.. Rodenberg's successor Is awaited
with considerable interest as upon the
personnel Of the commission depends, to
very large extent, the effectiveness and
integrity of its work. Mr.. Rodenberg
was never regarded as very strong advo-
cate of the principles which brought the
L mic inf owiofonno h1t ho hoo
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
appointment of another enthusiast, which
is expected of the president, will render
the commission greater power for good
than ever.
The senate has devoted itself all the
past week to the consideration of the chip
subsidy bill although there Is not the
slightest reason to believe that single
vote has been changed by the debate.
The measure comes to vote to-day and
the vote will doubtless be on strict party
lines. Its sponsors, Senator Frye and
Hanna, express themselves as confident
that the bill will pass and will be received
with approval by the house and will be-
come law; but other republican sena.
tors, although they refuse to permit their
names to be used, have told me that they
believe that it has little chance In the
lower chamber.
After passing the rural free delivery
bill, so amended as to provide for a salary
not to exceed 5000 per annum for rural
carriers, the house turned It's attention to
the consideration of the postoffice appro.
priation bill and passed it on Friday.
Saturday was devoted to the passage OF
private bills. This is the sixth appropria.
tion bill that the house has disposed OF
this session. A resolution was adopted
by the house on Friday authorizing the
president to invite the families of the
Count de Rochambeau, and the Marquis
de lafayette, and the people Of France to
be present at the unveiling of the statue
of Rochambeau at Washington on May
Oath, and appropriating $4,000 to defray
| tuo O4PoAoco WuAoA WOuAO Uo AAcuHIou'
The presidents veto of bill removing
the stigma of having been ''a desertel
from the navy from the record of John
Glass,-his first veto, by the way,-has
/ caused general reconsideration of similar
bills in the committees of congress
These bills first provide that "honorably
discharged" shall be placed after the
name Of men who have deserted, and
) sooner or later there appears another bill
affording the former deserter pension.
Many of these bills have been passed ir
former years and the president doubtless