The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-12-05


and laden with flowers and in the House
the desk formerly occupied by Repre-
sentative Russell of Connecticut, and
those of Representatives de Graffeneid
and Sheppard of Texas, were similarly
treated.
~
In addition to the statesmen removed
by death there were twenty-five men in
the lower chamber who were defeated for
reelection, and therefore, condolences
mingled with congratulations. Many
members crowded about the Speakers
desk expressing their regret that this was
the last time he would call the session to
order, and another group gathered about
Representative Cannon congratulating
him upon having virtually won the high
est expression of confidence and the
highest honor the House can confer. No
business was transacted i'll either chamber
beyond the swearing in of General A1ger
in the Senate to succeed the late Senator
Mcmillan. A quiet but heartfelt ovation
was given to the ex-Secretary of War
whose friends believe he was a martyr to
unreasoning prejudice on the part of a
people flushed and excited with military
victory but suffering from the trials and
and bereavements which the most sue
cessful war must ever leave in its wake.
*x*
As soon as General Alger had taken the
oath of Office, Senator Burrows moved
that the Senate adjourn as mark of re-
spect to the memory of his deceased COL
league. Immediate adjournment was then
taken and the Senate will meet at noon
on Tuesday and receive the annual mes
sage of the President. In the House a
similar course was followed, adjournment
being taken out of respect to the memory
of the late Representative Russell and
other deceased members.
49,
"There will be no tariff legislation this
session." said Senator Frye, President OF
the Senate, i'll answer to an inquiry from
your correspondent. "There will be
neither time nor inclination i'll the upper
chamber for tariff amendment. The reg
ular appropriation bills, antitrust legis-
lation and probably some treaties will be
considered but that is all. Iregard it as
extremely probable that Congress will
amend the existing antitrust law in &C.
cordance with the recommendations OF
the Attorney General. I can see no pos.
s.ble objection to such a course the leg
islation would be of simple character
and should require but little time" Sen
ator Frye also expressed an earnest desire
to see the Ship Subsidy bill enacted into
law.
*x*
The Presidents message is already
printed and will be made public through
out the land Tuesday, simultaneously
with its reading in Congress. To attain
this end it has been mailed in sealed
packages 10 the postmasters with instruc-
lions to deliver to the newspaper only
when advised by telegraph from Wash
ington that the time for release has
arrived.
~
There is unfortunately no encouraging
news in regard to the Colombian treaty
and the friends of the Nicaraguan route
for the isthmian canal are urging its
claims with renewed energy. In view OF
the fact that practically no work has been
done on the Nicaraguau route, and that
therefore the estimates of the engineers
on canal built by that route are far more
liable TO revision than is the case with the
Panama route, on which numerous ex-
| pensive experiments have been conducted
by the French engineers and on which
two-fifths of the work is already CON-
pleted, the President is loath to abandon
the latter and Secretary Hay still hopes to
effect an arrangement which will prove
satisfactory to his own and to the Colon
bian government.
~
The first business which will occupy the
attention of the Senate will be the report
of the Territorial Committee, which is to
be made on the grid. Senator Beveridpe
said that it would be improper for him to
indicate through the columns of the press
the tenure of his report, but it is regarded
as most likely that it will not be favorable
to the admission of the three territories
which are applicants for statehood. It is
regarded as reasonably certain that Okla
homa would return two republican sem
ators, and two republican votes 10 the
Electoral College, so that the sentiment
in favor of admitting the latter is strong,
and many there are who would like to see
Oklahoma alone admitted. On the other
hand the democrats are unanimously in
favor of admitting all three territories,
and as it was the unaninity with which
the democrats supported the bill in the
House that secured its passage through
that chamber. it is regarded as doubtful if
the friends of the territories will consent
TO discrimination.
~
Representative Fowler, chairman of the
House Committee on Banking and Cur
rency, said that an effort would be made
to secure early consideration of the bill
which his committee framed last session
but which failed of consideration in the
House. Everything points to a lively
o.,A 80. "a = II