Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-01-23
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81. 1902

The most adroit leadership i'm
both the Senate and the House has
alone prevented the development of
serious factional disturbances in re
publican ranks during the week just
passed and it is only question Of
time when they will break out i'm a
violent form on the floors of those
bodies. Ii is difficult for one not
actually ON the scene TO appreciate
to what an extent the House OF Rep
resetatlves has ceased to be a DELHI
crate body. For time the repubIi-
can members felt themselves repaid
for their loss of power by the exam
pie of perfect discipline which they
set TO the country but, now that they
are in so great "a majority as To be-
iieve themselves relieved from the
danger OF democratic aggression,
they are longing for the birthright
which they battered
Smarting with asense of their loss
of influence the representatives are
Inundated by the arrogance of GER
tain Senators who to day openly say
that the attitude of the House to
wards any of the important uues-
tions which Congress must answer
Is OF NO Importance as the Senate
can and will rectify the errors of the
impulSive and irresponsible low
er body. Senator CulIum is to-day
preparing a speech i'm support of
his contention that the House has no
right Ia be heard in the matter Of
reciprocal treaties which are. the
Senator alleges, matter for the
Senate and the President alone 10
consider. In view of the very
important subject of reciprocity with
Cuba which must soon be determined
the position of the senior Senator
from Illinois and large number of
his colleagues is particularly exas-
perating.
There is no mistaking the intent
of the Dingley bill which saws that
such treaties must be approved ''by
Congress but Senators Cullum.
Lodge, Spooner, Frye, Hanna and
others hold To the opinion that, ac-
cording To the Constitution. the
President and the Senate alone
constitute the treaty making power.
Senator Lodge mOdifieS his opinion
somewhat, however, by saying that
he believes that il would be courte-
Sy to consult the House because any
reciprocal treaty affects the question
of raising revenue.
The Philippine tariff bill will be-
reported to the Senate to-day or to-
morrow and it is predicted that the
debate ON its provisions will last for
month. Senator Lodge processes
To believe that il will he eventually
passed aS reported but there are
members of his own party who great
ly differ from him and who saw that
N Will have To be referred back To the
committee. Prominent among these
IL Senator Mitchell of Oregon. Al
ter the bill gets through the Senate
u will hava To pass the House and If
the Senate persists in its determi.
nation to exclude that body from a
voice In the Cuban reciprocity affair
there Is every possibility that Mr..
Payne, chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee. and his colleagues
Will treat the measure with little
consideration, AZ they believe that
Senator lodge, in his capacity az
champion of the administration. will
be thus brought TO terms and will
be forced 10 oppose the Senate For
eign Relations Committee in order
To relieve Secretary Root from his
present embarrassing position.
The lsthnlian Canal. while by no
means partisan question. is capa-
pie Of causing trouble that may de-
velop along partisan lines. Senator
Morgan. who is firmly committed
tn the Nicaraguan route as ever.
called at the White House recently
and cameaway seriously dissatisfied
v.'h the result Of his interview with !