The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-22
LONDON DOCK. Bill
Senator Nelson Has Hard Propo-
sition Ahead. aa
sTHRoWING-DowN" OF LEADERS
Payne, Grosvenor and the Speaker
of the House Are Gloomy
and Sad.
From, Tho Journal Eureau. .E.oesn 4S, Post
Building, Washington.

Fron. The .'omrna1 nnreau. Esoosr 40, Post
Building, Washington.
Washington, May 22-In all his legis-
lative career Senator Nelson has not been
up against as tough a proposition as is
presented in the senate by the opposition
to the consideration of the London dock
bill. The BILL through courtesy to MI
Nelson in part, has been reported from
the committee on commerce, and is On the
senate calendar. and there 1t begins to
look as if it is to remain for the remain
der of this session, and probably during
the short session next winter also. There
is a prospect, however, that early In the
short session, before the holidays, and in
advance of the appearance in the upper
house of the appropriation bills, there will
be an opportunity to get the bill up for
consideration. This done, 1t is probable
that it will pass, for Senator Nelson feels
that a majority of the senate will ia
vor it.
Two years ago, with the aid of two
or three other senator's Mr.. Nelson was
able to prevent the consideration of
bill which had passed the house unani-
mously, providing for doing away with the
small beer kegs. The bill was in the IN
terest of the large brewers, who wanted
TO increase the sale of their bottled goods
in the country districts, and 1t was
and Of the coopers. With probably ma
iority of the senate ready to vote for the
bill once it could come before them Sen
ator Nelson was able to prevent consider
ation and congress adjourned without &C
tion and the coopers and the small brew
ers were protected. To-day it begins to
look as: if these tactics were to be en-
ployed against Senator Nelson by the
strong opposition to the London dock bill.
With probably majority Of the senate
in favor of the bill and ready to pass it,
those who oppose it seem likely to pre-
vent consideration, at least in the. pres
ent session. And they will renew, their
attacks next winter, but with what re-
suit only the future can determine -....
The senators opposing the bill are the
strongest members of the upper house.
Every senator from New England, save
possibly one of the senators from YER
mont, is opposed to it. The New York
senators and those from New Jersey,
Maryland and from the coast states gen
orally, think the proposed legislation is
bad, and will obstruct it at every turn.
If they. remain determined, the bill can
not come up. .&
of not only the American ship owners, but
of the foreign owners as we'll; that is,
those foreign owners who have vessels in
the Atlantic trade. "
1t is possible that the bill may go
through the house~at this session. H. ~
The Throwing Down of the Leaders.
The house leaders are a sad looking
body Of men. It is said that the records
of the American congress will be searched
in vain for as many throw downs" in a
single session for the leaders as they
have received this year. The latest was
the refusal of the house to fellow on the
proposition to ignore the request of organ
lied labor for the construction of sample
ships in the government navy yards. The
story of this last throw down" has al
ready been told in the public prints, but
its effects are still plainly visible on, the
floor of con gress. Payne, Dalzell, Gros-
venor and the speaker are gloomy and
sad.~The effect of these revolts will be al
together for the good, for they will mean
that the house oligarchy will be some
what less tyrannical in the future than
it has been in the past. The speaker will
probably come back to the short session
next winter in very lowly frame Of mind,
and his autocratic committee on rules will
be somewhat less autocratic. .~#..
The next struggle will come when the
effort Is made to lengthen the present
session, in an effort to secure something
for Cuba. It is practically agreed that
unless congress runs along into late July
or into August, no Cuban legislation will
be possible. In fact, Senator Teller has
already threatened a f1libuster against
the bill, and that will mean that nothing
can be done, unless the session lasts the
whole Of the summer. It is the plan of
tnsurgent senators and Representative as
fast as their local measures are all taken
care of, to start for home. At least three
members Of the Minnesota house delega-
ton have arranged for live pairs, and
expect to start for the state shortly after
the first Of June. Their example will prob
ably be followed little later by other
members Of the delegation. Members from
other tnsurgent states are making sim
liar preparations, and the first thing the
speaker knows he will have no quorum,
and adjournment will be necessary, wheth-
err anything has been done for Cuba or
not. In the senate, also, members are to
begin going home early in June. There
will be very strong and effective pro-
test against a long summer session in
the interest Of Cuba alone, and the in
surgents, with their threats Of alibuster
and their plans Of going away. seem to
have the whip hand.