The age-herald., 1902-05-17
Washington Day by Day

written by the friendly hand of the New York Suns gifted chief correspondent in Washington MT. David s. Barry, one 1 of the ablest of the correspondents here.
 But before considering MT. Barry's kind and just statement, 1t is needful to refer to a painfully misleading letter from Washington to a southern newspaper, which circulates to some extent in Ala bama. This letter appeared last Monday, and already Alabamaians are writing to Washington in regard to 1t. The writer of the letter begins by stating:
 "The suggestion that there may be combination among the politicians of Ala bama to hold up the bill retiring Captain 1 Hobson from active service in the navy is being considerably discussed in Con- gressionaI circles"
 This Is very astonishing news to Ala bamians in Washington; in truth, 1t is quite incredible Amongst the Alabamians here who are In the best possible position to know, there has not been so much as a hint of any such combination of ''the politicians of Alabama" and see ing that there would be no reason or ex- | U the newspaper story Is laughable, except as 1t reflects njustly upon Senator Nor gan, Senator Pettus and the Alabama Representatives in the House.
 Tt Is pointed out as significant" runs this remarkable newspaper special" which has attracted attention in Ala bama, that the bill to place Hobson on tho retired list was introduced in the Senate by MT. Gallinger of New Moody of Oregc min neither case by a representative from his home state"
 This unjustilable implication is based upon ignorance or willful ignoring of fa- miliar facts. MT. Gallnger a Republi- can, introduced the Hobson bill fin the Senate In compliance with the request of the President a Republican. This was perfectly right and proper
 It Is without precedent, in the first place, for a Democrat in Congress to voluntarily introduce a bill to carry out the wishes of a Republican President, or for a Republican to introduce a bill to carry out the wishes of a Democratic | President.
 It is without precedent for the Presi- dent to ask Senator or Representative of the political party opposed to him to introduce a bill or resolution upon any subject
 This has been the custom unbroken for a hundred years. The issue involved may be absolutely non-political as is the case concerning the Hobson retirement bill, end Just now the Martinique relief reso- lutfon; but the custom is the custom. and one is forced to conclude that 1t Is well known to every newspaper correspondent who earns pay for his work
 
 | More specifically, and without regard to the custom of a century of legislation, 1t may well be doubted if either Senator Morgan or Senator Pettus was aware of the Presidents request for Captain Hob- sons retirement until a day or longer after Senator Galinger's praiseworthy bill was printed. Both the venerable 1 Senators from Alabama are exceedingly active and busy men, and neither has the time to listen to the mere routine busi- | ness of the Senate, such as messages l from the President and the introduction of bills.
 The simple introduction of a bill read by Its title, which in parliamentary fic- l tion Is called first reading" attracts absolutely no attention except on the 1 part of newspaper men. A bill to appro- priate billion dollars for ice cream for the Filipinos would remain utterly un- l known to all the members of Congress, except the one who introduced 1t, until the morning newspapers made them ac- | quainted with its provisions. The mere introduction of bill Is entirely unheeded. So with resolution, unless its consid- eration be demanded instantly.
 Notwithstanding their ages and the great demands made upon them by their Alabama correspondents and correspond | ents all over the Union, together with their active work on the floor of the Senate the committee duties of Senator Morgan and Senator Pettus are very great. Senator Morgan Is chairman of the committee on interoceanic canals, a l position he resigned long ago. but the Republican majority refused to accept his resignation. More than that he is a member of the committees on coast and l insular surveys, foreign relations, forest reservations indian affairs, pacific rail- | roads, and to investigate trespassers upon Indian lands Senator Pettus Is a mem- | Der of the committees on Indian depreda- | tions judiciary military affairs, privi- leges and elections (which Is to sit after the adjournment of the present session), private land claims, railroads, and trans portation routes to the seaboard
 When we realize that practically all legislation of Congress is by committee, | then can we comprehend something of the burden of labor resting upon Ala bama's aged and illustrious Senators.
 It will be observed with reference to the Hobson retirement bill. concerning which the newspaper correspondent quoted in the outset of this letter seeks 1 to involve Senator Morgan and Senator | Pettus that neither of these Senators l is a member of the Senate's committee on naval affairs. This committee Is adorned by Senator Gallinger. The ex- pression adorned is used advisedly and | with all respect for Senator Gallinger Is a gracious, charming and able man.
 What is true of Senator Morgan and Senator Pettus in respect to the Hob son retirement bill is identically true 1 of the Alabama members of the House.