The Opelousas courier., 1902-05-03

/ pdSoS UAU LdUl1Cl Will tuS DOIlCl
that the amendment would kill
it and there is no chance for the
bill, as amended, in the Senate
| Notwithstanding the fact that
many of the Dingley rates were
made purposely high with a view
to providing margin for the ne
gotiation Of reciprocity treaties
are confirmed by the dominant
party, n9reduction of tariff rates
turn tefhe democratic party for
relief, ,Shnd they will get it,"
Opt1ion in the Senate is still
greatly divided as to ttHE> outcome
of thP Cuban reciprocity bill. 1t
is no& certain that q straight re-
eifF2ocity bill will be reported and,
as far as | can learn, the demo-
Gratis will try to amend it as was
done in the House. That they will
be successful is possible, as they
are likely to have the support of
the Beet Sugar senators, and if
SO, it will probably kill the bill
on its final passage. The present
indications are that the republican
senators will be satisfied if they
can secure the passage of a
straight bill in the Senate and will
permit it to die in conference with
little regret. "'The republicans
will shed few tears over the death
of the bill in conference" was the
reply of democratic senator who
is in a position to know when |
questioned him on the subject
Saturday.
The House of Representatives
during the past week has passed
the Military Academy bill and has
returned to conference the Chi
nese exclusion and oleomargerine
bills. It also attempted to make
a record on Friday by passing 145
pension bills in a few hours. The
Agricultural appropriation bill is
now under discussion. To-day
special rule will be reported for
the consideration of the Omnibus
Public Building bill which will be
taken up tomorrow. The bill
authorizes the expenditure of
public funds in all but two states
and carries total appropriation
of SIS, 100000. Any anxiety which
may have been felt earlier in the
session as to the surplus in the
Treasury is rapidly disappearing,
as this promises to be a billion and
a half dollar Congress.
The constant recurrence of ru-
mors of Senator Hanna's aspira-
t1ons for the next Presidential
nomination, Notwithstanding the
Senator's gentle denials, renders
his political methods particularly
interesting at this time. Appar-
emily the Senator from Ohio is
particularly proud of his reputa-
tion for standing by his friends
standing by ones friends under
fire." I believe it used to be
called in the time of President
Grant. Two conspicuous exam
Piles have recently attracted pub
lie attention, one, the case of
Rathbone, the Cuban postal-fund
embezzler, who was found guilty
and sentenced to o long term of
Imprisonment. Senator Hanna
has made the most strenuous eff
ferts IN Rathhone's behalf and
has finally succeeded in securing
his release under heavy bail. Mr..
Hanna even goes so far as to cast
reflection on General Wood in his
efforts to influence public opinion
in favor Of his ''friend." As a
candidate for the presidency the
Senator course will doubtless
stand him in good stead with a
certain element of his party.
Another instance of this same adj
mirable trait has recently come
to light in the case of one Harri-
son Wagner, whose military re-
cord Senator Hanna introduced
bill to correct. The House COM
mittee which investigated the case
found that numerous forgeries,
including a Senate bill and a Sem
ate report. had been fled by Mr..
Wagner, but doubtless Senator
Hanna will stand by him and it
is doubtful if he will ever be pro-
secuted.