The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-12-08
NEGATIVE
SESSION
Congress is Expected
to do Little
TOO NEAR IMPORTANT ELECTION
Democrats Will Endeavor to Make Is
sue of Tariff-Republican
Will Stand Pat.
TOO NEAR IMPORTANT ELECTION

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec: S.-A
long dry negative session is expected
If the regular session of congress be
representatives unite in the opinion
hat there will be no legislation in re-
card to the tariff or the currency.
Representative Payne of New York,
who is the republican leader on the
noor in all matters relating to legISla-
lion affecting the revenues and imam
ces of the government, said today: |
nave no idea there Will be any tariff
Legislation or any financial legislation
of material concern. The tariff is not
matter to be tinkered with on the
we of a presidential campaign, and fl
nance is equally important.
OF the numerous questions of large
Importance on which the republicans
feel obliged to take a negative post
ton the question of tariff legislation,
many persons believe, is fraught with
most danger for the reason that the
democrats have practically decided
that the tariff Shall be the dominant
issue in next years campaign. In re-
spending to party demands. many of
the republican members of the house
will be placed in the attitude Of open
~. opposing a thing which they Sc
cretly favor. The same fear of losing
votes will also stand in the way of
any financial legislation, it is believ
ed.
1t may be safely said that the major
ity will not pass the eight-hOur bill,
which organized labor is prepared to
demand with more aggressiveness than
ever before. This promises to be
troublesome question. The party in
power finds itself between two fires
organized labor on one side insisting
on the legislation, and organized cap
ital on the other side, not only OpO-
sing the proposed legislation. but
threatening dire results to the repub-
lican party if such bill shall be
passed.
The minority will insist on addi-
tional anti trust legislation, but it is
doubtful if it gets a hearing on the
subject. The majority party feels that
from political standpoint. it is in
pretty fair shape on the trust business.
To be sure. little or nothing has been
accomplished under the legislation of
last winter, but the department Of
commerce and labor is busy gathering
facts and figures, and it is hoped.
moreover. that the celebrated merger
case will be decided against the trust
makers before the people are called on
to vote.
Opinion differs as to what may be
done at the session in regard to the
postoffice frauds. The republicans feel
that the Roosevelt administration has
escaped all odium for the wrOngdOing
by the prompt and thorough measures
taken to probe the scandal to the bot
tom and bring the guilty to punish
ment. The minority, however. is
keeping both eyes open and will not
let slip an opportunity to show, if
possible that the administration is
responsible in measure for the grave
irregularities disclosed during the last
six months.
Senator Quay intends to renew his
efforts to secure statehood for Okla
homa Arizona and New Mexico and
! it is anticipated that the long fight of
| last winter will be duplicated. Alaska
also is due to receive a good deal of
attention at the present session. The
sub committee from the senate COM
mittee on territories. which spent two
months in Alaska will make recon-
| mendations that a territorial delegate
| De admitted to the house, and that the
| judicial machinery OF the territory be
| re-arranged.
The reciprocity trade treaties may
| bob up again during the session. but
| they will go down with the regularit!
| # the baby heads at a county fair.
| Lobbyists are not ignorant of the
| check an approaching election place:
| on congress- A member of the legis-
lative committee of the Anti-Saloor