The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-10-29
WASHINGTON LETTER
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
Washington, D. G, Oct. 26, 100;

been issued by the President The ''ex-
traordinary occasion which requires the
convening of both houses, is the neces
sary approval by Congress of the recipro-
cal convention between the United States
and the Republic of Cuba, signed at
Havana on December slst 1909. The
consideration of the Cuban treaty will
undoubtedly be the chief business during
the extra session, but any other business
will be in order, as when Congress is
once in session it can undertake any
legislation which either House desires.
II is expected that many bills will be in
trcduced but most of the time will be
consumed in debating the tariff issue
which will be raised by the treaty. The
comparative strength of the parties in
the first meeting of the Fifty eighth Con-
gress will be in the Senate. fifty-seven
republicans and thirty three democrats,
and in the House 205 republicans and IT'S
democrats. In the House of Represen
tatives there will be 11S members who
have never served before, and in the
Senate, 10 Senators who will see their
first service, except that of the ten days
extra session of the Senate last spring.
Senator German will lead the democratic
forces and the republicans in the Senate
will find themselves confronted by a
united and definite policy, guided by the
man whom the President regards as his
most dangerous rival for the first office
of the land. In the House the new
speaker will try to distribute the import
ant chairmanships without arousing
animosities and dissensions in the repub
lican party. 1t is said that Representa-
tive Hepburn of Iowa will take advant-
age of the chance in the speakership to
lead an attack upon the House rules
which have placed the lower branch of
Congress under the dominion of "a small
oligarchy consisting O. the Speaker and
the Committee on rules. He proposes to
enlarge this powerful committee and al
so that ii shall be chosen by the two par
ties in the House instead of being ap
pointed by the speaker. He will no
doubt have the support of the democrats
and of many republicans who are con-
cerned at the loss of prestige and power
by the House due to the iron rules Of
Reed
President Roosevelt's attitude to the
canal question has displeased many
members of Congress and it is said that
he will be called upon during the extra
session to explain why, on the failure of
the treaty proposed to Columbia, he did
not begin negotiations with Nicaragua
as he is directed to do by the Spooner
act. In the Isthmian canal question he
seems to have adopted the general re
republican attitude of stand pat. In
speaking of the Presidents delay in en-
forcing the law, Senator Morgan Of Ala
bama said, The President seems to be
in the same category as our friend Mi
cawber. He is waiting for something to
turn up, Just what that something is to
be is not apparent. Why should he de
lay? There is no excuse for his tardiness
in opening negotiations with Nicaragua
and Costa Rica for route. believe a
disposition will be shown in the Senate
and House to secure an explanation from
the President as to his exact reason for
delay"
Senator Germans stlnging criticism Of
the President for his interference in the
Maryland campaign is having visible
effect. The Marylander s resent the i'm
plcation that they are unable 20 manage
their affairs without the aid of Washing
ton and this resentment is by no means
confined to the democratic party While
the President may have succeeded in
bringing about semblance of harmony
between the leaders of the republican
factions, every time he summons them
to the White House he brings votes to
the democratic party. 1t is said that the
President has more fear Of German than
for any other candidate the democrats
might nominate and he is doing all in
his power TO prevent republican defeat
in Maryland. 1t was no doubt with his
approval, that Senator Germans brother
has just been dismissed from the Treas
ury department, for the good of the
service. The Treasury officials would
not give out the exact nature of the
charges Whatever they may be, the
dismissal comes at a moment which
justifes suspicious Of political revenge.
The official announcement Of the Alas
kan Boundary Commission was given ont
last Tuesday and the victory of the
United States has pleased the Americans
angered the Canadians, and surprised the
British. The Canadian commissioners
refused to sign the award bat they affix