The Press., 1903-03-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.


ThA~last session of the fifty seventh
congress Is drawing rapidly to close with
the usual hurry and hustle incident to
the closing hours of congress in both
Legislative chambers. Filibustering, con-
fiict and rancer have been evident in both
houses during the greater portion of the
week and systematic flibuster is still
being conducted In the house by the demo-
Gratis in revenge for the unseating of Rep
resentative Butler of Missouri. On the
face the returns Mr.. Butler was elect
ed 6. 30 majority but on the discovery of
certain frauds the vote of so many pre-
cincts was thrown out that the contes-
tant, Mr.. Wagner, was awarded the seat.
This decision, coming so late in the ses-
sion, has practically no effect other than
to give Mr.. Wagner his $4,000 salary
and mileage. The democrats have eau
cused on the situation and bound them
selves to demand a yea and nay vote on
every measure. The result of this &C.
tion On Friday was to prolong the mere
approval of the journal over two hours
and since then the house has not adjourn
ed, taking recesses and making the legis-
lative9day OF Friday continue, it is expect
ed until the congress expires.
A similar filibuster was organized In
the senate, the democrats being deter
mined to force vote on the Littlefield
antitrust bill, but was of short duration
as the republicans permitted the question
to come to a vote, refusing to consider
the Littleheld bill, 90 to 38. Senator
Morgan's f1libuster on the Panama canal
treaty still continues and the senator from
Alabama has objected to every motion to
set the day for vote before the end OF
the session. This Is regarded as render
ing an extra session of the senate newt
able. Excellent progress has been made
with the appropriation bills and, as a re-
suit, there will be no extra session of both
houses Of congress as was at one time
threatened
reexdent Roosevelt has sent an earnest
appeal 10 the senate to pass the Philip
pine tariff bill, reducing the tariff on sugar
and tobacco from the Philippines from rs
to 90 per cent. of the Dingley rates, but
Senators Teller and Patterson, fearing
that the Philippine sugar industry may at
some future time be able to compete with
their beet sugar producing constituents,
say they will talk the bill to death If it's
further consideration is insisted upon.
Senator Lodge, who has the measure in
charge, said to-day that he regarded it's
fate as most dubious.
The idea of a fixed naval program so
earnestly advocated by leaders of both
political parties and by the president is
rapidly gaining favor and the house COM
mittee on naval affairs has favorably re-
port. resolution calling upon the Sec
retary oflhe navy, the Naval War college
and the naval board, of which Admiral
Dewey is president, for information on
the feasibility of such a plan, together
with recommendations as to the class OF
ships which should be built, the length OF
program most judicious,. the annual ex-
penditure advised, etc. 1t Is regarded as
probable that the next congress- will adopt
such program and that it will govern
the future increase of the navy for num-
Der of years
Statehood legislation at this session of
congress Is dead. The compromise pre-
sentei by the republicans was promptly
rejected by the democrats and the whole
matter goes over to the next congress.
According to the republican leaders a
party bill creating two states out of the
four territories will be passed at the next
session but this prediction is strenuously
disputed by the democrats
1t is not g enerally realized that foreign
governments own in the city of Washing.
ton, real estate having an actual value OF
over $2,00O,00O. The largest holder OF
such property is the British government,
whose embassy is alleged to be worth up
wards of 5000, 900. The German govern
ment stands next with property worth
worth not less than $4,000 and. owns a
building site, not yet improved, worth
$50 900. The Corean government owns
property worth 1926, 900 and so on. AS
none of this property pays taxes the loss
to the District of Columbia in revenues is
estimated at upwards of $4,000 per annum.
81 wonder If the American conscience
is growing more TENDER" said the secre
tary Of the treasury recently when he re
ceived check for 81 900 from a man who
said that he had taken that amount from
the government and his conscience had
troubled him ever since. This is the
second large remittance to the conscience
fund" received within the past six months.
The majority Of the contributions to this
fund do not amount to over so cents,
many of them being as small as two cents.
All are acknowledged through the daily
press, however small, and 60 to swell that
fund which bears such eloquence, though
silent, tribute to the sensitiveness of the
human conscience.
The Daughters OF the American Revc-
luton have held lively and at times ex-
citing convention In Washington, conclud-
Ing their labors last Saturday. During
the early hours of the session there was a
bitter contest for the presidency, but it
was finally dissipated by the withdrawal
of Mrs. Donald Mclean of New York
from the race. This left Mrs. Fairbanks
Of Indiana almost a sole candidate and