The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-30
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, July az. 1908.

What promises TO be an exceeding
ly interesting iracas and possibly a
serious one appears to be brewing for
the next session of Congress. 1t will
be remembered that in the closing
hours of the last session Speakerto.
be Cannon INDUCED in harsh criticism
on the rules for doing business in the
Senate and charged that body with
highwayman methods, saying he had
been "held up and robbed. No
sooner had the Senate assembled in
special session than some Of tn. lead
ing senators took occasion to severely
critlcise Mr.. Cannon and predicted
that he would live to regret his "ill
chosen criticism. Since then, Mr..
Cannon has referred to the subject on
many occasions and apparently with
increasing bitterness. There has long
been a more or less covert antagonism
between the two houses of Congress
and there are many indications that
it will break out with no inconsider-
able rancor on both sides ut the ap,
preaching session.
XIX
1t now appears that the Subject of
financial legislation will be the occa-
sion Of the first break. AS has been
stated in these letters, the Senate, be-
fore adjournment, appointed sub.
committee of the committee on finance
to draft financial measure to be con-
| sidered Immediately on the reconven-
ing of Congress. While the exact pro-
visions of the measure are not known,
it is known that the Senate committee
has always opposed an asset currency
while the House has favored that ex-
pedient. In fact that was the gist of
the Fowler bill. During recent
visit to Washington Mr.. Cannon made
it known that he would oppose all f.
nancial legislation at the next session
and it is believed that his course in so
doing would be largely dictated by
his determination not to yield any
thing to the leadership of the Senate.
Since then, however, the President
has caused to be given out an author
lied statement which was made by
Senator Lodge in which the latter says
that the President sincerely hopes that
time will be found for the considera.
ton of some financial measure at the
extraordinary session which will be
called to convene on Monday, Novem
Der 9, and he further expresses the
hope that law which will provide q
remedy far existing defects in the
financial system will be enacted. Fol
lowing the issue of this statement the
President indicated Mr. Cannon hi:
desire to confer with him at Oyster
Bay end accordingly the Speaker-to-be
has responded and has had long
conference with the President on the
subject. What the outcome of that
discussion was has not yet been learn
ed. 1t is also believed that Mr.. Can
non has deem summoned to appear
before the Senate subcommittee an(
explain his objections to the bill thai
committee is preparing.
Xxx
Charles Hedges, the intimate frient
and business associate of H. H. Rand
confidential clerk to the Postmaste
General, was yesterday summarily dis
missed from his $1,000 position a
superintendent of the city deliver
because evidence has been secured @
his having falsihed his pay accounts
The Fourth Assistant Postmaste
, General issued statement showin
, several instances in which Hedge
: had made oath that he was in certal
towns attending to government bus
ness and had drawn a per diem of So
allowed him only when travelling O
, government business, when, as mat
ter of fact, he was attending to privat
business, examining property in whc
t he was interested. etc. There ar
: other and even graver charges again:
Hedges which it is alleged are bein
investigated. They involve his havin
: in connection with H. H. Rand, LOT
bied the Parish claim bill throug
> Congress, statutory offense carryin
an extreme penalty of $5, 900 fine an
years Imprisonment. 1t is general
believed thar the only reason that thi
charge has not been pushed more viz
orously is because Rand, who in az
dition to being an intimate friend {
Machen and Hedges, is conhdenti'
clerk to Postmaster General Payne,
! involved in the matter and 1t will pre-
badly be impossible to expose Hedge
!, without exposing Rand. Since tn
last regular letter George w. Beave
a former superintendent of the dlvisio
s of salaries and allowances, has bee
4 indicted but has not been arreste,
!. That his arrest has not been effecte