The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-18
TO PURSUE A POLICY
OF ANTE-ELECT|ON
CONSERVATISM.
Speaker of the House in Ac-
cord With RooseveIt's
Desire.
CONGRESS SOON TO MEET
Thus Does Our Strenuous President Grow
Sublimely Lamb-like When His Own Poll
tical Welfare Would Seem 10 De-
mand Such Course"
Especial to News and Observer)

Especial to News and Observer
Washington, d. c., October H.,
First Lieutenant H. j. Hirshinger, Uni
ted States Marine Corps, formerly in
command of the marine guard on the U,
S. S. Baltimore, has been ordered to this
city for duty in connection with a ma
rine guard of thirty men being organized
for service at the naval station at
Tutuila, Samoa. The command will
shortly start for its new station, Leuten-
ant Hirshinger is from North Carolina
and was lieutenant in Charlotte COM
pany, First regiment, during the Spanish
American War, after peace was declared,
he received commission in the regular
army ard has made a most enviable
record.
With the assembling of Congress, only
two weeks off, there is nat
urally considerable speculation as to the
policy that will govern it. With
Il new speaker and 120 newly elected rep
resentatives who must make record
this session, since by the time it adjourns
they will be up for reelection, there is
the body that will meet on November 9th.
However, under the rules now governing
the House, the Speaker and the rules
committee which he appoints have prac-
teal control and direction of all legisla-
ton III that body, and hence knowledge
of the views of the Speaker will afford
an insight into the probable policy Of the
Congress over which he will preside.
To begin with, it is known that he will
insist upon rigid economy in public ex-
penditures-no pork bar'f' appropria-
lions of any kind no new public building
bills, no new national park bills, no gen
eral river and harbor bills. OF course APP
preparations will be made for buildings
and similar projects hitherto authorized
and for contract work on rivers and har-
bors provided for by previous sessions,
Eut new appropriations viii be made for
only such projects as are plainly meritor-
ious and of positive immediate Importance.
1t is said that such policy, for political
reasons, will be endorsed by the President
and his administration.
That there will be no tariff legislation
of any kind and no financial legislation
was announced early in the week by two
of the three Republican members of the
House rules committee after conference
with the President, and again Friday by
Mr.. Payne, chairman of the ways and
means committee, nor will there be any
further antitrust legislation, if the party
leaders can prevent it, and the only reel
procity legislation scheduled is that fol
Cuba. which will be disposed of in the
three weeks of the extra session. In other
4 l,,+4 !, D,,f,
servatism shall characterize the acts OF
the legislative branch of the government
until the presidential election line is
passed The President makes no secret
of his desire that the coming Congress
shall do as little as possible outside OF
supplying the necessaries of life to the
government. Thus does "our strenuous
President grow sublimely lamb-like
when his own political welfare would seen
to demand such course.
With this policy of ante-election conser
yatism the new Speaker is said to be ii
thorough accord and is determined to hold
the situation well in hand: and in his
own hand at that, for it is stated on seem
ingly good authority that he will organize
the committees on rules and apnropria
tions-the two paramount influences III
shaping the record of Congress-to suit
the purposes of the administration. He
NAV even go to the extent, 1T is ;ntlmated
of asking Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania. Il
give way to a man more thoroughly in &C
cord with his views on some points
Another suggestion is that this might
cause serious discord the better course
would be to enlarge the committee from
five to seven, and let Mr.. Dal:'ell remain
on it. The fact is that Mr.. Cannon has
never been exactly satisfied with some