The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

| llOu vi tnC IUtJ -GiShhhI a. ANoSe IA ~ AoA
as the Senate is concerned, that body
having organized and begun the special
session for which it was called on March
5th. The closing hours of the Fifty
seventh Congress were accompanied by
! the usual rush and hustle and by more
than ordinary partisan bitterness. The
long republican flibuster on the State
hood bill in the Senate was reciprocated
by the democrats who talked to death the
Aldrich Financial bill and the Philippine
tariff bill. In the House the democrats
maintained constant filibuster during
the last seven days of the session, occa-
stoned by the unseating of Representative
Butler of Missouri in favor of Mr.. Wag-
oner the republican contestant. On the
night before adjournment the House sat
until a. M. and the Senate until a. IN.
in the effort to complete the great
appropriation bills.
*x*
The Senate chamber resembled flower
garden on the noon of the 5th, when
seventeen reelected senators renewed
their oath of office and ten new members
were sworn in, three of the newly elected
senators having failed to reach Washing
ton in time for the occasion. AS the Sen
ators approached the rostrum TO be sworn
their friends in the galleries applauded
heartily, Senators German of Maryland,
and Hopkins of Illinois receiving the
most extensive applause.
~
A meeting of the republican steering
committee has been held at which it was
determined to press the Panama Canal
treaty for ratification before the Cuban
treaty, it being argued that Senator Nor
gan would debate at length the Cuban
convention with view to preventing
consideration of the Colombian agree
ment, Whereas if the Colombian treaty
were first disposed of, Mr.. Morgan would
assist in the ratification of Cuban arrange
ment. Senator Morgan tells your cores
pondent that he is not hlibustering on the
Panama Canal treaty and is eonseien
tiously opposing it in its present form
and the republican leaders believe in hi
sincerity but they say that to amend az
, Mr. Morgan desires the treaty negotiated
would jeopardize the whole negotiation
~
> At caucus of the democrats held las
n alaota1 oho;r
, man, which is equivalent to making hin
!, the democratic leader. He says that hi
. will inaugurate progressive and aggres
sive policy among the democrats quite diff
ferent from the passive opposition led BY
Senators Jones of Arkansas. Senate
German expects to receive material assist
: ance in this policy from Senator Stone o
d Missouri but it is known that both arr
! candidates for the presidential nomna
S ton and there are some who doubt thei
c ability to work i'll perfect harmony.
il ~
J. An adjournment of Congress is invar
q iably followed by the discovery of error
il in legislation and this Congress is no ex
l. ception to the rule. The first mistak
J. thus far discovered is in the Immigration
II bill and involves the application of TIL
i immigration laws, intended only for til
IS United States, to all the iusular posses
& sions. The clause so providing wa
5 brought to the attention of Secretary Sha,
l. by your correspondent and Mr.. Shaw ex
pressed great surprise at its purport AM
said he was certain it was contrary to tn
n meaning or intention of Congress. Here
j. tofore the making and enforcement O
l.. immigration laws for the Philippines
v Porto Rico, ETC., has been vested i'll tn
!, Secretary of War, the Philippine Com
i mission, etc.
r *x*
r Secretary Moody, when seen after tn
: adjournment of Congress expressed thu
:. utmost satisfaction with the naval appro
e priation which finally passed both houses
e Three new I6, 900 ton vessels, two 1900
ton ships, two steel training ships and
O wooden brig complete the addition to tn,
navy provided for by the Naval hill. Mr.
!. Moody says that when the three larges
vessels are completed they will be in thu
same class as the Louisiana and Connec
= ticut and with them will constitute flee
but one short of the ideal number anC
i will be of the ideal burthen.
M
= A provision in the Immigration bill jus
. passed prohibits the selling of liquor il
: the national Capitol, fact which vii
doubtless cause much rejoicing among
the advocates of temperance. By many
however, it is regarded. as, doubtful if the
abolition of the liquor selling privilege
$ heretofore accorded the House and Sen
I. ate restaurants will accomplish the good
: expected of it. as those senators and rep
1 resentatives who use liquor are certain to
: maintain well stocked bullets in theil
committee rooms. The proposed addition
! to the Capitol was stricken from the ap
preparation bill at the last moment and
for it was substituted instructions to pre-
pare large model of the Capitol as t i:
a proposed to change it.