The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-03-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 9th.


Mr.. ED1ToR:-The Fifty seventh Con-
gress, after expending 81 ,554 ,10S, 514, has
expired. The Senate of the Fifty eighth
Congress, pursuant to the call of the
President, has convened in special session,
but no business session of the new Senate
has been held, aside from the one on the
5th when only the organization was per-
fected, but the body will meet at noon to-
day. There was the most sincere regret
expressed on both sides of the chamber at
the retirement of Senator Vest who has
served with brilliancy for so many years.
Proportionatc pleasure was, however, felt
bv the democrats at the return of Arthur
Pue German, Of Maryland. Soon after
the REQ, ganizaton of the Senate the demo-
Gratis held caucus and elected Senator
German chairman, thus restoring him to
his old place as leader Of the party in the
Senate. No policy has as yet been adopted
with regard to the pending treaties, that
remaining for the determination Of the
democratic steering committee.
The republican steering committee has
held a meeting at which it was determined
to press the Panama canal treaty first.
This course is adopted with the hope of
firing out Senator Morgan who persists
in his opposition to the treaty as negoti
ated. Senator German has been credited
with opposition to both treaties by certain
newspapers but when seen by your CORE
spondent Mr. German said, There is no
ground for the statements that have been
published with regard to my attitude to-
ward the treaties. [ have never seen the
Colombian treaty and certainly would not
form an opinion regarding it until l had
studied its provisions. If Senator Nor
gan's claims are correct of course | would
oppose it, but must study it for myself
before can pass judgment. When | was
in the Senate before, l did favor til" Mica
raguan route and presume on iii It fact
is based The assumption that will oppose
the present arrangement. | have given
no study to the Cuban treaty and will do
SO before [ express an opinion in regard
to it's provisions, although l am willing to
admit that from a superficial view l am
inclined to favor it."
Senator Vest, when seen by your CORE
spondent after adjournment, said, 1T is
impossible to predict the future with &C
curacy but this much may be said. If the
present prosperity continues there will be
no possibility of democratic success in the
next presidential election. The republi-
cans will attribute the prosperity to their
stand pat policy with regard to the Ding
ley tariff and the people will take them at
their word. If, on the other hand, hard
times should come before the fall of 1904
the people will say they are due to the
trusts or to the tariff and will demand
change. There has been no legislation at
the past session of Congress which en-
ragged the trusts, no legislation which will
prove seriously harmful to their ends and
ambitions. 1t has been largely play to
the galleries. However, with such legis
lation on the statutes, the trusts would in
fnitely prefer that their administration
should be intrusted to the republicans
rather than to the democrats
1t is generally anticipated that the lead
ership of Mr.. German will prove more
aggressive and progressive than that of
Senator Jones who has just retired. Mr..
Jones position has, in the main, been one
of passive resistance and no brilliant poll
cies have been conceived or executed un-
der his guidance. Senator German is
counting on considerable assistance from
Senator Stone, of Missouri, who also
favors vigorous policy. While Senator
Carmack was elected secretary of the cat
Gus, it is expected that Mr.. Stone will be
the real coadjutor of the Senator from
Maryland when active operations in the
Senate are begun.
There is genuine anxiety on both sides
of the Senate with regard to Senator Nor