Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-29
Upper House Tied Up By State
hood Omnibus Bill.
OPPOSING LEADERS ARE DETERMINED
Will Apparently Pass Bill or Block
Other Legislation Democratic
Members Believed to Desire Non
. Passage of the Measure.
1BY H. J. MAH1N.1


to be tied up by the statehood bills
ious. 1t is fact that in nearly every
short session congress becomes tied
up with some sort of a similar stu
alton. Most of these have worked out
in some way before the end of the
session, but if it is said that none had
the staying qualities that are evinced
by the statehood bill. The friends of
the omnibus bill have proven by test
vote that they have the majority of
votes, and are determined to get
a vote and pass the bill. The oppo-
sition, including all the republican
leaders, are equally determined that
the bill shall not be passed. There
are traces of jobbery about the meas
ure with which the repub-
lican leaders believe the par
ty can have nothing to do. The
President, though he has heretofore
pleaded for statehood, stands with the
opposition on this ground.
There are senator's, of course, who
are personally interested in the bill,
but there are also some who are sim
ply playing the whole matter to delay
action on other bills. These are the
dangerous ones. They are not to be
convinced by argument They care
nothing about the merits of the bill
but they are only too glad to use it
as block to other legislation. These
include all the democrats and some
republicans. The democrats would be
only too glad to have this session
end without accomplishing anything
1t would mean campaign material for
them. All of the allies are the enc
MES OF the Panama canal, the enc
mics OF cuban reciprocity, and the
enemies of trust legislation. None of
these want any action by the senate
and they unite in common
cause in support of the omnibus bill
simply to deadlock the senate. 1t is
a question whether the republicans
among these men will really vote for
the omnibus bill if the final vote was
reached. The opposition, however,
can not of course ascertain this and
are unwilling to risk it. There has
been much pressure brought to bear
on Mr.. Quay to drop the omnibus bill.
next session, so that the critical mat
tiers before the senate could be dis
II.
II not passed by the senate before
March 4, is dead. A new bill would
have to be made next session and it
would have to pass the house again.
1t is now said that the bill would new
er be able to pass the house again and
the friends of tue bill are grasping to
their last straw now
The newspaper correspondent who
tried to cause a sensation by figuring
out that the Iowa legislature
elected this year would have
to select the successor of Senator
Dolliver would find rich material in the
peculiar case of Senator McLaurin
OF Mississippi The Iowa man was
figuring that the biennial amendment
might carry in 1904. In that case there
would be no election in 1905, but would
be one in 1906 at which time a new
legislature would be elected which
would meet in January 1907. Even I'M
der these supposed circumstances
there would still be three months left
of Senator Delivers present term, Sen
ator McLaurin's term does not expire
until March 1907, yet the legislature
of Mississippi that meets in January of
next year will elect him for another
term, and his services will not then
end until March 1913. This curious sit
uation is brought about by the fact
that the Mississippi legislature is elect
ed every four years and meets every
two years. The law requires that the
first SNssion Of the legislature shall
elect the senator whose term expires
during the existence of that legislature.
The next session of the legislature is
In January next year. The legislature
that meets then will be elected this
year and will be in existence until 1908.
AS Senator McLaurin's term expires
in 1907 his successor must be elected
next January. He has no opposition
and will be elected for another three
years before his present term expires
Secretary Wilson is having some
strange experiences in fighting the
foot and mouth disease among cattle
in Massachusetts. Some OF the so
cieties for the prevention of cruelty to
animals got stirred up and agents OF
the agricultural department were ar
rested because they killed the animals
affected. Such actions naturally anger
ed Secretary Wilson whose only
thought was to save the cattle of the
state and nation from terrible plague
He has determined to contest in the
courts all the cases where his agents
have been arrested and his determin
alton has been approved by the Presi
dent and cabinet. Furthermore, the
action of the Massachusetts authorities
may result in the withdrawal of the
departments officers from the state
and the placing of an iron clad quar-
antine on Massachusetts cattle. II
that event the Massachusetts authori
ties would have to fight the disease
themselves
The Panama canal treaty was signed
just when everybody had given up il
despair. 1t is said that the matter
was brought about by the heroic eff
forts on the part Of Secretary Hay
Undoubtedly Columbia was bluffins
throughout the negotiations. Score
tary Hay sent a sharp note to Colum
bia urging some speedy action. This
brought no results. and he followed i
with another declaring that no more
delay would be tolerated. There wal