West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-10-29
OUR washington LETTER.
The Special Session of Congress-
Next Month.
The Maryland Campaign Getting Warm
The United States Wins Ont ON the
Alaskan Boundary Dispute.
From our regular correspondent.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. AL
The call for the extra session of
Congress to begin on November 9
has JUST been issued by the Presi-
dent. The extraordinary occa.
sion" which requires the conven-
ing of both houses, is the necessary
approval by Congress of the reel
procal commercial convention be-
tween the United States and the
Republic of Cuba signed at Havana
on December II 1909. The con-
sideration of the Cuban treaty will
undoubtedly be the chief business
during the extra session, but any
other business will be in order, as
when Congress is once in session il
can undertake any legislation which
either House desires. 1t Is expect
ed that many bills will be intro
duced, but most of the time will be
consumed in debating the tariff
issue which will be raised by the
treaty. The comparative strength
of the parties in the first meeting of
the Fifty eighth Congress will be,
in the Senate 81 Republicans
and thirty-three Democrats, and in
the House ao5 Republicans and I7S
Democrats. In the House of Re-
representatives. there will be II8 men,
bers who have never served before,
and in the Senate, twelve Senators
who will see their first service, ex-
cept that of the ten days extra SEES
sion of the Senate last spring.
Senator German will lead the Demo
cratic forces and the Republicans
in the Senate will find themselves
confronted by united and definite
policy, guided by the man whom
the President regards as his most
dangerous rival for the first Office
of the land. In the House the new
speaker will try to distribute the
important chairmanships without
arousing animosities and discussions
in the Republican party. 1t is said
that Representative Hepburn of
Iowa will take advantage of the
change in the speakership to lead
an attack upon the House rules
which have placed the lower branch
of Congress under the dominion of
small oligarchy consisting of the
Speaker and the Comittee on rules.
He proposes to enlarge this power
full committee and also that it shall
be chosen by the two parties In the
House instead of being appointed
by the speaker. He will no doubt
have the support of the Democrats
and of many Republicans who are
concerned at the loss of prestige
and power by the House due to the
iosn rules of Reed.
President Roosevelt's attitude on
the canal question has displeased
many members of Congress and it
is said that he will be called
upon during the extra session to
explain why, on the failure of the
treaty proposed to Columbia, he
did not begin negotiations with Mic
aragua as he is directed to do by
the Spooner act. In the Isthmian
canal question he seems to have
adopted the general Republican at
titude of '"stand pat" In speaking
of the Presidents Delay in enforc-
ing the law, Senator Morgan of
Alabama said, "The President
seems to be in the same category
as our friend Micawber. He is
waiting for something to turn up.
Just what that something is to be is
not apparent Why should he de-
layi There is no excuse for his
Hardness in opening negotiations
with Nicaragua and Costa RIGA for
route. | believe disposition
will be shown in the Senate and
House 10 secure an explanation
from the President as to his exact
reason for delay"
tt
Senator Germans singing critI-
cism Of the President for bis inter
ference in the Maryland campaign
is having a visible effect. The
Marylanders resent the implication
that they arc unable to manage
their affairs without the aid OF
Washington and this resentment is
by no means confined to the Demo
cratic party. While the President
may have succeeded in bringing
about a semblance Of harmony be.
tween the leaders Of the Repgbl.
can factions every time he sum
mons them to the White House he
brings votes to the Democratic
party. tits said that the President
has more fear Of German than for
any other candidate the Democrats
might nominate and he is doing all
in his power to prevent a Republi-
can defeat ia Maryland, II was NO
doubt with his approval, that sena-