The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-07-30
WASHINGTON LETTER
(FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT,
WASHINGTON, D. O., July %, 1903

one appears to be brewing for the next
session of Congress. 1t will be remem-
bered that in the closing hours of the
last session Speaker to-be Cannon in
dulged in harsh criticism on the rules
for doing business in the Senate and
charged that body with highwayman
methods, saying he had been held up
and robbed" No sooner had the Senate
assembled in special session than some
of the leading senators took occasion to
severely criticise Mr.. Cannon and pre-
dicted that he would live to regret his
''ill choren criticism" Since then, Mr.
Cannon has referred to the subject on
many occasions and apparently with in
creasing bitterness. There has long
been more or less covert antagonism
between the two houses of Congress and
there are many indications that it will
break out with no inconsiderable rancor
on both sides at the approaching session
1t now appears that the subject of
financial legislation will be the occasion
of the first break. AS has been stated
in these letters, the Senate before ad-
journment, appointed a sub committee
of the committee on finance to draft a
financial measure to be considered i'm
mediately on the reconvening of Con
gress. While the exact provision of the
measure are not known, it is known
that the Senate committee has always
opposed an asset currency while the
House has favored that expedient. In
fact that was the gist of the Fowler
bill. During recent visit to Washing
ton Mr.. Cannon made it known that he
would oppose all financial legislation at
the next session and it is believed his
course in 80 doing would be largely die
tated by his determination not to yield
anything to the leadership of the Senate.
Since then. however, the President has
caused to be given ont an authorized
statement which was Il, .de by Senator
Lodge in which the latter says that the
President sincerely hopes that time will
be found for the consideration of some
financial measure at the extraordinary
session which will be called to convene
on Monday, November 8, and he further
expresses the hope that a law which
will provide remedy for existing de
fects in the financial system will be en-
acted. Following the issue of this state
meut the President indicated to Mr..
Cannon his desire to confer with him at
Oyster bay and accordingly the Speak
er- to be has responded and has had a
long conference with the President on
the subject. What the outcome of that
discussion was has not yet been learned.
1t is also believed that Mr.. Cannon has
been summoned to appear before the
Senate sub committee and explain his
objections to the bill that the committee
is preparing.
Charles Hedges, the intimate friend
and business associate Of II. H. Rand,
confidential clerk to the Postmaster
General, was yesterday summarily dis-
missed from his 81, 600 position as super
intendent of the city delivery because
evidence has been secured of his having
falsified his pay accounts. The Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General issued a
statement showing several instances in
which Hedges had made oath that he
was in certain towns attending to gov
ernment business and had drawn a per
diem of a, allowed him only when
travelling on government business. when
as q matter Of fact, he was attending to
private business examining mining
property in which he was interested,
etc. There are other and even graver
charges against Hedges which it is al
legged are being investigated. They in
volve his having, in connection with II.
u. Rand, lobbied the Parish claim bill
through Congress, statutory offense
carrying an extreme penalty Of 5000
fine and one years imprisonment. 1t il
generally believed that the only reason
that this charge has not been pushed
more vigorously is because Rand, who
in addition to being an intimate friend
of Machen and Hedges il confidential
clerk to Postmaster General Payne, il
involved in the matter and ii will prob
ably be impossible to expose Hedges
without exposing Rand. Since the last
regular letter George W. Beavers, form
or superintendent Of the division OF sal
aries and allowances, has been indicted
but has not been arrested. That his ar
rest has not been effected is due to tn.
fact that he left Brooklyn and tool
refuge in New York where, II he is AT
rested, it will be necessary to grant
preliminary hearing which woult
amount almost to trial, before CON
missioner The government is reluct
ant to grant this hearing as, it is claim
ed, II would reveal evidence alread