The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-10-22

nit the programme of the War Depart
ment to be carried out. 1t VIII probably
turn out that In good time word viii be
passed along the line that the canteer
question is TO be left alone until after
election. 1 doubt if the proposal 20 re-
store the canteen is even introduced in
1 congress-
The advocates of the Ship Subsidy Bill
| which passd the senate in the last con-
| gress, have not surrendered their views
as to the wisdom of the legislation, but
| the nearness of a Presidential election
| will probably deter them from pressing
the question too vigorously at the coming
session.
! Senator Quay intends to renew his eff
forts to secure statehood for Oklahoma,
| Arizona and New Mexico, and it is an
| ticipated that the long fight of last winter
| will be repeated, although in a different
1 form. The Republican management will
lead off with an affirmative proposal for
/ consolidating the territories. This the
| Democrats and the Quay Republicans will
I oppose; whether they will ultimately sur
| render cannot now be predicted. Alaska
| is due to receive a good deal of attention.
/ The subcommittee from the Senate Com
/ mittee on Territories, which passed two
| months here last summer. may recon-
mend that a territorial delegate be ad-
mitted to the house, that the judicial
| machinery of the territory be rearranged
| and that the United States undertake TO
assist in the building of roads. so that the
inaccessible districts, which are supposed
IA az
be more easily reached BY seekers after
| riches.
The War Department has not yet indi-
Gated whether it will renew its fight for
freer trade with the Philippine Island
This would provoke an old-time tariff de
bate, the very thing upon which the Dem
ocrats would like to get their speeches
into the Record, and which the Republi-
can leaders would deplore
The first caution will go .ou ottehnW
The first caution would go out on the
assembling of congress that appropria-
ttons be kept down. Mr.. Hemeway, the
new chairman of the Committee on APP
propriations, will be charged with the
duty of seeing that the caution is re-
spected. an obligation calculated to make
-
many respects. since there is every in
dication that the demand for money Will
be undated. ord went out long ago that
the dominant party must ''stand pat on
the tariff question until after the next
election, and it's faithful servants will
come TO the session prepared to resist
any effort towards correction OF inc
qualities in existing schedules. In re-
spending 10 the partys demands In this
respect many Of the western Republicans
OF the house will be placed in the atti-
tude of opposing something which they
personally favor.
The fear of unsettling things will also
stand in the way of any comprehensive
financial legislation. The strongest men
in each branc hof congress believe fnan-
cial legislation is needed, but within the
last two months word has gone forth
that any legislation might weaken the
party before the people next year II
there has been any doubt of the intention
OF the party TO do nothing with this finan-
cial question. It must have been dispelled
by the statement of Senator Allison OF
Iowa this week that such legislation will
not be undertaken until after next years
legislation
A long. loud call for legislation affect
ing the postoffice has been sounded. or at
least a congressional investigation Of the
Department. Hints at irregularities IN
other bureaus OF the government service
have been so frequent that the majority
may find it necessary to inaugurate more
than one investigation. The minority IS
coming up prepared to make the most of
such developments, and the Republicans
forsee that it Will take shrewd leadership
on their side 10 handle the situation in
such a way rs TO save them from having
to shoulder the largest share Of the re-
sponsibility.
On the whole. the prospect IS not good
for large results And vet questions OF
Importance may have to b. dealt with
Undoubtedly there win be an unusual
volume Of talk for home consumption.
The fact that the party in control VIII
take n negative position on most OF the
important Questions does not necessarily
mean that the session viii be short The
indications are that the minority VIII be
disposed 20 make party capital whenever
possible. In the senate Mr. German NiH
lead the Democrats and the prospect is
that john SHARP Williams OF yazoo. Ms.
VIII succeed james n. Richardson rs the
leader - the minority n the house. II
VIII be the first time since Bryanisrn
swept the Democratic party from !ts feet
that real leader has been Iu charge az
either end Of tho capitol.