The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-07-31
Washington Letter.


President would call Congress in ex-
ira session on November 9, for the
purpose OF enacting enabling legisla-
tion whereby the Cuban treaty might
be put into operation and Cuban rcci-
procity become an established fact,
has received positive confirmation in
the form of an authorized statement
made by Senator Lodge at Oyster Bay
after an1extended conference with the
President. In add.ti to this asser-
ton, however, the Senator from Mas
sachusetts added that the President
hoped Congress would also find time
at the special session TO consider some
measure of financial legislation.
Because Of the coupling Of the SUBJ
ject of financial legislation with that
OF Cuban reciprocity, there has been
evinced in some quarters a dispo-
sition to assume that Mr.. Roosevelt
is less loyal to the cause Of Cuban
reciprocity than he has been hereto
fore and it is even intimated that he
will sanction the precedence Of the
Aldrich bill or some similar financial
measure over the Cuban resolution.
Nothing could be further from the
truth. As was indicated in these let
tiers some four months ago, the policy
OF the republican leaders will be to
introduce in both houses OF Congress
a joint resolution, which, when adopt
ed, will put into effect the provisions
of the Cuban treaty. Such a resO--
luton it is believed can be adopted
with great expedition and will, there
fore, leave ample opportunity for the
consideration Of a financial measure
before the converting OF the regular
session on December ].
Your correspondent has the most
direct and positive assurance from
Oyster Bay that the President has
not deviatcd in the slightest particu-
lar from his original position regard
Ing Cuban reciprocity. He has pro-
missed the people OF the U. S. to carry
out the policy of President Mckinley
In this regard, and he promised Senior
Quesada, the Cuban Minister, on the
day the notifications were exchanged,
that he would call Congress In extra
session for the purpose outlined and
Mr.. Roosevelt is too much a man OF
his word to permit any postponcment
or vacillation at the eleventh hour, II
his influence is sufficient to prevent 1t
as IL doubtless will be.
The subject Of financial legislation
Is attracting widespread interest in
the East and will doubtless do so in
the West before the time comes for
Congress to take the matter up.
When Speaker-to-be Cannon was In
Washington short time ago he an
nounced to the officers OF the admins
tratlon that he, as Speaker, would
oppose all financial legislation. Since
then, however, Mr.. Cannon has ap-
parently seen light for when in
Washington, this week, he modified
his assertion 10 some particulars.
There is probably little doubt but
that reincarnation OF the Aldrich
bill, which provided for an increased
currency but had no provision for
elasticity, would be strenuously op-
posed by Mr.. Cannon and many other
members Of the House, but If, as
seems probable. Mr.. Aldrich and his
associates In the Senate modify the
measure which they will report at
the next session, SO that it provides
for that elasticity regarded as so de.
sirable In many quarters, 1t is more
probable that the republican leaders
In both houses will get together on a
plan OF action which prove successful
In every respect. In this connection
1t Is worthy of note that Mr.. Cannon
has been to Oyster Bay In conference
with the President and will probably
confer with Senator Aldrich In the
near future.
President Roosevelt has just taken
a stand with regard TO the status OF
a clerk In the Government Printing
Office which cannot but command ad-
miration for its fearlessness. 1t an.
pears that one w. A. Miller, an az.
sistant foreman, was expelled by the
local Bookbinders Union, and for
that reason was discharged by the
Public Printer. This action was con.
trary to the civil service regulations
and when the matter was brought TO
The attention OF the President he or
dered Miller's reinstatement, not
withstandi0g the fact that some Of
Mr.. Rooseyelt's political advisors ur.
Yed him uflf Tn rim On yraot ., r;.l, .