The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-03-28

Foster Scores Victory.
In the late special session Of the
q. 8. Senate, called to perfect certain
legislation that President Roosevelt
failed to get through Congress, Seua-
tor Murphy J. Foster came to the
front a. q constitutional lawyer, and
gave a national exhibition Of his
State craft, as well a. his ability to
hold his own with the best debaters
and astute statesmen In the upper
branch Of the National Assembly.
The fight was over the Cuban Reci-
procity Treaty, . measure directly
affecting the revenues. Senator Fos-
ter made the point that the constitu-
tional law Of the land requires that
all legislatiOn by Congress affecting
the revenues must originate In the
House Of Representatives He lead
tho debate BY proposing an amend
meut to the treaty. referring the
measure back to tho House for ratifi-
cation. to cure its constitutional de-
feet. The Republican members, and
some Of the Democratic trimmer In
the Senate. pretended they could not
''sse the point" but Senator Foster
repeated his contention over and
over. and stated 1t In 20 many diner
ent shapes, they recognised the fact
that the measure was doomed to de-
feat II itever came before the Supreme
Court In it, present shape. And 90
the amendment referring It to the
House was adopted. In discussing
his little tilt over this question, Sena-
tor Foster had this to say to thecor-
respondent who asked for his views
ON the subject:
"This IL . triumph for the principles
upon which our government b found
ed. / have commended that the PFesl-
dent and two-thirds OF the Senate
have not the constitutional authOrl-
| ty to regulate commerce between this
and a foreign government, or to e.
| tablish q tariff schedule, and the Sem
ate agrees with me. Legislation AZ
iecting the revenues must originate
IN the House Of Representatives. The
Cuban Reciprocity Treaty Affects the
revenues, and necessarily the House
must act ON 1t to give It validity.
"Whjle the country Il to be congrat-
ulated because these constitutional
| principles are to be maintained, our
people Of Louisiana and the beet eu-
gar men Of the West arc also to be
congratulated ON t0-day's victory,
which win confer upon them great
benefits. The action Of the Senate
committee. In my opinion, fOreshad-
Ows the doom Of this measure.
look upon the treaty a. . vicious in
| strument. There n no sentiment be-
hind It. and there never has been any.
| II the sugar trust had not urged It
there would have been no treaty.
When the hand 0f the trust was dis
covered then the people UNDERWOOD
that they were being tricked. From
that day to this reciprocity has
grown weaker and weaker, and am
satisfied that when Congress meets
next winter, n effort II made to legia-
late further along tbis line. public
opinion viii he 20 opposed to It that
the measure WIN die almost without
"sru
This clear-headed and convincing
statement OF the Issue 10 NOT 10 pe
mistaken. and 1t at once oes'8patea
Foster a. the peer OF German or any
other Democrat I'm the United States
Senate. In view OF Gorman's late
action In Ieaving Senator Foster out
~ member Of the Democratic steer
ing committee, IT begins to look very
much like German Tears hts ability ~
q leader and organizer, and " dIspcs'
ed to take q petty advantage TO keeF
the Louisiana Senator In the back
ground. Whether Gorman's slight u