The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-03-07
Nations Capital. Things Being
Done and Talked About.
CLOSING SESSION OF CONGRESS-
Unseating of Butler. Democratic Fill
clustering. Philippine Tariff Bill,
Naval Program and Other Matters.
Washington, Mar. ?, 1903.

close with the usual hurry and
hustle incident TO the closing hours
of Congress IN both Legislative
chambers. Filibusterlnq, conflict
and rancor have been evident in
both houses during the greater por-
ton OF the week and a systematic
tiibuster is still being conducted in
the House by the democrats in re-
venge for the unseating of Repre-
sentative Butler Of Missouri. On
the face of the returns Mr.. Butler
was elected by 500 majority,bu on
the discovery of certain frauds the
vote Of so mauy precincts was thrown
out that the contestant, Mr.. Wag-
oner, was awarded the seat. This
decision, coming 80 late in the ses
sion, has practically no effect other
than t. give Mr.. Wagner his $40, =
900 salary and mileage. TIE demo
Gratis have caucused on the situation
and bound themselu s 10 demand a
yea and vote on every measure. The
result of this action on Friday was
to prolong the mere approval of the
journal ever two hours, AMI since
then The House has not adj burned,
taking recesses and making the leg
islatlve day of Friday continue. it
is expected, until The Congress ex,
pires.
A similar fiiibuster was organized
IN the Senate, the dem ncrats beng
determined to force vo,e on the
Littlefeld antitrust bill, bat was of
short duration as the republicans
permitted The question to come 20 a
vote, relusingto consider the Little
field bill, 2S to 3S. Senator Nor,
gan's filbuster on the Panama canal
treaty still continues and the Sen
ator from Alabama has objected to
every motion to set the day for a
vote before the end OF the session.
This is regarded as rendering an ex-
ira session of the Senate inevitable
Excellent progress has been made
with the appropriation bills and, as
a result, there will be no extra ses-
sion of both houses of Congress SO
was at one time threatened.
President Roosevelt has sent an
earnest appeal to the Senate to pass
the Philippine tariff bill, reducing
the tariff on sugar and tobacco from
the Philippines from 76 to so per
cent of the Dlngley rates, but Sena-
tors Teller and Patterson, fearing
that the Philippine sugar industry
may at some future time be able to
compete with their best sugar pro-
ducing constituents, say they Will
talk the bill to death If its further
consideration Is insisted upon. Sena-
tor Lodge, who has the measure in
charge. said today that he regarded
It's fate as most dubious.
The idea of fixed naval program
50 earnestly advocated by learders
of both political parties and by the
President Is rapidly gaining favor
and the House committees on Naval
Affairs has fayorably reported res.
olutlon calllng upon the Secre' airy
of the Navy, the Naval War Col
lege and the Naval Board, Of which
Admiral Dewey ls President, for
information on the feasibility Of such
plan, together with recommends
tions as to the class of ships which
should be built, the length Of pro-
gram most judiclous, the annual
expenditure advised, etc. Is is re-
garded as probable that the next
Congress will adopt snch a program
aud that 1T will govern the future
increase of the Navy for number
of years.
Statehood legislation at this ses
sioL of Congress is dead. The com
promise presented by the repub
llcans was promptly rejected by th'
democrats and the whole matte
goes over to the next Congress. Ac
cording to the republican leaders
party bill creating two states out o
the four territories will be passed a
The next session but this predlctlo
IS strenuonsly disputed by the demo
Gratis.
1t is not generally realized ths
lforeign governments own. in .