The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-12-24
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, Dec. 81, 1905.
BY vote of 81 to IS the Cuban
reciprocity bill passed the Senate. |
After it receives the Presidents |
signature, the two years fight for
tariff reduction to Cuba will be end. |
ed, with concessions to the Island
as great as could have been expect
ed from a stand pat' republican
Administration Most Of the Demo
Gratis favored the bill as the best
which could be obtained under the
circumstances. One republican,
Senator Bard voted against it. Be
fore the vote was taken Senator
Bailey and Senator Spooner took
opposite sides in a debate on the
constitutional authority of the Presi-
dent and Senate to negotiate treaty
which called for the reduction of
the tariff and to make this treaty
contingent OH the approval of the
House. Mr.. bailey said that as all
revenue acts should originate in
the House, the President had not
this right. Mr.. Spooner, republic
an, was enthusiastic in his defense
Of the Administration, but it was
generally admitted that he put
forth the weaker argument. Re-
ferring to the recent decision of the
democrats TO be bound by caucus
rule, Mr.. Bailey declared that hence
forth there would be no "White
House Senators" to be found on
the democratic side of the chamber.
Xxx
Perry S. Heath is scored again in
the report of Holmes Conrad and
Charles ] Bonaparte Oh the scandals
OF the Washington Postoffice, which
has just been published. 1t says,
so tar as is indicated by the papers
submitted to us, the persons direct
ly responsible for these fraudulent
employments were Perry S. Heath
and George w. Beavers. The re-
port also tries to place some of the
responsibility on former Postmaster
General Charles Emory Smith
Mr.. Heath continues to protest hi,
innocence, but takes care not tC
waive the statute of limitations, 81
that he might be brought to trial
Xxx
Assistant Postmaster Genera
Bristow's report on the posta
scandals has been sent to tn,
Government Printing Office anC
will be given to the public i'll few
days. The publication of the re
port was decided upon by the Housc
Committee on Postoffices and Pos
Roads Each member of Congress
will be supplied with several copies
which he may dispose of as he see!
fit. Mr.. Bristow strongly advised
the publication of the entire repor
and it is said that he intimated t,
the Committee that his report hat
been too much edited at the Whit
House. and that certain parts OF
were toned down before the synop
sis was published. Senator Cor
man and other democratic leader
are determined that the public shal
get at the bottom of the posta
frauds and they will continue thel
agitation for a Congressional IN
vestigation.
~
Democrats of the Senate have dc
cided to accomplish an effective oil
ganization by requiring submisslo
to caucus rule. Senator German
the duly cho: ell leader, has thu
been successful i'll his efforts to sc
his democratic colleagues to act a
a unit on the public question
which will be discussed this comm
winter and from the issues OF tn
next campaign. In this way tn
minority will be better able to OF
pose the republicans, who howeve
they may differ individually in tn
primary stages of a controversy
always unite on the policy detel
mined upon by the majority of tn
party. Leader Williams, in tn
House, is confident of democrati
success next year. He says, "Tl
democratic outlook is more hopet'
than for years. The democrat
party is more nearly united than
has beea for long time. 1t come
nearer meaning something Coz
servative business interests dlstru'
Roosevelt. His strenuousity is