The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-12-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., December 7th 1908
MIR. EDIToR:-The "Do-Nothing" Con
gress, as the present extra session has
been called owing to the inactivities of
the republican majority, is about over
The last session of the Senate lasted halt
an hour and that of the House five min
utes. Not a single act of Congress has
been passed since the regular session be-
gan and the subject for which it was con
vened by the President has Deer post
poned until the regular session, when the
Cuban reciprocity bill will be voted on
December Is. AS it is certain to pass
there will be reciprocity between this
country INC Cuba by December 26.
The present question before the re-
publicans is how to end the extra session.;
allow it to die of hamilton, or end it just
before the regular session by passing an
act to adjourn. In the matter of adjourn
ment each House is waiting for the
other.
The democrats have been active dur
ing the present session.. During the short
periods allowed by the majority for de-
bate in the House, the democratic leader.
Mr.. Williams, has exposed the republican
position on the tariff question, has de-
handed reciprocity with Canada and cen
sured the majority for the failure of Con.
gress to transact any business. In the
;enate, Senator Morgan made a long
speech exposing the Administrations
policy toward Columbia, and Senator
Carmack introduced a resolution calling
for an investigation of the Post Office
scandals by a committee of the Senate.
The presen Mt session has brought out the
fact that there is much misunderstanding
and mistrust between the republican
Senate and House. Speaker Cannon's
severe criticisms of the Senate's method
of transacting business is remembered
since the end of the last Congress, when
he made his famous speech, and his at
titude on the question has not changed.
His refusal to agree to the Senate's wish
to adjourn was an indication of it, which
called forth bitter criticism from the Sena-
tors during an executive session. This
does not portend harmony in the republi-
can party.
The Panama canal treaty will be sent
to the Senate for ratification in about ten
days. 1t will no doubt be approved, as
the democrats will not take advantage of
their power to prevent it. There will no
doubt be much debate on the subject and
it will begin Immediately after the pas
sage of the Cuban bill. The methods of
the Administration in bringing about the
treaty will be more discussed than the
actual treaty, which gives this country all
the concessions desired.
The promptncss with which the treaty
was ratified on the Isthmus, shows that
the people of Panama realize that with
out the help of the United States they
would be absolutely at the mercy of
Columbia, and also that the present
American government is not giving them
this protection for nothing. The Pana-
mese minister Of foreign affairs met the
boat which brought the treaty, at Colon,
carried it Immediately to Panama, and
drove from the railroad station to the
government palace, where the document
was presented to the members of the
Junta and the ministry. The hex morn
ing the treaty was adopted unanimously
and without amendment. The gold pen
with which it was signed was presented
to Consul General Gudger. An Ameri-
can warship will bring the treaty to this
country.
Secretary Hay has had an interview
with the Colombian cmissary, General
Reyes, who accompanied by the Colon
bian charge de affairs, DR.. Herran, took
luncheon with the Secretary. The g. :,
eral gave an outline of the representa-
tons whiJh he is to make to the State
Department, but us he is still waiting for
explicit Instructions from Bogota, lie
could not SUI nit a definite proposition.
Unless he agrees to accept the present
state Of affairs on the Isthmus it is gen.
orally believed that his mission here will
be fruitless.
General Leonard Woods confirmation
as Maj II General is regarded as assured,
by Trustworthy authorities in the Senate,
in spite of the Numerous sensational but
stories to the contrary, which
have been given to the press by interest
persons, enemies of Wood and the
administration. Prominent members of
the Senate, both republican and demo.
cratic, have decided that the time for the
Senate to have objected to Woods pro-