The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Ma

From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March 2nd, 1903.
The last session of the Fifty-seventh
Congress is drawing rapidly to close
with the usual hurry and hustle incident
to the closing hours of a Congress in both
legislative chambers. Filibustering, con
flict and rancor have been evident in both
houses during the greater portion of the
week, and a systematic filibustering was
conducted in the House by the democrats
in revenge for the unseating of Repre-
Butler of Missouri. On the face
of the returns Mr.. Butler was elected by
E, 100 majority, but on the discovery of
certain frauds the vote of so many pre-
cincts was thrown out that the contestant,
Mr.. Wagner, was awarded the seat.
This decision, coming so late in the ses-
sion, has practically no effect other than
to give Mr.. Wagner his $4,000 salary
and mileage. The democrats caucused
on the situation and bound themselves to
demand a yea and nay vote on every
measure. The result of this action on
Friday was to prolong the mere approval
of the journal over two hours and the
House did not adjourn, taking recesses
and making the Legislative day of Friday
continue until the Congress expires.
~
A similar tilibuster was organized in
the Senate, the democrats being deter
mined to force vote on the Littlefeld
antitrust bill, but was of short duration
as the republicans permitted the question
to come to vote, refusing to consider the
Little6eld bill, 2S to 3S. Senator Nor
CAMS flibuster on the Panama canal
treaty still continues aud the Senator
from Alabama has objected to every mo-
ton to set the day for a vote before the
end of the session. This is regarded as
rendering an extra session of the Senate
inevitable.
~
President Roosevelt sent an earnest APP
peal to the Senate TO pass the Philippine
tariff bill, reducing the tariff on sugar
and tobacco from the Philippines from
rs to so per cent of the Dingley rates,
but Senators Teller and Patterson, fearing
that the Philippine sugar industry may at
some future time be able to compete with
their beet sugar producing constituents,
declared they would talk the bill to death
if its further consideration was insisted
upon.
~
Statehood legislation at this session OF
Congress is dead. The compromise pre-
scented by the republicans was promptly
rejected by the democrats and the whole
matter goes over to the next Congress.
According to the republican leaders a
party bill creating two states out of the
four territories will be passed at the next
session, but this prediction is strenuously
disputed by the democrats.
*x*
1t is not generally realized that foreign
governments own in the city of Washing.
ton, real estate. having an actual value OIL
over 81, ooo, 900. The largest holder oil
such property is the British government,
whose embassy is alleged to be worth
upwards of $500, 900. The German gov.
eminent stands next with property worth
over $4,000 The French embassy is
worth not less than $50, 900 and owns a
building site, not yet improved, worth
$1,000 The Corean government owns
property worth $4,000 and so on. AS
none of this property pays taxes the loss
to the District of Columbia in revenues is
estimated at upwards of s., 900 per annum.
*
~ wonder if the American conscience
is growing more tender" said the Secre-
tary of the Treasury recently when he
received check for 81, 200 from a man
who said that he had taken that amount
from the government and his conscience
had troubled him ever since. This is the
second large remittance to the Con
science Fund" received within the past
six months. The majority of the contri-
buttons to this fund do not amount to
over so cents, many of them being as
small as two cents. All are acknowledged
through the daily press, however small
and go to swell that fund which bears
such eloquent, though silent, tribute to
the sensitiveness of the human conscience.
~
The Daughters of the American Revo-
luton have held lively and at times
exciting convention in Washington, con-
cludiug their labors last Saturday. Dur
ing the early hours of the session there
was bitter contest for the presidency
but it was finally dissipated by the with
drawal of Mrs. Donald McLe of New
York from the race. This left Mrs Fair
banks of Indiana almost a sole candidate
and she was reelected by large major
ity. Mrs. McLean's withdrawal was re-
garded by the Daughters as most graceful
and won for her such great popularity
that it is generally conceded that she will
be elected TO succeed Mrs Fairbanks two
years hence, no president being eligible
for more than two terms under the pro-
visions of the constitution.
~