The Dolores star., 1903-03-20
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

IS. several senators who have talked
i'll i'll .ne PRESIDENT believe it to be un-
nriu enau an extraordinary session
VII oe cailed next autumn. They say
ieasohs might be cited why such
a session should not be held the nrinA
cipal one being that some imnortant
state elections are to be held in No.
VemDer and members of Congress will,
pe Dusy with political affairs in their
own states. They point out that on the
eve or a presidential campaign II 10
hieniy important that every effort he
made, especially in the doubtful states
10 maintain the strength of the party
examinations. In such circumstances
u is se.d 1t would be possible only with
uincuity TO maintain a quorum at each
oranch OF the extra session. IL the ses-
SION were not called until November
,h.y ssg II would be SO close to the
regular session as to render 1t practice
ally unnecessary.
Discussing the efforts of the Panama
canal Company to secure an extension
or its concession, Senator Morgan said
this was accomplished in 1900 for the
purpose of unloading the enterprise on
the United States. THE company" he
said, bought from the president of Co
lombia for 100000 francs, in French
coin, to be paid in Paris, a prolonga-
tion or the extension for six years from
october Il. 1904. This proposed agree
ment was laid before the Congress of
colombia and was rejected The con-
sutution and laws of Colombia re-
CURED that such contracts should be
confirmed by Congress, but the presi-
dent or Colombia. in direct violation of
| poth the laws and the constitution.
signed the contract and received the
$l,OOO.OO0 in gold from the New Pana-
ma Canal Company. The House of Rep
resentatives thereupon voted that the
Office of president of Colombia was
vacant and dissolved"
| Alexander Mcdowell, clerk of the
House of Representatives, has made
public an official compilation made by
Tally Clerk Wakefield. showing the
work done by the House during the
F1fty-seventh Congress. 1t shows that
the longest day of the session lasted.
with recesses. 144 hours, during which
so roll calls We're taken. The number
| OF bills and resolutions introduced in
the House during the two sessions of
the Congress was 1920, and reports
were made on 2.S10 bills and resolu-
| tions. The Senate sent to the House
1.630 Senate bills and resolutions. The
| House disposed of 2.413 of the meas.
ures originating with it. and of 1012
of the Senate bills and resolutions
making total of 3,430 bills and reso-
| lutions acted on. Congress left on it's
calendars 405 House and lis Senate
| bills and resolutions. Fifteen of the
members of the House died during the
| Congress. seven resigned and Messrs.
| Rhea (kentucky) and Butler nils.
| sourD were unseated, the latter twice.
The Democratic senatorial caucus
met March 9th and elected Senator Ar.
thur Pue German to his old position as
chairman of the caucus. The steering
committee for the past Congress has
numbered only seven members, but
Senator German requested that the
number should be increased to nine.
which was the number in the days of
his previous chairmanship and this in
crease was decided upon. The COM
mittee was named and consists of Sen
ators German of Maryland, Cockrell of
Missouri, Martin of Virginia, Bacon of
Georgia, Dubois of Idaho, Money of
Mississippi Bailey of Texas. Black
burn of Kentucky and Tillman OF
South Carolina. The new members on
the committee are Messrs. German,
Blackburn and Tillman. The commit.
tee is empowered to negotiate with the
Republican steering committee with a
view to agreeing on a general reorgani.
cation, but SO far as there was express
sion of opinion on this point, it was
favorable to the view of leaving the
question of reorganization on general
It,,<, 49, - .1nt1 H., d.
cans, as they are in power. There Is
no doubt, however. that the Demo-
cratic steering committee will insist
upon having some OF the committees
filed, for the reason that the Demo-
cratic party has lost quite heavily in
some of the committees which are in
control OF present business.
At the meeting of the Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations on the 18th
inst. amendments made to the Cuban
treaty by the committee at the last
session of Congress were renewed and
were accepted without discussion.
One of these provides for reduction
of 40 per cent. in the tariff on Ameri-
can cattle shipped into Cuba. and the
other is a provision prohibiting in ex-
plicit terms fourth reduction of more
thdh 6O pei SCuI. III uuty oh
sugar shipped into the United States
and also prohibiting reductions in the
rates on sugar coming into the United
States from other countries. The
amendment providing for the submis-
sion of the Cuban treaty to the House
was offered by Senator Bacon. At the
last session of Congress the commit
tee refused to attach 1t to the treaty,
hut when 1t was presented on the 18th
inst. 1t was accepted after little de-
bate. The principal reason for its ac-
ceptance. was that members Of the
House have urged in strong terms the
constitutional right of that body to
pass on all reciprocity treaties, be-
cause of their effect on the revenues.
Senator Bacon strongly supported this
view, but other members of the COM
mittee thought that the action of the
House was not necessary to render the
treaty of binding effect. They, how
ever generally concurred in the opin-
ion that the incorporation Of the