The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-02-25
WASHINGTON POLITICAL GOSSIP.
The Deadlock in Senate and Effect
on Legislation---Still Talking
of Reducing Southern Rep
resentation.

nate deadlock in the Senate which
threatens the success of the Panama
canal, the Cuban treaty and, unless soon
broken, will precipitate an extra session
Of congress is finally reaching point
where it occasions alarm to the re-
publican leaders, an alarm increased by
the Presidents insistence that he will
call an extra session Of the Senate if
either the Panama or the Cuban treaty
fail of ratification The annoyance of
the republican leaders has been recent
ly manifested by their abuse of Senator
Quay, who is contributing to the fiji
buster. Mr.. Quay, knowing that he
represents considerable majority of
the Senate, and having been subjected
to protracted flibuster on the State
hood bill, has determined to fight fire
with fire and is accordingly flibuster-
ing on the Panama treaty. What the
end will be it is impossible to predict
with certainty, although it is known
that the republican leaders are contem-
plating q compromise On the Statehood
bill and are prepared to yield, at least
to some extent, to the demands Of the
democrats if by SC doing they can
secure the prompt ratification of both
treaties.
Senator Morgan has thus far con-
ducted most rema rkable flibuster
On the Panama treaty. He has spoken
over 200, 600 words, equal to very big
book, in his arguments against the
convention as framed and still seems
as fresh as ever. One evening last
week a night session was held with
the hope Of tiring out the venerable
Albanian. He spoke for three hours,
from Z to Il O'Clock, when the senate
took recess until next morning. Your
correspondent happened to leave the
Capitol just behind Senators Morgan
and Pettus, who were walking arm in
arm, and heard the former say, "Pet-
tus, what shall we do with the rest Of
the evening? I'm not tired and it is
too early to 90 to bed. Can you sug-
gest some way of enjoying ourselves
for an hour or two?'' When it is
realized that Mr.. Morgan is 70 and
Mr.. Pettus 81, the humor of the Incl
dent is apparent.
The House has been devoting its
attention to appropriation bills recently
and has passed number, including
the Naval and Fertilization bills It is
now engaged in debating the Fowler
rubber currency" measure which
has for its chief object the turning
over to the banks and bankers the vir-
tual control Of the money of the
nation. The bill may pass the House,
Mr.. Flower says it will, but it cannot
pass the Senate. The Naval bill
authorizes the construction Of the
three new battle ships, an armcred
cruiser, two steel training ships and a
wooden brig. It also appropriates $780,
600 for the Secretary of the Navy to
thoroughly investigate the subject OF
submarine boats and to purchase such
as he deems wise and the appropriation
will permit. It is known that the Lake
boat will be thoroughly investigated
under this provision. The bill also
authorizes the doubling Of the number
of midshipnen at Annapolis, course
made necesarsy by the coming into
commission of many new naval vessels.
The Anti-anarchy bill has finally
been agreed upon by thee onferees.
AS it stands it provides for capital
punishment for any person who shall
kill or attempt TO kill the President or
any of his legal successors. Advice or
assistance to kill any of these persons
will involve being regarded as princi-
pal offender. The advice to kill, or
teaching that any officer of any civil
lied government should be killed will
be punished by fine not exceeding
s., 0O0 or Imprisonment not exceeding
twenty years or both. It was this
last provision which Senator Bacon SO
ably opposed both in the Senate and
in an interview printed in these let
ters year ago. It is regarded as
doubtful if the conference report will
be agreed upon by the Senate because
of the objection Of the democrats.
| 4 final attempt was made last week
by the friends of Admiral Schley to
secure for him the recognition of Con-
gress. A resolution was offered in the
committee on Naval Affairs providing
that he be given the pay and allow
ance of rear admiral on the active
list. The resolution was laid on the
table by vote of all the republicans
except Mr.. Mudd. It is we'll known
that if the resolution could be brought
before the House it would be adopted
but the will of a majority of the
House is defeated by the Naval COM
mittee.
Representative Bankhead recently
told your correspondent that he feared
the democrats in the Senate we're
making mistake by following the
leadership of Mr.. Quay and attaching
the Omnibus Statehood bill to an
appropriation bill. He said, "I am
afraid it is not good politics, nor is it
wise legislation for the democratic
party to GO on record in favor of poll
tical riders to appropriation bills. It
may come home to haunt Us before
long in connection with the constant
ly growing desire on the part of repub-
lican leaders to reduce the Congres-
sional representation from the south
ern states, as result OF the present
agitation Of the race problem. When
ever two or more republicans get to-
gether to talk politics and the negro
question comes up you will hear them
declaring themselves in favor of reduc-
ing the southern representation in