Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-04
Congress Adjourns Without Ac.
ton on a Number of Impor-
tant Measures
SOME OF THE REASONS GIVEN
The Long Fight in the Senate on the
Statehood Bill and the Democratic
FiIibusterins in the House Response
BILE for Failure Of Present Congress
to Leeislate.

list of legislative dead and but few
hood in the senate and the recent dem
ocratic flibuster in the house have had
the effect of killing off almost every
measure of public interest which ar
reused any considerable opposition.
The Alrdich bill was decently bur
led in the senate with an impressive
funeral Grafton on the part of its au-
thor. In brief speech full of meat
Mr.. Aldrich exposed the folly of the
democratic position. He declared they
were standing in the way of a measure
which was framed IN the interest of
the business of the country, which was
not tainted with partisan bias, and
which merely proposed to facilitate the
supply Of money for moving the crops
next fall. Mr.. Aldrich brought home to
his opponents the definite responsible
ity for money panic which may take
place next fall, and warned the DEM
ocratic senators that the country surely
would hold them responsible. There
never was more impressive legisla-
tive sermon.
1t is pitiful commentary upon the
legislative methods of the democrats
in the senate that the Aldrich bill was
killed by them largely because OF the
fact that its author is republican
leader and was chiefly responsible for
the defeat OF the statehood bill, involv-
ing the admission of eight democrat
q ~,
senators and the possible control OF the
senate 1t is quite evident now that II
the Aldrich bill had been offered by
some less conspicuous republican the
democrats would have accepted it with
out hesitation as a wise emergency
measure, dictated by common sense.
The warning given by Mr.. Aldrich to
beware of crop moving time Is echoed
by many other senator's, VINO lear a
severe financial stringency and posi-
BILE forced liquidation next fall as the
direct result of the petty malice OF
a half dozen democratic senator's whose
ideas of craftsmanship permitted them
to kill off a wise measure merely 10
annoy It's individual author.
Senator Lodge has been equally I'M
fortunate in securing action on the
Philippine tariff bill. Mr.. McEnery of
Louisiana, in behalf of the sugar plant
ers of his state, last night started out to
talk the bill to death. and as he -ad re-
cruits from Colorado and other sections
there was little doubt of the success OF
his project. The tobacco and sugar m
terests have fought the Philippine tai1ff
bill from the start. The senate draft OF
the bill proposes free trade between the
United States and the islands except as
to sugar and tobacco. which are espe-
cialIy favored by being given 90 per
cent of the Dingley tariff rates.
In adjusting the differences between
the two houses over the omnibus pub
lie building bill some changes were
made in the first agreement as result
Of which the limit OF the cost of the
Chicago public building was fixed at
$4,75O,O0O. The house bill provided for
$4,000 more than this, but this hap
pened to be one of the items on which
the house conferees yielded. The addi-
ton of three quarters of a million to
the present limit of cost will, it is be-
lieved, be sufficient to finish the build
ing according to present estimates with
only a slight pruning down of certain
features.
1t is matter of general comment
that the fifty-seventh congress winds
up its work with much less uncertainty
than is customary in the last twenty
four hours of short session. The naval
appropriation was the only thing which
seemed likely to cause an extra session,
and the conferees agreed on compro-
mise, so that the next addition to the
navy will be divided between three 49,
600 ton and two $4,000 ton battleships.
With this appropriation out OF the Way
there is no necessity whatever for call
ing the house together. 1t was runlorei
that the president would call an extra
session so that the house might LASS
upon the Cuban treaty. This Will not
be done, however. When the senate
approves the treaty the government
will assume it is constitutional and will
assess the rates from Cuba on d :eclo-
rocity basis, leaving it to Importers to
appeal to the courts If they see fit. OF
course, no one getting the benefit OF 4
low rate with Cuba will object
.eJJncle Joe" Cannon's proposition to
restore the east front of the capitol
was defeated in conference and Will
favorable year. file proposed merely
to follow out the original plan OF the
east front exactly as had been done
with the west face. This would I'M
prove the lines materially and at the
same time, which is an important mat
ter. would provide space for large
number of additional committee rooms.
The senate would not agree to Uncle
Joe's" proposition, largely because they
feared the extension would involve
some departure from the original plan.
Altho the item was stricken out OF the
bill entirely it is the intention to have
the architect of the capitol submit es-
Inmates, elevations, and working plans,
so that the project which is entirely
and artistic, may be adopt
ed at the next session of congress.
When the clock strikes II today the
sale of liquors in every form at the
capitol will cease. Members of the
house, who were responsible for this
provision of the new law, now say the
joke is on the senate after all. The
house goes out of business tomorrow,
and will not reconvene until December
in all probability. The senate however,
is in for month or so of tiresome eX-
ecutive sessions, with series of dreary
speeches and calls for quorum, but with
no real necessity for any senator re-
manning in the chamber That is the
time when the restaurant Is most pa
troniZed Senators. however, Will have
to go dry or violate the law.
The paragraph in the immigration
bill is SO worded as to prevent the sale