Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-12-16
From our regular correspoudcnt)


Amounts-Thc Postal Service Effort to
Restrict Southern Representation.
From our regular corrc-ponLcnt)
WASHINGToN, ID. c., Dec. 6.
There have hardly ever been on the
first day Of the session as many mem.
bers OF the Senate and House present
in their seats rs assembled under the
white dome on Monday, in spite of
slippery streets and driving sl,et. The
air was filled with cordial salutations,
taking the general form of regrets
and congratulation. The minority
party protested that though it was
certainly swamped it was not abso-
lutely wrecked. 1t would he too much
to expect that a party which had just
received an overwhelming endorsement
would bear itself with modest humil.
ity On such an occasion and 80 there
was rapid exchange OF irony and re-
tort, banter and persiflage. In neither
house did the members seem to care
whether the chaplain delivered an au-
dible invocation or pantomme. The
Democrats bore their defeat with be-
coming dignity that satisfied them
selves and prodded the boastful major.
ity with the great truth that to.mor.
row takes care of to morrow and it is a
very long road that has no turn.
The President has certainly succeed.
ed in making another sensation. He
has achieved the most extraordinary
message that ever emanated from the
White House-a performance entirely
unique. 1t treats of matters which no
President ever before recommended to
the attention of Congress and in the
writing of half OF it he seems to have
been mesmerized by Parson Wagner
and Jacob Rils. Perhaps all of his
theories are humane and some of them
are practicable. but he suggests action
concerning many matters which can
be taken in hand only by State Legis.
latures. Think OF Presidents mes.
sage on life insurance. the price of
beefsteak, child labor, alley slums, race
suicide, school truancy, wife. beating
and the whipping post! He earnestly
calls upon Congress to guard against
extravaganza and recommends an in.
crease OF appropriations. He is for
peace. arbitration, and a great navy.
He declares that it is contemplate
"for a nation to use high-sounding
language to proclaim its purpose" I'M
less it is able to back up the language.
But why should any nation "use high.
sounding language? He says (having
Colombia in mind) cit Is not true
that the United States feels any land
anger or entertsins any projects to-
ward other nations of the western
hemisphere save such as are for their
,celfare." But he carefully avoids tell.
ing US who is to be the judge OF this.
II recalls the lion in La Fontaine's
fable who admitted having eaten sheep
for their good and declared that in
thus noticing them he bad "done
them too much honor" The message
lie q congeries and concatenatiOn of
unrelated ideas. Was it not Goethe
who constructed the last volume of
Wilhelm Meister out of the sweepings
of his study tablef OF the tariff the
President says not q word but its alb.
sence is more conspicuous than its
presence could have been like the
omission of the bust Of Cato from the
triumphal pageant OF Rome. Woman
suffrage, Battle Creek food and dress
reform also get the go by, to the read.
er's surprise, especially when it is re.
membered that the German emperor
business himself in the intervals of
strenuous life by designing the cos.
tunes of the ladies of his court.
o! the questions concerning public
policy which are treated, it is admitted
even by Democrats that the President
has dealt frankly and without reserve.
They do not by any means agree with
all his recommendations, but their
criticism is not very vigorous. An i'm
portant paragraph of the message re.
lating to the control OF interstate COM
merce, was followed yesterday by the
introduction in both Senate and House
OF bills complying with the recommen.
dalton. 1t provides for authority to
fix freight rates, but arranges for an
appeal to courts in case of q difference.
The recommendations for punishment
for bribery and corruption in Federal
elections, call out favorable comment.
The assertion that the Filipinos are
"ss yet totally unfit" for self.govern.
ment meets, of course, with Demo.
cratic opposition, but the promise that
within two years we shall be trying
the experiment of an elective house in
the Philippine Legislature" is regarded
as something OF an offset.
There seems 10 be considerable sense
and justice in the crusade which the
admirals of our navy are making to
resent and prevent the promiscuous
use OF their title. The practice which
has provoked the remonstrance is alb.
susd. For ship.builders, commisss ries,
land surveyors, quartermasters, doc
tor and chaplains to masquerade as
admirals and even to put the title
" ear.Admiral" on their visiting
cards, is go flagrantly proposterous as
to cause amazement that the President
has not prevented it by peremptory
order. Men who have won their rank
by fighting and making sacrifices in
the face of an enemy have right to
be impatient at the impudence of these
supernumeraries.
Appropriation bills are busting to
the front. The legislative, executive,
and judicial, carrying $50 OO0. 900, has
been reported to the House. The Post
Office, with total of $l83, 600. was
considered by sub. committee yesterday.
The Indian appropriation bill will be
taken by committee to-day; the Com.
mittee on Territories is in session, and
the River aud Harbor committee has
been buoy distributing large quantities
of "pork" for more than a week.
The public will be glad to know that
our postal service would be entirely
self.sustaining. now if it, were not for
the expense OF the rural free delivery.
The rustic population is not likely to