The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-03

features OF tic Dill. Another bill Tor
the Philippines which has been urged
by Secretary TAFT and the President as
well as nearly every one interested IN
the Philippines, provides for material
reduction of the duty on sugar and to-
bacco, as we'll as other Philippine pro-
ducts. In fact. free entry OF these pro-
ducts has been recommended. TIE sugar
and tobacco interests were strong enough
In the past to defeat any substantial re-
diction, and the law now provides for a
duty OF seventy-five per cent. OF the
Dinglcy rates. A demand for reduc-
tion 10 twenty-five per cent. has been
quite frequently presented 20 Congress-.
Sinoot and Swayne.
Another measure which received the
sanction Of the House last session, but
which has never been pushed In the
Senate, Is the Statehood measure which
provides for two States, doubling UP tho
Territories OF Oklahoma and Indian Ter
ritory as one, and Arizona and Now Mex
leo as another. This bill, like any other,
which may encounter opposition In the
Senate could DO easily defeated, and adj
vocates OF separate Statehood for oil
the Territories are likely to pursue that
course.
Should the House OF Representatives
decide 10 impeach Judge Charles Swayne,
of the northern district of Florida, the
business condition OF the Senate would
be complicated After an Investigation.
a majority Of tho House Committee on
Judiciary in the last session recon-
mended Impeachment. Consideration of
the resolution was postponed until De-
cembcr 18th, the beginning Of the second
week Of the short session. Meanwhile
the Judiciary Committee was instructed
to take further testimony, task it be-
gan two weeks ago. Present indications
are that tho House will not authorize an
impeachment, or II 1t does, the action
will be taken SO late in the session that
the real proceedings will go over until
the next Congress. There arc presidents
fer such action In other impeachmen
cases that have been before Congress.
1t is somewhat doubtful IL n vote Will
be reached in the Senate In the case Of
Senator Reed Snoot, of Utah This case
ATTRACTED a great deal OF attention last
session when the Committee on Privileges
and Elections summoned the heads Ut the
Mormon Church to tell what had been
going on Of a polygamcus character IN
Utah, and thousands Of persons petit
toned daily to have SmoOt elected from
the Senate. A score or more of witnesses
arc yet to be examined, and the defense
has not yet even begun, SO that 1t is EVIL
dent that before a report Is made to the
Senate the session will be so far spent
that no serious attempt will be made to
reach vote upon Senator Shoots title.
Some question has arisen as to whether
the case lapses with tho end Of the pres
emit Congress. MT was the opinion Of the
late Senator Hoar that the proceedings
would end with the Congress- and an
entire new case would have to }fbe COM
fmenced, IL It was found desirable to con-
unue the case against Mr.. Smoot.
The last session passed a bill providing
for commission, composed Of five sena-
tors and five representatives, to investi-
gate and report measure for res oring
the merchant marine OF the United States.
The commission was instructed TO re-
port on the first iday&of the coming ses-
sion, and 1t is expected that this will be
done There has been a great deal of
anxiety manifested by men Of both poll
teal parties to secure legislation OF this
character, and If any measure can pc
agreed upon Which will receive the sup
port OF both parties it will no doubt be
speedily passed. 8 "
Immigration and Currency.
Some doubt exists among the members
OF both houses as to whether addi tional
Chinese exclusion legislation IS neces-
sa1y. 1t has ~ been held that the law
would expire this mon TIL as 1t was found
ed upon a treaty which also expires a
new treaty Is being negotiated and an
exclusion law to meet It's terms may be
necessary. The people Of the Pacific coast
have been insisting upon more rigid ex-
clusion than that known as the Plat law.
and if the question is ught up there
will be quite lengthy debate.
Senator Dillingham; has reported from
the Committee on Immigration a bill
amending the5immigra tion laws, and 1t is
his intention to push for its consldera-
ton The principal feature of the bill
Is a provision for an agent OF the United
States, accompanied by a surgeon, to be
stationed at all important European 1ul-
migration ports to Inspect aliens seeking
admission to the United States It also
froviues for a head tax OF 81 an mm1-
grant.
Three years ago, when Congress assem-
bled, flood Of bills We're presented for
the protection Of the President, and those
In line Of succession. Some Of these
measures were reported, and even reached
the stage OF conference between the Two
houses when the Fifty-seventh Congress
expired. On the Senate calendar is Il no-
tice given by Senator Tioar last April
that or Tuesday. December 9Th. lie would
ask the Senate to take up and consider
a bill for the pr election Of the President.
Whether or not some member Of the
Judiciary Committee will push the meas
ure, now that the Massachusetts
senator is dead, Is not known.
There Is serious opposition to the
bill as 1t stands, and unless 1t Is mate
rally modified 1t probably could not pass
Currency legislation will be talked about
but it probably will not be enacted. The
.Aldrich bill, the Nelson bill, the Fowler
bill and the Hill bill, as well as a number
Of Others, arc pending before committees,
but no one has shown any particular de-
sire TO have them passed Ia fact, one
measure Is untagonlstic to another. and,
with no apparent danger to tic finances
OF the country those who arc not experts
In the matter OF currency law cannot be
Induced to push these measures forward
to tho exclusion OF other business,
Representation in South. Il
Reduced representation in Southern
States, which have by one form On an
other DISTINGUISHED negroes, will be a
theme Of diSCllsSIOn, but not action, dur.