Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-03
Opening Of
Fifty.Eishth Congress
lconclndrd from paee ll

concluded from page -
A number Of proposed reciprocity
treaties have bee,S and slal are r.
roslnr In the pigeon holes OF the sen.
ate, During the coming three
months there may be some talk about
shesa treaties. but the indications are
they will not be seriously considered
So strong has been the opposition 70
them that IL has ncNr been consider
cd worth while 10 report them from
The committee ON foreign relations 10
which they were referred There was
considerable talk during the last Fcs'
sion Of congress concerning tarln re-
vision and the suggestion was made
by several prominent leaders that any
revision that was necessary could be
accomplished during the short session
OF congress. the idea being that rows
ion would be on the lines OF reduction
and would meet with little or no OPP
posl,Ion. II more revenue Is needed
and II Ia found necessary to add some
internal revenue taxes. opposition
may be more pronounced. Revenue
legislation OF any kind Is sure to ere.
ate considerable talk In the senate
and that means delay. In fact IL mas
become known that under present con
ditions legislation during the snort
session Is enacted by practically man
imous consent. Any half dozen sena'
tors who determine 10 defeat a Dill
hive the power TO do 80. with the
privilege Of unlimited debate. IN the
house the stringent rules enable the
majority 10 transact all business II
desires spd so far az that body IL
concerned hSre is no difficulty about
any legislation that may be attempt
ed, but II the leaders do not want
tariff revision or change In the rev
enue laws nothing will be done.
The unfinished business In the sen
ate In q bnl passed by the house pro
yiding for the construction OF rail-
roads In tho Philippine islands Try .
guarantee OF S per ent income upor
The money invested In such roads
The bill also provides for Issuing Phn
ippine bonds for other internal I'm
provements In the Islands, and IN sew
cral other particulars amends the
Philippine laws passed by congress
The bill met with a great deal OF oppo
sition during the last congress. bul
Senator Lodge. who has u In charge
says that he will press II from thu
beginning OF the session and hopes Il
secure It's passage. The principal op
position was 10 the provision whicl
guaranteed an income to the railroads
and little objection vas made to othe
features OF the bill. Another bill 10
the Philippines. which has been urge
by Secretary Taft and the preslden'
as well az nearly every n interes
cd In the Philippines, provides fe
a material reduction Of the duty O
sugar and tobacco nv well as oths
Philippine products. In fact free G
try OK these products has been recor
mcnded. The sugar and tobacco !
terests were strong enough In II
past TO defeat any substantial redu
tIon. and the law now provides for
duty Of 70 per cent Of tho Dingls
rates. A demand for q reduction
rs per cent has been quite frequent
!. presented to congress,
Another measure which receive
tho sanction OF the house last sessio
but which has never been pushed
the senate IL the statehood measn
which provides for two states, don
ling up the territories Of Oklahon
and indian Territory az II aud A
roma and New Mexico al another. TIL
bill, like any other which may 2
coulter opposition In the senate, cou
be easily defeated and advocates of
separate statehood for all the terrii
rics are likely to pursue that course
Should the house OF represcntatis
decide 10 impeach Judge Charl
Swayne Of the northern district
Florida the business conditions Of (
senate would be complicated AT
an investigation n majority of I
house committee on judiciary In I
last session recommended impcas
ment Consideration OF the ~resolnti
was postponed until Deeyemher
the beginning Of the second week
the short session. Meanwhile the
dietary COMMITTEES was instructed
take further Testimony, a task 1t
gan two weeks ago. Present indi'
tons are that the house win not
thorize an Impeachment. or II IL dc
the action will be taken SO late
the session that the real proceedin
will go over until the next conere
There are precedents for such acti