Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-15
WASHINGTON LETTER
From our Reeular Uorres pondent )

Washington, d. G., Jan. a. Time
was when greybeards and bald heads +,
ruled the United States Senate. They
are still here, but the sceptre of infiu
ence has largely passed to the very
youngest members. The wisdom which
often comes of years and experience is
always potent. and for thirty years the
men whose word was law in the sSen-
ate were mostly graduates of the Fed
eral and Confederate armies during
the Civil War. They wore scars and
crutches. But the men who draw1
great audiences to the galleries when
it is announced that they will speak
are now men who were very young
babies in arms during that period, ~
fellows in ''the roaring fortress" Oh
the Republican side Dolllver, as and
Beveridge, (411; on the Democratic
side, Carmack. (45) and Bailey (4O).
Nothing finer or more spirited can be
heard in Congress than discussion in
which these are pitted against each
other. An apparent exception of young
and vigorous minds in aged tenements
are Hoar and Morgan, who, though !
old enough TO be the granGfathers of
those just mentioned, are ready to meet
all corners at any moment.
They are knocking at the door again
Arizona. New Mexico and OkIahama
and tho tattoo is likely to become
very loud during the present session. |
The last named has shown such amaz
ingly quick development that she Is
liable to creep in If the Congressional
latch-string is left out at all.
Senator Morgan began his much her /
aided speech on the Panama canal
Thursday and did not seem at all dis
concerted by the fact that there was a
very thin attendance Of the Senate.
1t was sthe first studied arraignment
of the conduct of the administration
that has been made, and the review of
the situation was comprehensive and
somewhat caustic. He made one rev.
citation which attracted thoughtful at
tention of the Republicans: the fact
that the republic Of Colombia did her
utmost to meet the wishes of the Uni
ted States concerning the Panama
canal. 1t is true that her Congress
adjourned without ratifying
the treaty that was being negoti-
ated; but the abundant reason was CIV
en- that under the existing constitu.
ton she was prevented from alienat
ing any part of her territory. Her Of
ficials offered to secure an amendment
to the fundamental law that would al
low her to surrender to us the perma
nent sovereignty over the canal zone.
This was characterized by Secretary
Hay as Gilatory and insulting, and, re-
fusing to wait, the President gave or
ders to send ships and soldiers to pre-
/ vent Colombia from asserting her
: sovereignty. The Senator asserted
B that If the United States would with
: hold its hand, in obedience to ,interna'
tional law, Colon bia would Immediate
= ly suppress and drive out the eight
i filibusterers and adventures and theiI
), train of Indians and negroes who now
/ constitute .'the republic of Panama. "
: Colombia has applied to the French
government and courts for an injunc
n ton to prevent the transfer to the
l. United States of the canal properties
s and franchises now owned by French
It citizens under concession from th'
It Colombian government. The new
O made an obvious sensation yesterday
i. around the Capitol, 70
,t The French ambassador Of this coun
Al try has rendered to our government
10 from the ladies of France. replica o
the bust of Washington which wa
a formerly destroyed by fire in the Capt
g. toll. 1t was by the famous David.
& The Senate yesterday began discus
Is sion of the resolution for q eongres
!. sional Investigation of post offic'
q frauds. Republicans oppose it on tn
ground that the Post Office Department
can find out and punish its own frauds
r Democrats warmly advocate it on tn
:. ground that committee wholly Re
q publican cannot be trusted to expos
q Republican frauds, that congressional
h investigations are popular and tho
rough, and that such an investigation
o would show what remedial Legislation
is required to prevent the recurrence
r of such plundering.
j.. The Presidents appointment o
James Tanner, the famous Corporal
!. to be Register of Wills here will stant
Z In spite of the remembrance of the OF
fec holders newspaper and half
|, dozen wealthy bankers. It Is under
stood that Dent tsuperseded) claim
:, to be in some way related or connect
:. ed with the family of Mrs. Grant
Tanner is one of the liyeliest and mos
aggressive of Republican orators ant
he stumps it In a double or triplel
sense, having lost both legs at the ankl
while lying on his face and holding hi
). heels too high at the second battle Of
Bull Run. He gets around easily OF
his two Eastwood feet but is always II
pain.
The Kansas State Republican Con-
yeution will be held early in March, 81
as to be the first on record for Roose'
welt. $50
Among the marriage licenses issued
in Washington this week were the fol
lowing for Augusta couples: Chas
w. Clayton and Miss Bertha B, Koin-