The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Washington, March 2S.-Little will be
done at this session of congress except to
pass the regular supply bills carrying the
IS @ appropriations for the cur
Only Regular rent expenses of. the gov
eminent. For reasons po-
Supply Bills litical and otherwise legis-
lation on the following
to Be Passed. subjects has been post
poned until next winter:
Statehood expulsion Of Reed Smoot from
the senate, revision Of the tariff, revision
Of the banking and currency laws, revi-
sion Of the land laws railroad legisla-
ton including amendment Of the inter
state commerce commission statute, the
impeachment Of Judge Charles Swayne Of
Florida df possbie), public buildings
legislation, river and harbor improve
ments, anti-injunction and eight-hour
legislation, insular affairs, and In general
all miscellaneous measures which carry
an appropriation or commit the govern
ment to the expenditure Of additional
money.
all bills for public buildings and river and
harbor improvements. The last congress
appropriated nearly a hundred million dol
lars for these two purposes alone. The
past year. has seen a considerable in.
crease in the necessary expenses of the
government, and decrease in the inter-
nal and customs revenues. If continued
for sufficient time this means deficit
and deficit means a bond issue, and a
bond issue means awkward explanations
by the party in power. Speaker CAM
non has handled government finances too
long to be blind to this phaset Of congress
sional responsibility, and in his office Of
speaker he has the power to make direct
application Of such economical ideas as
he may entertain. The record of congress
in the matter Of appropriations is likely
to be far removed from any charge Of ex-
| travagance.
ward predicament. Admitting that Smoot
is sent to the senate by the Mormon
church and admitting that
Smoot Case the Mormon church is a
great political power in
| Embarrasses Utah, Colorado, Idaho and
Nevada, the consequence
| Republicans. Of his expulsion by re-
| publican majority might
be to turn all that tremendous Mormon in
| fiuence against the republican candidate
for president. s @ ~
| If these states are to be doubtful, OF
are to be thrown into the democratic col
! umn at the word of President Smith, then
1T begins to look more grave to repub-
lican leaders. OF course partizan politics
| or considerations of mere expedfency could
not determine the Judgment Of so high
and honorable tribunal as the United
| States senate; but II the issue could Dc
avoided by postponement, by prolongins
the hearings and sending a subcommit.
l tee across the continent to take a closer
look at things, then it might be well tt
adopt that PLAN
AS to whether such plan be agreeable
to the numerous women and gentlemen
who have interested themselves in thu
ousting of Smoot-the club women ant
the evangelical ministers-it frankly mat
ters little, for they do not vote with tina
organized unanimity which characterize!
the church Of Mormon, where disciplin,
reigns, and all await for the divine reve
lation which will come to Mr.. Smith tn,
day before election. II the women's clubs
and the evangelical pastors were likely t,
vote as unit In disapproval Of the Unite,
States senate for holding them off for thi
!, period Of time, the crisis in the smoo
case might be reached before the daisie
bloom.
On the subjects Of statehood, land la,
. revision and Philippines legislation, actio
! may be taken by one branch of congress
with the understand
Philippines ing that the othe
81 branch will not consid