Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-12-09
CONGRESSIONAL OUTLOOK
A SHORT BUT BUSY SESSION IS
PROMISED.
John e. Harris Writes Of Affairs at
the National capital-Will Prob
ably be no Extra Session-What
the Vermont Members Are Doing.
Especial to the Reformer,)

DING OF the tHlTu anu idst stsSioil
of the 5Sth congress, and what pro-
portion of tares there will be In the
wheat OF the final harvest the Uni
versal Soul only knows. Congress
always takes holiday vacation OF
approximately two weeks. and with
this out there will remain not many
more than sixty actual working
days. During this time the great
annual appropriation bills must be
prepared by the various committees
and pass both houses, these to the
exclusion and regardless of every
thing else. There are also quite a
goodly number of important meas
ures which were left uncompleted by
the last session, and these Will be
taken up and pushed from the point
where work on them was discontin-
ued from last adjournment. Includ-
ed In the appropriation bills will be
river and harbor bill. appropriate
ing for improvements along these
! lines all over the country. There
was none last session, and the grab
can no longer be delayed. With the
above legislation already cut out
and imperative, it will be seen that
there will be very little If any time
for new legislation of general
character.
|
session Immediately after March 4,
when the present congress dies by
limitation, | am convinced by the ex-
preston of opinion from those in au-
thority that such a session will not
be held. Its ostensible and only
purpose would be to 'readjust" the
tariff, and the president, In whose
hands the matter entirely rests. will
probably be guided by the opinion of
conservative leaders and the whole
matter will therefore go over until
the first session of the 59th con-
gress just elected, which will be one
year from date.
Some few prominent republican
members OF each of the two houses
assert that no time must be lost In
tacklng the subject, but four out of
five of the party leaders object to
an extra session for the purpose, not
that they are opposed to any reduc-
ton In any schedule-but they as
sert with truth that a called ses-
sion would be unlimited in duration
probably running along well into
torrid summer, that 1t would open the
1oodgates of interminable partisan
debate and finally that there has
been as yet no opportunity and viii |
not be during this short and busy |
cuss the matter among themselves |
and decide on just what needs rails |
ing and what doesn't. During the |
coming year before the converting of |
the next regular session there VIII /
be plenty of time 10 agree on the |
lines on which alterations may be |
made and legislation embodying
their views will be ready for intro
duction at once. Then there win be
the whole of long session In which
to settle the matter. OF course there
is always the possibility Of new
light before March next. but the
above now seems to be the program.
Very few of the republican MEM
bers of the house who stood for re-
election were defeated, but many Of
the oldest and most prominent DEM
ocratic members Of the present Il
house will go home to stay at the
end of this session. Hence there Is
a very apparent feeling of sadness
IN the personality of the minority.
Some take it philosophically, how
ever, and allow that the return
swing OF the pendulum" in two or
our years will bring them TO life
again member of the majority
AN be distinguished anywhere by
the smile that won't come off.
h.
epublican statesman is a thing OF
beauty and a joy at all hours of the
lay and along into the night J
AS a rule. the southern democrats
ire inclined to protest against any
present reorganization of what ~
eft Of their party, preferring to
stand pat" and await what may !
urn up while the northern and q
Western democracy - especially the 7
ltter-is enthusiastically in favor of |
along lines laid down a
y Mr. Bryan. There will be very u
title If any partisan conflict during b
he present session. and the minor a
y viii evidently observe a conserv- a
tive and retiring modesty. o
Speaking of reorganization re- a
Kinds me of a cartoon in a daily n
aper which has made lots of fun o
round the capital. The G. o. p. ele- o.
liant, in the pink of condition, mus
llar, robust and hearty, is repre-
.nted looking over the partition OF
is enclosure at the democratic jack
IS. which latter seems to be under m
Ding a remarkable metamorphosis. $;
e has been thickly coated with T
his ears have been laid 10
ack and strapped down and the II
ryan contingent are busily en-
lged in affixing to him a long and
,wing false tail He bears an ago
zed and distressed aspect, and at
r surveying the amazing sight for
few moments the elephant asks: m
n Heavens name, what are they Id
ling to you, my poor. battered III
iend?" AS the poor ass let fly his III
,els at his tormentors he agoniz- pe
gly walled: They're trying to ~, III
sorganize' mel" w NJ
rrhn oop,,,ittaa having in charge W
the arrangements for the inaug- tu
alton of Messrs Roosevelt and WI
.irbanks. though the event is three er
onths away, is already organizing n
d getting to work. The head OF 10
e committee is Gen. James M. Will Ia
n, regular army retired, and with
5 large corps of assistants he Is
'eady located in offices to be used
the committee in the new Will
d hotel. 1t seems to be the gen. of
al opinion locally that the event SCI
II be largely the occasion Of an i'm an
,nse military and naval display
d good reasons are advanced
w this should be so. It is not be-
use this is essentially a military
ton or administration or because a.,
ere is any desire or intent to 20
crave the people with a display of vi
litary strength. but 1t is argued
1t the president is the command
-in-chief of the army and navy,
It he was a valiant soldier and is !
war veteran, and last but by no IN
ans least, a large military body OF
II be much easier to handle in 1t
fleet evolutions in a parade on ge'
'iew than would any large body wa
civilians. OF course large civic Ter
lies and orders and organizations on.
m adj over the country will be
Dected and earnestly asked to take
t in the exercises. the more the
ter. but the military will quite !
ely be the predominating ele- era
Mt. To that end all of the avail Def
a rag,,iar army and navy will dis