Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-02-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

y
the President, the influence of the President,
his frmness and his courage that have
brought this question to the eminence
of favorable action by the Republican
majority This statement was made
by Representative DeArmoad Of Miss
ouri when the railway rate bill was
under discussion in the House and soon
after Mr.. DeArmond concluded his remarks
the House passed the Townsend Esch bill
with only II dissenting votes, six OF which.
unfortunately, were cast by Democrats
The Democrats signiied their preference
for the Davey bill by first voting for that,
but when it was defeated by party vote
they aligned themselves on the side Of
some progress in the direction of rate con-
troll and voted for the majority measure.
AS soon as the bill passed the House it
was sent to the Senate and promptly re-
ferred to the committee on Interstate Com
merce where it will doubtless remain until
this Congress expires, which will mean the
death of the bill Two reasons will con-
tribute to this result. In the first place,
the Senate is working under pressure to
complete the Swayne impeachment case,
which is in full blast, and will doubtless
have TO hold numerous night sessions to ac-7
the routine business before March
In the second place Senator Elkins,
-
Commerce, is at heart opposed TO any
measure involving real reform Of railway
rates, and while protesting TO be most
friendly, will actually do all in his pawer
to prevent the accomplishment of such en-
actment. His position renders his opposi-
ton powerful and while, with ample time
at the disposal Of the Senate, Mr.. EIkins'
opposition might be overcome, in the rush
of the closing hours of a short session such
a fight would be impossible.
The President is entirely reconcied to
the unavoidable delay in carrying out his
recommendations for the reason that be
believes that delay will only serve to whet
the demand of the public for such legisla
tion and that eventually the country will
secure from the Senate more comprehen-
sive and adequate measure than Is the bill
just passed by the House. There will be,
of course, no trouble in getting the next
House to pass a bill in conformity to the
public needs and if popular demand grows
as rapidly during the summer recess as it
has during the past few weeks the insist
ence OF the people will make itself felt even
in the Senate.
The Senate has determined to amend the
arbitration treaties recently submitted by
the President, despite the open letter Of
the President declaring that if any amend
ent were adopted he would withdraw them
1t is declared on high authority that if the
treaties are ratified with an amendeat no
effort will be made to induce the foreign
governments party to the treaties to concur
on .he change This is perhaps true, but
the highest authorities have been known to
change their minds and it is not impossible
that camer consideration of this subject
may result ia changed attitude on the
part of the authorities in the State Depart
ment. The one executive session during
which the treaties were discussed demons
ated the fact that it would be absolutely
impossible for the treaties to be ratified I'M
less they were so amended that any subor-
dinate treaties submitting a difference to
The Hague Tribunal would have to be ap-
proved by the Senate. Senator'S Morgan,
Teller aud Bacon all spoke in favor of the
amendment, if the treaties were to be rati-
fed, although Mr.. Morgan opposed the
principle of arbitration itself and declared
that in his estimation it would be far bet
ter if the treaties failed entire v. 1t is not
believed, however, that Senator Morgan
will insist on this view to the extent of fill
clustering. II is predicted with every show
OF confidence that the treaties will be rati-
fl ed at the next executive session
The fate of the Statehood bill has been
practically sealed under the spur Of the
party whip and lash in the House Speak
er Cannon has had his way and a rule has
been adopted in caucus providing that the
House shall insist on its original bill which
combined Arizona and Indian Territory in
one State In the opinion of the Senate
leaders such IA bill has little or no show to
pass that body and the prospects are that
all of the proposed States will remain with
out the Union for at least another year and
that the tedious fight foe statehood will
have to be renewed and fought again in
some future session of Congress. In some
respects, the decision Of the House is a dis
appointment to members of the SEN
ate, even those who opposed separate state
hood for New Mexico, because they hoped
to create state out of Oklahoma and In
d;a, rrarri+arx this cacc;nr of Gaorracs