The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-02-24

A Regular Feature of Interest
TO Washington.
ENEMIES OF RATE LEGISLATION.

ElLins and Nean stand Firm In the
Senate--Leprosarium For the Segre-
CATION OF Lepers-Vhen Tharston's
EioGuence LIS ON Tap.
Washington, Feb. 21.-[Special. RE
publican members of the house are say
ing now what they would not have said
a few years ago regarding the Philip
pine Islands. For many years members
have privately expressed the opinion
that the islands were an incubus which
il would be well To unload, but ii has
not been until lately that opinions of
that kind have been expressed openly
in debates. Now il Is not an uncommon
thing for men WHO have always fol
lowed their party 10 speak in the same
terms which Senator Hale, the late Sen
ator Hoar and Representatives Mccall
that the acquisition of the islands was
a folly and one which has cost much
blood and treasure. 1t is now six years
since the treaty was ratified, and here
tofore the Republican war cry has been
that the flag must stay put" Now
men are free 10 say they would be glad
to find some honorable means of dis
posing Of the islands.
Delaware Deadlock.
A deadlock in the Delaware legisla-
ture over the election of a United
States senator is one of the regular
features of interest i'm WASHINGTON. For
the past ten years one of the Delaware
seats has been vacant for more than
half the time because the Addicks and
anti-Addicks men could not agree. For
two years Delaware was without rep
resentation in the senate until the
deadlock was broken by sending one
man of each faction to the senate And
there are indications of a vacancy for
another two years as a result of the
present deadlock.
Took Hint.
A number Of senators were discuss
ing the necessity of late sessions of
the senate in the presence Of n num-
Der of men who had been active in
urging railroad rate legislation
Il am willing to sit late to consider
appropriation bills" said Senator Kean
of New Jersey. "but not for anything
else"
That's me-" said Senator Ellxins of
West Virginia.
II am of the same opinion" said Sen
ator Cullom of Illinois. Though | would
add this railroad rate bill to the list
that should be considered"
81 wouldn't" said Kean.
"N0r L." said Ellins.
Then the advocates of rate legisla-
ton saw a light which showed them
there would he no rate legislation pass
ed at this SESSION.
For leprosarium.
The senate passed bill to establish
somewhere in the United States a lep-
rosarium for the segregation of lepers.
1t was late at night after pensions had
been considered for two hours and only
seven senator's were present. Two of
these, Ankeny of Washington and
Overman of North Carolina, didn't
count, because they took NO part in the
The chief actors were Ball
of Delaware, Crane Of Massachusetts,,
Cullom of Illinois, Allison of Iowa and
Kean Of New Jersey. Kean was pre-
siding. The bill was introduced by
Crane and reported by Ball. Cullom
wanted an executive session, but was
willing Ball should call up the bill.
Allison was willing it should pass with
out an appropriation, while Ball said
that such an amendment would destroy
the measure. The funny part Of 1t was
that the four senators stood in a row
and talked among themselves, discuss
ing the merits of the bill. Finally aft
er much trouble Allison relented and
the bill went through. 1t was Balls
first appearance, and possibly his last,
as he goes out March 4.
Sharply Divided.
No committee ia the senate has had
SO many sharp divisions as the senate
on public lands. 1t is COM
posed of fifteen senators and is con-
u.