Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-03-16
Correspondence Of the Beaeon.)
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. O.. March IL, 1905.
Another Congress has just pas
sed into history. and il il has not, it
ought to have left bad taste ia tho
mouths of the people for the very
good reason that it has done nothing
in their interest. The last session
OF the Fifty-eighth Congress did
practically nothing except pas the
great supply bills and go home. Il
refused absolutely TO pass anything
in the nature Of remedial Legislation
in the interest Of the people. though
it had ample opportunity to do so.
AS predicted in these letters last
Fall. it went squarely back on its
promise to give Statehood to the
Territories Of Oklahoma, Indian
Territory, New Mexico and Arizona.
II the people of those Territories
can stand for such dillydaliyiug as
that, with their dearest rights and
privileges, then the millennium
must have been dragged in by the
ears in the Southwest long before
its time. II they do not take occa-
sion TO resent it at the very first op-
portunity they get, then human ma
ture has changed q whole lot down
in that section of our common coun-
try. When the Democrats get con-
troll Of the Congress Of the United
States, the people of those Terri
tories will get Statehood, and not
before. The trust interests in the
Senate, guarded by the paid attor-
neys OF these trusts whom they have
placed there, will forever stand as q
bar TO Statehood long past due to
the sturdy, honest people OF the
great Southwest. When we get
Senatorial elections by direct vote
OF the people we will be able to con-
troll the Senate in the interest of the
people, out not before. That not
only is my humble opinion from
years OF observation here in the ma
tional capital, but il is the opinion
OF nearly every observing man who
has taken the pains to ascertain con
ditions that now exist here.
There were many interesting
things that occurred in tt is last ses-
sion of the Fifty-eighth Congress.
Among them was the impeachment
OF Judge Charles Sway 40, of the
Northern District Of the State of
Florida, by the House of Represen
tatives, sitting as a Grand Jury,
and the failure Of the Senate to con
vict him on the testimony. 1t was
purely political trial on the pert
OF the Senate. Swayne is a Repub-
lican, and although the testimony
was sufficient to convict almost any
man, he was turned loose to again
perpetrate outrages on a helpless
people. Il was understood thai if
acquitted he would resign his posi-
ton. but so far there is no evidence
that any such understanding was
had.
Another important and interest
ing feature of the last session of the
late Congress was the opportunity
to enact some Of the most important
Legislation that has challenged the
attention of our lawmakers in the
past twenty years, piece OF legis-
lation that would have been far-reach-
ing in its benefits to the real people
Of the country, the farmer and the
and small merchant. That
was the so-called railroad rate and
anti-rebate bill. A bill to regulate |
railroad rates. prevent rebates to
shippers and Determinations of all |
kinds, also giving to the Interstate |
Commerce Commission the right to |
lake this matter in charge, hear
and make rates-in fact, |
The most comprehensive and CON-
plete measure of the kind ever in
Iroduced ct the last session by Hon. |
William Randolph Hearst, of New
York, and thereby hangs a tale.
CHAs. A. EDWARDS.