New-York tribune., 1905-11-24
pRoGRAMNE OF CONGRESS.
R4TE MEASURE FIRST.
p,noua Canal, iSGnto Domingo, Isle
Of Pines and Statehood.
IRON The Tribune Bureau.

,r.o, Nov 23-The all important
- the coming session Of Congress viii,
s.-se ne the railroad rate legislation recon-
- nv the President, and. although, as al
;,d;cated in these dispatches. the best
f the legislative situation believe that
T,rsei5ent has won his contest for adequate
eis ,oo;sla4ion. the subject is destined TO be
.seel AT great length The PRESIDENT mas
from presenting a specific bill, and the
-, nrevails that there are evils wh1cn the
.,s.,-elt- Knox programme does not reach
=, for instance as the private car hhes
su'' obarges and the discrimination Of rail-
.,.5s engaged in mercantile pursuits esPeciahy
~, ,,,ninp. against their competitors engaged
:. siroilar lines of business. which discrlmina-
.bev effect by failure to supply cars when
uOl most needed by such competitors. The
U.s. o-at,on of legislation that will prove sufii-
- cor,nrehensive adequately to remedy
.tose evils will inevitably require much
,s work and the consumption OF no 1T
-. ,sos+ of the members Of Congress VIII
-. 20 sneak on the question. and II is as
- .ba+ long speeches intended for home
,o,,ior and for next years fall campaign
y, =. 5eIf,ered in both houses and by MEM
hers Of both parties
-, Panama Canal is bound to furnish the
.,v. for long debate. Expenditures alreadS
-ao will be carefully scrutinized and eacn item
!, +ha estimates submitted for the remainder
:, this and for the coming fiscal year VIII De
--,irbad and discussed. Prominent members OF
,otb houses take issue with Secretary IaIt
accommodation OF the Spooner act, and MAINTAIN
...+ M authority to incur Indebtedness IN eK-
..,s n the S10000O 900 thereby appropriated e3-
,+ s,ch as should not fall due until after the
4ao;rring Of the next fiscal year, has been dele
-.s.d ~ the commission and the fact that such
td.btadpess has been incurred will furnish ma
ts5al for some interesting debates.
Fvervthing now points to the ratification OF
.bs treaty with Santo Domingo, which the SEN
ste failed to approve at the special session last
sn-ine but such ratification can be erected
orlv after the elimination of the section which
enunciates corollary of the Monroe Doctrine
Tho only ground on which the Senate will con-
ssnt n the United States entering into the ar
rsngement is that it is a purely business propo-
slion desired by a majority of the citizens or
ssnio Domingo. and that 1t does not estabhsh
eny precedent for more drastic action III any
South American state or imply on the part OF
tbe United States the slightest obligation TO act
even in this instance
carstor CuIIo11 chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Relations has indicated his BELIEF
that the treaty confirming Cuba's ownership or
The Isle of Pines will be ratified, and there IS
m doubt that a majority of the RepubIcan
members of the Senate believe that ratification
should be given. but there is some doubt as to
the extent of the opposition, which, II II can
command a reasona BILE number of Democratic
votes may prevent ratification or may erect
the same purpose by prolonging the debate
beyond the limit which the Senate leaders re-
gard it as possible to devote to a convention or
comparatively minor Importance
The President in his message to Congress VIII
earnestly recommend the enactment of the bill,
long debated in the last Congress, to create two
neE States one 10 be composed of Olslahorna
and Indian Territory. the other of Arizona and
New-Mexeo. Despite reports to the contrary,
the President is deeply in earnest in presenting
this recommendation TO Congress Nevertheless,
Congress has already wasted so much time in
attempting TO pass this measure that the lead
ers viii feel unwilling TO undertake its enact
ment at the coming session, unless it can be
shown that there will be no extensive opposi-
ton in the House and no determined opposition
OF filibustering in the Senate. N the opinion
Of some Of the most capable judges, it will be
impossible to satisfy the leaders that no such
opposition win be encountered. and If this proves
10 be the case it is doubtful If the measure
secure place the Senate calendar even II
il should pass the House.