Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-01-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON LETTER. u
Trom Our Regular Corresrondsntl
Washington D. G. January %, 1905.
The complete domination Of Con-
gress by the extreme protectionists
has been strikingly illustrated dur
ing the past week, when the Ways
and Means committee has. been con-
Quoting hearings on the bill urged
by both the President and the Sc
cretary of War, and which provides
that but % per cent Of the Dingley
tariff shall be collected on sugar and
tobacco imported from the Philip
pines and that other imports from
the Philippines shall be admitted
duty free. The President urged
this Legislation in his message as
essential to the welfare OF the archi-
pelago and Secretary Taft has haun-
ted the halls OF Congress trying 70
impress their duty in the matter on
members of the lower house, but
the fact that hearings" have been
held is regarded as indicating the
unwillingness Of the leaders to per-
NIT the passage of the bill. The
fear that some protected interest,
and particularly the Sugar Trust,
may suffer is leading such prominent
Republicans as Dalzell, Grosvenor,
Payne and others to oppose the mea-
sure and its chances in the House
are indeed slim, while in the Senate
they are nil.
The course of certain members of
Congress believed to be controlled
by Railroads is being watched with
extreme interest by those who es-
pouse the cause of the people versus
the great common carrier monopclies.
The President has made it so plain
that no member ofC ongress can be in
doubt as to his duty regarding the
railway rate question. The small
shipper needs the protection of the
federal government against the re-
bates and determinations which
have built up the great trusts the
country by methods conceived and
first practiced by the Standard Oil
Company and since adopted by every
successful trust. Despite these
facts, however, there seems to be q
set determination to prevent ade-
quate Legislation and the opposition
is developing in most insidious form.
Astute members OF Congress resort
ing to thei. favorite tactics and less
wise members are making their
usual blunders.
"a
All of these methods will be en-
ployed before the opposition will al
low the remedial railway legislation
urged by the President to be placed
on the statutes. The friends of the
administration and the Democrats.
will exercise the utmost vigilance 10
prevent the success OF any OF these
methods without o complete expo-
sure OF the perpetrator, whoever he
may be. OF course, q majority will
rule in any event, but il is regarded
as almostas important that thesnakes
in the grass be exposed 10 the public
gaze as that the legislation itself be
enacted as such exposure win In
sure the ultimate success of the
legislative policy.
-
The indications are that the State
hood bill, in which no one is particu-
larly interested, other than Senator
Beveridge. who is prompted by mo-
tives of personal pride, will fail Of
enactment at this session. Itseems
certain that the Democrats in the
Senate will vote solidly against il |
aud a considerable number of Repub- |
licans win either vote against il or |
absent themselves il day is fixed |
for a vote. In the opinion of the |
Democratic leaders the only hope |
ahead of the measure is that it NAV |
De shorn OF all provisions referring
to Arizona and New Mexico and
then passed, so that it will have the
effect of creating single State out |
OF the territories OF Oklahoma and |
Indian Territory.
e.
Decency and good order have tri-
umphed in the House of Representa-
tives and articles have been adopted
impeaching Judge Charles Swayne
Of the Northern District Of Florida.
There is some slight question as to
whether the Senate will hear the
case this session but the leading
lawyers in the upper chamber be-
lieve they should do so and their