The Harrison times., 1905-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

thoritatively although not officially
made, has OccasiOned consterna ton
in the Senate, where the old line con-
servative leaders regard every pro-
position having for its purpose the
extension of federal control over the
railroads of the country, as social
istic" and abhorrent. Senator FL
kins. chairman of the committee
which has to do with this class of
| legislation, and who loves to see his
name in the public press as champion
of railway reforms, but who is al
ways to be found placing obstacles
in the path of any real reform, is in
open rebellion, and intimat ties that
the special session will accomplish
nothing. You can lead a horse to
water, but YOU can't make him
drink" is his favorite mode of de
claring that nothing will be accom-
plished.
| There Is no doubt in the minds of
those in a position to closely observe,
that the republican administration
Is in very delicate situation. War
to the knife between the President
and the maiorities in both houses of
congress is likely to break out at anv
moment, and if it does the majority
in the house after the fifty ninth con-
gress. Is certain to be democratic.
Meantime the democratic press is
contributing its ample share to the
straining relations between the Pres
ident and the republican leaders, and
his impetuous, even if sincere efforts,
to accomplish much legislation,
which Will promote the square
deal, " are proving a constant thorn
IN the sides of the ponderous states
men who constitute the conservative
element in the republican party.
Every once in a while the Presi-
| dent makes a real break, as in the
case of the letter he sent to Senator
Cullom, regarding the arbitration
of treaties The consideration of
these treaties Is executive business,
of which the public is supposed to
know nothing, and vet, with frank
ness which has proved a shock to
the old fOgieS, the President not ONLY
sent the letter referred to, but took
pains to make it public, furnishing it
to every rewSpaperman who called
at the White House and asked for a
copy. When Mr. Roosevelt makes
these little slips the amount of enjoy
ment it afforts the democratic Sena-
tors Is unlimited, and they never fail
to take occasion to rub it in," to
their republican colleagues. There
Is still grave doubt that the arbitra-
ton treaties can be ratified without
amendment, despite the fact that the
President has announced that he
Will withdraw them if they are al
tered. The democratic Senators not
only regard them as inimical to the
interests of the South, but they feel
that they were negotiated chiefly for
political effect during the campaign,
and for the purpose of disproving
that the President was a war
lord Now the President has as
sured them that the treaties will not
be permitted to work any harm to
the Southern States while he is
President, and as they run five years
his successor would have but one
year in which to work mischief under
their provisions; but the democratic
statesmen insist that treaties which
be susceptible of perversion or which
would enable an ill-disposed Presi-
dent to work injury to any section
of the country, ought not to be rati-
fed, irrespective of the promises or
the honesty of a particular chief ex-
ecutive.
Democratic members of the Senate
have adopted wise policy in their
agreement not to filibuster or place
obstacles in the way of any tariff
bill which may be introduced at the
special session which the President
purposes to call. They have yielded
perhaps, some political advantages,
but they have made for the general
good of the public, by removing a
real or fancied obstacle from the
Presidents proclaimed wish to low
er the tariff duties, and the thinking
portion OF the American people will
doubtless realize and recognize the
spirit IN which political advantage
has thus been sacrificed.
As TO the Salaries of County Officers