Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-01-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

From our Regular Corrsspo ndent.}
Washington, D. c.. Jan. 21.-The
complete domination of Congress Dy
the extreme protectionists has been
strikipgly illustrated during the past
week, the Ways and Means COM
mittee has been conducting hearings
on the bill urged by both the President
and tho Secretary of War, and which
provjdes that but 25 per cent. OF the
Dinglcy tariff shall be collected on sugar
and toboeco imported from the Philip
pines and that other imports from the
Philippines shall be admitted duty
free. The President urged this legls-
lation in his message az essential TO
the welfare Of the archipelago and Sec
retary Taft has haunted the balls OF
Congress trying to impress their duty
in the matter on members of the lower
house. but the fact that "hearings"
have been held is regarded az. indlcat.
ing the unwillingpess OF the leaders to
permit the passage of the bill. Inc
| fear that some protected interest, and
particularly the Sugar Trust, may
suffer is leading such prominent be
publicans as Dalzell, GrOsvenor, Payne
and others to oppose the measure ana
its chances in the House are indeed
slim. while in the Senate they are nil.
Tho course OF certain members OF
| Congress believed to be controlled ny
Railroads Is being watched with ex-
treme interest by those who espouse
the cause of the people versus the great
common carrier monopOlies. The
President has made it so plain that no
member OF Congress can be in doubt
as to bis duty regarding the railway
rate QUESTION. The small shipper needs
the protection of the federal govern
ment against the rebates and discrimi.
nations which have built up the great
trusts of the country bY methods con-
ceiyed and first practiced by the Stand
ard Oil Company and sluee adopted oy
every successful trust. Despite these
facts. however, there seems to be set
determination to prevent adequate leg
islation and the opposition Is develop
!, ing in most insidious form. Astut'
members of Congress are resortlng tC
their fayorlts tactics and less wist
members are making their usual blund
ers.
The unlnitiated Senator or Represen
, tauive takes it for granted that the bes
way to kill a bill, or defeat policy, Il
to speak against 1t and vote against 1t
Not 80 the initiated. He appreciates
/. the danger of such a course where tn
, bill or policy commands popular re
spect and he therefore poses as 1t
I friend, but be is too sOlicitOus. a. w III
. a determination to secure "full, an
q complet and accurate knowledge OF
, the subject" he persists in bringing Il
:. witnesses who take up the time OF To
committee having the measure Il
D charge. until it becomes too late in th
q session for action. This is Gale
',strangling in committee, and Is tn
favorite method of Senator Elkini
Representative Dalzsll, General Grot
Q yenor and similar s'statesmen." Al
e other favOrite practice, especially wit
measures OF national Importance an
affecting the railroads. IL to amend tt
II bill with the professed purpose
t. strengthening its provisions. with th
Il real purpose of rendering 1t unconst
tutional 80 that after the gOvernmer
has pressed it in the Courts at gres
= cost of money and time it will fall b
|. fore the Supreme Court Of the Unite
n States, These are the methods emplO.
ed bv the astute statesmen, but the
e. have still another to fall back on. A
ID last resort, they excite the radica
. in Congress to q pitch of enthusiasm
which utterly beclouds their bette
- judgment and leads them to insist G
10 such extreme legislation as to insul
= ultimate defeat for the measure whiG
% they have been instrument in amen'
Of ing.
All of these methods will be emplo
VI ed before the opposition will allow tt
r, remedial railway legislation urged
al the President to be placed on the St
40 tutes. The friends of the administr
" ton and the Democrats, will exerci
r. the utmost vigilence to prevent Il
IL success or any of these methods wit
be out a complete exposure OF the perp
traitor, whoever he may be. OF coure
AZ a majority will rule in any event. bl
cd it is regarded as almost rs lmportal
be that the snakes In the grass be expo
ill ed to the public gaze as that the legi
lation itself be enacted. as such expo
ure will insure the intimate succe
TO of the legislative policy.
;fN Tha indfoo ff0Da ora that the Stat