The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-22
SENATE HOSTILES
LACK COHESION
Senators Opposed to Roosevelt
Not Yet United for Con-
flict -
( ~.
FIGHT ON sHONTs
AND BISHOP NEAR
Clash Over Canal Commission No
Part of Rate Reform
Warfare.
By w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane
Washington, Dec. 22.-There are ru-
uors, some of them exceedingly sensa-
tional, regarding the reasons behind the
request of the senate to have the presl-
dent return to it the notification that
the isthmian canal commissioners had
been confirmed by that body. ,
While it is not yet possible TO GET
at the real facts, it is a general belief
among conservative men that the SEN
ate action has back of it merely pro-
of Bishop as member Of the commls-
sion, and is not connected in any way
with rate legislation or any OF the 9th
er subjects now before congress. II
this is the case, the genera! pu3hc
should not lose any sleep thru tear tha at
loggerheads and that the incident has
been made pretext on the part OF the
> senate for a general onslaught on the
executive.
Such a move at this time would be
very unfortunate for the railroad inter
ests, which have more to gain thru q
conservative policy than thru one OF
aggressive hostility to the president.
Groups Hostile to President.
At the same time, it is not to be
overlooked that there are in the senate
gents,'' all of them more or less OPP
posed to the president, and that the
union of these groups might work con-
siderable injury to all the presidential
policies. The probabilities for such
union, however, are not yet regarded
as strong.
The groups are thus designated: The
Santo Domingo group; the beet sugar
T7orabie to the Philippines; the railway
group, the statehood group, and the
isthmian canal group.
The next two weeks Will be prolific
in conferences of all sorts and the re-
= assembling of congress Jan. 4 will prob
ably determine Just how strenuous the
opposit ion to the president is, and il
there is any common ground on which
Meanwhile. the public should take
with considerable allowance the sensa-
tional stories that are being published.
The situation is delicate, but that is
nothing new in the history Of the con-
tact of presidents with congress.
President Is, Wary.
President Roosevelt knows that the
situation Is delicate, and since he has
it, in his power at-<any moment to re-
lieve the strain, it may we'll be guessed
that he will not permit things to come
to an open breach. He has frequently
-' the senate and told his friends that
he would never permit such condi-
tion to develop.
There is a well-defned opposition to
Bishop as a member of the canal COM
derstood in addition to his pay of
81 500 year as commissioner, he is
to. receive $4,000 additional for other
services. thus bringing him up to the
49, $4,000 limit, where he stood when he
was the commission s press agent. The
senate thinks the president, knowing of
this hostility to Bishop, ought not to
have sent in his name as a member of
the commission, and thus far it seems
that this is what was resented when the
confirmation Of the commission was re-
considered by the senate.
Rate Bill Not Factor.
Rate regulation has not yet assumed
any definite form in either house nor
will it do so until after the holiday re.
cess, which being true, it is hardly pos
sible that the rate question can have
been responsible for this canal furry
At least, this is the way careful men
are talking about the matter.
The excuse given by the senate fol
- reconsideration was that Senator Nil
lard, chairman of the committee tC
which the nominations were referred
did not poll the committee on the nom
nations and that as result the com
mlttee did not pass upon them for
mally. 1t is true that this poll was
not made, and true further that such
polls are always required by the sen
ate practice.
Opposition to Chairman Shonts OF
the canal commiss ion may also have
prompted this action, for there arc
many senators who believe that hi
should not hold any other position
while serving the government TIL,
failure of Willard to poll this commit
tee may therefore have been made thu
excuse Of certain senators to score {
point against Shonts as well as Bishop
&C and when the question Of confirmation
comes up in the senate again it is very
likely that both gentlemen will bt
raked fore and aft and one or boil
may fail.
President as Fencer
But President Roosevelt has been i,
close quarters with congress on otbe
occasions, notably that of Cuban reel
procity, and he is as adroit fence
as is congress, and can take care O.
himself and safeguard the issues whicl
I he is pressing for consideration. Tha
he will do this is very generally be
leved here. ,.,s. . . II
The failure of both Shonts and Bish
Iop to be confirmed need not lead t,
any open breach between the presiden
and the senate. Presidential mamma
( Itions have failed before this time an.
they have even failed or been long de
Llayed with Roosevelt. So the presen
situation is hardly one which calls TO