The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-02-03
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Cen
eral Topics from
the Capital.
January 26, 1905.

leader, Representative John
Sharp Williams, appealed in his
efforts TO curb the power of the
rail- avs. 1--WE are committed
TO this proposition because it is
Democratic in principle" de.
clared Mr.. Williams, "and l do
not hesitate to say that we are
glad to find the President of the
United States on the question is
more of an American citizen.
more interested in the welfare of
all the people. than any partic-
ular Democrat or Republican,. !"
Then turning to the Republicans,
Mr.. Williams said: 1--WE will toe
mark the Presidents tracks on
this subject and we call on you
as American citizens to help us
to toe mark them" Mr.. Williams
remarks were greeted by a burst
of applause from both sides of
the chamber, although. it was
noteworthy that many of the
Republican "leaders," among
them. Cannon, who was not in
the chair, Dalzell. Grosvenor.
Payne and others failed to an
plaud and even looked Disguised.
MIR. Williams remarks followed
soon after a caucus of the Demo
cratic memb ers of the House at
which it was determined to sun.
port the President in his move
ment for railway tate control.
such action, it having been argued
being dictated by patriotic mo-
tives, which should stand above
partisan considerations. tits also
true that the Democrats in the
Senate will also stand solidlv in
support of any measure sent over
from the House which carries
into effect the Presidents recon-
mendations, although it is Gu
tirely possible, even probable,
that Senator ElkinS, as Chair
man of the Senate Committee on
Inter State Commerce. will be
able to prevent any measure of
real value being reported To the
Senate.
That there is no possibility of
railway legislation at this session
is conceded by those familiar with
the legislative situation. The
Senate leaders have craftilv
brought about a situation which
precludes the possibility Of any
important legislative enactment
before March 4th. To accom-
pliSh this end they once more
made a tool of the ever wiling
Junior Senator from Indiana. Mr..
Beveridge. Senator Beveridge
was told to bring in the State
hood bill and that the leaders
would help him to pass il. al
though they never intended so
doing. Mr. Beverage, never
loath to assume a role which
makes him the center of attrac-
ton, gladly responded and for
days and weeks the Statehood
bill has dragged its weary way
t3ough the Senate, Mr.. Bever-
idge believing that he was making
progress, while the leaders de.
clared that "nothing could be
done until Statehood was dis.
posed of" and all the while were
laughing in their sleeves. Now
IL has become evident, even to
Mr. Beverage that he cannot
pass his bill, but he does not
even now know that he has
been made the cats paw of the
leaders.
The best policies of the Presi-
dent have no more spacious friend,
no more covert enemy, than
Speaker Cannon. The President
recently declared that any gov
eminent employe who exerted in.
fiuence with mem bers of Congress
TO obtain an increase of salary
must be discharged. This did
not please Mr.. Cannon, who is
an arrant spokesman. and he i'm
mediately passed the word that
'lump funds" must be abolished,
and so they are being. "Lump
funds" are appropriations made
in lump sums for the several
departments, so made that the
respective cabinet officers may,
at their discretion, reward worthy
employees with increases of salary.
Opposed to the "lump fund.- is
the statutory ROLL" that is a
list of places for which Congress
fixes the salaries. Clerks in all
departments are being transferred
to the statutory roll so that their
salaries cannot be increased ex-
cept by Congress and those who
actually deserve and to whom
their chiefs would like to give
increases, must appeal to mem
bers of Congress or go without.
Another instance of Mr.. Can.
mons efforts to defeat the wishes
of the President recently came
to the attention of your CORE
/ spondent. The President recently