The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-02-16
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.

President Roosevelt, who has
among other freely expressed convic-
tions of regarding no time like the
present for work, may vet decide
that an extra session of Congress in
the spring for legislating on the rail
way rate question will be advisable
The general impression has been
that an extra session would not be call
ed before the early autumn, but no
one realizes more keenly than the
President how insistent the country
has become in its demand that some
thing should be done, and quickly,
in the matter If the extra session is
postponed until fall, the result will be
more killing of time. and possibly
postponement of action for another
year.
Persons deeply interested in the
proposition to authorize the Inter
state Commerce Commission to fix
railroad rates. view with alarm the
delay that is likely to take place be-
fore any legislation can be effected.
With every week of delay the press
ure on Congress from outside sources
| increases, and the problem of legisla-
ton grows CORRESPONDENCE more.com-
Commerce, one of the wealthiest and
most powerful organizations in the
United States, has opposed the propo-
| sitlon to enlarge the power of the In
terstate Commerce Commission to fix
the rates for the railroads, and in Iowa
the Farmers Alliance have hanged
in effigy Congressman Hepburn, be-
cause of his attitude on the question
Washington Is oyerrun with repre-
sentatives of the various railroads aud
also the agents of great industrial
companies, all using the most power
full influence against and for the rate
bill. Thus it will be seen that many
cooks are helping to make broth
which is likely to be spoiled or burned
altogether. Congressman who keep
their ears to the ground. and the
most patriotic American cannot deny
that there are many such, find them
selves cruelty confused by the various
demands. The President, who has
been eager for the Senate to act
upon rate legislation at this session,
has nevertheless acceded to their
statement that it would be impossi.
BILE, and he has made his official and
personal plans with the view of the
extra session in October, but realizing
the Importance of pushing the mat
! ter through at the earliest time, it
may be that he will sacrifice his per-
sonal convenience and decide upon a
spring session.
The season of resignation is at hand,
and the Secretaries of the different
government departments are daily in
receipt of the designations of men
who preserve their heads from the
axe by stepping down and out. Dur
ing the next few weeks there will be
a clearing in all the departments,
and synchronous with the stock-tak-
ing of merchants will come the in,
ventory of the capable material in
the government bureaus. The clean.
ing up of the Postoffice Department
has set an example for all the other
branches of the government work
and wholesale changes are predicted.
The work in the Postoffice Depart
ment, which has been carried on so
actively ever since the death of Post.
master-General Payne, goes steadily
on. Four letter carriers in the Tole
do postoffice were dismissed this week
for alleged connection with fake min
ing schemes, and thirty OF hers are n