The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-04-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Important Legislation to be Presented a
the October Special Session-yen-
ezuelan and San DOMINICAN At
i fairs Topics of the Hour.
When the extra session OF congress
is called in October the president will
present for consideration the two CUES
tons which were passed at the las
session without legislation, that is
railroad rate legislation and the re,
vision Of the Dingley tariffs in certain
schedules. The action of congress OF
these matters is not difficult to proph,
/ esy. The lower house, the members
Of which are dependent on their con.
stituents for their places, necessarily
| reflects the views of the people, and il
is we'll known that the great general
public is with the president in his de-
sire to regulate railway rates. On the
other hand, the senate represents to a
considerable extent the great corpo-
rate interests of the country, and as a
body it will be no more inclined TO
pass the railroad rate bill at the COM
ing session than it was at the last.
The new house Of representatives will
ia all likelihood pass rate bill as
easily as did the last, but it will be in
the senate that blockade can almost
surely be predicted. There are sem
41,o anfo C4o l,a
union who represent in the senate not
the people Of their states, but private
corporate interests, and it is these
corporation senator's who will be re-
sponsible for the defeat of the bill.
One thing alone can prevent the mis-
carriage of these reforms and that is
for the corporation senators to be
made to understand in no uncertain
way that they are in the senate to rep
resent the people and to fulfill the
peoples wishes. During the summer
months the people will have an op-
portunity through the press and other
sources to inform their senator's what
they desire in the matter and to find
out as we'll where their ena5ors stand
on these important questions. Men
who are representing great trusts in
the senate, whether they be the express
company trust, railroad trusts, coal
trusts or any other monopoly, should
be catechised by the people and be
made to declare themselves. # rail-
way rate legislation is to be effected
in this or any other congress it can
only be by the people forcing the SEN
ators to represent the states Alright
and not according to the dictates Of
the companies for whom they act as
agents in the senate.
1t is announced by those high in
authority that Herbert W. Bowen, the
American minister at Caracas, Vene-
zuela, who is said to have been re-
sponsible for some of the recent trouble
with that country, will be removed.
President Cipriano Castro, the Vene-
zuelan president, and Mr.. Bowen have
been enemies for some time and the i'll
feeling between them, it is alleged, has
prevented an understanding between
this government and that Of Vene-
zuela. The special diplomatic envoy
of Venezuela has reached Washington
and it is thought likely that he has
intimated that the removal of Minister
Bowen would be very acceptable to
President Castro. Venezuela Is reply
to our demand for arbitration on the
asphalt question has not yet reached
this city, but it has been characterized
by Mr.. Bowen as impertinent and in
sulting. It this is found to be the case I
q change in our diplom attic represent
alive there would be regarded as
to Castro that this govern
nentl would be disinclined TO make.
On the other hand, if Mr., Bowen
should not be removed it is probable
hat President Castro will formally |
lotify the government here that Mr..
Bowen is persona non grata and his
recall would be imperative. Irving B,
Dudley, of California, now minister to
Peru, is mentioned as Mr.. Bowen's
probable successor.
The presidents decision in the Santo
DOMINICAN situation, by which this gov
ernment will administer the finances
IT that country pending the ratifca-
ion OF the treaty by the senate next
all, is regarded with great satisfac-
ion by practically every one except
hose senators who either representa-
ONE opposed private interest or whose
Obey is simply one Of opposition.
have made it clear tina
e are the one power to which Santo
Domingo was entitled to look for as
lstance and that in the worldwide in
crest OF peace and good order it was
ur duty to assume the responsibility
administering her debts and pro-
ldlng for the payment of her creditors
reason abletime. Moreover in our own
lterest twas advisable that we should
2 anything possible To prevent the
'lzure OF the island by a foreign
over, with the accompanying likeli-
ood that we should in time be com
alled to disestablish the European
avail base in West Indian waters that T
oaid oe the gradual development. In