The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-01-06
CONGRESS IN BAD HUMoR.


It IS many years since Congress has
adjourned for the holidays with its
members in as ugly mood as was the
ease Thursday. Everyone was sur
prised at the developments of less than
three weeks. during which the only
Legislation of consequence enacted was
the Panama Appropriation Bill. carry
ing $1,000, 600. Usually the House
passes an appropriation bill or two. be-
fore the holidays 1t took up none of
the appropriation bills this year. ex-
cept that for the canal, which did not
come from the Appropriations Com
mittee. The Canal Bill seemed to put
everybody in the House in bad humor
and afterward it had the same effect
upon the Senate.
There seems little doubt that the
Senate may use the whole canal oues-
tion, with which it viii have to deal
before the session is over, as a weapon
of attack upon the President. who has
been trying TO force railroad rate legis-
lation upon that body against its best
judgment. Because of this canal cam
paign. which grows out OF apparent
loose administration Of affairs, rather
than out OF any dishonest administra-
ton, there is a feeling that the rail-
road rate cause has been losing a lit
tie ground Most earnest efforts have
been on foot to bring about an agree
ment On rate legislation, and these eff
forts have been progressing satisfac
torily. The criticism of canal affairs
of course, is proceeding directly from
the Democratic side, but Republicans
meet it with Indifference and even en-
the Democrats to criticise.
1t may be that both houses will re-
sumo their sessions al the beginning of
the New Year in better temper, but it
looks now as though a tempestuous ses-
sion was ahead. a lot of material is
being collected for use against Chair
man Shonts and the President. AS the
President of a railroad company Mr. !
Shonts was accustomed to doing things
as he wishes and consulting others but /
little. He did some things as chairman
IF the Commission. such as authorizing 4
an issue of $62s, 900 OF bonds by the /
Panama Railroad, which is owned BY /
the United States. and such as estab- /
fishing a currency for the Canal zone,
which the Democrats are prepared to /
make the most of and which the Repub-
leans sincerely regret, because they
,oncede the chairman should have let
congress deal with such matters. It is
declared TO be unusual under such
such as ours. that a sim
gle individual should have authority
'ver coinage and that TO carry out his
'wn wishes with reference 70 it he
hould enter into contracts with 18TH
man bankers. who were the men that
financed the Panama revolution.
In years gone by it has been fire.
Iuent that important measures could be
nacted by the Republican majorities
4 Senate and House without friction.
During the last three weeks nothing
as begun with reference TO important
agislatIon but what an incipient re-
olt against it has been organized in
he House, in spite of its 1l2 Republic I
an majority. That was true of the :
NO statehood bills. on which there :
as q conference. and Of the Philip
inc tariff bill. which was reported IA
orably TO the House and viii be taken +
p early in January And in each case (
: friction among the House Republi :
ans. 1t has been promptly intimated
= certain Republicans that these Q
easures were sure 10 encounter trOu- 7
-e al that end Of the Capitol Tt IS q
.rtain that the statehood hill viii not :
ass the Senate. except after a hard =
ght- with chances now fayoTing its o.
feat Many Republican Senators D
e very indifferent about the Philip :