The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-12-13
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Breezy, Newsy Notes From the Ma
tons Capital,


centres as to what Congress may
and may not do during the three
months session just begun and
which will adjourn March 4. 1907.
As there--are so many Government
supply bills to be passed it is un-
likely that there will be much of a
chance for general legislation.
Possible the River and Harbor bill
carrying abont 500, DOC. 900, stands
the best show. Next comes the
Philippine Tariff bill and then the
immigration bill. Outside of
these three measures the passage
of general appropriation bills, both
Houses will be content to do
little else than talk, thus sustain
ing the record established i'll the
first half of the session in which it
is estimated that "hot air" was
let loose to the extent of 1000, 900
words.
Plenty of material is still await
ing discussion and it is probable
that considerable talk will result
from the recent dismissal by the
President of battalion of negro
troops. The Smoot case is to be
argued i'll the Senate and a vote
had if possible. The Santo Do
mingo treaty, which has been be-
fore the Senate two years, will re-
ceive attention, also the Isles of
Pine treaty. The bill limiting the
hours of continuous labor for rail-
road employees will come up ear
ly in the session. The question
of bigger battleships will be one
of the important subjects discuss
ed and of course the Panama Canal
will always be lively topic,
1t is hardly probable that much
Roadway will be made in measures
for reforming the currency, and it
is the CONSENSUS of opinion that
neither the Eight Hour law or the
! Anti-Injunction measure, both adj
vocated by labor organizations,
will become laws until late in the
session, if at all One thing is
certain, Congress is now open for
business and will speak for itself.
The deplorable conditions long
existing in the Government Print
ing Office are far from being settled
and the Public Printer continues
tobe the target for all the criticism,
with the result that he has asked
of Congress a complete investlga-
ton of his management of the Of
fee since taking charge. The
employees are in constant state
of unrest, spend much of their
time in relating real OF tancied
grievances and most of them never
know when they report for duty in
the morning whether they will be
discharged without cause" before
the day is over.
In consequence Of the long
drawn-out state of restlessness, the
Senate Committee on Printing will
shortly take matters in its own
hands. A bill will be devised
abolishing the Office of Public
Printer and provide that the adj
ministration of affairs be invested
in a resident committee OF three,
to be appointed by Congress, and
which will act as a court of last
resort in the settling of differences.
1t is believed the establishment of
such board to take charge of the
big plant will eliminate all person.
ality and do away entirely with
dissatisfaction, discomfort and un-
rest among the several thousand
employees. Grievances will go
before the three heads and when
decisions are rendered the en-
ployees will have no recourse and
cannot resort to the plea of person
al luminosity when ruled against,
such as is now the case under the.
"one man power"
Considerable interest is being
manifested in the preservation of