The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1906-12-07
OPENING OF CONGRESS,
Much Speculation About What
Laws Will be Passed.
Talk of War With japan All
Thought to Be Mere
RumOr.
Especial to Tur RErrulw.Sl

Washington, ID. g., Dec. o. Inc
opening of Congress this week
has, of course, been the event in
the political world. 1t means much
to the social world also, because 1t
is the signal for a round of gayety
with official, semi-official and private
entertainments that have come more
and more in recent years to occupy
an important place in the winter
life of Washington.
The big white building on the hill
was crowded for the opening day, as
it always. is on such occasions.
Speaker Cannon. at one end of the
building fairly divided interest with
Vice President Fairbanks. at the
other. The galleries were packed,
the diplomatic gallery especially,
and the crowd of distinguished Wis
itors entirely overlooked the private
galleries and nearly filled the seats
usually designed to accommodate
the people. OF course the first
days session was productive of
nothing in particular. This day
never is. In fact the whole of the
time between now and Christmas
will. in all probability. be devoted
largely to organizing the two houses
and getting things in running order
before the Christmas recess. The
rumored change that was to come
about with Senator Platt's resigna-
ton did not materialize, and the
quiet old gentleman was on hand in
his seat as usual.
There is a great deal of specula.
ton over the legislation that Con.
gress will be able to get through in
the brief time allowed it during a
short session. 1t is generally agreed
that the Ship Subsidy bill will be
passed. There is hope also in great
many quarters that the Rivers and
Harbors appropriation bill will be
passed. Representative Burton, of
Ohio, chairman of the River and
Harbor committee. is naturally
much interested in the measure.
The plan of the River and Harbor
Congress is for a widespread and
systematic scheme of river and har-
Dor Improvement, which would in
'volve an outlay of about $50, 900, 900
annually. for several years to come.
There are a number of other
measures of considerable Importance
which will probably furnish basis
for a great deal of talk. These
include reform currency legislation,
the inheritance tax bill and the
Philippine tariff. All of them are
very good measures. but which are
not likely to stand much show during
the brief three months session.
War talk is coming up again over
the Japanese situation. Most of it
comes from abroad. where the
foreign powers profess to think that
the United States stands in very
serious position with Japan. Sec
rotary Metcalf, who has returned
from the Pacific coast, has made a
private report to the President on
the San Francisco school situation,
and while he is not saying very
much for publication, it is not be-
lieved that he takes the situation
very much to heart. 1t is impos-
sible to imagine Japan going to war
over anything so trivial as the ex-
clusion of her children from the
white schools. This is not the sort
of a provocation out of which wars
are made. Further, Japan has had
recent and thorough experience of
just what war means, and while
her showing against Russia was UNI
doubtedly surprising and put her in
line as a first-class power, it is not
thought that she would want to pull
off another fight while her material
and financial resources were still so
seriously strained.