The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-01-18
ABOUT CONGRESS-
Newsy Washington Letter
Covers Wide Field.
INSURGENTS ARE MANY.
In Opposition to Statehood and Phil
ippine BiIIs.-Two Iowa Bills for
Rate Regulation.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 13, 1906
This is strenuous period in Amer
lean politics. There is more of tur-
moil and disruption in official circles
here at this session of congress than
there has been for many years here
tofore. In the House republicans rise
up against republicans, democrats rise
up against democrats, and as climax
democrat and republican turns to his
old and reliable enemy, each other,
where there is always an opportunity
to fight on any pretext whatsoever.
This insurrectionary spirit seems to
pervade the capitol generally. An
incident which illustrates the strenu-
ousity of this era is the unfortunate
ejectment from the White House of
Mrs. Minor Morris, sister of Con-
gresham Hull, of Iowa, who was un-
tremendously removed by brute force.
Without comment as to the propriety
of this method of dealing with women
who persist in seeing the president
when he is busy, it may be observed
that this episode will be seized upon
as an excuse for adverse comment
by unfriendly critics. Morris Shep-
perd, of Texas, was quick TO take adj
vantage of this circumstance, and he
used it as a text for a somewhat
caustic discourse on the Rooseveltian
method of dealing with every situa-
ton, summarily. and without concilia-
tion. The affair aroused considerable
comment among the residents at the
capital. Two measures which seem
to constitute the rock on which repub-
lican unanimity appears to have been
shattered are The Statehood Bill
and The Philippine Tariff. On the
former the insurgents are circulating
an agreement among the republicans
which has for its purpose the aliena-
tion of sufficient number of votes
to give to the democratic opposition
the power of defeating joint state
hood. Fifty-six republican votes are
required to encompass this end, and
fiftv-two signatures were claimed in
the early part of the week, and twenty
five or thirty doubtful members among
/ whom they still labor to secure the
requisite number of recruits. On the
Philippine tariff bill the beet sugar
interests constitute the barrier to it's
Enactment. They, however, are not
80 hopeful of accomplishing results,
unless they succeed by means of skill
full negotiations in securing pledges in
return for their support on other mat
ters. The democratic leaders are said
to favor the Philippine tariff bill, in
asmuch as it is a step towards free
trade. This view of the case is not
tenable. 1t is free trade in the sense
that free trade exists between Illinois
and Iowa. Chairman Babcock, OF
Wisconsin, at the head of the Con
gressional Committee, has become dis
contented with conditions, and has de.
clared his intention of withdrawing
from that committee. Congressman
Overstreet has been having grief ii
his consultations with the President
ard he will also retire from the congress
sional committee, of which COM
mittee he has long been the efficient
secretary. The discomfort of the
latter is due to the alleged Sigh
which he has suffered from the presi
dent in refusing to observe his recon.
mendation in the matter of Ger
tain federal appointment which he
has long regarded as matter within
the province of his jurisdiction.
The publication in the Independent
of New York, of lengthy article by
Poultney Bigelow on the alleged mis-
management of canal matters on tn.