The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-01-11
JACK HARRIS WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, 1, 5, 'O7.

nv P"oI WIN mas Decu SO dW
fully vile in the way of rain, 70.
and dampness and discomfort
generally that | feel that | ma,
have absorbed several millions O
microbes and bacteria of every
known quality. 1 feel that count
less hosts may even now be-
knowing on me, but hope for the
best. am only sure that the
weather has bred untold billion,
of them to the square inch, anC
therefore have reason to think
hard. Science tells us that there
are benificent as we'll as evil dis
posed microbes, and if | am in
tested | can only hope that | an
in the hands of my friends.
! Congress set in again Thursday
and from now on there will be
something doing every hour, day
and night. Expect work and
rumOrs of wars, but always keep
in mind that in congress the rule
is the more noise the less damage
done. Though nothing very seri-
GUS has burst loose in the last
sixty hours, there are already
yelled hints and malign rumors of
trouble to come more or less i'm
mediately. Everybody is looking
for trouble, and looking over their
shoulders at frequent intervals,
expectant of razors in the air.
The case of the discharged colOred
troops is the chief subject of dis
course, and the opinion of the
large majority seems to be that
the seemingly "disinterested" de-
Tense of the unruly gentlemen of
color is in fact only another of the
many attempts to put the presi-
dent in a hole, politically. Those
on the ground will refuse to be-
lieve that this can be done, until
it actually succeeds. Up to date,
every attempt to discredit the
president and place him in an un-
favorable light before the people
has resulted in disastrous failure
and his beseigers have emerged
from the fray in mutilated and
dust-begrimed fragments.
However, there is no doubt but
that a carefully cOncocted and
nicely laid plan to down him is
now we'll under way in congress,
led by some of the ablest members
of the republican party. The
next few weeks will make lots of
United States history, and will
also have a large bearing on the
future of the republican party.
AS for the democrats, they are
with the old lady who sat on the
fence and alternately cheered on
her husband and the bear, who
were fighting all over the clear
ing. They have nothing left to
lose, and may possibly pick up a
fragment or two from the scrap.
In the meantime, there is only
comparative interest in other mat
ters. The Smoot case will be hit
a lick occasionally, whenever the
chest settles so it can be seen
likewise Senator LaFollettes
working day for rail
road men bill, the ship subsidy bill |
and others which are asking at
tentiOn. In the presence of so
many matters of especially large
outside the routine
work, it is probable that there
will be less debate than usual on
the regular appropriation bills
and that they will go through
practically as reported. If they
we're discussed at considerable
length, as is usually the case,
hey alone would occupy the en-
ire time of this short session.
They comprise the only legisla-
ion that it is absolutely necessary
o enact at this session, and so it
s likely that they will be driven
through as rapidly as possibly to
lffOrd time for spread Eagle on
Dther matters.
The only controversy which
Gems unavoidable in the appro-
)riation bills will come in the
laval over the question of the adj
disability of constructing several
lew warships, especially one
anger than any ever yet built. A
arge increase is asked for and
will be fOrcefully pushed, though
he request is certain to meet
With a small but powerful oppO-
ition. The bill to increase the
lumber of enlisted men in the
cast defense service is also OPP
Osed by the same interests !
yhich oppose an extension of the
avy. 1t is likely, too, that the
nnual attempt will be made to
ut out the appropriation for the !
distribution of vege-
able and flower seeds, but is it
OF probable that the attempt !
ill now succeed. In time this
istributiOn will be very consider :
bly, limited, but the democracy !
practically solid for it and will
ght to the last ditch to obtain it. {
Last year Senator Proctor, in
hose agricultural appropriation
i'll this item appears, expressed :
is doubts on the floor of the :
,nate as to the advisability of :
the practice, but left e