Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-06
WASHINGTON
Journals Correspondent at
National Capital Writes
Spicy Letter.
SENATE IS A BIG JOKE
Idling Away Valuable Time,
While Representatives
Are Working Hard.

The weeks are clipping by and con-
gress is still inactive. Perhaps 1t was
the purpose at the start not to pass any
but the supply bills at this session. If
so, they can be hurried through at the
last moment, and in the meantime many
of the legislators will have fun among
themselves and sacrifice the business of
the country.
Just now the senate is the center of
the fun making, and here in Washing
ton this once dignified body is becoming
known as "the greatest show on
earth" People flock in droves to the
senate end of the capitol and crowd the
galleries to suffocation. They go to
be amused and they are amused, for in
stead Of listening to the discussions
that should be taking place among the
members of that body, they are enter
tained by the witticisms of few SEN
ators and the spectacle of personal en-
counters between them, all due to mat
ters entirely foreign to the business in
hand
On the house side things are some
what different Most of the members
are hard at work, the various commit
tees are holding regular sessions, i'm
portant measures are receiving proper
consideration, necessary appropriations
are being made, and there is busting
atmosphere about the whole place. But
mach OF this good work will fall by the
wayside unless the senate cuts out the
amusement features, settles down to
business and removes the blockade that
is impeding vital legislation. Such is
the opinion Of not few representa-
tives.
The presidents 5 policy for the expan-
sion of the navy is being backed by
navy officers, who are now appearing
before the house naval committee which
is framing the naval appropriation bill.
The construction of two battleships a
year instead of one is being urged, be-
cause, in building one ship year, the
officers claim that by the time unit of
four ships is completed the first built
will be four years older than the last,
with the result that the former might
be out of date.
This policy does not appeal to the
committee. A partial canvass of the
members of the committee shows that
they are in favor of recommending the
construction of another gigantic battle
ship in addition to the one decided upon
at the last session, but they will not go
further than the recommendation of
the president and of Secretary Metcalf,
both of whom advocate but one ship.
The naval appropriation bill is rap
idly taking shape and will be reported
to the house shortly after the first of
February. The committee is meeting
several times daily and has the naval
program so well in hand that but little
further delay is anticipated.
The latest pOwwow to take place at
the white house was between the pres
ident and six Indians of the Ute tribe
the chief men of the fighting Utes
who went on a rampage last summer in
an effort to join the Cheyenne river
Sioux, and whose people are now held
as prisoners at Fort Meade, 5. y. The
Indians came to Washington under
guard and We're accompanied to the
white house by several members of'the
Sixth cavalry. Through an interpreter
two or three of the chiefs made speeches
to Mr.. Roosevelt. They told him they
wished to go and live with the Sioux on
the Cheyenne river, for they like the
Sioux and they like their country.
The president asked how they expect
ed to live after they got there, and they
replied that they had Great White
Father who was very generous and who
would give them rations. The presi.
dent did not reply, but said that theii
requests would be considered. That the
braves We're disappointed was evidenced
by the numerous grunts uttered by tn,
Indians on their way out of the building
1t is now up to the chief executive I,
say whether the members of congress
the speaker, the vice president and tn,
cabinet officers are to obtain the 80 pei
cent increase in salaries. The action OF