The National tribune., 1907-03-07

amended measure was reported back tC
the Senate for approval. II vote could
have been reached there the bill would
have become a law. 1t was by no means
a bad bill, for II provided mail subsidies
to South America solely, In ships to be
built hereafter In American shipyards
and would have given the United States
/ better shipping service to South
America than any European Nation has.
Its total annual cost would have been
S2,600.000 if all of the lines availed
themselves Of the opportunity for q
fortnightly service, for which the Gov.
ernment would have paid twice as much
as for monthly service.
But the Democratic Senators at once
began to hlibuster against the measure.
They passed the word around that the
bill would be talked to death, the de-
bate being technically on a motion to
concur in the House amendments Sem
| ator Blackburn, the minority leader,
passed among his followers afIOtting
the time that each must speak There
was hasty gathering of material for
the speaking, and the Republicans rec
ogni1ed that the ship subsidy jig was
up. The Senate has no cloture rule
and as long as any Senator wants to
talk on given proposition no vote can
be taken on that proposition.
The House fight, however, will be to
subsidy say. 1t is the first time ship
subsidy bill ever passed there, and this
fact will help when the campaign is
resumed in the next Congress
Sunday and Monday forenoon passed
very quietly at the Capitol. A great
throng of sightseers found the galleries
more attractive than the services in the
local churches. But the business trans
acted was largely of routine charac-
ter, which any other day, and especially
early in the session, would have been
looked upon as decidedly monotonous
However, it was entertaining Sunday
afternoon to hear Senator Carmack, of
Tennessee, talk for two hours on a
definition of the word ''filibuster' as he
debated the Ship Subsidy bill to DEATH
The audience had little thrill as Sem
ator Bailey made his appearance on
the floor for the first time since his now
famous experience in defending himself
from charges of alliances with trusts in
Texas. 1t was rumored that he was to
make dramatic speech in his own
defense, but it proved unfounded. The
resignation of Senator Spooner, of Wis
consin, made in the very closing hours
of the session. was also an important
incident, for he has been recognized as
the leading lawyer of the Senate and a |
great figure there-a tower of strength |
to his party.
The President ut the Capitol.
The coming of the President to the |
Capitol Monday was also an important
incident, altho the President always
goes there at the close of a sh ,rt ses-
sion to sign the belated bills in the
Presidents room, off the rear lobby of |
the Senate. He was accompanied by
members of his Cabinet, and there was
quite levee in the Presidents room as
and members crowded around
Their departure, as Congress came to
an end, was followed by the swearing
in of new Cabinet members. as several
changes were made on March 4. Sec,
retary Shaw laid down his portfolio as
head of the Treasury and Postmaster
General Cortelyou took his place. Geo.
Won L. Meyer, of Massachusetts, who
until a few days ago was ambassador
at st. Petersburg, was sworn in as Post,
Secretary of the In
terror Ethan Allen Hitchcock. among
the greatest of all Cabinet officers in
the last 10 wears, stepped out. and was
by James r. Garfield, Of
Ohio, who has been Commissioner of
Almost a dozen other
changes were also made in Assistant
Secretaries and IKE offices, so that the
Administration starts on its last half
with considerable change in personnel.