The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1908-05-08

VII ~
tween now and harvest time the
farmers from Maine to California
ought to be rolling in plenty before
the snow flies" The secretary also
says, that notwithstanding the great
crop which is coming, prices viii
keep away up, for the reason that
the men who have gone into busl-
ness and manufacturing pursuits
are far greater in number than
those who have taken up farming
This is certainly a cheerful outlook
for the farmers, regardless of the
chill it will give those who have to
pay grocery bills.
AS the end of the session ap-
proaches, the uncertainty and eX-
citement and stress increases. There
are wheels within wheels and deals
within deals, until nobody dares
predict what an hour may bring
forth. Matters which were thought
to be settled last night may be
knocked to the demnition bow-WoWs
this morning as moments notice
or without any notice whatever. A
dead and buried bill is resurrected
and passed, and a bill which is on
the point of being enacted is sud
denly "lost and gone forever. .
The most improbable rumors- II
anything is improbable this year
are as busy as a one-armed man
eating peanuts, and anybody ex-
poets anything to happen at any
time. Therefore it is dangerous to
say that anything is done or is not
done or is going to be or is not going
to be done.
The House consumed much of
last week in roll-calls and playing
politics, varied occasionally with
the serious consideration of appro-
priation bills. 1t finally got through
with the Sundry Civil, sO-called,
which relieved the treasury of a
hundred millions or so for carrying
on various branches of the civil
government. This eft for the House
only one more appropriation bill,
the General Deficiency, and very
likely they will all be cleaned up by
the time this is read. The House
will also send through a bill appro-
priating for the erection of various
public buildings around the coun-
try, which will scoop about $685.
100000 more. Even this will be
added to in the senate.
The senate began the week with
winding up the Naval appropria-
ton bill, after several days of most
extraordinary and strenuous debate.
Scarcely ever before has an appro-
priation bill attracted so much at
tention. The crucial question was
whether two or four battleships
should be authorized, and on this
point the debate ragged furiously.
A minority of the younger men
lined up with the president in de-
four instead of two ships
Of war, while the older senators, m
all those who have led the
body for years, would allow but two.
Personalities were freely thrown
around, and much feeling was
shown. Late Monday night, after
six hours of red-hot argument, the
four boat adherents we're defeated
by a vote of 80 to %. After this was
decided a message from the presi-
dent on the subject of campaign
legislation was received, and the
clerk began to read it. Senator
Foraker moved to adjourn, the
motion was carried, the bunch got
out with rush and the message was
left up in the air. Such usage of a
message is unprece-
denied, and indicates the feeling
between the executive and legisla-
tive branches of the government.
as if to make up for the
time spouted away with the naval
bill, the senate passed the District
Of Columbia appropriation bill in
two hours, and wound up the days
work with the passage of the annual
pension appropriation bill, carrying
1ne hundred and siXty-three million
dollars, in eighty-fve seconds! This
nav be considered as going some,
md shows what may be done when
is willing.
The latest executive message, in
,isting on further legislation to mod |
fy the antitrust and anti-boycott
avs. will, in respect to these sub
ects, be given no consideration by
congress whatever. This the presi-
lent is very well aware of, and it
5 only done to remind the country of
What congress won't do. There
viii be no legislation for the sole
nd evident purpose of coddling
he trusts and the labor organiza-
ions. | have repeated this predic-
ion a half-dozen times. There will
e no sweeping forest reserve law.
New Hampshire wants the White
tract preserved, why don t ,
leir state legislature do it? The
1nstitutionality Of any general
,deral law on the subject is ques- !
oned. The ship subsidy bill, passed
V the senate in the early days OF !
he session. has long been dead and !,
,rgotten in the House. Tremendous !
ressure is being brought to bear on !
he House by the National Assocla- .
-, nf p,,hlishnrs To secure the re q