The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-02-06
WASHINGTON
rom our Regular Correspondent.

mentioned. In spite of the asser-
tions that MIR. Bryan was to be told
while he was i'll Washington he
must give way to some other
Democrat for the Presidential con-
test, it is obvious that the word
has not been given to him yet and
it is doubted now if any one can be
found willing to act as spokesman
among the few senator's who do not
wish to see Mr.. Bryan again lead
the party. Mr.. Bryan himself is
convinced that this year is the ap-
pointed time TOR Democratic vic
tory with himself as the candidate.
He declares that his attitude on the
financial situation has undergone
no change since previous utteranc-
es. He still favors Treasury and
not national bank notes ior emer-
gency issue and says that this was
the good, old fundamental princi-
pie laid down by Jefferson and
Jackson, and that the good faith of
the government shonld be behind
these notes.
Senator Daniel and some OF the
more rapid anti-Bryan men are
hoping to profit by the spectacle
presented by the republicans of
having their candidate left in doubt
through a multitude of 'favorite
sons" and have by no means yet
abandoned hope of being able to
encompass Mr.. Bryan's defeat for
the nomination at Denver. Their
idea is that if a goodly number Of
states can be induced to present
candidates, the total strength may
be so distributed as to make the
S lection of Bryan impossible.
#MT
Among the multifarious bills in
troduced i'll Congress is one to place
tax of twenty-five per cent on
all doweries paid by girls or their
parents in exchange for a title, /"
which called forth much eloquence
on the part of Representative Chas.
McGavin Of Illinois, one day this
week. His speech brought forth
much applause from both sides of
the House and has made for him a
reputation as champion of Ameri-
can men as against titled foreign
ers. In the course of his speech
he said, Il have reference only to
those who have monocle on their
eyes, and an idiotie look upon their
faces, those who have neither the
disposition to be good, nor the
ability to do harm"
*+x
President Roosevelt issued a pro.
clamation, last week, on the tariff
agreement negotiated between
France and the United States under
the authority of Section 2 of the
Dingley tariff act, which authorizes
the President to arrange reciprocal
trade agreements with foreign
countries. The agreement was
signed by Elihu Root for the Presi-
dent, and by M. J. ]. Jusserand,
the French Ambassador, on the
part of France, and it will not be
submitted to the Senate for ratif-
cation but will go into effect on
February Ist. The most important
feature of the agreement is the
abatement of 20 per cent. on the
duty Oh champagne imported into
the United States, and France ih
turn agreed to impose only her
minimum rates of duty on Porto
Rican coffee and mineral oils. I'm
der the terms of the agreement,
board of three experts Of each
country is to be appointed to inves-
tlgate and report upon the customs
administration systems of both
countries. The tariff agreement
will remain in force until the Presi-
dent of either country gives notice
to the other country.
***
The present expectation is that
the Aldrich financial bill, which
was reported to the Senate this
week, will be taken up for debate
on February 10th, and kept stead
lily before the Senate as the unfin-
ished business until it is disposed
of. Senator Aldricb, who will of
course engineer the measure, after
making a careful survey of the sit
uation as regards probable debate,
is Of the opinion that more than
two weeks will be consumed in dis
cussing it. The announcement of
Mr.. Bryan's attitude toward the
Aldrich bill, made during his re-
cent visit to the capitol, is taken as
an indication that Democratic oppo-
sition to the measure will be of
short duration. The conference of