The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-06-04
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.


Washington, D. c., May 2S, 1908.
The currency question is, of
course, the one absorbing topic in
political circles in Washington at the
present hour, but the extravaganza
of the projects urged at this session
of Congress is coming in for its
share of the public attention. While
the figures on the total appropria-
tions for the present session are in.
complete careful estimates indicate
that they will exceed s. ,o2o, 900, =
900. This amount exceeds that Of
any previous session by 500, 900, :
900. There is no little adverse
comment over the fact that the
largest increases over former years
are to be found in pension, post
Office, army and navy appropriation
bills, while the sums appropriated
for educational purposes are small
and not commensurate with the
relative importance of the public S
needs. 1t has been delicately hint
cd that every $40, 600 spent by the
Bureau of Education would bring a
Tar richer return than every SIoo,- =
900 expended on the navy.
%**
Democratic members of both
houses of Congress are in favor of
the campaign publicity bill, which
has received added notoriety by
Mr.. Bryan's clever letter to Secre
tary Taft relating thereto. Both
Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Taft are OIL rec
ord as favoring the bill, but wheth-
er the attitude of these two men
will have sufficient weight with
Congress to secure the passage of
publicity bill remains to be seen.
The opinion prevails that Republi-
cans will see the advantage, politi-
cally, of going before the country
with at least profession of will.
ingness to have the Presidential
campaign financially conducted
along lines that are open and above
board, and will therefore pass some
measure that will require publicity
in the collection and expenditure OF
national campaign funds.
***
1t is estimated that the Demo-
cratic Convention at Denver will
cost Tammany at least $II5,ooo.
Five special trains have been en-
gagged to carry $50 braves to the
great powwow. The estimates are
divided into two sums, Sos, 900 for
transportation and $50, 1000 to make
a big show in Denver.
***
More than two thirds of the Dem
ocratic national convention have
now been elected. Complete dele
cations were chosen last week in
Alabama, California, Florida, Mich
igan. Missouri, South Carolina,
Washington, Wyoming, Alaska,
Hawaii and the District of Colum-
bia. Four delegates'at-large were
elected in Pennsylvania. Of the
I72 delegates named in these States
and Territories, Mr.. Bryan receiv-
ed I5e, while thirteen were not in
structed or committed.
The call for the national conven-
ton fixed its membership at 1902,
the Philippines being excluded from
representation. However, six Phil
ippine delegates have been chosen
and will apply for admission. Of
the GIT delegates so far elected, 4sI
are instructed for Mr.. Bryan or
committed to his support by reso-
lutions of preference or public an
nouncements; 22 are for Johnson;
II are for Gray and 63 uncommit-
ted. Mr.. Bryan has the support
of II per cent. of the delegates so
far elected.
*.*
Anti-Bryan people in Washing
ton were jubilant when they read
of Gov. John A. Johnson's exploit
in the swimming pool of the Hotel
Chamberlin at Old Point Comfort,
Va. His double somersaults, they
declare, will help him tremendous
ly with a people who have been
trained in the last seven wears to
demand physical dexterity of their
popular heroes.
r.
The greatest reliefis felt through
out political and social Washington
that the currency bill has passed
the House. There is every expec-
tation that it will go through the
Senate and that adjournment was
possible on Friday. The bill that
has just passed the House is COM