The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1908-04-10
JACK HARRIS WASHINGTON LETTER.

of the majority. In legislation it
always works honestly and effective
ly for the greatest good of the great
est number. Never allow yourself
to be deluded and influenced to
think otherwise. 1t looks beyond
and is not influenced by every
spasmodic howl or passing wind.
Would you have it otherwise? Ger
tainly not. Do you want sectarian
or party or class legislation? Ger
tainly not. Do you honestly be-
ieve that any president knows bet
ter what is best for the people, or
is more honest in his dealings with
them than all the men who have
come from among their neighbors
to represent them in congress? Is
that believable? Certainly not. 1t
has been the habit of the unrefect-
ing to cuss congress, but when one
realizes what a bulwark it is against
the froth and foment of the hour
between the clamor of the few
against the best interests of all the
people, then we give it the credit
and respect which is its due.
AS the days go on, it is more and
more apparent that there will be
no emotional, experimental or polit-
ical legislation enacted at this ses-
sion. Every hundredth man in the
country is yelling for some one
especial stop-gap law. The ninety
and nine are silent and contented.
All they want is to be let alone, to
be allowed to pursue their avoca-
tons in peace, and to get out from
under class legislation and class
prejudice. Therefore congress will
pass the supply bills, a very few
others of especial Importance for
which they recognize real demand,
and then adjourn and go home
Among the latter may be classed
the employers liability bill, a bill
to allow or compel the valuation of
the actual property of railroads for
the purpose of determining the
actual value of their bonds, and
bills establishing commissions to
revise the tariff and financial sys-
TENS. All these are quite possible,
but by no means assured. The in
terstate commerce commission now
strongly favors the idea of railroad
appraisal. The commissions named
might be of service in affording a
basis for tariff and financial revision
later, though their recommends
tons might be entirely disregarded.
The tariff will not be otherwise
touched at this session, though it is
settled that there will be either a
special session called Immediately
after November elections or at the
expiration of the regular session the
Fourth of March to take up the
tariff and financial questions and
give them all possible considera-
ton. This will be the sole work of
three or four months, at least. Re
CARELESS of the insistence from var
Jour quarters, there will be no labor
or corporation legislation, designed
solely to bride or fatter any faction.
The Brownsville colored troops
squabble is in the senate under two
different adverse reports, and some
time later will be debated under a
motion to substitute a minority
for the majority report. There
are possibilities of unlimited debate
in this subject, but as everybody
except Foraker is afraid to stir it up
much there is a hope of its going
over without a great deal of time
being wasted in talk. The senate
kept some very cheap local matters
at the front nearly all of the past
week, in order to freeze. out some
things which only one or two were
anxious to tackle, and until an
bill could be reported
in to go to work on. For the same
reason the House kept hammering
away on the Agricultural bill all of
the previous and most of the past
week. Next in line are the Diplo-
matte and District of Columbia.
The Aldrich financial bill starts
slow in the House, and is going to
have almighty hard sleddin' there.
1t may finally get through in some
form, but even that is doubtful.
During the debate in the House on
the Agricultural bill Congressman
Foster presided as chairman of the
committee of the whole, and for
a while one day Senator Dillingham;
presided over the Senate. Yer
mont was surely in the saddle then.
Senator Stewart is made chairman |
IF the committee on Industrial |
and as such has a
room in the senate an
rex, a building across the park |
1t the north of the capitol. This is
solely occupied as office rooms by |
several Of whom are com
oelled to be deported there because |
# lack of room in the capitol build
ng. The senator has appointed |
Ir. William Bean of Newport as his
private secretary, who has every
hing now in fine running order.
,lr. Bean was for a long time with
Senator Proctor as assistant clerk
# his committee, and from his ex-
,erience and ability is exactly the
,fficial for the place. The venerable