The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1908-11-20
PREPARING FOR CONGRESS
Speculation About the Short
Session.
TALK OF TARIFF REVISION
Society Pleased. President Roose-
velt's Activity.

|
The election over and the resulr
weighed and known the next event OF
national interest will be the opening
OF the congressional session now but
a few daps off. The Congress which
will assemble will be compelled on
account of the brevity of the session
to confine its activities largely to the
appropriation bills. There will be
no opportunity for extensive or radi.
cal new legislation but il party pro-
misses and platforms shall not be
ignored there will be after the fourth
OF March special called session by
President Taft for a revision of the
tariff. There will no doubt be effort
on the part of the President to secure
lIbera, appropriations for the army
and the navy and especially for the
purpose of adding heavy battleshlps
Of the first class to the feet, but it is
just as sure he will meet opposition
from the same sources that opposed
this program last winter and spring
and the opposition will be able to
point to the pacific relations now
existing between this country and
| Japan especially as manifested during
the recent visit of our warlike feet To
the japanese ports and the sustained
and elaborate hospitality of CUR
Oriental neighbor.
But with reference to Japan the
election of Taft is 10 peculiar sense
a message and a guarantee Of peace.
President Roosevelt Is no doubt at
heart as much friend Of peace as
President-elect Taft but it is hard for
men or nations to believe 1T. His
strenuousness, bis aggresslveness, his
devotion to all manly sports has pro
duced in the public mind at home or
abroad a psychological apprehension
,of belligerency which his pacific in.
tent and protestations will not allay
Mr.. Taft has no such impression to
overcome.
The Republican party must now
meet its engagements and make some
show of fulfilling its promises and
this it will have to do under the
sharpest criticism of the opposition.
1t has good working majority 10
b,th houses of Congress and after the
fourth of March must take up that
most difficult of problems the revision
, of the tariff. Mr.. Dalzell and Speak
er Cannon and Senator Payne are al
reelected and it is indeed difficult II
, see what can be accomplished il
tariff revision with foreknowledge o
the personnel of the House and th,
Senate.
The election of Mr.. Taft is mat
ter of considerable qualification /,
: society in Washington and assure
: The continuance of the brilliant socia
life at the National Capital tha
commenced with the Roosevelts
! Mrs. Taft has had so much experienc
u here as the wife Of cabinet Office
and earlier n her leading position i
y the Philippines that she will brin
y to the White House highly cult
waited art of entertaining. She is
woman of dignity of appearance an
II bearing and while there are nan
he who have claimed that she is withou
a. charm there are none who doubt ht
s. ability to acouit herself in the role {
the First lady of the Land" wit
grace and p-oprety.
The President keeps up his reputa
\ tion for activity and appears 4
present determined to leave his in
< press upon the rank of the arm
Last week he appeared for the tr'
at the War college and made bri,
l speech To the students there, who
'i' the way are generals, colonels al
1e majors of the army. He endeavort
b. to impress them with the importan'
ne of physical exercise and invited the
er to take a walk with him the next da
I'd About sixty of them-all that we
" nresent at the lecture-met at u
rendezvous 10 Rock Creek Park al
were led three hours tramp Will