Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-07
STILL STANDING PAT.
Republicans in Congress Continue the
80 Do Nothing Policy.

| "aoHihSIou, -. ", aplil o.-Soh-
gress is still standing pat and the
republican members would be quite
willing to adjourn after passing the
appropriation bills if they did not
fear the effect of such do-nothine
policy upon the voters. No reform
bill has been passed by congress
and from the first there has been
no intention by the republican lead
erS of allowing any such legislation,
even that recommended by President
Roosevelt. An exception, perhaps,
is the Aldrich currency bill, which
has passed the senate in an emas-
culated form, The reason that the
republican leaders will try to pass
he Aldrich bill is that Rockefeller
and Morgan and Wall street favor ii.
and the amount of their contribu-
lions to the republican campaign
fund evidently depends upon its
favorable consideration. A strong
faction of the republican members
of congress and all the democrats
are opposed 20 it and the business
interests of the country favor the
Fowler currency bill, if the express
ions in its favor by commercial and
banking organizations are fair in
dication. 1t is said to be the in
tention of the republican leaders to
hold a republican caucus to force
through The Aldrich bill.
On March 81 John Sharp Williams
the democratic leader in the house
of representatives, made very I'M
| pOrtant speech and announcement
that there were some recommended
| lions in the last message to congress
by the president that, ARE so i'm
mediately important to the inter-
ests of the entire country as to pass
| the bounds of partisanship. Mr.
| Williams then publicly informed the
country that ''all the president has
| to do is to deliver twenty-nine re-
publican house votes in favor of
such measures. These conjoined
with the solid democratic vote will
put them through" He then gave
the recommendation ofthe president
that the democrats would support,
namely:
Campaign contribution publicity,
within constitutional limit, giving
names, posi- Office addresses, and
amounts of con ributions to be pub
lished before election.
Regulation of child labor, but not
the unconstitutional Beverage bill.
An employers liability law.
Compensation to government en-
ployes for injury or death incurred in
its service.
Requiring that no temporary re-
straining order should be issued by
any court without notice.
Abolishing the tariff duty on wood
pulp and print paper.
1t seems unlikely that any of this
important legislation will be al
lowed to come to vote by the re-
publican leaders unless the employ
ers' liability bill introduced by Sen
ator Knox be taken, which is not ac-
ceptable to organized labor. 1t also
seems unlikely that there will be
enough republican members, who will
support the presidents recommended
tions, added to the democrats, to
pass such bills. To bring the re-
publican leaders to the point which
will impress the country with their
do-nothing policies. Mr. Williams
gave notice that he would object TO
any unanimous consent for the con-
sideration of bills and would re-
quire roll call on all occasions when !
the rules of the house required it. |
In other words the democrats will |
filibuster until the republicans act |
upon what the democrats consider |
urgent legislation needed by the peo-
pie.
There are two war clouds on the
political horizon that although now
no longer than a mans hand may
develop into storm centers. Already |
relations with Venezuela |
are so strained that President Roose-
welt finds himself unable to proceed
further in trying to adjust the diff
ferences about the asphalt and other
issues, and the whole matter has
has been referred to congress. 1t is
reported that this senate committee on
foreign relations has tentatively
agreed on the vigorous program of
placing prohibitive tariff on Vene-
zuela products and the exclusion of
all importations of asphalt. Also
that the president will be authorized
10 take whatever steps he may con-
slider necessary to treat with Vene-
.ula in the future. AS president
Castro has so far outwitted Presi-
lent Roosevelt in negotiations and as
both these rulers are somewhat hot
headed, it is more than probable that
armed force will be used to bring Cas-
no to time. As to the merits of the
asphalt question there is strong
of Venezuela being in
he right, but as the asphalt trust
appears to be favored by the admin
stratiOn, Castro will likely be bull
led into submitting to our demands.
What may result in much more
serious trouble is the still smaller
cloud in Manchuria, which may in
'olye us with Japan aud Russia.
Under instructions from the state
department our consul at Harlan
has refused to acknowledge that
either Japan or Russia mas any ter
-itoTial rights in ManchGria and
looks TO China alone as the 5Oyereign
power 10 deal with This is no
doubt done to compel tie open
door in Manchuria which. it is
said. Japan has been closing in a
decided way. though By roundabout
methods. With a president thirst
ing for glory in a war with some one
there is no telling whittier we are
drifting. and il is quite possible that
sending the feet to the Pacific may
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