The Washington herald., 1908-04-10

ttiS NiFStNk extensive ana DiSnly HnlGNtu
set of gag rules which sit upon Democ-
raey in the House like hen upon a glass
egg, everything" as the saying hath it.
is lovely. and'-but the rest has been
said.
Congress lg getting ready to adjourn.
Not that there isn't plenty Of so-called
needed legislation which might be forced
through. If the Democratic spur could
only get in under the tough hlde Of the
majority. but there are fences tnnumer-
able to be repaired-and the goose hang
ing.
OF course. it's an open question as TO
which party is going 10 represent the
goose and which is to play the part Of
the executioner. but at any rate, the date
for the beginning Of this comical tragedy
has been set-it Is May o
Mr. watson Decides.
Representative James Z. Watson. Repub-
licen whip. who returned from Indiana on
Tuesday with his party's nomination for
governor in his hip pocket, has decided
that Congress ought to adjourn on that
date.
Mr. Watson is nothing II not indus
| tTious, go he hikes-so to speak-all over
the Republican cloakrooms. in the lob
bies, committee-rooms, the restaurant,
the dome, the Office building. the nearby
cafes and other places. TO discover the
| ideas Of members as to adjournment
While this merry chase was going on
some mlsled newspaper man got the idea
that he could iutrude upon Mr. Wat
sons goose hanging game. and sent out
weird tale that Congress would call
I IL all of on May TO- Not referring to the
significant fact that May 10 is Sunday.
Mr.. Watson yesterday took that story out
/ into the backyard. tied Il over a rope,
and beat 1t to small pieces.
Before he did all the beating be t0yed
with the intelIects Of the Congress lead
ers and found that there was really no
objection 10 adjournment on May 9, pro-
vided that the business considered neces-
sary has been ground out Needless TO
say. Mr. Watson probably called upon
John Sharp Williams. Representatives DB
Almond. Fitzgerald, and others right Off.
Doubtless, he was encouraged.
Hikes 30 the senate.
hikes Mr. Watson. where he looks over
TIE field with glance not wholly intro
spective, being a little concerned in the
election Of one James Watson as gov
ernor Of Indiana. and finds that, indeed
everybody IN the Senate is willing TO ad-
journ on MAY 9, II the business IS finished
It seems really nothing short Of mental
telepsthy. Yesterday Mr. Watson speedea
up Pennsylvania avenue 10 the White
House to see President Roosevelt. Per
haps he said to him that Congress would
like to adjourn on May Q, forgetting all
about Indiana in the eation Of the mo-
ment.
Perhaps the President intimates that be
would be satisfied n Congress did adjourn
on Nav Q, IL the House passed the need
ed legislation. Perhaps the President gave
an inkling that he did not expect to have
all the measures he desires put through
a tired and suffering House in the brief
space OF four months. Perhaps Mr, Wat
son may so back to the White House to-
day saying just about what he mir. Wat
SOM thinks the H0use-the Republicans.
VIII do this year and VIII then ask the
President what he (the PRESIDENT would
May stroll again.
OF course If Mr. Watson does happen
to stroll sort Of casual-like into the White
House to-day he may suggest to the
President that he can take his choice OF
perhaps he can take the House leaders
choice of nice brand-new legislation. war
ranted to stand the hot fires of political
oratory in the coming campaign without
warping.
Perhaps the President viii then tenn
pqrarily forget all about the other iegis-
lation which he wanted, according to his
message Of June 80. Perhaps it viii be a
compromise. Election time is coming and
the goose-welI the goose must be hung
By good and true Republicans.
Democracy's side Of the goose hanging
from the House point Of view is not so
pleasing to the lay eye but il present
some rather fine points to the artists.
OF course both sides will claim to have
passed the legislation which is going to
pass-legislatlon outside Of the ordinary.
cut-and-dried appropriation bills. and of
course both will use these claims in sway
ing the populaee.
One chief source of worry to the Re-
publican leaders must be the thought
that they did not start To enact this out
side legislation Of an affirmative chara6-
ter until the great One-ring hlibuster Of
John Sharp Williams was started.
As to other Ways.
AS to the Democratic goose hanging in
other ways than national, however. there
is a more optimistic view. particularly
among the Democrats. Champ Clark fig
ured early in the session that in every
Congressional district where the last cleo
tion a Republican won by less than 5000
majority there would be a large and Juicy
Democratic goose hanging next Novem-
Der.
Many people believe this, as does Mr..
Clark. Meanwhile, the merry buzz of the
Legislative grist mill is TO keep up. Night
sessions will soon be introduced 10 a
gasping public and an overworked press
gallery, and the great and only quadren-
NAL game Of hanging the goose will be-
gin. Adjournment must be taken nv
May 9, all desired business must be put
through, the President must be placated
and Mr.. Watson must go home to run
for governor.
There were six roll calls yesterday
during five and one-half hours. Six roll
calls mean almost three hours Of one dav
spent in that pleasant pastime Of calling
the ayes and noes. There are four moro
appropriation bills to pass. One OF them
the naval bill. win come to 2 vote next
Monday. There will likely be no militia
bill TO consider. Sull, If the Democratic
the goose hanging may be slightly de-
fsrred.
Demand for Liquor Bill.
Senator Gsilinger yesterday secured the
s6nnfinn NJ o resolution in 4h 60.