The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-02-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

and made their report and the President
in turn has sent message to Congress
confirming the information that has
already been given that the lock type of
canal is the only one approved by the
engineers and the President-elect, who,
after very careful study of the ground
have expressed their preference for this
| type rather than for the sea level canal.
The President has sent special message
to Congress on the subject in which he
characterizes further advocacy of the less
desirable and more expensive sea level
canal as " foolish"
I The President-elect has made it known
that he will, after the inauguration, call
Congress in special session to be assem-
bled on March the 18th.
The apparent petty complications
standing in the way of Senator Knox of
Pennsylvania, to his acceptance of the
highest cabinet Office under the new
President, have been swept away by
special enactment of Congress, and there
now appears to be no doubt that he will
be the Secretary of State under the new
| administration.
President-elect TAFT has returned to his
Cincinnati home, while Mrs. Taft, it is
understood, is adding to her wardrobe in
| New York.
Only about five legislative days and
nights remain for this Congress and there
are number of important appropriation
bills not yet enacted. There has been
6libustering in the Senate and threats of
flibustering in the House. The House is
restless and even recalcitrant under the
despotism of Speaker Cannon. There is
much talk among the insurgents and
mutterings of revolt from both Demo
Gratis and Republicans. The same con-
dition prevails in the Senate, where Sen
ator LaFollette of Wisconsin is effectively
protesting against the autocracy of Aid
rich, Hale, Penrose and Gallinger.
During the week he has successfully
resisted Senator Hale, who attempted the
immediate passage of the naval appro-
priation bill; and also Senator Penrose.
who attempted to rush the Post Office
bill through without debate. Mr.. La
Toilette began with arguments against
the general policy of Withholding appro
priation bills until it was too late for
other senators to inquire into them. This
led Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania to
ask, with sarcasm, if the Senate had to
be compelled to listen to another Chau-
tauqua lecture. Mr.. LaFollette, unmind-
full of the interruption, continued with
his remarks and intimated that Penrose
had not given enough attention to the
preparation of the Post Office budget and
that the measure had not been properly
prepared. Then Mr.. Penrose arose in
wrath and in few moments there was a
sensation, recognized both on the Senate
floor and in the galleries. His arraign-
ment was bitter and he concluded it with
the remark that Mr.. LaFollette's argu-
ments might better be made by a
vendor of patent medicines, from the tail
IGu0 Va q NoAt AL oOAC OOS(oAC NiioSC III
Wisconsin than by Senator of the
United States"
1t became evident Friday the plans for
the conservation of the natural resources
Eof the country had passed the expert
mental stage and have become cont.
mental instead of national, inasmuch as
Canada and Mexico are giving enthusi-
astic cooperation to the great enterprise.
These facts became apparent in the
opening address of President Roosevelt
In the East Room of the White House
and the sentiment was strengthened later
in the State Department by speeches
made By representatives of other govern.
ments. In these speeches it was recog-
nized that International streams are
affected by cutting forests on either side
of the boundary and that conservation
plans, to be effective, must be inter-
national.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa, one of the most
capable and influential members off the
lower house, attacked the House rules
last week and referring to plank in the
last national Democratic platform, de.
nouncing the rules of the House as at
present enforced, said: II am one of those
who would condemn the ten command.
ments if by some accident the Demo-
! cratic party should adopt them. For fifty
years it has been my duty to criticize the
Democratic party, but this particular
plank is cousoling to my SOUL" After
Colonel Hepburn's speech, Speaker Can
non agreed to make concession to the
House insurgents by setting apart day
each week for the consideration of bills
on the calendar This is one of the
principal privileges demanded by the
insurgents