The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-03-08
HARRISBURG LETTER.
IN. e. HAUSE.1
"Congress Went Out Like A Lion!'

Congress Went Ont Like A Lion!"
Harrisburg, Pa, March 4.-The
last days of the 61st Congress were
more than mildly exciting. Some of
| the more important measures were
crowded through, some were killed
| by the use of that odd weapon the
"filibuster," and some, like the
Canadian Reciprocity bill, were just
simply allowed to die. One pugnaci-
Gus Democrat remarked to Uncle Joe
Cannon that he wished the speaker
were younger man, to which the
| old war-horse retorted that he
would take no advantage of his age.
Vice-President Sherman was denied
the usual unanimous vote of thanks
| by the Senate over. which he had
| presided, and other circumstances
indicated that the best of feeling
did not prevail among the national
lawmakers as they were about to
depart Some of them left Wash
| ington for the last time as a mem
Der of Congress. Some of the new
ones will last only one term. There
is a great deal of horse-play about
/ this law-making business, and the
people are thinking of a remedy
New Congress, A Democratic Body.
Before Congress adjourned Presi-
dent Taft had indicated his wishes
in the way of legislation, with an
| alternative. Because the Recipro-
city bill failed of passage, an extra
session has been called for April A.
The new House will be Democratic,
the Senate Republican, with the
| Progressives practically holding the
| balance of power in the upper house.
| Thoughtful Republicans believe the
present situation is a dangerous one
| for the party The present Recip-
| rocity bill may or may not go
| through in its present form, for the
Democrats may wish to take advan-
tage of an opportunity to embarrass
their opponents and include in the
bill some Objectionable features.
| They may undertake tinkering with
the tariff, a task that otherwise
could not have been begun until
| next December.
President Taft's Determination.
Should Canadian Reciprocity be-
come fact, and this country pros
per under it, as President Taft is
sure it will, no small share of the
credit would fall to the Democratic
party, whose votes made it possible.
The Republican party has stood for
reciprocity, this principle having
been strongly advocated by such
able and sagacious leaders as Blaine
and Mckinley. On this particular
bill the Republican Congressman
were not united, some believing that
all the advantages lay with Canada, |
but the President seems sure of the |
beneficial effects of such a bill for |
this country, and will do his best to
have it enacted into law. He is the |
logical leader of the party and would |
certainly not insist on a course that
worked i'll for either the country or
the Republican party.
Popular Election OF U. S. Senators, |
Inevitable.
viii the Constitution of the Unit
ed States ever be amended so as to
permit of the election of U. S. |
Senators by popular vote, instead of |
through the several Legislatures? |
The Legislatures of two-thirds of |
the states have already agreed to
this, but the U. S. Senate itself is |
the body that forms the obstacle. A |
vote taken in that body a few days |
ago came dangerously near the two
thirds necessary, and probably the |
time is not far distant when the |
change will be made. The Senate |
is very conservative, apparently |
holding to the thought that the peo-
pie have little or no desire to amend |
the Constitution.
Huston Denied A New Trial.
In an opinion handed down at |
Williamsport this week by the Su- !
perior Court, Joseph M. Huston, the |
new E1nitn1 1rnhitant danind q,
new trial, the Court affirming the |
judgment of Judge Kunkel of the |
Dauphin County Court, in a rather |
voluminous opinion. His attorneys
will, of course, appeal the case to |
the Supreme Court, hoping to save
their client from the Penitentiary, |
to which he has been sentenced, but |
the general opinion seems to be, that |
the Court of last resort will not in
terfere. 1t is argued that if any
fraud existed, the architect could |
not have been ignorant of it, and |
some go farther and say that it |
would have been impossible without
his knowledge and consent.
Tempus Does Fugit!
Two months of the Legislative
session have expired, with about 8 !
or 10 bills in the Governors hands. !
1t is understood, however, that with
certain questions of large import
ance definitely settled, that matters
will move along much more rapid
ly Senator Penrose will be able to
devote some attention to legislation
for the State, between now and
April 4th, though he has certainly
earned a vacation. The School
Code, State Highway bills and re-