The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1911-02-11
Washington Letter

An extra session of Congress after
the 4th of March is more than prob
able. Congress is pulling in several
different directions. Certain Senators
and members OF the Lower House are
kicking and baking. The lesson OF the
last congressional election is unheed-
ed or misunderstood. Such PROPOSE
ton as the desirability OF reciprocity
with Canada is opposed by Senator
from Texas and the Speaker OF the
House from Illinois and by a recently
elected Senator from Massachusetts;
and all OF them have some backing IN
Congress. Senator Bailey OF Texas,
and Senator Brown, OF Nebraska, have
both given the Senate to understand
that they are itching to fillibuster, and
it is evident that within the three short
weeks remaining the appropriation
bills cannot be passed without making
concessions to recalcitrant elements
in Congress.
The President wants Tariff COM
mission. The Democratic majority
that will control the House after
March 4th wants no tariff commission,
but wants to pass tariff bill OF their
own invention ami construction.
though how they can do it with the
Senate and White House in opposi-
ton, no man and not even any woman
knoweth.
There is prospect OF the passage OF
a homeopathic parcels post bill. Well,
let us be thankful for small favors. For
many years the monarches OF Europe
have enjoyed an excellent parcels post
bill, as have also some OF the semi
barbaric nations OF Asia. In fact, it
seems that this blessing is possible i'll
nearly all the despotism Oh the Old
World. But in our own despotism OF
interests with representatives in Con-
gress it cannot be had. With forty
thousand rural mail carriers with their
pockets barely full OF letters and news
papers, many OF them driving carts or
four wheelers, an excellent equipment
for carrying packages OF eleven lbs.
each to the farmers and other rural
residents, this blessing necessary to
country people and necessary to the
Postmaster General in order to enable
him to eXtnguish the postofilce def
cit, is not attainab!e. 1t is too good
for American citizens.
Reciprocity as the next thing to free
international trade, would be the next
best thing in the world With rect
procity, fleets and armies might be
discharged, customs houses abandon
ed. taxes reduced to one-fith their
present enormity, and living expenses
turned back to the minimum cost OF
our great grandfather days. The rea-
son this country is superlatively pros
porous today is because OF the unham
percd reciprocity between the States.
Then why not a little reciprocity with
our good northern ncighbor: Why:
Because on Congress, politics and the
devil. How long will Americans be
bcguiled with the lie that we are
free country when we are governed
u a bcdlam Legislative body, many
OF the units OF which are incapable OF
looking much beyond the little cor
ncrs OF the nation in which their sew
eral districts are situated.
But this is not the whole OF the ugly
truth Many OF them are under the
influence and the pay directly or ndl-
rcctly OF the corporations that have
contributed to send them to Wash
ington. They are not the representa-
tives OF the people, but the attorneys
OF trusts who serve their masters by
robbing the people. How otherwise
could the United States be so long be-
hind the monarchics OF Europe and
Asia in the enjoyment OF cheap par