Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-02-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.

its place as the absorbing topic OF
consideration 10 Congress and with the
public. The efforts 'of Republican
leaders to suppress the agitation by
asserting that there will be no time
for consideration by this Congress
have utterly failed. President Taft
rejects this suggestion and sturdily in
sists that the question be brought to a
vote. AS an evidence OF his fixed
purpose the President and Mccall Of
Massachusetts friend Of the measure
introduce bill in the House embrac-
ing the reciprosity agreement. He
was not willing to entrust the cause
he holds so importan ito Payne the
regular Republican leader who is
known to be hostile, though he has not
ventured to openly declare his opposi-
ton. The commercial organizations
Of the staths are raIlyinq to the sup.
port of the President with resolutions
endorsing the agreement and demand.
ing a vote. Not only are the towns
and cities declaring for the ratification
Of the agreement but many country
districts are coming to the front in its
behalf. If this meaaure should fail,
President Taft, it is believed, will call
an extra session Of Congress and then
the whole tariff question will be open
for consderation-a situation that is
extremely y embarrassing to thebenehci-
aries Of the Payne.AIdrich bill.
+. An energetic effort is under
way to secure in the
Claims committe a reconsideration of
the vote on which in the committee
last week the omnibus claims bill was
laid on the table. Some members Of
the committe we're absent and hgura-
tive ly speaking were caug ht as Ieep at
the switch h when the motion was made
to table the bill, scotching it for this
session, unless a reconsider alton was
had. Advocates of the measure be-
leve that the reconsideration will be
obtained before the end Of the session
and that the bill will pass,
The Rules committee in the next
House will be composed Of six Demo
Gratis and four Republicans, reversing
the trpay complexion of the committee
in this House. According to the
Democratic decree for the next House
the Ways and Means committee mem
bers cannot be members OF other
committees. Accordingly Oscar W.
Underwood, who is to be chairman
Of the Ways and Means committee
and Lincoln, Dixon, Of Indiana, will
not serve on the Rules committee
Only three Of the present six Republi-
can members Of the Rules committee
we're reelected to Congress--DalzeIl.
Lawrence OF Massachusetts, and S.
c, Smith, Of California.
The Commerce Committee Of the
Senate has completed the River and
Harbor bill which will be taken up
in due season and passed. Through
out Congress there is a growing feel
ing that there should be an annual
River and Harbor bill and both com
mittees stand pledged to this policy
which has been the slogan of the
National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress, since its organization more than
ten years ago. The River and Har-
Dor bill it is believed will be perfected
in Conference to guarantee its approv-
al by President Taft.
According to current report of the
U. S, Geological Survey. Pennsylva-
MIA proruces more coal than any other
country in the world, except Great
Britain, In fact Pennsylvania's coal
production exreeds the combined pro-
duotion Of all other countries Of the
world outside Of Great Britain. Ger.
many and Austria.Hungary, The
state pHaduced last year 219.025,950
tons, valued at S279,501,0 ,048. The
aggregate value was nearly evenly
divided between anthracite and btu.
minous coal.