The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1913-07-04
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Washington. d. c.. June so. 1918.

|
livered his message. This time his sub
lect was currency legislation, and in a
torceiul. convincing and vigorous man
ner, the President gave his views on cur
rency legislation and strongly endorsed
the bill which has been framed by his
Democratic colleagues in Congress.
The people OF this country appear to like
the Presidents way of delivering his
messages to Congress When it was
first announced that he would break a
precedent that had been in existence for
more than one hundred wears and per-
sonally appear before Congress to de-
liver his message, il was feared that the
people might resent such a course. The
situation, however. At the present time is
different a vast majority of the people
Ike this way Of doing things better than
they die the Old haCkneyed way of the
President writing his message in the
White House, and then sending it down
to the Capitol to be read. As is very
well known, little or no attention was
paid to the reading of the Presidents
message. The attitude taken by Pres-
dent Wilson and his administration has
considerably aroused the financial situa-
ton. According to reports from all over
the cou-try, the financial market is much
stronger and better today than it has
been for many weeks, and it is believed
that this steady Improvement will con-
| tinue. While the United States Senate
is considering the Democratic Tariff Bill,
! the House of Representatives will have
under consideration the currency egisla-
ton. and it IS expected that. when the
! tariff bill is finally passed by the Senate,
! the Currency Bill will be passed by the
| House and then sent to the Senate.
| These two measures will be passed dur
! ing the extraordinary session Of Con-
! gress and will be the only two problems
To be solved at this session. All other
| promises and policies Of the Democratic
party will be put through during the reg
ular session which will begin on the first
| Monday in December next.
The people of the District of Columbia
were particularly interested in a decision
which Yves recently handed down by the
United States Supreme Court. The
Federal Civil Rights Act was pronounced
unconstitutional by the United States
| Supreme Court. The opinion was unan-
lmous. 1t was read by Judge Van De
Vanter. This decision removes the last
slender barrier sanding between the ne.
! groes and discrimination in the matter OF
| public utilities. It was the only legisla
tive thread upon which they could CON
! tend Tor equal Accommodations when traV-
cling by train and boat. in seeking hotel
| quarters, in desiring to be served in res
taurants, drug stores and other places
and III demanding other equal privileges
! with white persons. Some years ago the
Supreme Court held that Congress had
exceeded in powers in passing the Civil
Rights Act, and declared that so far as
il interiered with the rights of a State it
was ,'repugnant That opinion in real
ity left the act operative aloS<aS far as
it concerned the Distk-rs~of Columbia,
the various territories aud the high seas
The cases at issue involved extending the
Civil Rights Act tc, the high seas, and
this the court refused to do. Mary f.
Butts, a negress, bought a tirst-class
ticket on the Metchants and Miners
transportation lines from Boston to Nor
folk. She went from Boston on one boat
and returned from Norfolk on another
vessel of the same line. During the
round trip it was claimed that she had
twelve times been denied equal accom-
modations under the Civil Rights Act
She brought suit TO recover $4,000. She
had been refused the same sleeping ac-
commodations and also was denied the
right to the same meals as the white pas
Sengers, and was required TO take her
meals at a second table and to sleep on
the lower deck In Washington City
more than one-third of the population
consists of negroes. They have as
sumed to possess equal rights with the
white persons under the Civil Rights
Law For years the rule here has been
that if negro seated himself ia fash
ionable eating house, and gave an order
he was very politely informed that
small steak would cost him $50. Under
the recent opinion the negro will be
plainly advised that his trade is not de-
sired. No subteriuge TO avoid serving
him will be necessary hereafter, either in
Washington or elsewhere.
The leaders OF the House are begin
ming to fear that Congress may SIT
through until next summer The date
OF adjournment appears to be right up to
the Senate
The House of Representatives has dis
posed Of the Tariff Bill Early next
week the Currency Bill will be laid be.
fore the committee. and it is believed that
the members will spend two weeks in
deciding to report i, favorably without
any vital changes. 1t is believed that it
will then be put through the caucus.
About two weeks Of debate will follow.
The bill should be on its way TO the Sen
ate by August
The Tariff Bill will probably be brought
from the committee 10 the Senate next
Monday An almost interminable de-
bate is expected TO ensue. The only
way to choke it of is by keeping the Sen
atOrs in their seats from 10 O'Clock in the
morning until ii O'Clock NJ night
This is the plan of the Senate leaders.
! hoping to break the issue of oralory by
wearing out the Senators. The date Of
| the passage OF the bill is probematcal,
but after il is passed it must be taken TO
! conference, where at least two weeks
| probably will be consumed in straight
/ ening out differences
! If the bill is passed by the latter part
| Of August the debate on the Currency
Bill will begin. If the representations
| OF the optimistic members are realized
| CONGRESS- may adjourn by October 18th.
| but II the oratory runs rampant this ses-
sion is expected to run into and lap the
regular session which begins in De-
| cember
The plan for dlssolving the Union Pa
| cilic and the Southern Pacific Railroad
merger, which Attorney General Nc
Reynolds, with the approval OF President
Wilson, has agreed upon with the of.
ficials of the railroads was presented to
the Federal Court at Saint Paul. Mime.
sofa, on Monday last
/ lr.t Il