Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 136, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1904 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Secretai-y Wilson's annual report gives some enrious figures in an effort to bring within average comprehension the magnitude and value of the farm products of this nation. The farmers of the United States are now producing yearly commodities worth nearly $5,000,000,000. To most of us such figures really mean little. Our minds cannot grasp what they stand for. Only by comparisons can we get any definite idea of their meaning. The farm products of tiie last two years In the United States exceeded in value the output of all the gold mines of the world since Columbus discovered America. American farm products of the last year were worth lour times the value of air the minerals produced in this:country; three times the gross receipts of all the railways; six times the combined capital of alt onr national banks. With their corn crop alone American farmers could at once pay off the entire national debt, principal and accrued interest, and have nearly enough left to pay national expenses for another year.

The secrets of the Mormon endowment house may be revealed when the hearings In the case of Senator Reed Smoot are resumed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections. The opposition toSenator Smoot will attempt to show that the Mormon people in this ceremony renounce allegiance to the United States. The robes worn will be exhibited, and so far as possible there will be a reproduction of the ceremony itself. During the previous hearings all of the Mormon witnesses, including the apostles, refused to reveal the endowment house secrets, Insisting that they were bound by secret oath, but admitted there had been no change in the oath and ceremony since the foundation of the church. Now the opposition will produce witnesses who were once Mormons, but have renounced the church, three of whom have been through the endowmenthouse ceremony, one as late as 1898.

There Is a determined move among Republican leaders now in Washington to suppress and discourage all talk of tariff revision at this time. Only the most guarded statement* are being made by men known to he In favor of revising some of the tariff schedules. It is believed that the Republican House leaders will take up the question on the quiet soon after Congress convenes, however, and that if a feasible plan for revision can he devised and an agreement reached among themselves as to what is necessary and how it shall be done, President Roosevelt may then be advised and a special session of Congress called to carry out the program.

Second Assistant Postmaster General Sliallenger and his assistants are cleared of any suspicion of wrongdoing in connection with the award of railway mail contracts as a result of the investigation of his office recently completed. No illegal collusion has been found between any government official and the railway managers, but a recommendation may be sent to Congress as a result of this inquiry to effect changes in the method of awarding these contracts. There Is a wellgrounded opinion that the system of competitive bids should be Introduced so far as possible.

An extra session of the Fifty-ninth Congress immediately after tire adjournment of the Fifty-eighth in March is now known to be the wish of the President. lie will not insist upon it. but will make an appeal for it to the leaders in Congress. Aside from the tariff it is said that some special legislation for the Panama Canal strip will be necessary which cannot be considered at the regular short session. On the tariff question it is said the President lias declared that if there is to be any change in the Diugley act it should be made as soon as possible. The case known as the Fayerweather will case was decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in favor of the colleges. The case Involves a bequest of about $2,500,000, made to twenty different colleges by the late Daniel G. Fayerweather, a leather merchant of New York, who died in 1890, The will was attacked by Mr. Fayerweather, widow, and two nieces, fraud being charged. An earnest effort will be made at this session of Congress to secure tho enactment of laws for the better protection of the President. Two years ago both the House and the Senate passed bills with this object In view, aud the conferees agreed upon a substitute, which was adopted by the House. The Senate failed, however, to act upon it.

All toUi a session of Congress bring* to Washington anywhere from 3,000 to 5,00(V transients. The 500 Senators and Representatives bring with them several thousand camp followers, who have or hope to have government employment of some kind during the se*slon. There may also be noticed a distinct movement in this direction of representatives of special Interests of many kinds which need watching at the national capital while tha legislators are here.