The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-15
ADV0CATINGTHECANAL
MORGAN BEFORE INTER-
ST1TE COMMERCE Committee.
fhc Raum Pension Invcstlgation-Tho
Norfolk and Western Extension Con-
Ercssional Proceedings.
TINES BUREAU. RAPIFY BUILDING,
WASHINGTON Dec Ia 1909


oae would have scarcely known that
Congress was in session. There were
scarcely half a hundred visitors in the
galleries. the corridors were deserted, and
at no time during the morning hour was
there a quorum in the House, but nobody
raised the question, and business went on
as usual.
senator Morgan, Of Alabama, appeared
before the House Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce. and for
more than an hour and a half made
strong speech in advocacy Of the Nicara-
qua canal. Several of the members Of
the committee who We're seen after the
adjournment spoke highly of the effort
OF Senator Morgan, and Mr.. Wise, chair
man Of the committee, said that the
speech was full Of very valuable informa-
tion. which would greatly serve the COM
mittee when the bill, now being prepared
Tor the Senate. should reach the House
Air. Bryan the Democratic member OF
the House from Nebraska. with several
gentlemen from his State. have been in
consultation for a day or two with Sena-
tors German and Carlisle. OF course, the
talk was relative TO the SenatOrship from
that State, which has now resolved it.
self into a regular pitched battle between
Democrat and Republican. while the
serene and unsophlisticated POpulists
sit silently holding the balance Of power,
as undecided what 10 do with it, as
timid boy left 10 hold fiery horse The
Populists of the West, however, hold
several measures in common with the
Democrats, and lean toward making
fusions with them. Mr.. Bryan said,
whatever the result may be you can
rest assured that the next Senator from
Nebraska will be nti-Republican." He
added. individual ambitious will have
10 give way 20 party interests" which
being interpreted means, that Mr.. Bryan,
who had the Democrats been dominant
would have been made Senator, realizes
that some one beside himself must be
the compromise with the POpulists.
Naval Constructor Bowles was before
the House Naval Affairs Committee, and
advocated the passage Of a bill authoriz-
ing the Secretary of the Navy TO pur-
chase for S20J000 the tract Of land known
as Cedar Grove lying opposite the
Norfolk navy-yard. The same request
was made last session, without results
and the committee took no action In re-
gard 10 il yesterday.
For a long time there has been pending
fCfore the Committee On the District OF
Columbia q bin granting the NCrfoik and
Western railroad the privilege Of coming
into the District and city of Washington.
The proposed line is from RivertCn 20 this
citv. The other railroads now coming
here ere opposed to the passage Of the
lu. and as some Of them have attorneys
who are members Of the House, It looks
se II the bill was in rather a bad pre-
dlc.meut Mr. John j. Hemphill is chair
man Of the committee, and Mr.. Mere
dIta. tla member from Virginia, is serving
Oh d. Mr.. Lester, of the Fifth district
is also Interested in the success OF the
m4lsure, and, during Mr.. Meredith Ill
ness, is attending 10 1t for him. Ihere
is no Goubt that the other railroads. py
their agents here have succeeded IN
working up considerable opposition to the
bill in the District Committee,
CONGRESSMAN EnlOe has offered reso-
luton I'm the House, setting apart Iues-
day. the 10Th instant, for the consldera-
ton Of the report Cf the special COM
mittee that investigated the charges
AGAINST Pension Commissioner Raum'
The committee was Of the opinion that
Nr. Raum should be removed, ana Wheh
the matter comes up there is sure TO be
some very interesting speeches on the
subject.
The confirmation by the Senate OF eX.
Congressman Louis Il. McComas, OF
MARYLAND TO be associate justice OF the
Supreme Court of the District or Coluih-
bia. d life position, is meeting with some
OPPOSITION. but the idea prevails that ne
will certainly be confirmed.
Mr.. McComas was the congressman
whose pernlcious activity in the passage
Of the Force bill made him notorious,
and who served during the last cam
t,ign as secretary to Chairman Carter.
During the last few weeks OF Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration he made similar
appointment for Vice Presidont-eleCt
Stevenson The Republicans in the Senate
refused TO confirm him, on the grounds
that when a vacancy occurred, in NE
time position so near the close Of an ad-
ministration the appointment should
await the new executive. The Democrats
now use the same argument, but are only
met with bland little smiles at their own
credulity. Mr. McComas has been too
partisan 10 be neglected, and, judging
from his record, his aid would not be lost,
even on the bench. Several petitions have
been raised from his district, declaring
that his lack of legal attainments should
be an effectual bar to his confirmation.
The gentlemen who are running the
Government are getting mighty cross and
pstulant these days, and, If everybody
did not know how anxious they all are
10 lay aside the mantle of responsibility,
10 be relived from the heavy burdens
that are entailed upon him in watching
the governmental wheels go round, some
one might suspect that they wre trihe
put out at the thought Of being entirely
put out Some folks might think that
they did not have any homes to go to.
no business TO pursue, no profession TO
prosecute no friends TO welcome them,
no abiding place at all, and really from
the appearance Of some of them 1t would
De wise for the Government TO have |
sign posts put up. SO they could find |
thelr way home in the spring. The quin- |
esence OF curtness was displayed in |
note received a few days ago by a Virgin |
itn. v ho was perfectly innocent Of any in |
teatiOn TO do anything but get an office. |
He came around 10 see me with q copy |
Of his letter and the reply, but l will |
DO, give his name, as II might embarrass |
tim with the incoming administration.
Ills letter read: Dear Sir-I heers that |
there IS plenty Of offisis now fur all them
mat has been all the time fur Mr.. Cleve-
.and aginst any body else. l is always
Deen a democrat as I'm heerd um say
up heer from 'tremlin toe TO shiverin
crown" The crops this year was nuthin
an i aint done no plowin this fall, as
lhey tell me you pays more fur stedy |
lands then / makes good ears, and If the
dfout comes / don't get enuff 10 feed hogs
with. 1 hope you kin give me the ferst
Fakincy j kin fill II alrite, an don't want
10 rent this place no longer then the
ferst OF the ear"
i could see no harm in that: a little
Premature, perhaps. but / was in South
SIDE Virginia myself this summer. and
really believe, now, that the man was