Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-10

grow so interesting that none of the Sena-
torial candidates will be able to keep away
| from the electric light where all but one are
certain to be singed.
Senator Quay says that, Notwithstanding
the reports, he did not think that there
! would be anything but the usual friendly
friction, which was no more than a gener-
Gus rivalry as to who should get position,
| when there were more candidates than
| places as to the Speakership. He had
taken no part in the contest He was
friendly to all Of the candidates They had
made their own canvass, unsssisted by him
| in any way. As matter of fact, it looked
as though success lay between Thompson,
of Warren, and Walton, of Philadelp hia,
but that, also, was hearsay to him, for he
had taken no personal hand in the matter.
Senator Quay said he would probably go
over to Philadelphia for a few days, when
the holiday lull came in Senatorial work,
but at this time he had no intention OF
taking any part in the organization contest
at Harrisburg.
Joe Sibley Talked of by Griswold.
Representative Griswold, of the Erie
Crawford district, made his first appearance
of the session in the House this morning,
his coming being delayed by private affairs.
his district was one of the most remarkable
ever waged in the history of the State, and
that the majority for Sibley is one that de-
moralizes the Republican party of the dis
trict more than can be estimated. When q
member of the Standard Oil Company could
command the support of the anti-monopoly
element; when he was also millionaire,
and could command the support of the labor
and agricultural element; when he was also
a Prohibitionist and could get the whisky
vote, and as a Democrat could command
many Republican votes, there was little use
Of talking about party.
Mr. Griswold speaks of Mr.. Sibley, the
member-elect, as a very clever and agree
able gentleman, who will be well liked by
his associates in Congress, and does not
think he will be an extreme Democrat.
Good Prospects for the Erie Canal.
A member of the Committee. on Railways
and Canals of the House said to the corre-
spondent of The DISPATCH to-day that
while he could only speak for himself, and
therefore did not wish to appear as reflect
ing any of the views of the committee, he
would use his utmost endeavo- to have bills
reported providing for the surveys asked
for ship canals around the Niagara Falls on
the American side to tidewater on the
Hudson, and from Lake Erie to
the Ohio at Beaver, a bill for the
latter having already passed the Senate
He recognized and he believed the commit
tee would recognize the vast and pressing
importance of these projects at this session
in time for action. The sum asked for was
so small that even in this time of necessa-
rily close economy there would be no ex-
cuse for refusing it With careful surveys
made, the great question of beginning the
work could be taken up when the condition
of the treasury improved so far as to war
rant it.
While he looked upon the Niagara Falls
canal as a matter of imperative necessity
for international commercial reasons, and
he thought it should be constructed in pre-
ference to all others, there was no reason
why the Erie and Ohio should not be in
process of construction at the same time.
He sincerely believed some action would be
taken by the House looking to the surveys.
No Money for Rivers and Harbors.
A member OF the Committee on Rivers
and Harbors said to-day: 81 suppose it is
all right for members to have reports made
IN regard to river and harbor improvements
in their districts, to introduce bills for new
improvements, etc. 1t helps them and does
not hurt anybody else. But if they expect
any practical good to result from them at
this session they are very foolish and might
as well save themselves ali trouble There
will be no appropriations for breakwaters,
or dykes, or dams at this session, and some
of my Southern friends, and perhaps some
Northern ones, who made promises during
the campaign for appropriations for river
Gnd harbor improvements, which they
ought tc have known would not be pro-
vided fer at this session, deserve to be
thoroughly hauled over the Goals by their
deceived constituents"
The proposition to appoint a permanent
commission, or as nearly nom
partisan as may be, like the Civil Service
and Interstate Commissions, to examine
as rapidly as possible into all pensions al
ready granted and to investigate every new
application far pensions and pass upon it
before it is granted, seems to many to be
the only way to reform the pension sys-
TEN. To repeal any of the laws already
enacted, no matter whether too loose
or too liberal or otherwise, is
thought to be next TO impossible
Therefore, the only thing remaining is to
make a rigid search for the tens of thou
sands OF frauds which are believed to be on
the rolls, strike them off and take steps
which will absolutely prevent fraud in the
future. Any method by which this can
possibly be accomplished will doubtless not
only receive the sanction of Republicans
and Democrats alike in Congress, but it
will have the Endorsement of every veteran
soldier on the rolls who is honestly entitled
to his pension.