The herald., 1897-10-31
Will Not Begin in the Near
Future
ALGER NOTHING IF NOT Willy
AND HE DOESN'T PROPOSE TO BE
HURRIED
Friends of the Harbor Will Try to
Hasten Matters With Resolu-
tion of Inquiry

Special to The Herald.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 3O-There
is not even a remote probability that
work on the San Pedro harbor will be-
gin before congress meets, but if some
forward step is not taken before then,
resolution of inquiry will be introduced
in congress and directed to Secretary
Alger to know why he has not complied
with the provisions of the law relating
to the Southern California harbor. But
little thing like a resolution of con-
gress has no terrors for the versatile
Alger He has been in public life too
long to have any fears of resolution o.
inquiry. 1t is only necessary to have
few able friends on the floor of congress
to delay and maybe ultimately defeat
the most stringent resolution of in
quiry, and Mr.. Alger we'll knows this
Alger is a willy creature, and as resource
full as they make 'em these days. He's
nothing if not trickster, and if matters
ever came to show down, he could
doubtless give Magician Keller cards
and spades and beat him in the art Of
deception
Secretary Alger's latest dodge was
fully explained in my dispatch to The
| Herald several days ago. He resorted
| to new scheme for delaying the harbor
work only when all other subterfuges
fell to the ground. The position he has
taken in this matter is SO palpably er-
roneous, and the defenses he has brought
transparent and weak that he is COM
PEELED to change his tactics constantly
in order to allay adverse criticism. The
excuse now offered by the secretary will
certainly be cast to windward when he
reads the remarks of Senator White in
defense of the river and harbor law.
Meanwhile it will be interesting to keep
one eye on the vacillating Alger and see
what his next move will be.
THE NEXT SESSION
Congress will reassemble in about four
weeks from now and the wheels of legi.s-
lation will again be in motion. This is
likely to be busy winter in Washing
ton, as there are many matters of vital
Importance to the country scheduled for
consideration. The first important meas
ure on the tapis is the treaty of annexa-
ton of Hawaii. This will be disposed of
in short order if the plans of the annex
ationists are carried through. Liliuo-
kalani and her friends of the sugar trust
will attempt to thwart annexation but
there is no certainty that their efforts
will be successful.
BANKRUPTCY BILL
The bankruptcy bill is another import
was passed by the house last session,
but was hung up in the senate. The
probability is that it will be passed with
out serious opposition.
CUBAN QUESTION
The Cuban question will be brought
to tha fOrefront SO soon a c the cpea kar,s
gavel announces the opening of the
Fifty-fi fifth congress. Several resolu-
tions pertaining to Cuba are now pend
ing in both branches of congress, and
they will be brought from their resting
places before the passing of many weeks
Senator Morgan, who is recognized as
Cuba's most earnest supporter on the
floor of the senate, has heralded his in
tention of whooping it up for Cuba as
long as Spain continues her barbarous
warfare. 1t certainly is probable that
a resolution granting belligerent rights
to the Cubans will be passed by congress
before the Christmas holidays. Several
belligerency resolutions have passed the |
senate at different times, but they never
got beyond the committee on foreign |
affairs of the house. Chairman Hit of |
this committee is most conservative
individual, and he will not allow any.
thing antagonistic to a foreign power
to come before his committee. How I
ever, the committee members may dis
regard the will of their chairman and |
ride roughshod over him if he continues
to hold up these Cuban resolutions. A
poll of the house taken shortly before |