The age-herald., 1898-12-16
GOSSIP FROM THE
 NATIONAL CAPITAL
BY ARCHIBALD y. Rurr


 be unusually large one. There was no bill at the last session nor in the last con- gress and there is already much log rolling going on in anticipation of the one which will be framed at this session.
 Representative Bankhead, a member of the committee. said yesterday in discussing this bill:
 "There will be bill reported to the house but whether it will be passed by congress I cannot say. Some of the appropriations asked for are unusually large, but these will be, in most cases, scaled down some, I imagine. Some of the rivers in the south need improvements badly and it will be my effort to see that they are cared for in the forthcoming bill. believe that the im- provements of our waterways Is one of the most important functions of the govern- ment in the internal improvement policy. The deepening of channels, the making of dams and locks and building of canals all tend to aid in the reduction of burdens and bring near to the center of the great marts of the trade of the world many dis tricts which would otherwise have little communication with the thoroughfares of life Then it cheapens rates of railroads
 
 'At one time it was said that man had no right to tear up the rocks and stones which were put in the river beds and have heard 1t argued that but for some of these Instructions some cities would never have been built. It was looked upon as the basest ingratitude on the part of Louisville for instance when that city expressed the desire to have canal built around the falls in the Ohio river Some thought at the time that it was almost impius, when it was considered that had not the falls of the Ohio river existed there would probably have never been any Louisville at all The city was born practically for the purpose of unloading vessels above the falls and carrying the cargo below the falls and visa versa. No vessel coming from New Or- leans could pass those falls and while this obstruction gave employment to thousands of stevedores still Louisville by means of the canal has reached magnitude that it would never have done without it. Other rivers have become navigable which were otherwise almost closed to the world.
 NO, l think the time has past when there is any prejudice against improving rivers and harbors, but I remember when every bill almost of this character was fought, and, as men thought from princi- pie. Nothing shows the advancement from this period as does the unity of sentiment regarding the construction of the. Nicarag- tan canal. Here We propose to unite by an artificial waterway the two great oceans of the world. The building of this canal will emphasize the necessity of deepening and improving the harbors in the gulf and also of making navigable the smaller in- terior waterways"
 A very determined effort is going to be made to get a big appropriation for the Tennessee river. The men interested have gone about 1t in the right way. They have gotten every one interested in the project who will, in any way, be benefited by the Improvements proposed. General Wheeler has taken the matter in charge and will push the appropriation in congress. The members of the Alabama delegation say that the sum asked will be credited to Tennessee and will not affect the appropria- tions asked for the other improvements in the state of Alabama.
 Those who ask for this improvement want five million dollars for the lower part of the river and nearly a million for the up- per. This is pretty big sum to charge to Tennessee, and those who have the Cum berland at heart will doubtless make a vigorous protest and see to it that Alabama gets credited with it's share.
 The improvement of the Cumberland is as important as the Tennessee, to those who do not live on the Tennessee, and they are prepared to push the matter about as viz orously Governor-elect McMillin has turned to this session with the avowed pur- pose of seeing that the Cumberland is not lost in the shuttle, and he will have back of him a number of men who will help him in the matter.
 The delegation who came here to look after the interests of the Tennessee in East Tennessee and in Alabama made a strong impression on the committee, and will un- doubtedy get a big appropriation, but hardly six million at one shot.
 Senator German Is usually very correct in his prognostications regarding the work to be done by this or that session. He says he thinks the Nicaraguan bill will be passed; the army bill finally enacted, and the gen. eral appropriations made this winter. Be- yond this he doubts if any other measure, unless 1t be some set of laws for the gov- ernment of Hawaii, will get through con- gress.
 In the senate, which has the exclusive right to ratify or reject treaties, he does not look for that body to do more than ratify the treaty signed at Paris.
 He thinks this alone will occupy nearly all the time of the senate in executive ses. sion. The Canadian joint high commission Is still at work Should 1t complete its la- bors soon and present a treaty to the sen- ate it will hardly be acted upon before the regular session.
 There will be a bitter fight on the army bill, but the general opinion among both democrats and republicans is that it will be enacted into law at the present sess sion, and taking effect immediately, the army will be increased to the number ale lowed by the bill as rapidly as possible. The committee is very much divided at present, but before congress adjourns fot the holidays 1t will have settled upon some