The evening times., 1899-01-30
GENERAL WASHINGTON
I, NEWS AND GOSSIP.


Poor OutioPk for River and Har-
bor Bill.-The friends of the river and
harbor appropriation bill hope to get it
up in the House this week, but even if
they succeed it is regarded as doubtful If
general appropriation bill for river and
harbor improvements can be passed at this
session. The Carter case blocks the way.
Before Congress votes another twenty or
thirty millions of dollars for rivers and har-
bors to be expended under the direction of
the War Department, there are a good
many Representatives who would like to
be Informed as to the system in vogue by
which millions may be stolen without be-
ing detected. Something is rotten some
where, they think, that makes such thing
possible and it ought to be looked into.
A resolution will be offered in the House,
it Is understood, calling for all the papers
in Captain Carter's case. The Admins
tfation, it is said will refuse to comply
with the request, although it is difficult to
see on what ground it can properly do so.
Unless the information is forthcoming
stubborn fight, it is understood will be
made against the passage OF any kind of
river and harbor appropriation bill.
The failure of Congress to pass river
and harbor bill at this session will cause
great deal of anguish in many a Con-
gressional district, and incidentally. it is
said that it will entail considerable loss
TO the Government itself, especially in
places where improvements have been
under way for some time and may have to
be suspended for lack of money to pay the
contractors. The most serious sufferers.
however, will probably be the poor con-
tractors, as most of them will have to
wait twelve months or longer before they
can gel the a1raa6U
III would be a startling state of affairs
II the holding UP of the Carter court-ma
tai case should result indirectly in the
stoppage of all public improvements Of the
rivers and harbors of the country.
Eiimunds and His Carter Fee
Judge Edmunds,' said prominent SEN
ator today, will have TO wait long time
before he can get the Senate TO approve
his claim of $1,000 and $500 expenses for
reviewing the papers in the Carter court
martial case. In the first place there was
no occasion to call Edmunds into the case
II Carter had been without any particular
influence he would have been wearing
stripes and doing time long before this
II the President had desired additional le-
gal advice he should have gone to his
Constitutional legal adviser. the Attorney
General. | observe that he has turned the
whole matter over TO the Attorney Gen
erai for an opinion, after all. So il would
seem that We are to be called upon 10 pay
Edmunds $500 for an opinion that was
not satisfactory. There has been quite
enough queer work about this Garter case
already, without adding the Edmunds So
500 straw
Mr.. Edmunds himself. were he mem
her Df the Senate wnuld ha he 6rc
to jump on such claim as the one he has
presented. During his term CT service in
the Senate he was almost as bad as Judge
Holman of Indiana in preventing raids on
the Treasury of the United States and he
ought not 20 object ROW if he is compelled
to take little of his own medicine. Aside
from any other consideration | think that
his bill is excessive. II certain friends
wish TO make up a purse for Edmunds
they, of course, will have right to do O.
II they do | should advise Ednlunds 10 take
it-thst is, if he wants to get his claim
paid
The Ohio Goveraorship.-The con-
test for the Republican nomination for
Governor of the Presidents State of Ohio
is getting exceedingly warm in spite of the
fact that the State convention which will
NNNAH' 'hV Liti'tti III Hut meet tOT lOuE or
five months yet. From present indications
1t promises to be the old fight between
Hanna and Foraker over again. only more
bitter If anything than IL has ever been
before. Hanna is disclaiming publicly any
intention of personally taking a hand in
the fracas, but the Foraker people think
that they know Hanna we'll enough by
this time 10 discount any protestations Of
| this kind that come from the Cleveland
boss. To a certain extent Senator For
akerS political future is involved in the
Ohio gubernatOrial contest this year IL
he and his friends are bowled over at the
State convention next June Foraker's seat
in the Senate viii be in danger Arrayed
on the Foraker side are John Sherman.
Governor Bushnell and his administration.
and all of the disappointed applicants for
office during the Mckinley regime. On
| the Hanna side are the President and all
| OF his supporters.
| 1t is pointed out that Senator Hanna is
| taking big risk to try to crush Foraker
| at this time. Even if he succeeds in nomi-
| mating an Administration man for COVER
| nor 10 succeed Bushnell the chances are
| that the bad blood engendered in the con-
| test might lose the State to the Repub l.
| cans in November. Republican defeat in
| Ohio next fall would it is believed. put p
| serious handicap on Mr.. McKin ey' S
| chances for denomination in 1900 Some
| conservative friends of Senator Hanna are
| advising him to go slow and POSTPONE the
| taking OF Foraker's scalp until more fay
| orable season arrives.
!