The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-03

I-oNe nicaragua, known as the Nicara-
guam canal, has always heretofore been
the route to find favor in American eves
III mas been pronounced feasible by averv
person and commission that has exam.
lheo II. Work, however, is said to he
progressing on the old De Lessons canal
across the isthmus, but even its friends
say it will require $1O0, 900 900 to comnIetn
IT, or about the total cost of the Nicara-
goa canal The Walker commission
, ,iiaI mas t"lce inspected and reported ia
Foraple on the Nicaragua route has bAaD
sent TO perform similar work as to tba
Panama canal. The friends of the
nicaragua route denOunce this as intend
ed soIely TO defeat or at least indefinitely
de'ay, the construction of any canal
Whlch they assert must in the end adont
1E0t route II 1t Is to be successful in
operation. Representative Hepburn. of
iowa, chairman Of the committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce in the
mousse and Senator Morgan. chairman
VI Inc committee on the construction of
Tue Nicaragua canal in the senate, will
push bills for the Nicaragua canal.
The shipping subsidy bill that was in
troouced In the senate by Senator Han
ma and in the house by Representative
Payne, Of New York, but was not voted
upon will be introduced again in the
early stages Of the session It's object
as claimed by its sponsors, is the revival
OF our merchant marine upon the high
seas.
The Roberts case in the house. as the
movement to GUST the Utah representa-
tive is styled. still attracts much atten-
ton. So far as the movement is di-
rected against him because he is a Nor
mon 1t is idle. Under the constitution
and laws of the United States a Mormon
has the same right to sit in congress
that Christian or Jew has the same
right-no more, no less. So far as 1t
concerns his alleged practice of DO
lygamy it is a matter of proof as to the
facts and Of construction as to the law.
1t will, perhaps, be found that the case
Is rather against the state of Utah for
breach of the compact under which it
was admitted into the Union than against
Roberts. OF course, if it be found that
Utah has violated it's compact with con-
gTess Roberts seat will be vacated and
the opinion Of some good constitutional
lists.
The senate has its own troubles about
Seats Matthew Stanley Quay will pre-
sent himself with an appointment from
Gov. Stone, of Pennsylvania, made after
the legislature Of the keystone State
or somebody else as his successor. 1t
presents the old question of the right
of the governor of a state to appoint a
senator when the Legislature has had an
opportunity TO elect a senator to fill an
existing or prospective vacancy and has
refused or failed to do So The senate
has consistently refused in recent years
to seat a gubernatOrial appointee under
such circumstances. Quay is very pop
ular personally, but it is doubtful whether
this will cause anybody to vote for him
who would not do so anyhow. The
really doubtful factor in this case is the
view the new senator's will take Of the
matter. The senate, as rule, is great
stickler for precedent and all recent pre-
cedents have been against Quay's COD.
tention
Besides Quay, the senate may be called
upon the act as to charges against Sena-
tor Clark, of Montana, and Senator ITALIA
ferro. Their election by the legislatures
of their respective states is beyond dis
pute, but the claim is made in each case
that the election was brought about by
improper means. In the case Of Clark
the fight against him is waged by Mar
Gus DAILY and his agents; in that of Talia-
ferro, by former Senator Call, whom he
defeated for reelection. In Senator
Clark's case the animus Is purely per-
Eonal DAILY is a Democrat as well as
Clark There was a time when they were
friendly, but Daily grew jealous of Clark
when the latter began to forge ahead as
a financier and politician. and, as he Is
a famous hater, set out to block his am
bition at every turn. He succeeded in
1888 in defeating Clark for the house,
electing Tom Carter, now ClarKs col
league in the senate. He kept Clark IN
the background until last winter. The
legislature was Democratic, and after a
prolonged and bitter struggle Clark pull
ed through. His rival and enemy refused
to abandon the fight, and IS now seeking
to change it's venue to the senate He
will fail in his effort. Clark will be
seated and will serve out the term to
which he has been elected. He Is short.
slender man, dark eyes, brown hair, red
dish brown mustaChe and beard. He is
cultivated man and a great patron of the
fine arts, as was demonstrated when he
outb.d George Gould and other New York
millionaireS by paying $4,000 for
Fortuny's celebrated painting, Choosing
a Model" Senator Taliaferro, OF Florida,
whom his predecessor, Call. is trying to
keep out of his seat, is not personally
known in Washington.
There was no river and harbor bill
passed at the first session of the last con-
gress though one was put through at the
second session. The same plan may be
followed in this congress, but whether it
will be no one knows. Presidents may
veto it, but it is a vain exercise of the
executive prerogative. a vetoed river
and harbor bill slides through both
houses like a toboggan gliding down
creased way. An omnibus public build
ing bill comes in the same category. 1t
can't be beaten. Chairman Mercer, OF
the house committee on public buildings
and grounds, at the last session succeed
ed in passing such a bill providing for
sixty-siX buildings. costing $12,425,00O eX-
elusive of sS,000000 for a new custom
house in New York city, that being the
sum for which the old Wall street site
sold for, but inclusive of 81, 100000 for
new public building for the department of
justice in Washington, on ground owned
by the government.
There is renewed talk of creating a new
executive department whose head is to
be cabinet officer, to be designated as
the department Of commerce. There are
bureaus enough now assigned to the
treasury department, but which have no
necessary connection with it, to set the
proposed new department up in business.
There is also the usual talk of a new
White house or executive mansion. Vari-
Gus plans have been suggested. Mrs. Har-
rison, when occupying the White house,
prepared an elaborate plan for it's en-
largement on lines harmonious with its
architecture and surroundings Other
plans involve the abandonment of the
present structure as a place of residence
for the president and his family, and it's
use as an office, the president to be
housed elsewhere. This would probably
be done were it not for the intrigues OF
local real estate men, who see a tremen-