The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-18
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-THE river and
harbor bill has been placed in grave
jeopardy by the Senate amendments adding
to it the S115, 600 Nicaraguan Canal bill
on top of a previous addition of $2,000,000 to
the cash appropriations and $40, 900 to the
continuing contracts. The entire bill will
carry about s175,OOO,OOO If it goes through the
House in the form it will leave the Senate.
That magnificent total may break the back
of the bill and leave it in the scrap heap at
the end of the session. If it should meet
that fate there would be open rejoicing
among economists of the Cannon type, and
only formal mourning among greater num-
Der who are for a canal, but doubt the wis
dom of getting a bill through Congress in
the manner proposed. The House managers
of the river and harbor bill will make a
desperate struggle to shake off the canal
rider believing it to be a fatal handicap.
Some members of the House hold that the
defeat of every canal plan now pending be-
fore Congress will enhance the prospect for
the construction of canal and advance the
day of actual work on the waterway any
where from six months to five years. They
hold that there is nothing in the Hepburn
| bill or any other pending bill which in
gotiate with Nicaragua and Costa Rico for
| the acquisition of the right of way for the
canal, and that he will be in better pozaa !
ton to deal with those governments If Itft
entirely untrammeled. There is prevailing
| belief that the administration strongly fa-
| VOrs the Hepburn bill or something like IL,
| but it is observed that close friends of the
| President in Congress occupy opposite sides
on the question. General Grosvenor is prac-
| tically the only strong administration man
in the House who goes to the extent OF
wanting to break down all rules and prece-
dents in order to secure the passage OF a
canal bill In the Senate those who are
recognized as the administration group gem
orally favor the passage of the Hepburn
bill, which will strongly commit the govern
ment to the building of a canal and which
practically instructs the President to deal
with the Central American governments for
a right of way =
The twenty -mfion-dollar appropriation to
pay Spain for the Philippine islands is In
no danger of failure. Mr.. Bailey, Demo-
cratic member of the House committee on
rules, gracefully settled that matter by an
nouncing this afternoon that the COMMITTEES
would bring in a rule for consideration of a
special bill appropriating that amount and
that the House need have no fears about
the measure. He did this to quiet the nerv-
| BUSINESS on the Democratic side OF the cham-
| ber. Apprehensions had arisen among DEM
ocrats that they were going to be placed IN
a false position of opposition to the apPro-
priation Two bills were introduced to-day
to pay Spain the S2O,000.OOO provided for in
the Paris treaty. One. by Representative
Cannon, is in the terms of the provisions
of the paragraph which was eliminated from
the sundry civil appropriation bill. This
other was introduced by Representative Gill
lette, of Massachusetts, and in addition to
the appropriation contains a second section
substantially in the language of the Nc
Emery resolution passed by the Senate. The
third section is the same as the Bacon reso-
luton offered as an amendment to the Nc
Emery resolution, and which was defeated by
a tie vote in the Senate.
There was a pronounced movement in the
! Senate to-day looking to compromise on
the army reorganization bill. The movement
originated with several Republican senator's.
who advanced the opinion that a compro-
mise was preferable to an extra session OF
Congress. The Cockren bill was accepted
by them as the first advance on the part
of the Democrats toward an understanding,
and many felt that they would go farther
in that direction in case the Republicans
should indicate willingness to meet them
half way. The movement grew wholly out
Of the desire to avoid special session and
was participated in by some Of the Repub-
Iican leaders. When the matter was brought
to the attention of Senator Hawley, chair
man Of the committee on military affairs,
he gave it no countenance whatever, declar-
ing that he was not willing to yield any
thing. He was critical of the Cockrell bill,
finding especial fault with its provisions fon
natives of the new possessions in the Amer
lean army. He announced his purpose to
stand by his notice to call up the bill re-
ported by the Republican members and in-
sist en- consideration on that basis. and that
only. Other Republican members Of the
committee did not appear so decided. Sena-
tor Proctor, who does not support the House
bill is expected TO return to the city to-
morrow and there will then be a majority
OF the committee antagonistic to the bill.
The Democratic senators generally assume
an appearance Of Indifference, but the indi-
cations are that they will make some con-
cessions. 1t may be stated. therefore, that
while no compromise has been reached. good
progress has been made toward reaching one.
Hon. VIII Cumback. of Indiana, will be
disa ppointed in his latest aspiration for ap-
pointment as deputy commissioner OF inter-
nal revenue. The office is in the classified
service.
Representatives Overstreet Burton and
others who have urgent building bills on
which the committee Of the whole has re-
ported favorably are struggling vigorously
to persuade the committee on rules 10 give