The evening times., 1899-12-29
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
For Rixern and narbor..-News

TOLlltGAD NOIEo AMI UOOSif.
comes from Cleveland, Ohio, that the busi-
ness interests of that community are
bringing pressure to bear in the right quar-
ters to reverse the decision of the Admfn-
istration forces not to permit a general
River and Harbor bill to get through the
House at this session. The Clevslandites
have projected system OF canals around
their city and they are said to be in no
mood to have their pet scheme held in
allegiance at the political behests OF the
| Administration. Representative Theodore
| E. Burton, Chairman of the Rivers and
Harbors Committee, lives in Cleveland. So
does Senator Hanna.
During the past week both OF these
gentlemen have been at home and thsir
townsmen, 1t is reported. have threatened
them with all sorts of political danger II
they obstruct river and harbor legislation.
1t is considered probable that Senator
Hanna will take advantage of this op-
portunity to strengthen himself in Cuya-
hoga county, where he is weaker than in
any other section of Ohio. because OF The
bitter and uncompromising war constant
ly waged against him by former Mayor
Mckisson, and that when he returns to
Washington next week he will use his in
fluence at the White House in favor Of
river and harbor bill.
OF course. il the President is converted
Chairman Burton will no longer oppose the
proposition, and it will go through the
House practically without opposition.
circumstance that is regarded as giving
credence to this report Is the presence in
the city of some Of the largest contractors
in the country who are interested In river
and harbor work. One Of them, New
Yorker, stated today that he had received
positive assurances from a business asso-
ciate at Cleveland that Senator Hanna had
recently been brought around all right"
and that the Senator had promised to lay
before President Mckinley the advisability
of Withdrawing his opposition, so that
Chairman Burton will feel free to let the
committee exercise its Judgment.
The Isthmian Canal.-Some of the pol
iticians think they discern in the so-called
Americanization OF the Panama Canal en-
terprise the fine hands CT Coils P. Hunt
ington and other transcontinental railroad
interests. The purpose, they say, is two
fold On the part OF the French syndicate
it is TO unload very unfortunate and i'm
practicable enterprise on the United States
at figure twenty times less than the
amount of French capital supposed to have
been squandered in the Isthmus by the
DeLesseps crowd. The other alleged pur-
pose is the defeat of any attempt that may
be made by this Congress to legislate in
favor Of the Nicaragua route
To fhjs eDd II is confidenfty eynacted
that powerful lobby will soon be organ
lied here ostensibly in favor OF the
American iZed' Panama Canal. The first
effort 1t is said, the lobby will make will
be either to prevent the Walker Commits
sicn from making report this year or to
discredit the work of the Commission.
The old bugbear OF the Clayton Bulwer
treaty is already being used as an argu-
ment against the Nicaragua route with
out reference to the comparative engineer.
ing difficulties Of the two routes. Who
will lead the fight in Congress in favor Of
the Panama scheme is not known. though
it is stated on good authority that one of
the Iowa delegation has expressed pref
erence for the Panama route and is willing
to look after the House end of the case.
Senator Morgan is beins depended upon |
by the friends Of the Nicaragua route to |
lead the fight for il in the Senate. II is |
made a preliminary report in favor OF |
Nicaragua, but in view Of the withholding |
OF the report from publication. and also |
in view of the fact that since it was made !
the Commission has been enlarged. nearly !
everybody is at sea as to what the final !
report Will be. Some members of the Com |
mission are said TO be yet in Paris making |
an exhaustive Investigation of the De Les
cps enterprise, and it is stated that not /
until this investigation is completed will |
the President ask the Commission to for
mulate its full report. II this is true. 1t |
is evident that the whole question will be |
held in allegiance for many months, unless
the advocates of the Nicaragua route are
strong enough to force it to the front.
The Fight ON Bynum.-It is report
ed that Senator J. X. Jones has been select.
ed TO lead the fight against the eonfirmas
tion of W. D. Bynum as the Democratic
member of the New York Board OF Ap-
praisers. Senator Jones, it is said, is acting
in compliance with the wishes of ma
jority of the Democratic National Commit
I