The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
Said to BE the Favorite Measure, with
the Nfcarasuan Canal Bill second
and the sOIeo" Third Choice.
ARMY BILL HAS FRIENDS
AND MAY BE ONE OF THE I'M
PORTANT ACTS OF THE SESSION.
Stories Told by Statesmen Who Have
Returned to the Capitalize
apportionmeut Ratios.


representatives are arriving slowly for their
winters work. In conversation with them
one learns the comparative Importance
which they lay on the principal measures
pending before Congress. There is but one
general measure that the Republican lead
ers all seem TO agree will receive final
action at the coming session of Congress.
This is what is commonly known as the
shipping subsidy bill. The feeling in favor
of this piece of legislation is not confined
to senators and representatives represent
ing coast States, but includes. as well, many
of those from the interior. Some OF them
lay great stress on the Importance of the
Nicaragua canal to the present and future
interests of the country and insist that
this great project should be carried to COM
pletion by the government of the United
States But some of those who talk in
this fashion at the same time intimate
that the probabilities do not favor the
final passage of the canal bill at this ses-
sion. They talk vaguely of the necessity
of completing treaty arrangements with
the Central American republics of Mica
ragua and Costa RIGA before Congress shall
commit the United States to the construc-
|
if this sort Of sentiment prevails the canal
bill will go over until the next Congress.
In the same way nearly every one speaks
of the necessity of army reorganization,
but many of the legislators point out that
the present necessity for troops can be
supplied by continuing in force for a year
or two years the existing temporary law,
by which time, they argue, Congress will
be better informed as to the permanent
military requirements Of the country. So,
too in talking of the proposed bill to
tax colored oleomargarine some of the
members of both houses, while stating
their belief that some legislation is de-
| manded by the country, say they fear that
| the measure now pending will lead to such
| prolonged discussion as TO prevent final
action this winter. AS TO Senator Cullom's
| bill to strengthen the hands of the Inter-
| terstate-commerce Commission and widen
the scope of the law creating and con-
| trolling it, he alone seems to think that
| it has any chance of enactment into law
| between now and noon on the 4th day Of
March next. OF course every one says in
general way that this law should be wild
ened and the powers of the commission
/
not had the opportunity to examine into
| the merits and dement's of the Cullom bill
sufficiently to express any decided opinion
upon it.
| The result of all my conversations with
/ those who will be held responsible for the
| acts of Congress, whether for commission
| or omission, is that aside from the regular
| appropriation bills the only general meas
| ure that has a cinch upon becoming a law
| this winter is the shipping subsidy bill.
| The Republicans speak kindly of it and
| none of them has expressed doubt 10
| its ultimate passage. They speak kindly of
| the other general measures mentioned, but
| In regard to their ultimate passage doubt
is expressed by every one, not always as
| to the same measure, but always as 10
| some measure. In short, in the language of
| the gentlemen who journey to Bennings
| every day, where the fall races are being
run, the shipping subsidy bill is shot
| favorite," with the Nicaragua bill a good
| second choice, the oleomargarine bill third,
the army bill fourth and the rest nowhere.
The revenue reduction bill. of course, is not
| included in this list, for it is classed with
| appropriation and other necessary bills
| which are sure of passage.
I
The Democratic statesmen are coming
into town even more slowly than their Re-
| publican colleagues. 1t is hardly neces-
sary to state that they show no signs of
| hilarity or citation over the recent cam
paign and its results. However, they are
not hopelessly cast down, for. as one OF
them remarked, I'VE used to this sort
of thing" A Southern member. talking
of the result of Bryan's brace of cam
paigns for free silver and other things,
said it reminded him of story Col. "BilI''
Sterett, the newspaper philosopher of
Texas. who for several years was the chief
ornament of the Newspaper Row in this
city, used TO tell at Woodmont and other
places where statesmen and sportsmen
were wont 10 gather. Sterett said an old
negro in his neighborhood had captured a
'possum and prepared himself for a grand
'possum dinner with sweet potatoes and
gravy. While the 'possum was baking and
almost ready TO be taken off the fire the
negro. who had grown drowsy with watch
ing the pan, stretched himself out in the
shade of a tree close by and ere long was
fast asleep. Along came a second and
more enterprising colored man, also with a
weakness for baked 'possum. Seeing the
other asleep, he lifted the cover and saw
that the feast was ready for the table He
filled himself full of 'possum meat and
sweet potatoes. picked the bones and then
rubbed what was left OF the gravy on the
sleeping darky's mouth and fingers. This
done, he walked away. BY and by the
owner of the possum awoke, and to his
dismay discovered only the picked bones
of the feast. He looked at his hands, tast-
ed the gravy on the edge of his mouth and
suddenly exclaimed
wall. Dress ma soul. yere's my fingers
full O. possum an sweet p'tatoes an XIII
taste 'possum an sweet p'tatoes or ma
lips (here he smacked his lips with ar
imaginary relish). but I declar', OATS d.
most unsatisfactory 'possum I ever die
eat"
Private John Allen, OF Turpelo, Miss. the
funny story-teller of the HOUSE. and who
will serve his last session in Congress- thi.
winter. brings back with him = story thai
indicates that the free silver craze is dyins
out in Mississippi as well as the rest o,