Washington sentinel., 1900-11-24

marked out tor It. While Chalr-
man Hanna would be quite con-
tent il the Federal Legislature
should conhne its attention to the
Nicaragua Canal, Army reorgani-
cation and Steamship Subsidy bills,
there are some projects in which
many oil his political associates
have much greater interest.
Among these are the RIVER and
Harbor bill and the Pacific Cable
scheme. With an Overlooking
Treasury, money is, of course, no
object, and the only difficulty IS
that in the short time at the dispo,
sal Of Congress these schemes will
jostle each other to their mutual
destruction.
There is no doubt that the coun-
try is favorable to the construction
Of an isthmian canal, great as will
be its cost; but the Hepburn Mic
aragua Canal bill as it passed the
House is open to grave objections.
Along with this bill, and seriously
conflicting with 1t, is lying the
Hay Pauncefote treaty in the Sem
ate. The treaty was not pushed in
the late session because OF the
strong opposition to it and the fear
that it would arouse popular hos
tilitY in the Presidential campaign.
Now, however, Mr.. Mckinley re-
CARDS the verdict Of the ballot box
as triumphant vindication Of his
entire policy; and it may be as
sumed that he will urge the prompt
ratification Of the treaty. What
strengthens this view is the tact
that the treaty has been neither
withdrawn nor modified at the de-
mand OF its opponents. Should
the treaty be ratified it would be
necessary to essentially change the
Hepburn bill in its provisions for
defending the canal with American
fortresses and Tor subjecting it to
the absolute exclusive control of
the United States Government. AS
these provisions conflict With both
the Clayton Bulwer and the Hay
Pauncefote treaties, either the
Hepburn bill in its present shape
or the new treaty must fail. The
estimated cost OF the Nicaragua
Canal is SI4o, 900, 900, and the
country would be fortunate if the
expenditure should not reach
nearly double that sum from first
to last.
The River and Harbor bill was
also postponed in the late session
of Congress because OF the fear Of
swelling the expenditures OF the
Government too much on the
threshold oil a Presidential election.
But now the expansion ofthe coun-
try demands fresh Improvements
in means oil water transportation,
and the obliging engineers OF the
army are satisfied that some $751;
900, 900 could be judiciously ex-
pended next year for the purpose.
1t is not probable, however, that
Congress will appropriate such a
large amount, and the pariicipa-
tors in the divide may have to con-
tent themselves with $40, 900
Tor new Improvements, besides
$40, 900, 900 or so for current oper-
ations.
But by far the most obnoxious
and most extravagant scheme in
the list is Hanua's Steamship Sub
sidy bill. This, as has been dem
onstrated over and over again in
these columns, is simply a pro-
posed enormous rad on the public
treasury for the aggrandizement
Of wealthy ocean carrying COM
panieS. 1t is the crowning point
of the Republican policy for sys-
maticallV exploiting the mass OF
the people tor the benefit OF favor.
ite interests. In its latest phase
the scheme involves an expendi-
ture OF $4,000, 900 annually for
thirty years, or a vast total Of
S27o, ,ooo, 900.
During the late session Of Cor
gress Chairman Hanna promised
the eager prospective benehciar-
les Of the subsidy scheme that he
would have the bill passed before
the adjournment, and every
agency was employed to secure
the adoption Of the measure. But
he soon encountered a formidable
opposition from members OF both
Houses who did not feel safe IN
giving it their support. He was
plainly told that the passage Of the
bill would endanger the Republi-
can majority in the House; and so
he vas constrained to postpone
the Job till after the elections, But
now that his nower has arain heen