The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-10
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
Canal Legislation sidetracked.-A


Canal Legislation Sidetracked.--As
has been predicted by The Times all along.
the Republican majority in the Senate ere
afraid to let the Nicaragua Canal bill come
before that body for vote. Senator Nor
gan's optimism at last has deserted him. and
it is understood that even he now despairs
of the measure making any further prog
ress at this session. Mr. Hannas obstruc-
tive tactics in the Committee on Inter-
g Oceanic Canals have caused the bill to be
held up there. And it is generally be-
lieved that it will rest in the COM
mittee until the Presidential election is
over. Then, If it is apparent that the
Hanna Payne ship subsidy scheme will be
permitted to get through both the House
and Senate. Mr.. Hanna. acting for the Ad-
ministration and keeping faith with the
promises he Is alleged to have made to the
transcontinental railroad interests in re-
turn for liberal contribution to the CAM
paign fund, will allow the Nicaragua Canal
bill to come forth from the committee.
Whether the Administration would permit
| the bill to get this far on its passage is
considered doubtful by great many well
I informed persons. who are aware that the
( Hay-Pauncefote Treaty must have the
/ right of way over all canal legislation. 1t
! is thought possible that at the next session
the Republican managers, regardless OF
! the result of the election, will feel en-
boldened to force the ratification OF TINS
convention under the party lash; and. OF
course, if this Is done. an end Will be put
(; to all further hope of American inter-
! oceanic waterway. Still, it is believed that
I If Congress will give the special interests
concerned the big bounties provided for by
the Hanna Payne Ship Subsidy bill all OPP
position to the canal enterprise on every
pretext will cease and at the same time
the Administration will withdraw the Hay
Pauncefote Treaty. Harsh as this view oil
the matter may seem and as involved as
the general scheme may appear 10 tine
average intellect, nevertheless the state
ments here made are entirely consistent
| with the facts as they are understood by
men who for years have made 1t their bust
ness to keep close track of the relations
between national legislation and certain
lines OF the large commercial interests Of
the country. These are the men who com
prehend fully the meaning of Senator De-
pew's SO oft-repeated declaration that pol
itics is business and business is politics. y
| Roosevelt mt the White HOuse.-Tht
J Hon. Theodore Roosevelt drove from the
residence of his brother-in-law, Com
mander Cowles of the Navy, to the White
House at 1890 O'Clock yesterday morning
and. brushing hurriedly past all the
guards and doorkeepers. rushed impetu-
ously into the private office OF the Pre=i-
dent. Mr.. Mckinley was there. and is said
to have received the Rough Rider as if he
had been expecting him at that hour
Governor Roosevelt remained with the
President about thirty minutes. and. wher
he passed out of the Executive Mansion
obstinately refused to discuss with news
paper men the subject of conversation be-
tween him and Mr.. Mckinley. While the
| Rough Rider is as debonair as OF old and
moves about with his accustomed assur-
ance those who know him best insist ttat
there is something in his manner plainly
indicating that he is disappointed with his
reception in Washington at this time. 7 HIT
his coming has failed to create a sersa-
ton is evident from the small amount OF
space devoted to him by the newspapers
OF the country. II Roosevelt had come
here two weeks ago his every movement
would have been watched with interest and
every word he uttered would have beer
carefully reported. At that time it was
the intention of the machine managers &c
force him on the ticket with Mr.. Mckinley
but they are believed to have no such in
tention now. AS a national figure, there
fore. the Governor Of New York is al
present inconsequential. 1t is even cen
sidered entirely probable that he may moi
| again be nominated for Governor. The
Platt machine is known to be extremely
anxious to remove I'm from the chiei
place at Albany. This influence was push
ing him forward for the Vice Presidency
as the easiest way of getting rid of him
Now that the Rough Rider has eliminated
himself from the Vice Presidential prob.
lem it is thought that Mr.. Plat may CON.
clude to completely remove him from
further consideration as Presidential
possibility in 1904 by defeating him fol
the gubernatorial nomination. II is gen
orally believed that the chief object o
Roosevelt's visit to Washington at thi:
time is to plead with Mr.. Mckinley &
save Kim from Platt's vengeance.
Debs' Mission.-It is learned since hi!
departure that the real object of the Hon
Eugene Violence Debs recent visit t
Washington was to confer with. Samue
Gompers and other labor leaders at the
national headquarters of the American
Debs is the nominee for President of al
organization called the Social Democrats
He claims that his party more thoroughly
than any other political organization, rep
resents the interests OF labor. Based upor
this claim, he is demanding that all o.
the organized labor elements of the COun-