The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-10
SAYS BIlTAN HAS A CHANCE.
COL. LESTER THINKS LONG OR Doll
LIVER MAY RUN WITH M'F<INLEY.

willing o Get in Line on N Con-
kervstivc PIatfOrm-ChicaEo Plat
form WIZ Doubtless De Realfirmed
"a. n 11hoIe-'.Nou Can't Trust
These UrpubIicans with Money"
Col, LcsA6r's Comment on the Gu
ban PosttI situation.
Hon. Rufl,', Z. Lester is back az home
with his f,ispds. prepared TO take the
summer easy and enjoy rest after TIE
exciting sessron of Congress which has
lust adjourned. Col Lester arrived yes
terday mGrraag and was warmly greeted
He is look cg better than FOR several
gears and 4, evidently in the best Of
health and srarts.
When seen vy a Morning News reporter
Col Lester said he did not know what
he could SAP about the recent session Of
Congress. "Tou already know all that 1
can tell you" he said 1T was not a long
session. but there was a great deal OF
work. and az Imes there was considerable
excitement Yet the session did not ac-
complish a sJ-at deal. except in the way
of passing tTmense appropriation bills.
IT has been the most expensive legislative
session this country. or the world Tor
that matter, has ever known. The appro-
priations are away up in the hundreds Of
millions and exceed any thing of the kind
the country has ever known. The naval
appropriations bill alone carries $5600J.00
besides the cost of the eight warships
which the Secretary of the Navy is au-
thorized TO contract"
Col. Lester was asked about Senator
Tnlman's amendment to the naval ap-
proprlations bill, with reference to the
removal of the station from Port Royal to
Charleston.
"Tillman did not really care about the
removal of the naval station to Charles
ION" said the Colonel Personally, /
think he would rather have had the sta
ton remain at Port Royal. II was the
navy people who were responsible for
the amendment. They have always been
down on the Port Royal station; not
enough social attractions there l suppose.
Senator Tillmen saw that the station was
TO he removed and determined that II
should remain in South Carolina, and in
this he was successful
with the exception of the currency
bill. which was passed early in the ses-
sion" said Col Lester, but lite was
accomplished in the way of general leg
1SlatlOn. ne NltdraSudn canal OH NhH
passed by the House, and is now pending
before the Senate. II will not become a
law in It's present shape and the House
did not expect it would when it passed il.
1t simply desired to put the measure IN
the way OF passing. Most of the Demo
Gratis voted for il. I voted against IT.
agree with Burton of Ohio, and others,
that it would be the poorest kind OF bust
ness policy TO go ahead and build the
canal and then bargain with the countrlts
on both sides for conditions and priv-
seges. as the bin proposes TO do. The coll
ditions should be determined before aud
not after The Dill specifies one particu-
lar route while we have a Nicarasuan
. Canal Commission spending millions OF
dollars investigating the feasibility and
cost OF the several routes. We can afford
10 await the report of this commission
before taking action"
No river and harbor' bill was passed. but
Col. Lester had inserted in the emergency
bill a provision for the accumulation Of
the 2s-foot project for the improvement of
the Savannah river. This is the original
project of Gen. Gilmore which was after
wards modified by Capt Carter to 26 feet
Col. Lester regards the fact that in the
survey of the river which is now being
made by Capt. Gillette the south channel
is included as significant.
II know that Gen. Gilmore favored the
improvement of the south channel as the
better and straighter route" he said. The
north channel was at that time Savan-
nah's only route to the sea and to have
left il as it was and undertaken the i'm
provement of the south channel would
have left Savannah without a route to the
sea. With the small means at Gen. Gill
more's disposal the improvement of the
north channel was the only feasible plan.
1t would cost a great deal, no doubt, 10
improve the south channel, and with the
large sums which have been spent upon
the north channel the proba biities are that
il will continue to be Savannah's road to
che sea.
Col Lester said he did not think that
the unexpended appropriation for the
breakwster could be diverted for the i'm
provement Of the channel Whatever pro
jeet of further improvement is decided
uTon will require a special appropriation
by Congress. There is sufficient money
available for dredging to maintain the
present de tn.
As TO the political situation Col. Lester
said Bryan has a chance" When asked
what he meant by this he said that the
harmony which now prevails among the
Democrats of New York, as indicated by
the recent convention is a very hopeful
sign. To win Bryan must at least carry
New York, and with the restored har-
mcny among Eastern Democrats, duo to
tie rractical settlement OF the money
question, The many mistakes maze by the
Republicans in Porto Rico and the Fhil-
trpines and the corruption which has bee1
revealed in Cuba there is likely to be a
sufficient number of people who are tired
of McKinleyism 10 give New York and
other Eastern states to Bryan.
The Kansas city Convention win reaf-
firm the Chicago platform" said Col. Les
ter 1t might be better 10 take this plat
form and simply strike ont from il tine
objectionable features Sill there is the
greatest plenty OF good material for an
entirely new platform. a simple reafirma-
tion of the Chicago platform woulf prob
ably satisfy the Western Democrats with
out offending those of the East. The mon
ey plank will have great weight in the
East"
Col. Lester said that he thought a sim
pie assertion q the Democratic partv's
continued adherence 10 bimetallism would
be the wisest course, The money oues-
ton has practically settled itself" he said
"A rev years ago, ins cOmmCn with Bry-
an, Iowne and other leaders, I believed
that the entire production Of both gold
and silver was needed for the traussc ion
of the worlds business Since thor the
production OF geld has increased 8, great
ly that Il is evident that the SUNNY of
either gold or silver alone would be suf-
ncient for the transaction Of the
worlds business. As the gold s.n-
gle standard has already beon
adopted as the basis Of the country
fnsncia' system there is TO reason ne cor
CQu0it lens now ,str,,,..4 s....