The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-01
Is NOT BECAUSE OF lBSR1TsH.S
sTEsSRS. TAwNEY AND GROSvENOR
WILL ROTH BE IN WASH
INGTON
POWERFUL INTERESTS KICK
And Therefore the Republican Mem
bers SIust Have Another Caucus
Before Letting the
Democrats liz.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 3O-Chairnan
Payne, of the ways and means com
mittee, issued notices today recalling the
previous notice of a full committee meet
ing tomorrow to consider the bill for the
reduction war revenue. 1t was given out
officially that this was done because
MeSsrs, GrOsvenor and Tawney were
absent attending the funeral of the late
Senator Davis and that Mr.. Steele would
not be here, leaving the Republicans
short of a majority in the house. Mr.
T2Wney did not go to Minnesota, how
ever, and it was learned this afternoon
that Gen. Grosvenor will arrive in Wash,
ington tomorrow. The real reason that
the committee viii meet tomorrow, it is
stated, is because of the further in
formation desired as to the views Of
Republican members generally in refer.
ence to this bill. Such features of the
measure prepared by the Republican
members as have become known, to-
gether with omissions which the COM
mittee has made in the proposed reduc-
tiOns, have caused considerable oppo
sitiOn, and it is probable that a confer
ence or caucus Of the Republican men,
~bers Will be held before a final decision
is reached. The greatest opposition that
has developed comes from the brewing
interests. Representatives from districts
factured are making serious protests
against the action of the committee in
not reducing the tax on beer There are
some other interests also which are max
ing protests and Republican members Of
the house have telegraphed their friends
on the ways and means committee that
they think the proposed bill should be
changed. The fact that the majority in
the present house is only sixteen, warns
the Republican managers that bin
must be supported by practically the
entire Republican membership in order
tO%pass. If Gen. Grosvenor arrives to-
morrow, it is possible that the Republi-
can members now in the city may make
a request for caucus to be held early
next week.
CHICAGO'S BIG DITCH.
The chief of engineers at the war de-
partment, Gen. Jno. NJ. Wilson, has re-
ceived from the board of engineers, re-
Gently convened in Chicago, two reports
authorized by the last congress on the
conversion of the Chicago drainage canal
into a ship canal connecting Lake Mich
igan with the Mississippi. The first of
these reports deals with the cost of en-
gineerinS problems of a seven and eight
foot channel through the drainage canal,
striking the Mississippi by way of the
Illinois and Desplaines rivers. The sec
ond is similar, except that it provides
estimates for ten, twelve and fourteen
foot channel over the same route. IAese
reports will go to the secretary of war
and be submitted to congress as soon
as possible after it cCnvenes. Sixty
seven reports of similar nature, cover
ing river and harbor improvements all
over the country will be submitted to
congress about the same time. 1t Is
hoped to get consideration for them all
during the present session.
ARMOR PLATE CONTRACTS.
The contract with the Carnegie com
pany for furnishing a large quantity of
armor plate, under the agreement re-
Gently announced, was concluded and
signed today, and it is expected the
Bethlehem contract for similar armor
will be signed tomorrow
ACRE NOT FOR SALE.
The Bolivian minister, Senor Guach-
ala, had his attention called today to
R dispatch from South America stating
that the Bolivian ministers in Wash
ington and London were negotiating for
the sale of Bolivia rights in the ter
ritOry Of Acre to an American syndicate
The minister stated that the report was
Incorrect, as he is conducting no such
negotiations. The government is not de-
sirous of parting with any of its terri
tory, he said, nor would the constitu-
ton permit such a course.
REPUBLICAN SENATORS CONFER.
A number of Republican senators were
at the capitol today. They were in for
NAL conference the greater part of the
time concerning the business likely to
come before congress during the ap-
preaching session. Among those who
participated i'll these meetings We're .Ssn-
ators Allison, chairman Of the committee
s1vll To- ions A ,i,a1,
the committee on finance; Frye, president
pro TEN of the senate; Lodge a leading
member Of the foreign relations com
mittee; Piatt, Of Connecticut, member
of the finance committee and Hale,
chairman of the committee on naval
affairs.
Prominent in their deliberations was
the contemplated amendments to the
war revenue law. They expressed the
opinion that whatever changes are to
be made should be made at the present
session in order tC prevent the reopen
ing Of the subject at the next session
of congress. They also gave some in
dicaticn of their views Of the changes to
be made in a general way, favoring the
removal of the extra tax from articles
not requiring large revenue and leaving
it on the productive articles. The ten
dency seemed to be against any removal
OF the beer or tobacco taxes, and also
against the removal Of the tax on eX-
change transactions.
There was also considerable discussion
of the shipping subsidy bill and it was
made evident that there will be a SIREN
uous effort to have this made the un-
finished business in place of the Spooner
bill for the regulation of public admins
tration in the Philippines.
If this programme can be carried into
execution the Nicaragua canal bill also
will be displaced, at least temporarily.
There was more or less discussion dur
ing the day of the wisdom of filing the
committee vacancies caused by the
deaths of Senators Davis and Gear Sen
ator Frye reiterated his desire to remain
at the head of the committee on COM
raerce and his aversion to accepting the
foreign relations craftsmanship. which,
by virtue of seniority, would become his
Il he chose tc accept it. If the Maine
senator persists in his refusal it now
seems doubtful whether the place will
be filed speedily. IF not, Mr.. Frye for
the time will hold two important chair
manships in addition to being president
of the senate, as he would be acting
chairman of the foreign committee as
well as actual chairman of the COM
nittee on commerce. Senator Cullom IS