The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-08
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

LII
More Than n filiton-The appropria-
tons made during the session of Congress
Just closed aggregate more than seven
hundred million dollars At the next ses
sion more than this amount will have to
be appropriated fer the next fiscal year.
because in the next appropriation bill the
heavy item of river and harbor improve
hent will be included 1t is conserva-
lively estimated that the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress will dispose of more than one and
half billion dollars of the public reve-
nues. The so-called billion dollar Con-
gress of the first days of Tom Reed
will then not be in the same class with
the Fifty-s sixth in the matter OF appropria-
tions. The total expenditures which will
be provided for by this Congress will ex-
coed by nearly FIVE hundred million dol
lars the heavy outlay of the public funds
caused by the Spanish war. Indeed, at
the present rate, military expenditures
will be kept very nearly UP to the stand
ard established by the extraordinary
necessities of the war with Spain. Speak
er Henderson apparently has strained
every nerve to keep appropriations down
to the lowest possible figure, and for his
pains he has made himself the most un-
popular Speaker with his party that this
generation of Americans have known, J.
Warren Keifer of Ohio not excepted. Ire
mendous pressure has been brought upon
General Henderson from every source to
permit the purse strings Of the Govern
ment to be loosened. and old timers are
inclined to give him credit for withstand
ing this pressure with remarkable deter
mination and courage. But 1t seems that
the whole organization Of his party has
been set against his policy of economy and
retrenchment wherever it was possible to
save dollar. in the end. OF course,
Speaker Henderson will get the blame
for the stupendous expenditures which
have been provided for by this Congress.
Curiously enough, the American people
never think of holding the White House
even remotely responsible for extrava-
gance. Nor are the Chairmen Of the APP
Committees of the two houses |
ever popularity blamed for permitting the |
Treasury to be raided. In the public mind |
the Speaker of the House alone is &C
countable for whatever unusual expendi- |
lures are allowed by Congress. Therefore, |
1t is believed that 1t will be easy enough |
for the Administration to defeat General |
Henderson for reelection to the Speaker
ship Of the Fifty Congress in the
event the Republicans again control the
House and Mr. Mckinley is reelected. 1t
is further generally believed that General
Henderson has been marked for slaughter
by the Hannaites because he has not been
as pliable in the Speakers chair as they
hoped he would be when they put him
there
MIR. DoIlfver Is Hnppy.-"you see,
am not grave. as reported by your paper
A few days ago. said the Hon. Jonathan
Prentiss Dolliver of Fort Dodge to Times
representative yesterday. Indeed, l new
ar felt happier or more cheerful In my
life. This boom business for the Vice
Presidency is not bothering me at all.
haven't lost a wink OF sleep over it. and
he only bother that II has caused me has
'een occasioned by the activity OF the gen. !
lemen In the press, gallery. Every moth
RS son of you have taken whack at me,
md ii seems there Is nothing I can do to
make you let up Nov, If you say any
hing about me at all In connection with
till running for Congress in the Tenth |
owa District, that 1 expect to be re-elect-
d by an increased majority and take my
eat with the rest of them in December,
gO1, or sooner, IL there is an extra ses-
ion. l suppose however, that you news 1
aper men will continue to make trouble Q
Dr. me- or at least you will continue to try i
D make trouble.iy But. bless your souls, | b
ave been dealing with you folks long
me and refuse to be bothered by what =
OH say about me-" Ii
The Burden on Mr.. LOnE.-A few b
ours after the adoption of the Hanna a
-mor plate bill Wednesday evening all of II
|
;sembled at fashionable uptown res /,
.urant and celebrated their great victory b
sum9tuous dinner, and then made
erry around the flowing bowl until the o
DOM shivered off when the light crept
- There was nothing in their manner
dicating that the bill was q triumph q
Ter the armor plate trust, as the Admin u
tration organs are now claiming in shrill :,
les and wild alarms. In point of fact, y
;perts in legislation are agreed that the u
II gives TO the armor plate people even '.
ore than was originally asked for by u
EN- The bill shifts responsibility from >,
e party in power by placing upon the u
,cretary OF the Navy a gentleman of
'obity and high sense of public and pri- Z
tie honor, a greater burden than has -,
'er before been placed upon an Cabinet
fcer. With Mr. Long it is left discre-
Dnary as to the price he is to pay for
e armor which he must buy for the ot
urteen ships he has been peremptorily | ~
dered to build If the trust demands
ore than the price which Congress at q
mpted TO fix. the Secretary will have to /
y it. 1t is true that he is authorized Il
d directed to construct a Government &C
ant for the manufacture of armor plate
in his judgment that is the only means b,
which the material MAJ be obtained Fl
reasonable price, but, OF course, it is hi
liculous to claim that this threat will III
ter the trust from charging whatever de
pleases for the armor plate which he fir
ist purchase within the next year 1t 81
,uld be impossible to build the proposed pl
vernment works within a year and a de
If. even IL the plans for their construc-
N. together with the site and other APP ell
rtenances were now in hand. Mean | IT,
ne the armor plate trust will proceed to VI
business with Uncle Sam and In return We
the opportunity thus afforded will come 81.
wn literally when Mr.. Hanna lets it be
own that certain funds are needed for
Mckinley campaign. 1t was Mr..
mas strong fight that pulled through III
bill which the armor trust lobbyists |
ebrated in such riotous fashion
sdnesday evening. -
senator Jones' to Depnrt.-Senator lie
mes K Jones. Chairman of the Demo- eli
tic National Committee, will leave ne
arlington Sunday for Chicago, where III
!, headquarters of the committee are III
ated. He will remain there until June no
and then On to Kansas City to attend | I'M