The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-15
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

The Canal BilI.-Senator Morgap's 10y
was unbounded when he emerged from
the Senate committee room yesterday
with favorable report on measure for
which he has been fighting in season and
out OF season 9or hany years. He talked
guardedly about his next move Beyond
asserting witt great positiveness that if
he could get the bill on it's final passage
at this session he would have no doubt Of
getting 1t through by an overwhelming ma
Jority. he was not inclined to discuss its
outlook. Il have told you all along" he
said to Times reporter, that l would
get the bill out OF my committee with
favorable report behind it. Last week the
prospects seemed decidedly discouraging.
but the American people have been heard
from since the enemies Of the measure
showed their hand ard the result is that
the opposition is moving little more eau
tiously. Mr.. Mcbride of oregon came over
to us at the right time, and the victory
was ours. l have been fighting them from
behind breastworks, never exposing my
strength fully, and l knew that we were
bound to win. ] still have good deal OF
ammunition left, and l am confident that
we can force test vote on the bill before
the session closes.
"Of course, l don't know what the Re-
publican steering committee is going to
do. l have been feeling around carefully
to determine that point but have OBJ
tanned no satisfactory result in that quar-
ter yet. However, there are more ways Of
killing cat besides choking it to death on
butter. We shall get vote on the bill at
an early date ald then we can tell more
ABOUT its prospects, i don't know yet on
what sort of motion we can get the vote.
That is a detail that we have not yet
agreed upon. l am sure. however, that IL
we could force ii to vote on final passage
it would go through the Senate with an
unusually large majority. Still, il we sue
coed only in showing the country who its
enemies are we will have accomplished
much good for the enterprise"
Senator Hanna refused to discuss the
matter. However, from a gentleman who
enjoys Mr.. Hanna's confidence, and who
discussed the subject with him yesterday
afternoon. 1t was learned that the Admin
istration is determined not to permit the
Dill to come to final vote at this session.
1t is realized in Administration circles
that II the alternative of passing 1t or
rejecting II finally were presented to the
Senate the measure would go through
with majority quite as large in proper
ton as that by which it passed the House.
AS described by The Times informant,
who talked with Mr.. Hanna on the sub
ject, the Administrations attitude is this:
For obvious political reasons the Presi
dent does not want to be confronted with |
the bill at this time. II it were presented |
to him he would be forced by the ire /
mendous pressure of public sentiment and |
the exigences Of the campaign to sign 1t. |
If he should approve the bill he would |
ALLEVIATE from his support some of the most |
powerful political and financial influences
in the country-lndeed, in the world. He,
therefore looks to his supporters in the
Senate to shield him from the embarrass-
ing situation that would be caused If the
bill should be permitted to pass that
body e