West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-02-14
wAsHINoToNLETTER.
Senator Hanna the Father Of
the Ship Subsidy Scheme.
Government Employees Always
Wanting More Money.
The Promotion Of Some Political Pets In
the Army.

from our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1901
The latest scheme of the Republi-
can leaders is to take advantage of
the popularity OF the Nicaragua
Canal project to push the Ship
Subsidy bill through the Senate
they have only to issue orders to
have anything put through the
House at short notice. The scheme
provides for combining the two
by accepting the amendment to the
Subsidy bill, offered by Senator
Clay, OF Georgia. providing for the
construction by this government of
the Nicaragua Canal, and then to
inform the Democratic Senators
that unless they vote for the two in
one the Nicaragua Canal project
will not be legislated upon at all.
Senator Hanna is credited with be-
ing the father of this scheme and it
is further said that he claims to
have promises from a number of
southern Senators that they will
vote for the bill so amended.
Meanwhile the night sessions are on
in the Senate and the Democrats
and Populists, aided by the advice
OF Hon. Arthur P. German, whose
success in heading off the Force
bill some years ago has not been
forgotten, are giving the Republi-
cans all the fight they can handle.
A few days will show whether this
schsme is really to be carried out
or Is only put out to make talk.
The Senate passed the bill reducing
war taxes this week.
TIT
Senator Teller made a short but
vigorous speech just before the
Senate adopted resolution calling
on the Secretary of War for a state
ment of the facts in the case of G..
1. Rice, the American editor who
was banished from the Philippines
for commenting upon the rules and
regulations concerning pilots and
pilotage, as enforced at Manila.
Mr.. Teller read the editorial and
then said {: "The deportation of an
editor is not simple matter, to be
whistled down the wind. l regard
it as grievous offense against the
liberty of an American citizen that
he can be taken, thrown into Jail,
and then deported under the pre-
tense of the charge that he Is a
dangerous incendiary and a menace
to the military situation. There is
no such offense known to the laws
of our country or in the criminal
statutes of any State. 1t is not
known in any republic or in any free
country in the world. He is but
one man, to be sure, but he is a
citizen of the United States. The
offense against him is an offense
against every citizen of the United
States. ! do not make any apol-
ogies for pleading his cause here.
l would feel justified If this was the
last hour of the session and an extra
session should ensue through failure
of an appropriation bill, in standing
here and calling attention of the
country to this outrage npon a citi-
zen of the United States"
I tt
The bill appropriating s., 900, 600
for the st. Louis Exposition has
been favorably reported to the
House, and Speaker Henderson has
promised that it shall be voted upon
which is equivalent to a promise of
its passage.
III
Representative Griggs, of Georgia
made the Post Office appropriation
bill the text for a speech full of
common sense against the tendency
on the part of Congress to increase
the sararies of Federal employees.
For instance, the following, the
truth Of which every one must
acknowledge: az undertake to say
that there is not an employe of the
government, who devotes his whole
time to its service, who does not
receive greater pay that he would
for like service In private life.
There is not an employe in the gov
eminent service today who did not
better his or her condition 6nan-
cially when he entered 1t. There is
not one who, II he could better his
condition in other service, would
not resign tomorrow. Then, why
this psternal interest in government
employees ? All of them are free
men and women, and of full age.
Why should we make them wards of
the nation1 How is this fstherly
interest of legislators, so lately
aroused. in What aeema 10 me q