The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-03
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington. Dec. al

FROM our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, Dec. 81, 1900
If Senator Hanna was bluffing
when he issued his edict that if the
Ship Subsidy bill was not passed
there would be an extra session of
Congress, the bluff has been
promptly called. Senator Pettigrew
said OH the subject : IF it is neces-
sary to put through a job like the
Shipping bill to enable Senator
Hanna to pay his campaign, think
it would be we'll to have it done at
an extra session Of Congress, and
thus invite attention more directly
to it. 1t will not be passed if l can
help it. Those of us who are most
strongly opposed to it propose to
fight it i'll every way we can" AS
to how the bill would be fought Mr..
Pettigrew said Gas long as they
continue to force the shipping bill
to the front l and those who agree
with me will fight every bill that is
brought up. If the appropriation
bills are forced over into an extra
session it will be because of the
efforts to pass the shipping bill. i"
That is about as plain as it could
be made. The two Senators who
have agreed to help Senator Petit
grew are Butler, of N. c., and Allen,
of Nebraska. 1t is also probable
that they will be joined by Demo
cratic Senators, all of whom are
strongly opposed to the principle
involved i'll the Ship Subsidy bill.
Now, it is up to Mr.. Hanna to say
whether there shall be an extra
session. He can easily avoid one
by abandoning the Ship Subsidy
bill.
The latest move of the Panama
Canal lobby is the announcement
that England, Germany and France
had entered into all agreement to
Jointly complete and control the
Panama Canal, regardless of Con-
gressional action on the bill for the
construction of the Nicaragua
Canal. Not many Senators are
spending their holiday vacation in
Washington, but, Judging from
opinions expressed by those who
are, the Panama crowd has unin-
tentionally helped the Nicaragua
Canal. Said one of the Senators
Were the people of the U. S. to
wake up some morning and read in
cold type the fact that England,
Germany and France had taken
stock III the Panama water wav,
there would be demonstration akin
to that aroused by the destruction
of the Maine. Then, if never be-
fore, would the construction of an
American Canal, fortified by Amer
ican I2-inch guns, become assured. |
We must have the Nicaragua water
way and we will have it without |
regard to the Clayton Bulwer COM
pact or ANY other" Other Senators
are quite as emphatic, and it is |
very evident that if England |
attempts to meet the amended Hay
Pauncetote treaty, which will be in
the hands of the English govern
ment before New Years day, by
any such scheme as this now being
talked about by the lobbyists in
Washington, she will hear few
old-fashioned ear piercing screams
that will mean business from the
American Eagle.
Once more the War Department
announces a delay in the return of
The volunteers from the Philippines.
This time no date is set for their
return, and the blame is put on the
senate tor not passing the Army
reorganization bill before the holi-
lay recess. The plain truth is that
he Administration doesn't expect
% bring many of those volunteers
1ome at all They cannot, of
be kept i'll service as vol
lnteers after the first OF next July,
when their enlistment will expire,
'ut Secretary Root expects that by
'iterng a cash bonus equal TO the
AMOUNT required to bring each vol
'nteer home and to carry each
'egular to Manila, the greater por-
ion of the volunteers can be in
luced to enlist as regulars as soon
IS they are mustered out as volun-
GERS. 1t is because ofthat expecta-
ion that the volunteers are to be
:ept in the Philippines until their
nlistment expires.
According to a son of Senator
'ettigrew, who has recently re.