New-York tribune., 1901-02-15
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
PROSPECT OF PASSAGE INCREASING
SENATE COMMITTEE LIKELY To
REDUCE THE AMOUNT.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIsUSE.I


Washington, Feb. 14.-while reports concern
ing the fate Of the River and Harbor bill still
are conflicting. it is becoming evident that the
prospects Of getting that measure through at
this session are great deal more favorable
than they were at the beginning Of the week
II Is also probable that. instead Of considerably
increasing the total appropriation carried by the
bill as Il came from the House. the Senate Com
mittee Commerce 10 cutting down some OF
the Items and that when the bill emerges from
the committee il will carry less than the 500 000
600 provided for by the House No deep cut
has been made in any item OF Importance by
the Senate committee which appears 10 have
been carefully pairing down amounts In the last
week and transferring these savings 70 other
meritorious projects which were overlooked by
the House committee IN the preparation Of the
bill. At the same time the Senate committee
has been doing it's work quietly and unosten-
tatiously and the members maintain such rigid
reserve concerning their action, that il is con-
sidered risky 10 make any positive predictions
as to the amount the bin finally will carry or
when II will be reported 10 the Senate II is rea-
sonabiy certain that IL the bill is reported with
in the next few days il will stand an excellent
chance 20 become law at this session.
This view Of II, OF course. is in direct con-
tradiction OF the reports spread broadcast by
the opposition press that the supporters OF the
Ship Subsidy bin in the COMMITTEES Com
merce. which reported that measure favorably
are holding up the River and Harbor bill TO
force the passage of the Subsidy bill. The facts
that Senator Frye is chairman OF the committee
and that Senator Hanna also is a member Of
it have been used TO bolster up this unjust
accusation The truth is that Senator Frye
particularly, is of the stOutest advocates
Of the improvement by the Government Of all
rivers and harbors that are capable OF being
converted 10 the use OF the country's commerce
Unquestionably he has the power indefinitely to
postpone action on the bill. but that he is not
directing this power to this end was abun-
dainty evidenced to-day by the statement OF
two OF the minority members of the Committee
on Commerce that they expect the bill TO be
reported tomorrow. and certainly not later
than Saturday IL this expectation is realized
there will be little cause for doubt OF the bill
being enacted into law before the expiration of
the LNIth Congress. II will encounter little
N any. opposition in the Senate, unless n num-
Der OF the influential members of that body
conclude that an extra session OF the next Con-
sress at an early date is inevitable. In that
event they might crowd other emergency leg
islation ahead Of the River and Harbor bill
and carry that measure over TO the next Con-
gress Tor early action. This course would
cause disappointment chiefly TO the big army
Of lobbyists who have congregated here from
nearly every locality that has secured a nron,
lse or special benefit in the bill and who FOR
the most part have made Themselves suoh
nuisances with their ceaseless importunities as
10 have caused the Senate. COMMITTEES on Com
,nsscs nr,s 20 pat an enectVe embargo on all news
pertaining 10 the prospects OF the hin or the
progress OF the committees work W
The wiSp ana impartial distribution of the
Dement'S q the bill are exemplined in the total
amounts allotted TO river and harbor trnnro,,a
N.en.s IN the states Of New-York and Texas
many more navigable streams ana !. cnr-,raa.
psoDaoiy hundred times larger than thst
=. aeaas. gets only about $4,000 600 while
| about So 500 600 ' "i''"uh'' or