The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-13

and Fork club in Kansas City on
Thursday evening. Senator Harris is
probably the best posted man in con-
greSs on the canal question, and, al
though he is a fusionist. men of all
parties look to him for information
upon this subject. He has spent most
of the summer in Washington working
on the inter-oceanic canal and other
committees
I'VE want to get the canal matter
before the house during the first week
of the session if possible" continued the
senator. Our committee Will report a
Dill in favor of proceeding to build a
canal over the Nicaraguan route. 1t
will instruct the president to proceed
to secure the proper concessions and
then commence actual building opera
lions.
I think a good majority of the SEN
ate is in favor of the building of the
canal, but there has always been a suf-
nclent minority opposed to it to OBJ
struct progress. For instance it was
unnecessary to have the Wilbur COM
mission, to go over the ground again
and have new surveys made. 1t only
delayed the matter two years. The only
feasible route for US is the Nicara guam
route The Panama canal is so tied UP
in litigation in the French courts and
by concessions from the Colombian
government that it is not feasible for
to think Of To be sure the Panama
into their canal and become a stock
holder in 1t, but the United States does
not want to be a stockholder in a
French corporation.
Then the ship subsidy bill will prob
ably come up again at this session, and
that will create a great amount of dis
cussion.'
will there be any trust legislation %
asked the reporter.
There will be measures of some kind
introduced Both parties pretend to be
opposed to the trusts A bill will prob
ably be introduced to place the DrOd-
ucts of trusts either on the free list or
else lower the tariff on them materially
and while the Republican party is di-
xided on that kind OF a proposition, 1
think the sentiment of the western
members is generally favorable to it
Then 1t is expected that President
Roosevelt will advise some sort of trust
legislation, among other things num-
Der of changes in the interstate com
merce laws hope he will. I have been
working to get some changes of that
character for some time. The inter-
state commerce commission has been
telling US for the past eight years that
it has no powers, and I wish to see
mission some power. Both of these
measures would have a bearing on the,
trust question" u
What do you think of Roosevelt as
president 7" asked the reporter
well, he has not been president long
enough to know. Mr. Roosevelt is GER
tainly honest in his impulses, and he is
vigorous and active, but it remains to
be seen to what extent he will be ad-
vised- 1t was generally understood that
Mr. McKinley's closest friend was SEN
ator Hanna, and he depended largely
on Senator Hanna's advice but the in
dicadons are that President Roosevelt
viii have an entirely new set of ad-
visers."
viii there be a new cabinet?"
That is a matter that is not much
discussed 1t is understood, I believe,
that Secretary Hay wishes to retire
but he first wishes to conclude the
pending treaties
saying that you do not expect a re-
election" remarked the reporter
is that so? Well. I may have
thought it. But you know the unex-
pected often happens. especially in
Kansas. There is time for q radical
next election. Mr.. OVerstreet threat
ems to again introduce his bill at the
coming session to take away the legal
tender of silver, but make it redeemable
IN gold This would open up the entire
monetary Question-not free silver but
it would bimetallism. 1t would mean
that If you have a thousand dollars
in silver you could take it to the treas
uTy and the government would have to
pay you a thousand dollars in gold for
It IL you demanded it
'@The result would be that silver
would be retired, the same as were the
gFeenhacks-and when I say silver I
mean silver certificates as well as coin
-sa3d national bank notes would ever
fuallF be issued in place of it. That
WAS the proceeding with the green
backs There was 8 great deal of talk
nbeul the endlesN chain. but we would
oavs-<ae endless chain right over again