Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-02-07
The Shipping Bill Is Winning
Friends Among Southern
Business Men.
DEMOCRATS FAVOR SUBSIDY MEASURE.
Petitions in Behalf of the bill from
Many Large Commercial ASsocia-
tiOns-Great Change in Public SEN
timent Has Recently Been
Wrought.
Especial Correspondence.l

Washington, D. C., Feb. 6.
The south IS rallyng TO the support OF
the shipping bill. This fact Is likely to
prove the pivotal feature OF the struggle over
the measure. During the debate on
Wednesday last news reached the capitol
that the Savannah board of trade had
unanimously adopted resolutions directing
its delegates 10 the coming Brunswick
Maritime conference to favor subsidies. 81
multaneously with the spread OF tins intelli-
gence through the capitol, 1t was noticed
as a singular coincidence that Senator Clay
of Georgia rose and offered amendments to
the bill, limiting the period OF the subsidy
to ten years, and combining it below a
maximum Of l6 knots speed, instead Of IS,
as it stands at present in the amended form
of the bill. This, however, does not neces-
sarily indicate a change of heart on the
part Of Senator Cay, who has been hereto
fore one Of the strongest and most active
and uncompromising opponents Of the meas
ure.
This is not the first gun from the south,
by any means. Petitions in favor Of the
bill are on file from more than 20 large
and important southern associations, in
Guiding the New Orleans chamber d com
merce, board Of trade and produce exchange,
the Richmond chamber Of commerce. the
Norfolk board of trade, the Little Rock
board Of trade, the Alabama state grange,
the Tarboro board Of trade, the St. Louis
merchants exchange and the Southern In
dustriai association and the Southern Cot
ton Spnners' association. In fact nearly
every southern state has furnished an EN-
phatic Endorsement of the bill b. its lead
ing commercial bodies.
In view Of this great and growing senti-
ment in their own section, it is not surprisN
ing that the solid opposition of the south
ern senators has begun to weaken, as it has,
very perceptibly and decidedly. At first
these senators-Messrs. Jones' Cay, Bacon
and others declared that they would fight
the bill by every means within their power,
and disposition to flibuster was manifest
early in the week; but the news which they
have heard lately from their constituents
appears to have altered their minds as to
the ACCESSIBILITY Of flibustering Their pres
ent disposition seems to be to deliver GER
tain number Of two-hours speeches in the
negative, and then to let the republicans
90 ahead and assume the full responsibility
for the legislation. The alternative policy
involving tiIbusterng, the failure of all
other measures, and an extra session in
consequence would he a very serious re-
sponsibility for the democrats to shoulder
especially if not sustained by the citizens
of the southern states
More than this, it has been ascertained
that the shipping bill will receive the votes
Of a goodly number of democrats-at least
SIX and probably seven or eight in the SEN
ate, and ten or a dozen in the house. That
the examination and discussion of the meas
ure have effected a great change in public
sentiment already IS estionable, and The
change Is still going on and spreading.
As soon as the ball passes the senate and
gets over to the house it is practically sure
to have plain sailing. Representative
Grosvenor Of Ohio, says that a rule will be
reported whereby two days viii be set
apart for debate upon the measure, and that
at the end OF that period a final vote viii
be ordered. In the house the rules Of pro-
cedure allow Of such peremptory closure Of
debatein fact without such closure moth
ing could be accomplished in such large
and unruiy body as the house, but in the
senate the liberty of debate is practically
untrammeied. Thus it happens that It IS
much more difficult 10 force or to hurry
measure through the senate than through
the house
The recent extra session gossip has begun
to subside very materially The senators
and representatives, generally DO not see
the point Of remaining here ali the spring
to legislate about the Philippines, when the
president. as they say, has ample power
in the premises to do as he pleases Il IS
possible that the Spooner measure in re.a-
ton to this subject may be tackled Oh
rider to some appropriation Bill, and that
congress may Jet il 90 at that for the pres
ent As for the Cuban constitution, which
has furnished another reason for an extra
session, many congressman are now ques-
tioning whether this country has any right
TO NEEDLE with that instrument. The war
was undertaken TO free Cuba, and il Was
expressly and officially declared BY TINS
government that we would assume no fur
ther control Or supervision Of the Island after
is paciication. Many now assert that the
paefcation has been acc9mp Shed, and
that the United States therefore n reeaty
and justice, has nothing 3 say or Il t9 about
the Cuban constitution Tbs llea has
been canvassed in lively manner ~ ana
about the capitol during the .a-t Day or
two ard it appears 10 be bec5mHLrI epu.sr-
The pres tent is rapidly rerat ~ his
wonted health and strength. s-tet reer.y
months tu,s.e with tae grip Otasr Dis
tHeul-hel victims ii tae Cs-tsuTer are also
recovering. and 'the er:teufe scans aaye
sPsutit, tSrc= Th5S fortunate t.r s41.-
Gus reasons but particular r-4. 81
tie fast approaching Haueula eers-
nsr.eG There have been .ns
agt bzzari. and zero ee- n-
4u-urst..n ID tue midst et zme 1
would b -.-na. event tr4 IS
ne pres lsof- ta1 tae "a lr
are 81 ~
scale. arH -Ee weather le