Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1901-02-08
Latest Intelligence Concerning I'm
portant Measures Now Be-
fore Congress.
PRESENT ASPECT OF the SHIPPING BILL.
Extra Session-Work on the More
important bills Well Advanced
Merits OF the Ship subsidy Meas
ure.
Especial Correspondence
Washington, ID. c., Feb. 7.

Washington, ID. c., Feb. 7.
In every short session Of congress, about
the lst of February, gossip about an extra
session always springs up. This year is no
exception to the rule. The Philippine situ-
alton and the Cuban constitution are the
provoking causes in this case. The presi-
dent and cabinet are DESTROYS that the re-
CURED legislation in regard to these subjects
should be speedily perfected, and every
body knows that there is not time for it be-
fore the 4th OF March. Hence the enter
prising reporters have jumped to the conclu-
sion that there must be and will be an e1-
ira session, but nevertheless 1t is dollars TO
Goughnuts that there will not be.
Here and there senator or representa-
tive is reported as opning that such a ses-
/ sion is probable. But most of the old
| timers will have none Of it. 1T is all news
/ paper taxi" says Representative Payne, OF
/ New York, the leadtr Of the houes. And
/ the veteran Senator Hoar, when informed
/ by youthful scribe that there was great
/ deal Of extra session talk in the air, beamed
upon him graciously through his spectacles
and calmly inquired: Any more than
usual
The fact is, that though there is a great
| deal of unfinished business in both houses
as usual. the work of the session is far more
advanced than commonly in the short ses-
| sous. TO be sure, there are, aside from
the appropriation bills, two or three i'm
portant measures which the majority de
sire to pass before congress adJourns, and
] In IN he gar'v e. pf
opment Most prominent among these il
the pending shipping bill for the develop
ment of a new American merchant marine.
According to the custom Of the senate, this
bill has been taken up and laid aside half
dozen times already this winter, suffering
repeated postponements at the request OF
other interests, but its managers now have
cleared the decks for action and announce
their intention Of keeping at 1t without
I yielding to anybody until it is disposed Of.
The shipping bill has been greatly misun-
derstood in many quarters, and has thus en-
countered much unreasonable opposition,
most Of which, in the light of better knowl-
/ edge of the subject, has now been with
! drawn. At first a great many thought that
/ the bill was simply intended TO give lot
! Of pubic money TO few big corporations
which are already comfortably supplied
! with funds. ike the American line of steam
| ships, the Pacific Maj, company, the Penn
sy'VahIa hal'road COMPANY, ana "h'' sen
atcr ct alluded 10 IN hi' recent speech
| aga'hs' the ID" as 'A't poor ein''lalea.
starving corporation the o''ncaid vi
company IN Poin' OF ia'' 'ne Oh. grants
'olhPaIa''NeE very niue d." I'D 'ue '"I ger
ana I'c"er eA's''Hs COMPANIES. us '"'e'
dement's WI" 80 10 Ihe owners OF .o"-Io"tI
ire'sh' steamers OF large cargo capacity "hG
10 the farmers MINERS. meta. "oiNeIs'
merchants manufacturers ana industrial
artisans generally whose business or wages
VIII De greatly ehHaAce1 oN '"e ne" snip,
ou"u'is 'uU 'oil'leIe'a' "''''''l eAseNutIeu
" '"e u'''
Inc democrats IN congress arc making
Ce"H set against '"e nl'' "u' tN.'r ''',"'e'
as viewed rom d e''iHteIesied outside
STANDPOINT is rather 'oi"''', Ia l"e His'
pace great many democrats an over inc
country ana '"c'"1iAs 'ue southern states
are known 10 be strong! ID 'dVor OF the
Dill, winch tHey see "ou.d charge 'Aeh
business ana "ou'o De e,Ie''"-S ao'an-
''-eou' 10 cotton 2fo"ei'' iI-> = 'He posi-
'.oA oil the most HhI' oFtaIt soula'ih ouS'-
ness organ the Manui"ciuI,is RECORD OF
baltimore AGAIN, IL Is curious TO sec me
democrats making so much tuss ABOUT me
expenditure OF So'UOO'OOO ca.Ied ior by the
Dill, "neh tney make no such combined OPP
position TO the Sl+''ooo'ooo Tor pensions, me
So'ooo'ooo LOT the navy or the Soo'oOooO'
Tor rivers ana haroors' Indeed the demo-
Gratis from the MISSISSIPPI river valley
Whlch Is me ehlef nenehciary oil the bIg river
and haroor biII, II IS thought may recent
mite from ther pithess hosuIity 10 the ~
VOo'ooo shipping oiA II they md that un-
less they Go reient their pet soo'oVO'oVo sp-
preparation may be endangered.