The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-01
The BILL IN DANGER
RIVER AND HARBoR APPRoPRIA-
TION TO BE CUT.
MAY BE MADE A SACRIFICE.
IN EFFORT TO KEEP DOWN Ex-
PENDITURES.

Senate Commerce Committee Is De-
liberating in Secret-SeveraI I'm
pOrtant Projects Already stricken
Ouf-FrienIs of Administra ON
Anxious to Keep Up Appearances.
GeOrgia's Interests Unhurt as Yet,
However, but Nothing New Added.
Democrats Hopeful of Defeating
Shipping Bill.
Washington. Jan. 31.-Friends of the
river and harbor bill are becoming alarm
ed by the slow progress made by the
Senate committee on commerce in the
consideration of that measure. The de-
lberations of the committee are conluct-
ed with the most profound secrecy and
the members are pledged not to reveal
any of the conclusions of the commi tee
until the bill has been finally acted upon
and is ready for presentation to the S4n-
ate.
1t is said that friends of the admins
trat!on who are anxious to keep down the
expenditures by the present Congress, are
seriously contemplating making a sacri-
flee of the river and harbor measure. 1t
can be stated without fear of contradic-
tion that the committee has already
stricken out several important ojscts
involving an expend ture of several mil
lions of dollars. This does not indicate,
however, that the bill as finally agreed
upon will show marked reduction in the
aggregate amount carried by the bill as
it came from the House. The Senate with
its usual llberality in qua di,g its own
interests proposes to chop off several mi
lions of dollars from the House bill and
add as many m ions more for the benefit
of immediate con tituencies of senators.
Thus far Senator Clay has been able to
retain in the bill all of the provisions of
interest to Georgia which were provided
for in the House. He has been frequent
ly consulted by Representative Lester in
the interest of Savannah. Brant.ey. in be-
half of Brunswick. Maddox in behalf of
the Coosa river and others members of
the delegation who are directly interested
In improvements in their respective dis
tricts. No additions have yet been made
TO the bill 50 far as Georgia Is concerned,
aud unless the policy of the committee
is changed before hnal report ugSop the
bill is reached it Is doubsfu sVhst her fIlr-
ther amendments will be accepted.
There are several projects of interest
in Georgia which failed to receive favor
able attention in the House which may be
brought forward in the Senate when the
bill comes before the latter body for con-
sideration. Senator Clay may be depend
ed upon to exert his best efforts to Sc
cure favorable consideration for every
Georgia item in the bill and such other
new projects as may be offered in the
form of amendment.
May Defeat Shipping Bill.
The indications to-day seemed to point
more clearly to the probable defeat OF
the shipping bill. SO far as this session
of Congress is concerned, than at any time
since the fight became acute. While Sen
ator Aldrich and other Republican leaders
are counting upon the opposition going'
to pieces, Senator Jones of Arkansas, and
those other Democrats, who have been
most active in the opposition talk with
more confidence than they have az any
time within the past week or ten days.
1t was reported that the Democrats of
the Senate would hold a caucus to-day TO
outline their plans for the fight but it was
deemed best that nothing should be done
to make it a distinctly party measure be-
cause several Democratic Senators have
announced their determination to vote for
the bill. However, TO all intents and pur-
poses it has become party fight.
The Democratic leaders insist that the
bill shall have what they call p oper Oiscus
sion, and that If possible it shall be defeated
at this session. because they believe 1t
wise to emphasize to the country the fact
that the Republicans are willing to sac
rifce important and necessary legislG-
ton of a general character In order to put
through this piece of favoriusm.
The Democrats disclaim any intention
of a filibuster. They insist, however, that
the bill must be properly debated, and
they argue that as there have been only
three or four speeches so far 1t has not
yet been properly debated by any means.
l was assured by Democratic leaders to-
day that no less than ten or a dozen set
speeches against the bill are scheduled
Each of these speeches will practically
consume a Senate working day. If the
advocates of the measure insist upon night
sessions, they must, the Democrats say
furnish the necessary quorums, for OF
each session there viii be on hand just
enough Democrats to insist upon quo
rum being present, for the transaction of
this business. In the present state of leg
isation, with a number of appropriation
bills to be acted upon, with
many senators clamoring for more speed
in the consideration of the river and har-
Dor bill, with President Mckinley urging
the necessity OF legislation relative to the
Philippines it is difficult to see how the
shipping bill can be put through. Many
Of the best prophets believe that the Re-
publican supporters to the measure will
go to pieces long before the Democrats.
who oppose 1t, show any sign of weaken
ing.