The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-03-07

LObby-Dcfeat of the Bill PrccticaI-
ly Assured.
WASHINGTON, D. Cit is amusing to
watch the continued retreat of the sub
sidy bill advocates.
Senator Hanna commanded them to
meet on the opening day of the present
session and told his friends that the
bill would be put through during the
! first week or so. Baffled bit In this
consummation, he told the world
through the newspapers that the bill
would be passed before the Christmas
holidays. The senatorial satellites join
ed in this glad prediction, and the myr-
lad members of the subsidy bill lobby
re-echoed the cry from Dan to Beer
sheba. The time of passage has been
gradually postponed until it seems now
delightful possibility that the bill will
not be passed-at least not in such
shape that its syndicate fathers will
recognize it during the twentieth CEN
fury. The gradual retreat in point Of
time Is perfectly obvious.
Equal retreat as to the provisions of
the measure is shown by the state
ments Of Senator Frye to the effect
that the bill is now so little like its
original self that the criticisms upon
the bill as first reported do not apply at
all to the bill as now advocated. This
statement is not at all fair, because
the underlying principles of the meas
ure have not changed a particle, but
the doctrine Of retreat is for that rea-
son the more clearly shown by these
statements of the senator from Maine.
Another funny thing about Senator
F'rye's admissions and his continued
acceptance of new amendments that a
watching world has not failed to under
stand is that the bill as first presented
was "as perfect as human brains could
make it." Even the gamins in the gal
llery have wondered how a perfected
bill could undergo such changes as to
be by the admissions of it's author no
more like its original self than he to
Hercules, and still retain its perfection.
Indeed, the advocates of the bill have
been from day to day during its con-
sideration INDUCING in a series of legis- |
lative gymnastics comical to behold. |
Their backing and filling, their hem
ming and having. their pairing and
changing, their bluffing and retreating,
have placed them before an observant
public in an attitude much worse than
that which commonly makes the angels
weep.
During recent days the press bureau
OF the subsidy bill people has been
working overtime. Having associated
with the old lobby managers the best
newspaper talent that could be secur-
ed, this bureau has been making most
heroic efforts to convince the skeptical
public not only that this bill Is the
best bill that ever existed, but that its
passage Is as sure as the eternal yeri
nes. Th1s bureau prepares daily state
ments or what 1t wishes to appear as
The real subsidy bill situation and care
FULLY monographs these statements
IND places them upon the desk of every
newspaper man in Washington who
VIII In any probability use them. The
temptation to fellow even slightly in
Tut this well prepared matter. In this
way great deal of transformation
bout the situation goes out as well to
he papers which are Indifferent re-
'ardlng the subsidy bill as to those
which directly favor it. That, in spite
Il these efforts and the innumerable
ther efforts made to demonstrate that
his is q virtuous bill on the sure road
success, the great majority of the
newspapers and of the people of the
ountry are opposed to the bill is GER
AMY a proof that intelligence and
onesty still predominant in this great
ountry.
During these crisp wintry mornings
be subsidy advocates both of the
enate and of the ever present lobby '
re getting up early and staying up !
ite' Nearly every morning two or {
nree knots of them can be seen around
ne Arlington, the Cochran, the Shore
am and the various corners of the
apitol, intent upon the discussion of
ne situation. Hanna and Griscom.
rye and F. B. Thurber, Grosvenor '
nd Alexander r. Smith, either Of the
lyde brothers and most anybody. are
mong the pairs frequently seen to-
ether In earnest confab. At late
ours Of the night these and numerous
Tiers may be observed in the clubs or
lie hotels talking this ever new theme
contemplated raid on the treasury.
The subsidy people continue to pre-
mt bold front in the declaration that
lie bill will surely pass-the opposition
'e equally bold in the declaration that
shall not pass. And, in the language
the country boy, the opposition have
'e AL underholt." The session is
pidly drawing to a close, and
'zen appropriation bills and a num-
II of other important measures must
passed. In the face of these things
e hold up" Of the senate on the ship
bsidy bill cannot last long.
1t has been seen that threats to de-
at the river and harbor BILL threats
force an extra session and threats of
sorts Of bogy men such as usually
ghten senatorial children have all
lied OF effect as applied in the inter
OF tnls Dill. The fact is that the bill
60 ha1