The Worthington advance., 1901-02-22
Especial Correspondence

Wrought. W.T.. 5ss
= Especial Correspondent
s..s ..s Washington, D.. G., Feb. 8.
The south is rallying 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 to the coming Brunswick
Maritime conference to favor subsidies. 81
multaneously with the spread Of this intelli-
gence through the capitol, it was noticed
AZ singular coincidence that Senator Clay
of Georgia rose and offered amendments to
the bill, limiting the period of the subsidy
to ten years, and confning it below a
maximum Of l6 knots speed, instead Of lS,
a. it stands at present in the amended form
of the bill. This, however, does not neces-
sarily indicate chang Of heart on the
part of Senator Clay, who has been hereto
fore one Of the strongest and most active
and uncompromising opponents of the meas
ure.
This il 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
>cluding the New Orleans chamber of 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
dustrial association and the Southern Cot
ton Spinners' association. In fact, nearly
every southern state has furnished an en-
phatic Endorsement Of the bill by it's lead
ing commercial bodies.
In view Of this great and growing senti-
ment in their own section, it is not surpris-
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, Clay, 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 advisability 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
go ahead and assume the full responsibility
for the legislation. The alternative policy
involving filibusterang, the failure of all
other measures, and an extra session in
consequence-would be 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 goodly number of democrats-at least
six and probably seven or eight in the SEN
ate, and ten or dozen in the house. That
the examination and discussion of the meas
ure have effected great change in public
sentiment already is unquestionable, and the
change is still going on and spreading
As soon as the bill passes the senate and
gets over to the house it is practically sure
to have plain sailing. Representative
| ~ d.
reported whereby two days will be set
apart for debate upon the measure, and that
at the end Of that period final vote will
be ordered. In the house the rules of pro-
.cedufe allow of such peremptory closure of
debate-ip fact, without such closure moth
ing could be accomplished in such large
and unruly body as the house-but in the
senate the liberty Of debate is practically
1atrammeled. Thus it happens that it is
much more difficult to force or to hurry a.
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 all the spring
to legislate about the Philippines, when the
president. as they say, has ample power
ip the premises to do as he ,pleases. It is
possible that the Spooner measure in rela-
ton to this subject may be tackled on as a
rider to some appropriation bill, and that
congress may let it go at that for the pres
snt. As for the Cuban constitution, which
has furnished another reason for an extra
session, many congressman are now ques-
tionipg whether this country has any right
to meddle with that instrument. The war
was undertaken to. free Cuba, and it was
expressly and officially declared by this
government that we would assume no fur
ther control or supervision Of the island after
its pacifcation. Many now assert that the
pacifcation has been accomplished, and
that the. United States therefore, in reality
and justice, has nothing to say or to do about
the Cubar constitution. This idea has
been canvassed in lively manner in and
about the capitol during the last day or
two, and it appears to be becoming popular.
= The president is rapidly regaining his
Honted health and strength, after nearly
months tuss1e with the grip. Other dis
tinguished victims of the distemper are also
recovering, and the epidemic seems to have
spent its force. This. is fortunate for yari-
ous reasons, but particularly 50 in view of
the fast approaching inauguration cere-
monies. There have been inaugurations
amid Billiards and zero gales; but an in
auguration in the midst Of a grip epidemic,
would be dismal event indeed. . As it is,
tAe preparations for the next 4th of March
are on an almost if not quite unprecedented
scale, and if the weather SONY fairly de-
cent the spectacle VII be one Of the most
brilliant in the history Of Washington.
E<,. AZ, ,,ron