The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-02-01


The Subsidy steal situation today is both
interesting and instructive. as illustrating
the effect of the application of patronage
and unlimited money TO a legislative
question. The friends and advocates of
the measure evidently have learned the
lesson this Journal endeavored to incul-
cate at the beginning of the session,
namely. that no syndicate or combination
could hope to perpetrate through Con-
gress an open and bare-faCed steal Of nine
million dollars a year for twenty or thirty
years without dividing some OF the loot
with people Of argumentatiYe powers suf-
fcient TO convince the doubling Thomase5
Of the Senate. The House does not count;
it is only Republican headquarters cash
register.
Naturally. We have no idea that the
Subsidy lobby would offer TO buy votes
at either end of the Capitol. Whatever
else may be said of our national legisla-
tors. they are personally as honest and
( inc0rruptibIe IS any other legislators in
! the country. It happens. however. that on
a proposition ike the one under consider
alton. some Senators have grave doubts
and conscientious scruplss. which it is
/ the most difficult thing in rhe world to re
move. Occasionally something can be
done TO win over this coy class by 4 little
judieious application of emollients like
army commissions, consulates. district
/ benches. and colonial appointments carry
/ ing the privilege of the TIL But where
such conventional means fail, it becomes
/ necessary in each case TO find some one
who IS learned in the subject. eloquent,
astute. winning IN manner, and of station
so superior as to fatter his quarry by his
polite attention. to discuss the matter
with the recaIcitrant in the course Of one
I Of those convincing heart to heart talks
/ with which the TUvEzls
I lin's have resounded so richly a thou
sand times in the past Special counsel OF
/ the character we mention come high, but
there are occasions upon which We must
have them
It is not at all surprising to hear that
! several Democrats are in favor OF the
/ Subsidy steal or that Democratic Sena-
/ tors from the South are anlazedsto receive
! appeals from recently organized boards
! of trade In various Southern towns. and
/ from bankers. people who viii get con-
! tracts under the River and Harbor bill
and postmasters. all urging thai our Tag
4 be restored to its forfeited place upon The
highways Of ocean commerce by means OF
a donation of nine million dollars Z year
| to a dozen transportation magnates. who
need the money in order 10 enable them
! 70 form shipping trust and monopoIize
the sea-eaTrying trade of the United
States.
These Southern Senators should not per-
nit themselves the slightest astonfsh-
ment. Il they had awakened earlier 10 a
realizing sense Of the public danger they
might have taken some pains to enlighten
! their home people on the true inwardnass
OF the Subsidy proposition Instead, they
have left the educational end Of the CUES
/ ton entirely 10 the Subsidy literary bu-
reau. which. evidently. has done its work
J in an effective manner. II the Democratic
/ contingent in the Senate had not consent
ed by i'll advice 10 walk the pro-Sub-
+ sidy campaIgn would not have been as
: successful as II has The plain duty not
/ only Of Democrats but Of all honest men.
/ was 10 fight The steal al every step. and
/ with unreIenting vigor and perstst er-y-
( Too many have failed in that duty aid
/ ignored their res possibility 70 the country
/ Ia the premises
! That being the case. it follows in orts-
nary sequence. as we are told. that tHore
. is NOT 10 Do any really re~llous oy1os5 -loa
% the further progress II The subsidy
bill. The Army Reorganization b.II is loa