The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-01-26
Especial correspondence


abe army reorganization bill, that is
plodding its weary way through the in
tricacies of filibustering tactics on the
part Of the popnlistic element of i'm
placables, who, at the earnest and EN-.
phatic solicita ton of their constitu-
ents, will retire from the public gaze
and disappear from the public thought
in another six weeks. 1t is aNmaking the
extent to which sentiment has under
gone a change regarding the shipping
bill during the past ten days, especial
~ since its active opponents seem to be
entirely confined to the trio who will
soon attach the blessed Tex" to their
present titles.
The shipping bill was promptly side
tracked when the senate resumed its
sittings after the holiday recess, in or
der that the decks should be cleared
for the unin terrupted consideration of
the army bill. Despite this, and not
understanding the delay in the final con-
sideration of the latter, which is under
public discussion, il actually receives
little If any more space in the press of
the country than is accorded TO the
shipping bill. 1t is the persistence of
the discussion of the latter, all over the
country, that is attracting the serious
attention of members. They seem to
have passed the point of summary re-
jecting it, or saying that its passage lis
impossibbe," and to have reached
the stage of the most careful consid-
Grafton" There is in this the greatest
encouragement to the friends of the
bill who have all along insisted that all
81 needs is intelligent consideration to
insure it's passage with large ajorites
In each branch.
The point seems to have been reached,
now, when no reputable leader in
either branch of congress can be in
duced TO say that the shipping bill will
not be passed at the present session,
while by far ma jority of those who
consent to be interviewed freely pre-
dict its ultimate passage.
Two notable contributions to the
subject, during the past week. are the
interviews published in the New York
Mail and Express in which some Of the
leading merchants of the city are. quot
ed as strongly in favor of the bills
passage. The effect of the distribution
of that strong expression upon the con-
grPssioEal mind was decidedly marked.
The other contribution was that of the
Manufacturers Record, of Baltimore,
which is concededly the most progress
sive trade paper published in the
south. 1t contained several pages of
intcrrews with leading southern bust
l. a. 4
the passage of the Nicaragua canal and
ship subsidy bills. This symposium of
expressions has also been widely circu-
Lated among members, and il begins to
be seen that southern representatives
fail to represent up-to-date opinions
and desires.
Apropos of this, and just. to show
the drirt of sentiment in the south,
IL is worth recording that toward the
close of the present month ''mari-
time congress" is to be held in Geor-
gia, n cali for which has been for
mally issued by Gov. Gambler of that
state lis deliberations may result
In "a Pronunciation of subsidies for any
Industries, but If they do it will be
the first, as n long series of strong
resolutions have already been adopt
ed formally urging congress to pass
the ship subsidy bill, such representa-
tive business organizations as the
Richmond chamber of commerce. the
Norfolk Business Mems association
the Cotton Spinners' association, the
Southern Industrial association, and
n host OF others, all Of recent date,
Joining most heartily in favor of the
enrly passage of the ship subsidy bill
and calling upon southern senators
md representatives to support it,
a typical southerner, who passed
Through this city the other day. and
who positively refused to permit the
use OF his name, discussed the ship
ping bill from new point of view.
Said he: 81 have been asking some OF
my southern business friends what
we would do II our rice were not pro-
tectcd, or, IL you choose. Subsidized
by n protective tariff; and have put
the sans question to them regarding
sugar. They have not yet answered
me. I have asked others to tell me
the difference between substituting
fast mail trains, such as pass through
our southern country daily, and the
subsidizing OF fast steamships, and
they seem lost for n reply. I've asked
N number of others why they so
readily fall into the habit Of subsidiz-
ing cotton factories, in the way of
granting them free sites, exemption
from taxation, and other special
fnvors,' or, as IL seems to me, straight
bounties.' whereby the many are
taxed for the benefit of few Il do
not expect said my friend. whose
nnme is well known all over the
south, and whose identity will be
clear when these questions are read,
that my southern business friends
will continue nearly so hostile to
shipping subsidies when they begin
60 consider those lavishly bestowed
n their back yards, as IL were"
J. B. NJ.