The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-09
HANNA UNDER SUSPICION.
Death of the River and Harbor Bill
Laid at His Door,

| Senator Carter's sensational action In
killing the River and Harbor bill contin-
ues to be the chief topic of conversation
in political circles In Washington. 1t is
generally agreed that he was acting as
an agent for some higher power, and not,
In strfctness. speaking for himself. But
what interest he represented remains a
subject of conjecture.
The prevalent theory that Mr.. Hanna
did not want the River and harbor bill to
pass and inspired Mr.. Carter 10 kill 1t, is
reasonable enough. but hard to prove.
MIR. Hanna's reasons would be, for the
most part, obvious. The River and Har-
Dor bill and the Shipping Subsidy bill
were closely related: they would both
have made large drains upon the Treas
ury, and during the debate over the Sub
sidy bill il was commonly remarked that
its failure would greatly increase the
chances of the River and Harbor bill by
leaving so much more money In the
Treasury for disposal. This argument
against his bill did not please Mr.. Hanna.
He could not help thinking that, converse
ly. the killing of the River and Harbor
bill would greatly add to the prospects of
the subsidy at the next session by re-
lieving the Treasury of the call for s3,
10000, whose expenditure was provided
for by the bill in the coming fiscal year
IL the times continue good, with this I'M
expected saving, there may again be
redundancy of revenue In December. This
would facilitate the passage of the Ship
ping hill since there would be no popular
demand so soon for any further revenue
reduction. There was thus much for Mr..
Hanna to gain by the death of the River
and Harbor bill and little to lose. provided
the evidence of his responsibility could be
kept in the background, and this Will give
him no trouble.
Another and an unconscious influence
with Mr.. Hanna may have been his dislike
of Mr.. Burton, fellow-townsman, whose
relations with him have never been cor
dial Burton was an avowed opponent OF
the Subsidy bill. and, had it reached the
House at this session. might have been
strong enough to defeat ii; in another SEES
sion, with Republican majority of forty,
he would probably not be able TO do so.
A strong demand for river and harbor leg
islation would then be Il great weapon In
bringing TO terms obstructive opponents
OF subsidy. Since it is customary to pass
a general River and Harbor bill only once
in two or three years, 10 have wasted that
weapon at this session, after the defeat
of the Subsidy bill was Acknowledged
would have shown d great lack or STRAIT
egy.
senator Frye, who was Mr.. Hannas
closest associate in the subsidy fight, has
made little secret Of his willingness to
see the River and HarbOr bill die. He
gave as his reason that he thought the
short session an improper time for the
of a great appropriation measure
of this kind. His Withdrawal from the
management OF the bill, first in favor of
MIR Mcmillan and later OF Mr.. Nelson,
doubtless revealed his own loss of inter-
est in its success. Even the clerks of his
committee are said TO have so adjusted
matters as to do the measure no good,
and II has been an open secret for come
time that the River and Harbor bill, IL
the quiet opposition of the chief promot-
ers of the subsidy. That they would &C
knowledge this is, of course, not to be
expected, since the commercial interests
which use New York's harbors have been
handsome contributors to Mr.. HanDas
national campaign funds; while Cleveland
1arbor, which Mr.. Hannas own ships
Mr.. Frye has in times past SO heartily
worked, were large beneflciaries of the
River and Harbor bill.
These are the considerations which
long made 1t appear unreasonable that
either of these Senators would, in the
haal pinch, bring about the death of the
BILL no matter how irritated they had
Yet it Is difficult to fix the responsibility
upon any other theory than that they
had something to do with 1t, especially
now that the President has promptly ap-
pointed Mr.. Carter to a 5000 office as
of the st. Louis Exhibition.