The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-14
CAPITOL NOTES AND GOSSIP.


CAPITUb NOTES AND lGOSSlP.
Hnnna's LfstIeAxe.-It is well known
! that Senator Hanna has his own little
! axe out Tor Representative Burton. who
comes from Cleveland. Representative
Burton. when the River and Harbor bill
was up before the House. put in his little
plea for section of the pie which as 10
be distributed, following the lead Of many
good Republicans and Democrats, and also
Following the instructions of the people of
Cleveland. the large city in his district.
The Cleyelandites have long desired to
have the -breakSater in front of their
town extended, and several other things
done to the water front which would make
II harber ut TO rival that of Buffalo
The Engineer Commission, which investi-
gated the improvements requested, turned
in an estimate for the work amounting to
about s.. 600. 600. This was. of course, in
cluded in the River and Harbor bill which
was reported from the committee of which
Mr.. Burton. is chairman. Naturally. being
the pet project OF the Chairman OF the
River and HarSor Committee, il went
through the House without much Orlosi-
ton.
So far everything was smooth for Mr.
burton, but there is another part Of the
story TO be told. The Representative fl ON
Cleveland has certain opinions of his own
and one of these includes distinct aver
sion to a Ship Subsidy bill of any sort.
This sort of thing is, of course not at all
gratifying to Mr.. Hanna. who is looking
out for supporters of his Ship Subsidy bill
when it gets into the House. Mr.. Burton
would. or course, have to take it in
charge. and holding such opinions rs he
does. would not be apt to press 1t with
proper yigor. Yet, il he could hope for
support from anyone, Mr.. Hanna would
certainly expest aid from an Ohioan. Mr..
Burton. being a protestant against the
ship subsidy creed. would go long way
toward defeating the Subsidy job in the
House. and Mr.: Hanna is fully cognizant
OF this fact. He would like to win Mr..
Burton over to his way of thinking. but
has long ere this discovered that Mr.. Bur-
ton has reasons behind his opinions, and
refuses to be budged. Therefore, Mr..
Hanna has his axe sharpened and reAdy.
so rumor says and he proposes to let its
keen edge fall upon Mr.. Burton's Cleye-
land Harbor appropriation. II there is
any River and Harbor bill at all, 1t is
pretty nearly sure to appear with but
few paltry thousands appropriated under
the caption. Cleveland Harbor improve
Il
being no appropriation at all for that pur-
pose, seeing that the Republicans are
hunting for an opportunity to economize.
Grent Interests Mt StaISe.-The con-
ference committee now has the War Rev
enue Reduction bill. 1t remains to be
seen if it can do anything toward bring
ing order out of the chaos which seems TO
have boon created. There is strong rea-
son for believing that it has too large a
contract on its hands. There are great
interests al stake and TX the committee
makes alterations strictly upon the basis
OF the House and the Senate bills 1t will
be able, one. way or another. to handle
$40 000. 000-certainly large sum to put
the disposal of in the hands of half a
dozen men. The differences in the amount
OF revenue reduction made in the two
bills does not reach that figure, but the
differences in the amount oil taxation on
the separate items made in the two bills
do. some being greater in one bill than
in the other and some less. IN other
words, the placing of $50. 100000 OF taxa
ton is now in the hands Of the confer
ence committee and II is certain that an
immense amount OF pressure will be
brought to bear upon the members
The interests affected will not give UP
their fight at this stage CT the game.
especially not the tobacco nor the beer
concerns, both of which have clanses. in
the bills which are in dispute between the
two houses. The beer interests will do
all in their power to keep the Senate pro-
visions and fthe tobacco men will do the
same. Weighted down with all .thase re-
sponsibiiities. the conference committee
will have its hands more than full. 1t is
not expected to settle upon anything 1t
is not expected to bring in any report.
This is hardly thought to be possible. The
temper OF the House conferees is one of
no compromise. Representative Payne has
already come out with a declaration that
the welfare OF the country demands the
acceptance of the House bill and that
there Is nothing to be done but to recog-
nize the will of the people and pass it.
All of which, spelled out In its syllabies,
means that the Administration is already
laying plans and preparing excuses for
not making a reduction in war taxes.
A Montana Dark Iorse.-A certain
MacGinnis has recently stepped forth in
Montana politics. and seems at present
to be in a fair way toward gathering to-
gether a few votes in the Legislature for
his candidacy for Senator. Mr.. MacGin-
MS has appeared. as it were, in meteoric
fashion. and, according to the latest news
his trail, flashing across the political
heavens OF his State has reached point
of great brilliancy. Whether 1t has reach
ed it's point of greatest brilIiancy re-
mains to be seen.
For a so-called dark horse, Mr. MacGiu-
mis- has been during the last few ballots,
quite a luIninary. He has set many peo
pie to specializing, much as to what
he is as to what he is going TO be. a Sem
ator or a defeated candidate. 1t has been
accepted as incontrOvertible by many
that the MaeGinnls now taking promi
hence in the Montana Senatorial cam
paign is Martin Maginnis, who was for
some tiloe Territorial Delegate. This view
was made plausible by the fact that the
Martin Haginnis was appointed by The
Governor OF the State to succeed W. A.
Clark. and Ii was only natural to sup !
pose that ne would at some time appear
in the Senatorial contest. The man now
taking prominence, however, according
TO reliable information. is not the Martin |
Magiyrnis. the eT-Territorial Delegate. He
is a John MacGinnis a young man less
than thirty-five years of age, and barely !
eligible for election TO the Senate. !-e
has had no political prominence nor held !
any public offices of Importance. He was
elected last year to the Montana State I
Legislature. that being in reality his first |
appea rance In political life. He Is the |
Secretary of August HeinZe, the copper |
smelter owner OF Butte City \
Heinze is reported TO have political |