Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-02-28
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
SPECIAL WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON. d. Cit is amusing to
watch the continued retreat Of the sub
sidy bill advocates.
Senator Hanna commanded them to
meet on the opening day Of the present
session and told his friends that the
bin would be put through during the
FIRST week or so. Bafled a bit in this
contamination, he told the world
through the newspapers that the bill
would be passed before the Christmas
holidays. The senatorial satellites join
ed in this glad prediction, and the myr-
lad members of the subsidy bill lobby
re-echoed the cry from Dan to Beer
sheba. The time Of passage has been
gradually postponed until 1t seems now
a delightful possibility that the bill win
not be passed-at least not I'm such
shape that It's syndicate fathers viii
recognize 1t during the twentieth cen
fury. The gradual retreat In point Of
time is perfectly obvious.
Equal retreat as to the provisions OF
the measure is shown by the state
ments OF Senator Frye TO the effect
that the bin is now so little like its
original self that the criticisms upon
the bill as first reported do not apply at
all to the bin as now advocated. This
statement is not at all fair, because
the underlying principles Of the meas
ure have not changed n particle. but
the doctrine of retreat is for that rea.
son the more clearly shown by these
statements of the senator from Maine.
Another funny thing about Sena or
Frye's admissions and his contlr d
acceptance OF new amendments IT, a
watching world has not failed TO und r
stand Is that the | as first preser d
was "as perfect a. lumnn brains CO I'd
make IT," Even Il gamlns in the gal
Iery have wondero / how n perfected
bin could undergo such changes as 10
be by the admissions OF It's author no
more like it's original self than be to
Hercules, and still retain It's perfection.
Indeed. the advocates Of the bill have
been from day TO day during its con-
slderation indulging In series Of legis-
latlve gymnastics esmical to behold.
Their backing and filling. their hem
ming and having. their pairing and
changing, their bluiiing and reireatng,
have placed them before an obscrynnt
public In an attitude much worse than
that which commonly makes the angels
weep.
During recent days the press bureau
OF the subsidy bin people has been
working overtime. Having associated
with the old lobby managers the best
newspaper talent that could be secur.
ed this bureau has been making most
heroic efforts 10 convince the skepIical
public not only that this bin Is the
best bill that ever existed. but that It's
passage is as sure as the eternal veri
ties. This bureau prepares daily state
ments Of what II wishes to appear a.
the real subsidy bill situation and care.
fully monographs these statements
and places them upon the desk OF every
newspaper man In Washington who
VIII In any probability use them. The
temptation 10 a fellow even slightly In
cllned to laziness Is very great TO seud
out this well prepared mn ter. In this
way n great deal OF misinfnrmntion
about the situation goes out as wen TO
the papers which are Indifferent re-
gardIng the subsidy bin as 10 those
which directly favor II. That. Ia spite
Of these efforts aud the innumerable
other efforts made to demonstrate that
this is virtuous bill on the sure road
TO success. the great majority OF tho
newspapers aud Of the people OF the
country are opposed TO the bin Is GER
tainly a proof that Intelligence aud
honesty stiil predominant in this great
country.
During these crisp wiDtry mornings
the subsidy advocates both OF tho
senate and Of the ever prescott lobby
are getting M early and staying up
late. Nearly every morning TWO or
three knots Of them can be seen around
the Arlington. the Cochran, the Shore
ham and the various corners Of the
capitol. intent upon the discussion Of
the situation. Hanna and Griscom,
Frye and +. Il. Thurbcr. Grosyenor
and Alexander II. Smith either of the
Clyde brothers and most anybody are
among the pairs frequently seen to-
gether in earnest confab. Al late
hours of the night these and numerous
others may be observed in the clubs or
the hotels talking this ever new theme
of contemplated raid on the treasury.
The subsidy people continue 20 pre-
sent bold front Ia the declaration that
the bin will surely passhthe opposition
are equally bold In the declaration that
II shall not pass. And. IN the language
of the country boy, the opposition have
the "all underholt." The session IL
rapidly drawing TO n close. and a
dozen appropriation bills and a mum.
Der Of other important measures must
be passed. In the face Of these things
the hold up" of the senate on the ship
subsidy bin cannot last long.
IL has been seen that threats to de-
feat the river and harbor bill. threats
to force an extra session and threats OF
all sorts of bogy men such as usually
Brighten senatorial children have all
failed OF effect as applied in the inter
est of this bill The fact is that the bill
Is so bad and bald aud bold robbery
of the whole people for the benefit Of o
bakers dozen Of multimllllonaire ship.
ping interests that the unpurchnsable
opposition cannot afford to give In,
There are now ID or 20 long speeches