The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-27

The Signs of the Hour in Washington.
Washington Dispatch to N. Y. Herald.
The President has taken the country
through the door of expansion. He
stands now ready to lead it into what
his friends are so fond of calling the
Golden era" 1t is likely to be a gold
On era in more respects than one-a
golden era Cor the goats as well as the
sheep-and Washington is literally
overrun with lobbyists, attorneys, Sc
cret agents and outspoken capitalists,
all intriguing for share of the wealth
that the President is preparing to pour
out of his cornucopia of plenty. They
call it by different terms. slices OF
pork and pieces of pie are the taVo-
rite expressions.
The whole membership of Congress,
from Senator Frye and Senator Hanna
down to the youngest member OF the
Senate and all the Representatives
from Mr.. Payne, OF New York, down
to short-tarm members, are excited
over ship subsidy bill. The motive
is that American freight shall be car
ried in American ships. The prize is
a matter of 500. 600, 900. or $9,000,0OO for
10 years Such a descent of ship own
ers has there been that the prime OBJ
iect. the encouraging of American snip
building, has been lost sight Of, ana
foreign built ships, purchased in an
ticipation of the passage of the bill, are
to participate in the cutting of the
pie"
The great project Of cutting canal
to be owned by the United States
through the Central American isthmus'
is before Congress, and has received a
powerful impetus by expansion. Inc
latest estimates of the Nicaragua canal
are that it will cost $175,000,OOO Pow
erful interests that have delayed TINS
work for 10 years are again active, ana
| it is predicted that the fight over the
ship subsidy bill will be mere baga-
| telle when the Nicaraguan bill is Ia
ken up Much of the preliminary Skin
mishing is now being conducted behind
the scenes, but the public sentiment be-
hind the Nicaragua route is expected
| to force action, If the ay-Pauncefore
treaty. insuring the neutrality of the
canal under American control. can be
ratified. A natural accompaniment OF
| this policy Of expansion in the golden
era is an American Pacific cable. con-
Meeting us with our possessions in the
| far East. If it is built by the govern
ment it will cost s20,000.000.
Then, too, must be taken an impor-
| tant legislative move about the govern
ment of the colonies. Congress is eX-
pected to take the step, in passing the
Spooner bill. that will commit the Uni
| ted States to the government OF the
Philippines by something other than
the war power under which the Presi-
dent is now acting. There will undoubt-
| eddy be legislation providing for
standing army of 96. 766 men. which may
be reduced to 58,942, and the govern
ment must meet the proposition of for
| tifying our colonial outposts in the
Philippines, i'm the Ladrones, in Ha-
wall and in Porto Rico.
With greater army a greater navy
must go hand in hand and there are
plans for literally betting the globe,
| both north and south of the equator
with coaling stations. While the Uni
ted States is expanding abroad, there
| is also noted here a sentiment in favor
| of expanding at home in the matter of
money spending. The administration
| is confronted with the question, What
shall be done with the surplus? The
reply, heard in a resounding chorus. is,
Spend It,"
Officeholders toos are going in for
their share of the war tax that will be
retained. There, will be an increase in
the ordinary civil expenditures of the
government OF $4,000, 900. these increases
being in the executive, legislative and
judicial departments