The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-01-16
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
orr..no,d.,c. to The Commonwealth.

Correspondence to The Commonwealth.
Washington, D. c., Jan. Is, 19O2.
The perfect discipline which prevails
among the Republicans in Congress
ard the ease with which few leaders
control the msjurity was we'll d.rnon-
s,raled on last Thursday when The
House Of Representatives voted Tor the
Hepburn bill by vote OF 5O0 to 2.
That the individuality OF members IL
destroyed and the wishes OF certain
constituents sacrificed are Of little mo-
ment to the party leaders compared
With what they choose to consider TIE
party good. One Republican voted
against the Hepburn bill, Mr.. Loren
Fletcher, of Minnesota. When seen
By your correspondent he stated that
numerous members of his party had
come to him after the vote and ex-
dressed the wish that they had dared
vote as be had done, but the fear OF
the party lash doubtless prevented
them from doing so.
Mr.. Fletcher gives as his reason for
voting against the measure the fact
that he has had eight years expert
ence ~ a memher OF the committee
before which the pros and cons OF the
Isthmian canal have been discussed
and he believes that TIE enterprise is
fraught with many dangers and that
the estimates on the Nlcaraguan rome
at least, are far too low. MIR Fletcher
ad mitted that he might have Voted r
canal along the Panama route but
he is by no means enthusiastic for q
canal along any route. He further
believes that the advantages from such
canal are greatly overestimated. Az
matter OF fact, the Republican lead
ers regarded any debate or decision by
the House a mere waste OF time and
it IS in the Senate that the subject
will be discussed and de6nite plan Of
acu,n determined upon.
The action Of Senator Morgan, IN
his capacity of Chairman Of the Com.
mlttee on Inter-oceanic Canals, in
subpoenaing NJ. Lampre, the represen.
tative OF the Panama Canal Company
Is regarded as somewhat drastic, espeo'
lilly in view of the fact that Nj.
Lampre was ready to 60 before the
com mittee aud furnish any informa.
ion that might be required, out if the
Senator, after putting the represen t.
| tive OF the French company under
| oath, should succeed in discovering
evidence of the conspiracy he believes
to exist betwe the Panama Company
and the trans-continentalH railroad
companies his action will doubtless
stand approved
Admiral Walker has made public {
statement in which he says that hi
has received from the headquarters o
the Panama Canal Company in PariI
a cablegrxm confirming the offer d
the representative in Washington
of all ths property of the company TO-
the fat price of $4O,000,OOO. Th,
Admiral States that he will call
meeting OF the Commission at tn.
eariies. practicable date to consider b,
proposition and make supplemental,
report to the President. This repor
will be forwarded to Congress and 1t i
unlikely that any defiuite action viii
oe taken by the Senate until it Is re
ceived.
The frank avowal Of his power]ess
mes in the matter of Southern app lint
ments, by Senator Hanna, Is regar:et
with no little amusement by the Dem
ocrats ano considerable concern by tn
Republicans; the senators, at ieas,
As Is we'll known, all questions Q
Southern appointments, under MI
McKlnley's regime, were decided b,
Senator Hanna in his capacity O
Chairman IF the National Committee
Under the su position that such wa
still the case National Committeeman
Hawley aud State Chairman Cehl
Lyons, OF Texas, appealed to Nj
Hanna on behalf OF some candidate
tor presidential appointment in thei
state. Mr.. Hanna frankly told ths n
that he no longer had anything to Sal
In the matter of presidential appoint
ments, that they were made by III
President and by him alone aud tia
they would have to appeal 10 th
White House. Senator Hanna uro
fess@s to regard the change In thu
situation as relief, but, as Henri,
Watterson would say, and again B u 7