Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-01-16
our Washington Letter.


gress and the ease with which q few
leaders control the majority was well
demonstrated on last Thursday
when the House Of Representatives
voted for the Hepburn bill by vote
Of 3O8 TO 2. That the Individuality
of members is destroyed and the
wishes of certain constituents sacri-
feed are OF little moment to the
party leaders compared with what
they choose TO consider the party
good. One republican voted against
the Hepburn bill. Dir. Loren Fletcher.
of Minnesota When seen by your
correspondent he stated that numer-
Gus members of his party had come
to him after the vote and expressed
the wish that they had dared vote as
he had done, but the fear Of the party
lash doubtless prevented them from
doing so.
Mr. Fletcher gives a. his reason
for voting against the measure the
fact that he has had eight years OK
perience as a member of the COM
mittee before which the pros and
cons of the isthmian canal have been
discussed and he believes that the
enterprise is fraught with many
dangers and that the estimates on
] the Nicaraguan route, at least, are
far too low. Mr.. Fletcher admitted
that he might have voted for canal
along the Panama route but he is by
no means enthusiastic for a canal
along any route. He further be-
lieves that the advantages from such
a canal are greatly overestimated.
AS matter of fact, the republican
leaders regarded any debate or de-
cision by the House mere waste of
time and il is in the Senate that the
subject will be discussed and def
mite plan of action determined upon.
The action of Senator Morgan, in
his capacity of Chairman OF the Com
mittee on Inter-oceanic Canals, in
subpoenaing NJ. Lampre, the repre-
sentative Of the Panama Canal Com
pany, is regarded as somewhat dras-
tic, especially in view of the fact
that NJ. Lampre was ready to go be-
fore the committee and furnish any
information that might be required,
but if inc Senator, after putting the
representative of the French COM
pany under oath, should succeed in
discovering evidence OF the conspi-
racy he DeIieves to exist between
the Panama Company and the trans
continental railroad companies his
action will doubtless stand approx
ed.
Admiral Walker has made public
a statement ia which he says that
he has received from the headquar-
ters OF the Panama Canal Company
in Paris cablegram confirming the
offer of their representative in Wash
ington, OF all the property OF the
company for the fat price of 50, 200,
900. The Admiral states that. he
will call a.meeting of the Commits
sion at the earliest practicable date
to consider sthe propositioA and
make . supplementary report TO the
President. This, REPORT will be'for-
warded 10 Congress and tits unlike
| ly that any definite action will be
taken by the Senate untilaf it is
lreceiyed. ~ no
There seems to be little doubt
that the chief opposition to the con-
struction Of the, canal now. emanates
from Senator Allison and Represen-
tative Cannon, chairman of the APP
preparation committee Of the Senate
aud House respectively, Both of
these gentlemen express themselts
as aghast at the amount aof money
which the enterprise will require.
Mr.. Cannon said yesterday THE
United States is rich country and
can well afford to undertake. any en-
terprise which will make for its ma
terial welfare but that is not saying
that il should enter. iaatn- s,=zs.lsf NJ
dertaklng OF this nature without a,
most careful consideration of,4he
prOspective benefits. and the most
accurate estimates obtainable as to
eventual cost. :" Beyond that state
ment he refused to express an opin-
ion. 80
The bill reported by the Census
committee of the House came up as
especial business on Friday, in that
body, and was productive of a shirt.
ed debate by Chairman Hopkins, ON
the one side and Representative
Burkett OF Nebraska on the other.
n "a that the measure providesj
Coz ssry of s.. 500 for Directorj
Merriam, who isknown to be a favo-
rite'of the administrations, but who
is receiving far greater compensa-
ton than the heads Of other bureaus
Ia the government, and the further /
fact that the protection Of the Civil
Commission was not assur
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