The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-25
bitter FIGHT
COMMANDMENTS
Senator Martin, However, is Con.
fident Virginia Items VIII Be
in Appropriation Bills.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)


WASHINGTON, d. c., April 2l.-1t Is ru-
mored to-day that the opponents in the
House OF the Senate amendments to the
river aud harbor bill are preparing to
mako d most vigorous and determined
fight to reduce that measure so that it
will finally pass in about the shape it
was in when it first passed the House.
It is said United States engineers will be
called in to testify that the appropria-
tons provided for in the Senate amend
meuts are eXtravaSant and far in eX-
cess of what is necessary.
There are some who express the opin-
ion that the opponents OF the Senate
amendments will win the day and that
the bill will come out OF conference great
~ reduced, if not cut down to the oriSi-
nal House bill. The chances are, how
ever, that this is wrong, and that while
there will be concessions by both Senate
and House conferences, there will be-
no such slashing as the enemies of the
Senate bill would like.
Just how Virginia will come out OIL
the troHble that hangs about the r1ver
and harbor bill cannot be accurately fore
told at present. 1t is believed, though,
chat all three of the Senate conferees-
Mcmillan, of Michigan; Berry, of Ar
Kansas. and EIl,ins, of West Virginia
vii! stand by Senator Martins amends
1neuts Representative Burton, chair
man Of the Committee on Rivers and
Harbors, is against the Improvement Of
the James River and against the diver
sion of the Appomattox, but how strong
a fight he viii make i'll conference
against these two projects as provided
for in Senator Martins amendments is
uncertain The proba bilitics are how
ever, that he will offer any very de-
cided opposition. Burton, Lester, of Geor-
gia, and Reeves, Of Illinois. are the House
Conferees.
In speaking Of Virginia matters to-day.
Senator Martin said: II feel very con-
tidcnt about Virginia's interests in both
the river and harbor bill and the omli-
bus claims bill. Although there will, of
course, lie opposition to the Senate amend
mens to the former, l think they will
come through safely. They are all meri-
torious and do not call for very heavy
appropriations.
..In regard to the Virginia claims, L
think that there are stronger reasons than
ever before to believe that the Senate
amendments providing for the Richmond
College claim and the adjustment. of the
claim Of the State of Virginia, will both
be- approved BY the conference ana be
concurrcd in by the House.
The rumor mentioned above in regard
to The &. S. engineers being used to de-
feat the river and harhor amendments is
discredited by the friends of these amend
ments on account Of the fact that Col.
A. Mackenzie. Assistant Chief of Ensi-
neers, appea red before the Senate Com
nlittee on Commerce when these amend
rnents We're being discussed and passed
upon every one of them. Still. 1t is known
that there is to be an unusually bitter
fight to be made by the. enemies OF the
Senate amendments. and something inter-
estins in the way OF developments is
looked for. The conference meets at ten
O'Clock saturday morning.
1T seems hardly probable that the 9lsics1-
mond College claim will be defeated, for
this reason: The House conferees arc
Mahon. chairman of the House Commit
tee on Claims: Smn1s, Of 'fete'tesses'
(pen,.). and Gibson (FsepD. of Tennessee.
Among the Senate amendments to the
omnibus claims bill! are several. affect
ing schurches. schools ana colleges in the
State of Tennessee. Of course. Gibson
and Simms will stand by these. and in
doing so VIII necessarily be compelled to
stand by Richmond College