Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-26
PROTEST ON BRIDGE BILL
Senator Millard and Congressman Mercer
Present Matter to President
lNTlMATES He WILL SIGN THE MEASURE
Charles s. GIeed of Topeka Mentioned
Rs One OF the Men who is Behind
Scheme TO Put In south
Omaha Bridge.

with the president this morning In relation
10 the South Omaha bridge bill. Senator MIL
lard presented a petition signed by leading
bankers Of Omaha and South Omaha calling
upon President Roosevelt to veto the bill
which was railroaded through congress last
week at lightning speed. Senator Millard
presented the views of the protestants
against the measure, in which Mr.. Cornish
representing the Union Pacific. concurred.
Mercer presented the side Of the com
pany. asking for the charter and Incl
dentally mentioning the name of Charles S.
Gleed Of Topeka as vice president of the
corporation interested in the bill.
The president remarked, after he had
heard the arguments pro and con that as
the bill came to him with the unanimous
endorsement of congress. he could not see
his way clear to Withholding his signature.
Beet Sugar Map Explains.
The absolute confidence Of the opponents
Of any reduction in the duties on sugar
coming from Cuba that they will be able
to defeat the president, the speaker and
the ways and means committees seems
strange, in view of the collapse of the in
surgent movement last week, but that this
confidence is not altogether misplaced was
made apparent today, when one of the
foremost OF the beet sugar advocates ex-
planned the situation. He said:
"a proposition is on foot before the
ways and means committee to add to the
Cuban tariff reduction clause Of the pro-
posed bill a paragraph to abolish the diff
ferential duty, which now gives refined
sugar a preferential advantage. With this
paragraph added, the bill would receive
the support of the democrats as well as
. he 1hore
will unite with the democrats IN de-
manding that the differential be abolished.
They will stand out for that concession
to the end. In consequence there is little
prospect Of an agreement. and 1t is safe
to declare that the Cuban tariff, which
seemed assured last week, will not be
reported from the ways and means COM
mittee at this session"
Forty-five members of congress have SOL
emnly pledged themselves to antagonize the
ways and means committees bill unless
the compromise suggested is included in
the measure which the committee will re-
port.
These forty-fve congressman come from
the following states: California, a solid
delegation. seven; Michigan, solid dele
cation, twelve; Washington, a solid dele>
cation, twoa Minnesota. hVe; West Virginia,
a solid delegation, four; Illinois, two; New
York, one; Maine, three; Wisconsin, seven
Ohio, two.
This is regarded as the most conserva-
tive estimate yet made as to the strength
of the opposition to the ways and means
committee. No representative has been
placed In this list who is even lukewarm
in support of the insurgents contention
that a larger reduction than 20 per cent
would mean ruin to the beet sugar industry
of the country. The list has been carefully
gone over by the leaders Of the appropria-
tion bill and while no names are given, for
obvious reasons, it will be found absolutely
perfect, according to Representative Nor
ris OF Minnesota.
IOwans stirred over COurtright.
The Iowa delegation in congress was
greatly exercised today over a story which
appears in the morning newspapers stating
that State Senator Courtright of Waterloo
had announced himself as candidate for
the republican congressional nomination in
the Third district against Speaker Hender-
son. While il had been anticipated that
some such scheme was on foot, 1t was not
expected that the Waterloo Courier would
become the champion of Courtright 1t shows
itself.
It is said that Courtrights candidacy Is
based upon Hendersons attitude in support
Of the administration efforts for Cuban
reciprocity which, 1t charges, is inimical to
the beet sugar interests of the west. The
dispatches further state that Senator Court
right is opposed TO aiding Cuba, and is In
favor Of tariff reduction.
From the inside It is learned that the
opposition to speaker grows out OF the
postofice fight at Waterloo, which Is the
home town Of Senator Courtright and in
which the friends OF the defeated candidate,
who had the support but a minority por-
zion of the patrons of the Office, have de-
clared war on the speaker. The success
full man received the endorsement of nearly
/ 800 patrons of the office While It is not
expected by Henderson's friends that Sena-
tor Courtright will poll any considerable
number OF votes, nevertheless, It makes an
interesting situation, as the democrats, II
is understood are expecting to place ex-
Governor Horace Boise in nomination
against the speaker.
Lincoln Boy for West Point.
Representative Burkett today nominated
Burke S. Hall Of Lincoln for a cadetshir
at West Point. The nominee is a son OF
Judge Hall Of Lancaster county, who, dur
ing his day was one OF the best known
iurist Of the west.
Congressman Burkett filed a brief today
with the committee on public buildings
and grounds. in support of his bill ap-
propriating $4,000 for erecting a public
building at Plattsmouth The brief sets
forth that the freight and passenger traflC
of over 5000 miles OF railroad is conveyed
into the city OF Plattsmouth; that the
population is $4,000; and that the number
OF patrons served by the Office as indicated
by letter from the postmaster, is IS, 900
According to the postmaster's report ht
has now in the office 1,1OO boxes and re,
| ports that the receipts for 1899 wer,
50, 1924 Among the improvements and II
| building during the last year or two, the brie
cites were an $50 900 courthouse; a $50, ,OOC
High school building; a hotel and opera
house, which cost S110, 900. Reasons as
| signed why such a building Is necessary
are the amount OF mail handled at Platts
mouth is exceeded by only three Offices il
the state, all OF which have public build
/ ings; that the shops OF the Burlington Rail
road company are there; and that manu-
| featuring and trade institutions demand 4
building commensurate with the CROWNS
needs OF the city
An order was issued today on the custod
ian Of the federal building at Lincoln, au
| thorizing him TO change the partitions IL
| the building and put guard rails In tn,
| corridor in front Of the boxes so that III,