The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-05
ISTHMIAN CANAL IN DANGER.
SENATOR LODGE GIVES OUT SOME
GUARDED HINTS.

A Surplus Good Thing to Have on
Hand, Says the Presidents Fidus
Achntes--Many Congressman Have
Designs on the Surplus for
Schemes of Their own, the Navy
Department. Is Demanding n Big
Increase for New ships, and the
Plan of IrrigatinE Arid Lands OF
the West viii Cost a Pretty PEN
ny, If Adopted.
Washington. Jan. 4.-President
Roosevelt and the Republican leaders
in Congress are not displaying any UNI
usual anxiety because of the rapidly
increasing surplus in the United States
Treasury. Senator Lodge of Massa-
chusetts. who occupies a relationship
to President Roosevelt similar to that
which existed between the late Pres
ident Mckinley and Senator Mark
Hanna, says the President regards a
healthy surplus in the United States
Treasury as very desirable thing to
have on hand. The remark of the
Junior Senator from Massachusetts was
suggested by the inquiry as to the
probable fate of the Nicaraguan canal
bill during the present session of Con-
gress. In this connection it was said
that in view of the numerous appro-
priations already pending before Con-
gress the present surplus in the treas
ury will be greatly reduced if not en-
tirely dissipated if one-half of the de-
mands made upon the treasury are
ratified by congressional act.
This observation induced Senator
Lodge to talk with great freedom upon
what he believes to be the policy of
the Roosevelt administration with re-
gard to the appropriation of public
money during the present Congress.
In his judgment those persons who
are looking for reckless extravaganza
on the part of the government will be
greatly disappointed when the ball
ance sheet of the present Congress is
made uD. 1t was in this connection
that he remarked that the President
regards a good, healthy surplus of rev.
enue very desirable thing to have on
hand either in the treasury of a great
government or in private establish
ment. Under the circumstances the
leaders in Congress after conference
with the President have concluded that
1t will be wise to scrutinize closely all
demands made upon the treasury in
the money bills in the course of prep
arat!on.
This is not encouraging information
to those who have for some time past
been specializing on a general raid on
the Treasury through the channels of
fc - Inf ~
the administration to throw obstruc-
tions in the way of liberal appropria-
ticns for meritorious objects. nor is it
likely that the aggregate appropria-
tions for the season will be pared down
below those of last year. OF course
Uncle Joe" Cannon, chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations always
has his pruning knife sharpened and
ready for action during the considera-
ton of money bills in the House. Sena-
tor Allison, chairman of the Appro-
Iriation Committee of the Senate. is
also an expert in wedding out what he
considers TO be unnecessary expendi-
lures of the governments funds. Not
'withstanding the good intentions of
these gentlemen to safeguard the sur
plus in the Treasury. they will find an
overwhelming majority in both houses
of Congress making vigorous demands
for generous appropriations for large
Increases I'm the navy. liberal appro-
printions for river and harbor inn
provements. public buildings. pensions
war claims and also a substantial
amount with which TO begin opera
tons upon the isthmian canal.
Senator Lodge says he does not be-
lieve II will be possible 70 defeat at
the present session OF Congress some
dehnate legislation IN favor OF a canal
which viii connect the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans at Panama The pub