The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-28


ages Awarded Messrs. williams
and Lynnb-TiIImnn Did His Best
For Charleston, and the Senate
Appropriated SJOO.OOO For the
Navy Yard-ROoseveIt's Door of
Hope" Is Taking.
BY r. NJ. Larner.
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Till
man is endeavoring to have the De-
partment of Justice certify to Congress
at once the judgments of the decisions
rendered by the Supreme Court of the
United States in the cases involving
damages against me government for
the overlooking of rice plantations on
the Savannah river, resulting from
certain river and harbor improve
ments. The Supreme Court, a few
days ago. decided by a vote of six to
three, that G. A. Williams and Arthur
Lynch, both of South Carolina, who
have rice plantations on the Savannah
river, were entitled to $1,000 each as
damages sustained from the govern
ment improvements in connection with
river and harbor work.
1t is the intention of Senator Till
man to have these judgments certified
to Congress at once so that provision
may be made for the payment of dam
ages in accordance with the courts de-
cision during the present session of
Congress. 1t appears, however, that
the Department of Justice is not alto
gother satisfied with the decision of
the court, and Attorney General Knox,
who is now absent from the city, has
requested rehearing of these two
cases.
1t will be known within day or two
whether the Supreme Court, after hav-
6 to 8, will be willing to grant a re-
hearing. 1t is claimed that the three
dissenting judges, who opposed the
payment of the claim, furnished the
Attorney General with what he believes
to be sufficient grounds for a rehear-
ing. On the other hand, the six Judges,
who decided that the government was
liable for the damages sustained, are
equally strong in their contention that
| Messrs. Williams and Lyman have suf-
| fered to the full extent of the damages
awarded them.
In the meantime Senator, Tillman is
leaving no stone unturned to secure
the necessary certifcations from the
Department of Justice so that the
amount necessary to liquidate these
claims may be included in one of the
annual appropriation bills before the
close of the present session of Con-
gress.
100000 For the Navy Yard.
At the instance of Senator Tillman,
the Senate to-day decided to appropri-
ate $500, 200 for the continuation of the
work in the Charleston navy yard 1t
will be remembered that the House
Committee on Naval Affairs struck out
the provision of $500, 900 for the Charles
ton navy yard, recommended by the
Secretary of the Navy, on the ground
that there was but little probability OF
the money already available at Char
lesion being expended during the COM
ing fiscal year.
The action Of the Senate to-day is
due largely to the joint efforts of Sem
ator Tillman and Mayor Smyth who
made it clear to the Senate COMMITTEE
and also the Secretary of the Navy
that it was absolutely necessary for
additional appropriations this year to
carry forward the work at the Char
lesion navy yard.
When Mayor Smyth was here last
week in consultation with Secretary
Moody, Rear Admiral Endicott, Sena-
tor Tillman and members of the Senate
and House committees, he strongly
urged the appropriation of $500, 900 con-
tained in the estimates of the Secre-
tary of the Navy. The House Commit
tee struck out the entire estimate for
the Charleston yard, claiming that the
~.
doubtful whether any additional funds
would be necessary during the coming
year.
At the instance of Senator Tillman.
who was fortified by the strong 1ndorse-
ments of the Secretary of the Navy and
Rear Admiral Endicott, based on the
presentation of the case by Mayor
Smyth, the Senate Naval Committee
recommended an appropriation of $780,
900. The action of the Senate Commit
tee was sustained by the Senate to-day.
and the Charleston item now becomes a
subject OF conference between the
House and the Senate.
Senator Tillman feels confident that
the Senate conferences win insist upon
retaining the Charleston provision in
the bill.
Tillman For the Privates.
During the consideration of the naval
appropriation bill in the Senate to-day
Senator Tillman became involved in a
lively colloquy with Senator Nelson OF
Minnesota, relative to the proposed in
crease in the number of enlisted men
required by the proposed increase of
the navy. The subject under considera-
ton was the advancement and pro-
motion of priVates In the marine corps
Senator Nelson was disposed TO place
certain restrictions upon the enlisted
men, Senator Tillman created some
merriment and at.the same time scored
a telling point in favor of the enlisted
men, when he paraphrased now ia
nous utterance of President Roosevelt.
commenting upon the race problem in
the South. when the South Carolina
Senator inquired of his Minnesota as.
sociate whether he proposed ito close
the door of hope against privates in
the marine CORDS"
This apt retort had the desired ef-
feet, and Senator Nelson withdrew his
opposition to provision which was fav-
orable to the advancement of enlisted
men in the marine corps for meritori-
Gus service.
When President Roosevelt, In urg-
ing the confirmation of DR.. Crum as
collector OF the port OF Charleston. re-
marked That the door of hope should
not be closed against the colored man
who aspired 10 federal Office" he
probably had no expectation that the
door OF hope" phrase would become
a political byword. IL is being gem
orally used now IN partisan discus
sions. and will doubtless be frequently
an1uloved Ia the fofnina urfsefdenffaI