The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-20
SOMEBODY DECEIVED
THEY SAY IN WASHINGTON THAT
MARINE HOSPITAL Is BEING BUILT.
COL. LESTER HASN'T SEEN 1T.
"THOSE FOLKS UP THERE ARE
JUST NO ACCOUNT, RECKON"

COngressman Says That They Tell
Him That the Marine Hospital Is
Going Up Now, Even When He
knows That Ground Has Not Been
BrOken-Panama Canal Situation
Is Badly Mixed, He Thinks, But
Treaty Will Be acknowledgements
man Doesn't Care to Express Him
self on CIeveIand's Announce
ment.
"They tell me in Washington that
the Savannah Marine Hospital is being
built now. OF course, 1 haven't seen
any signs of the work. Those folks up
there are just no account, reckon"
Among other things, this was what
Congressman Rufus E. Lester said on
his return to the city from Washing
ton yesterday morning. Col. Lester
said that there is really nothing going
on in Congress upon which he could
throw any more light.
"Why, I learn more by reading the
Morning News while in Washington"
said Col. Lester, than hear up there.
Those Washington newspaper fellows
get on to things and print them be-
fore Congress knows what is going to
happen. 1 get most of my information
from the Morning News. and the peo-
pie here Who read the paper know as
much as do.
"TUncle Joe Cannon serves pretty
well as Speaker" said Col.
Lester. He really makes a COM
yNracidip@ h11t fhnca
Sound, but our friend, the enemy, are
partisans of the worst kind. They are
all just alike in this respect. The prob
ability is that they won't pass any
harbor and river bill at all during this
session. 1t is bound to mean big ex-
penditure, and 1 don't think anything
will be done until after the election.
OF course, Savannah will figure in the
expenditures for harbor Improvements
when they are provided for.
Will Ratify Treaty.
1.-THE Panama canal situation is pref
ty badly mixed. 1t was a pretty bad
job and things are ugly looking But
you people here know just as much
about this matter as I do. You've
seen what Bacon and Clay have had
to say. Well, 1 guess they are about
right.
'"The United States didn't treat CO.
lombia right, and all that sort of thing,
and some of those fellows in Wash
ington seem to be mad about it, but
the treaty will be ratified all right.
''It is simply a case of the ends justi-
flying the means, but that is something
that I never did believe in. think
Colombia had a right to want to do
as she pleased in her own affairs. Even
if this country did think that an eff
fort was being made to bleed her, she
is bled almost every day.
silent as to Cleveland.
ST would hate to say just what 1
think about Cleveland's announcement
that he would not make the race for
President. 1t reminds me of a story
but the story is not just fit for publ
cation, and l don't guess you had bet
ter print it, German is my choice. He
is the best man and has got a chance
to win. Hearst seems to have a big
backing and 1 can't say that I would
be surprised i: he were placed second
on the Democratic ticket.
While I think German would have
a chance, l doubt if any Democrat
will be able to beat Hanna. He's the
boss and will run the whole thing.
Are he and Roosevelt good friends ?
Why there never was anything the
matter with them. All that talk of
strained relations was a game. 1t was
case of surmise, and 1 believe they
have been good friends all the while.'
Col. Lester will spend the HOLIDAYS
at home and will be in Washington
when Congress convenes again. He
says that the government is almost
certain to make improvements at Fort
Screven, but that prediction as to what
VIII De done in Washington cannot be
made with any degree of certainty.