The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-22
NO FLOOD LAWS.
Almost Certain That Congress
Will Not Act.
Kaw River Is Too Small to Be
Considered.
REPORT is ADVERSE.
Saw No Reason to
Make Appropriations.
Project Has Practically Been
Abandoned at Washington.

washington, Lee. ZZ.-lL seems ETdc-
tically certain that this congress will
not appropriate any money to prevent
Kansas river floods. Not only has the
committee from the Mississippi river
commission which went west to inquire
into the advisa bility of such legislation
made an adverse report to Secretary
Root. but the committee on rivers and
harbors of the house. where any meas
ures looking to this end would origi-
nate, will not consider a bill appropri-
ating money for the improvement of
the Kaw river. Mr.. Burton of Ohio.
who is chairman of the committee, has
made it plain to members of the Kan
sas delegation who have approached
him on the subject that he will not
allow such a measure to come before
the committee This would seem effec-
tually to cut off any hope of govern
ment aid in the direction of preventing
floods in the Kaw river valley. In talk
ing with members of the Kansas dele
cation regarding the proposed legisla-
ton, Mr.. Burton has said that if the
committee should make an approDria-
ton for the Improvement of so small
river as the Kaw. there would be no
end to the demands that would be
MADE upon congress from all parts of
the country, and the committee does
not propose to establish any such prec-
edent. He points out that the govern
ment has abandoned improvement of
the Missouri river, and it would be in
consistent to make an appropriation
for the improvement of an even
smaller stream. 1t is not believed here
that there is any hope whatever of in
for the preventing the overflow of the
Kaw river, and the project has been
practically abandoned.
gained in Kansas that Representative
Campbell has been assigned to the
committee OF the house which consid-
ers private pension bills, and he is hav-
ing a great deal of correspondence with
soldiers who want to enlist his good
offices. AS matter of fact, Mr.. Camp
bell Is member of the committee on
pensions of the house. and this COM
mlttee. does not have Jurisdiction over
any claims growing out of the civil
war, hence he cannot be of assistance
to these Kansas soldiers, who for the
most part base their claims on civil
war service. Mr. Calderhead is the
Kansas member of the committee on
Invalid pensions, which considers all
measures for the relief of soldiers who
served in the civil war.
George S. Fisher, of Morocco. is here
ana wants to be designated by the state
department to be under the protection
OF the United States. Mr.. Fisher for
A4ASAAJ 4AbO0 IAdnSdS, ana was at one
time at the head of the Sunday school
work OF the state. He lived at Wichita
Tor some time, where he was a protege
OF Ex-Governor Stanley. He is now a
missionary to Morocco. According to
the story told by Mr.. Fisher, he is a
much abused man, and has a real griev-
ance against the deSpots of the far
east. 1t appears that under the treaty
OF 1880 between the United States and
Morocco, this country was entitled to.
extend its nf0f0 n Co
tar only three persons have been sin
gled out for protection by this govern
ment, and Mr.. Fisher wants to be the
fourth The reason is not far to seek
Mr.. Fisher wants to get a boarding
house in a decent quarter of the city
instead OF living in an undesirable sec
tfon as he is now compelled to do, and
the grand vizier has promised to cut
his head OF If he makes a move in that
direction. If Mr.. Fisher can get the
United States to designate him one OF
the IL to be protected, he is willing to
risk being martyr to the cause of
personal liberty and freedom, and will
see If the grand viZier has the temer-
ity to carry out his threat. Representa-
tive Murdock took him to the state de-
partment, where he had a conference
with Secretary Hay, who will take the
matter under +advisement, and doubt
less will extend the protection of the
United States.
Ralph Faxon, secretary to Senator
Long, was worse scared than hurt one
day this week. and had visions of dying
at his post of duty and all that sort of
thing. section of plastering weighing
about twenty-five pounds tumbled down
from the ceiling over his desk in the
committee room of Senator Long in the
senate annex. When a cracking sound
overhead indicated what was coming
Faxon made wild dash for safety, and
succeeded in escaping to a far corner of
fhn hn 17n .r.o1z
of overturned baskets and scattered pa
pers on his desk with a palpitating
heart. It took him several days to re-
establish his famous system which was
sadly disarranged by the disaster. Fax
on is commonly understood to be the
most exact person in Washington. He
has a separate basket for every kind of
letter received by a senator and he
keeps these baskets in nice, even rows,
distributed over his desk His pencils
and pens are always in just a certain
place, and they, too, are kept in exact
piles, which are never to be disturbed
under any circumstances. If a pencil in
one of the piles gets askew, it is
source of great annoyance to the secre-
tary, who is not satisfied until the dis.
crepancy is corrected. In short he has
a place for everything and keeps every
thing in his place. 1t was with some
dismay, therefore, that he regarded the
chaotic condition of his desk after the
accident the other day. Order has been
restored however, even to the last de-
tail, and Faxon is once more surrounded
by even rows of baskets and exact piles
of pens and pencils to his hearts con-
tent.
The alleged narrow escape of his sec
retary reminds Senator Long of a story.
My brother name within hairs
breadth Of killing my father once he
said solemnly to a group of interested
listeners which included Charles Jobes.
in his committee room the other day
HE accidentalIv DISCHARGED a gun and
Tl-r- fof
torn away he continued
The senator waited for the full effect of