The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-22
ARE WORRIED OVER
THE ''P0Rk BARREL y
Republican congressman Are
Nervous About River and
Harbor Bills.
Globe Special Washington Service,

1417 G Street.

1417 G Street.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 21.-The
"insurgent" movement among those
members of the Republican majority
in the house who are worried about the
annual pork barrel" otherwise known
as the river and harbor bill, seems like
ly to win a large number of recruits.
Within the last few days there have
been signs of an organized movement
among some of the Republican mem
bers to force Speaker Cannon to allow
river and harbor bill to be reported
at the coming regular session. The
leaders in this bloodless but deter
mined revolution, however, will lie low
until after the committee assignments
are made by the speaker. Many of
the Republican members are using
every art known to secure choice COM
mittee appointments from Uncle joe"
The same conditions exist in regard
to public building bill. A large num-
Der of these measures have already
been introduced by members of the
house and senate representing every
part Of the country, and there will be
much disappointment if Speaker Can
non and some of the more conserya-
tive leaders of the majority party per-
sist in their policy of economy.
Many Of the shrewdest of the Re-
publicans are really alarmed at the
prospect of a deficit in the United
States treasury at the end of the cur
rent fiscal year. There is now a deficit
for the fiscal period amounting to
nearly 100000 and there is no pres
ent prospect that the treasury situa-
ton wilf improve. If river and har-
Dor bill and a public building bill
should be passed at the coming session
OF congress, the appropriations would
have no effect on the expenditures of
the government in the current fiscal
year. The fiscal period will not end I'M
til June 30 The appropriations would,
however, become available after July
1, just at the beginning of the presi-
Dental campaign. The leaders of the
party think it is poor policy to author
lie any action on the eve of the cam
paign that would cause an unusual
drain on the treasury.
A good many Republican members
of the house are between two fires.
They do not wish to be called upon in
the coming national campaign to an
swer charges of extravaganza in pub
lie expenditures; but on the other
hand, they wish to secure appropria-
lions for the improvement of rivers
and harbors and for the erection of
public buildings in order to please their
constituents and make votes for them
selves in their own districts.
Speaker Cannon is obdurate. He in
sists on an economical session and he,
will probably be supported by the little
coterie of Republican members who
make rules for the conduct of business
In the house and who crack the party
lash over the heads of all opponents,
whether Of their own party or Of the
minority. -
There Is some anxiety on account of
the prospect that "a treaty will soon be
concluded with the new republic of
Panama for the right Of way for an
isthmian canal. AS soon as this con-,
vention is concluded the government of
the United states will be called upon
to pay over toSthe new Panama Canal
Company Of France $40,000,00G and in
all probability some thfng like 100000
600 to Panama. This will make a ire
mendouS drain on the cash balance in
the treasury The balance now stands
at about $222,000,000, but nearly $175,-
100000 of this is in national bank de-
positories in various parts of the coun-
try. The money cannot be withdrawn
in any considerable amount from the
banks without danger of creating Seri-
Gus disturbances of business, and the
working balance in the treasury prop
er is less than 100000. Many sec
retaries of the treasury have held that
there should always be in the treasury
a working balance Of not less than
$50,000,000. Secretary Shaw, who has
quite original ideas, believes s40,000,000
is enough, but even at that the pros
pective drain on the treasury for the
purpose of meeting the canal pay
mentS is enough to make the more con-
sentative leaders in congress wary as
to the size Of the appropriation bills.
Walter E. Clark.