The National tribune., 1905-12-28

WASHINGTON, u. q, THURSD
the Senate, as he was q member Of the
Committee on Interocdhnfe Canals. and
had never seen the nominations, and
they should have passed through the
hands of his committee before they
came to the Senate. Then Senator Mil
lard. of Nebraska. made am explanation
that was mighty roundabout, it was i'm
deed. He was second member of the
committee, after Senator Plat, of New
York. who was Chairman of the Com
mittee by right Of seniority on the COM
mittee until it's reorga nization. Sena-
tor Plat came to Senator Willard and
told him that he had to go to New
York. (SenatOr Plat vas going to New
York to marry off his step-daughter
and give her and her husband $4,000
in gold. IL the truth must be known)
But, anyhow. Senator Ptatt. being on
the point of going to New York, asked
Senator Willard, who would be Acting
Chairman, to present to the Senate the
names of the Canal Commission for
confirmation. Senator Willard said that
he supposed that the Committee on In
teroceanic Canals had been polled. by
the way Senator Plat spoke, and that
it was a majority in favor of reporting
the appointments exactly as they came
from the President. SO he reported
them, called them up in the regular
way, and the Senate voted to confirm.
That all happened on the 10th. The
discussion was taking place on the
goth. Please remember the dates and
the distance between, because what
happens later will probably hinge on
that.
Then Mr.. Willard said that in view
Of the evident dissatisfaction of the
Senators with the action that had been
trlr l.
ton taken favorably upon the nomina-
lions. SO that each Senator would have
the right to speak and vote. Then
came another bomb The alleged con-
firmation took place on the 16th. The
reconsideration was moved on the Goth.
Senators Spooner and Lodge interposed
the objection that under the rules OF
the Senate combinations that stood
three days unmolested could not be re-
considered. They also said that the
nominations as confirmed had been
sent to the White House and were in
the hands OF the President and that it
might be awkward to ask their return.
Senator Miliard insisted that no harm
could come OF suspending the rule in
voked. and reconsidering the action Of
the Senate. The Republican members
considered the matter for a few mo-
ments, and finally unanimously agreed
to the reconsideration, and the action
VI was IcSClIiQeu.
The Canal Commissioners are now
all in the same boat, as though just
sent to the Senate for confirmation.
Now, then. will the President refuse to
return to the Senate the official COM
munication notifying him that his
nominations had been confirmed? That
Is the question before the Senate. If
he does not, and the President and the
United States Senate should lock horns
But 1t is not considered at all likely
that the President will try hairspiitting
with the Senate. 1t would mean dis
aster for all concerned.
The Panama Canal Commission as
now made up by the Presidents nomin-
ations is as follows:
Charles E. Magoon, Rear, Admiral Nor
decai Endicott Brig. Gen. Peter c.
Hams. Cal. Oswald H. Ernst Benjamin
M. Harrod, Joseph BuckHn Bishop.
1t is stated on authority that the
Committee on Interoceanic Canals will
sift the whole canal proposition to the
bottom. ''#.f'
Mr.. Joseph Bucklin Bishop is the eye
Of the offending, 1t seems Senator
Hale had asked for his confirmation as
Of $500 a year, when all these ques-
tions and reconsiderations came up.
Some Of the Senators are incensed be-
cause the President is trying to force
upon them this man Bishop. They are
asking his qualifications for earning so
large salary. Is he Civil Engineer?
No. Has he ever dug any canals. or
seen airy dug? No. I'm fact, he does
not seem to be anything but very fine
editorial writer. and that does not
seem to be exactly one OF the require
ments for digging a canal. Now, 1t is
said. the Senate proposes to go right to
work looking into the qualifications of
the men who form the Canal Commits
sion and ascertain IL they are the right
men In the right place; whether they
are fitted by education or experience to
fill the places for which they are get
ting such big salaries.
also, that Mr.. Shonts, Chairman Of the
Canal Commission, retains his high Of
fetal connection with the Cloverleaf
Railway. in which he has some $2.-
100000 invested. It is said that 1t was
understood when he accepted the
Craftsmanship OF the Commission that
he was to sever his connection with
the railroads; but this he has not done,
and that he declines to do 1t. It is
also stated that the President is right
tired OF all the objection and discussion
OF his action with regard to the Canal,
an authority which was delegated to
him by Congress, and that he will be
glad II Congress will relieve him Of the
burden. There certainly can't be much
fun In 1t, and the glory Is so far off
that the grasshopper will be a burden
before President Roosevelt sees the
Canal completed. The whole matter
has now gone over until Congress con-
venes after New Years, and between
this and then you can hear most any
old thing, and believe just as much Of
1t as you want to.
They do say that the Speaker has
spiked the guns Of the "Ship Subsidy
howlers by loading up the House Com
mittee on Merchant Marine with mem
bers who are feminist the plans of
those who favor subsidy. The first
eight members Of the Committee are
all right for subsidy. But q snag is
struck on the remaining 10; they are
all "sot" against 1t, and there you have
1T. The Speaker has said all along
that he wouldn't stand for any ship
subsidy business. and this is his neat
way Of blocking It, Any bill that is
introduced in the House looking to SUBJ