The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-08
DEFEAT FACING
 SHIP SUBSIDY Tafts FaVoie Bill Is Almost Sure to Be Knocked Out SHARP CRITICISM IS MADE
Strong Opposition Is shown Not Only 10 the BIll Itself, But to the Man ner of Railroading It Through
 the Committee.
By wArrERsoN srEALEy.

Washington, February 7.-(Special )-Ac- cording to democrats, insurgent republi- cans and several organization men today the ship subsidy bill in spite of it's strong White House indorsement bids fair to be defeated.
 The measure Is characterized by even more vicious features than were con- tained in the bill which was voted down by majority of three votes in the last congress and its supporters may have tho votes to get it through but where they figure gain is not divulged. In the last congress Roosevelt was actively at work for the measure and if he failed no one knows how Mir Taft can succeed In several instances Roosevelt got members who would not vote for the measure to remain away yet when the votes were counted majority was lacking.
 Not only does republican criticism lie against the bill itself but strong op- position is manifested today over the method of railroading 1t through commit tee. Representative Swasey of Maine. a republican member of the committee VIII not support the bill owing to this pro- ceeding and there are several other or ganization men who accept his view.
 In the meantime the organization is confused over the plan to pursue. It was originally intended to bring in special rule for the measures eonsid- eration. Another plan is to have the spostoffice committee to bring in a new bill to take the place of the one reported by the merchant marine committee Friday. Anyway it is looked at the prospects are bright to prevent the proposed raid on the treasury.
 The rivers and harbors committee has granted an appropriation to open the Alabama river from Wetumpka to Mont gomery. making Wetulnpka the hesd of instead of Montgoslssry. Rep resentative Heflin has been urging the desirability of this action. /
 Representative Taylor Of Alabama, who Is member of the committee on rivers and harbors, informed Mir. Heflin today that his project for money with which to open the Alabama river from Wetumpka to Montgomery had been agreed upon by
 
 s10oOo for the first year, s00OO for the second year, and s8,S0O for the third year, which would complete the work
 This river from Wetumpka to Mont- somery was surveyed by the government years ago, but the engineers were not im- pressed with the project and gave an un- favorable report on it, so that part of the river was abandoned In 1907 Mir Heflin introduced a hill fnr resurvey of the river from Wetumpka to Montgomery, but the rivers and har- oors committee declined to provide any money for a resurvey MT Heflin then informed some of the members of the committee that he would offer an amend ment to the rivers and harbors bill when that bill came up for passage in the house. He urged Chairman Burt.~n of Ohio to agree to his amendment but MT. Burton insisted that the engineers had reported against resurvey The Ala bamian insisted that his was a worthy project, that it would be of vast benefit to his people and ought to be carried in the general bill. Chairman Burton then wired the engineers to know if they could now recommend a resurvey and they answered that they could not So 1t looked like MT. Heflin's project was done for. n the bill however, Mir. Heflin finally got resurvey authorized and 1t resulted in a favorable report by the engineers and now the appropriation which MT. HefIin has secured in the appropriation bill means navigation from Wetumpka to Montgomery and the running of steam boats from Mobile to Wetumpka
 w. c. " Brandt of Montgomery mid shpman at the naval academy, has re- signed. He was appointed by the late Smith Morgan. T. c. Senn. a son of Judge Senn of Birmingham, has also re- signed as midshpman at the academy. He was appointed by Representative Un- derwood.