The searchlight., 1911-12-29


since congress convened.
His time win be given principally
to study OF the legal phases Of the
water power question in connection
with proposed legislation this session
on inland waterway topics. Senator
Clapp, whose committee on interstate
commerce has discontinued taking
testimony on the proposed antitrust
legislation. will spend most of the
season in making speeches in terri
tory which the insurgents hope to OBJ
tain for their own.
Washington, ID. c. - Efforts to au-
thorize the sale Of the hull of the bat
tleship Maine to private parties who
the United States. and charge admis-
siGn fee to visitors. were defeated in
the house Of representatives. The urg-
ent deficiency bill. carrying an appro-
priation of $250.O00 to complete the
work of raising the Maine, after a
hard fight. passed the house without
change.
II was admitted i'm the debate that
offers approaching $1.000,000 have
been received from exhibition inter
ests for the rear portion Of the hull,
which can be fitted with bulkhead
and towed from Havana to the United
States. This sum would more than
cover the 100000. the cost of clear
ing the wreck out of Havana harbor
Chairman Fitzgerald of the appropri-
ations committee said the govern
ment would tow the rear part of the
hull into the ocean and sink it with
full honors.
Representative Sisson of Mississip-
pi attempted to procure an amend
ment authorizing the war department
to invite bids from private parties for
the rear portion Of the hull. to be
used for exhibition purposes. He said
General Bixby, in charge Of the work
at Havana. stated that several tenta-
tive offers had been received from
the United States, some of them ap-
preaching $1.000.000. Mr.. Sisson
said he did not consider II as opposed
to the desires of the American people
to provide for a public exhibition Of
the wreck OF the Maine under private
auspices.
The bill as passed would permit the
secretary of the navy to give a por-
tion of the wreck to the city Of Ha.
vana for a public monument, a re-
quest for il having been made by the
president of Cuba, and would author.
ize the secretary of war and the Sec
retary of the navy to grant other por'
tions as souvenirs to cities and pa
! triotic societies or survivors of the
vessel
A request for an additional $4,000
for the expenses of the house Of rep
resentatives and an attempt on the
part of the economy committee" OF
the house to cut in two the mileage
of senators and representatives threw
the house into a debate on expenses
that is considered prophetic of the
sessions that are to come.
/ Exactly SS0.00O.000 is proposed to
be appropriated by congress during
the next five years for good roads un
der a bill introduced by Represents
tive Prouty of Iowa, Vho advocates
national and state cooperation in
road construction and maintenance
He proposed that congress appropri
ate and apportion among the various
states s5.OOO.000 in 1912. $4,000. 900 in
1913. $4,000, 900 in 1914. SEQ ZOO. .00t
in 1915 and $4,000, 900 in 1916. The
federal expenditures on each road /:
limited to one-half the total cost.
Predicts No Building Bill.
Democratic Leader Underwood o
the house predicted that the caucus o
the house Democrats would not author
ize a public building bill at this ses
, sion, notwithstanding the public build
, ing committees recommendation for II
: Mr.. Underwood said the matter ur
doubtedly would be considered in cat
Gus. To give everyone a fair show. a
I appropriation of from s25,0o0.000 I
$50. 900. 900 he said. would be necessar
and the Democratic leaders do nc
, want such a bill to clash with thei
economy program.
Would Amend Pension Bill.
| washington-Forces are at work !
= the senate to bring about radici
a.. amendments in the Sherwood "dolla
2 a day" pension bill which has passe
, the house. Senators of both partie
> expressed disapproval of the dollar
/ day idea. The senate pensions con
Q mittee is now compiling statistics
I show just what the yearly outla
: would be IL the Sherwood bill wei
: adopted. First estimates placed it {
{ sums ranging from 100000 to SIS
q 100000 a year over the present heav
expenditures.
= The committee will report to th
e senate a bill carrying much less e
1 penditure Of money. which ii believe
I in addition to being generally satisfa