The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-29
VAST SUMS
FOR RIVERS
AND HARb0RS
NEWS NOTES AND INTERESTING
GOSSIP OF AFFAIRS IN MA.
TIONAL CAPITAL.

Washington, July 29.-(Special
The river and harbor appropriation
bill which was signed by President
Taft on Thursday, carries in round
numbers $33,259, 900, the Senate
having added to the bill as it passed
the House $S,O54, 900 and struck out
$c:33,0O0. making a net increase OF
I$i,S21, 900. While this amount seems
large the general consensus of opin-
ion is that much of the increased ap-
preparation was we'll advised, espe-
cially that portion dealing with the
Mississippi river for levee work, an
imperative demand having been made
upon Congress by the thousands af-
fcctcd by the floods of last spring
which not only destroyed millions of
property but lives as well.
The signature of the president to
ne river and harbor bill makes more
certain the policy of an annual wa
tcrway bill, which has been one of
the cardinal principles of the Ma
tional Rivers and HarbOrs Congress
since its organization ten or more
Years ago.
Absorbing Question.
An absorbing question to those
who seek our curious possibilities in
politics and election results is what
would happen in the event no candi-
date for president should receive q
majority vote in the electoral col
lcge, and the election should, under
the constitution, be imposed upon the
House of Representatives,, i'm whicl,
the States in such emergencies vote
Severally as units. The two great
political parties being a tie in the
unit control of the States, an elec-
ii0n. with the representatives adher.
ing to party lines, would be impos-
siblc, unless by reason of death or
resignation there should result such
change of the unit complexion as
% permit an election. or course. It
$ an extremely remote probability.
'lit still the very existence of the
possibility exposes defect in our
,rand scheme of Republican govern
ncnt.
The tppcrmOst question in the
''h"s o' Senators and Representa-
ives Jus; now is, when can we
~ away? That very fact indicates
~ eagorness to find way to get
way. The House leaders claim they
laN" about cleared up all the essen
Ial work they intend to do this ses-
ioh, or that may not be concluded by
be first week in August. and are
Waiting upon the Senate. In that
'cdy haste has been made slowly
'"Splto the squirting of the leaders
I"ws ON important pending meas
res nave developed SO much diver
enc" that it is quite likely that most
lie big bills other than the sun
~ measures Will 80 over until the
ext REGULAR session. That in itself
iould promote an early adjourn
'ht Ill accord with the House pro-
ram. SO, it looks as though al
'lrnmeht day should come some-
her" between the 10Th and 2oth of
uglst
The remarkable changes that visit
the domain OF national politics
lthin the past year is accountable
I the unwontcd anxiety of the con-
essinen TO get back TO their CON
l'hencies, with a view to learning
Nv they stand with each other. II
To he great election year. unpre-
nehted IN its possibilities since the
rty break-ups of 1860. More sem
ors and more Representatives than
er before are TO be elected. 81 OF
iormer and 435 of the latter with
electoral college of 5S1 to be
osen. The indications are that
ere VIII be a greater change than
er IN the personnel both of Sem