Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-06-01

Washington, May 29.-The Senate to-
day passed the rivers and harbors aprro-
priaton bill carrying approximately Si3,-
10000 by a vote of 35 to 80 after adding
many amendments.
Nine democrats and % republicans voted
against the bill
The bill as it passed the House carried
approximately 100000. Chief among
the Senate additions was s1,OS0.0O0 for a
diverting dam in the harbors at Los An
geles and Long Beach. Cal, $4,000 for
the harbor at San Diego. Cal. and S36o.0A
for turning basin in the harbors of Du-
! luth and Superior on Lake Superior.
An appropriation for $4,000 for deep
| ening East river, New York, the only new
project inserted in the bill by the House.
! and stricken out by the Senate committee
later was restored in the Senate 1t was
urged by the President and the secretary
of the navy as an imperative prepared
ness measure. necessary In order to pro-
vide channel for battleships to the navy
Sard at Brooklyn.
KITCHIN DEFENDS NAVY BILL.
Majority Leader Kitchn made his
promised speech in behalf OF the naval
appropriation bill in the House to-day.
explaining that while he believed the
measure provided for greater prepared
ness on sea than the country really need
co, he was supporting it because it elm
mated the navy departments fve-year
building program He devoted himself
most vigorously to attacking the So
called big navy men, asserting that the
present clamor for preparedness was due
In the main to hysteria and jingoism.
al
Kitchn's speech and the House then
began consideration of the bill under the
rule permitting five minute speeches or
any amendments. This probably will be
continued until four o'clock Friday after.
noon, the hour set for the final vote. The
House remained in session until late this
evening and the leaders agreed to meet
. tomorrow at the usual hour instead OF
fecessing over Memorial day
ONLY 3 DEMOCRATS ON BENCH
Incidentally out of all this Hughes
assurance arises speculation about the
new member Of the supreme court &c
eucceed him. The most remarkable
episode of the session of Congress
having to do with the naming of Louis
j. Brandeis of Boston for the highes,
bench, Is virtually at a close When
MIR. Brandeis is confirmed this week
the court will have again its full mem.
bership of nine, II Mr. Rrandeis be
counted as a democrat the court will
consist then of six republicans and
three democrats. The latter will com.
prise the chief justice, Mr.. White. Jus.
tice McReynolds and Justice Brandeis
1t is not likely that President Wilson
will name a republican to succeed Jus
fice Hughes and presumably the cour
will soon consist OF Ave republican,
and four democrats. However, Will
eueh issues as now figure in suprcm,
court legislation it makes less differ
ence with what political party a jus
tice was affiliated. The moro impor
tant matter is his school of thought
Sudden subsistence OF the BRANDED
fight has been one of the recent da,
features at the Capitol His connrma
ton. of course, viii leave much bitter
ness in certain influential circles. in
GLIDING that autocratic Boston circl
~ whose members resisted the nomina
ton so aggressively, But for the pub
LEFTY process Mr. Brandeis probabl
would never have reached the suprem
bench. Dsagrceablo as was the long
drawn taking Of testimony, 1t sim
ply opened the doors for the public I
See and formulate opinions about tn
divers charges, If the charges coul
have been sifted In private and tn
appeals against Brandeis been mad
pt executive meetings. such as Sena
tors Hoke Smith Of Georgia, probabl
would not have been brought over
There would have been quite a coteri
of southern democrats to join with tn
republicans to reject the nomination.
MUCH CONVENTION INTEREST.
It is difficult for public men at Wash
ington to keep minds on their Jobs thi
week. The official world does not reca
a national convention. upon which ther
was such a concentrated interest as wi
be upon tho Chicago convention mex