The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-22
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, JAN. IL, I6b9
To the Editor Of the Press;
I'll IrrN

SENATE FINANCIAL SCHEMES.
Senator Sherman made two important re-
ports yesterday-one being the Funding Bill
reported at the last session, slightly altered,
and the other being bill tinkering the
finances and looking to the resumption of spe-
Gle payments. shall not undertake to give
synopsis of either measure, as that duty
will be earlier fulfilled by the Associated
Press. But I am satisfied that neither meas
ure can pass the Senate, even if greatly
amended and in the House they will be rid
died to shreds. You can talk to no one Sena-
ator without his starting objections to these
OF other schemes proposed, unless it be their
authors, From all 1 can learn or hear, there
seems to be little prospect of any real remedy
for financial disorders being adopted. Mr..
Lynch has not yet delivered his expected
speech on Finance. There is good deal of
interest manifested in what your member 1s
likely to say. Considerable confidence is felt
in his ability TO deal wisely and comprehen-
sively with these questions. 1t is understood
that he will review all the principal plans now
presented.
By the way it is curious fact, and one
worth knowing, that the arguments with
which he supports his unconvertible paper
money theory, and perhaps in every essential
feature, the scheme of finance which General
Butler presents, are to be found in volumi-
nous " Blue Book :" laid before the British
House of Commons somewhere about 1847 or
1S48 1t is the report of a special committee
of that body, charged with obtaining the
views of all the eminent fnanciers &C., of the
Empire and of inquiring into the causes of and
remedy for monetary panics. Any one who
can obtain access to that Blue Book will be
greatly surprised at the array of eminent men
who sustain heretical views similar to those
put forth by Butler. On the English committee
were such names as Sir Robert Peel, Golden,
Muntp, Gladstone, Cardwell, Il think) Dis
raeli, and dozen others Of the best financial
statesmen England has ever had.
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Not all Mr.. Stewards confidence, nor the
passably good terms he has obtained, will ena-
BILE him to obtain a-final settlement of the AL
ALBANIA matters before he leaves public life. 1t
appears, so far as the protocol has become pub
lie, that the very question which we have all
been expecting was made secure and funda-
mental, is still left open to the chances of ar
bitration. Irefer to the liability of the British
government for the claims arising out Of the Ala.
bdn,a's piraticdl acts. This point, it has all
along been declared here, must be conceded
before negotiations could be successfully con-
cluded. 1t now appears, however, that this Ii
ability is not conceded, but is to be settled by
the commission for which the protocol pro-
vides. If majority of the commission is
not for or against these claims, then the two
governments are to try and decide the ques-
ton of liability, ard if they fail, then they are
to agree on an arbitrator or umpire. This ar
bitrator, however, is 10 adiudge only the ques-
ton of liability. II he rules that question in
favor OF the United States government, the
amount due to each claimant is TO be ascer-
tanned by majority of the commissioners. If
he rules in favor of the British government,
the claim is to be perpetually barred. Anoth-
er important fact in this connection is, that the
arbitrator thus chosen is to be first confirmed
by the Senate before he enters on his duty.
1t will therefore be seen that SO far as APP
pears, the British government makes no ac-
Acknowledgement of its liability, but leaves that
to be settled by the commission in each indi-
vidual case. Gen. Grant is, it is well under
stood, favorable only to such settlement as
can be made after Great Britain acknowledges
her general liability; the commission then to
decide the amount due in each case presented.
If the idea of the protocol have presented be
correct, it cannot be accepted by the Senate.
OTHER sEwARDIANA.
The St. Thomas treaty will most certainly be
defeated in spite of the very kindly feeling
that is entertained towards Denmark in the
matter. The history of the affair becomes
more disgraceful to the Secretary of State as
it becomes better known, and confirms feel
ing that has long been growing here, that Mr.
Seward has been striving in every way to Gre
ate anti-Republican views and policy in this
country, and that he desired to substitute the
imperial greed of power and dominion for the
democratic neighborhood and friendliness
which it is our best interest to cultivate.
One of the latest intimations we have is that
the Spanish Provisional Government is ready
to dispose of Cuba. Probably that is true, for
by this time they must be sure of their inabil-
ity to hold the "Queen of the Antilles" much
longer. Recent letters from Cuba, which 1
have seen. written in the chief camp of the
patriots, give assurance OF their ability and
their certainty of success. The general feel
ing is for independence and not annexation.
To press the latter will be to disrupture them.
SPECTATOR.