The Dawson journal., 1884-07-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, June %, 1884.

Inc waters already feel the coming
precipice and are quickening for the
plunge. Thus the House, in view
OF an early adjournment, has settled
down to hard work, and this week
has turned off legislation in a bust
ness and ship-shape fashion. From
this time on there will be few idle
hours at the ends of the Capitol. But
If the plan to adjourn early in July
succeeds, only the necessary routine
supply bills can be passed, and the
record Of the session can therefore be
said to be made up. In the impor
tant field of affirmative legislature,
the House has made its best record
IN the passage of bills providing for
the forfeiture of nearly 100000
acres of railroad land grants in Ore
gon, California Arizona, New Mex
leo, Texas. Indian Territory, Missouri
Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and
Louisiana.
The House Committee on Foreign
Affairs has encountered rather a
knotty problem in the mysterious
Senate amendment to the consular
and diplomatic appropriation bill, ap-
propriating $250,0O0 to carry out
the provisions of the neutrality act
The secretary appropriation relates
to the settlement of the Nicaraguan,
question, and as the real causes for
the action Of the Secretary of State
IN the matter become known there is
very general sentiment of appro-
baton of his course. 1t seems from
the best sodrces of information that
it came to the knowledge of the De
partment Of States, through one of
the United States representatives in
Central America, that two great pow
ers (reported to be Germany and
England were quietly endeavoring
to obtain from Nicaragua a corces-
sion Tor the purpose Of either con-
structing ship canal which should
connect the two oceans or else the
concession would be held, and the
United States thus prevented from
constructing such work on its own
account, Or by its citizens, unless by
the consent of the powers referred to.
This Information came so directly
that there seemed TO be no doubt of
its accuracy. The State Department,
for once awaking to the necessity of
immediate action, took such step as
it deemed proper, and asked Con-
gress for sum Of money that could
be used to complete the prelimina-
~ negotiation. The mysterious part
of the matter is the use to which the
money asked for is to be put. Gen.
Curtin, chairman of the committee
on foreign affairs fayors openness
wherever secrecy is not absolutely
necessary, and it is understood that
the committee will not allow the
amendment involving the secret APP
pr opriation to go thrc ugh the House
without discussion. Gen. Curtin,
when asked if the matter was to in-
yolye the United States in trouble
with foreign power replied somewhat
hesitatingly that he thought not, and
finally added that nations were like
individuals; it was hard to tell what
they might do. The whole matter
involves question of much inpor-
lance, and it certainly behooves the
United States not to be tardy in OBJ
tanning the control of the only avail
able way that is left us. France sub
jects working by permission OF their
government, have already acquired
vested right to the shortest water
way between the two oceans AS to
whether or not any American compa-
ny is to be bought out is part of the
matter concerning which the State
Department has not yet seen fit to in
form Congress, but it is like
ly the whole affair will be
fully developed in the next ten
days.
Washingtons politicians have been
watching the ebb and flow of the
Cleveland tide, and there is much
diversity of conclusion regarding its
power and extent. There are many
Democratic Congre ssmen who pre-
dict his nomination on the first bal
lot at Chicago, while some prominent
NV York democrats have openly lr
clared at the Capitol that Cleveland
could not carry New York, Others
are making strenuous ffo'is to turn
the tide of popuda <eniinen, from
Cleveland and throw thu MONICA ion
more fully open 20 the field. EAerv