San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-29
THAT PROTEST
FROM THE NIUARAGUAN MINISTER
HAS SOMETHING BACK VI II,
And in the Dim Outline the Fine italian
Hand of Johnny Bull Looms up
Congressional Gossip.


John Bull is really behind that sensa-
tional protest against the Nicaragua
canal bill, made to Secretary OIney by
the minister of the Greater Republic
of Central America, and sent to the
Senate by Secretary Olney, John Bull
has made break by showing his hand
too soon. OF course, the protest, by
showing that the government of Mic
aragua already regards the canal COM
pany as having forfeited all the con-
cesssions granted it by that govern
ment, will kill the present Nicaragua
canal bill, but it will also go much fur
Their. 1t may kill the arbitration trea-
ty recently negotiated between the
United States and Great Britain. 1t
has been openly charged on the floor
of the Senate that English diplomacy
was working through the combination
or those three little Central American
Republics to put England in a position
where it could either control or have a
share in controlling the Nicaragua ship
canal. This may or may not be true,
but so long as there are grounds for
suspicion, there will be danger that the
arbitration treaty will be rejected by
on which the senate is practically I'M
it, it is that the Nicaragua canal shall,
if ever completed, be controlled by the
United States, and if it be shown that
this question might have to be submit
ted to arbitration with the casting
vote, in the hands of a European mon
arch, then goodbye to the arbitration
treaty. The senators who have open
ly protested against the public clamor
for immediate ratification of the trea-
ty, on ground that it was too impor-
tant a matter to be hurriedly acted
upon, regard this Nicaragua canal in
cident as a vindication of their posi-
ton. Secretary Olney, however, does
NOT take that view of it, and would not
have been so prompt in sending that
protest to the Senate had he supposed
that il would cause additional delay
in acting on the treaty.
Some of his colleagues are inclined 10
noke fun at Senator PREFER because VI
the petition from Kansas Popuhsts
against increasing the salaries OF SEN
ators and representatives and eXtehu-
ing the term of the president, ne mas
presented since he was defeated anu
an ex- Confederate-elected to be MSS
cessor. There isn't the slightest pos
sibility that the bill to increase the
| salaries of senators ana representa-
tives will even be seriously considered,
hut Senator Pfeffer is iocularly accus-
ed of holding back those petitions I'M
I'll he knew that he would have to leave
the Senate.
The refusal to appoint woman to a
in dlnart-
ment. for which she had passed very
difficult examination and was the only
one eligible under civil service rules,
Is likely to be made the subject OF
congressional investigation. The eX-
animation required that the applicant
should be able to translate into English
military works in French, German,
Italian and Spanish; to do typewriting
in all these languages; to do PROOF
reading and prepare manuscript Tor
the press, to be familiar with library
methods, cataloguing, indexing, etc.;
also to be tested in the use of the En-
glish language and literary compost
ton. Miss Maud Stalnaker, of Wash
ington, d. c., was the only one who
was able to pass the examination, but
the War department refuses to appoint
her to the position because she is
woman.
So much has been written about the
lack of dignity on the part Of ex-Rep-
resentative BILLY" Mason, of Ill, who
was last week named by the Legisla-
ture as Senator Palmer's successor,
that his friends are rightfully begin
ming to protest. Mr.. Mason is popular
in Washington. He is a man of fine
instincts, and it is merely his love for
good story and hearty laugh-traits
Of Lincoln-that have caused him to be
called undignified. One Of the Illinois
representatives gives this picture Of
him that will be at once recognized
by all who know him: He is one Of
the readiest gentlemen I ever knew to
do favor for a friend. Trouble
doesn't count with Billy Mason when
asked to render service by any one
who has claim on his good will.
have seen that trait of his nature ex-
emplified a hundred times. There is
a big heartedness and a sunny dispo-
sition about the man that attracts all
who are thrown into his company. He
will ankle a good senator, even IL he
does lack in conventionality and owlish
dignity"
The vacancy in the Senate from Del
aware Is going to cause a fight at the
present session. Whether II Is to be
a three cornered fight is yet to be set
tied. The committee on elections has
not reported on the petition of Col. Du-
pont to have his application for the
seat re-opened: the credentials OF Mr..
Addicks, who claims to have been cleo