The times., 1898-06-04

AMERICA AND GREAT BRITAIN
The President to Ask Congress for
a Joint Commission


It is probable that before the close of
the present session OF Congress the Presi-
dent will send in special message rec
ommending an appropriation for the ex-
penses of the joint commission. which all
parties to the recent Anglo-American con-
ference concerning Canada in this city
deemed advisable TO organize. Nothing
Will be done in the premises until the
British government has acted on the pro-
posal which Sir Julian Paucefote had
submitted to 1t, but. IL Great Britain
agrees, the President will have something
definite on which TO base his recommend
alton.
The only other way IN which the ex-
penses of the American share of the com
mission can be paid is by drawing upon
the fund placed to the discretionary credit
of the President to enable him ito meet
unforeseen emergencies arising in the dip
lomatic and consular service, and TO ex-
tend the commercial and other interests
of the United States" This fund for the
coming year has been made $S3, 900. which
is an advance of fifty per cent over the
current year. Still. international COM
missions are expensive anairs, and with
war on our hands, which is liable to re-
qulre good deal of latitude In spending
money for general diplomatic purposes. 1t
is doubted whether the President would
care to cripple himself by taking a very
large slice out of this fund II he could just
as well get Congress 70 make special ap-
propriation.
But the question arises whether he can
get Congress to do anything of the sort.
It was shown some weeks ago that an ef
fort to commit Congress to a joint-com-
mission scheme had failed utterly In the
House, through the objection chiefly of
who did not believe In Ieaping in the
dark into what he feared might be a
reciprocity trap, and hIr. Moody, who
represents the Gloucester fishery interest
and is always TO be found on the main
deck, cutlass in hand, when any foreign
intrusion threatens the main industry of
his seaboard nssituents.
There are a good many other members
who are suspicious OF any move on the
part of Great Britain at this time lest
she try to drive sharp bargain in view
of our foreign complications and our de-
sire for her sympathy. There are others
who would not hesitate TO make bar
gain with Great Britain, but who wish
no negotiations with Canada, whose
statesmanship they condemn as narrow.
So the outlook for a ready acceptance
by Congress of the Presidents program
Is not in the highest degree encouraging
IL mas Deen SuSBeSteu llldt III oioSA "
safeguard our precious tariff interests
without wholly disdaiuing the neighborly
| advances of Canada, the President may
appoint Mr. Dingley himself chief COM
| missioner from the United States. This
would not interfere with his tenure in
Congress. as the commission viii doubt
less sit during the recess; nor would 1t
embarrass Mr.. Dingley's campaign ar
rangements, as he is as nearly sure Of
retaining his seat as any man in the
House. Whether Mr.. Dingiey would ac-
cept the appointment ia another mat
ter. upon which naturally no light can
at present be thrown by him
There is no foundation whatever for the
reports so industriousIy circulated that
the sealing question was discussed and a
tentative agreement on It reached during
| the recent conference. Neither that nor
any other topic in controversy was dis
cussed on it's merits at the conference 1t
Is probably true, however, that a joint
commission, meeting in the right spirit on
both sides, could and would settle the
sealing question without much difficulty
! But that Is another story