The Red Cloud chief., 1898-12-16
WASHINGTON NOTES.
Nicaragua Canal Bill Being Pcshed.-Pe
for American Chisenship.-Othe
News from the Capitol.

NsWe aHV4AA - ~k&aV&s
The Nlcaraugna canal bill which
now has the right Of way ia the senate
rs the unfinished business" and
viii oh IL the most important matter,
ouisice ~ the regular appropriation
hi =, that is likely to come before con-
gress at the present session, was called
up Monday by Senator Morgan, who is
its author and is In charge Of the bill.
Mr.. Morgan says the bill will be kept
before the senate until it Is passed, and
be thinks IL will receive at least three.
fourths Of the votes Of the senate. He
says: 1.-THE true state Of the sentiment
of the people Of the United States is
such that II there were no other way to
build this canal than to go there and
take the country in order TO build it,
they would demand of congress that
that should be done But, happily, no
such reason is necessary. Nothing
needs Ia be- done but Tor the congress
of the Quilted States Ia obsciv" a
straight forward, honorable, upright
course, acting upon rights already es.
tablished, upon concessions that have
been made, and proceed to declare
what our will is in regard to the mat.
ter" Senator Morgan thus character
ICES the opposition. "Tnese gentlemen
who are proposing a postponement by
congress until they can have a definite
plan agreed upon, understand perfect.
ly well that IL that postponement is to
continue until their objections are dis
posed of, no canal will ever be built.
That is precisely what they want"
1t is regarded as certain that the
Morgan canal bill will be passed by the
senate, although numerous amend.
ments may have to be voted down
first, but there the certainty ends. OF
course, it could be made q party meas
ure and be passed by the majority of
the house as such should the party
leaders so desire, but its friends, men,
bers Of all parties, would not like to
see that policy adopted. Although
Senator Morgan says he will push the
bill to q vote at the earliest possible
moment, the general impression is that
the vote will not be taken until after
the report Of the United States com
mission, headed by Admiral Walker,
has been submitted to congress.
So
Probably the only plea of its kind
ever submitted to the president Of the
u nited States by word of mouth. was
that made for American citizenship by
Don. Maxine Cortes and his brother,
Don. Angel ID. Cortes, members Of an
influential and wealthy family in Ma
Mia. The president was interested in
the plea Of the two young men, both Of
whom arc educated and speak good
English, but il is beyond his power to
make them American citizens. The
only way it can be done outside of the
usual method through the courts, is by
act of congress. This being an excep.
tional case, it is possible that the presi-
dent may use his influence to secure
the necessary action from congress.
The elder brother carries the following
letter of introduction written by United
States Consul General Wildman at
Hong Kong; ION May @, 1878, Don
Maxine Cortes, on behalf of his family
the wealthy and distinguished Cortes
family of Manila, sent O. cablegram
through this consulate to President
Mckinley, submitting his allegiance
and praying for citizenship. Shortly
fafter, in my presence, he gave General
A%guiLaldo $4,000, with the understand
ing that Aguinaldo was to fight solely
for annexation. With the occupation
of Manila by Admiral Dewey and Gen
eral Merritt, he placed all his palace.
and houses at the disposal of our force.
and they are now occupied, rent free
by our forces. General Merritt ack
nowleges the great service rendered t.
our forces, both in my presence and L
his successor, General Otis. In man,
other ways such as information, the
Cortes family. has rendered valuabl,
aid to u people" Speaking of tn,
situation in the Philippines Mr.. CorteI
said; "The wealthy and the very hes
people Of Manila are heartily in favoI
of annexation; 10 fact, nearly all Of tn,
Philippine islanders are in favor of be
coming a part of and under the rule O
the United States, with the possible OK
ception Of the few political insurgent
who are now in power and who TO
selfish reasons desire independence"
-
Recent reports from Admiral Dewe,
and General Otis have about remove,
the last bit Of apprehension on tn
part Of the administration that Aguin
aldo and his followers might have I,
: be whipped into subsection when w
get ready to take entire charge of tn
Philippines.
-.