Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER,
cFrom our Regular Correspcndent)

WASHINGTON, Dec. l2-The Mica
ragua Canal Bill, which now has the
right Of way in the Senate as the sun,
finished business" and which is the
most important matter, outside Of the
regular appropriation bills, that Is
likely to come before Congress at the
present session was called up to-day
by Senator Morgan, who is lis author
and who is in charge Of the bill. Mr..
Morgan says the bill will he kept be-
fore the Senate until it is passed, and
he thinks it will receive at least three
fourths of the votes in the Senate.
lie says: "The true state Of the senti-
meut of the people Of the |. 5, Is
such that if there were no other way
to build this Canal than to 90 there
and taAe the country in order to build
Il, they would demand of Congress
tina, that should be done. But, hap
ply, 10 such reason is necessary.
Nolhing needs to be done but for the
Congress of the United States to OBJ
serve straightforward, honorable
upright course, acting upon rights
already established, upon concessions
that have been made, and proceed to
declare what our will is in regard to
this matter" Senator Morgan thus
characterized the opposition: "TheSe
gentlemen who are proposing a post
poncmcnt by Congress until they
can have definite plan agreed upon,
understand perfectly well that if that
pestponement is to be continued until
their objections are disposed Of no
Canal will ever by built. Toat is
precisely what they want"
1t is regarded as certain that the
Morgan Canal bill will be passed by
Senate, although numerous amend
mcnts may have to be voted down
first, but there the certainty ends
Of course it could be made party
measure and be passed by the major
itv of tine House as such, should the
party leaders so desire, but its friends,
members ofall parties, would not like
to see that policy adopted. Although
Senator Morgan says he will push
the bill to vote at the earliest pos
,ible moment, the general impression
is that the vote will not be taken IN
til after the report Of the United /
States Commission, headed by Admir- !
n Walker, has been submitted to |
Congress.
Probably the only plea Of its kind
ever submitted 70 the President Of
he L. S, by word Of mouth, was
hat made for American citizenship
W Don. Maxine Cotes and his
brother, Don Angel ID. Cortos, men,
,crs of an influential and wealthy
a,nilv of Manila. The President was
Interested in the plea of the two young
nen. both of whom are educated and
peak good English, but it is beyond
MS power to make them American
lrizcms. The only way 1t can BED
lone outside of the usual method
Trough the courts, is by an Act OF
congress. This being an exceptional
asc, it is possible that the President
nav use is influence to secure the
eccssary action from Congress. The
ldcr brother carries the following
liter of introduction, written by U.
Consul General WiIdman, at Hong
Kong: "On May 9th, 1898, Don.
laxi mo Cortcs, on behalf fhis faml-
=. the wealthy and distinguished
,ortes family Of Manila, sent cable.
ram through this Consulate to Pres
lent Mckinley, submitting his al
,emnce and praying for citizenship.
shortly after, IN my presence, he gave
General Aguinaldo $4,000, with the
understanding that Aguinaldo was
o fgh, solely for annexation. With
he occupation Of Manila by Adm
al Dewey and General Merritt, lie
laced all his palaces and houses at
be disposal Of our forces, and they are
ow occupied, rentfrce, by the Amer.
IAN forces. Gen. Merritt acknos.
edged the great services rspdax :.