The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-05-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.


and against an extra session Of Con-
gress are again heard in hotel corri-
doris aud other places where men
congregate. There is also much
talk about the unsatisfactory condi-
ton in Cuba, owing to the delay in
disbanding the Cuban army, and
about Aguinaldo's persisting in send
ing Commissioners to negotiate for a
cessation Of hostilities, in the face OF
the repeated refusals of Gen. Otis
the last refusal has just occurred.
There is little hat is new in any OF
the talk for the simple reason that
the situation has not changed ma
terially in either of the cases men
toned, during the past week.
Washington is in gala attire, In
honor of the Peace Jubilee, which
opens tomorrow and continues for
three DAYS. While the decorations
are not as numerous as at an lnaug-
uration, some Of them are handsomer
than we have had at any Inaugural
ton, aud more expensive. and the
attractions offered TO visitors are de-
cidedly better than those at lnaIgu-
rations, outside Of the Inauguration
ceremonies which are Of themselves
the greatest Of all attractions to the
American. From present
indications, the out-of-town attend
ance will not be as large as those who
planned the affair had a right to
expect.
The President has, by rather plain
intimation, given Great Britain to
understand that, while a supporter OF
the policy OF international arbitra-
ton, on general principles, he will
not agree to submit the claims made
bv Great Britain in connection with
the Alaskan boundary, to arbitration.
In view Of the fact that American
and British delegates are, at tins
time, attending the Cars Peace
Conference and jointly advocating
the establishment of international
courts Of arbitration to settle all dis
between nations, it may seem a
little queer that the President should
practically refuse Great Britain's re-
luest TO submit the Alaskan bound
airy question, which the Joint High
failed to settle, to arbi-
but it isn't. From the
American point of view, the Presi-
attitude is logical. In fact,
rom the American point of view,
here is little or nothing to arbltrate.
Britain has put forward a lot
IF claims, not with the expectation
hat they would be allowed by arbl-
ration or by any other method, but
With the hope that if the matter
be submitted to arbitration, 1t
get allowed the part OF
Skaguay, which is believed to be its
.eal object, in places Of its other
Owing to the immense COM
n%ercial interests of the L. s., in the
the President is not inclined
take any chances. The protest
lied by the British Government
the intended sending Of three
ompanies of L. S. troops, to patrol
he border for the purpose OF pre-
trouble between American
nd Canadian miners, was good
Iatured, and the troops will not be
emt, although they will be. kept
where they will be available, if
1t is stated with much pos
.tiveness, that Great Britain doesn't
;iSh the boundary question settled
pom any basis that will not give 1t
II Alaskan port, and it IS very GER
ain that no such settlement a be
with the consent Of this
,
The Commission to investigate
he several isthmian canal routes, in
c~cordance with the act of Congress,
iii be composed Of seven members,
wo army officers, one Navy officer
nd four civil engineers, whose repu-
alton is International. In addition
Admiral Walker, Col. Hams, and
'rof. Haupt. who composed the Com
lission which has just completed the
nal report on the Nicaragua Canal,
he members are Maj. Symonds, AL
ed Noble, of Chicago, and Virgil
and George l.. Morrison, of
lew York City. The duties of this
ew Commission will practically be
onfned to an Investigation of the
'anama route, as there is little
oubt that it will accept the exhaust
We report just made by the old Com
lission on the Nicaragua route as
ally covering that While the
Commission will do some preliminary
'ork during the summer, it will not
ct down to hard work before fall.
wing to climatic conditions on the
sthmus in the summer.