Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-08
ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
The Rock on Which the
Joint Commission Split.
Impression Prevails that Grouping Of
Matters in Dispute Was Mistake.
Shipping Bill Among Bills Which Go Over
Lieutenants Death Foretold:

Washington. March 7.-(Special.)-
There are both regret and rejoicing that the
high joint commission, which has been in
session here SO long trying to adjust the
differences between the United States and
Canada, has finally adjourned without
any agreement and with the possibility
that no agreement will be reached If the
commission should again meet next Au-
gust 1t was known that In case an agree
ment was reached u great many interests
of the Americans would have to be sacri-
feed in order to gain advantages sought
1t finally came to ii point where the Cana
dians insisted upon concessions that the
American commissioners could not grant
The Canadians sought system or reel
procity whereby many of their products
could be admitted to the United states
under better tariff regulations than are
now in force The Americans sought
better arrangement for the fishermen on
the Atlantic seaboard and also protection
for the seal herds in Berng sea and the
Pacific ocean. The Canadians also sought
a port in Alaskan waters which is now
considered within the American lines. 1t
was the reciprocity and Alaskan boundary
that prevented final agreement. Probably
had the Canadian request been acceded tOa
treaty could not have passed the senate, as
too many interests would have been injured
in the matter of reciprocity, while the
northwestern senators would never have
consented to any change of what has SO
long been considered the boundary line
between Alaska and the British posses
sions. There is an impression that the
United States and Canada, can be settled
is by a commission dealing with each
question separately and on its merits in
stead of one general treaty, in which CIV
erything in dispute is to have place.
Some of those who have looked into the
matter closely think that mistake was
made in grouping disputed points.
The Shipping Bill.
Don't call it subsidy BILL, said SEN
!, ator Hanna, when some question was asked
him recently about the bill which he in
produced to promote commerce and i'll
lrease the foreign trade of the United
States. 1t does not make much difference
whether it is called subsidy bill or not
for the present but beginning carly in the
first session of the Fifty-sixth congress
there will he a great deal of talk about
this same bill, and much about subsidies
is likely to be heard. While Mr.. Hanna
may not want it to be called a subsidy bill
the committee which reported it submit
ted IL long argument in its favor, and in
discussing the benefits to be derived from
it pointed out what other nations have
done in the way of increasing their ship
ping resources, naming subsidies rs the
one specific aid to commerce and shipping
interests. No effort was made to press
the subsidy bill in either house except to
have it reported by the two committees
having such matters in charge. 1t was
recognized as absolutely impossible to get
any consideration for a measure of this
kind at time SO late in the session of
congress, although at the time the bills
were introduced in both houses it was be-
lievcd time might have been given for
their consideration The long debate on
the peace treaty and the extended discus
sion in the senate ON the various resolu-
lions relative to the United States policy
in the Philippines put an end to the con
sideration of any business except that
which was absolutely necessary.
4 Death Predicted.
A group of senators were recently dis
cussing the battles that have occurred
around Manila One Of them said: II re
ceiycd IL cable from Manila today annolinc
ing the killing of II lieutenant in the regi-
ment from my state The death Of this
officer was prophesied TO me not long ago
by man who has watched with consider
able interest the affairs of the regiment
The young man who was killed enlisted
as IL private and was promoted on account
,,f hi. .,I,i1ify flor hi ,,r,rnntiop hp be-
came quite arbitrary and strict ii dis
ciplinarian that the men under him grew
to dislike him very much. My Informant
said that he would hear of the death of
this lieutenant in the first battle in which
the regiment was engaged. and the cable
dispatch confirms that prediction. Now,
whether the lieutenant was killed by the
Tilipinos or met his death on account of
the i'll will he had incurred from the men
in the company will never be known.
The senator sNStory recalled an instance
of the civil war when an officer under SIM
liar circumstances died glorious death on
the field of battle pierced by at least Is
bullets. Senator Heitfcld of Idaho, who
heard the story, said that he had five broth
ers serving in the German army, and they
had told him that whenever Germany was
ABOUT TO go I'd Wdr itIU uHC WI man amy
would soon be i'm action the officers were
exchanged in the regiments from one end
to the other. 1t was generally known
that this was done in order that officers
who had incurred the ill will of the men
would not be liable to accidents when
the regiment became engaged in battle
Three Regiments of Cowboys.
An amendment procured by Senator
Carter of Montana to the army bill pro-
vi,lcd that in the provisional troops to be
raised three regiments should be cavalry,
composed of men especially efficient in
horscmanship and craftsmanship, and
that they could serve either as mounted or
dismounted men, Tho object of this
amendment was to provide for brigade
of cowboys WHO will come from the west
| err states. and who are not only good meil
on horseback, but who can shoot straight
and fast. During tho time that the bill
was under consideration this particular
provision was urged by Melvin Grigsby OF
| South Dakota, who was colonel OF the
Third regiment of volunteer cavalry, com
posed of much the same men as those who
distinguished themselves AS rough riders
at santiago. The Third regiment never
had an opportunity to go into action, and
MANY of those who composed 1t are anx
/