The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-19
L HEADQUARTERS

! ALL HEADQUARTERS, We'll
/ LINGTON HOTEL. WASHING
TON. Nov. ls.-The Fifty-sixth Con-
gress. which convenes on December
4, VIII have a number OF questions
| or importance to solve. The govern
| ment OF the colonies IN the West Indies
ana IN the Pacific. the ratification or Inc
I samoan treaty. the Alaskan boundary
t agreement, new treaty with Spain, the
I question OF antitrust legislation, the
shipping subsidy bill and the Nicaragua
canal bill are among the most important
measures. Expressions OF administration
\ oincials and party leaders point 10 very
/ conservative action in regard 10 al OF our
/ new possessions. AS TO the Philippines
much will depend upon the recommenda-
ton OF the President, passed upon the full
/ report OF the Philippine Commission The
duration OF the war with the insurgents
will also be important IN Fastening or de-
laying action
/ President Mckinley Will recommend
/ that the inhabitants OF the islands be
given the utmost liberty OF local or tribal
/ self-government OF which they are capa-
bic under the sovereignty and general con-
l troll or the United States, but neither the
I Philippine Commission nor the President
| has yet worked out the details OF such a
/ government. Congress Will support the
| President IN his determination 10 suppress
I the insurrection and maintain American
/ sovereignty on the islands. Porto Rico
( without doubt VIII be given a civil govern
ment, modelled as nearly as the conditions
| or the island viii permit upon the gov
1 eminent OF territories within the United
/ States.
/ The bin reported in the last Congress for
/ the government OF Hawaii viii be pushed
/ through both houses as early as possible,
as viii also special bills dealing with the
shipping OF the islands and other matters.
4 Guam. in all probability, will be left
under It's present form OF government by
e naval Governor. and Il may be that a
naval Governor will be provided for Tu-
tuils. the Samoan island which is TO come
70 the United States.
Congress VIII have no moro delicate
matter 10 deal with than questions that
may arise concerning Cuba II the wishes
OF the administration and OF some OF the
/ wisest leaders. as we'll as some OF the
most influential Cubans. are followed,
Congress VIII let Cuba entirely alone and
VIII trust 10 the executive branch 10
maintain satisfactory relations with
Cuba until such time as q government,
satisfactory 10 the Cubans. can be inst
tuted. either through independence or
through annexation.
OF the utmost Importance 20 both the
I l nlted states and lis possessions are the
/ construction Of the proposed isthmus
canal and the laying OF q submarine cable
10 bring the Islands into direct communi-
cation with this country. The proposed
Pacific cable from the United States TO
Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and even
tually, 10 Tutuila, has many friends IN
both houses and strong Efforts are 10 be
made 10 set Il through as quickly as pos
sible. There doubtless VIII be the same
Z contest as in the last Congress between
/ those who favor the construction OF the
4 cable by the Government and those who
favor one or the other OF the various cor
4 porations. which have tried 10 obtain con-
1 cession with a liberal subsidy.
AS many men are anxious 70 have the
/ cable laid without much regard 10 the
means by which Il is done. Il is possible
+ that one plan or the other may get
through.
Legislation providing for the isthmian
canal seems 10 be improbable during the
first session OF new Congress, as It is not
+ probable that the report OF the Canal
Commission VIII be submitted In time 10
be acted upon and because there Is a
great divergence OF opinion on the sub
jet.
There are men who prefer the Panama
route 10 the Nicaraguan, and the sun
porters OF the latter are not united as 10
the method by which the canal should be
constructed. whether through the action
OF a canal company or by the United
States The opposing influences which
the Panama company and the various
Nicaraguan companies are able TO bring
to bear still further complicate the sit