Gilpin observer., 1899-07-27
WASHINGTON NEWS.


have no fear that there Will be an in
crease of the humber of reserves In
the state unless 1t is found that forests
actually exist in the places mentioned
and their reservation will serve n use
water supply.
Secretary of State Hay has given the
Cabinet encouraging news regarding
negotiations. He gives the President
and other members of the Cabinet
to understand that an agreement
upon Il modus vivendi pending a
permanent settlement was now prac.
tically assured. The basis of this
modus vivendi is understood to
he the granting by the United States
to Canada of the right of free entry
through port on Lynn canal, this port
to remain under sovereignty of the
United States. Officials participating in
negotiations said to-day that there was
every reason to believe that an agree
ment as to a modus vivendi would soon
be followed by permanent settlement.
The basis OH which it is expected to
reach the permanent settlement is the
same rs that on which the proposed
modus vivendi is to rest, the granting
of free entry through port under
American sovereignty and the payment
by Great Britain of rental for the priv
ilege.
President Mckinley is planning to
remove the necessity for creating a de-
partment of colonies. Cabinet men,
bers and other high officials have said
that in no other way could our new
possessions be governed. But to toss
the question of establishing such a de-
partment into the halls of Congress,
which has final authority. would in the
minds of many politicians be like
throwing chunk of raw meat into a
cage of lions. The President. it is said.
believes that he has disposed of the
matter by the appointment of Mr.. Root
as secretary of war. His idea was to
place at the head of the War Depart
ment man of fine legal training and
administrative ability. 1t is contended
that Root possesses those qualifica-
tions and that he is able to deal wisely
with the big questions that will arise
in the government of the newly ac-
quired islands. Root will give the great
er part of his attention to such Ques-
uons. The equipment of the army and
the conduct of the campaign will be
left to the generals in the department
and to Assistant Secretary Meiklejo4ln
They have had so much experience
during the past year that it is believed
that the army can now be handled
with little friction.
Inasmuch as the Canadian officials
have laid stress upon the refusal of the
United States to accept fair arbitra-
tion of the pending Alaskan boundary
question. 1t may be proper to explain
the reason for refusal as pointed out
to-day by high official. In the first
place. our government. it is contend
ed. is absolutely certain of the sound
pess of Its claims in the matter of
the boundary. That would seem to be
a good reason for submitting the mat
ter to arbitration on the ground that
n good cause had nothing to fear from
fair arbitrators: but our government
holds that arbitrators are almost all
subject to the fatal weakness of COM
promising. In our cause compromise
would amount to the loss of our whole
contention. for If Canada is adrlitted
to the Lynn canal we would be de-
priyed of the only weapon which we
now possess for the protection of our
miners now going into the Klondike
from eXtortion and perhaps expulsion.
1t was for this reason that Secretary
Hay rejected the Canadian proposal to
arbitrate attended by the condition
that in any case Pyramid Harbor
should be bestowed upon Canada.
The long-pending treaty negotiations
between the United States and France
were brought to n successful close at
the state department Monday. when
Ambassador Cambon. on behalf of
France, and Commissioner Kasson. in
behalf of the United States. affixed
their signatures to the reciprocity
treaty. 1t is by far the most import
ant treaty concluded under the reci-
procity provisions of the Dingley law,
and the only one affecting the trade
with n large commercial nation. The
negotiations We're marked by rather
sharp and long continued discussions.
which continued to the time the sigma
lures We're placed on the document
In the end spirit of compromise pre-
vailed and each side yielded some
thing. As n whole, both sides express
satisfaction with the general results
secured, for while the compromise ne.
cessitatcd some minor sacrifices. the
general effect of the treaty will en-
courage commerce between the two
countries. The concessions granted by
France embraced most of the articles
In what Is known rs the French min
imum tariff. This comprises GA
heads. the rates being on an average
about 20 per cent. lower than those in
the general tariff of France. 1t was
found necessary. however. owing to
protests from French ngrarian inter
ests. to except from this minimum
list about twcntv-four articles. chiefly
agricultural products.
Officers of the army who are I'm n po-
sition to know. unite In the opinion
that the status OF Major General Miles
In the war department will be mntcri.
ally changed upon the assumption by
Elihu Root of the duties of secretary
of war. Since the beginning of the war
with Spain the relations existing be-
tween General Miles and Secretary Al.
ger, as well as AdIutnnt General Cor.