The leader., 1899-12-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

From the Newspaper Correspondence Division
OF T.. g.. SigveTS.
One of the indirect thrusts at the
Nicaraguan canal is to be found in the
report of the Secretary of the Interior
which, among other things. recon-
mends the construction by the govern
ment of series of trans continental
air lines to the Pacific coast for the
purpose of facilitating intercourse with
the Philippines. The routes mention
ed include lines from Philadelphia and
Washington to San Diego, and from
New York via Chicago to San Francisco
and Seattle. These railroads are to be
owned and operated 10y the government,
and will compete for private business.
1t is maintained that this system of
lines can be constructed for about the
same amount as the canal, and will pos
sess the further advantage of being en-
tirely within this country.
Government employees are somewhat
exercised over the bill before Congress
which sets aside , per cent. of their
salary to form a retirement fund. Com
pulsory retirement occurs when the
employe becomes 90 years old or he
may voluntarily retire after 30 years
continuous service. In either case he
will receive 10 per cent. per annum of
the highest salary he has been paid
within five years. The plan has many
find its chief support amongst those
employees who will soon reach the retir-
ing age and thus become entitled to
the benefits of the act without having
had any of their salary deducted. The
fate of the bill is uncertain.
1t is a common thing for people af-
fiicted with Anglomania to decry
against our system of political appoint
ments to the consular service, and the
magazines have had much to say in the
past of reforms in the consular service.
leaving it to be inferred that there was
oOlhcIblhS ldultdiiy NlOllb Will Jul
present system. Light is thrown on
this much discussed question, by a re
port of Consul General Mason of Ber-
lin to the State Department, transmit
ting translation from the Leather
Market of Frankfort tissue of Nov 4,
1899, in which the following appears:
I'VE have often had occasion to com
ment upon the alertness, the efficiency,
and the keen business judgment with
aid and support their countrymen in
their quest for foreign markets. We
know of no country whose consular of
fees are so active in this direction
especially we Germans, with our legal
ly educated consuls. find ourselves in
this respect at an important disadvant-
age. The American consuls regard it
as an honor to serve as pioneers of their
country's export trade, and the persist
ent tenacity with which they follow out
their purpose really deserves the high
est recognition" Such commentator
/ from a foreign source is especially
gratifying to Americans The present
head of the Bureau of Foreign Com
MERGE of the State Department has
done more than any one else to bring
about this desirable result Though &
Democrat he has kept his place
through a Republican administration
and newspaper men in Washington
who are familiar with the facts, credit
him with that honor.
The present outlook is that the Sa
moan treaty will not be ratified by the
Senate without serious opposition. The
/ Democrats are inclined to make it a
party question. and if they can com
mand the entire vote of their own mem
bership, the treaty will be defeated, as
it requires two-thirds vote to ratify
it. The Republicans expect to secure
enough votes from the silver Republi-
cans and such Democrats as Morgan
and Lindsay, to pass the measure. OPP
position to the Samoan treaty will be
based on the theory that Imperialism
in all its forms should be opposed
wherever it appears. 1t is expected
that the Democrats will lose no oppor-
tunity this session to place themselves
on record against territorial expansion.
The report that Secretary Wilson of
the Agricultural Department was about
to resign on account of i'll health, meets
with an emphatic denial. The Secre-
tary is one of the few remaining mem
bers of the Presidents Cabinet as orig
inally formed. He has the interest of
his department very much at heart and
will not resign as long as he is able to
give his work the attention which it
roC,1irnc