The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-20
more than sidewalk candidate for
the presidency.

milan canal. that the project is prob
ably dead for this session, despite the
fact that the senate may attach 1t to
the river and harbor bill. The compli-
cations consequent upon its immediate
undertaking aie bewildering. We have
a treaty of joint ownership with Eng
land, which, though moribund, may not
be dead. There is a prohibition in the
constitution of Nicaragua against the.
sale of any of its territory. The new
Panama Canal company claims to have
completed two-fifths of its work. There
is the Maritime Canal company with a
concession about to expire, boasting of
Cragin syndicate, with a concession
soon to be in force. Boosting of what
it can do. There is also the apprehen-
sion that malign influences are back
of the house measure. and that, as
Mr.. Dockery said. there is little
joker" in it. And so. though the friends
of the bill will probably not give up.
yet it IS doubtful whether they can re-
tain their present strength
From this growing conviction of fall
ure there springs renewed loud talk
about an extra session. But it is not
at all likely that the president will
take the Nicaraguan canal into consid-
GRAFTON in determining whether or not
he shall convene the Fifty sixth con-
|
fore in these dispatches. the crucial
/ point is the condition in which this
] congress leaves the army. With no
! legislation. and the treaty ratified. the
armed forces of the United States
might dwindle down to $500 men. 1t
| is announced that the president has
said that, unless the house reorganiza-
ton bill is passed. he will refer the
whole matter to the next congress Yet
| the feeling Is growing that the senate
may suggest some temporary eXpedient
which will prove acceptable after all.
One thing is certain, that the admins
| tratior does not want an extra session.
1t is tired; it wants respite until next
| December to find out just where it is
at" 1t is fearful, too. for it
realizes that, while the presi-
dent may convene congress for one
| specific purpose, he cannot prorogue
! it. and that there Is nothing to prevent
| it from sitting as long as it pleases.
and considering whatever it may
choose. And what may not new, un-
| known and ambitious members choose
it is always we'll to know how to stop
it.
The Democratic senators, under the
lead of Senator German, have sharply
defined their position on the subject
of an increase of the army. They are
| fatty opposed to a large standing
army; they are willing to provide that
the present war strength shall be con-
tinued for a year or more, If only Its
temporary character be declared. Such
a bill is that submitted by Senator
CoclTell on behalf of the committee
minority. Mr.. Cockrell's bill has one
feature which will probably be elm
mated. 1t provides for the enlistment
| of native soldiers to serve in the island
of Cuba. Such a provision regarding
Porto Rico might be feasible; but the
employment of Cubans as soldiers re-
pugnant as it is to the principle that the
| United States army must be COM
posed of citizens, would also throw dis
credit on the disclaimer of congress
against exercising ultimate sovereign
| ty in Cuba.
The battle which will ensue in the
| senate will be but another one of the
| conflicts which have ragged this ses-
sion, along the lines of the national
campaign of 1900, and but accentuates
! the conviction that expansion will be
their leading issue.
| Current gossip about the joint high
| commission, for the members thereof
maintain a discreet silence, now says
| that, under the agreement arrived at,
|
conceded to be American territory, the
line running back thirty miles from
| the edge of the mainland; that Canada
is to relinquish all pelagic sealing upon
| the payment Of a fixed sum by the
United States; that New England fish
| ermen are to have the right to touch
and trade at Canadian ports, and that
hay and ore are to be put on the free
list. 1t is curious, considering the
solemnity with which the American
Publishers association met and re-
| solved, that nothing is reported re-
garding free pulp. Can it be that
these gentlemen took themselves too
seriously, and that their free pulp
influence was entirely esoteric?
Regarding the state of gold discov-
cries in Alaska, United States Consul
McCook writes to the state department
| that quite a stampede has taken place
| within the past few weeks to the Stew
art river district, where several new
creeks with good prospects have been
| discovered. He says that mining at
Dawson has been much overdone; but
That the results from Forty Mile post.
Eagle City and Star City on the Alas
ka side will be very gratifying.
| The senate has already devoted some
time to the discussing Of the proposed
Alaskan code, which is justly regarded
as one of the most important and i'm
| perative measures before this congress
1T was stated that while the permanent
population of the territory at present is
| 10000, yet moderate estimates placed
the number Of our citizens en-
| gagged there in various occupations dur
ing the present year at 100 900; and
yet there was almost no law
| thefe, certainly not enough for the
ordinary requirements of Justice. The
trouble with this bill, which was drawn
With great care by Messrs Culberson.
OF Texas; Botkin, of Wisconsin, and
| Watson, of Ohio, is that it is about 700
pages long, and at this stage of the ses-
sion no one cares to hear it read SEN
ator Hoar suggested that it be passed
by its title, as was done in the case of
| the Revised Statutes of the United
| States, and it is probable that some
| such legislative device will be ADOPT
| ed.
The fate Of the McEnery resolution in
the house rests with Chairman Hit.
| OF the committee on foreign affairs,
VINO is an administration man by grace
OF principle, training and favor. II is
sad that he will hold it until SO late
ir the session that If the house should
pass 1t. as seems probable, the presi-
dent would be relieved from either
signing it or returning it with his oh
1ections. On the other hand, ii is said
that the McEnery resolution Is as Wea !,
a one as could be passed, ard hence
that the administration preferred it as
the easiest settlement of a dangerous
matter. If such a view prevails. Mr..
HIT Will, of course, report it prompt
ly. In any event, the house is bound
TO nave its innings on the Philippine