The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-11
Responsibility of Rejecting 1t, IL Brit
the United States Senate.
OLD TREATY TO BE IN FORCE
CLAYTON-BULwER CONVENTION Is
NOW FORMALLY RECOGNIZED.
Ratification of the French Reciproc-
ity Agreement Urged-Justice
to Commander McCalla.

WASHINGTON. March 10.--Lord Paunce-
fcte, the British ambassador, was in con-
ference with Secretary Hay for half an
hour at the State Department to-day. The
officials have nothing to say touching the
future Of the pending Hay-Pauncefote
treaty. 1t is plain to be seen, however,
that the action of the Senate committee in
bringing in the amendment yesterday is
not acceptable, and is regarded by the Off
cials as greatly endangering the life Of the
treaty. If the Senate first adopts this
amendment, and then ratifies the treaty.
conclusion by no means certain in the off,
cial mind, it is said that the President will
feel obliged to sign it. placing the RESPONSE
bility on the Senate, and then leaving it to
the British government to accept or reject.
The officials believe that the British will
reject the treaty, and in that case the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty will. prevail again,
its force having been recognized, according
to the officials, not only by the executive
branch Of our government in preparing
this pending treaty, but also by the Senate
of the United States. as evidenced in the
report which accompanied the treaty yes
terday, when it was presented to the Sem
ate. $'*
While the State Department has not
finally arranged with the French govern
ment for an extension of the time allowed
for the ratification of the pending French
reciprocity treaty, 1t is said at the depart
ment that there is no doubt that such an
arrangement can be effected. Regarding
the probable length Of the extension, 1t
may be stated that. although willing to
yield to the pressure of more urgent legis-
lative business in the Senate, the admins
tration is particularly anxious to secure
action on the treaty before the expiration
of the present session of Congress. The
principal reason for urging such action is a
desire to secure to the American exhib-
itors at the approaching Paris exposition
some substantial trade benefits in return
for the large amount of money which is to
be invested in that enterprise by the United
States government and the exhibitors
themselves.
The department officials will also urge on
the Senate that the ratification of the
treaty during the present session will place
in their hands a powerful weapon with
which to meet the dangerous aggressions
of the German Reichstag on American
commerce. as evidenced in the action taken
in that body On the meat inspection bill
Our government has as yet taken no cog
nizance officially of the progress of the
meat bill in the German legislative branch
but 1t has been, Of course, impossible for
the officials to ignore the fact that the
agrarian element has defeated the German
executive it stands, and that the meat
bill had been adopted in the most offensive
form, from our standpoint. Therefore,
they have already been considering what
steps should be taken to protect our inter-
ests in the event that the measure is
finally approved in its present form by the
Bundesrath, and so becomes the law of
Germany. While there is ample authority
In the statute books for the most severe
retaliation, 1T may be stated that the off,
cial mind is disposed to seek still another
measure of power, and there is now in con-
temptation the accommodation of legisla-
tion which will impose a heavy discrimi-
mating tax on the shipping of any country
that unjustly discriminates against Amer.
lean products. sss
German industries are in a critical and
ominous condition. according to Consul
General Mason at Berlin. This is owing to
great coal famine which prevails. not
only In Germany. but throughout the conti-
nent. Numerous manufacturers are shut
ting down for want OF fuel; dozen of the
big electric light and power plants have
less than fortnight's coal supply on hand.
and there is no source from which to OBJ
tain further supplies. The Russian state
RAILWAYS have - ad for
supply of coal at an advance of 42 per cent.
Great Britain. which last year sold Ger
many 100000 tons of coal, can this year
| spare but 100000 and there must be Sc
| rious reduction of steel and iron manufac-
| lures in Germany in consequence. Russia
] is IN the same plight and has removed a
| tariff on coal. while the price of naphtha
| has increased 400 per cent. Silesian coal
| in scant supply is bringing S. a ton at Ber-
| lin, and the coal dealers are in e panic.
| offering s40i to s4.2s for bitumInous lump
| at Hamburg. The consul general is beset
| with inquiries to how coal can be OBJ
tanned from the United States.
Senator Fairbanks has returned from
| Bridgeport. Conn.,, where he attended the
| opening OF Representative Hills campaign
for reelection. The feature of the opening
was a dinner at which 800 plates were
| laid at 80 cents a plate. This seems to be
a modern substitute for the old-fashioned
barbecue. Senator Fairbanks made a
speech which was particularly well re-
ceived by the people of the Nutmeg State.
| He reports that the greatest enthusiasm
was displayed at every mention OF Presi-
dent McKinley's name. He says the Re-
| publicans are entirely confident of theiz
ability to carry Connecticut this year. II
being the only New England state which
has since the civil war gone Democratic