The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-07
Washington letter
From our regular Correspondent.

| bling of Congress found the Capitol full
\ of ugly and sensational rumors connected
| with the Isthmian Canal question. Some oil
| these rumors make charges entirely too serious
| to be repeated without proof OF their truth
| fulness, as to what has been accomplished by
the lobbyists employed by the Panama Canal
| Company, in their efforts to delay Congress
! ional action authorizing the construction Of
| the Nicaragua Canal. But there are some
| facts which speak for themselves. Sometime
| ago it WAS announced in semi-oilica manner
! that the report of the Canal Commission would
| be strongly in favor of the Nicaragua route,
| now it is allowed to become known that the
| report of the commission will not specify
preferable route but will give its estimates OF
| the cost of the Canal by the Nicaragua route,
ard the cost of the completion OF the Panama
| Canal, together with the terms upon which
| this government can secure control Of the
latter, and leave Congress to decide for itself.
What brought about this change? That is
| the question that the rumors deal with. The
| President of the Panama Canal Comp any had
| long conference with the Secretary of State.
and, OF course, everybody knows what the
gentleman is i'll Washington for. Although
the Nicaragua Canal bill, which passed the
| House at the last session was, by resolution OF
| the Senate, made special order for Wednes-
| day of this week. a programme has been ar
| ranged by which the Ship Subsidy bill wall be
used to side-track the Canal bill, unless the
programme is upset by majority vote OF the
Senate. The Panama Canal Company has
| caused one great National scandal, which dis
| graced eminent Frenchmen, and from present
| Indications 1t may cause another, that will dis
| grace some prominent Americans.
pf Congress-
| met today and adjourned without waiting to
| get Mr.. McKinIey's message, as mark of re-
spect to the late Senators Davis and Grear and
members of the House who have died since
| the last session. but in reality the adjournment
was for the purpose of giving the Republicans
little more time to try to reconcile their
numerous differences and to get together On II
| legislative programme.
The Jackson Democratic Association, OF
| Washington, is arranging tor its annual cele
bration of Jackson Day, January Sth next,
with as much enthusiasm asits members could
possibly have displayed, had the party been
victors in the late campaign. The Jacksonions
are of the same undaunted brand as was "Old
hickory" himself, and the result of campaigns
cuts no figure in their calculations when COM
pared with the principles they value far more
than triumph.
Representative Shaffroth, of Colorado, said
of the contest for the seat which will be va
Gated March 4th, by Senator Walcott: at
promises to be the most interesting, and the
closest call ever known in that section. Three
of the strongest men in the State are now
candidates-Gov. Thomas, former Governor
Adams, and Thomas +. Patterson, and it is just
possible that Mr.. Charles ]. Hughes, prom-
ueut mining lawyer, may enter the field as the
fourth"
Although all knowledge on the subject is
denied at the War Department many persons
in Washington, believe the correctness of the
story that embalmed beef Eagan will shortly
| be restored to duty as Commissary General of
the Army, by Mr.. Mckinley.
Representative Neville. of Nebraska, who was
| re- slected says he thinks Editor Rosewater
| has too many Republican enemies to succeed
! in getting elected to the Senate.
Notwithstanding his previous humilatlng ex-
per!ences in that line, Secretary Root has
again smotherHd an important public docu-
ment on the ridiculous ground that it is a con-
| fdential matter not intended to be made
public. The document in question is the re-
port made by an expert accountant from the
Treasury Department, who Was sent to CUBA
| at Secretary Roots request to 20 thoroughly
! over the accounts of Rathbone and Medley.
| The real reason for not making it public is
1 that it shows the steal ny in Cuba 10 have been
| greater and more systematic than aDyoody
| had supposed. A similar report was made 10y
the accountant to the Senate Committee On
| Relations with Cuba, which has been trying 30
| hard not to comply with the Senate resolution
| directlngit to investigate Cuban finance. II
| these reports are not made pubic, there is
| likely 70 be some plain talk in Congress on the
| right of official to suppress report made
! Il minor official under orders and under public
pay, If such reports are not public docu'
| merts, pray what are?
| A treaty has been signed with Nicaragua,
giving the United States the rig ht to construct
and operate the Nicaragua Cana, which will
be sent to the Senate for ratification, but
whether the Panama lobby will allow It to be
acted upon, only time can tell.
| = democratic caucus of the House is now in
| session, TO decide upon the party policy TO ne
| followed in dealing with the army reorganiza-
ton bill, which the Republicans will push al
| once.
Senator Martin, of Virginia said of the att.
tude of the Democrats toward the legislation
, | of the session: 81 see no reason for any cap.
tious objection OF dilatory tactics on the part
of tue Democrats. / do not mean that the
minority has no responsibility but that the
Democrats will be satisfied with statement
of their objections. and with recording theil
votes against bills they do not approve"