The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-12-27
THURSDAY, DECEMBER u, 1900.
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, Dec. I'd,


Washington, Dec. "a, 1900
Mr.. Nc Kinley is eating the crow
prepared for him by the Senate
when it thoroughly Ainericanized
the HAY -Pauncefote treaty before
ratifying it, as though he enjoyed
crow as much as he did Christmas
turkey. But that isn't strange. He
is always in favor of what the
majority tavors. He has heard
from the people as we'll as from the
Senate, and will direct that the
amended treaty be forwarded to the
British Government with as much
complacency as though it hadn't
been amended at all. Secretary
Hay made it easier for him by Civ
ing out an official statement saying
that he was personally responsible
for the wording of the original
treaty, and that it was agreed to by
the British Ambassador without
the crossing of a "t'' or the dotting
of an "i." This action of Mr.. Hay
was but following the example of
Alger who made himself a scape-
goat to save Mr.. McKinley's feel
ings. 1t is the belief of most SEN
ators that England will accept the
amended treaty, but many of them
do not hesitate to say that it is per-
fectly immaterial to them whether
she does or not.
Senator Hanna took occasion be-
fore Congress adjourned until jan
uary 3, for the holiday recess. to do
some vigorous cracking Of the party
whip over the heads of those Re-
publican Senators who have dared
to express opposition to the Ship
subsidy bill. He threatened them
with all sorts of things if they did
not get into line for the bill by the
time Congress reassembled, and ad-
ded that no Republican who oppos-
ed the bill need expect any favors
from the administration. Whether
those tactics will win cannot be .old
until the Senate is again III session.
Extravaganza is in the Washing
ton atmosphere, and all sorts and
conditions OF men are trying to get
some of the Treasury surplus which
they expect Congress to appropriate
at this session. When the House
committee on Rivers and Harbors
met, at the beginning Of the session,
it was understood by the members
that the bill to be prepared should
not carry total of more than S4o,-
900, 900. That understanding was
knocked into a cooked hat by the
provisional agreement by the COM
mittee to items in the bill which,
with provision for continuing con-
tracts, nearly doubled the amount
first named. That frightened the
committee, and a decision was
reached to cut. the total Of the ap-
propriations carried by the bill
down to $50, 900, 900, which will in
the opinion of most persons, be
SiZable amount.
Close friends of the adlninistra-
ton admit that Mr.. Mckinley and
his Cabinet are in a state of anxiety
concerning the decision that the U.
S. Supreme Court will hand down
in the cases involving the Constitu-
tionality of the Mckinley policy
toward the islands acquired from
Spain, which were argued this week
in other words, whether the Con-
stitution follows the flag where it is
permanently raised. Attorney Gen.
Griggs made the argument against
that contention, and lawyers say it
was one OF the ablest he ever made.
1t is not known, of course, what
the decision, which is expected
some time in January, will be, but
the preponderance of legal opinion,
entirely outside of politics, seems to
be that it will be against the admin
istration. That opinion is privately
held by many who support Mr..
Mckinley.
Mr.. McKinley's nomination of
Mr.. J. c., A. Leishman, of Pa, to
be I. S. Minister to Turkey, is con-
sidered to be an official acknowl-
edgement of the failure of the series
of bluffs, beginning with the de-
parture from Constantinople of U.
s. Minister Straus and ending with
the call of the battleship Kentucky
at Smyrna, Turkey, to make the
Sultan pay the claims of American
missionaries for property destroyed
by Turkish mobs, leaving the Sui
tan the winner, as the claims have
not been paid.