The labor world., 1900-02-17
0lr Washington Letter,

i5s ~ t5f !. ~ +
tTrom our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON, Feb. $4,000. udg-
ing from the amount of talk by sem
ators, representatives and other Off.
cials, about the Nicara qua. canal
treaty now before the senate commit
tee on foreign relations, the canal is
the most important subject now before
the country. Although 1t is not yet
absolutely certain that the treaty will
be ratified without material amend
nlent,it is probable, Notwithstanding
the efforts of shrewd lobbyists to fan
4 the discomfort with which the treaty
was first received, because of its pro-
viling for the neutrality of the canar
and forbidding it's fortification. Sec
ond thoughts have made friends for
the treaty among those who were at
first disposed to be it's enemies. The
neutrality of the canal is recognized
by the conservative as a good move,
not only in the interests of peace be-.
tween the United States and foreign
nations, but in the interests Of Ameri-B
can commerce. Some Of the treaty's3
opponents concede that Theoretically
but still insist that, the treaty lis prac-
Etically a humiliation on the part Of the
governments, and that public opinion
would force. this government t6s violate
q the neute'ality clause by closing the
canal to the warships Of any nation we,
might beat WAR with; that it recog-.
nizes the Clayton- -Bulwer treaty, which
American secretaries Of state have in
sisted was abrOgated years ago, and
that it entirely too English. Everybody
appears to be Of the opinion, excepting
those who are lobbying against it;
that the treaty has made certain the;
passing of,a bill at this session of cons
gress, authorizing the government to
:constEuct, and operate the Mica aragu;l
]. canal. >s:.:. ,.:S% =:
The habit of senators of coming, ON
the floor late gave some of them Quite
Il shock Saturday, when with only
about; a dozen in their seats, Senator
Allen Offered a resolution declaring
sympathy for the Beers and express
ing the belief that this government
should; offer mediation. ;,and asking
unanimous consent for its immediate
consideration. Laughing heartily at
+ the discomfeture of the. senator's who
began to rush into the chamber from
the cloak rooms, Senator Allen. at the
request of Senator. Frye, agreed that
the vote be reconsidered and the res
olution sent to the calendar.
Representative Campbell of Montana
who is one of the counsel against Sem
ator Clark Of the same state. in the
case now being heard by the senate
committee on elections, violated one of
the unwritten laws Of congress when
he appeared in the case, and has con-
sequently been criticized by the stick
lefs for the preservation of congress
onal etiquette. He is said to be the
My member of either branch who has
ever associated himself as counsel with
n contest against a member of the
,the" branch.
IT seems that Mr.. Roberts was right
len he said that men charged with
ygany had been appointed to fed
offices in Utah. ]. The house
mittee on postoffices has ascertain.
hat Mr.. Graham. postmaster al
,, Utah. has been under indict-
for some time, but that the pros.
lg attorney did not consider d
:ton likely, and had not tried te
him brought to trial.
Porto Rican bill will be taker
he house next Thursday, and al
it is strongly opposed there Il
,bt that it will be promptl,