Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-02-15
FORECAST OF THE WEEK AT THE
NATIONS CAPITOL.

NATIONS CAPITOL.
Nicaraugua Canal Bill Gaining Sup
porters-=A Question of Neutrality
Involved.--Th Effect of the
Roberts Case.
President Mckinley and Secretary
Hay are not more egotistical than
other men, but they would be more
than human if they did not enjoy the
rapidity with which the Nicaragua
Canal treaty is gaining supporters, as
its foresight and wisdom is being
recognized. Last week, when the
treaty was first sent to the Senate,
there was an outcry against it, because
it provided for the neutrality of the
canal and pledged this government
not to fortify either end of it, The
lobbyists who for one reason or
another are opposed to the construc-
tion of the Nicaragua Canal, saw their
opportunity and made the most of it,
and for several days it really looked as
though they would be able to create q
sentiment against the treaty that might
ieorpardise its ratification by the Sen
ate. With few honorable exceptions,
the Democratic Senators, who are
wildly hunting for campaign material,
have been and are acting as allies of
the lobbyists, although themselves
claiming to favor the construction of
the canal. 1t now seems reasonably
certain that the treaty will be ratified
with votes to spare. In agreeing to
make the canal neutral, the treaty adj
vertises the fact that the u. S. aims to
be the greatest commercial ration in
the world, rather than military bully
among the nations, and that advertise
ment will add millions to our foreign
commerce. President Mckinley and
Secretary Hay, in negotiating that
treaty, recognized the fact that the L.
S. has Navy, and will always have
one, strong enough to meet any
enemies it may have, and that much
more would be gained by assuring the
world of the neutrality of canal than
could possibly be gained by fortifying
it and reserving the right to close it
against any nation with which we
might be at war. In making the canal
neutral, it will be under the joint pro-
lection of every maritime power in the
world-that protection will be assured
by a formal treaty later-and it's safety
from attack from any country with
which we may be at war, made certain.
If we reserved the right to close the
canal to enemies, we should have to
assert that right by force, which would
be more costly than beneficial, from
any point of view.
Senator elect Bard, of California, is
not widely known in Congress, outside
of the California delegation, but Sena-
tor Perkins, whose judgment is relied
upon by all who know him, says he
has known Senator Bard for more than
a quarter of a century, and that his
solid qualities will make him decided
acquisition to the Senate.
Judge j. Il. Mcdonald, of Salt Lake
City, now in Washington, said of the
effect in Utah of the shutting of
Roberts out of the House: II think
that in the future, no polygamist will
be elected to any Federal office, and
doubt if any polygamist will be elected
to any Office. The decision of the
House was an earnest showing of the
sentiment of the country and the con
viction of the Government. do not
there will be any more buclSing think
against it,"
years again that this was billion dol
idi CouhuIys lo-ddy, ~ Cali Do tTutIl-
fully said that this is two-billion
dollar country. Last year, the foreign
commerce of the u. S. exceeded two
billion dollars in value, and the official
Treasury figures for the first week in
February 1900, show that, for the first
time in our history, the amount of
money in circulation in the country,
exceeds two billion dollars 1t will
not be forgotten when the time comes
for the people to vote again, in ma
tional election, that it was Republi-
can administration and Republican
Congress that first made it necessary
to use ten figures to show the business
condition of this, the most prosperous
country on earth. This is two-billion
dollar country. Impress that colossal
fact upon your mind.
Chairman Payne, of the House Ways
and Means Committee, gave notice in
presenting the majority report in favor
of the Puerto Rico tariff bill, that the
measure would be called up in the
House on the 18th inst. The report
claims that the quantity of Puerto
Rican sugar and tobacco sent to the U.
S.--about four million pounds oftobacco
and about $4,000 tons of sugar-is not
large enough to affect prices, and that
there is no ground for the opposition
to allowing the Puerto Rican products
to come in for twenty-five per cent. of
the duty on similar foreign products
The bill provides that all collections in
the islands, both from duties and other
sources, as we'll as the duties collected
on Puerto Rican products in the u.
s. shall be used for the benefit of the