The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-12-28
WASHINGTON letter


WASHINGTON, Dec. "a Will England ac-
cept the Americanized Hay-Pauncefote treaty
W hich will start for London this week, or will
it reject it, and invite something even less pala
ia Bile? That is one Of the most discussed ques-
tions of the hour in Washington. Another
is,will Congress wait until England signifies its
intentions, before passing th@ Nicaragua canal
bill? No one can answer either with any GER
tainity at this time. but the prevailing opinion
appears to be that the refusal of England to
accept the amended treaty would arouse
very bitter antf-English sentiment, which
might result in legislation that would be dis
astrous to English interests, instead of merely
defending American interests, as the amended
treaty does. The Canal question is really
puzzling and becoming more so. Some OF the
Senators who talk loudest for the Canal Bill
are under suspicion of not being sincere, and
no one need be greatly surprised if there is no
canal legislation at this session, although at
the opening of the session, the Canal bill was
considered one of the certaintics, and iii fully
known that public sentiment of the country,
regardless of politics, Overwhelmingly in
dorses the Nicaragua Canal Bill,
The extent of the fight for reelection that
little Billy Chandler has on his hands may be
recommendation from twenty three of the
Repu blican Senators, to be printed and circu-
lated in New Hampshire, as an answer
to the charge that he had lost the conf
dence and support of many of his Re-
publican colleagues in the Senate. This would
have been a shrowd dodge. if the Endorsement
of a sufficient number of Republican
Senators had been secured but when
the number is less than one-half of the
Republican Senators, it seems more like
confirmation than refutation of the charge
as it is certain that Chandler got all the letters
he could.
Senator Bacon, just before leaving for his
G. orgia home where he will spend the holidays,
laughingly said to a fellow Senator with whom
he was exchanging good-byes: II wish you u
merry Christmas and happy New Year, but
l cannot wish you happy new century, be-
cause l believe the new century began on
January 1, 1900. l can demonstrate to you,
mathematically, that am right, but l won't
take the time to do it, because my view SCENE
to be at variance with that entertained by the
rest of the world"
Minister Conger is to be recalled on account
of his alleged botch work in the negotiations
at Picking, which have, st last resulted in the
signing of an agreement by the foreign minis
tiers on the demands that shall be made on
China, if close friends of the administration
know what they are talking about. Others
say that if Conger is recalled it will be merely
to make him Il scapegoat behind which the
administration may conceal its Wabbling,
which ended in peremptory order to Conger
to sign an agreement-its full text was made
public Saturday, containing demands that this
government had over and over again said It
would not agree to. Semi-ofliclal statements
eminating from the State Department, charge
Couger with the responsibility of having
placed this government in a false position by
his laundering construction of Instructions
The members of the diplomatic corps insH ash
ington are all laughing at the whole business
According to q newspaper guess which may
or may not be correct, but which carries not
only the sign of cleverness, but the painstakiag
observation, the United States Supreme Court
which last week heard arguments on one of
the cases involving the constitutionality OF
the administrations policy towards the islands
acquired from Spain, now stands four in favor
of the contention that the constitution follows
the flag and four against it, with Chief Justice
Fuller in doubt. If that be correct, the &c.
cision will really rest with the Chief Justice
and he is a good old-fashioned Democrat.
While this guess may not turn out to be right,
it was not wildly made. Members OF the
Supreme Court are human, like the rest OF US,
and they indicate their belief by their talk,
some of them by lecturing TO law students,
some by private conversation. and some by
the tenor of the questions they asked of counsel
while the arguments were being made. The
justices put down as believing that the Con-
stitution follows the flag, and Brewer, Harlan,
White and Brown, and those holding to the
contrary, McRenna, Gray, Peckham and
Shiras. 1t is uncertain when the decision will
be handed down, as more arguments on
similar case are TO be submitted January 9TH,
but it is believed in Washington that if it be
adverse to the administration, Mr.. Mckinley
will endeavor to have it held back until after
the adjournment of Congress,
Mr.. J. A. Wilson. a Boston lawyer, who is in
Washington on business with the State De-
partment, said of the Ship Subsidy bill, against
which number of Republican Senators are
threatening to revolt: ut is wrong in princi-
plc and if enacted into law will establish Il
vicious precedent. If Congress really wants
tobuild up our merchant marine, it will amend
the law, SO that those engaged in the business
may purchase their ships or have them built
in any country in the world aid give them an
American registry. This proposition to give
few favored individuals some millions of dol
lars for floating the American flag is little
short of stealing, and am of the opinion that
Mr.. Hannas pet measure will not become a
law at this session of Congress. I'm order to
quiet some of the Republican opposition to
the bill, Senator Hanna has indicated his will
ingness TO agree to its being amended, but it il
not yet certain that any sort of an amendment.