The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-30
PANAMA CANAL FOR SALE
BUT UNCLE SAM IS NOT IN THE
MARKET AS A BID
DER
FRENCH AGENT AT CAPITAL
But No One Has Authority to Deal
With Him, Lacking Congress
siOnal Sanction, Which
Is Unlikely.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-Notwithstand-
ing reports from Paris, no negotia-
tons are pending between the Panama
Canal company and the United States
government. Nor is there one chance In
hundred that the United States govern
ment will ever purchase the Panama
company's equity in the half completed
ditch designed by De Lesseps. If the
officers OF the company are making their
French stockholders believe they have a
chance to sell out to the United States
they deceive either the stockholders Or
themselves.
M. Hutin, president of the board of di-
rectors Of the Panama company is in
Washington, and frequently visits the
state department. He is an agreeable
gentleman, who speaks charming French
but, In the language of a state department
official, He never gets anywhere" He
does lot of talking, but nothing comes
of it,
Even If officials of this government
2 We're personally disposed to favor nego-
tlations with the Panama company, not
one of them has the authority to enter
tail a proposition, much less to enter into
bargain. The president might consider
proposal, and receive it and transmit
1t to congress, but he is not likely to do
SO: He would be at once accused of fav-
orlng the Panama project at the expense
OF the Nicaragua canal, and in the pres
ent state of public mind there is little
doubt OF what congress would do with
any Panama proposal that might be laid
before it.
Public men believe that the American
public sentiment is strongly comm /, ed
TO the Nicaragua route and he would be
bold man, whether in the executive or
legislative branch of the government. who
should come out in favor Of buying the
French rights.
NAVAL RESERVE.
A bill will be introduced in congress
upon Its reassembling for the formation
Oh naval reserve based upon plans pre-
pared by board, composed of Admiral
Dewey, Rear Admiral Crowinshield and
Capt. Evans. The features of the bill
are the limitation of the reserve force to
a total OF $1,000 men, the officers not to
exceed 800 in number, made up of en-
signs, 1eutenantS, junior grade. and lieu
tenants. The terra of enlistment Is fixed
at i've years. EX-naval officials, yacht
owners and masters Of ocean steamers
may qualify as lieutenants at $3.50 Der
year for the first grade, $150 for the sec
ond grade and 500 for ensigns.~ Enlist
ed men are limited to $50 per year and
are to be provided with two uniforms
and a sleeping outfit. Not less than
thirty days service each year on a naval
vessel is required. Naval reserve officers
are to be borne upon the naval register.
the officers and men are exempted from
jury and militia duty, are entitled to hos
p1tal treatment, pensions and admission
to the sailors home on the same terms
as regular sailors. An appropriation of
100000 is proposed.
PHILIPPINE TRADE.
The division of insular affairs of the
NIToT o,-fV1
statement summarizing the trade of the
Philippine islands for the eleven months
ended May 81, 1900. The value of mer-
chandise imported into the islands during
this period is set down at $1S390.69S. Gold
and silver to the amount of s., SOC, $40 came
into the islands The import trade from
the United States amounted TO $14-0,S07
The value of exports for the period
named amounted to $19.459,0O3 of which
The value of . the exports to the
United States is set down at 1884, ST.
A total of 1854 tons of Manila hemp, val
ued at $40. 5S2,1 73, was exported during the
period stated, LAOS, sos worth being ship
ped to the United States.
FOREIGN PARCELS POSTS.
Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassa-
dor, had a conference with the second as
iSistant postmaster general today upon the
establishment of a parcels post conven
ton with Great Britain. The convention
established with Germany has been large
ly experimental and the department is
collecting data upon its operation dur
ing the past year in order o determine
whether or not it is desirable to establish
parcels post conventions with the larger
European countries. These reports will
probably be completed about the middle
of January.
SEEK EXPORT MARKETS.
Numerous letters are coming to the
state department from business inter-
ests in all parts of the country urging
negotiations with various foreign coun-
tries to protect existing export interests
or to secure new openings for our for
eign trade These letters often specify
the particular markets which they seek
and the opportunities for expanding trade
and the opportunities for expanding
trade. The department, however, can
make no satisfactory explanation owing
to the non-action of the senate on the
pending treaties. So soon as the senate
shall have expressed its purpose in deal
ing with reciprocity conventions the de-
partment will be able to answer these
numerous inquiries and requests. In the
meantime further progress with these
conventions is impracticable.
THE WRONG BILL
Senator Hawley, Of Connecticut. CHAIR
man of the military committee of the
senate, had a talk with the president
today regarding the situation of the
army bill in the upper house. The sena-
tor told the president that he did not an
ticipate prolonged contest in the senate.
He will go ahead with the bill as soon
as the senate reconvenes on Thursday,
and unless undue opposition develops
will not ask the friends of tho ship sub
sidy to give priority to his measure. IL
is of the opinion now that the time pc
fore the expiration of the morning hour
each day will suffice to dispose of the
bill and send it to conference, but if the
unexpected should happen, he may be.
forced to contest the right of way with
the shipping bill. The senator expressed
perfect confidence that there would be
no filibuster against the army bill.