The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-09
capital Chat.
Washington Gossip, Political and
Otherwise. for the Readers
Of the Globe.

acknowledges that he will not get the
necessary time to have the bill consid-
cred at this session and there are men
who know the prevailing sentiment in the
house who further declare that, could a
vote be had, 1t would be defeated by big
majority. In view, of the fact that con-
gress Is likely to adjourn as early as June
j, 1t can readily be seen that the chances
for securing vote in either house are not
of the best and if the vote desired by the
advocates of the measure can be secured
they Will discover to their cost that their
pet measure will be defeated in the house,
if not in the senate. In view of this fact,
1t is considered possible at this time that
the men who are pushing the bill will not
try conclusions with the opposition on a
direct vote but will content themselves
with agitating the question as much as
possible until the summer recess Is taken
on about June /. 1t Is understood, at
least that this Is the plan of Representa-
tive Hepburn and his associates in the
lower branch of congress.
In the senate the strongest advocate of
the canal measure is Senator Morgan, of
Alabama. The Alabama senator has. as
is well known. very hard fight on hand
in his state in order to succeed himself
in the United States senate. 1t will be
necessary for him to spend nearly all the
remaining days of this session of congress
In his state looking out for his own IT.
terests in order to convince the members
Of the next Alabama legislature that II
will be better for the interests of the
state and of themselves to return Mir.
Morgan to his present position rather
than Gov. Johnson. who Is now the only
candidate in the field against Mr.. Nor
gan. The other advocates of the canal
bill in the senate will probably await the
return of Senator Morgan from Alabama
before endeavoring to push this measure
in the senate, and 1t may, therefore, be
seen that the prospects for the canal bill
ever coming to a vote in this session Of
congress are extremely uncertain.
The canal measure will not have the
right Of way when the closing session Of
this congress begins and it is therefore
considered doubtful whether vote can
be reached upon 1t next winter. There
is so much opposition to the measure
that if it ever becomes a law
1t is believed at this time that it will be
years hence. In this connection It may be
stated that many members of congress
believe that a few years delay will con-
vince the people of this country that the
$40 900 appropriation asked for from
this government to begin operations on
this canal can be spent to better advan-
tage within the confines of the United
States
Coils P Huntington, one of the best
known financiers in the railroad business
in the United States. is perfectly satisfied
that the American transeontinental lines
will be sufficient to carry all the freight
between the Eastern and Western coast
as successfully and as cheaply as by the
proposed canal. Meantime, Mr.. Hepburn
and other men Of equal prominence as
sert that it will be foolish upon the part
of the United States to first appropriate
$40 900, 900 to begin work on this canal
without knowing what It's actual cost
might be to this government when COM
pleted.
Rounsevelle whitman. United States
consul general at Hong Kong, writes to
the state department the following:
1.-The demand for q market for Ameri-
can ginseng in China continues 1 am
in receipt by every mail of letters from
the United States asking for market quo
tations of ginseng and for the names of
buyers. In previous report on ginseng,
1 said in brief that 1t would be absolutely
necessary for buyers here to see the stuff
before purchasing, as the purchaser will
not take the word of another as TO quality
or condition; that Chinese buy their gin
seng after carefully asserting it them
selves. and would no more think of pur-
chasing at a distance than we would buy
horse with our eyes blindfolded. [
further suggested that II American ex-
porters cared to send a shipment of gin
seng to my care, l would personally see
that 1t was submitted to the Chinese buy
ers, and obtain an opinion from them as
to the possibility of finding a profitable
market on this coast. One American deal
er In ginseng "a resident of Pennsylvania
alone took advantage of my offer. He
shipped to my care bow of American
ginseng containing eighteen and one-half
pounds of which he says:
az saved some of my last years crop
especially to send to you. 1 am sending
three grades. The market In New York
last year went 80 cents higher than ever
before. and has opened this year STE
higher than ever before. think that the
price will reach 81 per pound. The ques-
ton comes up many times in this country
as to what use Is made OF our ginseng
in China.
'"The last question was answered In my
previous report. The sample box OF gin
seng arrived. and it was found that no
care had been taken in the packing. The
three grades were more or less mixed and
broken and. worse still, were somewhat
damp. All this could have been avoided
by careful packing. AS the sender was
In no hurry for its sale. 1 concluded 20
hold It, to note the effect of the dry
season upon it, also to give different Chi
nese buyers chance to look it over
thoroughly. The lot proved far too small
in bulk and too mixed In grades to dis
pose of as a whole or to thoroughly test
the fuctuating market. The box con-
tanned a few excellent pieces, some
medium. much small. some strings and
fair proportion broken pieces known
as dust The lot therefore required pick
ing over and asserting into grades be-
fore the Chinese would bid for it, Even
the largest shipments OF ginseng are sold
only after thorough inspection and assort-
ing This is one Of the rules OF the trade,
to which there seems to no exception.
This practice, may add, has become gen.
erai, in consequence, the Chinese say, of
the failure of American and Japanese ex-
porters to maintain the standard of their
shipments They declare that their sec
ond and subsequent shipments are never
equal to their first. so that any ginseng
that might be shipped would have to be
sorted There Is a very large business
done here for ginseng. all of which is in
the hands of Chinese. This being a free
port and without a custom house no re-
liable record IS obtainable Of the guam
tity imported. and the Chinese never keep
statistics There Is an endless variety OF
ginseng used, but for convenience 1t may
be broadly classified as follows:
"Yung Sum-First quality, from or near
Pekin.
"Korea Yung Sum-Second quality,
Ear Kee Yung sum-Third quality,
from America
1T is estimated that last year 5000
piculs 600 900 pounds) of the first quality
666 to $4,000 pounds) of the second. and
some 1000 piculs of the third The Pekin
ginseng Is pinkish in appearance. very
hard and smooth, and Is free from roots