The state herald., 1900-02-23

nor do they believe that any of his
correspondence, official or otherwise,
was ever opened, examined or inten-
tionally delayed. This is very serl-
ous matter and 1t IL remarkable that
Mr.. Macrum should have kept silent on
the subject for so many months and
then given the first Information to a
newspaper instead of to the govern
ment. That the correspondence of an
official of foreign power shall be held
inviolate is one of the most sacred
points of international law, and II Mr..
Macrum had reported to the State De-
partment that his mail was being tam
pered with an emphatic demonstration
would have been made on the subject.
Chairman Hepburn Of the House
committee on Interstate and foreign
commerce has submitted the report of
the committee in favor Of the Hepburn
bill for constructing the Nicaraguan
canal. The report says in part: IF the
provisions of the bill can be carried out
the United States will within a few
years (from six to eight be in full
ownership and control of Il waterway
connecting the oceans, that 1t can de-
fend and that 1t can use In the interests
of Its navy and Its merchant marine MS
wisdom may dictate. There seems to
be but little doubt that the states of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica will give
their consent for the construction of
this great work. 1t will traverse either
the border or the interior of Nicaragua
FOR distance of about 100 miles. 1t
will give to that state waterway
from its capital and Its most productive
region to the sea. II will place that
ffVr an .,f tl. tn.y ntr.,,
ways of the world, bringing 1t into i'm
mediate contact with large foreign
commerce and those who conduct II.
In very many ways the state will have
advantages not now possessed, and
that will be for n long time lost IL an
other route by which the oceans are
connected should be adopted. All Of
these considerations Induce the belief
that these two enlightened states will
be glad TO aid our government cordially
and efficiently in carrying out this
great design. 1t Is true that the esti-
mates of cost are variable, ranging us
they do from less than $i00OO.OOO to n
possible 45,OOO,O0O. 1t Is, however,
proper to say that the size and charac-
ter of the canal estimated for Is as var
liable as the cost. The earliest esti-
y5ates were for canal suited to the
ships of the time. The later estimates
are for ships of this time, Fifteen feet
depth and fifty feet width was the size
of the earliest project. Thirty feet
depth and 100 feet width are the d.
mensions of the later proposed CANAL
For several weeks skillful attorneys
have been engaged in drafting a law
for the American Federation Of Labor
to be introduced into Congress to pre-
vent future interference by United
States courts with strikes and other Ia
Dor movements. The purpose of the
proposed law is to prevent employers
Of labor from appealing to the courts
for injunctiOns and other orders for
their own protection and the protection
OF non-uniOn labor which they may en-
ploy. This Is not new subject. 1t
has been under discussion for many
years, and a number OF bills have been
introduced into both houses of Con-
gress from time to time to exclude or
ganized labor from the Jurisdiction of
the courts. but no bill yet drafted has
commanded the support and approval
Of any committee In Congress. The
American Federation OF Labor took
the matter up last fall and employed
some OF the ablest attorneys In the
country. The result Of their work, In
the form of n bill. has been submitted
TO the executive council of the fedora
ticn. consisting Of President Gompers,
Vice Presidents Mcclure. James Dun
can, james O'Connell. John Mitchell,
Max Morris and Thomas I. Kidd,
Treasurer John Il. Lennon and Secre-
tnry Frank Morrison, which now has II
under consideration. As soon as II re-
ceives the committees approval II will
be introduced In both houses OF Con-
gress and is awaited with great inter-
est by labor men. There is almost uni
versal doubt on the part OF lawyers In
Congress whether It Is possible for hu-
man ingenuity to devise n method by
which the labor unions may be made
exempt from the action OF the civil
courts. Representative Lorlmer OF Chi
cago. member OF the House commit
tee on labor. who has been In Congress
several terms, and has always taken
deep interest In the subject. having
framed n bill himself TO restrict the use
OF lnJunctions, admits that he has been
unable TO draft measure that was
worth the paper II was written on.
The correspondent OF the Chicago
Record writes to his paper rs follows:
''rhe action OF the Senate In passing
the currency bill by such an over
whelming majority ought 10 remove
the financial question from politics In
definitely. because. even II Mr. Bryan
or some other Silver Democrat were
elected president In November and had
Democratic majority In the House OF
Representative behind him he could
not repeal this law for Mt least six
years. The tarlfr question Is out OF
politics for the same reason. 1t will be
ut least six years before the Dinglcy
law can be repealed or materially al.
tered. lf the Democrats should capture
every seat In the United States Senate
between now and March 4, 1900. they
would not be able to secure n majority
until that time. Nor II II possible by
any political mancuvcr or by any vote
OF the people nj the polls to pass u law
for the free coinage OF silver nt III TO !.
or at any other ratio, until 1905. ex.
ccpt In the improbable even, of an cpl.
dcmic which shall carry on the Re-
publican majority In the Senate md
the election OF mn equal number OF free
silvcrites to MI their seats. Hence sew.
crnl OF the Democratic leaders argue
that II IL useless for their candidate
for the presidency to go before the
country upon the free coinage issue or
the Chicago platform. The suggestion
that the chances OF Mr.. Bryan's clec-
tion will be strengthened by the ccr-
tninty that he cannot disturb the finnn.
cial policy OF the government in met
with another suggestion that he In de.
prIyrd OF his strongest argument md