The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE CAPITAL DURING THE BREATH
ING SPELL OF CONGRESS.

W jail wv Aoh 80 NN~
tional legislation is concerned, the
present or immediate population OF
Washington seems to be utterly In
different. Everybody seems to have
abandoned himself to merrymaking
and to the enjoyment of social func-
tons. During the week just past
no thought of pending measures seems
to give any considerable concern to
the press of the city, and even the
correspondents here of the great
dailies of the country turn their
thoughts more to personal than to pub
lie matters. Washington, in fact, like
all other portions of the United States,
is given up during the closing days or
the year to have a good time and
without worrying as to the future or
legislation.
The breathing spell, however, is CIV
ing those masSed on each side OF the
great measures now pending oppor-
tunity to strengthen their lines, to re-
pair their weak spots and to get ready
~ OhoiouShto upOA
points Of the opposite side. This seems
to be eminently true Of the two great
isthmian canal advocates-the advo-
Gates Of the Panama and the advocates
of the Nicaragua routes. The manner
In which Great Britain acts upon the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty, all seem
agreed, will decide the fate of canal
1o1i S1 10 finn 1ur hn o1rrnnt session
Quite few are beginning to believe
that the British government will defer
action until it is too late for congress
to pass any canal constructing bill.
-
Judging from the amount of space
given up to the discussion of the de-
tails and the prospects of the shipping
bill in the press Of the country, it is
one of the most prominent subjects
in the public mind today. The enemies
of the bill have been putting forth the
statement that the passage of the
measure will be of no assistance to
American shipping and will in no way
increase the tonnage under the Ameri-
can flag in the foreign trade. The
friends Of the bill have countered on
this assertion by pointing out that no
one will be permitted to enjoy dol
lars worth of benefit under the bill
until he has actually had built and put
into operation in our foreign trade
new vessels, constructed in American
shipyards. So, they say, if the bill does
not increase American shipping it will
take nothing from the national treas
ury.
-.
The rural press of the country seems
to be devoting its consideration Of the
bill to that feature which will be of
greatest benefit to agriculturists. The
friends of the bill are assisting them
In this by saying that unless the new
American ships put into existence I'M
der the bill are willing to carry our eX-
ports cheaper than they are now car
ried they will not secure the carrying
Of them and that unless they do carry
cargoes outward they receive no COM
pensation undo the bill. Senator Frye
Is being widely quoted as having said
in his speech in the senate that, while
the bill will take nine millions a year
from the treasury, it will effect re-
duction in freight rates of fifty mil
lions year.
The opposition to the shipping bill
does not deny that it's passage would
add to the fierceness of the competition
between American and foreign vessels
and that ocean freight rates would,
probably for years to come, be greatly
lowered and the general shipping in
terests of the entire world be most Sc
riously affected. The friends of the
bill admit the truth of this, but they
say that the effect will be to force the
adoption of economies in construction
and in operation that will still yield
profit to the shipowner. 1t is here
that Yankee ingenuity is expected to-
come to the assistance of prospective
American shipowners and place them,
with brand new, much more econom-
ical ships than foreigners possess, in
position to earn profit in operation,
however fierce the competition of the
foreign ships now enjoying 80 per cent
OF our ocean carrying.
-.
1t seems to be generally agreed, so
far as this particular measure is con-
cerned, that the president will be the
deciding factor as to it's passage. If
he indicates, in that tactful way which
so impresses our national legislators,
that he regards the passage of the
shipping bill as of vital Importance to
our national security and our national
welfare-as he has been quoted as
saying-then, beyond doubt, the bill
will be passed, with such amendments
tackled to it as it's enemies can sue
coed In forcing upon it's friends to
minimize its effects so far as possible.
1t Is well known that the president
discourages in every way, and at all
times, the suggestion of an extra ses-
sion. Certainly the house has made
it clear that it will not be due
to any delay in that branch of con-
gress that necessity for an extra ses-
sion will arise. The amount of work
performed by the house during the two
weeks preceding the holiday recess has
rarely, if ever, been equaled by any
legislative body. The senate seems
Indifferent to such an example, and the
delay and drag in legislation will be
in that branch, as it always is, and
most exaSperatingly so during the