Gilpin observer., 1901-01-31
WASHINGTON LETTER. ]
From Our Regular Correspondent Z
Washing ton, January 90, 1901.
ESSlSSSiIQIEl;S

one chance in possible one hundred
that the Senate will take up and pass
the Canal bill at this session. Non-act-
ion was made probable when the caucus
of republican Senators decided not to
take ur the Canal bill until the British
government decided what would be done
with the Hay Paunceforte treaty, and
well-nigh certain by the death of Queen
Victoria, which must result in delaying
action by the British government on the
treaty, as the British ministry is likely
to be to busy with domestic affairs for
some time to come to give any considera-
ton to the treaty. Senator Morgan,
who has charge of the Nicaragua Canal
bill, did not have his confidence in the
passage of the bill to expect early act
ion of the republican caucus, because he
had reason to expect early action on the
treaty by the British governments, but he
realizes now that circumstances and
Providence have piled up distractions
that can hardly be removed before the
death Of the present Congress. The
Panama Canal lobbyists are gleeful over
the hanging up Of Nicaragua Canal leg
islation as though it had been done en-
tirely by them.
General Nelson A. Miles was 80 little
concerned about the stories intimating
that an attempt was being made to se-
cure the position OF the lieutenant gen.
eral provided for by the Army Reorgan-
ization bill for either General Otis or
General Brooke, that he started for the
coast or South Carolina this week with
a duck shooting party of friends. There
are men high up in officialdom who
would gladly knock General Miles down
rand it is doubtless true as charged that
the Army bill was purposely drawn to
make it certain that Adjutant General
Corbin should retain that position, while
the clause creating the position of lieu
tenant general was so drawn that it
could be filed at the pleasure Of the
president, but the Senate has a reputa-
ton for believing in fairplay, and no man
has any more personal friends among
Senators than General Miles. 1t is ex-
tremely doubtful whether the President
knew anything about this scheming,
| although he has been credited with
entertaining unfriendly feelings toward
General Miles. 1t is probable that upon
that unfriendly feeling the schemers
counted, but even had the President
been disposed to fall into the scheme it
could hardly have been put through, as
the nomination to be lieutenant general
of the army must be confirmed by the
Senate, and that body would not allow
such an uncalled slight to be put on
General Miles as the nomination Of any
otner man would be.
The House has devoted the entire
week to District Of Columbia legislation
and the regular appropriation bills.
The Senate restored the Ship Subsidy
bill to its old place as the Unfinished
business without division, but the
doubt OF its ever reaching vote is still
strong.
Public opinion endorsed the action
of the President in ordering the flags on
all the public buildings in Washington
halfmasted for the death of Queen Vic
toria, although it is the first time such
a thing had ever been done, and as usual,
there are few croakers who express
fear that the precedent established is
not good one.
Although Senator Aldrich had promis-
ed that the revenue reduction bill
should be reported this week it has not
yet been reported. The brewers are
said to have been one OF the causes Of
the delay. They are still demanding
more reduction than the House gave
them and are putting the screws on
every Senator they can reach to help
them.
There was not vote to spare when
the Senate ratified the treaty for the
purchase from Spain, for 100000, of
three islands OF the Philippine group
that were left outside of the geograph-
ical boundres fixed by the Paris treaty.
A two third vote was necessary and the
vote was 3S for ratification and 10
against The argument advanced by
the opponents of the treaty was that it
should not be ratified until the Supreme
Court handed down its decision dealing
with the island possessions we already
have.
The Indian appropriation bill as am
ended by the Senate committee carries
$3.50, ,526. of which sG25,O00 is for the
Dawes commission. The committee re-
port expresses the opinion that this
amount will enable the commission to
complete its work,
Senators who believe in maintaining