Middletown transcript., 1901-10-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

IS completed and Will be handed to the
Senate as soon as Congress convenes.
The prominent features of the new treaty
are the supercedence of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty by the new convention,
the guarantee of the United States that
the canal shall be neutral and the exclu-
siye right of the United States to fortify
it. These are practically the only points
that excited opposition when the former
treaty was before the Senate, and now
that they conform to the Senate's recon-
mendations, there is every reason to be-
lieve that the treaty will be promptly rat
fled. The ratification OF this treaty will
remove the chief obstacle to canal legisla-
ton, and it is confidently predicted that
definite action, leading to the construc-
ton Of an Isthmian Canal, will be taken
by the Fifty-Seventh Congress. The
next question to be settled is that
of route. The choice lies between the
Panama, the Nicaragua and the Tehaunte-
pee routes. The merits and dement's of
the first two are well known, while of
the last but little is known. 1t is not
thought likely that the Walker Isthmian
Canal Commission will recommend any
specific route, but that it will content it
self with comprehensive discussion of
the disadvantages of all three. The Pan-
anna route would avoid the dangerous
shoals and tie ligh winds of Lake Nj
caragua and might prove the best from
purely commercial standpoint, but it is
understood that the Nic,,iagran route is
regarded as tie best from military
and that is the consideration
most likely to weigh with Congress. Sena-
tor Morgan believes the Nicaraguan route
will be adopted. The only cause of an
xiety that remains to worry the friends
OF the Canal is the French Panama Canal
Company, whose President, NJ. Maurice
Hutin, is now in Washington and in
daily conference with Admiral Walker.
While acceptance of the Panama Com
pany's proposition is not regarded as a
matter requiring serious consideration, it
S feared that the enemies of any canal
nay use 1t is subterfuge and eventually
block all canal legislation.
~
The great gains in our trade with the |
are a source of much gratifi- |
alton. The returns show that for the |
line. months ending with March, 1901,
'ur exports to the Philippines have in
reased fifty-one per cent. over the same
,eriod ending with March, 1900. During
he same period, American enterprise
vas making itself felt in the islands to an
xtent that increased the total exports by
hirty -four per cent. The value of goods
old to the islands by this country for
he nine months above stated $2,000,000,
Thile for the entire year of 1896, our to-
al trade amounted to only $125, 900.
loreoyer, the figures show that as the
rmy has been decreased in the island,
he trade increased, showing that the re-
atoms are being built on a solid and
ommeroial basis. All this is very graft
wing in view of some of the predictions
hat were made when we first acquired
ossession of the Philippine islands.
Mr., Roosevelt is giving the Ship Sub
dy Bill the most careful consideration.
representative Minor, of Wisconsin, has
cen i'll Washington and has discussed the
etails of the bill with the President.
While in favor of the bill, Mr.. Minor de-
res to see such changes made in its pro-
sions as will result in wider distribu- .
on of the subsidies and smaller pre-
iums for speed.
~
There are still some rumors of Cabinet i
langes and it is alleged that Secretaries c
ay and Gage will soon resign, and that {
'nator Lodge is certain successor to
r. Hay. Mr.. Frank w. Hackett, As
'tant Secretary of the Navy, will hand
his resignation in few days and will u
succeeded by Judge Charles H. Dar- v
lg, of Remington, Vt. g
The President recently invited Booker T
Washington to dine with him at the N
hite House and the occurrence has P
en- made the occasion of good deal of n
ticism in the South. Some of his DO tr
ical friends regret that he should have d
lowed UP. the exceptionally favorable CT
preston he had made in the South by CT
act likely to offend the supersensitive
uthern voter. Others approve his in
pendence and hold that he is large
ough to defy criticism. H
There is no ground for the continually 30
'eated reports that there is lack of IA
rmony between the President and SEN 70
r Hannaf Both men are built on al -
ether too large a scale to indulge in w
ty chickering's and jealousies and, as a NJ
tier of fact, Mr.. Roosevelt has invited va
lator Hanns's advice on several of the 4
re important questions that have come 81
and has informed the Senator that he
always be grateful to him for any adj
2 he may chooee to offer. Mr.. Roose- a.
and Mr.. Hanna may differ upon tb
ny minor details but in all matters of %,
,ortance they will be found acting in 30,
ty for the good of the country.
~
he coming session will witness a ser
J campaign for irrigation in the Wes-
! states. There is said to be an under WI
lding between the representatives WI
II Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, yo
,raska and some of the territories and no
important legislation will be pressed.
'fact that the President has had Wes-
experience and thoroughly under
Ids tie situation leads the friends of
CATION to believe that the present is an oss
eptionally favorable time to press lel
ir views and they are confident that tnt t
mite and progressive legislation will RI
lit, wa
~ of
Iaior John B. Harlow has handed IN hiI
resignation as Civil Service Commits rec
,or on1 tI,o D.o....lr,.k -.