The Press., 1901-12-19
Continued on page 2.)
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 Washington Letter. >
Washington, December 1e, 1so

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 Washington, December 16, 1901.
 Congress continues to apply itself with unprecedented energy to the consideration of the many important questions upon which 1t will be required to legislate and material progress has been made. The senate has discussed the various phases Of the Hay Pauncefote treaty and, while some of the clauses of the treaty are not as clear as might be desired, vote will be taken on its ratification to-day which 1t Is safe to say will be almost unanimous- Iy affirmative.
 The senate committee on Isthmian canals has reported favorably on Senator Morgan's Nfcaragua canal biII ana InaI gentleman, as chairman of the committee, has explained it's various provisions to the senate and has, in so doing, con- demned the Panama Canal company's methods unstintedly. Action on the bill has been deferred for the present but there Is no doubt that 1t will be favorable
 Both houses of congress have set De- cember 18th, as the day on which adjourn ment for the holiday recess will be taken and it Is doubtful if any legislation beyond the ratification of the above named treaty will be accomplished before that time. It is just possible that the bill providing for a Philippine tariff, which will come up from the house on the 18th, may be passed as the administration is most urgent in it's request for it's immediate enactment.
 Senator Frye has reintroduced his ship subsidy bill with some modification from the measure as introduced last year and has made public statement defending it's provisions. The senator believes that such subsidy as the bill provides is essential to the establishment of regular steamship lines between this country and foreign potts and that without such regu- lar lines all efforts to enlarge the foreign trade of the country will be seriously hampered. While the members of con- gress are 10th to express themselves in advance I have met number of repre- sentatives who are opposed to the measure and 1t is very doubtful if 1t will become a law.
 On Friday the house of representatives received the Philippine tariff bill from the ways and means committee with an explanation of It's features from Chairman Payne and g minority report from the democratic portion of the committee. The d orn 0or Q ta doo1oro fhoDooalvoo oo oDpoood not only to this measure but to the gener- al policy of the majority in dealing with the Philippine Islands which they char acterize as imperialistic. They assert that the islands have been an expensive investment and that even from 8 commer. cial standpoint their retention Is not warranted.
 A large number of the beet sugar pro ducers of the country called on the presi dent last week and urged him to withdraw from his attitude on the subject of reef procity with Cuba. MT. Roosevelt listen ed very politely and then reminded then that only few years ago the American beet sugar company had issued circular letter saying that there was no fear tha even with annexation Cuban sugar could ever assume proportions which would en danger the beet sugar industry of thil country. He assured them that the mos authentic information from Cuba did moi warrant their fears, wished them all sue cess and positively declined to retract hii recommendations to congress.
 The failure of the Schley court of in quiry to come to an agreement is deploret