BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-12-28

and while apparently to little purpose at
this particular time, their ideas will undoubt
edly control the final disposition Of the
money now available.
1t seems to be agreed that the building
of the Nicaragua Canal will be authorized. |
This will not mean the appropriation this |
winter OF the entire amount necessary. for |
the construction of the canal will extend |
over at least eight or ten years, and tie !
money will only be needed as the work is |
done.
A Pacific cable will be contracted for but
it will not be built by the government, so
no appropriation will be required. A
private corporation will be authorized to
lay the cable under such arrangements with
the government as will insure the transac-
tion of government business at reasonable
rates and the control of the cable by this
country under all circumstances.
1t has been plainly intimated that if tie
present congress does not provide for the
canal and the cable President Roosevelt
might call an extra session of congress tc.
secure them. In view of the approaching
| congressional election an extra session at
the end of the present one, which is likely
to continue until July or August, would be
looked upon as a personal calamity by
every member who is a candidate for rtGec
tl0n.
| Opponents Of Chinese immigration need
have no fear that the exclusion act will not
be continued in force. Several bills have
been introduced along these lines. Senator
Lodge proposes to merely repeal the limta-
tIon clause In the present law. Senator R3wl.
ings suggests continuing all laws in force
which now prohibit and regulate the coming
OF Chinese into this country.
Senator Fairbanks has introduced a bill
extending the present Chinese exclusion
laws fer period of twenty years. All Of
the bills so far suggested are practically the
same in that they reenact or continue in
force the existing laws
1t is the opinion of the government Off
cials that many of the regulations now mere.
Iy arbitrary with the government should be
included, coming as it will from those best
qualified to draw the same, it will probably
be adopted BY the committee in charge of
such matters.
| The reciprocity treaties, to which the
President called the attention of tie Senate
10 his message, are looked upon as dead
issues. Senator Oulom has practically ad-
mitted that there is small prospect of their
favorable consideration. He says that local
interests from California to Maine are so
affected by these treaties that a combi nation
can be made in the Senate to prevent their
adoption. "Popgun" tariff bills are not it
favor. Several have been introduced alrea-
dy raising or locering the duty upon partic-
ular products.
The free.hide bill was one of the first to
appear. Having disappeared in the com-
mittee they have run their course of life.
Tnere Is very general but not at all
harmonious desire in congress to revise the
tariff, but nothing of this kind will be at.
tempted before some opportunity has beer
\ given for general investigation and hear
lngs upon the interests affected.
Tne secretary of war in his annual report
speaks emphatically for reciprocity with
Cuba. His position is indorsed by the
President and by many influential members,
but the secretary of war and the President
both agree with the position taken by Sena.
tor Platt Of Connecticut that no treaties
can be made with Cuba until there is
Cuban government authorized to negotiate
| VuO ooAAiOs Ahuc IL 1uy UOitcfo budt bu0
prospect for reciprocity with Cuba at the
present session of congress is extremely
dim, for it is not believed that any treaty
would be formulated before next fall at
least, owing to the delay which must neces.
sarily ensue before the government Of Cuba
is organized and In working order.
A number of bills have been introduced
for the suppression of anarchy and the pun.
ishment of anarchists. Some of these pro-
pose constitutional amendments, but as it is
almost impossible to secure constitutional
amendment this necessarily will be futile.
Out of all the discussion which is already
in progress and which will continue for
many weess, there may come some law
making the immigration laws stricter and
the penalties of anarchy more severe, bnt
the final action solll tail to fully reflect the