The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-01-07


memorandum. This supplemented YER
bal exchanges which had taken place
in Washington between Ambassador
Won Holleben and President Roosevelt,
directly and between the ambassador
and Secretary Hay at greater length.
The State Department positively de-
clines to make public the memorandum
or its substance, but 1t is pointed out
again that the basis Of the United
States representations is to be looked
for in the utterances of President
Roosevelt in his annual message to
Congress, touching the Monroe doctrine
in its application to South American
countries which do not pay their debts.
Adjutant General w. II. Whiteman
of New Mexico has drawn up pro-
posed act for Congress to reform the
present national guard system, placing
the militia of the different common
wealths upon uniform footing and
upon the same plane as the United
States army, under the supervision OF
the national government, but under
the control of each state or territory.
He has received replies from many ad-
jutants general approving of the pro-
posed legislation, and the national
guard journals are expressing them
selves strongly in its favor. 1t is be-
|
tants general to be held at Washing
ton in January will approve the plan
and will urge Congress to pass bill
framed upon those lines.
Under mistaken impression that
there will be n large balance remain
ing of the S25, ,OOOOO indemnity fund
to be paid by China to the United
States after paying all Legitimate
al hn
penses of the Chinese campaign, some
of the powers party to the PelSin pro-
tocol have intimated that they would
be glad to have the balance turned
over to them. The allegation is that
they have not claimed sufficient indem-
mites to reimburse them for actual ex-
penses and proper claims, and that
they have n right to regard the 49,
1000 taels as properly divisible on
the basis of actual expenditures and
losses. 1t is not at all probable that
this point will be pressed, however, be-
cause the officials here are confident
that after we have betrayed our own
claims and expenditures there will be
little or no balance remaining OF our
allotment.
| 1.-THE treasury is in a condition of I'M
exampled strength" said Secretary
treasury situation at the close of the
year. ''Only month ago, in my an
nual report to Congress-. reviewed
these conditions. The figures for the
| last month have made but little change.
| For the calendar yenr we show receipts
| in excess of the ordinary expenditures
amounting roundly to S1OO,OOO,OOO
Such an excess might have resulted in
| serious embarrassment had not the de-
partment been able by means Of this
surplus to reduce the public debt in
large amounts. Since April LIST, last,
the treasury has redeemed and can
celed United States bonds to the par
value of 5S.714. 700. which have been
applied to the sinking fund. and the
disbursement resulting therefrom was
S72. 226. .S45. The available cash on
hand is therefore only about $4,000
600 larger than the amount held a year
ago."
The dissolution of the joint high COM
mission which has the Alaskan bound
ary dispute under consideration, TO be
followed by direct negotiations be-
tween Secretary Hay and Lord
Pauncefote. the British ambassador,
that Will result in a treaty giving Eng
land certain concessions on the disput-
ed points, is believed by many senators
to be the price Great Britain is de-
manding for the new isthmian canal
treaty, in which she abandoned COM
pletely the ground that she has ten
aciously held for many years, and
which has hitherto blocked the con-
struction of the canal If Secretary
Hay made such bargain it is pretty
clear that he will find it very difficult
| to carry out the agreement. The Sen
4 ate is watching the boundary dispute
very closely, and any treaty which IA
vors England at the expense of the
United States will certainly fail of rat
| ification when it comes before the Sen
| ate.
The United States is really governed
| by means of n series of conferences"
says the New York Mail and Express.
But the Hotse of Representatives and
the Senate and the President, one may
protest, What do they do? The an
swer is, Simply carry out what the
conferences" have decided. 1t is very
instructive to watch and study the
workings" and deliberations" of the
Congress for hour after hour from the
raretied atmosphere of the correspond
ent's gallery. A great volume of sound
| rises ceaselessly. Sometimes the
| House or even the soberer and more
stolid Senate, is as voluble and noisy
as the pit of the New York Stock Ex-
change. But as l glance over the Sen.
ate l observe that few men are out
side the hurly-burly - withdrawn
apart, aloof. l mark Senator Aldrich
| in close conversation with Senator
Plat of Connecticut, sitting on a sofa
in the rear, detached from the main
body of takers. l note Senator Han
ma, holding n whispered conference
with two or three of the more prom
inent members of the chamber. Sen
ator Lodge, with no ears for the stir
and noise, is deep in n book just
brought to him from the great library