Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-08-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Corrospondent.J

OOO,UOU Is SGlll commanding cOnSlu-
erable attention from the officials at
Washington. 1t has been Indirect
ly the occasion of renewal of the
gossip in regard to an extra session
of Congress to be called in November
for the purpose of ratifyinga treaty
with Cuba and has caused no little
anxiety in regard to Cuba's future.
The State department., in the alb
sence of Secretary Hay, referred
the news of the proposed loan to the
Treasury Department on the
ground that, being financial
matter, it came under the jurisdic-
ton of the Secretary of the Treas
ury. Secretary Shaw, after giving
the matter some consideration,
decided that he had no jurisdiction
and returned the papers to the
State Department, and it is now
held that the United States has no
authority in the matter pending
the ratification of a treaty with
Cuba which shall make the provi-
sions Of the Platt amendment bind
ing on both parties.
In the meantime, Senior Quesada,
the Cuban minister has expressed
surprise and regret at the attitude
assumed by the press Of this country
in regard to the loan. He says that
in the first place the law has, so
far, only passed the Senate and still
awaits the action of the House and
the signature of the President.
Moreover, he regards itas extraordi-
nary that the friends of Cuba should
assure that her government would
act on other than business princi-
pies. He says that if the loan is
finally negotiated provisions will
have been made for the payment of
the interest and the setting aside of
"A sinking fund. He believes that q
part of the loan scheme includes the
assessment of an internal revenue
tax, similar to the war revenue tax
recently collected by the United
States, and by the means sufficient
funds will be raised to make the
loan sound business proposition.
Mr.. Quesada contends that the
business interests of Cuba will be
served by the negotiation Of the
loan, that assistance can thereby be
rendered to the sugar planters and
a large sum ofmoney will be placed
in circulation which will make for
the general prosperity. While the
minister is too diplomatic to put it
in just these words, his position is
largely this: the United States has
refused to Cuba the reciprocal con-
cessions for which she asked and
has said to her: "We have done
enough for you. Now shift for
yourself" Cuba is now preparing
to shift for herself along lines that
her best statesmen regard as advis-
| able, and it seems peculiar that the
United States should step in and
attempt to interfere with the plans
they adopt as for the best interest
of Cuba.
1t is regarded as extremely like
ly that the President will call the
Senate in extra session and that
he present for ratification a treaty
which will confirm the provisions
of the Platt amendment and at the
same time make the tariff conces-
sions ou Cuban imports which he
advocated at the last session. On
the other hand, Senator Burrows
has made it known that he does not
regard it as within the power Of
the Senate to modify the existing
tariff schedules without the con-
currence of the House and that
fact is likely to receive the careful
consideration of the President be-
fore any decisive action is taken.
There is current report to the
effect that Mr.. Roosevelt will
reverse the policy Of President Nc
Kinley and willlend the assistance
of the Administration to Mr..
Addicks of Delaware in his efforts
to become Senator from that state.
So far it has been impossible to
secure any positive confirmation of
the story but it is evident that the
Republican organization is in seri-
Gus straits in that state. Unless
Mr.. Addicl<s and Col. Dupont arrive
at a settlement of their differences
in the near future it is feared that
the Democrats may secure the
control of the legislature and poss-
IDLY send two Democrats to the
Senate. In view of so serious a
situation, it is possible that the
President may decide that the good
of the party as a whole demands
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