Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-05-04
MAY YET GET ISLANDS.
Another Effort to Be Made In Denmark
To Secure Action on Treaty.

| WASHINGTON, ID. c. May l.
Unofficial Information comes from Co
penhagen that another attempt will be
made this summer to secure the ratif-
cation of the treaty for the sale of the
islands of st. Thomas and Santa Cruz
to the United States. This treaty. as
you may recollect, was ratified by the
folkething. or house of commons of
| Denmark. but was defeated by a tie
vote in the landsthing. or senate. The
| tie was accomplished by bringing into
the chamber man 80 years of age,
who is in a state of senile debility
and had not attended the sessions for
many years. His mind is so far gone
that he was utterly unconscious of the
meaning of his own act or the proceed
ings that were going on around him.
Another aged member of the lands
thing. who was also i'll. was brought in
upon a litter. his strength being for
titled by stimulants and his vote also
was accepted. 1t is an open secret
that the Princess Marie DOrleans,
wife OF Prince Waldemar. the sixth
son of the king. was actively engaged
in lobbying against the ratification of
the treaty and exercised considerable
influence over several of the members.
much to the scandal of the royal
house
The landsthing, or house OF lords.
consists of sixty-six members. twelve
of whom are appointed for life by the
crown The remainder are elected in
a manner similar to our senator's for
terms of eight years. They are the
largest landholders and taxpayers in
the kingdom and represent the aristo.
cratic element of the population. The
vote of the lower house was decidedly
in favor of ratification and represented
public sentiment which Is in favor Of
disposing of the colonies in the West
Indies, because they produce no ieve-
nue.. and contribute nothing to the
wealth or welfare of the kingdom and
are constant drain upon the treas
ury. Il costs the government of Den
mark about 100000 year to main
tain them.
The folkething or lower house of
parliament. before its adjournment
last winter appointed n committee to
make a personal investigation OF the
condition of affairs in st. Thomas and
Santa Cruz to ascertain the sentiment
of the people concerning their annex
tion to the United States and to report
whether in their opinion any policy
may be contrived by which the ex-
pense of maintaining the colonies may
be reduced and they may be made
| to contribute something to the king
dom. The commission has visited st.
| Thomas and Santa Cruz. and returned
TO Copenhagen strongly convinced that
the treaty and obtain the $500. 900
which the government of the United
States has offered to pay for the ISL
ands. They are now preparing to
change of several votes in the lands
thing and secure the ratification of the
treaty and annexation.
The regular meeting of the Danish
parliament, however, does not occur
until the first of October. while the
treaty expires on the 1st Of July. Sec
retary Hay has informed the Danish
minister that 1t is exceedingly doubt
ful whether the United States senate
would ratify another treaty II the
Danes allow that which Is pending to
expire, and the president Will not be
responsible for n failure II the Danish
parliament defers action until fall.
Hence 1t is proposed to invoke the
landsthing in special session about
the first of June King Christian Is
said to be in favor of such action