The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, January 10, 1903.

L
with the drafting of an antitrust measure
prepared its bill, and the announcement
was made that 1t would be reported to
the house on Friday. On Thursday, how
ever, after securing the approval of the
president, the authors of the measure
called on the attorney general and re-
quested his opinion. Mr.. Knox immedi-
ately detected certain features, notably
those concerning publicity, which, in his
opinion, would have resulted in the meas
ure's having been pronounced unconstitu-
tional by the courts, and as a result 1t
was determined to withhold it for further
revision. AS the time of the forty-sev-
enth congress is short, anxiety as to the
fate OF the measure Is increasing.
Senator Hoar and other members of the
senate ass ert their desire to pass an ade-
quate but conservative trust measure,
with special emphasis on the conserva-
tive. At the same time 1t Is appreciated
that the senate will not be hurried, and
with many influential members at heart
opposed to all "statute tinkering," as
they somewhat contemptuously term trust
legislation, there are good grounds for the
anxiety expressed by the president and
his supporters.
The Cuban treaty has been finally re-
ported from the committee on foreign re-
lation and the chairman, Senator Cullom,
has given notice that he will move that
the senate go into executive session i'm
mediately on convening to-day. Before
the treaty the committee amend
ed 1t so as to provide that there should
be no change 10 the tariff schedule deal
ing with sugar from the Dingley rates,
beyond the 90 per cent. concession al
lowed Cuba. A further amendment, made
at the earnest behest of the democrats,
provides that American cattle shall re-
ceive 40 per cent. discount from the Gu
ban tariff rates.
The fate of the treaty in the senate can
not be predicted with certainty. Your
correspondent has made careful canvass
of the senate, and believes it will event.
ually be ratified. On the other hand,
many persons who ought to know regard
its fate as extremely doubtful, and some
of the democratic members who are op-
posing it assert confidently that it will
fail. The entire influence of the admins
tration is being thrown In its favor, and
its defeat could not be construed but as a
decided repudiation of the presidents
policy.
The senate demonstrated to a remark
able degree its ability to transact business
last week, Notwithstanding the claim that
the statehood bill Is blocking other i'm
purtant measures. The house having
passed bill providing that all duties
paid on coal be rebated for period of
one year, the senate took the measure up
the same day, and within fifteen minutes
had 80 amended 1t as to place anthracite
coal permanently on the free list and
passed the measure. The same day the
house accepted the amendment and pass
ed the bill and sent it to the president,
who signed it the next day. AS II fired
the senate then took up and passed the
militia bill, which passed the house last
session. Before passing the measure that
section which provided for the national
volunteer reserve was stricken out.
Tbs senate committee on military 6 f.
fairs has approved the general staff bill,
and 1t Is expected to come before the SEN
ate at an early date. This Is the bill 80
advocated by Secretary Root a
year ago, and, in fact, ever since. It Is
not believed that it will meet with serious
being almost an administra-
tive measure, and having received the
cordial support of three senators who
have filled the Office of secretary of war.
AS the life of the present congress
draws to close the anxiety on the part
of those interested In the construction of
an isthmian canal increases. With GUS
tomary South American dllatoriness, Co.
lombia Is permitting golden opport unity
to slip away, and there is constant like
lihood that the administration's patience
will become exhausted and the offers of
and Costa Rica will be accept.
ed, and the construction of the canal
along that route will be begun. Up to
the present time the secretary of state
has offered to Colombia a cash payment
of $10, 100000 and an annuity of $1OO 900,
to begin ten years after the ratification of
= ho Tn a.
will be necessary to pay $40, ,OOO, 900 to
the Panama canal company, making the
total initial investment $4,000, 600, in
to the annuity, which will repre-
per cent.
Great interest is manifest In Washing
ton in the possibility of break In the
Delaware deadlock, followed by the cleo
tion Of two senators from that state.
According to the proposition made by the
democrats to those republicans who are
opposed to the election of Mr.. Addicks,
there would be one democratic and one
republican senator sent to the senate i'm |
mediately, but the democratic senator
would have been elected for but two years,
while the republican senator would have
the full term of six years to serve. The
democrats doubtless count on making suf |
ticient political capital out of their con-
to the breaking of the deadlock |
to ensure their party democratic sena-
tor to succeed the republican who shall |
be first chosen. 1t Is generally believed
In Washington that the democratic offer
will be accepted.
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