The Press., 1903-03-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, March 10, 1908.


idly drawing to close. The leaders of
b,th parties have agreed to vote on the
Colombian treaty to faorrow, and vote
of the Cuban treaty will follow as soon
as practicable. That both conventions
will be ratified Is the belief of all we'll in
formed senators. The democrats will, 1t
Is understood, vote unanimously for two
amendments to the Panama canal treaty,
one providing that the United States shall
exercise absolute sovereignty over the
pass, the other eliminating that article OF
the treaty which says that under no cir
cumstances will the United States in
crease its territory at the expense Of Co
lombia or any other South American re.
public. II has been decided by the rrpub-
lican steering committee 10 reject both OF
these amendments, and It Ia understood
that the democrats will permit the ap-
proval of the treaty, ev, though their
amendments fail.
A material concession has been made
to the democrats and the republican en- y
mics OF the Cuban treaty by the dctermi-
nation to accept an amendment, already
reported by the committee on foreign re-
lations, which provides that the provis-
ions Of the treaty shall not go into effect
until they are approved by both houses Of
congress This, of course, prevents ac-
tual reciprocity with Cuba until after con-
gress meets next winter.
The amendment to the Cuban treaty
above referred to was the occasion of
much disappointment to the president,
and he Is seriously contemplating calling
an extra session OF congress to meet some
time In the fall to pass such legislation
as will be necessary to put the treaty into
effect. The president considers that such
a course would be entirely justified as, In
his estimation, the friends of the treaty
In the senate have yielded TO the impor-
tunities of its ene mics. 1t is not be-
lleved, however,, that there will be- any
extra session until November, and II call
ed at all, it will pr,bably be about Nov.
10Th.
The early adj 0urnment of the senate
will permit the president to b. gin his con-
templated western trip earlier than tx
pected, although he has recently post
poned his departure until April 9Th, and
1t is not probable that he will again change
his plans.
Five litigation projects have been de-
hn - ha
Hansbrough Newlands irrigation act.
They will be located at the Swectwater
dam, Wyoming, on the Milk river, MOI :
tana, at the Gunnison tunnel, Colorado,
on the Truckee river, Nevada, and at the
Salt River reservoir, Ariz ma. The total
cost Of these projects is estimated at
81 900 900, and 1t Is believed that when
completed they will irrigate a total OF
GOO, 900 acres. While thu decision Is as
definite as can be made, 1t still remains
subject 10 the feasibility OF obtaining the
necessary rights and adjusting the exist
Ing private claims. The secretary of the
interior has designated the sum OF $780,
600 to be expended during the ensuing
year for further investigation, which will
be carried on with regard to number of
projects which have already been consid.
cred, and 1t is expected that several will
receive approval during the next year
The first to do so will probably be the
Gray Bull reservoir PROJECT.
Secretary Coltelyou, of the departing mt
of commerce and labor, is rapidly perfect
ing the organization of his department.
He has rented and is fitting up Offices,
and has just appointed Frank Fl. Hitch
cock clerk and William L. Soleau dis
bursting officer, two of the most important
positions In the department. The secre-
tary Is In receipt of an enormous mail,
most of which consists of applications for
employment. An applicant who request
ed that he be awarded a very humble po-
sition on the force recently remarked
that he presumed his was the first appli.
cation Mr.. Cortelyou had received for the
position, and was told that instead OF be-
Ing the first applicant he was the 3OOth.
The president has just Issued circular
letter to five Of the youngest heads OF bu-
reaus In the government service, asking
them to cooperate with him in eliminating
redundant work In the federal depart
ments, and the systemizlng of the work
of their own and the new department Of
commerce and labor. The men to whom
the letter was addressed are Charles d.
Walcott, representing the interior de-
partment, General William Crozler, rep
senting the war department, Admiral
Francis t. Bowles, representing the navy
department, Clifford Pinchot, represent
ing the agricultural department, and
James R. Garfield, representing the d.
partment Of commerce and labor. The
personnel of this committee, composed of