The Press., 1903-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, February 16, 19t

Mr.. Bowen has secured ih- most favor
right to xpect, g .rmany has drmonstrat-
ed to the world that she is Shykck
among nations, and that her alliance with
Great Britain was made for the sole pur-
pose of collecting her debs regardless OF
the rights of her allies. Under the terms
of the protocols just signed Great Britain
and Italy receive $27 500 each as cash
payment and Germany receives $347 600,
the full amount for her original demand,
in monthly payments, beginning immedi-
ately. In thus demanding her pound Of
flesh Germany has outraged the Anglo
Saxon sense of justice, and, In the judg-
ment of Minister Bowen, has laid the
foundation for the ruin Of her trade with
the countries of South America. The
protocols providing for the settlement OF
individual claims, the raising of the block
ade and the reference to the Hague tri
bunal of the question of a preferential for
those countries which adopted warlike
methods were signed Friday night, and
immediately orders for the raising of the
blockade were issued from the respective
capitals. Until such time as The full
amount of the claims of the creditor ma
tions are settled, 30 per cent. of the GUS
tom receipts of La Guira and Puerto Ca
bello is to be set aside for that purpose.
Congress has completed the antitrust
program agreed upon between the presi-
dent and the leaders of both houses, and
the last antitrust bill has been signed by
the president. The legislation accom-
plished includes the appropriation Of
$500, 600 for the use of the attorney gen.
eral In the prosecution Of trust cases, the
enactment of a law exediting the trial of
anti cases In the courts, the enact
ment of the Elkins bill prohibiting rebates
on transportation charges, and the Gre
alton Of a commission of corpo' atoms in
the new department of commerce aud Ia
Dor. The Littlefield bill, which passed
by the house, Is now In the senate com
mittee on judiciary, where 1t has been
considered, but without result.
The Alaskan treaty has been ratified
by the senate, and the president Is now
considering the personnel Of the commits
sion which is to adjudicate the Alaskan
boundary dispute. Under the provisions
of the treaty there will be three eminent
jurists appointed by the United States,
and three appointed by Great Britain.
Within two months from the ratification
of the treaty each side will have to pre-
sent to the other copy of Its brief, and
counter cases must be exchanged within
two months hereafter. The first meeting
of the commission will be held In London
as soon as possible, and subsequent meet
ings will be held at such places as may
be determined by the commission. A
vote Of four to two will decide all points
of difference, but In the event that the
commission is evenly divided no change
will take place In the existing status of
the dispute. Rumor has it that Secretary
Root and Senators Lodge and Turner of
Washington will be appointed commits
sioners.
The house has passed bill appropri-
ating 1900, 900 for the completion of the
national capitol and the construction of
an Office building for the use of its men,
bers, and the measure Is certain to receive
the approval of the senate. Persons IA
miliar with the capitol will remember
that on the east front the senate and
house wings extend 1Os feet beyond the
center section. The original plans, which
were approved by President Fillmore in
1869, provided for the extension of the
central portion as far east as the wings,
and that Is the improvement about to be
begun. The new space will be used for
committee rooms, and, following the es-
tablished custom, that portion on the SEN
ate side of the center of the building will
be devoted to the senate and the supreme
court.
1t Is expected that the new Office build
ing, which will be erected about 500 feet
south Of the capitol, will provide sufficient
accommodation for the members of the
house to permit Of the assignment of a
separate Office to each of the nearly 400
members of the lower chamber, some
thing they have 1 OF enjoyed for many
years. The architecture of the off 9
building will conform to that of the CAPT.
tol, and the offices will be elaborately
and expensively furnished. From the
center of the capitol to the elevators In
the new building will extend a tunn,
through which will run a miniature cleo
trio railway for the accommodation of the
members and their friends. The impro> g.
ments, 1t Is expected, will re quire two and
one-half years for completion, and, In.
Guiding the site for the new building and
the furnishings, will cost not less than
So, 100000.
The only change in the statehood stu
alton during the past week has been the
addition of the omnibus bill In the form
Of rider to the post-office appropriation
bill. AS the conferees of to b the senate
aud the house, under whose consideration
this measure would naturally come, are
all favorable to statehood, Senator Quay
regards this as decided victory. Sena-
tor Elkins, speaking on the subject to-
day, told your correspondent that he re-
garded the fight as practically won. He
said that the senate would be forced to
permit the question to come to a vote,
and that the statehood supporters were
quite strong enough to pass the bill as
amended. Senator Hale, on the other
hand, expressed grave doubt Of the Quay
forces having sufficient strength to over
rule the chair, which, he said, would
throw out the amendment on the point Of
order certain TO be raised. Even If they
mustered sufficient strength to overrule
the chair that will not mean victory, In
the opinion of Senator Aldrioh, who de-