Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-03-03
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, ID. c., March 3.

Washington, d. c., March 3.
The indications today are that the
whole question of the payment of the
Venezuelan claims will be settled by
mutual agreement on the part of the
allies and ''peace powers" without
reference to The Hague. Although the
greatest reticence is shown by the Of
ficials of the State Department relative
10 this new and important phase in the
Venezuelan embroglio it is learned, on
unquestionable authority, that a joint
movement is in progress looking to an
arrangement whereby the claims of the
unallied nations, after adjudication,
will be guaranteed by series of time
notes issued by the Venezuelan authori-
ties. In the case of some of the I'M
allied powers whose claims are COM
paratively small it would doubtless cost
them as much to carry the case to The
Hague as the total amount of their
claims. According to the present ar
rangement the claims of each individual
power will be adjudicated at Caracas by
the diplomatic representative to that
power there and the Venezuelan minis
ter for foreign affairs. In case of dis
agreement the umpires as arranged for
in the protocols will be appointed and
their decision will be final, Venezuela
agreeing to abide by it, and guarantee
ing the payment of the claims by CIV
ing her notes extending over a set period
of time and setting aside 30 per cent.
of the customs dues. The probabilities
are that the allies will receive large
proportion of this 80 per cent. until
their claims are settled, although this
point, which involves the question Of
preferential treatment has not yet been
satisfactorily determined.
The answer of the Panama Canal Com
pany regarding the extension of the
United States Governments option be-
yond March was received by William
Nelson Cromwell, the company counsel
this morning. Mr.. Cromwell at once
took it to Attorney General Knox and
held conference with him that lasted
half an hour. Mr.. Knox laid the
answer before the Cabinet shortly after
eleven o'clock. 1t is understood that
the company agrees TO the extension, &C
cepting the proposition of Attorney Gen
eral Knox made by cable some ten days
ago. The company delayed its answer
until after the publication Of the Presi-
dents proclamation yesterday calling an
extra session of the Senate, in order to
make sure that the adjournment of the
present session in view of the ratification
of the treaty with Colombia did not
mean the rejection Of the proposition.
The extension of the option, it is under
stood, is only for such reasonable time
as will be necessary for the ratification of
the treaty.
Attorney General Knox stated after
the Cabinet meeting today that he had
presented to the President the answer
of the Panama Canal Company accept
ing the terms of the United States, and
extending the option until the treaty
with Colombia providing for the con-
stTuCllOH Vi Tue Cdudl SHALL uc iaeiHSu.
Senator Lodge intends to call up the
Philippine tariff bill in the Senate to-
day. The democrats, however, under
the leadership of Senators Teller, Pat
terson, Dubois, and Carmack intend to
flibuster against it, and there is no hope
that it can be brought to vote. AL
though the President considers this bill
of so much Importance to the Philippines
that he sent special message to the
Senate urging its adoption, leading
Senators say it is not his intention to
call Congress together in specia session
to pass it. If it fails this session it will
not come up again until next December
when the 58th Congress meets in regular
session.
The republican leaders have devised
new trust in order to keep out of the
legislative day of March 4th altogether.
The constitution provides for adjourn
ment March 4th, at noon. 1t is not
within the power of Congress to make
March 4th anything bnt March 4th,
call it what they will. So it has been
decided to remain in the legislative
session of February 26th to the bitter