Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1903-02-19
CURRENT EVENTS.

Congress will adjourn a week from
next Wednesday. and it looks as though
the statehood bill would continue to
block the appropriation bills and the
treaties to the end, and thus force an
extra session of Congress or, at least, ot
the Senate.
Quay's persistence in standing in with
the Democrats to force the admission OF
two territories, sparsely populated with
Mexicans and Indians, and which woul d
mean the addition of four Democrats tc
the q. s. Senate, is one of the most re-
markable raprices of his unique career.
Some trust" legislation has, fortu-
nately, been gotten through, and both
the President and Attorney General ex-
press themselves as satisfied with it,
until experience shows what further is
needed.
president Roosevelt is 70 be congrat-
ulated upon his success in forcing the
subject so strongly upon Congress. He
has insisted from the beginning of the
session that something should be done.
and he has had his way. He may not
have gotten everything that he desired.
but that progress has been made of real
value is shown by the desperate efforts
of the Standard Oil people to block leg
islation. The exposure by the Presi-
dent of the fact that certain Senators
had received kilograms practically
ordering holdup proved boomerang.
1t hastened the work to conclusion,
and hereafter there will be somewhat
vigorous control of trusts under the
three bills that have been passed"
The agreements, or protocols, for sub
mitting the claims of the Europeans and
Others against the Venezuelans were
signed by all the parties interested, last
week, and the German-Anglo- italian
blockade of the coast Of that country
was raised.
tine agreements which have been
executed relate in part TO the payments
which are to be made at once, and in
other part to the mode of settlement,
which shall be pursued with regard to
the liquidation of the balance. There
is to be distributed without arbitration
among the blockading powers the sum
of about S4O2, 500, in round figures. OF
this sum Great Britain is to receive S27,
500 at once. A like sum is to be paid to
Germany at the end of one month, and
within two months of the signing of the
protocols Italy is to be similarly treated.
This accounts for $4,000 of the stated
total. The other $500, 900 represents
the preference accorded to Germany IN
Difference to that country's strenuous
demands for better terms than had sat
isfied Italy and Great Britain"
This whole business has been Of a
doubtful character. Collecting private
claims by public force is recognized in
international law, only. when practiced
by strong nation against weak one.
If citizen of the United States had a
claim against citizen of England OF
Germany who would think of sending
a fleet to blockade port, and what
would happen if it were done The
settlement of this case is due to the
brains and patience of Mr.. Bowen. an
American who acted for Venezuela.
The humorous feature of the whole af-
fair was Andy Carnegie's offer to settle
Germany's claim off hand.
The affair is now happily ended, and
Germany's pugnacious War Lord will
haye to look for trouble in some other
part Of the word.
On Thursday Andrew Carnegie sent
the following message to Herbert w.
Bowen, representative Of Venezuela in
the negotiations with Great Britain,
Italy and Germany:
II shall be glad to hand you over al
once 1850, 900 to meet the German de
mand if Venezuela desires it,"
Mr.. Bowen thanked Mr.. Carnegie fol
his offer, but replied that it was no
necessary to accept it. He said tina
many banks and syndicates had al
along been anxious to lend money h
Venezuela. and had sent representa-
tives to see him with this end in view
though these offers were of busines
nature, whereas the offer of Mr. Car
negie was made without any reserva
tion or mention Of security for the re
turn Of his money.