The Elbert County tribune., 1903-01-01
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS


plague among the immigrant Chinese
there. but no one has yet been designat-
ed for the service.
The Venezuelan government now Is
In possession of the complete notes OF
Great Britain and Germany. contain
ing the various reservations made by
these governments before the decision
was reached that the issues between
Venezuela and the European govern
ments having claims against her
! should be referred to The Hague
tribunal for arbitration. The United
States has acted as an intermediary in
the steps leading to the acceptance of
arbitration. now turns over to the
Venezuelan government the formal
work Of completing the basis for full
hearing before The Hague The notes
were transmitted tn the Venezuelan
government through United States
Minister Bowen at Caracas
President Roosevelt. before he
reached his decision to send the
Cuban reciprocity treaty TO the Senate
and not to the House, consulted freely
the leaders of the House and the mem
bers of his Cabinet After mature con
sideration II was determined that II
was unnecessary to send the Cuban
treaty TO the House. Notwithstanding
the fact that 1t affected revenues OF
the government. Precedents were
looked up carefully. 1t was found
that previous reciprocity treaties had
been sent directly to the Senate for
ratification. The president. when the
Cuban treaty shall have been ratified
by the Senate will send a message TO
both branches OF Congress with a
recommendation for such enabling
legislation as will make the treaty
operative. This Will afford the House
full opportunity. II is expected. to
stamp with its Individuality the nego-
tiations for reciprocity with Cuba.
Several days at least must elapse
before anything in the nature of a pre-
liminary protocol can be made ready
for signature in the Venezuelan arbi-
tration case. German insistence upon
prepayment of ten per cent. OF her
full claims before submitting her case
to arbitration and perhaps President
Castros resistance to meeting what
the allies regard as the obligations of
honor, are believed to be now the
sticking points. But It is hoped that
these can be passed within the next
few days, and 1t Is further hoped that
some arrangement will be made in the
preliminary protocol for the raising of
the blockade, though It Is intimated
that the allied ships will be kept ready
to renew II in case of any default on
the part of Venezuela in her obliga-
tons. Washington having been the
pivot about which all the negotiations
have turned up to this point it is sur
missed thar it may also be the scene of
the final act in the shape of the sig
nature of the protocol. either by the
resident representative here of the
IT,
sent to this neutral ground for the
purpose
There is now in progress an active
exchange of notes between the allied
powers. Venezuela and the United
States respecting the method of sub
mitting to arbitration the issues which
have arisen between Venezuela and the
allies. Questions are being put and
answers are forthcoming. but II is said
that the negotiations are In such shape
that 1t would be extremely injudicious
and indlscreet to make each phase
public, II there really existed a desire
to reach satisfactory settlement The
part of the United States government
Just now is that of good friend" To
all parties; 1t not undertaking to draw
up protocols or impose limitations up
on the parties. but is confining its of
hN'o W b'Ailhb lOktlutT ana
keeping them so. In this view 1t will
not be necessary for our government
to prescribe how the Monroe doctrine
shall or shall not figure in the proto-
coils; 1t will judge for itself by results
how our interests are affected and
viii not indulge in premature or un-
called for protests. As for the terms
of the arbitration agreement it is stat
ed that they are in fair way to be
speedily adjusted, but nothing can be
said of the details II is presumed that
the allies will agree to terminate the
blockade, though no stipulation has
yet been entered into on that point
Nothing has been heard recently of the
part to be taken by United States Min
lister Bowen in the final settlement and
1t appears that. after all, Venezuela
will probably be represented by one OF
her own people.
The Senate committee on military
affairs has held up pending an inves-
tigation all Of the army nominations
sent in before the recess below the
grade OF major. The members of the
committee have received numerous
complaints about the method of selec-
ton of officers under the reorganiza-
tion law II is asserted that great In
justice has been done to officers who
have served quite long time. Com
plant has been made that the men
were selected from those who formerly
served as volunteers to fill original
vacancies, and that they became cap
tains as soon as they were appointed.
Others appointed. 1t is alleged. wait
ed from four to seven months before
acceptance Of their commissions. which
date from the time the appointment
10 haf nh haf dat ,rIl
by the date of their commission. This
gives them many numbers above West
Point graduates and others appointed
from the volunteers, who entered the
service and did much hard work. while
tho men who delaYed accentance were