The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

= NOAAA Ne'A NSoNAN~A
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18th, 1903.
The Venezuelan affair has been brought
to a satisfactory conclusion, and while
Mr.. Bowen has secured the most favorable
terms for Venezuela that she had a right
to expect, Germany has demonstrated to
the world that she is a Shylock among
nations and that her alliance with Great
Britain was made for the sole purpose of
collecting her debts 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 $4,000,
the full amount for her original demand,
in monthly payments beginning imme-
diately. 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
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
blockade and the reference to the Hague
Tribunal of the question of preferential
for those countries which adopted warlike
methods, were signed late Friday night
and Immediately orders for the raising of
the blockade were issued from the respec-
tive capitals. Until such time as the full
amount of the claims of the creditor ma
tions are settled 80 per cent of the custom
receipts of La Guira and Puerto Cabello is
to be set aside for that purpose.
~
Congress has completed the antitrust
program agreed upon between the Pres
ident 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, 900 for the use of the Attorney
General in the prosecution of trust cases,
the enactment of law expediting the
trial of antitrust cases in the courts, the
enactment of the Elkins bill prohibiting
rebates on transportation chares and Gre
alton of Commissioner of Corporations
in the new Department of Commerce and
Labor. The Littlefeld bill which was
passed by the House, is now in the Sen
ate Committee on Judiciary where it has
been considered, but without result.
~
The Alaskan treaty has been ratified by
the Senate and the President is now con-
sidering the personnel of the commission
which is to adjudicate the Alaskan bonn
dry 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 will have to present to the
other copy of its brief and counter cases
must be exchanged within two months
hereafter. The first meeting of the COM
mission will be held in London as soon
as possible and subsequent meetings will
be held at such places as may be deter
mined 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 Washing
ton will be appointed commissioners.
~
The House has passed a bill appropri-
ating SIS, 6oo,o for the completion OF the
national Capitol and the construction of
an Office building for the use of its men,
bers, aud the measure is certain to receive
the approval of the Senate. Persons
familiar with the Capitol will remember
that on the cast front the Senate and
House wings extend 1903 feet beyond the
center section. The original plans, which
were approved by President Fillmore in
1859, provided for tie 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
established custom, that portion on the
Senate side of the ceuter 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 sufr
ficient accommodation for the members
of the House to permit of the assignment
of separate Office to each of the nearly
400 members Of the lower chamber, some
thing they have not enjoyed for many
years The architecture of the office
building will conform to that of the Cap
itol and the offices will be deliberately
and extensively furnished. From the
center of the Capitol TO the elevators in
the new building will extend a tunnel
through which will run a miniature cleo
trio railway for the accommodation of the
members and their friends. The improve
ments, it is expected, will require two and
a-half years for completion. and including
the site for the new building and the fur
nishings, will cost not less than Sc, SOC, 900.
~
The only change in the Statehood sit.
uatiOn dnrino tho pact ,raaI, hoe &c.,, a.