The Grit-advocate., 1903-03-20
WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

toit9s i'i hi uHpi'pi ii'i''i VI Fi'N''''
for the purchase of service medals to
be conferred upon officers and men
who participated in the war with Spain
and the suppression of the boxer" up
rising in China. The department
wishes to distribute 446SS2 medals
Several senators who have talked
with the President believe it to he un-
likely that an extraordinary session
will be called next autumn. They say
many reasons might be cited why such
session should not be held. the prin-
cipal one being that some important
state elections are to be held III No
vember and members Of Congress VIII
be busy with political affairs in their
own states. They point out that on the
eve of a presidential campaign it is
highly important that every effort be
made. especially in the doubtful states,
to maintain the strength of the party
organizations. In such circumstances
it is said it would be possible only with
| difficulty to maintain a quorum at each
branch Of the extra session. If the ses-
sion Were not called until November,
they say it would be so close to the
regular session as TO render it practic-
tlly unnecessary.
BY the protocols which were signed :
'tDl ldiN 10, Hl'rth III lldli i''tIN' a.
ash payment of $27 300 Germany was
/ promised an advanced payment OF
$3to 900, in five monthly installmets.
beginning one month from the date of
that signing, and Italy was to be paid
$27 500 two months from the date. Min
lister Bowen handed the British en-
bassy a check the night the protocol
was signed. and it was arranged that
| Germany and Italy were to receive
their money at Caracas. What steps
President Castro has taken to meet
the obligations is not known, Some
concern is felt here at the silence OF
the allied powers regarding the draft
of The Haugue protocol which was
mailed to them some weeks ago, and
the absence of any representation on
| the subject may mean that plan is
under consideration looking to the
| settlement at Caracas of the preieren-
tial question by President Castro and
! the representatives of the allied pow
| ers there. There is no indication that
! the Venezuelan president Will consent
| to such compromise, but it Is be-
| lieved that he will be approached in
that connection. MI Bowen is strong
| ly opposed to permitting the allied
powers to escape from appearance at
The Hague, but inasmuch as the cost
of the case at the tribunal would
probably exceed the amount involved.
the powers may seek some other mode
of settlement.
Secretary Hay, having been author
| lied by the Pan-American congress to
| appoint a special representative to car
ry cut the recommendation of the CON
| ference that the United States take tho
initiative in developing intercontinen-
| tai railway plans, has appointed
| Charles NJ. Pepper as such representa-
| tive. The intercontinental project for
a railroad from Eastport, Maine, to
| BuenOs Ayres, Argentina, was inau-
| guratcd by the first Pan-American con
| ference, in pursuance of the policy OF
| closer cooperation between the United
States and the Latin-American repub-
| lIcS. At the conference held in Mex
| leo one year ago, resolutions were
| adopted and permanent Pan-Ameri-
can railway commission, with head
quarters in Washington, was appoint
ed. composed of ex-senator Henry G.
Davis of West Virginia, chairman; An
, drew Carnegie. Ambassador de Aspi-
roz OF Mexico, Minister Alvarez Caldc-
ron of Peru and Minister Arriaga of
Guatemala. Mr.. Davis was member
of both the first and second confer
encCs and also of the special commits
sion under which surveys for an inter
| continental route were made, and Mr.
| Carnegie was a member of the first
conference. The conference recon-
mended that the United States take
the initiative and the congress author
lied the secretary of state to appoint
representative. The railroad commits
sion suggested Pepper, which sugges-
tion received the endorsement of min
listers OF various republics.
Senator Morgan has submitted Il
number of amendments to the Panama
canal treaty in addition to those he
has offered heretofore. Among the
more important of Senator Morgan's
proposed amendments are the follow
ing: Article III is amended so as to
give the United States a perpetual
right to the canal tract and the right
to fortify the same Article III as
amended accords to the United States
the right to fortify the group of small
islands in the bay of Panama The
amendment to Article XI provides that
the United States shall have control
of the admission of persons to pcrman-
ent residence in the canal zone. i
further amendment provides that the
government of Colombia engages to
protect. defend and fully to indemnify
the United States against all incum-
brances and valid claims against the
property to be conveyed to the United
States under the treaty. Article XIII
is amended so as to provide that
should it become necessary to employ
armed forces for the safety or protec-
ton Of the canal, the republic of Col
ombia is to furnish the same when re
quested by the United States, but the
United States is to have the right at
all times to enter the canal zone and
to occupy the same with its land and
naval forces. Other amendments strike
out the time limit for completing the
canal, provide that nothing but the
treaty shall be construed as modifying