Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Baron Won Sternburg Pre-
sented to the President.
LAKE DREDGERS CALL
DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT TO
CONSTRUCT MACHINES.
Claim It Would Ruin Their Business
Recommendations as to Judge
ships-The Wick Case.
LAKE DREDGERS CALL

reSentative of Germany in the Venezuelan
negotiations, who arrived in Washington
last night, was presented to President
Roosevelt today by Secretary of State Hay.
The call was formal, the baron desiring to
present his credentials as special minister
from Germany to this country before TAX
ing charge of the embassy's affairs in the
absence Of Ambassador Won Holleben. The
exchanges were verbal, the President for
this occasion waving the usual prepar-
atory ceremonies and Baron Stern
burg confined himself to an expression of
the emperor's friendly feeling for the
United States and his own qualification at
being able to return to America in this ca
pacity. The President responded in fe-
licitous vein, incidentally expressing the
hope that the barons coming would result
in the settlement of all pending questions
this being indirect reference to the
Venezuelan issue. Beyond this the ques-
ton was not discussed. The baron, who was
received in the executive offices, remained
but few minutes. He will call upon Min
lister Bowen this afternoon.
Conference at White House.
An important conference was held at the
White House today, the participants being
the President Secretary Hay and Senator
Cullom, chairman Of the foreign relations
discussion was the status of the Panama
the treaty as it has developed in the Senate
is giving the administration and its sup
porters grave concern. The President de-
sires that the treaty should be ratified at
the earliest possible moment; yet the in
dications now are that serious obstructions
may be placed in the way of ratification.
Whether they will be formidable enough to
defeat the treaty remains yet to be deter
mined. but they are sufficient, at least to
induce in the minds Of the President and
his advisers the liveiest concern.
The conference held today was with
view of ascertaining, if possible, what could
be done to hasten consideration Of the
treaty by the Senate. 1t is quite certain
that the advices received by the President
are not reassuring. An effort is to be made
to get the treaty out Of committee with
favorable report. That the effort will be
successful is reasonably certain; but then
it's troubles in the present view of the mat
ter, will only have begun. Senator Nor
gan, chairman of the committee inter
oceanic canals, takes the ground that the
negotiations conducted by the State De-
partment with Mr.. Herran, representing
Colombia, are not Valid he holds that
Mr.. Herran did not possess the necessary
authority to make treaty binding upon
his country
that whep the treaty is called up for con-
sideraton in the Senate amendments will
be offered to almost every section of 1t.
Such action, 1t is well understood, will de-
lay very seriously final action upon 1t, even
if it should not result In the defeat Of its
ratification. 1t is stated definitely that any
amendment to the treaty would imperil
the entire canal project, as the government
CT Colombia might hesitate to accept
amendments made to 1t, particularly If
they involve essential details or principles.
During the conference today the situa-
ton was considered carefully, but what de-
cison, if any, was reached could not be
ascertained. 1t is known only that an earn
est effort is to be made in the Senate to
secure ratification of the treaty at the pres
ent session, but the method Of procedure is
not disclosed. While the treaty will not
fail, even if 1t should not be ratified at this
session, the delay which would result from
failure of the Senate to take final action
at this session might involve serious con-
sequences.
Construction of Lake Dredges.
A big delegation of lake dredgers is in
Washington to try to induce the govern
ment not to enter upon the construction
of dredges Of its own for use in the lakes.
The delegation called on the President and
the Secretary of War today and are seek
ing a favorable construction Of a clause in
serted In the river and harbor bill passed
by the last Congress. The river and harbor
bill contained a provision 'authorizing" the
Secretary Of War to purchase or construct
large dredge for use on Lake Erie In the
improvement of harbors. An appropriation
of $4,000 was included for the cost of the
dredge At the time Of the passage Of the
river and harbor bill it was freely stated
in the river and harbor committee Of the
House that the construction of government
dredges on the lakes was necessary to'pro-
tect the interests Of the government; that
the dredge concerns operating on the lakes
had made combine, and that. the prices of
work for the government were far beyond
what they should be.
The clause providing for the construction
or a large dredge was really intended by
the committees of both bodies of Congress
as warning to the dredge men that better
treatment of the government was expected
it Is stated, on excellent authority 1t is
said to have given them a bad fright, from
which they have not recovered. Their
presence In the city is to claim that their
business would be badly ruined If the gov
ernment policy of constructing and operat-
ing its own dredges should be followed gen
orally. They hold that the provision in the
river and harbor bill as to the purchase or
construction of dredge is not mandatory,
and merely grants authority to the Secre-
tary of War to do so if he desires; in brief,
that he is given permission to acquire a
dredge If he sees fit. The language of the
paragraph is that the Secretary of War is
'authoriZed' to build or purchase.
The delegation to see the President and
Secretary Root today consisted of Martin
Cary. c. 7. Sloan, VIM. H. Kinch and R.
D. d. "A.
land: T. c. Lutz, VIM. II. Leyden, Chicago;
Cornelius Niederman, Milwaukee; M. Sui
livan, Detroit; H. w. Stubbell, Saginaw;
II. H. Grace, Detroit Henry Hickler, ST.
Ste. Marie. With the dredgers. who are
me mbers of a lake dredgers association,
were Senator Quaries OF Wisconsin,; Sem
ator-elect Hopkins of Illinois, Representa-
tves Foster. McAndrews and Feeley Of
Illinois. Representative Ryan Of New York.
Representative Corliss of Michigan and
Representative Often OF Wisconsin Ex-
Representative r. B. Mahany of Buffalo
legal representative of the dredgers. was
likewise present. A legal argument was
made as to the lack Of mandatory language
in the Dill by Senator Quarles, in present
ing the subject to the President, who
directed that the whole question be pre-
sented to Secretary Root. and this was
done. On the construction of the provision
Will rest the policy Of the government in
the building Of dredges for the lakes It is
claimed by the delegation In the city that
government dredging Is 80 per cent Of that
do fha 1oE ov,6 H.