The Press., 1903-07-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, June eg, 1903

according to cable advices received by
DR.. Harran, the Colombian minister, the
prospects for ratification of the Panama
canal treaty are decidedly more favorable
| than they were a short time ago. The
Colombian congress has assembled and
organized. Several of the members who
have heretofore been opposed to the treaty
have signified their intention to vote for
ratification. The opinion Is expressed In
the cablegrams that the treaty will be
ratified within week or ten days. Sec
retary Shaw has intended for some time
to go to Europe, but suddenly changed
his mind, and this is believed to be due
to the improved prospect for ratification
Asssoon as the treaty Is ratified and copies
exchanged 1t will be necessary to pay
over $5O, ,OO0, 600, O,OOO, 900 to Colombia
and $40, 100000 to the Panama Canal
company. 1t Is asserted at the treasury
department that this entire sum can be
paid without drawing on the reserve now
deposited In the banks. The gold reserve
is now over $3.50, ,OOO, 900, and as $780,
100000 Is regarded as ample for safety,
there will be no objection to paying the
surplus for the canal.
President Roosevelt has agreed to send
to the czar of Russia a petition begging
that the condition of the Jews in Bes-
serabia be ameliorated. This petition
| will be drawn up by the executive COM
mittee Of the B'nai Birth, and it is the
expectation of the committee that thou
sands Of signatures will be obtained from
members of all religions In the United
States. Il Is maintained in some quarters
that before giving his consent to the for
warding of the petition the president con-
ferred with Count Cassini, the Russian
| ambassador, and learned from him that
no offense would be given to the czar by
the presidents good offices. AS 1t had
been previously stated that the president
would not participate in any movement
looking to the calling Of the attention. of
the czar to the Kisheney affair, there is
much speculation as to his change of
mind. and is ascribed by some to the be-
lief that Russia is standing In the way of
the opening Of Manchurian ports toAmer-
lean trade.
Numerous reports sent out from Wash
ington TO the effect that Postmaster Gen.
eral Payne was about to resign from the
cabinet are positively denied, both by
Mr.. Payne himself and by Senator Hanna,
who spent Friday In Washington. Mr..
Payne has been seriously i'll as result
| OF chronic stomach trouble, which was
doubflesss accumulated by the nervous
strain OF the post Office investigation, but
he has largely recovered and attended the
cab'ast meeting on Friday last. He Gays
that he will remain In Washington direct
Ing the investigation for at least month
more. The relations between Mr.. Payne
and his first assistant, Mr.. Wynne, are
sorely strained, but the president has told
both men that they must manage to get
along together for the present.
Several more indictments have been OBJ.
tained within the past week as a result OF
the post office investigation. Machen
and the two Groffs have been indicted
again. George e. Lorenz and his wife,
charged with being ''go-betweens," have
also been Indicted, as have also J. V.
Miller and Representative briggs OF
Brooklyn. briggs and Miller have beer
indicted, the former for accepting fee o.
81 $50 In payment for his services, while
a member of congress, in securing the
purchase by the post office of number
Of automatic change makers, Miller fol
having made the payment to briggs L
has been positively decided that Georg,
A. G. Christiancy cannot return to hii
! position as law clerk In the legal division
: OF the post office department, but, as h'
, Is not deemed guilty of criminal conduct
he is being given an opportunity to re
sign, an opportunity he appears to hav
no intention of accepting. Ex-Postmaste
General Smith has issued a lengthy state
ment regarding the Tulloch charges
There Is nothing new In Mr.. Smiths com
I munication, except an attempt to prov
collusion between Tullooh and Inspecto
Smith, whose report made the importan
part OF the Bristow reply. Mr.. Smit
bases his charge of collision on the fac
that both Tulloch and Inspector Smlt
, use the same expressions In their respect
i've papers, but this Is explained at tn
post office department by the fact ths
!, both men made use of the expression
n contained In the letter of Comptroller {
1 the Treasury Tracewell, in which the lat
, ter objected to the payment of the irregr
, lar vouchers.
There are grave fears entertained b
the administration that the United State
is not getting her share of the payment
OF the Chinese indemnity. It is reporte
> confidentially to the state department the
the European nations which were part
to the peace negotiations are receivin
! their invasion indemnity more rapid
than the United States, and it Is regarde
as probable that it will be necessary
: send two American officials to Pekin t
/ insist on fair treatment of the Unite