The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-03-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

WASHINGTON, March 18TH, 1903
The special session of the Senate is
rapidly drawing to close. The leaders
of both parties have agreed to vote on the
Colombian treaty today, Tuesday, and a
vote of the Cuban treaty will follow as
soon as practicable. That both conven.
tons will be ratified is the belief of all
we'll informed senators. The democrats
will, it is understood, vote unanimously
for two amendments to the Panama canal
treaty, one providing that the United
States shall exercise absolute sovereignty
over the strip of land through which the
canal will pass, the other eliminating
that article of the treaty which says that
under no circumstances will the United
States increase its territory at the expense
of Colombia or any South American re-
public. 1t has been decided by the re-
publican steering committee to reject both
OF these amendments and it is understood
that the democrats will permit the ap-
proval of the treaty even though their
amendments fail.
~
A material concession has been made
to the democrats and the republican en-
etnies of the Cuban treaty by the deter
mination to accept an amendment, al
ready reported by the committee on For
eigf Relations, which provides that the
provisions of the treaty shall not go into
effect until they are approved by both
houses of Congress. This, of course, pre-
vents actual reciprocity with Cuba until
after Congress meets next winter.
~
The amendment to the Cuban treaty
above referred to was the occasion OF
much disappointment to the President
and he is seriously contemplating calling
an extra session of Congress to meet some
time in the fall to pass such legislation as
will be necessary to put the treaty into
effect. The President considers that such
course would be entirely justified as, in
his estimation, the friends of the treaty in
the Senate have yielded to the importu-
mites of its enemies. 1t is not believed,
however, that there will be any extra
session until November, and if called at
all it will probably be about Nov. 18th.
~
The early adjournment of the Senate
will permit the President to begin his
contemplated western trip earlier than
expected, although he has recently post
poned his departure until April 9th and
it is not probable that he will again
change his plans.
wv
Five irrigation projects have been de.
cided upon under the provisions of the
MISUNDERSTANDING irrigation act
They will be located at the Sweetwatel
dam, Wyoming, OH the Milk River
Montana, at the Gunnison Tunnel, Colo
RADIO, OH the Truckee River, Nevada, and
at the Salt River Reservoir, Arizona. The
total cost Of these projects is estimated a,
81, 900, 900 aud it is believed that wher
completed they will irrigate total area o
600, 900 acres. While the decision Is a.
definite as can be made it still remains
subject to the feasibility of obtaining the
necessary rights and adjusting the exist
ing private claims. The Secretary of the
Interior has designated the sum of $3.50,
900 to be expended during the ensuing
year for further investigation which will
be carried OH with regard to number o.
projects which have already been consid
cred and it is expected that several will
receive approval during the next year
The first to do SO will probably be the
Gray Bull reservoir project.
~
Secretary Cortelyou, of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, is rapidly per.
fecting the organization OF his depart.
ment. He has rented and is fitting ur
Offices and has just appointed Frank H
Hitchcock chief clerk and William l.
Soleau disbursing officer, two of the most
important positions in the department
The Secretary is in receipt of an enor.
nous mail. most of which consists of ap.
plications for employment. An appli.
cant who requested that he be awarded a
very humble position on the force recent
ly remarked that he presumed his was
the first application Mr.. Cortelyou had
| received for the OoSifiOn aud uoe told
that instead of being the first applicant
he was the 3ooth.
*.*
The President has just issued circular
letter to five of the youngest heads OF
bureaus in the government service asking
them to cooperate with him in eliminat-
ing redundant work in the Federal de-
partments and the systematizing of the
work of their own aud the new Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor. The men
to whom the letter was addressed are
Charles d. Walcott, representing the In
terror Department; General William Gro.
zier, representing the War Department,
Admiral Francis T. Bowles. representing
the Navy Department: Clifford Pinchot,
representing the Agricultural Department
and James R. Garfield, representing the
Department of Commerce and Labor.
The personnel of this committee, COM
posed of young and energetic men, indi-
Gates that the President proposes to secure
. 49, 4. a Il