The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-02-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, February %, 1903.

Washington, February %, 1903.
The president has advised various men,
bers of the senate that in the event OF
either of the treaties falling of ratification
he will call an extra session of the senate.
1t had been supposed that with the anti
trust program pmleted and the Alaskan
and Panama treaties ratified Mr.. Roose-
welt would be satisfied, but that such is
not the case he has stated In unequivucal
terms. There Is little hope that the Gu
ban treaty can be ratified before the h
OF March, SO that an extra session of the
senate Is considered almost inevitable,
but it is believed 1t will be of short dura-
ton.
The house has been devoting its atten-
tion Chi fly to appr priation bills, and has
passed majority of the regular meas
ures. L aiding members say that they
could complete all the remaining essen
tial business In a period even more brief
than that rematnirg to this congress-
The Fowler currency bill has, been made
the regular order, and Mr. Fowler tells
your correspondent that he believes 1t
will pass both houses, but he 1s the only
representative thus far found who holds
that opinion. 1t Is generally believed
that the Aldrich bill will become law,
and It will In a great measure supply the
relief for which the Fowler bill is in
tended: 's'+ /
The last cabinet meeting was partici-
pated In by G 'orge B. Cortelyou, who has
been sworn In as secretary of commerce
and labor, his accession adding one more
to the lawyers In the cabinet, there now
being six lawyers out of nine members!
Mr.. Cortelyou never practiced law, but is
a graduate OF Georgetown law school, and
has received the degree of master Of laws.
Secretary Coltelyou Is now engaged In
preparing an estimate of expenses for the
new depaI tment, and 1t Is understood that
he will recommend that an appropriation
be made at this session of congress for q
building for the accommodation of his de-
partment.
No answer has been received to the
c lbleg1am of Attorney General Knox ac-
cepting the offer of the Panama canal
company, subject to the ratification of the
treaty which has been signed by repre-
sentatives of the United States and of
Colombia. 1t Is known, however, that
correspondence by cable has been in pro-
gress between the directors of the French
company and their legal representatives
In Washington, and that the former are
disposed to reject Mr.. Knox's off unless
some definite date Is set for the accept
ance of the offer. 1t is alleged that the
French company is under constant ex-
pense In maintaining the work already
performed on the canal, and has, more
over, force of men engaged on the 18TH
mus, and the directors think the United
States should make some provision for
reimbursiDg them for such expense as
they may incur after the expiration of the
present option. 1t Is also claimed that
| certain European capitalists are prepared
to furnish the funds for completing the
canal, If the United States fails to effect
it's purchase. .....
The president and Mrs. Roosevelt are
both suffering from i'll health, although
In neither instance Is 1t believed that
their indisposition is serious. Mrs. Roose-
velt tainted at recent state dinner, and
was at once ordered by her physician 10
abstain from further participation In So
cial affairs for blief period. She has
since recovered somewhat, and gave mu-
sical last week. The president Is suffer
Ing from an attack of laryngitis and lie
under the care Of a physician, but 1t ie
| believed that he will soon recover. Un-
less an extra session of the senate or OF
| congress interferes Mr. Roosevelt, accom-.
panied by Secretary Root, will leave fol-
Colorado about the middle of March for q
brief hunting trip. His long anticipated
western trip will not be taken until about
the first of May.
| A report has reached leading officers ot
the marine corps to the effect that Secle
tary Root Is anxious to effect transfer
of the corps from the navy to the war de
paltment. This proposition has beer
considered by the naval general board
and both Admiral Dewey and Rear Ad
miral Taylor have condemned It, These
gentlemen hold that the marine COZ ps Il
fast becoming most important adjunc
to the navy, furnishing landing parties OF
practically instant notice, and they do no
hesitate to predict that, while the arm,
will In time become mere police body
for the maintenance of order and peace
within the limits of the United States ant
its possessions, the marine corps will ac
quire all the glory growing out Of an,
disturbance on foreign shores. !
On Saturday was laid the corner ston,
of the new army war college at what ar,
known as the Washington barracks. Th'
corner stone was laid by the president
who, Notwithstanding his indispositioD
insisted In participating In the exercises
and the oration Of the day was delivere'
by Secretary Root. The establish men
OF the war college has long been the ain
of leading army officers, as 1t will furniA
to those officers In the army, who demon
strate at the special service echool an es
pecial proficiency, an opportunity to per
feet their military education under thu
most favorable circumstances. The loca
tion fs In the city of Washington, at thu
Junction of the eastern and western
branches Of the Potomac river, and tn,
new post Is destined to become one O.
the finest in the United States, II not II
the world.