The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-02-28

Nations Capital. Things Being
Done and Talked About.
DEADLOCK IN THE SENATE
Calling an Extra Session of the Senate
Appropriation Bills. The New Sec
retry, Etc, Etc.
Wasnlngton, Feb. %, 1903.

Senate, it Is believed that a com.
promise en- the Statehood bill will
be effected and will be followed by
the ratification of the Panama
Canal treaty. The details of the
compromise have not been made
public but your correspondent is i'll
position to say that 1t will be on
the bases Of the 'two state" bill
previously proposed with some
notifications providing for separate
statehood for Arizona and New Mex.
leo when they shall nave fulfilled
certain prescribed conditions. This
arrangement has received the sane
ton of Senators Quay, EIklns and
Gallnger, all of whom are for
Statehood, and only the attitude of
the democrats remains to be ascer-
tanned.
The President has advised various
members of the Senate that in the
event of either of the treaties fail.
ing of ratification he will call an ex-
ira session of the Senate. 1t had
been supposed that with the anti.
trust program completed and the
Alaskan and Panama treaties ratl-
| fed, Mr.. Roosevelt would be salts,
| fed but that such IS not the case he
has stated In unequIvocal terms.
There Is little hope that the Cuban
treaty can be ratified before the
4th of March, so that an extra ses-
sion of the Senate ~ considered
almost inevitable, but it is believed
1t will be of short duration.
The House has been devoting lis
attention chiefly to appropriation
bills and has passed majority of
the regular measures. Leading
members say that they could com.
plete all the remaining essential
business in a period even more
brief than that remaining to this
Congress. The Fowler currency bill
has been male The regular ord
and Mr.. Fowler tells your cores
pondent that he believes it will pass
both houses, but he is the only Rep
resentative thus far found who
holds that opinion. 1t is gener.
ally believed that the Aldrlch bll'
will become law and it will in a
great measure supply the relief for
which the Fowler bill is intended.
The last Cabinet meeting was
participated IN by Mr.. George b.
Cortelyou who has been sworn in
as Secretary of Commerce and La
Der, his accession adding one more
to the lawyers in the Cabinet. there
now being SIX lawyers out of nine
members. Mr.. Cortelyou never prac
tlsed law but is graduate ol
Georgetown Law School. and had
received the degree Of master ol
laws Secretary Cortelyou is now
engaged in preparing an estimate OF
expenses for the new departmen nj
and it is understood that he will rec
ommend that an appropriation be
made at this session of Congress
for a bullilng for the accommoda
ton of his department.
No answer has been received tc
the cablegram of attorney General
Knox accepting the offer OF thu
Panama Canal Company, subject tt
the ratification Of the treaty which
has been signed by representative
of the United States and Of Colon
bla. 1t is known, however, ,ha
correspondence by cable has beer
in progress betwe en- the directors 0
the French company and their lega
representatives III Washington an
that the former are dispored to re
jsct Mr.. Knox's offer unless som
definite date Is set for the acceptanc
of the offer. 1t ls alleged that th
French company is under constar
expense in maintaining the work a
ready performed on the canal an
has moreover force of men el
gagged on the isthmus and the dire
, tors think the United States shou
make some provision for reimbul
. ling them for such .espense as tn
may incur afler the expiration
the present option. 1t is also claim
it that certain European capitalists :
It prepared tQnfarnish the fands