The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-02-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)

ate, III is DelleVed that o compromise
on the Statehood bill will be effected
and will be followed by the ratifica-
tion Of the Panama Canal treaty.
The details Of the compromise have
not been made public but your corre-
spondent is in position to say that
it will be on the basis of the "two
state" bill previously proposed with
some notifications providing for sep
arate statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico when they shall have fulfilled
certain prescribed conditions. This
arrangement has received the sane
tion of Senators Quay, Elkins and
Gallinger, all Of whom are for State
hood, and only the attitude of the
Democrats remain to be ascertained.
The President has advised various
members Of the Senate that in the
event Of either of the treaties failing
Of ratification he will call an extra
session Of the Senate. 1t had been
supposed that with the antitrust
program completed and the Alaskan
and Panama treaties ratified Mr..
Roosevelt would be satisfied 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 ezra session Of the Senate is
considered almost inevitable but it is
believed it will be Of short duration.
The House has been devoting it's
attention chiefly to appropriation
bills and has passed a majority of the
regular measures. Leading members
say that they could complete all the
remaining essential business in
period even more brief than that re-
naming to this Congress. The Fow-
ler currency bill has been made the
regular order and Mr.. Fowler tells
your correspondent that he believes
it will pass both Houses but he is the
only Representative thus far found
who holds that opinion. 1t is gener-
ally believed that the Aldrich bill
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 par
ticipated in by Mr.. George B. Cortel-
you, who has been sworn in as Secre-
tary OF Commerce and Labor, his ac-
cession adding one more to the law
yers 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 Cortel-
you is now engaged in preparing an
estimate Of expenses for the new de-
partment and it is understood that
he will recommend that all appropri-
| alton be made at this session of Con-
gress for building for the accommo-
dation Of this department.
| No answer has been received to the
cablegram Of Attorney General Knox
accepting the offer Of the Panama
Canal Company, subject to the rati-
| fication Of the treaty which has been
signed by representatives of the
United States and of Colombia. 1t
is known, however, that correspond
ence by cable has been in progress
between the directors Of the French
company and their legal represeta-
tives in Washington and that the
former are disposed to reject Mr..
knoX's offer unless some definite
date is set for the acceptance to the
offer. 1t is alleged that the French
company is under constant expense
in maintaining the work already per-
formed on the canal and has more
over force OF men engaged on the
| isthmus and the directors think the
United States should make some pro-
vision for reimbursing 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 tho canal
if the United States fails to effect it's
purchase.
The President and Mrs, Roosevelt
are both suffering from i'll health al
though in neither instance is it be-
lieved that their indisposition is seri-