The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-01-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington. Jar uarv IS. 1904

week nave been occupied WltH d AobS
and at times, vehement, debate on the
Panama treaty, Senators Spooner, Gar
mack, Newlands Depew, Tillman, and
others, engaging in the controversy.
Each side claims that the other is
partisan, and both deny the charge.
The democrats maintain that interven-
tion by the president before the revo-
luton was an act of war against Co.
lombia; that he is now provoking war
for political purposes; that he entered
by military force and unlimited into
the territorial jurisdiction of Colon
bia; that he sent instructions to naval
officers at Colon and Panama to pre-
vent the landing of Colombian troops
on her own soil; that he encouraged
the revolutionists in their acts of
secession that the revolution was a
sham. and the new republic holds to-
gether only by the outside support
given. by the president; that Panama
has no organized government, and the
people have never voted upon a con-
stitution; that the constitution of the
United States has been set aside and
international law disregarded; that
the president disobeyed the plain re-
quirements Of the Spooner act; and
that when he found he could not ne
gotiate treaty with Colombia it was
his duty to turn to Nicaragua.
In reply the republicans assert that
hn LoI b. a.
the revolution; that the administra-
tion will try to avoid war and does not
contemplate it; that he promptly sent
forces to the istbmus to guard the
transit and protect American interests
that he is abundantly supported by
international law and has obeyed the
constitution; that congress marked
out the Panama route as the one of it's
choice, Oh the ground that it is the
only place where sea-level canal can
be built; that it was left to the presi-
dent to say what was reasonable"
time in which to conclude a treaty
with Colombia; that it was purely a
matter of Judgment and state policy
on his part when he should recognize
the new republic; that all these facts
are matters of history, and the Incl
dent is closed.
The unexpected strength for Mr..
Hearst, as a presidential candidate,
which became apparent in Washing
ton at the meeting of the national
democratic committee, is given as the
reason why st. Louis was chosen for
the convention in place of Chicago.
But Mr.. Hearst is alert and will at
once establish daily paper in the ex-
|hibition city.
An unexpected and vigorous attack
upon the present civil service system
was made in the house on the 18th
inst, when vote was obtained to
strike out the appropriation for the
payment of the salaries of the civil
service commissioners. Representa-
tive Hepburn of Iowa led the attack,
and was seconded by Gen. Grosvenor
of Ohio. Mr.. Hepburn would make
the heads of departments sole judges
of fitness for appointment, and give
them the power of dismissal. AS
matters now stand the civil service law
provides no permanency of tenure.
On the 18th inst. the house reconsider
ed its vote and the appropriation
stands.
There is still much excitement in
the departments among the clerks be-
cause they are required to work seven
hours out of twenty-four. Pension
Commissioner Ware issued the follow
ground: "Let us faithfully carry
out the 80 order of the department..
The taxpayer on the outside is work
ing from to 16 hours day.
Among the subjects presented to
congress for consideration are the fol- |
lowing: A reorganization of the vol
unteer naval forces; an investigation |
of the ship subsidy plan; new SER
vice pension bill, which proposes to |
give all honorably discharged soldiers
who served 80 days, and having reach |
ed 60 years of age, the sum of $12 per
month; scheme of promotion in the
army by selection as recommended in
the president s message; and bill for
the admission of the territories as
states. |
1t has been decided in congress that
too many private carriages are sup
ported in Washington out of govern
ment appropriations. Representative
Lands said that if they were lined up
on Pennsylvania avenue they would
extend from the capitol to the white
house. The head of one of the de-
partments sent in an estimate for
seven coachmen. The house adopted
an amendment providing that only
the president, the heads of executive
departments and the secretary to the
president should have carriages at the
public expense.
The resolutions making for the
peace Of the world, which were
adopted by the national arbitration
congress, have been presented to the
president, who approved of them and
agreed to do all in his power to pro-
mote the object they have in view.
A committee also presented them to
congress, where they met with most
favorable reception, and in the house
some forty members at once organized
a peace league in favor of information
al arbitration.
The president gave his second state
on the 14ht inst, in honor of
the foreign ambassadors and ministers
Covers were laid for 78 guests, and the
table was ornamented with orchids
and white hyacinths. Twenty mine
foreign countries we're represented. A
of senators were present.
The Russian New Yaar,s dav nc-