Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-01-04
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. J


1t is economy in appropriations. ln or
der to attain that end every effort Will
be made to confne legislation to matters
of pressing importance only, and to BRING
the session to a close as early as possible.
Some day early in June will probably
see the end of the first regular session OF
the 5sth Congress. 1t is likely that
little will be accomplished on the floor
of either House or Senate this week, but
there will be considerable activity in the
committees. Criticism and defense Of
the administration attitude towards
Panama is expected to occupy the greater
part of the time of both House and SEN
ate during the week. Resolutions call
ing for Information on this subject will
be the reason for this discussion in the
Senate. while in House the Panama
affair will be talked about be-
cause there is no other subject up.
Senators Lodge and McComas are booked
for speeches in defence of the admins
tration in connection with the Panama
situation. Mr.. Lodge will speak to-
morrow and will be followed by other
Senators in opposition. The question
of confirming the nomination OF General
Wood will not be taken up in the Senate
as a whole until January Is. The Pan
anna canal treaty will be taken up in the
Senate committee on foreign relations
this week. The indications now are
that the final vote on the treaty can
hardly be taken before the latter part
of March. The intention of the demo-
Gratis is to criticize the administration
for having a warship put at Colon at the
time of the revolution and for its haste
in recognizing the new republic, but
many of them will finally vote for the
treaty so that its ratification is practl-
cally assured. The case of Senator
Smoot. of Utah, will come up in the
Senate committee on privileges and cleo.
tons next Saturday and it is expected
that on that day Mr.. Smoot will submit
his reply to the charges that have been
made against him.
President Roosevelt sent to Congress
today message containing statement
of his action up to this time in executing
the act entitled "An act to provide for
the construction Of canal connectingthe
waters of the Atlantic aud Pacific
oceans" approved June %, 1902.
The President is profnsein his quotations,
some being from Secretary Cass, the Hay
Pauncefote treaty, newspapers, reports OF
naval commanders and extracts from his
former messages, and his deduction is
that the canal should be built The
time for delay, the time for permitting
the attempt to be made by private enter
prise, the time fer permitting any gov
eminent of anti-social spirit and of i'm
perfect development to bar the work, was
past. The United States had assumed IN
connection with the canal certain re-
sponsibilties not only to its own people,
but to the civilized world, which impera-
lively demanded that there should no
longe be delay in beginning the work. "
The President further on says Chat the
canal itself was eagerly demanded by the
people Of the locality through which it
was to pass, and that the people OF this
locality no less eagerly longed for Its
construction under American control,
are shown by the unanimity of action in
the new Panama Republic. Furthermore,
Colombia, after having rejected the treaty
in spite of our protests and warnings
when it was in her power to accept it,
has since shown the utmost eagerness to
accept the same treaty if only the status
quo should be restored" The President
lives an exhaustive history OF the canal
negotiations up~to and including the
secession of Panama from Colombia.
The Presidents message was not read
in the House. La the Senate 1T was SUB
mitted. read and attentiyely followed.
The correspondence sent to Congress
TODAY contains notes exchanged between
General Reyes of Colombia and the Sec
retary of State concerning the United
States governments attitude toward the
Republic of Panama also note from
the Panama Minister, stating that it was
the purpose of his government, as soon
as Colombia had recognized its indepen-
dence, to assume portion OF the exterior
debt of Colombia, and further note
from him in regard to the method
of the payment Of the 100000
600 stipulated in the canal treaty.
Under date of December s, Gen. Reyes,
from this city, announces that he had
received from his government instruc-
tons to inquire what attitude would be
assumed by the government OF the United
States in the event that Colombia would
attempt landing of Colombian troops
for the defense and sovereignty of Col
ombia, under the provisions of the
treaty of 1916. In an answer under
date of December 18th, Secretary of
Stste Hay announces that he was
directed by the President to call the
attention of the Colombian govern
ment to the fact that Panamas
independence had been proclaimed No
vember Sd; that in consequence its in
dependence had been recognized by the
United States and other governments !;
that a treaty signed by the governments
of the United States and Panama and
now awaiting ratification, guarantees
maintenance of the new republic; and
that while the treaty had not yet
become law, already inchoate rights
and duties placed this responsibility
upon the United States. In conclusion
the Secretary wrote "The government
of the United States would regard with
the gravest concern any invasion OF the