Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1907-02-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Urom Our Regular Correspondent
Washington d. c.. Feb. II, 1907.
An appeal has been made to Presi-
dent Roosevelt by the Society Of
Friends Of Philadelphia for the es-
tablishment OF a permanent arbi-
tratlon congress with the consent
and cooperation OF the other nations
Of the world. This plan Is not so
visionary and emotional as a good
many Of the plans put forward by
international arbitration exponents.
1t recognizes the excellent work
that has already been done by the
Hague tribunal and does not propose
to supplant that institution but
rather to supplement it's work by
creating an international congress
from which would emanate code
Of international law.
International law as now under
stood is somewhat hazy system.
It Is based entirely upon precedent
and is interpreted variously accord
ing as suits the convenience Of nat
ions dealing with it. The plan sub
mitted to the President provides for
an international congress TO meet at
stated intervals with duly accred-
tied representatives from the vari-
Gus adhering governments and en-
powers this congress to work out a
ixed and definite international code
which could be applied In practice
before the Hague tribunal whenever
occasion arose President Roosevelt
has expressed himself as heartily In
favor Of the plan and has already
laid the papers il the case before
Secretary Root with a request that
he sound the various foreign gov
ernments on the subject and II pos
sible formulate treaty which II
would be agreeable for all Of them to
sign.
-
Speaking Of treaties the extra SEES
sion discussion has now assumed
the phase where IL Is definitely an
nounced in good MANY papers that
an extra session will be called after
the 4tb OF March at which the Japan
ese school question with it's result
ing Japanese treaty. the Santo Dom
lingo treaty and currency reform may
all be calmly and liestrely discussed
and disposed Of wIthoutfuss or hurry.
How correct this forecast will prove
can be .told better after the 4th OF
March. 1t isquite certain that there
can be no serious attempt to consider
the Santo Domingo treaty at the pre-
sent session. The Japanese situa.
ton Is 10 such shape that the Pre-
sident and the State Department
probably would rather have Con.
gress out Of the way while the de-
tails we're being settled Treaties,
Of course, are always discussed In
executive session and equally, OF
course, the reports Of these discus
sions are printed 10 the next issue
Of the newspapers to the inconveni-
ence OF the State Department and the
pleasure OF such senator's as have
anything to gain by mnddying the
waters Of diplomacy, The nego-
tiations between this government
and that OF Japan are now 10 such
shape that treaty can very probab-
ly be framed that will meet the ideas
of both governments and eventually
get through the Senate. But Il
will take several weeks more Of de-
liberation and negotiation before
tnls solution Is definitely reached.
Without even division the House
this week passed bill modifying
the denatured alcohol act In su ch q
way as is thought will make il more
to the advantage Of the farmers. II
is little remarkable that with eli
the fuss made In anticipation OF the
passage OF the free alcohol bill moth
ing ct all should have come Of 1t up
TO date. It was predicted that the
act would be the most benefcent
piece of legislation ever passed for
the oppressed and down trodden
farmr, and that IL would enable him
to use up all the surplus farm sup.
plies even to the weeds 10 the fence
corners for making denatured ALEC.
hol from which he could obtain heat,
light and power But since the free
alcohol bill has passed il has been
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