Items of Interest December 27, 1900 Issue

Items of Interest

The Hay-Pauncefote treaty was ratified by the Senate on December 20, by a vote of 55 to 18. It was first amended by inserting a sentence giving the United States more latitude in the matter of defending the canal, by making it "supersede" the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and by striking out that part of the clause providing that the United States and Great Britain invite the other powers to adhere to the treaty. All other amendments were voted down. Administration leaders in the Senate believe that the amended form of the treaty will not be objected to by the government of Great Britain, and they hope for its acceptance. If rejected by Great Britain, it is stated that the United States will denounce the Clayton-Bulwer treaty and proceed with legislation looking to the construction of the canal.

The Veterans' Preference bill was defeated in the lower house of Congress last week by a vote of 105 to 51. The bill had the endorsement of all the G. A. R. posts in the country. It provided for giving preference, in appointments in the executive departments of the government, to honorably discharged soldiers of the Civil war, Spanish war, and of the war in the Philippines. It was opposed on the ground that it would build up a military caste.

The naval board of construction met on December 18 and decided on the awards for building the new battleships and cruisers now provided for. The decision arrived at was to give one battleship and two armored cruisers to the Cramps, two cruisers to the Union Iron Works, two battleships to the Fore River Engine Company, one battleship and two cruisers to the Newport News Ship Building Company, and one battleship to the Bath Iron Works.

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