The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-04-28
the NATIONAL CAPITAL.
EnaIand's Flag Floating on Historic
Pacific Isles.

Pactfic Isles.
WASHINGTON, April 25.-John Bulls mo.
tive in recently hoisting his colors on three
little islands in the Pacific lying about mid
way between the Sandwich and the Society
groups, still remains matter of mystery, OF
at least of conjecture. TIE first suppositior
was that, having observed that Germany il
poking about into every part of the Pacific
and appropriating every unclaimed island she
can lay hands on, the British government
had concluded to make perfectly sure Of
these three, lest their political status should
be thought doubtful. Hence the war vesse
Caroline was sent from Honolulu for thai
purpose. Since then it has been suggested
that the real object was to make them stations
on the route of the submarine cable will
which Great Britain is planning to connect
British Columbia and Australia. Still ano'
ther supposition is that the formal act Of
raising the flag has been executed simply al
the request of a London company which oc'
cupies these and other islands for various
purposes, and likes to make sure of officia
protection for its operations.
The region in which these islands are stu.
enterprise have been conspicuous. RAINING
Island takes its name from a Connecticut
captain who discovered it long ago. Fol
more thau thirty years the British ownership
of Tanning Island has been conceded, ano
geographers have definitely assigned 1t TO the
British government, so that the alleged ac.
tion of the Caroline in raising her nag over
this spot was quite superfiuous.
Penrhyn and Christmas are the Other
islands and Great Britain's claim to them
q . aI.fs fA eli =
mas Island that was investigated by oui
state department nine years ago, when 1t was
found to have been discovered by Captain
Cook, of famous memory.
The upshot of the whole matter seems to
be that whether Great Britain wants those
merely renews her rights formally for conf
mercal purposes, nobody will contest their
possession. Enormous Quantities OF phos-
pilates have been taken from islands in this
part of the, Pacific by American companies,
under our laws, and great numbers OF labor
ers from the Hawaiian Islands have been EN-
ployed by them in this business; but the
three islands in question have not been the
scene of these operations.
Revising Bad Arrangement.
The Postmaster General today completed
arrangements with the Postmaster General
of Canada, establishing a uniform rate OF
postage of one cent per ounce on all mer-
chandize, including grain, seed, cuttings,
bulbs, scions and gratis, and one cent per
two ounces of printed matter, in the mails
exchanged between the two countries, now
known as third class matter in the domestic
mails of this country. The arrangement
goes into effect May l, and removes the oD-
iectons to the recent postal convention with
Canada, which went into effect March 1.
The Presidents Callers.
There was an unusually large attendance
at the Presidents reception this afternoon
Included were the delegates to a religious
convention, the Boston base ball team, many
of the ballet of the "Mazulum" troupe and
most of the chorus of a French opera com
pany. A religious crank who Informed the
ushers that he was ''owned by God and the
Bible" was denied admittance
The Pension List.
The following Maine pensions were grant
ed today
ORIGINAL, INVALID.
John McKimer, navy Castine.
Manley s. Tyler, Blanchard
Pilip NJ. Mahoney, Hope.
INCREASE.
Henry L. Thomas Sangerve.
Hutchings S. Cunningham, Newcastle
m REISSUE.
Hiram WormeIl Waterville.
REISSUE AND INCREASE.
William Hamilton, Unity.
Philander b. Merry, New Portland.
Notes.
Monroe Peabody was today appointed post
master of Canton, Oxford county, Maine,
vice Alvarado Hayford. removed.
Mr.. Dunn, of Arkansas, from the commit
tee on merchant marine and fisheries, report
ed, and the House adopted resolution call
ing on the secretary of the treasury Tor in
formation relative to the seal fisheries in
Alaska.
General Greely, chief signal officer, said to-
day that he made thorough investigation OF
the case of Sergeant Sherman. signal service
officer at New Haven, Conn.,, charged with
making immoral photographs, and that he
had decided to relieve Sherman from duty at
New Haven. Sherman win probably be dis
missed.
OF Senator Sherman's tariff speech 100000
copies have been distributed and OF Senator
Frye's, 100000.
The Senate committee on finance has not
come to any vote upon the House fractional
currency BILL but it is the conclusion OF mem-
bers of the committee from the discussion
which has already been had that the. vote
when taken win be in favor of an adverse
report.