St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-17
Who PAYS The BILL?
The New Orleans Lynehing
Agitates Diplomatic
Circles.
A Demand for Indemnity Will
Be Made by Italian Of
fieials.
The Malta Said to Be an Actu-
ality in the City Of New
Orleans.
DiCfri0f Aff0pr,axr u1o~L--o.
District Attorney Luzenburg
Talks Of the Confession
Of PolitZ.

WASHINGTON, March 16.-No further
action Will be taken by the federal au-
thorltles at Washington in regard to the
shooting of the Italians at New Orleans
until after the receipt of Gov. Nichols
reply to Secretary Blaine's telegram,
stating the position of the government
IN the matter. 1t was stated by officials
OF the department of justice and the
war department in explanation of why
the government had taken no steps to
prevent mob violence, that the federal
authorities are pOwerless to act in cases
OF disorders in the states except when
called upon for aid by the state author
tues or when necessary for the special
protection OF government property.
Neither of these contingencies arose
at New Orleans. The governor
did not ask for assistance and
the public buildings at New
Orleans were at no time in any danger
from the mob. These statements indi-
cate clearly that up to the time of the
killing of the suspected murderers the
case was wholly beyond the scope of
federal action. The fact, however, that
several OF the men killed were subjects
or Italy, ana the further fact that
The Italian Government
has made formal demand for an inyesti-
CATION, has given the case an aspect
calling for diplomatic negotiations.
State department officials find some
dlfhculty i'll acting on this case for the
reason that that it is entirely without
precedent in the diplomatic annals of
the country. 1t is settled, however,
that no further steps will be taken
until all the circumstances lead
ing TO and surrounding the
case shall have been officially
communicated. Secretary Blaine re-
fuses absolutely to discuss the matter.
he mas received number of kilograms
from Italian organizations in different
parts of the country protesting against
what they term IAN outrage" and de-
manding that all Italian citizens of the
United States be properly protected
against violence and race prejudice.
The matter is almost the sole topic of
conversation III diplomatic circles, and.
SO tar as can be ascertained, the general
opinion IS that the state of Louisiana,
and not the United states, must be held
responsible. A demand for indemnity
would of course come from the Italian
government through its minister resi-
of state to the
Governor OF Louisiana
and If repuGiated by that staue would
be submitted to congress for such ac-
ton as might be deemed advisable. An
official of the state department in speak
ing OF the occurrence to-day, said that
the government would have to do all in
its power to satisfy Italy that the rights
OF her citizens IN this country would be
protected. The action of the president
IN communication with the governor of
Louisiana asking for information on the
subject, was the only thing to be done
until reply from the governor had
been received. A thorough inyestiga-
ton Of the matter would. of course. be
made, and after that congress would
have to be called upon for action, the
state department having no money to
pay lndemnltleS or anything of that sort.
whether 1t is a case for money
indemnity would be for congress, and
not the state department to decide.
Whatever indemnity there should be
for those of the killed who were citizens
OF the United States, Louisiana would
be responsible for to their families. but
any responsibility for those who were
citizens OF foreign country that there
might be would fall upon the United
States. Representative McCreary, Tor
merly chairman of the foreign affairs
committee of the house, said that the
state department had no money it could
spend i'll the case. and that it was diff
cult to tell just what it could do. The
department would have to await the re-
ply of Gov. Nichols to the commupica-
ton from the secretary and make such
further investigation of the matter as it
could. Then the secretary would prob
ably have to report to congress for such
action as that body thought proper.