The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-21
OF the period covered by the CORES.
pondence TO March, 1899.
LETTERS MIssING

COMMITTEES on foreign affairs state tina
ne mas Deen informed at the state de
partment that two letters sent by
Dlalne 10 Stevens are missing and i
ae!ays the Hawaiian correspondent
Delng sent to the senate. 1t is said tn,
department. wants the letters as il i,
oelleved In them Stevens was instruct
ed to favor the annexation sentiment
The statement is denied at the state
department. To the letters from Stew
ems it is said there was no RESPONSE
rom the secretary of state in the rec
ords at any time. 1t is claimed also
Ghat these dispatches from Stevens can
De relied upon to show that he had an
understanding with the leaders of the
provisional government months before
the revolution.
FROM HONOLULU.
The following dispatch was received
by the navy department today:
HONOLULU, Dec. 4.-The provisional
government has 1000 men under arms.
The police is prepared for defense.
(Signed) IRWIN.
No information can be secured from
the White House or the state depart
menG as to the probable time of send
ing to the senate the Hawaiian papers
called for.
FROM RIO.
The navy department. received the
following dispatch today:
RIO DE JANEIRIo, Dec. 13.-Consul
Berke at Pernambuco wants a vessel
as precautionary measure, martial
law having been declared, but all is
quiet.
(Signed) PICKING.
The state department received the
following from Captain Picking:
RIO DE JANERIO, Dec. 13.-Copas
Island and Enchadas are in possession
of Admiral di Gami, the insurgent
commandant. The former is we'll for
titled and continually firing upon the
custom house and naval arsenal with
small arms.
THE BLAND BILL.
The house committee on coinage,
weights and measures has postponed
all consideration of the Bland bill I'M
til the second Thursday in January.
Mr.. Bland asked to have a time
fixed for taking vote. Mr.. Kilgore
of Texas said that he was free coin
age man and wanted to do all he
could, but was not anxious to make
any better record than he had. This
hint that the bill was being pressed
for record caused Mr.. Bland to say
that if there was any opposition among
free coinage men he would not pretend
to press it and the bill was then post
poned.
ANTI OPTION BILL.
Representative Hatch will probably
introduce an anti-option bill this after
noon or tomorrow. The bill will be
practically the same measure as passed
the senate of the Fifty-second con-
gress, except that some rates of taxa
ton may be reduced in order that it
will not be prohibitive measure, but
plainly revenue bill.
SILVER CONFERENCE.
Prominent silver leaders of the
country meet here Friday for two
days conference. 1t is proposed to
raise a large fund and devise means for
electing a silver majority to the Fifty
fourth congress.
THE ADY CONTEST.
The contest of Joseph W. Ady for
seat in the senate occupied by Martin
lKan.), was taken up by the senate
on privileges and elections
today.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The ways and means committee this
evening ordered the new tariff bill re-
ported to the house Tuesday. Tues
day morning the majority will submit
to the Republican members copies of
it's report. The bill completed is the
customs portion only. The time of it's
in the house has not
been determined upon, but may not
possibly be reached before the holt
days. The internal revenue features
are now in such shape that it is nee
essary for majority of the members
to consider the bill before further pro
gress can be made. That is the ma
jority must determine whether the in
come tax will be special or general.
The cigarette schedule of the customs
bill was increased today for the pur-
pose of allowing an increase of inter.
nal revenue tax on cigarettes. 1t is
thought the increase will yield about
81 10000 revenue from this source.
The internal revenue. tax on cigar.
ettes was raised to $3.50 per pound, to
take effect July, 1893.
PENSION DECISIONS.
Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Reynolds decided that the act prohib-
ting payment OF pensions to non-resi-
dents Of the United States, except for
actual service disabilities, applies to
widows who are nonresident aliens;
that where a soldier dies leaving a
legally divorced wife and minor chill
dren over 16 years old, his mother oc
cnpies the pensionable status; that
where an invalid pensioner dies leav-
ing no increase or rerating claim pend.
ing, the widow cannot file an original
claim for rerating the dead husbands
pension; also that the commissioner of
pensions has no authority to change
the terms of q contract for pension
fees where contracts are in
accordance with law.
ADvICES FROM WILLIS.
The state department today re-
,eived advlces from Minister Willis via !
The steamer Oceanic at San Francisco.
r. ia understood the adViceS contained |