The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-08
IS WILLIS ON BOARD
RumOr i'm Washington that the
Minister Is on the COrwin.
Republicans Caucus and Discuss the
Question of Impeachment Proceed
ings Against Cleveland.
SECRETARY GRESHAM is MUM
Futile Efforts to Get News from
the Last Hawaiian Steamer.
Great Mystery Surro unding the At
tempt to Kept Secret News from Hon.
Olulu-Cleyeland Criticised.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7.-There is a wild
rumor here tonight which cannot be traced
TO any reliable source that Minister Willis
is aboard the Corwin and that he was given
his passports by the provisional government
of Hawaii. The rumor is received with no
credence here and State Department Of
fcials characterize 1t as fabrication.
A conference was held this afternoon at
which a number Of prominent Republicans
were present to decide. if possible. a course
OF proceedings by that party in Congress
on the Hawaiian question, due to the latest
advices from Honolulu giving the action of
Minister Willis in which he called upon the
provisional government to surrender. 1t is
understood that some very radical views
were given expression TO and that the
question of the impeachment OF President
Cleveland for his course was brought up.
This course, however was not seriously
considered by any one, and the cooler head
ed members advocated a conservative stand
and their views finally prevailed. They
argued that it would be much wiser for the
Republicans to wait al day or so until
absolute and definite information was re-
ceived from Hawaii, which would probably
be not later than next Wednesday.
The conference finally adjourned without
taking any definite action except to agree
that there should be no concerted movement
for tna present Under the present condi-
ton in the House it would be impossible
for impeachment proceedings to be begun
at this time. Speaker Crisp has decided
that nothing is in order until a decision is
reached regarding the order brought in
from the committee rules for the con-
sideration of the Wilson bill. Impeachment
proceedings must originate in the House.
and, therefore, 1t would seem that this
course must be blocked until the question
now before the House is decided.
Secretary Gresham was seen at a late
hour tonight and stated that there was
absolutely nothing to be given out on the
Hawaiian question, and that there would
not be until the arrival of the mail advices
This would seem 10 controYert the theory
that the President intends to send a special
message to Congress tomorrow on the
Hawaiian question, including the corre-
spondence received from the Corwin-
Z y understood nov, that the dispatches
obtained are rather meager, and that the
administration prefers TO wait for full ad-
vices before making anything public,
There is a feeling of much expectancy
on the Hawaiian question and Congressman
familiar with the subject say they would
not be surprised If President Cleveland sent
another Hawaiian message to Congress to-
morrow. Should the President adopt this
course Congress and the public will receive
official information within a few hours
ahead of the arrival of steamers at San
Francisco and Vancouver, bringing full in
formation of Minister Wiliss latest move.
\ steamer left Honolulu on Jan. for Van
couver, and, allowing eight days for her
voyage she will be in on Tuesday. The
City of Picking also left Honolulu on Jan. 2
for San Francisco, and although she sailed
later her trip is shorter and she will also
be due by Tuesday. The information brought
by the revenue cutter Corwin cannot there
fore be kept secret much longer, as the
two steamers will bring all except the pure
ly official information 1t is for this
son that members OF Congress are counting
on another Hawaiian message tomorrow
as they say the President and Secretary
Gresham will probably prefer to advise
Congress and the public as TO the situation
rather than have the news made public
through the incoming steamers