The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-08-09


claims for desert lands; granting the
Arkansas, Texas and Mexican Central
railroad right OF way through the In'
dian Territory; TO authorize COM
nromise and settlement with Kansas;
70 extend the life saving crews the
benefit of the marine hospitals; for a
branch over the South Canadian river
at Lexington, Okla,
DAMAGES FOR sEALERs.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-Some time
since secretary Gresham submitted to
the senate committee on foreign re-
Iatlons a proposition to settle the
damages to Canadian sealers which
were seized by the United States yes
sels previous to the Paris arbitration.
The amount of damage will have to
be ascertained and the only question
involved ia the means in which 1t is to
he accomplished. 1t is probable that
a hoard will be created which will be
com nOsed of commissioners of both the
United States and Great Britain, 1t Is
pogsible that certain officers already
in the diplomatic service of both
countries may be designated to act.
Each person claiming damages py
reason of seizure, will be allowed to
present his claim and submit evidence
in support of it. The United States
government, through the department
of Justice, will lay before the board
any evidence tending to show the de-
fects of the claims and take such steps
as are necessary to prevent fraudulent
claims being assessed against the
Governments. 1t is expected that the
senate committee will report the de-
tails of a proposition of settlement and
it is probable that it will be adopted
before the end OF the session.
ASSESSING NEGRO CLERKS.
WASHINGTON, Aug, 6.-The civil
service commission has commenced
an investigation into the allegations
that colored government employees
are being blackmailed by the Afro
American bureau of organization OF
the Democratic congressional commit
tee. For some time complaints have
been received at the commission from
negro employees that the letters have
been sent to them requesting them to
call at the headquarters of the organ
ization, their object, it is stated to
solicit contributions for campaign
purposes. The clerks who received
these communications and Jailed to
respond, were communicated With
again and again, their attention
called to their failure to comply with
the request. The commission today
concluded to investigate the matter.
rbe complaining clerks name Chair
man G.. II. j. Taylor of Kansas, the
recorder Of deeds of the district, and
the treasurer, Robert Sill, as the
principal officials of the assessment
organization.
A POSTAL CONTROVERSY.
The speech OF preventative Lin
ton of Michigan on sectariap Indian
schools has brought out much CORES.
pondence with the postotfice depart
ment as to its circulation as q franked
document. Mr.. Linton recently re"
ceived word that the postmaster at
Footville, Wis, declined to receive
the speech on the ground that it was
sent in bulk and could not afterwards
be separated for mailing to individu-
ais, The congressman protested to
the third assistant postmaster gen.
eral, who directed the postmaster to
handle the speech on the ground that
it contained printed matter. This
matter appeared on the last page and
has the imprint of the printer and
label showing that union printers did
the work. Mr.. Linton protested to the
police department, citing the fact that
the speeches of many prominent SEN
ators and members were going
through the mails with the printers
imprint and the union label. He
also stated that in case his speech
was denied access to the mails he
would protest against the mailing of
speeches by Speaker Crisp and Chair
man Wilson bearing similar imprints.
AS result of the protest the depart
ment ordered the speech admitted to
the mail pending an investigation of
the alleged advertisement.
DEMOCRATIC CONFEREES.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.-When the
Democratic conference adjourned to-
day there seemed to be better feel
ing among the conferees than at the
close of the previous session. Mem
bers from both houses announced that
the co umittee had been working over
the schedules and that progress was
being maue, but they did not indicate
when report would be reached,
though some of the cOnferees ex.
pressed the opinion that an agreement
was in sight. For a considerable por.
tiun of the day the senator's were not
in the conference room, but it was
said that no significance was to be at.
tached to that fact as they
were working towards an agree
meht These senators occasionally
repaired to the committee room of
Senator Vest ard sometimes were in
consultation with the Democratic
managers in the room of the commit
tee on appropriations Considerable
surprise was expressed by the con-
ferees when they learned that cali
for house caucus had been issued,
and it evidently was very distasteiul
to the house members who had felt
that they were beginning to see an
agreement. Mr.. Montgomery said
that the caucus would make no differ.
ence so far as he was concerned, and
he would continue the work he was
engaged in unless some action very
different from that which he antici-
psted would be taken by the caucus
He said that while the caucus was in
progress the cOnferees would be at
work,