The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-25
Proposition to Grant Canadians Use
of Necl<er island Killed by the
Foreign Relations COMMITTEES.
REPORTS ON PEARL HARBOR
-FOUR HAWAIIAN RESOLUTIONS con-
SIDERED BY HOUSE COMMITTEE.
Questions that MIR. Crcmer, NJ r.,
Senate and House Yesterday.

WASHINGTON, JAN 24-An interesting
situation has arisen with respect TO the
proposition submitted by President Cleve-
land to the Senate for the modification of
the Hawaiian treaty so as TO allow Necker
Island of the Hawaiian group to be used
for a cable station by a Canadian company.
The proposition submitted is for legislation,
not in the form of new treaty of an
amendment to the present treaty, as this
would require two-thirds vote of the Sem
ate. The attitude of the Republicans
would make a new treaty or treaty
amendment impossible as the Senate is
now constituted. The proposition there
fore, has been brought forward in legisla-
tive form and in this shape discussed
in the committee on foreign relations. The
committee had resolution be-
fore it proposing to grant the
right to land the cable on Necker
Island. 1t was not supported by any of the
members and the motion to report the
proposition adversely was unanimously car
ried. Then the matter was deferred, as
Senator Cray was not present, and 1t was
thought probable that he might desire to
be heard, or submit minority report. If
the treaty is to be modified by legislation
it will require the concurrence of the House.
A majority of each House by legislation,
the courts have held, can modify or even
abrogate a treaty. .
Complying with resolution of the Sem
ate, the acting Secretary of the Navy sent
reports of the preliminary survey of Pearl
harbor, Hawaiian Islands. commenced last
April by Rear Admiral Irwin, then
manding the Pacific station, and completed
by Rear Admiral Walker, who succeeded
him. Rear Admiral Irwin submits that the
requirement of a naval station in the Ha-
waiian islands is necessary to give gov
eminent the command of the Pacific. Not
simply coalng station, but navy yard
is needed, and the positions commanding
the bar at Pearl harbor should be strongly
fortified and a perfect torpedo system
pleted The rear admiral submits report
made by Lieut.. c. A Adams, who says that
in his opinion from the experience in boring
and sounding in Pearl harbor, a dredge
could clear a channel through the bar, CIV
ing depth of thirty-one feet at low water
without any great difficulty The latter
ing channels have been much too great.
Rear Admiral Walker in his report to
the department dated June 81 last, says an
examination showed conclusively that there
is channel through the reef at Pearl ar
dredge can rapidly and cheaply open way
for the largest ships. The channel is prac-
tically straight, and the distance between
the walls of live coral is at no point less
than three hundred feet. The rear admiral
promised a further detailed report, Ae-
by Col. William NJ. Wood, submitting a
total of s105,000 as necessary to make cut
$50 feet wide through the bar, with depth
of thirty feet and to widen and deepen the
channel inside to thirty feet, and of $4,000
If the cut in the clear is two hundred feet
wide.
The four House resolutions evoked by the
recent Hawaiian disturbances, furnished
| food for an interesting half hour in the
| House committee on foreign affairs to-day
and hardly less significant discussion was
fr,cv, hxyf bo IF NJ
| the British member of Parliament, who is
here to forward the movement for interna-
| tional arbitration. The Hawaiian resolu-
| tions went into the hands of subcommittee
| without action them. When the commit
| tee met there were six Republicans and four
| Democrats present, and Mr.. Hit. the Re-
| publican leader, proposed that they proceed
| to consider the Hawaiian resolutions. The
proposition was opposed by Mr. Nc
| Creary the chairman of the committee.
bills at once was put and two Democrats
| having arrived the result was tie-6 to o.
Hit s5orer Blair nd Yam rorh5s sn OF New
| voting in the affirmative, and McCreary,
| Tucker, Money, Price. Everett and Dens-
| more Democrats, i'll the negative. There
| upon the committee referred the resolutions
| to subcommittee
| Mr.. Cremer addressed the committee in
| formally in support of the memorial which
| he recently presented to President Cleveland
| and was questioned concerning the scope of
| the DrOpGSlllOn anu the CidSSeS VI QucS-
| tions Great Britain would consent to arbi-
| trate One member asked him if such ques-
| tons as the Bering sea dispute were con-
| templated in his plan, and Mr.. Cremer said
| they were. This led to discussion of the
| Boring sea arbitration in which Mr.. Van
| Voorhis inquired if it was not generally
| understood in Europe that England got the
| greatest benefits from that arrangement.
| Mr. Cremer said he could not speak on that
| point Mr.. Hit having in mind the bound
| airy dispute between British Guinea and
| Venezuela, asked if England was prepared
| TO consent to an arbitration agreement with
| Venezuela and other small nations. Mr..
| Cremer was not authorized to answer that
! question