Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-16
THE FLAG FLOATED
President Cleveland Again at Work
at the White House.
4 CONFERENCE WITHSECRErARY OLNEY
The Venezue an and Other Oues-
tions Were Discussed.
THE UTAH COMMISSION

The American flag fioated over the White
House today for the first time since the
9th instant when the President uneypect-
edly departed on his hunting expedition to
the sounds of North Carolina The reap
pearance of the national colors indicated
that the chief executive. had resumed pub
lie business al his official residence. One
result of the signal was to cause a rash
OF visitors to the mansion. the majority OF
whom were strangers viewing the sights
who focked there In the hope that they
might have the honor Of shaking hands
with the President. There was, however,
entirely too much business for the Presi-
dent to transact to admit of bis holding a
public reception today, no natter how
short A number of Congressman called,
but the President was able to see only a
few of them. Three members of his cab
met called during the forenoon and engaged
Ets attention nearly the entiIe morning.
These were Secretaries Olney and Herbert
and Postmaster General Wilson. The prin-
cipal visit was that of the Secretary Of
state, who called early and was closeted
With the President for several hours They
discussed the status of the various for
eign complications referred to III the Presi-
dents message to Congress. especially the
The Venezuelan Question.
The Venezuelan question came in for the
principal share of attention, with special
reference to the next move to be made by
this government in consequence of the
declination of the British government to
accept the proposition for the submission
of its boundary dispute with Venezuela to
arbitration. The consultation between the
r MA ~,
tlnuauon of conference held at the White
House last night, in which the President,
Secretary Olney and Secretary Lamont
took part. The considerable of the gen.
eral question includes also the advisability
OF submitting the matter to the eonsidera-
tion of Congress before or after the Christ
mas recess.
regular meeting of the cabinet will be
held tomorrow, and it is possible that some
action will then be taken that may be
communicated TO the public. Although IL
may be decided to send the full correspon-
dence to Congress during the present week,
the impression is strong that this course
will be deferred until after the Christmas
holidays.
Why the President Delays.
The failure of the Speaker to announce
the House committees. is one of the rea-
sons given for the continued suppression OF
the important diplomatic notes that have
passed between Secretary OlEey and Lord
Salisbury since July last. when tie admin
istration officially rot!fied the British gov
ernment of its great interest in the peace
full settlement of the Guiana boundary dis
pute The ccrresncndeT ce has been ready
for transmission for. the past two weeks
and can be sent in at a moments notice
from the President. If IL does not go in
until Congress reassemtle' in January Il
will probably be because the Pres dent de-
sires to write special message the
subject or in order to include in 1t note
Secretary Olney is said to be preparing
in reply to the arguments advanced by
Lord Salisbury for declining to submit the
question of the jurisdiction Of the territory
within the Schomburg line TO arbitration~ .
If it is true that this latter course has
been determined Upon it will probably be
late in January before the correspondence
will be sent to Congress, as ii would be a
manifest discourtesy to Lord Salisbury to
give out Secretary Olney's letter to him in
advance of its receipt
The Waller Case.
One of the matters considered by the
President and his premier today was the
Waller case. Congress has called for the
correspondence in regard to this incident
and it has been prepared for transmission.
The prospects are that it will go in before
the end of the week unless the President
desires TO make 1t the subject of a special
message.
The Utah Com mfssiOn.
At noon today the President gave spe-
ciaI audience to the members of the Utah
commission, appointed to deliver into his
hands a certified copy OF the constitution
of the new state. together with certified
statement of the vote by which it was
ratified. The commission consists of
Messrs Jerrold r. Letcher and Hoyt Sher-
man, ir., of Salt Lake City. They were
accompanied by Governor Caleb w. West
and Delegate Frank J. Cannon. The con-
stitution is beautifully engrossed and is
contained in a gold-embossed portfolio Of
morocco. The title page reads: Copy of
the constitution of the state OF Utah, adopt
ed in convention May 8, AID. 1875: ratified
November 3, AID. 1885,. The first para
graph says: Grateful to Almighty God
for life and liberty, we, the people of Utah,
in order to secure and perpetuate the prin-
ciples of free government, do ordain and
establish this constitution"
Brief Ceremony.
There We're no set speeches, and the
ceremony was brief and formal. Mr..
Letcher handed the documents to the
Pre- esident with a brief statement of their
character, and expressed the hope that he
would find it convenient to issue the proc
lamation admitting Utah to the Union of
states without much delay. The constitu-
ton will be referred to the Attorney Cen
eral for examination TO see that IT meets
all the requirements of the act under
which it was prepared, and also that ii is
in strict accord with the terms of the
federal Constitution. An effort will be
made to have the new state admitted to
the Union on New Year day. When the
President issues is proclamation the Utah
legislature will be called together in spe-
cial session to make laws for the state un-
der the constitution n nd to elect two Sem
atcrs to the United States Senate.