Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-12
IN FAVOR OF THE REBELS A Strong FriendIiness Exhibited
 for Them BY THE SENATE COMMITTEE Mr. Cleveland Left a Loophole in the Venezu-
 elan Matter. THE COMMISSIONERS HELD A MEETING All of the Time Was Taken Up in Discuss ing the Qualifications of Applicants for Clerical Positions-All the
 Members Were Present.
THE COMMISSIONERS HELD A MEETING

Washington, Jan. 1.-The senate com mittee on foreign relations held a special meeting this morning for the purpose of considering the Armenian and Cuban questions. There are more important matters before this committee this session than there have been in many years, ow- ing to many recent foreign complications.
 The committee adjourned at 1 o'clock. No conclusion was reached on any mat ter before the committee. The Vene- zuelan, Armenian and Cuban questions were discussed, and there was a free in terchange of views, but no effort was made to pass upon the subjects They were all referred to subcommittee, and no report therefore will be made to the senate until after the next meeting.
 The subcommittee was appointed and directed to prepare joint resolution set ting forth the Monroe doctrine before the whole committee. By an almost unani- nous vote 1t was decided that this doc Urine should receive the affirmation of congress.
 | The wording of the resolution will be reported to the full committee at the next meeting. MT. Gray was alone in his opposition to the resolution The dis cussion of the Venezuelan question brought out the fact that the loophole left in the presidents message sanction Ing any amicable settlement made be- tween the Venezuelan government and Great Britain by the cession of territory would be acquiesced in by the United States would be probably accepted by Great Britain as the best way out of the difficulty. This probable result of the diff ficulty was deplored, but the ground was taken that, inasmuch as the president had committed the United States to this policy in this particular case, we could . not protest. The Monroe doctrine, as 1t will be affirmed by congress, however, will, it Is said, repudiate any such acqui- stion of territory in the future. The re- port has gained credence that the British government either has, or will in the near future, make an offer of 100000 for the territory claimed by Great Britain and disputed by Venezuela.
 2Cuban affairs have been placed in the
 hands of subcommittee consist ing of Senators Sherman, Lodge and Morgan.
 A netting of this subcommittee will be held in few days and the whole matter carefully considered. The sem timent of the committee is practically unanimous in favor of helping the insur- gents. As one member of the committee subsequently, remarked, there was a strong friendliness exhibited for the cause of the "rebels."
 The sentiment with respect to Arme- nian affairs was that it would be foolish for this government to make any demon stration against Turkey unless it was in iepded to follow that show of force with the exercise of force itself. It can be stated with positiveness that the mem- bers of the committee are opposed to any attempt on the part of the admin istration to send warships to Turkey for the purpose of making any further dem onstration. It Is denied that dozen ships could accomplish more than one. the only merit in the presence of a ship In Turkish waters being the flag 1t car ries and the moral effect it's presence may produce. The committee will prob ably dispose of the question finally In the adoption of strong appeal to the Euro ,pean powers for the protection of the Ar menians. The only point al issue now is whether that appeal shall be addressed Ito the allied powers or to Russia alone. When this has been settled joint reso- lution will be favorably reported to the senate
 Venezuelan Commissioners Meet.
 The members of the Venezuelan boun- dary commission reassembled in the diplomatic room of the state department at 10:30 o'clock this morning after a re- cess of week. Mir Andrew D. White, who, was the only absentee at the orig inal meeting, was present. Justice David .s.f ( sion, presided. and his private secretary, Frederick J. Haig, was temporarily installed as clerk pending the appoint ment of the executive officer and the oth- CT assistants to be selected. A large number of applications for employment by the commission have been received from stenographers, translators and oth- CTS anxious to obtain clerical employ ment, and this morning some of these crowded the ante-room between the of- foe of the secretary of state and the diplomatic room. where the members of file commission began their session. Sev- Rral of the candidates for officers of the commission were consulted by members during the session. and one of them, a Mir. Page of New York. who is anxious to secure the executive officership. was with them in the diplomatic room for a short time.
 Mr. J. Malet Provost. an international lawyer of some reputation, who has been connected with the PeraltaReavis case. Is said to be strongly backed for the prominent position which the commission will create.
 The commission adjourned for the day at G3O o'clock, after being in continuous .sesnlon for five hours
 Most of the day was spent in examining the qualifications for the secretaryship and other positions, but no elections were made.
 New Arms Needed.
 Senator Hawley's bill to arm the mi .htia, which authorizes the secretary of war to furnish the national guard of the various states with Springfield rifles of l45S caliber in exchange for any other rifle ;now in use, has been referred to the war department for an opinion as to its mer- its and Assistant Secretary Doe, who Is in charge of militia matters and thoroughly experienced in them, has af- ter careful consideration. given the bill . strong fndorsement, but has suggested that 1t would be of even greater benefit 10 the militia If It's provisions were ex- sendeN SO ss to authorize the exchange of the, w Springfield rifles of 45 cali Der for s-rrns of the san1c make and cal. iber alrca> ;. In tl,c possesg,fn of the mi litia,f but which 1ve Eacome worn out