The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-16

washington, Sept. 1j.-The Cabinet
meeting yesterday, though prolonged,
was more interesting for the subjects
that were TO he discussed than for the
matters which, with one exception, were
taken up Cuba aud Hawaii were not
mentioned, nor was section of the tariff
law relating to the 10 per cent. discrimi-
nafing duty, which has given rise 20 so
much contention
One important subject was disposed of.
The government will not take an appeal
IN the case of the Union Pacific railroad.
the sale of which has been ordered by n
decree of the circuit court of the Eiphth
district. This Union Pacific question was
the subject of considerable discussion.
after large quantity of accumulated
loutlne departmental matter had been
disposed Of The matter was brought to
the attention of the Cabinet by Attorney
General Mckenna, who outlined the pres
ent status and who rehearsed to his col
leagues the substance OF the talks he hnd
recently with the members of the Senate
subcommittee on Pacific railroads. 1t
Is expected that the formal announce
ment of the Governments position will
be made within the next ten DAYS. and
that then there will he no bar to the
transfer of the road to the syndicate
which stands ready to buy it and which
has already deposited 81, 500. 600 as Il
guarantee.
The harhor project at San Pedro, Cal,
was also discussed, Secretary Alger an
nouncing that he had received the decis-
ION OF the attorney general authorizing
work to be commenced, but adding that
he had done nothing with the matter.
owing to his illness He stated, however
that lie would soon proceed to carry out
the law and begin the building of the
brenkwater and the construction of the
other improvements. This decision met
the approval of the President and the
Cabinet, although there are still matters
OF detail to we satisfactorily ARRANGED be-
tween the secretary of war and the attor.
ney general.
Secretary Alger laid BEFORE the Cabinet
several kilograms appealing to him to
send supplies us quickly as possible into
the klcndike region, owing to the dis
tress which is now existing there One
OF these dispatches was from the citi.
zens' committee Mt Tacoma. Secretary
Alger stated that he did not believe that
the suffering was as great as had been
represented, owing to the hort time that
had elapsed since the throngs of gold
hunters had begun to invade the mining
country, although he added that he had
no doubt that during the winter famine
would threaten. Ordinarily, IL call for
relief to distressed citizens requires spe-
cial legislation by Congress; although on
one occasion President Cleveland found n
statute which he applied to the case of
some starving negro colonists in Texas.
Under the circumstances, Congress not
being in session and relief being appar-
emily necessary. Secretary Alger was di.
rected to take such steps as, in his judg-
ment, were necessary Later in the dnv
he wired Senator Perkins, of California,
who is interested in line to Alaska, to
know ii it was feasible to forward 800 or
1000 tons of provisions to st Michael's
and have it thence trans ferred to the
kondike region on sledges up the Yukon
valley. Some way will be found to afford
the desired siccor, even if private aid has
to be secured and Congress will he asked
next winter to ratify the executive ac-
tion
All of the members OF the Cabinet were
present, .'eA cept Secretary Long, and n
large amount of routine business was ac-
complished. The President did not leave
the city last evening rs he had planned.
but decided to defer his departure until
to-day or morrow,in order to have fur
Their consultations with the Cabinet on
matters not yet settled.