The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-16
A MEETING OF The CABINET
~ IT, i'..H tu '@ 'H'
THE DIGNIFIED MEMBERS LOADED
DOWN WITH PAPERS AND
BUSINESS CARES.
THE UNION PACIFIC SITUATION.
1t Was Considered, But Members Are
Mum On It-CIviI Service De-
cisions, the KIondike Rush
and Other Matters.

Washington, Sept. 14.-Great interest
attached to the cabinet meeting today
on account Of the various important qucs
tions which are pending, and the fact that
it was the first meeting in some weeks
Every member of the cabinet except
Secretary Long, who is out of the city,
reached the White House promptly at III
O'Clock, and each had with him an UNI
usually large number of papers and docu-
ments relating to matters pending IN his
department. The session was devoted
almost entirely to the consideration of
the advisability of taking an appeal from
the decree of the United States court at
Omaha for the sale of the property
under the foreclosure proceedings. The
members of the cabinet were very reticnt,
an injunction having been placed on them
not TO talk of the matter at this time,
hut il was stated that an announcement
relative 70 the course the government
would pursue might be expected in the
course. of ten days. The cabinet also
discussed the San Pedro, Cal. harbor
project and Attorney General McKenna
rendered an opinion which will be for
mally promulgated to the effect that
Secretary Alger should proceed under the
law 10 carry out the project Of building
breakwater and making other improve
ments at San Pedro. The civil service
decision in the Wood case and its effect
on the law was also formally talked over.
Neither the decision on discriminating
section 90 of the tariff act, nor the Cuban
or Hawaiian questions were mentioned
at the meeting.
Secretary Alger brought up the Kl0n-
dixie rush and adverted to the probable
necessity of relief measures for the bene-
fit Of Americans who have rushed heed
lessly into the gold fields. but the discus
sion Of this matter was very informal
and fruitless of results.
With reference to the Klondike rush.
Secretary Alger laid before the cabinet
several kilograms urging relief for strick-
en- prospectOrs including one from the
citizens committee of Tacoma represent
ing that distress existed already at Daw-
son City, stating that starvation had be-
gun and praying that a revenue cutter
be sent with supplies to st. Michaels and
chances taken on getting the supplies to
those in need of them. The discussion
made il evident that cabinet was not
quite clear that the government au-
thorites had warrant of law for furnish
ing supplies. but Secretary Alger tele-
graphed TO Senator Perkins of California,
who is interested in line to Alaska,
asking him if he would undertake to de-
liver a shipload of supplies at st.
Michaels. If it be found that the law
will not permit the government to send
supplies relief will be furnished by pri-
vate persons in order that horror may
not grow out of the rush for gold. Some
consideration also was given to the prac-
ticability of getting supplies in by way
of projected winter trail via Dyea. The
government will now go ahead with the
construction of n breakwater ut San
Pedro and will push work on the project,
though some matters yet remain open for
adjustment.