The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-27

Cuba, International N netery Confer
ence and Nicaragua Canal.
President Of Canal Company
Answers Rodriguez.
President ClsveIand's Pension vetoes Over.
ridden In House.

interesting. Senator Turpie finished his
speech on Cuban recognition by urging
the Intervention of the United States to
stop the war, inasmuch as Spain had
been unable to put down the rebellion.
The other features Of the day were the
international monetary conference and
the Nicaragua canal.
the first time. Mr.. White (Dem., CALI
and Mr.. Cannon Qnd, Utah) and Mr..
Daniel (Dem.. Va.) urged that the con-
ference would be futile and was not in
tended as serious movement toward
bimetallism. 1t was evident, however.
that the bill would meet with little op-
position, beyond the expression OF sena-
tors that the conference would accom-
plish nothing.
Mr.. Stewart offered an amendment.
providing that, In case the conference
failed. the secretary of the treasury
shall, within 80 days. begin the free and
unlimited coinage Of both geld and sill
yer. No final action on the bill was
taken. The Nicaragua canal debate was
resumed, Mr.. Daniel speaking against
the measure. Mr.. Morgan submitted q
letter from President Hitchcock Of the
Canal company. replying to the recent
letter Of Minister Rodriguez. Mr.. Nor
gan also offered an amendment designed
to meet the objections presented by Mr..
Rodriguez.
Hiram Hitchcock. president Of the
Nicaragua Canal company, has written
letter to Secretary Olney In reply to
Senior Rodriguez statement, which the
secretary sent to the senate.
Mr.. Hitchcock says that when Senior
Rodriguez says the company has for
feited its charter because Of neglect to
make the surveys as required, "he omits
to inform you that the final surveys and
location Of the canal were made and con-
cluded by a commission of engineers
In strict conformity with article AZ of
the concession, and were formally ac-
cepted by the government of Nicaragua
on Oct. 8, 1885,"
Mr.. Hitchcock also asserts that the
company has fully complied with the
requirements of the concession that all
nations shall be invited to contribute,
and also that reserving certain per-
centagc of the capital stock for the ac-
Of residents of Central
America who may wish to subscribe. He
further says that the company issued
the per cent Of the stock reserved for
Nicaragua on Oct. 81, 1890, but the Mic
araguap government has not yet ap.
pointed an agent to receive 1t. He adds
that he has assured Senior Rodriguex in
a personal interview that his company
would accept no measure that would be
unjust to the powers from whom II re.
ceived the concessions. He says. there
fore, that the attitude assumed by the
Central American minister 10 inexplic-
able. The letter Of the minister" he
concludes, lis an attack upon the integ-
rity Of the maritime canal company, and
its CONCESSIONS and on behalf Of that
company / ask the protection and aid
of the government of the United States
in the defense and maintenance Of its
concessionary rights and it's property"
The house overrode another of Presi-
dent Cleveland's pension vetoes yester.
day by vote of 1882 The bill pen.
stoned Jonathan Scott of the Sixth Iowa
cavalry, who is now living at Oswego
Kan, at the rate of $72 per month. Mr.
Cleveland vetoed 1t on the ground that
the disability for which the beneficiary
was to be pensioned was not contracted
in the service. The rest Of the day was
devoted to a continuance Of the bill for
Indian appropriations. Only few
amendments were adopted: and those OF
minor Importance. About 25 pages OF
the bill were covered.
General Craighill to Retire.
Washington, Jan. 27.-General Will.
lam Price Craighill, chief of engineers
after a most brilliant military and scien-
tific record, will be retired next Monday
on his own application. under the Al
years service law. He might have
availed himself OF this law nearly -four
avoid retirement on account of age
next July. or strong health and unim-
paired mental force, he aspires to a con.
tinuation OF active work in the line Of his
profession, and thus has prejudice
against retirement on account of age
which has determined him to forestall
such action. The retirement will leave
to the president the filling OF q most de.
sirable post. 1t is not yet known upon
whom the choice will fall, but the gen.
eral opinion seems to be that Il lies be.
tween Colonel ]. M. Wilson. now di.
vision engineer Of the northeast, and su-
perintendent of public buildings and
grounds in Washington, and Colonel H.
M. Roberts, division engineer at New
York. General Craighill stands at the
very front of his profession as q military
and civil engineer, and his record 10 one
long chapter Of msritorious service In
connection with some Of the most impor-
tant projects ever undertaken In this
country. He was appointed to West
Point from Charlestown, w. Va. (then
virginia). and graduated In 1853, second
in q class OF 81 members. He had ~
classmates Sheridan, schoheld, McPher-
son, Sooy Smith and Vincent. Ne en-
tered the engineer corps Immediately
upon graduation, and passed through oil
she grades UP to chief Of engineers.
which Office he assumed in May. 1896,
succeeding General Casey. During the
war ne had charge Of some Of the most
important Notifications In the east, in
cIuding those Of the capital itself, while
as civil engineer ne has had something TO
do with nearly every one Of the great
projects for the Improvement Of the
rivers and harbors Of the entire country,
either directly or In an advisory GA
pacity.
bids Tor Phiisdsiphia Bonds.