The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-20
House Committee ON Territories OPP
posed to Admitting the Three AppIi-
cants to Statehood at Present.
A DEMOCRATIC BLUNDERER
AN INDIANIAN WHO DOES NOT EVEN
KNOW HIS OWN DISTRICT.
Debate i'm the senate on the Looping
Honey TO Pay Them.
sneeial to the 1ndIanapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-The House COM
mittee on Territories, of which Represents
tive Hemenway is a member, has been con-
sidering the Arizona, Oklahoma and New
Mexico statehood bills for several days and
will probably be ready to make a report next
Friday. These territories have sent strong
delegations to Washington to plead for
statehood. but it is more than likely that
the urging will be in vain, for the commit
| tee seems disposed to make adverse re-
| ports on all three bills. 1T is felt in Con-
gress that a mistake was made in admitting
two or three Western Territories into the
sisterhood of States. and that a further
mistake might be committed by taking in
either New Mexico. Oklahoma or Arizona at
| this time. Nevada, with a voting population
of less than ten thousand, is perpetually an
| example ever in view to deter Congress
| from being too hasty in matters of this
| kind
The President has decided to appoint Wall
| ter S. Viele collector of customs at Evans
| ville Ind, in place of George Hayne. Col
| lector Haynes term expired about q month
ago, and the appointment of his successor
would have been made in December but for
| the strong opposition to the selection of
Mr.. Vele. Representative Hemenway stood
| by Mr.. Viele manfully and after giving pa
| tlent consideration to the objections urged
against him decided to back up his original
| Endorsement and to ask the President to
make the appointment. The Office is worth
| $780, with an appropriation of $500 for a
deputy. s%s
| Representative Griffith, of Indiana, is be-
| ing rugged" numerically on account of
recent interview. in which he undertook to
c1,o I;SrI,4
State and to make some wise prognostica-
tions. Among other things, he is said to
| have asserted that Johnson county is in his
own district dhe Fourth), instead of the
Seventh, and he is also quoted as saying
that among the three or four Republican
districts which would surely go Democratic
next fall is that now represented by Judge
| Crumpacker, the Tenth. Mr. Griffith was
apparently ignorant of the fact of the Tenth
district being the banner Republican dis
trict of Indiana, having given Judge Crum-
packer a majority in 1896 of more than 5000.
Mr.. Griffith has been asked why, If he
claimed the Tenth district for the Demo-
Gratis, he did not prophesy a solid delega-
ton. 1t has been suggested also that be-
fore he gives out another interview he pro-
cure political chart of Indiana.
Advices from Graytown are to the effect
that the government expedition sent to sur
vey the Nicaragua canal route has been
having a hard time. Unusual storms have :
prevented much headway from being made,
and, to add to the discomforts of the situa-
ton, funds are running low, and unless Com
gaess makes an emergency appropriation
the expedition may have to be abandoned
before anything is done. The survey was
organized on scale entirely out of proper
tion to the amount of money appropriated
by Congress, and it is now evident that the
generosity of Congress has been banked on
to provide additional funds If more money
is appropriated for the survey it will be
done under protest and with the distinct
provision that rigid economy must be prac-
ticed in further expenditures.
The privileges accorded ex-senators and
representatives of going upon the floors Of
the two chambers is being abused to such
an extent that Speaker Reed is seriously
urging the adoption of a rule aInuIling this
privilege. This session, more than ever be-
| fore, the hall of the House of Representa-
tives has been invaded by lobbyists who
have been members of Congress- Senator
Hale introduced resolution last spring to
| shut out lobbying ex-senators but it was
| intended only warning to certain Of
| fensve lobbyists, and was never pressed.
Now, however. that the House is thinking
of taking up the matter joint action is not
| improbable.
In the urgency deficiency bill which went
to the President to-day and is now awaiting
his signature. provision is made for the ex-
penditure of 100000 for repairs on war ships
which have been tied up for months, unable
to go to sea. This amount is not half
btIf will br.
then Congress will be asked for more
money. Chief Constructor Hichborn has
had his plans completed for some time in
anticipation OF this appropriation, and work
on the disabled battle ships and cruisers
Will start up at once. Since the 1st OF
July last about $2500OO lc1 been spent 8,
naval repairs.
Secretary Gage did not go on with his
hearing before the House committee on
banking and currency to-day, owing TO a
slight cold accompanied by hoarseness. He
will proceed tomorrow Ex-Secretary Fair
child was heard further on various currency
features the general purpose being to de-
velop the probable effect of the proposed
currency legislation General Warner pres
fdent of the BimetallliC Association and
several other silver leaders We're present,
Later IN the day the committee. bv vote
OF TO 8, party lines. resolved to hear
MesSrS. Towre and Warner on any hill they
would prepare, and for which they assume
the responsibility of authorship. as has been
done with the monetary commission and all
other authors Of bills now pending before
the committee"
Senator Turpie to-day introduced a joint
resolution for the appointment of a COM
mission to make a survey for ship canal
from the lower shore of Lake Michigan to
the Wabash river.
Senator Vest, from the committee on quar-.
antine and public health, to-day reported
a substitute for Senator Caffery's bill pro-
viding regulations for quarantine. The bilI
as reported practically places the control of
all matters pertaining TO the quarantine
service in the control Of the federal govern.