The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-02
Where He Discussed the Nicaragua
Canal Project After the French-
men Had Departed.
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY'S ORDER
MODIFYING CIvIL-SERyICE REGULA.
TIONS EXPECTED TODAY.
Changes VIII BE Less Sweeping than
MISREPRESENTATION of KnsoIvent
Banks Not in a Hurry
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The officers OF
the Panama canal are in Washington trying
TO unload their enterprise on this govern-
ment and, falling in that, to so becloud the
situation as to jeopardize the passage OF
any measure for the construction of the
Nicaragua canal The Panama Canal Conn
pany is a private corporation evolved from
the wreck of the old concern. 1t is cap
italized at 900 francs ($13,5O0,OOO), and
claims to have $IOO,0lO.OO0 of assets. M.
Hutin, its president, submitted a proposi-
ton to Secretary Hay this afternoon. Just
what it is cannot be learned, as the Ameri-
can premier and the Frenchman are dumb
on the question. 1t bodies no good for the
Nicaraguan project, that can be assumed
with perfect safety. Apparently some ar
rangement had been made at the State De-
partment in the nature of an appointment,
for Notwithstanding the fact that this was
diplomatic day, Secretary Hay gave nearly
two hours of his time to listening to the
representations of the Panama people These
were Maurice Hutin, director general Of the
Panama canal; Xavier Bayard, commercial
representative Of the company, both OF
Paris, and William Nelson Cromwell OF
New York, counsel for the company The
conference was interrupted at frequent in
tervals by the calls of the Russian ambas-
sador, the French charge d'affaires the
Italian charge, the Venezuelan charge and
other members of the diplomatic ~f56dy.
These interruptions were Hot--gf much
duration, as the secretary devoted only a
small portion of his time to his diplomatic
callers, which might be construed as a sign
of his interest in the representations of the
a mass of documentary matter, presumably
exhibiting the great amount of work accom-
phshed so far on the canal project. AT the
conclusion Of the conference the canal men
declined to make any statements as to what
had taken place, but the common UNDER
standing is that they are here in a general
way to antagonize all OF the Nicaraguan
projects. They will be in Washington for
several days, according to their own state-
ment
President Iglesias. of Costa Rica in COM
pany with Minister Calvo, called at the
State Department this afternoon. After ex-
changing greetings with Secretary Hay, the
minister retired to the waiting room and
private consultation took place between the
President and Secretary Hay, lasting about
an hour and half Owing to the privacy
of the meeting nothing could be learned as
to the subject under discussion. but SUR
mise places it as the Nicaragua canal prof.
ect Probably, too there was some talk
about the disruption of the new United
States of Central America, which may in a
manner have to be taken into account in
connection with any canal project that the
administration deems proper to bring to the
attention Of Congress at the approaching
session.
The long delayed order modifying the civil@
service regulations will probably be pro-
mulgated by the President tomorrow. It
will be far less sweeping than anticipated.
according to the reports current tonight.
AS now understood it will take from the
classified service 957 deputy collectors, Cos
surgeons on pension examining boards, and
a handful of people holding confidential pc
sitions. The Government Printing Office is
expected to remain under the protection OF
civil-service regulations.
A surprisingly small number of debtors
of the insolvent national banks in charge
of the controller of the currency are taking
advantage OF the new federal bankruptcy
law. 1t was supposed that they would gen-4
orally avail themselves of this chance TO
get rid of their responsibilities to the gov
eminent About $l0,000OOO so-called bank
assets are on the books of the controller.
1t has been impossible to reduce the total
to any extent during the last three or four
years The government has done its best
to collect from these debtors. but has made
slight headway The opinion was held in
the controllers Office that the enactment OF
a bankruptcy law would speedily wipe out
this great mass of 'cats and dogs" The
debtors, however, appear reluctant to take
the road Of escape which Congress has
opened up to them. The regulations for the
handling of bankruptcy cases in the lower
courts, which were promulgated by the SUI
preme Court to take effect January next
may stimulate action in this quarter. howe
ever. and it is not unlikely that there Will
be a great increase in the number of banks
ruptcy petitions filed early during the CONS
ing year Lawyers have very generally
counseled delay in bringing bankruptcy pros
ceedings until they could know detinitelS
what lines of practice they would have to
follow.
The Republican national committee, Senas
tor Hanna chairman and Representative
Dick secretary, will reopen headquarters in
washington next week having engaged
room on the corner OF G. and Fourteenth
streets. Preliminary work will begin imme-
diately for the campaign of 1850.