The Mena star. (Mena, Ark.) 1898-1904, 1898-11-16
AGAINST EXTRA SESSION.
Two Members of the Cabinet Ad-
wise President Mckinley
Not to Call One.
THE MEASUREMENT OF TIE EARTH.

The Conference of the Geodetic Associa-
ciati"n at Stuttgart Expected to Bear
Fruit ar Far-Reaching Importance--A
Cuban Port-Laray.tte Memorial Com
mission Meet Mt hicago November 26
Washington, Nov. 15 There is di
vision of opinion in the cabinet as to
the wisdom Of calling an extra session.
1t appears that at least two members
hold there should be none, il avoida-
ble. They advise the president to con-
tinue strong military government in
the new colonies, until public opinion
has crystallized fully as TO the best
methods for governing the newly-ac-
quired territory. These mem bers
favor the sending of Investigating
commissions to Porto Rico and the
Philippines, whose report can be held
before congress before legislation OF q
permanent character is enacted. They
are urging the president also to re-
frain from making political appoint
ments to the new territories, allowing
army officers to serve rs hduciary
agents to the governinent wherever
possible.
Assistant Secretary Vanderlip of the
treasury will leave for Porto Rico in a
few days to study personally the fiscal
conditions there. Special Agent Har-
den, who visited the Philippines for a
similar purpose, has arrived at San
Francisco on his return trip and will
be in Washington TO submit his report
! within another week
The Measurement or the Earth.
Washington, Nov. 15 The work of
the international Geodetic association
at its Stuttgart conference last month,
which is expected to bear fruit of far
reaching Importance to the scientific
world, is announced by Mr.. E. ID. Pres
ton, of the United States coast and
geodetic survey, who represented this
government there and who has just re-
turned to Washington. Little pub
licitv was given the proceedings of
the conference, but an interesting re-
port now is about to be made by Mr..
Preston. The prime object of
the conference, which was in
session October 8 TO 10, was
the measurement of the earth
and action was taken for the measure
ment of an arc at the equator. This,
taken in conjunction with the meas
urement of an arc near the pole now
under way by the Swedes and Rus
slams, will throw a new light on the
| fiattening of the earth. The compari-
sion of the two measures will make it
possible to determine how much
ch ha mol I;,,, tn. ic ha n
equatorial, a knowledge of which is
important both in the making of maps
of great extent and in the solution of
many astronomical problems
TO Open Cuban Port.
Washington, Nov. 15.-The commerce
of the United States probably will
have the advantage of port in west
ern Cuba, where American tariff rates
prevail, within short time. The re-
cent action of the cabinet regarding
the opening of such port will be fol-
lowed by request from the war de-
partment to the Spanish authorities
that port be abandoned by the Span
ish troops and given up to the Ameri-
cans 1t is probable that Cienfuegos
will be selected for this purpose and
| tnat the spanish dubuOrlJleS Will DC
asked to surrender the port in season
! for its opening to American commerce
on the 1st of December.
The Lafavrtte Memorial
Washington, Nov ID. - Secretary
Robert J. Thompson, of the Lafayette
Memorial commission, upon conference
with Commissioner General Peck, has
called the Monument commission to
meet in Chicago November 20. Mr..
Thompson has been requested by the
president to furnish him report OF
the school collections on Lafayette
day, the 10th OF October. The com
mission is anxious that ostmasters
and public and parchial school officials
holding funds should forward at once
the amounts on hand to Treasurer
Dawes This should not affect those
who may be holding their remittances
in order to increase them. as they can
continue sending money as they re-
ceive it.