The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-07
May Have Been Captured ny Brigands
or the Press Censor May BE Again
Edfting News for This Country.
STORER NEEDED 1T HIS POST
SPAIN NOT PAYING OBLIGATIONS
HELD BY AMERICANS.
Dissatisfa ction Over Delay at Paris
I'm BEGINNING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Arbitration Proceedings.
,DecIal TO the Indianapolis Journal.

Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal. .
WASHINGTON, June 6-Where Is Amer
ica's minister to Spain. Hon. Bellamy
Storer, formerly of Cincinnati. is a question
which Secretary of State Hay is unable to
answer. The American minister was to
have presented his credentials simultaneous
ly with the forrnality which took place at
the White House last Saturday when the
Due D'Arcos was received. Whether this
was done or not cannot be learned at the
State Department. No official announce
ment of the ceremony has reached Secre-
tary Hay and he frankly admits that he
knows nothing of Minister Storer's move
ments since he cabled the department from
Antwerp. In his opinion MA Storer has not
yet presented himself at the Spanish court.
Why, be does not know
1t Is limited in some quarters that while
Mr.. Storer may have performed his part
Of the programme-presented his papers
and been accepteSAthe Spanish news censor
may have suppressed the cablegrams in
tended to inform America that such was
the case, yet 1t would be strange if the news
censor were permitted to intercept COM
munications between the United States gov
ernment and its accredited minister.
Another wild theory is that Minister
Storer may have been captured by brigands
while en- route to Madrid, and another is
that unexpected Illness or delays in travel
Ing may have prevented his appearance in
the Spanish capital. AT any rate, Secretary
Hay Is much puzzled and more than a tribe
worried over the strange nonappearance of
Mr.. Storer and is awaiting news from the
nysteriously silent minister.
An Associated Press dispatch says: One
OF the first duties that will be i'm
posed upon Bellamy Storer when he takes
up bis post at Madrid will be to secure the
reinstatement on the ''book of perpetual
rentes" Of Spain OF the names of the holders
OF the obligations issued to them by Spain
as one Of the results Of the negotiations of
the treaty OF 1884. These American holders
are entitled to an annual payment of about
5000 600. but the payment was omitted during
the late war and Is now overdue The SEN
ate committee ON foreign relations has held
that these debts are not extinguished by
war and are still binding on Spain and some
or the holders OF the rentes have made an
appeal to the State Department for inter-
cession In their favor. 1t is not known at
the State Department just when Mr.. Storer
will be presented at Madrid. It was the un-
derstanding between him and the Duke of
ARGOS. reached at their meeting in Paris
that their presentations should be simul-
taneous. but for some reason not known
here. Mr. Seorer so far has failed to appear
At Madrid.
There Is considerable dissatisfaction in
diplomatic circles over the continued post
ponement of the British-venezuelan arbi-
ration proceedings, as the delay causes
personal inconvenience 10 Chief Justice
Fuller and Justice Brewer who are arbi-
traitors; ex-President Harrison and ex-Sec-
retary Tracy. who are counsel. as we'll as
10 the British and Venezuelan officials now
gathered IN Paris. The postponement was
caused by Russia's naming Mr. Mertens,
VINO Is on the Venezuelan commission, as
one or the Russian delegates at The Hague
conference. Although most of the Ameri-
can and Venezuelan officials are now I'm
Paris. they are unable to proceed with the
work. and 1t Is said that there is doubt
whether M. afertens will be free bv ,bs
18Th Inst. the day to which the court ad-
journed it's meeting. The suggestion was
made to-day In a high diplomatic quarter
that ii would be quite desirable IL Russia
withdrew Mr.. Mertens from the representa-
ton at The Hague and permitted him to
proceed with the arbitration at Paris. as
the interests as We'll as the convenience of
all three governments would be much sub
served thereby. This could be the more
readily done. II was pointed out, as Russia
would still be well represented at The Hague
by such eminent diplomats as Baron De
Staei and Count Muravien. The desirable
ity OF some such arrangement has been
omeialiy discussed. and IL may be brought
70 the attention Of the Russian authori-
ties unless they take the initiative in free
ing Dir. Merters from his duties at The
Hague so that the important British-Vene-
zueian arbitration can so on without further
harassing delays.
The Navy Department has received a sug-
gestion from the Portsmouth. Va. Board of
Trade that the captured Spanish cruiser
Reina Mercedes be completely rebuilt at the
Norfc navy yard. supplied with the very
best guns and armor and then presented 10
the Queen Regent or Spain as an evidence
OF good VIII cherished by the United States
for her country.
The industrial commission resumed its sit
tinss to-day but heard no testimony. A
report outlining method Of inquiry on the
subject OF transportation. made by Profess
sor johnson, OF the University OF Pennsyl-
vania, was submitted and referred TO the
subcommittee on transportation. This plan
was prepared under instructions of the COM
mission and therefor most probably will be
adopted. The report advised the division
OF the inquiry into four parts. as follows:
First. the control Of transportation corpor-
ations By means Of charter provisions. giv-
tng in this connection history OF efforts In
this line together with the results OF such
Efforts In different States and also making
compayison OF European railway charters
With those or the United States: second.
texAf3on ~ q means or pubiic control by