The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-14
ASKS A SPEEDY HEARING
GOVERNMENT WANTS NAVAL PRIZE
CASES DISPOSED OF.
Supreme Court Requested to Advance
COnsideration-New Congressional
Librnrian-Bank for Hawaii.

United States Supreme Court a motion
was made to-day by the solicitor gen
eial to advance the hearing in the prize
cases which have been appealed 10 the court.
The cases involve six vessels captured dur
ing the Spanish war. whose owners deny the
right of seizure to the United States. the
vessels being the Buena Ventura, the Pedro,
the Guido. the Newfoundland. the Adula
and the Olinde Rodriguez. The first three
of the vessels mentioned were the property
of Spanish subjects, the Rodriguez OF
Frenchmen and the Newfoundland and
Adula of Engishmen They were captured
under various circumstances, rendering
them probably subject to the prize regula-
tons and yet leaving some room in each
case for doubt. The vessels range in value
from $1,000 to 100000. The solicitor general
stated the following reasons for asking thai
the cases be advanced:
"First-It is matter of public concern and
general interest that there should be speedy
adjudication OF proceedings in prize. In or
der that the title To property claimed as
prize and the rights of captorS may be nm
ally and promptly determined.
''Second-It Is of international Importance
that rulings on the questions OF prize law
involved should be announced and become
a part of the general public law on the sub
ject at as early date as may be consist
ent with the convenience of the court.
neutrals are submitted and consequently re-
gard for our diplomatic relations moves the
government to seek a speedy settlement OF
controversies affecting such parties.
The chief justice intimated that the cases
might be heard at the present term. They
will be taken up consecutively, but not as
one case
The President has appointed Herbert Put
nam, OF Boston, Mass, to be librarian Of
Congress. Mr.. Putnam was born in New
York city in 1861. He is the son of George
7. Putnam, founder Of the publishing fcrse
of George Putnam & Sons. Mr.. Putnam
was graduated from Harvard in 1883, and at
tended Columbia Law School for Co.'S year
thereafter. In the fall OF 1884 he went TO
Minneapolis, and year later entered the
Minnesota bar. In 1884, however, re tCLk
the Guardianship of the Minneapolis
Athaeneum. Mr.. Putnam orga lized :he Min
neapolis Public Library, a free city .nst.tu-
ton, with circulating department, branches
and delivery stations. The cid Atneleum
came into the new library, making its bC oks
free TO the public, the city paying the eX-
penSes OF administering them ! ne aggre-
gate income of the joint Libraries nds been
from $4,000 TO $4,000 per annum During
the construction OF the building Mr.. Put
nam was engaged in the purchase of books
going abroad for the purpose, and at the
end Of the first seven years OF bis admins
tration he had added some 1900 volumes
to the 1900 originally possessed 10y the
Atheneum. In December, 1881, Mr. Putnam
for personal reasons, resigned his position
and went 10 Boston, where he practiced law
at the Suffolk bar. In February. 1895, he
was chosen librarian OF the Boston Public
Library.
After mature consideration of the subject,
the War Department has decided 10 take adj
vantage of the provision of the act by
which Hawaii was annexed to the United
States transferring the public lands to the
general government, to acquire such tracts
in the islands may be necessary for mil
itary purposes. To this end an officer or
officers will be sent by next steamer TO
VIII besn W wor hv taing nosseSeon in the
name of the War Department of a consider
able tract near the capital. The Navy De-
ticular, having, through the energy Of Com
mander Tanner. possessed itself of some
fine water front property within very
short time after the annexation resolution
was adopted.
The State Department has been informed
that Ambassador Tower, formerly minister
10 Austria, will leave Vienna tomorrow
CTuesday) and will arrive at ST. Petersburg
in time to assume his new duties on Thurs
day. Minister Tower was appointed TO fill
the position vacated by Mr.. Hitchcock. the
present secretary of the interior. Addison g.
Harris. of Indiana, is the new minister to
Austria-Hungary.
The President has issued two proclama-
tions, relieving from further discriminating
duties shipping from the British West Indies
islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
Martin j. Carter, of Pennsylvania, has
been appointed United States consul It St.
Johns, n. T..
To-day's statement of the condition q he
treasury shows: Available cash balance,
S21l, $50, 446; gold reserve, s2iO,66I,Sel
A report received at the State Department
says that the marines who have been doing
marine duty at Picking, China, left that city
to-day.
Committees representing the New York
Leaf Tobacco Board of Trade, the Chicago
Leaf Tobacco Merchants Association, the
Cincinnati Leaf Tobacco Association, the
Philadelphia Leaf Tobacco Board of Trade
and the Tobacco Board of Trade of Balti-
more had a conference to-day with Mr.. VIII
son, commissioner of thermal revenue. They
protested against the recent ruling Of the
bureau that leaf-tobacco dealers have not
the right to sell leaf tobacco TO licensed
manufacturers or licensed dealers in quanti-
ties less than a hogshead, case or bale. 1t
wSs insisted that this ruling is not in ac-
cordance with the law or in justice to the
small cigar manufacturers and licensed
dealers. Commissioner Wilson took the mat
ter under Amusement and will render a de-
cision within the next few days.
The monthly statement of the imports of
tea, sugar and wool issued by the Bureau
OF Statistics shows that during February
the imports of tea amounted to s7S2076, as
against $3.50, OBS in February, 1888. The sugar
imports aggregated 1851, 206 as against
$574,544 wool, sl,02S.3lS, as against 2.llS26l.
Chief Justice Fuller stated to-day that the
United States Supreme Court would next
Monday take a recess for two weeks.
United States Consular Agent Mertens at
Grao, has submitted 10 the State Depart
ment some figures relative to the Spanish
trade last year, showing the surprising fact
that Notwithstanding her complete defeat
| in war and her distressed economic condi-
tions Spain actually able to show a
balance of trade in her favor for 1893. Mr..
Mertens cites this fact as demonstration
| total exports were S132, i0l ,03S and the i'm
| ports were 81. 40.
During the Presidents absence Secretary
| Long will make quick trip to Florida for
| the purpose Of visiting the Pensacola navy
| yard Secretary Alger is going to Boston
| with his son Fred tomorrow.
At the request of the State Department.
which has been in receipt OF many applca-
| lions for concessions and privileges in the
West Indies. the announcement is made that
| the islands evacuated by Spain in the West