The Delta independent., 1899-10-20

Republic. General O'Beirne will, in
fact, not be received by the state de-
partment in any diplomatic capacity
representing the Transvaal or any for
eign goEernment 1.-The rule In this
case, and in all other similar cases Is"
said q high official. that the govern
ment does not receive as diplomatic
representatives citizens Of the United
States. In other words, we do not re-
ceiye our own citizens as representa-
tives of other powers" This govern
ment will not of its own motion Oner
mediation, or interfere, on the broad
ground that II this government ex-
poets the other nations to respect the
Monroe doctrine this government
must assume and preserve the correla-
tive position OF nOn-interference In
the affairs of the old-world govern
ments. The Transvaal has since ap-
pointed Rev. DIR. Bosnian, the Dutch
Reformed clergyman, as their repre-
sentative TO the United States.
In his annual report to the secretary
OF the navy, Chief Constructor Hich-
born lays special stress upon the I'M
pOrtance Of continuing the work Of I'M
proving the plants ut the various navy
yards. Under the head Of new con-
struction the report sets out the fact
that contracts for the more important
ships authorized by the last Congress
could not be let. because OF the limita-
ton placed upon the cost Of the armor.
Nevertheless, complete specifications
for these vessels have been prepared.
and are included in the report. Four
teen vessels, with the exception OF the
Chesapeake and Princeton, torpedo
boats or tugs. We're added to the navy
during the last fiscal year: four Span
ish vessels sunk during the war were
raised and added, and seventeen small
gunbOats were purchased or captured
on the Asiatic station and placed ON
the list. On the other hand forty -One
vessels were dropped from the naval
list, including the American line char
tered ships, n number Of auxiliary YES
sells sold the revenue cutters and light
house vessels turned back into their
old service, and a couple Of monitors.
On July LIST there were building for the
navy fOrty-eight new vessels, In addi-
ton to those enumerated.
The General Land Once has mailed
to western land Offices a circular pre-
scribinG rules for the government Of
all persons concerned In proceedings
arising on reports Of special agents af-
fecting the validity Of claims to public
lands. The object is to provide for the
serving OF notice upon entrymen by
which they will be given an opportuni.
ty TO he heard In a case II 20 desired.
Hereafter when there In fled In the
General Land Office a report Of . spe-
cial agent alleging that certain entry.
filing, location or claim for . specified
tract Of land IL fraudulent or Illegal,
or that the claimant has failed to
comply with the requirements Of law,
and the facts preseated are sufi1cient
to warrant q cAneellation Of all entry
or claim. the lecal land Officers will be
| authorised to serve notice upon the en-
| trymen o. claimant. The notice must
define the charges adverse to the
claimants contained In the special
agents report Thirty days will be al
lowed in which to apply for a hearing,
and failure to reply within the pre-
scribed time will be taken as an admis
sion Of the truth Of the charges. Here
tOfore the practice has been that up
on a report Of q special agent Of the
abandonment Of n claim or that an en-
try had been made in violation OF law,
the entry has been held for canacelln
ton. The new rule is expected to pro
mote earlier adjustment In those cases.
The following statement was issued
by the State Department Thursday:
| The President has received large
number of petitions signed by many
citizens Of distinction, requesting him
| to tender the mediation OF the United
Stntes to settle the difference existing
between the government Of Great Brit
ain and that Of the Trnnsvaal. He has
received other petitions on the same
subject, some of them desiring him to
make common cause with Great Brit
ain to redress the wrongs alleged to
have been suffered by the Uitlnnders.
| and especially by American citizens In
| the Trnnsvaal. and others wishing
| him to assist the Boers against alleged
aggression. II Is understood that the
President does not think II expedient
| to take action in any Of these direc.
tiOns. As to taking sides with either
party In the dispute. II Ii not to be
| thought Of. As TO mediation. the Pres
| ident has received no intimation from
either Of the countries that the media
| ton Of the United States would he ac-
| cepted. and In the absence Of such in
| timation from both parties, there II
nothing In the rules Of International
I riaage TO Justify an offer Of mediation
in the present circumstances. II In
known that the President sincerely
hopes and desires that hostilities may
he avoided. but II unfortunately they
should come to pass, the efforts Of this
government will be directed-as they
are at present-to seeing that neither
our national interests nor those Of our
citizens shall suffer unnecessary In
jury.