Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-14
no PRECEDENT.
washin xson Authoritlvs rur> Case

Washtn xton Authorities. rur> Case
of the Tartar Over 20 A.nbassadnr
Choate.
Washington, Sept. 1.-THE acton or
the British authorities at Hong Kong
in declining to give the transport Tar
tar clearance papers has caused intense
excitement in administration circles.
Hong Kong is an infected port. Yes
sells sailing from there are placed in
quarantine upon arrival at nearly all
the ports of the civilized world. Ma
Mia is not infected and there is no
quarantine against it. For these rea-
sons the department issued Imperative
orders forbidding transports to visit
Hong Kong at this season, and they
have usually stopped at Nagasaki,
Japan, for coal and to permit the troops
to go ashore. 1t was stated at the war
department that a thorough inquiry
would be made to ascertain who was
Irresponsible for the Tartar's visit to
Hong Kong.
Gen. Otis report reads that the
transport was sent there to dock at
Maj. Longs request. 1t is said that
Maj. Long, in his anxiety to hasten the
passage of the transport, had asked to
have it docked and cleaned, expecting
to recover most of the time lost in the
dock by the increased speed of the yes
sci across the Pacific. There seems.
however, to have been a violation of
department. orders and the disposition
here is to punish the guilty officer.
The Tartar is a British ship, belong
ing to the Canadian Pacific Steamship.
Company, and flies a British flag, al
though chartered by the war depart
ment with an option of purchase. The
registry cannot be changed without
act of congress. Being British ship
she became subject to British law as
she entered British port. Technically
the British authorities seem to be act
ing within their authority. Their laws
|provede that a vessels passenger list
must be limited by the number of cubic
feet of space aboard. BY the prescribed
measurement the Tartar could carry
$50 soldiers. Col. Metcalf, commanding
the troops aboard the transport. re-
ports that the British authorities at
Hong Kong will permit the ship to
clear with S24. The transport entered
the harbor with 1903 passengers
aboard.
The conference between Secretary
Root, Attorney General Griggs and AS
sistant Secretary Adee resulted in in
structions being sent to Consul General
Wildman at Hong Kong to present the
matter to the British authorities with
a request for clearance. He was di-
rected to explain that the passenger
capacity of the Tartar had been ascer-
tanned under British law as merchant
steamer, with allowance made for
freight capacity engaged in ordinary
commerce. Now the vessel is being
used purely as transport and sails
without freight. the passenger list be-
ing increased correspondingly. If this
view is not accepted by the British the
matter will be taken up through diplo-
matte channels.
AT present there is no apparent dis
position to order the transport to sail
with the number Of passengers the
British are willing to clear and permit
the rest to remain in the infected port
until another transport can call for
them. 1t Is admitted by some officials
of the war department that there has
been gross overcrowding of transports
In general In the eager desire to get
troops to and from the Philippines ex-
peditiously with the means at the dis
posal of the government.
The cubic capacity of the vessels has
been measured literally and utilized to
the fullest extent, while precautions
We're not taken to increase the safety
appliances aboard in the way of life
boats, life preservers, ETC., to meet the
heavy demands. Fear is frequently ex-
pressed that there will be calamity
in the service. Should any of the yes-
sells meet with accident and be reduced
to a sinking condition there would be
an appalling loss Of life. The over
crowding is generally admitted, but 1t
is said to be in the interest of the SER
vice and while regretted cannot be pre-
vented under present conditions Hope
is expressed in administration circles
that the British will accept our view of
the Tartar case and permit the vessel
to leave with her full passenger list.
Martial Law in spain.
Madrid, Sept. 1.-THE queen regent
has signed a decree proclaiming martial
law IN the y1rOvfnco of Vizcava Z