The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-28
AN INCREASE TO $1,5oO,oOo
PREDICTED WHEN THE MEASURE
COMES FROM CONFERENCE.
States Not t. BE Paid This Session for
Taking Care of SOldIers-substItute
for Nicaragua Canal 'RIder."
Special to tho indianapolis journal.

1t is twelfth on the list. If the Democrats
are decent and evince a willingness to let
meritorious building propositions go
through. indianapolis will have a new fed
eral building. Members who are pushing
building bills are e~xerting their personal
influence to it's limit on their Democratic
trends to be good and to refrain from in
diligence in parliamentary obstruction. The
temptation to oppose the procession OF
building projects will indeed be n strong
one, but Mr.. Overstreet and his equally in
terested fellow-members have high hopes OF
smooth sailing. The House weather indica-
lions for tomorrow are promising this even
ing. Representative Overstreet will not
make any attempt in the House to have the
appropriation raised from 81, 100000 to 81 $780,
600. To do so might arouse vicious oppose
ton. There Is little doubt, however, that
the conference will restore the
appropriation to S1,500,O00, If the bill ever
gets there. That done the rest will be easy.
1t will take the House about thirty seconds
to adopt a conference report. IF the House
passes our bill tomorrow" said Represents
alive Overstreet tonight, ut will be before
the President by Friday, and unless / am
greatly mistaken, the appropriation will be
for 81, 500, 900. $50
Claims against the government for money
spent In taking care of soldiers in the late
war (Spanish-American) after their recall
home, amounting in all to about 100000,
were to have been provided for in the gen
eral deficiency bin, but they will have to
so over until the next Congress. The lead
ers of the Senate decided that II would be
irregular to appropriate the money to meet
these claims until they had been regularly
audited by the War Department, a formal
ity which has been neglected. These claims
affect about a dozen States and the expense
was incurred by the Governors under direct
authority Of the secretary Of war. This case
illustrates a phase of red tape, which Is
common in Washington, but which is none
the less exceedingly exasperating to those
who advanced money for the government
where there is the slightest faint Of lnfor-
mality. Indiana's claim under this head is
for $4,000. $50"
The Republican concession to Senator
German this evening will force the next
Congress to enact further legislation for the
creation Of an enlarged regular army. The
Senate, or German bill. as it will now prob
ably be called, cuts the regular army down
to its present limit, 1900 men, after July 1,
1901. The Cockrell compromise cut 1t down
to $4,000 men. "
The customs house figures at Honolulu
for the year 1898 have just been compiled.
They show a large increase both Of exports
and imports. The total value Of the exports
was $17,3 .744, as against $16.O21, 775
for 1897. The value of the imports.
against $7,6S2,62S in 1897, an increase Of $3.-
968, 262. Half Of this increase was an in
crease In imports from the United States.
The Increase in imports from Great Britain
and Germany come next in amount, those
from Great Britain being $42l, 945, and from
Germany $159, III. The customs duties COLI
lecIed were SS9i.gl8, as against HlOb. 4y3 Tor
1897. There came to the islands during the
year II ,229 persons mot including naval or
military forces), and departed 1883, leaving
a net gain in population through immigra-
ton Of 9,916. S"
Consul General Goodnow transmits from
Shanghai a copy Of a circular letter making
a comparison Of imports of cotton goods
and yarns into all China in 1887 and 1897. In
1887 the imports of English goods amounted
to $3S,4 S7, 800, or s746 per cent. of the total.
while the American importations were only
S., 1881, 25l, or 1913 per cent. In 1897 the value
of the English Including Indian) importa-
lions was n 5000 S2, or 1909 per cent. Of the
total, and the American goods imported
amounted to $500, S02, or 1892 per cent. The
remainder Of the cottoH importations was
divided between Japan and
Colonel Ainsworth, of the qaartermaster's
department, has transmitted to the secre-
tary Of war for transmission to the Senate
a partial report on the number Of Confed-
crate cemeteries and their interments, and
is prosecuting the work of completing the
statistics that were asked by Senate reso-
luton with a view to carrying out the Pres
ident's recommendation that government
care be given Confederate dead. The fig
ures so far prepared have not been given
out yet. The work of securing complete
records Is attended necessarily with delay.
Compilations relative to the larger ceme-
teries is easy, but throughout the South
notably near the battlefields-are small
cemeteries, little known, wherein many
Confederates lie buried. General Wright.
who had charge Of Confederate statistics
in the preparation Of the records Of the
civil war, is in charge Of the present work
under General Ainsworth.
The meeting of the river and harbor COM
mittee to-day developed a new phase of the
interoceanic canal questions. Chairman
Burton took the lead In favoring full gov
eminent investigation both of the Panama
and the Nicaragua routes, before commit
ting the government and after the meeting
Mr.. Burton expressed the view that the
sentiment of the committee was opposed to
the Senate Nicaragua canal amendment and
favored full investigation. To that end he
introduced in the House a bin to be pro-
posed later as a substitute for the Senate
Nicaragua canal amendment. It's main fea-
lures are as follows:
The government Of the United States de-
clares its purpose to secure at the earliest
practicable date the construction of a canal
connecting the Atlantic ard the Pacific
oceans. A board OF seven engineers shall be
appointed by the President to make the
surveys and examinations necessary to as
certain the most desirable ana practicable
route for such canal and for the perform
ance of such other duties as the President
may direct: three from the corps of engi-
neers of the army. two from the engineers
Of the navy and two from civil life. The
hoard shall investigate the proposed routes
for a canal between the said oceans, giving
special and personal attention to the So
shall complete estimates of the probable
cost of constructing such canal or canals.
They shall also report upon the commercial
and military value to the people OF the
United States of such canal route or routes.
Tho President may enter into negotiations
with the respective nations owning the tiers
ritory through which such canal or canals
may be constructed In order to obtain the
necessary land for the construction
such rights in natural waterways as
may be necessary. He Is also requested
to enter into such negotiations as he may
deem necessary with any other nations haV-
ing rights in any way connected with the
construction or operations OF such canal or
canals. The President shall acquire Ii pos
sible the absolute title to necessary terri
tory, but II such absolute title cannot be
obtained he may acquire such rights or
easements therein as may be required ana
may cause investigation to be made to as