Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-04-20
THE CABINET MEETS
The Samoan Situation and the Dis
armament Congress Discussed.
Reporta to That Eject Poaltlveiy Denied
The Beef Court Has Nearly Finished
Its InvsAtigati0n-A Catholic
Church for West Point.

Washington, April l5.-The cabinet
meeting Yesterday, which lasted longer
than usual, was devoted principally tc
the discussion Of the Samoan situation
and the instructions to the American
commissioners to the czar's disarma'
ment conference at The Hague. A
complete written report concerning
the preliminaries leading up to the
hostilities which was made to the sec
rotary OF the navy by Admiral Kautz
was read to the cabinet by
Secretary Long. 1t throws some adj
ditional light upon the complications
prior to the admiral's arrival, the most
important fact brought out being that
the three consuls, American, British
and German, at the time of the ad-
miraPs arrival at Apia, had recognized
the revolutionists under Mataafa. The
Mataafa uprising, after Chief Justice
Chambers decision in favor of Ma
lietoa, the admiral indicates. was TO-
mented largely by the German consul,
who insisted upon recognizing
Mataafa as king. Chaos was threat.
ened and the American and British
residents considered themselves in
peril Of their lives. A massacre was
feared and under the circumstances
the American and British consuls
joined with the Germans in recogniz.
ing the provisional government under
Mataafa. To Admiral Kautz upon his
arrival. however, the British and
Americans explained that they had
been forced to this action by
the situation. The admiral. at
the conference aboard the Phla.
delphla, having satisfied him
self that Chief Justice Cham bers'
decision was in accordance with the
Berlin treaty, informed the consuls
that they had no power to violate Its
provisions and, with the full acquies.
cence Of the British and American
consuls, he issued his manifesto dis
solving the provisional government
and Malietoa was crowned king. The
counter-proclamation Of the German
consul and the Smelling Of the native
villages, as recounted in the press
dispatches, followed.
The instructions OF this government
to the commissioners appointed to rep
resent the United States at the cars
disarmament conference which is to
meet at The Hague during the latter
part Of May have been prepared by
Secretary Hay and were read at the
cabinet meeting Although the sym
pathy of the United States for the
cars proposal is we'll understood, the
exact nature Of the instructions to our
commissioners Is being carefully
guarded. 1t would be manifestly i'm
proper to disclose our official position
at the conference in advance.
SECRETARY ALGER WILL NOT RESIGN.
Washington, April Is. -Secre tary
Alger last night put an effective quiz
etus on the persistent reports that he
contemplated retirement from the
cabinet by a positive and unequivocal
statement that the reports were abso-
lutely without foundation; that, un-
less some unforeseen and unlocked for
contingency arises, he proposes to re-
main secretary OF war throughout this
administration. He had his attention
called to recent rumors that he
would resign after the investiga-
ton into the conduct Of the war and
incidental matters ceases and that
his successor already had been deter.
mined upon. He said all statements
Of that character were false; that he
has not entertained any such inten-
ton, and that they were instigated
with the evident purpose of attempt
ing to force him to leave the cabinet.
He said he purposed to pay no atten-
ton whatever to these attacks. He au.
the Associated press TO make
an absolute denial Of the reports Of his
contemplated resignation and to an
nounce, for all, in the strongest posi-
BILE terms, that he would remain in his
present office throughout his regular
term of Office. OF course, he added, If
there should be great disaster in his
private business affairs, or he should
be stricken in health or some such
wholly unexpected and sudden event
incurred. it might actuate him to re-
sumo MS private NE Ms matter VI
course, but he had not had any idea of
resigning and his determination to re.
main, despite reports to the contrary,
was fixed and unalterable.
BEEF COURT HAS NEARLY FINISHED.
washington, April l5-The Wade
court Of inquiry has decided to ex.
anime no more witnesses after the
close Of this week unless in exception.
al cases where men expected were un.
avoidably delayed. Gen. Miles will
not be heard If at all, until next week,
but he will not be called, except upon
his own request. There are several
witnesses still to be examined, but
the court will expedite the close. In
accordance with thiss decision the
court will not hear all the additional
witnesses whose names have been sug.
gested by Gen. Miles. Some of them
will, however, be called and they will
include Inspector General Breckin-
ridge.