The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-02

Against the above there are demand LA
bilities outstanding amounting to S639. 241 ,45S,
leaving a net cash balance OF 500. lJ3, 5l3.
The conferees of the two houses on the
naval personnel bill have reached an agree
ment on the points of difference. AS agreed
on, the bill retains the principal features of
the House bill, including it's provisions for
the amalgamation of the line and the engi-
neer corps, for increased pay. for promo
ton and for the Improvement of the marine
corps. The Senate provision for a six-year
course at Annapolis, as under the present
law, Is retained. the House receding from
its determination TO limit the course to four
years. The Senate provision, making a diff
ference of Is per cent. between sea pay and
shore pay, also remains in the bill. The
agreement does away with the forty APP
pointments from civil life. 1t also leaves out
the Judge advocate corps, which has been
open to difference.
Mr.. Hunter. United States minister to
Guatemala and Honduras, is here in consul
tation with the officials of the State De-
partment respecting the course to be pur-
sued in the matter of the killing of Mr..
Pears, a native of Pittsburg. and the resi-
dent agent of the Honduras Mahogany
Company, near Puerto CorteZ, Honduras.
Representative DalZell. of Pennsylvania, has
submitted to the department some data
connected with the case from a brother OF
the deceased, who seeks ample reparation
for his brothers death. Pears was killed by
a sentry, owing to his failure to stop at the
word of command. He did not obey because
of his imperfect knowledge of Spanish. The
circumstances of the case have been thor
oughly investigated by the commander or
the United States gunboat Machias. when
is now at Puerto Cortez. and by the United
States consul at Tegucigalpa and their re-
ports are on the way to the State Depart
ment.
Assistant Secretary Allen. to whom the
subject of the extension Of the use of cleo
tricity aboard ship has been referred by
Secretary Long, has decided that. pending
the completion of the Kearsarge and Ken
lucky and the test of electrical devices on
them. IL would not be wise TO provide for
further extension in the use of electricity
as n motive power for deck wlnches and
boat cranes. The decision, Mr.. Allen says,
does not involve the abandonment OF the
use of electricity in any sense: on the con-
trary the United States, having been fore
most of all naval powers I'm the application
Of that means of Transmitting power, In
tends to maintain its position. A study of
the plans for the three battle ships.AIa-
parent, however, that II electricity was TO
be used for the cranes and winches II would
plant aboard ship at the cost of over five
hundred tons of coal room because. that
much space must be taken from the bunk
ers. The decision affects only the deck
winches and boat cranes.
The resolutions adopted at the Demo
cratic House caucus relative to the Philip
pines were introduced in the House by Rep
resentative Dinsmore of Arkansas. and re-
ferred 10 the foreign affairs committee.
Chairman Hit. OF that committee. says IL
has not yet been determined whether a
meeting will be called TO consider the SUBJ
ject.
The President to-day seEt the following
nominations TO the Senate: Boothius III.
Sullivan, OF Plankinton. s. D.. TO be register
of the land office at Peavy. Alaska; Roland
C. Nichols, OF Wapakoneta. o.. receiver of
public moneys at Peavy, Alaska.
Soon after Congress adjourns the Presi-
dent hopes to take a brief vacation to re-
cuperate from the strain under which he
has been for the greater part of the past
year. No definite plans have been outlined
nor the manner Of the outing finally de-
termiEed upon. The President prefers q trip