The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-15

Commissioner Wilson, of the Internal
Revenue Bureau, has decided that he will
not redeem at the beginning OF the new
year imprinted checks because they may be
printed or engraved in the date line the
figures 1889 or 49, Holders of these
checks will be expected TO exhaust their
supply, write in the figures '19OO." or stand
the loss.
Misinterpretations by employees through
out the country of the recent ruling as to
the status of married women as postofice
clerks led to statement to-day by First
Assistant Postmaster General Heath. He
reiterates that the presence of husband and
wife as clerks in the same Office is inimical
to the service, and that her position should
go to some one who has no means Of sup
port He says: 81 intend to apply this
marry. Female postoffce clerks already
married, and whose employment under
their married names has been approved by
the department will not be disturbed under
this ruling"
Two joint resolutions were introduced in
the House of Representatives to-day by
Representative Williams, of Mississippi.
which are the result of consultation among
a number of Democratic leaders in the
House and are understood to be expressive
Of their general position on the Philip
pines. The first resolution declares the in
tention and purpose to recognize the inde-
pendence of the Filipinos and withdraw
our land and sea forces, provided the in
dependent government agrees to refund the
$1,000 1000 paid by the United States to
Spain, to give us a suitable naval and coal
ing station and grant in perpetuity free
access to its ports. Another section pledges
our friendly assistance and also pledges
for ten years. during which time the
foreign affairs of the islands are to be un-
der American control.
The other resolution asks for informa-
tion relative to the conclusion of treaty
with the Sultan of JolO and provides for
an inquiry by the judiciary committee as
to whether the constitutional provisions
against slavery and the statutory pro-
visions against polygamy apply to the Sulu
people.
Secretary Gage to-day announced that he
would anticipate the interest due on Jan.
/, 1900, on registered and coupon per cent.
consols of 1907, without rebate. Checks to
the number of 26.563 will be mailed to-
morrow to holders of the registered bonds
and interest on the coupons will be paid
on presentation of the same. The amount
of the former is s4,3S6,505, and the latter
$671 1881, making a total of $685., $685. less the
interest on bonds recently purchased, and
less the interest already anticipated by the
secretarys offer of Oct. 10, to pay interest
due at any time during the present fiscal
year. with a rebate of about "a per cent.
Applications for interest to become due un-
der the offer of October 10, must be made
before Jan. i. -"
Responding to a resolution of inquiry, the
President to-day sent to the Senate a
statement by the secretary of state con-
corning possible sale of the Galapagos
islands. The President in his statement
says the Department of State has no pres
ent information Of a possible sale of the
Galapagos islands by the government Of
Ecuador to Great Britain or any European
power. '''
The annual report Of W. s. Chance, su-
pervising special agent of the Treasury
Department, shows that during the year
the total number of arrests made for viola
tions of customs was sixty-nine, and for
violations of Chinese exclusion laws 566.
The November statement of the imports
and exports of the United States issued
by the Bureau of Statistics shows as fol-
lows: acknowledgements. $4. Az, ,2S3, Of
which $32, 226, $50 was free of duty, an in
crease over November, 1898, of about $22,-
$4,000; domestic exports. $121 S02. .627. de-
crease of nearly $6,6O0.0O Gold imports,
s., 80, ,043; exports, $264 $40, decrease in i'm
ports of s., 225, 900 and a decrease in exports
of $649,000. Silver imports, $2,72, 360; ex-
ports, A.439.166; an increase in imports of
$500, COO and an increase in exports of $4,000.
During the last eleven months there was
an increase of s1525 ALP in the imports of
merchandise and an increase Of $34, 494, 793 in
the exports of merchandise.
The Senate to-day confirmed the follow
ing nominations:
To be United States ministers-william
P. Lord of Oregon, to the Argentine Re-
public; Herbert w. Bowen. of New York.
to Persia; Arthur s. Hardy, of New Jer-
Lawrence Townsend. of Pennsylvania, TO
Belgium; Bellamy Storer. of Ohio. to
Spain; John n. Irwin. of Iowa, to Portugal.
To be United States consuls-J. III. john
Washington, of Texas. at Valencia, Spain.
To be secretaries of legations-Lloyd G.
Griscom of Pennsylvania, at Constantine
pie; ]. c. McNally, of Pennsylvania, to
Guatemala and Honduras; Spencer f. Ed
dy, of Illinois, to Paris (second secretary;
Joseph III. Choate, jr., of New York. to
London (third secretary: Arthur M. Beau
pre-, of Illinois, at Bogota, Colombia.
In a special report to the secretary OF
war Gen. F. c. Ainsworth shows that the
sum of $2,6l09H has been expended to date
in the compilation and printing of the off,
cial records of the Union and Confederate
armies. which work commenced In
1874. The expenditures on this account dur
ing the past fiscal year were 81 ,351. leaving
a balance of SO. 729 on hand, nearly all of
which Is covered by outstanding obliga-
tions. s"*
Among the House measures introduced
to-day were: By Mr.. Kitchin of North
Carolina. reducing the tax on snuff and to-
bacco from II to cents per pound and
compelling telegraph companies to pay the
revenue stamp tax on dispatches; by Mr.
Wilson, of Arizona, admitting Arizona to
statehood and to give two months extra
pay to those serving in the war with Spain
without limitations of present law: by Mr.
Glynn, of New York, a resolution for a
tribute to the memory of Joseph Henry,
the scientist, on the occasion Of the one
hundredth anniversary of his BIRTH by Mr..