The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-10


ference or even a majority of the delegates.
But they are content to plant the seed and
make beginning which, it is hoped by the
President and Secretary Hay, Will in the
end have substantial results. The Ameri-
can delegates are committed to this arbi-
tration project much more strongly than
10 anything likely TO figure before the con-
ference. Regarding disarmament their in
structions are 10 tell the conference that
the present armament of the United States
and any within the possibilities Of the flu
ture are so far below the present minimum
armament with which any OF the great
powers are likely TO be content that there
is really no reason why the United States
should be called into the agreement. Other
points upon which the delegates have been
instructed correctly referred 70 in the
cable dispatches this morning namely, the
exemption from seizure of individual prop
erty aad the extension Of the Red Cross
rules to warlike operations at sea. As to
the former, the President expressed him
self very strongly in his last message to
Congress and the delegates go charged to
give practical effect TO these views. AS 10
the Red Cross extension both the United
States and Spain during the recent war
voluntarily agreed TO apply the Red Cross
rules at sea- But another point in the in
structiols which is not mentioned in the
cable dispatches is that relating to the
amelioration of the horrors of war and with
this, too, the American delegates are deep
ly concerned. 1t was because of the Presi-
dents interest in this subject, as much as
for any other reason, that the two technical
experts. Captain Mahan and Captain Cros-
er, were included in the American delega-
l. -
something in this direction will be accom-
plished at the approaching conference.
In the highest German quarters IL is
stated there is no doubt whatever the Ger
man government will be able to command
the requisite majority to pass the govern
ment measure relating TO the inspection of
meat, foreign and domestic, now before the
Reichstag, and for this reason there is said
to be no ground for the apprehension ex-
pressed in this country that the adverse
action on the bill i'm committee would pre-
judice the negotiations between the United
States and Germany. The bill now pend
ing in the Reichstag Is TO considerable ex-
tent the result of negotiations between Ber-
lin and Washington. and is acceptable to
the government authorities both sides
as well as 10 the meat industry.
doubted its ability to pass the measure in
the Reichstag and it is said the adverse
action of committee in no sense changes
the government plans or serves TO show the
bill will fail when it reaches the chamber
On the contrary. the government expects
to carry the measure by large vote. the
only adverse element, it is asserted, being
made up of the Socialists, extreme Agrar-
| ians and those known as the wild
| members. The aggregate of this opposition
| is said to be far short of sufficient to inter
fere with the government plans. For the
present. however. the government bill is
not to be pushed time is desired to
allow this new outbreak of Agrarian senti-
| ment to pass over and enable the officials
| to confer with the various leaders. In the
best informed official German quarters it
| Is felt that even the temporary reverse in
the committee would not have occurred had
1t not been for the inopportune appearance
Of the report of the court of inquiry which
has been looking into the matter OF meat
furnished the American army.
Assistant Secretary Vanderlip has pre-
pared a statement showing that since the
original issue of the Spanish war loan last
summer there has been a marked move
coupon bonds for registered bonds. 1T was
expected" says Mr.. Vanderlp, that there
would be a movement in that direction, but
it Is gratifying that 1t has not been ac-
companied, to any great extent, by the con-
solidation of holdings. Even after this ex-
change OF coupons for registered bonds has
gone on until the amount is now three times
the amount of registered bonds taken out
of original applications, the number of
individual accounts still continues much
larger than for any other issue of govern
ment bonds. There has been nothing like
the consolidation of these bonds in the
hands of large holders that many people
anticipated In spite of the high prices
which have offered such attractive profits to
the original purchasers of the bonds, and
notwithstanding the demand by national
banks wishing TO secure them as a basis
for obtaining public deposits or new circu-
lation, the bonds are. to large extent, re-
naming in the hands of the original pur-
chasers, and the issue is far more widely
scattered than any previous issue of a re-
public security" -
The United States and Great Britain
will stand together in the advocacy of the
adoption of a scheme for the settlement Of
international disputes by arbitration, which
will be presented TO the disarmament con-
ference at it's meeting in The Hague on the
10Th of the present month. The American
delegates, headed by Ambassador White
are equipped with fairly well digested
plan for the execution of this long-cher-
ished project while the British delegates
are prepared with plan which is almost
identical with the American project.
Acting Secretary of War Meiklejohn said
to-day that the Chinese exclusion act did
no. apply TO our insuar possessions. Some
three weeks ago order was issued ex-
tending the laws and regulations governing
immigrs ton to the United States TO the ter
ritory under military control and collectors
of customs were directed TO enforce them,
pending the establishment of regular i'm
migration stations. BY some this order
was interpreted TO mean the exclusion of
Chinese from Porto Rico. Cuba and the
Philippines. This is an instant, Mr.. Meikle-
the regular immigration laws not the Chi
nese exclusion act, and there was no inten-
ton for the present OF making the latter
act applicable to our insular possessions.
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn, I'm charge
of Alaskan affairs, has issued an order Gre
ating the military district of North Alaska,
which is to include all that portion of the
territory north OF the 6lst parallel. This
district is placed in command of Caps.
p. III. Ray. who has had much experience