Gilpin observer., 1899-10-19

to warrant cancellation Of all entry
or claim, the local land officers will bt
authorized to serve notice upon the en-
trymen or claimant. The notice mus
define the charges adverse to the
claimants contained in the specia
agents report. Thirty days will be al
lowed in which to apply for a hearing
and failure to reply within the pre-
scribed time will be taken as an admis
sion of the truth Of the charges. Here
tofore the practice has been that up
on report of special agent of the
abandonment of a claim or that an en-
try had been made in violation of law
the entry has been held for canacella
ton. The new rule is expected to pro
mote earlier adjustment in those cases
The following statement was issued
by the State Department Thursday
The President has received large
number of petitions signed by many
citizens of distinction, requesting him
to tender the mediation of the United
States to settle the difference existing
between the government of Great Brit
ain and that of the Transvaal He has
received other petitions on the same
subject some of them desiring him to
make common cause with Great Brit
ain to redress the. wrongs alleged to
have been suffered by the Uitlanders,
and especially by American citizens in
the Transvaal. and others wishing
him to assist the Beers against alleged
aggression. 1t is understood that the
President does not think it expedient
to take action in any of these direc-
tions. AS to taking sides with either
party in the dispute. it is not to be
thought of. AS to mediation. the Pres
ident has received no intimatien from
either of the countries that the media
ton of the United States would be ac.
cepted. and in the absence of such in
timation from both parties, there is
nothing in the rules of international
usage to justify an offer of mediation
in the present circumstances. 1t is
known that the President sincerely
hopes and desires that hostilities may
be avoided, but IL unfortunately they
should come to pass. the efforts of this
government will be directed-as they
are at present-to seeing that neither
our national interests nor those of our
citizens shall suffer unnecessary in
jury.
Senator Davis of Minnesota is under
stood to believe that the next Congress
will not provide for the ultimate dis
position of Cuba and the Philippines,
says the correspondent of the Chicago
Record. 1t is understood that the
President believes that Cuba and the
Philippines should be, for the presenl.
left in control Of the executive. This
opinion seems to be shared by most Of
the administration Republican sena-
tors who have had talks with the Pres
ident. This may be said to be the
chief reason why the administration is
so earnest in securing the support Of
the people in Its Philippine policy
The President knows that all of the
islands will eventually have their fate
settled by Congress. He thinks that
now is the time for Congress to deal
with Porto Rico and Hawaii He
thinks the time has not arrived to deal
with the other islands. With this con-
viction he must necessarily 90 before
the people. seeking their confidence TO
support the wisdom and ability of the
administration to deal with the re-
naming islands until such time as it
is best for Congress to act. This
would leave the ultimate government
of these islands n direct and tangible
issue in the next presidential cam
paign. Congressman and presidential
electors could be voted ON with the
knowledge that they We're for or
against the holding of these islands.
This would give the whole people of
the United States voice in the mat.
ter. If the matter should be settled
in Congress it would he done by n
Congress not elected on this issue and
by an executive not specifically in
structed by the whole federal elector-
ate. Senator Davis. as chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
will probably introduce the measure
providing for the civil government OF
Hawaii and Porto Rico which will
have the approval of the executive. In
the main this legislation will follow the
legislative precedents to be found re-
lating to the Louisiana purchase md
the acquisition of California.
Immediately upon Secretary Hays
return Tuesday preparations began at
the State Department for the compile
tion of the modus vivendi relative to
the Alaskan boundary. General Pos
ter was hard nt work upon the details
of the modus. and the expectation was
that In the course Of n day or two lle
agreement would be In effect. The ,e-
gotiations of late have been entirclyin
the hands of Secretary Hay and Nr.
Tower, the British charge here. 1t lns
not been undetermined even yet whether
the agreement defining the boundary
temporarily shall take the form of a
document signed by both parties. or be
merely series of notes. but In eitlrr
case It will be Just as effective ms II
regular mOdus vivendi, binding bdh
parties to observe the boundary ldd
down temporarily. State Department
officials are confident that Americans
will have 10 cause TO complain tint
their rights have been abandoned 'wh,n
the full scope of the agreement Is
made known. while on the other haId
the Canadians cannot claim properly
that they have lost any right that thG
have enjoyed. The purpose of this
particular effort nt modus was b
regulate the boundary line on the wet
side of the Linn canal. The two partir
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