The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-20
New Commissioner, Who Will Visit
the Isthmus, to Be Named by the
President without Delay.
TRIBUTE To- AN OLD "SEA DOG"
SECRETARY LONGS LETTER TO
REAR ADMIRAL STEWART.
Regret Expressed at the Latter's Re-
tirement Joint High Canadian
Commission Invited to Alaska.
,.,,,, .. 49,. ,,s,.nano,,s Iorrro,

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 19.-Some time ago
Commissioner of Pensions Evans appointed
a committee of special examiners to investi-
gate the alleged frauds said to have been
perpetrated on the government at the vari-
Gus pension agencies by veterans. A great
many cases of this kind have been brought
to light by the committee, which has been
holding sessions in New York. Cases have
been unearthed where veterans have been
drawing two pensions, and widows have
been drawing pensions Of husbands alleged
to be dead After the committee completes
its work in New York 1t will visit Western
agencies, and 1t Is expected that some dar-
ing cases of fraud will be found to exist.
The committee intends to make very
searching investigation, and 1T is the pur-
pose Of the department to punish the Of
tenders for violations Of the pension laws.
Some time ago, the commissioner of pen
sions received $57 from an old soldier in
western Pennsylvania, who did not state for
what purpose the amount was intended.
The commissioner waited for quite while.
in the hopes that the mans object might be
found, but finally turned the money into the
United States treasury. This week, Com
missioner Evans received letter from the
President, inclosing one from the old SOL
der, asking what had become of his pension
conscience fund. and the matter will be in
vestigated and the money used for what
ever purpose it was intended.
When Rear Admiral Stewart, United
States navy. retired from the service he re-
ceived this letter from Secretary Long: in
view of your transfer, by operation of law.
to the retired list, cannot let the oppor-
tunity go to express not only my personal
regret at the termination of your official
relation to the department, but my very
high sense, which, 1 am sure, is shared by
the navy and the country, of the admirable
and most efficient manner In which you
have discharged the duties of paymaster
general and chief Of the Naval Bureau Of
Supplies and Accounts. You have held this
office from May 16. $780, to May 5, 1899. And,
during my term as secretary, have person
ally observed your work, especially during
the exacting time of the recent war. Your
administration of your bureau has been
marked by the highest efficiency and am
not aware that even in the press and ext
gency of the most exacting periods has
there been any error or failure. The disin-
terested and successful manner in which
the affairs of the bureau have been admin
stered. the promptness and abundance with
which our ships and yards have been sup
piled and the general thoroughness of your
work in every respect, are now matters Of
common knowledge. You have set high
standard for your successors and contribu-
ted very largely to whatever good reputa-
tion the Navy Department now has,"
Each of the members of the American
branch Of the Joint High Canadian Commits
sion has received handsomely prepared
| invitation from the Chamber of Commerce
of Skaguay. through its president, to visit
| that port and see for themselves the condi-
| tions there. The invitation recites in strong
| language the desire Of the people of Skag-
uay to have the commission maintain to the
utmost the claims of the United States to
every foot of territory within the thirty
miles lying between the sea and the bound
ary line as 1t has heretofore been recog-
nized. There is every indication Of the abb
solute and final determination Of the Amer
| lean commissioners to uphold this view. 1t
| has come to pass In the negotiations now
going on in London between Lord Salisbury
and Sir Julian Pauncefote on one side and
Ambassador Choate on the other that the
| resuming of the deliberations of the joint
commission depends entirely upon the dis
| position made of the Alaskan boundary
question. When the commission adjourned
last winter 1t was because the two branches
were unable to agree upon it, The Amer
| leans finally proposed to drop the boundary
question entirely as a subject for considera-
tion by the commission, leaving 1t to be ad-
| justed by ordinary diplomatic methods or
| by arbitration. The Canadians refused TO
consent to the separation of this question
| from the others. Therefore the adjourn
ment followed. and 1t is necessary for the
United States and Great Britain to agree on
one of two courses before the commission
should meet again--either by mutual agree
ment the boundary question must be with
| drawn subject for consideration or the
two nations must settle II outright them
| selves before the commission meets. The
negotiations now in progress are directed
to securing one Of these results.
Admiral John Walker the president OF the
Nicaraguan Canal Commission, called at the
| State Department to-day and had a long
| talk with Secretary Hay respecting the
| work of the commission and the course to
be pursued by the new isthmian canal CON-
| mission, which is 10 be appointed to carry
| forward the work of the present Nicaraguan
| Canal Commission. Admiral Walker was
/ able TO announce the completion or the work
of the present commission and promised 10
| have the final report ready for submission
| 20 the President by next Monday. He inti-
| mated the estimate OF cost OF the projected
canal was s125.o0o0oo. the mean between the
estimates OF the individual members AS
soon as he receives the report OF the present
commission the President win announce the
rames Of the new commissioner who are
"a ~ a aonoir1fed undor fha AT ~ fha lac
Congress to canvass all Of the isthmian