, 1899-10-19
WASHINGTON NEWS.

tive position Of non-interference ! II
the affairs of the old-world govern
ments. The Transvaal has since ap-
pointed Rev. DIR. Bosnian, the Dutch
Reformed clergyman. as their repre-
sentative to the United States.
In his annual report TO the secretary
of the navy, Chief Constructor Hen
born lays special stress upon the I'M
portance of continuing the work OF I'M
proving the plants at the various navy
Yards. Under the read of new con
struction the report sets out the iact
that contracts for the more Important
ships authorized by the last Congress
could not be let, because of the limita-
ton placed upon II cost of the armor.
Nevertheless, complete specifications
for these vessels have been prepared,
and are included in the report. Four
teen vessels, with the exception OF the
Chesapeake and Princeton. torpedo
boats or tugs, were TO the navy
during the last fiscal year.: four Span
ish vessels sunk during the war We're
raised and added. and seventeen small
gunboats were purchased or captured
on the Asiatic station and placed on
the list. On the other hand forty-one
vessels were dropped from the naval
list, including the American line char
tered ships. n number of auxiliary YES
sells sold, the revenue cutters and light
house vessels turned back INTO their
old service, n n couple of monitors.
On July LIST there were building for the
navy forty-eight new vessels, in addi-
ton to those enumerated.
The General Land Office has mailed
to western land offices n circular pre-
scribing rules for the government of
all persons concerned in proceedings
- .G-f- 80 20 -..--.-l -
fecting the validity of claims to public
lands. The object is to provide for the
serving of notice upon entrymen by
which they will be given an opportuni-
ty to be heard in a case II so desired.
Hereafter when there is filed in the
General Land Office n report of n spe
cial agent alleging that a certain entry.
filing, location or claim for n specified
tract of land is fraudulent or Illegal,
or that the claimant has failed to
comply with the requirements of law,
and the facts presented are sufficient
to warrant n cancellation of all entry
or claim, the local land officers will be
authorized to serve notice upon the en-
trymen or claimant. The notice must
define the charges adverse to the
claimants contained in the special
agents report. Thirty days will he al
lowed in which to apply for n 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 a report of n 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 h State Department Thursday:
TIE President has received n 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 e%xpedient
to take action in any of these .direc.
tons. 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 intimation 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 If unfortunately they
should come to pass, the efforts of this
government will be directed-as they
are ut present-to seeing that neither
our national interests nor those of our
citizens shall suffer unnecessary in.