The Elbert County tribune., 1899-10-19
WASHINGTON NEWS.


and are included In the report -Four
teen vessels. with the exception OF tns
Chesapeake and Princeton. torpeuo
boats or tugs. were added 10 the navy
during the last fiscal year; four Span
ish vessels sunk during the war were
raised and added. and seventeen small
runboats were purchased or captured
on the Aslatlc station and placed on
fhe list On the other hand forty-one
vessels were dropped from the naval
list. including the American line char
tered ships. a number of auxiliary yes
sells sold. the revenue cutters and light
house vessels turned back into their
old service. and a couple OF monitors
on July LIST there were building for the
navy forty-eight new vessels, IN adui-
zion tc those enumerated.
The General Land Office has mailed
TO western land offices circular pre-
scribing rules for the government OF
all persons concerned In proceedings
arising on reports of special agents ar
fecting the validity Of claims to public
lands. The object is to provide Tor the
serving of notice upon cntrymen by
which they Will be given an opportunl-
| ty to be heard In n case II so desired.
Hereafter when there is filed In the
General Land Office n report OF n spe-
ciaI agent alleging that n certain entry.
filing. location or claim for a specined
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 VIII be
authorized to serve notice upon the en-
trymen or claimant. The notice must
n ..Ix. Il IN
| claimants contained In the special
agents report Thirty days will be al
lowed in which to apply for hearing
and failure TO reply within the pre-
scribed time VIII be taken as an admls-
| sion OF the truth of the charges. Here
| tofore the practice has been that up
| on a report of special agent of the
abandonment of 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 bredt bIlt-
ain and that of the Transvaal. lie 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 III
the Transvanl. and others wishing
him to assist the Beers against alleged
aggression. 1t is understood that the
President does not think 1t expedient
TO take action in any of these direc-
tions. AS to taking sides with either
party in the dispute. 1t is not to be
thought of. As 10 mediation, the Pres
ident has received no intimation from
either of the countries that the media
tion of the United States would he 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 hostillties may
be avoided. but il unfortunately they
should come to pass. the efforts of this
government will be directed-as they
are Mt present-to seeing that neither
our national interests nor those of our
citizens shall suffer unnecessary in
jury.