The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-08
OSCAR TO BE ARBITER
KING OF NORWAY AND SWEDEN
WILL PASS on SAMOAN CLAIMS.
Arbitration Convention Signed by the
United states and Germary-Inter-
esting Talk with Count Cassini.


Tower for Great Britain and Mr..
Mumm Won Schwartzenstein on the
part Of Germany to-day at the State De-
partment signed convention providing for
the adjustment by arbitration of claims OF
inhabitants of Samoa for damages result
ms from the naval and military operations
there last spring. King Oscar III of Norway
and Sweden Is specified by the treaty as
the arbitrator.
The Russian ambassador, Count Cassin
who is back from Europe, was seen at
the Russian embassy to-day and talked
in "a most entertaining manner on inter-
national questions which have engaged pub
lie attention recently. Count Cassinis name
has been prominently identified of late with
the Chinese situation, as it has been stated
that on his return here he would make
known to the President and Secretary Hay
the desire of the continental powers of
Europe that the United States should in
dicate what port or sphere of influence in
China it desires to occupy.
II saw many prominent public men while
in Europe. including Count Muravieff,
said Count Cassini, land l assure you that
this is the first time that have heard that
such proposition to be submitted to
the United States In my talks at St. Peters
tie Chinese subject were discussed, but
| nothing. absolutely nothing, occurred to
warrant any report that l individually or
with others have any special inquiries to
make concerning China To be sure this
and all other current topics are informally
discussed, but 1t be stated positively
that / return without any special mission to
perform and without instructions relating to
China
Count Cassni said il was difficult to I'M
derstand the recent agitation over an open
door" in China. so far Russia is con-
cerned," said he her door stands open. The
| great commercial port of Talien-Wan has
| been made free to the commerce of the
world by formal proclamation. No discrim-
| nations arc made against the commerce of
foreign countries and Russia enjoys no
| special privileges at this port
Concerning the identity of Russian and
| American interests in China Count Cassini
| said Russia was now buying rails and rail-
| road supplies from the United States to
build the Transsiberian Railroad through
Manehuria. Moreover. the ambassador dor
pointed out that there, as elsewhere, the
| traditional friendship between the Russians
| and the Americans existed.
AS to~European sentiment concerning the
South African war Count Cassint said: or
course all Europe is watching this conflict
with profound interest and concern. But
| it is the interest of observers, and there
| is no suggestion or thought of any inter-
vention or move of any kind from outside
| quarters. The loss Of life which is occur
| ring is particularly regretable, and 1t Is TO
| the interest of all that peace should be
speedily restored
| A dispatch from Berlin says: THE For
| eign Office authorized the Associated Press
to say regarding the United States govern
| ments representations relative TO main
tanning the. open door in China that Ger.
4 ma h0C on n "A
! Kiao-Chou and by Count Won Buelow's
| binding declarations that she favors live
and-let-live policy in China.
| Argument probably will begin tomorrow
| in the United States Supreme Court in the
case brought to fix the responsibility in the
matter of the payment of war revenue
| taxes upon packages sent by express. The
| case is entitled William Crawford VS.. Will
| liam NJ. Hubbell. treasurer of the Adams
Express Company, and it was brought upon
| agreement to decide whether the tax should
| Crawford is a member of the Merchants
| Association of New York. which association
IS supporting hmm in the proceeding. Hon:
| Britain, was one of the original counsel in
| the case, but since he went abroad has
been succeeded by former Judge Allan l.
| chants are Mr.. James b. Dill and Mr. Fred
eric r. Kellogg. William ID. Guthrie APP
| was decided pro forma in the courts below
| In favor of the express companies. In ad-
from the Merchants Association. to attend
| the argument in the case are: William F.
| King, president of that association; S.
| sociation; Frederic ID. De Berard, and Will
liam r. Corwine. When this case was first
pending number of cases were brought by
commercial bodies and cities other than
! New York and counsel interested in those
cases have obtained leave from the Circuit
Court to file their briefs
To-day's statement of the condition of the
treasury shows: Available cash balance,
s2Ss, 1320l5; gold reserve, $25i,J09,S6o.
The report Of Paymaster General Bates
of the army shows the following main
items of expenditure during the last fiscal
year: Regular army, sS4.141, 225; volunteer
army sS5ST,177 disarmament of Cuban
! army, 500, leo; extra pay to volunteers (war
with SPAIN. $443,SS2 exEa pay to regulars
(war with SPAIN, s2o5.6T2 General Bates
says that some of the new paymasters,
| while evincing great zeal and intelligence,
have been too old to withstand the hard
| ships of service, and he recommends that
under no circumstances should men be ap-
| pointed TO this Office who are over forty
| years OF age, nor until they have passed an
examination as to their physical, moral and
mental fitness for the position
General Davis reports from Porto Rico
|
| fantry, Company b, died Nov 3 from stab
| wound.
Some of the Southern papers and politi-
clans are attacking First Assistant Post
master General Heath account of the
poor showing for the South made in his re-
port on the establishment of rural free de-
| livery and charging him with running the
service for the politics there Is in il. One
reason why rural free delivery has not been
INTRODUCED more extensively in the South is
because neither the people of that section
r.or their congressman have asked for ii.
although strenuously urged by the officials
| of the department to take the matter up and
sive ii their attention. Another reason is
| the poor roads. If the critics would devote
| their energies 10 stirring up their constitu-
encieS and inducing them TO ask the depart
n:ent for the rural service they would see a
| change.
| Navy Department advices announcing the
| arrival of the Newark at Honolulu show
that she made the run from San Francisco
| in seven days, averaging a speed of thirteen
| knots. This Is nearly 80 per cent. in excess
| of her regular cruising speed. Captain Nc
| Gala was so pleased with the record that
| on reaching Honolulu he advanced all the
| ninety-four employees in the engineer de-
4 r1oC in vol