The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-25
WILL PROTECT SCHLEY
SECRETARY LONG SAYS THE ADMI-
RAJ WILL NOT LOSE HIS POSITION.
No Court of Inquiry Ordered to Deter
mine the Merits of the Contro-
versy with Sampson.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.-In answer to an
inquiry Secretary Long said to-day that he
had not thought of ordering a court of in
quiry into the merits of the Sampson-Schley
controversy, nor did he contemplate allowing
Schley to be forced out of the service
through any technicality. such as the fail
ure Of the Senate to confirm his nomination
to be rear admiral. The department.. in that
case, would see to It that he was protected.
Secretary Alger returned to Washington
to-day and when asked concerning reports
that he intended to resign from the Cabinet
said that he never had entertained such an
idea, and that so far as his own disposition
was concerned he would remain in the Cab
met until the end of the present adminis-
tration. At PittSburg, according to a dis
patch from that city, he said: 4 could not
afford to leave the Cabinet under the present
conditions. l am perfectly satisfied to
leave the investigation of my conduct dur
ing the Spantsh-American war with the in
veStlgating committees that have been APP
pointed. l have no fear Of the result. /
could not relinquish the portfolio as secre-
tary of war while still under fire.
The records Of the War Department show
an interesting story in connection with the
nomination by the President of an officer on
the retired list of the army, Robert w.
Dowdy, to be a captain in active service.
At the outbreak Of the Spanish war Dowdy
was a lieutenant in the Seventeenth Infan-
try. While the troops were lying at Tampa
waiting to embark he took his examination
for promotion as a captain, but was found
physically unfit. The recommendation of
the board that he be retired was forwarded
to Washington. Meantime the Seventeenth
went 70 Cupa and. DoWdy went along; lie
was in the thick of the fighting everywhere,
suffered every hardship and exposure and
went through the whole campaign without
losing a day from Illness. Just as the troops
returned in victory to the United States
the papers came back from Washington, re-
firing Dowdy from the service. Upon look
ing into the case the President was salts
fled that this was a particular hardship n
that the man who was strong enough to
render such service as Dowdy had rendered,
was good enough to remain in active serV-
Ice, hence the nomination.
Representatives Parker, of New Jersey,
and De Almond, of Missouri, have submit
ted minority reports from the House judi
ciary committee on the resolution unseating
General Wheeler and other members hold
ing army commissions. Mr.. Parker declares
that the Constitution ought to be enforced
In a sensible, liberal and practical way and
is for the House, and not q committee, to
decide whether patriotic military service not
inconsistent with legislative duty should be
branded and held to be a forfeiture of mem
bership in the House. Mr.. De Almond
maintains that there should be no distinc-
ton between members holding civil and
military positions.
Representative Grosvenor, of Ohio, has in
troduced a bill directing that government
publications shall bear the imprint Of the
international Typographical Union.
Secretary Gage to-day said that there was
no truth whatever in the published state
ment that another bond issue was in con-
10 -
now an available cash balance in the treas
ury of over $271, 000,O 0 and, although the
expenditures are now and for some time to
come. expected to be In excess of the re-
ceipts, the treasury receipts are not such as
to warrant an apprehension for the future.
To-day's statement of the condition of the
treasury shows: Available cash balances,
$2n, 147, S12; gold reserve, $227,6S $50.
The President to-day sent the following
nominations to the Senate: A. c. Nc
marck, N. D.; Edwin A. Jones, of Iowa, to
be q commissioner to examine ana classify
lands.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Wilson presented
the credentials of Addison G. Foster; elected
a senator from Washington for a term of six
years from March 4, 1899. Mr.. Foster sue
ceeds Mr.. Wilson.
President and Mrs. Mckinley were the
guests of Secretary Of War and Mrs. Alger
tonight at the first Cabinet dinner these
hosts have ever given, as a series Of mis-
fortunes prevented several Entertainments
planned for last season, as we'll as one
early IN the present year. Twenty-four COW
ers were lald at an oval table, which was
magnlficently decorated in American Beauty
roses and lilies of the valley. The entire
company included the President and Mrs.
Mckinley, the Vice President and Mrs. Ho-
bart, the Secretary of State and Mrs. Hay,
the Secretary Of the Treasury and Mrs.
Gage, the Attorney General and Mrs.
Grlggs, the secretary Of the navy, the Post
master General and Mrs. Smith, the secre-
tary Of the interior, the secretary of agri-
culture, Miss Long, Miss Wilson, senator
and Mrs. Hanna, Mr.. and Mrs. John Sloan,
and Mrs RallaN of Pittshuro