Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1899-12-14

In the discharge of this function | am
happy to say that abundant opportunity
has been afforded to show the impartiall-
ty OF this government towards both the
combantants"
Cable to Manila Urged.
The Japanese government has shown
lively interest in the proposition of the
Pacific Gable Co, to add to its projected
cable lines to Hawaii Guam and the Phil
ippines, branch connection with the
coast Of Japan. 1t would be gratifying
contamination were the utility of the con-
templated scheme enhanced by bringing
Japan and the United States into direct
telegraph relation. II Recommend, in
case the congress should not take meas
ures to bring about this result by direct
action OF the government, the postmaster
general be authorized to invite compcti-
tive bids for the establishment of a cable
TO Manila" the president says, the CON-
papy making the best response bid
to be warded the contract; the sueo0.s-
full company to give ample bonds to insure
the completion of the work within rea-
sonable time"
Claims growing out OF the seizure OF
American sealin vessels In Behring sea
have been under discussion with the gov
eminent OF Russia for several years, with
the recent happy result OF an agreement
to submit them to the decision OF single
arbitrator
The Samoan Islands.
The arrangement under which Samoa
was administered proved impracticable
and unacceptable. To withdraw and aban-
don the islands to Germany and Great
Britain would not be compatible with our
interests In the archipelago To relinuuish
our rights In the harbor of Pago Pago,
the best anchorage In the Pacific, the &C.
cupancy of which had been leased to the
United States in 1873 by the first foreign
treaty ever concluded by Samoa, was not
to be thought. We could not have con-
sidered any proposition for the abrogatiOn
of the tripartite control which did not
confirm us In all our rights and safeguard
all our national interests In the Islands.
satisfactory arrangement was con-
cluded between the governments OF Ger
many and of England by virtue of which
England retired from Satmoa in view OF
compensations in other directions, ard
both powers renowned in favor of tho
United States all their rights and claims
group lying east of the Hist degree of
west longitude, embracing the Islands Of
Tutuia, Ofoo. Olesenga and Manual.
Claims have been referred by white resi-
dents of Samoa on account of injuries AL
legged to have been suffered through the
acts of the treaty governments in put
ting down the late disturbances. con-
vention has been made between the three
powers for the investigation and settle
ment OF these claims by neutral arbi-
TRAITOR.
The Cars Pence Conference.
A definite project for a permanent inter-
national peace tribunal was included in
the Instructions to the peace delegates Of
tho United States. The convention for the
pacific settlement of international con-
fiicts embodies the leading features of the
American plan with such modification as
versity of views and interests represented
by the delegates. The mediation provided
for by the convention is purely voluntary
and advisory. The delegation of the Unit
ed States was not unmndful OF the in
convenience which must arise from an
obstructive exercise of mediation, and in
signing the convention carefully guarded
the historic position of the United States
by the following declaration: Nothing
in this convention shall be so construed
as to require the United States of Ameri-
ri n
of not intrudng upon, interfering with,
or entangling itself in the political ques-
lions or policy of internal administration
of foreign states: nor shall anything con-
tanned in said convention be construed
to imply a REIMBURSEMENT by the United
States of America of its traditional atu-
tude towards purely American questions
The Pension Question.
On the Both Of June. 1899 the pension roll
of the United States numbered sJl,jl3.
These include the pensioners of the army
and navy in all our wars. The number
added to the rolls during the year was
O,99l. The number dropped by reason
of death, remarrtage, minors by legal
limitation, failure to claim within three
years, and other causes, was 43.lSG and
the number of claims disallowed was l0.
$40. During the year S9,O5i pension certii-
Gates were Issued, of which 80, O11 were for
new or original pensions. The amount
disbursed for army and ma navy pensions
during the year was Sl3S, 355. 052 50, which
was ST. ,46l.61 less than the sum OF the
appropriations. With the approval of the
secretary of the interior, the commission
err of pensions recommends that, in order
to make the practice at all times uniform
and do justice to the dependent widow,
the amount of income allowed, independ-
ent of the proceeds of her daily labor.
should not be less than $3.50 per annuin,
and he urges that the congress shall 50
amend the act as to permit the pension
office to grant pensIona55le status ta!IS to
ton of the act of June o. 1890 whose Ia
come, aside from the proceeds of daily
labor. is not in excess of $3.50 per annum.
81 believe this to be simple act of JUS
tice, and heartily recommend it," says
Mr.. Mckinley.
The Domestic Postal Service.
The domestic postal service continues to
grow with extraordinary rapidity.. The
expenditures and the revenues will each
exceed SlOOOO,OOO during the current year.
Since the revival of prosperous times, the
revenues have grown much faster than
the expenditures. Some classes of mail
matter wrongly exercise the privilege OF
the pound rate which il should have paid,
instead of postal deficit for the last fs-
cal year of $4,000, there would have
been on one basis a surplus of $l1,3I51O.
and on another of s., 1873 S36. The reform
thus suggested, in the opinion of the post
master general, would not only put the
postal service at once on a self-sustainng
basis, but would permit great and valla-
BILE improvements.
The Navy.
The navy has maintained the spirit and
high efficiency which have always char
of the gallantry in heroic action which
has signaliZed its brilliant and glorious
past The officers have shown peculiar
adaptation for the performance of new
and delicate duties which our recent war
has imposed. 1t can not be doubted thai
congress will at once make necessary pro
vision for the armor plate for the vessels
now under contract and building. Pro-
vision of the act of March 3, 1899. limiting
the price of armor to $500 per ton should
be removed.
Echo of the Louisiana Lynchings.
The recurrent manifestations OF blind
mob fury directed at dependents or ma
tives of n foreign country suggests that
the contingency has arisen for action by
congress in the direction OF comforting up
OH the federal courts Jurisdiction In this
class of international cases where the
ultimate responsibility of the federal gov
eminent may be involved.
Echoes From the MessaCe.
The Dawes commission reports that II
has enrolled four of the nati": Il the
Indian territory. Liberal apprOi io.. for
educational purposes in the l.d'In terri
tory Is urged.
The postal system of Cuba though re-
naming under the general guidance OF the
postmaster-general, was mae essentially
Independent.
Though Porto Rico and the Philippines
hold u different relation to me United
States, yet for convenience OF administrn-
ton the same principle of AN autonomous
system has been extended to them.
Conventions OF reciprocity have been
-.