The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-13
DISCUSSED BY CABINET
NEW FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR
THE ISLAND OF PORTO RICO.
The People to he Given the Fullest
Measure of Home Rule Possible
Rocky Mountain Locusts.

serious consideration ever since Secretary
Root took his place secretary of war;
and the indications now are that some form
of local government will be decided on and
put into operation within the next few
weeks at the latest. The details of the
proposed plan have not yet been made pub
lic hut 1t is understood that it involves the
appointment of a civil governor by the
President and also the appointment of the
chiefs of the several great departments Of
the government, which would include
chief of the financial department, a direc-
tor of posts and probably two or three
others. In addition the President will ap-
| point from leading citizens of the island
certain number to act in legislative ca
| pacity with the civil governor and the men,
| bers of his council. These will be authorized
to recommend any changes that may be
| thought necessary in the existing laws and
| TO suggest such others as IN their judg-
] ment may be deemed best.
| 1t is not intended that this form of gov
| eminent shall continue beyond the time
| Congress may see fit to legislate on the
| subject, but it is the purpose of the Pres
| ident to give the Porto Ricans some voice
in their own government pending such ac
| ton. Although the governor general and
| general supervision over the enforcement of
| any laws that may receive the approval of
| the President, those relating to municipal
| matters will be left largely in the hands of
the people of Porto Rico. They will be per-
/ mitted to administer their own affairs, SUBJ
ject always to the veto power of the gov
| ernor general and finally of the President.
/ All of the details of the plan have not
been worked out, but it is the purpose of
| the President TO give the people of Porto
| Rico, soon may be, the fullest meas
ure of home rule that is considered con-
sistent with perfect safety to life and prop
erty.
| Every year since the invasion of certain
Western States, particularly Kansas and
/ Colorado, by the Rocky mountain locust or
! Western grasshopper, in the years 1874 and
| 1876, the division of entomology of the
United States Department of Agriculture
| has sent an agent into the field in the
| Western States each summer to study
grasshopper conditions for the purpose of
enabling the department to predict if posi-
BILE, a future invasion, and to warn farmers
we'll in advance. This annual trip for the
present year has just been completed, and
| the special agent, Mr.. w. D. Hunter, has
just reported to DR.. Howard, the entomolo-
| gist Of the department.. This years inves-
legations have been Of special interest on
| account Of a slight outbreak of the locust
in North Dakota, and on account of an I'M
| usual abundance of local nonmigratory spe-
| cies in different Western States. Moreover,
| rather large swarm was seen in flight In
| early August, the exact settling point of
| which 1t is now difficult to approximate.
| Earlier in che summer statement was
published in certain newspapers to the eff
| feet that 1t was considered by entomolo-
| gists that the Turtle mountain region in
permanent breeding ground of the destruc-
| tive migratory graSshopper, a statement
which occasioned much alarm and indigna-
| ton on the part of railroads and land own
L ThlS region. therefore. carefully
| scrutinized by Mr.. Hunter, who reports
that the migratory grasshopper does not
| breed permanently in the Turtle mountains,
| nor in that vicinity. The ground is perfect
| ly unsuited to breeding, and moreover,
swarms descending farther east have been
traced from far to the northeast of that
| place. The probable breeding ground he
thinks is upon the Assiniboine river, north
and east of Regina
| To-day's statement of the condition of the
treasury shows: Available cash balance,
s2S2, 1853; gold reserve. s255.s2S,lSo.
A telegram was sent to-day to L. H.
Stevens, of New York, secretary and treas
urer of the Batopilas Mining Company, in
curing as to the truth of reports that Gov
ernor Alexander r. Shepherd had sold his
leo, to an English syndicate and would re-
turn to his native city Washington, to live.
In response Mr.. Stevens wired mo truth
whatever in either statement
The monthly statement of the exports of
domestic products of the United States
shows that during August last the exports
were as follows: Breadstuffs, So. $50, 352,
against s19,sOs.92e for August. 1898; cattle
and hogs, 81, 5S6014, an increase of $135 SO;
provisions. ST.. 5S4 100. an increase of SO, 1884,
179; cotton, So, COS. 35S, decrease Of $50, S22:
mineral oils, s6565,O09. an increase of 1854, 5O2.
During the last eighteen months the ex-
ports of these products amounted to s431,-
SSS Sl3 against $3.50 $50, 113 for the correspond
ing period in 1898.
| Mr.. Fred Gum, superintendent OF con-
struction of the public building at Kansas
City, has been removed on evidence of negli-
gence, and Mr. Richard Forchy. formerly
of New Orleans and recently superintendent
of the Washington City postOffice building,
has been appointed to the vacancy.
officials here regard the Venezuelan sit
uation as critical. The cruiser Detroit is
due at La Guayra tomorrow night and as
that point is only two hours from Caracas
| no apprehension is felt that any Ameri-
can interests will suffer by the disturb
| ance. The Venezuelan charge d affaires, NJ
Pulido, has received no information on the
reported serious government reverses by
General Castro and the repressive measures
said to have been adopted at Caracas.
Master Florizell Reuter-, of Chicago, a
protege of the Secretary of the Treasury
and Mrs. Gage entertained the President
and Mrs. Mckinley at violin recital in
the Red Room of the White House this
| evening.
| The return Of Baron Fava, the Italian
ambassador, after visit of some months
at Rome, has brought about extended con-
sideration of the recent lyching of several
Italians in Louisiana, not only in reference
to redress in this particular case, but also
as to some general measure of protection
| by the federal government for foreign resi-
| dents in this country. Baron Fava has had
long talk with the President, during
which, IL is understood. he pointed out the
feeling this incident had occasioned in Italy
| and expressed his earnest personal desire
| that some legislative means be adopted tC
| avoid a repetition of such occurrences. The
| ambassad came back with the firm con-
| viction that the federal government, as vel
| as the Louisiana authorities, were sincerely
desirious of redressing the recent affair, &C
| cording to the rights reserved by treaty
to subjects of friendly powers.
| The Alliance has arrived at Tangier. The
Princeton, which has United States Minis
ter Conger aboard. has sailed from Shang.
hal for Ningpo.
1t is said at the Navy Department tina,
Admiral Howell, at present head OF the
naval examining board, is to be the next
ccmmandant of the Norfolk navy yard &c
succeed Admiral Farquhar on his transfer
to the command of the North Atlantic
presidency of the examining board.
So far $3.50 men have been obtained for the
1 nlrtnt