The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-04
Members of the House Who Accepted
appointment ON Civil COmmis-
siOns Not Affected.
Mr.. HEPBURN'S CANAL BILL
ORDERED TO BE FAvORABLY RE-
PORTED TO THE HOUSE.
Substitute. for Senator MOrgan'@
Nicaragua waterway Measure
$115,OOO,OOO to BE Appropriated.
;neeial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.--The House judi
ciary committee has finally decided to re-
port that General Wheeler and the other
congressman who accepted commissions in
the volunteer army forfeited their seats in
Congress by so doing. The committee
wrestled with the problem for several days,
holding secret sessions and considering the
matter in all it's bearings Six sets of per-
sons holding or who have held during the
life of this Congress temporary positions
were considered % Those who served in
1897 as members of the universal postal
congress; (2) those on the Industrial CONF
mission; go those on the Canadian high
joint commission; (D those who served on
the Hawaiian commission; (5) officers app
pointed by the speaker as regents of the
Smithsonian Institution, members of the
boards of visitors to the military and naval
academies and trustees TO Institutions over
which the government exercises control,
and Co those who accepted commissions in
the volunteer army.
The committee decided that the first five
| classes do not come within the scope of Ar
ticle T. Section {, of the Constitution, which
declares that no person holding any Office
/ under the United States shall be a member
Of either House during his continuance in
| Office but decided that those who accepted
commissions in the volunteer army did
| come within its scope. 1t win be interest-
ing to learn the line of reasoning that holds
| that the acceptance of temporary civil Of
| fees falls without, while the acceptance OF
| temporary military offices falls within the
scope of that article and section The de-
| eision of the committee affects four per-
sons-Major General Wheeler, Democrat,
| of Alabama; Col. Edward Everett Robbins,
! Republican, OF Pennsylvania; Col. David
Grant Colson, Republican, of Kentucky.
and Col. James r. Campbell Democrat, OF
Illinois. There is a statute that forbids a
person from drawing two salaries from the
government at the same time. Neither Of
| these four did so. General Wheeler drew
his salary at major general, which is al the
rate of $500 a year, but drew nothing as
| congressman. The three colonels drew SAL
aries as congressman, which is at the rate
of 5000 a year, but drew nothing as
colonels, the salary of that rank being 500
| a year.
Chairman Hepburn, of the House COM
merce committee, was ordered to-day to re-
port his Nicaragua canal bill to the House
as substitute to the Morgan canal bill.
which has already passed the Senate and is
before the House. The Hepburn bill con-
templates the building of the canal by the
| United States, and proposes an appropria-
ton of $115 OO0OOO for that purpose AS Mr..
Hepburn prepared it, his bin authorized the
President TO acquire 'sovereignty" over
such territory as might be needed for canal
purposes. The committee struck out the
sovereignty clause, as told in these dis
patches last Tuesday night, and simply au-
thorzed the President to acquire the exclu-
sive right to construct. operate and defend
the canal The rights of the Maritime
Canal Company and any other corporation
or individuals that may possess rights in the
premises can be acquired under the general
authorization provided in the bin that the
President acquire the exclusive rights in
and to the canal II he finds no one has any
rights, there will be none for him to ac-
eure The members of the committee are
confident that the bill will pass the House,
and that if not adopted by the Senate. it
viii constitute the basis of a compromise
between the two houses that will become
law and under which the great interoceanic
waterway will be constructed.
Representative Overstreet notes an error
in newspaper comment on w. .. Bynums
candidacy for appointment as general ap-
praiser He says that Bynum Is being
pressed not as Republican but as gold
Democrat and that if Mr.. Bynum is given
the place it win be because he is the head
of a political party. Some of Mr.. Bynum
enemies are trying to dig UP a public adj
mission by him that he has gone over to
the Republican party.
The change in the head OF the Interior
Department is expected to occur the middle
"a
been received from Ambassador Hitchcock.
the newly appointed secretary. The latter
was expected to sail from St Petersburg
about New Years day, but was unable to arr
range his affairs there by that time. and
planned to make his departure on Jan. p.
If he got away at that time he Will get here
in season to relieve Secretary Bliss by the
18th or earlier. Secretary Bliss is spending
this week in New York and for some weeks
has consistently avoided taking up any new
questions of policy pending his successors
arrival He Is anxious 10 be relieved at tha
earliest practicable moment.
A number OF ladies prominently Identified
with the Daughters OF the Revolution We're
before the House committee on military
affairs to-day in reference to the bin pro-
posing a permanent corps of nurses for the
army. The delegation included Miss Mar
garet Astor Chanler, of New York, who
served as a nurse in Porto Rico; Miss New
ton McGee, nurse in the army; Miss Win-
throp Cowden, OF New York president ef a.
committee to forward this plan; Mrs. j.
Ellen Foster and Mrs, Bayard Cutting. Maj.
Gen Wheeler, General Manderson and sev-
eral other army men were present. Miss
Chanler urged the desirablity Of a corps Oe
trained female nurses. and cited the experi&