The silver star. (Dolores, Colo.) 1897-1901, 1899-07-28

AQkulTUl 0eOERc DeWey nus nsS" 80
the Court OF Claims his claim fol-
bounty growing out of the battle OF
Manila bay, May I, 1898. The secre
tary Of the navy has referred to this
court Z number Of these claims for Ju'
dicial consideration.
Senator Fairbanks Of the high joint
commission has had conference with
President Mckinley and Secretary
Hay at the White House on the Alas.
kan boundary dispute. The senator
reports that from personal observa-
ton he IL firmly convinced that the
contentious made by this government
are correct, and II the mOdus vivendi
IL agreed upon II must be upon the
terms Of the United States. Senator
Fairbanks has been all over the cOun~
try in the vicinity OF Kluckwan, Dyea,
Skagway and the territory In dispute
and finds incontrovertible evidence
that the contentious OF this govern
ment are correct. 1t was said that
this government will not yield a foot
of territory and that unless the Brit
ish government agrees upon modus
vivendi on the terms which this gov
eminent offered there will be no meet
ing Of the high joint commission on
August End.
The Washington correspondent of
the Rocky Mountain News says: "Gen
| eral Horace Porter has declined the
secretaryship OF war. He was heard
from by cable Friday. and 1t lie under
stood that he explained his desire to re-
main in Paris and worded his refusal
so as to make II a request to the Presi-
dent to not insist on his (Porter's) re-
turn to this country. General Porters
request will be respected. Elihu Root
has been rendered the place by wire
He has requested several days time In
which to think 1t over The President
wants lawyer at the head of the Wal
Department. and wants New York &c
get the place. If Root accepts he will
be Ayers successor as war minister
II Mr.. Root should decline. Attorney
General Griggs will probably be pre-.
vailed upon to take the place, and in
such an event Mr.. Root will go into the
Department Of Justice"
The most absorbing and generally
discussed topic here IL the choice OF
successor to Secretary Alger. Among
the names most prominently mention
ed is that Of General Horace Porter.
ambassador to France. Senator Thurs
ton Of Nebraska called at the White
House and urged the promotion OF
Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn. Near
ly every general who figured in the
recent war has been mentioned as
possibility, the name OF General James
II. Wilson being about the most prom.
inent In this class. 4 high administra.
tion official said to-day that the next
secretary Of war Will not only be u
New Yorker but lawyer as well. The
authority for this statement was In
consultation with the President to-day
and he stated that. while 1t may be
that as vet the selection has not been
finally passed upon. New York. now
without representation. has the stron
gest claim for recognition.
President Mckinley is planning I,
remove the necessity for creating de
partment OF colonies. Cabinet mem
beers and other high officials have said
that In no other way could our new
possessions be governed. But to toss
the question of establishing such de-
partment into the halls Of Congress,
which has final authority. would In the
minds Of many politicians be like
throwing chunk Of raw meat into n
cage Of lions. The President. II is said
believes that he has disposed Of the
| as secretary OF war. His idea was 10
place at the head Of the War Depart.
ment n man Of fine legal training and
administrative ability. II Is contended
that Root possesses those qualifica-
| tons and that he IL able to denl wisely
with the big questions that will arise
In the government Of the newly ac,
Quired islands. Root will give the great.
er part Of his attention to such Qnes.
lions. The equipment OF the army and
the conduct Of the campaign will be
left to the generals in the department
and to Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn.
They have had so much experience
during the past year that II Ia believed
that the army can now he handled
with little friction.
At the Cabinet meeting Tuesday 4
cable from Colonel DENLY. a member
Of the Philippine commission was read
1t showed fairly satisfactory state OF
affairs, one Of the Cabinet officers said.
but II did not say that negotiations
with Aguinaldo were In progress. Zee.
rotary Hay also had u cable from Am.
bassador Chonte relative to the bound.
AIRY line negotiations. but II was not
encouraging. Later II was ascertained
that the decision was reached to allow
the round robin" matter 10 drop. AZ
an Informal conference held at the
White House last night the subject
was thoroughly discussed and such q
policy agreed upon. This. Il IL stated.
was confirmed 1t the Cabinet meeting.
Onicially the matter will he Ignored
and General Otis will be allowed to
treat II NJ he may deem best. Privately
II was intimated that the President
might give General Otis some unofii.
cla1 suggestions a. to the desirabilIty
Of less rigid censorship Of press dis.
patches. His present purpose. however.
II 70 allow General Otis to deal with
the situation A. he sees ut. This was
the advice given him by at least
two members Of the Cabinet, In the
light Of the latest advices from the
Philippines, the President believes that
the situation has 10 much Improved
that the complaints made By CORE.
spondents. however much justified II
the time they were submitted. DO not
now exist.
Onicials Of the War Department ex.