The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-31
A RESOLUTION
EFFORT TO GET MATTER BEFORE
CONGRESS In ANOTHER WAY.
soldiers Homes Likely to BE Opened
to Disabled Volunteers of the
Spanish-American War.

AOl1C lax
amendment to the Constitution against
those States which deny a vote for Presi-
dent and members of Congress to citi-
zens of voting age. A good deal was said
about 1t at the time, but the matter was
allowed to remain Enacted on in commit
tee. Now Senator Hoar has concluded that
something ought to be done in the matter.
He Intends, therefore, to introduce a reso-
luton providing for an investigation into
the question as to whether or not any
States have made themselves amenable to
the provisions OF the fourteenth amend
ment. That amendment provides that where
citizens are denied the right of suffrage the
representation of the State in Congress shall
be reduced in the proportion that the num-
bers Of such disfranchised citizens bear
to the whole population of the State. This
resolution has little chance of being
adopted by the Senate at this session.
The Democrats will oppose II In a body
and can easily talk it to death. adjourn
ment being so near. Such a resolution
could, however, pass the House II the COM
mittee on rules bring in a special order for
its consideration and fixing a time for a
vote.
The Senate committee on privileges and
elections has reported adversely the pro-
posed amendment to the Constitution pro-
viding for the election of United States
senators by the direct vote of the people or
the various States, which passed the House
some weeks ago. This kills that PROPOSE
ton for this Congress. AT the same time
the committee reported favorably a bill in
troduced by Senator Hoar providing If no
person receives a majority of all votes cast
In the joint assembly of a Legislature for
senator after seven separate ballots. one
of which at least having been taken on
each OF seven separate days, then the per-
son who receives a plurality of all the votes
cast on the next ballot, or. If there be no
plurality, on the first subsequent ballot
where any person shall have a plurality, a
majority of the members of both houses be-
ing present and voting, shall be declared
duly elected This measure. If enacted into
law, would put an end to the deadlocks
over the election of United States senators
and preclude a State from being left for
any length of time with but one senator or
maybe with no senator at all.
X x
The army appropriation act contains a
provision which will admit to the national
homes for disabled volunteer soldiers dis
abled volunteers of the Spanish war, as
well as the civil war and other wars I'm
which the United States has been engaged.
II also contains a provision authorizing
the chief of ordnance to issue obsolete or
condemned ordnance, ETC., to soldiers
homes for ornamental purposes. the homes
to pay the cost of transportation out of the
appropriation for current expenses. Repre-
sentative Steele, who was chiefly instru-
mental in having these changes in the law
made by Congress, has transmitted an Of
fetal copy of the law to the home at
Marion.
Ahmed Pasha, the Turkish vice admiral
now in this country. has returned to Wash
ington from a visit to Cramps shipyard
at Philadelphia. The admiral has been
making flying visits since his arrival at
New York to the various naval equipment
works in this part of the country. He ex-
presses himself as greatly impressed by the
facilities In this country for building and
fitting out war vessels, and SAYS that i'm
this respect the United States has no
superior in the world, If, indeed. it has an
equal. The end of Ahmed Pasha's stay I'm
this country is probably near at hand. He
has been in i'll health ever since his ar
rival here and any further intercourse he
may have with the s%hipbuilders of the
country probably will be carried on by cor
~respondence rather than by personal visits.
Although no order for a cruiser to be con-
structed in this country for the Turkish
government actually has been issued, it is
time. The admiral reiterated HIS former
statement that there is absolutely no
diplomatic significance in his mission to
the Onltcu states.
xxx
The transfer of the government TRANSPORT
service from the War Department to the
Navy Department was advocated to-day by
Representative Levy, of New York. at a
hearing before the House military commit
tee. Representative Lentz sought to secure
immediate action by taking the subject
from a subcommittee. but this was de-
feated. Chairman Hull stated tina 1t was
too ate in the session to take up a subject
OF this magnitude. but that ii would re-
ceive due consideration at the next session.
A request will be made on the secretary OF
war for his views on the transfer.
XXX
Secretary Hay received a cable message
to-day from Consul Lane, at Smyrna, saw
ing that the plague had made its appear
ance at that port.
IT Is probable that the State Department
will accept the result Of the arbitration in
the Delagoa Railroad case. The McMurdo
heirs. the only American claimants against
the Portuguese government, are very much
dissatisfied at the outcome OF the arbitra-
about $l,500,00 to an insignificant fraction
OF that sum-. Naturally they are anxious
that the United States should refuse to
accept the arbitration But the British
government. representing a very much
larger claim in the same arbitration, so far
has shown no sign of a disposition 10 reject
the verdict. and as IL would be an unpar-
alleled action for one party to an arbitra-
ton TO reject the conclusions. the United
States government must accept the findings
OF the Swiss arbitrators In this case. though
OF the inadequacy Of their allow
ance.
y 4 x
Secretary Hay received a visit to-day
from the executive committee OF the Bu-
reau of American Republics and was in
formed of the steps taken by that BODY for
the forthcoming meeting of the Pan-Ameri-
can Congress in the City OF Mexico. He
approved the programme adopted by the