The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-19

WASHINGTON, April 1S.--Ihe fresiuent
sent to-day to Congress the following mess
age:
1.-The time remaining before the 14th of
May when the act of April IL isVo' en-
titled An act temporarily TO PROVIDE rev
eBue and civil government Tor forto
Rico and for other purposes, Will take
effect appears to be insufficient for the
careful inquiry and consideration requisite
to the proper selection of suitable persons
to fill the important civil ofhces PROVIDED
for by the act. The powers OF the present
government will cease when the act taxes
effect, and some new authority VIII De
necessary to enable the officers now per-
forming the various duties OF civil govern
ment in the island to continue the per-
Torrance of those duties until the Of
ficers who are to perform similar duties
under the new government shall nave peeh
appointed and qualified. That authority
cannot well be given at present by tenn
porary appointments of the existing OF
ficers to positions under the act. for the
reason that many of the existing OF
ficers are officers of the army detailed TO
the performance of civil duties and Section
1922 of the Revised Statutes would prevent
them from accepting such temporary ap-
pointments under the penalty of losing
their commissions. The selection or the OF
ficers and the organization OF new gov
eminent under the act referred TO will be
accomplished with all practical speed, but
in order that it may be properly accom-
plfshed, / recommend the passage of
above stated.
To carry into effect the Presidents mess
age Mr.. Foraker, chairman of the Porto
Rican committee, introduced this joint reso-
luton: THAT until the officer to fill any Of
fee provided for by the act of April L.
1900. entitled AN act temporarily to pro-
vide revenues and civil government for
Porto Rico and for other purposes shall
have been appointed and qualified, the Of
ficer or officers now performing the civil
duties pertaining to such office may con-
tinue to perform the same under the au-
thority of said act; and no officer of the
army shall lose his commission by reason
thereof: provided that nothing herein
contained shall be held to extend the time
for the appointment and qualification of
any such officers beyond the first day Of
August, 1900" On motion of Senator For
aker the resolution and the message were
referred to the committee on Porto Rico.
The President to-day sent the following
nominations to the Senate: Frank W.
Hackett, of New Hampshire, to be assist
ant secretary of the navy; Robert NJ Wal
lace. collector of customs at Charleston. s.
c.; First Lieutenant s. d. Sturgs, Sixth
Artillery. to be a captain.
| The Senate committee on foreign rela-
tions to-day agreed to favorable report
on the convention between the United
| States and Spain extending for six months
| the time in which Spanish residents of the
| Philippine islands can elect whether the J
remain citizens of Spain or become citi-
zens of the Philippines.
| Orders have been given to turn the trans
| ports Tartar and Westminster over to their
| owners, as the government has no longer
need for their services. These vessels have
| ment in the transportation of troops and
supplies between San Francisco and
Manila. $50
A telegram was received at the War De-
partment to-day saying that the transport
| Sumner arrived at Malta this morning in
good condition She is carrying a large
| number of officers and recruits to Manila.
A brief telegram was received at the War
| Department to-day announcing the de-
| parture of the members of the Philippine
| commission party from San Francisco yes
| terday on the transport Hancock. mas
much the vacancy In the office of sec
rotary of the commission has not yet been
| filled it is the impression of Secretary Root
and other officials that the commission has
decided to make the appointment from
among the American residents of the
| philippines.
| Representative Wheeler, of Kentucky, to-
day presented to Admiral and Mrs Dewey
| a unique invitation to visit the city of
Faducah, Ky, while on their proposed
Western trip next month. The invitation
was inclosed in an oak casket trimmed
| with gold and silver. II is on a thin sheet
| Of birch which bears the seal of the city
| Of Padpcah ana reads as follows:
''To Admiral and Mrs. Dewey-This town
| IS yours. Pull the latch string; we will
do the rest. Don't surprise us. but inform
| us when you pull"
The invitation is signed by the mayor
and prominent citizens of Paducah. Inside
4 orf hot Lee 80
| twenty-year-old whisky and a cut glass
decanter incased in silver Admiral Dewey
| said the invitation was beautiful piece
CT work He did not give Mr.. Wheeler a
defirite answer. but said he would COM
municate his reply in formal letter.
|
| The President, acting upon the recon-
mendation of Secretary Gage. to-day re-
| moved John r. Tolbert, collector of GUS
| toms at Charleston, S. c., and will appoint
Robert r. Wallace. of Sumter. s. c.. to the
| vacancy. This action is taken upon the
| recent report of government agents, in
| which il was shown to the satisfaction of
| the secretary that Tolbert and other Off
| Gals and employees CT the Charleston Gus
| tom house secreted liquor In the building
| will dismiss the deputy collector and at
| least one janitor. and possibly others who
are alleged TO have had hand in the
| storing of the liquor. The clerks, who are
presumably innocent of wrongdoing, will
| not be disturbed.
| Senator Chandler to-day introduced a bill
for the prevention of the denial of the
| Arrangement of the right of citizens of the
| United States to vote on account of color -
| IN presenting the bill Mr.. Chandler said
| that ne did SO by request and was not vet
| prepared to press it's consideration. He
/ said however, that he had drawn the bill
| himself. 1t provides that any requirement
| Of any qualification for suffrage prescribed
| by any State in its Constitution or laws
| which directly or indirectly, by express
| words or by any device or subterfuge. is
| made to apply in its terms in its opera
| ton 10 the great body of the colored citi-
| zens of the State while ii is not made TO
| apply TO the great body of the white citi-
| zens is hereby declared TO be unconstitu-
| ,ional, null and imperative" Other sec-
| tons Of the bill authorize colored citizens
| TO vote regardless of race of state re-
| striciions. Colored citizens also are given
| the right of action for damages against
| registration boards refusing them the right
| TO register.
Mr.. Glynn, of New York. to-day intro
| duced a resolution asking the secretary
| of the navy for information as TO the char
/ ter OF all transports and vessels by the
/ navy since the beginning OF the war with
Spain: also bill making 81 the minimum
| Of wages for the labor OF the government.
| The House subcommittee on labor, in
| charge of the Gardner eight-hour bill
reached decision to-day on the final form
| of the bill and on several amepdments. all
| of which will be reported to the full com
| mittee on labor next Friday. when II ID
| expected that final action will be taken