The Elbert County tribune., 1900-01-11

GENTLE delegation here to oppose Rob
erts then opened the argument ngntnst
Roberts. The argument was largely
technical and was divided under three
general heads. viz: First. whether or
not the member-elect hns the conrtitu-
tional qualifications. including citizen
ship; second. whether or not the CON
stifutional provisions Ms to citizenship
Includes one who has impaired his cit
izenship by crime or unlawful status'
and whether Mr.. Roberts has so I'M
paired his citizenship; third, whether q
member-elecf hns the statutory quaiiii-
catlons. and whether the House has
The power to establish qualifications
beyond those IN the constitution. Mrs.
1. Ellen Foster addressed the commit
tee In behalf OF the great number OF
women Interested In the case and who
were not represented before the com
mit.ee. She spoke vigorously. dealing
wnn the Roberts case and the general
moral interests II involved. This con
cluded the days proceedings and ihe
committee adjourned until 1890
o'clock.
Italy has returned favorable re
sponse to the recent note Of the State
Department respecting the open door in
China. Italy was the last of the great
POWERS remaining to be heard from II
Is learned that although Italy was The
last Of the powers addressed TO return
nm answer 10 Secretary Hays over
lures, that government really was more
prompt than ony other In the negoiia.
lions. This is explained by the fact
that the Italian government was nd-
dressed on the subject some time after
the other continental nations had 1t un-
der consideration. owing to the faci
that our ambassador. Mr.. Draper. was
nway from his post 1. on leave OF ali
sencc In the United States when the
identical note of instructions was sent
out. The agreements have not yet
been reduced to their final form. but
the State Department will now enter
upon the task OF putting them into
shape Of precls. and ns Ia each case
the agreement to the principles In
volvcd In our invitation IL returned 10
unequivocal terms according to the de-
liartment officials 1t is not anticipated
that any difficulty will be experienced
In accomplishing this work satisfactor-
lily. Pending that outcome the Stale
Department does not intend TO make
any statement for the public ms to the
exact terms of the agreements, though
covered with unusual accuracy In the
press reports up to this point.
The House of Representatives at the
present session will pass the Hepburn
bill providing for the construction of
the Nicaragua canal. This statement
is made emphntically by member of
the House committee on commerce,
which has the bill In charge. The mem
Der has given the mntter close atten-
tion because the district he represents
In Congress- Is vitally Interested In the
construction of an lsthminn canal. The
committee had Il meeting to-day. and,
while no formal vote was taken, II
was discovered that all the members,
Republicans and Democrats. with the
exception OF one, We're in favor of re-
porting the Hepburn bill Immediately.
Upon further discussion, II was agreed
to give the French Panama company
nm opportunity TO be heard before final
action was taken, and next Friday
was set as the date for the hearing.
The representatives OF the company
will be invited to appear ana submit
their statements under oath. II they
decline TO be sworn they will not be
heard 1t is understood the administra-
at this session. While the members
of the commerce committee are conf
dent that they can pass the Hepburn
bill In the House, 1t Is not known
what action the Senate would take
upon II, although Senator Morgan and
others prominently Identified with the
movement are expected TO exert suf-
icient Influence TO force it to consider
alton.
Eight officers from the navy, rank
ing us captains or higher. who We're
in actual command of vessels partici-
pating In the naval operations mt San
tlago and Mt other points In the West
indies during the late war. met the
President by Invitation, in order that
he might consult with them as to the
best means of rewarding the services
OF the men under their command. All
of the eight captains present. including
every commanding officer in Admiral
Schley's fleet. recommended the pro-
motion OF Admiral Sampson TO the
grade of vice admiral. because they he
lieve him to I've entitled to all the credit
that has been claimed for him in con
nection with the naval operations of
the Spanish war. and, with the excep-
tion of Captain Cook. who commanded
the Brooklyn tAdmiral Schley's flag
ship. they opposed the promotion of
any officer charged with rcprehensible
conduct until he has availed himself
of the opportunities offered by the
regulations of the navy for an official
Inquiry into his conduct. or has other
wise purged himself of the charge
This means Admiral Schley, although
his name Is not mentioned, and
the recommendation from the com
manders of all the vessels of
Admiral Schley's squadron, with one
exception, was unanimous. The cap
tains We're also unanimous In recon-
mend1ng that the services of their
subordinate officers and themselves be
recognized by commemorative med
al, or by some other token, rather than
by promotion over the heads of their
associates who We're not so fortunate
as to secure active service during the
late war. They are particularly nnx-
ious that Admiral Sampson shall be
promoted to the grade OF vice admiral
and that In the records of the depart
lnent and in history the fleet TO which
they belonged slrnll enjoy a dignity
equal to that already given to the PA.
cific squadron under command of Ad-
miral Dewey.
In regard to the promises recently
secured from European nations 70
maintain the open door policy in
China, 1t now appears that England
was the first nation to respond to the
advances of the United States. 1t has
submitted two replies. the first gen.
crnl in scope. but the second explicit
In detail embracing all the points
raised and some that were not. Not
only is the question of an open door
Mt issue, but certain privileges are de
manded for American citizens in the
leased territory, and spheres OF in.
fiuence, such MS n guaranty against
discriminating rates ON railways built
and financed under foreign authority,
against discriminating tonnage dues;
L.. ..i.rIt AZ. mali. - ...i4i.