Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-05-17
HANNA INTERVIEWED
No Definite Development Regarding
Vice Presidential Nomination.
IDENTIFICATION OF DEAD SOLDIERS.
What the Chief Of the Burial Corps In Ma
nils Says About the Matter -Op.
pose the Shipping subsidy Bill-In-
dian Depreciation Claims.

nus says ABOUT the Mettor Ops
pose the Shipping subsidy Bill-In-
dian Depreciation Claims
Washington, May 14.-Chairman
Hanna has gone to New York and
Philadelphia. Just before his depart
ure he was asked if there was any
definite development regarding the
vice presidential nomination. He took
occasion to say with emphasis that
there was none, and that he did not
expect any until the convention as
sembled. Members of the admins
tration confirm this. They say that
the president has no idea of indicat-
ing'a preference for an associate on
the ticket, and that he is very much
averse to anything which will appear
like dictation in advance of the as
sembling of the delegates. They in
sist that reports to the contrary eff
feet which have been published are
without foundation.
Senator Hanna has been quoted as
predicting the nomination of Secre-
tary Long. He said that Long is
strong man, much favored, and would
make good vice president. He has
not predicted the nomination, for he
insists that nobody can safely venture
at this time to forecast the action of
the convention, beyond the renom-
nation of President Mckinley.
Whether the Quay influence in Penn
sylvania will support Postmaster Cen
eral Smith for the vice presidency is
not yet determined. If that influence
opposes him, Mr.. Hanna says, it will
cut considerable figure. Should Penn
sylvania support Mr.. Smith, he would
be strong.
The present indications are that
Secretary Long, Postmaster General
Smith, Senator Cullom, Col. Jay L.
Torrey, Representative Dolliver, Sen
ator E. 0. Wolcott, Senator Fairbanks,
and perhaps several others, will be
voted for ON the first ballot.
Reports that the platform is to be
drafted and approved at Washington
before the convention are denied in
positive terms. There is some discus
sion of various planks, and probably
the party leaders will have reached
definite Impressions here. But that
there is any disposition to fix up a
cut and dried programme embracing
the resolutions is repudiated with
spirit.
Identification Of Dead Soldiers
Washington, May 14.-Some cfiti-
cism has been made of the failure of
officials in Cuba and in the Philippines
to identify the soldier dead. 1t was
claimed carelessness in this respect led
to much confusion and to interments
without means of definitely marking
graves. The inquiry was made by the
war department as to the extent of
this lack of Identification, with the
result that report on the subject |
has been made by Inspector D. H.
Rhodes, chief of the burial corps in
Manila. The inspector says: "Out of |
total of 1000 disinterments made
to date by the burial corps here under
my charge and probably 15O others
made by relatives or friends under
private auspices and prior to the COM
mencement of this work by the gov
ernment, only Is out of this total of |
1,150 disinterred have been marked |
unknown Conditions arise some
times which render it impossible to
preserve the Identification of soldiers
at all times and under all circum-
stances. Thus, instead of censure be-
ing meted out to the officials here for
what they are charged with having
failed to do in this respect they
should, and doubtless will, receive
from our people at home and abroad
that measure of credit which is due
them for producing the gratifying
results obtained on these islands
since the war first began"
Oppose the shipping Subsidy Bill.
Washington, May 14.-The minority
report on the shipping subsidy bill,
that measure, has been filed
in the house of representatives by
the majority of the members of the
democratic minority of the commit
tee on merchant marine,and fisheries.
Fitzgerald, of Massa-
drew the report, which was
signed also by Representatives De
Vries, Of California; DAILY, of New
Jersey, and Speight, of Mississippi.
Three other democrats of the COM
mittee, Messrs. Chandler, Small and
have heretofore submitted
their views, upholding the general
principle of government aid to the
marine, but pointing out de.
fects in the bill. The present report,
therefore, represents the opposition
to the measure both in principle and
in detail. In the main it is an argu-
ment against government subsidies
and asserts that most of the proposed
s9,OoO,OOO subsidy will go to a few
favored concerns without building up
American shipping in general or en-
American exports.