The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-31
NO BILL THIS SESSION
DECISION OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON
RIVERS AND HARBORs.
Statement by Chairman Burton-Case
of British Consul Won Sittart Con-
sidered by the Cabinet.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3O.-Chairman Bur-
ton, of the rivers and harbors committee.
gave out the following statement: THE
committee on rivers and harbors decided
to-day not to report a bill at this ses-
sion. While different arguments were ac-
cepted as a reason for this conclusion by
different members OF the committee IL APP
peared from a statement furnished by the
War Department last Friday that the
31st of December last a balance Of $3O,00o.-
600 approximately was already available
for river and harbor improvements. In
addition to this amount estimates have
been filed by the War Department for over
$4,000. 900 more under continuing contracts.
heretofore made. to be included in the
sundry civil bill to be passed at this ses-
sion. 1t, therefore, did not seem best to
bring in a bill which, under the esti-
mates presented, would probably amount
to $15.0o0.0O0 for immediate appropriations
and $i5,000,OoO to be authorized under con-
tract. The rise in the price Of material
is an important factor in the situation:
also the general employment or contrac-
tors who do river and harbor work. In
some cases, ii has been found difficult TO
obtain bids at the price estimated and In
other cases it has been found difficult TO
obtain bids at all"
bill rectifying an error in the last river
and harbor bill by which Buffalo bayou.
Texas. received a S2,000000 appropriation in
addition to other provisions made for the
water way.
The Cabinet meeting to-day was shorter
than usual and the results were not i'm
portant. The debate in the Senate yester-
day relative to certain utterances attri-
buted to Mr.. Won Sittart, the British con-
sui at New Orleans, was referred TO, and
Secretary Hay set out the facts in the
case so far as he had been able TO learn
them. AS soon as the newspaper statements
were drawn 10 his attention, which was
some time last week, Secretary Hay laid
them before Lord Pauncefote, the British
ambassador. The latter could not credit
them, but promised an investigation. The
result has not yet taken official form, but
sufficient was ascertained TO warrant the
ambassador in assuring the secretary that
the consul disclaimed responsibility for the
criticisms directed against the United
States Senate. The formal reply of the
ambassador will be I'm hand soon, and will
be laid before the Senate committee on
foreign relations
The Republicans of the House and Sem
ate met in joint caucus in the Hall of Rep
resentatives tonight and selected members
of the congressional campaign committee.
The delegation from each State selected it's
representatives. States where no agree
ments were reached were given three days
In which to announce their selections. The
committee will organize within ten days.
Representative Babcock. of Wisconsin, Will
be reelected chairman. Representative
Overstreet is the Indiana member Of the
committee.
Senator Fairbanks to-day introduced q
bill to increase the pension Of Thomas M.
Chill, private I'm the Black Hawk war OF
1S32, to $50 monthly.
Representative Zenor to-day introduced a
joint resolution authorizing the secretary
of war to pay all employees Of the quarter
master generals department at any quar-
termaster's depot, for overtime between
April q, 1898. and April /. 1892 where they
worked beyond the regular eight hours a
day, the extra compensation to lie proper
tionate TO the regular pay they receive.
The secretary of the treasury has trans
mitted to Congress an additional list OF
judgments rendered by the Court of Claims
requiring an appropriation for their pay
ment, Among them are the following for
extra pay to letter carriers in Indiana
under the act of May q. 1858: At Evans
Grant. deceased. $3.50: at Fort Wayne.
Harry A. Zwablen, Sl3.20: at Frankfort.
VIII f. Clark. $3.50: at Jacksonville.
larry s and Nasnan ,,, r. oa Guy go
George L. Miller, s2973. and John L. Shad-
niger, $2313. -
Surgeon General Sternberg received a
telegram to-day from Colonel Forwood. OF
the medical department. at San FRANCHISE,
saying that Major Taylor at Honolulu ~
ports under date OF Jan. Is that there have
been thirty-four cases of bubonic plague.
and twenty-seven deaths I'm Honolulu. and
that the situation Is serious. According to
Major Taylor the disease has appeared
in several isolated places outside OF the
original district and a native guard and
a white woman have been stricken The
soldiers are closely quarantined and the
hospital Is I'm a safe place. Major Taylor
says that the Board OF Health Is acting
vigorously and has burned Chinatown and
other infected localities.