The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-30
AFTER STORMY DEBATE
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED
BY THE LOWER HOUSE.
War Department Not Extravagant I'm
Fitting Up the sumner-span-
fards Given More Time.

committed One of the last amendments
adopted opens the soldiers homes to the
officers and men of the volunteer and regu-
lar armies incapacitated by service dur
ing or since the Spanish war. The chief in
cident of the day was defense of the
War Department against the charge OF
reckless extravaganza in the fitting up OF
the transport Sumner. made by Mr.. briggs.
of New York. yesterday. Mr.. Parker. of
New Jersey. produced the itemized ex-
penses furnished by the War Department
to show that there had been no extrava-
gance. Without opposition the House con-
firmed Mr. Boreing's title to his seat. His
seat was contested by Mr.. White, another
Republican, and the report of the commit
tee that investigated the case was unani-
mously i'm favor of the sitting member.
The officials of the War Department. taxi
ing notice of the criticisms passed I'm the
House yesterday during the discussion of
the army appropriation bill upon the al
legged extravaganza shown by the quarter
masters department in fitting out the army
transport sumner to-day made public
penditures, showing the expenditures TO be
very much different from those stated yes
terday in the course of debate. For in
stance, TIE war department statement
shows that the cost of the repairs at New
York was not $4,000, announced in Con-
gress, but 81, 945. The tumblers in the state
room did cost 80 cents apiece and pillow
slips cost 1411 cents. The glass stateroom
doors cost so cents. The mahogany chairs
cost $50 instead of SIS AS to these chairs
1T is declared that experience has shown
mahogany to be the very cheapest furni-
ture that can be used on shipboard in point
of durability and cost of maintenance. The
three big mirrors in the sideboard did not
cost 1880, but were purchased for $3.50.
The silver service, which was said to have
cost the government 5000. is only plated
ware, and all the plate on the ship for the
use Of 800 men cost 81, 29e.
Secretary Root was much pleased with
his inspection of the renovated transport
Sumner at New York. He noted. however.
that the accommodations seemed rather
inadequate or the full regiment proposed
transport to Manila. Therefore he had a
board appointed to look into the matter,
with the result that General Merritt to-
day telegraphed that it had been found ad
visable, to prevent overcrowding. to cut
down the number of soldiers to be carried
by one battalion, leaving between 700 and
500 men as passengers.
The Occur d'Alene investigation opened
to-day with no outward evidence of the
exciting events of yesterday, although
there was considerable good-natured rail-
round" would be called. Governor Steu-
nenberg was again on the stand. with Rep
resentative Lentz conducting the cross
examination. The evidence was unim-
portant details until Governor Steunen-
berg was questioned as to a recent petit
ton from the Occur d'Alene district ask
ing the secretary of war to retain federal
troops there This petition has not yet
been presented to the federal authorities
and the committee went into executive
session to determine what to do with the
document. The committee decided In exec
utive session to file the petition with the
secretary of war, and in the meantime 1t
will not be made public. 1t is understood
however. that it is an extensive document
bearing about 1,500 names. and states in
substance that while people at a distance
may regard the policy adopted by the Gov
ernor and military authorities as harsh,
yet the signers fully uphold the policy
adopted and consider it necessary to over
come the 1awlessness and disorder which,
1T Is stated, has existed for some time. II
requests the secretary of war to continue
district. Governor Steunenbergs examina-
ton was resumed at the open session de-
veloping little additional, and at noon the
committee adjourned until tomorrow.
Governor Steunenberg took occasion
during the day to deny a statement pub
lished during the Idaho disorders last fall
and referred to during the present inquiry
to the effect that in October last he wrote
to Representative Dick. of the Republican
national executive committee assuming
complete responsibility for the conditions
In Idaho and relieving the federal authori-
ties from all connection with the affair.
Governor Steunenberg stated in reply to
questions from Representative Lentz that
he had never written on any subject to
Mr.. Dick or to any other political official
of Ohio. Mr.. Lentz made similar inquiries
as to whether there ever had been any
correspondence with Senator Hanna or
Chairman Babcock. of the Republican con-
gressional committee. and Governor Steu-
nenberg made specific denials.
The President to-day nominated Can't.
Charles A. Cotton. United States navy, to
be rear admiral
Secretary Hay and the Due d'Arco. the
Spanish minister, to-day signed a protocol
extending for six months the period of time
allowed Spanish residents in the Philip
pine islands to elect whether they shall
remain Spanish subjects or surrender their
allegiance and adopt the nationality of the
territory in which they reside. The article
| In the Paris treaty bearing on this subject
allowed the Spanish residents year
from the date of the exchange of the rati-
| fications of the treaty I'm which to make
their choice. That period expires on the
| 18th of next month. The extension ar
ranged for does not apply to Cuba or Porto
Rico. 1t is confined in operation TO the
Philippines. for the reason that conditions
| in the archipelago have been so unsettled
as to warrant the Spanish residents in
hesitating to make an election in this i'm
| portant matter. Many important towns in
Luzon, where Spanish subjects reside are
as yet without American garrisons, and the
assertion OF American sovereignty over
them has been rather technical than prac-
tical, while on many of the Philippine
islands no American troops or representa-
| tives of the American government have
ever landed. These considerations are
| deemed sufficient to warrant the extension
| to the Spanish residents of more time in
which to make up their minds as to their
| future. Ii may be. too, that the Spanish
| residents i'm these islands desire TO avoid
| authoritative and final determination In
/ the United States of the exact status of
| citizens in the insular possessions of the
| United States.
| Commander s. w. Very has been relieved
| Of the command of the Castine and ordered
| home from Manila by regular steamer. He
| will be relieved of the command by Com
| mander G. G. Bowman. now at the Mare
| island navy yard. Commander Very has
| had some trouble with officers attached TO
| the Castine. due. Ii Is said. TO his methods
| of enforcing discipline aboard ship. Com
mander j. b. Briggs will take the place of
| Commander Bowman equipment officer
| at the Mare island navy yard.
| The Senate committee on military affairs
| to-day authorized a favorable report upon
| Senator Aliens resolution calling upon the
secretary of war for information as TO the
number of United States soldiers who have
| been killed or who have died from wounds
i'm the Philippine islands, and the number