Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-18
NICARAGUAN CANAL.
Favorable Action on the Hepburn
Bill Expected This Session.
A SCRAMBLE FOR The CHAPLAIyCIES
A Multitude Of Ministsrs Have Applied to
BE Appointed-Plans submitted 10 Sec
rotary Root for Reorganization Of
Army STAFF Departments.

Washington, JAN 15.-Adyocates of
the Nicaragua canal in congress are
expecting favorable action on the
Hepburn bill at this session. The be-
lief that the bill will be passed was
strengthened Saturday by the an
nouncement by Senator Morgan,
chairman of the senate committee on
interoceanic canals, who heretofore
advocated the construction of the ca
nal through the medium of the Mari
time Canal company, that he was
now entirely in accord with the Hep
burn plan. The fact also came out
that the members Of the house on in
terstate and foreign commerce, in re-
porting the Hepburn measure, not
only carried out their own convictions
concerning the ACCESSIBILITY of the ca
nal project, but that they also fol-
lowed the wishes of President McKin-
ley.
II is the intention of the committee
to press the Hepburn bill, and the
opinion is now very generally enter
tanned that it will be promptly adopt.
ed, though month or so ago it was
thought the authorization of new
commission had delayed the canal
project for a year or more. Mr.. Hep
burn says he regards the construction
of the Nicaragua canal by the United
States government as the most valll-
able and effective ship subsidy that
the government could contrive. To
go to Hong Kong from New York
through the Suez canal, he says, would
cost 6000-ton vessel about $4,000
in canal tolls. The relief from this
toll and the saving of about 500 miles
by going through the Nicaragua ca
nal would be very valuable subsidy.
A Scramble for the Chapiaincies.
Washington, Jan. 15.-Such multi
tude of ministers have applied for
chaplaincies in the army and navy
and there have necessarily been so
many disappointments that numer-
GUS complaints have reached the war
department of discrimination on the
part Of appointing authorities in favor
of this or that religious sect. An APP
plicant for chaplaincy recently
wrote asking if it were true that
"the Catholic priests, who are now
serving as chaplains in the army and
navy, will number two to every one
of any other denomination. The
law authorizes 80 chapIains in the
army, besides four negro regimental
chaplains, and "a in the navy. Among
the army chaplains there are four
Catholics; among the chaplains of the
navy there are three Catholics. Chap
lans in the army have the rank of
captain, but their pay is $500 year
They are included in the provisions OF
the longevity statute which allows
ten per cent increase for every addi-
tonal five years of service, so that |
after 20 years they draw sl15 a month.
But there is popularity of the law
that allows them, when retired, to
draw the salary of a regular army |
captain, retired, so that in reality
army chaplans draw more pay when
placed on the retired list ,nan when
they are in active service. 1t is said
at the war department to be notice
able that some of the chaplains are
retired before they reach the legal
retiring age. Many of them are in.
capacitated for service on account of
one reason or another. Methodists
predominant in the chaplains of the
navy The "a appointments are dis
tributed among the various churches
in the following proportions: Metho
dists, 3; Episcopalians, 5; Catholics,
3; Baptists, 2; Presbyterians, 2; Dis
ciples of Christ, /; Unitarian, l, and
Universalist, /. There are four navy
chaplains, with the rank of captain
seven with the rank of lieutenant.
Reorganization of Army Departments.
Washington, Jan. 15,-An official at
the war department said that the
plans submitted to Secretary Root for
the reorganization of the staff depart.
ments in the army contemplates the
consolidation of the commissary and
quartermaster's departments into one
department known as the department
of supplies. The same plan contem-
plates the consolidation of the in.
spector generals department with
the adjutant generals office. 1t is
said this system of consolidation
would receive the support of Mr.. Hull,
chairman of the military committee.
Mr.. Hull strongly favors the continu.
alton of the three battalion organiza.
ton in the army. He believes in a
large and permanent increase in the
artillery and will recommend an en-.
tirely new organization of that arm.
He is not in favor of establishing the
artillery as a new department of the
staff, but advocates its organization
under one head with brigadier gen.
eral as chief Of artillery to be on the
staff of the major general command.
ing the urmy. The advocates of the
consolidation of the staff departments
are not fayoring the immediate adop-
ton of this system, but believe that
the change should be made gradually.
BIDS for 4 Big Contract.
New York, Jan. 16.-Bids for the
of digging the big tunnel