The state herald., 1900-01-12

member-elect has the statutory qualifi.
cations, and whether the House has
the power to establish qualifications
beyond those in the constitution. Mrs.
j. 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
mittee. She spoke vigorously, dealing
Win the Roberts case and the general
moral interests II involved. This con
cluded the days proceedings and the
committee adjourned until 1890
o'clock.
Italy hns returned n favorable re.
Spouse 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. 1t
is learned that although Italy was the
last of the powers addressed to return
an answer to Secretary Hays over.
lures, that government really was more
prompt than ony other in the negotia.
tons. This is explained by the fact
that the Italian government was ad
dressed on the subject some time after
the other continental nations had II un-
der consideration. owing to the fac
that our ambassador, Mr.. Draper. wns
away from his post on leave of ab
sence In the United States when the
Identical note of instructions was SEN
ou,. The agreements have not yc,
been reduced TO their final form. bui
the State Department will now entc
upon the task of putting them int,
shape of precis. and as in each cast
the agreement TO the principles IN
volvcd in our Invitation is returned Il.
unequivocal terms according to the dc
partment ofiipials II IL not anticipa,cr
that any difficulty will he experience
| In accomplishing this work satisfactor
lily. Pending that outcome the Stat
Department does not intend to max,
/ any statement for the public MS to tn
exact terms Of the agreements. thougl
1t is admitted that the ground has beer
covered with unusual accuracy IN tn,
press reports up to this point.
The House of Representatives Il, the
present session will pass the Hepburn
bill providing for the construction oi
the Nicaragua canal. This statemcn
Is made emphatically by member oi
the House committee ON commerce
which has the bill In charge. The mem
her has given the matter close atten,
tiOn because the district he represents
construction OF an isthmian canal Th
committee had meeting to-day. and
while nc 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
10 give the French Panama company
an opportunity to be heard before final
action was taken. and next Friday
was set rs the date for the hearing
| The representatives of the company
will be invited 10 appear and submit
their statements under oath. If they
decline 10 he sworn they will not he
heard. 1t is understood the admlnlstra-
tion will not oppose canal legislation
at this session. While the members
OF the commerce committee are conf
dent that they can pass the Hepburn
bill In the House, II 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-
iiclent influence TO force II to consider
alton.
Eight officers from the navy. rank
Ing as captains or higher. who were
In actual command of vessels particl-
pating In the naval operations at San
tiago and at 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
Schley's fleet. recommended the pro
motion of Admiral Sampson TO the
grade of vice admiral. because they be-
llcve him TO Ike entitled to all the credit
that has been claimed for him In con-
ncction with the naval operations of
the Spanish war, and, with the excep-
tion OF Captain Cook. who commanded
the Brooklyn admiral Schlcy's flag
ship, they opposed the promotion OF
any officer charged with reprehensible
conduct until he has availcd 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
mandcrs OF all the vessels OF
Admiral Schley's squadron, with one
exception. was unanimous. The cap
tains Were also unanimous In recon.
mending that the services OF their
subordinate officers and themselves he
recognized by commemorative med.
nj. or by some other token. rather than
by promotion over the heads OF their
associates who were not so fortunate
as to secure acilve service during the
late war. They are particularly nnN-
ious that Admiral Sampson shall be
promoted TO the grade of Vice admiral.
and that In the records OF the depart
mcnt ana In history the fleet 10 which
they belonged shall enjoy dignity
equal 10 that already given TO the Pa.
cifc squadron under command OF Ad
miral Dewey.
In regard TO the promises recently
secured from European nations to
maintain the open door policy In
| China, II now appears that England
WIS the first nation To respond To the
advances OF the United States. II hns
submitted two replies. the first gen.
crnl In scope. but the second explicit
In detail embracing all the points
rniscd nnd some TINT were not. Not
only II the question Of mn open door
nt issue. but certain privileges ARE de
mnnded for American citizens IN the
leased territory. and spheres OF In.
| nnan.. Nnah us "A tsItutsftntN !