The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-15
STATE DEPARTMENT INQUIRY
GERMAN COLONIZATION OF SOUTH
AMERICA TO BE PROBED.
ConsuIs Asked 80 Learn IL "Little Ger
manies" Are Being Established
-WashingtOn Miscellany.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

canals in ordering the House Nicaragua
canal bill favorably reported, which was
done to-day, does not necessarily mean
that there will be action on that measure
at this session. 1t is measure that prob
ably would provoke prolonged discussion If
brought up and prevent the early adjourn
ment which a large majority of each
branch of Congress is heartily desirious
of bringing about Besides this, there is
strong feeling among the more conserva-
tive senators that 1t will be wise to await
the receipt of the report of the Walker
commission as to the different routes be-
fore final action on the canal bill is had.
This report cannot be sent to Congress be-
fore December next, so the bill will prob
ably go over until that time. There were
only five members of the committee pres
ent at to-day's meeting. A motion was
made to report the bill and without de-
bate the vote was taken, Senators Nor
gan, Mcbride, Harris and Turner voting
in the affirmative, and Senator Hanna in
the negative.
In view of the significant references to
the enforcement of the Monroe doctrine by
Secretary Root, Senator Lodge and other
prominent men, the State Department has
taken steps to secure data on the SUBJ
ject. The burden of these speeches has
been the startling increase Of the German
colonies in South and Central America,
which have been regarded as menacing the
Monroe doctrine. 1t also has been asserted
that these German colonists maintain their
home customs in the new land, deal al
most exclusively with Germany, use only
the German language. have almost autono-
nous governments within the limits of
American republics. and are, in fact, little
Germanies wherever located. The State
Department has addressed an instruction
to every minister and consul in South and
Central America to inform the department
fully on the points to which reference has
been made. OF course Germany is not re-
ferred to by name, for such direction
might naturally give umbrage to the Ger
man government The circular applies to
colonists of all nationalities, though 1t is,
of course, expected that the consuls in
compiling their reports will differentiate
the colonists.
dispatch from Berlin says: 1.-THE cabled
reports of statements made in the United
States Senate chamber during the debate
on the naval appropriation bill by Sena-
tors Hale and Spooner to the effect that
the United States had no expectation of
war or other trouble with Germany. have
IL.
semi-official Berliner Post asserts that
these declarations prove that fair-minded
and calmly reasoning Americans form the
majority, and it concludes thus: I'VE hope
in the future that attacks by certain Amer
lean politicians who impute to friendly
country all sorts Of aggressive schemes,
will be as promptly repudiated."
xxx 5
Secretary Root to-day explained to the
House military committee the advantages
that would accrue from the passage of the
Senate army reorganization bill He dwelt
especially on the proposed increase of the
artillery arm and the increased rank given
General Miles and General Corbin. He
said the effect of the bill was to increase
the army 5000 or 5000, entirely in the ar
tillery, this increase extending over a
period of years While differing from the
provision originally recommended, Mr..
Root approved the Senate amendment, as 1t
would permit the War Department to go to
work and put the artillery in shape. The
situation now, in caring for seacoast forti-
fications was just foolish and imprac-
ticable, the secretary said, as that would
be of man who built fine house.
equipped 1T in the most perfect manner and
then went away and left 1t to take care of
itself. There are millions and millions in
vested in Notifications, he said, with no one
to take care of them, involving depreciation
from lack of attention. AS to giving Gen.
eral Miles rank as lieutenant general he
said that a major general commanded a
division and he did not know of another
country in the world with a large army
that gave the commanding officer of the
whole army rank below lieutenant gen.
eral or that did not recognize that he
should outrank a division commander. AS
to the adjutant general, he said that all
European armies recognized the impor-
lance of the position as the center of mill
tary administration and gave rank accord
ingly He thought the provision for this
increased rank should be general, and not
apply only to General Corbin, though the
latter's services the past two years merited
special recognition.
The April statement of the imports and
exports of the United States shows as fol-
lows: Merchandise imports, SIS, 466, 742, of
which s33445,027 were free of duty Total
increase over April, 1899. 100000 Mer-
chandise exports, 1S,926,5O7 an increase of
$50, 100000 Gold imports. 1885, u.s. an in
crease of $l,0O00O0. Gold exports, 81, 961, $50,
an increase of 100000. Silver imports.
1925, 2S3 an increase of $4,000. Silver ex-
ing the last ten months the exports of
merchandise exceeded the imports by
S455, 1911, and during the same time the
imports of gold exceeded the exports by
s9.2l6s23. The silver exports during the last
ten months exceeded the imports by
81, 665, 292.
xxx
The War Department has made public
simultaneously here and In Havana, the
schedules of the revised Cuban tariff
which goes into effect June Is next. Tho
revision has been effected with difficulty
and the schedules have travelled back and
forth between Washington and Havana a
half dozen times. The revised tariff IT is
calculated, will slightly increase the reye-
nues of the island which were last year
approximately $4,000. 600. II has been APP
parent to all acquainted with the working
of the Cuban tariff that the rates Of duty
put upon the schedule for machinery and
railway materials and supplies. namely, 40
per cent. ad valorem. is too high. The ef-
feet of this has been to stop all importa-
ton of such articles and the revenue from
these schedules has been extremely small
In view of the necessity for the construc-
ton and reconstruction of railroads I'm
Cuba and upon the assurance given by the
various companies that II material for the
construction and equipment could be i'm
ported at a reduced rate they will at once
begin 10 import larger quantities. a spe-
cial provision has been inserted in the
tariff which allows such importations for
period OF twelve months from the date OF
valorem
Senator Jones. of Arkansas. to-day In
troduced bill TO prevent and punish
blacklisting by railroad companies. Sleep
ing car companies. express companies
steamboat companies. telegraph and tele-
phone companies. engaged in interstate
commerce, and also to provide q civil reme-