Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-01-04
SEIZURES BY BRITISH
Ambassador Choate Cables About
American Goods Taken.
No PROGRAMME OF HOUSE BUSINESS

, Tho speaker Expects Early Adjournment,
Until appropriation Bills Are Ready
Govetnmsnt for Hawaii Being Con-
sidered by senate Committee.
Washington, Jan. 3.--'rhe state de-
partment yesterday received from
Ambassador Choate at London by ca
BILE statement of the facts he had
developed in connection with the
seizure by British warships of Amer
lean goods on the three merchant
vessels Beatrice. Mashona and Maria,
The goods comprised not only -four
but miscellaneous articles of common
trade. They were shipped for Lou
reno Marques IN British and German
ships, but our officials contend that
they were not sub jet to seizure.
They could not, however, lodge rep
reservations on the subject until they
were possessed of a knowledge of the
facts. and as soon as Mr.. Choate's
statement came to hand yesterday an
instruction was cabled to him to in
form the British government that we
could not admit the right of seizure
in these cases.
|
This is the preliminary step usually
taken in such negotiations Next in
order will be a report from our con
sllar representatives at Lourenzo
Marques respecting the present con
dtion Of the seized or detained goods
and the damage sustained. The state
department is not yet fully informed
on these points, necessary to the fur
Their presentation Of the eases. II is
not even known just where the goods
are, or + the, have all been seized or
only in part. 1t will be the duty of
our consular agent at Lourenzo Mar
ques to ascertain and report these
facts, end he is now engaged in doing
this under the original instructions
of the STATE department.
While the depart meni is acting, as
1t promised in the beginning, to firm
ly protect all American rights of
trade, II is showing no unseemly
haste in the presentation Of the case.
Yesterdays instructions to Mr..
Choate was not a demand for the re-
lease Of the goods nor yet for the in
demniiy, but rather precautionary
notice 'G he British government to
save all of our rights in the case. II
will be sufficient to initiate the set
Element of the matter by negotiation.
the stat, department having not the
slightest doubt that the British au-
thorilics will make full amends to
the owners of the goods when the
facts are all laid before them.
No Prog ANNE Of House business.
Washington, Jan. 3.-Spealer Hen
derson said yesterday that 10 exact
programme of business in the house
on their assembling to-day and
during the balance of the week had
been made up Tn" speaker and his
associates on the rules committee eX-
pect early adjournments UNI apnro-
pration bills and measures before
other committees are read for ac-
ton by the house Their is some
prospect of sharp controversy over
the consideration of resolutions OF in
qury relative to the treasur.s deplrt-
ment Several members are said to
have prepared resolutions of his clar-
acter, intending to claim immediate
consideration for Them as "p"iyi-
legged" 1t is said, however, by those
who ire authorities on house ploce-
dure, that this "privilege' would not
permit the consideration 81 resou-
tons to-day, but If it did they
would be referred to committee for
one week, after which they could be
called up for immediate considcra-
ton
Government for the Hawaiian Islands.
Washington, Jan. 3.-Th, SCI ate
committee ON foreign relations will
meet to-day TO consider til bill pro-
yiding government for the lava ian
islands. Senator Cullom, tie author
iN o. the bill said to-day that he
hoped ii would be reported soon and
added that as soon as possible after
the action of the committee he would
ask the senate to take the bill up for
consideration. So far as has been male
known tnere is no general opl,vs'',on
to the bill though some Of its feat
ures will be antagonized. A few en-
ators are urging that the measure be
amended so as to leave thu customs
laws applying to the islancs as they
now stand, to omit the provision for
delegate in congress for thu present,
because Of the possible effc,t Of this
provision upon legislation in the in
terest of the Philippines. to say moth
ing OF Cuba.
Government Receipts and Expenditures.
Washington, Jan. 3.-The compar-
alive statement Of the government
receipts and expenditures shows that
for he month of December, 1899, the
receipts were $46,759,l04 as against
"a ,i0i,793 for December, 1898. The
expenditures during last month were
$50, 1860 as against $4l,S64,S07 for
December, 1898, which leaves sur