Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-05-26
NO NONSENSE.
United States Makes PeIemptory
Demand for Indemnity,

Diplomatic Note which Borders on
Uitimatum =, Porte Has Banked
Too Long on American ind uiGence
, a bay or Rasptag Controversy y"
the enate-Puaishment for A..
tempting 90 Rescue PrisOncr-The
Oieonisrgarine Question - Notes
OrArmy aud Capitol.
Washington, May 2t.-Beyond the
statement that the department Is stiil
earnestly prosecuting the indemnity
claims against the Turkish government
the officials OF the state department de-
cline TO indicate the character Of the last
Instructions sent to Charge GrIscom IN
relation to these claims. Therefore IL
Is to be assumed that the CONSTANT
nople dispatch accurately sets out the
character OF the communication.
II IL certainly not an ultimatum. but
Is believed to be as strong In Its repre-
sentations as a diplomatic note could be
made without actually becoming an
ultlmatum.
The fact that this last note to Mr.,
GrIscom was cablcd the very day that
Ahmed Pasha landed In New York re-
putedly clothed with some mission In
connection with the missionary claims
has given rise to a belief here that the
United States government Will not give
Its sanction to any such compromise OF
the claims as has been suggested. The
government having undertaken to pre-
sent and collect the claims must cer-
taInly be consulted before II sanctions
their Withdrawal. so that any effort TO
arrange for a settlement directly be-
tween the claimants and the Turkish
representa- tives. under cover OF the pnr-
chase Of Il warship. or otherwise, would
probably have TO be made a matter OF
public record. II permitted at all. II this
is done, 1t Is hard to perceive what ad-
vantage will accrue to the Turkish gov
ernment from such roundabout method
OF settlement. which. after all. would
speedily become known to all of the
European creditors of that government.
The Constantinople dispatch above re.
ferrcd to follows:
Constantinople, May 24.-The United
States legation, having vainly waited
four weeks for a reply to the note of
April "a, regarding the American in
demnity claims, Mr.. Griscom. United
States charge of affairs, has handed to
Tewfik Pasha, minister of foreign af-
fairs, a new note, couched In more pre-
else terms and insisting upon prompt
settlement. The note produced great
impression, as the porte thought the
matter postponed. II not abandoned. II
Is believed that the United States VIII
not wait so long time for an answer.
Americas indulgence thus far not having
made satisfactory impression upon tho
porte.
Washington. May 24.-Wednesday was
day of rasping political controversy
and oratory from the senate. With the |
controversy those on the Democratic |
side Of the chamber, anomalous as 1t may |
seem, had little to do. What by far
seeing senators Is regarded as likely to |
be the paramount issue Of the approach |
ing national campaign was the subject |
of q notable speech by Mr. Platt of Con-
necticut 1t was an answer to the |
speech delivered few days ago by Mr. |
Bacon of Georgia on his resolution de-
mandlng an investigation of hnaneial
affairs in Cuba. Mr.. Platt favored the |
adoption of the resolution, but derre-
Gated what he declared was an effort to |
make political capital out of the sltua-
tion.
Washington, May H.-Admiral Ahmed
Pasha of the Turkish navy arrived in
Washington last night He confirmed
the report that his visit Is for the pur-
pose of making arrangements for the
purchase of a warshp in the United
States for the Turkish government. The
admiral expressed himself as being sur
prsed at the statements that his mis-
sion here was a diplomatic as we'll as
business one.
He declared that not one cent had
been misappropriated In the military
rule OF Cuba. Senator Tillman inter-
rupted to ask IL Platt had looked up the
facts about "that railroad" Senator
Platt then gave the history Of the rail-
road 1T was built" he said. "to con-
vey supplies and troops. and Chief
Quartermaster Humphrey was In charge
of the work. Speed was the great de-
sideratum In this case, and the total cost
was $211 900. of which $4,000 was for the
pier, leaving $1S7,OOO as the cost Of the
railroad proper. The road was seven
miles in length"
Senator Culberson asked II that in
cluded the cost of the right of way.
81 think not" replied Platt. II don't
know the cost Of the right Of way-it may
have cost nothing" Then he accused
Senator Bacon Of declaring that the cost
of this road was 81. 100000.
Bacon protested that he had only
quoted what had been said in the news
papers. WELL" retorted Senator Platt.
ut amounts to the same thing. The
senator Is preparing all these charges
for campaign purposes"
He reviewed the careers Of Rathbone
and Thompson, declaring in their selec-
tion merit alone was recognized as fully
as II they had taken a civil service ex-
animation. II don't know whether
Rathbone has gone wrong or not, but II
he has II Is not the fault of the admins
tration, which exercised all diligence in
his selection. Now as to Neely. Here
Is man who did not have the experience
OF Rathbone. but who possessed the con-
fdence Of everyone who knew him in
Indiana. He has taken for his own use
100000. more or less, and has disgraced
his country rather than the administra-
lion. which has taken steps TO probe
these sct ndals to the bottom and to
spare no one." The senator then pro-
ceeded to discuss the question Of extra
allowance to army officers in Cuba, cit
ing precedents Of the Mexican war and
at other times in Justification of the
practice.
Senator Plat made public a letter OF
instruction given to Mr.. Bristow upon
his departure for Cuba. The letter de-
elared that the investigation must be