, 1900-01-11

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 il involved. This CON
cluded the days proceedings and the
committee adjourned until 1870
o'clock.
Italy has returned n favorable re
sponse TO the rccen: note of the State
Department respecting the open door in
China. Italy was the last of the greIt
powers remaining to be heard from. Ii
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
tions. This is explained by the fact
that the Italian government was ad
dressed on the subject some time aftc'
the other continental nntions had 1t un
der consideration. owing to the fac
that our ambassador, Mr.. Draper. was
away from his posi- on leave of alb
scncc in he United States when the
identical note of Instructions was sen
out. The agreements have not vet
been reduced TO their final form, but
the state Department will now enter
upon the task of putting them into
shape of precis. and ms in each case
the agreement to the principles IN.
volvcd in our invitation is returned Ia
u%neQuivocnl terms according to the de.
partment officials II Is not ANTICIPATED
that any difficulty will he experienced
in accomplishing this work sntiSfnctOr,
lily. Pending that outcome the State
Department Toe not intend to mnkr
any statement for the public as to tn"
exact terms of the agreements. though
ii is admitted that the ground has boon
covered with unusual accuracy in the
press reports up to this point.
The House of Representatives mt the
present session will pass the Hepburn
bill providing for the construction of
the Nicaragua canal. This statement
Is made emphatically by II member of
the House committee on
which has the bill in charge. The mem.
her has given the matter close attpn-
ton because the district he represents
in Congress is vitality Interested in the
construction of an iSthmian canal. The
committee had II meeting to-day, and.
while no 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.
'llbu luIlltI ulSfllSSlDU. II WAS uSIttNl
to give the French Panama company
an opportunity to he heard before final
action was taken. and next Friday
was set as the date for the hearing.
The representatives of the company
VIII he invited to appear and submit
their statements under oath. If they
decline tn he sworn they will not be
heard. Ii is understood the administra-
tion will not oppose canal legislation
mt this session. While the members
of the committee are conf
ent that they can pass the Hepburn
bill in the House. it is not known
what action the Senate would take
upon it. although senator Morgan and
others prominently Identified with the
movement are expected to exert suf-
ficicnt Influence To force it TO consider
alton.
Eight officers from the navy. rank
ing us captains or higher. who were
in actual command of vessels p~artici-
pating in the naval operations mt sun
tiago and Mt other points in the West
Indies during the late war. met the
President by invitation. i'll order that
he might consult with them as to the
best means of rcwardIng the services
of the men d their command. All
of the eight captains present. including
every commanding officer in Admiral
Schley's fleet, recommended the pro
motion of Admiral Sampson to the
grade of vice admiral, because they be-
lievc him to be- entitled to all the credit
that has been claimed for him in con
nection with the naval operations of
he's Spanish war. and, with the eXcep-
tion of Captain Cook. who commanded
the Brooklyn GAdmiral Schley's flag
snip, they opposed the promotion of
any officer charged with r~eprehcnSible
Il until he has awaited 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 Schlcy's squadron. with one
exception, WAS unanimous. The cap
tainS We're also unanimous in recon-
mending that the services of their
subordinate officers and themselves he
recognized by II commemorative med
al. or by some other token. rather than
by promotion over the heads of their
associates who We're not SO fortunate
as to secure active service during the
late war. They ARE particularly anx-
lOuS lllal AulllifHi sampson shall he
promoted to the grade of vice admiral.
and that in the records of the depart
mcnt and In history the fleet to which
they belonged shall enjoy Il dignity
cqunl to that already given To the Pa
ciiic squadron under command Of AID
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
was the first nutiou to respond to the
advances of the United States. II has
submitted two replies. the first gen.
cral in scope, but the second explicit
In detail. embracing all the points
raised ana some thai We're not. Not
only is the question of nm open doOr
at issue, but certain privileges are de
manded for American citizens In the
leased territory, and spheres of in
tiucnco such as II guaranty against
discriminating rates on railways built
and financed under foreign authority:
against discriminating tonnage dues:
the right to max contracts with the
local authorities and with Chinese