Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-29
NO 261. WHEELING. ". Va THURSDAY. MARCH %, 1900

like an effort to concoct a sensation
out of nothing" But the committee
| decided to proceed and in reply to
| some questions from Mr.. Burleson, Mr..
Macrum stated that he had been grant
ed leave of absence by Secretary Hay
on November Is. He read to the COM
mittee a message from the cable COM
pany saying a cipher cable sent by him
to the Secretary of State November IA
had been held up by the military CEN
sor until December 2. Asked if other
consuls had suffered any inconvenience
in the matter of communicating with
their home governments, Mr.. Macrum
said they had. The Belgian and Ger
man consuls both told him that no
cipher kilograms were allowed to go
through.
did you
that your mail had been opened?"
asked Mr.. Berry, of Kentucky.
Il did not"
did you mention it upon your ar
rival in Washington"
Il did not"
"Why?"
Il would prefer not to answer that
question"
This reply raised a general laugh in
the committee room.
Mr.. Adams, of Penna., then proceed
ed to cross-question Mr.. Macrum ratk
er severely Upon the duty of a Consul
to remain at his post during compli-
cations.
Mr.. Macrum proceeded to describe
an alleged meeting between President
Steyn, of the Orange Free State and
Consul Stowe, of Cape Town, at which
he was present, in which he said Steyn
was very anxious that Stowe should do
something to settle the difficulty which
was brewing. He said that President
Steyn suggested an appeal to the Pres
ident of the United States and that
Mr.. Stowe had replied that he would
be glad if some such thing could be
done. And | have reason to believe
that the question was submitted to
the President of the United States"
added Mr.. Macrum, land that he
Returned an UnfavorabIe Reply"
What makes you say that?" in
CURED Mr.. Hit.
Il was told SO by Col. Stowe"
Was that statement in writing?"
1T was"
Have you the letter."
mo; it is in the files of the Pre-
toria consulate"
After further questioning Mr.. Ma
crum said he might have a copy of the
letter; he could not say positively.
Subsequently he said he thought he
could produce it in a short time.
Mr.. Macrum went over the exchange
of kilograms with the State Depart
ment relative to his leave, but as these
were in the cipher of the Department
the committee did not call for them.
He stated that his reason for not max
ing a report to the State Department
that when he called on Assistant Sec
rotary Hill he said to Mr.. Hill that
he understood he had been relieved.
Mr.. Hill responded that this was true,
Under such circumstances. Mr.. Macrum
said he had no report to make to the
Department. He endeavored, howev-
er, to see the Secretary of State, but
was told that Mr.. Hay was out.
After hearing Mr.. Macrum, the COM
mittee went into executive session.
Chairman Hit presented a letter from
Secretary Hay giving in detail the De-
partment's view of the subject and
this was subsequently made public.
The committee took no action as to
making a report, and it was stated
by members that there was nothing
to be done beyond taking the testi-
mony.
Secretary Hays letter was quite long.
1t gave copies of all correspondence
between the Department and the South
African Consuls, and lays upon Con-
sui Macrum the odium of practically
deserving his post at Pretoria when
trouble appeared.