Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-12
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Congressional Resolutions of Inquiry
Discussed.
ALL INFORMATION TO Be FURNISHED
Our Seized Flour to Be Released
and Reparation Made.
INFORMATION TO Be FURNISHED
EXPOSITION CONCESSIONS

The cabinet in session about two
hours today. but did not discuss any public
| matters of great interest. 1t is understood
that there was considerable talk about the
various resolutions which have passed Con-
gress. and which are still before that body,
asking for information on divers subjects.
The consensus of expression was that every
available bit of information asked FOR shall
be granted, however difficult the work and
dangerous the reason for Withholding. 1t
is not the intention of the administrator
to give ground for a campaign of charges
that important facts are withheld and that
actions have been taken which the admin
lstratlon desires to suppress. As in the
case few days ago with Secretary Gage
great deal was sent to Congress which
if anything, may have apparently aided
those WHO had brought charges, but the
secretary was determined that no one
should nave reason to successfully charge
him with suppressng something which he
reared to make public.
No Diplomatic Action to Withhold.
II is stated 20 be a fact that there is lit
tie of diplomatic nature in any transac-
tion of the last year which cannot be made
public in answer to resolutions of either
body of Congress. This is particularly the
case SINCE the close of the war with Spain.
In the Philippines there is said to be moth
ing which cannot be made public except an
occasional secret service transaction which
required little money and was of impor-
tancc to the government.
The worst feature of the various resolu-
tfons, it is pointed out by cabinet officials
is the enormous amount of time required
to prepare than. Many clerks are required
for the work and the routine of the de-
partment is thrown behind for days, Ios-
s;bly for months.
Flour to Be. Released
Secretary Hay read telegram conveying
the answer of Great Britain to our demands
as to flour recently seized This answer
assured this government that the flour
would be released and that any equitable
reparation would be made. The telegram
was pleasing 10 the cabinet
Secretary Root read some telegramr from
Gen. Otis. The Secretary stated hat ar
ransements have been MADE to have tien.
l-awtons body lie in state when it reaches
this city. The body Will lie in state for sev-
erai days in a church ttat it may be viewed
by the public.
Mr.. Peck Secures Concessions.
Ferdinand Peck, the commissioner general
from the United States to the Paris expo
sition, is here looking after the many de-
tails concerning the exhibit of this country
He has talked with the President and with
TreaSury, State and other department
tanning through the State Department. two
notable concessions from the French gov
ernment One of these relates to printed
matter connected with the exhibits of this
country and bearing upon them. Under
the French law it was necessary that all
printed matter should either be printed in
that country, which was impossible or an
enormous tariff paid if printed in this colIn-
try. 1t is estimated that the total duties
on the printed matter necessary to fully
explain the nature of exhibits and showing
the resources, wealth and position of the
United States would have been 500 600
making the duty almost prohibtive to gov
eminent and other exhibitors. BY request
of Commissioner General Peck the State
Department made some representations to
the French government, and as a matter of
courtesy the French officials have remitted
the duty. This is done as a special favor
to the United States, and has been granted
to no other country.
Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hawaii
Still another concession was obtained
through the French government from the
directors of the exposition. Mr.. Peck Gid
not desire to include among the exhibits Of
this country the special exhibits of Cuba,
Puerto Rico and Hawaii. He desired to
have those exhibits stand alone and to
make a special display of them. He had
obtained from the exposition space in the
Trocadero for special purposes He later
asked to be allowed to place the Cuban
Puerto Rico and Hawaiian exhibits in this
space, but the request was refused. Through
the efforts of the State Department, in is
dealings with the French government, the
exposition authorities have finally granted
the request and the special exhibit of the
Islands will be made in the Trocadero. The
cable dispatch making this concession has
just been received.
Mr.. Peck has had several conferences
with Secretary Hay regarding the delegates
from this country to the many international
congresses to be held at Paris during the
exposition. 1t is stated that arrangements
have been made for holding at least $50 of
these congresses, at which each country
will be expected to have at least two dele
gates. The positions are honorary, but this
fact has made them attractive, and the de-
sire for the appointments is great. The
State Department will make the selections
from time to time.