The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-11

Construction and Repair, takes contrary
view, strongly urging the retention of the
requirement.
Commenting upon the reports, Secretary
Long says: The matter is a technical one,
and the department can do little more than
submit these views of it's experts. But 1t
appearing that the practice of sheathing
and coppering large armored vessels has
been abandoned by the principal shipbuild-
ers of the world, and that ii does not yet
command general approval, 1 deem IL wise
to suggest to the committee that the recon-
mendatfOn of the majority in this matter
be followed" The documents include a
letter from Rear Admiral Sampson in which
he advises against sheating and coppering.
saying that the practice is yet in its ex-
perimental stage, and urging further in
vestigation before resorting to Ii.
The following army nominations were
sent to the Senate: Hospital Steward F. A.
Jernigan, Thirty-fourth Infantry. U. s. ",
to be second lieutenant. Second Heutenants
TO be first lieutenants: John Morrison, jr.,
Third Cavalry; H. o. Willard, Tenth Cav
airy; L. r. Holbrook. Fourth Cavalry.
Mr.. Macrum, the ex-consul to Pretoria,
who returned from his home at East Liver
pool, o., to-day to settle up his accounts
with the State and Treasury Departments,
continues to hedge himself about with mys-
terry and still refuses to divulge his reasons
for resigning his post at such a critical
time. Much of the interest in Mr.. Macrum
centered in the rumors that he bore with
him some message from President Kruger
on the Transveal government to the au-
thorities here. 1t can be stated with abso-
lutte authority, however, that this is not
the case. Mr.. Macrum does not bring any
message from President Kruger, has
his return any diplomatic significance
whatever. The only interest which remains
hi ,t.lf<
may feel In reasons he may assign for leav-
ing his post at a critical juncture.
He has informed his friends that he
proposes to make those reasons public
in the near future. 1t Is probable that
on the final adjustment of his accounts
the ex-consul will not have a heavy credit
on his side of the ledger, owing to the in
significance of the salary allowed for the
Pretoria consulate, compared with the
heavy expense of living in that part of the
world. 1t is probably true that Mr.. Adel-
bert Hay, the present consul, although I'M
incumbeTed with family, Will md the
50 600 salary allowance speedily swallowed
up by the war rates of living now prevail
ing in Pretoria.
Governor Ludlow, Military Governor of
Havana, sailed to-day from that city for
New York on leave of absence or ten
days.
The War Department is looking for Til
den Hughes, late private Company G. Sixth
was Portsmouth, Scfoto county, Ohio. He
has been awarded certificate of merit for
gallantry at Santiago. but cannot be found.
In answer to an inquiry from the director
of the census the controller Of the treasury
has decided that the enumerators of the
deaf and dumb and blind, under the pro-
visions of the census acts of March 3. 1899,
and of Feb. 1, 1900, are entitled to receive
a G nnrs1rn r1c n inn fTo rna rof ac &c
restricted enumeration, viz: Five cents for
each name returned.
The controller has also decided that Of
ficers and soldiers belonging to volunteer
organizations. brought into the service UNI
Ger the act of April p, 1858, and amend
mentS thereof, who were discharged on or
after April II, 1882 the date of the close of
the war with Spain, under the provisions of
general orders No 81 of March % 1899, are
to be regarded discharged matter of
Fight and not for their own convenience.
and are entitled to travelling allowances in
kind or the Communication as provided in
Sections 1888 and 1920 of the Revised Stat
utes, and also to extra pay under the acts
of Jan. r. 1892 and March 3. 1899. The
place of discharge and subsequent enlist
ment or refusal to enlist again. do not, in
any way, affect the soldiers right to extra
pay. Under the general rulings of the con-
troller a soldier is entitled TO travelling al
lowances upon each discharge, provided it
is paid him before reinstatement
Admiral Hichborn's statement of the con-
dition of naval construction at the begin
ming of the present month shows that all of
the eight battleships so far authorized are
already under construction. The Kearsarge,
Kentucky and Illinois at Newport News
are set down at SO, 81 and "a per cent. re-
spectively. The Alabama and Maine at
Cramps are placed at 90 and Il per cent.
The Wisconsin and Ohio at the Union iron
works stand at 81 and Is per cent. re-
Missouri a
News. upon which work has just begun, is
reported at per cent. Not one Of the new
seventeen-knot sheathed cruisers of the
Denver class have yet been laid down.