The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-17
He Does Not Wish to Revive Ill
Feeling by Cutting Down Number
of Southern Congressmen.
SENATE PRoBERS AT WORK
CONDITIONS IN CUBA UNDER INvES-
TIGATION BY A COMMITTEE.
Confirmation by Senate Not Necessary
i'm Cases of Members of The
Hague Arbitration Tribunal.


meeting to-day Attorney General Griggs
informed the President and his colleagues
that after mature elaboration he had con-
cluded that it would be impossible for him
to remain a member of the Cabinet for
the next four years. This was the first
definite response from any member to the
Presidents wish, expressed at the last
Cabinet meeting, that all of tie portfolios
should remain in the same hands during
the coming administration. The resgna-
ton of Attorney General Griggs will not
take effect until March 4 next and it is
thought at present that all the other MEM
bers, with the possible exception of the
secretary of war; will retain their present
positions.
The Chinese question was the main topic
of discussion. Secretary Hay brought with
him several communications bearing upon
the subject that had come to the State De-
partment.
Secretary Gage announced that his esti-
mate complete would show an excess of
receipts over expenditures for the present
fiscal year of 5000 900, and an excess of
receipts for the fiscal year ending July 1.
1902, of $SO,OOO.0O0. This estimate for the
theory that the present revenue laws will
remain in force.
The opinion is growing among public
men who are in the confidence of the
President that he will oppose any move
ment looking to a reduction of the con-
gressional representation of the Southern
States account of the charges of the
disfranchisement of colored voters. The
President is said to be opposed to reviving
i'll feeling. which. he thinks, would be the
result of bill thus touching the South's
suffrage. He has been told from many
sources recently that an important ele-
ment of Southern business men, manufac-
turers and others are at heart with the Re-
publicans and that the nucleus of flu
ture revolution against existing political
methods in the South has been securely
established and should not be dissipated
by legislation that would be regarded as
sectional.
On account of the Presidents attitude
there is growing opinion that legislation
looking to the reduction of the Southern
representation will not be pressed by party
leaders in Congress. In this connection ii
is suggested Mat any action taken with
reference to the suffrage of the South in
advance of the adoption of definite policy
in the Philippines might throw some en-
barrassment in the way of the proper dis
position of the citizenship rights of the
Filipinos and. moreover, it is felt that the
government has as much as it can deal
with now without getting into a contention
over domestic affairs.
Senator Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois.
arrived to-day. He says he is confident
he will be reelected, though he has two
formidable opponents in Governor Tanner
and Congressman Cannon. Speaking of
legislation at the coming session of Con-
gress he said: 1.-THE bill reported by me to
amend the interstate commerce law so as
to strengthen the Interstate commerce
Commission and widen its scope will prob
ably become a law this winter. I think,
too, the Nicaragua canal bill and the so
called shipping subsidy bill are pretty GER
tain to become laws at the coming session.
Yes, river and harbor bill, and pretty
big one, will be passed this winter, as none
was at the last session. AS to the pro-
posed reduction of congressional repre-
sentation in those State where suffrage is
restricted by law, I hardly think it will
come up for consideration at the approach
ing short session. 1t will entail a long and
acrimonious debate whenever it comes up.
ard it would be easy for its opponents to
prevent action upon it in the Senate this
winter. There will be plenty of things 20
take up all our time between Dec. and
March 4 without precipitating an ava
lanche of long distance oratory on SUBJ
the basis of sectional agitation.
Attorney General Griggs has decided that
the members of the international arbitra-
ton commission, selected by the President
under the treaty agreed on by The Hague
peace conference, are not subject to con-
firmation by the Senate of the United
States The President has already Sc
lected former President Harrison and for
mer Senator George Gray, of Delaware,
as members OF this commission and they
have accepted Former President Cleve-
land was invited to become a member
but declined. Two other members are still
to be. selected. After the appointments
were made a question arose as 10 whether
the President would have to send the
nominations TO the Senate for ratification,
and Attorney General Griggs was called
on for opinion. He has rendered one
To the effect that the members of the
commission are not officers of the United
States within the meaning OF the statute.
They are not required TO take the oath
of allegiance TO the United States, and
are, in fact, simply members OF a COM
mission selected by the President of the
United States whose service may be ayailed
of by other countries in the settlement of
controversies TO which the United States
is not party. Their remuneration, in