The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-17

Bacon said he was willing that the United
States should acquire the island of Tu-
tuila with its Pago-pago harbor, if that
could be done in the proper manner and
without violating al our principles in Sc
curing control of it. Senators Money and
Tillman spoke in practically the same line.
The friends of the treaty repudiated the
assertion that the old treaty provisions
were annulled. They claimed that this
country by the new arrangements retains
all the old advantages and avoids the
complications liable TO grow out of the
tripartite agreement. They urged that the
opportunity should not be lost, both to
get out of an awkward predicament and
to control in our own right the harbor Of
Pago-Pago. -
Secretary Long and Rear Admiral Brad
ford appeared before the Senate committee
on naval affairs to-day in advocacy OF the
construction of a Pacific cable by the gov
ernment. The secretarys statement was
general and related entirely to the feasi-
bility Of the plan and it's advantage over
doing the work by private enterprise. Rear
Admiral Bradford detailed the operations
of the collier Nero, which is now engaged
in making a preliminary survey of the pro-
posed line west of Honolulu. He said that
the survey had been completed and that
the Nero was now on it's return. making a
zigZag survey. According to the reports
made of the preliminary work the proposed
cable was entirely practicable 1t is to run
from San Francisco to Honolulu. thence
via the Midway islands and Guam to Din
gala bay. Island of Luzon. with a spur for
pa arf1V1 al f0 nlnh he
average depth between Honolulu and Mid
way is ZOO fathoms, between Midway and
Guam, 1000 and between Guam and Luzon,
$500. He estimated the cost at S1.050 per
knot. which, with the amount necessary
for steamers. officers. etc. would bring the
cost up to s10,0OO,000. He placed the entire
length of the cable at S,294 knots, which
allows 20 per cent for slack and detours.
In connection with his statement Admiral
Bradford said he understood the average
expenses of the War Department for mes
sages to Manila to be about ZOO per day,
and that the total of the expenditures Of
the Navy Department had amounted to
s26. 600. ss'
The President sent to the Senate the
name of Robert M. McWade. OF Pennsyl-
vania. to be consul for the United States
at Canton. to succeed DIR. Edwin s. Bedloe.
This nomination closes the incident in DR..
Bedloe's case. So far as can be learned. DR..
Bedloe left the Department of State by
resignation and bears its good will Mr..
McWade is a resident of Philadelphia and
a member of the Manufacturers Club. He
is well-known newspaper man, having
been connected with the Ledger. Among
other nominations sent to the Senate to-
day are the following: Navy-Lieutenant
commanders to be commanders, William
M. Kimball William p. Day and John c.
Wilson; to be second lieutenant In Marine
Corps, H. ]. Hirschinger, OF North Caro-
lima; to be assistant paymasters in the
navy, John d. Robnett, OF Texas; Stewart
Rhodes, of California; George w. Pigman.
jr.. of Indiana; p. ]. Kennard, OF Illinois
Observation-Disclosures: J. +. Leahman, at
Berne; J. A. Hall. ar Cicero.
The Senate committe on finance again to-
day had under consideration the nominal
tion of d. w. Bynum to be general ap-
praiser Of merchandise at New York. The
Democrats Of the committee continued
their opposition to the nomination. con-
tending that Mr.. Bynum is not Democrat
and that his nomination as such is an
evasion of the law. Senators Burrows and
Spooner and other Republican members of
the committee defended the selection as
entirely proper. After general exchange
of opinion it was decided that the Demo-
Gratis should have time to adduce proof of
Mr.. Bynums Republicanism. The nominal
ton is in the hands of Senators Aldrich and
Jones Of Arkansas as a subcommittee.
The principal subject OF discussion at to-
days Cabinet meeting was the present un-
satisfactory status Of Porto Rico. The
President and members of the Cabinet are
very much in earnest in their request for
action by Congress and particularly a ma
terial reduction in the present import du-
ties of products from Porto Rico to the
United States. In fact, it was stated to-
day that an entire removal of duties would
be eminently satisfactory should Congress
so decide. AS it is, 1t is pointed out the
Porto Ricans are practically shut out of
markets with the result that business Of all
kinds is stagnant and a general depression
in all branches of industry prevails
throughout the island. Although the Presi-
dent has no thought of urging his views
on the attention of Congress. he feels very
strongly the necessity of some action which
shall define their political status and re-
lieve the islanders from the present de-
pressing conditions.
The House committee on postofices and
postroads to-day took up the resolution of
inquiry recently referred to it concerning
the charges that certain federal appointees
in Utah were polygamists. Representative
Lentz, of Ohio, who introduced the resolu-
tion, was present and considerable excite
ment was caused by some of the statements
made by him. His remark that the resolu-
tions were likely to be pigeon-holed by the
committee brought out protest from
Chairman Loud, who said the committee
would not pigeon-hole any business SUBJ
mitted to it. Mr.. Lentz, proceeding, stated
he could produce affidavits that papers had
been placed on file alleging that certain
federal appointees were polygamists
These papers were receipted for by Mr.
Porter the Presidents private secretary,
Mr.. Lentz said, but the papers could not
be found Mr.. r.'Lentz said Representative
Grosvenor, of Ohio, had said TO him that
1--WE have not let the grass grow under
our feet" and that as soon as the charges
were made the matter had been looked
into. Mr.. Grosvenoy was sent for, but
could not be reached. The committee ad-
journed the hearing until next Friday when
Secretary Porter, the postr1aster-general