The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-19
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.



Secretary Hay is rapidly improving and
will be able to leave his house in few
days.
The secretary of the treasury has sent
to the Senate a letter from the commits
sioner general of immigration requesting
mandatory legislation for the purpose of
requiring steamship companies bringing
persons to ports of the United States to
return to China those who may be re-
jected by the United States authorities.
Powell Clayton, United States ambas-
sador to Mexico, has arrived in Washing
ton on leave of absence and is going TO his
home. in Arkansas He speaks in glowing
terms of the conditions in Mexico, paying
high tribute to the energy with which the
internal resources are being developed.
and laying particular stress on the cordial
welcome. given to American ideas and
Americans.
The Senate committee on commerce yes
terday concluded consideration of the river
and harbor bill Action on several amend
ments heretofore adopted was reconsd-
cred, and various House provisions recast
until the total appropriations has been
duced below that made by the House. The
Nicaragua canal amendment was voted
down The bill Will be reported to the
Senate to-day.
1t is said at the State Department that
there is absolutely no new feature in the
Danish West Indian matter. Our govern
ment Is absolutely quiescent and waiting
until the Danish government has made up
it's mind to what 1T wishes to do toward
passing ownership of the islands. 1t is pre-
sumed that in due course the overture of
last year will be renewed, but nothing has
been done later.
The regular term of service of Com
mander Benjamin +. Tilley, me command
ant of the naval station at Tuitila, Samoa,
will soon expire and he will come home on
leave of absence. 1t is probable the Navy
Department, however, will give him adj
dltional assignment to the command of the
station as he Is willing TO return there and
his administration OF affairs has given
much SATISFACTION to the natives of the
island under has charge
Representative Bell, of Colorado has in
troduced a resolution inquiring of the sec
rotary of the interior whether the PEN
sion Office heretofore has been turned over
TO inaugural committees for the purpose of
holding the inaugural ball, and whether
the pension employees are given leave dur
ing the transformation of the building
cites reports as TO the removal of 100000
pension files and the suspension OF work
for eight days by between 1.500 and $500
Pension Office employees receiving pay
amounting to over $1,000 per day. The res
olution calls for information for what au-
thority of law there is for such leaves of
absence. Another resolution by Bell calls
for an inquiry by the committee on judici-
airy as to the legal right to let the Pension
Office to an inaugural committee for ball
or concert purposes.
Consul Hay scored a distinct diplomatic
success at Pretoria before leaving there
Lord Kitchener had issued a proclamation
at Johannesburg which, while allowing the
English and Dutch to buy food from the
government stores. prohibited this privilege
TO foreigners. There is no food In shops
and ii Is difficult to obtain food in any di-
rection. so IL looked like starvation for the
5000 foreigners on the Rand. The consular
corps at Johannesburg exhausted all its
resources without avail, and at last dis
patched Mr.. Gordon, the American consul
lar agent, TO Pretoria to enlist the help
OF the consul Mr. Hay, hearing that Lord
Kitchener was about to leave town, went
to him Immediately, without consulting
with his colleagues, laid the matter before
the military governor at johannesburg to
allow. not only Americans, but all for
elgners TO obtain food at the government
stores on certificate from their represent
tatives.