The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-05
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
Notes Concerning Legislation and
Other Matters of Interest.

J. w. Yerkes, commissioner of internal
revenue, has returned from his home in
Kentucky, and was at his desk yesterday.
The Navy Department to-day issued the
expected order announcing the retirement
OF Rear Admiral Kautz, to take effect
Jan. %.
The legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill was reported to the Senate
yesterday. making the first regular appro-
priation bill to be reported. The net in
crease in the total appropriation recon-
mended by the committee is S2lS,75 bring
inS the aggregate up TO $24, S,S0I.
According to Consul Listoe. at Rotter-
dam, there is now a good field open in
Europe for American zinc ore. The zinc
mines in Europe are well nigh exhausted.
and the consul expresses the belief that
the United States is able to furnish the
continent with any quantity desired
The Naval Board of Construction has
decided to almost completely rehabiIitate
the cruiser Baltimore, now lying at the
New York navy yard. Her improvements
will involve an expenditure OF about $780,
600, and take at least a year and a half.
The Baltimore has been in commission ten
years.
The senate committee on foreign relations
has agreed to report favorably the reciproc-
ity treaties with Nicaragua, British Guiana
and Ecuador, and also supplementary ex-
tradition treaty with Great Britain, making
the obtaining of money under false pre-
lenses, the obs ruction of railroad trains
and the procuring of abortion extraditable
offenses.
Representative Payne, of New York, has
introduced bill amending the national
banking act so as to permit national banks
to become depositaries for receipts from
duties and imports in Alaska, the Hawaiian
islands and other islands under the juris-
diction of the United States, and also to
be financial agents of the government in re-
spect to these Islands.
A delegation from Virginia was heard
yesterday by the House committee on
military affairs on the project to have the
government acquire the historic site at
Yorktown, Va, where the revolutionary
struggle closed with the surrender of Lord
CORVALLIS. The site includes 500 acres
and the old Moore mansion, which shell
tered Washington, Lafayette and Rocham-
beau when the surrender was consum-
mated.
1t was announced at the Navy Depart
ment yesterday that the President has
appointed the following board of visitors
to the Navay Academy at Annapolis: Rear
e. S. Bragg, Wisconsin; Mr.. Henry A.
Marsh, Worcester, Mass. Mr.. Park
Benjamin. New York: Mr.. ]. +. r. Ross,
Minneapolis, Mimi; Mr.. John p. Swazey
South Orange, n. ].
The Industrial Commission resumed its
hearings yesterday. Prof. Frank III. Par
sons. of Boston, talked on the government
ownership or railways. He SAID that by
such ownership the public interest was sub
served, and the many determinations ex-
listing because of private ownership would
be obliterated. He said that while there
had been reduction in through rates, there
had scarcely been any reduction in local
rates in the last thirty years. He discussed
the telephone and telegraph upon the same
lines.
The auditing officers of the treasury
have been engaged for some time in an
effort to secure from United States Consul
Radcliffe III. Ford, at Yarmouth N. s., a
satisfactory explanation of certain dis
bursements made by him account of the
relief of distressed American sailors but
so far without result. The office has been
investigated by the nearest consul general
and unless some accounting is rendered
for the items referred to- the case will be
reported to the State Department as one
requiring drastic action. Consul Ford is a
native of Maine.
The remarkable extension of the beet
sugar industry is Cutting the markets of
the world. according to United States Con-
sui Hughes, at Coburg, Germany, in a
communication to the State Department.
The European producing lands are Ger
many, Austria, Russia, France Belgium,
Holland, Sweden, Denmark, Servia, Bull
garia, Roumania, Switzerland, Italy,
Greece and Spain. Persia is just entering
the field, and Egypt is waking UP to the
fact that her soil is adapted to the cultiva-
ton of the beet. The United States, says
the consul, is pressing them all. with Ar
gentina and Chile trying to follow in her
footsteps.