The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-06
TROUBLE OVER PROTOCOLS
IsTHMIAN REPUBLICS NOT DISPOSED
TO ACT FAIRLY.
Fresh Obstacles at Every Turn in Ne
gOtiatiOns Over Right of Way
for the Proposed Canal.


this city. and asked that it be printed as a
document. 81 have heretofore called the
attention of the Senate" said Senator Fair
banks, Ito the very urgent need of hall
of records 1 know of nothing connected
with the public service that is more neces-
sary or more urgent than this subject or
a hall of records" In his usual careful
manner Senator Fairbanks has insisted on
reports of all departments concerned in re-
lation to the needs of this most important
public building. The proposition has been
before Congress for the past quarter of a
century and has failed to pass into the per-
manent form of completed legislation be-
cause the reasons for the hall of records
have never been marshaled and presented
to the Senate in a comprehensive form.
Many important valuable documents in the
different departments are now stored in un-
secured places and liable to be destroyed or
lost. Senator Fairbanks is convinced that
it is good public policy to provide for the
permanent cares of these papers.
XXX
Senator Fairbanks has accepted an invi-
tation to deliver the commencement ad-
dress for the Potter College at Bowling
Green, Ky.
Senator Beverage is taking very active
part in the examination of the witnesses
who are appearing before the Philippine
committee of the Senate. To-day he made
emphatic objection to the tactics of the
Democrats, who apparently seeking TO
Sur up dlssenslons ra1ner thah 10 seek IN
formation. Senator Patterson was trying
TO get General Hughes 10 criticise the con-
duct of superior officer, General Otis.
The questions were based on assumptions,
af1A ha n a m n
ported the objections of the senator.
XXX
Representative Heatwole, of Minnesota,
formerly of Goshen, Ind, is to take a
ten days rest at French Lick Springs for
his health.
Every fresh turn in the development in
the isthmian canal project discloses a new
obstacle. 1t now appears that the protocols
negotiated last spring with Nicaragua and
Costa RIGA, whereby those countries out
lined the terms on which they were pre-
pared to enter into permanent treaties with
the United States conveying the neces-
sary rights for canal construction are no
longer of effect. Conditions have changed
since then and whenever the balance of
opinion seems to incline toward the one
route or the other for the canal the govern
ment interested in the favored route sud
denly hardenS it's terms and is disposed to
abandon past agreements. Therefore ii will
be necessary to draw up new protocols not
only for the Panama canal with Colombia
but for the Nicaragua canal with Costa
Rica and Nicaragua in pursuance of the
State Departments policy of placing 1T
within the power of Congress to freely
change either route.
The House committee on immigration to-
day unanimously ordered a favorable re-
port on the general immigration bill. 1t
codfes all the existing laws and perfects
the administrative features. Chairman
Shattuc will call up the bill in the House
at the first opportunity. AS finally agreed
TO the bill increases the head tax from 81
to $50. Another general provision is that
extending to five years the period during
which Immigrants may be deported if they
become public charges. The educational
test which was proposed as a feature of
the bill was omitted in the final draft and
will be Incorporated in a separate measure.
A delegation of Texan congressman, in
Guiding Representatives Lanham and Stay
den and Judge Nicholson, called on Secre-
tary Hay to-day to urge that steps be
taken to reach an agreement with the
Mexican government respecting joint con-
troll of the waters of the Rio Grande river.
Grave international issues may arise at
any moment from the confusion which now
exists on the water boundary a result
of the meandering course of the Rio
Grande and the diversion of water caused
that now is the proper time to reach some
form of agreement these matters. The
subject will be brought to the attention of
the Mexican government and negotiations
pressed to carry out the views of the dele
CATION.
Senator Lodge to-day introduced an
amendment to the Philippine bill pending
before the committee on the Philippines
The amendment has been incorporated in
the House bill and was agreed on after a
conference between Secretary Root, Gov
ernOr Taft, Senator Lodge and Chairman
Cooper. of the House insular committee
1t provides that whenever ii is certified
to the President that the existing insurrec-
ton i'm the Philippines shall have ceased
ana peace is established a general election
shall be called for the choice of delegates
to a popular assembly to be known the
Philippine Assembly. The legislative power
conferred on the Philippine Commission in
all that part of the archipelago not inhab-
tied by the Moros or other non-Christian
tribes then shall cease and be vested in a
legislature consisting of two houses-the
Philippine Commission and the Philippine
Assembly. Three resident commissioners
to the United States are TO be elected
The House committee on banking and
currency to-day directed a favorable re-
port on the Senate bill authorizing the
extension of national bank charters for
twenty years.
Rear Admiral J. A. Howell will be re-
tired on the 10th inst. Next TO Admiral
Dewey he is the ranking officer of the
navy. His retirement will result i'm the
| promotion OF Capt. A. s. Crowninshield
| chief of the bureau OF navigation. TO the
| grade, of rear admiral and permit the exc
cution of the plan TO place that officer in
command of the European station.
! 1t is learned that the Treasury Depart
ment looks with disfavor upon those banks
which withdraw bonds now deposited to
secure circulation either for the purpose
| of placing them in the market 10 secure
| the higher premium now prevailing or for
/ the purpose of making them the basis of
an application to secure government de-
| pOsts and II is believed that Secretary
Shaw will not be disposed in the event
| of a further increase of the government
| deposits, 10 designate those banks which
/ have so withdrawn bonds now held by the
! treasury to secure circulation.
Representative Kahn. OF California, who
| introduced the Chinese exclusion bill in
the House. has received a dispatch from