The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-25

gun carriage made either to the War De-
partment or to the board of ordnance and
Notifications" 1t is the general opinion
that the committees action will postpone
consideration of the nomination by the Sen
ate for considerable time.
The committee of government officials APP
pointed by the postmaster general and the
secretary of the treasury to consider the
subject of post check currency gave hear
ing to-day TO the advocates of the bills
to provide a system of postal currency re-
Gently introduced by Representative Gard
ner, of Michigan. c. w. Post, the orig
inator of the plan. made a statement out
lining it and setting forth the needs of
the business world for a more convenient
method of transmitting small sums through
the mails. He said that in of the
adoption OF the idea all rights under the
patents would be assigned TO the govern
ment free of all cost. Representative
Gardner advocated the favorable consid-
Grafton OF the measure, and its provisions
were further explained by Attorney ID. T..
Fox, who drafted it. The bills provide that
all 81, 81 and So bills, except national bank
notes, shall have blank lines upon their
faces so that they may be converted at
once into a check payable to a named
payee, to be cashed at the postoffice named,
and for the issuance of similar bills of the
denominations OF ;, 10, % and so cents.
2-cent stamp is affixed and Cancelled on
the dollar denominations, and a 1-cent
stamp on the fractional bills, fee 10
the government.
The following postmasters were con-
firmed by the Senate to-day: NJ. f. Aspy,
Geneva; r. z. Dryer, La Grande: ]. II.
Miller, Syracuse; J. W. Henderson, Green
wood.
The conferees on the Chinese exclusion
bill to-day decided to report a disagree
ment to each house. The point of differ
ence is the date as to when the law shall
extend, the House contending for an in
definite period and the Senate being equal
~ firm in insisting that the law shall not
last beyond the life Of the treaty The
House conferees have held out at the earn
est request of the California delegation,
but it is believed that when further con-
ference is ordered an agreement will be
reached. The Senate conferees announced
that canvass of the Senate showed that
body would not yield on this point
Four Of the Democratic members of the
House committee on judiciary united to-day
in a minority report on the bill amending
the bankruptcy law. The report favors the
repeal of the entire law, and says 1--WE
do not believe there is any necessity or any
general public demand for the longer reten-
ton of this law. 1t has tended to burden
the federal courts with litigation which
courts of the States" A substitute is pro-
posed repeating the bankruptcy law.
Senator McCumber to-day introduced
bill prohibiting the sale of intoxicating
liquors in all government buildings.
XXX
Lord Kelvin, the distinguished English
scientist, who is visiting Washington, was
heard to-day by the House committee on
coinage, weights and measures on the bill
of Representative Shafroth, OF Colorado,
for the adoption of the metric system
Lord Kelvin's remarks were followed with
much interest by members of the commit
tee. He strongly approved the proposed
change and said that while he would like
from patriotic motives to see his own
government take the lead in an interna-
be glad to see the United States take the
initiative so long the desired end was
accomplished. He approved the idea en-
bodied in the House bill of giving time
for the system TO become understood be-
fore requiring its general adoption
George Westinghouse, head of the ex-
tensive concern bearing his name. also
spoke in favor of the system. although he
pointed out that IL would take ten years
before IL would become popular with the
people. owing TO the natural prejudice
against abandoning old standards.
Colonel Crovder's report on the results
of his examination into conditions at Port
Chalmette, La. has been placed in the
hands of the attorney general. II is for
the latter official to express an opinion as
TO whether the facts set out by Colonel
CroWder constitute violation of neutral
ity. Colonel Crowder was at the White
House to-day talking over the case with
the President.
The Republican members of the commit
tee on relations with Cuba to-day consid-
cred the course 10 be pursued on the reso-
luton introduced by Senator Teller direct
ing the Cuban committee to investigate the
report that the present crop of Cuban sugar
is held by the sugar trust. No definite de-
termination was reached, but from the ex-
change or opinion IL was made evident that
majority OF the Republican members are
disposed to accept the first part of the reso-
luton, while none OF them will stand with
the opposition members in supporting the
second part OF il. The portion Of the bill
favorably considered is that directing an
inquiry into present sugar holdings The
other portion directs an investigation of
the entire question of reciprocity with
Cuba, and IL Is TO this portion OF the reso-
luton that special objection is made Sen
ator Platt, of Connecticut, chairman of the
committee. announced that a meeting of
the committee would be called for to-mor-
row to consider the Teller proposition.
The War Department has received comics
of a proclamation issued by General Wood.
military Governor of Cuba. dissolving the
Cuban constitutional convention and direct
ing the Cuban Congress TO convene AT
Havana on May for the purpose of ex-
amining into the credentials OF its members
and counting and rectifying the electoral
vote for President and Vice President II
is announced that the Cuban Senate will
hold its sessions in the building known as
the "Palacio del Segundo Cabo' and the
House of Representative in that known as
Commandment de Marina" The central
body Of scrutiny also Is declared dissolved
& ~ f 11 L.