Evening Star Newspaper, March 16, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING sTAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 11C] Ferreylvania Avenue, Cor. llth 8t., by The Evening Star 2 Rrezing Sar Revepeper Company Few York Office, 49 Potter Buildinz. ‘The Star is served to subscribers in the exty by crrriers, on thelr own account, at 10 cents ¢ month. Copies at the cctnter 2 cetts each. mafl—anywhere in the United States «x Canada—postage prepald—So cents per month. Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added. $3.00. (Entered at the Po.t Gffice at Washington, D. C.. ‘as sec nd-class mail matter.) T7 Ail mail subseriptions must be paid fn advance. Rates of advertising made known on applicatior. SPAIN’S OBJECTION It May Mean a New Chapter of Trouble. CRITICISH OF OUR NAVAL RENDEZVOUS The President's Attitude Said to Be Unchanged. os YACHT MAYFLOWER SECURED ———— A statement sail to represent feeling in ‘the Spanish cabinet in which objection is r.ade to the presence of the American fleet at Key West is thcught to indicate a new chapter of trouble. Republican leaders who visited the Presi- dent today say that the President is un- changed in his hope for peace, but is deter- mined to be prepared for war. Gen. Miles left for New York, Where he will corfer with Gon. Merritt. Capt. Chas. E. Clark was assigned to the command of the bettle ship Oregon. Secretary Alger has made two heavy requisitions for part of the $50,000,00) set apart for national defense. Reports show 929 merchant vessels avail- abie for the government in case of hosiil- iues. The Navy Department acquired the steel yacht Mayflower. Enlistment for the artillery regimen:s is proceeding satisfactorily. The war preparations being made by the United States, the assembling of ships at Key West, the purchase of cruisers abroad and the emergency measures in the Wat and Navy Departments have come to the official attention of the Spanish govern- ment, and the views of the Spanish cabinet thereor have been communicated to the State Department here. This has not taken the form of protest, however, as it does not appear that the Spanish government claim or assert the right to question such internal measures as the United States may adopt, even though they be of a char- acter to indicate preparations for war. It is rather by way of representations, conveyed im a friendly spirit and without as to the serous influences which ations will have in eucourag- Cuban insurgents at the moment autonemy plan is to have its 1 trial through the Cuban elections, and in this way defeat the reforms Premier Sagasta is seeking to carry out. The Fleet at Key West. peer. specially pointed out that the presence of a large fleet of United States warships at Key West cannot be regarded as a friendly measure, as the sending of ships was offictally represented to be when the Maine went to Havana and the Viz- caya returned the complimentary visit. In short, the presence of this extensive fleet near Cuba, together with the war measures taken by the United States, are regarded by Spain as seriously prejudicial to the pol- icy of autonomy which Spain and the United States have alike approved, and an indirect encouragement to the insurgents in defeating the desires of both governments for the success of that policy. Finally, and in the same spirit of friendly representa- tion rather than of protest, Spain has pointed out that a war by the United States against Spain under such circumstances would be unjustifiable before the world, and @ crime against humanity and civilization. The representations contained no refer- ence whatever to the Maine disaster or to redress or indemnity therefor. A New Chapter of Trouble. The rublished semi-cfficial statement of the Spanish cabinet’s view as to the re- sponsibility of the United States in the Cuban situation has created a profound impression. Officials decline to discuss it publicly, but there is general belief among them that the publication marks the be- ginning of a new chapter in the troubled It Telations between the United States and Spain. The statement is believed to be a first step toward forming public opinion in Europe in anticipation of a failure on the part of the Spanish officials to make a success of the autonomous program which it had outlined and that an attempt is to ~ba made to place the responsibility upon the United States for any failure that may follow. Thig movement is regarded as adding much to the gravity of the present aituation. That the administration will be influenced by the suggestion that the Presence of the fleet of the north Atlantic squadron et Key West is a disturbing fac- tor is not ‘velieved for a moment. Visible evidence of that determination was the ceaseless activity of the naval officials as well as the steady prosecution of the plans of the War Department today. President’s Attitude Unchanged. Republican leaders of prominence who have visited the White House today say that the excessive calm which has follow- ed the exciting events of the past few weeks is not due to any change of policy on the part of the President or the ad- ministration. They say that the only basis for the belief thet peace is more certaia and war more remote is the attitude of Spain. It is now apparent to the visiting states- men that the Spanish bondholders must be exerting immense pressure on the Epanish government, and that a result of that pres- sure ts to cause Spain to resort to various diplomatic schemes and to cease bluster and threats. It is practically certain that the bondholders have told Spain that if she dces anything to aggravate the situa- tion she will not get any money to carry on a war with the United States. While Spain is being held down by threats certain influences are at work on differ- ent lines here, all with the object of pre- venting trouble. But it ts well known that the influences here have not altered the President's plans. ‘Three weeks ago his policy was announced in The Star to be to .1ke no positive action regarding the Cuban situation until the re- Port of the board of inquiry was received; that is, not to make any demand upon Spain until that time. There has been no change in that policy, which was interna- tional in its scope. The Lee incident caused a change in the internal plans of the gov- ernment. The Decision as to the Maine. A leading republican said today, after talking with the President, that the chances of war now are just as many as two weeks ago. He figured that the verdict Che Loe no Sta No. 14,053. WASHINGTON, D. 0.. WEDNESDAY, MAROGH 16, 1898—FOURTEEN PAGES. © TWO CENTS. If you want to buy, sell or exchange anything, lease property or rent rooms, want a situation or want help, it will pay you to announce the fact in the advertising columns of The Star. They are closely studied by more than three times as many pcople as read any other paper. , of the court of inquiry is Hkely to effect a complete revolution in the existing state of affairs. The basis of practically all the war falk, he said, has been the disaster to the Maine. The determination of how that disaster came about is not far off. There was no attempt to intimate that anything is known as to what the verdict will be, but a general statement that the actual condition of affairs has not changed in the least. The President, it is reiterated today, has from the first expressed the hope that the differences between this-country and Spain could be settled peaceably, and said he thought that could be done. He said all this on the day of the big conference which resulted in the $50,000,000 appropriation. He has consistently, almost daily, repeated the same hope and belief. Preparing for What May Come. While sayirg these things, he has not allowed any abatement of preparations for war. One-half hour before he and Min- ister Polo exchanged greetings a few days ago, each heping for peace, he had been gcing over with cabinet officers every de- tail of the preparation for war. Fresk quotation of the President’s de- sire for peace does not denote that there is any more prospect cf peace now, so far as the position of the President is concerned, than there was two weeks ago. The submiss‘ve attitude of Spain is throw- ing oil on the troubled waters, but the question arises how long this will continue. It is said that the administration is every day watching for a change of tactics in Medrid It is expected in some quarters that if the change does not come this month it is almost certain after the Span- ish elections in April. Until those elections are over the situation will daily contain elements of urcertainty. Secretary Sherman, Secrstary Alger,Sena- tor Harna and Representative Hitt were among the most prominent republicans to confer with the President today. Senator Hanna was with the President longer than any of the other visitors. Outside of these men there were fewer visitors of prominence than in many days. Gen. Miles Goes to New York. Maj. Gen. Miles, commanding the army, went to New York on an early train this mcrning to fulfill a promise to attend the military tournament at the Madison Square Garden. He will undoubtedly improve the opportunity to confer with Gen. Merritt, commanding the department of the east, in regard to the progress of the emergency preparations for the manning of the new coast defenses and the mobilization of trecps now at interior posts at railroad centers along the Atlantic and gulf coasts for any service they may be called upon to perform. Inasmuch as he has nged to return to this city early tomorrow morn- ing, it is not likely he will have time to visit the military posts about New York harbor. New Commander of the Oregon. Capt. Charles E. Clark, now in command of the coast defense ship Monterey at Mare Islend, Cal., has been ordered to take com- mand of the big battle ship Oregon, which is under orders to cruise down the Pacific coast as far as Callao, Peru, with the pos- sible ultimate intention of continuing her voyage around the Horn and up the east- err coast of South America to join the fleet of warships gathered near Key West for the maintenance of the honor and pre: tige of the United States. Capt. MeCor- mick, who has been in command of the Oregon, has been reported unfit physically for further active service by a medical board of survey, and will probably be placed on the retired list. Wants to Invade Cubn. Adjutant Gen2ral Corbin yesterday re- ceived a military visitor who eaid he was fresh from the battlefields of Cuba and de- sired to arrar with him for the imme- diate investment of the port of Havana. He 2d in a military uniform of green .» and said he was ready to take the field at once. He gave his name as Lieut. Col. Jorge A. Rivera y Monez, 4th Army Corps, Cuban army, and said he had come from Gen. Mayria Rodriguez, second in command. To us? his own words, he “was just from the field and had blood on his boots,” and he gave every indication of be- ing earnest and eager for the fray. What he desired was an army of 5,000 men from the United States with which to begin the invasion of Cuba, and his plan was to fire on Morro Castle and sack the city of Ha- vana. Gen. Corbin treated him courteous- ly and said he would see him later about the army of invasion. Another Big Contract for Ammunition The War Department is making ready for another big contract looking to’ the procurement of a lot of shot and shell. An advertisement has just issued calling for “cast fron projectiles for sea coast cannon.” The bids are made returnable next Monday at 3 o'clock at the ordnance office, War Department. The shot and shell are of the heaviest description, and what is called for is 187 10-inch solid shot, 910 12-inch mortar shells weighing 800 pounds each, and 500 12-Inch mortar shells weighing 1,000 pounds each. These projectiies are entirely differ- ent from the $1,000,000 worth ordéred yes- terday. Those were wrought steel shot and shell mostly, being known as armor plercers and intended “tor attack upon bat- tle ships, monitors and such armored ves- sels. Those called for now are for use either against lightly armored or unarmor- ed ships or else for “deck piercers,” being fired from mortars with a plunging fire into the deck of vessels lying out at sea. Being of cast metal, these projectiles will, it is expected, be much cheaper than the armor piercers already ordered. Equipping the Auxiliary Navy. The equipment bureau of the Navy De- partment has prepared itself for the equip- ment, at very short notice, of any vessels of the auxiliar? navy that may be acquired, with the most approved signaling devices now employed. It appears the department has discarded the well-known Ardois sys- tem and has adopted in its place the Boughton system of colored light signaling. The lafter instruments are made in Buffalo, are regarded as a sensible improvement upon th? Ardcis system, and Capt. Brad- ferd, the chief of the ordnance bureau, has placed in New York a good supply of the necessary parts of the device. The new system is bellev2d to resemble the Ardois in that it employs about four colored lights placed upen the signal masts, which ere centrolied by an electric keyboard from the deck. Movements of Warships. ‘The torpedo boat Foote sailed from Jack- sonvill> for Key West this morning. The Vicksburg arrived at St. Plerre, West 1n- dies. The Marietta sailed from San Jose for Parama. The Essex arrived at Ports- mouth, N. H. A brief telegram from Admiral Sicard announced the arrival at Key West of the Mangrove with the court of inquiry on board. All the officials at the department profess the deepest ignorance as to the (Continued on Second Page.) 3 [NAVAL ENGINEERS The Need of Them Claimed by the} Administration. CHAIRMAN © BOUTELLE'S Said to Be Opposed to the Reor- ganization Bill. POSTEION MR. HILBORN’S STATEMENT Sa Chairman Boutelle of the House naval ecmmittee is said to be standing in the way of measures for the efficiency of the navy demanded by the present emergency. It is asserted in some quarters that he has taken issue ret only with Secretary Long, but di- rectly with the President, and that the sit- uation is such that the administration feels that if Mr. Boutelle is sustaincd by the naval committee and the House the navy will be seriously crippled. The trouble, it is stated, arises over the “reorgarization bill,” which increases the number of eng’ neers and provides for strengthening the efficiency of the navy. The bill ehas been for some years before Congress, and re- sulted from the report of ore of the boards of visitors to the Naval Academy and the report of a board composed of seven line and four staff officers, appointed by the Secretary of the Navy. The bill was drawn up in advance of any emergency, it being foreseen that if ever the navy was to be called into service such a reorganization would be essential to the efficiency of the service. Anxious to Have the Bill Passed. The emergency has come sooner than it was expected, and the administration is represented as extreme:y anxious to have the bill passed at once. The Navy Depart- ment is so short of engineers that the ves- sels in commission are represented as in- sufficiently officered in this respect, and they are practically unable to officer the Minneapolis and Columbia and the two new vessels bought abroad. The purchase of any more vessels, it is said, will be use- less as long as this condition of affairs ex- isis, and the way is not seen clearly to make use of the two now purchased. Secretary Long, Capt. Crowninshield and Chief Engineer Melville, as was then stat- ed, had a hearing before the naval commit- tee day before yesterday to urge the adop- tion of the bill. Had His Own Notions. The President, it is said, sent for Mr. Boutelle, and it is asserted that Mr. Bou- telle flatly refused to permit action on the measure, and suggested that he had his own nections about the needs of the navy. It is sald that he has taken the position that 100 machinists are all that are ~e- quired to relieve the strain, and that he is willing to have these provided for in a rider on the appropriation bill. It Is said that the administration, con- vineed of the absolute necessity for the measure proposed, is going to continue urging it with great earnestness, and it is believed that a majority of the naval com- mittee will stand by the Seeretary and the President. The contest is not a part of the old line and staff fight, it is sald since the measure 5 supported by beth branches of the se: d is for the betterment of the sei ice without reference to the personal wish- es of either branch. It enlarges and im- preves the engineer corps, but the board which drew up the measure was composed of a large majority of line officers. The bill makes one corps of both the line and ergineer officers, providing for the train- ing of both branches to do duty in both branches. Not Enough Engineer Officers. When the detail of officers was made out for the Minneapolis and’ Columbia it is claimed that it was found that there was but one chief of engineers and two as- sistants who could be assigned to each vessel. These vessels have about 20,000 horsepower each in their machinery, and, for various purposes, have nearly a hun- dred engines. The main engines, three in number, are placed in three separate wa- ter-tight ccmpartments, and the boilers occupy four more separate compartments, while the auxiliary engines are in various parts of the vessels. In time of bettle these water-tight com- partments have to be closed and separated from ene another, so that three men could not attend to all, even if the need for re- lief during a part of the twenty-four hours 4s not to be considered. During the civil war tne oli-time frigate Minnesota, with only one-twentieth the horse power of the Minneapolis end with no such complicated machinery, had nine commissioned engi- neers. The British ships Powerful and Terrible each carries nine commissioned engineers, which the admiralty regard as too small. When the two Brazilian vessels were bought it was found that there were no engineer officers available for them. The last board of visitors to Annapolis made a unanimous report in favor of the measure, though then the emergency had not arisen. What Mr. Hilborn Says. Mr. Hilborn of California, who is a lead- ing member of the majority of the naval committee, danies that there is any differ- ence between the administration,*or the Navy Department and Mr. Boutelle, chair- man of the naval committee. He says that Mr. Boutell2 and the rest of the committee realize the pressing need of more engineers in the navy, and that Sccretary Long and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt were the only ones who wanted immediate action on the reorganization or personnal bill. Im- mediate action on this bill, he says, would be impossible. It is a radical measure, he says, which would have to be discussed for a month. Chief Engineer Melville, he says, asked for an increase of a hundred engineers, which, it was agreed, was nee/ed. Chief Melville came before the committee with the proposition indorsed by Secretary Long. It was objected in committee that this in- crease would interfere with the personnel bill and excite a fight between line and staft, and Mr. Boutelle decided to ask the Secretary to appear. The Secretary ap- peared with Melville and Capt. Crownin- shield. The Secretary wanted the person- nel bill passed, but that, Mr. Hilborn says, is impossible, because it involves increases of pay and corsolidates the line and staff. Mr. Long and his chiefs, Mr. Hilborn says, discussed the situation among themselves and there was no disagreement between them and- Mr. Boutelle. Mr. Boutelle, he gays, was ready to do the right thing, and he proposed to give the navy a hundred machinists, instead of engineers. The ap- pointment of engineers, ke says, would re- sult in a large increese of that branch of the service, and if the personnel bill should pess later it would consolidate them all with the line. He eaid that Mr. Boutelle was not standing in the way of the de- partment. Mr. Butler Knows of No Disagreement Representative Butler of Pennsylvanta, a republican member of the naval committee, said that he had not heard of any disagree- ment between Chairman Boutelle and tlie administration on the personnel bill or in any way with respect to the increase of the engineers. He is inclined to disbelieve that there any 4 Cc heats lisagreement. Certainly he FRANCE PREPARES. FOR WAR Active Work at All the Arsenals and Navy Yards, Northern Squadron at Cherbourg Rendy for Immediate Departure— Hurry Order Sent to Admirals. PARIS, March 16.—The Aurore today afirms that the Frerch fleet is being pre- pared for mobilization, adding that fever- ish anxiety prevails at all the arsenals and shipyards, which zre ‘working until 10 o'clock at night. Continuirg, the Aurore says the French northern squadron at Cherbourg is ready for immediate departure. The ships, it ap- pears, are being swung during the night 2t Cherbourg for the adjustment of their com- passes. = Finally, it is asserted that in order to complete the necessary number of officers sccond-year students afte to be appointed midshipmen, and all the admirals have been instructed to arrange to reach Paris within twenty-four hours after being sum- moned. = THE HAWAIIAN RESOLUTION. It Has Nearly Two-Thirds of Senyte in Its Favor, The action of Mr. Davis, chairman of the committee cn foreign relations, in report- ing to the Serate a joint resolution for the annexation of the’ Hawaiian Islands brings that measure before the Senate to be considered in open session and as thor- oughly as if the whole question had never been mentioned in Congress. This joint resolution is a legislative measure, and is im no wise the subject for secret sessions. Immediately after the morning hour to- day Mr. Davis moved that the Senate doors be closed, and as soon as that was done, called up his joint resolution for the annexation of l.awaii, and asked that the Senate decide the manner in which it will be disposed of. This action was taken in secret session, as it involved the setting aside of the treaty, which is executive business, and the substitution of the joint resolution in its place. Senator Bacon was et onee on his feet and said that h2 was not ready to discuss his amendment to the treaty, which will again be proposed as an amendment to the joint resolution providing that a vote of the Hawaiian people be taken on the subject of annexation b2fore Congress passes upon that question. He said he would require a little time in which to prepare himself in order to speak on his subject, and he was not then ready to go ahead: Mr. Faulkner also aros3.and said that it would be necessary before going ahead with the consideration of the joint resolu- tion to summon a number of the leading Senators who took a part.in the discussien cf the treaty in secret session to Washing- ton. Senator White, for imstarnce, who was one of the strongest opponents of the treaty, is now in Californga, and a number of other senators who were interest2d either in its passage or its defeat are out of the city. Mr. Davis was in favor of be- ginning the consideration of the joint reso- lution as soon as possible but aftar a short exchange of views or thet subjegt.he moved to resume the consideration of legislative business, and no conclusjogevas reached as to the program that wilf b3 followed. ° The consideration ofthis joint resolution wili have the effect.of prolonging the length of the present session of Congress, and many senators regard it with favor, as it will give Congress ample reason to remain in session until the pending diffi- culty with the Spanish government has as- simed some definite shape. Many senators are opposed to adjourning. so long, as there: is a possibility that relations between this country and Spain may: be such as to make it necessary for the United States to de- clare war, and, of course, it is impossible to say how long this state of uncertainty will last. In the meantime the Senate will preceed to discuss the question of the an- nexation of Hawaii, although the enemies of that measure in many instances favor an early adjournment in order that any action on the subject may be defeated. There is no doubt about the final action of the Senate upon the joint resolution for the annexation of Hawaii, as only a ma- jority of the Senate is necessary in order to pass that measure, and it has in its favor nearly two-thirds of that body. ——_ TREASURY CHANGES. Oficial List of Appointments and Pro- motions, The following changes have been made in the Treasury Department:. Reinstatement—Adolph Van Reuth, Mary- land, $840, office of the auditor for the Post Office Department. Appoirtments—Miss Edith H. Deehan, Maine, $900, light house beard, by transfer from the Interior Department; George L. Snider, Maryland, $000, life saving service, by transfer trom the Smithsonian; Harry ¥. Davis, District of Columbia, $900, Secre- tary’s office, by transfer.from the Navy Department; Harry S. Garner, Pennsylva- nia, $900, light house beard, by transfer from the State Department. Promotions—Supervising architect's of- fice: R. B. Talcott, District of Columbia, $1,550 to $1,900; Mrs. AJM, Hamlin, Maine, $1,200 to $1,400. ‘ Office of the auditor for the Post Office Department—John H. Steiner, Maryland, $1,000 to $1,200; A. M. Hoge, Tennessee, $900 to $1,000; Jos. W. Bowie, Maryland, $840 to $200; Mrs. E. A. Graham, District of Co- lumbia, $660 to $720; J. J. McCarthy, Mas- sachusetts, $900 to $1,000. Olfice of the auditor for the War Depart- ment—L. R. Ginn, Indiana, $1,600 to $1,800; H. H. Freeze, Nebraska, $1,400 to $1,600; Henry Jenkins, Iowa, $1,200 to $1,400; Miss Mamie E. Beck, Pennsylvania, $1,000 to $1,200; Miss Eleanor McDowell, Kentucky, $200 to $1,000; Miss J. A. Patterson, District of Columbia, $660 to $900; Daniel Ramey, District of Columbia, $1,000; to $1,200. Office of the auditor for the Treasury Department—J. D. Nevins, Texas, $1,200 to $1,400; E. C. Ford, Iowa, $1,000 to $1,200; Jno. L. Anderson, Kentugky, $800 to $1,000. Secretary’s oflice—H. . Morton, Ohio, $900 to $1,600, - 4 —_——-o+ INTERIOR DEPARTMENT -CHANGES. —— j Announcement of -. 4ppointments, ‘Transfers and Promotions. The following official changes have been made in the Department ef the Interior: Office of the Secretary—Prometions: Mor- gan R. Breck of District.!of Columbia, clerk, $1,000 to $1,200; Migs Lauga R. Payne of North Carolina, it, $HVO to clerk, $1,000; Miss Carcline H. fhompson of Dis- trict of Columbia, copyist, $720. to $200. General land ottice—Trgnster from Post Oftice Department: of jas G. Allen Icwa, clerk, $1,400. Resignation: Paul WV. Eaton of District of Coldmsbia, clerk, $1,400. Pension office—Trenster from Treasury Department: Mrs, Antiie D. Nolan of Texas, coryist, $200. Resiggation: Edson BE, Ful- ler of New York, clerk, $1,400; William C. Taylor of Missouri, examiner, $1,300. Promotions: Edwin Charles C. Guffin of Lilinols, clerks, $1,200 to $1,400; David Spitzer of District of Columbia and Mrs, ¥a M. Reed of Iowa, clerks, $1,000 to 310;-Andrew T. Mardnea of Peanspitoaie dtck Muchell, artinez. e Mi Jr., of “1. Irvine of Iowa, “Olttce iain aire Ap itments: Wi al 3 im. Hp of Virginia 3 D. Lillie of -—Reinata’ Morrison of Pennsylvania,-fourth assistant examiuer, $1,200. ion: Miss Linda B. Francis -of New York, $000, to copyist, CONTRACT IS SIGNED! Negotiations Completed forthe Trans- _ fer of Brazilian Cruisers, SPAIN WAS A BIDDER FOR THEM Court of Inquiry Reaches Key West on the Mangrove. F. H. MORRIS SAYS NO WAR LONDON, March 16.—The final contract providing for the sale of the warships Ama- zonas and Almirante Abrouall to the Unit- ed States has been signed. The price is fcomet ing over £500,009 ($2,500,009) for both ships. An American crew is expected here from Lisbon tonight, to take possession of the Amazonas on Friday. Her Brazilian crew will go to New Castle to man the Aquidaban, which the Brazilian government, according to dispatches re- ceived today, will not sell. It is added that Brazil wi.l not sell any more warships for the present, except the two coast defense ships, the Marshzl Deodore and Marsnal Floriano, which are being built in France. The Abrouall cannot be completed for six weeks. It has transpired that there was spirited kidding between the pited States and Spain for the Amaz s and Abrouail up to the last, and the outcome was actually doubtful until the contracts were signed. The action in Brazil in this matter is said to have been influenced by a desire to repay the gcod offices of the United States government during the Mello revolution. Moreover, it is said Brazil strongly sym- pathizes with the Cubans. A private telegram has been received here from New York, asking whether it is tru: that. Spain is trying to raise a ican of $59,- 000,000 in London, and it is reported that the Rothschilds replied denying the report and adding that Spain could not raise any money in London, Court at Key West. KEY WEST, Fla., March 16.—The United States light house tencer Mangrove arriv ed here this morring from Havana, hav. ing on board the members of the United States naval court of inquiry appointed to inquire into the loss of the battle ship Maine. Captain Sampson w Iowa and Captain © ant Commanders Potter abeard the New York. Nothing definite is known regarding the tak Ww n on board the k and Lieuten- and Marix went program of the members of the naval court, Lieut. Commander Marix came ashote later and had a consui miral Sicard. It is said that the court has not decided whether it will hold sessions here toda Thinks There Will fe No War. CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 16.—Mr. Frank H. Mo fourth auditor of the treasury, and a persopal friend of Pres- ident McKinley, who is at present in Cleve- lord, speaking of the Cuban question, said: “There will be no war. E find that the reports have been greatly exaggerated all over the country. “The war preparations are just what the ccuntry needed, and has needed for twen- ty years. Many of our ports have been al- most entirely defenseless, but this is being remedied in a rapid manner now. In a short time we will be comfortably fortified against any invasion from a foreign coun- ry. “Whatever the agercy was, the officials at Washington are positive that the Span- ish officials had nothing to do with the blowing up of the Maine. The President, when the time arrives will demand an in- demnity, and it will be paid. There will ba no war.” Mr. Morris’ department has charge of the work of settling the claims ef the heirs of those lost by the Maine disaster. “We have found on investigation that out of 878 men who were on the boat sixty- three were foretgners,” said Mr. Morris, “and had given, when they enlisted, for- eigners as their nearest of kin. Thirty- nine of those on the ship gave no next of Kin when they answered the questions put to them on enlistment, “Of the heirs of the 233 who were killed we have succeeded in getting into eo: spondence with 127 claimants, - It will sur- prise you to know that less than 10 per cent of this number had families depending on them, and many have no direct heirs.” How Cuba Could Be Sold. MADRID, March 16.—A_ semt-official agency today publishes the following an- nouncement: “It 1s useless to talk of the sale of Cuba. The question could not be arranged except by parliament, and it is impossivie that any Spanish chamber would agree to sell the island at any price.” ANXIOUS: TO COME NORTH. ion with Rear Ad- Surviving Officers of the Maine Are Tired of Havana, HAVANA, March 16.—The officers of the Maine who remain here are disappointed at not being ordered north, and + ‘ave they will not be sent back to the United States until it is certain the court of inquiry will not return to Havana. ‘With the arrival of the big derrick, Chief, and other machinery the wrecking work already shows signs of progress. The naval divers are still! working about the wreck, under the direction of Capt. Sigebee and Lieut. Commander Wainwright, wth Easign Powelson to make any changes in the drawings which may be called for by_ new discoveries. Consul General Lee, Capt. Sigsbee and the newspeper correspondents will be pho- tographed in a group today on board the United States cruiser Montgomery, by cour- tesy of Capt. Converse, the commander of that vessel, who will also be in the picture. According to a Spanish report a column of government troops, under Col. Palanca, was engaged cn Friday and Saturday last with the insurgent forces under Max- imo Gomez and Brig. Gen. Jose Maria Gcmez, et the Majagua farm, in the dis- trict of Sancti Spiritus, province of Santa Cisra. The insurgents are reported to have lcst considerably, while the Spanish force is alleged to have lost only three men kill- ed and a captain, a Heutenant and thirteen scidiers wouzded. Japan Buys a War Vessel. LONDON, March 16.—A special dispatch from Kiel says Japan has purchased a torpedo-corvette which was being built there by the Krupps for Brazil, There are three torpedo-corvettes butld- ing at Kiel for Brazil, the Caramuru, the Timbira and the Tupy, all of the same sise, speed and armament. They are of 1,030 tons displacement, are 259 feet 2 inches lor.g and have 30 feet 9 inches beam, with & maximum draught of 10 feet 2 inches. wer and are estimated to steam twenty-two His Their armament Bas of two inch quick-firing guns, 22-inch guns and four 14-inch guns, with three torpedo tubes. Our Moderation Extrolied. LONDON, Margh 16—Sidney Low, for- merly sditor of the-@t. James Gazette, has written a long lettér from New York ex- tolling the moderation of the Americans on the subject of Cuba and declaring that the British “would not have endured such sav- agery at their doors,” adding, ‘Ths Span- lard would have been cleared out of Cuba, bag and baggage, long ago.” Spain After Ships. BERLIN, March 16.—Senor Sandoval, the Spanish agent, is negotiating for the pur- chase of a number of old and slow steam- ers of the North German Lloyd Stzamship Company. ie LIKUT. COM. ADAMS’ CASE. It Was Charles A., Not James D., Who Was Tried. It was Lieutenant Commander Charles A. Adams who was recently tried by court- martial at Mare Island, Cal., on charges of drunkenness on duty, and not Lieutenant Commander James D. Adams, as was. >r- Toneously stated. The latter officer is now on duty in the hydrographic office, Navy Department, and has never been attached to the coast defens> ship Monterey, as was stated in the paragraph relating to the court-martial incident. He naturally ob- jects to having his name mentioned in con- nection with the trial in which he was in no way connected or concerned, regardless of the additional statement that the officer Was acquitted by the court. The error arose from the similarity of names and rank of the two officers and their juxtaposition in the navy register. James D. Adams is No. 177 in the list of lieutenant commanders and Charles A. Adams, the officer who was tried, stands No. 180 in the same grade. No one in the naval service was misled by the newspaper statement, for there it was well known that the Adams meant was the one attached to the Monterey. This correction is made as a, maiter of simple justice to Lieutenant Commander James D. Adams. ‘TIAL NOMINATIONS. Selections Sent Senate To- The President today sent these nomina- ticns to the Senate: John Daiand, collector of customs, dis- trict of Salem and Beverly, Mass.; Perry Glascock of Indiana, consul at Baracoa, Cuba. Postmasters—Illinois, Charles I. Smith, Mount Carroll; Kentucky, J. L. Bosley, Paris; Texas, A. M. Morrison, Ennis; C. A. Dickson, Cleburne, and E. Blanchard, San Angelo. - ‘The Senate today confirmed these nom- irations: Herace H. Thomas of Illinois, appraiser of merchandise, district of Chicago; Edwin Parsons of Maine, collector of customs, dis- trict of Kennebunk, Me.; Charles A. Sghl- bred2 of Roseburg, Ore., to be commis- sioner in and for the district of Alaska. And a long list of postmasters and naval promotions, ARMY awe AND NAVY ORDERS. Assisnments That Are of Unusual In- terest Now. Rear Admiral E. O, Matthews, whose term as chief of the bureau of yards and dccks expired yesterday, has been assigned to duty as president of the naval retiring beard in this city, relieving Commodore F. V. McNair of that duty. Cémmodore McNair will continue his present duties as president of the naval examining board. , Medical Inspector W. S. Dixon has been detached from the Brooklyn and@ ordered to the navai hospital, Norfolk, for treat- ment. Chief Engineer W. B. Dunning has been ordered to the Monadnock, relieving Chief Engineer W. H. Neuman, who is granted two months’ leave of absence. Medical Inspector P. Fitzsimmons ies been detached from the hoard of inspec- tion and survey, Washington, D. C., and ordered to the Brookiyn. Captain C. E. Clark has been detached from command of the Monterey and or- ccred to the command of the Oregon, re- lieving Captain A. H. McCormick, who is granted six monihs* sick leave. Acting Gunner D, Lyons and Acting Car- penter J. T. S. Miller have be :n ordered to the Miantonomeh, Major E. V. A. Andruss, 4.h Artillery, has been detailed as a memoer of th army examining board at New York ei! relieving Major Tully McCrea, Sth Artil- lery. Major Joseph B. Girard, surgeon, has keen granted three months’ leave of ab- sencer First Lieuten¥nt James W. Watson, loth Cavalry, has been ordered before a board convened at Fort Myer, Va., of which Colo- nel S. S. Sumner, 6th Cavalry, is president, for examination for promotion, The order detailing First Lieutenant Charles G. Dwyer, 3d Infantry, as acting Indian agent at the Fort Peck agency, Montana, has been revoked. Captain J. B. Story, 4th Artillery, and Lieutenant S. S. Alien, Sth Artillery, have been detailed as members of an examining board at Fort Monroe in place of Captain J. M. K. Davis, 1st Artillery, and Lieuten- ant Ernest Hinds, 2d Artillery, who have been relieved. First Lieutenant John B. McDonaid, 10th Cavairy, and John A, Lockwood, ith Cav- alry, have been ordered to report to Colonei Sumner, 6th Cavalry, at Fort Myer for examination for promotion. — DISTRICT IN CONGRESS, To Incorporate the shington and University ‘Railroad Company. The House District committee today fa- verably reported the bill, House No. 9206, to incorporate the Washingien and Uni- versity Railroad Company. This is the till agreed upon yesterday by the subcom- mittee on street railways. A favorable report was elso made on House bill No. 5383, authorizing the re- assessment of water main taxes. Also a favorable report cn House bill G31, to confirm title to lois 13 and 14 In square 959. Senate bill 8472, to incorporate the Mu- sonic Temple Association was favorably reported, with an amendment limiting the issue of stock to a maximum of $300,000, ‘To Schl Part of an Alley, A favorable report was made on House Lili 9085, to sell to Mary 8. Townsend the tille to a part of the public alley in square 167, embraced in lot 37, closed by the board of public works in 1873. House bill No. 9204 was favorably re- perted it regulates the construction of barbed wire cences m the District. For a Board of Charities. In the Senate today Mr. McMillan intro- duced a bill to establish a board of char- ites in the District of Columbia. The bill is identical with Mr. McMillan’s proposed amendment to the District of Columbia cage gee bill, which was printed in The tar in full, and which was not em- bodied in the bill as it passed the Senate. To Buy the Globe Building. In the Senate today Mr. Quay gave no- tice of an emendment to the sundry civil appropriation bill, authorizing the purchase of the property known as the old Congres- sional G'c»s building, on Pennsylvania ave- i property to be used as Rouse for ftcrace of public Gocumenta, Bor this purpose $15,000 is appropriated. Mr. Quzy also gave notice of an amend- ment to the sundry civil appropriations bill, formerly introduced in the form of a joint een yy ss SS Ss SS an le a A see a ee ea TO ANNEX HAWAII Joint Resolution Introduced by Sena- tor Davis. FOREIGN RELATIONS © COMMITTEE Experience With the Texas Treaty Recalled. ADMISSION- TO THE UNION The Senate commilice on foreign rela- ticrs today agreed to recommend that the Hawaiien Islands be annexed by Icgisla- tion in open session, aud agreed upon a joint resolution for the accomplishment of this purpose, which Senator Davis was authorized to report io ihe Senate. Later, in the Senate, Cxairman Davis reported a joint resolution providing for the annexation of the Hawallan Islands. The resolution went to the calendar. Senator Davis did mot give any notice of calling it up. Senator Davis said no determixation had been reached as to when the joint resote- tion would be called up for consiceration in the Senate. The following fs the text of the jotnt resolution: “Section 1. The government of the re- public of Hawail having im due form sig- nified its consent in the manner provided by its constitution to ecde absolutely ami without reserve to the United St2ves of America all rights of sovereignty of whaise- ever kind in and to the Hawatian Isiands and their dependencies, amd also io cede nd transfer to the United States the ab- lute fee and ownership of ali public, gov- ernment or crown lands, pubite ouidings or cdifices, forts, harbors, military equip- ment and all other public property of Whatever kind and description belonging 10 the government of the Hawaiian isaaca, together with every right and appurtemanss thereunto appertaining; therefore, be i “Resolved, That said cession is accepted, ratified and confirmed, and isat sexi He- waiian Islands and their depend-ncies be, and they are hereby, annexed as @ part of the territory of the United States amd are subject to the sovereign dominion therest, and that all and singular the property ami rights hereinbefore mentioned are vested in the United States of America.” The resolution then adopts the nmewage of the treaty beginning paragraph of the second all the remainder of it, but does mot cite it a8 a part of the treaty. These provide for the disposal of the Ha- waiian public lands, for the temporary gov- ernment of the islands amit Comgress de- cides vpon a permanent form ef govern ment, the abrogation of Hawafiem (reatios and the preservation of Hawailan ecastems regulations until those of the United States shall ail be put into operation, the aesymp- tion of the public debt of Hawaif ky the United States to the extent of $4,000,609, the regulation of Chinese immigration end the appointment by the President ef five commissioners to prepare a code of laws tor the government of the islands. Section 2 provides that the commissioners proviged for sha!l be appointed by the President by and with the a@vice and con- sent of the Senate. The sum of $100,000 fs appropriated by the third and last section for the purpose ef carrying the resolution into effect, and this sum is made immediately available. Report of the Carmittee. Senator Davis submittel with the rasvia~ tion am extended report of the committee. The report states: “The jeiut reselution for the annexation of Hawait to the United States, herewith reporte® to the Senate by the committee on foreign relations, brings that subject within reach of the legislative pewer of Congress under the precedent that Was established in the envexation of Tex~ as. A treaty ef annexation was negotiated between Texas, as an independent state, and the United tes, which was signed by the agents of the high contracting pow~ ers April 12, ISt4, end was submittel to the Senate of the United States by Presi- dent Tyler, with a recommendation that it be ratified. “After mature consideretion that testy was rejected by the Senate on June & 18t, by a@ vote of 16 senators for ratification an’ 35 senators against ratificat ple of Texas were so indiznan jection of this treaty that # powerful party at once sprang into existence tn favor of & treaty of alliance with Greet Britein, and Mexico was known to be ready to ac knowledge and guarantee the indepeadence of Texas if she would agree never te form 4@ union with any other country, The United Staten Arouned, “The people of the United States became greatly aroused at the prospect of losing Texas, in consequence of the indignation of her people over the rejection of the treaty and they demanded immediate annexation by a law that would speak the will of the majority in Congress. Afterward, and with- out any further action by the republic of ‘Texas to signify its consent to an annexa- tion to the United States, the joint resolu- tion, containing two alternate sections, both branches of Congress and was approved by the President on March 7%, 1845, The vote in the Senate on the pass- age of this joint resolution was: Ayes, 28; nays, 10. im the House of Representatives the vote was: Ayes, 120; nays, U8.” ‘The report then gives the text of the res- olution admitting Texas, and continues: “In this act it was left to the discretion of the President to accept annexa’ treaty or by articles of agreement w government of Texas, which were to be valid if made with the president of Texas under legislative authority or by the act of a convention chosen by the people of Texas under like authority. The govern- ment of Texas preferred the convention plan, and a convention was called. ‘The governor submitted to the people the ques- tion of annexation and it was voted, but the act of the calling the con- vention made no such jon. “Acting on the consent of Texas to come into the Union as a state under the “<a visions of section 1 of the act of March 7, 1845, ss, on December 20, 1845, de- clared by joint resolution, that Texas was one of the states of the American Union. Power to Annex. “This joint resolution clearly establishes the precedent that Congress has the power to annex a foreign state to the territory of the United States, either by assenting to a treaty of annexation, or vy agreeing to based upon the consent of such for- eign gcvernment obtained m any authentic way. No exercise of power could be more supreme than that under which Tcxas was annexed to the United States, either as to 83 5 F Fit | ii i § “E i