Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1897 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

The Supreme Court sustained the law creating the Statu hoard of medical examination and registration. G. J. Corey, of Illinois, has filed an application at the Treasury Department for the position of chief of the Bureau of Prin t ing .and Engraving. The President has made the following appointments: James Longstreet of Georgia, commissioner of railroads, vice Wade Hampton, resigned; Henry S. Pritchett of Missouri, superintendent of the coast and geodetic survey; Miffiin W. Gibbs of Arkansas, consul of the United States at Tauiatave, Madagascar. President McKinley has had laid before him at Washington the text of Spain*s answer to Minister Woodford. In company with Secretary Sherman and Assistant Secretary Adee he went over the document with great care. As a result it can be stated from official quarters at the White House that the construction placed upon 'the answer by the administration is that it is not defiant in tone, is not menacing ,and is not warlike. Under such cireum stances those officials who are .chiefly .concerned in the negotiations do not feel .that any crisis is near at hand, nor do they fear that the answer presents 1 ’ an issue beyond the power of diplomatic solution. On the contrary, the entire disposition in administration quarters is to treat the answer as satisfactory in tone) and as a marked advance in the assurances Spain has heretofore given. Notwithstanding this official view, there are those who believe that the message is much stronger in tone than the officials will admit, and that it presents issues which will call from the President a ringing message when he lays the case and all the correspondence before Congress a few weeks hence. From no authoritative source, however, can this belligerent view be confirmed. In reliable quarters it is stated that the conference between Rjissia, Japan and the United States at Washington, in reference to sealing in the Bering Sett and the North Pacific, has advanced to an important stage, and that a proposition has been reduced to writing which, if accepted, will bring about a complete change ■in the sealing question. The proposition is said to be acceptable to the United States. It is understood to be acceptable similarly to the Russian delegates there, but in view of the restrictions placed upon them by their credentials it has been thought desirable to cable to St. Petersburg for final instructions. The Japanese delegates are understood to have felt at first that the proposition would not be in their interest, but on fuller conference Mr. Fujita determined to cable the substance of the proposition to his Government, accompanying it with a recommendation of its acceptance. Little doubt Is I

entertained that Russia will accept the proposition, nnd in view of Mr. Fujita’s recommendation it is believed that Japan also will join, in it. The greatest secrecy is preserved in all official quarters as to the nature of the proposition, and it is not officially admitted that any proposition has been made.