Evening Star Newspaper, November 2, 1893, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAIL) EXCEPT SUNDAY. aT THE STAR BUILDINGS. 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, corner 11th St.. by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't New York Office, £3 P: Building. ‘Tre Evexrve STAR is sor > subscribers In the eity by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents week. or 44c. woath. Copies at the coun- ir decuce cach, 'y mail—anywhere fm the Uai' Mates or Broo red postage pre] certs per ri SATURDAY Ourerori: suerx Gran $1.00 per year: with Dostage 3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washingtos, D.C. 8s second-class mail matter.) mall subscriptions must be paid in ad- oral vane. Rates af advertining made known on application Che Evening Star. lex to advertise- ments will be found on Page 3. Ver. 83, No. 20,719. WASHINGTON, D. © THUR: DAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1893—TWELVE PAGES TWO CENTS THE TARIFF BILL. What the Subcommitiee Has Prac- tically Agreed On. HOW T0 GET MORE REVENUE. Beer, Whisky and Manufactured Tobacco Tax Increased. AN ENLARGED FREE LIST. The subcommittee of the ways and means committee having in charge the tariff bill have not yet reported their rough draft to their associates, and until Congress is ad- journed they will probably not do so. They are now going again over the rough draft, which they completed several days ago, to get it in form to report to the majority of the committee. tee In the matter of duties is well estab- Ushed, their purpose being to make the tariff as nearly as possible a simple reve- nue tariff. In so doing they expect to in- crease the revenues from customs, as well as to greatly reduce duties all along the line. All prohibitory duties are to be re- duced to a revenue point, the free list greatly enlarged and a cut made in nearly everything along the line. How to Increase the Revenue. ‘The question of increasing the revenue is one to which a great deal of attention is being given, and a number of propositions for increasing the income of the govern- ment through the internal revenue taxes are under consideration. The proposed in- creased tax on beer appears to be a popular one among the democrats in the House. It Is estimated that the present tax of $1 on a,barrel of beer amounts to about one- fifth of a cent per glass; and it is calculated an increase of $1 a barrel, which would make this tax about two-fifths of a cent per glass, would not affect the retail selling Price of the drink and the tax of 32 a barrel Would not be more than half the tax on the alcohol in the beer of what the whisky tax is, the tax being calculated on the alcohoi im the beer and not on the bulk of beer it- self. An income of $32,000,000 a year is cal- culated on from this increase, if made. The tax on whisky will probably be in- creased 10 cents, making It $1 instead of 90 cents, as now. This increase is reckoned to increase the income $12,000,000. On Manufactured Tobacco. The present tax on manufactured tobacco, black tobacco, &c., including cigars, is 6 cents. it is proposed to double this to in- crease the duty by $16,000,000. The tax on cigars, which is now $5, it is proposed to inerease to $4, which would add $6,000,000 to the revenue. In connection with this it is proposed to reduce the import duty on to- bacco used in the manufacture of cigars to encourage the manufacture in this country and increase the revenue by increasing the importation. As has been said before, it is not proposed to re-establish any tax on sugar, but the abolition of the bounty would Save the government $10,000,000 a year, prac- tically adding this much to the revenue. It 1s calculated that if these things are done the aggregate increase of revenue will be ‘$76,000,000, and It ts believed by the democrats that there would be a sufficient increase of revenue resuiting from an increase on im- portations at lower duties to raise this to Bear $100,000,000. Tariff Hearings Printed. The testimony taken by the House ways and means committee on the tariff has been printed and presented to Senators and members. The matter makes a volume of 1,28 pages and contains suggestions re- lating to almost every item touched by tariff legislation. ———_-o+—___ THE OHIO CAMPAIGN. Senator Brice U je to Predict Who Will Be Elected. “I have been so much absorbed in the silver bill,” said Senator Brice to a Star reporter, “that I cannot make a prediction as to the result of the state election in Ohio. It promises to be a very quiet elec- tion, as it has been a comparatively quiet canvass. The result depends upon the amount of abstention. There are some Yepublicans who are predicting 30,000 or #,00 majority for McKinley, and there are some democrats who concede his election by 10,000 or 15,000. Then there are some demo- rats who hope that they can pull through the election of Neal. For myself, I have) been too busy with the silver bill to look imto the field and see just which idea is the most probable.” —’ CHARGED WITH PERJURY. A Colored Pe mer is to Explain Why He Made Ce in Affidavi Leopold Fielder, who has been drawing a pension from Uncle Sam for several years will be given a hearing in the Police Court tomorrow on a charge of perjury. He en- Usted since the close of the war and was entitled to a pension. He had succeeded in being admitted to membership in a Grand Army post, although not entitled to membership by reason of the nature of his service. A pension of $24 a month was paid him for rheumatism and a few months ago he made application for back pay and bounty. It is charged that he had pur- joined a discharge belonging to a Massa- chusetts soldier named Hogge and had in- serted his name for that of Hogge. The alleged perjury consisted cf making an affadavit in support of his claim for back pay and bounty. It is charged that he vio- lated sections 5392 and 5438 of the Revised Statutes. Detective Carter arrested Fielder in Baltimore, where he was asking for as- sistance. Mr. W. Streator of the law division of the pension office was today put on the case to make an investigation. MR. HORNBLOWER’S NOMINATION. Difficulty in Gett Senate Judiciary Com: The near approach of the end of this extraordinary session of Congress calls at- tention anew to the number of nomina- tions that have been hanging fire in com- mittees for many days and upon which the Senate cannot act until a report is made by the committees to which they have been referred. Chief among these is that of Mr. Hornblower, nominated to be associate justice of the Supreme Court of the Unite# States. It has seemed to he impossible of late to secure a quorum of Senators in the judictary committee and no action upon the nomination has been had. Under the Constitution a nomination sent to the Senate and upon which at the expiration of the session there has been no_action falls. ‘here is nothing in the Constitution, however, that prevents the President from reappointing the same man to the same position and issuing to him a recess com- mission. It is not at all probable that the President would do this, for while it would be legal there ts an unwritten custom— eftentimes more binding than duly enact- ed statutes—that judicial appointments of this character shall not be made during the recess, and this custom has been strictly adhered to. Some Senators hold that un- der the circumstances there might be a cloud upon the title of the judicial off his seat, and the questioning of his deci- sions might lead to endless confusion. ‘The result will be, perhaps, nornina- tion of Mr. Hornblower will be sent to the Senate again as soon as it meets in regu- lar session in December, and that at that time he will be confirmed without further delay. $ —2-—____ Superintendent Stump Si Supt. Stump has gone to his home in Harford county. Md. uffering from in- cipient symptoms of pleurisy. The policy of the commit-| REIGN OF TERROR Among the Messengers and Laborers in the Patent Office. The Official Ax Takes Of Several Heads and Others Are to Fol- low—Those Dismissed. There is a reign of terror in the ranks of the messengers and laborers in the patent office. The rapid firing has created a panic of despair. The exact number of those who were resigned last evening cannot be stated, but it is not probabie that the fatalities exceeded ten. Some of those who are known to have retired are Mrs. Henrietta S. Willis, appointed from Virginia June 15, 1869, and to the grade from which she was dismissed on April 5, 188; Daniel C. Brown, appointed from the District of Columbia on October 16, 1891, and Philip T. Latney, ap- pointed from the District of Columbia on October 26, 1880, and to his late grade on July 14, 189. Mr. Latney is said to have | been appointed through the influence of Senator Blackburn. It is said at the de- | partment that he was a cook on the gun- | ning barge Kanawha, at one time owned by the late Senator Kenna, and on which craft Senator Blackburn used to take pass- age. Mr. Latney will make a violent effort | toward reinstatement, and is on the hunt |for the blue grass statesman. Another | man to go bore the name of Smith. It was | either David Smith of Ilinois or James C. Smith of Virginia. Indications point to the latter as the unhappy man. It was thought at the department that Mr. Cornelius W. Davis had left the government service, but the report proved to be untrue. Mr. Davis’ friends feel sure that his castle stands strong. The changes were made, so the officials say, because the good of the service demanded it, but were really made because of the pressure of office seekers. It is fair to assume that the new ap- pointees are democrats, because some time ago it was given out at the department, ex eathedra, that all vacancies which would | occur in the Interior Department had been provided for, and as no republican has, so |far as the reporter for The Star can ascer- tain, been appointed to any vacancy created in the unclassified service, these latest vacancies have also been filled with friends of the administration. Other vacancies will occur. When or where the ax will fall must not be indi- cated, but the service will be purged of some folks alleged by the officials to be in- efficient. It is understood that the patent office will be the scene of the troubie. Commissioner Seymour is already looked upon as the hardest worked headsman in | the Department of the Interior. —_—_—_—_-e—____. APPOINTMENTS EXPECTED. ‘The President and Secretary Carlisle Consult Over Many Today. There were many prominent callers at the White House today, but they failed to see the President, as he remained at Wood- ley all lay, most of the time in conference with Secretary Carlisle in regard to ap- Pointments under the Treasury Depart- ment. There are about one hundred of these appointments under consideration, most of them being in the customs service, such as collectors. appraisers, naval offi- cers, &c. Then there are still about twenty republicans holding important positions in the internal revenue service, who will have to give way to democrats. Other offices in which changes are contemplated are in the steamboat inspection service, subtreasur- ers, mint officials, &c. There is only one bureau chiefship in the Treasury Depart- ment still hej? by a republican. That is the navigation bureau,of which Mr. O'Brien |of New York is the chief. Another treas- ury office subject to change is that of dep- uty commissioner of customs, held by Mr. Lockwood. It is said that the President will endeavor to settle most of the above mentioned appointments before the ad- jourrment of the extra session of Con- gress, but to do so he will have to hustle. ——_—_—_——_+ @-_______ CADETS AT WEST POINT. Col. Er it, the Superintendent, Sub- its His Annual Report. Col. O. H. Ernst, U. S. A., superintendent |of the United States Military Academy at West Point, has submitted his annual re- port to the adjutant general of the army. | During the past year four cadets were | discharged for disability, fourteen were dis- | charged for deficiency in studies, eleven | resigned and fifteen were graduated. On | September 1 last 318 cadets, including three foreigners receiving instruction under act | of Congress, were enrolled. Under the pres- ent arrangement, Col. Ernst says, it is not practicable to keep the cadet classes up to the full quota and he recommends that each Senator be allowed to appoint a cadet- at-large, thus giving two additional cadets to each state. The state of discipline among: the cadets was good and one court- martial only was necessary. Since the date of Col. Ernst’s report three cadets have been tried for a breach of military disci- pline at the military camp at Chicago. The superintendent ‘asks for some new buildings and a better water supply. ee —————_+o THE NAVAL HOSPITAL, Medical Director Wells Reports on the Work and Needs. Medical Director H. M. Wells, in charge of the Naval Hospital in this city, in his mnual report to the Secretary of the Navy says that the repairs and improve- ments made to that institution during the past year have put it in condition to com- pare favorably with similar institutions in the country. He calls attention to the annoyance caused by the dust and noise on the four streets surrounding the hos- pital, and expresses the hope that the Com- missioners of the District may be induced to pave E street, 9th street and 10th street. The total number of patients treated dur- ing the year was 103; remaining from pre- vious year, 14; admitted, 89; discharged to duty, 81; from service, 8; transferred to other hospitals, 2; deaths, 3 (one of them a suicide), and remaining, 9. in_ concluding his report Medical Direc- is indis- tor Wells says: An antiseptic operating room pensable to a well-equipped hospital. construction of this building is such that no place can be found for one without en- croaching upon the ward space. The ex- tension of the building sixteen feet to the west would give two rooms in the base- ment, much needed; two rooms on first floor for sick officers; and two rooms on second floor, one for operating room and one for surgical instruments and appli- ances, both to be aseptic. The brick pavement of the roadway from the street to the hospital is in very bad condition, as are also the brick sidewalks. I recommend that they be replaced with asphalt as soon as the frost is out of the ground. The iron fence about the hospital grounds needs painting, and, as many of the stone posts on which the fence stands have split off, it will be economy to repair them be- fore painting the fence. The embankment outside of the fence is in bad condition and will need returfing on the east and west sides in the spring. ‘The interior grounds are in excellent con- dition. Presidential Signatures. The President has approved the act for the construction of a steam revenue cutter for the New England coast, the act amend- ing the timbe e laws, and the joint resolution for the reporting, marking and removal of derelicts. ——_———+-e2+—_____. Invites Suggestions. Inspector General Dumont of the steam- boat inspection service has issued a circular inviting suggestions as to the best method of regulating lights on barges ‘and canal boats in tow of steam vessels. The | THE EXTRA SESSION. What Has Been Accomplished in Both Houses of Congress, BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED. | | A Large Number Have Passed in the House. WAITING SENATE ACTION. Now that the extraordinary session is ap- parently so near its end it may be interest- ing to recall what has been accomplished. The session began on Monday, August 7. The President’s proclamation, calling at- tention to the distrust and apprehension concerning the financial condition of the country and stating that he had called Con- gress together to the end that the people might be relieved from the impending dan- ger and distress through legislation, was read in the Senate and House on the 7th, and on the 8th the President's message, urg- ing the prompt repeal ,of the purchasing clause of the Sherman silver act, was re- ceived and read. The Repeal Bill. The House spent the first three days of the session in organizing and discussing the contested election case of Belknap agcinst Richardson. On Friday, August 1, Mr. Wilson of West Virginia presented his bill repealing the purchasing clause of the Sher- man law. Debate on the subject was lim- ited to fourteen days. On Monday, August the 28th, the bill was passed by a vote of 239 to 108. The same day the bill was sent to the Senate apd referred to the finance committee. The next day (August 29) Sen- ator Voorhees, from the finance committee, reported to the Senate a substitute for the House bill. The next day the substitute was taken up and Senator Sherman of Ohio opened the discussion with a speech in favor of it. Wednesday, November 1—All Saints’ day—the Senate substitute for the House bill passed both Houses of Congress and be- came law by the President's signature. Senate Bi Resolutions. Of the 1,135 other bills and 36 joint resolu- tions introduced in the Senate only about a dozen passed. They include bills making appropriations for a hall of records and the Senate folding room; to aid the mid-winter exposition in California, and relative to homestead entries in Oklahoma, and a ‘oint resolution granting to the state of Illinois the brick battleship built in connection with the world’s fair, for the use of its naval militia. This last has become law by ‘he action of the House. Similar Measures in the House. In the House 4,291 bills and 80 joint reso- lutions were introduced. Committees re- ported on about 150 of them and about 60 were passed. Among the more important measures which were acted on by the House were the following: Important Ones Acted On. For the relief of purchasers of timber and stone lands; for the protection of persons furnishing labor and material for public works; amending the timber culture lews; fixing the times for holding U. S. courts in Idato and Wyoming (became a law); for the better control and to promote the safety of national banks; relative to the disqualification of registers and receivers of public lend offices; disqualifying justices, judges and U. S. commissioners from sitting as such in cases in which they are interesi- ed; providing revenue cutters for the great lakes, San Francisco harbor and the New England coast; increasing the number of army officers to be detailed to colleges; re- quiring railroads operating on territory over which right of way has been graated to establish stations at town sites established by the Interior Department; extending the time for completing the eleventh csnsus (became a law); amending the law relative to the fees of U. S, district attorneys, ma: shals, commissioners and clerks of courts; the public printing bill; repealing the sec- tion of the statutes requiring proof of loy- alty in pension cases; adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the list of eligibles for the Presidency in case of the death of the President; regarding the disposition of arti- cles imported for exhibition at the world’s fair; allowing the settlement of the prop- erty of the Mormon Church held py a re- ceiver; for reporting, marking and removing derelicts and other menaces to navigati: in the North Atlantic ocean (became a law); and fixing the qualifieations to vote and hold office in the Cherokee outlet. Waiting on the Senate. The great majority of these bills, though passed by the House have, not yet been acted on by the Senate. All will be in or- der, of coltirse, ai the opening of the regular session as unfinished business. The Chinese bill is still before the Senate; the New York and New Jersey bridge bill, which passed both houses, is in conference, with some doubt about an agreement being reached during the extra session. The ur- gent deficiency bill is also in conference, the principal point in dispute being the payment of Senate clerks during the re- cer The bill releasing owners of mining claims from the necessity of doing one hundred dollars’ worth of work each year on their claims, during the present depres- sion of silver mining, became a law and is an important measure of rellef. The bill providing for the printing of enrolled bills, instead of their engrossment so as to avoid mistakes, has also passed both houses, and will be among the important measures of the extra session. It will thus be seen that notwithstanding the length of time devoted to discussion of the silver bill some impor- tant work has been accomplished by the extra session, ———+ 2+______ THE SEAL CATCH. The American Consul at Victoria Re- ports on the Subject. U. 8S. Consul Myers at Victoria, B. C., kas made a supplemental report to the State Department in regard to the seal catch cf 18%. He says that up to date 32 British sealing schooners of the fleet of 189 have feturned to Victoria, and 22 are yet to ar- rive. The total number of skins received at this port to date is 53,499. About 10,000 skins are yet to come, bringing the entire catch of the season by British Colunbia sealers up to 63,00 or more. The eatire catch of 1892 by the British Columbia fieet was 49,49 skins. The catch of this year, therefore, is the largest on record. Just about half the skins now in port were taken on the American side of the North Pacific, and the other half in Japan and Copper is- land waters. If the catches by American vessels, delivered at Seattle and San Fran- cisco, are considered and added to the skins taken on the Pribyloff Islands, the entire catch of the year in northern waters will, the consul thinks, reach 100,00) or over. It is noticed by sealers that many more bulls were taken this year than heretofore, especially young bulls. They account for this by reason of the large decrease in the number killed on the Pribyloff Islands sin the modus vivendi went into force. American company was restricted to 7,500, while the high seas fleets were free to take all they could find. That provision apparently, prejudicial to American ri indians no longer use the spear. single spear © seen this year, though some 465 Indians were employed. Tho shot. gun is the universal implement of destrac- tion. was, ichts. Not a — She Has Resigned. Miss Irene A. Cowman has resigned her position in the census office on account cf ill health, A COURT SENSATION. Judge Bradley Sets Aside the Verdict in the Ford Will Oase. And Makes Some Remarks to the Jury That Cause Them to Feel Ill at Ease. This morning the jury in Justice Brad- ley’s Court, Circuit, Division 1, who retired yesterday with the case of the will of the late Milton Ford, who left the bulk of his estate to the Washington City Orphan Asy- lum, returned a verdict on the issues, find- ing that the testator was not of sound and disposing mind at the time he executed the will and codicils thereto. The Verdict Set Aside. The justice immediately set the verdict aside. When the case was given to the jury yesterday afternoon Justice Bradley warned them that there was no question of sentiment in the case, the simple question being as to the testamentary capacity at the time of making the instruments. A man, he said, had the right to dispose of his property, subject to the dower of the widow, as he saw fit, and the presumption was that a man was sane till the contrary Was proved. As for the testimony that Ford insisted that Christ was to come in | April, he said it was not an evidence of in- sanity, for it was celebrated in April in for- mer times. He warned them that the pre- judice Mr. Ford had for secret orders should not have any influence. Remarks to the Jury. When the jury came into court this morn- ing they returned the verdict, answering the four questions, as to whether Mr. Ford possessed testamentary capacity at the times stated, in the negative. Justice Bradley turned to the jury and addressing them said, with considerable emphasis, that he had cautioned them not to allow their feelings to run away with their judgment, and he would be false to his oath if he al- lowed their verdict to stand, and he ordered it set aside. He added: “If the evidence in this case does not show that the testator was competent to make a will, then no man upon the jury can make a valid will.” Something of a Sensation. This announcement immediately on the renditicn of the verdict caused somewhat of @ sensation,and the jurors seemed ill at ea: _ till they were directed to vacate the seats. Some few of the jurors state that the judge was right in setting the verdict aside, while others say that they could not have found otherwise. ° ———_—_. CALLING THEM IN. Naval Officers Have Their Lenves Re- voked by Secretary Herbert. Secretary Herbert has revoked the leave of absence granted in the case of several officers, who are alleged to be working for private parties, and has ordered them to prepare for sea service, Lieut. Commander Wm. Swift was given leave by Secretary Herbert, but will now have to give up the unexpired time and prepare for sea. Lieut. C. A. Stone has been on continual leave for about three years, and he, too, will have to give up his unexpired portion. Chief Engineer Towne was granted two years’ leave by Mr. Tracy from last Jan- uary to enter the employ of the Cramps. He will have to resume his duties in the navy. Chief Engineer Robinson is another officer who will have to perform some work for his salary, as will Lieut. C. W. Jungen and Boatswain J. A. Aiken. ———__-e— A SILVER CONFERENCE. ir, Dubois Speaks of a Meeting That Ww Held Last Night. The silver men in Congress held a con- ference last night at Chamberlin’s, which was attended by about thirty of the repre- sentative men of that faction from the Sen- ate and House. Speaking of the meeting and what it did Senator Dubois said this morning: ‘We are all hopeful of the future and are satisfied that the sentiment of the country is for free coinage. The question is how best to put the issue before the peo- ple of the country in various congressional districts. An effort will be made at the next election to carry Congress and a free coinage bill. 1f Mr. Cleveland should veto it, then the fight will be carried into the presidential election. It was the opin- ion of all that politics should be kept out of it, and that the fight be made within the party lines of the two great parties by the election of such men as are favorable to silver, regardless of the views they may hold on other questions. “If, for instance, a democrat and a repub- lican are running for Congress in the same district, and the republican is a silver man, we will support the republican and vice versa. To Educate the People. “While it was not definitely determined upon, it is likely that the work of educat- ing the people on this question will be con- ducted through the bimetallic league. It is also likely that an address will be issued signed by the silver Senators and Represen- tatives to be sent out by this league, stat- ing the issue fairly and showing the dis- tress which the contraction of the cur- rency now inaugurated must necessarily bring to the wage earners and producers of the country; also warning the people against the move which will be made by the banks and advocated by the gold men in Congress and the President to borrow gold by issuing bonds."* Mr. Moreton Frowen, the eminent bi- metailist of England, was also pre- sent and made a brief address. No attempt was made to organize a congres- sional campaign committee or an usso- ciation on the lines of the propositions advanced. The future work will be con- ducted through the agency of the bimetal- lic league, which has its headquarters in this city. USED TO KNOW THE SECRETARY. And They Called at the Interior De- partment and Were Remembered. There were three unusual callers upon Secretary Hoke Smith this afternoon. They were Alexander Shanks, Miss Shanks and Mr. Shanks’ sister, Emma Cobb. All the parties are colored. Mr. Shanks and Mrs. Cobb knew the Secretary in his youth. He used to make shoes for Mr. Smith and she used to sew for Mr. Smith’s mother. This used to be “way down” in Lingenton, N. C, The family of Secretary Smith lived there and these old-time colored folks used to work for the family. They were very polite and told the reporter for The Star all about it. They had a cordial meeting with the Secretary, who recollected most of the incidents which old Mr. Shanks touched on. It was the first time they had met since the Secretary has grown up. It was a pleasant thing ail around. ——_-o.—___ Returning Relics. Arrangements are being made at the State Department for th® return of the vatican relics and other valuable exhibits loaned by various foreign governments to the United States for exhibition at the | world’s fair. They were brought to this country in a government warship and will be returned in the same manner as soon as an available vessel can be obtained. There is no special occasion for haste in the matter. -o-+——___ A Diplomatic Addition, The diplomatic circle in this city will soon receive an accession through the ap- pointment of Capt. Custance, R. N., as naval attache of the British embassies in America, with headquarters in Washing- ton, an office which has been vacant for several months. Capt. Custance was for- merly assistant director of naval intelli- gence, and more recntly commanded H. M. 5S. Phaeton, attached to the Mediterranean squadron, BLOWN UP AT SEA. Total Wreck of the Steamer City of Alexandria, ONE OF THE FASTEST WEST INDIAN SHIPS Fortunately No Passengers Were on Board. EXTENT OF LOSS IN DOUBT. HAVANA, Nov. 2.—The steamship City of Alexandria, belonging to the New York ana Cuba Mail Steamship Company, from Ha- vana and Matanzas for New York, has been burned off Cojimar. The steamer was com- manded by Capt. Hofman, The City of Alexandria was one of the fastest and largest of the American ships employed in the West India trade. She was an iron screw steamer of 2,480 tons burden. She was 307 feet long, thirty-eight feet five inches beam and twenty-six feet three inches depth of hold. She was built in 1879 by John Roach and Sons at Chester, Pa. Her engifies were of the compound type, the cylinders measuring 42 by 78 and 42 by 54. Bringing the News. Early this morning a small boat, in which were the second officer and eleven other persons from the City of Alexandria, entered the harbor here and reported the loss of the steamer. They said that an ex- Plosion occurred on board the steamer, and that shortly after she was burning freely. The cause of the explosion is unknown. The fire gained such headway that Capt. Hoffman saw it would be impossible to save the vessel, and orders were given to abandon the ship. The steamer had 4H) hogsheads of rum cn board, and this when it caught fire caused immense masses of flame to ascend from the hatchways, the hatches having been blown off. There was grcat excitement among the passengers and crew, but the officers soon succeeded in re- storing a semblance of order. As soon as the fire alarm was sounded on the ship the (crew went to their fire stations, and the | stewards began to carry provisions to the boats. The more cool-headed among the passengers remembered the notice which was in every state room of the ship, calling upon them in case of fire or collision to re- port at a certain life boat designated in the notice, These passengers at once proceeded to the boats and entered them. There was comparatively little sea running, and but little difficulty was experienced in lowering away the boats when the deep-toned bell forward tolled the signal “abandon the ship.” The scene of the burning of the steamer being only twenty-five miles from Havana the officers in command of the several boats—the captain, first officer, purser and chief engineer—had little fear of not reach- ing that port or some other place along the coast. In the first moment of terror some pas- sengers tried to jump into the sea, pre- ferring drowning to being burned to death. Those who arrived here this morning stated that sixty persons were drowned, but this is scarcely credited, as crew and passengers have reached Bacuranao. As soon as the news of the disaster reach- | ed here a number of tugs were sent to the Scene of the burning of the steamer to ren- der whatever assistance they could. Two of these tugs returned this afternoon, bring- ing nineteen survivors from the vessel. The explosion occurred late yesterday after- noon, and the ship was left burning a short ume afterward. What is Said at the Offices. NEW YORK, Nov. 2—At the office of the New York and Cuba Mail Steam- ship Company this morning cablegrans were received shortly before noon an- nouncing the loss of the steamer City of Alexandria off the Cuban coast, between Matanzas and Havana. The first dispatches stated that the steamer was a total loss. Later one said that the crew and all on board, with possibly the exception of the purser and stewardess, had been saved. No details in regard to the loss of the steamer were received and the agents were unable to confirm or deny the report that the ves- Sel had been blown up. The steamer had no passengers aboard, according to the New York agents. She was to have taken passengers on at Havana for this city. Her captain was K. A. Hoff- man, an able an experienced officer. The purser, who is supposed to be lost, is R. Bowen, Maritime Exchange Advices. The maritime exchange has received the following from Havana: “Steamer City of Alexandria, Hoffman, from Matanzas for Havana and New York (before reported) with 400 hogsheads of alcohol, was wrecked by an explosion at 4 a.m. and is a total loss by fire at sea. Of those on board twenty- eight were saved. Nothing known as to the fate of the remainder.” The officers of the City of Alexandria were: K. A. Hoffman, captain; E. P. Buck, first officer; William’ Field, second officer: R. Bowen, purser; C. A. Poole, assistant purser; T. Linden, senior quartermaster; William Rosenguns, assistant quartermas- ter; J. W. Reed, boatswain; C. Erricson, carpenter; J. A. Goding, cadet; J. A. Por- ter, cadet. —_——__ CAN HAVE THE GUNBOAT. The United States Will Not Interfere With the Sale of the Destroyer to Brarzil. That the United States government does not propose to interfere with the sale to the Brazilian government of the torpedo boat Destroyer, which had previously been offered to it, is clearly indicated by the issue of orders that she be released from her contract with the government to assist in torpedo tests at Newport and that she be turned over to her foreign purchaser. o—___ A Vacancy in Prospect. There is to be a vacancy in the pension bureau. The name of the alleged offender will not be given, but the fact that he will have to go is a fact. A letter, bearing the letter-head of the commissioner's room, was returned to the office this morning. It had been addressed to a man in California. The postal people, not having been able to find the man, returned the missive to the pension bureau. The people there, not be- ing able to locate the sender, opened the letter. It was brimful of rank sedition. It charged many mean things against the pen- sion authorities, comparing them to the in- quisition. The writer did not sign his name, but appended his initials. An investigation is in progress now. ———-o-_____ Acting Commissioner, Second Deputy Commissioner of Pensions Bell is today acting commissioner during the absence of Commissioner Lochren and First Deputy Murphy. Judge Lochren is confined within his apartments at the Arno with a severe cold, and Mr. Murphy left for Dayton, Ohio,’ last night, where on Saturday night he will deliver ‘a speech on the pension policy of the administration. 2+ A Duty on Coffee. The bureau of American republics is in- formed that the government of Costa Rica, with a view to improving the currency and to affording a stronger basis for the service of the public debt, has decreed an export duty upon coffee, the staple product of that country. The amount of the duty is 6s for each forty-six kilograms (101.39 pounds). The money raised by the collec. tion of this duty is to be appropriated ex- clusively for the payment of the interest on the foreign consolidated debt. The duty may be paid with bills of exchange at ninety days if satisfactory to the Secretary of the Treasury. COLLECTING CUSTOMS. Commissioner Pugh Makes Some Import- ant Recommendations in His Report And Hopes That Congressional Action Will Be Taken to Remedy Some Present Defects. Mr. Pugh, commissioner of customs, in submitting his annual report to the Secre- tary of the Treasury, calls attention to “the cumbrous and unequal manner in which the law deals with the compensation of collectors of customs and surveyors of customs, acting as collectors, in the hope,” he says, “that congressional action may be taken to remedy some of the present de- fects.” He says that a reform could best be accomplished by a law redistricting the customs collection districts, abolishing all fees and giving fixed salaries to the several collectors. There is no doubt, he says, that the United States should be redistricted for customs purposes, and the number of customs dis- tricts greatly lessened by consolidation. The absurdity of three collection districts in a small corner of Maine, viz.: Saco, Ken- nebunk and York, with collections of $27.50, $3.85, and nothing, respectively, is palpable. A general plan should be determined upon for regulating the salaries of subordinate officers of customs. Pay of Inspectors. The requirement that inspectors of cus- toms should receive pay when “actually employed” now found in the law, the com- missioner says, should be repealed or strict- {ly applied. The practice has been for years to pay permanent inspectors for every day in the year, and in order to do so various styles of duty have been invented to cover the discrepancy between the fact and the law. “On district duty” or “waiting or- \ders” may easily cover unemployed time. Unadjusted Indebtedness. The amount of unadjusted indebtedness Standing on the books of the treasury aris- ling from accounts, the settlement of which pertains to the customs bureau, is very small. Of the collections only $870 is ap- |Parently uncollectible, and of the disburse- ments $111,469, and of this latter sum, %,- 317 was incurred under circumstances that would seem to justify relief by law; $6,117 j has been expended for the benefit of the | United States, but under a misapprehen- sion as to the appropriation chargeable. Deducting this, there is left $100,034.%, which with the $870.17 on account of col- lections makes a total of $100,904.92 of loss in transactions aggregating more than $8,000,000,000, which, the commissioner says, is a record cf which any government may well be proud. ++ e+ RADICAL RECOMMENDATIONS. Surgeon General Tryon Has Views of His Own. There are two features of the annual re- Port of Surgeon General J. R. Tryon, re- cently appointed chief of the naval bureau of medicine and surgery, which have at- tracted considerable attention in naval cir- cles, because of their originality and bold- \mess. The one that comes in for the greatest amount of criticism is where Gen. Tryon says: “The title of surgeon general should be changed to medical director ger ral, more appropriate for the navy, and should con- stitute a permanent grade, as in the army, to be promoted by selection and to hold office until retirement by age. This officer should also be chief of bureau of medicine and surgery. “The title of medical director should re- main unchanged; that of medical inspector to fleet surgeon; surgeon to staff surgeon; passed assistant surgeon, an absurd title, to that of surgeon; assistant surgeon, another uncomplimentary title for a professional man, to surgeon junior grade.” Surgeon General Tryon was appointed to his present office for a term of four years. The practical effect of the adoption of his recommendation would be to keep him there until he reaches the age of retirement. The other feature of his report that is criticised is the recommendation that offi- cers of the medical department be detailed to serve as naval medical attaches at the legations of-London, Paris and Berlin, “the principal medical centers of the world,” which action, he says, “will add greatly to the professional efficiency of the medical corps of the navy and consequently be of benefit to the profession and service at large. * * * © The detail would also be advantageous and economical by prevent- ing the necessity of sending officers from the United States, when complying with the request of foreign governments for dele- gates to represent the medical corps of the Navy at international medical congresses and other scientific meetings in Europe.” oo Important Engineer Changes. The following changes in the stations of the officers of the corps of engineers have been ordered: Maj. William Ludlow will transfer the duties in his charge to the temporary charge of Col. Orlando M. Poe, and will then proceed to London, England, relieving Maj. James C. Post from duty as military attache to the United States lega- tion in that city. Maj. Post, on being thus relieved, will proceed to and take station at Portland, Ore., relieving Maj. Thomas H. Handbury of the duties in his charge. Maj. Hanbury will take station at Louisville, Ky., reiieving Lieut. Col. Garrett J. Ly- decker of the duties in his charge. Lieut. Col. Lydecker will take station at Detroit, Mich., and relieve Col. Poe of the duties temporarily transferred to him by Maj. Ludlow. —. -e- -_ ___ Army Orders. Special orders of October 26, 1993, which directs First Lieut. Henry L. Harris, first artillery, now on duty at the world’s Co- lumblan exposition, to change station to Fort Columbus, New York, is so amended as to direct him to change station to New York city. The leave of absence of Second Lieut. Henry T. Ferguson, twenty-third infan- try, is extended two months. Capt. David A. Lyle, ordnance depart- ment, will visit the works of the Benjamin Atha and Illington Company, Newark, N. J., on official business pertaining to the inspection of castings for spring-return mortar carriages. The leave of absence granted Major Cul- len Bryant, ordnance department, is ex- tended five months and twenty day The leave of absence granted Major Wm. Ludiow, corps of engineers, is extended seven days. ————+2+___ Treasury Receipts. A comparative statement of receipts and expenditures isued by the Treasury De- partment shows that since the Ist of July last the expenditures exceeded the receipts by $24,000,000, or at the rate of $72,000,000 a year. The receipts were $27,000,000 less than for the corresponding months of the pres- ent fiscal year, and the expenditures near- ly $1,000,000 greater. The greatest falling off is shown in customs, which have de- clined nearly $19,000,0% as compared with the same period in 1892. —$_—— Personal Mentio: R. H. Taylor has returned from a three weeks’ visit to the world’s fair. J. Roy Adams of Capitol Hill is out again after quite a serious illness, M. Leroy Gough and his brother Eugene have been in Chicago witnessing the clos- ing scenes of the Columbian exposition. Mr. Wm. N. H. Maack has ‘eft for a month’s travel in the west. J. H. Jackson of the pension bureau has returned to his duties from his annual va- cation. Mr. James R. Fritts of the division of special examinations of the pension bureau, ' who has been ill, has recovered. [READY TO ADJOURN. A House Resolution to Close Up Tomorrow. WORLD'S FAIR PRIZE WINNERS BILL No Action on the Cyclone Sufferers’ Relief Bill. THE CHINESE BILL. leave Washington, and had requested | Gir. Cogswell) to arrange a pair on silver repeal biil. This, Mr. Cogswell informed at the desk, had been the pair had not been announced, | informed the House that Mr. Wright would have voted against recommitting the bill, Resolution to Adjourn. ously ordered. A lively debate followed, in which Representatives Terry (Ark.) and Clark QMo.) opposed any prolonged recess or adjournment. Mr. Henderson (Ja.) asked Mr. if there was any chance of the tariff bili being reached from the committee if they Mr. Catchings replied that there was not the slightest chance, when Mr. Henderson stated that that being so he was decidedly in favor of adjournment. The yeas and nays on the adjournment | resolution were called for, and resulted in | Its passage by an affirmative vote of 134 to 8 in the negative. The chairman of the committee on ways and means (Mr. Wilson) asked that the com- mittee be allowed to sit during the adjourn- tees, except, perhaps, he added quizzically, the committee on rules. Dakota was reported and the Senate ments were concurred in. World's Fair Prize Winners’ Bil! Mr. Fitch (N. Y.) called up the world’s fair prize winners’ exhibit bill, which had been referred to the committee on ways and means. Mr. Kilgore (Texas) »bjected to its consideration, but withdrew his objection when assured by Mr. Fitch that the bill was similar, almost word for word, to the bill exposition authorizing the winter at San Francisco. With this wi Mr. Kilgore yielded and the bill was passed. Two bills were also passed authorizing the construction of bridges and Ark- ansas, THE SENATE. The attendance of Senators at noon today ‘was quite small, most of the seats being vacant. Messrs. Voorhees and Gorman on the democratic side were present, and on the republican side were Messrs. Teller and Stewart. The House joint resolution as to articles in the World's Columbian Exposition (l- lowing foreign exhibitors to sell their goods at a rebate of 50 per cent of the duty) was reported back by Mr. Morrill (Vt.) from the finance committee with an amendment strik- ing out all except the section permitting the Columbian Museumi to accept any articles oe by =. of } meee without ; customs les. Xplanations were made by Mr. Morrfl and by Mr. Cullom iL); the joint resolution as amended, was passed, and a conference was asked. A House joint resolution @ can- non for the Grand Army meeting at Pitts- we. Pa in 1894, was also reported and pe A bill to authorize the Missouri River Power Company in Montana to construct 4 dam across the Missouri river was re- ported and placed on the calendar. Senate bill to grant the right of way to the Kansas, Oklahoma Central and South- western Railroad Company through the Indian territory and Oklahoma territory, was reported from the committee on In- dian affairs and passed. 5 House bill providing for the construction of a steam revenue cutter for service on the great lakes (cost not to exceed $175,000) was reported and passed. The re of Silver. Mr. Voorhees (Ind.) asked to have printed the translation of a pamphlet published in Vienna by Prof. Edouard Suess, entitled “The Future of Silver.” He regarded it as @ very important and valuable work. It had been translated and printed for the finance committee and he wished the usual number to be printed for the use of the Senate. Mr. Hill (XN. Y.) did not know that the trai tion would be of any particular value, as according to the Senator from Nevada (Mr. Stewart) silver would have no tuture, Mr. Stewart (Nev.) regretted that the Senator from New York had not paid more attention to his observation during the recent debate. Mr. Hill (sarcaétically)—A few observa- tions, The Cyclone Sufferers, Mr. Hoar (Mass.) made an effort to ob- tain action on the bill for the relief of the sufferers from the cyclone on the Sea Is- lands and along the coast of South Caro- lina and Georgia. The third reading bill was objected to by Mr. Cockrell (Mo.), nd the Vice President ruled that under the rule it could not have its third reading to- ‘Then a motion was made by Mr. Gorman Qa.) to refer the bill to the committee on app discussed The Adjournment Resolution. The House concurrent resolution for @ final adjournment at 3 p. m. tomorrow was presented in a message from the House, but as the cyclone relief bill was under éiscus- sion, the resolution was laid temporarily on the Vice President's table. The resolution was subsequently laid be- fore the Senate, and (on motion of Mr. Gorman) referred to the committee on ap- propriation. Detail of Army Officers. The Senate passed with amendments House bill increasing the number of army officers who may be detailed as military instcuctors. ——_-e-______ Government Receipts Today. The receipts from internal revenue today Were $448,210; from customs, $572,983. ————+-2.+_____ New York Appointments. Secretary Carlisle today appointed P. C. Petrie of New York city assistant inspector of huils of steam vessels at New York, and Thomas F. Morris of New York state chief of engraving division of the bureau of en- graving and printing at Washington, D. C. He removed John E. Barstow, assistant in- — of hulls of steam vessels at New York. Silver Purchases W Pp. None of the sellers who offered the 81,000 ounces of silver to the Treasury yesterday, all of which was declined, responded to the counter tender of the Treasury. So the October purchases of silver wound up all silver purchases under the Sherman law. ———-e Silver Rises. Silver took a jump of a half penny in London today, being 90.69% per ounce our money. The bullion value of the standard silver dollar ‘s today 54 cents, an imcrease of 1 1-2 cents over Tuesday's price.