Evening Star Newspaper, December 8, 1893, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR ees HED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. aT THE STAR BUILDINGS, Avenue, corner 11th 8, by The Evening Star Newspaper Oompany, S. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't cin mone Bo New York Office, 98 Potter Building, ie ‘THE EVENtvo Stan is served to subseribers in the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents Bec week. of He. per month. — Copies af the counte in the aited By mail—anywhere States or Canada—postare Trepaid—30 conte month. SaTURDAY Quinte! Sr. ? oni pat nell ernie ‘24 ae ee (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C. . a8 second-class mail matter.) S@ © mail sabscriptions must be paid in advance, Kates of atvertisinz made known on application Che Lvening Star. Vor 83, No. 20,750. WASHINGTO , D. ©, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1893—TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. 7 ADVEKTISERS. Advertisers are urgently re quested to hand in advertisements the day prior to publication, in order that insertion* may be as- sured. Want advertisements will be received up to noon of the day of publication, precedence being given to those first received. LOCAL LEGISLATION. Bills Considered by the Senate Dis- trict Committee, MANY MEASURES FAVORABLY ACTED ON Georgetown as a Distinctive Des- ignation to Be Abolished. OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED The Senate committee on the District of | Columbia held a meeting this morning, the | first in two months. The last session was held on the 6th of October. At the meet- ing this morning there were present Chair- man Harris and Senators Faulkner, Hun- ton, Martin, McMillan, Ballinger, Hans- brough and Proctor. Considerable business was transacted and favorable reports were crdered on a number of local bills. Senator Faulkner was directed to report favorably on the bill to provide for the sale of new tickets by the street railway com- pany of the District. The bill is to the ef- fect that hereafter no secret railroad tickets received for fare on any railway in the District of Columbia shall again be sold to any passenger, but shall be can- celed by the company issuing the ticket. Any company that violates the provisions of the act is to be Mable to a fine not to ex- ceed $10 for each offense. Senator Faulk- ner was directed to report the bill favorably, together with an amendment including the Herdic Company within this provision. No More Georgetown. Senator Faulkner was also directed td make a favorable report in the Senate upon the bill supplementary to the act of 1871 and the act of 1874 establishing the gov- ernment of the District of Columbia. This bill provides that the old city of George- town shall no more be known in law by the name and title of Georgetown, but shall be known as a part of the city of Washing- ton, and all laws, ordinances and regula- tiens of the city of Wi are mace apglieliile te Geuaeieun ant can ordinances of Georgetown are its title and existence as a separate city abolished. The Commissioners are directed, so far as practicable, to cause the names of streets with those of Washington. Senator Faulkner was directed to make a favorable report on the bill making the sur- veyor of the District of Columbia a salaried officer, and he is authorized to the adoption of certain amendments provid- ing for @ most efficient service in that of- To Open North Capitol Street. ‘The bill introduced on the 80th of August by Senator Harris, authorizing the Commis- stoners of the District to open and grade North Capitol street from T street to the Soldiers’ Home, was approved, and Senator ‘McMillan was directed to make a favorable report upon it. The Commissioners are to condemn such land of the Prospect Hill cemetery and Annie E. Barbour as may be necessary for the extension. ‘There are now on the calendar of the Dis- trict committee two bills of nearly the same effect. One of these is to make service con- nection with the water mains and sewers and the other ts to regulate water main as- sessments. These bills were discussed this morning, and Senator Proctor was directed to confer with the District Commissioners before making a report to the Senate, with @ view to consolidating the bills. The bill authorizing the Commissioners to accept payment without interest on certain Special assessments was reported to the committee by Senator Faulkner, who was directed to report the bill to the Senate, ratifying the recommendation of the Com- missioners. ! Senator Hunton reported to the commit-! tee the bill for the appointment of a sealer and an assistant seaier of weights and measures for the District. He recommend- ed certain amendments relating to the dis- position to be made of weights and meas- ures, and the bill was referred to the Com- missioners as amended. Subdivision Records. A favorable report will be made in the Senate by Senator McMillan, by direction of the committee, on the bill to prevent the recording of subdivisions of land in the Dis- trict In the office of the recorder of deeds. ‘This bill provides that it shall not be law- ful for any person to record any map or plat of the subdivision of land in the office of the recorder of deeds, whether such map or plat be attached to a deed or other doc- uments or is offered separately for record. Senator Hunton reported favorably on the bili relating to acknowledgment of instru- ments affecting real estate within the Dis- trict and was directed to report it favorably to the Senate. The bill sets forth the form to be used in all cases of acknowledgments ef such instruments and Provides in the second section that when a married woman unites with her husband in the execution of such an instrument and acknowledges the same in one of the forms provided she shall be described in the acknowledgment as his wife, but in all other respects her acknowl- edgments shall be taken an; ana ane doen id certified as if The House Committee, The House District committee held its frst meeting of this session this morning, Chairman Heard presiding. It was decided not to ask for the recall of the Babcock bill amending that section of the liquor law | which relates to the 400-foot limit, and which is now on. the calendar of the House. | A number of citizens had asked for the re. reference of the bill in order hearings might be had, but th eoncluded that as the bill ment in the House, and that unlimited | hearings would not insure its rt ina condition to meet every interest, it would ter to let it take its course an the — of the House. Sax A favorable report was ordered upon the bill providing that whenever the roadway of & street is about to be paved or macadamiz- a the Commissioners may make service connections with water and sewer mains| for all abutting lots. The entire cost of the connections shall be paid from the current | &ppropriations for water and sewers, and i be assessed against the abutting prop- erty and collected in like manner as assess- ments which are levied under the compul- @ory permit system. Other Bills Favorably Acted On. The bill to pay the amount awarded by the jury of condemnation for alley in square 3 was ordered to be favorably reported. A favorable report was also authorized pon the bill permitting two members of the excise board to constitute a quorum. | ‘The bill authorizing the Little Sisters of the Poor to close alley in square 751 was ordered favorably reported. It has received the Commissioners’ indorsement and no ob- dection was made to it by the other property | holders in the square. | ‘The bill for the relief of John O’Brien ordered referred to the committee on clai: The bill to quiet title in lot 3, square 247. was ordered favorably reported. | ‘The bill for the appointment of a sealer end assistant gealer of weights and meas-| ures was ordered favorably reported. T! Dill provides a long series of technical reg lations for the protection of buyers from frauds in weights and measures and puts strict limitations tipon hucksters and upon | every one he sells anything by weight or Measure. It has been publish: 7 ‘The Star heretofore. | ned at length tm ‘These bills will be on the calendar of the} House next Monday and Chairman Heard, Will make his demand for District day under the rules for their consideration, | that further | e committee | is open to amend- | and was quietly filed awa: THE ITATA CASE, The Owners of the Vessel Enter a Big Claim Against the Government, Recalling the Difficulty With Chile— The Chase After the Itata—Libel- ed and Then Released. The once prominent Itata incident of the threatened war between the United States and Chile has again come to the front. Mr. Francisco Vergara, agent of the Chilean government, has filed with the Chilean- American claims commission a claim against the United States for $225,772 for the illegal seizure of the steamer Itata dur- ing the Chilean war. The claim is filed in behalf of the South American Steamship Company and is regarded as standing an excellent chance of allowance, in view of recent decisions of United States courts that the vessel was improperly seized and could not be libeled. The Chilean government has indorsed the claim as a proper one, and the Chilean agent will personally advocate its allowance. The agent of the United States will contest the claim on the ground that the govern- ment cannot be heid responsible for dam- ages resulting from its efforts to enforce the neutrality laws of this country. Stating the Case. ‘The memorial filed in support of the claim sets forth that on April 6, 1891, the agents of the steamship company undertook on be- half of the provisional and lawfully estab- shed government of Chile to transport a cargo of small arms intended for the land forces of that government from the coast of California to Iquique, Chile, and in pur- suance of that undertaking the Itata arriv- ed at San Diego, Cal., on May 3, 1891; that on May 4, 1891, the Itata was boarded by a man claiming to be one Spaulding, an officer of the United States, who assumed to take of the vessel, but he was unable to exhibit any authority, and the officers of the Itata, believing him to be falsely im- personating an officer, set him on shore; that the Itata then put to sea, took her cargo aboard at a point near the island of San Clemente, and arrived at Iquique on June 8, 1891; that meanwhile the govern- ment of the United States, “for reasons unknown to your memorialists,” sent ves- sels of war in pursuit of the Itata; that Admiral W. P. McCann, in his official ca- elty as commander-in-chief of the United tates naval forces, having solemnly as- serted that in his opinion the Itata was guilty of a violation of the neutrality laws, and because of the demands of the govern- ment of the United States, accompanied as they were by the presence of a large naval force , the Chilean government surrendered the Itata, with her cargo, under duress, to the representatives of the United States; that Admiral McCann accordingly took pos- session of the Itata on June 4, 1891, and she was taken back to San Diego under convoy of the United States steamer Charleston, arriving at San Diego on July 4 and placed in the custody of the United States marsha/ at that place on July 6: that on the same day an information of libel was filed against the Itata by a United States district attorney under section 5,283 of the revised statutes, alleging that the Itata was engaged in con- veying munitions of war to “certain citizens of the republic of Chile known as the con- party, and who were then and there in said republic organized and banded together in great numbers in armed rebel- peace. 1 The ip reg hg cites the mgt of = itata’s release, e reason that the test mony “showed conclusively that the basis undless,” and sa: of said libel was gro s that by reason of the acts complained of the damages to the amount +2 __. BELGIAN EXHIBITION. memorialist has sustained claimed. Our Government Invited to Partici- pate in an Art Display. The Secretary of State is in receipt of a note from the Belgian minister of Novem- ber 25, 1898, extending a formal invitation to the government of the United States to be represented in a universal exhibition of fine arts, which is to open at Antwerp on May 5, 1894, and continue perhaps until November 15, 1894. It is to be under the Patronage of his majesty, the King of the Belgians, and is to be in conjunction with the international exposition to be held at Antwerp between those dates. ‘The government of the United States ca not officially be represented unless Congress shall authorize it and make the necessary appropriation to defray the expenses inci- dent thereto. But it is understood that the Secretary of State has furnished to the prin- clpal art institutions in the United States a copy of the circular containing the general rules for exhibitors, who are requested to apply for admission to their country’s com- mission, and in the absence of a commis- sioner to the president of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts at Antwerp. ~———__+-© + ______ MR. DE ARMOND AGAIN. He Thinks the United States Should Be Provided for by the District. Mr. De Armond of Misscuri is at his old tricks again. He is apparently still of the opinion that the District of Columbia should feel honored by the prescrce of Congress and the government establishment in this city to the extent of the citizens paying the cost entailed upon the city by such presence, as well as its own municipal ex- penses. He has introduced a bill in the House to | Tequire the citizens to pay all of the ex- penses of the District. but deadly. It provides: “That all acts and parts of acts in so far as they direct or provide for the appropria- tion and payment by the United States of ‘The bill is short, | one-half of the approved estimates and ex- penditures of the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, repealed.” f The bill was referred to the appropria- tions committee, whose members have seen a little more service than Mr. De Armond, where it will probably remain filed and collect a proper accumulation of dust. This is not a new thing upon the part of Mr. De Armond, as he made the same effort in Tis first term of Congress. A similar effort is made at near- ly every Congress by some one. A new member arrives and suddenly makes the startling discovery that the government is paying one-half the expenses of the Dis- trict. He forthwith starts in to refqrm things and then about the end of his sec- ond term comes to his senses and is will- ing io let the appropriations committee con- duct the business in its own way. Seana eso eee SS THE PRINTING OFFICE SITE. Failure to Get 2 Quorum of the Joint Committee Today. The joint subcommittee on public build- ings and grounds charged with the selec- tion of 1 printing office site did not have a meeting today owing to a failure to get a quorum. Chairman Bankhead will continue his efforts to get the subcommittee together and hopes to be able to do it early next week. ——— —+e+ Money for immediate Work. The Senate District committee today gave a hearing to a delegation of citi- zens, headed by Mr. W. C. Dodge, to urge that appropriations of $20,000 or $30,000 be made immediately available for the purpose of grading certain streets. This, they said, must be done, and no bett found for such expenditures than the pres- ent. If the hard times of last summer continue it will cause great distress among the working people of Washington, and this necessary work could now be done with economy and charity. Chairman Harris promised Mr. Dodge that the committee would consider the mat- ter in all its bearings. er time can be | REVISION COMPLETED. The Customs Bill Sent to the Printer Today. CHANGES MADE IN EVERY SCHEDULE Differences as to an Income or Cor- poration Tax. A CAUCUS PROBABLE. ——_—___ The ways and means committee, who have been making a general revision of the customs bill, which they have already given to the public, have finished their work and sent the bill in its new form to the print- ing office. There have been a great many changes in the language and some in the adjustment of schedules throughout the bill, There is hardly a schedule that there | has not been some slight change made in, and some of the changes have been import- ant. The committee have reconsidered their determination to report two bills, and internal revenue features together, either before reporting the customs features or by adding the revenue features as an amend- ment later on. An Income Tax. The fight over the question of a corpora- ticn tax is still active. Notwithstanding the expressions on the subject in Mr. Cleve- | land’s message and the prior determination jon the part of the committee to adhere to the corporation tax rather than an individ- ual income, the present indications are that the agitation in favor of individual income will finally result in the committee's adopt- | ing it. Five of the eleven democrats of the committee are earnestly advocating the in- dividual income, and are agitating the ques- tion in the House, so that it is not improb- able that some one of the members of the committee not now committed to this prop- osition may conclude to vote with them. Will Be Deveated in the House. In this event Mr. Cleveland's indorsement of a corporation tax will go for naught, and there is a very strong belfef on the part of members who have been studying the ques- tion that if the ways and means committee does report an individual income tax it will be defeated in the House and its substitu- tion for the corporation tax will result in the failure of everything in the nature of an income tax. The advocates of the tax on corporations believe that with the indorse- ment of the administration behind them that proposition can be carried through both houses of Congress, but believe that if it is changed, the whole thing will fail, and the revenue will have to be derived from sugar and whisky. Nothing has yet been done with relation to these last two item: and it will probably be several days before the matter is again taken up. A Caucus to Be Held. A democratic caucus to consider the con- flicting interests involved in the new tariff bill will probably be pes -the ume the measure is reported to use. “Cen. Wheeler of Alabama tg the moving spirit in creating a sentiment favorabte to the cau- cus. He believes that all the democratic members in the Alabama, Georgia, ‘Tennes- see, Virginia and West Virginia delegations as well as the twelve démocratic members from Pennsylvania will sign the call. This will make fifty-one in all, more than three times the number necessary to insure the calling of a caucus. All these gentlemen are particularly inter- ested in the iron and coal industries, hence their desire to meet in caucus and secure an agreement placing these articles again upon the dutiable list. The present duty cn both articles is 75 cents a ton. Leaving them on the free list, as proposed in the new bill, would, Gen. Wheeler says, serious- ly cripple the trade, especially on the Atlan- tie coast, where the consumption is very great. His constituents, he says, will be entirely satisfied if the House will leave the duty at 37 1-2 cents, or at one-half the pres- ent rate. Will Not Bind Any Member. He believes, if the matter is fully discuss- ed in caucus, that this may be done. While the caucus will not bind any of the mem- bers it cannot fall to result beneficially. He believes that the democrats should wash their party linen in private and not in the open sessions of the House. The matters under consideration can be discussed more calmly and in a more fraternal spirit, and concessions will be made under such cir- cumstances that it would be difficult to se- cure at any otner time. He instances the fact that when. the Morrison bill came into the House, some years ago, no caucus was held, and the bill was defeated. The Mills bill, on the other hand, was carefully con- sidered in caucus, and it passed the House triumphantly. The pending measure, he thinks, will also have thesprestige of equal success if tne different schedules be first |considered in private before the measure jis debated in the House. Gen. Wheeler was asked: what the demo- crats from the foregoing states would do if |a democratic caucus left iron ore and coal jon the free list. “Support the bill, of course,” was the sen- tentious reply. ———_———_+-2-+_______ TARIFF IN THE SENATE. Action of the Finance Committee Out- lned at Today’s Meeting. The democratic members of the Senate finance committee held another conference this morning, the general subject of the tariff being under consideration. The Sen- | ate yesterday authorized the committee to | have such compilations and tabulated state- | ments printed as was thought necessary, | and until these are laid before the commit- | tee but little headway will be made. Those | members present this morning were Sen. ators Voorhees, McPherson, Harris and Vest. Mr. Jones of Arkansas was absent, and Mr. Vance is sick in ‘Baltimore. | The rather informal talk of today devel- | oped the fact that the majority members in- | tend to push the consideration of the tariff measure through the committee as speedily as possible, and with that end in view will begin work independent of the House as soon as the data is laid before them. It can be predicted that hearings will not be post- poned until after the bill has passed the House, the argument against this being that too much time would be consumed if that uncertain event is waited for. While hearings heid before the passage of |the bill in the House—where it is possible some changes may be made in some sched- ules—would necessitate a discussion of the subject In the abstract, still members of the committee believe that parties in inter- est cah as well inform the committee what |rate would be injuzious and talk to a sup- posed rate as they could after the vote in the lower house had been taken. The dem- | ocrats, anxious to make time and obviate | all delay, will therefore, unless their present i plan is changed, begin’ the hearings before | the bill has reached the Senate, intending, where it is necessary, to permit parties in. | terested in important schedules to appear jagain after the bill is before the Senate | committee. Nothing definite was agreed upon this morning, and the committee adjourned to [meet again, perhaps tomorrow. These | meetings of the majority members are en- tirely informal, and will probably be held from day to day from now on. ————_+ e+ —_____ Government Receipts Today. ‘The receipts from internal revenue today were $298,146; from customs, $323,839, | the purpose now is to join the customs and | NOT SO FAVORABLE. fe) ° The Evidence (iven Before the Davenport Court of Inquiry. Other Witnesses Testify to His Jump- ing From the Ship Before the Order to Abandon Her Was Given. The interest in the Davenport court of in- quiry at the navy yard is on the increase as the days pass by, and now that witnesses summoned on behalf of the government are giving their testimony, a number of facts are being brought out that tend to put Lieut. Davenport's action on the occasion of the Samoan disaster in a rather less favor- fable light. Yesterday afternoon Lieut. Purcell, the witness who has testified that Lieut. Dav- enport in a nude condition jumped from the main chains of the Nipsic and swam ashore some time before the order was given to abandon ship, was recalled and gave some | further testimony as to minor details of the | incident. Saw the Defendant Jump. Paymaster John Corwine, who was at- tached to the Nipsic at the time of the dis- aster, testified that he was on the beach at the time the Nipsic grounded and that with the assistance of Ensign Purcell he attempt- ed to pass a rope from the ship around a tree on the beach. Among other incidents con- nected with the beaching of the Nipsic, he saw Lieut. Davenport nude and standing on the starboard side, on the main chains, and |dive into the water and swim ashore. This was before the rope was passed to the tree. With the exception of Lieut. Davenport and the doctor and chief engineer, who came ashore in the cutter, he saw none of the officers come ashore except over the line. The paymaster said that his relations with the applicant were very pleasant, but that he had heard numerous criticisms from other officers to Lieut. Davenport's be- havior during the disaster. Witness said he saw some of the men hump in the same manner as the applicant {and from the same place, but no officers. |if others had jumped he could not but have | seen it. He did not know of any act other |than that mentioned. either of omission or commission, on the part of the applicant that would reflect upon his conduct as an officer of the navy. On the day after the |disaster when he was thinking over the matter it seemed to him that Lieut. Daven- port’s conduct was not all that it should |have been and that he left the ship ahead of time. Ensign Jones’ Evidence. Ensign H. P. Jones, who is now stationed on the Machias, but who was another of the officers on the ‘Nipsic at the time of the disaster, told of the incidents of the beach- ing of the ship. He was in charge of the deck at the time. Did not remember to have seen the applicant after the order was given to beach the ship. He did not know except by hearsay how the applicant had left the ship. The chronometers of the ship, which were in the charge of Lieut. | Davenport, were either abandoned or so badly jammed as to be useless when they might have been saved. Witness was pres- ent in the ward room when the applicant stated that he had asked for a court of in- quiry from Admiral Kimberly, but that the request had been denied. He also heard Ideut. Purcell say to Lieut. Davenport that if any such charges were being circulated about him as therewere about Davenport he would. demand a court of inquiry In- stead of asking for it and he would have it,~too. Witness sald that he had heard Tumerots rumors about Lieut. Davenport's conduct at the time. which were to the ef- fect that applicant had gone ashore before orders were given to abandon the ship. Today's Testimony, Ensign Jones was the first witness placed upon the stand this morning, and the direct examination by Judge Advocate Laucheim- er was continued. He was asked as to the amount of water in the ward room and the condition of the spar deck between the time the ship was beached and the time that he went ashore. The deck was badly littered with wreckage, gratings, chests and mat- ters of that sort. Prior to the beaching of the ship there was enough water to float a heavy chest. Witness was asked a number of questions as to the condition of affairs on deck, and the possibility of going from the steerage hatch to the fo’castle, the purpose of this questioning being to show that Lieut. Davenport might have saved the chronome. ters and other matters that were intrusted to his care. The witness said that it was not a difficult matter to go from one part of the deck to the other, though the depth of the water on the deck varied considerably as the ship heeled over. He himself made an effort to save the log book, which was given to him by the captain. After the ship was beached he called for a man on shore and then he tossed the log high up into the air, trusting to the wind to carry it in. The man on the beach, however, failed to secure it, and the log was lost. The judge advocate here read a portion of the statement which Lieut. Davenport sub- mitted to the Secretary of the Navy, giving his version of the incidents of the disaster, for the purpose of having the witness either affirm or deny it. He was in the midst of reading it when the court took a recess un- ul afternoon. ———— EXCISE BOARD MEETING. An Important Session and Its Doings This Afternoon. ‘The excise board held an important ses- sion this afternoon which lasted until it was nearly time to light the gas. Over 200 cases were presented by Clerk Williams,and the board disposed of them in short order. Owing to the departure of Commissioner Parker for Old Point Comfort tomorrow af- ternoon, this will be the last meeting of the excise board until January 5, unless Con- gress passes the bill recently submitted by the Commissioners making two members of the board a majority sufficient to transact business. In this event the regular Friday impcssible for the Commissioners to dispose of all cases presented for action this after- noon, it was decided to hold another session tomorrow morning, beginning at 11 o'clock. —_—_+—_ Want a Change of Date. A delegation of New Yorkers, consisting of S. C. Pulman, Miles M. O’Brien, I. D. Brebener, Arthur Gibbs, Charles Showinger, L. U. Asiel, H. Schoenmaker, Wm. H. Fletcher and Robert M. Boyd, were given a hearing by Chairman Wilson of the ways end means committee this morning. They were introduced by Representative Bourke Cockran. Mr. S. C. Pulman, who acted as the spokesman of the delegation, stated that the committee was non-partisan in character, and that they represented the general mercantile interests of New York and the country, They did not ask any | change in the rates proposed in the bill; but | Wanted a different date on which the law |may go Into effect. March or Septembe |they argued, would paralyze their indus- ltries. July 1, 1894, or January 1, 1895, would suit them and the trade condition could be |so adjusted as to make either of these dates acceptable to them. The chairman promised to take the mat- ter under advisement. —-o+—_____ The Cabinet Meeting. The Hawaiian issue undoubtedly occupied the lion’s share of attention at today’s cab- |inet meeting, although the Brazilian ques- | tion, including the Stanton incident, did not lack consileration. Secretary Lamont re- turned from New York in time to attend the |meeting and Secretary Smith was the only absentee. : ————_-» -—___ B Approved by the President. The President has approved the joint reso- lution conferring diplomas upon designers, inventors and expert artisans and the joint resolution providing for the payment of salaries and expenses of additional col- lectors of internal revenue to carry out the Provisions of the Chinese exclusion act. PREPARING INFORMATION. ONLY THE HOUSE. But One Branch of the National Legislature in Session. BOT LITTLE BUSINESS TRANSACTED. An Effort for the Utah Statehood Bill. State and Navy Departments Overhauling Files Relative to Hawaii. The Documents May Not Be Sent to the Senate Until News is Receiv- ed From Minister Willis. A force of clerks in the State and Navy Departments is busily engaged assorting and copying papers relating to the Ha- wailan situation, which will be sent to the Senate, in accordance with the Hoar reso- lution. Much of the matter concerning the diplomatic branch of the subject has al- ready been prepared for transmission, and work on documents of dates witain the pe- riod covered by the resolution began on the | day it was introduced by Senator Hoar. | | Copies of all orders issued by “Le Navy De- | partment to officers assigned to duty in| | Hawaiian waters since 1881 have been {drawn from the files, and correspondence | | between the Secretaries of the Navy and | these officers is now being selected, and will be ready for copying within a day or | two. The Navy Department batch is vol-! uminous, and that of the State Department much more so, but it is understood that a_ copy for transmission to the Senate will be| ready within a short time. | May Not Be Sent at Once. | Whether it will be sent in as soon as com- pleted is uncertain. It is believed that the President will wait until he gets some “def- inite information” from Minister Willis be- fore complying with the wishes of the Sen- ate. It is possible that the President may send his promised special message to Con- gress on Hawaiian affairs, showing exactly what Minister Willis was instructed to do and what he has accomplished in that line, scon after he hears from the Hawatian capital without waiting for the completion of the work entailed by the Hoar resolution, which askes for copies of the record of the State and Navy Departments on Hawaiian matters from 1881 down to date. | + Oe | OF TIMBER | THE BANKRUPTCY BILL. ae Mr. Talbert (S. C.) introduced a resolution setting forth the delays and deferments which have occurred since the democratic party came into power and calling upon | the ways and means committee to at once |bring in a revised bill, and directing the committee on banking and currency to re- port a bill providing for financial relief in order that the dominant party may redeem its platform pledges. Objection being made to its immediate consideration the resolu- tioh went over. The Admission of Utah. Mr. Kilgore (Texas) moved that the House go into committee of the whole to consider | the bill providing for the organization of a | constitutional government in Utah and the admission of that territory as a state. Mr. Dingley (Me.) raised the pofht of no quorum and the clerk was directed to call the roll. The roll call resulted: yeas, 145; nays, 6, disclosing the absence of a quoru! | A Call of the House. Mr. Kilgore (Tex.) moved that a call of the House be had, and Mr. Dingley (Maine) | demanded the yeas and nays, which were | ordered. The call of the House was ordered by a vote of 156 yeas,nays 32. The morning hour having expired, the point of order was made | that the call was not in order. The chair | held that the call had been ordered. Successive motions to reconsider the vote by which a call was ordered and to refuse a call of the House were made. The Bankruptey BIL. Mr.Ooates (Ala.) moved to go into commit- PLENTY Available for the Vacant Circuit Court Jndgeship. | There are nearly twenty open carMidates | for the vacancy in the list of United States tee of the whole to consider the bankruptcy | circuit court justices caused by the recent bill, which motion prevailed. | death of Judge Bond. The circuit includes Mr. Bailey (Texas) asked unanimous con-| Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and sent that the House take a vote to substi- | North and South Carolina, and it is believed tute his bill for the pending measure before, the appointment will be made from one of Proceeding under the five minute rule, but! the states named. Maryland has two strong | objection was made. | candidates in Judge D. G. McIntosh of | @ir. Bland (Mo.) moved to strike out the ‘Towson, Raltimore county, and Judge John | mg pon and on a division the yeas; preston of Baltimore. Of the two Judge | tir a righ pea cater | [trig emg reread stands | The Enacting Clause Stricken Out. {8° g00d a chance of selection as those. The vote resulted, 101 yeas, 91 nays. The |"amed. Mr. McIntosh’s friends are very | |announcement of the vote was received by |"¥™erous and include nearly every member | applause. jot bd hier agprvegise “| a His | Mr. Bland (Mo.) moved that the committee | @ualifications for the position have been | of the whole rise and report the bill back | *tfonsly Placed before the President, and | meetings will continue. As it was found | jto the House with the recommendation that | the enacting clause be stricken out. The| motion prevailed and the committee rose. Mr. Bland moved that the House concur | in the action of the committee of the whole, | and Mr. Oates demanded the yeas and | Mr, Cannon (T.) the parlimentar: undertook to speak upon } status of the bill. | A Point of Order. | Mr. Hatch (Mo.) raised the point of order that debate was not admissibie upon a mo- tion to concur in the action of the commit- tee of the whole. Such a motion required an immediate vote. Mr. Cannon claimed that the motion to concur was always debatable and that he could have an hour in which to discuss the | matter, | The Speaker stated that unless there was | | Some limitation, debate was always in order | in the absence of the previous question. He quoted from the digest that a motion to | Strike out the enacting clause was debat- | j able, and said that a motion to concur was of a similar nature. Mr. Patterson (Tenn.) said that the ques-| j tion to be determined was as to whether a majority of the pred a Voluntary | or involuntary ptey bill, Mr. Bland replie? to M>. Cannon, attack- ing the main principle of the bill. The Bill Defeated. The yeas ard nays were taken on Mr. Bland’s motion and resulted, 142 yeas; 111/ hays, and the recommendation was concur- | ire ‘55 the House adjourned until Mon- Oo CAPITOL TOPICS, Additional Employes. j Twelve more employes are to be added to| the force of the House by virtue of a reso- | lution reported from the committee on ac- counts and adopted by the House yesterday. The clerk’s office will get two additional | laborers at $720 per annum, the doorkeeper’s | office will have eight folders at $75 per month and the postmaster of the House will employ one messenger at $1,200 per annum and one laborer at $720, A resolution was also ad for the retention of George Jenison and [. 1. Currier as special messengers, two old and popular employes credited to the minor- ty. The provision for six additional Capitol policemen was stricken out, as was also the provision for an additional clerk 1or the dis- bursing office. Senator Hil opted providing J Legacy Bill. a legacy or succession tax Its first section | provides that all property, real and person- | al, which shall pass by will, or by the inter- state laws of any state or territory, or any | interest therein or incomes theretrom trans- | ferred by sale or gift to take effect after the death of the grantor or bargainer, shalt | be taxed if the whole of such property shail exceed The tax is imposed 1 cent on pe real estate ex- empt; brothers and sisters, 2 per cert on | | j both real and personal property; uncles, | &c., 4 per cent; grandparents, &e., 5 per cent; corporations and strangers, "10 per | cent. Husbands and wives are exempt where the value of property is not over $: 000, Minors are exempt if the estate does not exceed $10,000; If it does the excess is taxed 1 per cent. |. Executors, administrators or trustees are [held personally responsible for the x un- | til it is paid to the collector or ¢ y coi- | lector of the district of which the testator | was a res ident. An executor, adminisira- | tor or trustee who delive talse schedule of the property or misrepresents the rela- tionship of the legatees is made liable to a jfine, not exceeding $1,000, to be recovered with costs of suit. If the collector of the district is dissatisfied with the schedule de livered he is authorized to bring proceed- ings in the federal courts, It iseunderstood that Mr. Hill will offer his bill as an amendment io the Wilson bill when that measure reaches the Senate, The Bank Certificate Tax. The House committee on banking and cur. rency today reported a substitute for the | Brawley bill intended to exempt from taxa- tion the issue of notes put out by certain banks, mostly in the south, during the late stringency. The substitute bill suspends | the operation of the taxing act so far as it | relates to notes issued between August 1 and October 15, 1883. It is provided that the bill shall not suspend the operation of the existing law on any such notes paid out and circulated after the first of next January. Mrs. Coghlan to Ask for a Divorce. Mrs. Charles Coghlan, the first, said yes- jterday in New York that she will sue for divorce. Kuhne Beveridge, the actor's sec- ond wife, is to be named as co-respondent. | | dorsed by | O'Ferrall; Richard Senator Hill has prepared a bill to impose |! his friends believe that if the office goes to a Marylander Mr. Mcintosh’s prospects are excellent, The other states in the circuit have a large crop of candidates of excellent stand. ing and each congressional delegation is exerting its best influence to secure the ap- ointment for its state. Representative Wil son of West Virginia Is mentioned as a pos- sibility in this connection, but it is regarded as improbable that the President will care to take him from his important work in the | House of Representatives, | The fact that West Virginia is already | represented on the circuit bench by Judge | Goff is thought to be against the prospects | of the candidates from that state, | Virginia has been well provided fo! matter of federal office and that wil moe ably militate against the selection of one of her sons for the vacant judgeship. It has in Mr. Dabney a solicitor for the State Depart. meni and in Mr. Conrad an assistant attor. ney general. Among the leading candidates are Judge James Keith of Warrenton, in- Senator Hunton; Judge Black- ford of Lynchburg, who is indorsed by Sen- ator Daniel; C. V. Meredith, indorsed by Representaiive Wise and Governor-elect Walke of Norfolk, in- dorsed by Representative Tyler, and Alex. ander Hamilton of Petersburg, indorsed by Representative Epes. | orth Carolina is not short in the way of willing judicial timber. There are three can- didates from the state, however, that are more prominent than ail the rest, and it is the proposition to call the delegation to. | gether in a few days and settle upon one of the three as the candidate which the state will present to the President for considera. tion. These three candidates are Mr. R. H Battle of Raleigh, Justice A. C. Avery of the state supreme court and Congressman John Hender: the present chairman of the post office and post roads committee. The statement printed some time ago that the office been offered to Senator Ran- som and declined by him lacks foundation in fact. Although South Carolina has many candidates, the only one of general promi. nence is ex-United States District Judge Si. monton, who was appointed to his present place by President Cleveland during his first administration. It is said that the matter) will be settled by the President before the| Christmas recess, | & — NOT A HEALTHY PLACE. 4 Judge Kimball Says This is a Bad Climate for Race Followers. | Four men were arrested at the Benning race track yesterday afternoon as being suspicious characters. Two of them were ed upon bonds, and two others, John T. McCarty and Frank Morris, were charg- ed before Judge. Kimball this morning with vagrancy and being suspicious characters. Detective Horne testified that AfeCarty had been here for some time, doing nothing but touting at the Benning races, Morris, he stated, was a well-known thief, had of- ten been arrested here and his picture was in the “rogues’ gallery” in Baltimore. He had served a term in the Maryland House of Correction, and, in the opinion of wit- ness, was a crook. Detective Weedon gave similar testimony. Morris claimed that he had from the Gloucester track, and was employ- | ed by Horseman Peter Sinnott. Mevarty | sald he was also from Gloucester, and came here to write sheets for a bookmaker, but the man did not give him a job. “i'm ‘a re- sble man, your honor,” remarked Mc- exclaimed Judge Kimball, you came from the Gloucester ck! Haven't you heard what I have been doing with such characters as you?" “No, sir,” replied McCarty. “Well, it would be better for you and your class to make some inquiries before coming here.” Peter Sinnott, who testified that he owned a racing stable, stated that he had known Morris for the past three years and the man had never been arrested at Gloucester during that tims. on’t make many arrests there, juired Judge Kimball. oe 2 very particular replied Sinnott. come here | et,” v characters to come here. They will find the District a not very con- genial place for them. Indeed, they will find it a very unhealthy climate. Morris will give $200 bonds or go down for ninety days, and McCarty, if he does not leave town at once, will receive the same sen- tenc a President of the Central Pacific. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. §.—H. E. Hunt-| ington, a son of President C. P. Hunting- ton of the Southern Pacific railroad, has been elected president of the Central Pa- cific railroad company to succeed the late Senator Stanford, a DR. MEYER’S SCHEME, His Alleged Attempt to Swindle an Insurance Company. MURDER OF AN ACCOMPLICE. Beginning of His Trial at New York. STORY OF THE TRAGEDY. —_—e— NEW YORK, Dec. 8.—The taking of testi- mony in the case of Dr. Henry C. F. Meyer, charged with the murder of Ludwig Branét by poisoning, was begun this moraing in the court of oyer and terminer, Carl Mueller was the first witness by the prosecution. Mueller said that right name was Carl Kirfel. When he was a prisoner in Joliet prison he met Dr. Meyer, the defendant, Brandt and Baum. He also saw Mrs. Meyer, when she came to see her husband. Mr. Brooke made a long argument against the admission of testimony from the wit- ness as to the conversations he had with Meyer in the prison, The evidence was sd- mitted. Meyer told the witness that he had @ scheme for making money in large sume by defrauding insurance companies. After he came out of jail, on the 24 cf June. 1891, the witness again saw Meyer at 331 Center street, Chicago, where Meyer was practicing medicine. He also saw Mra. Meyer there. Meyer asked him if he was ready to go into the scheme to defraud ‘nsuraace com- panies, and the witness told Meyer that be Was not. He did not want to cet into prison again. Meyer told him he had been to see Baum in Joliet prison. His wife had gone with him. In prison Baum went under the name of Parker. Meyer said that Baum looked sick. Mueller further testified that he had met P Just what connection Lera Kaufman has with the case may come out later. The witness, continuing, said that Meyer told him that Baum was arrested again in Cincinnati, and that he was very sick. He (Meyer) wanted to get some one to imper- sonate Baum, and to get his life insured. Then, when Baum died. they vould got the insurance money. Meyer went to see Baum and later on he went to Germany to find out about Baum's tory. When Meyer returned he wanted witness to have his life insured in Baum’s name, bu: this the witness refused to do. Some time after Meyer told him that he had had Brandt's life insured and that the scheme was to have Mrs. Meyer pass as Brandt's wife. Brandt was insured under the name of Baum. To fully carry _ un- deception, Mrs. Meyer was Brandt. Rrandt was in the scheme derstood that he was to be made very sick and that then he would be taken away and made better, while a dead body would be passed off as his corpse. Mueller came name out and to appear and Brandt, at the request of Meyer, to New York, bought furniture in the of Baum and hired a flat in East street. Mueller received a package ntimony from Meyer. The latter told it was to be used to make Brandt sick. The witness and Meyer went over to morgue to see about getting a corpse, they were not allowed in. —— o-+____ BLOWN UP WITH DYNAMITE. How the Opening of a Saloon Was Prevented. OSSIAN, Ind., Dec. 8—A few days ago @ Bluffton saloon keeper made arrangements to open a saloon in this town and leased the Tenaire frame block in the central por- tion of town. The saloon was to have been opened yesterday morning, Wednes- day night some one put a charge of dyna- mite under the building and it was exploded with terrible force, shattering all the win- dows in the village. The front of the s@- loon was demolished and the roof was blown of. The frame store is a wreck. It is probable no investigation be made by the citizens to identify any one with the dynamite job. peveeneiiensee TO TAKE A BACK TRACK. Mr. Cleveland Has Countermanded His Instructions to Minister Willis. The impression among leading democrats in Congress is that Mr. Cleveland is going to take a back track on the Hawalian af- fairs and that his object in dispatching o special messenger on the revenue cutter to Honolulu was to countermand his instrue- tions to Mr. Willis if it should not be too late. It is said that the public will prob- ably never learn just what the instructions to Mr. Willis were, as those put in wri! were very general. while the important Written instructions, to be interpreted. tp wrt ctio’ 0 the verbal explanation of thelr purpoan. —E THE DISTRICT RECORDERSHIP, Not Known 7 Frank Lawler ts ? Pressing the Office. Mr. Frank Lawler of Chicago, and the petition with 70,000 signatures, may be casting longing eyes in the direction of the District recordership, as has been publish- ed, but if he or his friends have made any tangible effort in that direction, it does not appeer in the records of the White House, A star reporter was informed by a high official of the Executive Mansion that Mr Lawler called on the President yesterday with Gov. Altgeld and party of Illinois for the express purpose of presenting the chile dren of Gen. Shields, and it is extremely improbable that anything was said on the subject of appointments. So far as is known the name of Mr. Lawler has not been mene tioned to the President in connection with the District recordership, but that does not prove that it will n be now that the mat- ter has been suggested in the newspapers. sina tee SOUTHERN WAR CLAIMS. A Bill to Admit Those Rejected on Ace of Disloyalty. Ex-Congressman Hemphill of South Caro lina appeared before the House committee on the judiciary this morning and made am argument in favor of the extension of the act providing for the settlement of the eap> tured and abandoned property war claims The bill affects thousands of people through- out the south who suffered from spoliation during the rebellion. It proposes to exten@ the benefits of the present law to those per- sons whose claims have been adversely de- termined by courts upon the ground of dis- loyalty, without taking into consideration the effect of the President’s proclamation of pardon and amnesty. There is a fund of about $11,000,000 now in the treasury which would be affected by the extension of the act. Immediately after Mr. Hemphill’s ar gument the committee decided to report the bill favorably to the House. a BLOWER’S CASE. MR. HO! The President Anxious to Have Ime mediate Action on It. President Cleveland is anxious for ime mediate action on the nomination of Mr. | Hornblower as supreme court justice. To Senators who saw him yesterday he said that he wanted prompt action, favorable or unfavorable, and added that if they would not confirm Hornblower he wanted to know it so that he might name some one else at once.