Evening Star Newspaper, December 18, 1893, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. ——____. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. aT. THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, corner 11th St, by The Evening Star Newspaper Oompany, New York Office, 88 Potter Building. poche teenie swe ‘THE EVENING STAR is served to subseribers in the Aty by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents week. or +4c. per month. Copies at the connter cents each. By mail—aa; in the United States oF Canads—postaze prepaid—s0 cents per on SaTURDaT Si 8: 3 (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., 8 second-class mail matter.) @-All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Che Evening Star. Vor 83, No. 20,758. WASHINGTON, D. C.,. MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1893-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. An index to advertise- ments will be found om Page 3. MESSAGE ON HAWAII. The President Informs Congress of the Situation. WHY THE QUEEN WAS NOT RESTORED, She Has Declined So Far to Assent to the Conditions. MR. WILLIS’ INSTRUCTIONS. Following is the full text of the message sent to Congress today by the President: fo the Senate and House of Representa- tives: In my recent annual message to the Con- gress I briefly referred to our relations with Hawaii and expressed the intention of transmitting further tnformation on the subject when additional advices permitted. Though I am not able now to report a definite change in the actual situation, Iam convinced that the difficulties lately created both here and in Hawaii are now standing im the way of a solution through executive action of the problem presented, render it Proper, and expedient, that the matter should be referred to the broader authority and discretion of Corgress, with a full ex- Planation of the endeavor thus far made to deal with the emergency and a statement of the considerations which have governed my action. I suppose that right and justice should determine the path to be followed in treat- ing this subject. If national honesty is to be disregarded and a desire for territorial extension, or dissatisfaction with a form of government not our own, ought to regulate our conduct, I have entirely misapprehend- ed the mission and character of our govern- ment and the behavior which the con- science of our people demands of their public servants. The Annexation Treaty. When the present administration entered upon its duties the Senate had under con- sideration a treaty providing for the an- nexation of the Hawaiian Islands to the territory of the United States. Surely under our Constitution and laws the en- largement of our limits is a manifesta- tion of the highest attribute of sovereignty, and if entered upon as an Executive act, all things relating to the transaction shculd be clear and free from suspicion. Addi- tional importance attached to this particu- lar treaty of annexation, because it con- templated a departure from unbroken American tradition in providing for the addition to our territory of islands of the sea more than two thousand miles removed from our nearest coast. These considerations might not of them- selves call for interference with the com- pletion of a treaty entered upon by a pre- vious Administration. But it appeared from the documents accompanying the treaty when submitted to the Senate, that the ownership of Hawaii was tendered to us by @ provisional government set up to suc- ceed the constitutional ruler of the islands, who had been dethroned, and it did not sppear that such provisional government had the sanction of either popular revo- lution or suffrage. Two other remarkable features of the transaction naturally at- tracted atten! One was the éxtraordinary haste—not to say precipitancy—characterizing all the transactions connected with the treaty. It appeared that a so-called committee of safe- ty, ostensibly the source of the revolt chairman of the Committee of Foreign Af- fairs in that body, and his consequent fa- miliarity with international topics, joined with his high character and honorable repu- tation, seemed to render him peculiarly fitted for the duties entrusted to him. His report detailing his action under the in- structions given to him and the conclusions derived from his investigation accompany this message. These conclusions do not rest for their ac- ceptance entirely upon Mr. Blount’s honesty and ability as a man, nor upon his acumen and impartiality as an investigator. They are accompanied by the evidence upon which they are based, which evidence is also herewith transmitted, and from which it seems to me no other deductions could Possibly be reached than those arrived at by the Commissioner. The report, with its accompanying proofs, and such other evidence as is now before the Congress or is herewith submitted, jus- tifles in my opinion the statement that when the President was led to submit the treaty to the Senate, with the declaration that “the overthrow of the monarchy was not in any way promoted by this Govern- ment,” and when the Senate was induced to receive and discuss it on that basis, both President and Senate were misled. ‘The attempt will not be made in this com- munication to touch upon all the facts which throw light upon the progress and consummation of this scheme of annexa- tion. A very brief and imperfect reference to the facts and evidence at hand will ex- hibit its character and the incidents in which it had its birth. It is unnecessary to set forth the reasons which in January, 1893, led a considera- ble proportion of American and other for- eign merchants and traders residing at Honolulu to favor the annexation of Ha- wali to the United States. It is sufficient to note the fact and to observe that the project was one which was zealously pro- moted by the Minister representing the United States in that country. He evi- dently had an ardent desire that it should become a fact accomplished by his agency and during his ministry, and was not in- conveniently scrupulous as to the means employed to that end. On the 19th day of November, 1892, nearly two months be- fore the first overt act tending towards the subversion of the Hawaiian Govern- ment and the attempted transfer of Ha- walian territory to the United States, he addressed a long letter to the Secretary of State im which the case for annexation was elaborately argued, on moral, political, and economical grounds. He refers to the loss to the Hawaiian sugar interests from the operation of the McKinley bill, and the tendency to still further depreciation of sugar property unless some positive meas- ure of relief is granted. He strongly in- veighs against the existing Hawaiian Gov- ernment and emphatically declares for an- nexation. He says: “In truth the mon- archy here is an absurd anachronism. It has nothing on which it logically or legiti- mately stands. The feudal basis on which it once stood no longer existing, the mon- archy now is only an impediment to good government—an obstruction to the pros- perity and progress of the Islands.” He further says: “As a crown colony of Great Britain or a Territory of the United States the government modifications could be made readily and good administration of the law secured. Destiny and the vast future interests of the United States in the Pacific elearly indicate who at no dis- tant day must be responsible for the gov- ernment of these islands. Under a terri- torial government they could be as easily governed as any of the existing Territories of the United States.” * © “Hawaii has reached the parting of the ways. She must now take the road which leads to Asia, or the other which outlets her in America, gives her an Amer- against the constitutional government of | ican civilization, and binds her to the care Hawaii, was organized on Saturday, the|of American destiny.” He also declares: lita day of January; that on Monday, the 16th, the United States forces were landed “One of two courses seems to me absolutely necessary to be followed, either bold and at Honolulu from @ naval vessel lying in‘ vigorous measures for annexation or a its harbor; that on the 17th the scheme of ® provisional government was perfected, and a proclamation naming its officers was on the same day prepared and read at the government building; that immediately thereupon the United States minister recog- nized the provisional government thus created; that two days afterwards, on the lyth day of January, commissioners repre- senting such government sailed for this country in a steamer especially chartered for the occasion, arriving in San Francisco on the 28th of January, and in Washington on the 3d day of February; that on the next day they had their first interview with the Secretary of State, and another on the 11th, when the treaty of annexation was practi- cally agreed upon, and that on the 14th it was formally concluded and on the 15th transmitted to the Senate. Thus between the initiation of the scheme for a provi- sional government in Hawaii on the 14th day of January and the submission to the Senate of the treaty of annexation conclud- ed with such government, the entire inter- val was thirty-two days, fifteen of which ‘were spent by the Hawaiian commissioners in their journey to Washington. An Issue of Fact. Im the next place, upon the face of the papers submitted with the treaty, it clearly appeared that there was open and undeter- mined an issue of fact of the most vita! im- Portance. The message of the President ac- ‘companying the treaty declared that “the Overthrow of the monafchy was not in any ‘way promoted by this government,” and in & letter to the President from the Secretary of State, also submitted to the Senate with the treaty, the foliowing passage occurs: “At the time the provisional government took possession of the Government bulldings mo troops or officers of the United States ‘were present or took any part whatever in the proceedings. No public recognition was accorded to the provisional government by the United States Minister until after the Queen's abdication and when they were in effective possession of the Government buildings, the archives, the treasury, the barracks, the police station, and all the potential machinery of the Government.” But a protest also accompanied said treaty, signed by the Queen and her mihis- ters at the time she made way for the pro- wisional government, which explicitly stated that she yielded to the superior force of the United States, whose Minister had caused United States troops to be landed at Hon- lulu and declared that he would support ®uch provisional government. The truth or falsity of this protest was surely of the first importance. If true, noth- ing but the concealment of its truth could induce our Government to negotiate with the semblance of a government thus creat- ed, nor could a treaty resulting from the acts stated in the protest have been know- ipgly deemed worthy of consideration by the Senate. Yet the truth or falsity of the protest had not been investigated. Mr. Blount’s Mission. I conceived it to be my duty therefore to ‘withdraw the treaty from the Senate for ex- amination, and meanwhile to cause an ac- eurate, full, and impartial investigation to be made of the facts attending the subver- sion of the constitutional Government of Hawail, and the installment in its place of the provisional government. I selected for the work of investigation the Hon. James H. Blount, of Georgia, whose service of eighteen years as a member of the House of Representatives, and whose experience as “customs union,’ an ocean cable from the Californian coast to Honolulu, Pearl Harbor perpetually ceded to the United States, with an implied but not expressly stipulated American protectorate over the islands. I believe the former to be the better, that which will prove much the more advan- tageous to the islands, and the cheapest and least embarrassing in the end to the United States. If it was wise for the United States through Secretary Marcy thirty- eight years ago to offer to expend $100,000 to secure a treaty of annexation, it cer- tainly can not be chimerical or unwise to expend $100,000 to secure annexation in the near future. Today the United States has five times the wealth she possessed in 1854, and the reasons now existing for annexa- tion are much stronger than they were then. I can not refrain from expressing the opinion with emphasis that the golden hour is near at hand.” These declarations certainly show a dis- Position and condition of mind, which may be usefully recalled when interpreting the significance of the Minister’s conceded acts or when considering the probabilities of such conduct on his part as may not be ad- mitted. In this view it seems proper to also quote from a letter written by the Minister to the Secretary of State on the 8th day of March, 1892, nearly a year prior to the first step taken toward annexation. After stating the possibility that the existing Government of Hawaii might be overturned by an orderly and peaceful revolution, Minister Stevens writes as follows: “Ordinarily in like cir- cumstances, the rule seems to be to limit the landing and movement of United States forces in foreign waters and dominion ex- clusively to the protection of the United States legation and of the lives and prop- erty of American citizens. But as the rela- tions of the United States to Hawaii are exceptional, and in former years the United States officials here took somewhat excep- tional action in circumstances of disorder, I desire to know how far the present Minister and naval commander may deviate from es- tablished international rules and precedents in the contingencies indicated in the first Part of this dispatch.” ‘The Opportunity. To a minister of this temper full of zeal for annexation there seemed to arise in Jan- uary,1893, the precise opportunity for which he was watchfully waiting—an opportunity which by timely “deviation from established international rules and precedents” might be improved to successfully accomplish the great object in view; and we are quite pre- pared for the exultant enthusiasm with which in a letter to the State Department dated February 1, 1893, he declares: “The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe and this is the golden hour for the United States to pluck it.” As a further illustration of the activity of this diplomatic representative, attention is called to the fact that on the day the above letter was written, apparently unable longer to restrain his ardor, he issued a proclama- tion whereby “in the name of the United States” he assumed the protection of the Hawaiian Islands and declared that said action was “taken pending and subject to negotiations at Washington.” Of course this assumption of a protectorate was promptly disavowed by our government, but the American flag remained over the gov- ernment building at Honolulu and the forces remained on guard until April, and ee aE es SN Ee Continued on Seventh Page. ‘THOSE INSTRUCTIONS Given by Secretary Gresham to Minister Willis. TO SUBMIT PROPOSITION 70 THE QUEEN Then Tell the Provisional Govern- ment What He Has Done. THE QUESTION OF FORCE. The original instructions to Mr. Willis, dated October 18, 1893, are as follows: Sup- plementing the general instructions which you have received with regard to your offi- cial duties it is necessary to communicate to you in confidence special instructions for your guidance in so far as concerns rela- tions of the government of the United States toward the defacto government of the Hawaiian Islands. The President deems it his duty to withdraw from the Senate the treaty of annexation which has been signed by the Secretary of State and agents of the provisional government and to dis- patch a trusted representative to Hawaii to impartially investigate the causes of the so-called revolution and ascertain a report of the true situation in those islands. This information was needed the better to en- able the President to discharge a delicate and important public duty. In Line With Blount’s Instructions. The instructions given to Mr. Blount, of which you are furnished a copy, had a line of conduct to be observed by him in his official and personal relations to the island- ers, by which you will be guided so far as they are applicable and in consistence with what is herein stated. It remains to ac- quaint you with the President's conclu- sions upon the facts embodied in Mr. Blount’s report and to direct your course in accordance therewith. The provisional government was not established by the Hawaiian people with their consent or ac- quiescence, nor has it since existed with their consent. The queen refused to sur- render her power to the provisional gov- ernment until convinced that the- minister of the United States had recognized it as the defacto authority and would support and defend it with the military force of the United States, and that "resistance would precipitate a bloody conflict with that force. She was advised and assured by her ministers and by the leaders for the movement for the overthrow of her gov- ernment that if she surrendered under pro- test her case would afterward be thor- oughly considered by the President of the United States. The queen finally, and wise- ly, yielded to the armed forces of the United States, then quartered in Honolulu, re- lying upon the good faith and honor of the President when informed of what had oc- curred to undo the action of the minister and reinstate her and the authority~-which she claimed as the constitutional sovereign of the Hawailan Islands. Result of Blount’s Report. After a patient examination of Mr. Blount’s report the President is satisfied that the movement against the queen, if not initiated, was encouraged and supported by the representative of this government at Honolulu; that. he.promised in advance to aid her enemies in an effort to overthrow the Hawallan government and set up by force @ new government in its place; and that he kept these promises by causing a detachment of troops to be landed from the Boston on the 16th of January, and by re- cognizing the provisional government the next day, which was too feeble to defend itself, and the constitutional govern- ment was able to successfully maintain its authority against any threatening force other than that of the United States al- ready landed. The President is, therefore, determined that he will not send back to the Senate for its action thereon the treaty which he withdrew from that body for fur- fers consideration on the %th day of March To Visit the Ex-Queen. On your arrival at Honolulu you will take advantage of an early opportunity to inform the queen of this determination, making known to her the President’s sincere re- grets that the reprehensible conduct of the American minister and the unauthorized presence on land of the military force of the United States obliged her to surrender her sovereignty for the time being and rely on the justice of this government to undo the flagrant wrong. You will, however, at the same time, in- form the queen that when reinstated’ the President expects that she will pursue a magnanimous course by granting full am- nesty to all who participated in the move- ment against her, including persons who are or have been officially or otherwise connect- ed with the provisional government and de- priving them of no right or privilege which they enjoyed before the so-called revolution. The obligations created by the provisional government in due course of administration should be assumed, Then Tell the Provisional Govern- ment, Having secured the queen's agreement to pursue this wise and humane policy, which, it 1s believed, you will speedily obtain, you will then advise the executive of the pro- visional government and his ministers of the President's determination on the ques- tion which their action and that of the queen devolved upon him and that they are expected to promptly relinquish to her her constitutional authority. Should the queen decline to pursue the liberal course sug- gested, or should the provisional govern- ment refuse to abide by the President's de- cision, you will report the facts and await further directions. In carrying out the gen- eral instructions you will be guided largely by your own good judgment in dealing with the delicate situation. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, (Signed.) W. Q. GRESHAM, The Question of Force. On December 3, in response to a dispatch from Minister Willis, Secretary Gresham sent the following dispatch: “Your dispatch which was sent per steamer of 25th of November seems to call for additional instructions. Should the queen refuse assent to the written condi- tions, you will at once inform her that the President will oppose interposition in her behalf; but while he deems it his duty to endeavor to restore to the sovereign the constitutional government of the island, his every effort in that direction will de- pend upon the queen’s unqualified agree- ment with all obligations incurred by the provisional government in a proper course of administration shall. be assumed, and upon such pledgea by Her as will prevent the adoption of any measure of proscrip- tion or punishment for what has been done |in the past by those setting up the support of the provisional government. ‘The rresi- dent feels that by our original interference and what followed we have incurred re- sponsibilities to the whole Hawaiian com- munity, and it would not be just to put one party at the mercy of another. Should the queen ask whether, if she accedes to the conditions, active steps will be taken by the United States to effect her restoration and to maintain her on the throne, you will say that the President cannot use force without the authority of Congress. “Should the queen accept conditions and the provisional government refuse to sur- render, you will be governed by previous instructions. If the provisional govern- ment ask whether the United States will hold the queen to a fulfillment of stipulated conditions, you will say that the President, acting under dictates of honor and duty, as he has done in endeavoring to effect the res- toration, will do all in his constitutional power to cause observance of the condi- tions he has imposed. GRESHAM.” RECOGNIZING INSURGENTS. The Question Again Oomplicates the Bra- silian Situation An Island Captured by the Govern- ment and a City Destroyed— ‘The Monroe Doctrine. The Brazilian situation has assumed a new and interesting phase, according to dis- patches recently received at the State De- partment from Minister Thompson at Rio. The text of these dispatches is withheld for the present, but it is understood that they raise the question of the formal recognition of the insurgents as belligerents. The min- ister has asked for instructions on this point, in view of the probability of such ac- tion on the part of the other foreign repre- sentatives. The ground on which the foreign diplo- mats base their contemplated new stand is that the revolutionary forces already have a foothold on land in the southern part of Brazil, which, they argue, gives the insur- gents a reasonable claim for recognition. Minister Thompson also refers to the ru- mors circulated in Petropolis, where the diplomatic corps is stationed, about the 5,000 soldiers marching toward Rio from Rio Grande do Sul, and refers to this as an- other argument used by the foreign repre- sentatives in favor of recognizing De Gama. This latter information Minister Thomp- son gives as a mere rumor,and in view of the impracticability of the troops men- tioned reaching Rio overland from Rio Grande do Sul the authorities here are not inclined to attach much credence to it. A Big Question. The question would naturally arise as to whether recognition, before the insurgents had acquired the right according to inter- national law and custom, was equivalent to interference on the part of the foreign governments. This is a big question, which the administration will deliberate upon very thoroughly and seriously before coming out flat-footed in favor of a vigorous enforce- ment of the Monroe doctrine. Up to this time the United States has per- sistently refused to recognize the insurgents as belligerents, and naturally hesitates to change its position in the absence of any radical change in the Brazilian situation. It is probable that the cruiser New York will be sent to Rio to reinforce’the cruisers Charleston, Newark and Detroit, but so far no orders have been given effect. The Captured Minister Mendonca states that the island of Gubernador, which a London dispatch re- ports to have been recaptured by Peixoto from the insurgents, is the largest island in the bay of Rio. It is not of much import- ance, however, in the present condition of things, but it may prove to be of great ad- vantage in the future should hostilities be Prolonged. It lies in the upper bay, north- west of the city of Rio, and is the location of a large hospital and a number of manu- facturing establishments. When Mello took possession of the island there was a quanti- ty of ammunition stored there, but this was destroyed. The explosion, it may be re- membered, killed two officers and a number of men belonging to an English vessel in the harbor, who were on the island getting sand. The northern end of the island com- mands the entire northern coast of the bay, and a battery planted there could prevent the passage of a force along that part of the country. A City Destroyed. J The milnister’s math advices confirm, with additional particulars, the reported destruc- tion of the city of Nictheroy, which is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, and situated across the bay from the city of Rio, @ distance of three or four miles. This was the first point of attack by the rebels under wi Admiral Mello, and the several attacks made by the insurgent forces in their futile efforts to effect a landing resulted in prac- tically the total demolition of the business and principal residence portion of the place. Mello’s object was to gain a foothold on the hills back of the city, whencehe would have been able to dislodge the garrison at Santa Cruz, but all his efferts were successfully resisted. Nictheroy had a population of about 150,000, and the damage done by the destruction of property was very large. TARIFF REPORTS. Both Will Be Presented in the House Tomorrow. The reports on the tariff biil by the demo- crats in support of the Wilson bill and by the republicans in antagonism to it are ex- pected to be presented to the House tomor- row. Mr. Wilson, who has been taboring cn his report for some time, nov yet quite completed it, but it will probably be finished some time today, so as .o be presented to- morrow. It is a complete analysis of the bill, coupled with a decluratioa of demo- cratic principles and the treatment of the tari? question from the anti-protection standpoint. The Minority Report. The minority report is a voluminous docu- ment, proposing no new legislation, but criticising and assaulting severely the Wil- son bill and poin:ing out the advantages which they claim have come to the country through the McKiniey bill. It will be held in this report that the hearings before the ways and means committee disclosed that the McKinley bill far exceeded the expecta- tions of its most ardent supporters in the benefits which it brought to the country. Vindication of the McKinley Bill. It will be pointed out that even in those cases where the attempt to develop new in- dustries in this country was attended with the most doubt and uncertainzy the result was an entire vindication of the bill and tar exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the republicans. The tin-plate industry and the industries in the higher grades of manu- factures, such as plushes, will be indicated as examples of the unexpected success of the provisions of the bill. It will be claimed that the McKinley bill has been beneficial to the country in all its operations; that it has brought prosperity in its wake and that this prosperity was not checked until the country was brought face to face with the danger of its repeal and the enactment of tariff legislation by the democrats. aki pen enicdihe tne OFFICIAL REPORT. The Board Tells of the Trial of the Cruiser New York. The official report of the naval board that conducted the final trial of the cruiser New York was received at the Navy Department Saturday. After enumerating a number of minor defects, the board submits the opin- jon: First. That the guns, gun carriages and turrets, their fittings and appurtenances work properly and that the ship is well built and sufficiently strong to stand the shock caused by firing. Second. That the hull, engines, boilers and dependencies have not upon this trial exhibited any weakness, breaking down or deterioration. During the two hours’ trial at sea under full boiler power at natural draft the high- est steam pressure was 160 Ibs.; the average steam pressure was 140 lbs.; highest number of revolutions, 112; average number of revo- lutions, 106. The mean speed at full power, at natural draft, as shown by two Bliss patent logs, was 15.84 knots. This low speed was prob- ably due to the poor quality of the coal used, to great draught of water and to foul bottom. + e+_____ Gone to Boston, Assistant Secretary Hamlin has gone t% Boston to asdress the Young Men's VDem- ocratic Clug on tariff reform as embodied in the Wdson tariff bill. IN CONGRESS TODAY. The President's Message Read in Both Senate and House. “ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS’ THE Cause Some Little Discussion in the Senate. A PENSION DISCUSSION. There was a very small attendance of Senators at the opening of today’s session. although it was generally known that the President's message relating to Hawaiian affairs was ready to be delivered. The jour- nal was read and routine morning business was proceeded with. At 12:18 Mr. Pruden, one of the Presi- dent’s secretaries, appeared and delivered the long-iooked-for message to Congress. Mr. George (Miss.) was sending up a peti- tion in the morning business when Mr. Harris (Tenn.) interposed and said that the President’s message ought to be laid before the Senate. The Vice President was of the same opinion and immediately laid before the Senate the message, which was there- upon read by the secretary. The reading of the message was finished at 1 p.m, having taken about forty min- utes, Mr. Chandler (N. H.) immediately arose, and asked for the reading of the instruc- tions to Mr, Willis of October 18, Novemper 24 and December ‘The Accompanying Documents. Mr. Hoar (Mass.) suggested that the list of the “accompanying documents” be first read, so that the Senate might know what they were. In response to this suggestion the Vice Pres- ident laid before the Senate a further com- munication from the President transmit- ting (in compliance with the resolution of the Senate) copies of all instructions given to the representatives of the diplomatic and naval representatives of the United States since March 4, 1881. The clerk then commenced the reading of Mr. Gresham's instructions to Mr. Willis of October 18. They are marked “confiden- tial,” and say that they are “supplemental to the general instructions which you have received in relation to your officia) duties.” A Waste of Time. The clerk had got no further when the reading was interrupted by Mr. Butler (S. C.), who objected to the waste of time, and said that the documents wou'd all be print- ed tomorrow. Mr. Voorhees (ind.)—These papers ought all to be read, or else none of them should be read, except the message itself. I do not think it at all fair that a Senator should pick out certain portions of the documents (aside from the message) and have them read at this time. They should all stand together. ‘The communication which the President has sent to us has been read; and, if it be the sense of the Senate that more should be read, let the accompanying its be read. The Vice President—Does the chair under- reading cerpts that may suit occasion of the Senator from_New Hampshire. The Vice President remarked that when the Senator from New Hampshire called for the reading of three papers no objection had been made, and the clerk had begun the reading. After a prolonged discussion Mr. Butler thdrew his motion to commit the papers to the committee on fcreigr relations and were read by the secretary. r. Hoar then, at 2:20, moved the reference of the mersage and accompanying papers to the committee on foreign rela- tions and desired this motion to lay over until tomorrow, thereby indicating a desire to speak upon them befcre their reference. THE HOUSE. Five minutes after its meeting, on motion of Mr. Breckinridge (Ky.), the House re- solved itself into a committee of the whole ,to consider the urgent deficiency bill. Mr. Baldwin (Minn.) then took the floor, He did not enjoy any special social or political re- lationship with the President, he said, but he believed him to be an earnest, capable man and a true friend of the soldier. He defended the action of the President and the Secretary of the Interior on the pension question, but, more than all, he eulogized Commissioner Lochren, a fellow-citizen of Minnesota. At 12:20 p.m. Mr. Pruden, the President's assistant private secretary, appeared at the door of the House and presented the Presi- dent’s message. The near approach of the Christmas holi- days was made manifest during the early hours of the session by the slim attendance of members on the floor, and the lack of in- terest shown in the proceedings, which even the expectation of the Hawalian message failed to arouse. ‘When Mr. Baldwin's time had expired, unanimous consent was asked that his time be extended five minutes, but objection was offered. Mr. Reed (Maine) said he supposed Mr. Baldwin's remaining remarks would not escape if they were not to be spoken, and acting on this hint Mr. Baldwin asked that he be allowed to extend his remarks in the Record, and the request was granted. Mr. Dingley or Pension Investiga- cf tions, The chairman (Mr. Hatch) recognized Mr. Cannon (111), who gave thirty minutes of his time to Mr. Dingley (Me.). Mr. Ding- ley said he did not see the necessity for this augmented examining force in the field, for it did not expedite settlement of cases, but he would not interpose any ob- jection to the appropriation asked for by the majority. The friends of the ex-soldier would hold the administration to a strict account for its use of this money. He denied the insinuation of Mr. Enloe (Tenn.), who had stated on Saturday that the re- publicans desired the retention on the rolis of fraudulent pensioners. They (thé repub- licans) objected, however, to the studied attempts of the democrats to bring the pension bureau into disrepute, when they conveyed the impression that frauds were the rule and the honest pensioner the ex- ception. From March 4 to November 1, 1893, only 1,560 cases of suspected fraud had been reported by the examiners in the field, ard of these only 388 were found to be actually fraudulent. In the correspond- ing period of the preceding year 345 cases of fraud were discovered, with only the regular force at work—a difference of only forty-three. Of the 12,822 cases suspended on suspicion between May 27 and November 1, 9,128 were restored to the rolls without a line of new evidence, and only in deference to the popular outcry. And of the 3,750 cases still under suspension, but few of them were suspended for fraud, but because of the changed construction of the act of 1890. There was not the slightest evidence of wholesale frauds, said Mr. Dingley in con- clusion, and when it is remembered that there are 966,000 names on the rolls it will be seen what a smal! proportion of fraudu- lent cases there really are. Mr. Cooper (ind.) defended Mr. Lochren’s administration, giving official tigures to sup- port his argument. Mr. Bingham (Pa.) seized the opportunity afforded by general debate to touch upon the recent removals of federal officers in |- Philadelphia, asserting that Mr. Harrity would fill the vacancies in a manner that would punish the democrats who resisted his authority. In _ conclusion, Mr. Bingham severely criticised the President's reference to pen- sion frauds in his annual message. He read a statement of arrests and convictions during the year of those who violated the pension laws, and said that the declaration that thousands of localities contain those drawing fraudulent pensions was unwar-| ranted and unjustifiable. Mr. Van Voorhis (N. Y.) defended the soldiers, and said that they were entitled to all they receive; that pensions were a| vested right, and that an annual appeal | could not be taken from one judge to another of the same jurisdiction. if Grover Cleveland, or any other man, suspended a| pensioner who had legally obtained his pen- sion, he should be impeached, as it was a Violation of the law. ————————_e+______ TO SIDE TRACK HAWAII A Plan for Taking the Matter From the House. There is a proposition coming from demo- crats to involve the Hawaiian question in an investigation by a special committee, and thus to draw it out of the House, avoiding as much of the irritation and danger to the party from Mr. Cleveland's course as possi- ble. It is the intention of Mr. Bourke Cock- ran to introduce a resolution which will be sent to committee for action, resolving that, whereas it has come to public knowl- edge that an attempt has been made by the executive of the United States to acquire territory, without consulting the House on the subject, that therefore a special com- mittee be appointed to investigate the mat- ter and ascertain whether or not such an attempt has been made without consulting the House at any time. The design is to have the resolution broad enough to cover the proposition rot only for annexation dur- ing the Harrison administration, but to go into the whole general question of similar Propositions before that time, both as to Hawaii and as to territory which has been acquired, for the purpose of showing what has been the established policy of this gov-_ ernment, and to establish the rights of the House to participate in negotiations for the acquisition of territory. The political object of this, of course, is} to distract attention as far as possible from the issue which Mr. Cleveland has raised by his treatment of the Hawaiian question,and to obscure his effort to restore the queen, by be met on the other hand by one directing | an investigation into the course of Mr. Cleveland's administration in the Hawaiian matter, and it is understood that the demo- crats, while they would be glad to avoid such investigation, will not deem it safe to attempt to smother it, if it is pressed. ——+o+—_____ THE BRAZILIAN REVOLUTION. Indications Point to the Fact That It is Growing in Strength. Senor Mendonca, the Brazilian minister, was the only visitor to obtain an audience with Secretary Gresham today. He remain- ed at the department for several hours. The impression is growing that the Peixoto government is weakening before the deter- mined onslaughts of the insurgents and that the end is not very distant. There are many little things that taken together show that the revolutionary movement is rapidly grow- ing in strength and popular favor and that its success is now scarcely more than a question of time. ———-o+—__—_ THE ENGINEER CORPS. Three Teams Take Their Tura at Rifle Practice. Three teams from the engineer corps took their turn at the National Guard rifle gallery Saturday night and made some very. creditable totals. The scores were as follows: Scott, 46; Company A.—Sergt. Dickey, 47; Sergt. Tallmadge, 45; Carleton, B. Hadger, 43; Tegethoff, 41; Corp. Kline, 41; Fe Wheeler, 41; Corp. Scott, 38; Miller, 37; McCauley, 31; Barry, 29. Lieut. G. B. Young officiated as inspector of rifle practice for the corps, and range officer. Capt. Bell, inspector of rifle practice for the second regiment, acted as| paign funds. scorer, —_—_—_ SECRETARY CARLISLE’S REPORT. It Will Be Ready for Congressional Inspection Tomorrow. Secretary Carlisle has completed the prep- aration of his annual report and it will be submitted to Congress Wednesday. It em- bodies an elaborate review of the financial situation and discusses various plans for its improvement. It is unusually long, con- taining about 50,000 words. Secretary Car- lisle has devoted special care to its prepa- ration and an able state paper may be look- ed for. The financial report usually goes to Congress on the opening of the ses- sion. This is the first Bag that it has failed to go in during the first week of a Congress. —————-_-r + _____ GOING TO LAKEWOOD. Probable That Mr. matter, for a time at least, it is likely that the President and Mrs. Cleveland will shortly follow out their plan of spending a few days at Lakewood, N. J., before enter- ing upon the social program of the season, which will begin with the New Year's Day reception at the White House. The holi- day recess of Congress will enable the President to have a short respite from his official cares, and it is believed he will take advantage of the opportunity. His move- ments are kept secret in order that he may not be bothered with crowds at railroad stations, but it need surprise no one if the ident and family should take up their abode in their Lakewood cottage tomorrow or next day. ——————-2+___ The War Declared of. Gen. Don Caesar Canevaro, minister from Peru, returned to Washington today after an absence of some days. He says there is no foundation for the report that war is likely to grow out of tronbles with scuador over the boundary line between that coun- try and Peru. The controverted territory, although of considerable extent, is not in- habited, and neither country is tikely to re- sort to extreme measures over it. ‘The mat- ter has been submitted to the arbitration of the Queen of Spain, and her decision will doubtless now be awaited without further attempts of the two countries to settle the question. —————_- Baron Fava’s Movements. A press dispatch from Rome indicates that Signor Catalina, ltalian minister to Den- mark, may be sent to Washington to re- eve Ambassador Fava, who ts said to be booked for a Kuropean mission. Baron Fava is in New York, and the officers of the embassy were unable to affirm cr deny the report. Has Authority. Attorney General Viney has given an opin- jon that the Secretary of the ‘rreasury has authority to remit a fine imposed by a United States court on steamships for viola- tion of the immigrant laws. —_———————e—_______ Before the Army and Navy. Surgeon General Sternberg of the army will deliver a lecture before the Army and Navy Club this evening. —————_+ e+ _____ Naval Movements, The torpedo boat Cushing has arrived at Delaware City on her way to this city. ‘The Ranger arrived at Acapulco on her way to Corinto, Nicaragua. The Concord and the Monocacy arrived at Shanghai today. GEN. LEE TESTIFIES. He Appears Before the Virginia In- RAILWAY CONTRIBUTIONS DIVERTED Mr. Withrow’s Charges Corrobo- rated. TODAY’S PROCEEDINGS. THE VIRGINIA INVESTIGATION. Gen. Lee and Collector Shepperd Bee fore the Committee. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. RICHMOND, Va., Dec. 18.—Gen. Fits- hugh Lee and Collector Shepperd were before the United States senatorial investi- gating committee today. Capt. Shepperd, when called, said that he knew nothing about the charges of fraud or influence,” except what Mr. 8. A. Thomp- son, the delegate from Patrick, had told him. Mr. Thompson stated to the committee that Congressman Claude A. Swanson Wrote to him during the campaign urging the claims of Mr. Martin for Senator. Soon after this he received a letter from Dr. K. 5S. Martin, a member of the democratic executive committee, saying that he could get money to run his campaign, provided he would vote for Mr. Thos. 8. Martin for United States Senator. Subsequently money was sent to him, and he turned it over came to Patrick to see him and urged Mr. Martin’s claims. The witness said he voted for John Goode Senator on the first five ballots, and on the sixth and last voted for Gen. Lee. A un! laid before the Mr. asked that the writer of the same be sum- moned before the committee. The committee instructed Mr. Royal, one of the editors of the Times, who was ent, to communicate with to Gen. Lee, being called, made the following written statement: “Having determined to become a candi- date before the legislature for United States Senator, and having heard that in the cam- paign of 1891 money contributed by certaia of the railroads in Virginia Bot trusted to the the mittee, but was put at distributed by Mr. | : 4 i FEE if i cEBee BEESE After the election, formed that of the $10,000, joint contribution of the Ohio and Richmond and Danville only $4,600 had been Ellyson I complain Mr. president of the Chesapeake and Ohio way, of such conduct, who prise and indignation at and stated that there was a standing between himself and Mr. that the entire contribution should be turned over distributed by him. & When Gen. Lee statement he said that ee Messrs, C. F. Moore and Allegheny county testified in the Withrow bribery charge. mony in the main points statement of Mr. Withrow, be contributed to Mr. if he would promise to Twelve o'clock ha’ for the convening committee took @ recess until noon, if ° 4 | é z 5 fs g # E i —_—_——>—_—_ FIGHTING AT RIO. Firing Between the Forts an@ the Fleet for Five Days. received there from Rio de Janeiro, saying that incessant firing between the govern- ment forts and the insurgent fleet has been going on for the last few days. NEW YORK, Dec. 18.—The Herald has the following cable dispatch from Pernam- buco, Brazil: The cruiser Nictheroy, purchased by the Brezilisn government in New York, ar- rived here on Wedresday, but was not formally delivered to the Brazilian authori- ties as a fighting ship urtil Saturday. There is already trouble with the crew. Those who enlisted in New York demand very bigh pay for re-er listment for service in the Brazilian navy, although it was well understood before sailing that they were expected to re-enlist for active service when a Brazilian port was reached. Representatives of President Peixoto re- fuse to allow the demands of the crew and will ship a new crew of Brazilians here. The eng a Bony | ad ‘Bahia from here and. thence to janeiro. ‘The America was left at Fort De France, repairing the damages she met with on the trip down.