Evening Star Newspaper, January 2, 1894, Page 1

Batare chek Gh Gan Ot 00 ver your: at the Post wi dD C., (Entered Siena ‘sshington, A TROUBLED PARTY. The Democrats Who Will Come Back to Congress Tomorrow. THREE VERY COMPLICATED QUESTIONS. The Tariff, McCreary Resolutions and Treasury Deficiency. PLAN FOR THE WEEK. It is not in entire joyousness, but troubled ‘with many perplexities, that the democrats come back to resume the session of Con- gress. Most of the members of both houses of Congress are in town now, or will be before tomorrow morning, and it is expected that there will be no difficulty of a quorum when Congress meets. It is expected from the very outset that this will be a troubled session. The plan for the week in the House 1s that the tariff shall be taken up tomorrow and general debate be indulged im for two days. After that, according to the agreement entered into by the repub- lican members of the foreign affairs com- mittee, the Hawaiian resolutions are to be taken up on Friday and discussed for two days. Both of these questions are extreme- ly perplexing to the majority, and there is another which is threatened to be forced upon them at once, which will be even more troublesome. The Treasury Deficiency. The shrinkage of the fund now in the treasury is so rapid that it is said that some means must be provided at once to meet the deficiency. The expectation is, there- fore, that the consideration of the tariff question and all other matters must be in- terrupted within a week, and some measure for the relief of the treasury be adopted without delay. By what method this relief is to be given is entirely unsettled and the differences of opinion are radical. That the money has got to be raised at once will force speedy action, but a hard fight is ex- pected. There is no basis for a prediction as to what will be done, except that the issue of bonds in some form is the only means of raising money as speedily as desired, and it is what the administration wants. The Hmited time within which the money must be raised will probably force democrats to consent to a bond issue who are violently opposed to it. The Tariff Bill Debate. The present purpose of the democrats is to limit the general debate on the tariff bill to four days, and then to proceed to the consideration of the bill under the five- minute rule as rapidly as possible, with the idea of having the bill through the House before the end of January. The majority of the ways and means committee failed ut- terly in their efforts to come to an agree- ment at their meeting last night, and on ac- count of the absence of Mr. Bynum post- Poned a vote on the income tax question, though they had resolved formally that a Vote should be taken at that time. It is said that the advocates of the proposition to abandon the income tax in all its forms and to raise revenue from a tax on sugar has made a good many valuable converts since the recess adjournment, and there is @ possibility that this plan will be adopted, if not by the House by the Senate. The McCreary Resolution. ‘There is a very widespread disinclination among democrats to adopt Mr. McCreary’s esolution censuring Stevens and Wiltse in the Hawaiian matter. During the two days fixed for the discussion of this matter the administration will be severely arraigned by the republicans and at the same time there are several democrats who have it in mind to participate in the arraignment. It has perfectly apparent that it will be tmpossible to pass through either house of Congress any indorsement of Mr. Cleve- land’s attempt to restore the queen, and it is very doubtful whether the McC resolution can be adopted in the House. It is understood that there are forty or fifty democrats in the House who think that Mr. Cleveland should be rebuked, though it is improbabie that many of them would have the of their convictions. Very few believe that Mr. Clevelands course was jus- tified, and even among those few there are some who think that it would be extremely unwise to adopt the McSreary resolution without furthe> investigation, especially as the Senate is investigating the matter, being unsatisfied with the information in their possession. An Unfortunate Complication. It is urged that it would be very unfortu~ nate for the party in power if the McCreary resolutions were adopted in the House and after that the Senate investigation should disclose a condition of affairs different from that assumed on very incomplete testimony on the part of the House committee. Some of the democrats in the House suggest amendments to the McCreary resolution re- eving Wiltse from censure and declaring it —— the judgment of Congress that no act ig to the restoration of Liluo- kalani should be taken. The more general impression appears to be, however, that either the resolution will be recommitted to await the result of the investigation in the Senate or that an investigation by the House will be ordered. A very large num- ber of the democrats believe that it would be ex unwise for the House to pass cans et, a against Mr. Stevens ithout a ter investigation the mat- ter than has been made. There does not appear to be any probability that the Mc- Creary resolution will be adopted, even under the lash of the administration whip. ——-~—___ Army Orders. A general court-martial is appointed to meet at West Point today for the trial of such prisoners as may be brought before it. The detail for the court is First Lieut. Samuel W. Dunning, sixteenth infantry; First Lieut. Frank S. Harlow, first ‘artil- lery; First Lieut. samuel E. Allen, fifth artillery; First Lieut. Joseph E. Kuhn, corps of engineers; First Lieut. Henry C. Newcomer, corps of engineers; First Lieut. George F. Barney, second artillery; First Lieut. Thomas H. Rees, corps of engineers; First Lieut. Daniel B. Deore, twenty-third infantry; First Lieut. John D. Barrette, third artillery; First Lieut. Frank McIn- tyre, nineteenth infantry; First Lieut. Lucien G. , fourth artillery; First Lieut. T. Benley Mott, first artillery; Sec- ond Lieut. Charles D. Palmer, fourth ar- + Pirst Lieut. Robert L. Hirst, elev- enth infantry, judge advocate. The following transfers in the sixth cav- alry are ordered: Second Lieut. George McK. Williamson, from troop E to troop M. Second Lieut. Benjamin B. Hyer, from M to troop E. troop The following transfers in the sixth in-| fantry are made: Second Lieut. Charles De L. Hine, from company E to company D. Second Lieut. Palmer E. Pierce, from company D to company E. Capt. Ira McNutt, ordnance department, Will proceed to the works of the Carpenter Steel Company, Reading, Pa., on official business pertaining to the ordnance depart- ment. —_—_+-o+_____ A Dinner Celebration. The veterans of the eighth battalion, Dis trict of Columbia volunteers, celeorated New Year day by a dinner in the evening at Pieligk’s Hall,- No. 735 7th street northwes Before sitting down to enjoy the pik of the table, however, they perfo act of good fellowship by visitin: + comrade, Mr. Henry Noll, who has been invalid for many months. Song:, ‘ons and readings followed the repast an -cita- | takes a secret satisfaction in cheating the Vor 84, No. 20,771. Star. ._ WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1894-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. | An index to aé@vertise- , ments will be found on Page 3. AHOPELESS ENTANGLEMENT Of the Ways and Means Committee Over Raising Revenue. Fight Against Other Methods by the Advocates of the Individual Income Tax—May Be a Sugar Tax. No progress whatever was made by the democrats of the ways and means commit- tee at their meeting last night. The char- acter of the discussion which they indulged in seemed to indicate a hopeless entangle- ment, and there is very general discourage- ment on the part of those who are anxious for a solution of the problem of raising revenue by new methods. The absence of Mr. Bynum caused a postponement of the vote, but there was an indication that had @ vote been taken it would have left the committee still divided and the dissatisfac- tion would have continued. Another Effort This Afternoon, The committee is to meet at 4 o'clock this afternoon, to make another effort to come to an agreement, and the advocates of the indi- vidual income tax are hopeful of success. It is stated, however, that the party will stand divided on this question and on all others involving new taxes for raising rev- enue. There is a feeling of discouragement, akin to disgust, on the part of democrats, and it would not be at all surprising if every form of income tax, unless it is, perhaps, @ tax on inheritances, were abandoned, and @ tax put on sugar for the purpose of rais- ing the necessary revenue. Fighting for Individual Income ‘Tax. Those members of the committee who are bent upon an individual income tax are fighting all other new means of raising the revenue, with the idea of compelling the adoption of their plan by the force of ne- cessity for money to support the govern- ment. and while they have not yet devel- oped strength enough to have the individual imcome tax adopted, they have been able to prevent the adoption of other plans de- signed to contribute to the revenue. On the whisky tax proposition there is a division as to whether the tax should be assessed on that now in bond or only on that put in bond after the passage of the law. Altogether, the more the matter is talked over the more divided the committee appears to get, and the more irritating grows the situation. ———_ — --«-_ ____ A CLEVER ARTIST. Some One Makes Perfect Drawings of ‘Treasury Notes. The secret service division of the Treasury Department has received an exceedingly clever pen and ink counterfeit iwenty-dollar bill and the officers are making a vigorous search for the maker. The counterfeit bill was passed on a New York bank and was only detected when it reached the subtreas- ury. The paper was the regular silk-fiber paper used only by the government and the counterfeit was discovered only by the omission of the word “‘series.” ‘There is no clue to the artist. He is supposed to be the same individual who has for years de- ied the best efforts of the entire secret service force to capture him. His work has always been so perfect that it was almost impossible to detect a bill he made from the genuine engraved article. It is all done with a pen and ink and on fthe-same quality of paper as is used for the genuine bills. He is certainly an artist. ‘The great diffi- culty in the way of his detection is that he uses no tools. He sits down and draws a picture, which, when finished, is a perfect imitation of a government note. Kven if he was captured in his room, with a counter- feit bill of his own production in his pos- session, there might be no evidence to con- vict him. He could say he received the bill in a business transaction with some one else, and who could gainsay him? it must require a long time for him to complete a single bill with his pen and ink drawing, and the skill he displays at his work is an indication that if he devoted his talents to honest employment he would undoubtedly make more money. It must be that he government. o—_______ STOOD IT WELL. Both the President and ™ Cleve- land Not Unduly Fatigued Yesterday. The report that the President is suffering from tooth trouble has been revived. and it is even said that on recent occasions he | has received intimate friends with his head bound up in flannel. No confirmation of these reports can be obtained. On the con- trary, they are denied in the most positive manner by the President's close friends. He was before the gaze of the public for nearly four hours yesterday, and the closest scrutiny of his face failed to show the slightest evidence of any facial trouble or other local disturbance of any kind. Be- yond the natural fatigue attending a steady handshaking for nearly four hours, he stood Yyesterday’s ordeal exceedingly well. He suffered principally from standing so long in one position, and he had difficulty in walking when he started to escort Mrs. Cleveland to the dining room. The difficulty was temporary, however, and soon passed away. It was a subject of general remark that Mrs. Cleveland stood the fatigue of the reception much better than the Presi- dent. She nearly broke down at one time | while the public reception was at its height, but she determined to remain at her place, and in a few minutes she recov- ered bravely from her fatigue and really seemed to grow stronger with each succepd- ing greeting. The President and Mrs. Cleve- land were in excellent spirits today, and neither showed any signs of their fatiguing experience of yesterday. ———- _ -«- Case of Paymaster Sullivan. ‘The case of Paymaster J. C. Sullivan has been in the hands of the President for sev- eral weeks and there is considerable specu- lation in naval circles in regard to his ac- tion upon it. This officer was tried and convicted by a court-martial at the Mare Island (Cal.) navy yard for gross irregu- larities in his official accounts and was sen- tenced to be dismissed the service. The Secretary of the Navy approved the pro- ceedings and findings of the court and sub- mitted the case to the President for his ac- tion. Paymaster Sullivan has strong litical friends and they are doing their best to induce the President to mitigate the sen- tence. The total number of fourth-class post- masters appointed today was twenty-eight. Of this number fifteen were to fill vacancies caused by death and resignation and the re- mainder by removals. The Virginia appoint- ments were: Algoma, W. B Dowdy, vice | Mollie E. Barber, resigned; Flat Rock, J. M. Elam, J. Fletcher, | Grant, E.'F. Thomas, vice A. N. Greear, | signed. Joel Diehl was appointed post- | master at Engle’s Mill, Md., vice Austin | Speicher, removed. . . a | Silver Movements. | The | the mints and tre ended Decemb: for the c $34.6 | coins & ue of standard silver dollars from eek tices for the . was $476,: onding period of 1892 1 t of fractional r the month of December, IS: | for the corresponding period of | : for $1,201, 427. | ar- | In- negro, was ast Ottice tee dey spector Houc robbery at | CODINA’S ACCOMPLICE |C#4RGEO WITH ASSAULT..TWOQ ARE ENOUGH. Arrest ofan Anarchist Concerned in the Barcelona Explosion, TRIES 70 KILL HIMSELF WHEN CAUGHT The Program of the British Parliament. PLOT AGAINST THE CZAR. coer SrA SORS, MADRID, Jan.°2.—An anarchist, named Santajo Salvador, alias Jacques Salvador, was arrested today at Saragossa, capital of that province. As soon as the police placed their hands on him he drew a revolver and attempted to kill himself. He succeeded in inflicting @ severe wound in his right side, but it is not supposed that this injury will prove fatal. While one of the officers ran for medical assistance, the others stood guard over the prisoner, whose revolver had been taken from him. Salvador was lying upon the floor of his lodgings, and the officers thought he would make no further attempt upon his life. In this they were mistaken, for Salvador drew from his pocket a small packet that was found afterward to contain a deadly poison, and attempted to swallow its con- tents. The officers took the packet from him before he could get the contents into his mouth. After a physician had dressed his wound he was taken before a magistrate, to whom he confessed that he had been concerned in the plot to blow up the Lyceum Theater at Barcelona. PROGRAM OF PARLIAMENT. The House of Commons to Adjourn on the 19th or 20th. LONDON, Jan. 2.—The News says that it is intended by the government that the house of commons shall adjourn on Jan- uary 19 or 20 to remeet on February 12, to consider the lords’ amendment, and then to prorogue parliament until about Febru- ary, when the ordinary session opens. The News says: The opposition in the house of commons undertake that the par- ish councils bill shall pass by January 20, the government making concessions on five points. Mr. Hanbury and other conserva- tive extremists, however, have decided that they will not be bound by any compro- mise between the front benches. Mr. Bal- four has clearly intimated that to his fol- lowers, but he regards the rejection of the agreement as fatal to his aut ity and in- consistent with his retention of the leader- hip. TO POISON THE CZAR. Report of an Attempt Made at a Great Banquet. LONDON, Jan. 2.—A dispatch from Vien- na to a news agency in this city says that Cracow (Poland) newspapers contain ac- counts of a recent abortive attempt to pots- on the czar. According to these reports, on the one hundredth and twenty-fourth anniversary of the founding of the Imperial Order of St. George a grand dinner was given to all those who had been awarded the decoration. The czar, as the head of the order, was present and partook of the banquet. The first course was but half consumed, and the czar ordered that what was left be sent to the Nicholas Orphan Asylum, where the children also ate of the food. Later in the evening the czar, the guests at the banquet and the orphans were all taken sick, and an investigation revealed that the fish had been poisoned. The sick- ness in the orphan asylum was officially at- tributed to choler: The above story is very similar, in many respects, to a dispatch sent out from St. Petersburg on December 17. This dispatch stated that forty persons who had attended the banquet had been made sick by eating of a pie made of tainted meat, and that fif- teen of them had died. Their sickness, it Was stated, resembled cholera. FIGHT FOR THE POLICIES. Contest Over the Insurance on Lieut. Hambrough’s Life. LONDON, Jan. 2—Alfred John Mon- son, who was recently tried at Edinburgh for the murder of Lieut. Hambrough, and who was discharged from custody, the jury returning a verdict of “Not proven,” will shortly bring an action against Maj. Ham- brough, father of the lieutenant, in connec- ‘tion with the charges on the Hambrough estates. Totenham, the money lender, who was | one of the witnesses in the murder trial, will also bring sult against Maj. Ham- brough to recover money advanced to Lieut. Hambrough. Totenham claims and holds as security one of the two £10,000 policies issued on Lieut. Hambrough’s life by the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company. Maj. Hambrough will bring a counter action against Totenham to recover this policy. As soon as letters of administration are granted five other actions will be brought against Maj. Hambrough in respect of matters in which Monson and Totenham claim to have acted in behalf of Maj. Ham- brough. JA-PESTH, Jan. 2.—Premier Wexerie yesterday received a deputation of liberals, who declared their absolute confidence in the government, and said they would con- tinue to support it. that the government desired to execute re- form in a liberal spirit, but such as wouid not offend religious susceptibilities or in- fringe the church's right Cholera in a Russian Seminary. ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 2.—Cholera has broken out among the students at the Nicholas Seminary. Yesterady the giris at- tending the seminary were dismissed and sent to their homes. ‘The Matiny in the Cameroons. BERLIN, Jan. 2.—Twelve more native Police in the Cameroons have been c tured. The mutiny is now regarded as en- tirely ended. It is reported. that the disaf- fection is largely owing to the harshness of Lieut: Haring, who was appointed in Octo- ie Famine edicted in Russia, ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 2.—The Russian Agricultural Gazette takes a gloomy view of the prospects for 18M. Specialist ivan- enstchepkoff, writing to the Gradjdanin, predicts a widespread famine in 1804, The Uprisings in Sicily. ROME, Jan. 2.—Signor Tazio has written for the Legadel Bene an article on Sicilian labor unions. He ascribed the deplorable state of affairs on the Island to two causes —the unions and brigandage. The latter, he says, is greatly fostered by the fact that there are large districts without roads. © Tobacco Monopoly in Italy. LONDON, Jan. 2.—The Daily News cor- respondeat in Rome says: There are ru- | mors that the government is attempting to farm out the tobacco monopoly to a group of bankers. If this scheme fails an increase of the tax on rentes to 18 per cent will be- come necessary. Revenge of the Police. LONDON, Jan. The Constantinople vorrespondent of Daily News tele- All is now quiet in Yusgat. An ‘nm spy killed a fellow countryman ember 1 and as a result the police “ly harried the populace. Subse- jvently the latter appealed to the governor an! were forcibly dispersed. the The premier replied Officer Hendricks Acoused of Brutality by His Wife. She Claims He Struck Her— Judge Miller Fines Him $50—The Evi- dence Presented. Officer Wm. G. Hendricks was charged by his wife, Mary L. Hendricks, with as- sault at their home, on 5th between O and P streets, on the 11th of December last, and he was defended by Mr. Campbell Car- rington. The wife testified that they had lived happily together for four years, until his brcether married and brought his wife to the house; that has three little chil- dren, the oldest years old, and the day after the last was born, on December 11, he came to the ‘house and assaulted her by striking her and afterward he took her two babies away. She stated that when she found her husband in her sister-in-law’s room she insisted that she would leave the house and they had practically ved apart since. Mists Anna Mills, sister of Mrs. Hen- dricks, testified that the morning after the baby was born the defendant came to the house, walked in, and cursing her, slapped her in the mouth and took one of the chil- dren up and told it to kick his mother. He also said that he was going to take the child away to his mother’s. General Denial. The defendant denied that he committed the assault. He asserted that he left the house because his wife’s people were run- ning it and had since paid the rent and grocery bills and hired a colored woman, whom his wife had run out of the house; that he had taken the children to his moth- er’s when she was sick, and he proposed to take the child. He denied emphatically that he had committed the assault. He denied that he had been expelled from the police force, but had been suspended. He asserted that her folks wanted to run the house and he had to order them out. On cross-examination defendant said that his wife was excited; that the sister was crying because he ordered her out. He in- sisted that his wife drank, but he could not live there when others ran it. More Testimony. Dr. William Gill testified that he saw no evidence of a black eye eleven days after the alleged assault. He had attended the family,’ but he knew nothing of any trouble till about Christmas. The court recalled Mrs. Hendricks, who said that he struck her in the mouth; that the black eye was three months ago. She indignantly denied that she drank, and admitted that she followed him to the street cars to learn of her child, the boy who his mother said he had sent to Balti- more. He insisted on having the boy, say- ing she could go to the devil with the oth- ers. By the court—She had taken no action in reference to a divorce, being a Cath he did not believe in divorces. Her husband might want a divorce, for he was running after other women, she said. Mr. Carrington said the midwife was an important witness and had been summoned, but was not here. ' The Midwife. Mrs, Margaret Ford, the midwife, was sent for and appeared. She testified that colored woman to do the work; that Mrs. Hendricks said her sister thought Mr. Hendricks struck. her, but he did not; that he had shaken his fist at her, but did not strike her, She also heard Mrs. Mills accuse Hendricks of striking his wife, and he said, “It is a lie; I didn’t strike het Mrs. Mills insisted, notwithstanding this statement, that the blow was struck by Hendricks. The court said that if he believed that this man struck this woman he would not walk the streets for eleven months and twenty-nine days, but it was a question. Mrs. Hendricks said that the blow was struck, and she did not know how she could have said otherwise if she did. Argued and Decided. Mr. Carrington argued that the defend- ant should not be held, and if he was held he would be held up as a coward. To do so would only make the breach wider, and probably if the sister-in-laws on both sides could be kept away there would be a solu- tion of the difficulty. Mr. Mullowney, in reply, said that from the defendant's own testimony he was the very man to do just what he wes charged with, and he submitted that the defendant had been proven guilty of the assault, and should be at least fined, if not imprisoned. Judge Miller, after analyzing the testi- meny, said he would give the benefit of the doubt, and he would assume that he | did not strike her, but he would hold that |he had shaken his fist in her face. that he had assaulted her, and would impose a fine of $50 or ninety days in jail. ‘The defendant noted an appeal, and bail was fixed at $300, TO BE ACCEPTED. The Colambia and Machinx Builders Will Get Their Money at Once. Secretary Herbert has decided in favor | of the contractors who built the cruiser |Cclumbia and the gunboat Machias in | their controversy with the naval boards | which conducted the final trial trips of those vessels. Cramp & Co. of Philadel- |Phia built the Columbia, and the Machias | Was constructed by the Bath iron works. | It seems that the board on each ship re- ported everything connected with the vessel |in good order, | mend the workmanship and compliment the | builders of the ship. They found, however, that interior woodwork needed painting, and that there were many minor jobs re- the cabins and on deck. Each board recom- mended that the vessel it had examined be not accepted formally until all this minor work should be completed. To this recommendation both the Cramps and the Bath works objected. Kach in- sisted that the 10 per cent withheld from | the various payments made a total which, kept in the possession of the government for a certain term after the ship was ac- cepted, was a sutlicient guarantee that the required work would be done promptly. They held that to keep back the final pay- ment entire, as would be the case if the vessel was not accepted, urtil all work was completed, would mean the deprivation to the contractors of a large sum of money which they had rightfully earned. In the case of the Columbia, the amount involved would equal nearly half a million dollars. The Secretary recognized the appeal of the shipbuilders, and directed that the gnal payments be made on the Machias and the Columbia, without waiting for the odd jobs to be performed, believing that the govern- ment was amply protected by the fractions held back on» each payment made on behaif of the contractors, and that the builders would do the required work as soon as pos- sible. —____ + e+ Lower Cedar Point Light. The light house board has given notice that a fixed white lens lantern light has been established on the wreck of the light house at Lower Cedar Point, west side of the Potomac river, Maryland, which wes destroyed by fire Christmas night. The Baltimore. The U. S. S. Baltimore, flagship of the Asiatic station, sailed from Hong Kong today for Yokohama. Three Commissioners Not Necessary to Grant Liquor Licenses. MR. THOMAS IMPORTANT OPINION, Changes His Views on the Excise Board Question. HIS AUTHORITIES GIVEN. The Hquor men of Washington have cause to rejoice. At least those whose applica- tions for liquor licenses have not yet been acted upon. Attorney Thomas, in an opin- fon rendered today, holds that two mem- bers of the excise board is a majority, and, therefore, has the right to consider applica- tions for liquor licenses. This has been a serious difficulty all along. The fllness of Commissioner Parker made it necessary for him to go away, and his absence left the excise board minus one member, and ail pending applications were laid aside until he returned, or until Congress authorized the action of two members of the excise board as legal. it was expected that Congress would do this before the holiday recess, but it fatled to do so. Attorney Thomas’ opinion in full is as foi: lows: “By your letter of December 18, 1898, you request my opinion whether two members of the excise board may act in the absence of the third. I have the honor to say that when this question was first put to me, orally, several weeks ago, I thought the whole board must assemble and act to- gether, but on examination of the point in the light of authority, it seems that two members may act, if the third has notice of the time and place of the meeting. The point has been expressly decided in New York. People ex. rel. Kimball, and Hough- ton, 41 Hun. N. Y., “What number of a board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transac- tion of business is frequently if not general- ly fixed by the statute creating the corpor- ation or by its bylaws. There is some dis- tinction between public and private boards. Hf the officers are of public appointment, then the act of a majority at a regular meeting is binding. The supreme court of Iowa, after citing numerous cases on the point, says: ‘It ofllows then in the light of these authorities since the president and two of the directors constitute a quorum it Was competent for two, being a majorit of that quorum, to bind the corporation; and if two were able to act, even as against the opposing vote of the other, they could a f act without his concur- — Bell vs. Buckingham Co., 16 Iowa, If the matter is of private concern, as for example, a board of arbitration. all’must be notice and an opportunity to be The act of Congress of June 11, 1878 (20 Stat., 102), providing a permanent form of government for this District, contemplated sae tall seotiees for the on a at meet for transaction business. And contracts for public im- its it was declared ‘shall be made and entered into only with the official unani- mous consent of the Commissioners.” “Owing to the occasional unavoidable ab- sence of one of the Commissioners, by rea- son of sickness or other cause, this feature of the law was found inconvenient to the transaction of important official business. To remedy the difficulty Congress, by joint resolution approved December 24, 18” (26 and went so far as to com- ; maining to be done at the time of the} trial, such as finishing in the decoration of ! Stat. 1113), amended the law by declaring that two members of the board should con- stitute a quorum, &e. For these reasons 1 think it is plain that two members of the excise board may transact business at «ny meeting of which the third, or absent, mem- ber has notice, and I so advise you.” ——___ Paymaster Fraser's Promotion. The case of Paymaster Fraser of the navy, heretofore referred to in The Star, 4s an interesting one in several particulars. He was examined for promotion several fogs ago. The board reported in his fa- vor, but the report was disapproved by the | President. In his indorsement the Presi- |dent called the board's attention to the | tact that the evidence before it seemed to reflect upon the character of Paymaster | Fraser, and directed thai further consid- eration be given to this feature of the case. | In its second finding the board again recom- {mends that Paymaster Fraser be pro- | Moted to the next higher grade, as having ‘the required physical, mental and moral qualifications. It is learned that in its findings the board enters into something of an argument to show that the Prest- dent's intimation regarding the character ‘of Paymaster Fraser is erroneous. ‘There is much curiosity to know how the Presi- dent will regard this action of the board. SS EESTI AR Personal Mention. Assistant Commissioner of Patents Fisher has returned to his duties, relieving Law Clerk Newton, who thas been acting assist- | ant commissioner. ! Assistant Attorney General Hall is back | trom Georzia. | Third Assistant Postmaster General Craige has returned from his holiday vaca- tion. J. M. Comstock, chief of the customs di- vision, Secretary's office, Treasury Depart- ment, Is ill with the grip at his residence, in Eckington, D.C. ~ A handsome basket of flowers on the office desk of Mr. Louis D. Wine today had, no referencé to the recent coming into hit home of a son and heir, but was simply the New Year greeting of Mr. Thomas J. King and J. R. Freeman to their old friend. Superintendent of Immigration Stump, who has been ill of fhe grip at his Macy- |land home, has recovered and resumed the {discharge of his duties this morning. | Supervising Special Agent Crowley has jfeturned from Chicago and today resumed his duties at the Treasury Department. +6. ____ nage for December. | Coinage executed at the United States | mints during the month of December ag- | gregated 8,714,551 pieces, of the value of ' $10,490,775.25, as follows: Gold, 344,383 | pleces, of the value of $9,434,117.50; silver, | 2,128,908 pieces, of the and minor co value of $11,237.80. Government Receipt ‘Today. The receipts from internal revenue today were $794,064; from customs, $337,524. Taking Up the Bi ‘The subcommittee of the House appro- priations committee having charge of the District of Columbia appropriation bill commenced its work at the Capitol this morning. Messrs. Compton, Cogswell, Dock- ery and Henderson were present, and they made a preliminary reading of the bill. The object of the meeting today was to read over the bill, examining the various items of ihe estimates submitted by the District Commissioners, with a view to determine what particular items needed elucidation or explanation. When this is determined upon the District Commissioners and other officials of the locai government will be called before the committee to explain the estimates. —_—_+o.—_____ Naval Orders, Passed Assistant Engineer Stacy Potts has been ordered to duty in the bureau of steam engineering. FIRE ESCAPE LAW No Means At Present to Enforce the The Attorney for the District Sub- mits a New Bill to Meet ‘The Detect. ‘The fire escape law has always been in doubt. Recently, the Commissioners, anx- fous to be informed of the legal status of the law in question, wrote to the attorney the district with instructions to report same is provided with fire escapes, proper lights, fire alarm gongs, etc., with a des- criptive notice, etc., as required by section 2. And that in the event of failure, after notice of the owner or lessee of any build- ing on which fire escapes, etc., are required by sections 1 and 2 of the act to be placed to erect the same, the issioners shall cause the same to be done, and empowered to assess the cost thereof as a tax against the building and ground upon which it stands, with authority to issue tax Nen cer- tificates for the amount of such assessment, bearing interest at the rate of 10 per centum per annum,the same to be collected as other tax lien certificates are now collected, and the proceeds used to reimburse the District the cost of putting up the rerdra! fire The attorney encloses the draft of a bill containing the above provisions. — CONCENTRATING AT RIO. United States Vessels There or on Their Way. ‘The policy of the administration for the concentration of United States warships in the harbor of Rio Janeiro is being rapid- ly accomplished. Telegrams received at the Navy Department report the arrival of the folk navy yard undergoing some slight re- pairs. She will be ready for sea service in a duy or two and will iy sail for lieved that she will sail immediately for Rio o> some other Brazilian port if any se- rious change occurs in the very critical sit- uation in that country. —_—__ + e+ ____ NOT ENCOURAGING, Marine Corps Promotions Promise to Be Pretty Siow. According to the last+annual report of Col. Charies Heywood, commandant of the marine corps, the outlook for promotiens in that corps during the next few years is far from encouraging. The appointment of naval cadets to the corps began in 1887, after which date promotions were very rapid, most of the second Neutenants get- ting promotions in less than two years. In some instances the advance was made with- in one year. During the next eight years, however, there will be but one compulsory retirement, and unless there are an unusual number of deaths or casualties, few officers will move up. Many of the present majors will never get a peg higher and will retire by operation of law before they can be ad- vanced. Many of the senior captains are also fast approaching retirement age, and under present conditions some of them will reach it without being promoted. While many of these captains saw service in the war, they are still doing the duty performed by second lieutenants who entered the serv- ice twenty-five years after them. It is be- Meved that there is little hope of any con- gressional action to secure the desired relief. SILVER AND GOLD. The Kind of Presents Mr. Jack Beck- with Wanted. The American crank has invaded the Treasury Departmegt, but so far has man- ifested himself only in harmless letters. The latest recipient of his letters is R. E. Preston, director of the mint. It reached here this morning from Philadelphia, Pa. Some obliging postal official paid the post- age for the crank, who had inclosed the letter from Smethport. Pa. to the post- master at Philadelphia, with instructions to forward it. The letter was addressed: Mr. R. E. Preston, Mint Preston, Washington, D. C. It reads: uae ~ SMETHPORT, Pa., Dec. 24, 1893. Dear Sir: Please send a few words. or some advices to me. I demand you to give a present of $100 (silver) ani $200 (gold dollars) to me on Christmas, on Monday, December 25, or New Happy Year, on January 1, 1804. About 100 in pieces of silver, standard dol- lars for $100, and $200 gold dollars, which is counting $10 or $50 in pieces of gold dol- lars—$300, when you can send $300 in the package with the American Express Com- pany. I have the best honor for you, Very respectfully, JACK BECK WiTH. To Mr. Jack Beckwith, Smethport, McKean county, Pa. It is unnecessary to add that Mr. Beck- with is still awaiting his gold and silver sheckles. ————-o+_____ National Bank Circulation. The amount of national bank notes out- standing December 31, 1893,was $208,442,027, a decrease during the month of $408,761. The circulation based on United States bonds decreased during December $2,502,804. Canteen A Treasury Chief's Resignation. Secretary Carlisle today received and ac- cepted the resignation of Benj. F. Worrell of New Jersey, chief of division, register’s office. 2 The Brazilian government cruiser Amer- ican has foined the Nictheroy at Pernam- buco. AGAINST MR. BLOUNT The Testimony Given Before the T? ALL SUSTAINS EX-MINISTER STEVENS Mr, P. C. Jones and Col, Spaulding Give Evidence Today. a tien, The meeting was to o'clock, but at that hour bers of the subcommittee The committee room was caused by a badly drawing was altogether uninhabitable. 4 — arrived a few minui atmosphere was Senator Frye came in about ten minutes later, and just about 10:30 Senator Gray came on the scene. More Strict Lines of Secrecy. It was immediately apparent that the com- mittee proposes to work on more strict lines in- regard to secrecy than those laid down at the first meeting held last Wednesday. At that meeting the newspaper men were admitted to the small ante room imme- diately adjoining the committee room, and uf in inent to be minister of finance in the so-called Wilcox cabinet. This office he held from Novenfber, 1802, to the 12th of January, 1883, when he resigned from the cabinet ! owing to the efforts of the queen to force },the cabinet to sign her proposed constitu- ‘tion, When the committee of fifty was organ- ized Mr. Jones was found to be a strong adherent of the principles that were of re- publicanism and was he ee capacity of minister ed his off entirely il manded an Ohio regiment war. During the administration tary Seward he was sent to consul and afterwards in Honolulu, where he is one of the ablest men in the a very wealthy plantation owner ! E ieee induce tae ing to luce their efforts to secure poll the United States the sugar ‘to them on the willing to run being injured on this score. He told the committee today this same thing, and asserted that he only repre- sented the views of a large number of others, who felt with him that the labor question in Hawati is a very minor affair, which can be easily ted on the basis of the laws of the Urited States. He ad- vanced numerous argements in favor ¢ political union, and also gave an account the proceedings in Fonolulu during the revolution of last Janvary. He was a mem- ber of the committee of fifty and is well qualified to tell of ‘he exciting events that 5 took place in the capital of the island 4) ing that struggle. Dr. Emerson Subscribes to His Testi- mony. Just before the meeting formally opened Dr. Emerson, the witeess of the last meet- ing, was called to the committee room an@ | his testimony was read to him for his ap- proval. He subscribed fo it as correct and |then an oath was administered binding him to secrecy. Prof. Alexander, the sur- veyor general of the island, who was told by the committee last week that he would be examined today, was informed that he would be called tomorrow morning, when the committee will have another meeting. Dr. Emerson gill leave for Boston tonight and expects to return soon to Honolulu. Mr. Hastings, the charge de affaires of the Hawatian legation in this city, went to the Capitol this morning with Mr. Jones and Col. Spaulding, and his appearance at the committee room gave rise to the rumor that he was to be called as a witness. This, however, is not true, as the committee has decided ‘to observe the custom which ex- empts diplomatic officers from investiga~ tions of this character. News Expected by the Corwin. The steamer Corwin, which went to Hon- olulu recently with dispatches for Minister Willis, is expected to return from San Francisco today or tomorrow. She ought to bring late news of an interesting char- acter and is unquestionably also the bearer