Evening Star Newspaper, January 6, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR Vor 84, No. 20,775. Che Zvening Star. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 1894-TWENTY PAGES. TWO CENTS. Am index to advertise- ments will be found on Page 3. WILLIS HAS ACTED. Consternation Both at the White House and State Departmen: —___+-—__ INFORMATION BROUGHT BY THE CORWIN The Queen Has Accepted Mr. Willis’ Proposition. ADMINISTRATION ANNOYED Some of the democrats of the foreign af- fairs committee visited the State Depart- ment this morning for the purpose of learn- ing something the information brought by the Corwin, but on their re- turn they disclaimed any information. They were not, however, as earnest in their ex- pressions of doubt as to the accuracy of the Auckland dispatch. All who are in- formed as to the nature of the dispatches brought by the Corwin are extremely close mouthed, but sufficient information is had to make certain that these dispatches con- firm the news brought through Auckland. Caused Consternation. It is evident, moreover, that the dis- patches from Mr. Willis caused considerable consternation, both at the State Depart- ment and at the White House, and that there is a disposition to blame Mr. Willis for acting outside instructions. Mr. Gresham went to the White House last evening with such of the dispatches as had been de- ciphered, and was with the President until long after midnight going over the matter. It ts understood that while the longer dis- spa had not then been translated there Was a short dispatch which gave the in- formation confirmatory of the news of yes- terday, and that both Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Gresham were greatly annoyed. Information by the Corwin. ‘The information brought by the Corwin is understood to be to the effect that the re- ply made by the queen in rejecting the of- fer of the United States, which was first transmitted to this country by Mr. Willis, was an informal verbal reply, and that la- ter she sent to Mr. Willis a formal written communication accepting the proposition first made by Willis; and that in view of this Mr. Willis acted upon his original in- structions, the conditions originally antici- pated being restored, disregarding the later instructions, and made a formal demand upon President Dole to surrender the gov- ernment of Hawaii to Liltuokalant. The Administrati jurprised. It is stated that this action by Mr. Willis has taken the administration greatly by sur- prise, and that they were perfectly sincere in doubting the news brought from Auck- land yesterday, until it was confirmed by these official dispatches. It is said that it was the opinion of the department that the last instructions sent Mr. Willis were suffi- ciently explicit to have barred his taking this action, and the department is greatly perplexed by the situation. MR. HITT WANTS INFORMATION. A Resolution Calling Upon the Presi- dent to Tell All. Representative Hitt today made the first move toward ascertaining of the report coming via Aukland that Minister Willis has-requested -the- provisional government by introducing the following resolution: Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to the House of Representatives, if not Incon- sistent with the public interests, all infor- mation received since his message of De- cember 18, 1893, or not transmitted there- with and now in his possession touching recent reported events in the Hawaiian! Islands, and any attempts to overturn the| republican government thereof and erect a Monarchy in its stead, and especially whether any representative officer, vessel cr armed forces of the United States took part in such recent attempts to subvert a friendly government, and, if so, by whose orders they acted.” The resolution was referred to the com- mittee on foreign affairs. CONFERENCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE ‘The Embarrassing Situation of the Administratt The President and Secretary Gresham were in conference for several hours at the ‘White House today over the dispatches from Minister Willis, brought from Hono- lulu by the steamer Corwin, which arrived t San Francisco yesterday. The usual secrecy is observed in regard to these dis- patches and it 1s like drawing eye teeth to get an admission even that anything has been received from Minister Willis. Notwithsanding the obstacles placed in the way of giving the public information as to the situation in Honolulu, it is said in & most positive manner that Minister Wil- lis has ofticially confirmed the news re- ceived yesterday by way of Auckland that the queen has accepted the President's rms for her restoration, that he (Minister ills) called on the provisional govern- ment to abdicate and that President Dole has emphatically declined to do so. Mr. Willis’ Dispatches. Minister Willis’ communication to the Secretary was nearly 1,500 words in length, and included, so it is said, President Dole’s refusal to surrender the government into the hands of Queen Lilivokalani. Officials Much Di bed. If surface indications count for anything the officials of the State Department are considerably disturbed over the latest news from: Honolulu. A few short weeks ago they were afraid that Minister Willis had not carried out his instructions. Now they are even more afraid that he has, or, what would be even worse, has undertaken to execute them without any possible chance of success. Minister Willis, heretofore, has been almost universaliy applauded for nis wise and conservative course in Honolulu, and some of his admirers say that his fail- ure to execute the administration's orders for the restcration of the queen was the political salvation of the administration. if late reports are true, however, he has at last undertaken to do -the very ‘thing that the President, so it is said, does not want to be done under existing conditions. ] ‘The theory for this supposition ts that the} President Knows that the Provisional gov- ernment will not submit to his decision in Zavor of the queen and that he 1s powerless | in the matter unless Congress sanctions the employment of force, an almost impossible contingency. When he submitted the mat- ter to Congress on the 18th ultimo he un-} doubtedly believed that the queen’s refusal | to abide by his conditions was fina! and| that Minister Willis would not be required | under his instructions to attempt any ehange in the. Hawaiian government. tn other words, he naturally supposed that the case was closed so far as executive action Was concerned and that the solution of the Guestion rested with Congres: Mr. Willis’ Instructions. In case it ts true, however, that the queen Subsequently notified Minister Willis that! the accepted the President's conditions, it is argued that Mr. Willis was clearly justi- fied, under his instructions, in calling on the members of the provisional government | to step down and out as an essential pre-! Iiminary to the execution of the President's | program. So far as known, the only change in his original instructions, contained in his| later instructions received by him December | 11, per steamer Corwin, was the notifica-| tion that he was not authorized to us. force. He was not told, it is sald, to sus-| pend action under his previous instructions, and they were not modified in any material point. The instructions in which the point was made against the use of force bear date of December 3, the day before the assembling of Congress. They were in response to a report from Minister Willis that he was em- barrassed in the execution of his special mission by reason of the queen's refusal to agree to the President's conditions for her restoration. A Naval Officer’s Views. “It's a pretty kettle of fish,” said a naval officer to a Star reporter today, “any way you look at it, and the situation is further complicated by the lack of cable facilities. ‘The President thought that honor and jus- tice demanded the restoration of the queen, and he was compelled to abandon his efforts in that direction by her own inhumanity. Now that he is satisfied that his honest purposes were misbestowed on a most un- worthy person, he hears that his diplomatic representative is attempting to execute a plan that he has himself practically aba doned. He feels that it cannot be accom- plished under prevailing conditions both in Hawaii and the United States and the feeling that he is being dragged further into an embarrassing position without be- ing able to help himself must be a source of deep humiliation. If there was any way of communicating with Minister Willis the situation might yet be changed so as to avoid the distressing spectacle of a United States minister being compelled to submit to the defiance of an insignificant govern- ment like that of Hawait. WEATHER INDICATIONS. How Senators Watch the Little Machine at the Capitol. They Regulate Their Wearing Apparel and Their Social Engagements by It—One Thing Only Needed. The Senators are getting much satisfac- tion out of their automatic weather indi- ator in the lobby back of the Vice Presi- dent's seat. It is attached to a lot of whir- ligigs, wind vanes, thermometers, barom- eters on top of the Capitol building, and records in the lobby the direction and velocity of the wind, the extent of rain fall, the number of minutes or hours that the sun shines, the barometric conditions and the temperature. This set of instru- ments, which is not especially novel, has been in operation in the lobby of the House for some time, and its adoption by the Senate is on account of the great utility which the members of the other House drew from it. The weather maps in both ends of the Capitol have been objects of great interest to Senators and members for years. There is nearly always a group of statesmen around these maps listening to an explanation by one of the men in charge as to the state of the weather in each of their homes. The thing has grown steadily until this weather Indicating ap- paratus has become one of the most valued adjuncts of official and social life in Wash- ington. Its Influence on Social Affairs. It is chiefly on account of its influence over social affairs that this set of auto- matic instruments has been set up by the Senate. More or less dependence has been Placed, locally, in the forecasts on the weather bureau as to what the weather is to be in Washington, but spells of weather, Uke public gpi e Often deflected be- fore reaching’ Washington, though’ ‘they may*-be*on schedule time in other - tiofis. By these instruments, however, the weather maps are read and the statesmen may learn how the weather is going to adjust itself, or how they may adjust them- selves to the weather. Senators and members who are going on short journeys consult the government weather man as to whether they shall car- ry light or heavy overcoats, and determine by these instruments whether or not they shall put on their chest protectors and liver pads. Regulate Their Wearing Apparel. Some, before leaving their homes for the Capitol, telephone down to ascertain what the instruments say, to decide what sort of clothes they shall wear, and the fate of theater parties and receptions for special evenings is determined by what these in- struments foretell. These instruments hav- ing been ih operation in the House for some- thing over a year, members of that body have come to rely on !t to such an extent that they seldom begin their day without consulting it, and all their social engage- ments which might be affected by weather are gauged by it. It {s seldom that a theater party or a reception in official society is held without a consultation with this oracle, and festive occasions are frequently post- poned from day to day when it presents tn- auspicious signs. The weather bureau re- ceives daily reports from about 125 different points in the United States, and the state of the weather at each of these points fs in- dicated on the maps at the Capitol. Even the amount of rainfall, the velocity of the wind, the temperature, whether it is cloudy or sunshiny and whether the water in the streams and rivers ts rising or falling {s in- dicated. The statesmen can learn these things at a single glance. ‘The One Thing Needed. Uncle Sam furnishes this information, sets their clocks by official time and does for them many other things to keep them on the right track and in harmony with nature. There is just one thing more necessary to perfect the system of government super- vision, and that deficiency some one has in- geniously suggested shall be corrected by the establishment of a bureau of public opinion. It is suggested that it ts quite as important that statesmen should know the state of public opinion each day in various parts of the country as it is that they should know the state of the weather. It is proposed, therefore, that on the sys- tem of the weather bureau the bureau of public opinion shall be established. ‘The state of public opinion at 6 o'clock in the morning, like the weather reports, is sug- gested should be received from 125 different points and indicated on a map alongside the weather map. In the afternoon another report may be received, and so indicated. ‘Then, with official time, official weather re- ports, official statistics, official Iterature, official seed, official postal franks, official telegraph, official messenger service, official barbers, official bootblacks, official stenog- raphers, official stationery, official baths and official daily reports on public opinion, our statesmen will be in a condition to properly perform the functions of leg! ‘ion. os TO ARREST MEMBERS. A Resolution to Be Introduced by Mr. Catchings Today. Before the House adjourns this afternoon Mr. Catchings (Miss.) will introduce a reso- lution directing the se-geant-at-arms to ar- rest all members of the House absent with- out leave. The order recites that it Is to covtinue in force after adjournment, and the officer is directed to employ a sufficient force to execute it, the expenditure neces- sary thereto to be paid out of the contin- gent fund of the House. Beat eS ee CAPITOL TOPICS. To Maintain Solvency. Mr Harter of Ohio introduced in the House today a biil to maintain the solvency of the treasury of the United States. The measure gives the Secretary of the Treasury full powor to issue and sell in such amounts and in such manner as he deems wise, and at such prices us he may see fit (but not below par), United States 8 per cent thirty-year bonds, redeemable after twelve months. ferred The measure was re- to the ways and means committee. THE TARIFF BILL. Eccentric Development of the Oppo- sition Among Democrats. BEE a See THE PARTY SEEMS 10 BE SPLIT, But the Dissatisfied Appear to Lack Leadership. —-.—___ WILL PASS THE HOUSE. ——_.—___. ‘There is something very eccentric in the development of the opposition among demo- crats of the House to the Wilson bill. When the bill was first reported there was some grumbling on the part of democrats of the House, but there was nothing in it which gave the committee any concern. In the opinion of the committee and other leading democrats of the House and also of those few who at that time were willing to express their antagonism to the measure there were not more than half a dozen who would vote against the bill and it was believed that as far as the House was con- cerned the party would be so nearly united as to impress the Senate with the popular- ity of the measure. Up to the day of the recess adjournment the opposition to the bill had been of very slow growth and those democrats who were dissatistied kept their own counsel fpr the most part. Sud- denly now on the reassembling of Congress the opposition has burst like a storm upon the committee, to their dismay. The party seems to be split in a half dozen different directions and the bad temper is conta- gious, reflecting from the anti-administra- tion sentiment to the tariff, from the tariff to the Hawaiian question and from the antagonisms growing out of the silver fight to both the tariff and Hawaiian questions. There is a perfect tangle of discordant sentiments. The democrats in the House appear to be speaking in a half dozen dif- ferent languages. Lack of Leadership. Judging from the tone of the talk among members today it is fair to estimate that the opposition among democrats in the House to the Wilson tar‘ff bill is greater than it was to the horizontal Morrison bill, under the leadership of Mr. Randall. If the dissatisfied democrats were organized and united under a strong leader they would probably be as effective as was Randall's little band in the Forty-eighth Congress. They have no leader, however, and up to the present time are at variance among themselves, disagreeing as to the Foint of attack, and each little band an- tagonizing some particular feature of the bill, and unwilling or unable to unite and combine their grievances. The opposition to the income tax and to the bounty on sugar are the only things which hold any great number together. There is the ut- most confusion and complication in the sit- uation from the fact that the bill is con- demned in one quarter as a protection measvre, in another becquse of its free trade features, and is not fully approved of by either the free traders, the revenue tariff men or the protection men. Wilson finds himself placed in uncomfortable position, in that atin i Dag tice threatens defeat. far‘him fails to.win for him the support he might expect among his colleagues in Congress. me Carlisle, Morrison and Mills in their fight for tariff reform had a large majority of the democrats in Congress, not only sup- porting them, but enthusiastically pro- claiming them as great leaders. Mr. Wil- son, however, is but reluctantly and spar- ingly accorded even the empty honor of party leadership. He is more condemned than praised. He is marked rather as a victim than as a champion, and small j ousies stand between him and the consid- eration he should receive from those who agree with him. Will Go Through the House. The disaster to the party which failure to pass a bill would bring will unquestionably put the Wilson bill through the House, but the support given it will be to a consider- able extent reluctant, and the opposition which It will encounter in its progress through the House will be a bid for its re- construction in the Senate. +--+ POLICE COURT JURISDICTION. A Bill Introduced in the House to Amend the Present Law. Representative Culberson has introduc- a bijl in the House to amend the act defin- ing the jurisdiction of the Police Court of the District of Columbia. The bill provides that in all cases tried before the court the judgment of the court shall be final except in the following specified instances; if upon the trial of any case an exception be taken by the defendant to any ruling or instruc- tion of the court upon matter of law, it shall be reduced in writing and stated in a bill of exceptions, with so much of the evidence as may be material to the question raised; the bill of exceptions shall be set- tled and signed by the judge, and, if upon presentation to any justice of the Court of Appeals the justice shall be of opinion that the same ought to be reviewed, he may allow a writ of error in the caus which shall issue out of the Court of Ap- pbeals addressed to the judge of the Police Ccurt, who shall forthwith send up the record of the case. The defendant must give notice in open court of his intention to apply for a writ of error upon such exceptions, and there- upon proceedings therein shall be stayed for ten days, provided that the defendant shall enter into recognizance with suffi- cient surety, conditioned that in the event of a denial of his application for a writ of error he will, within five days next after the expiration of said ten days, appear in the Police Court and abide by and perform its judgment, and that in the event of the granting of the writ of error he will ap- pear in the Court of Appeals and prosecute the writ of error and abide by and perform its judgment. Upon failure of any defend- ant to enter into the recognizance pro- vided for in this section the sentence of the Police Court shall stand and be execut- ed pending proceedings upon his application for a writ of error and until final disposi- tion thereof by said Court of Appeals. gt 33 Res! nat" aes INSURRECTION SUPPRESSED. San Domingo W Probably Make Reparation for Firing on American Sailors. Secretary Herbert has received the follow- ing telegram from Commander O. F. Hey- erman, commanding the U. S. S. Kear- sarge, dated San Domingo, January 5: “Insurrection has been put down at Azua, San Domingo. Every thing is quiet. The United States interests are not en- dangered. The United States schooner Henry P. Crosby. was fired upon, owing to mistake. Two men were wounded. Partic- ulars have been sent by mail. Will pro- ceed for coal to St. Thomas. Will return very soon. Has Apologized, Probably. This telegram is taken to mean that the Dominican government has apologized for the assault on the sailors of the Crosby and has promised to make suitable repara- tion. The shooting was due to the suspicion that the men were revolutionists who were using the United States flag as a blind to conceal their true character. Admiral Stanton, the new commander-in- cheif of the north Atlantic station, will hoist his flag on the Kearsarge in a few days. He left New York Wednesday last for Port au Prince and will join the Kar- Sarge at the port or at St. Thewas, where she has gone for coal. THE SENTENCE COMMUTED Hardy and Norris Will Not Hang for the Murder of Oapt. Young. The Presi: it Extends Clemency and Gives Them Imprisonment for Life —Who Appealed for Them. William Hardy and Edward Norris, the two colored boys convicted of the murder of Peter H. Young in July last, and sen- tenced to be hanged on the 12th instant, have received mercy at the hands of the President. He acted on their case last night and indorsed the application for clem- ency as follows: The President's Indorsement. “EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan. 5, 1804, Sentence commuted to imprisonment for life. It has not been easy for me to see my duty in relieving these convicts trom the doom the law has pronounced upon their atrocious crime. I have concluded to save them from the extreme penalty of the law on account of their youth, and because there is a plausible probability that they were led into the crime by one older than they , and for the further reason that they may not have deliberately intended to com- mit murder. Ga. C Among the petitions made to the Prest- dent praying for commutation of the sen- tence to imprisonment for life in this case, was one signed by the twelve jurors who convicted them, and another by the counsel for the defendants, who claimed that the evidence disclosed that the crime was con- ‘ceived and planned by one Wm. Gant. ‘These petitions were referred to the United States District Attorney, who confirmed many of their averments, but refrained from expressing an opinion as to the ex- pediency of clemency. Mr. Justice McComas also refused to make any recommendation in the case. ———— 2+ MR. SYPHER’S CHARGES. An Unusual Scene in the House Naval Committee Room. It is rather an unusual thing for an at- torney to appear before a prominent com- mittee of the House and charge ‘that its members were appointed for fraudulent pur- poses; yet this is what occurred this morn- ing. ‘The scene was the committee room on naval affairs. The person making the ac- cusation was J. Hale Sypher of this city, who formerly represented one of the Louis- jana districts in Congress. The committee referred to was the House naval committee. The subject of discussion was a resolution offered by Mr. Holman of Indiana on De- cember 13 last, which set forth the fact that more than $1,000,000 had been paid out to contractors engaged in the building of war ships for premiums; that the ships were so built as to secure higher speed than was required by the contract, thereby per- mitting the contractor to earn these extra- ordinary and unjustifiable premiums, and, therefore, that the committee on naval af: fairs is instructed to investigate the matter thoroughly and learn cially whether, through the collusion of any officer of the government, these premiums were secured. Mr. Sypher appeared in support of the resolution and when some of his statements were controverted by members present the former hotly retorted that he believed that the committee had been formed for the express purpose of aiding. the contractors in securing these large premiums. When Mr. ae (Ohio) reminded M. Sypher | that cquaedian. wae ve one he repil that he Would aot witharaw it and epeeifically Mr. Hulick as one of the gentlemen had been appointed on the committee in pursuance of the desire to benefit naval contractors At this point the chairman of the com- mittee read a letter that was personally handed to him yesterday by Mr. Charies H. Cramp, the Philadelphia shipbuilder. This letter bore the date of September 2s. It was alleged to have been written by Sypher to Mr. Cramp, and it contained various newspaper clippings and other data going to show matter of premiums was one that was likely to be investigated by Con- gress during the present session, ———_—___+-e+_____ ONE ITEM OF EXPE! ‘That May or Ma: Blount Not Appear in Mr. Account. Some light is thrown on Paramount Com- missioner Blount’s expense by an incident which occurred on his trip to Honolulu on the revenue steamer Rush, in which Mr. Mills of this city was a prominent figure. Mr. Mills at that time was Mr. Blount’s private secretary, and as a result of valuable services rendered in that capacity he is now consul general at Honolulu. On the voyage to Honolulu on the Rush, according to a San Francisco dispatch to the New York Sun, Secretary Mills was quartered with the officers in the ward room, and on the first night out, after he had recovered from slight seasickness, he asked for cham- pagne. It was furnished, and during the voyage he drank enough to amount to #15. He didn’t mention paying for it, and, as it was the property of the officers, they finally selected one of their number to broach the subject. Mills expressed great surprise, and said he fancied it was furnished with stores by the government. He paid the bill, how- ever. The matter led to some general dis- cussion over the funds out of which Minis- ter Blount’s expenses were paid. Mills said President Cleveland had a secret fund at his disposal and that Blount drew on this. Mills said he simply kept an account of all ex- penses and turned that account in as vouch- er for money paid. So the champagne item may be looked for when Mr. Hoar gets the accounts. + e+_______ Dividends Declared. The controller of the currency has declar- ed dividends to the creditors of insolvent national banks as follows, viz: A first dividend of 30 per cent in favor of the creditors of the Elmira National Bank of Elmira, N. Y., on claims proved, amount- ing to $281,272.01. A first dividend of 15 per cent in favor of the creditors of the Stock Growers’ Na- tional Bank of Miles City, Mont., on claims proved, amounting to $164,004.77. A first dividend of 33 per cent in favor of the creditors of the First National Bank of Cedar Falls, Iowa, on claims proved, amounting to $130,611.54. A first dividend of 25 per cent in favor of the creditors of the El Paso National Bank of El Paso, Tex., on claims proved, amount- ing to $13: 1 A first dividend of 25 per cent in favor of the creditors of the Indianapolis National Bank of Indianapolis, on claims proved, amounting to $081, A third dividend, 10 per cent, in favor of the creditors of the National Bank of De- posit of the city of New York, N. ¥., mak- ing in all 85 per cent on claims proved, amounting to $572,253.92. —_————_+o+—___. A New Torpedo Boat. Designs have been prepared at the Navy Department for a new torpedo boat of 800 tons displacement and being 251 feet in length and 2 feet beam. The vessel-will have two decks, the upper of spar deck to support the cabin, conning tower, &c. There will be no armor protection and no turrets. The engines proposed are to be of the vertical, twin-screw, triple-expansion type, with a horse power of 6,000, The stroke of the piston will be 21 inches, the diameter of the high-pressure cylinder 21 inches, that of the intermediate pressure cylinder 33 1-2 inches and that of each of the two low-pressure cylinders 37 1-2 inches. o Both Sent Regrets. Senators iill and Murphy of New York were irvited to attend the President's state dinner in honor of his cabinet Thursday evening, but each sent his regrets and the politicians attach great significance to the incident. IT WAS A BLUNDER. Collision Between French and British Troops. FIGHT SAID T0 HAVE BEEN AT NIGHT. The Scarlet Uniforms Not Dis- tinguishable. VIEWS OF PARIS PAPERS. LONDON, Jan. 6.—Details have been re- ceived from Freetown, capital of Sierra Leone, northwest coast of Africa, of the killing of British troops by the French. According to the latest information the British were engaged in the Connoh district near Warina. Bheir camp was within the British sphere, At daylight on December 23 they were attacked by the French force, consisting of thirty Sengegalese sharpshoot- ers and 1,200 natives, who were headed by Lieut. Moritz, When they were fired upon the British at once responded, and the French shortly afterward retired. Lieut. Moritz was wounded and captured by the British. He was questioned as to his rea- sons for attacking them, and explained that he believed that the British troops, who were blacks, were members of the Sofas tribes, and thgt their European officers, who were deeply tanned by the African sun, were Arabs. Lieut. Moritz died from the effect of hig wound soon after his cap- ture. The latest details place the British loss less than was at first reported. Only six instead of twenty-six of the privates were killed. ‘The report of the killing of Capt. Lendy, Lieuts. Wroughton and Liston and a ser- geant were correct. Nineteen of the British troops were seriously wounded. The loss of the French force is not known. The Brit- ish force remains at Warina. Another report of the engagemnt says that it took place by moonlight and that it was owing to this fact that Lieut. Moritz was rot able to distirguish the uniforms of the British troops. The latter were taken by surprise. The confusion in the Britis camp was great and this was added to by careless firing on the part of the British. The latter were well within British territory. What is Said at Paris. PARIS, Jan. 6.—Commenting today upon the killing by French troops at Warina, in Sierra Leone, of Capt. Lendy, First Lieut. Wroughton, Secoad Lieut. Liston, ser- geant and twenty-six privates of the first battalicn of the British West India> regi- ment, the Figaro says: “It is probable that the English press will make a great fuss about the bungling incident. Before we pronounte an opinion we will await the re- ceipt of the details, Judging from the ex- planations given by the colonial offices in London it seems that the British expedi- tion was imprudent.” The Gaulois expresses the hope that the affair will not k to complications, and that it will be — an by the exchange of notes by France England. Stringe: airy Ordered. LONDON, Jan. 6—The British govern- ment has ordered that a stringent inquiry jar be made ‘Into. tte affair, ~ PARIS, Jan. 6—At a Ministerial councti, held at the palace of the Elysee today, a dispatch was read from the governor of Senegal, confirming the reports of an en- gagement between French and British forces near Warina. The governor said the French commander thought the British were enemies. It is explained why the French were in territory that is indisputably British. Nego- tlations concerning the frontier between the French and British possessions in that part of Africa are now pending. Scene of the Attack. The attack took place in the district whose possession is still a matter of dispute between France and England. Some time ego Capt. Lendy was supposed to be hem- med in by natives near Koranko, and a de- tachment of the West India regiment was sent to his aid. Then a larger force from the same regi- ment was dispatched after the first. It is not known whether both forces were with him at the time of the French attack. Capt. Lendy left Liverpool in November, 1892. The French some time ago took posses- sion of the town of Hera Makonah, in the interior. This town was claimed by the English, and Capt. Lendy was dispatched with a small police force to relieve the British garrison at Taluta, in the same dis- trict. All reports of his progress and ex- periences since he set out have been meager and contradictory. ‘The main British expedition sent to Kor- anko was commanded by Lieut. Col. Ellis, and consisted of 120 frontier police and 430 West Indians. It was sent against the marauding Sofas, who have long been troublecome, Great Britain had informed France of the objects and scope of the expedition, know- ing that French troops also were punishing the Sofas under Ahmay Samadoo. Those at Korenko had fied from the French. Great Britain was not aware that the French were far enough south to come in contact with the British troops. The French force consisted chiefly of Sencgal negroes, officered by Frenchmen. Capt. Lendy was decorated recently with the distinguished service order as a reward for ris services. Most of the London newspapers will sus- pend judgment on the Warina affair until accurate details be received. The Times says: “At first sight the action of the French seems unjustifiable. Possibly the officer answerabie for the affair was of the Lieut. Mizon type, seeking to rectify what he regarded as the culpable weakness of vnpatriotic diplomacy. Perhaps it may be found to have been pure accident.” The Daily News says: “The matter is most grave. Despite all that be done to lessen the apparent import of the affair, somebcdy manifestly blundered. Our duty is to possess our souls in patience until we shall be in full possession of the facts.” HEAVY SNOW IN LONDON. Omnibuses and Street Cars Are Run With Dificulty. LONDON, Jan. 6.—There has been a slight rise in the temperature, but the weather is still cold. Today the mercury registers twenty-three degrees above zero. The in- termittent snowfall here during the past three days has caused an accumulation that is now four inches deep in the sub- urbs, where traffic is almost stopped. Omnibuses and tram cars in London are having the greatest difficulty in making their trips. Many of the regular vehicles have ceased running. Dozens of wagons have been abandoned in the streets, and these are blocking traffic in the busier quarters of the city. The Thames continues frozen over above Richmond. There is skating in all parts of the country. A dispatch from Lincoln reports very cold weather there. The snow that has re- cently fallen has so impeded traffic on the highways in the country districts that the mails, which are conveyed in carts to and from the various villages, are greatly de- layed. Near Horn Castle, eighteen miles from Lincoln, a carriage stands by the roadside almost buried out of sight in the drift that has formed around it. A woman has been frozen to death in Horn Castle. Numerous drowning accidents, caused by the breaking of the ice on streams and Ponds, have been reported. At Shorncliffe, Oxford and Birmingham the mercury dropped to zero last night. The coal dealers, taking advantage of the cold snap, and the delay in the receipt of | — have put their prices up 3 shillings per The continental trains are all belated. Canal navigation has ceased. In the Newry district of Ireland the ther- mometer registers twenty-four degrees of frost—that is, eight degrees above sero. Many sheep and cattle have been frozen to death. There has been a heavy snowfall, and all traffic is impeded. All the Irish channel steamers are late. a CONGRESSMEN’S STATIONERY. A Decision of the Controller That Brings Sadness. The statesmen of Congress have run into another disappointment which brings uni- versal sadness. When they came to collect mileage for the first regular session they found it necessary to make special appro Priation for the purpose, to do which re- quired the administfation of a narcotic to their conscience. They believed, however, tnat the sacred privilege of drawing $125 each for stationery account would not be questioned by any one and that this could be done without attracting public attention and criticism, asin the case of the mileage. The controller of the treasury, however, has decided that they are not entitled to stationery for more than two sessions and that having drawn their allowance of $125 for stationery during the special session they are not entitled to another allowance until the second session of this Congress. They are thus cut out of the snug little sum of $44,000 in the aggregate unless they are willing to face public sentiment once more and pass a special act. THE INCOME TAX. It May Be Brought in as a Separate Measure. To Avoid the Tariff Bill's Defeat— Members Cannot Then Hide Behind it. There is a point of indication that the income tax proposition will be brought in by the committee on ways and means as a eeparate measure, . standing on its own merit, so as to relieve the tariff bill from the oppusition which is based on the un- popularity of the income tax. The caucus last night was ‘much more satisfactory to the friends of the tariff bill and to the party managérs generaliy, than they had anticipated It would ve. It was feared that they would get into a serious tangle over the schedules of the tariff bill, and that some action adverse to the position taken by the committee would be had. All this, however, was avoided, and the outcome is regarded generally with satisfaction. Using the Income Tax as an Excuse. it is believed, however, by some of those most interested in maifitaining the Wilson bill against all opposition, that it will be impossible to pass the bill through the House if the income tax feature is retained as a part of that measure. Nearly every member of the House who is opposed to some particulat feature of the Wilson bill and is interested in protecting some local industry, makes the income tax an excuse for opposition to the bill, concealing behind it his objections to the schedule. Members pear Bi: fectly safe to oppose the income tax ‘4 it Must Disclose Their Real Feelings. With the income tax as a separate prop- osition, they will be deprived of this excuse for opposition to the tariff bill, and will either have to disclose their rea! objections, or else give the bili their support. it is be- leved that members of the ways and means committee themselves do not think that the bill can be passed through the House with the income tax as a rider, and that they will be reduced to the necessity of either making the income tax stand aione or eise! run the risk of having no tariff legislation whatever. The plan adopted will probably be to put through the tariff bill, with only the tax on cards, cigarettes and whisky as internal revenue features, and then put the income tax in a separate bill and allow the question between that tax and a sugar tax to be fought out on the floor without jeopar- dy to the customs bill. ———2-+______ CAPT. STILES’ CASE. His Record Now Being Examined by the Assistant Seeretary. The case of Capt. D. F. Stiles, U. 8. A. (retired), tried by court-martial on charges of financial irregularities in connection with the settlement of Oklahoma territory, is row before the War Department for final action. The trial resulted, it is under- stood, in his acquital on all the charges. The record is a most volumnious one. it was reviewed in succession by Acting Judge Advocate General Leiber and Gen. Schofield, and is now in the hands of As- sistant Sec! Doe for final considera- tion. In the event that he finds some irrgu- larities in the proceedings of the court or that the findings were contrary to the evi- dence, he will disapprove the findings and return the case to the court for a re- consideration. Otherwise, the entire pro- ceedings will be approved and the case will be closed. The probabilities are strong- ly in favor of the latter action. ————————+-2-+______ THE CAPITOL POLICE. The Need of Twelve More Men Urgea by the Sergeants-at-Arms. The Capitol police force, composed of Architect Clark, Col. Bright, sergeant-at- arms of the Senate, and Sergeant-at-arms Snow of the House, appeared today before the subcommittee of the House, of the House appropriation committee, of which Mr. Cockrell is chairman, for the purpose of showing the necessity for the twelve additional poiicemen provided for in a cur- rent resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously some time ago. They were accompanied by Cok Moore, chief of the metropolitan force. A diagram of the Capi- tol building was shown, demonstrating the necessity for more protection by guards at points now unprovided for. It was also demonstrated that the men now on the force, twenty Jn number, can scarcely fulfill the duties expected of them. Col. Moore gave testimony to the need of better patrols in the Capitol grounds, — the law removes from his jurisdic- tion. : Col. Bright gaye the committee a state- ment showing the need of more men on his side of the Capitol, with a special ref- erence to the Maltby building, which is at present guarded by only two men, on duty for twelve hours at a stretch. These twelve additional policemen are to be provided for terfiporarily, and paid, for the present, out of the contingent fund of both hous: ry Changes. The fololwing changes have been made in the classified service, Treasury Depart- ment: Appointments—C. P. Montgomery, $1,400, office of supervising architect. Promotions—H. P. Howard, from $1,600 to $1,800 per annum, office of sixth auditor. Jos. H. Adams, from $900 to $1,000 per an- num, office of first auditor. —— Reducing Judge Long’s Pension. Commissioner of Pensions Lochren has sent an official notification to Judge Long of | the supreme court of Michigan that unless | he furnishes satisfactory evidence of total | disability, his pension of $74 per month will be reduced to $50. He is given thirty days’ notice to comply. NO PROGRESS MADE The House Still Without a Demo- cratic Quorum. MR. BOUTELLE AND THE SPEAKER Have a Lively Tilt Over a De cision. A GOOD POINT OF ORDER —_——o— The fourth day’s sitting of the House ceding days. The republican side, in parti- cular, seemed ready for business; but given him by the democratic members that the majority would do everything im its power to carry out the program which had been obstructed for the past three days, and start the tariff bill on its journey. Mr. Boutelle’s Hawalian Resolution. The galleries also contained their full Quota, and, in particular, the members an@ ladies’ galleries were unusually well filled. Immediately after the reading of yester- day's journal, Mr. Boutelle (Maine) tried to find out what had become Hawaiian resolution—a question now looked forward to g Elis led (Mr. McMillin) consideration. ‘And that shouted Mr. the chair to give its decision?” the asked sarcastically; and he went on that the House had then proceeded on the question of consideration raised Mr. McMillin, but no quorum had voted, the House adjourned. ‘That question of sideration might be raised every day. Mach day the House might refuse to consider the resolution, 83 ait journed without acting on the resolution it was the same as if it refused to consider it. The resolution therefore was not before the House, as the gentleman from Maine contended, but was exactly where it was when it was first called up, namely, on the table; and it would rest there until it was again called up. The Catching Rules. Yesterday, the Speaker continued, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Catch- ings), had reported a resolution from the committee on rules and the question of previous question had been moved by Mr. Catchings, and on that motion “and nays were timation that he had not fully weighed the question was a reflection on the Speaker. Mr. Boutelle disclaimed any intention of reflecting upon the Speaker, but he again urged that the question should be well reflected upon. “The chair has ruled on the question,” announced the Speaker sharply. “Then I respectfully appeal from the de- cision of the chair,” said Mr. Boutelle. “The chair wants to give the gentleman from Maine every latitude,” said the Speaker wearily, “but it seems that every morning—" “I object to the expression ‘latitude,’ ” interrupted Mr. Boutelle fiercely. “I stan@ here as a representative of a minority and with a Speaker against me.” A Roll Call Ordered. The Speaker thought the discussion was becoming too personal and said that such language toward the Speaker would not be permitted. He then ordered the call of the yeas and nays on Mr. Catchings’ motion for the previous question, and amid deafening uproar in the House the clerk began to call the roll very rapidly. He had not ¢all- ed more than a dozen names, amid a degree of confusion so deafening that he could scarcely be heard, when Mr. Burrows rose from his seat in the first row and to the Speaker for recognition. No atten- tion was paid to his appeal for some time, but finally the Speaker ordered the clerk to suspend, and then inquired for what pur- pose Mr. Burrows wished recognition. Mr, Burrows replied that he rose to a point of order; but the Speaker told him that the rol. call could not be interrupted, and he ordered the clerk to pi Mr. Burrows’ Point of Order. “But I wish to make the point of order that there is so much disorder in the House that members cannot hear their names,” shouted Mr. Burrows. ‘The Speaker said the point was well taken, and while a broad smile was seen on the faces of the republicans, the clerk again stopped the roll-call, while the Speaker pounded his desk. ‘ing to obtain order. Neo Quorum. . The vote resulted as all those of yester- day had done—in showing the absence of @ quorum. It was announced as yeas, 167; nays, ©. There had been twenty-two pairs declared—which accounted for the absence