Evening Star Newspaper, February 10, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. pros sac shal PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. no AT THE STAR 0a Tie Bi i Avenne, Cor. 11th Street, The Evening Star Newspaper Oompany, S. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. New York Ofice, 88 Potter Building, SAT RDAY QuINTUPLE SHEET Stan, 81.00 per year; with & Postawe added. $3.00. (Entered ‘Post Office at Wi D.c. os at the Post jashington, second-@'ass 2 "Ali mail subscriptions must be paid in rtising of adver made known on application. : ——————————E—E——Eee SYPHER ASSAILED What the Naval Committee Reports Concerning a Witness Before It. SOME © SINGULAR TRANSACTIONS Motives for Inducing an Investiga- | tion of Contractors’ Premiums. MR. SYPHER’S PAST RECORD. poe ee es The report of Mr. Cummings, the chair- man of the House naval committee,upon the Holman resolution, which declared that the Premiums paid for speed of naval vessels were excessive, and sought to restrain fur- ther payments on that score, has been com- pleted. The report states that a patient effort has been made to unearth facts to warrant an Investigation. Mr. Holman had introduced Mr. J. Hale Sypher as a gentle- man of excellent reputation, who had fur- nished the facts upon which the charges were based; but when the committee, ac- cepting Mr. Holman’s estimate of the gen- tleman, called for facts none were pre- sented. The witness did not believe that any naval officer had been a party to com Tupt combination, but believed that the premium law was unwise and that reckless extravagance had been shown. Patriotic Motives. The report says that Mr. Sypher told the committee he had appeared in this matter purely out of patriotic motives and that he denied any connection with the introduction ef the Blair resolution preceding the Hol- man resolution, and specifically denied that he had prepared the Holman resolution. “Mr. Holman afterward appeared before the committee,” says the report, “and tes- | tified that the preamble and resolutions Were revised by him, but were written by Mr. Sypher. The evidence that Mr. Sypher did not incite the introduction of the pre- amble and resolutions from patriotic mo- tives seems to be clear. On September 28 he wrote Mr. Cramp the letter, which cer- tainly bears no favorable construction. Failing to receive a reply, he secured the introduction of the Blair resolution on Oc- tober 4. As this brought no reply from Mr. Cramp, he caused the Holman resolution to be introduced. The evidence shows that he knew of Mr. Cramp’s movements and had him watched. Whatever his object, it is certain that he incited the Blair resolu- tion, and the Holman resolutions for the purpose of accomplishing it, using not only the committee on naval affairs, but the House of Representatives itself in his effort to further his design. The last resolution of the Holman proposition Is significant In view of the facts presented. It directs the Secretary of th: Navy to withhold further payments of any and all premiums for war- ships until further direction of Congress. It is enough to say that Mr. Holman tes- lifes that this resolution was drawn up by Mr. Sypher and revised by himself. He sought to secure prompt action upon it by the House without reference to the com- m'"te= on naval affairs or the committee on fules.” Sheridan's Opinion of Him. The report also quotes a statement made by Gen. Phil. Sheridan as to Sypher’s char- acter. The statement was made before the committee on military affairs in the inves- tigation of the Fort Brown military affair. Gen. Sheridan said: “I will teil how it was. He was very anxious to have the bill pass- ed for this appropriation, and, as I suppos- ed, for $100,000, what I then thought the heirs were willing to take; and when the bill was passed it was for 316,000, I thought it was very strange that Congress should give 30,000 more than ‘«- people Were willing to take for the prop.rty; and @ome time afterward he came into the of- fice.and 1 asked who got that thing through for $1w),000, when the heirs said they were willing to take $100,000, and he said, ‘I did” “He sald, ‘tl worked that thing through for them.” After that he said, ‘I am going to break it up now, and | want you to help me, because you were not in favor of giving $10),v00 for it.' I asked him why be was going to break it up, and he said they were not willing to,pay him. Hie further said that he had got this $6v,- 000 more. One werd brought on another, and I made him leave the office. Of course, when he asked me to heip him in it I toid him I would not do so. I told him he was a blackmaiier, and he should not stay in my oifice. Some pretty hard words passed, and he leftand I thought he would never speak to me again, but I saw him afterward, and he was as pleasant as ever.” The report goes at some length into Mr. Bypher’s Louisiana record, and testimony taken by a congressional committee is quot- ed to show that he had sought to have a bid for custom house work changed, so that be might share in the profits. ‘The Letter to the Cramps. ‘The committee includes in its report the letter which Mr. Sypher wrote to the ‘Cramps and which is considered to have a igniticant bearing upon the investigation. ‘hat letter is as follows: J. Hale Sypher, attorney and counselor, Washington, D. C. September 28, 1893. My Dear Sir: The inclosed may interest you. Upon inquiry I learn that action ts con- templated which will cut off all premiums, and, in fact, attempt to recover those al- ready paid. A resolution has been prepared im the House, directing the Navy ment and Attorney General to examine this Question and institute proceedings to re- cover all premiums heretofore paid without suthority of law. It is held that premiums = for speed attained by exceeding the iler pressure were illegally paid, and can be recovered; as, for instance, in the case of the New York, your premium of $200,- Q0O was on account of speed attained at a pressure of 175.7, when only 160 pounds was allowed. I have important informa- tion on this subject, which is at your ser- | . Nice if the matter is of interest to you. Very truly, yours, J. HALE SYPHER, Mr. Chas. H. Cramp, Philadelphia, Pa. The testimony of the hearing shows that when questioned by the committee as to his motives for writing this letter Ar. Sypher gave evasive replies, and after much cross-examination could only say that he wanted to “turn a search light” on Mr. Cramp to “smoke him out.” mitted that he had no knowledge that the Attorney General intended to take any steps to recover the $200,000 paid the Cramps. Changing the Record. ‘The report says: “Mr. Sypher’s character is further shown by his action after appearing before the committee on naval affairs in regard to the Holmgn resolution. Under cover of per- mission to revise his statement he not only carried away the officiaf record of his statement before any member of the committee had seen it, but he garbled and mutilated It to such an extent that It was necessary to prepare a new record from the notes of the official stenographer. Worse than this, however, he printed his garbled and mutilated statement without the permission or knowledge of the com- mittee and circulated it. It purported to be the official record of the committee. The | garbled statement {ts printed in the ap- pendix of this report in parallel columns with the official record. ch tlons are given in Italics. The mans show that Mr. Sypher not d his own answers, but changed propounded to him, and at out both questions and an- . in one instance, he placed © printed copy an answer which he forgot te; place in the garbled statement. By adding to his answers he changed the meaning of the questions afterward pro- Pounded to him by the committee. “Im some cases where he answered ‘No, He ad-| Che £vening Star. Vor 84, No. 20,805. WASHINGTON, D. C.. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1894—TWENTY PAGES. TWO CENTS. | i} sir,” he changed the answer to ‘Yes, sir.’ A printed copy of this garbled statement was taken to the room of the committee on Indian affairs, of which Mr. Holman is chairman, and afterward circulated by the clerk of that committee. “In view of these facts it seems to the committee that Mr. Sypher, as a factor in the investigation, should be entirely elimi- nated. He did not present a single fact upon which to base an investigation. Yet, notwithstanding his actions and his char- actor, the committee have patiently investi- gated his charges and allegations, and they proved to be utterly unfounded. “There is not the slightest evidence that any premium has ever been paid that was not fairly earned under the contract. A table which he printed, purporting to be the relative actual cost of the British warship Blake and the New York, was found to be totally incorrect. The figures given as to the cost of the Blake were for her as she was originally designed, and not as she was really built. Among the exhibits put in by Mr. Sypher were two articles from the New York Tribune. He says they were written by Lieut. Henry E. Rhodes, formerly an assistant engineer of the United States navy. Mr. Rhodes denies that he wrote the articles or that he knew anything what- ever concerning them.” Mr. Hulick'’s Statement. On the last day of the committee meet- ing the following occurred: Mr. Hulick (to Gen. Sypher)—Do you still adhere to your former declaration in the statement you gave before this committee relative to myself? In your statement be- fore the committee you said you were per- sonally responsible here or elsewhere for anything you said, and you then charged that I was one of the attorneys connected with these contractors. Do you now re- those statements? er—Mr. Chairman, before an- t may I make a remark? The Chairman—No, sir; you will answer the question; no_ remarks. meee Sypher—Then I have no answer to e. Mr. Hulick—Well, I say to you now that you knew that the statement you made was false when you made It. and it is false to- day as far as I am concerned; as far as any other member of the committee is concerned I do not know anything about it. I was appointed on this committee, sir, by the Speaker without a word having ever been raid to me by him or anybody else about it, and without my ever saying a word to him or anybody else about it, and I knew noth- ing about it at all until my name appeared and was read ovt in the House, and any re- flection you make upon me in connection with this matter and my relationship to any contractors, if you intend it thereby to be a reflection, is false, and you know it. | That is all I have to say. | ——.__ | THE CASE SUBMITTED. Brazil and Arg-ntine Republic Com- missioners at the White House. | The Missiones boundary dispute between | the governments of Brazil and the Argen- tine Republic was formally submitted to President Cleveland today for arbitration under a treaty concluded by the two southern republics. There was no special ceremony connected with the matter. The case of the Argentine Republic was submit- ted to the President at 11 o'clock by Dr. Zeballos, the Argentine minister, who was accompanied by all the members of his le- gation. The representatives on the part of" Brazil were received at noon. Baron Rlo Brancho is the chief commissioner on the part of Brazil. He was accompanied by Minister Mendoncs and his entire suite. Each party delivered its brief and accom- penying maps and exhibits to the President and they were turned over to Private See- | retary Thurber for safe keeping until the President finds time to consider them. The pxpers of Argentine filled one corner of his room and those of Brazil another. oe | ENTIRELY SUCCESSFUL. The Jacketing of a Big Thirteen-Inch Gan Today. The Washington gun factory was the scene of a most interesting ordnance cere- mony this afternoon, being the jacketing of one of the immense 13-inch guns manu- factured for the three first-class battle ships, Massachusetts, Indiana and Oregon. ‘There are twelve of these guns, the one operated upon today being the eleventh of the series, leaving but one to receive the finishing touches. Jacketing a gun is a delicate and difficult operation, and is al- Ways attended with more or less danger | to the life of the rife. Ten of these big guns have been jacketed at the navy yard without an accident, and today’s operation was similarly successful. The slightest deflection of the jacket as it was lowered around the tube might have resulted in the total loss of the gun. The operation this afternoon was witnessed by a large crowd of naval officers and ordnance ex- perts. The entire first class of naval ca- | dets was present, by direction of Secretary Hersert. They came down from Annapolis this morning and will go back this evening. The trial of the first 13-inch gun has been postponed for at least two weeks, | will take that long to prepare steel rails for moving the heavy gun and its mount from its place at the yard to the float at | the wharf, and from the wharf at Indian Head to the place where the test is to be made. The first one of the carriages for these guns was given a preliminary test | at the navy yard this afternoon. ———_-2+ THE PECKHAM NOMINATION. Adverse Report and a Rejection. ‘The opponents to the confirmation of Peck- ham for the Supreme Court speak very con- | fidently today of the prospects of the defeat | of his confirmation. They say that an ad- verse report by the committee {fs assured and that the Senate will reject the nomina- | tion. ——-2+______ Letter Carriers’ Uniforms. The contract for furnishing the letter carriers of the United States with uniforms has been let to Feckheimer Bros. & Co. of Cincinnati and gehm & Co. of Baltimore. The contract price for summer outfits ts $11.%, and for those for winter wear $14.05. ‘This is a departure from post office meth- ods. Heretofore carriers have furnished their own uniforms, and between the differ- ent free delivery offies there has been no | uniformity of style, cut or color. It was recommended by First Assistant Postmas- | ter General Frank Jones that the cost to | the carriers could be reduced and more sat- istying results could be secured by buying the uniforms on the co-operative plan. The Outcome of the experiment will be watched with interest. . <<< —__ Seeretary Ca: jle's Trip. The government lighthouse tender Maple Was used today to take a distinguished party of Treasury officials and their friends on a@ cruise in Chesapeake bay as far as Fort Monroe. The vessel left her wharf in this city about 11 o'clock this morning, and is expected to return there W2dnesday morning next. The party consisted of Sec- retary and Mrs. Carlisle, Assistant Secre- tary Hamlin and his sister, Miss Hamlin, Miss Berry, daughter of ’ Representative Berry of Kentucky, and Mr. Logan Car- lisle, chief clerk of the Treasury. Secre- tary Carlisle and Chief Clerk Carlisle ure reported to be suffering from overwork, and to have gone on the present trip for the purpose of rest and recuperation. Mr. Logan Carlisle has not yet fully recovered from his recent severe spell of illness. ——— Resignations Recet who were found deficient at the recent semi-annual examinations have been re- ceived by the Na be promptly accepted. proficiency is about the average. | An Exposition at Luxemburg. The Department of State has information of a proposed exposition of tools, motors and machinery at Luxemburg during the coming summer. Participation of Ameri- | c@n manufactures is invited. as it) The resignations of several naval cadets | vy Department, and will | It ts said the num- | ber who failed to reach the standard of | INSURGENT SUCCESS The Navy Department Hears From Admiral Benham. NEWS OF SHIPS AT PERNAMBUCO ee New Crews on Nictheroy and America. AFFAIRS IN CONFUSION SS NEW YORK, Feb. 10.—The steamer Hil- ary, Capt. Pinet, arrived this morning from Pernambuco, having sailed from that port on January 24. The Hilary laid in port fourteen days, discharging and taking in cargo. She brought coal from England, 400 tons of which was sold to the government for the use of the cruiser Nictheroy, which is said to consume an enormous quantity of coal, always being under steam, never an- choring since she reached Pernambuco. She is said to be of too deep draught of water to enter the inner harbor. On January 22 she started for Bahia, having in tow the old guardship Parana- hyba and three torpedo boats, which had arrived there from Hamburg. The Paran- ahyba is so slow that she cannot steam against the wind. The Destroyer also ac- companied them under her own steam. The new crews which were put aboard the Nictheroy and America, Capt. Pinet States, are a motley crowd and composed of landsmen, longshoremen, boatmen ard |others picked up along the docks. They present a wretched appearance and they are no more fitted to man a war vessel than a lot of laborers. Aboard the America all is confusion. Ammunition, shells and stores are strewn all around the decks. There was much jealousy shown by the Brazilian commander recently appointed to the Nictheroy. lt was stated that a strong move was made to get rid of Capt. Baker. He, how- erer, still commands the cruiser, and shall do so until the revolution is ended. He says he was appointed to the command by Minister Mendonca, and means to stay. It was rumored that Admiral Mello was very much annoyed that Capt. Baker should take up arms against him, as they are re- ported to be old personal friends. Business continued fairly good at Per- mambuco. Martial law still remained in full force. The sentiments of the people were out and out for Mello. Several men have been arrested and shot by Petxoto's representatives. One of Lamport and Holt’s steamers, which called at Pernambuco from Rio de Janeiro, landed a passenger who was said |to be a partisan of Mello’s. On landing he | was Immediately arrested and shot within twenty-four hours, no less than twenty bullets going through his bedy. Insurgent Success at Rio, The Navy Department today received the following cable: RIO, Feb. ¥.—This morning there was a sharp engagement at Areia Point, resulting in some insurgent success. (Signed) BENHAM.” Arela Point is a projection of land not far from Nictheroy, which is in the same part of the Bay of Rio de Janeiro. Appar- ently Aroia Point would be a good place for land operations against Nicthergy.. z Armacao is the other “pdint from witely Nictheroy can be attacked, and as it has seemed invulnerable to attacks of insur- gents in the past they resolved to attack Area Point. It ts evident that the objective point of attack by the insurgents is the town of Nictheroy, which offers a commanding posi- ton for the direction of artillery fire upon 0. The dispatch does not indicate that the insurgents succeeded in capturing the bat- | tery at Arela Point. —————— MERELY A SPECTATOR. Ex-Senator Ingalls Repudiates an Al- leged Dramatic Scene at Knoxville. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 10.—Ex-Senator J. J. Ingalls says in reference to dispatches | Sent out from here referring to his conver- _sion by Rev. Sam Jones that they are not | true. He had gone to hear Mr. Jones, and | after his discourse had expressed his pleas- ure at meeting him, and indorsed his ser- mon. That was all there was in it. Mr. Ingalls probably referred to the fol- lowing special to the St. Louis Post-Dis- patch from Nashville: There was @ striking scene in the Gospel Tabernacle here last night. Rev. Sam Jones, the evangelist, is preaching there, and in his audience was ex-Senator John J. Ingalls of Kansas. The Senator was deeply interested in Mr. Jones’ remarks, and when, as usual at the close of the sermon, the cali was made for those who had repented and who wanted to lead better lives to come forward and shake his hand, the first to response was the ex-Senator. “Mr, Jones,” he said, “your sermon has nee me. I indorse every word you have said.” “May God bless you,” was the evangelist's response, and the dramatic scene closed. HARD WINDS AND RAIN, Michigan and Ohio Visited by a Se- Vere Storm, MENOMINEE, Mich., Feb. 10.—A terrific wind and rain storm raged here last night. Several lumber piles and a number of sheds were blown down. The wind was from the northeast, the snow was driven in solid sheets and was so drifted that street travel Was completely blocked. DUNDEE, Mich., Feb. 10.—A heavy wind rm struck this place last evening. It Was accompanied by a severe hall storm |that broke many windows. The National Hotel roof was damaged, the two-story brick building owned by Joseph S. Hilton, |ex-county sheriff, is almost a total wreck’ the second story being entirely carried away. The storm struck a house owned by H. Wells, and damaged It badiy. The Ger- man Church was much damaged, and also the M. E. Church and other buildings. CINCINNATI, Ohio, Feb. 10.—An Enquir- | er special from Tiffin, Ohio, says that a ter- |Tific wind and rain storm ‘visited that sec- tion yesterday afternoon. A number of houses were unroofed and shade trees and fences innumerable were blown down. Hicksville had a similar experience. The | storm came up just as the school at Hicks- | ville was about to be dismissed and the _teachers held the pupils for several hours until it became safe to them to go home. There was no lightning, but the rainfall was tremendous. ——————— ARRESTED AS WRECKERS. | | Texas Negroes Suspected of Thursday | Night's Outrage Near Housten. HOUSTON, Tex., Feb. 10.—The officers in pursuit of the Missour!, Kansas and Texas train wreckers have traced their way to | the home of Jesse Dillingham, colored, who, | with his wife, was arrested last night. The prisoners’ stories vary very much. Another negro, named Jchnson, has been arrested as a result of the woran’s state- ments. A third suspect, who is held in secret, has made a confession exonerating himself, but it implicates others. More arrests are ex- pected. Lynching is strongly talked of. leew Canadians Want the Big Fight. | TORONTO, Feb. 10.—It is said that a | syndicate of Toronto and Orillia capitalists will offer $30,000 to have the Corbett-Jack- son fight take place at Strawberry Island, lim Lake Simcoe. ITARIFF CHANGES Work of the Senate Finance Oommittee on the Wilson Bill. The Object is to Make the Measure More Nearly Approach a Revenue Basis. ‘The changes made in the tariff bill by the Senate committee will not be of a character to make it a substitute for the Wilson bill. It will be the Wilson bill reported with amendments. The subcommittee is trying to make the bill more nearly approach a revenue basis than it does in its present shape, and its intention is to make re- ductions to revenue duties in a line with the temper of the House and in line with the bill, but more pronounced, and also to restore some duties which the House de- stroyed in order to bring in revenue. There will be a shifting about in some of the schedules which will make apparent changes in the bill, with slight Increase on particular items and reductions on other items in various schedules, in all of which, however, the general character of the Wil- son bill will be maintained, although the tendency will be toward a reduction of duties, ‘The Wool and Iron Schedules. Wool will remain on the free list and there will be made a number of more or less important changes in the woolen manu- factures schedules, the general result being a reduction. Iron ore will also remain on the free list and there will be reductions in the iron and steel schedules, steel rails be- ing probably reduced. A duty of 50 cents per ton will be put on coal, but this will not affect other schedules. in a general way the amended bill will be less considerate of the manufacturing in- terests than is the Wilson bill. Some of the schedules in the Wilson bill retained designedly at the protection point will be reduced. Lumber and salt will be retained on the free list. The subcommittee is at present undecided between the proposition to put uniform duties on all sugars, raw and refined, and another, designed especially as a blow at the trusts, to put raw sugar at a cent and a quarter and refined at one cent. There {s some controversy over the proposition to increase the tax on beer, but the Indications point to no increase. The committee contemplates increasing the tax on whisky to $1.10 and to extend the bonded period for five years and have the tax ap- ly to all whisky in bond at the time the w takes effect. The Income Tax. ‘The proposition h: been made to make the income tax sections a separate bill, but it meets with little favor, and the intention is to include the Income tax in the customs bill. In fact, the restoration of the tax on sugar carries with it an understanding be- tween the sugar and income tax men, who antagonized each other in the House, but will come together in the Senate. In a gen- eral way it is the purpose of the committee to so amend the bill as to get the most revenue possible out of every item on the dutiable list. The Whisky Bond Period. Senators Blackburn and Lindsay of Kentucky were before the Senate sub- committee on finance today in the in- terest of the whisky distillers of Ken- tucky. Their argument was devoted almost exclusively to the extension of the bonded period, which the distillers say in the present depressed condition of business is absolutely necessary to them. They repre- sent that there are now 85,000,000 gallons of whisky In bonded warehouses, which must be taken out under the Wilson bill within! the next three years, much of it within the next year or two. This even without the Increage of the tax would render the preseat circumstances a hardship, and with the Increase the bur- den will be that much heavier. Senator Voorhees, chairman of the finance committee, accompanied the Kentucky Sen- ators on their visit to the subcommittee, a fact which is considered as favorable to the extension of the bonded period. He had previously been in conference with some of the representatives of the distilling in- terest. Senator McPherson was also closeted with the subcommittee for a considerable time during the day. + e+_______ BRIGHTWOOD WANTS PROTECTION. A Delegation Asks That a Fire En- gine Ue Provided. The Commissioners gave an audience this morning to a delegation from the Bright- wood Citizens’ Association, which called to urge the necessity of providing that section with a fire engine. Messrs, A. L. Keene, N. E. Robinson and Daniel Ramey repre- sented the association. The gentlemen strongly advocated the lo- cation of a regular engine house at some point between Takoma Park and Bright- wood. Such a company would be within easy access of Mount Pleasant, and would be a great protection against fire in that portion of the suburbs, which are now un- protected. Capt. Powell stated that by the end of June the water department hoped to have water mains laid as far as Bright- wood, and this would give water facilities. Commissioner Ross said he appreciated the situation, and thought the suburbs were entitied to protection. Chief Parris was heartily in accord with the proposition, and promised to give the delegation the benefit of his experience in selecting a suitable site for an engine house. The Commissioners asked the delegation to embody their views in a letter, which they would present to Congress in support of the proposition. ——_o__ SURGENT SUCCESS. But Exactly the Extent Admiral Ben- ham Does Not State. Secretary Herbert this morning made public the following brief but significant cable message from Admiral Benham, in command at Rio: “RIO, Feb. 9, 1804. “This morning sharp success. “(Signed) BENHAM.” Areia Point is the extreme end of the small peninsula on which the town of Nictheroy is located. It is a very desira- ble position for an assault on the Bra- zilian capital. It is strongly fortified and is the key to Nictheroy, which is the principal stronghold of the government forces across the river from Rio. With Nictheroy and Arela in their possession the insurgents would practically control Rio harbor and would be in a position to make a successful bombardment of the city proper. Admiral Benham's dispatch is rather vague and indefinite, but as inter- preted at the Navy Department it means that the insurgents have made important inroads at Arela Point, but have not yet effected its capture. + 0+ THE SILVER SEIGNIORAGE BILL. Fate of the Mensure Somewhat in Doubt, but It May Pass. The contest over the Bland silver seignior- age bill was thrown over until Monday by the adjournment, and it was understood debate on the measure will not close before Tuesday afternoon. The fate of the bill is somewhat in doubt. A good many silver men are not In favor of its adoption at this time, but the fact that to vote against it will ‘embarrass them may secure enough votes to pass tt. The chances are that there will be a very large list of absentees when- ever an attempt is made to reach a vote and it may be very difcult to secure a| quorum, engagement at | Areia Point, resulting in some insurgent | FINANCIAL VIEWS Secretary Carlisle's Statements Be- - fore a House Committee, AGAINST COINING THE SEIGNIORAGE How He Will Use the Money Derived From Bonds. REINFORCEMENTS NEEDED Sinks aoa ebinaonasieat: Secretary Carlisle's exact views and pol- icy on finacial questions, including silver selgniorage bonds and finance in general, sre set forth and amplified in an important document which reached the House com- mittee on judiciary today. It embraced the stenographic report of Mr. Carlisle's hear- ing before the committee some time since. At the time of the hearing care was taken that nothing but the most meager and gen- eral details of Mr. Carlisle's utterances should be made public. The testimony was transcribed and submitted to the Secretary for such correction and revision as he de- sired to make. He also went over the proofs with care, so that the document sub- mitted today elaborates the Secretary's views after each statement has been care- fully weighed by him. Concerning the coinage of silver seignior- age Representative Oates asked: “I want to know what you think of the proposition that is now pending before the House on a report from a committee of the coinage of the $55,000,000 of seigniorage from silver and the issuing of certificates upon that?” Secretary Carlisle: “Well, I prefer not to give an opinion about that unless the gentlemen desire, because I believe that comes before another committee.” It was explained that the coinage com- mittee had reported the Bland seigniorage bill and later Mr. Oates asked: “I want to ask you if there is any ob- jection to the proposition pending about coining the seigniorage and issuing certifi- cates against that?” No Dollar Back of the Certificates. Secretary Carlisle: “Well, the effect of that would be that the Secretary of the Treasury would issue silver certificates call- ing for dollars, I suppose, when there were no dollars behind them, and if they came in for redemption, as they might, the Sec- retary of the Treasury would be compelled, I suppose, to use gold or whatever else he had to redeem them.” Mr. Boatner: “Could not you coin the silver and use that?” Secretary Carlisle: ‘Yes, in about two years; it would take about that time.” Mr, W. A. Stone of Pennsylvania: “Have not you got enough silver to redeem it?” Secretary Carlish No, sir; certificates are outstanding against what we have, ex- cept about $5,000,000 or $6,000,000." Mr. Stone: “What would be the objection to issuing certificates on account of the selgniorage?”" Secretary Carlisle: “I was going to state that if we should issue certificates with nothing behind them but bullion, I think they would be greatly discredited in the public mind.” Mr. Stone: “And in order to keep up the credit, you would have to redeem them in gold? Secretary Carlisle: “They would have to ed it in silver be redeemed in something.” Mr. Stone—“If you redeem it would be discredited and fou would have to redeem it in goid.” » Secre: Carlisie—“They would call for ver dollars, and there are no silver dol- lars to redeem them.” In answer to a question as to how fast the coinage of the seigniorage could be push- ed Mr. Carlisle said: “If all other coinage were suspended at the mints I estimate that we could coin about 4,:40,0v0 silver dollars per month or $48,000,000 a year.” The bond question was treated very elaborately by Mr. Carlisle. His purpose as to using the proceeds of the sale of bon is sharply set forth in the following col loquy. Mr. Stone—“I understand that your pur- Pose is simply to sell bonds to redeem United States notes and treasury notes, ae surplus to replenish the reserve How He Will Use the Bonds. Secretary Carlisle—“That is my purpose, but I want to say to you gentlemen that the Secretary of the Treasury may be con- fronted hereafter with a very serious ques- tion, as to what he will do in the event Congress fails or refuses to make provision to supply the deficiency.” Suppose, for instance, Congress passes a law, which it does every session, making appropriations for some particular purpose (the payment of pensions, for an illustra- tion) and makes it the duty of the Secre- tary of the Treasury to pay them out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated (which is the language of all of your appropriation laws) and the Secre- tary of the Interior makes a requisition upon the Treasury Department for $5,000,000 to pay pensions. The Secretary of the Treasury finds no money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated except the money that has been realized from the sale of bonds. He will be confronted with the question at once whether he will stop the Payment of pensions, whether he will stop | the payments upon public buildings, whether he will stop payment for work upon rivers and harbors, whether he will withhold sal- aries, or use the money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Mr. Boatner—Would you consider it im- proper to give your opinion as to the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury? Secretary Carlisle—I will give it very plainly. I believe it is my duty to pay pen- sions and all other public obligations, and, unless Congress stops me, I shall do while I stay there I Shall endeavor to main- tain the credit of the government by pay- ing its obligations. Mr. Boatner—Out of the proceeds of the bonds which you now propose to sell? Secretary Carlisle—I would not use the proceeds of bonds if it was possible to avoid it, but I would not let the obligations of the government go to protest and fail to pay the appropriations made by Con- gress for legitimate purposes and for earry- ing on the expenses of the government as long as there is a dollar in the treasury. The Treasury Must Be Keinforcea. Mr. Carlisle further stated his reluctance in resorting to bonds in the following col- loquy: Mr. Boatner—In the present condition of the treasury, and with the legislation that is in sight, do you regard it as a necessity that the treasury should be reinforced by | the sale of bonds? | Secretary Carlisle-I do, unquestionably, or else I would never have proposed to issue bonds. I did it very reluctantly. I hesitated a long time, sometimes I feared I was waiting too long, but the situation j at last became so critical that I telt it was | my duty, and especially in view of what I regarded as a very uncertain prospect of securing any immediate relief by congres- sional legisiation. As to the kind of a bond which Mr. Car- lisle thinks Congress should authorize there was the following: Mr. Boatner—The plan that you suggest to remedy this trouble would be for the Secretary to issue bonds for a specific pur- pose; is that the point? Secretary Carlisle—I think a short-time bond should be authorized, bearing a low rate of interest, to be issued in small de- nominations, which, I think, would be taken largely by the people who have money in savings banks, and the Secretary could sell them or use the proceeds in the payment of expenditures, and redeem them out of fu- ture revenues. That was my recommenda- tion on the subject, simply because I saw it was impossible for Congress to provide, | sworn not to make public anything testified by taxation, any revenue which could be collected in time for this fiscal year, | Mr. Stone—And you did not see any dis- | Position to do it? Hi Secretary Carlisie—-I concluded to issue | bonds under the existing authority, a thing } I disliked as much as any gentieman upon | this committee, for I did not want to see | the public debt of the country increased in any way whatever, or for any purpose whatever. The Gold Clause Exptaine. The “gold clause” in Mr, Carlisle's offer | of bonds brought out the following explana~) tion from the Secretary: Mr. Batley—How are you to be paid for the bonds now advertised for sale? Do you demand gold coin? Secretary Carlisie—Yes, sir; the proposal calls for gold coin. Mr. Bailey—This ts the first time there has been any discrimination? Secretary Carlisle—No; Secretary Sherman sold bunds for gold coin. Mr. Bailey—I_ mean this is the first since the act of 1878 was passed. When Mr. Sherman sold those bonds gold was the only legal tender. Secretary Carlisle—What the Secretary of the Treasury Says is substantially this: “Congress has invested me with authority to issue bonds and seil them for coin. I will rot issue bonds and sell them unless the purchaser will give gold coin for them, | because gold coin is what is needed to main- tain resumption and the parity of the two metals. Mr. Oates—Bonds are made payable in coin? Secretary Carlisle—Not gold coin, but 1fi coin. When Congress authorized the Sec- retary of the Treasury and compelled him by law to buy $156,000,000 worth of silver it specified in definite terms the buying of sil- ver, and he did it. Another Issue of Greenbacks. Mr. Carlisle's views were secured on the plan of another issue of greenbacks. He was asked if it would not be feasible and entirely practicable to authorize the Secre- tary of the Treasury to issue treasury notes sufficient to relieve the wants and necessi- ties of the treasury. Secretary Carlisle—Why, of course, Con- gress could do that, and the Secretary of the Treasury would use them. If you ask me as a finantial question whether I think it wise in Congress to authorize the issue | of $200,000,000 in greenbacks, I should say no, because I believe in the first place there is an ample supply of money in the country for the business that is being transacted and a great deal more than ts being used. In concluding the hearing Mr. Carlisle expressed himself vigorously as to the valid- ity of the present bond issue. He was asked by Mr. Stone if the bonds would be hurt by legal questions. Secretary Carlisle—No; because tf the Sec- retary of the Treasury should issue these bonds and take the gold and dump it in the middle of the Atlantic ocean it would not vitiate the bonds. THE JAIL INQUIRY. Officials Examined by the Justices of | the District Supreme Court. Chief Justice Bingham and Justices Mc- Comas and Cole of the District Supreme Court, who are investigating the charges submitted to the court by the Attorney General respecting Warden Burke's man- agement of the District jail, sat yesterday afternoon from 3 o'clock until nearly dark hearing the statement, it és said, of Deputy Warden Benton Russ. It was stated at the city hall today that the charges submitted by the Attorney General alleged a certain laxity of discipline and inefficiency in the matter of Warden Burke's management of the jail, rather than any gross extrava- gance or other misconduct on the part of the warden. It is impossible to learn pre- cisely just what allegations the charges, which cover several pages, contain. dt is stated that Warden Burke has ask- ed the court to examine every employe at the jail. So far the only persons who have been examined are Warden lurke, Dep- uty Warden Russ and Agent Perry of the Department of Justice, and the record of their statements, taken by Clerk Downs of Criminal Court No. 1, makes a very voluminous mass of testimony. The great- est secrecy is maintained by the court con- cerning the statements of the witnesses, it being understood that all “of them were | to by them. There has been, it is said, a conflict of authority between the Department éf Jus- tice and the District Supreme Court for several years respecting the management of the District jail, and more than once the department has recommended to Congress the passage of a law which would place the entire control of the prison and its officials | in the hands of the Attorney General. tn- der existing laws the Department of Jus- tice has charge of the financial affairs of the jail only, and it ts this divided author- ity which is said by some to be the founda- tion of the present investigation. It is ex- plained that the charges do not question the integrity of Warden Burke. Yoday the justices will take the state- ments of several of the guards and em- ployes of the jail, having sent for all the guards who could be spared at 3 o'clock. eo THE ARMENIA QUESTION, At the State Department. It is Said to Be Perennial. The reported action of Minister Terrell in demanding the release of two Arment- ans imprisoned by the Turkish govern- ment does not surprise the State Depart- ment. As it is expressed there, “the Armenian question we have always with | us.” They have, however, no information of any threat made by Terrell to send for an ironclad, | The Armenians in the United States recently have been conducting an organized agitation for the protection of naturalized American Armenians from the exactions of the Turkish government. i There are a large number of these cases | constantly before the State Department and there is more than a suspicion in some of them that there is buse of the priv. ileges of American citizenship. The indica- tions are that some of these men come over here simply to secure cfuzenship and then go back to live In Turkey with the | purpose of securing protection from the United States government. This is ac- corded them on being demanded. The Turkish government does not recognize the expatriation of its subjects, but keeps those who claim American citizenship in prison until they can be deported. This has been the way in which these cases are invariably disposed of. | The cruisers Chicago and Bennington are the only U. S. ships in the Mediterranean at this time. The Bennington is on her way to Gibraltar, from thence to sail around Cape Horn. The Chicago is just out of dry dock at Genea and has gone to Naples. | Assistant Secretary Curtis is Acting Sec- retary of the Treasury in the absence of Secretary Carlisle. Col. William Brown of New York, re- cently defeated for Congress by Mr. L. E. Quigg, is visiting his father-in-law, Gen. N._L, Jeffries. Gen. Lew Wallace, the author of Ben Hur, is now at the Ebbitt, where he will remain for a week, E. 3%. Bartlett, president of the Empire Warehouse Company of New York, is at | the Ebbitt. J. D. Taylor of Columbus, Ohio, is at the itt. “G. R. Hi of Mississippi and D. H. Mac- Adam of Missouri are at the Varnum. Gens. Thomas L. Casey and C. C. Augur- hause sent their resignations as members of the Washington National Monument So- ciety, following those of Mr. J. C. Ban- croft Davis, Judges Cox and MacArthur and Mr. Horatio King, secretary, presented a few days ago. a Acts Approved. The President has approved the act ex-| tending the time allowed the Umatilla Ir- rigation Company for the construction of its ditch across the Umatilla Indian reser- vation, Oregon. \ index to advertise- ments will be found on Page 3. UNDER THE SURFACE The Great Political Conflict Going On in Congress. DIVISIONS AMONG ‘THE The Next House May Choose the Next President. PLANS OF REPUBLICANS Both -political parties are already making preparations for an unusual contest in the congressional elections next fall. Under the surface of a somewhat eccen- tric and erratic Congress the fiercest pollti- cal duel of recent years is being fought out. There is so much on the surface of affairs which is distracting, so many small con- ficis and irritating disagreements and dis- putes over what appear to be small mat- ters, that the vital action is lost sight of and public attention is attracted to the hap- penings of today, yesterday and tomorrot The details of the conflict attract attention 4S Separate issues, and the grand final ob- ject which is being striven for is more or jess obscured in the confusion. The whole grand situation is almost too big to be taken in by the observer. There is a three- cornered fight as fierce as anything that has been known in politics, and the fare seeing leaders in Congress are reaching out in all directions as far as they can, to grasp that which they see in the near fu- ture. The conflict within the democratic party is irrepressible. Though the adminis- tration, through Mr. Cleveland's advange of position, has been generally able to command Congress, as in the silver fight, the Hawaiian matter and other things which have been brought boldly before the | Public, wicked thrusts are being made con- stantly by the opposing democrats, and no unity of thought or action is found. In @ hundred ways that do not come to the at- tention of the public, democratic Senators and Representatives attack the administra- tion, and there is a constant plotting and counter plotting for domination in the party. Republicans Engaged in Grand Strat- ce. ‘The republicans in both houses are strive ing for the bigger game, and their action, as the situation is presented to them day by day, is governed, not by a purpose to effect this proposition or that which may be brought forward, but to place themselves in a position where they shall stand apert urharmed, and preserve their forces im compact order for the struggle which will come when the warring factions of the democrats settle their differences in one Way or another, and join in the attack upon the common enemy. The purpose of the republican leaders is to keep up conflict within the lines of the other as long as possible, irritating first one then the other to still more bitter disagreements. Their policy with the tariff bill in the House fluenced by the condition in which found the democrats, and by their action they assisted the most their opponents to gain a partial ad in their contention for ane party. Then, again, they weight of their votes to encourage the oth- er faction of the fight. In the Senate they might have the contest over the federal elections indefinitely and perhaps have defeated it, but here the policy of giving their opponents every opportunity to do what they as unwise controlled, and the passage the bill was permitted in order to give clear way for the tariff legislation, which, while opposing in all earnestness, they would probably not defeat if they could. The Tariff in the Senate. It is believed that when the tariff bill finally gets in the Senate its course through that body will not be seriously obstructed by the republicans. Republican members of the finance committee stand together with but one purpose and they are offering no obstruction. They made in the commit- tee a formal demand for hearings and en- tered their formal protest against the action of the democrats, but gracefully stepped ide before the superior power of the ma- jority of the committee. Gravely, and in the most formal way, they will make a display of their antagonism to the bill in the various stages of its progress through the committee, but they will not attempt to impede it. In the Senate it is believed they will follow the same course. There is some difference of opinion among them as to the policy to be pursued in the Senate, but they will act unitedly in support of whatever policy is decided on. A great many letters are being received by republican Senators urging them to filibuster against the bill and to delay its passage as long as if they cannot defeat it. One argument presented in favor of this course is that the longer the delay and uncertainty, the more keenly will be felt the tnconventence an@ injury to business, caused by the reviston of the tariff. On the other hand, contention is made that though this be so, there might be a reaction, injurious to the republicans, by the responsibility being put upon them for the protracted uncertainty, which might be even more diastrous to some business interests than any injuries which the law itself might inflict—at least, if not more disastrous, more irritating. The are considering this matter calmly and judicially d will follow that course seems most apt to emphasize and impress on the public an appreciation of the con- sequences of democratic legislation. What- ever course they follow, they have no idea of defeating the bill, and the chances are that their policy will be to let the democrats Fe} id | have the right of way after they have made a suitable display of their opposition, and then let the bill go through to work out the consequences which may attend {t. The desire of the leaders of both parties is that the bill. should into operation early enough for its effect on the country to be felt and fully appreciated before the next congressional election The democrats, while striving to carry out their party policy as each faction under- stands it, are fighting even more fiercely between themselves as to the exact scope of that policy than they are to force it past the republican opposition, The House and the Presidential Elee- tion. The end of all this fighting and plotting is the control of the next House and that, too, because of an importance attached to it far beyond the ordinary question of con- trolling the legislative body. While noth+ ing is being satd publicly on the question there are very few prominent men in na- tional politics who do not feel that there is a probability that the next House of Representatives may be called upon to elect the President. Among the democratic lead- ers the belief that this will be so ts almost universal. Mr. Cleveland and his advisers entertain this opinion and so do the demo- cratic leaders in both the Senate and the se, whether adyainistration or anti-ad- The extremists not only inistration men. Sater that the next House may elect the President, but most of them would be | gratitied t it so. They believe that the dissatisfaction among democrats with Mr. Cleveland’s administration will enlarge the vot the populists besides losing the» state of New York to the democrats, and they argue that if New York should go republ when the presidential election comes on, and the populists carry just those states which they carried before, not counting one southern state, Alabama, ch it is believed they will carry next tion next fall of the House of Representa- tives is looked upon as probably a presi- dential 4s Well as @ congressivnel election,