Evening Star Newspaper, March 21, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY Exe PT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDING 1101 Pennsylvania Aveaue, Cor. 1th Sireet, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, S. H. KAU P MANN, Pres’, New York Office, 83 Potter Build ons THE EVENING STAR is served ty on city by carriers, on their own « Bor eek, or AS por inoath. “c 7 2 conts eaci States onth. iAP) BDAY QUINTUPLESuPrT STAR, 2) with fi Postace aided 84.0) ” (Entered at tho P. Olle ac Washi ase mail matter.) "ALL mail sabsert ous Rates of advertixiag ym ny Ww or Canada—postaze prep a s inust be paid in 2dvance. ade Known On application. ——————____' THE OTHER SIDE —>——_—_ Representative Breckinridge’s De- fense Told to the Jury. POLLARD FINISHES HER STORY Mr. Breckinridge as a Victim of a Designing Woman. ———— ee 4 PRETENDED ENGAGEMENT a ee A new interest was given to the trial of the celebrated case of Madeline V. Pollard vs. W.C.P.Breckinridge today by the opening for the defense. The speculation as to the line to be followed by the defense was set | at rest, as Mr. Shelby in the opening state ment of Mr. Breckinridge’s side of the case stated very clearly what the defense claim- ed the facts to be, and what they would expect to prove. The ,defendant will ac- knowledge the improper relations he held with the plaintiff, though he denies that he had wronged or seduced her. It will be contended that their meetings occurred mainly through her solicitations and impor- tunities. The defense denies nearly all the story of Miss Pollard that indicates that Mr. Breckinridge sought to continue im- Proper relations with her, and asserts that the defendant was absolutely ignorant of all that she says occurred when she was in Cincinnati in 1885, at the time she says a child was born, and when, according to her story, Mr. Breckinridge was assisting her im the preparation of letters intended to misiead her mother and Mr. Rodes, her elderly suitor, as to her whereabouts. The defense claims that in later years Miss Pollard persecuted Mr. Breckinridge in this city, exacted money from him, attempt- ed to kill him and finally induced him to be & party to a pretense to be engaged to be married. He was persuaded to make this Pretense, the defense claims, by a promise of kers to go away and gradually get out of his life. In other words, as to the prom- ise of marriage, the defense, in substance, that Mr. Breckinridge was duped and Dlack- mailed into it. The Plaintiffs Endurance. The remarkable story of the plaintiff was finished this morning. She was on the stand for half an hour after the court opened, and im that half hour Mr. Butterworth tinished his cross-examination. Counsel for platntiff @id not think it necessary to ask her any Questions in the way of redirect examina- tion, and the plaintiff, as soon as she left the stand, took her departure with Mrs. Ellis from the court room. From a physical point of view the plain- ff stood the three days of cross-examina- tion remarkably well. She said this morn- ing, however, when Mr. Butterworth was ressing her as to her memory of a cer- tain date, that she might not be accurate, adding: “I am very worn and tired.” There was a court room filled with spec- tators today. It was quite noticeable how many of them were oid men, gray bearded and spectacled men. When the plaintiff's testimony was closed naturally there was @ good deal of comment upon the general effect of her story and the remarkable manner in which she had borne the cross- examination. Miss Pollard’s intelligence and her soft, musical voice undoubtedly made a favorable impression on her hear- ers. She is not pretty, but her face be- comes interesting as she talks, as it read- ily reflects her emotions. Yhe Defeuse Surprised. The defense was evidently taken a little by surprise when the plsintiff’s counsel an- nounced her case closed when Miss Pollard left the stand, for they had to have a con- sultation before going on. They evidently expected other testimony to be offered by the plaintiff. Mr. Shelby, who opened the for the defendant, attempted no ora- He spoke in an easy tone, and con- himself almost wholly to a narrative the facts as the defense say they will found to be when all the proof has been Shelby is Representative Breckinridge’s law partrer in Lexington. He ts the lawyer who struck Mr. Johnson for remarks mads by Mr. Johnson in an argument in the cease. He is small and slight and apparently about forty-five years old His fase ts pale, and he looks like a hard-working and studious lawyer, much confined to his office. He wears spectacles and has a light-colcred mustache. His hair hag disappeared from his temples and is growing thin on the top of his head. Alto- gether, his marmer ts pleasing. The Contract With Rodes. After the formal opening of court this morning Miss Pollard was put upon the stand again, and her cross-examination was taken up again by Mr. Butterworth, who anounced yesterday afternoon that he was almost through, and that he could up in a comparatively few minutes morning ff an adjournment was taken at the point it had reached at 3 o'clock. There was an impression about that Miss iit i} Pollard was the last witness on her side of he case, and that at the conclusion of her T ination —* CthhcanlE SA i (7 theme morning to Miss | Che Lvening Star. Vor 84. No. 20,838. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1894—TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. fulfilled as te the repayment of the money received from Mr. Rodes. The sum men- tioned was in the neighborhood of 500, perhaps three times as much as he ever | given her, as she knew it must be a long | time before she could ever pay it back. In | point of fact, she had never paid him, nor |had ever had any money with which to pay any one anything. “Did Mrs. Logan recognize you when you were in Cincinnati taking depositions, and she saw you there, Miss Pollard?” asked Mr. Butterworth. ‘ot at first, for she was ail used up by the strain to which she had been subjected by your examine: Later, however, she did recognize me ful fs Miss Pollard went on to tell who were | present in Mr. Logan's office in Cincinnati when Mrs. Logan's deposition was taken, calling off all the names readily. She was asked if it was not true that when Mrs. Logan first saw her that Mrs. Logan failed to ize her at all, and even the name “Louise Wilson” did not convey any mean- ing to her. Miss Pollard admitted that such was the case. “That was the first time she had seen you since this suit was begun, was it not?” Miss Pollard was asked. “It was the first time I had seen her since the summer of 1885." As to Her Answers. At this point Mr. Butterworth protested that the witness was wasting too much breath in so answering a question that might have been answered categorically. “She hasn't wasted a bit of breath,” re- plied Mr. Wilson in an undertone ard rather sententiously. “In stating that she had not secn Mrs. Logan since 1885, she answered your question.” Judge Bradley remarked that the witness was not under any obligatioa to answer a question in a manner to suit the la and in point of fact, he said, she had an- ered the question ful and satisfactor- ily. Mr. Butterworth then asked the witness whether she was the author of the article in the New York World, and whetber she had received back her manuscript. Mr. Carlisle objected, because the manner of producing the article had already been gene into. Judge Bradley sustained the objec- tion and decided that the wi to get at facts contained in the article was to ask her direct questioas about material points. Miss Pollard went on to tell how she came to first adopt the name of Breckin- ridge as a middie name, and said that it was at Mr. Breckinridge’s suggestion and with his consent. The name was put cn some visiting cards which she ordered with his knowledge. The plaintiff then described the trunk that she had with her when she went to Cincinnati to go to Dr. Street's, sa. that it was made of zinc. She was asked if it Was not true that she had suffered from an accident in 1847. In answer she said that in the summer of 1887 she was thrown from her horse and had-two ur three ribs broken. At this point Mr. Butterworth was reading from the World, and it was evi- dent that his question was inspired by a statement contained ‘n the article, in which Miss Pollard first gave to the public hi side of this now famous case. It was the last question propounded to the plaintiff, who had been on the stand for more than | three days, and in that time had proved herself to be one of the most remarkable, contained, keen and discerning witnesses ever seen on the stand. The Witness Dismissed. “That is all, Miss Pollard,” said Mr. But- terworth, who, since iast Friday had kept up a steady fusillade of questions fur which she was never at a ioss for a reply. The material incidents of her story covered a period of just ten years. The examination, however, ran back over her entire life, tut no matter whether the point to be reached was five or twenty years back she wes al- ways able to give a clear and satisfactory answer. “That ts all, Miss Polla, lisle, for her lawyers iad decided to waive any re-direct examination. She was at liberty te leave the stand. She waa ev: 4 * sald Mr. Car- dently relieved that her part was over with. Mr. Carlisle escorted her from the court toom. THen, returning to the room, ne ad. dressed the court In a quiet tone of veice: The Plain! Rests Her Case. “May it please your honor, the plaintiff rests her case here.” The court was opened at 1 o'clock, and by half past the c as turned over to the defense to answer and explain away so far as they could the testimony brought to prove that Representative W. C. P. Breckinridge of Kentucky had seduced and promised to marry Mis$ Madeline Pollard and then had violated nis prouise. The Defense Confer. Mr. Butterworth asked the clerk for some depositions and when he received them Stated that the defense would like to con- fer a few moments. The court aseenting, Messrs. Butterworth, Stoll, ‘Thompson and Sheiby, with the defendant, withdrew from the court room, carrying with them a large packet of papers. They went to Marsnal Wilson's office, where they heid a consulta- | tion. Lawyers Thompson and Stoll returaed to the court room at five mMutes to 11. A min- ute later Messrs. Breckinridge, Butterworth and Shelby followed. Opening Argument for the Defense. Mr. Shelby, after looking over some pa- pers with Mr. Stoll, took his plaice before the jury to make the opening for the de- fense. He spoke quietly and earnesily, but without any effort at oratorical effect. He practically denied in toto all the charges cf seduction and breach of promise. He said that the case, while techmically of promise, really covers a wider scope than that. The charge is made that the defend- duced himself to a young an} innocent school girl, took advantage of her youth and innocence to seduce her, became the father of children by her,which he agreed with ber to abandon, and that years afterward he entered into an agreement to marry her. A General Dental. Now, he was authorized by the de to that Mr. Breckinridge never did se- duce this woman; that she never until the | fling of this suit claimed to hin nor ep- prised him that she had borne hm a chi ~~ (Continued on Second Page.; -| Commissions to them to date from April 2. and nominally an action simply for preach | ant, a man of prominence, In 18$4 intro- | [of assembly. The constitution required that | | will have the effect of ending | deadlock ADRAIN'S TITLE VOID|COMPULSory PERMITS Decision of the Supreme Court at Trenton, N. J. THE QUO WARRANTO PROCEEDINGS Republican Claims Declared to Be Correct. OFFICERSCOMMISSIONED ——— TRENTON, N. J., March 21.—The su- Preme court decides that it has jurisdiction in the senatorial dispute and can grant the writ of quo warranto asked for. Chief Justice Beasley says that the senate is not @ continuous body and that Adrain is not entitled to be president. He says that President Rogers’ title is valid. This is a victory for the republicans. As soon as he learned of the decision Gov. Werts sent for the republican treas- urer-elect and controller-elect and issued The Opinion Read. The supreme court room was crowded this morning when Chief Justice Beasley and his associates took their seats upon the bench. The members of the legisla- ture were nearly all present, and great anx- lety was expressed on every countenance onthe the decision in the senatorial dis- pute. The chief justice read the opinion of the court in the matter. He began with a statement of the fucts, made very briefly. The object of the contention, he raid, was to decide which was the genuine and which the spurious senate. But first the counsel for Mr. Rogers had asked whether this court had jurisdiction in such a case. said there was no cecision in the past cen- tury that did not deny any proposition that the ccurt had not the jurisdiction over such cases. The court had no jurisdiction when the legislative functione were ertirely within their own sphere. The court did not claim the slightest legal faculty to supervise or interfere with the legisiative body when it did not violate the provisions of the Constt- tution, but otherwise it had. No crisis could more in.peratively call for judicial intervention than the one under consideration. The court, however, wished to be understood that it would go no fur- ther than to decide the question before it. It would not interefre with the senate in its operations as a true serate. Not a Continuous Body. The chief justice then took up the matter of the continuous body and declared that | such a doctrine was not in the constitution, but was only created by the construction | of that instrument. The constitution, clear- ly, did not define the life of the senate. he chief justice claimed that the consti- tution did net provide for a continuance of the senate itself, but by providing a con- tinuous membership it tmparted the poten- tiality of a continuous body. The clause of the constitution giving this idea went no further than to give the senate the aptitude | for a continuous existence. The vivifyin, force in the United States Senate is given | by the continuous presiding officer. But | the national Constitution could have but lit- tle effect in construing that of New Jersey. | The importance of the function given to | one class of senators only to take part in the organization as was claimed was - to the theory of such construction. ‘he mandate of the constitution, also, that the senate should be composed of one mem- ber from each county could not be observed unless all took part in the organization. Contrary to the Spirit of Democracy. Further than this, the doctrine that two- thirds of the members could organize the senate was not only contrary to the spirit of the constitution, but was opposed to the great principle that the will of the majority of the people shall prevail. The requirement of a yearly organization placed both the house and the senate on an equal founda- tion. The assemblymen and senators are re- quired to meet annually; such a requirement was appropriate to a body expiring yearly, but was entirely inappropriate to a contin- | uous body. The senate of this state was no} more a continuous body than was the house | the two houses should meet in this sense the term “house” all the members. After a thorough study of the constitu- tion, the chief justice said he had come to the conclusion that all its propositioas were to the effect that the claims now advocated for the first time of the senate being a con- tinuous body was entirely without fouda- tion. It was strange, the chief justice! thought, that in so long a period such a claim had not before been asserted. At this late day it was an entire novelty, | and, like all other novelties in legal mat: | ters, was not well founded. | The practice of the legislative bodies, too, was against any such principle. The act) requiring that credentials shall be prima! facie evidence of the election of the sena- tors was entirely against the idea of a con-| tinuous senate. So much was this true that | counsel for Mr. Adrain, the president cf the so-called democratic senate, had endeavored to make it anpear that this act was void. But the existence of the statute for suca a long period and the submission of che be to it was evidence that the claim was not well founde: Adrain’s Title Inval Mr. Adrain, therefore, had no title to the office of president of the senate, and the writ must Issue against him. \ As to Mr. Rogers, the republican presi- arately, and | must mean dent, Chief Justice Beasley said the court had conclude! that his title was valid. as he had been chosen by the votes of eleven senators. The chief justice also announced that ali the justices concurre] in this opir ion but Justice Abbett, who lwl views ¢ | his own, which he would prepare and file later, \ Demoernts Lose Every nt. | The decision entirely overturns the theory set up by the de! tie leaders and ap-| proved by the governor and y pen- very eral. Not a loophole is left them to crawl out. It was ex A that a part of the democratic claim would be upheld by the court, but it is entirely against then. th: the ¢ Mona: at once, ators, in h cided to unite t senate without the court decide’ There was muc the democrats at thi nst them. ppointment among It, and the renub- licans were jubllant. They could seavecly wait until they left the court rooin to ex- press their joy. There was a enc shaking, and the democratic leaders d in the congratulations to Senator Rogers and his colleagues. The house of assem- Bly will meet this afternoon and the Rog- ers senate tonight. It is probavle that the democratic senators will enter the senate; tonight, though they adjourned to nieet tomorrow morning. Officers Commissioned, At noon the governor sent for George RB. Swain, treasurer elect, and Wm. S. Han- cock, controller elect. ‘They nt to the executive chambers and t met Messrs, Gray and Heppenheliner, the present in- cumbents. The governor informed the republican officers-elect that he would at cnce ixsue their commissions. It was arreed that they should be issued at ence, but that they should be dated April 2 to permit the af- fairs of the office to be rattled. The gov- or approved Mr. Hancock's bond. @ governor sent for Assemblyman Cross and Senator Voorhees, and toki them he would at once file with the Secretary of State the bills passed by the two hovs¢s and now lying in his office. ‘The republi- can senators will meet tonignt in the sen- ate chamber for the first time since they were locked out. | request for the improvement ‘trial and means were discussed whereby Oourt of Appeals Strikes a Serious Blow at District Methods. Improvement Cannot Be Made With- out Due Notice—The Commissioners Disappointed at the Decisio: In the Court of Appeals yesterday after- noon after the adjournment of the court a number of decisions were filed, four of which are of the greatest interest to the People of the District The fcur cases in- volved one great quevtion, the legality of the compulsory permit system, under which considerable improvements from time to time during the past several years been done by the District Commissioners. The cases were James Allman against the District of Columbia, ara Levi Jones, Esther A. Keyser and John W. Schaefer, respectively, ayainst the District. While the four cases slightly differed as to the particular circumstances in the several cases, the principal upor which the court's decision as to all of them rested was about the same, and the reasoning in the case of Allman followed in the remaining cases. The opinion of the court in the several cases was written by Mr. Justice epard, that in the Allman case being a very lengthy and elaborate one. The object of the several suits was the issuance of a writ of certiorari, that the record relating to cer- tain charges against the properties of the | petitioners be inspected by the court, and they be quashed and canceled. Allman set out that he owned lot A and east half of lot 4, square 231, this city, each lot fronting on north line of C street south between 14th and 15th west; that the tax records bore il- legal charges against said land, each being for cost of “curb and gutter’; that Allman was not notified on what street the work was done, or whether the whole or a part of the cost was charged; that said charges were made under the “permit work’ clause of the District appropriation act of July 18, 1888. Mr. Allman also stated that he was not “a property owner requesting said improvement,” and that he was not consulted about the improvement, or heard on its cost or the apportionment, the work being done on the petition of one Samuel Norment. Petitioner Wins. The court decided the Allman cases and the three others in favor of the petitioner and remanded the cases to the Supreme Court of the District, with direction to enter judgments in their favor, thereby quashing and canceling the charge made against their properties by the Commis- sioners of the District. In voicing the unanimous opinion of the court, Mr. Justice Shepard says: “In our opinion the interpretation of the statute is that the lot owner cannot com- pel the im; ravement to be made, and the public euthonisie cannot force it upon him. * * © Having neither joined in the nor ac- quiesced therein in any such manner as would estop him from denying that it was done with his assent, upon Norment’s re- quest, the petitioner cannot be lawfully charged ~with any portion of the cost.’ After stating that Congress has never adopted a complete or permanent regulation of the system for the government of the District, these very matters having been provided for only In the yearly changing and indefinite provisions of appropriation bills, Mr. Justice Shepard say: ‘The fatal defect in the act and in the proceed thereunder is the failure to provide for notice to the owners of property and an opportunity to them to be heard, at least, before the final settlement of the charge, and lien therefor, upon their property. A proceeding which fastens a charge vpon Property, for which it may be summarily sold, without notice and an opportunity giv- en the owner to heard as regards its py roma and fairness, is not ‘due process of law.’"” At the District Buildt The attorney for the District brought the news of the adverse opinion of the Court of Appeals to the District building today. Immediately Commissioner Ross called a meeting of the board to discuss the opinion and a large portion of the morning was devoted to this matter. Mr. Thomas ex- plained that the court had held that the compulsory permit system was defective, and that while the law creating such a system was good, there was no provision providing for a notice to interested prop- erty holders when the work was to be car- ried out. The Commissioners were very much disappointed at the outcome of this the law could be made operative. Attorney Thomas was directed forthwith to prepare a bill to be submitted to Congress which would remedy the existing defects in the law. Commissioners Disappointed. Commissioner Ross, when questioned by a reporter of The Star regarding this decision, said: “It is to be deplored that there is any hitch at this time in the operation of the compulsory permit system, I consider it | one of the necessary adjuncts to our local government. By reason of it the authorities have the power to order improvements | where, from the condition of affairs, the | health of the people and the best interests of the city demand it. Our course will be to have the defects remedied at once. Our attorney has had instructions to draft a suitable bill, covering the case, and we shall urge its immediate adoptio Col. Truesdell was also dis: the decision of the court. He not discuss the opinion in full, for | not seen it, bu: this he would : compulsory permit system was a g¢ thing and abs lutely sary. Of course | le would be found ywhere whe ob- | jected to being taxed for any improvement, that when | | n $ reporte! injur nle thereabouts under the per could order done upon the certificate of the cor, and a one-half of the ¢ abutting yerty holders.” Engineer Commissioner Powell said that he had not yet seen the ¢ bat | thought that the opinion did not to ation of uneer the present. op work done 7 He did not system | | more definite information necds of Y per’ Powell sat? the no de an absolute ne and a nm with the citizens of the Capt. opinion He said the compu been applied specially the pavement of untmproved repavement of dancerous si ks He said the paving and consequent cleaning of | the alleys had done m probably to im- | prove the sanitary cond ns of the city than any work of recent irs. Tt is to be regretted that even a temporary suspen- sion of this work has been rendered neces- sary to await the action of the court in these cases. | gee Presidential Nowtnations | The President today sent the following | nominations to the Senate: Interior—Americus V. Rice of Ohio to be | pension agent at Columbus, Ohio; William 8. Green of California to be surveyor gen- | eral of California. To be receivers of public m Carstarphen of Colorado at Leadvill Jeremiah H. Looney of Colorado at 8 Ca P. irtment to | s and the | his di alle: ‘ostmasters—Creed F. Middlecoff, Akron, P. Anderson, Pa ; Mark ris, Joliet, IIL; A. Dyson, Rushville, Il.; Wm, S. Martin, Eldorado Springs, Mo.; Frank H. Lalor, Trent N._J.; Robart 8. Jordan, Jersey City, N. T. Cheat- ham, jr., Henderson, N Willian s. Parks, Delaware, Ohio; William R. Turney, Greensburg, Pa | intact. TAKING PRECAUTIONS Need to Strengthen the Aqueduct Piers Before Allowing Railways. WATCHING AN EXTENDING CRACK Two Reports on the Subject of the Bridge's Stability. OTHER REPAIRS NEEDED There is no disguising the fact that there is considerable anxiety felt in the engineer department regarding the safety of the Aqueduct bridge. Ever since the first pier at the Virginia end of the bridge began to move and tnvesti- gation showed that the water had under- mined the substructure, the engineer de- partment has been particularly careful re- garding inspections of this bridge. Each day the piers have been carefully examined and the superstructure tested to insure its safety. Recently a small crack was dis- covered in the fourth pier from the Virginia end of the bridge. It was an tnnocent- looking opening, but the engineers of the District and the United States engineer in charge of the Virginia end of the bridge were hurriedly summoned. Maj. C. E. L. B. Davis, the engineer in charge of the Potomac flats improvement, was detailed by the Secretary of War to make the examination, and his report on the condition of the bridge was recently submitted. South Abutment. The south abutment was fouad to be rip- rapped on the river face below 1 depth of seven feet at the west end and eleven tcet at the east or down-stream end. The ma- sonry was found in excellent condition from low tide down to the riprap. Pier No. 1, counting from the south abut- ment, is the pier which was partly under- mined at the west and northwest ends by the flood of June, 1889, and repaired under the direction of the District Coramissioners with Portland cement concrete in bags, Placed in the eroded cavity by divers. Af- ter the concrete was placed 152 tons of rip- rap were placed about the pier. The top of this riprap was found, Ma; 7» 18%, to be about fifteen feet below low tid2 at the weet or upstream end of the pier and about twenty-six feet below low tide at the soutb- east corner. Pier No. 2. Pler No. 2 was found to be in 001 condi- tion, exeept a cavity about one ard a half feet deep and two feet high around the west end. This cavity is between the bed roz which is quite irregular, and :wo tumbers which are halved together, forming an an- gle at about the center of the west end of the pier. These timbers rest 1 the bed rock at their outer ends, and Ww have rested on some loose stones at other p-:nts which have since been removad by the ac- tion of the current. But it is more proba- ble that the timbers formed a part of the coffer dam and that the founjation course was laid inside the timbers, and the next course projecting a little further than + former covered the upper sides, and that the cavity between them and the rovgh ledge has always existed. The rock was exposed around the west end and the rest of the pler was sur- rounded by a bank of sand. Pier No. 3. A cavity extending nearly the whole length of the south side of this pier was found. This cavity is about 3 feet high above the riprap and 3 feet deep, but as the foundation courses project about § feet beyond the side of the main pier the cavity is not as serious a defect us it might appear. There is, however, a large cavity in the West end, which starts under the ice breaker at a course about 8 feet below low tide, where it is about 7 feet deep (measured lengthwise of the pier) and extends entirely across the end of the pier. At the southwest corner of the pier the depth of the cavity is 11 feet deep, or about 4 feet deeper than the average depth. It is probable that the erosion started near the bed rock in the foundation courses, which were worn and displaced by drift- ing debris, and that as the cavity deep- ened the stones above fell from their own weight and now lie, together with several small trees, scattered about the end of | the pier. A large tree was found on the bottom, lying across the. upstream end of the pier, which was probably a factor in the initial erosion of the masonry. There is a crack extending entirely through the pier from the top of the coping down to low tide and probably farther, but it was so small that the diver was unable to follow it. The location of this crack, as shown on the elevation of this pler, is only about three-eighths of an inch wide at the widest part. The crack is more marked on the south side of the pier than on the north side. The crack is plainly due to the undermining of the upstream end of the pier. Ripraps was found along the sides at a depth of about twenty-five feet below low tide, and a bank of mud fifteen feet anal low tide at the downstream or east end. | No serious defects were discovered in this pier. One of the stones in the ice breaker north of the center and at low tide has ted slightiy. North Abutment. This abutment is in good condition, except a few places where the mortar is out of the faces of the joints. The water is only about 10 feet deep to the mud which was found around the foot of this abutment. Masonary of Piers and Above Low Tide. The masonry of the piers and abutments | above low tide is in good condition with | of the crack already noted All of the masonry above e was carefully pointed with Port- 1 cement 1869 when the bridge w structed, and the pointing was found atments Piers and Abutments Levels were taken on bridge seats of all the piers and abutments. These bridge re of granite, the tops being bush- acred 8 cut work, affording good sur- n which to determine precise eleva- | pear quite as permissible as six miles under | per passenger railroad. In this connection Engineer | Hunt today forwarded the following letter | to the Commissioners, through the engiucer | department, upon this subject: Repairs Necessary. “In reference to proposed legislation look- ing to the use of the Aqueduct bridge over | the Potomac river for street railway pur- poses, I have the honor to submit the fol- lowing remarks, at your suggestion: “The substructure of the bridge is known | to be in need of repair. The fourth pier from the Virginia end is in such a condition | that no statement of its stability would be justified. It has been undermined by the current of the river at its upper end t> such an extent that the masonry has settled at that point, and the pier has cracked from the top to the water's edge, and presumably below that point to the river bottom. Sueh a condition should not be permitted to ex- ist without attempts at a remedy. Uniess this is done I cannot say that the pier may not fail at any time. As it is, #t may last for years and it may collapse tomorrow. Its condition is almost certain to become Progressively worse. Under your direction the masonry has been bound together with | iron rods surrounding the pier, in an effort | to hold the cracked portions together; and a_ further precautionary step is in progress looking to the possible saving of the super- structure should this pier fail. “After this is done the precautions this office can take in the matter will be ex- hausted. The expenditures necessary to remedy the submarine defects are many | times in excess of the entire appropriation | for bridge repairs, and hence it is that bridge the first requisite to the use of the | for railroad purposes is that provision be made for the repairing of the xubstructure. | Other piers besides the one just referred to have shown incipient signs of the game | defects. Their condition has been reported with great particularity to Congress and estimates submitted for their renair. Changes Recommended. “In respect to the superstructure, it can be stated that the trusses are structurally of sufficient capacity to permit the widen- | ing of either sidewalk (preferably the west | one) from its present width of stx feet six | inches to nine feet six inches—the neces- | sary width for single track railway. The | estimate for this work is marked “A.” The | present foot travel over the bridge would | undoubtedly be largely diminished by the! operation of the railroad and the remaii ing sidewalk would probably afford suffi- | cient accommodation for the lessened foot travel. An addition to the construction just described, which would more surely | provide for foot rs and would aiso | add much to the appearance of the reecn- structed bridge, would be to widen the op- posite sidewalk to the one given for rail- road occupation to a symmetrical width of nine feet six inches. The estimate for this work is marked ‘B.’ The following estimates refer to these two constructions and are based on average prices of mate- rials. It is proper to state that present prices are such that the figures given are liberal for present conditions: Estimates. To widen the west sidewalk to 9 feet 6 inches.. : To lay thereon single-track railway, supported by steel stringers. Total for this construction (A).. To widen east sidewalk to 9 feet 6 inches $6,500 Total for this construction (B)... There remains another form of recon- struction, which would be necessary if it is thought advisable to provide for a double instead of a single-track railway. As in the previous plans, no encroachment upon the road) rtion of the bridge is to be rec- ommended since the present width of twenty- four feet is as narrow as is proper. For such additional width of bridge as a double track would require,in additign to the neces- sary foot walks,the present superstructure Is not sufficient and would have to be strength- ened. It is proposed to do this by the addition of a third truss placed midway be- tween the existing ones, which are to- be moved about eight feet further apart to properly distribute the new loading. This applies to the river portion of the structure— which the canal span and trestle are to pro- vide for by special treatment—the canal span by two new lattice trusses on the ijne of the new position of the hand railing and the trestle portion by extra posts of light | capacity under each floor beam at the edge of the masonry of the old north abutment. The result of this reconstruction would be a roadway width of twenty-four feet—adjoin- ing this on each side a reservation of nine feet six inches for double-track railway and outside these spaces two four-foot side- walks—making @ total width between rail-| ings of fifty-one feet. The estimate for such | a reconstruction is in quite a different class of figures from those heretofore given und) are given herewith, marked “C:" To reconstruct bridge superstructure to a width of 51 feet, so as to pro- vide for a 24-foot roadway, two rail- way tracks and two 4-foot side- walks ... To lay doubk Total for this construction (C) Favors Electricit “There is provision made in pending bills on this subject that horses only shall be used as a motive power. It is proper to state that structurally electrical power, unless in the form of heavy storage battery cars, would be preferable. The estimates above given do not contemplate heavy motor cars, but only such weights as @ loaded horse or trolley car would have. The attachment of trolley posts would be simple and the life of the foor and its cleanly con- on would be favored by the use of elec- rical power. No reasonable limit need be set to the speed of crossiag—nine 1atles an 202 $75,000 hour under electrical propulsion would ap- horse traction. Much Needed. “In conclusion, I would state that the travel over this bridge indicates that a street rail y thereon would be a public convenience. It is selfeved that the pro- vision for the collection of about one cent on the proposed railway would be a fair return for the franchise granted. It is also believed that a single track would afford suiticieat accomimeaa- uuon for the present—the addition cf the second track to be made only when cir- cumstances, such as «rea merease of travel, shail justify the larger expenditare. Of the three estimates herein, that marked ‘B’ is the one I would recommend. No consideration has been given to the south embankment approach to the bridge. as at territory ts beyoad the limits of the rict and under other jurisdiction. To provide for enginecring and con- Ungencles, an addition of 15 per cent is in- cluded in the above estimates,” ES ERES THE STREET RAILROADS Cars on All Their Branches re Up to Their Charters. ts were set at a uniform 30 feet above mean low tide of the Votomac river in yement. The levels taken in May, shew no appreciable tion are due to ir- regularit ag or setting of the stone n pier No. 1 The dif- ferences in level found here are due to the nt in the freshet of Issy. Pi to 8, inclusive, are plumb, Pier ) 1 has moved to th m the under- mining of the freshet of INS? so t batter of the north face is now 0.0% per foot, and of the south face 0. per foot. Between the top of the coping id high tide mark the pier is out of plumb -100 of a foot. The pler, however, is in ondition of stable equilibrium and no serious results need be apprehended from this comparatively slight deviation from the vertical, Taking Precautio: Since the above report the crack became larger and larger, and extended the entire height of the pier. A few days ago Engi- neer C. B, Hunt, under whom the direct supervision of bridges comes, fearing the total demolition of the pier, proceeded to strap it with huge steel cables. While the spreading of the pier was checked, there is no telling when the pler will part. Prepa- rations are being made to construct a can- tilever from the third to the fifth pier, so that In case the fourth pier gives way the bridge will not suffer any damage. The | condition of the pliers has put a uew aspect | on their uses to support the tracks for a There is no disposition on the part of the Commissioners to let up on the raflroads that do not live up to their charters and run their cars properly. Kecently com- plaint was made that the Anacostia rail- read had abandoned its branch line from the corner of ilth and G streets southeast to the Congressional cemete The Com- missioners told President Griswold plainly that he would be obliged to run cars upon his branch or surrender the charter there- for. Recently it was brought to the atten- tion of the Commissioners that the Bright- wood railroad was not operating its branch line on Kenyon street’ between ith. U, tation of this matter to the board of Commissioners, it was moved by and proved by the Commissioners, that the company be re- quested to show cause why it should not run cafs on this branch, or remove the tracks and poles. —— A Nav The Navy Department today made the twenty-sixth payment of $1,500 to Gramp & Sons on account of the construction of the battleship Indiana. Fourth-Cluss Postmaster Forty-four fourth-class postmasters were appointed today. Of these twenty-five were to fill vacancies caused by resignations ard the remainder by removals. an lex to advertise- ments will be found on Page 3. EXPERTS EXCITED The Big Thirteen-Inch Gun to Be Tested Today. DISTINGUISHED VISITORS GO DOWN Indian Head a Central Point for All Ordnance Experts. NOTABLES ON HAND It is to be an event of vii the navy, of general import and of incidental Interest to is to be the test at Indian ly the biggest and presumably sun ever built in the new ber approaches, it is ciency eclipses of the of Europe. In it are crystalized thought-gems of the gunnery genius Worlds and of all the ages. It represents years of idea and adopted example, will elther requite the or bligh o oerne rt mph of thi triu of this — of American pluck, omer ce; glory, grit " hand and nusile and greatness; it twelve rounds wi Sat amc will be about $500. Five hundred The velocity, the a . and all those things al krows so much and we ensured. Hl ii and that ig of pil il i : if E g 2 § Ey gE a S i F i it 80, m The shock is to be a shaker, The voice of the gun will roll the the : | j i it for miles and minutes, and explosion will almost split of old Jove and plug a eternity. The projectiles, plough meteoric paths and rows through the realms of wreck the battlements of the sun. =aeete that the range of the weapon i i i A 4 i moons than shine on Saturn. They have thought of it as a day which Mars and Clio would register in vermillion letters on the diary of time. If the great gun ts to be a minister of peace the day should have come with « surny smile, but if it is to be an engine of war the day is appropriately dark and gloomy. The day came this morning with « frown, more like those days told of in weather maps tracts. than in colonization The morning was raw, wet ani misty and the sun failed to kiss away these objec- tions and flood creation with » sparkle of golden rays. Preparing for Departare. By eight bells the navy yard was bois- terous with sounds of preparation for de- parture. The dispatch boat Dolphin, the crdnance tug Triton and the torpedo boat Cushing, which were the craft chosen to convey navy officials and guests to the Eas grounds at Indian Head, had been joly-stoned, skwejeened ard otherwise mede ready for their duty. The guests began to muster soon after the call for colors. The marine guard to don its white gloves and helmets and the tars were pol- ished up to a pitch of intense luster. The Marine Bandsmen came early and their scarlet coats looked like patches of red bicom in a foliage of blue. A good deal of light was lent to the oc- casion by the glitter of lace amd the clangor of clanking » chimed in well with the music of the band and teene. Carriage loads’ of It was a gay guests rattled through the arched entrance of the yard, down Dahlgren avenue and across the graveled plaga to the dock, with @ grating roll. Mr. William Howell, _ vate secretary to Assistant Secretary Me- Adoo, stocd at the land side of the gang- way of the Dolphin and welcomed the ar rivals. Notables Arrive. At 7:30 a telephone message was received from Vice President Stevenson stating that he would be down, rain or shine. The ma- rine guard was aligned at the main en- trance and presented arms as the notables passed. At 8:45 o'clock the Secretary and party reached the dock amid the boom of salut- ing cannon. The excitement around the gangway was lively, and the officers had their hands full in handling the crowds. 4 At 9 o'clock the lines were cast off, andj the Dolphin swung out into the stream. Among the guests were stepresentative F, C. Tate, F. J. Randolph, Representa- tive George F. Richardson, Representative W. M. Bowers, Senator H. C. Maaderson, Senator George L. Shoup, Representative A. B. Hart, Representative Wm. Saker, Representative A. C. , Arthur Bu- chanan, M. B. Wright, Representative C. W. Gillette, Representative G. P. Doltiver, Mr. James Baker, Mr. E. J. Gibson, C. A. Swanson, Mr. H. ‘ tative W. H. Denison, Mr. Dent, ta tive D. G. Tyler, Representative J. F. Stal- lings, Representative John Doris, Kemator Cc. BH. Morgan, tative J. E. Rey- burn, Representative A. C. resentative S. R. Mr. B. Mr. James*English, Mr. F. 3. Hardesty, Gen. Breckinridge, Representative J. ¥, Epes, Mr. Wm. Carry Sawyer, Representa- tive John Von V: Senator George D. Hardesty, Representative A. L. , C. Howland, Representative C. H. Randall, Representative M. McGuire, L. M. Bennett, Representative T. J. Henderson, qo tative J. A. D. Richards, Mr. L. A. a Representative J. H. Hopkins, Senator C, H. Gibson, Representatives A. H. Dens more, H. D. Morey, L. Pence, J. A. Pickler, A, D. De Armond, A. A. Adee, R. Nell, W. A. Stone, E. "T. Chamberlain, Griffin,G. D. Michiejohn, H. F. B. F. Richie, Mr. E. J. Dunnell, = tatives Thomas D. Engtish, A. McDowell, James H. Eckles, 0. M. Hall, 8. A. North- way, Thomas W. Phillips, P. 8. Post, W. E. Curtis, Mr. S. J. Pickett, Mr. J. M. Carson, Representatives M.T. Baldwin, T. J. Hodson, Mr. O'Brien Wood, Repre- sentatives John S. Williams, D. T. Flynn, Broderick, Representative A. C. Dur- borow, Representative E. C. Wall, Senator Wm. F. Vilas, Capt. F. L. Benry, Senator Eugene Hale, Messrs. George » Baum, C. B. Morton, J. C, ive J. Fred Talbott, Capt. Constance, Representative 8. x Schermer, Mr. Monree Hopkins, Represen- Capehart, D. D. Donovan, Representatives E. J. Runphy, Cadmus, G. A. Robins, Silas Adams and John W. Maddox. THE TESTS COMMENCED. Trial Delayed, but a Ten= Incher Fired. Special Dispatch to The Bveuing Star, INDIAN HEAD, March 21. The trial of the ¢hirteen-inch gun has been delayed by the bursting of one of the er pipes. The mishep was slight, an@ Big Gaon