Evening Star Newspaper, March 29, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Peausylvauia Avenve, Cor. 11th Street, by aper Company, The Evening Star News S. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. New York Office, 88 Potter Building, Star is served to sub ectibers tn the helr own account, at 10 cents Coples at the eomzer the United ze prepaid—5O certs per $1.00 per year; | ce at Washington, D. C., with ¢ Loening Star. a secvad. clase mail matter.) i ss mai! stbeeriptions mnst en "* 5. Rates of siverticing. mate Kiowa ae te aerance-| Wor, 84, No. 20,845. Mr. Wilson and hims the urgent necessity HIS STORY BEGUN ey je urt yesterday. Mr. Breckinridge Goes on the Stand | This Afternoon. | | WK SOME EVIDENCE IN REBUTTAL | mnt Contradicting Statements About Lena Singleton’s House. for their return to the adjournment of B8CENES IN THE COURT Starmmeme tinLumg Mr. Butterworth took exception to what he termed the irregularity of the proceed- ing and he with Messrs. Shelby and Stoll left the room to consult with Messrs. Wil- sen and “arlisle over the matter. Upon their return, Mr. Butterworth announced thet the defense acceted to the request of the lawyers on the other side Jobn E. Benckart. The expectation that the defendant would go om the stand increased the public in- terest in the proceedings in the Pollard- Breckinridge trial today. At least that was. what the increased demand for ad- mission indicated. However, those who Gained admittance sat through the morn-| John E. Benckart was then placed upon ing session without the satisfaction of | the stand, a youngish man with a smooth- hearing the defendant's story from his own | Shaven face, who said he had lived in Lex- Ups. The case dragged slowly on, fact, ington since October, i881. He had rela- being pieced to fact by the attorneys in| tives there, a brother Mat, a brother Jos building up the fabric which the jury is to ania sister, Mrs. Potts. He lives now at fudge. The wide range the case has taken | 216 North 24 street, but in 1882 lived at the is remarkabie. Facts have been gathered | Comer of 3d and Upper streets with his from every plane of social life—from the bs re perl vies eaten ee slums of Lexington to the homes of fash- : property in 1842 from a one-armed man fon in Washington. Today there was an named John M. Heedly, through Maj. interruption m the course of proceedings Thomas. to permit the introduction of the testimony | , The witness described this property,which pot asingarh ‘ his brother owned. There was the big brick O witnesses called by the plaintiff in| house he used, and a little detached frame Tebuttal. The witnesses were from Ken-/cottage on Upper street, separated by a tucky and anxious to return their | vacant space. Next to this cottage was a possi |double frame, next to that a brick, both owned by Mr. McNamara, and next to that a house orcnpied by a colored man named Steven Dunn. Witness stated that he kept books for his brother and did other work, so that he wa: well acquainted in the neighborhood. In 1882 there was no other grocery in the 1 mediate n+izhborhood. The witness shown a diagram, or map of the vicinity of 3d and Upper streets, and stated that it to If did = know of | COXEY. MEN PROTEST. was | SSN The remainder of the testimony taken during the morning was in the form of depositions submitted by the defendant and having reference to the plaintiif’s early life in Kentucky and her reputation. The audience, as on other days, was noticeable today for the number of old men among them. Every day there are some visitors ef note, Congressmen or men of distinc. tion in other fields. Today Stuart Robson, the actor, was an interested spectator. The testimony offered in rebuttal by the plaintiff this morning was that of two wit- nesses living in Lexington in the neighbor- | hood where witnesses for the defendant | located a disreputable house kept by Lena Singleton, where, it was asserted, Madeline | Pollard had been seen in 1883. The two witnesses for the plaintiff today swore that ao such woman had kept a house in that | neighborhood during the time in question. The defendant continued putting in testi- mony today respecting the career of Miss Pollard. The deposition was read of a woman, Mrs. William Muller, who had met Miss} Pollard at her aunt's house in 1877, and believed she was then sixteen or seven- teen years old. This woman testified also that Miss Pollard was rather fond of male society, and was considered somewhat fast | as a girl. The witn herself admitted having lived a life of shame for years. The array of counsel for the defense had an | addition today in the person of Dr. O'Ma honey of Lexington, who has assisted in the preparation of the case there, and|/ prompted Mr. Stoll in his cross-examination of the Lexington witnesses. At 140 this afternoon Mr. Breckinridge went upon the stand and began his story. | house here. | that none of the houses he Was a correct representation of the prop- erty as owned by his brother at present. In April, 1882, the adjoining cottage was eccupted by John M. Heedly. The one side of the double cottage was occupied by Julia Grinsted and the other by a woman named Fannie Arnold. The next house to | that was run by Belle Greason as 2 que: | tlonable house. On the vacant space tn his jlot his brother, in 1886, erectad a double | frame cottage, but the ‘space was vacant until that time. From May, 1882, to Octo- ber, 1883, Hester Norton occupicd one of the houses. In this way the witness went on to describe all the houses around the corner and the occupants during a period from the spring of 1882 to 1885. No Lena Singleton Lived There. Witness was asked if he had ever heard of a woman named Lena Singleton. He said that he had heard the name, but that no such woman ever occupied one of these houses In this neighborhood. Exclusive of the one corner, there was no house on | Upper street south of 3d occupied by a white person. Mr. Stoll wanted to know what was the bearing of this question, and Mr. Farrell, conducting Who was the examination, stated that it was becau: the defense, Brand, had stated that Lena Singleton, a white woman, had kept a Continuing, the witness said had indicated had been occupied by any woman named Singleton six Benckart was cross-examined by Mr. Stoll, who tried to show that his brother's place was a disorderly one, but this the witness denied. He said that he kept bar for his brother and was a sort of man-of- all-work about the place. He knew the character of the various places around his corner, asked the witness for Everyone in the room conte his na = rer S Neaa aot Phigen gel Tae catch a better view of the famous defend-| 347 Wileon sail that the defense han etal Mr. Breckinridge stood while giving his cestimony. He did not wear his glasses. He told his story in a clear voice. Looking | for the most part directly toward Mr. But terworth,who was conducting the examina- to prove that Lena Singleton kept a house in this neighborhood and they were prov- ing that such not the case. It made no difference what sort of a house the Arnold woman kept. The question was finally allowed, and the witness answered that he did not know. Mr. Stoll tried to show on cross-examina- tion that Lena Singleton might have bean an occupant of one of these houses without his knowing it, but he thought this was hardly possible. Mr. Stoll said that all they had proved was that Lena had been in one of these houses, but he was reminded by the lawyers for the plaintiff that his deponent, John Brand, had testified that she kept a house near 34 and Upper streets. The witness was asked whether he had ever been indicted in Fayette county, but he was not compelled to answer the ques- tion. As to Lena Singleton, he had never seen her, and would not know her if he should see her. Near this corner there was a big lawn, known as the college lawn, on which was located the University of Ken- tucky. How He Came to Washington. Benckart stated that he had been in Washington for a week. “First time you've ever been here?” “Yes, sir.” “How did you happen to come?” “We sent for him,” remarked Mr. Wilson. aan oem fe “Let the witness answer, please,” said Ser cecae ban wand cose the table berate | Mir, Stoll aaa tree fava won ane wae inicio cite just like the case of Mr. Rozell,” a @ showed up his snow-white hair | ‘arrell, sotto voce. and beard in striking cont Polk: was not in court room | this morning, but was ting for a sum- mors in Mr. Carlisi Mice across the | street. As soon as Mr. Breckinridge was Placed upon the stand, a young man, who adying law in Mr. Carlisle's office, was ed in post-haste and returned in a sent for,” said the witness. Ir. Farrell telegraphed for me, and sent it to Mr. Ernest Ellis.” Mr. Stoll tried to show that this man EI- lis was a bad character, and kept a “nigger y." He also wanted to prove that the *n in consultation with the 4 . PB : laintiff since ne had been utes accompanied by Miss Pollard r the pl ~ i but Mr. Wilson objected to this as in- levoter d, Mrs r et ee quential, at least. The witness said aaa the wan ale he had conversed several times with t of the man she claims has ¢ such 1 wrong,and only about twenty | feet from him. | pt her eves firmly fixed upon him, on’t see that that relevant to this was Judge Bradl comment. “It seems to me that a lawyer who places a ‘ened with the closest attention to| Witness on the stand without having talked every word he sald. Tt was in some re-| With him as to his testimony 's guilty of Spects one of the most remarkable. if not | neglect of dut One of the most dramatic. scenes ever wit-j Om redirect examination by Mr. Farrell Ressed in this h d room. Mr. | the witr ald that Mr. . who had Breckirridge denies that he ever character- | been referred to by Mr. Stoll as keeping a fzed this whole ¢ of s “nigger grocery,” had peen appointed, and zedies, audience ft was atcut As Mr | ued his story | 1 glued to him, he part bearing | f the allezed forced let- | I be said to have flashed | n was brimming full of | ineid atts. } Mitne Immetiately the or the Plainthm after the formal « was now, a police commissioner of Lexi e- | ton. “Appointed since I left?” asked Mr. Stoll. bee said Mr. Farrell; “they actually had the temerity to make an appointment while you were away said Mr. "arrell. The witness was also examined further as to the location of the college buildings. Steven Dunn. Steven Dunn of Lexington, colored, re- ferred to in the testimony of the preced- witness, was next called to the stand tas and examined by Mr. Farrell. He said he ‘Sate ahack he gest had lived in Lexington since 1875. He was application ahi (a he ns i ae SECS h residec 2 North Upper stre were other s e gram shown to chborhood own to the > various per- Matt Benck- the nort st corner, he (Continued on Second Page.) WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 29 | Officers Fed Better Than the Rank and File. PLODDING ALONG IN A SNOW STORM The Army Being Clothed by the Farmers. EAGER TO HURRY THEM ON | SALEM, Ohio, March 29.—After snowing (all night, the roads between Salem and | Columbiana were very heavy and the |Coxey army did not make an early start with a bright prospect before them. The men passed a pleasant night in the two {halls set aside’ for their accommodation. | Dan Allen, a Chicago barber, who is with the army, shaved ninety of the men. In consequence the brigade presented a very | respectable appearance. “Unknown” Smith | | made an appeal for clothing to the citizens | last night, and such men as required them | obtained pants and coats. The sick menj| were reported all right. Several citizens have complained here on account of the army men going around at night begging. When Mr. Coxey did not arrive on the morning train, orders were given to get under way, and a start made at 10 o'clock. Fourteen recruits joined at breakfast. The men got coffee, bread and jelly, and made | a big grumble again. Pies and’ meat were given the officers and teamsters, and the rank and file thought this was discriminat- | ing. Smith quieted them with promises. | As the movement begins to look like a per- | manency, depots are being established along the route, and Browne is having surplus | supplies shipped ahead. It was snowing all morning, and Camp Anna L. Diggs had a most forlorn aspect, the men shivering in | groups. Two of the soldiers were dismissed last night by Smith for giving information about the camp. Smith says they were| crook: Sad Condition of Frye’ | NEW ORLEANS, March 29.—A special to | the Times-Democrat from San Antonio, | Texas, says: A dispatch was received here last night from Sierra Blanca, describing the condition of the industrial army which left that place last night at 9:30 o'clock on a. Army. | Paso, for San Antonio. This dispatch states | |that when the army arrived at Sierra Blanca | | some of the men were so faint from hunger |and exposure that they dropped in thelr | tracks and were picked up and carried to! camp by their comrades. A beef and 400) | pounds of flour were at once purchased by | the citizeus of Sierra Blanca, which made | | one good meal. The men were so famished that their stomachs would not retain the | food. Yesterday morning the beef was slaughtered and the men had another meal. Gen. Frye endeavored to get the men to! leave on foot last evening, but his follow- ers‘could not walk owing to weakness, The dispatch further says that the men are gentlemanly and that there are minis- ters, lawyers, merchants and mechanics among them. ‘To Start From Denver Saturday. DENVER, Col., March 29.—The Denver | contingent for Coxey’s army met last night and decided to take up the march for Wash- ington Saturday morning. They number about fifty men, and expect to be rein- forced at Colorado Springs and Pueblo. They will not walk, but expect to capture an eastbound freight train. Many of them | have no idea of going to the national capi- | tal, but will desert the first time they have an opportunity to secure work. a LAID IN THE POTTER'S FIELD. An Austria Nobleman Expat@iated | by His Crime. ST. LOUIS, March 20—An Austrian noble- man will be buried in the potter's field to- day. Descended from illustrious family, | and with the secret of a strange crime) locked in his breast, Hugo, Baron Von Laudon, died without the commonest ne- cessaries of life in this city yesterday. Gen. Laudon, the rerowned Austrian warrior, who fought against Frederick the} Great, was one of the ancestors of the un- fortunate man, and a number of other famous Austrians belong to the genea- logical tree. Hugo Von Laudon has been in America a little more than two years. According to the story of the deceased, he fled from Russia to this country to escape the con- sequences of a murder he was supposed to have committed there. He owned vast estates in that country, but was afraid to return and claim them. ——— COLUMBIA AND MARYLAND R.R. ‘The Bill to Charter It P Maryland House. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star: ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 29.—The house of delegates today passed the bill to charter | the Columbia and Maryland Railroad Com- pany. The bill has been amended so that the capital stock is limited to $4,000,000, | and the company is authorized to construct an electric or other railway from Wash- ington through Prince George’s, Howard, Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties to! Baltimore or elsewhere within those limits, | ed by the The bill is suppcsed to be backed by Sen- | ator Gorman and a syndicate of Washing- ton people, and is in opposition to the bou- levard scheme, the bill for which is still held up on the files. —_ ONY OUTDONE. ST. ANTH A Hearing Refused the New England Working Women. The handsome delegation which repre- sents the wage-earaing women of the New England mills and factories visited the Capitol this moraing in furtherance of their desire to get the finance committee of the Senate to listen to their arguments against the passage of the Wilson bill. |The attractive bevy was under the mar- | |shalship of Mrs, J. Ellen Foster, and sur- rounded Senator Voorhees shortly after their arrival, Sixteea pairs of eyes of the most expressive and lovely character were leveled upon him, and sixteen inviting mouths pouted in pantomimic pleading as Mrs. Foster begged the chairman of che |financ? committee to grant the visitors a | hearing Senator Voorhees made an excellent un- derstudy for St. Anthony in proving ob- durate to so much charming supplication. He said that the finance committee had |already reported the Wilson Dill, and even it it had been the policy of the body to | grant hearings upon the measure when it was under consideration the time had al- ready gone by. He remarked, also, that leven if one hearing was accorded to a delegation, even so attractive us that be- |fore him, there would be no just grounds \for refusing the same privileges to others, jand the result would be that the commit: |tee would have no time to consider the | bill, which the interests of the country de- |manded should be disposed of without de- lay. | The republican members of the ne committee were much more gracious, how- | ever, and a meeting was held in the repub- | ‘lican conference room of the Senate, at! which the members of the delegation ‘and Mrs. Foster presented their views on the ed bill with characteristic feminine is. | — == = By the explosion of a gasoline stove at the | ne of D. Hannan, 2 K street north- west, last ev it was extingui s, a fire was started, but | ed with a loss of $10. ’ 1894—SIXTEEN PAGES TWO i CENTS THE BELT LINE BILL Commissioners Give Their Views on the Proposed Route. ‘The Streets That Meet Their Views for Railroad Purposes—Danger at Thomas Circle Feared. The Commissioners this morning reported the bill changing the name of the Capitol, North O Street and South Washington Rail- way Company to the Belt Railway Com- pany and granting the company additional powers, The route of extension is amended so as to read: Si Beginning at Florida avenue and M street, thence west along M street to New York avenue, thence westerly on New York ave- nue to L street, thence west along L street, | llth street and L street to 20th street, thence north on 20th street to M_ street, thence west on M street to 22d street, north to the end of 22d street as now existing, or as may be extended, to S street, west on S street to 24th, north on 24th to U street, east to 23d street, south to S street; and from L street and 5th street northwest, east to L, to Sth street, thence north on | Sth street to Florida avenue, thence along Florida avenue to the starting point; pro- | vided that unless the construction of said extensions hereby authorized shall be com- menced within six months and completed within two years after the date of the ap- proval of this act the authority hereby granted shall cease. The Report. In the letter transmitting the report the Commissioners say: The bill proposes an abandonment of certain portions of the Belt Railway Com- — pany’s tracks and the addition of certain tracks in the southwest, and of tracks on M street northwest, from 4th to 26th streets. The latter named addition is the most important change proposed by the bill. The change would furnish an east and west line in the northwest section. REDUCING FORCE The Dockery Commission's Plan for Treasury Department Work. REORGANIING SEVERAL BUREAUS The Bill Prepared and Reported by the Commission. THE FINANCIAL SIDE es The department joint commission which has been engaged in preparing a plan for |a rearrangement of the work in the offices of the auditors and controller of the treas- ury today, through Mr. Dockery, submit- | ted a report to the House on a bill designed to carry the proposed changes into effect. The changes proposed by the bill are as follows: Transfer the personal ledgers now kept in the offices of the auditors and the regis- ter to the division of bookkeeping and war- rants, in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury. Abolish the office of second controller. Dispense with the detailed examination of accounts in the office of the first control- ler, except upon appeal. Transfer to the auditor for Department of the Interior the audit now performed on land accounts in the office of the first | controller, | Transfer the audit of accounts to the re- spective auditors having jurisdiction over |the accounts of the several departments | Under which the accounts originate. Dispense with the registering, counter- signing of warrants, and the keeping of appropriation ledgers in the office of the register of the treasury. Transfer to the respective auditors the | jurisdiction of the files now under the register. In doing this it is proposed to make a rearrangement of the clerical force. The present arrangement of clerks is as follows: = Clerks. Amount. Secretary's office (division of warrants, estimates and ap- propriations | First controller. Second controller. Register... The Commissioners are of the opinion that such a line, especially if extended through Northeast Washington and made to include a north and south line in the | extreme northwest Kalorama Heights, 1s desirable for public convenience. The new territory named is at present without street railroad facilities. ‘A crossing of 1ith street at Thomas circle, which the M street line of the bill would | necessitate, 1s regarded as sufficiently ob- | 22 $33,980 , jectionable to render this part of M street | unavailable. The north and south cable tracks and the converging trafic at this special train, provided by the people of El, point already makes it at times crowded | and dangerous. Best Route. The different streets from Q to K, inclu- sive, have been carefully considered for se- lecting the east and west route freest from objection, and for giving accommodation to the greater number. The route recom- mended as on the whole nearest fulfilling these conditions is from Florida avenue and M street; thence west along M street to ‘ew York avenue; thence westerly on New York avenue to L street; thence west along L street, llth street and L street to 20th | street; thence north on 20th street to M Street; thence west on M_ street to 22d street; north to the end of 22d, as now ex- isting. or as may be extended, to S street; west on S to 2ith; north on 24th to U street; east to d street; south to S s from L and 5th streets northwest, east on L to Sth street; thence north on Sth street to Florida avenue; thence along Florida avenue to the starting point. The route contemplates a single track on each of these streets east of Sth and west of 23d, and double tracks between Sth and 23d. It would pass the entrance to the grounds of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, Convention Hall and K street market. and connect with the Eckington and Soldiers’ Home railroad, operated by the same com- pany as the Belt line. The Commissioners are not able to recom- mend the abandonment of operation of cars and removal of tracks as proposed in the | bill, except on E street between ith and 9th, and from 9th st. avenue westerly to 12 to_B street south. The Commissioners do not recommen the South Washington addition of tracks as proposed in the bill. The above-named recommendations would require so many amendments to the bill that a new draft embodying the latter is inclosed. Some new sections have been added to the draft for covering require- ments not in the present charter of the Belt line, but which have been incorpor- ret and Louisiana h street and south ated in all street railway reports from this | office to the present Congress and whose adoption is recommended. Upon request of some of the holders of bonds secured by an existing deed of trust a prior lien has been added to section 4. — PRESIDENTIAL A Namber of Offices in the Customs Service and Elsewhere Filled. The President teday sent the following nominations to the Senate: To be surveyors of customs—J. N. Harris of Tennessee, for the port of Memphis, Tenn.; Clay C. McDonald of Missouri, for the port of St. Joseph, Mo. Interior—Henry B. Lovering of Massa- chusetts, to be pension agent at Boston; Thoms Cogswell of New Hampshire, to be pension agent at Concord, N.H. To be collectors of customs—J. L. Cottrell @ Florida, for the district of St. Mark's, Vla.; George H. Houck of New York, for the district of Genesee, N.Y.; A. Fitch of Texas, for the district of Saluria, Tex.; | Daniel G. Brent of Flerida, for the district of Pensacola, Fla. Treasury.—J. W. Adams of Nevada, to be superintendent of the mint at Carson, Nev.: Hirsch Harris of Nevada, to be melter and | refiner at the mint of the United States at Carson, Nev. To be registers of land offices.—Irving H. Mulholland of California, at Independence, Cal.; Willard C. Hall of Wyoming, at Sun- dance, Wyo.; Edward H.French of Wyoming, at Douglass, Wyo. To be receivers of public moneys.—Edward W. Madison of Wyoming, at Douglas, Wyo. Thomas A. Dunn of Wyoming, at Sundance, | Wyo. War.—Col. George H. Mendell, corps of engineers; Lieut. Col. Wm. H. H. Ben- yaurd, corps of engineers; Maj. William H. Heur, corps of engineers, to be members of the California debris commission. Second Lieut. Alfred M. Hunter, fourth artillery, to be first lieutenant. A number of postmasters were also nomi- nated. os A HALL OF RECORDS. Substitute for the Senate Bill Decided on. The House committee on public buildings and grounds today decided to report a sub- stitute for the Senate bill providing for a hall of records for the government in this city. The substitute provides for the ac- quirement of the property corner Ist and B streets southwest, adjoining the southwest edge of the Capitol grounds. This property is now occupied by the abandonal street car barns, and is rented for a storage room for documents. The House committee proposes to make this a document room Zor Congress, as well as a hall of records. The bill provides an appropriation of $300,00 pass Sa THE DEATH OF KOSSUTH. A House Surprise That the President Did Not Send a Message of Condolence, Some surprise is expressed in diplomatic circles that President Cleveland has failed to take cognizance suth, the Hungarian apostle of liberty. Both houses of Congress adopted res: tions of respect to his memory, but the ch of the government has essage of condolence usual such cases. of the death of Kos- | First auditor. Second auditor. Second auditor (re restoring rolls). | ‘Third auditor. Fourth auditor. Fifth auditor. 2 33 775 1,082,020 Add, allowed auditor for treas- ury on acc’t of report No. 2.. 10 16,000 785 1,098,020 | Less, including in report No. 4 relating to property returns 13 clerks, $15,000... 00000000... This report, relating to trans- fers from the register’s office 13 clerks, $17,260. 26 32,260 Total oe ee eee = 750 1,065,700 rouh® Proposed rearrangement is as fol- ‘low | Auditor for Depart- ment : ee Auditor for Navy Department. 51 Auditor for State and other de- partments - 42 Interior 182,030 69,030 58,530 +--624 $886,020 Total The Saving. The report says: ‘The proposed arrange- ment is thus less than the present arrange- ment by 135 clerks at an annual cost of $179,740, This, added to the previous saving on account of the transfer from the regis- | ter’s office, referred to herein, makes a sa jing for clerical services of 148 clerks, $197. | 000 per annum. This estimate does not make any allowance for clerk hire in the office of the Attorney General, nor for any force that |may possibly be required for concluding the |work under the present system in the con- trolier’s office or in bringing up to date the work in the various auditors’ offices. “The preceding table shows a direct sa ing, and this sum would be consideral) augmented by the discontinuance of mani books and the saving of much stationer making the direct aggregate saving by thi report considerably over $200,000. The co: siderable saving “of money by the carry’ out of the recommendations of this repo: is a small consideration compared with the advantages which will be gained by a proper check, expeditious and efficient, of the dis- bursing officer's accounts and’ the facility afforded by the more systematic ar ment of the accounting offices. The pre system of accounting is practically but one check, as the audit of the controller ts final dits previously made, and the government is protected by the accounting branch only so far as the audit of the coatroller is efficient. Prompt Work. “The proposed change will cause a prompt settlement of all officers’ acounts, with an appeal from the decision of the auditor, whereby a review or revision of the account can be had by the controller. This will do | much toward removing the irritation and friction that is known to exist between the officers connected with the administrative departments of the government and the government's accounting officers; and this prompt settlement will be a greater protec- tion to the government in all respects than jean possibly be had under the present ar- | rangement. ; | ‘The proposed system, besides providing for a prompt and efficient check upon dis- | bursing officers’ accounts and advances to | them, will also expedite the settlement of |claims without in any way destroying the eiticlency of the check now had. The dis- pensing with the countersignature of war- |rants by the register will facilitate the bust- ness and take away no necessary check, as | the countersignature of the first controller | upon warrants of the Secretary of theTreas- jury, which countersignature is based upon | information as to appropriations kept in the | | ledgers in his office, upon information con- tained in the settlements of accounts made by the auditors, or upon information con- tained in the requisition asking for an ad- vance, affords as much protection as is now afforded by the countersignature of the register, and the delay and circumlocution made necessary by the present law in the office of the latter will be avoided. The recommendations as to the government's books of account will afford the Secretary of the Treasury the opportunity of render- ing correct and authentic reports as to the financial operations and condition ofthe gov- ernment. Such reports can be based upon information taken from books of account which are up to date and which can be balanced and proved. This improvement alone will be of incalculable advantage to Congress, the executive departments and to the people.” Decreasing Agents. The report in explanation of the bill also says: t is clear that the present mode of set- tling accounts does not answer the de- mands of public justice or economy; and it 0 clear that the divided responsibility 3 not protect the government. The aim of the present bill is to place greater re- sponsibility upon the auditors who are now engage? in auditing accounts; to hold them responsible not only for the settlement of accounts and claims that come to them, but also make them responsib for the vancing of mon to disbursing officers, their responsibility in the latter case being that they shall disapprove such requisitions for said officers if they have not complied with the law in the rendering of their ac- | Clerks. Amt. | Seeretary’s office (division of bookkeeping and warrants)... 37 $60,080 Controller pry Register « 58 70,770 | Auditor for Treasury Depart- ee cesses. 7 108,030 | Auditor for War Department (repairing and restoring rolls, 000) 198 289,650 and independent of any examinations or au- | ] |counts. It is the intention of this bill to! jlessen the number of agenis who now share | |the responsibility for tne auditing of ac- counts, and to concentrate :t where it will | |be felt, and where abus2s can be at once | detected. In view of the fact that “0 per cent of the expenditures of government now | pass through disbursing officers who are under bond, and take especial care to pay | out money only for purposes clearly author- ized by law—who, indeed, are authorized to obtain the decisions of tne controller as to | the construction of statates before making payments—and who, therefore, primarily | satisfy themselves of the correctness cf the | accounts; and in further view of the fact that the administrative officers also exam- ine and approve these accounts coming un- der their control befove tney go to the aud- itor, which examination was unknown when the original system of settlement of ac- counts by an auditor and revision by a con- troller was established, it woull seem to be entirely unnecessary to have these accounts pass through any further revision as to mere mathematical computations under well-settled laws after the proper auditor has examined them and ascertained and stated the balances. This bill, therefore, makes this audit final, except as to decisions involving new con- structions of statutes, subject to appeal | by the claimant or by the controller, head of a department or the Secretary of the Treasury on behalf of the government. Thus all the time now required in the con- troller’s office to repeat useless revision of mere mathematieal computations is mvel °° © ‘Above the six auditors is placed one con- troller, with his assistant, to revise the few settlements appealed from the auditor, but mainly to determine finally the con- | struction of statutes elther by revision on the auditor’s report of decisions or on ap- peal. The advantage of having one con- troller to stand in the same relation to the | auditors as an appellate court to inferior | courts, instead of two or (with the commis- | sioner of customs) three, as now, to make final decisions as to construction of stat- utes, is so clear that it requires no argu- ment. As it is now statutes sometimes re- ceive contradictory constructions by the different controllers. Under the system) proposed there will be uniform construc- tions of statutes in the accounting branch of the government, and the fact that one officer is charged with this judicial duty, | and relieved from mere mathematical com- putations, will be likely to lead to more satisfactory results. ‘The Bill's Provisions. A synopsis of the prit.cipal features of the bill shows that “section 1 provides a new |nomenclature for the auditors. The present nunibere indicate nothing, and the names |as given them in section 1 will indicate the |accounts which they audit, and should be |a great advantage to any one having any business with accourts or claims. Section 2 abolishes the offices of second controller, ‘deputy second contrclier and deputy first contrcller of the treasury, and constitutes the first controiler as controller of the treasury, with all the duties and responsi- bilities and powers that are now apper- taining to the first and second controllers of the treasury. This will concentrate in one heed all the legal direction in the set- tlement of accounts and will prevent the conflict and coafusion which arises from the fact of having two controllers with the same powers. Much advantage will be |gained by having one head to the account- ling branch. This section also provides for jan ersistant coutreller and a chief clerk, who shall perform such duties as may be pres-ribed by the cortroller of the treasury. Section 3 provides that the controller of the treasury shall, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, prescribe the \forms of ke2ping and rendering accounts. Section 5 defines the accounts which the various auditors of the treasury shall re- ceive and examine This section ts intended |to Lover all accounts which are now ren- dered, or any which shall hereafter arise, lit being intended that the accounts from | the various executive departments shall go |to the auditor desig: ated for that depart- | ment. Five of these auditors have each of them |a department over whose accounts they | |shall have supervision. | ditor is called the auditor for the state and | other departments, whose duty ts to receive and examine all accounts of salaries and ‘incidental expenses of the offices of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Agriculture, and all accounts relating to independent commis- sions and boards not under an executive de- partment. The jurisdiction of the auditor for the Post Office Department is not changed, except that he shall audit, in addition to what he now audits, the accounts of salaries and incidental ex- penses of the office of Postmaster General, which are now audited by the fifth auditor through an accidental omission in the law establishing this office. Section 8 provides that all the books of the government shall be kept in one office and that office under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury. The division which. is given direction of these books is now the division of warrants, estimates and appropriations. They have now the |ledger accounts of all appropriations and also the accounts of the public debt, and bonded railroad companies. This section provides that the books of account, or per- sonal ledgers, now kept in the register’: office, and those kept in the offices of > second, third and fourth auditors shall removed to this division. There are seventeen sections of the bill, but the others provide minor details for accomplishing the general purposes of the JUDGE BRAWLEY’S RESIGNATION, Statement That Difference With Sec- le on Civil Service Was Judge John B. Brawley, sixth auditor of the treasury, whose resignation was an- nounced yesterday in The Star, was seen | by a reporter today. He stated that his resignation was voluntary, and that his personal relations with the President and the Secretary of the Treasury were very pleasant. The work of the office was in a satisfactory condition; better condition than it had been in for several years. His resig- nation had not been accepted; he did not know when it would be, and had no idea on whom his mantle was to fall. This is all that he would say. The gossip of the department is that it cannot be true that the resignation was be- cause the business conduct of the office was not satisfactory to the administration, be- cause the records of the office and the statements of the other officials are against this theory. Much of the work which was largely in arrears when Judge Brawley as- sumed the heim is now up to date. He is said to be popular personally with the em- | ployes, and because of this has been able | to get a great deal of work out of them which otherwise they would not perform. One of the most plausible reasons as. signed for the resignation is that the civil | service ideas of Judge Brawley and of Sec- |retary Carlisle have clashed. The sixth auditor is said to be a stickler for reform in the line of civil service, and, according | to the recent report of the civil service | commission, Secretary Carlisle is not rated jtoo high as a true reformer. There is a good deal of gossip as to who will be the Successor of the retiring auditor. The place has usually gone to an Ohio man, and it is | said at the department that one from the j buckeye state is after the position, but Who it is they say they do not know. There |is a likelihood that Deputy Auditor Craw- ford of Louisiana will be called on to serve. This act would be in the line of | promotion, and, although Mr. Crawford has done nothing to advance his interests, ne is looked on as a strong probability. ——_—_—_+ e+ —___ THE PRESIDENTS HEALTH So Improved as to Resume the White House Receptions. The President's recent attack of rheu- matic gout, following his outing in Dismal Swamp, has so far yielded to medical treat- ment and careful dieting that the distin- | Suished patient was able to resume his tri- weekly afternoon receptions to the public | yesterday. There was a small attendance, owing to the fact that the President was not expected to come down stairs. He uses | the elevator altogether and walks as little | as possible. It is rumored that he will go away on another fishing or hunting expedi- tion as soon as his health and the state of public business will perNit. The remaining au- | hereafter An index to advertine- ments will be found on Page 3. A VETO MESSAGE President Cleveland Returns the Bland Seigniorage Bill. OBJECTIONS 0 THE MEASURE Uncertainty as to the Meaning of Both Sections, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE —o_. The President today sent to the House of Representatives the following message ve toing the Bland silver seigniorage bill: To the House of Representatives: I return without my approval House bill numbered 4056, entitled “An act directing the colnage of the silver bullion held in the treasury and for other purposes. My strong desire to avoid disagreement with those in both houses of Congress who have supported this bill would lead me to | approve it if I could believe that the publie Sood would not be thereby endangered and that such action on my part would be a Proper discharge of official duty. Inasmuch, however, as I am unable to Satisfy myself that the proposed legislation is either wise °F opportune, my conception of the obliga- tions and responsibilities attached to the Sreat office I hold forbids the indulgence of my personal desire and inexorably confines me to that course which is dictated by my reason and judgment and pointed out by @ sincere purpose to protect and promote the general interests of our people. The financial disturbance which swept over the country during the last year was Unparalleled in its severity and disastrous consequences. There seemed to be almost | an entire displacement of faith in our finan- |clal ability and loss of confidence m «ur | fiscal policy. Amorg those who attempted | to assign causes for our distress it was very generally conceded that the operation of @ Provision of law then in force which re- quired the government to purchase monthly a large amount of silver bullion and issue its notes in payment therefor was either entirely or to a large extent responatble for our condition. This led to the repeal, on the Ist day of November, 1898, of this statutory | Provision. We had, however, fallen so low | in the depths of depression and timidity end apprehension had so completely gained con- trol in financial circles that our rapid re- cuperation could not be reasonably expected. | Our recovery has, nevertheless, steadily pro- gressed, and, though less than five months |have elapsed sirce the repeal of the mis- chievous silver-purchase requirement, @ wholesome improvement is unmistakably | apparent. Confidence in our absolute sol- vency is to such an extent reinstated and faith in our disposition to adhere to sound financial methods is so far restored as to Produce the most encouraging results both at home and abroad. The wheels of domes- tic industry have been slowly set in motion and the tide of foreign investment has again started in our direction. Our recovery being so well under way, nothing should be done to check our conva- | lescence; nor should we forget that a re- (lapse at this tinte would almost surely re- duce us to a lower stage of financial distress than that from which we are just emerging. Would Weaken Returning Faith. I believe that if the bill under considera- tion should become a law, it would be re garded as a retrogression from the finan- cial intentions indicated by our recent re peal of the provision forcing silver bullion purchases, that it would weaken if it ai@ not destroy returning faith and confidence in our sound financial tendencies, and that aS @ consequence our progress to renewed business health would be unfortunately checked and a return to our recent dis- tressing plight seriously threatened. This proposed legislation is so related to the currency conditions growing out of the jaw compelling the purchase of silver by the government that a glance at such conditions and a partial review of the law referred to may not be unprofitable. Between the lith day of August, 1890, when the law became operative, and the Ist day of November, 1888, when the clause it contained directing the purchase of silver was repealed, there were purchased by the Secretary of the Treasury more than one hundred and sixty-eight millions of ounces of silver bullion. In payment for this bullion the government issued its treasury notes of various denominations, amounting to nearly one hundred and fifty- six millions of dollars, which notes were immediately added to the currency in cir- culation among our people. Such notes were by the law made legal tender in pay- ment of all debts, public and private, ex- cept when otherwise expressly stipulated, and were made receivable for customa, taxes and all public dues, and when so re- ceived might be reissued. They were also permitted to be held by banking associa- tions as a part of their lawful reserves. On the demand of the holders these treasury notes were to be redeemed in gold or eil- ver coin in the discretion of the Secretary of the Treasury, but it was declared as @ part of this redemption provision that ft was “the established policy of the United States to maintain the two metais on @ parity with each other upon the present legal ratio or such ratio as may be pro- vided by law.” The money coined from such bullion was to be standard silver | dollars, and after directing the immediate coinage of a little less than twenty-eight million ounces, the law provided that as much of the remaining bullion should be thereafter coined as might be necessary to provide for the redemption of the treas- ury notes issued on its purchase and that “any gain or seigniorage arising from such coinage shall be accounted for and paid into the treasary.” This gain or seignior- uge evidently indicates so much of the bullion owned by the government as should remain after using a sufficient amount to coin as many standard silver dollars as should equal in number the dollars repre- sented by the treasury notes issued in payment of the entire quantity of bullion. These treasury notes now outstanding and in circulation amount to $152,951,280, and although there has been thus far but @ comparatively small amount of this bullion coined yet the so-called gain or seignior- age, as above defined, which would arise from the coinage of the entire mass, has been easily ascertained to be a quantity of bullion sufficient to make when coined fifty five millions, one hundred and fifty - six thousand, six hundred and eighty-one standard silver dollars. The Parity Between the Two Metals. Considering the present intrinsic relation between gold and silver the maintenance of the parity between the two metals, as men- tioned in this law, can mean nothing less than the maintenance of such a parity in the estimation and confidence of the peo- | ple who use our money in their daily trane- actions. Manifestly the maintenance of this parity can only be accomplished, so far as it is affected by these treasury motes, (Continued on Third Page)