Evening Star Newspaper, May 7, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. ser iawn stub Se PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, . W101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. Lith Street, The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. BH KAUPFMANN: Prest. New York Office, 49 Potter Building. po Sanne «onsen ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers tn the tity by carriers, . their own account, at 10 cents Week, or 44c. per mooth. Copies at the counter cents each. By mail—anywhere in the States or Canada. vents per naturday Quintuple Sheet See $1.00 per year; (Entered at the Office at Washington, D. C., “ESall sail subscriptions mast be paid in advance. Kiaten of ndvertising made Known’ oo application. Che Evening Star. | Vor 84. No. 20,878. WASHINGTON D.C. MONDAY, MAY 7, 1894—TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS THE TARIFF BILL All the Compromise Amendments to Be Ready Tomorrow, FIGHT OVER THE WOOLEN SCHEDULE Republican Senators Said to Have Been Consulted. 7 MUCH FEELING ENGENDERED ‘The compromise amendments to the tariff bill are expected to be ready to submit to the Senate tomorrow, or possibly late this afterrcon. They were sent to the printing office today. It was reported this afterrcon that the rew weolen schedule proposed had been rejected, and that the Schedule would stand as in the Wilson bill. The manufacturers are still struggling to get increases. Much Feeling Engendered. There is a great deal of feeling being en- gendered by the discussion of this schedule. It fs am open secret that republican Sena- tors rather than democrats were consulted by the men who have been getting up the Promise. Most of the democrats are lently opposed to any increase in the duty on woolens, and many are extremely angry that the proposition should be con- sidered at ail. The fact that no votes are to be gained ty an increase of these duties seems to most of the democrats to deprive the “compromise committee” of any valid excuse for making the changes asked. This is about the only thing there is any serious trouble over, and it is hard to tell what may come out of it. Hill Will Vote Against the Bill. All efforts to influence Hill in favor of the bill are understood to have been abandoned, and there is no doubt entertained that he will vote against the meusure. The proposed amendments are expected to be acted upon by the finance committee tomorrow, which is their regular meeting day. There will be a hot fight there over the woolen schedule, and it may be that no matter what a majority of the democrats of the committee want some will vote with the republicans in favor of the increased duties. Mr. Aldrich (republican) is said to be having a great deal to do with the work om the proposed compromise. ‘The Sugar Bounty. Representative Breckinridge of Arkansas, of the committee on ways and means, today introduced a resolution paving the way for @ repeal of the bounty and the tariff on sugar, by making the repeal an amendment to the executive, judicial and legislative ap- Propriation bill. The resolution is as fol- lows “Resolved, That the committee on rules ts hereby instructed to report a rule making it in order to amend any general appropria- tion bill, so as to reduce or repeal the bounty and the tariff on sugar, or either of them.” ; Mr. Breckinridge’s resdlution is intro- duced with the distinct and avowed purpose to offset the action of the Senate in putting @ duty on sugar. Mr, Breckinridge says that the radical naturé of the recent de- mand of two cents per pound on sugar from Loutsiana ha# induced those interest- ed in consistent revenue reform wo intro- duce the resolution for repeal of the sugar duties and bounties by an amendment to an appropriation bill. The legislative, ex- ecutive and judicial appropriation bill has mot yet been reported, but will be finished the latter part of this week. Under the rules of the House an amendment relative TAYLOR CLAIMS THE OFFICE He Insists That Because the Record Said It, It is So, He Asks for His Commissi as Re- corder of Deeds—His Claim Ridi- eculed at the Senate. Charles H. J. Taylor called at the In- terior Department Saturday afternoon and asked that his commission as recorder of deeds of the District be made out, at the same time offering to submit his bond of $10,000. Secretary Smith told Mr. Taylor that he had nothing to do with the matter and was not aware that the Secretary of the Interior had any connection with the recordership of deeds. Mr. Taylor went away without his commission. This all came about through an error in the Congressional Record last Thursday, announcing that Taylor's nomination had been confirmed. Mr. Taylor claims that this is an official announcement, and whatever the Record Says must be so. He insists that the Sen- ate now has no jurisdiction in the matter and no authority to rectify what he terms an alleged mistake. He states that as the executive session of the Senate is a secret meeting there can be no official notice of its transactions except through the me- dium of the Record. According to the case, as he puts it, the only authoritative infor- mation which the President gets is through this source. After the journal has been approved, he says, there is no power to correct errors, else, this would open the gate to many kinds of fraud, because should, years after appointment, an official become objectiona- ble to the Senate, that body might say, “the record of his confirmation was a clerical mistake, and he never was confirmed.” No official, appointed with the consent of the Senate, could be certain as to his tenure of office. The only information, says Mr. Taylor, tending to show that he has not been appointed comes through the press, and this cannot be official. Besides, the press, he says, is biased against him. The papers have gone out of their legitimate | sphere to compass his defeat. It is a matter of record, he insists, that he has been con- firmed, and he is ready to qualify. Ridiculed at the Capitol. Taylor's claim that he is entitled to the office of recorder of deeds of the District, because of the erroneous announcement in the Congressional Record, is regarded at the Capitol as a monumental absurdity. Members of the upper house are free in expressing their opinion that Mr. ylor’s mental caliber has been demonstrated by this episode to be much smaller than they had at first supposed. ‘There is surprise that Mr. Taylor should be so ignorant about matters concerning Congress and its relations to the executive brarch of the government, about which he ta'ks so glibly, and on which he could in- form himself without any difficulty. In the first place, the Congressional Record is not never has been regarded as the official diary of either house of Congress. It is referred to in debates much as any newspaper report of proceedings would be quoted, but it is never officially approved ard has no official sanction, except its originating resolution, which contemplated @ means of accurately reporting the debates in Congress. Each hcuse is required by the Constitution to keep a journal of its proceedings, and this journal is not, as Mr. Taylor confidently asserts, “an exact copy of the Record.” The journal is a very brief dcecument, giving an outline of the legis- lative proceedings of the Senate and House, including a memorandum of the dispusi- tion of each bill or resolution and a copy of each act adopted, besides the votes on every question submitted to the House or Senate. This journal is approv every morning by a vote of the House and Senate, and stands as the official record of Congress. The courts, however,have never been inclined to receive the jouraal of either house as evidence, much less of the Record. In 1891 the Supreme Court, in passing upon a to the tariff would not be germane. It is to overcome this rule that the resolution of today imstructs the rules committee to frame a new rule permitting a tariff rider to an appropriation bill. ——EEEEE THE BALTIMORE BOULEVARD. «ins Syndicate to Have a New Charter. special from Baltimore to the New A ‘York Tribune states that a change has been made in the original plans for the boulevard and electric railroad between Baltimore and Washington. The Widener-Elkins syndicate of Philadelphia, which is promoting the en- terprise, secured a charter for the line from the Maryland legislature in 1892. This char- ter, however, did not give sufficient latitude to the company. An unsuccessful attempt was made at the last session of the legisia- ture so to amend the charter as to strike out objectionable and restrictive clauses, giving the company a freer scope. However, a charter was granted to the Baltimore and Columbia Railroad Company to build a rail- road from Washington to Baltimore to the Pennsylvania state line. Stephen Gambrill, one of the incorporators named in the orig: inal charter given the Widener-Elkins syn- dicate, is mentioned as a charter member of this corporation. The charter permits the building of either an electric or steam road, and it now appears that the Widener- Elkins people have secured !t, and will con- struct a line between Baltimore and Wash- ington under its privileges. The authority granted to build to the Pennsylvania state line may mean the Maryland link in the great electric railway project, which con- templates a road from Washington by way of Baltimore and Philadelphia to New York. The Widener-Elkins syndicate has had surveys made from Jersey City to Newark, N. J., for an electric road, and from Newark the road will certainly be extended to Phila- delphia, and down through the southern suburban towns of that city. A further ex- tension from Wilmington to Baltimore will follow. a IN MR. HILBORN’S PLACE. Mr. Hull of Iowa a Member of the House District Committee. The Speaker today appointed Mr. John ‘A. T. Hull of Iowa to fill the vacancy on the House District committee, occasioned by the retirement of Mr. Hilborn. Mr. Hull ts fifty-three years old, and has been a lawyer, soldier and statesman, com- Dining the latter profession at present with the business of farming and manufactur- ims. He was born and educated in Ohio, but the breaking out of the war found him in Iowa, where he enlisted In the twenty- third Iowa infantry in July, 1862, in which Tegiment he became a captain. He was wounded in the charge on the tntrench- ments at Black river, May 17, 1863, and Fesigned from the army the following Oc- tober. In 1872 he was elected secretary of the Iowa state senate, and was re-elected three successive times. In 15% he was elected secretary of state, and re-elected in 1890 and 1882. Was elected lieutenant gov- ernor in 1885, and re-elected in 1587. He was elected to the Fifty-second Congress as a republican, and re-elected to the Pitty-third. —_———_ ‘ Why the Ranger is Detained. The reason the United States steamer Ranger of the Bering sea patrol fleet is de- tained at San Francisco is to allow Lieut. Edward D. Bostick of that vessel to be tried by court-martia on duty before her departure for the north. The Ranger will sail as soon as the trial is concluded. = -o- Bids for Indian Supplies.- Bids for supplies for the Indian service will be opened at Chicago on May 15. Com- missioner Browning and his private secre- tary, Mr. Cochran, ere now at Chicago. A corps of clerks from the bureau will assist n charges of drunkenness | twriff case then before it, decided that the court could not go to the journal of the House in order to prove th: . a bill as signed by the President was not the same as the bill passed by the House. . All of this, however, relates to legislative business and does not concern Mr. Taylor's case in the least. It is not generally known, but it is a fact, that the Senate keeps two journals in addition to the Congressional Record, one for legislative business and the other for executive matters. The latter con- tains the official record of all the proceed- ings of the Senate behind closed doors. The President of the United States is furnished with a copy of this exclusive journal from day to day as it is prepared, and is thus kept officially informed of the progress of the Senate upon nominations, treaties and other executive business. Ail votes upon nominations, when the roil has been called, are herein recorded, and thus the President, by the way, is enabled to ascertain exactly who has voted for or against his nominee. How the President is Informed. Even yet, however, the case has not been brought down to Mr. Taylor’s claim. Neith- er the Congressional Record nor his copy of the executive journal of the Senate consti- tutes an official notification to the President of the action of the Senate upon any nomi- nation. His formal notice is in the form of a letter from the secretary of the Senate, in which he is informed that “the Senate has this day advised and consented to the nomination of John Smith to be this and that.” In the present case it would read $ follows: “On this day the Senate has ad- vised and consented to the nomination of Charles H. J. Taylor of Kansas to be re- corder of deeds of the District of Colum- bia.” As a matter of fact what the secre- tary of the Sante will be more likely to write to the President in the case in point is this: “The Senate has cn this day re- fused its advice end consent to the nomina- tion of Charles H. J. Taylor of Kansai &c.”" There is one of these letters written for each confirmation and each rejection. The letter, of course, is in the form of a blank and one of them is sent for every post- thaster, as well as every foreign minister end other officials appointed. Until its re- ceipt the President has no authority to is- sue a commission or order a commission to be issued. Mr. Taylor, it was currently asserted at the Capitol today by his action in claiming his commission on so puerile a theory, has lost ground in the Senate and will receive fewer votes than he otherwise would. He has antagonized by his criticism of the Senate Senators who before sympathized with him. eS A NEW PUBLIC PRINTER. Mr. Benedict Com sumes Charge of the Office. The President today signed the commis- sion of Mr. Thomas E. Benedict as public | printer. Mr. Benedict went to the government printing office shortly after noon and at once assumed charge of that great estab- lishment. Those who had served under him during his former administration expressed | Satisfaction at his return, but there were | no special incidents connected with the which was made privately. The | change, | new public printer performed his first offi- | cial duty at 2 o'clock, when he opened the bids for supplies for the establishment for the ensuing year. While a number of changes are expected to be made in the per- sonnel of the office, some days, of course, vill elapse before such matters will be tak- en up. Before Mr. Benedict was sworn in today, however, Foreman Hay of the job | foom tendered his resignation, and it {s un- | derstood that the vacancy thus created will be filled by the appointment of Mr. Ulrich | of Chicago, who had also been an applicant for the place given to Mr. Benedict. ———__-e- Indian Field Matron: The Secretary of the Interior has ap- | proved the plan of increasing the force of | field matrens of the Indian service, re- jcently recommended by Commissioner Browning. There are now only five matrons on the rolls, and the appointment of twenty tional ones will probably be asked for. IN CONGRESS TODAY|T#E TERMINAL RALROAD/CROKER TO RETIRE|AMERICAN INTERESTS COXFY'S TESTIMONY Senator Allen Tntrodnoes a Coxey Resolution of Inquiry. WANTS POLICE ACTION INVESTIGATED The Chinese Treaty Considered in Executive Session. 32 Ae EE MATTERS IN THE HOUSE Mr. Chandler (N. H.) op2aed the sixth week’s struggle over the tariff bill in the Senate when that body met today with the suggestion that there should be a quorum present before the journal was read. The roll call developed the presence of only forty-one Senators, two less than a quorum, and Mr. Harris, the democratic manager, shewed a prompt disposition to hurry the sergeant-at-arms off in search of delin- quents, but before he could get a motion thicugh for that purpose, Messrs. Hawley and Hale entered the chamber and filled out the quorum, thus obviating,the necessity of sending for absentees, A Coxey Investigation Resolution. After the journal had been read, Mr. Allen (Neb.), who is championing “Gen.” Coxey’s cause in the Police Court of this city, introduced a resolution bearing on the subject of the alleged police clubbing out- rage committed in the Capitol grounds on May 1, \t began with the following where- as: Whereas, Jacob S. Coxey, a citizen of Ohio; Carl Browne, a citizen of California; ‘. Jones, a citizen of Pennsylvania, all citizens of the United States, were, on the Ist day of May, 18, on the grounds of the National Capitol, in the city of Wash- ington, in the District of Columbia, assault- ed by a police force in the service of the United States, and arrested and imprisoned while peaceably entering upon said Capitol grounds in a quiet and orderly manner to fret others then on said grounds by lawful right. ‘The resolution then provides for the ap- | Pointment of a special committee of five Senators (not more than two from any one Political party) to investigate all the cir- cumstances and facts in connection with the matter and report with all convenient speed, by bill or otherwise, some method to prevent a repetition of such an occurrence in the future. The resolution empowers the committee to send for persons and papers. Upon the demand of Mr. Cockrell (Mo.) the resolution went over until tomorrow. A resolution authorizing T. O. Selfridge, dr., of the navy to,accept a decoration from the president of the French republic was agreed to on motion of Mr. Lodge (Mass.), and a resolution calling on the Attorney General for a copy of the findings of the Court of Claims under the Indian depreda- Uons act on motion of Mr. Manderson. The Chinese Treaty. Today being set apart for the considera- tion of the Chinese treaty in executive ses- sion, Mr. Morgan, chairman of the foreign affairs committee,then moved that the doors be closed. Thereupon Mr. Mitchell (Oreg.) called up his resolution to consiger the treaty in open session. Mr. Perk! (Cal. took the floor in advocacy of this lution. | He was proceeding to say as treaty had already been «pul e as no and sufficient reason Why it sHould be _ 1 beta closed doors, when Mr. tion to consid executive session. His motion being. see- onded by Mr. Mi » under the rules it carried the Senate nolens volens into execu- tive session. The galleries were cleared and at 11:35 the doors were c! THE HOUSE. Today was ‘‘sugpension day” in the House, when bills could be passed by a two-thirds vote under suspension of the rules, and Mr. Dunphy (N.Y.) asked unanimous consent to dispense with the rules for the purpose of passing the New York and New Jersey bridge bill as amended to meet the objec- tions to the bill vetoed by the President. Mr. Dunn (N.J.) objected, and tellers were appointed, when the rules were suspended and the bill was then passed by @ two- thirds vote, as required by the rule. Special Orders. Mr. Catchings (Miss.), from the commit- tee on rules, offered the following resolu- tion: “Resolved, That this day be assigned to the consideration of the bill for the erec- tion of a government printing office and of the Senate bill tor the erection of a hali of records in the city of Washington, this or- der to continue (subject after today to the sideration of general appropriation bills) . om day to day until said bills are disposed of.” The previous question was ordered and the resolution was agreed to, so that the printing office and the hall of records bill were made the unfinished business be- fore the House, subject only to the inje tion of appropriation bills. It been ex- pected that the New Mexico statehood bill would be called up, but the managers of the bill did not succeed in getting it before the House. In accordance with the special order just adopted, the printing office bill was taken up, and on motion of Mr. Bankhead (Ala.), chairman of the committee on public build- ings and grounds, the House went into committee of the whole (Mr. Bynum of Indiana in the chair). -e- CAPITOL TOPICS. For the Relief of Admiral Stanton. Senator McPherson of New Jersey intro- duced in the Senate today a bill for the re- Met of Rear Admiral Stanton and the offi- cers and enlisted men of the wrecked Kear- sarge. It provides remuneration for their personal losses in the wreck. Retaliation Amendments. Mr. Lodge .of Massachusetts introduced an amendment to the tariff bill in the Sen- ate today, of which he gave notice some time since, providing that as against Great Britain or any of her colonies a duty double the amount imposed in the bill shall be levied, and a duty of 35 per cent on all ar- ticles on the free list, such duties to con- tinue until Great Britain shall assent to take part in an_ international agreement with the United States for the coinage and use of silver. Dividends Declared. The controller of the currency has de- clared dividends in favor of the creditors of insvlvent national banks as follows, viz: A first dividend of 30 per cent in favor of the creditors of the First National Bank of Starkville, Miss., on claims proved amount- ing to $16,952. A second dividend of 10 per cent in favor of creditors of the First National Bank of Del Norte, Colo., making in all 20 per cent, on claims proved amounting to $81,257. A second dividend of 2) per cent in favor of the creditors of the First National Bank of Vernon, Tex., making in all 35 per cent, on claims amounting to $81,257. A second dividend of 20 per cent in favor of the creditors of the Livingston National Bank of Livingston, Mon., making in all 40 per cent on claims proved, amounting to » A second dividend of 20 per cent in favor of the creditors of the First National Bank of North Manchester, Ind., making in all 45 per cent, on claims proved amounting to $90,663, — ——— First Lieut. Harlan E. McVay, assistant surgeon, will be relieved from duty at Fort | Huachuca. Arizona territory, and will re- port at the presidio of San Francisco, Cal., for duty, to relieve First Lieut. Charles Willcox, assistant surgeon, who will report at Angel Island, Cal. Pull Report of the Oommissioners Made Two Years Ago “ The Line Not Approved ns an Addi- tional One, but as a Substitute for the Present Pa. H.R. Tracks. Reference has been made to a report of the District Commissioners of July 14, 1892, as showing some of the general reasons in favor of the Washington and Georgetown terminal railroad bill, which still hold good. This communication contains the only rea- sons ever urged by the Commissioners with reference to the proposed termiaal railroad, and they still hold good; but the slightest examination shows that they are not reasons which favor the project of the terminal railroad. On the contrary, the reasoning of the communication is opposed to a duplication of steam railroad trucks and a multiplication of grade crossings across South Washington, «nd favors a requirement that the Pennsylvania railroad abandon {ts tracks on Maryland and Vir- ginia avenues d follow a new course along K street and Water street, the route of the proposed terminal railroad. In view of the consistent and vigorous warfare waged against grade crossings by the Dis- trict authorities, this was the only recom- mendation possible. If carried out, it would not increase the number of grade crossings, and would make a beneficial change in their location. The report of the Commissioners, dated July 14, 1892, and addressed to the chair- man of the Senate District committee, is as follows: Report of 1892. “The Commissioners have the honor to make the following response to the refer- ence to them at your instance of Senate bill 3272, ‘to incorporate the Washington and Georgetown Terminal Railroad Com- “Ordinarily, we would be content with the suggestion that two steam roads par: leling each other through the same portion of the city, starting and terminating at the same respective points, would seem to be undesirable and unnecessary. Under such circumstances a simple provision giving the second road the right to use the tracks of the first with proper compensa- tion would suffice. But we have seen in the suggested route of this proposed road @ convenient, practical and inexpensive disposition of the long existing railroad trouble in that part of the city, and the following suggestions are tentatively thrown out: “The city map shows that this company Proposes to start at or near the western mouth of the tunnel used by the Baltimore and Potomac (Pennsylvania company) on K street southeast, and thence via K street to Water street, and thence to the Long bridge. This is a diract, straight way from the tunnel to Water street, and thence de- flecting to the northwest on Water street to the bridge. “his road would be nearly a mile south of the tracks of Virginia avenue and Mary-+ land avenue, in a sparsely settled portion of the city and eight squares away from the tracks of the two named avenues, where the houses are con.pact and numerous. Why not let the Pennsylvania Company put two tracks on K street to Water street and up Water street to the Long bridge, and tous relieve the people of Virginia and Maryland avenues from all railroad occu- pation? The grade croesing at K street would, with proper guard gates, be com- ratively harmless for years. The switch- ing could all be done either east of the tun- nel or on the company’s properties near the bridge. The large population about the ave- nues would be entirely relieved of all their railroad troubles, san, company relieved of audarge sinking or elevating tracks and: 2 yp gi company could be siven the right of way over the Pennsyl- Vania road to the bridge. We have looked at K street southeast and at Water street, with a view to the above tentative sugges- tion, and our thought seems feasible. “There will have.to be some day in the near future a right to barge loaded cars from Georgetown to the roads on this side of the town and District, for it is pretty certain that a railroad outlet for the soft coal of West Virginia will be needed for a road from that state to the District, down along the river. The coal that is to to the eastern or northeastern states would be barged across the city front and taken off by the K street route through the tunael. The Pennsylvania company could save so much money by the above plan by being re- lieved from the necessity of depressing or elevating their tracks, where they now are, that they could no doubt afford to build a fine new bridge to accommodate both their roads and the city’s travel, and to avert the dangers of an overflow. The track from their depot would, of course, nave to be ex- tended down 6th street to K for lucal pas- senger purposes, und all present tracks re- moved from Virginia and Maryland ave- nues. “after the removal of the present tracks @ pretty square at the intersection of the two avenues would be avatiable for im- mediate improvement and the avenue for paving.” INDUSTRIAL DEPRESSION, Proposition to Make a Searching In- auiry jo the Ca A phase of the industrial unrest through- out the country, as shown by the Coxey movement, {s likely to be presented to Con- gress on Wednesday by the House commit- tee on labor, of which Representative Mc- Gann of Illinois is the chairman. Mr, Me- Gann has framed a terse joint resolution proposing the appointment of a committee of three Senators and three members of the House to inquire into the cause of the present industrial depression and idleness and to report within thirty days, both on causes and probable remedies. The resolution is not an evidence of sym- pathy with Mr. Coxey’s sehemes, as neither Mr. McGann nor his asso¢lates on the labor committee have any faith in these schemes, but to a belief entertained by Chairman Mc- Gann and members of his committee that the problem of the unemployed has reached a stage when it must be seriously con- sidered. Representative Bell, populist, of Colorado originally introduced a resolution for a joint investigation, but the pream- ble ascribed the industflal unrest to the demonetization of silver. A substitute has now been drawn which*eliminates sil- ver, tariff and all argumentative preamble and simply proposes an inquiry and speedy report. Mr. McGann has found members of the committee favorable to the plan.and ex- pects to have it agreed to and reported at the Wednesday meeting. Should the investi- gation be authorized it would give a hearing to Mr. Coxey and others who think they know the cause of the unrest and can fur- nish a remedy. But it will not stop at that, ‘The purpose fs to make the inquiry on broad lines, so that the effects of tariff uncer- tainty, silver legislation, &c., will all be considered without reference to the politics Involved. Mr. McGann says he thinks it can be done, and might do a positive good, irrespective of the political theories which suffer. ———__- -______ Representative Griffin’s Deafness. Representative Griffin of Detroit is in the care of an eminent aurist of New York, in the hope of overcoming the sudden affic- tion of total deafhess. He has long been affected with pastial deafness, but recent improvement gave promise of entire recov- ery. About a week ago Mr. Griffin suffered from a severe cold, and on proceeding to his congressional work realized for the first time that the cold had left him totally deaf. The blow was particularly severe to his friends, as well as himself, as Mr. Griffin only recently began his congressional ser- vice, and was assured a renomination by acclamation. While there ts a hope that the treatment in New York may restore at least partial hearing, Mr. Griffin himself is red to retire from public life and to himself to literary pursuits, He was at one time the law partner of Don M. Dickinson, Others Will Share His Labors Tammany Hall. WILL NO LONGER BE SOLE CHIEF Comment at the Capitol Over the News. WHAT NEW YORKERS SAY ——_>-——_ NEW YORK, May 7.—Richard Croker this morning confirmed the report that he intended in the near future to retire from active participation in Tammany Hall poli- tics. He said he was not going to give up the leadership of the organization or shirk bis share of the duty, but the condition of bis health made it imperative on him not to carry all the responsibility on his shoulders, as he had been doing in the past. When seen at his office in Tammany Hall this morning he said: “My physician tells me I must go out and around. I cannot do that if I am to stay in here all the time. The organization has got to get right down and divide the work among the commit- tees. I intend to take a man's part in the work, but I can no longer do it all.” Comment at the Capitol. Chief Croker’s purpose of resigning from the head of Tammany was authoritatively made known to leading New York members of Congress today. Early in the day there were reports that Mr. Croker contemplated such a move, but it was too much of a sur- prise to be credited. As a result a telegram was sent to Mr. Croker in person, and he confirmed the report. The announcement created a sensation among the Tammany men in the House. They met in groups in the lobbies and ex- citedly discussed the situation. Representatives Cockran and Dunphy, who have been identified as anti-Croker members of Tammany, had their heads to- gether. Mr. Dunphy resigned from Tammany only a few weeks ago, announcing his resigna- tion in public letter which severely ar- raigned Croker. Mr. Dunphy said today: “The resignation is a great surprise to me. I had known that it must come as soon as Mr. Croker recognized that it was essential to the wel- fare and preservation of Tammany. But I did not think he would reach this conclu- sion so soon. As to what the effect will be that depends on the choice of Mr. Croker’s successor. If there is to be an end of one- man power the effect will be very bene- ficial, Mr. Bourke Cockran said: “I know noth- ing about it, but I presume it is true. I have not been in Mr. Croker’s confidence for two years. I have nothing to say.” The information that Mr. Croker is con- templating resigning the chiefship of Tam- many came first in the form of a rumor, which spread quickly through the House, exciting very great interést among the dem- ocrats, especially among the southern men, who expressed very great regret. Most of the New York men were taken by surprise, though it is believed that Mr. Hill and Mr, Murphy and possibly some others had learned from Mr. Croker, while here, of intention. Rumors of trouble in oer apes and of the possibility of Mr. Croker signing have been started from time time for several monthe. Mr. , continuing, said: “I shall ask the exeoutive committee to appoint one or more subcommittees to relieve me of thi routine work. I am not trying to dodge any duty or responsibility, and shall continue to do all in my power for the success of the organization and of democratic principles. “But as matters have been going, I have had an immense amount of purely routine work to do. When I am absent from the city, no one even attempts to answer the letters that accumulate. “I want to arrange matters so that if I desire to go away from the city for three months, my work will be attended to in my absence. “This does not mean that I have any intention of resigning. I shall talk the mat- ter over with the members of the execu- tive committee between now and the meet- ing of the committee on Thursday, and I hope they will agree to name the commit- tee T ask for. “I only want them to attend to the im- mense correspondence and relieve me of details, so that I will be able to get out more. “I want to make it perfectly clear, how- ever, that I am not trying to shirk any duty or responsibility of leadership.” Representative Quigg, the only New York city republican in Congress, said: “Mr. Croker's retirement has been talked about for several months—in fact, ever since the democratic reverses ¥, fall—but those who knew him best have been slow to be- lieve that he would run away under fire. There must be an explanation of this. Leadership, even in Tammany Hall, tn- volves something more or less in the nature of responsibility, and a man cannot step out without raising numerous inquiries. There is now at work in New York a legis- lative investigation committee. “Mr. Croker has grown in several different Kinds of stature in a remarkably short Space of time. It seems to me that his de- velopment and his retirement should both be looked Into. Of course, this sort of a withdrawal is a confession. The only ques- ton is just how mueh it confesses.” 'roker was here yesterday, confe1 with certain of the Tammany Hall ae bers of the House and Senators Hill and Murphy, and left for New York at 4 o'clock. He announced his intention of resigning at that conference. Representative DeWitt Warner said: “There have been in ‘Tammany Hall w,; and rumors of wars for a long time, and I presume the time has come when Mr. Croker considers it best to step down and out. He simply abdicates his authority.” “Do you believe he did so in antleipaiton of coming defeat inside the organization?” “Not necessarily; Mr. Croker has been through some hard battles. The fact that the organization is faced by hostility may, bh ver, have had its weigh Who will his successor be?” “I don't know, and I don’t think anyone can teli now. Things must drift for a time Just as they did after John Kelly's death. Any succession will be temporary until fit- ness to command can be demonstrated.” Mr. Cockran will go to New York at 4 o'clock this afternoon, presumably on matters connected with the retirement of Mr. Croker. The later dispatches from New York, saying that Mr. Croker was not retiring, but only asking for a relief from work, lead to a characterization of the move by any member as a “blind.” “It is intended,” said he, “to give Croker and those In control an opportunity to put some one forward.”” —_-—--_—_ Suit Against the District. The District of Columbia was today made the defendant in a suit instituted against the) municipal corporation by John H. Rogers and John Ridout, trustee: The suit Is action of trespass, and the damages claimed are placed at $35,000, The contention of the plaintiffs is that the District of Columbia on the 20th of June, 1891, and on divers other days and times between that day and the time of bringing suit, with force and arms, broke and entered the close of the plaintiffs. That is, they allege that the District dug up part of a tract of land, originally called “The Widow's Mite,"” now known as “Kalo- rama,” being so much of the land around the burial vault of the late George Bom- ford as would be included within the lines of Q street, if extended west, and laid therein water mains and sewers. The plaintiffs claim that by such action on the Part of the District they have been de- prived of the benefit, use and enjoyment of their land, and its value has been dimin- ished. Therefore, they claim damages to the amount of $35,000, They Are to Be Looked After in Central America. Several of the Best Ships in the Navy Ordered to Duty in That Section. Several important naval movements have | been ordered within the past few days, but have been kept very quiet. Information has been received here to the effect that a gereral fecling of disquiet and political dissatisfaction prevatlé to a more or less | alarming extént iu all the countries of Cen- | tral America. A resolution is in progress | in Salvador and threatens to affect other countries in the vicinity. The situation is | such that it has been deemed advisable to strengthen the naval forces of the United States on both sides of Central America. The big cruiser New York, which was at Kingston, Jamaica, at last reports, has | been ordered to proceed at once to Colon, where she will be immediately available in case the San Francisco needs any as- | sistance in maintaining American rights and interests in the Mosquito country. Un- less an emergency should require a union of forces. the New York will remain at Colch and the San’ Francisco at Bluefields, or they may alternate between the two ports. They are not many miles apart. Although it is not so stated, it is believed that the special business of the New York is to se@ that American interests in the Nicaragua canal are in no wise interfered with. ‘Two Ships on the West Coast. To these two warships on the east coast the Navy Department has concluded to add two others immediately for service on the west coast. The cruiser Charleston and the gunboat Bennington have been selected for this service. The Charleston belongs on the Pacific station. She took part in the Columbian naval review and at its close started for the Pacific. She had hardly got fairly on her journey when the Brazilian revolution occurred and she was detained at Rio for duty on that station. When the revolution ended and the yellow fever broke | out in Rio, ali the American fieet left that harbor. The Charleston and the Newark went down to Montevideo, Uruguay, and) have been there ever since. The orders to the Charleston are to proceed at once to, Callao, Peru, and await further orders. In case she is not needed in that vicinity she will continue her cruise north to Pana- ma. ‘The Bennington to Salvad The Bennington is at San Francisco after her famous cruise from the Mediterranean. Her orders to duty with the Bering sea patrol ficet have been countermanded, and she is ordered to proceed immediately to rights and interests are fully respected by the belligerents in that country of revolu- tion. These orders contemplate full pro- tection to American interests in all parts of Central America, and will undoubtedly have @ good effect in preventing further trouble. ——-e TREASURY CLERKS’ THIRST. Uncle Sam Has No Money to Pay for Ice. The ice famine in the Treasury Depart ment continues, with no prospects of re- lief before July 1, when the new appropria- tion becomes available. The hot weather smimkes*ice water a necessity, and as the it will not provide it the clerks employes are compelled to buy their gwn ice or else go thirsty. Diies to Secretary Carlisle and his assist- ants as well as to the messengers and the charwomen. If they want cool drinking water during their office hours they must supply their own ice. Many of the coolers in the corridors usually filled for the bene- | fit of visitors are now dry and empty. At much frequented places, like the west en- trance, a general subscription book has been opened for the purchase of ice for the large cooler at that place, used principally by the public, and many passers by chip in their nickel and slake their thirst | Why the Supply Has Ren Short. | It 1s explained in the superintendent's office, Treasury Department, that the ice supply has run short this yedr because the appropriation is $1,000 less than usual, and also because ice is 40 per cent more ex- notified a month ago that the ice fund was pensive this year than last. Congress was exhausted, but has so far failed to provide for the deficiency. Many of the clerks have criticised the management of the ice fund, | saying it was foolish to have wasted the money for ice in the winter months, instead of saving it for the summer. The answer to this criticism is that the practice is to distribute ice upon datly requi- sitions from the head of each bureau or | division, and that it was their fault, and not the superintendent's, that the ice supply was not reserved for the summer months. In the meantime {ce will have to be obtained by popular subscription up to July 1 unless Congress comes to the relief of the Treasury Department. That is the only department where ice is specifically provided for in the appropriations. In the other departments ice is provided for im a general appropria- tion for contingent expenses. oo ee A Civil Service Examination. The United States civil service commis- sion will hold an examination on June 12 to secure a register of eligibles for the position of inspector and assistant inspector in the bureau of animal industry, Department of Agriculture. Arrangements will be made to give this examination at all large cities examiners. The salaries of the assistant inspectors will be $1,200 and of inspectors $1,400, The appointments will be for the most part to the lower grade, although some appointments may be at the grade of $1,400. No person will be appointe@ to the positions who is not a graduate of some rec- ognized veterinary college. Those who a cept appointments to these positions must consent to be assigned to duty in any part of the country which the department may designate, or “to be moved from place to place, An application blank may be ob- tained by writing to the United States civil service coramission, Washington, D. C., and all applications should be filed at as early a date as practicable. As a basis for the technical examination an abridgement of the clerk-copyist examination will be given, consisting of the subjects of orthography. penmanship, plain copying, letter writing and arithmetic. The last named subject will be of a lighter grade than the ordinary clerk-copyist arithmetic. The subjects of the technical portion of the examination | will be veterinary anatomy and physiology, veterinary pathology and meat inspection. The Guatemalan minister has been in- formed of the revolution in Honduras, and that the Guatemalan government is pre- serving a strict neutrality in the emer- gency. phe Maat Personal Mention. Secretary Lamont has gone to McGraw- ville, N. ¥., on private business. Mrs. R. H. McFerran, Miss G. T, McFer- ran and Miss F. M. Green are at the Hewitt House, Atlantic ty, for the season. a nda c Recognized. The President has recognized Alejandro | Wor y Gil as consul general of Dominican Republic at New York and Frederick Jean Diem as consul of the Swiss Confederation at Cincinnati. Mr. Wm. H. Manogue, collector of cus- toms at Georgetown, visited the Treasury | Department today and completed arrange- ments for entering upon the discharge of his new duties. His official bond was ap- proved and he was presented with his com- mission. Salvador instead to see that American | ‘The rule ap- | where there may be applicants and where the commission has a competent board of | | seribed thy He Tells How His Men Lived and How He Lived. é EVIDENCE HEARD FOR THE DEFENSE Witnesses Testify That Coxey Did Not Step on the Grass. THE PROTEST RULED OUT snes The circus parade this morning was @ rival attraction to the show at the Police Court and the result was a rather small audience when the trial of Coxey, Browne and Jones was commenced. The trial be- gan at 10:15 o'clock. Marshall Browne had doffed his cow-boy suit of leather and was attired in a neat summer suit of blue serge, with a colored shirt and high collar. The day was given up to the hearing of evidence for the Ge- fense and young Hyman, one of the law- yers for the defendants, made the opening address. In commencing, he said that tech- nically they had no defense to offer for what occurred at the Capitol grounds last Tuesday. In int of fact the three men under arrest did nothing that was in any sense a violation of law. The lawyers for the government ought to have been willing to take the case from the jury, admitting that iney had no evidence to support. once before was there a case similar to this, and that one occurred a long time ago. Then he offered to read an extract from the Bible, wherein this cause was recorded. Mr. Birney objected that this was hardly proper in an opening address. which should be confined solely to outlining facts that they Intended to prove. “Do you mean to say that that book ts Lipscorab. Represen- Know there was any law that prohibited the reading of tLe Bible.” Moses and the Burning Bush. Judge Miller watved the point, and the young lawyer read the story of Moses and the burning bush, where Moses was remove his shoes and stand back, was on holy ground. In this case | Was given fair warning that off the grass, but the same jwith the he was three men now on er Columbus Jonesi, would prove that so far from any gressions of law being committed, the was that the men were brutally used by the police. By the testimony of some of the best men in the city they would prove that the defendants were guilty of no of- fense, but, on the contrary, were the vic- tims of what came very near to being ® conspiracy. The government had not acted squarely in this matter and had shifted ang doubled, and they would prove by the records that the arrests were not mad. upon the charge upon which the mem Were now being tried. The first witness placed upon the stand for the defense today was Frank Harper of Alexandria, an advertising agent for the Virginia Sun. Harper testified that he was present in front of the Capitol last Tues- day and saw pretty much all that occurred there. Coxey, he said, did not walk or upon the gress, but made his way to the ren ag oage «3 the asphalt. He was so inoffen- sive in is actions that few people even recognized him beyond those who had seen him before. On cross-examination the witness sal@ that there was no disorder there that A He thought that there were 50,000 or @0, people whooping and yelling, but he aid not tyink this constituted digorder. All were fog for Coxey, for as an American cith- zen they desired that he should be given an | opportunity to make an address. They | wanted to hear Coxey, and they hooted at the police to show their disapproval of the indignities to which he was subjected. In his opinion, the people were whanimously in sympathy with Coxey and opposed to the police and their oppressicns. “The police,” said the witness, “are the minions of ‘the people; the agents of the law. They are not the law.” “I thank you for this nice little lecture,” said Mr. Birney. | “You flatter me,” replied the suave war correspondent from Virginia. Coxey Walkin’ Right Peart. Samuel L. Perry, a middle-aged colored man, was next placed upon the stand. In answer to # question from Mr. Lipscomb he said that in I8v2 he was employed in the Treasury Department, but since then bad | had no regular work, and was “now a mem- | ber of the great army of the unemployed.” He stated that he followed Coxey’s car- riage along to the Capitol, and from the | carriage he followed him to the steps. He was with him and close hin all the way, and at no time did Coxzy step on the grass. The witness was asked at what rate Mr, Coxey was going, and he answered, “Mr. Coxey was walkin" right peari, sah, but he Wasn't runnin’ at no time.” Mr. Lipscomb questioned the witness as to the conduct of the police. Mr. Birney cb- jected, and Mr. Lipscomb told the court | that he intended to pursue a line that would show that the police were clubbing the peo- ple freely that Mr. Coxey would never jhave thought of going upon the grass. Furthermore, they desired to prove that there were thousands of other people who were on the grass, and that the police di@ not raise any objection. “In other words,” said Mr. Birney, “your defense is that Mr. Coxey 414 not go upon | the grass, but that if he did there was no to violate the law.” The questions were finally allowed, Judge Miller telling the jury for what pu were proper. The witness replied that there were thousands of peopie on the grass, and that they were forced there by the po- lice, who drove them off the asphalt. Nouh- ing of any particular importance was ob- tained from this witness on cross-examina- tion beyond a recital uf his own experiences in the crowd and the difficuitics that he surmounted in his efforts to reach the Capitol steps Walked on the Asphal intention A. M. Saltzsiein, a teweler, was the next witness called by the Cefense, and he de- scribed Mr. Coxey’s march from his car- riage to the steps. Mr. Coxey kissed his wife good-bye, ani «ntering the grounds by an driveway he went all the way to the steps on the asphalt, and not did he step on the gra The witness de- Scene on the steps as it was de scribed in The Star om that day and by the