Evening Star Newspaper, May 17, 1894, Page 1

‘ eee THE EVENING STAR. —— PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1201 Proosylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Prest. New York Office, 40 Potter Building. = The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the ¢ity by carriers, “ their own account, at 10 cents © week, or 44c. per month. Coptes at the counter Ficents each. By matl—anywhere in the United tates or Canada—postage prepaid-—O vents yer month Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1.00 per year; postaze added. $3.00. ‘ost Office at Washington, D. C., , With foreign (En f must be paid ip adrance. de known op application. | Vor 84. No. 20. ,887. WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1894-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. FOR INVESTIGATION! Mr. Lodge indicated a willingness to ac- cept this amendment. Mr. Palmer's Suggestion. Mr. Palmer (LiL) said he desired to sub- mit a practical suggestion. Mr. Hunton The Senate Adopts a Dragnet Reso-| ana Mr.. Kyle, he tnought, had a perfect lution of Inguiry. BRIBERY CHARGES AND SUGAR TRUST Will Afford the Principal Amount of Work. THE TARIFF UP AGAIN —_——o—_— ‘There was an area of low barometer and | and his right to control the dispusition of the reso- tion so far as it affected them, but the pro- posed sugar trust investigation was an entirely distinct thing. He thought the two branches of the subject should be sep- arated. The latter part of the resolution was a dragnet, designed to take in all creation, and should be acted upon sepa- rately. Mr. Hunton replied that while he courted full, free and complete investigation he assumed that the committee when ap- poiuted would take up the two branches of the inguiry in their order, and that so far as the first was concerned it would not be allowed to hang fire until the commit- tee waded through the other branch of the inquiry. Mr. Hale (Me.), while affirming his entire confidence in the integrity of the Senators alleged to have been improperly approached belief that no one who knew them Indications threatening a storm over the| for a moment would harbor suspicion con- United States Senate when that body met today. The attendance was large on both Bides of the chamber. cerping them, intimated that these charges the nature of “back fires,” started like the ery of “stop thief,” to meet other Mr. Morgan opened | and graver charges made. He thought Mr. Proceedings by offering for reference a reso-| Lodge should accept any amendment that lution which, after reciting the existence of | Would make the investigation more pene- the Sherman anti-trust law of June 2, 1892, and the alleged existence of a sugar trust, talled on the Attorney General for informa- trating. This matter should be investi- gated to its profoundest depths. The coun- try and the world needed light on the real saspicions that certain portions of the tion as to whether any proceedings were }pending bill had been improperly and cor- pending against such corporation; what stage they had reached; if so, if not, whether, in his opinion, there was any de-| with a fect in the anti-trust law. ruptly framed—suspicions, he sald, that were a disgrace to the American Senate. Mr. Quay at this point came forward novel suggestion that caused a rip- ple of amusement on the floor and made The Lodge resolution, which came over|the wHole matter appear in rather a ridic- from yesterday, was then laid before the Senate by Vice President Stevenson and Mr. Lodge took the floor. Mr. Lodge's Remarks. He was not a friend, he began, of the un- Mecessary investigation of loose allegations br of vague and indefinite statements. But {when specific charges are made by responsi- ble newspapers and responsible newspaper men against persons occupying high official Station, involving their public and private integrity, he did not think the Senate could afford to ignore them. On Monday an arti- cle had appeared in the Philadelphia Press charging that enormous profit would accrue to the sugar trust by the fixing of the date when the sugar schedule would go into ef- fect at January 1, which profit was esti- mated at $50,000,000. It charged that this schedule was exacted by the trust in ful- fillment of pledges made to it during the| the accusatio: campaign of 1sv2. ‘were given, at the very time when their ex- istence was denied by the chairman of the finance committee and others. These charges jwere made by E. J. Edwards, a well-! Rewspaper man, who wrote over the nom | acce; @e plume of “Holland.” If there were any truth in them the public ought to know it; if false, they constituted a libel of grossest kind. On yesterday the New Yo Sun,from its correspondent here,had printed |, AS amended the resolution is as follow: pt to bribe Uni-]| Whereas, it has been stated in the Sun, a @ story of an alleged attem ted States Senators that had since been con- firmed by an interview with one of the Sen- Btors. Certainly no graver charges than these rould be made; no graver crime than at- tempts to bribe members of Congress could committed. They could not go unnoticed or uninvestigated. If attempts at bribery been made the offenders certainly ould come within th we If the charges were false they should be Branded as such, and the men making should be stamped as libelers at the of public opinion. He trusted that the esolution would pass without objection. Mr. Hunton’s Denial. It also charged that the | would have work en Jones amendments were in the hands of a| for a long time. firm of New York brokers, whose names| made to Mr. ulous light. All sorts of charges and in- nuendos had been printed from time to time, he said, and it seemed as if a per- manent committee were needed to take charge of the morals and character of Sen- ators.He asked that Mr. Faulkner's amend- ment be modifiel so as to give the com- legislation. Mr. Faulkner did not take kindly to the Pennsylvania Senator's suggestion. He had heard no rumors in conaection with other legislation, he declared rather hotly, and thought it was hardly dignified to so amend the resolution. Mr. White (Cal.) agreed with Mr. Faulk- ner. He thought the object of the reso- lution was to investigate the charges made. He did not believe it ought to be the prov- ince of the committee to advertise for charges. if the committee investigated ms notoriously in circulation it jough to keep it busy As no response had been Allen’s insinuation about Sen- ators speculating in sugar stock during the consideration of the tariff bill he presented hese charges in the inquiry. It pted by Mr. Lodge and then, without division, just as the morning hour expired, the resolution: was adopted. The Resolution as It Passed. newspaper published in New York, that have been offered to certain Senators to luce them to vote against the pending tariff bill, and Whereas, it has also been stated in a article in the Press, a newspaper published in Philadelphia, that the sugar schedule has been made up as it now stands e reach of statute in the proposed amendment in consideration of large sums of money paid for campaign purposes of the democratic party, therefore, Resolved, That a committee of five Sen- ators be appointed to investigate these charges and to inquire further whether any contributions have been made by the sugar trust or any person connected therewith to ‘As Mr. Lodge took his seat Mr. Hunton | @ny political party for campaign or election {¥a) arose. As his name had been con- ected with the charg t he hoped they would be investigated he desired to say spe Purposes, or to secure or defeat legislation, and whether any Senator has been or is culating Mm ‘what are known as sugar stocks, during the consideration of the the lowest depths. It was not becoming | tariff bill, now before the Senate, and with him, he said, to say more than this at time. Yet he desired to say that as a ter of fact he had never been approach- at all. He felt annoyed that any one a ribed, especially in the form in which the ttempt was made, through a well-beloved m, who stood as high above anything of sort as he claimed to be. power to send for persons and papers and to administer oaths. Resolved further, That sald committee be authorized to investigate and report upon y charge or charges which may be filed before it alleging that the action of any Senator has been corruptly or improperly influenced in the consideration of said bill, or that any attempt has been made to in- Mr. Cockrell (Mo.) said his only objection | uence legislation. the resolution as drawn was that the inquiry was not wide enough. The Tariff Again. At 12 o'clock the tariff bill was laid before e suggested that it be amended so that) the Senate, and the Senate resumed its inquiry relating to the sugar trust ould extend to contributions to any po- Yitical party for campaign purposes. Mr. e declared that he would cheer- accept the amendment. He was anx- wonted quiet. Senator Gallinger (N. H.) tcok the floor and delivered another install- ment of his speech. At 12:30 Mr. Quay called attention to the us, he said, to expose the pernicious in-| Jack of a quorum. A roll call showed fifty- luencs of the sugar trust in American pol-/four Senators present, and Mr. Gallinger Mr. Butts Wants Investigation. Mr. Hansbrough (N.D.) said that as Mr. E ith having made the attempt at bribery, desired to make a statement. Mr. resumed his speech. Y¥ielded to Mr. Higgins. At 1:45 Mr. Gallinger, after speaking an W. Buttz of Ransom county, North Da-|hour and three-quarters, announced that ita, one of his constituents, was charged |he would suspend and yield the floor to Mr. Higgins (Del.), and resume his history of tariff legislation again at some conven- ittz had called upon him last night for a | ient opportunity. mference, and had concluded that the Mr. Higgins entered into a general dis- tt thing to do would be to court the} cussion of the effect of the protection upon lest investigation. He had a letter from prices. He devoted much time to the south . Buttz which he desired to have read in| and the quickening and stimulating influ- the Senate, and he sent it to the ¢lerk’s|ence of igesk. It was as follows: “WASHINGTON, May 17. Hon. H. C, Hansbrough, United States ¢: _ Senate. attempted to bribe Senators Hunton and '®Kyle to vote against the pending tariff bill. tor Lodge has introduced a resolution high tariffs upon southern enter- +e + TO REFUND THE MONEY. BD ilroad Question. ‘An interesting issue of the trouble be- Ug “Dear Sir: The newspapers charge that} South Carolina to Be Reimbursed—A ‘ting an investigation of this charge| tween the state of South Carolina and the ith one other. “I respectfully ask you, as one of the rs from my state, to urge the adop- railroads managed by the federal courts through receivers has been passed upon by jon of the resolution and the speediest|the House committee on claims. It has sstble investigation. “As these scandalous stories derogating Yo my character have been given to the ress and published in every part of the yantry, I beg of you to state that I deny them entirely, in whole and in part, and denounce them as falsehoods and slanders. (Of course, my words do not refer at all to the two honorable Senators mentioned. believe them both to be incapable of telling ything but the truth. I simply mean to tamp the newspaper statements charging @ with attempting to bribe the Senators in fauestion utterly without foundations. Very respectfully, “*(Signed.) c. W. BUTTZ.” Mr. Harris (Tenn.), in the absence of Mr. Kyle, said he desired to say from his per- fonal knowledge of the character of Mr. Kyle that he knew if he were present he would join with Mr. Hunton in demanding = most complete and thorough investiga- jon. To Go for the Sugar Trust. Cockrell then suggested ‘Mr. another Qmendment, to include, after words sugar trust, any persons connected there- and also after words money paid for campaign purposes, “or to secure legis- lation.” Mr. Lodge accepted this amendment also. Mr, Allen then explained that Mr. K had been absent for two weeks in connec- tion wit work as a member of the in depredation claims. scope of the resolution med so as to include the ly of attempts at sena- sugar trust’s contri- funds, but also the unds of the press that Senators had been speculating in sugar Stock. He thought the Senators in charge of the resolution should so modify it. As = as the s apted bribery of enators w he entertained no @oubt that the nt. There was io response to Mr. ggestion. Mr. Chan’ ed to amend the reso- lution so as ude money paid by the sugar trust. not only for campaign, but for “other election purposes.” He had reason to believe, a, that money had been used sugar trust to elect United States accepted this amendment also. r (W. Va.) called attention that charges were being con- ly made with refer- nd asked that a clause lution so as to give the ittee jurt t on any tred before the commit- t Senators alleging corrupting in- fluences in connection with the tariff bill. ction to in- le | other charges | been decided to favorably report the bill in- troduced by Representative Latimer to re- fund to the state $1,500, the amount of fines imposed on the sheriffs of Newberry, Ander- son and Aiken counties two years ago for their action in levying upon the property of the Richmond and Danville and South Caro- lina railroads. These roads were in the bands of receivers appointed by the federal courts. The state board of railroad commis- sioners raised the assesments on railroad property, and were supported by the state courts. The matter was brought before the United States circuit court, and thence was taken to the Supreme Court,which dismissed it for want of jurisdiction, the sum involved being less than $5,000. The United States circuit court ordered the receivers to pay the old rate of tax, but the three sheriffs, acting under direction of state officers, proceeded to enforce the collection of taxes under the raised assess- ment. Judge Simonton fined them $30 each for contempt of court, but the fines were paid by the state. In later cases the judge reversed his decision and the bill to have the government reimburse the state for the action of the federal judge was introduced. Representative Latimer has a bill pending before the judiciary committee to define the powers of federal courts in the matter of railroad receiverships, which is designed to | amend the whole system, of which this case is an issue. + ee RADICAL HOUSE TARIFF MEN. Woulé Rather Defeat the Bill Than Accept the Senate Amendment The men in the House who sympathize | with the attitude of Mr. Mi‘is toward the |! compromise tariff amendments are very active In their efforts to work up a senti- | last against the Senate amendments, if the bill comes to the House, and to surfer the | bill to be defeated in conference rather than | yield. An effort will be made to influence the selection of a conference committee | from the House, in case there is need for such a committee, who will represent this radical element. ‘It is doubtful, however, whether three members of the ways and means committee could be found who would | be wiiling to allow all legislation to fail | under any circumstances. —$—$—_<$§_-o__ Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received for redemp- tion today, $305,020. Government recelpts— Frem internal revenue, $419,392; customs, $15,500.73, and miscellaneous, $108,937.32, | mittee jurisdiction not only of charges in ! connection with the tariff bill, but of all) [BRIBES AND SUGAR|N© HOPE OF AGREEMENT|DYING BY DEGREES The Proposed Senate Investigation Extended in Scope. SENATORS AND SUGAR TRUST STOCK The Committee to Inquire’ Into Senatorial Speculation. THE ACTION THIS MORNING ‘The reading public of America will soon be regaled by entertaining aceounts of what promises to be one of the most interesting investigations ever instituted by Congress, The resolution introduced yesterday in the Senate by Mr. Lodge providing for the ap- pointment of a select committee of five Sen- ators to investigate the charges that at- tempts had been made to bribe Senators Hunton and Kyle to vote against the tariff bill, and also the carges connecting the celebrated sugar trust with certain amend- ments proposed by the Senate finance com- mittee to the pending tariff bill, were passed by the Senate today without a dissenting vote. The resolutions were greatly expanded by amendments suggested by members of both parties, until the final enactment of the Senate was very much of a drag net, including about everything scandalous that has of late days been whispered concerning the Senate and the tariff. The resolutions were not laid before the Senate until about 11:25, and from then on for half an hour the Senate was tn a most interesting condition. The seats were very full, as Senators anticipated the consider- ation of the resolutions, and as one by one statesmen on both sides of the dividing aisle arose and made suggestions enlarging the scope of the investigation amused smiles crept over the countenances of those men whose names have not been coupled with the stories in any way. It was a critical moment when Mr. Hunton denied the charges of bribery most flatly, courting an investigation at the earliest possible mo- ment. Then Senator Hansbrough came for- ward with a letter from a constituent, the man who has been charged with attempt- ing to bribe these Senators, denying any connection with the matter and also court- ing a full investigation. When Mr. Cock- erill came up with an idea of extending the inquiry as to the sugar trust to the investi- gation of the amounts said to have been contributed by that combination for the campaign purposes of both political parties Senator Lodge, of course, accepted this ex- tension and dramatically exclaimed that he was willing and even eager to probe the entire subject to its darkest depths. As Mr. Kyle was absent, of course he could not speak for himself, but certtfieates of good character were given him by Senators Har- ris, Palmer and Allen; who- in ridi- culing the thought that the ex-preacher who is now Senator from South Dakota could be bribed. Sugar Stock Speculations. Senator Allen sprung the greatest sensa- tion, however, when he insisted upon ex- tending the inquiry to include the specula- tions of Senators in sugar stock. This was accepted without demur, and again a part of the Senate smiled and another part scowled. It was very near 12 o'clock, the hour when the tariff Jald\ygtore the Senate, when the was ly amended to the full and the question was it upon its adoptiony When.the¥ite Pres- Yaent put the question the ayes were ful?! and strong, and then he asked for the nays. There was silence. The Senate had agreed to the appointment of a committee that is to conduct cne of the widest investigations of modern times, a committee that is to face the duty of probing into the inner recesses of tariff legislation, flounder in slime of intrigue and influence and winnow the chaff of malice from the wheat of truth. This Investigation, as was intimated on the floor of the Senate, will be begun by an inquiry into the charges of bribery, for it is a matter of the highest personal privilege that a Senator should have the opportunity of investigation under such circumstances at the earliest moment possible. This sec- tion of the inquiry will doubtless be com- paratively brief, and, h interesting in its details, will attract little attention from those who are waiting with breathless in- terest for the committee to begin its dig- ging into the sugar scandal. The Task Before the Committee. It is generally believed that the committee will find itself confronted with a most her- culean task in obtaining facts concerning the charge that the sugar trust has, by means best known to Itself, secured favors at the hands of the Senate committee on finance. Though the committee, has becn given power to send for persons and papers, investigating committees have always had, and aiwa~s will have, great difficulty in se- curing t)« presence of unwilling witnesses. No doubt, the most interesting testimony in this case would come from the New York brokers and bankers and members of the sugar refining trust,who are on the inside of the deal. That section of the resolution relating to the speculations in sugar of individual Sena- tors may lead to definite results. It is raid that there are persons ready and willing to go before the committee at any time and cf- fer proof of such transactions. While, of course, it is not criminal for a Senator to buy or sell stocks, it Is regarded as highly improper for such dealings to be had while the subject of his speculation is being legis- lated upon in Congress. The composition of the committee ts left to the Vice President, and this is, perhaps, the mest interesting fact now to be ascer- tained. Upon the character of the member- ship of the committee depends everything, and the announcement of the Vice Presi- dent is being awaited with much interest. While there are many who belfeve that the inquiry will result in a mere water-haul, there are others who think considerable malodorous material will be unearthed by the committee, to cast an unpleasant aroma around the tariff bill, Under no circum- stances could such a committee as this, composed of members of both partles, with the democrats in the majority, fail to se- cure a large amount of material for cam- paign purposes to be used on both sides, Former Investigations, Such investigations have not bees com- mon in the Senate, though there were three bribery investigations conducted during the | seventies. All of these, however, related to the use of money fer securing of seats a Senator from Kansas, resigned just be- fore a vote could be reached on a resolution reported by a select committee appointed to investigate charges of bribery election. The committee had agreed to re- port declaring his seat vacant and his elec- tion void, when Mr. Caldwell took time by the forelock and resigned. At about this same time Senator S. C. Pomeroy, also a Senator from Kansas, was under investiga- tion upon charges of bribery in securing his election, but these charges were not jsustained. In 1873, a Senate com- mittee invest! ator Jas. W. Pat- terson of New Hampshire on similar charges, but the end of the session was at hand, and the Senate had no time to com- plete the investigation, pending which Mr. Patterson's term expired and he retired from the Senate. Though he was anxious that the investigation should be concluded, the Senate refused to gc on with it, deem- ing it to be improper to do so while he was not a member of the Be ate. The most recent bribery investigation conducted by the Senate was in relation to the second election to that body of Mr. John J. Ingalls of Kansas, who was charg- ed with bribery to secure his seat in 1979, subject the committee reported that there was no evidence that Mr. Ingalls had bribed or had caused to be bribed any mem- ber of the Kansas legislature, or that he knew of attempts to bribe the electors, and accordingly the committee reported in his favor, dismissing the charges. jin the Senate. In 1873 Alexander Caldwell, | in his | After a long and full investigation of the | Little Prospect of Ending the Coal Miners’ Strike. Operators’ Offers Refused by the Men, Who Declare That They Want “Living Wages.” CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 17.—This is the gloomiest day of the big coal conference and possibly it will be the last. The miners and operators, before the convention was called to order, seemed as far apart as they ever were, and at the hotels where the operators are quartered the belief seems to be geneial that when evening comes the conference will end without the conferees having reached anything ap- proaching a settlement. ‘The convention was called to order short- ly past 9 o'clock and Chairman Zerbe called for a report of the conference committee. Every delegate in historic Case Hall knew just what it would be, that no agreeinent could be reached. The miners had been informed by the morning newspapers of the belief expressed by the operators that President McBride could not keep the men on strike much longer and they proceeded to dispel what they called a delusion upon the part of their employers. They pointed to the fact that strikes so ecmplete and far reaching are not declared off. by the strikers when they have so much to encourage and so little to discour- age them. Secretary Patrick J. McBride has insisted all along that no settlement can be made, because the operators have not yet felt the rigors of a complete tie-up. Meny operators started home last night leeving their proxies, and some went away this morning, so that the convention, when it was called to order, consisted of not more than 300 delegates. There were 401 on the first day. The small operators ex- pect the larger ones to make an effort to break the strike, as they, especially those from Pittsburg, who have taken contracts to deliver about 500,000 tons of coal to rafl- reads and for the lake trade, for from $1.90 to $2.17, prevented a settlement. Last sea- son coal for vessels sold from $2.25 to $2.50, but this year, before navigation was fairly cpened,an operating company took the con- tract to fuel vessels for $1.00. One of the vestern railroads gets its supply at Green Bay, Wis., for $1.98 from a local firm, after being shipped by rail and water over 1,000 miles. Such contracts as these have so far prevented a settlement of the vexed avestion. After the joint conference committee had reported that they could not agree,Operator H. L. Chapman of Ohio, and a member of the conference committee, made a brief ad- dress. He recounted the history of the committee meeting,and said that the opera- tors offered 65 and 56 cents scale, while the miners still held out for 70 and 75 cents. He said that in view of the present de- pression and the strained condition of manufacturing interests, the operators cculd not concede the advance asked. President McBride was the first speaker for the miners. He said he was willing to have a vote taken on the compromise of- fered by the operators, but he would guar- antee that the miners would be unanimous against it. Continuing, the speaker sald: “As a na- tive-born citizen, I begin to think that busi- nees interests are builded upon the starva- tion and degrading wages paid the laborers I represent. We want you to give living ‘wages, and increase the price of your coal so you.can get a fair ra Rye Ben be no compromise along the lines of starvation wages. The miners make no threats, but they stand ther, peaceably, earn: and ‘a8 ever; *and will goon 50, finishing the present fight and prepared for future fights.” Following President McBride, F. L. Rob- bins of Pennsylvania secured the floor and made a sirong address for the operators. Vice President Penna of the Miners’ As- sociation then took the floor and spoke in their behalf, making an able argument to show that the operators were in as good a position to pay living wages now as at any time in the past. oe eS THINGS ARE QUIETER. Dispatches Tell of a Stop to Train Stealing Operatio: Gen. Schofield received dispatches this morning from Gen, Otis, commanding the Department of the Columbia, and Gen. Brooke, commanding the Department of the Platte, that the trouble along the lines of the Northern Pacific railroads, caused by the seizure of trains by bands of Coxeyites, en route to Washington, seems to be over for the present, but that troops have been disposed @long both roads to prevent the seizure of any more trains and to deter by their presence further acts of lawlessness. ‘The industrial agmy at Green Springs was knocked out by a snow storm and surren- dered to the United States marshal in order to get food and shelter. They abandoned their stolen train at that point. ‘Troops were ordered out for their arrest, but their services were not needed. 1t is rumored that a number of miners and others who are detained at Couer ’d Alene, Idaho, because of a cut off on the Northern Pacific, have grown desperate and are threatening violence to the railroad property. The situation, however, has not assumed a phase calling for the intervention of federal officers. ‘Troops are in that vicin- ity and will be employed in case of neces- sity. Acting Attorney General Whitney called at the War Department this morn- ing and show2d Secretary Lamont dis- patches received from United States n.ar- shals in the troublous districts indicating that affairs have quieted down and do not call for further action at present. TROUBLE IN THE PARTY, What is Expected to Occur Through the South. The indorsement of silver and the refusal to approve of the administration by the democratic convention at Chattanooga, Tenn., the rousing convention of Tom Wat- son’s populists at Atlanta, and the extra- ordinary tangle ln which the democrats of Alabama have got over the nomination of their governor are all matters of great in- terest to the democrats of the House. These things are regarded as the first indication of the confusion and trouble that is before the party in the battle of the two wings for rontrol. cted that in every con- vention of the south, or nearly every one, | there will be a fight between the admints- tration and the anti-administration . forces, | between the siiver and the anti-silver men, and that wherever the populists have any foothold at all they will show an increased interest and a growing strength. The Ri resentatives from the south generally are very apprehensive of independent and pop- An | ulist movements. JUDGE MILLER’S CASE. Ne Word Received From the Presi- dent Today. There is no change today in the case of Judge Thomas F. Miller of the Police Court. His commission has not yet been issued and he cannot act until it is. It is understood that no fvord was received from the President on the subject today. = After Our Coffee Trade. An effort by the British toward securing some of the extensive coffee trade which our merchants now enjoy with the West Indies is mentioned by United States Consul Cou- tier at Cape Haytien, Haytl. He says that a British steamship line has already begun to trade regularly from Halifax, N. 8., to the West Indies. Their operations will be extended during the coffee crop season, and in the consul’s mind the only question is whether the British will be willing to a cord such extensive credits to the Haytiens as do our own merchants. Se RS SEE, The Commonweal Disintegrating at Camp Washington. POSTPONING THE LEADERS’ SENTENCE Cait Browne Expects to Lead His Hosts Here on the 30th. THE ARMY FISHES Confederate Veteran White was sitting on a rickety chair near the entrance to the commonweal camp at Bladensburg this afternoon, whittling a stick and wishing for some of the ¢ash-paying curious to come along and increase the gate receipts. He never expressed the condition of affairs more truly in his life than when he re- marked to the Star reporter that every- thing in and around the camp was “dead quiet.” The men occupying the inclosure had just finished their midday repast, and were lying around under the canvas shel- ters and little tents, courting sleep, while some of the more wakeful displayed in- quiring interest in four of their comrades who were energetic enough to contemplate going fishing, and were preparing their crude tackle preparatory to making a start. The camp fairly steamed with hot humid- ity, and many of its occupants were clad in garments that came mighty near being |dishabille, but this made little difference to Camp Frolics. them, as they only saw each other, the Star reporter being about half the number of visitors who cal'ed during the first half of the day. Coxey and Browne and Christopher Co- lumbus Jones were in Washington,and Jesse Coxey was in command, and occupied the throne he usually affects, whether clad in authority or not—the cot in the headquar- ters tent. The sundry marshals who affect the oracular at the encampment deny that the men are deserting in spite of the evi- den: dwindling of the numbers present, and explain the diminution in the ranks by asserting that many of the commonwealers are in Washington or scattered around through the country immediately around Bladensburg, and that thetr absence is merely temporary. The excitement of thi Prince Georgians: has pretty well died out, but there has been no weakening of their a Pot pee a need watch on the’ ‘oxey! it the full penalty of e: laws and ordinances upon any all commonwealers' who do not obser them to the letter. The Bladensburg people display considerable friendliness for the army, but this is largely due to their ten- dency to take opposite sides to the Hyatts- ville citizens on every question that may arise. Among the more conservative peo- ple of both localities the opinion prevails that the Coxey crowd will disintegrate and disappear of its own inherent weakness {f It is let severely alone, and efforts to keep the curious away from the inclosure are meet- ing with some success. Sentence Delayed. The case of the trio of Coxeyites did not come up in the Police Court this morning, as was expected. It will come up, how- ever, Saturday morning before Judge Mil- ler, if he receives his commission by that time and the unlooked for does not occur. The delay in impcsing sentence upon Coxey, Browne and Jones was caused by the action of their counsel in making ap- plication for a writ of certiorari. This writ, if granted, would call for the sending up of all papers in the case to a justice of the Supreme Court of the District for re- view. The application will be argued to- morrow morning, probably before Judge Bradley, and, while it is of course impos- sible to predict what he will do with it, the chances are that he will refuse to Jones’ Hardest Work. grant the writ, and the next event on the aes dre for the defendants would be to hear their sentence pronounced, after which they might apply for a writ of habeas corpus. The law's delays are well exemplified in this case, but it really looks as though the defense had about exhausted all the means at hand in their effort to put off the evil day. ‘The application for a writ of certiorari in this case is a decided novelty, and ts said to be quite without precedent in the Dis- trict courts. The Police Court is estab- shed by act of Congress, and has abso- jlute power in the cases within its jurisdic- tion, all minor offenses, just as the District Supreme Court has power in more impor- tant cases. In other words, they have con- current jurisdiction, and it is a well-estab- lished principle of law that when two courts have concurrent jurisdiction neither is in any sense answerable to the other. So it is that there is no appeal from de- cisions in the Police Court to another which is nominally higher. As alrcady stated, no case analogous to this one is known of in this city. The only other case which is recorded as having gone up from the Police Court to the Su- preme Court of the District was a liquor case that came up on the District side of the court. This case was appealed, and was allowed to go up without cbjection from the, attorneys for the District, in ocder that the cas> might finally et to the Court of Appeals, so that the law in the premises could be fixed once for all. It was evsentially 9. test case, and cannot in any way be looked upon as setting a precedent for the case of Coxey and his colleagues, who are endeavering in every possible way to avoid the punishment called for by the conviction In their case last week. In case Judge Miller's commission as his own suc- cessor is not zeceived, with the signature jof the President, in time, there would be nothing to prevent Judge Kimball from im- posing sentence, but there is every reason to bélieve that the case will be finally dis- posed of by the judge before whom it was originally tried. Coming Again, According to the erder issued by Carl Browne last night the Commonweal of Christ will make a reappearance in Wash- ington on Decoration day. The leather- coated and leather-lunged marshal says that on the 30th of May the army will march to Washington and decorate the Peace monu- ment at the western front of the Capitol grounds and that Union and confederate soldiers have volunteered to escort it upon that occasion. This last order of Browne's is a lengthy document and tells the com- monwealers (not one in a hundred of whom, by the way, will ever see it) a great many a ° Che £vening Star. things. It is evident that the steady de-| sertions of the men has somewhat alarmed | Gen. Coxey’s right bower, and in his order he appeals to them to stick together in case Coxey and himself are sent to jail, and not | to disband under any circumstances what- | ever. One paragraph from the document, that gives an idea of its tenor, says: “In| union is always strength, so if Brother | Coxey and myself are consigned to a dun- . hold together and do not be idle * thin. Let the shoemaker mend shoes and tailor mend clothes. After the practical | is taken care of attend to the beautiful. Let | every branch of industry that can be car- ried on be done. If nothing better offers, go to work and build a piece of model road in | Commonweal Chefs. Brother Rogers’ woods as our object lesson to the country. Prove that you are honest | workingmen, and not ‘hobos’ and ‘vags,’ | as we are sometimes styled by a portion of | the press. We have got to put in just so much time. In our absence Jesse A. Coxey | will be ih suprethe command and will carry out our orders, whether from a jail, lecture | room oF elsewhere, as the case may be, for | if not Consigned to jail both Brother Coxey | and miyself will fill calls here and there to | lecture to obtain funds to maintain commonpweal.”” 1 whe also tecited a number of details | about contributions that had been received, | and. laid great stress upon the fact that | Brother C. T. McKee had brought in one | pail of apple butter, ore basket of vege- | tables, and one box of fish and meat, while | the car of flour from Springfield, Mo., also brought five pairs of shoes, six pails of | jelly, and one side of bacon. In announc- | ing the desertion of Ma>shall Stewart, who joined the army at Pittsburg, Browne charges that he carried away a saddle that did not belong to him. In conclusion, he dwelt upon the fact that a “prominent lady | of Bladensburg” sent a bouquet uf flowers to Mrs, J. S. Coxey only served to show | that time would make friends of many of | the good people of Bladensburg, who would discover that the commonwealers were not their enemies. — THE BERING SEA FLEET. It Sailed From Port Townsend Early ‘This Morning. The Bering sea fieet sailed from Port | Townsend at daybreak this morning to be- gin the patrol of the seal waters. The ves- sels have been ready to sail for several days, but were delayed in order to receive final instructions from the Navy Depari- ment, which went forward by mail, accom- panied by copies of the British act, for dis- | tribution among the sealing vessels. Capt. Clarke of the Mohican, the senior officer of the fleet, has had certain discre- tionary powers conferred upon him to deal with such sealing vessels as, he may meet in the closed zone, but if he finds any vessel with skins aboard, evidently taken since due notice of the provisions of the arbitra- tion agreement, it wil! be seized. The exact Status of the British sealer Triumph, which recently returned to Victoria after “war ing” from the British cruiser Hyacinthe, is not clearly known here, and it may be the jubject of another dispute between the gov- ernments of the United States and Great | Britain. The Hyacinthe was sent north at the -urgent request of the British Colan- to give-notice to the sealers of the -Pestrictive acts. Some of the here ‘hold that if she encountered | Triumph with freshly-taken seal skins | aboard it was the duty of the commander, under the act, to seize the vessel and return | her to port. Then it would remain for the courts to de- cide whether the master of the Triumph be- fore taking the skins knew of the results of the arbitration. It was exactly this point that caused so much delay in the final Passage of the British act, because of Sec- retary Gresham's insistence, and when the British government finally yielded it was supposed that there could be no doubt re- maining as to the Hability to seizure of v: sels that sought knowingly to take advai tage of the delay in passing the British ac It_may be that the Triumph was reali formally selzed by the Hyacinthe, inasmuch as she was ordered to geport to Collector | Milne at Victoria; but ‘the fact that she was allowed to dispose of her sealskins does not bear out that supposition, and it is ex- —~ that more will be heard of the mat- er, THE NAVAL ACADEMY, iral Walker to Have the Super- intendency When He Retu It is generally accepted in naval circles that Admiral Walker ts the President’s choice for superintendent of the Naval Academy, and that that detail will be kept open for him until he returns to Washing- ton in September next. “The four years’ term of Capt. Phythian as superintendent will expire in June, but he will continue to serve there beyond that date indefinitely, until regularly detached. Capt. Phythian is booked for an important sea command. Capt. McNair, superintendent of the Navel Observatory, is also a strong candidate for the Annapolis detail, and it is said that he may eventually be selected instead of Ad- miral Waiker. Capt. Philip, commanding the New York, was an applicant, but with: drew, so it is said, on being informed that the President had promised the place to Admiral Walker. The latter is now at Honolulu, but is expected home in a few months, ——-e.____ A SINGULAR ACCIDENT. A Lumber Schooner mk by the Bat- tleship Texas. Admiral Ramsay, chief of the bureau of navigation, who has just returned from a visit to the Norfolk navy yard, tells of a singular accident that occurred there dur- ing the dock trial of the battleship Texas, by which a lumber schooner was sunk by coming in contact with the whirling propellers of the warship. It appears that while the dock trial was in progress the schooner approached the Texas, despite the warning given its mas- ter. It got inside of the vortex and began to spin afound like a top. The crew jumped into a small boat attached to the vessel dnd pulled away. Closer and closer the schooner approached the Texas, until crash! the propeller of the Texas struck it, ripping cut a plece of the bottom and sinking her. A supe-ficial in- spection showed that the propellers of the Texas had not been injured, but the de- partment has directed that they be care- fully examined and a report made. —-e-+ OURL CONVENTION, THE MISS er Democrats in the House Pro- nounce It an Administration Defea: The action of the democratic convention at Kansas City, Mo. which has been awaited with great inteest, was the chief topic of discussion among the democrats of the House today. Two things made this cenvention of importance to the party as a national organization, and gave to it an interest beyond ordinary local affairs. In the first place, the administration fo>ces had got up a plan to carry the fight against free silver as an article of demo- cratic faith into the stronghold of Bla ism, and were bending every effort to over- throw silver by the resolutions of the con- vention. The other important feature was | that it was designed in this convention to | begin an assault upon the Senate to force | the acceptance of the Wilson bill, the in- tention being to have similar action from as many as possible of the democratic conventions which meet pending action on that bill. The silver democrats in Congress express satisfaction at the result, pronouncing it defeat for the administration, and a warn- ing to the “protection democrats” of the Senate. DECKER’S CLOSE CALL Nearly Lynthed for a Crime Never Committed. ACCUSED OF KILLING WE She Has Been Discovered Married to Another. A STRANGE STORY TOLD COLUSA, Cal., May 17.—Another chapter was revealed here today in one of the strangest stories in the criminal annals of California. At Yreka, Siskyou county, George Decker is in jail, charged with mur- der, and so strong is public sentiment against him that it has been feared he would be lynched. Decker, who had been @ respected rancher and who is now mar- ried to his third wife, was arrested two weeks ago. It is charged that twenty-four years ago in the wilds of northern Call- fornia he murdered his first wife and her | Mttle babe. Following his arrest the bones of a woman and babe were dug up on his ranch. This, with other evidence, seemed to substantiate the charge of murder. Then came stories, with seemingly good proof, that Decker had murdered his second wife by poisoning in order to gain her lands, and that he had also poisoned her son, her daughter and her granddaughter, ail of whom died suddenly. It was wnen public opinion had laid these six murders at his door that iynching was threatened. Secret preparations were ac- Uvely begun. Now there is good ground for the state- ment that the crime for which he is being denounced by the residents of his county and the press of the state and for which he is now a2 prisoner, that sensational crime of twenty-seven years ago, with its dramatic and long-delayed sequel, was — —— at all. réoret E. Decker, the woman who, as has been supposed and charged, was de- coyed into the mountains by her husband j = murdered,is alive and a well woman to- y. She is living near Willows John Hamilion. To make story complicated, it is to be stated that Nevada Decker, the babe supposed to have been foully done to death with its mother, is also among the living, and, now grown to ma- turity, t resident of Colusa county, being employed at present by Mrs. H. L. Wilson. Granting that the identification of the sometime Mrs. Decker and her child is | complete enough to satisfy the Siskyou judge that no murder has been done, it be- comes of interest to know whose bones were found among the rocks of Kildeer ridge. Either the residents, who testify to the fact that John a wife and Mrs. Wil- ploye are Mrs. Decker ~~ are utterly mistaken or dneutgs theme: much wronged man and victim of circumstantial evidence. ay! the wife of more ———. ANOTHER BOSTON FIRE, It Threatened to ts BOSTON, Mass., May 17—a fire which for @ time threatened to rival the conflagration of Tuesday at the South End broke out in the government warehouse on State street at 2:40 o'clock this morning, and hed it not been for a prompt general alarm the loss | would have been greater than that of the fire which started at the ball grounds, Fire started in the third story of the State street block, at the corner of India street, the two southerly stores of which are occu- 0 &S appraisers’ offices and storehouse. he fire undoubtedly started amot dry goods, but from what cause no ane eon conjecture. From the third floor the flames ran quickly to the two floors above, bur- dened with cigars «und miscellaneous goods, and before they could be extinguished de- stroyed completely all the merchandise on those floors. At one time it looked as if the fire would spread far beyond the block. Living embers swept down upon the adjoining business blocks and divided the attention of the fi jan A curgtes of 6 apparatus, however, on hand and al er of a conflagra’ Was averted 5 a ay | The butidings damaged are numbered from 177 to ISS State street and correspondingly jon Central street. They comprise two prop- erties and are owned by Mrs. Paran Stevens |and J. Montgomery Sears. | The damage on both will probably not ex- ceed $30,000, and they are insured for about two-thirds of that amount. The individual owners of the goods in the warehouse had all the property insured and the real loss will not be serious. The government's loss | will be light The first two floors of the building, which were occupied by the offices of the appraiser and the customs inspectors, were not serl- | ously damaged. | Many Freight Cars Burned. NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 17.—Three alarms of fire shortly after 11:30 last night called nearly the entire fire department to the old Northampton freight depot long |wharf, and before the flames were extin- guished damage to the estimated amount of $0,000 had been done. The fire started in @ | freight car loaded with naphtha and mis- | cellaneous merchandise at the south end of what is known as the transfer freight house and is supposed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion. ‘The flames quickly spread to the neighbor- ing cars and the transfer house. The major | portion of the house and about forty cars, | part of which were filled with merchandise, Were more or less damaged. At 1 o'clock the fire was under control, One of the rail- road men estimated the loss at | which is fully covered by insurance. —_—->—— GOOD TIMES IN ALASKA, ual Prosperity in the Northwest Corner of the tinent. SAN FRANCISCO, May 17.—Among the | arrivals from Alaska today was E. O. Syl- vester, proprietor of the Alaska Herald at Sitka, and the Journal at Juneau. Mr. Syl- vester says the far northwestern part of the continent seems to be the only section not affected by hard times. There is, in fact, unusual prosperity there, so he says. Already over 200 miners have passed in via Juneau for the gold mines up the Yukon, and among them were three or four wo- men and several children, who will wi the long distance of 600 miles. The women Wore men’s trousers, as well as the ordinary dress, in order to protect thefhselves from the cold. “Last year the miners got a good deal of gold,” said Mr. Sylvester. “I know quite | number who cleaned up from $5,000 to $8,000 | and $10,000 each, and this has awakened ap increased interest, and caused these wome® | to go in and join their husbands.” —_—_ HIN NOMINATED. J. K. Gabernatorial Candidate of the Geore gia ATLANTA, Ga., May 17.—The populist | state convention today nominated J. K. Hines of Atlanta for governor. Hines is @ ll-known attorney who was at one time judge of the superior court in Georgia, He has affiliated with the democratic party up to a few weeks ago, when he publishca a ktter announcing his conversion to the doctrines of the The platform adopted tes the prin- ciples of the party. Resoiutions were passed thanking the Atlanta Constitution and de- nouncing the Atlanta Journal, and the con- vention adjourned. ——ia Assistant Engineer R. B. Higgins has been ordered to duty at the Norfolk navy yard.