Evening Star Newspaper, May 22, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. se RES ns PUSLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1i01] Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, S. H. KAUPFMANN, Prest. New York Oiice, 49 Potter Building. es - ing Star is served to subscribers in the triers. “a their own account, at 10 cents r tic. per month. Copies at the counter . By wail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postace prepaid—5O vents per month Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star. $1.00 per year; with for postage added, $3.00. Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C.. 8 second-class mail matter.) eral t be paid im advance. known op application. Che Evening Star. | Vow 84, No. 20,891. WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1894—TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. BY DIRECT VOTE 4Rmor PLATE INQUIRYIQN ARMORY SQUARE | THE BRIBERY INVESTIGATION Proposed Changes in the Manner of Electing Senators. eneee eee REPRESENTATIVE TUCKER REPORP —_——-—__—_ An Amendment to the Constitution Suggested ae TO RESTORE PUBLIC FAITH eee It is a part of the program of the House to pass the Tucker resolution for an amend- ment to the Constitution, so as to provide for the election of Senators by a direct vote of the people. Mr. Tucker today submitted the favorable report from the committee. He incorporates the report submitted by him on a similar resolution, which passed the House during the Fifty-second Congress, and adds further comment suggested by events since that time. He reports that this resolution is in the exact language as the | one passed at the last Congress without a | dissenting vote. The necessity for such a resolution, he says, has increased since that time. There S$ \d Be a Change. “The present Congress,” he says, “has greatly intensified the feeling that there should be a cmange in the manner of elect- ing Senators, which would make the Senate more responsive to the demands and voice Of the people. “Originally ordained,” he says, “as a breakwater against the fiery democracy, fresh from the people, it (the Senate) is now, in the popular mind, believed to be, urder the guise of Senatorial courtesy, an open obstruction to the popular will. If this be the government of the people, in fact and fm truth, then, indeed, should the'r agents as representatives, whether in the House of Representatives or the Senate, be responsive to their will; and the best thought of the country, through the press and leading mag- azines, ts demanding that no effete tradi- tions, however sacred in their relations to the past glory of the Senate; no code of | rules, however honored for their length of service, should stand in the way of effectu- ating the popular intent, properly and freely expressed at the polls. ved Ite Usefulness. “So radical in some sections of the coun- try has the feeling of hostility to the Sen- ate become that the sentiment is freely ex- pressed that the Senate has outlived its career of usefulness in the government, un- der its present mode of organization and election. Members of the House of Repre- | sentatives have not infrequently been solic- ited to follow the example of our English cousins and pass a resolution through the House to abolish the Senate as a co-ordi- nate branch of the legislative Jepartment of the government.” The Change Will Restore Confidence. He argues that the change proposed by this resolution will correct this and restore the Senate to the confidence of the people. He refers to senatorial courtesy as a cloak for the enactment of senatorial falsehoods. ——_-e-__~ DISTRICT IN CONGRESS. The Colored People’s Home. Representative Outhwaite has prepared ® lengthy report upon the bill authorizing the use of certain money now in the treas- ury to the account of estates of deceased colored soldiers to be used for a national home for aged colored people in this city. ‘The report recites the history of the accu- mulation of this fund,which has been here- tofore published in The Star, and recom- mends that inasmuch as there are no ac- commodations for needy colored persons in the charitable institutions in the money be used for the establishment of a home. It ts explained that this money can never be distributed among the right- ful heirs, as it is impossible to establish the Fequired proof of ownership. To Amend the Insurance Laws. Senator Mande-son today introduced a Dill to amend the insurance laws of the District. The new law as proposed Is as follows: “That no company hereafter or- ganized or incorporated within the District | of Columbia shall transact the business of insurance in any of its branches unless the whole capital of such company be not less than $100,000, actually and in good faith Paid in full, in cash, excepting life insurance companies, which issue to their members policies or certificates agreeing to pay bene- ts or sums of money, which are to be real- ized by assessments levied upon the mem- bers; no other capital than such assess- ments shall be required of them; provided, that the money realized from assessments excess of the demands of policies or cer- tifleates due through death, shall be disposed 9f as follows, to wit: Twenty-five per centum shall pay salaries of officers, rent, station- ery, &c., and the remainder shall be dis- tributed to holders of policies or certificates in payment of future assessments.” The bill was referred to the District com- mittee. A Single Tax Bill. Mr. Maguire, by request, has introduced a bill providing that taxation in the District ft Columbia shall be upon land and land only. The bill provides details for carrying but the single tax theory. A Reform School Trustee. ‘The Speaker today appointed Mr. Dockery | cherenper to be one of the trustees of the trict reform school. Away Through Arlington. ‘The House committee on military affairs today authorized a favorable report of a bill granting the Washington, Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway Company right of Way through the lower portion of the Ar- Ungton reservation. —_—_—_-e.___.. Warships for Fourth of July Cele- bration. The next few weeks will be marked by festivities and ceremonies aboard several of our new warships. Soon after the triple- screw cruiser Columbia returns from her trial trip she will be ordered to Annapolis, Md., where the citizers of the District of Columbia will repair in numbers to inspect their godchild and bestow upon her a beau- tiful set of colors. The ship would have been brought to Washington, but there is Rot a sufficient depth of water in the river. ‘The Marblehead will go to Marblehead, Mass., on July 4, also to receive a set of colors from the citizers, and at Represen- | tative Reed's request the double-turreted monitor Miantonomah will go to Portland, Me., on the same day to assist the people im a Fourth of July celebration. —____-e A Hint to American Manufacturers. The United States commercial agent at Bamberg, Germany, Louis Stern, says, in a Feport to the State Qepartment, that since the world’s fair the German merchants encouraged by their government, are mak- ing special efforts to extend their trade. ‘To this end, through the German consul in the United States, agencies have been es- tablished at all important centers where Persons can obtain advice and information Felative to the freight and tariff charges upon German products, and thus importation at first hand is made practi- ¢able and profitable. Mr. that American manufacturers could imitate this plan with advantace. —— Southern Methodists Adjourn. MEMPHIS, Tenn. May 2—The South- ern Methodist Episcopal conference has | adiesued unt ‘ug {wv this city | Stern believes | Text of the Resolution Adopted by the | House, Mr. Cammings Hopes to Begin at Make the In- } vestigation Thorough. Once and to Another important congressional investi- gation was inaugurated in the House today | by the passage of the resolution directing the naval committee to immediately inves- tigate the alleged frauds in connection with the furnishing of naval armor plates by Carnegie, Phipps & Co. or by the Carnegie Steel Company Limited. These concerns have government contracts for 9,000,000 tons of armor, costing about $8,000,000, and | the investigation is to cover the entire | amount, beginning with the first contract | in 1800. Chairman Cummings of the naval | committee has called a meeting for 10:30 tomorrow, at which time the general plan | of the investigation will be outlined. It ts probable that a subcommittee, consisting | of Representatives Cummings and Money, | democrats, and Dolliver, republican, will | do the active work of investigation. The text of the resolution adopted by the House is as follows: | “Resolved, That the committee on naval | affairs of the House of Representatives be, and is hereby, authorized and -lirected to immediately investigate and inquire into the condition and character of all armor | plate, bolts, and other appurtenances de- | livered to the government by the Carnegie | Steel Company, limited, and by Carnegie, | Phipps & Co., during the entire period of ‘any of the contracts between suid com- ‘panies and the government and to investi- | gate and inquire as to what amounts of inferior or damaged armor plate, bolts and other appurtenances have been delivered to | the government by said companies, and the amount of compensation which should be paid the government in settlement for such damaged or inferior armor plate, bolts aud appurtenances. That for the purposes aforesaid the said committee or subcommittee therefore au- thorized by the full committee, shall have power to send for persons and papers, and visit any place or places which may become necessary to the full discharge of its duties, to administer oaths, to sit during the pres- ent session of the House and during the recess of Congress. Said committee shall have authority to report at any time as to the result of its investigations and what action shall be | taken by this House or by Congress. | The sum of $1,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of the contingent fund of the House to defray the expenses of investigation. | Representative Cummings said: “We hope to make the investigation thorough, and will begin at once. There is a large amount of material already in the possesion of the | committee concerning the extent of armor contracts, amounts delivered and yet due, | &e. This was furnished when we were | framing the appropriation bill. We will now supplement this by getting at the al- leged frauds, and the resolution is strong enough to let it go to the bottom of the matter.” Representative Dunphy of New Yorw will be the first witness called. He started the investigation, and is thoroughly informed on the details of the alleged irregularities. He will give the committee the clues on which they will pri ————_+ e+___ NO MORE DISCHARGES YET. What Chief Clerk Collins Says About the Government Printing Office Em- ployes. There have be2n no further discharges from the government printing office since | Saturday, when the ax fell with such fatal jeffect. An effort was made this afternoon to find out the exact number of those who received the yellow envelopes on that mem- orable occasion, but Chief Clerk Collins told The Star man that so far as he knew the numbers in the various ‘ivisions who had | gone had not yet been added up. An interesting questicu nas ucen raised by |some of the discharged employes of the office. According to them there has been no | real decrease in the expenses of the office, | and they maintain that the pay rolls will not |be so very much smaller after all. When Mr. Palmer was public printer there were 3,590 employes in the office, but there was no claim that these all worked full time. | Many of them were furloughed from week | to week, and it is said that since the Ist of January none of the employes have had a@ full day's work. Mr. Palmer acted on the principle that it was better to keep all these working at least part of the time than to have a smaller number making a larger sum in wages. An | effort was made to see the new public print- | er with reference to this matter today, but he had just left the building, and it was not | thought that he would be back for some little time. Chief Clerk Collins said that inasmuch as the reduction in the force was made last Saturday, it was impossible to tell yet what the exact reduction in the expenses of the office would be. He claimed, however, that there was every reason to believe that it would be very considerable, especially as a number of those who were discharged on Saturday were per diem employes. Any further information as to future changes in the office was denied, as it was said that Mr. Benedict himself was the only one em- powered to give out information for the press. Arrangements have been made for a meet- ing of the discharged employes of the go ernment printing office at | Typographical Temple, Wednesday evening, May 23, at S o'clock, for the purpose of making arrange- ments to secure legislation from Congress that will enable the public printer to pay for leaves of absence that have accrued in the Present fiscal year. The “ins” and the “outs” are both interested in the subject, and all are invited to be present. ——_—_— ——- AN IMPOTANT CUSTOMS DECISION. Reimported Goods to Have All the Privileges of New Importations. Attorney General Olney has given an opinion to the Secretary of the Treasury on @ question of great importance to importers of all classes of merchandise. In substance, he Folds that gocds taken from bonded warehouse at any time within three ye: and exported to a foreign country are, on their reimportation to the United States, to be treated precisely as though they were | original importations and had never been in the country before, and consequently that they are entitled to the full privileges of rewarehousing under bond for another period of three years. This opinion reverses a ruling of the Treasury Department m: in the case of warehoused wool at Phils delphia, exported to Canada and reimported, which ruling was subsequently sustained by Judge Reeve, solicitor of the treasury, who held generally that the warehousing privi- leges of imported goods were limited under the law to a period of three years, consecu- tively. The importers were not satisfied with the solicitor’s opinion, and at their re- quest the question was referred to the At- torney General. Although his opinion will undoubtedly be adopted by the department, no further action in the matter will be taken until Secretary Carlisle returns to the city. e+ Purcell’s Contract Filed. The formally executed contract of James Purcell of Hudson, N. Y., to whom Post- master General Bissell recently awarded the contract for furnishing stamped en- | velopes and newspaper wrappers, was filed at the Post Office Department today. All of the sureties are New Yorkers. The prin- | cipal one is Samuel J. Tilden, jr., for §200,- | and the others, whose amounts of sure- | aggregate another $200,0W, are W. A. | Harder, jr.,Michael Purceil, Henry Kear- ney, Martin L. Hanes, Matthew Kenne: Matthew Conner and Dennis H. Kenned: he cantract amounts to $690,000 a year. Site Recommended for the Govern- ment Printing Office. TS ADOPTION WILL BE OPPOSED Only Suggested by Order of the House. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE The House committee on public buildings and grounds today decided to report to the House, in accordance with the instruction to select a site for a public printing office from one of the government reservations, that the Armory Square, now occupied by the fish commission building, appears to be the most practicable location. The re- pert will be delayed, however, until the architect gives an opinion upon the founda- ton qualities of the soil. If necessary, bor- ings will be made to determine the char- acter of the ground with reference to its fitness for a foundation. Will Oppose Its Adoption. Chairman Bankhead, after making this report to the House, will oppose its adop- tion. In this he will be supported by more than a majority of his committee. It will be explained that the report is made simply in obedience to the command of the House, and that the committee still recommends that none of the public reservations be used for the purpose. se! Armory Square 1s located between B street north and B street south and be- tween 6th and 7th streets west. The Penn- sylvania Railroad Company has its depot on the north side of the square. Access to the site from the north, eas: and south is to be obtained only by crossing the rail- road tracks, over which trains and _shift- ing engines are constantly moving. Women and workmen on duty in the printing office at night would be compelled to pass through the lonely grounds of the mall, and to run the gauntlet of the grade crossings. An Alternative to Judiciary Square. The committee hit upon this site as an alternative to Judiciary Square,it being de- cided that the small plot of unoccupied ground in that square, being the only park in that entire section of the city, should not be monopolized further by government buildings. As soon as the appropriation committee will yield the floor Chairman Bankhead will call up the printing office bill and com- mence the fight against the adoption of the site which he and his committee felt com- pelled to report. Ss BIMETALLIC LEAGUE. Not a Large Number of Delegates Present Today. Less than fifty persons were present at Grand Army Hall today when Mr. A. C. Fiske of Denver, the president of the Pan- American Bimetallic League, called the third convention of that bedy to order. Representatives Bell of Colorado, Kem of Nebraska and were pres- ent. Pi the conven- tion declared that for thirty years the legislation of the country, if not dictated by foreign powers, had been largely under the)| influence of the money power of the world. On the advent of the present administra- tion the creditor classes had succeeded in inducing the Secretary of the Treasury to issue an order directing that all coined silver and silver certificates be redeemed in gold, This had demonetized silver, and to it Mr. Fiske attributed the present business depression. The masses of the people, he asserted, were demanding legislation that would give them gold, silver and paper money all of equal value, with an increase per capita in sufficient amount to again restore prosper- ity. In another year, unless Congress gave scme relief, every debtor, he predicted, would be evicted from his home. He be- Neved a revolution would come unless some relief came from free ccinage or other favorable money legislation. At the con- clusion of Mr. Fiske’s speech Gen. Stephen M. Field of Virginia, the populist candi- date for Vice President in the last national convention, was chosen chairman of the convention. G. H. Tibbles of Nebraska was chosen secretary. The remainder of the sesston was devoted to speech making. Among those who talked were Representatives Hudson of Kansas and Pence and Bell of Colorado. Sees TO PUNISH TRAIN STEALING. Senator Walsh Introdices a New Bill and Defines His Position, Senator Walsh is not terrified by the at- tacks that have been made upon him by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers for his bill to punish train-stealing. This morning he rose in the Senate to a question of personal privilege, and explained that his bill had not as its object the brother- hood or any other organization, but for the sake of clearing away all doubts that might arise from the wording of the old bill, he would introduce a substitute, as follow: ‘Any person who shall rod or at- tempt to rob, or maliciously obstruct or re- tard, for the purpose of robbery, the pas- sage of any railroad train upon which the mail is carried, shall,-for every such of- fense, be punished by imprisonment at hard labor, not less than one year, nor more than twenty years.” The Senator later said to a Star reporter: “I am sorry the Brotherhood of Engineers got the idea that I was aiming at them when I put in my first bill to punish such outrages as had been committed in the west. I don’t know how they got that notion. I am a friend to labor, and, in fact, Iam a laboring man myseli’, and 1 have the greatest sympathy for the men who toil. But they must obey the law. say this, that if a laboring man, a member jot a trade's union, or an entire organiza. | tion, should get in’ the way of the law by | stopping mail trains without warrant, they should not be favored by exemption, but should be punished just as severely as any other citizen, or body of citizens. I don’t think there is any doubt about that. Nor do I believe there is any question &s to the meaning of my new bill.” —_+ 2+ — Naval Movements, The U. S. S, Atlanta, with the training ship Constellation in tow, arrived in Gard- ner’s bay, R. L., this morning on their trip from Norfolk to Newport. The Constella- tion will take the place of the Richmond at the Newport training station. The Rich- mond is to be used as a receiving ship at Philadelphia, and the Atlanta is under or- ders to tow her there from Newport. S. Ranger arrived at Port 0 join the tic ocean. New York and San Francisco will be relieved from duty at Bluefields as soon as such course is considered safe and prudent, but no orders oa that point have | yet been issued by the Navy Department. | The report that either the Marblehead or the | Atlanta will be sent to Bluefields is denied at the department. --2-— Navajoes at Large. The Secretary of the Interior today for- warded to the War Department a request that the troops in New Mexico be directed to arrest Navajo Indians, who, a report to the department says, are off their ‘reserva- tion and committing depredations on set- + Uers. rt Mr. Butts Fails to Put in an Appearance Today, This Embarrassed the Committee Somewhat—Several Senators Examined, The Senate bribery investigation did not move off today so smoothly as yesterday. It was apparent at the beginning of the morning session of the committee that the machinery had slipped a cog, and it soon developed that Mr. Buttz, the cause of the entire Investigation movement, was respon- sible for the temporary halt today. He had sought the committee out yesterday, had sought a hearing and had faithfully prom- ised to be prompt in attendance today, but for some’ reason he was not on hand when the committee convened. Buttz Fails to Appear. Instead of going to the Capitol he sent his attorney to explain that he was otherwise engaged and to ask that Mr. Buttz be ex- cused from attendance for the present. On being questioned by the committee as to Mr. Buttz’s reason for his conduct, the torney, Mr. McGowan, stated that his cli- ent was engaged in making search for a witness who could corroborate his state- ments and throw light upon the question at issue. This explanation was far from sat- isfactory, and they informed Mr. McGowan that Buttz was the man they wanted and not a substitute. Accordingly, they called the sergeant-at-arms to their assistance and directed that a subpoena be issued and that Buttz be found and compelled to attend. It Was evident that the members of the com- mittee were impatient over the delay which Buttz’s absence had caused. Several Senators Examined, While waiting the committee called in sev- eral Senators, including Messrs. Voorhees, Harris and Coke, to whom Senators Hun- ton and Kyle had stated they had given in- formation of the approaches made to them- selves soon after Buttz had first made his proposition to them. They confirmed the Statements of Messrs Hunton and Kyle, saying the two Senators had made them conversant with the facts from the begin- ning in order that they might know what was being done to break down the fight for the passage of the turiff bill. When asked if they knew of other attempts to bribe Senators, Messrs. Voorhees, Harris and Coke said they did not. Failed to Find Butts, ‘The sergeant-at-arms reported to the com- mittee at 12 o'clock that he had failed’ to find Buttz, but stated that he had ascer- tained that he had left the city on an early mcrning train with the purpose and expec- tation of returning by 2 o'clock, at which hour he had stated he would again appear before the committee to continue his tes- timony. Both Buttz'’s attorney and his boarding house keeper assured the Senate officials that he had stated that he was only going to a suburban town, the name of which he did not give, and that the purpose of his sudden departure was to find a man to corroborate his statements made before the committee yesterday. esi ti Se ‘OR SUPPLIES. Assistant Secretary Curtis of the Treasury, Assistant Secretary Sims of the Interior Department and Assistant Postmaster Gen- eral Craig, constituting a departmental com- mission, will meet at the Treasury Depart- ment Thursday morning for the purpose of considering bids received on the 7th instant for furnishing supplies for the next fiscal year for all the executive departments, the government printing office and the depart- ments of the District government. The com- mission is an entirely new organization, and 1s vested with power to recommend’ only the acceptance or rejection of the bids sub- mitted. The departments report the bids to the commission, and the commission sends them back to the departments, with a rec- ommendation. There is nothing in the law to compel the heads of the departments to act in accordance with the recommendations of the commission. In case of the rejection of bids, the departments are required to readvertise for new bids, ———_—-+e THE JENKINS REPORT. Two Bills Will He Reported to the House for Action, The House committee on the judiciary today indorsed the report of the Boatner subcommittee, which investigated the mat- ter of the injunction by Judge Jenkins of the circuit court of the eastern district of Wisconsin against the employes of the Northern Pacific railroad. A resolution and two bills will be reported to the House. The resolution will set forth that the House disapproves of the action of Judge Jenkins and holds that he exceeded his powers in enjoining the railroad men from striking. The two bills to be reported will be drawn to carry into effect the subcommittee’s re ommendation regarding compulsory labor, which was as follows: “Your committee recommends that all possible doubt as to the powers of judges of the courts of the United States to enforce speciiic perform- ance of labor contracts by legal process or to compel any person to render involun- tary service under any pretext be set at rest by a prohibitory statute.’ Représentative Boatner will draw this bill. The second bill, to be drawn, per- haps, by Representative Terry of Arkansas, will be in accordance with this recommen- dation: “The power to punish for contempt 4s limited by the laws of most of the state: » and we can see no reason why a like limita~ tion should not be placed upon the powers of federal judges.” Before the committee finishes its work upon this case it Is probable, judging from the discussion today, that legislation will be recommended in accordance with the finding of the committee regarding the whole question of receiverships under the ccntrol of federal courts, which was: “Your ccmmittee feels constrained, in addition, to cali attention to the practically unlimited authority claimed and exercised by the courts of the United States in matters of recelverships and that by this evolution of equity jurisdiction the United hrough the judicial arm of the government, had been practically in many instances engaged in the business of common carriers.” ‘There was but one vote against the adoption of the report and that was cast by Representative Ray, republican, of New York. Representative W. A. Stone of Penn- sylvania,who was a minority member of the subcommittee and who was expected it would draw a minority report, was not pres- ent nor was Representative Powers of Ver- mont, who is understood to be opposed to the report. Representative Ray formally reserved the right to the minority to report a dissenting opinion, but stated that he did pot know whether such a report would be made, ———— sR COLUMBIA, THE CRUBS' She Will Be Brought to Bay Ridge So Washingtonians C€ See Her, The Navy Department has decided to bring the triple-screw cruiser Columbia as near to Washington as possible, in order that the Washington Light Infantry Corps may deliver to her the beautiful bell do- nated by the members of that organization in recognition of the compliment conferred in naming her after the District. She will proceed from Philadelphia to a point in Chesapeake bay opposite Bay Ridge, as the point most a ible to the people of the District who may want to make a personal inspection of their beautiful namesake. That point was also selected because it will afford the cadets of the Naval Academy a chance to see the crack cruiser of the navy. She cannot go to Annapolis, because her draught is too great for the Severn river. No date has been fixed for the vessel's visit to Ches. apeake bay, but it will be made as early possible. FLOOD IS RECEDING|'® REDUCE couRT FEES'THE TAX ON IRON Reports From Throughout New York and Pennsylvania. CLEARING AWAY MUD AND THE DEBRIS Caring for the Sufferers Among the Poor. STORM, ON THE COAST. PHILADELPHIA, May 22.—Reports from Williamsport and the territory north of there this morning indicate that the water is falling as rapidly as it rose. It has ceased raining, and the danger may now be regarded as past. The Western Union Telegraph operators got back into their office this morning, and communication with the outside world has been resumed. At Renova, Lock Haven, Bellefonte, Clearfield and Driftwood the water has re- ceded, and the work of clearing away the debris has begun. The wires are working poorly, and information from these points are meager. WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., May 22.—All of the horrors of the disastrous flood of 1889 have been repeated, and Williamsport and all of the country around has been swept by a mighty river that spread over almost every part of the city, carrying away with it property of such value that it is impos- sible, at this time, to calculate the amount. The river is now going down rapidly, and about one-half the flooded territory is out of the water. This is in the center of the city. The lower parts east and west are yet vn. der water, and as the rain, that has con- tinued for forty-eight hours, did not stop falling until this morning, the river is likely to keep up during the next twenty-four hours. i When communication with the outside world was cut off at 2 o’cloek Monday morning by the breaking of the wires the river had overflown its banks east and west. It rapidly spread out over the city, and by eariy yesterday morning it was impossible to get xnywhere except by the use of boats. The night was one of terrible experiences. The water came up so rajidly in some places that the occupants of the houses were compelled to flee to the upper stories for safety, and were rescued from there by heroic boatmen, hundreds of whom risked their lives to save others in danger. To add to the unfortunate situation, the electric light and gas plants were early crippled, and the city was in darkness after 3 o'clock. Half the big boom, containing 150,000,000 feet of logs, went out shortly after midnight. The other half went about 4 o'clock. The logs in the mills along the river, as well as thousands of feet of sawed lumber and portion of mills were also swept away, and the loss to the lumbermer is as great as it was in 1899, The Market street and Maynard street bridges, which cost the company $200,0U0, were carried away early yesterday morn- ing. The Reading railroad bridge at Muncy Was swept away yesterday morning. All the wooden brigges in the neighborhood are gone. The fi reached its height at about 10 o'clock last night, when the water began to slowly go down. At that time it was about thirty-two high, and was within a foot and as high the flood of 1889. that hour was covered with wate! far as High street in the north and central part, and the east and west ends were completely submerged. Many of the smaller houses along the river banks were swept away, and others that were flooded were from four to sixteen feet under water. The business portion of the city suffered less than in 1889, for the reason that the warning came in good sea- son and their goods had been taken out of the way of harm. PITTSBURG, Pa., May 22.—The rivers reached a stage of twenty-five and one-half feet in this city, and are now falling. Be- yond the flooding of the lowlands and the stoppage for a day of some manufacturies along the banks of the streams, no serious damage was done here by the high water. The weather is clear today, and the worst is thought to be over. The rivers are re- ported falling at the headwaters. PHOENIXVILLE, Pa., May 22.—The Schuylkill river at this point is eighteen feet above low water mark at 9 o'clock this morning, and is still rising. The entire plant of the Phoenix Iron Company is sub- merged to a depth of from three to eight feet, and all operations have ceased. The banks. of the Schuylkill canal are broken badly in a dozen places, and almost one hundred families have been compelled to move out of their homes. The borough water works are submerged, so that no water can be pumped into the reservoir, which ts fast running dry. The Boom Passes Columbia. COLUMBIA, Pa., May 22.—The Susque- hanna river at this point is 12 feet above low water mark, within eight inches of be- ing as high as in June, 1889, and still rising. The logs from the Williamsport boom pass- ed here at 3 o'clock this morning. All boat houses on the banks of the river have been swept away. There are no trains rur- ning west on the Pennsylvania railroad. ‘The tracks are three feet under water for three miles west of this town. At Marietta all the residents on Front street have moved out of their homes. Along the Port road south of here many towns cre under water. The pumping sta- uon, electric light plant and many miles are under water. Losses at Johnstown. JOHNSTOWN, Pa., May 22.—A statement ef losses here caused by the flood, which was given out today, is as follow: Pennsylvania railroad, $50,000; Woodvale property, $3,000; pottery of H. Swank & Son, $3,000; Cambria Iron Company, $10,000; business men and property owners in Johns- town, $16,000; Pennsylvania Traflic Com- pany, $10,000; the city,$1l,000; McConaughey estate, $4,000; other losses, $10, SUNBURY, Pa., May 2 his city is now flooded. ‘The Susquehanna river embank- ment broke early this morning in several places, xllowing the water to pour into the tewn, The water rose ail night, but it is jnow falling slowly. YORK STATE. IN NE Severe Storm Continues on the Coast —Floods Receding. NEW YORK, May 22.—The severe storm which raged since Surday continues, and, while the wind has decreased somewhat in force, there are no indications of clearing weuther, The sea still runs high. The three-masted schooner reported anchored off Long Branch yesterday remains in the same position. She does not appear to be in any danger, and is riding easy. A dispatch received this morning from Sardy Hook says that the life-saving peo- ple report the coast clear, with the excep- tion of this schooner, At Quarantine the water is not quite as rough as yesterday, the Long Island hills breaking the force of the diminishing east- erly winds. The weather continues very thick, however. In the Genesee Valley. GENESEE, N. Y., May 22.—The water in the Genesee river at this point has receded about a foct in the last twelve hours, and all danger is past. The weather is clearing and ccol, DANVILLE, N. Y., May 22.—The present flood will rank in magnitude of destruction to roadways on both sides of the Genesee valley with the flood of 1836, which has heretofore been recorded as the most ex- tensive and destructive in the history of the county of Livingston. It will take a long time to place the roadways of the valley in their former condition, and the expense will be enormous in the aggregate. The Bill Recommended by the House Judiciary Committee, Reasons Given for the Proposed Change—The Salaries Under the New Bill, The imeomes of United States district attorneys and the marshals and clerks of the United States courts will be materially reduced if the bill recommended by the House committee on the judiciary is fa- vorably acted upon. Under the present system of graded fees, says the report, pre- pared by Representative W. A. Stone of Pennsylvania, a premium is placed upon prosecutions. During the fiscal year 1893 there were 10,867 prosecutions instituted for violations of United States laws, which resulted in 5,262 convictions, 1,660 acquit- tals and 3,945 of the cases were nolle prossed. The report continues: Why the Change is Made. “We are justified in presuming that where the defendant is acquitted or the case against him nolle prossed that the United States has not sufficient evidence to con- viet. We are led to conclude therefore that more than half of the cases terminating poeta. £ that fiscal year were improperly brought. Of course, there are many criminal cases properly brought which re- sult in acquittals or nolle prossed, but in the above showing the percentage of ac- quittals and nolle prosses is too large, and we think justifies the belief that more of them were instituted for the purpose of making fees than in the interest of justice. And when we come to consider that it costs the government as much for jurors and wit- nesses in cases of acquittal as of convic- tion, we naturally conclude that if we can diminish the number of cases in the courts that are not sufficiently supported by the evidence we can ye a great deal of ex- pense to the United States. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 1801, it cost the Unit- ed States for jurors $678,743.95 and for wit- nesses $1,155, 720.55. Salaries Proposed. The salaries proposed by the bill are: $4,000 to district attorneys, $4,000 for mar- shals, and graded salaries for clerks. At- torney General Olney has written the com- mittee that the proposed plan will save $70,000 on the salaries of attorneys and marshals. The maximum compensation which dis- trict attorneys and marshals are now al- lowed by law is $6,000, and United States circuit and district clerks $3,500 per an- num, and yet, owing to the numerous statutes and decisions of first controllers running over many years, these officers frequently receive. much larger annual compensation. An instance is cited of a district attorney who has for years realized $20,000, and another where a district attor- ney received for a year and a half $7,063, although his returns showed but little over $1,000, the balance being for mileage to and from court. Clerks of courts have received as high as $14,000, the courts having held that naturalization fees need not be in- cluded in the emolument returns. While the expenses of attorneys and marshals are much greater in some districts than others, the committee says it could not find a reliable standard for grading salaries, and concluded by a unanimous vote to adopt the system of a uniform salary, which has unsatisfactory in the case of to whom the same argu- -apply. It has been left to the At- torney General to fix the salaries of clerks of courts, with $4,000 as the limit, As to the Commitment of Prisoners. Under the present law it costs the gov- ernment annually a large amount un- necessarily expended by the marshals in fees for guards. for prisoners. This bill directs that prisoners shall be committed for trial in default of bail to the nearest jail, and to be tried at the nearest point where the court is held. It directs that writs shall be sent by mail, and does away with large mileage charges for travel. It provides a uniform system for keeping of accounts and making returns. —————~+e+___. PROTECTING THE SEALS, The Bering Sea Will Be Strictly Pa- trolled This Year. The sealing grounds of the Northern Pacific ocean will be kept clear of poachers this season more completely than ever be- fore,unless there is a serious miscarriage of the plans of the naval officers detailed to that dyty. Capt. Clark of the flagship Mohi- can,who commands theAmerican patrol fleet, has arranged his plan of operations with a view to the enforcement of a perfect com- piiance with the regulations formulated by the Paris tribunal of arbitration for the; protection of the sealing industries. The flagship Mohican will patrol principally about Sitka and Unalaska and will be in port ‘nore then any other vessel of the fleet. The Yorktown and the Albatross will do more actual cruising than the other ves- | sels, because of their greater coal capacity. They will be sent to the western limits of the sealing grounds. The Albatro: visit the Commander group of 1s order to ascertain what steps the Russian governmeht is taking for the protection of the seal species. During her cruise the Albatross will run*a line of soundings over the southern part of Bering sea. She has several scientists on board. They will be landed on the seal islands for the purpose | of making observations. The Corwin will also visit many islands, but will cruise nearer the base of supplies than the other vessels. The Alert vill cruise between the Yorktown and the Cor- win and the remainder of the sea will be divided into blocks for patrol by the other vessels of the fleet. Nine thousand tons of coal have already been ordered by the gov- ernment for delivery at convenient points in Alaska for the use of the fleet. any sealers are sighted in the prohibited waters they will be seized without cere- mony. The British warships Pheasant and Hya- cinth have been actively engaged for some time in warning sealers to keep away from the closed zone and it is expected that the Canadian sealers, now away on their annual cruise, will soon return to Victoria, B.C. Reports already received indicate that seals are more plentiful along the Alaska coast this year than ever before and the tempta- tions for poaching are correspondingly sreat in spite of the extra precautions that have been taken against it. WAR DEPARTMENT REDUCTIONS. Only a Few to Be Made Until the End of the Fiscal Year. Secretary Lamont has practically decided to make no further reductions in the cleri- cal force of the War Department until the beginning of the next fiscal year, except such as may become absolutely necessary by reason of the completion of work now in progress. The exception noted only ap. plies, so far as known, to a branch of the war records office, where the work, upon which about a dozen clerks are engaged, will be concluded in a few weeks. legislative, judicial and executive appro- priation bill, as at present composed, con. templates a reduction of about 450 in the clerical force of the War Department, and an annual saving in salaries of $150,000. Nearly 300 of the reductions are in the record and pension office, and are caused by the completion of a portion of the work of that office. These changes will not take effect until July 1 next, and Secretary L: mont has concluded not to hasten the dis. tress that will result therefrom. ——— + e- - ——_ Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $420,575; government receipts— from internal revenue, $130,647; customs, | $163,762, and miscellaneous, $44,478. In case | The | The Committee's Amendment at 40 Cents a Ton Adopted. A LIVELY DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE Armor Plate Investigation Adopted in the House. THE LEGISLATIVE BILL Early hours do not agree with a majority of the grave and reverend seigneurs who make up the membership of the Senate. Nevertheless, thirty-three Senators, twenty- three democrats, six republicans and three populists, were in the chamber when the Vice President dropped the gavel at 10 o'clock this morning. Half an hour was de- Voted to the consideration of unobjection- able bills on the calendar before the tariff debate was resumed. Three bilis were pussed as follows: On motion of Mr. Quay, to pay the heirs of John Wightman of Williamsport, Pa., $6,800 for star route service in 1859; on montion of Mr. Cameron, authorizing the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to construct a bridge across the Delaware river at Philadelphia, and on reotion of Mr. Gallinger, to pension the widow of William Loring Spencer at the Tate of $0 per month. Mr. Spencer was @ ing reconstruction days. Mr. Walsh’s Personal Explanation. Just before the tariff bill was taken up Mr. Walsh, the new Senator from Georgia, arcse to a personal explanation in con- nection with a newspaper paragraph from St. Paul, printed this morning, stating that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers yesterday adopted resolutions condemn- cae Soe aor ‘introcucing @ bOl making the retarding of the United yt ent for ss Ea een red Soe at heavier penalties for trair robbery had construed it as an attempt trainmen who should “tie up” I ii BE apprenticeship at the had never known a day or he did not sympathize with z ii ete tions he believed had a perfect rect their members to discontinue by doing so they believed complish their purposes, emphatically that they terfere with other laborers who go to work. They had the right not to work; their rights extended ther. This was a land of also a land of law and order, labor sought a redress of its under the forms of la’ its problem in a lawful labor to that extent and bill he had introduced, possibly 8 fe E ; f Bs Hd i iG il Bg HH i ¥ = E i i worded and tion the locomotive upon it, but it was not rectly or be construction. In conclusion Mr. introduced his bill in a modified to leave no doubt of its purpose. The Tarif’ Again. ‘The tariff bill was then taken up debate on the proposed duty of 40 ton on iron ore was resumed. The amendment was that of Mr. Platt crease the duty from 40 to 60 cents. Mr. Platt, who was speaking when Senate adjourned last night, took the again today. The difference between Wilson bill as it passed the House and bill as it was now being considered in Senate, he said, was the difference between electrocution and slow poisoning. Under the Wilson bill the destruction of American industries would be sudden, perhaps painless; under the Senate bill it would be slow and torturing. Mr. Platt proceeded to go at length into the question of the extent of the iron ore trade and the wages paid in its various branches in order to show the necessity for the duty of 60 cents which he proposed in his amendment. In conclusion, Mr. Platt declared that while he should not filibuster against the tariff bill, he would insist upon d@ fair discussion. He pre- dicted that the bill never would pass the Senate, Mr. Berry Against Filibustering. When Mr. Platt took his seat Mr. Berry (Ark.) precipitated an interesting @iscus- sion. The Arkansas Senator entered a vig- crous protest against the republican fillbue ter. The bill had been before the Senate since March 20, he said. The people, in 1892, had declared for tariff revision by an overwhelming majority. Yet the republi- cans had been here for months trying to de- | feat the will of the people by obstruction and delay. From cne end of the country to the other there was the greatest impatience | and anxiety as to the fate of this bill. He thought a spirit of patriotism on the other side should lead them to allow this bill to jcome to a vote. “If there were forty-two other democratic Senators here who believe as I do,” said he, with great force, “this | bill would pass without further delay. We should have action on this bill, and have speedy action. Mr. Hoar wanted to know upon what foundation Mr. Berry had stated that the people in 1882 had given an overwhelming majority in favor of this bill. What did the Chicago platform, upon which the demo- cratic candidate had been elected, declare? Mr. Berry replied that the people in 1892 had voted first for the repeal of the Mc- Kinley law, and secondly for the passage cf | tariff bill for revenue only. The plat- form declared all tariff taxes, except for purposes of revenve, robbery and unconsti- tutional. He had believed it to be the duty of his democratic associates to pass such @ revenue tariff bill; to defy any democrat who opposed such a bill. While he believed any bill would be an improvement on the McKinley bill, and that the democratic Party would be entitled to some credit if this bill passed, he believed it would have been entitled to infinitely more credit had it had the courage to pass a bill on the lines of the Chicago platform. Mr. Hoar’s Reply. Mr. Hoar said, if what the Arkansas Sen- ator said were true, according to his own admission the people, in 1892, had decided unanimously that it would not be right te pass the present bill. Republicans had voted to rraintain the McKinley law, and demo- crats had voted against all protection. Yet, Mr. Hoar said, the other side wanted to crowd down the throats of the people what it was acknowledged they had condemned. The bill was a crazy quilt of protection. The Senator from Arkansas had said that the bill had been before the Senate since March 20. One bill, sald Mr. Hoar, had been before the Senate for that period. But what Mr. Hoar wanted to know was when the plunder, the extortion and the pocket- | picking on Which the people had set their heet in 182 had been brought into the Sen- te. The bill containing the plunder, he |said, bad been before the Senate less than jten days. It was not the Mills bill, al- though there was a Mills bill here; it was not a McKinley bill, although a McKinley 8 g u i el & iz vl I & F Hy cee i |wouvld be here or eisewhere soon if the people had their way; it was not a Wilson pill, although Wilson was reported as in mbush at no distant point, ready to slaughter it when it emerged from this chamber. What was it? Somewhere, some tood, three . at some time, he unders ntcrs vet in Macbeth, the three witch had con this hell broth. “Mr. Berry protested that it did not ie in the mouthes of republican Senators to pl Senatcr criticise a bill because it contained pro- cetive features, aneapt on the Ubeery thas they re ced grand larceny and looked with contempt on petty larceny. Changes in the Cotton Schedule, Mr. Hoar called Mr. Berry's attention te the proposed changes in the cotton sched- ule. They had been reported to the Senate NS a ae eee ae a! Oe re RS LENE ee eS