Evening Star Newspaper, August 15, 1894, Page 1

: + Sheet St 00 3 age ded, 45.06, 00° Pe eer ea entered at the Cffice at Wasbington, D. C., EFAll mall subscripts ey Iptions must be paid in advance. Hates of advertising made known on application. Will Result if the Popgun Bills Are ‘Passed. SECRETARY CARLISLE’S LETTER Even Free Sugar Would Create a Deficit of $28,000,000. ALCOHOL TAX COMPLICATION ‘The letter from Secretary Carlisle to Sen- ator Harris, which was read by the latter in the Senate today, 1s as follows: TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, D. C., August 15, 1804. Senator Isham G. Harris, Acting Chairman of the Finance Com- mittee. Dea: Sir—Your letter advising me that the House of Representatives had passed and sent to the Senate bills putting sugar, coal, {ron ore and barbed wire on the free list, ‘end requesting “an official statement from you (me) as to the effect that the passage of these bills, or either of them, would have upon the revenues of the government,” is received, and in response I have the honor to say that, according to the most careful estimates that can be made, if no change Is ™made in the proposed revenue legisiation which has recently passed through Con- jress, the total receipts into the treasury luring the current fiscal year will be as _ follows: Estimated revenues for fiscal year end- mg June 30, 1805—From duties on imports, Senate bill, including $43,000,000 on sugar, 179,000,000. $15,000,000; oleomargarine, + playing cards, $1,000,000; miscel- = $200,000. Total internal taxes, From sale of public lands and other mis- cellaneous sources, $20,000,000. Total estimated revenue, $78,000,000. The estimated receipts for the present year from the proposed tax on incomes and playing cards and the proposed additional tax of 20 cents per gallon on distilled spirits are, it will be observed, much less than is stated in the various tabulated statements which have heretofore been used in the dis- cussion of these subjects, but I am satisfied the amounts here given are approximately correct. The proposed income tax will not be pay- able, by the terms of the bill recently pase- ed, until “on or before” July 1, 1805, which is the close of the fiscal year; and It is es- timated by the commissioner of internal revenue that, by reason of the large stock on hand, the receipts from the tax on play- ing cards will not amount to more than $1,000,009 during this year. ‘The estimated inctease of receipts on ac- count of the additional tax on distilled spirits during the present year has already been prevented to a great extent by the withdrawal of large quantities of goods from the bonded warehouses and the pay- ment of tax thereon at W) cents per gallon, and this process is still going on. The total expenditures during the current fiscal year will be as follows: Civil and miscellaneous, including ée- ficiencies In postal revenues—$W),000,000, War, including rivers and harbors—$56,- 1,000. Navy, including new vessels and arma- ment—{33,000, 000. Indians—$10,000,000. Pensions—$143,500,000, Interest—$30,500,000, Total expenditures—$363,000,000. Estimated surplus for year—$15,000,000. The duty on sugar proposed in the recent bill will, according to importations of that article during the fiscal year 1803, yield an annual revenue of $43,478,958, and the duties on the other articles mentioned in your communication would yield, under that bill, about $1,000,000; that is to say—Iron ore, $270,920; coal, $436,149, and barbed wire, fencing wire and wire rods of iron or steel, When imported for the manufacture of barbed wire fencing, about $30,01 It will be seen, therefore, that sugar alone is placed upon the free list, the ex- penditures during the present fiscal year will exceed the receipts to the amount of $28,478,058, and if the duties are removed from all the articles specified tn your let- ter, the deficit will be $20,478,088, not in- cleding any expenditure on account of the sinking fund or the payment of $2,363,000 of Pacific railroad bonds, which will ma- ture during this fiscal year. in view of the existing and prospective requirements of the public service I am of the opinion that it would not be safe to lace all the articles enumerated in your letter, cr even sugar alone, upon the free list, without imposing taxation upon other articles er subjects sufficient to raise an annual revenue of about $30,000,000. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, yours, (Signed) J. G. CARLISLE, Secretary. - The Secretary adds-the following to his letter: Note—The bonds of the Pacific railroad, guaranteed by the government to the amount of $2,363,000, mature during the present fiscal year, and this amount ts not included in the above estimate of expendi- teres, An Alcohol Tax Complicati Internal Revenue Commissioner Miller Was at the Capitol today seeing Chairman Wilson and the tariff leaders concerning what promises to be an unfortunate com- plication in collecting the new revenue tax on alcohol, unless the same fs rectified. While in the Serate am amendment was in- serted in the tariff bill making alcohol free of tax when used in the arts, in medical preparations or in other lke compounds. “Roughly estimated.” said Mr. Miller, “this amendment would reduce the reve- nues about eight or ten millions annually. ‘The department has always been against guch procedure. We already allow col- 3, laboratories, eté., to use their alco- hol free of tax. But this provision as to alcohol used in the ‘atts and in medicine and ‘like compougds’ threatens to throw joors wide open. Sy hardly know what alcohol can be said to he used in the arts. The provision as to medicine would exempt all bitters, and it would be necessary merely to put a little bittere er 4 dash of Jamaica ginger In a barrel of whisky to let it escape oll revenue tax. It is hard to say what the ramifica- ons of stich a system would lead to, not enly im the wholesale handling of alcohol, ; that of retailers and druggists. hairmaw Wilson has been commisstonei is ways and means associates to pre- pare the bil to ovércdme the trouble. It Would have been rectified tn conference if the conferees 1 not broken up without results. Mr. V n’s bill will be given a cial rule “tO bring it to speedy passage, < expected. that the change will be sccomplishel, fo faras the House is con- cer: without troubje. Se ee xports During July: The mowgh the bureau of portations for the month o! mS LL as follows: Mineral oi . 00; July 1803, $23 06. Cotton all months ending July, 184, $24,636,- July, Cotton—July, 4, $3,001 3,403. Bread- i ffs f anata Breadstuffs for seve! : Bren, S440, July, 1893, $106, 730, Provisions—July 1804, $14,- $5,204; July, 1893, $14,860,778. Provisions Be ekien months ending July, 184, $106,- 816,773; July, 1893, $88,025,650, jing &, Che Zvening Star. Vor 85, No. 20,964. WASHINGTON, D.0.. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1894-TEN PAGES TWO CENTS. It Makes Any Further Tariff Legislation Impracticable. The Friends of the President Say It is a Back-Slap to Mr. Cleveland. The letter from Mr. Carlisle to Senator Harris, which was read in the Senate to- day, indicating the impracticability of free sugar, free coal, free iron ore and free barb wire, under the present condition of the treasury, was the thing of most interest in connection with the tariff today. Notwith- standing the move toward the profits of the free sugar bill in the Senate, there is no very general idea that the least proba- bility exists for final action on any of the Popgun bills at this session. Mr. Carlisle's letter is regarded as a potent factor in the assistance of those who want no further legislation on the tariff, though without it the possibility of action seems re- mote, in view of the ease and facility with which a quorum may be broken, and the great pewer of obstruction which rests in the hands of any one Senator. Other Developments Likely. The Carlisle letter, however, it ts believed, may lead to other developments in the sit- uation as interesting as those which have been enacted. The inference which is gen- erally believed will be drawn from this letter is that drawn by Mr. Vest in his speech in the Senate today, that is, that it is a vindication of the course of the Senate and casts the reflection upon Mr. Cleveland that his utterances concerning free raw material in the famous letter to Mr. Wilson were either insincere or his pur- poses impracticable in the opinion of his Secretary of the Treasury. The letter is regarded as inferentially, if not directly, in conflict with the Cleveland letter, and it is criticised by some of Mr. Cleveland's greatest admirers in Co a It is not known, of course, whether this letter was written after consultation with Mr. Cleveland or not, but the conclusion generally drawn ts that the letter is Mr. Carlisie’s own and represents his position and not that of Mr. Cleveland. While he makes no argument or recommendation against any of the free list bills, he pre- sents a statement of the conditiun of the treasury in a manner to indicate the un- desirability of cutting off the revenue in this manner. How Mr. Cleveland W Take It. In commenting on the subject, the opin- fon is very freely expressed that the letter is likely to be regarded by Mr. Cleveland as hostile to his position on coal and iron and as a back-slap at him covertly made. It is further commented that the writing of the letter by Mr. Carlisle Is in a measure a substantiation of the claim of the Sena- tors that the Secretary of the Treasury sided with them in the tariff fight. es SETTLING ACCOUNTS, Closing Up the Bering Sea Ar' tion Expenses. The first controller of the treasury has given a decision in the matter of the ac- covnts of Maj. E. W. Halford, paymaster in the army, for disbursements for salaries and expenses of the Bering sea arbitration commission sppointed on behalf of the United States. In the cases of Senator Morgan and Mr. Justice Harlan the con- troller finds that there was no incompati- bility between the holding of their respec- tive offices as United States Senator and a justice of the United States Supreme Court, and therefore their accounts are allowed, as are also thoge of Judge Blodgett, one of the counsel on behalf of the United States. In the cases of J. Stanley Brown, a geolo- gist in the geological survey; Joh TT. Coughlin and Hubbard T. Smith, clerks in the Department of State, their actual ex- penses are allowed, but the personal ac- ¢cunts are disallowed, save those provided for efficers of the army, which consist of fuel, quarters and ae certain cases and mileage when traveling under orders. tras —————-~2»—_—_—_—_. THE .MONITOR WYANDOTTE. e¢ Has Been Loaned to Maryland for the Naval Militia. The oki monitor Wyandotte having been put in order at the Norfolk navy yard, has been loaned to the state of Maryland for the use of the naval militia. She will be towed to Baltimore and will Me in the har- bor, being equipped with boats and ap- purtenances for drilling the men. This is the last craft at the disposal of the department which may be assigned to the states for militia uses, under the recent act of Congress, and the department has been obliged to refuse a number of appli- cations for vessels which have been made by other states. Owing to the necessity for overhauling the machinery of the Atlanta and replacing her cracked crank shaft, the department has ordered her to New York and has assigned to the monitor Mianto- nomoh the duty of taking the Rhode Island naval militia on their practice drill. The latter vessel arrived at Newport from Bos- ton today, and ts under orders to be at New Haven on the 17th instant. ———___~-—______ MINISTER BRECKINRIDGE. He Has Resigned From the House and Has Taken His New Oath. Mr. C. R. Breckinridge, United States minister to Russta, was in conference with Secretary Gresham at the State Depart- ment in regard to the condition of our re- lations with the Russian empire. He re- signed his office as a representative in Con- gress yesterday morning and took the oath of office in his diplomatic position at the State Department the afternoon. He has thirty days fn which to prepare for his long journey to St. Petersburg and will probably take it all, es there is no special occasion for haste. + INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION, History of Cases in Which the United States Participated. John Bassett Moore, professor of inter- national law at Columbia Univerdity, } Y., and late assistant secretary of state, is now engaged at the State Department in the compilation of a history of the in- ternational arbitrations to which the United States was a party, with a digest of the decisions rendered. Provision for this work was made in a special joint resolution passed by Congress last April, appropriat- f4® for the purpose and naming Mr. Moore as the editor in view of his exten- sive knowledge of the subject. ——+ Pensi Granted Today. Among the pensions granted today were the following: District of Columbia—OriginalThomas Gjennin, United States Soldiers’ Home; Wm. H. Carter, Washingtor. Maryland—Original—William H. Aler, Laurel, Prince George's count: increase, Charles W. Stewart, Cockeysville, Baltimore county; reissue, Thomas Wells, Pittsville, Wicomico; Richard Lewis, Marydell, Caro- Ine county. Virginia—Original, John Murray, National Military Home, Elizabeth City;' increase, Israel Chilcott, National Military Home, Elizabeth City; widows, Indian wars, Frances C. Cregger, Comer’s Rock, Grayson county. s Saturday's Battle With the Japanese Fleety-« THE REPORT LACKS CONFIRMATION ARRIVAL OF THE LION LONDON, August 15.—A private telegram from Yokohama says that seven Chinese vessels were sunk in a recent engagement with the Japanese. This report lacks confirmation and prob- ably arose from the statement cabled here from Yokohama last night that news had been received there of the battle which tcok place on the 11th, between the Japan- ese and Chinese fleets, and that the Chinese were driven off. ¥ d Inquiries made at the Japanese legation here fail to obtain any confirmation of the reported sinking of the seven Chimese war vessels. (The engagement referred to was ptob- ably that spoken of in Shanghai dispatches of August 11, which said that the result of the battle had not been learned), British Neutrality. A dispatch to the Times from Tien Tsin today says that the British minister has is- sued a notice enjotning strict neutrality upon the part of all British subjects in the far east during the progress of the war be- tween Japan and China. The dispatch adds that the French gun- boat Lion has arrived at Tien Tsin. It is announced that warships flying any flag which attempt to cross the Taku bar will be fired on unless their intended ar- rival has previously been notified to the officers in command of the forts. ~ (The French gunboat Lion will be re- membered as the warship which ts reported to have been present at the sinking of the transport Kow Shing, and much important evidence is expected the commander of the French ship in regard to that dis- aster. The Lion 1s said to have rescued some of the people who,were on board the Kow Shing). ————— MAJ. WORTH ACQUITTED. A Court-Martial Declares Him “Not Guilty” of Disobed: ce of Orders. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. OMAHA, Neb., August 15.—The court- martial which tried Maj. William S. Worth of the second United States infantry for violation of President Lincoln’s order by requiring Private Cedarquist “to engage 1n rifle practice on Sunday has agreed upon a verdict of acquittal. None of the officers ef the court responded to any of the ef- forts to interview them, but it can never- theless be stated as a positive fact—to be developed when the War Department makes public ‘the findings and the department's action—that the court’ has’ declared © Maj. Worth “not guilty.” Rumor to this effect has been freely circulated throughout the garrison at Fort Omaha, and uniyersal expressions of satisfaction are to be heard not only in the officers’ quarters but also in ‘he barracks of the enlisted men, none of whom seems to be in sympathy with Private Cedarquist. Strenuous endeavor to have any of the officers discuss what is undoubtedly the verdict have invariably failed, but only in the most formal way has there been any attempt to deny that oe < has honorably acquitted Maj. ‘or’ —_—_— FOREIGN TRAINING SCHOOLS, Germans Copy Our Inventions and Manafacture and Sell in Competition. The bureau of statistics of the State De- partment has always taken a lively interest in the subject of tecanical education, and has from time to time given the public re- ports of consuls showing the condition and Progress of technical and manufacturing schools in foreign countries. The August compilation of congular reports contains much matter upon the subject of vital in- terest to educators. Particularly interest- ing are the reports upon the excellent Ger- man technical schools and the comments of our consuls upon their practical results. Consul Monaghan at Chemnitz tells many valuable facts about the German workshop fystem and shows how it is possible for these people to undersell us in the world’s markets, It is a common practice for the German manufacturer to take an American machine apart, copy it, and sell the reproductions in direct competition. In one case, fatling by other means to get at the secret of the unparalleled work of a gréat Rhode Island tool firm, a successful German manufac- turer sent his son to the American shop as @n apprentice. In six months he returned with the desired information, and the Ger- man is now making tocls Fepemiing, the. Rhode Island product, and with {mprove- ments, His son was a graduate of a tech- nical school and the consul says it Is a great mistake for cur manufacturers to take auch boys into their shops. He hag in his possession drawings of mst intricate machinery, made from memory by a Ger- man Graftsman after he had gone through several shops in which he was either not owed to or did not venture to take notes. Not till he saw these did the consul und2r- stand why it fs that in German industrial, art and technical schools more time and at- tention is given to drawing than to any other branch—very often twice as much, and this fact he seeks to impress on our educators. AFFAIRS AT Barrios Explains the Situation to Secretary Gresham. Gen. Modesto Barrios, the Nicaraguan minister to Great Britain, called at the State Department today. and was pre- sented by Dr. Guzman to Secretary Gres- ham. The call was purely one of courtesy, but incidentally the general btiefly: ex/ plained to Secretary Gresham the state of affairs at Bluefields from the Nicaraguan point of view. Gen. Barrios is on his way from Nicaragua to London, with the pur- pose of negotiating an amendment of the treaty of Managua, under which Great Britain asserts the right of protecting the Mosquito Indians. The wish of the Nica- raguan government is to obtain a relin- quishment of this protectorate, of if this cannot be done entirely, ‘such an amendment of the treaty as will at least recognize the right of, Nicaragua to ad- minister the affairs of the Mosquito reser- vation so far as they are national in char- acter, giving proper guarantees that the Mosquitos shall be permitted to mani: the:r local affairs, and that thelr prop UBFIBEDS. Gen. rights shall be nserves) . Bayo! Rienscle Tock Bot Mecube the Sito TNs migsign further than to ‘say that his pur- posé is to secure a modification of the treaty and the best terms possible for him to obtain. As Great Britain has been much annoyed by the many upheavals at Blue- fields without profiting by her protectorate, it 1s believed that she will be entirely will. ing to grant a moderate amendment of the treaty, in the line of assuring peace in the distracted country. Gen. Barrios left Nic- aragua July 28, and says he has had no news from there since, Strict Neutrality Enjoinedon British ‘|'in Southampton today The Tariff Bill Delivered Today at the White House. =+—}+—. ‘Representative Pearson Bears It to the Executive Mansion—The Ten Darst Limit. = ee 4 The Gorman compgomise tariff bill, prop- etly authenticated by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, was delivered to the Prpsident at the White House at 1:10 o'clock this afternoon, and the ten days’ period within which he may return the bill without his approval begins at that hour, and will expire at midnight on the 27th instant. The bill was brought from the Capitol by Representative Pearson, chairman of the committee on enroljed bills, and was de- livered by him into} the hands of Private Secretary ‘Thurber, rho timed it “August 15, 1804; 1:15 p.m." is calculation is based on the theory that fractions of a day are not counted in c of this kind. Accord- ing to the Court of Clatmns’ decision the President can sign ;the bill at any time within ten days the time of its re- ceipt by him, rey less of whether or not Congress is in s¢esion, but it cannot be vetoed efter the! adjournment of Con- gress. It will fail to ome a law, without action on his part should adjourn in th however, if Congress meantime and he does not sign it within tHe prescribed ten days. The impression is general, however, that the bill will become # law. Mr. Pearson looked much relieved when he had acquitted himpelf of his task. He has gone without much sleep for two days and nights, in order to push the enrollment of the tariff bill, and was worn out. He would have preferred to deliver the bill into the hands of the President directly, but this is not the usual course, and no exception was made even in favor of the measure which has engrossed the attention of Congress and the entire ccuntry for many weary months. —-e THE SENATE RULES, Mr. Blanchard’s Change of Position in Regard to Them. Senator Blanchard. suddenly taken a new tack, and is now} posing as a stickler for the observance’ of the strict letter of the rules of the Senpte. He inaugurated this departure Mon objecting to the immediate considetatifn of Senator Black- burn’s resolution dit ig the committee on rules to sit during recess to frame a new code of rules. Uri@ér the objection the resolution went over {Pr a day. Much sur- prise was evinced this, for it is not customary fora new soper in the Senate to object to anything Ing from the chair- man of a committee, ly such a power- ful and important ones that on the rules. But Mr. Blanchard not to be kept from his new path ty, for yesterday he caused the epiderm! der the collar of Mr. Millg to rise rature, when the Texas pire 8 5S clear the decks for his tariff reselgtjon, asked for unant- mous consent to eee, with the readi: of the journal. Mr. Blanchagd arose, and, much after the style of an old-fashioned martyr going to the Make, objected to this request. Mr. Milla looked a lot of Texan English, but said nothing, and the reading of the journal proceeded, It is Whispered that Mr. Blanchard’s op- position to the new rule resolution is caused by his fear that the amended regulations may enable the Senate to pass a free sugar bill next winter, if, indeed, it should fall to take favorable action on the popgun measure that reached the upper house to- day. This sentiment {gs in strange contrast to that expressed by Mr. Blanchard in his maiden speech in the Senate, in which he soundly scolded the august legislators for their inability tc do business because of the condition of their rules. Notwithstanding the presence of his wife and another lady in the gallery, Mr. Blanchard allowed his indignation over the impotence of the Sen- ate to carry him to-the application to the grave and revetehd Senators of a term of Feproach scarce suited to polite ears. Time works wonderful changes, and this reverse of Mr. Blanchard’s sentiments is now being widely quoted as one of the strange tnci- dents of the session. — ANOTHER LETTER Written to Chairman Wilson From Preajdent Cleveland. President Cleveland has written a letter to Chairman Wilson on the outcome of the tariff battle. It is a personal letter, devoted largely to expressions of regard for the gal- lant,fight Mr. Wilson made, and under these circumstances it will not be made public, ror would any reference whatever to it have been allowed to go out had not Mr. Wilson's friends inadvertently disclosed the fact. The letter is four pages in length, and is in the President's handwriting throughout. It was written Monday morn- ing, as soon as the President had read an Associated Press bulletin from the Capitol saying that the House caucus had deter- mined to recede from its disagreement and accept the Senate bill. Its transmission to Mr. Wilson was delayed until late in the day, and the messenger from the White , House handed it to him only a few minutes after the Senate bill had been passed, at 6:30 Monday evening. The President's letter speaks feelingly of Mr. Wilson's heroic devotion to the tariff reform fight, and to his unselfish sacrifice ,of his health and strength to carry out the Frinciples of the party. It does not discuss ithe tariff question, except in the indirect way of expressing deep sympathy and re- geet for the personal reverse met by Mr. ———».—____ Personal Mention. Assistant Secretery McAdoo left here to- ‘|day for a few weeks-visit to the Adiron- fad mountains. He quarters at Saranac’ Messrs. Carl A, Didop and Harry J. Read of the firm of E. F." & Bons arrived r North German y are on a com- Nl make his head- Lieyd steamer Spreé: bined business and re trip, and will remain away several weéks. It is their in- tention to make Lcndom headquarters, but a flying business tgp gilt take them to Paris and probably | 5 Maj. R. H. Sylvester vf the Post, after several weeks’ absence on sick leave, has returned to the thuch improved in health and resumed his tditorial duties to- day. Dr. Francis B. Bishop of this city left by B, and O. on Monday night for Eau Claire, Wis., in response to a telegram summoning him to the bedside of Representative Geo. Shaw, who Is critically iN in that city. Judge John M. Reynolds, assistant secre- tary of the interior, returned today from his vacation spent In Canada and his home at Bedford, Pa. Col. Carroll_D. Wright, United States com- missioner of labor and superintendent of the census and chairman of the strike in- vestigation commission, left for Chicago last evening, where the commission will hold its'sessions, beginning tomorrow. Admiral Ramsay, chief of the naval bureau of navigation,has returned to Wash- ington from a three weeks’ vacation at f4mestown, R. I. He is much improved in healt 3 : #. W. B. Pomeroy has recovered from his late illness. Secretary Lamont is expected to return to the city tonight. Mr. John R. Young, clerk of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbla, has gone to Worthington, ‘Mass., to spend his vaca~ tion. ; Howard University. ‘The annual report of the president of Howard University was received at the De- partment of the Interior today, Victims of Ford’s Theater i- cally Ignored by Congress. A JOINT = COMMISSION PROVIDED Senators Express Opinions of the Great Injustice. ENDED FOR THE PRESENT The heirs of the twenty-one men who were killed outright by the fall of the Ford Theater building a year ago last June will not secure relief froin Congress at this ses- sicn. The amendment to the sundry civil bill appropriating $105,000 to pay the twen- ty-one claims ih the cases of immediate death, which was inserted in the bill by the Senate at the suggestion of the select com- mittee to investigate the disaster, has been stricken out in coaference, and a substitute provision added which creates a joint com- mission to investigate all the claims, in- cluding those resulting from the deaths, and to report to Congress at some future time. This amendment has been agreed to by both houses, and the last hope of legis- lation at this session is now gone. The amendment, however, appropriating pay for these claims was not relinquished by the select committee of the Senate without a struggle. When the conference report was laid befure the Senate today Mr. Manderson, who has been actively interested in the in- vestigation as a member of the committee, asked Mr. Cockrell, chairman of the com- mittee on appropriations, if this was the final report of the conference. Mr. Cock- rell answerd affirmatively, and then Mr. Manderson, after calling for a rereading of the new provision for a joint commission, think this is a most unfortunate, not to say cruel, result. The Ford Theater dis- aster occurred early in June, 18%. The whole country was shocked by that acci- dent. It was attributable clearly to negli- gence somewhere, for which the govern- ment of the United States is responsible. Twenty men were killed and over one hun- dred injured, and all were employed by the government in a clerical capacity in a ram- shackle building, which, without a mo- ment’s notice, tumbled about their ears. The Senate appointed a special committee, in the main well qualified by experience to investigate the matter. It has as its efti- clent chairman the senior Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Harris, and as members Mr. Faulkner, Mr. White, Mr. McMillan and the senior Senator from Nebrask: and a business man, who has achieved great success in his line of life. They set themselves to work and had nu- mefous meetings. There were prepared with great care the blank applications which should form the basis of each claim. No step has been neglected to be taken by the committee that would not be imposed had thete men gone into court. “There has been no question in the minds of the committee but that the government is Hable in damages to these people who have been injured and to the heirs of those who were killed. There has been no question as to the moral and equitable liability, and in the mind of no lawyer is there a question as to the legal lability that would devolve upon a private individual in ‘imilar case. These blanks were prepared and filled out with the greatest care. It devolved upon me to-examine the claims of those who died immediately as a result of the accident,and I made a very thorough exploration in every line, not only as to the character of the injury. where the death did not im- mediately follow, but into the circumstances of the surviving members of the families of the dead men. We also investigated the extent of the injuries of the survivors, and I wish I had the time and could go through the list and show the deplorable condition that confronted us in many,many cases. 1 wish I could speak adequately of the desti- tution of widows left with six and eight children, without income, dependent upon the charity of the public, or that of unwill- ing relatives, or those unable to give them the sustenance demanded. “The committee has been unable, on ac- count of the long sessions of the Senate, to give that thorough examination to all these claims for injury that is really necessary But great pfogress has been made aiready. I understand that Senators McMillan and White have made the exploration of the claims submitted to them, fifteen or twenty to each, and are ready to report. In the partial report made it was shown that there had been sich investigation made that during the coming recess it would probably be possible to give to all of the claims the necessary attention, but in the Treantime this partial report was made on the death claims which were indisputably established. I regret exceedingly that all this has been abaudoned now. I see that these people are going to have that sick- ness of the heart that comes from hope de- ferred. ‘The proposition is now to have a jcint commission sit at the next session of Corfgress. We all know what that means. Day will succeed day, week will follow week and months will accumulate, and no action will be taken, no relief will be given to these people who are in such great suf- fering and distress. “When can such a joint commission meet? With this long continued session running almost to the fall elections, there will be no chance, if there were the disposition,for the committee to get together during recess, Then wili follow the short session of Con- gress, requiring of every man all his energy and time, and certainly it will not be until after the next session, at the earliest, that there can be any pi made by the commission, and then there will be no or- fanization of the House to authorize such a body to sit during recess. “Frankly, Mr. President,I see a long vista of years to come before relief can be given to these people,to whom in common decency and honesty we should make some payment immediately. I very much regret that through some parliamentary juggling, that I for one cannot understand, this reasonable appropriation has been stricken out of the vi” Senator White sald that he fully agreed with all that had been said, and asked if {t would not be possible for the Senate to in- sist upor. its amendment with the under- standing that the Senate committee would be glad to co-operate with the House com- mittee In regard to any future action to be taken on the claims for injury. These cases of death, he said, are absolutely es- tablished and ‘there could be no quéstion whatever as to the lability of the govern- ment. Hence he did not see why the death claims could not be settled now on the basis of the inquiry already made. “I have no desire to embarrass the com- mittee on conference, in charge of this bill,” said Senator Harris. “Believing that the government ought to make a reas: compensation to the heirs of the de and to those who are seriously injurel, I introduced the original resolution that fe- sulted in this committee being organizea. A vote was then taken on concurring in the conference report, and it was agreed to without a division, although several voices were raised in the negative. This settles the matter beyond any recall at this session. ee Seen one Without a Head, The War Department ts without a head today. Secretary Lamont ts in New York, Assistant Secretary Doe is at Gettysburg and Gen. Schofield is at Bar Harbor. All the clerks are at their desks, however, and business seems to be progressing the same as usual. Chief Clerk Tweedale is dispatch- ing all business that does not require the action of the Secretary or his substitute. Asked to Confer With Indignant Endow- ment Policy Holders. Investigating the W: xton Bene- y Means of Com- ittees—The Meeting Today. A meeting of the committee which was appointed last evening by the policy hold- ers of the Washington Beneficial Endow- ment Association to look after their inter- ests and to see what action had best be taken in the matter was held this morning at 11 o'clock in the office of Mr. William J. Miller, 486 Loutsiana avenue. The meet- i.g lasted less than an hour, and compara- tively little was accomplished beyond look- ing over the field to see what the duties of the committee and its powers might be. There were a number of speeches made and some rather unpleasant things were said of the management of the associa- tion. It seemed to be the opinion of the committee that the best thing to do was to Peay no attention to the New York com- pany, but to force the local association into insolvency by means of a bill in equity to guard the property of the association end the interests of the policy holders. In view of the high standing of the directors of the association it was decided not to take any action until they had been given an opportunity to explain their connection with the association and the transfer of its business to the New York company. For this purpose an adjournment was en until 5 o'clock, when the committee will meet again in Room 1 of the Central Na- tional Bank building, and in the meantime an invitation will be sent to the six direc- tors to be present. Mr. Simon Wolf presided at the meeting this morning, and Mr. H. O. Claughton was elected vice chairman, to serve at any meeting at which Mr. Wolf may be absent. There were present of the committee Mr. Henry F. Bauer, Mr. Charles E. White, Mr. Claughton, Mr. F. H. Mackey, Mr. Wm. J. Miller, Mr. Robert Ball, Mr. H. D. Nor- ton and Mr. Wolf. Mr. T. Percy Myers acted as secretary. The meeting opened with some remarks by Mr. Browning, in the course of which he sald that, inasmuch as the men who are at the head of this concern were men of such high standing in the community, it was the daty of the committee to have a conference with the old board of directors and get them ff possible to restore the cor- poration to the condition in which it was ten days ago. The new company, to which it was proposed to transfer the stockholders, already finds that it has an elephant on its hands, as it can’t get any of the policy holders to have anything to do with it. Any such movement on the part of the old board of directors as was suggested would completely exonerate them from all of questionable methods. The suggestion was made by Mr. Ball to the effect that Mr. Gardner had himself assumed all the responsibility for the trans- fer, and that if there were any blame it rested with him and not with the directors, mary of whom did not even know that the transfer was contemplated. A motion was then made and carried requesting the direc- tors to meet the committee chia eiternosn for the purpose of giving suc! forma| as would assist them in righting the wrong thet has been done, The question of paying the assessments to the old association which were due today was then taken up, as it was understood that the majority of the policy holders would act in this matter in accordance with the advice of the committee. Some of the members have expressed their intention of paying the assessment in order that they might not run the risk of forfeiting any of the rights they might possess in the prem- ises. Mr. Claughton, however, said that, inesmuch as he was sure that his heirs would never get a cent out of the associa- tion, he had no intention of putting any more into it. As to the matter of paying the dues, he said that the very fact that the association had violated its part of the ecntract had relieved them of the necessity of paying in any more money. In other words, they were not jeopardizing any of their rights by refusing, inasmuch as the aszociation, by failing to keep ite share of the contract, had made it impossible for them to live up to theirs. If the matter was brought into court, as it should be, they would all be restored to their rights, whether or not they had paid any more money to a corporation which had nottfied them of its inability to lve up to its agree- ments. Two committees were appointed before the meeting adjourned. One was of law- yers to look into the legal position, con- sisting of Messrs. Claughton, Mackey and Miller. A subcommittee on accounts and examination of books was appointed, con- ed of Messrs. Gieseking, Bauer and Vhite. Paying Their Assessm One of the ass¢ssments in the Washing- ten Beneficial Endowment Association fell due today and the policy holiers were paylag it very much as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred in the business of the association. All day long there was a steady stream of people calling at the office with money in their hands, although they did not know whether it would be ac- cepted or not. it was taken all right, however, and as a rule the people stopped for a few min- utes to discuss the situation eituer with Secretary Parks or with each other. Mr. Parks told a Star reporter that so far he could judge the policy holiers were pa: ing up just about as rapidly as ordinarily they Go, He could not say, though, whether or not this would be the last assessment made, as it was | ible to tell just what the outcome of toe mane weellng t evening would be. JUDGE RICKS’ INVESTIGATION. Congressional Committee is Anxious to Get at Its Work. Members of the congressional committee appointed to investigate the charges against Judge Ricks of Cleveland are anxious to begin their work next week. If there is & prospect that Congress will be in session some time Icnger the committee will take up the investigation next Monday; other- wise they will postpofe action until after adjournment, if that does not mean a de- lay of more than a few days. The mem- mers of the subcommittee are Representa- ves Bailey (Tex.), Lane (IL) and Broder- ick (Ark.), all of whom are lawyers by pro- fession, and two of whom have sat on the benc! No Investigation of the record of a Judge of the United States looking to impeach- ment proceedings has been held for years, although as a result of a sweeping investi- gation by the Fifty-first Congress action was, taken against Judge Bowman of Louis- jana. The investigation committee will sit in the Federal building in Cleveland, will witnesses summon and take testimony after the manrer of a court, allowing the accusers of Judge Ricks té present the charges and the judge to make his defense, Judge Ricks will be permitted to have counsel to represent him in the tnvestiga- tion if he desires. A report will be made to the House at the next session of the findings of the committee, and if the charges should be sustained impeachment proceedings will be recommended. oo Secretary Herbert's Trip. The President's yacht, Dolphin, will leave tomorrow morning with Secretary Herbert, Miss Herbert, Master Herbert and Lieut. Reamey, the Secretary's naval ald, as pas- sengers, and will be gone about a month, during which time she will visit the nava! stations on the New England coast and will also experiment with coke for naval purposes VEST’S VEHEMENCE He Makes a Remarkable Speech in the Senate. THE PRESIDENTS ACTION CRITICISED Secrets of the Conference Meet- ings Freely Told. EFFECT OF CARLISLE’S LETTER a ey During the presentation of memorials and petitions in the Senate at 12:12 o'clock today Chief Clerk Towles of the House appeared at the main door with the tariff bill. The. members of the Senate listened attentively, while Clerk Towles read the resolution which signalized the Senate triumph over the House in the tariff struggles, but there Was no demonstration of any kind The Speaker's signature to the bill was announced at the same time. Vice Presi- dent Stevenson immediately signed the bill, and his action was announced at 12:17. My Gorman, chairman of tne democrade cus cus, then suggested several commiitee changes, which, under the castom, were ac- cordingly made. “Did the Senator from Maryland,” ine quired Mr. Chandler, “announce the ap- pointment to the vacancy on the finance committee?” ing did not,” replied Mr. Gorman, with & smile. Mr. Kyle of North’ Dakota asked unanie mous consent for the consideration of a res- olution to prohibit the sale of intoxicat! liquors in the Senate wing of the Capitol during the recess of the Senate. Mr. Gor- man objected. The Popgun Bits. Then, at 12:28, Mr. Harris of Tennessee asked that the House revenue bills be read the second time. To the astonishment of everybody, mo Senator objected, and the House bills to place coal, iron ore, barbed wire and sugar on the free list were read. Mr. Harris then took the floor, and sent to the clerk’s desk and had read a letter m Secretary Carlisle, just received. felt it his duty to present this letter, He he Mr. Harris’ Statement. Mr. Berry (Ark.), on the conclusion of the reading of the letter, moved that the Serate proceed to the consideration of the free sugar bill, but Mr. Harris requested the privilege of making a statement. He was, he said, heartily in favor of free su- far, raw and refined, but in view of the strong probability of a deficiency tween $25,000,000 and $30,000,000, cated in the letter of the y of the Treasury if this bill were passed, he felt it his duty to move to refer the sugar and other bills to the finance committee. The Senate, he declared,could not adjourn with- out provision for revenue sufficient to over- come any threatened deficiency. A Mr. Hunton (Va.) interposed at this point to say that he was in favor of a revenue duty on sugar, but opposed to the one- eighth differential to the sugar trust on refined sugar, and asked Mr. Harris if thi ove-eighth were stricken out, leaving a flat 40 per cent duty on sugar, would the reve- nue be sufficient to prevent a deficiency. Mr. Harris replied that unquestionably a flat 40 per cent duty would produce more revenue than the $30,aui0K0) deficiency threatened. He was, he said, as much op- posed to the differential as the Senator from Virginia, but he thought the finance comraittee should deal with the bill so as to effectively guard against a deficiency. Mr. Berry Impatient. Mr. Berry, rather hotly in reply to Mr. Harris, declared that the whole question had been discussed and was understood and that the Senate should and could dispose of the bill without reference to committee. “Let the Senate decide it,” said he im- petuously, “and not bury It in committee. It passed the House with only cieven din- senting votes. The people of the country are overwhelmingly in favor of free rugar. I believe the Senate should go on record, It has been charged with being a friend of the sugar trust and opposed to free suger. I, for one,” added he, “believe the Senate should pass the bill as it came from the House without the dotting of an i or the crossing of a 1.” Mr. Manderson wanted to ask Mr. Berry if he did not vote for the one-cight differ- ential on sugar. . Mr. Berry declined to yield, and said the sugar bill would be bur‘ed tn the committee on finance. He wantel assurauce that it would be reported imme iia tel: Mr. Harris said, for humseif, that the bills would Se considered immed'ately, and he would insist upoa an early report. The deficiency should be provided against. A reference was made to the equal division in the finance committee of democrats and republicans, but Mr. Harris said the vacancy could be filled if it were found nec- essary, and he would ask the Vice Pres- ident to fill the vacancy if the minority would not allow the majority to proceed it desired. The Deficiency Conference Report. Mr. Vest had the floor Yor several mo- ments, but was interrupted by Mr. Cock- rell, who presented a conference report upon the general deficiency appropriation bill, Mr. Cockrell said that the only point in dispute was the $1,80,000 for the Southern Pacific claims. The House would pot agree to this appropriation, and he moved that gg insist upon — amendment. eng was to, except as to the Southern Pacific amendment. Mr. Sherman moved that the Senate re- cede from its amendment. Mr. said that the amount was @ deficit, which the government was now paying gy go Mr. Sher- man’s motion was lost, the motion of Mr. Cockrell carried. Sundry Civil Conference. Cockrell then presented the confer- ence report on the sundry civil bill. Mr. Manderson objected very seriously to the provision in the sundry civil bill which streck out the appropriation for the suffer. ers from the Ford's Theater disaster. ‘The conference report on the sundry civil ll was agreed to. Mr. Cockrell then called up the House resolution providing temporarily for the ex- perses of the government, and it was egreed to. At this point Mr. Vest resumed his speech on Mr. Harris’ motion to refer the free sugar and other bills to the com- mittee on finance. Mr. Vest Oriticises the President, Mr. Vest said that be kad not the slight. est doubt thet if the bill was referred to the cOmmittee to which he was ecting as temporary chairman ft would mean the death of the bills. It was well known that the éommittee was now politically a tle, ard with the prospect of the disappearance of a quorum in a few days nothing could be done with the bills et this session. ti) He referred vo the slanjers that have been indulged in against the Senate and Senators in connection with the surar schedule. He was opposed to the one-vighth differential, but he had voted and would vote again for that one-eighth rather than submit to have the democratic party ac- cused and convicted of incompetency. He was most unfortunate, he said, in that he was compelled again’ to indulge in criticism of the President, under whose fi he was still ready to fight for the cause o! tariff reform to the death. Ie referred im- dignantly to Mr. Clevoland’s letter in sup- port of the House Will, and ranged along- side of it the letter of Secretary Carlisig