Evening Star Newspaper, October 3, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR Be sae RE PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, T ‘AR BUILDINGS, e Eveni: tar Ne r Com: ‘SH KAUPFMANN, Pres. or mah em Few York Oiice, 49 Potter Building, ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers fm the ety by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents & week, or 44c. per month. Copies at the counter cents ‘each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 c2nts per | month. Satrrday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1.00 per sear; with foreign postage adited, $3.00, oe at the EF All mall subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. | Vou 85, No. 21,006, WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, OOTOBER 8, 1894—-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. HILL'S CALCULATION Muzwumps Confident He Will Be Done to Death. WHAT THE SENATOR'S FRIENDS SAY Not the Hill but the Cleveland Democracy on Trial. * HILL TO WIN EITHER WAY ——_.——— What are Senator Hill's real calcula- tions? This is the absorbing question of the hour in political circles. The mug- wumps are confident that this tim2 he will be done to death. Beaten for governor of New York, they are boasting. that he will be, and by a majority that they esti- mate will run away up Into the thcusands, he will return here in December, they are Promising themselves, shcrn of the last vestige of his consequence and power. They see him already, in their mind’s eye, sitting alone in the Senate, under party ban for his vote against the tariff bill, and com- Pletely discredited because of his defeat at home. Neither voice nor vote of his will, in their judgments, count for any- thing more, here or elsewhere. The Sena- tor’s initials will remain the same, but his front name will be changed to Dennis, and all will be over with him. Hill's Friends Smile. Mr. Hill's friends smile at all this. They are not themselves boasting. Nobody con- cedes the gravity of the situation—the many difficulties In the way of democratic suc- cess In New York in November—the neces- sity of harmony in democratic circies Pproper—more readily or unreservedly than does the old regular who for ten years past, has been training in the empire state under the banner of the aggressive man from Elmira. He sees all of the pitfalls dug, and now digging, for his chief, and he carries an anxious heart in his bosom. But he believes implicitly in Mr. Hill, and he is absolutely certain of one thing, and that is that his chief will carry himself in the struggle, and afterward, in a way to command democratic respect, and to retain his hold on the party organization at heme, no matter what the results may be. A New York democrat of this type, in conversation with a representative of The Star today on this subject, said: The Cleveland Democracy on Trial. “The mugwumps, with characteristic fa- tuity, misconceive the situation. It is not the Hill democracy, but the Cleveland de- mocracy, that is on trial in this contest. Mr. Hill ts the nominee, by the regular action of the party in convention assembled. No democrats, properly so called, can refuse to support him without incurring the reproach of being a bolter and paying the penalty of such defection. The support of the mug- wumps was never in the caiculation—is not im the calculation now. New York is a democratic state, and a united democratic vote can put Mr. Hill back into the govern- or’s chair, and the democrat who sulks or deserts this year will draw the bar sinister across his own fortunes forever.” ‘The Maynard Episode. “Would the Maynard episode excuse any Cleveland man for yoting against Mr. Hill?” was asked. “How could it?” was the reply. “The act for which the republicans denounce Judge Maynard was not in the interests of Mr. Hill, but in the interests of fair play and the democratic party. The party got the benefit of it and accepted it, the Cleveland men with the rest. Why, even the mug- Wwumps themselves shared in the usufruct of that transaction when they worked with the democratic party, which had been strengthened by it, in the national cam- aign of 1%/2. Then, besides, Col. Lamont, r. Cleveland's nearest and dearest friend, helped to make the ticket upon which Judge Maynard ran, and traveled from Washington to New York to vote for it. With all of these things past dispute, where is the authority or the reason for making the Maynard matter an issue among dem- ocrats If Cleveland Men Cut the Ticket. “But suppcse, with one argument and anothe>, and one means and another, enough Cleveland men are induced to cut the ticket to insure Mr. Hill's defeat?” was asked. “Why, even in that event, such Cleveland men and their mugwump allies and per- suaders wold miss their ultimate aim. Their real desire is to get possession of the crganization in New York. They have worked hard for that, and in many devious and questionable ways. They may try to pe-suade themselves that by knocking out Mr. Hill they would come into that long- desired and much-d ed kingdom. But they would not. Mr. Hill wouid still be master of the situation at home, still in pos- session of the party machinery, and more than ever endeared to the rank and file. He is strong now as the hero of many battles. He would be stronger then for having suf- fered in his individual fortunes for his party's sake. mt “As I regard it, Mr. Hill stands to win im any event. If elected he will inevitably be the standard bearer of the party in 1896. That will follow as the night follows day. If defeated, he will still be the leader of the New York democracy, with his friends and Heutenants in possession of every local post of importance in the party organization, and eager to serve him in any and every way. Let us suppose the next democratic presidential nomination going to a western man, and his election as the result of democratic defeat in New York next month, with whom would he consult and treat about New York mat- ters? With the men who had outlawed themselves, and were absolutely without rty standing, or with the man and his Reutenants standing fer straight democ- racy and its authorized representatives at home? The question is so simple it answers itself. The present situation is grave, but Mr. Hill ts secure in this: His gain must be the party’s gain; his loss the party's loss. No Cleveland democrat can strike Mr. Hill without inflicting a blow on the party.”" The Plan to Knife Hill. ‘The intimation, which comes from reliable qvarters, that the plan of the anti-Hill der oer: and mugwumps fs to knife Hill and elect Lockwood and Gaynor, if possible, excites a great deal of interest. There is no question about it, that the division of opin- fon in the anti-Hill ranks is as to whether this policy or that of putting up an inde- pendent ticket is to be fcllowed, and the evidences are very strong that a majority of them are in favor of simply knifing Hill on the quiet. The idea of humiliating their enemy by making him conspicuous as the only one defeated is very tempting, and the only thing that could overthrow this plan is the danger that it may fail. Democrats who are friendly to Hill sug- gest that it will be an extremely dangerous thing to the Fairchild-Grace people to at- tempt the secret knifing of Hill. If this ts attempted, they say, it will be found to be @ game that two can play at, and the chances are if any one on the ticket is elect- ed, it will be Hill, and that Gaynor will be defeated and possibly Lockwood. The only chance of success for the whole ticket lies, they intimate, in Hill's receiving as loyal support as fs given the other candidates. if an example is made of Hill, they intend that it shall be an example of his superior- ity over his enemi : As to Administration Support. Meanwhile the agitation over the question of whether or not Mr. Hill shall have the pport of the administration faction is very ying to the democratic leaders, who are werking for the next House and for general party success. While the nomination of Hill is a general disappointment to the na- tional leaders in the party, and his success means their humiliation, they recognize that such a divisfon in New York as would make the campaign there a hopeless struggle against the inevitable would have a de- Pressing effect upon democrats in the con- gressional campaign, both in and outside of New York state. General apathy is what they are struggling against in the congres- sional campaign. They feel that a vigorous, exciting and hopeful campaign in New York would arouse the energies of democrats elsewhere, but that a feeling of distemper would be excited by a party split there, resulting seriously to the party in the congressional campaign. A feeling on the part of demo- cratic voters that the administration would sacrifice party interests to gratify personal enmity would cause many anti-administra- tion democrats throughout the country to Jose their grip in the campaign and let the election slide. There is very little love for Hill anywhere in the party, but there are many democrats in every section of the country whose party loyalty alone causes them to take active interest in the campaign. If an example of disregard for party organization is fur- nished by that faction of the party against which they feel resentment they will be very apt to follow it, and practice reprisal @ little on their own behalf. It is said that private letters received from Mr. Hill settle all controversy to the possibility of his declining the nomina- tion. It is said that these letters leave no doubt of his acceptance whenever notified. He May Resign. The suggestion that if Mr. Hill is elected governor of New York he will immediately resign, permitting Lockwood, who would be Meutenant governor in the case of demo- cratic success, to serve as governor, is very generally accepted by democrats familiar with the New York situation. Among those democrats who are in the habit of betting on elections it is said that a dis- crimination is made between a bet that “Hill will be elected” and a bet that he the latter bet being generally declined, upon the assumption that he will probably not serve if elected. SRO i A ABOUT INDIAN AFFAIRS The Facts Stated in the Annual Report of the Commissioner. He Favors the Placing of Indian Children in the Public Schools— Funds for Sectarian Schools. The annual report of D. M. Browning, the commissioner of Indian affairs, was submitted today to the Secretary of the In- terior. He reports progress in the work of the allotment of lands to Indians and also in constructing systems of irrigation. He states that the year has been unmarked by any outbreak or disturbance of any kind. The aggregate of appropriations available during the year was $10,750,000. The aggregate enrollment for the year has been 21,451, with an average attendance of 17,096, against 21,117 enrollment and 16,303 attendance for the previous year. There has been an increase in the enrollment of government boarding schools on reserva- tions and a falling off in government day schools, The commissioner notes an edu- cational awakening among the Navajoes, which he attributes to a visit of a delega- tion to the world’s fair. The defects in most Indian schools, he says, are bad water sup- ply and sewerage. The commissioner says that contracts for schooling of Indians have been declined or reduced wherever it could be done without depriving the children of school privileges. The average attendance in the various classes of schools is given as follows: Gov- ernment schools, 11,813; contract schools, 5,087; public day schools and mission schools not assisted by the government, 17,006. The report states that no children have been forced to attend schools away from their reservation homes. The opinion is ex- pressed that the ultimate end of absorbing the Indian population “into our school system, as well as our civil policy, must be kept constantly in view and every effort made, by pressure and persuasion, to in- crease the attendance of Indian pupils at. public schools. Favors the Pi ic Schools. This policy, the report states, will be vigorously pushed, and the local authorities will be encouraged by money payments to co-operate with the government in getting the Indian children into the public schools. A reduction of $75,000 in the amount appro- priated for contract schools was made, as compared with the preceding year. The total appropriation was $461,885. The amount for Roman Catholic schools is reduced from $289,745 to $359,215; Presbyterian, $36,340 to none; Congregational, $10,825 to none. ‘The report indorses the opinion expressed by the last Indian commissioner that the laws prol.ibit the sale of liquor to Indians who have received allotments, but who are still under the charge of an agent of the United States. He states that it is unfortu- nate that it is impracticable to secure a decision from the Supreme Court, those of the district courts being unfavorable. The commissioner fs of the opinion that the act of May 3, 1891, relating to Indian depredation claims should either be repeal- ed or amended so as to place upon the United States the sole responsibility and ultimate Hability for the payment of judg- ments rather than to take the money from the Indian funds. For Religious Organizations. During the past year lands have been set apart within the several Indian reserva- tions for the temporary use and occupancy of missionary and religious societies as fol- low Wichita, Oklahoma, 160 acres, American Baptist Home Missionary Society; Quapaw, 1. T., 40, Roman Catholic; Klamath, Oreg., 100, “Methodist Episcopal; Yakima, Wash., 160, Roman Catholic; Moquls, Ariz. 40, Mennonite Mission Society; Crow, Mont., 0, Roman Catholic; Fort Peck, Mont., 40, Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions: Lower Brule, S. D., 2, Presbyterian; San Carlos, Ariz.,'10, Evangelical Lutheran Gen- eral Synod ‘of Wisconsin; Cheyenne and Arapahoe, Oklahoma, 2, Piymouth Congre- gational; ‘Pine Ridge, S. D., 40, Protestant Episcopal; Rosebud, 'S. D. "120, Protestant Episcopal; Warm Springs, Oreg., 14, United Presbyterian; White Earth, Minn., 54, Protestant Episcopal; White Earth, Minn., 80, Roman Catholic; Navajo, N. M., Pro- testant Episcopal; Blackfeet, Mont., 160, Methodist Episcopal Church; Fort’ Ber- thold, N. D., 40, Conge Wis., 1, Protestant Episcop: — Our New Austrian Minister. The name of the new Austrian minister to the United States is Mr. von Hengel- muller. He has arranged to reach Wash- ington early in November, at which time the present minister, Chevalier de Tavera, leaves for his new post in Brazil, vacated by Mr. von Hengelmuller. Mr. von Hengel- muller was here in 1882 as secretary of the Austrian legation. After that he served at London and Bucharest, and was made min- ister to Servia. He is regarded as a diplo- mat of high rank. ‘Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $176,268. Government receipts: From internal revenue, $231,433; customs, $381,502; miscellaneous, $27,740. ational; Oneida, THE BOY WAS ASLEEP However, Thirty-Two Men Working on City Post Office. A SCENE OF ACTIVE BUSTLE Not One, but Several Worked All Day. Painters MR. SAYRES’ EXPLANATION —_._—_. The water boy employed on the city. post office building was asleep under a pile of boards when The Star reporter visited the site this morning, and so the daily census cannot be sald to be wholly accurate. The boy was not at work. He was rather a potentiality than a factor. But he was on tap, so to speak, and so, with its customary generosity, The Star will count him in to- day as contributing to the happiness and weal of Washington by adding his mite to the work of finishing the structure. With this preliminary explanation, the fact may be stated that there were at 10 o'clock this morning thirty-three men laboring on the building. This is an apparent increase of two over yesterday, but the gain is not cer- tain. In the afterroon of yesterday The Star became aware of the fact that there were three painters making the atmos- phere and the landscape hideous, instead of two, as was stated. The third artist had hidden himself behind one of the beams that he was making gorgeous, and so escaped detection. Arguing from probabil- itles, there were likely the same thirty- three men at work yesterday as today, for it is not a stretch of the imagination to be- lieve that the other man, too, was some- where on the premises. It is not a difficult thing for the workingmen to get lost to the eye on this building. ‘There is such a vast amount of space and so few men that they could all easily play hide and seek with the census taker if they should so prefer. Maybe that was what the water boy was doing this morning, but, if so, the effort was too much for his endurance, for when the count was made he had gone com- pletely over to the historle Morpheus, and was fast asleep in his arms. It would not be a bad idea for the Treas- ury Department to establish a census bu- reau in connection with the construction of the building. It might save considerable worry on the part of the citizens. A good plan would be to erect at the northeast gate, where the local unemployed gather daily in scores, a large bulletin board, an- nouncing there officially the exact state of things inside. The men today were thus divided up on the work: Nine were fitting the beams into Place on the southeast corner, having aban- doned the northeast corner, though that was far from being completed; nine others were handling the material on the ground floor; three were getting it loaded on the tram car at the south front; three were slinging red paint broadcast; three were stationed at the hoisting engines, though but two of these were in use; three were still digging in the trench at the northeast corner; two were measuring boards on the east side and wondering how they might repair the great walk that surrounds the buliding, and one, as has been said, was ae of ‘possums and sweet potato ples. The fron material ts now coming fast— faster, indeed, than it can be erected, and the perforated ground floor is being covered with the beams and girders and ties that are scattered over it in sections, according to the numbers painted on their sides. The frame at the northeast corner, where the masonry work is to be next begun, has yet many, touches to be put upon it; but as the number of men is small—and, of course, there are no more men to be had—the work has been shifted down to the other corner, leaving an unfinished trail all along the east side. There is possibly some technical rea- son to be obtained for this, but it was not forthcoming this morning. There is ma- terial enough on the floor to occupy all four of the hoisting engines at once, and there are today several tons of iron at the north- east corner waiting to be hoisted and set in place. Carnegie Iron. There is a curious feature about this iron- work that is interesting. The beams that go into the building are all stamped with the name “Carnegie” in bold letters. The Carnegie firm bid for the first contract for supplying the iron structure for the base- ment and the first story, but they were too high, and Pearce got the job. Carnegie iron went into the building, just the same, and doubtless both Carnegie and Pearce made profits on the work. Then came the second contract for the next four stories, which is row under execution. Carnegie was once again a bidder, but again too high, and the Indianapolis firm got the work. But the de- livery of “Carnegie” iron has not ceased. The materials that are going into these stories still bear the magic letters, and it is to be presumed that the Carnegie people are not in the habit of losing money on their operations. The single beams and girders are shipped direct from the Home- stead works to this city, but the composite pillars or posts, that are made of several pieces of steel bolted together, are put to- gether in Indianapolis. ‘hus this material has to be shipped to Indianapolis from Pittsburg, there put together, and then freighted here. It is no wonder that there has been a delay. Any local firm could have done as much, and doubtless have done it cheaper, owing to the reduced frelghts, and unquestionably more promptly. The cast-iron pillats that form the edge of the interior walls are being furnished by Schneider of this city. Delay in Stones. + Meanwhile, there is a delay in the de- livery of certain parts of the stonework that does not in any way depend upon the construction of the iron frames. There are two great gaps in the main entrance that are to be filled later, when the stones come. The “spandrils” or heads of the arches of the great dcor on the north side have not yet left the quarry. There is no reason why the tower cannot be built ahead of the rest of the structure, as it is wholly inde- pendent as to foundation and weights, but this view has not impressed itself as yet upon the contractors. The quarry work has not yet been quite up to date. For a long time the contractors there undertook to carry on other work in addition to this job, but this was not practicable, and of late the plan has been tried of doing nothing but this job. It is announced here that there are 230 men at work in the Fox Island quarries on the city post office stone. The materials are all shipped to this city by vessels, which take about three weeks each on the trip here. There seems to have been little system in the matter of shipping, for several times has it happened that two or three vessels have arrived here at the same time, making the work of unloading and hauling very difficult. During June there were three schooners at the wharves at one time. Today there are five on their way, Mable to arrive within a few days of each other, The treuble with this plan is that the delivery of such a great quantity of stone at once chokes up the yards at the wharf and the narrow space around the building, so that quick work is made almost impracticable for weeks after the arrival of the vessels. Mr. Sayres’ Explanation. Chairman Sayres of the House commit- tee on appropriations, speaking of the slow manner in which work was progressing upon the new post office building in Wash- ington, before he went away from Wash- ington, said that the House would willingly appropriate all the money that was neces- sary to carry on the work. The committee cn appropriations was anxious to have the work proceed, because it was belleved that money could be saved by having the build- ing completed earlier. “‘Iti4s a shame,” he continued, ‘‘the way the work progresses on that building, and it makes me mad every time I go by it. And the reason is that the last architect of the treasury un- der the Harrison administration approved @ contract for a long time—three times long as was necessary. This work is delay- ed by those who rent offices to the govern- ment in the city. They do not want the Post office building completed, because it will be occupied by many bureaus of the government that are now paying very high rents. That is what is retarding the work on that structure. I have known it, and everybody that has taken the trouble to look into the matter has known it, for some time. There is no telling now how long this work will drag along, but it is no fault of Congress. We are ready to give them all the money they want if they will only push the building along.” The Rate. The rate established today by the thirty- three men who were at work on the bulld- ing would finish the structure on the 25th of’Decembez, 1900. Thus, these good people ere striving to give the patient people of Washirgton a Christmas present to start the century, a present that would be more acceptable than anything else in the mar- ket, unless it might be a new municipal bui'ding. In the light of the present ex- perience, however, life is far too short to wcrry about things that may happen in the year 2000. ————+-o+_______ WAITING FOR THE SECRETARY. Mr. Smith Will Find Plenty of Basi- eas When He Ret ‘When Secretary Smith returns to the In- terfor Department, he will find himself for a time immersed in business of that de- partment. No appointments-Eave been made during his abserce, and it {s understood that a large number are awaiting his action, in- cluding a number of changes to be made in the pension office. Then there are all the annual reports that come in during the fall, but which will not be made public un- til the Secretary has had an opportunity to examine them. Reports from the governors of most of the territories have been received already. The bureau officers are now pre- paring their reports, which will be placed in the Secretary's hands soon after his re- turn. They include the report of the com- missioners of patents, land office, pensions, census, Indian affairs and others of less importance. Secretary Smith is expected to return soon after the election in Georgia. IN CONNECTICUT — Commissioner of Patents Seymour on the Democratic Outlook. Thinks a Strong State Ticket Has Been Nom! ted—Cemgressional Fight on Tariff Lin The political situation tm Connecticut ts exciting considerable, interest at this time owing to the ‘Vigorous campaign being waged by both parties to elect a state ticket and by the effort of the republicans to change the complexion of the congres- siona] delegation. There are three demo- crats and one repuBlicen tn the” present House, the democrats being elected by good round majorities. Mr. John 8. Seymour, coramissioner of patents, returned from Connecticut to- day. Mr. Seymour is well posted pon the Political situation in Connecticut and gave @ Star reporter an interesting statement of the condition of affairs. Mr. Seymour says that there is great enthusiasm among democrats all over the state and that they are going into the carppaign with vigor, conscious of the fact that they have nom- inated a strong state ticket. The demo- crats were very fortunate in their selec- tion of candidates and have chosen men of personal popularity, as well as of in- tegrity and fair fame. The democratic party in Connecticut has espoused the cause of a proposed change in the state constitution. The proposition, he says, meets with popular favor on every hand and will help the party, bringing to its sup- port the votes of men who want good gov. ernment. A Fight on Tariff Lines. In the congressiorgal campaign an aggres- sive fight on tariff lines will be made by the democrats. The new law, he says, is not as well understcod as it should be and a campaign of instruction will be waged. The manufacturers themselves know, he says, that the new tariff is favorable to them in many respects. Connecticut is a state of diversified industries, and nearly every manufacturing interest is favorably affected by the bill in one way or another. Free lead and free copper will help the great brass goods manufacturers. Free wool will aid the makers of many lines of textile goods, and free alcohol in the arts has long been demanded by the hat makers, to whum it fs a necessity. Free lumber and reduced duties on coal and iron ore, he saya, will also be appreciated by the manufac- turers, while they can find no fault with the textile schedules, Another cause for congratulation, Mr, Seymour says, is the fact that there is no split in the democracy of the state. They are solidly united, presenting an unbroken front to the enemy; the organization is good, while the greatest amity and con- cori prevails in the rank and file of the party. ‘ ——+o+—__—_. A WAR OF EPITHETS, The Latest Literary News of the Chino-Japanese Campaign. Officials of the Japanese legation have re- celved an interesting budget of news and gossip in the last mail from Japan. The spirit of the people is shown in war songs sung by the Japanese troops as they push toWard Pekin. The songs were officially compiled by order of Prince Arisugawa. They breathe great bitterness against China, and significantly declare that ‘now is the time to plant the flag of the rising sun on the walls of Pekin and to illuminate its dark- ness." Each verse of the song begins and ends with “Strike and chastise China.” The various verses describe the Chinese as “ar- rogant insolent” with an “army of cowards.” Of the Chinese troops the war song says: “They are an undisciplined rabble, and however fine their arms look, they are useless iike fine ladies in pictures. The chant closes with am invocation to “march and fire as long as breath remains.” The Japunese minister of finance has of- ficlally made known that the war will not be allowed to interrupt the internal improve- ments of Japan. Consequeutly railway con- struction is to proceeé with the same vigor as in peaceful times. The minister has ar- ranged that the treasury shall keep separate accounts of the war expenses and those for internal improvements, in order that the former may not overshadow the latter. ‘The latest custom house reports issued in Japan show that her trade with the United States is greater than that with any other country. ‘The total trade last year was about 4,000,900 yens. The British trade, which comes second, is 3,500,000 yens, The Japanese people and press are re- torting to the Chirese emperor's proclama- tion directing that the Japanese ‘“wo-jen,” meaning pigmies, should be driven to their lairs. The Chinese are being called “chau- chau, the word signifying puerility. “Toupi-kau,"” meaning pig-tailed vagabonds, is also used. China is referred to as ‘Mei- so-koku,” meaning the country in which people cannot make up their minds. The Japanese theaters are already pre- senting plays showing the routs of the Chines on land and sea. & FALSE ALARM OF WAR Trouble W:th France Anticipated in London. CALLING A SPECIAL CABINET MEETING It Will Discuss Safety of English- men at Pekin. PREPARATIONS ————— LONDON, October 3.—The sudden sum- moning of the members of the cabinet for a special council tomorrow has been generally accepted as being connected with some serious difficulty with France regard- ing Madagascar. This afternoon, how- ever, the officials of the foreign office denied that the summoning of the cabinet ecuncil was due to a hitch in the negotia- tions with France in regard to Madagascar, but was due to the necessity of discussing several important international questions, one of the chief subjects to be brought up being the safety of British subjects resident in China, A dispatch was received at the foreign office today from the British consul at Pekin stating that he was making arrange- ments to insure the safety of the Birtish residents at the Chinese capital. Extensive Preparations. The sezretary of state for foreign affairs, the Earl of Kimberley, has been in com- munication with the Indian government, and pr-parations are being made to concen- trate English and Indian troops in readiness to proceed further east. It is ddded that the sunction of the cabinet is necessary before any further steps are possible. A dispatch received here from Portsmouth says that rumors are current there in re- gard to extensive raval preparations. The various heads of departments at the dock yards had a conference this morning at which the opinion of the officers was taken in regard to the time the first division of the reserve ships could be in readiness to put to sea, The dispatch adds that the training Squadron's departure for the West Indies has been postponed from Saturday next to Wed- hesday week, and, if necessary, the cruise of the squadron will be abandoned, and the men on board training ships will be transferred to ships whieh will be shortly ccmmissioned. Newspaper Opinions. All the afternoon papers gravely discuss the hasty summoning of a cabinet council, and it is generally accepted as being con- nected with rome serious difficulty with France. The morning papers generally attributed the meeting to other causes. * The Telegraph thinks that the meeting of the cabinet is more likely to be con- pected with Asian affairs than with French, ‘The Standard says: it cannot be believed for a moment that any question of differ- ence has arisen between England and France that could not be amicably by a t. end:temperate discussion. The News says: There are several ques- tions at issue tween France and Eng- land, but there are no questions of r3 interest comparablain the remotest degree with those which set France and Prussia to antagonism in 1870. The Feeling at Paris. PARIS, October 3.—The Parisian press are skeptical over the likelihood of trouble with England over Madagascar. The Matin says that Madagascar can offer no possible sub- ject for a dispute between France and Great Britain, adding: “Once our differences with the Malagasy government are settled, there will be no pretext for a Franco-British conflict. The relations between the two governments were never more tranquil.” The Politique Coloniale, reflecting the views of the minister of the colonies, gives, exclusive of the questions of Egypt and Madagascar, a Ist of eleven outstanding difficulties between England connected with frontier and similar disputes in various African colonies. Many of these, however, have practically been settled, and none of them would justify a rupture unless one country was bent upon picking a quarrel with the other, which, the paper says, is not the case. The Journal Des Debats and the Temps reproach the French papers for their in- temperate language toward England. PARIS, October 3.—The minister of for- eign affairs, M. Patanoux, denies that a blockade of the Island of Madagascar has been proclaimed by France. The minister of Marine, M. Felix Faure, declares that before such a step could be taken the European powers would have to be informed of the intention of France to do so. ANANTARIVO, Madagascar, October 1.— A blockade of the ports of the Island of Madagascar has been proclaimed by France. The resident general has gone to Tamatave. He has been instructed to take measures to protect the colonists in the event of war. Effect on Stocks. LONDON, October 3.—The stock exchange today closed flat on account of the rumors in circulation regarding the cause of calling a special cabinet council for tomorrow. PARIS, October enn = the bourse today were not affected by the war rumors in circulation, and stocks closed firm. THE MADAGASCAR TROUBLE. NAVAL ‘ance Determined to Exert Sover- eignty Over the Island. ‘The dispute between England and France in regard to Madagascar is one of long standing. Madagascar is a large island separated from the southeastern portion of Africa by the Mozambique channel. It is now, virtually, under a French protectorate, although it is claimed in England that at least one-seventh of the island is held by British capital. But the French embassy in London recently answered a communi- cation from the Madagascar consul in Lon- don by a formal statement that, officially, there is no longer such person as a London Madagascar consul, as, it was added, the agents of France in various countries repre- sent the Hovas government. Early last month the French government evidently determined upon taking decided action in regard to Madagascar, probably believing that the hands of England were tied by the complications brought about through the war between China and Japan. Consequently M. LeMyre de Vilers was sent on a special mission to Madagascar and it was understood that he was to all intents and purposes instructed to demand the ab- dication of the government and to annex the island to France. The Cocarde of Paris, at the time of the departure of M. Le Myre de Vilers, who is just about due at Madagascar, said: “He will call upon the Hova government to satisfy all our demands and to respect all the clauses of our treaties. In the case of the Hova government accepting this de- mand, a protocol summarizing our rights and rendering some obscure points clear will be Grawn up. These rights may be summarized as follows: “The installation of a French representa- tive, who will treat exclusively all ques- tions of foreign policy with the powers; the recognition of the rights of Europeans to possess property without any r-troces- sion clause; the right of treating with the natives for the hire and farming of prop- F erty; the registration of all deeds concern- | ing the purchase and hire of property at the French residency; the construction of a railway, which the Malagasy government has till now refused; the freedom of navi- gation of the rivers; the establishment of military stations. where the French may think fit; the appointment of a French agent to control and secure the financial re- sources wasted at the it moment, to the detriment of the natives; the installa- tion of a French resident with each of the Malagasy governors, with the object of se- curing the respect of treaties and the proper collection of the taxes—in a word, the effectual application of the protectorate regime, which has until now been nothing but nominal. If the Hova ministers do not give entire satisfaction, M. De Vilers will withdraw to one of the of our squadron, commander *of that squadron will then open the sealed instruc- tions sent to him.” The Cocarde added that all this means that the voice of the cannon will make itself heard without any delay if the Hovas do not at once accept what may be termed the French ultimatum. Likely to Be War. The Courier Du Soir of Paris, a news- paper generally well informed in connec- tion with the foreign policy of France, had this to say of the mission of M. De Vilers at the time of his Jeparture for Madagas- car: “We are assured thet M. De Vilers leaves for Madagascar with but little confidence in the pacific result of his mission. The Hovas, who have accumulated stores of arms and ammunition, show warlike pro- Clivities, and are encouraged to resist by the English Methocisis, who promise them the same support as they gave them in 1883, and who do not hesitate to pledge the government of the Queen of Thus M. De Vilers, who was formerly French resident general at Antananarivo, and is conversant with the affairs of the African island, knows the peop.e with whom he is to negotiate, and he made no eecret of his apprehension to the government, which, during the three months which will elapse before a final decision is taken, will com- plete the preparations for the expedition. Accord! to our information, the expe- ditionary corps will consist of 5,000 men and will march on Antananarivo by a route already carefully studied by several of our officers of the military engineering corps.”” M. Le Myre de Vilers will be remembered as the astute diplomatic agent who ren- dered such valuable service to France éur- ing the latter’s dispute with Siam.and who compelled the Siamese to accept the terms offered by France,in spite of the half-heart- ed support given io Siam by Great Britain. SOMETHING OF A JOKE The Appointment of Mr. Pugh as Super- intendent of the Income Tax. He is a Friend of Secretary Carlisle and Was Legisiated Out of His Former Place. The appointment of ex-Commissioner of Customs Wm. Pugh to be superintendent of the income tax, at $4,200 a year, is re- garded by the treasury officials who are not too close to the Secretary as a rather good joke. The $4,200 which is to form Mr. Pugh’s salary comes from the appropria- tion cf $9,000 carried by the supplementary act that was rushed through Congress dur- ing the last days of the session. This sum was intended to be expended in the prepa- ration of blanks, the printing, etc, and was not supposed to be devised to cover salaries, It is presumed that there had then been no calculations made as to the destructive effect of the Dockery law. Commissioner Miller, the head of the in- ternal revenue bureau, said this afternoon that Mr. Pugh’s dvties for the present wevld not necessitate his having any as- sistants. Later on, he explained, there will be a force of clerks drafted for this service. Just ncw Mr. Pugh is to busy himself with the preparation of the Literature concerning the tax, a compilation of the old decisions gh pen ger ni of the present law with He may also have to do with the prepara- tion of the regulatiors and the blanks. The appointment is considered as some- what temporary, and there is no certainty that Mr. Pugh will have charge of the active work of collecting the tax. The law ‘Specifically places this work upon the com- missioner of internal revenue, so that it will have to be performed under that offi- cial. Mr. Pugh is from Cincinnati, and , it is stated, is a personal friend of Secretary Carlisle. His salary as commissicner 6f customs was $4,000 a year, so that he will profit $20 by the change. ‘It will be noted that this places him just within the opera- tion of the tax, and he will go to work with the comforting asrurance that he is to collect an at-rual tax of $ from himself. —_—_—_<_.- LEGISLATION FOR ALASKA. What Will Be Attempted at the Next Session of Congress. Arother attempt is to be made during the coming sessicn of Congress to enact legis- lation for the better government of Alaska. The persons who have already gone to that territcry and made investments are anxious to have laws provid2d which will make more secure property rights, ar which will also establish closer commercial relations between the territory and the United States. It has been suggested that one of the first steps toward bringing Alaska into close communication with the United States and making it more useful to the government would be to organize the ter- ritory as other territories have been or- ganized and send a delegate to Congress to represent it, who could point out the needs of the people of the territory to the legis- lators. This idea is combatted by those who claim that at present tere are not white people in the territory to constitute @ representative government, and that the native population have not yet attained a degrce of intelligence to entitle it to par- ticipate in government affairs. Because of lack of legislation, the development of Alaskan mines, which are said to be very rich, is retarded. Most of these mines are of such a character that they require a great deal of machinery to operate them, and considerable capital must be invested before any results can be obtained. It is porsible that in the short session of Con- gress there will be no time for passing ade- quate laws for the proper government of the far northwest territory, yet the men who have been pushing west for many years ere determined that something must be done for Alaska, and her interests will be pressed upon Congress in the short session, and, even if no action is taken, it is ex- pected that the way may be paved for something substantial in the next Congress. ————_-e-____ GONE TO NEW YORK. Chairman Babcock to Confer With Re; ican State Leaders. Chairman Babcock of the 1epublican con- sressional committee has gone to New York and will be absent several days. It is under- stood that his visit Is for the purpose of holding @ conference with the state man- agers upon the political situation, which is deemed to have changed materially since the nomination of Mr. Hill, Mr. Babcock is interested, of course, in the success of the entire republican ticket in New York but his main concern is about the election of CHINESE INTRENCHED Waiting for a Battle Which May Decide the War. ANOTHER JAPANESE VICTORY REPORTED Fleet of Seventeen Ships in the Gulf of Pe-Chi-Li. up a position at Ngan, where they have been joined by troops which were landed the war will be decided in the battle which, justified in seeking the Japanese was YOKOHAMA, October 8.—The German warships which had been assembled here ordered to proceed to ports in Japanese Land in Mancheria. LONDON, October 3.—A dispatch re celved here from Shanghai says that the governor of Kirin, Manchuria, reports that the “Japanese have effected a landing to places of safety. A volunteer corps has been formed in Han-Keoo for the protec- tion of the city should trouble arise there. The the Times at Paris, It is reported that the Japanese have tured Kiu Lien Chang, on the eastern side of the Yalu river. One hundred and fifty thousand men have been gathered at Pekin for the defense of the city, but of this number only 7,000 are effectively armed. Only 50,000 defense of the province of Chi-Li, and these its. japanese army has landed north Yeliow river, in the southern Portation of troops from the of the Grand canal to Tien Tsin. panna tleennniaty WILL RETURN TOMORROW. § Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, October 3.—United States Marshal McCarty informed The Star cor- respondent this morning that he has com- pleted arrangements for the delivery of Capt. H. W. Howgate, the signal service de- faulter, to the federal authorities at Wash- ington tomorrow. As a special measure of precaution the marshal has decided to ac- company the prisoner himself. They will leave here in the morning. The marshal does not care to say what train they will take. ble abode at 195 West 10th street, calls on him at the jail every day and remains as jong as she is allowed. She is his means of communication with the outside world and is closing up his business affeirs here for him. Although her identity is in doubt, the impression obtains that she Nellie Burrill, the woman with whom is gpeponet. to have fied from Washington twélve years ago. —_— > — GOV. McKINLEY AT TOPEKA. TOPEKA, Kan., October 3.—The home of populism was invaded by Ohio's governor teday. A special train was started from Kansas City today at 7:20 a.m. over the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad headed for Hutchison and stops, and speeches were scheduled for eleven places en route. Mr. Cyrus Leland, jr., chairman of the republican state committee, and a number of republican workers, General Passenger Agent Nicholson and General Freight Agent Gay of the Santa Fe accom- panied Gov. McKinley. The first stop was at Argentine, where a few words were spoken. the train stopped, and gave earnest atten- tion to what Mr. McKinley said. ‘With apparent reference to populism the governor said: “We might as well under- stand that now one or the other, the re- publican or democratic party, is going to ecnduct the policy of this government, and it is for you to determine which one of these parties will conduct the policy of the government in such a manner as to best serve the iuterest of the people of the United States.” Topeka was reached at 9:30. A cavalry escort preceded Gov. McKinley as he was driven through the streets to the state house grounds, where a platform had been erected. There was an immense crowd as- sembled, and the greeting given to the dis- tinguished visitor was very cordial. Gov, Lewelling offered to be present and ofMf- cially receive Gov. McKinley, but the re- they wanted to make the occasion a puraly republican one.