Evening Star Newspaper, November 1, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXOEPT SUNDAY, oe ae The Eve: Star Ne r Company, 8. H. KAUFF Pres't . pre sictete merei New York Office, 49 Potter Building, ‘The Eveuing Star 's served to subscribers in the city by carriers, ou their own account, at 10 cents Der week, or 44 cents month Gopiea at the gounter 2 cents each. jy mail—anywhere jn the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 cents Der wonth. - Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year; with fi tage auled, foreign post $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., &s second-class mail matter.) £7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. jee of advertising made known on applicatioa. Che Evening Star. [ Vor 85, No. 21,031. WASHINGTON, D. 0, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1894-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. Te proof of fe pudding is in f§e eafing. Yesterday's Sar confained 68 cofumns of advertisements, made up of 811 separate announce: ments. These advertisers foug§$t pubficitp—not merefp Space. BETWEEN TWO FIRES|4T ‘Local Heanquarrers The Dangers That Beset Mr. Hill in This Campaign. REPUBLICANS NOT ENTIRELY HAPPY Fears of What Mr. Platt May At- tempt'to Do. HIS AMBITION FOR YEARS ‘The reports about the New York situation, whether oral or written, all carry the same general intelligence of unusual combina- tions, and of the confusion and uneasiness that attend such arrangements. The demo- cfats feat this thing, and the republicans fear that thing, with the result that both sides, while presenting a confident front for purposes of supporting public good cheer, are a prey in their secret councils to all sorts of apprehensions. ‘Nhe greatest distractions, as is well known, affect the democrats. The divisions in that party growing out of the anti-Tam- many crusade and the nomination of Sena- tor Hill for governor are serious and far- reaching, and afford opportunfties for trad- ing that are bewildering both in number and nature. And if only the half of them are improved the effect on somebody's for- tunes must be most disastrous. Hill Between Two Fires. Senator Hill would appear to be in especial danger. But he is a man of many re- sources and may clear himself of all the difficulties before election day. He stands between two strong fires, not taking into account the roaring broadside of the re- publicans. Some friends of the administra- tuon, who refuse to oppose him, decline to render him active assistance on the ground that he is making a local campaign and national influerces ought not to be brought to bear; while the Fairchild contingent hold that he is making a national campaign, and that.inasmuch as they are opposed to him for the presidential nomination in 1896 they must help defeat him for the office which he designs making the stepping- stone to that. So, turn as he may, and try to pacify as he may and is doing, the out- look for him in any direction is unpromis- ing, and to a less courageous and experi- enced man would be discouraging. Some Republican Quarrels. But it is just leaking out that the repub- leans also, though supposed to be so en- thusiastic and unanimous, are having some spirited quarrels among themselves behind the scenes, and that ardor in more than one quarter has somewhat cooled of late. Thomas C. Platt is the cause, The Star last Saturday referred to this matter, and there are now some fresh developments. The prominence of Mr. Platt in the cam- paign, which cannot be denied or disguised, is said to be prejudicial to Mr. Morton in two ways. It is keeping away from the Morton standard some anti-Hill democrats, who fear the existence of a secret under- standing between Platt and Hill, and it is ‘iving annoyance to certain ‘republican ders, who scout the suggestion of irad- Morton off, but who fear that in the event of Morton's election Mr. Platt will @t once set to work, with the power and Prestige he will then enjoy, laying wires to control the next republican convention. It led that Morton would find dim- culty in denying Platt assistance in such a game, even if so disposed. Platt, it is —— out, secured Morton’s nomination governor, and will be entitled to much of the credit of success if success is achiev- ed. And Platt might make certain of the ptt co-operation by holding out to forton the hope of becoming himself the neminee of the convention. That any man of Morton’s ability, and ambition, and suc- cess could refuse overtures like these is not thought to be at all likely by the po! ticiens, and hence the “mingled feelings” of certain prominent New York republicans, who, though anxious enough to have Mor- ton elected governor, do not see in him a presidential quantity, and are not disposed to aid and abet Mr. Platt in any of his fine political work on the national stage. More Interesting Than Alarming. “The republican situation, in this phase of it, is more interesting than alarming,” said @ politician of that party to a representative of The Star today. “I cannot believe that Platt’s relations with Morton will cost the republican ticket any republican votes, but it ts true that some of the local republican leaders are apprehensive on the subject of the national question suggested. Platt is a remarkably strong man—the Hill of the re- — party, one may say. He is a jorough man in all that he undertakes, and a far-seeing one. His hold on the or- ganization of his party is as unshakable @s that of Hill on the democratic party. With the power he wields from that, and the assistance from the governor, he would have no sort of difficulty, If he attempted it, in controlling the New York delegation to the next republican national convention. How near that would come to enabling him to name the presidential candidate I should not care to say. But it would undoubtedly make him a commanding, if not a con- trolling, figure in the convention, and no- body who knows the man need be in any doubt about how he would carry himself.” “Would he have any selfish purpose of bis own to subserve?” was asked. Platt’s Ambition. “Why, of course. That's the point. That's why s0 many republicans do not want to help indirectly to forward his national pro- gram. Platt wants to be Secretary of the Treasury. He has had his eye on that office for ten years. He worked like a Trojan for Blaine in 1884, in thé hope of that reward, and he would probably have received it if Blaine had been elected. And with Platt in the cabinet an event might have occurred whieh would have given the republican ps great strength. Conkling and Blaine ight have been brought together at last, &t least upon the footing of a fair truce. In 1888 Platt worked for Harrison with similar expectation, and Harrison's refusal to mak: him his principal officer really explati Platt’s appearance at Minneapolis, shouting and working for Blaine. Here is a third opportunity, and Platt is again in the field. jut this time he is working closer to home. He wants a man in the White House upon whose friendship and power he can im- citly rely. Morton is his choice, and if is campaign results in making Morton the om President of the United States Mr. ‘latt would likely, at least, secure his cov- eted place. He 1s said to pride himself more on his business than on his political success, great as the latter has been, and to desire above all things to crown his public career with the treasury portfolio. So, you see, Bational concerns enter into the campaign @n both sides in New York. Hill and Platt both suspected of aiming at the presi- gency, the former for himself and the latter Mr. Morton.” + Condition of National Banks. An abstract of the resources and liabili- ties of the national banks in the United States on October 2, 1804, as shown by their reports to the controller of the cur- = shows that the aggregate amount of vidual deposits on that date was $1,728,- 819, against $1,451,124,330 on October 3, } The loans and discounts have in- Ec during that time over $161,000,000, e amount of specie in national banks on tober 2, 1894, was $237,250,054, and legal ders, $120,544,058. __ +2 -____ ‘The gunboat Petre! left Nagasaki yester- @ex for Chemulo~ Both Republicans and Democrats Getting Quieter as Election Approaches. Republican Activity in Colorado— Cheering Democratic News Re- ceived From New York. ‘The headquarters of the two congres- sional committees grow quieter each day. As the election approaches the voters are sent off to cast their ballots, and the speak- ers are dispatched to the stump, so that the folks who hang around headquarters during the ante-election days are reduced to a minimum. These last few days are being utilized by both sides with every device for vote-getting known to the human mind, and the chairmen of the two committees are on hand end will remain here to keep their fingers on the keyboards, to see that not an inch of debatable territory in all the congressional districts is left uncov- ered. Babcock on Wall's Bet. Chairman Babcock of the republican headquarters laughed this morning when he learned that the interview with him _pub- lished in The Star had been wired to Mil- waukee and that Chairman Wall of the state democratic committee had wired back that it was not true that he had bet that the republican state ticket would not re- ceive more than 20,000 majority. Mr. Bab- cock said that if this were true Mr, Wall must have withdrawn his bet, for it was certainly made, and there was no lack of takers. He added that when he left Wis- consin there was a cool million dollars in republican money in the hands of the pro- prietors of a leading hotel in Milwaukee which they were authorized to place on just such bets as that made by Chairman Wall. “If Wall has not made that bet,’ con- cluded Mr. Babcock, “he must have hedged wher he was faced with all that republican money.” The republican committee will go the democrats one better in the matter of printing the list of congressional nomina- tions in the various districts. The latter cecmmittee issued a pamphlet with the names and residences of the candidates quite carly in the campaign, and yesterday supplemented with a second edition, fuller and more complete. Secretary McKee of the republican committee was busy this morning getting out copy for a republican ist, which will contain, in addition to the names and residences of the nominees in each district, the votes cast in the cam- paign of 1890, and, possibly, 1892. Activity in Colorado. A Washingtonian who spent several weeks in Colorado during the early autumn was at republican headquarters this morning, and said thit both the Senators are on the stump, working hard for the success of the republican ticket. Mr. Wolcott, he added, had quite recovered his health, and though much thinner is well and in good spirits. It is probable, said this gen- tleman, that the legislature will be republi- can, though there ts a very hard fight on between the republicans and the populists, The democrats cut no figure in this cam- paign. The people of Colorado who have not been captivated by Gov. Waite’s pecu- liar style of statesmanship are waging a ve bitter campaign against kim. The re- publicans, he adds, are handicapped by some poor nominations for the legislature, especially in Denver, that haye caused fac- tonal differences. A Marylander who has just come said to The Star man today that Senator Gorman inaugurated a new plan this year by keeping out of the fight and “let- ting the boys run it themselves.” The state ticket, he said, will probably receive a good democratic majority, but two of the con- ional districts are in serious douBt. The republicans, he added, will probably carry the sixth district, and they have a = chance in the fifth, but the other four tricts will unquestionably be democratic. Cheering Demvcratic News. It was said at democratic headquarters today that significant information of an especially cheering nature was received from New York this morning, indicating that a certain city congressional district, which had been causing the democratic managers some uneasiness, had developed favorable symptoms, so favorable, in fact, as to warrant the belief that the demo- crats would carry th~ district. It was also stated that inforration came from Vir- ginia today indicatiug the probability of a solid democratic delejation from that state, the outlook in what was heretofore con- sidered as possibly doubtful districts hav- ing brightened. The democratic managers at headquarters here vontinue to be hopeful of carrying the House and steadily refuse to admit the sweeping claims which the republicans are making. Bets on the Election. Notwithstanding there are a number of well-known betting men in attendance up- on the races in this city with the usual supply of bookmakers, 1t cannot be iearned that there is any considerable degree of betting upon the election. The local book- makers are not making any books upon the election, and bets are mainly individual arrangements with varying odds. It is re- ported that Mike Dwyer has announced that he is willing to wager $50,000 in sums to suit, at odds of 2 to 5, upom Hill's elec- tion. town Erie ne SEES STO POSTMASTER WILLETT. He Calls on the President and Thanks Him. Postmaster Willett called at the White House yesterday afternoon and thanked the President for his appointment. His com- mission will be signed by the President as soon as his bond shall have been ap- proved by the Postmaster General. —_—__- e+___ Personal Mention. Among the arrivals in Parts yesterday was Mr. Frank B. Noyes of The Star. Assistant Secretary McAdoo left here last evening to make political speeches at Cobres and Peekskill, N. Y., and Wilmirg- ton, Del. Mr. John L. Morley, the noted English- man, is in Washington on a vacation tour. He ts registered at the Arlington. Secretary Morton has returned to Wash- ington from his European trip, and re- sumed his duties at the Department of Agriculture. His health has been greatly benet'ted by his trip. Mr. Clark N. Scofield, formerly connected with the Cochran Hotel in this eity, is now coarected with the management’ of the Murray Hill Hotel, New York city. Bishop John P. Newman, the former pop- ular pastor of the Metropolitan M. B. Church, is in the city, and will assist that church tn celebrating its twenty-fifth an- niversery this week and next. Messrs. L. Milton Lalor, Robert L. Zell and Frank H. Norcum have returned, much improved in health, after a sojourn in the Alleghenies. Judge Reynolds, assistant secretary of the interior, has gone to Pennsylvania to remain until after the elections, and Chief Clerk Josephus Daniels left yesterday for North Carolina. —_-2-—____—_ Arkansas Hot Sprin; Capt. Robert R. Stevens, in charge of the improvements of the Hot Springs reserva- tion in Arkapras, has made his report to the Secretary of the Interior. He says that the improvements are moving forward under a plan of 1893. The estimates for immediate expenditures are $60,452, and for future development, $287,918. IN NEW YORK STATE Benefit to Hill From Opposition to the New Constitution. PARTIES FLOUNDERING IN FIGURES How a Prominent Democrat Sizes Up the Situation. LOSSES IN CONGRESS LIKELY Special From a Staff Correspondent. NEW YORK, November 1.—Great stress is laid by the democrats on the benefit Mr. Hill is .to derive in his candidacy from the opposition to the proposed constitutional amendments. It is very ap- parent that these amendments, or rather that those of them that are attracting at- tention, are unpopular, It is of the great- est importance to all democrats that they should be beaten. The indications are that they will be beaten. It is a question decid- edly open, however, as to how far this will benefit Hill. Since the opening of the cam- paign the effort of Mr. Hill and of the democratic committee has been to impress upon the democrats of the state that the defeat of these amendments and the elec- tion of Mr. Hill were so intimately asso- clated that the one followed of necessity with the other, and that the defeat of Hill would carry with it a reapportionment which would keep the democrats out of power for an indefinite term of years. This representation failed to frighten the Fatr- child folks and the Shepnard people away from their plan to bolt the regular demo- cratic nomination. The question now is, how far it will influence the action of the democratic voters generally. It is said to very effective to secure to Hill the support of the united democracy outside the big metropolis. The statement that the feature of the amendments which is aimed against gam- bling is so sweeping as to break up all the county fairs, to prevent contests as to the size of the prize pumpkin and to :n- terfere with the awarding of a prize for the superior beauties of Matilda’s patch- work quilt, is said to arouse the country people to a high pitch of indignation. Re- perts from all the country districts indi- cate that the opposition to these amend- ments plays an important part in the con- test, and will there help Hill. This effect is by no means as apparent in New York city, however. . The objection to the reap- portionment will hold a good many demo- crats in line who do not like Hill, out its operation in that way will not be as as democrats have hoped. Men sa: do not have to elect Hill in order to defeat these amendments. We can vote against Hill and against the amendments, too.” The number who put the proposition in this way appears to be quite large. Hill may be defeated, therefore, though the con- stitutional amendments are not adopted. Occasionally the suggestion is thrown out that the republicans might be willing to permit the amendments to be sacrificed in order to insure the election. The situation is aot such as to warrant such a sugges- tion. If they had to choose between the two things they could better afford the de- feat of Morton, since his election would not insure them more than a temporary advantage, whereas the adoption of the new constitution would promise them a long lease of power. Floundering Among Figures. The way the two party committees floun- der about among their figures on majorities “above the Bronx” and “below the Bronx” shows how far short they fall of the ability to correctly measure the situation. From the democratic committee comes the very weak statement that if Hill has no more than 40,000 against him above the bronx he will be elected. Why, of course he will! if the entire bottom has not dropped out of the city organization. If in New York, Kings and Queens and Richmond Hill can- not get a majority large enough to over- come 40,000 at the bridge the party has fallen into a much worse way than even its reasonable enemies dream of. From the republican headquarters comes the statement that if Morton comes to the bridge with 80,000 majority his election will be assured. Again, of course, that's a very weak way of putting it. He ought to win with 60,000 majority to the bridge, if there is anything in the table of democratic losses in New York. The question which hangs the election in the balance is how much above 40,000 against him Hill can af- ford to carry over the river, and how much below 60,000 Morton can afford to have bis majority in the upper part of the state. Under ‘ordinary circumstances Hill could overcome a majority of 60,000 from up the state. This year he will ve doing exceed- ingly well to overcome 55,000. At this moment, however, neither com- mittee has anything upon which to base estimate. The situation has to be judged according to general conditions and a con- clusion reached by blind intuitivn. A Democratic Sizing A very prominent democrat sized up the situation in a talk with me today about as nearly as it can be. It was that when Hill was nominated his chances of election were not one in ten; that at this time they were about ose in three, and that such an in- crease as this indicated that he might be elected. It must be remembered that he is steadily playing away from that starting point of almost certain defeat toward the goal where victory lies. In racing parlance, he is the short horse, with the odds against him decreasing. Apparently, his chances to be elected gov- ernor are as much better than those of Grant to be mayor as can be measured by the votes of the Grace democrats or the “state democracy.” ‘There is nothing to indicate that Hill will fail to get all the votes that Tammany polls, and he will probably get nearly all the Grace people besides. On the start the Grace forces gave indi- cations of being almost solidly against Hill. When it was arranged that he should get the official indorsement of the organization it was still evident that a very large pro- portion of the voters of the organization ‘would not support him. It is to overcome this trouble that Grace has been exerting all his influence. He is now satisfied that his efforts have been successful, and that it will be a very small number of the state democracy ,who will fail to vote for Hill. Grace expects them to cast a substantially solid vote for Hill. If this proves true Grace's Influence has been the great factor in bringing it about. The arguments that have been effective are the ever-ready one of the extreme ne- cessity of victory to the democratic party at this time, and the fact that Hill defied (or seemed to defy) Tammany tn letting his name go on the state democracy ticket. When he ignored the threat of Swauss to retire from the mayoralty candidacy, if the state candidates were put on the “state democracy” ticket (a threat which was exe- cuted duly), Hill made for himself a great many friends among anti-Tammany demo- erats, who before that had not admitted of the possibility that they would vote for him. At the same time there was no indl- cation of his having offended Tammany, who are suspected of having wanted to get rid of Strauss, anyway. How Hill Has Made Votes. No doubt is expressed anywhere, serious- ly, that Hill has made votes by the pecullar vigor and earnestness of his campaign, and by an appearance of unselfish party devo- tion with which he has been able to sur- round his campaign. To those who believe in this seeming unselfishness the attitude assumed by Mr. Cleveland has appeared in the Hght of an unperdomable breach of party loyalty, and they have come more earnestly to. 's support in consequence. There is a disposition:to say, “Look upon this picture and t on that and in the intended contrast Hill is pictured as the patriot. Hill's flattery of the Cleveland democrats has undoubtedly been He has been able to draw out a wonderful amount of enthusiasm, and the conyerted Cleveland men are not the least of the enthusiasts. One man, who has been very prominent as a Cleveland man, said to me: ‘‘We have dis- that Mr. Hill ts what we once be- lieved Cleveland to be.” That's straight- cut enthusiasm, surely. Again, among that class not very strongly bound to any party, and not governed much by convictions, but who are captivated by a display of courage, Hill has gained many supporters. From the men and the face men he is suid to claim and, while the Catholics will evidently not vote as solidly as has been pre- dicted they would, on account of their oppo- sition to the constitutional amendments and resentment of the refusal of the republican convention to condemn A. P. A.-ism, still Hill will get a good many votes from that quarter, espécially outside the city, which ordinarily he would not get. In this way is accounted for the apparent increase of his chances of election. The Repubitean Campaign. ‘The republicans do not seem to be fully availing themselves of their splendid oppor- tunity, They are not making anything like the sort of campaign that Hill is. They may say they don’t have to, and it is true to a considerable extent, but they are taking some chances in trusting overmuch to the “wind and tide’ that is set in their direc- tion, Hill is going against wind and tide, and is making a pretty good stroke of it, even if he fails in the end. Those upon whose shoulders rests more or less the responstbility for the congressional situation, so threatening to the democrats in the New York city districts, are getting very uneasy over the idea of the almost certain loss of two or three districts. There are signs of restlessness which may yet result in an agreement for all the demo- cratic votes to be cast for one man in each district, though there may be two candi- dates in the field. This is only a possibility. There is a decided outlook for the loss of three New York city districts, and, besides this, it is regarded as practically certain that Graham will be succeeded by a re- publican in the fifth, Brooklyn, eg — THE VIRGINIA 'TUATION. What Collector Ryam Says of the Campaign in Hts State. Mr. William Ryan, collector of internal revenue for eastern Virginia, said to a Star reporter today that the democrats in his state were getting out of their apathy, and he predicted that most @f the democratic candidates for Congmess would be elected. “The country need ‘mot le surprised,” said Mr. Ryan, “if Virginia returns a full demo- cratic delegation—tem, Neither need it be surprised if one or two republicans slip in. The sixth district, represented in the last Congress by Edmuniiis, is very close. The democrats fear that J, Hampton Hoge, the republican candidatg,) will be elected over Peter J. Otey, the’alemocratic nominee. Rucker, thé populist, ts being supported by a considerable part @ the-prohibition party, and this draws fromm the democrats. Hoge turned republican # retaliation for his forced resignation of the Amoy consulship last spring, just as he was on the eve of cailing for his station and has been making it hot for the figmocracy ever since. He is conducting~ irited canvass for Congress. Senator and other popular cempaigners are who it up for | ts may. pull however, through. he next closest distHct,” said Mr. Ryan, “is the ninth—southwegt Virginia. publican candidate is . James A. Walk- er, a man of high intelligence, good stand- ing and great pluck. The democrats have an excellent candidate in Judge Morrison, and from the informa! I receive from the southwest this week Morrison’s chances are improving. The Sse fear Walker's success in 4 way that they do not fear the success of any other republican. Should Walker be elected, he would become the recognized leader of the republicans in Virginia, and his brains and snap wouid give him something like a commanding position in the House, For these reasons Chairman Ellyson is directing his best ef- forts in the closing days of the campaign to the ninth district. “W. R. McKenney, an able and high-toned democrat, will represent the celebrated fourth district, known as the black belt. He will poll a large colored vote, and many negroes who do not vete for him will stay from the polls in ordernot to vote against him. Swanson, in the fifth district, is hav- ing a hard fight, but he will, in my opinion, get in by the ‘skin of his teeth.” “Geo, D, Wise, who was defeated for the nomination by Tazewell Eliett, is winning golden opinions for the hearty and effective work that he is doing for Ellett.” ARMING THE MILITIA. for Soldier Boys. In his annual report to the Secretary of War Gen. Flagler, chief of ordnance, makes a strong point on the insufficiency of the appropriations for arming and equipping the militia. He says there is an urgent de- mand for most of the states to have their arms changed for a later and better model. The efficiency of the National Guard in actual service demands this, and the pres- ent appropriation renders it impossible to effect the change of more than a small per- centage of arms each year. The report sums up under different heads the work accomplished during the year and the present state of development of the va- rious military weapony and appurtenances, Of the new magazine rifle it says the out- put from the Springfield armory is now sixty rifles per day, and it is expected to advance to the rate of eighty per day in a few months. Up to September 26 last 2,950 of these rifles had been issued. There has been some delay owing to the necessity of changing the sights, whieh were found faulty, and procuring suitable bayonet scabbards. Then, too, experience, it is stated, has not’ yet. all the dim- culties that may Imave to be considered with smokeless pow@er. On account of the weight of the steel bayemet scabbard re- peated trials have teen made to fabricate scabbards of aluminum, bat so far without success. Under the head of projectiles the report states that experiments have been made here and abroad t@® produce projec- tiles that will penetrate Harveyized armor- plate. without breakimg up, but so far with- out marked success, and ff is probable that the most satisfactory golution of the ques- tion will be to increase the caliber of the gun, emphasizing the already admitted ne- ity for 16-inch guns for our seacoast defenses. np tg ——__—_—— Notice—Reduction in Price. Arrangements have been made with the carriers serving those districts whereby regular subscribers residing north of the city limits, including Brightwood, and also Anacostia, will hereafter be furnished with The Evening Star’ at the same price paid by subscribers within the city proper, viz: Ten cents a week, or forty-four cents a month, Subscribers should see that bills afe rendered accordingly, and pay no more than the prices above named. IT IS INHUMAN Mr. Benedict Expresses Himself About Use of Printing Office. BOTH UNHEALTHY AND UNSAFE No Factory Inspector Would Allow ot Its Occupancy. OUTSIDE QUARTERS ‘The much-need2d repairs on the govern- ment printing office building are soon to be begun. Some time ago the oflice was visited by a commisison of ergineers of the army, of which Gen, Casey was the head, acting under authority of the appropriation made at the last sesston of Congress. They made several inspections of the entire plant, especially the H street wing, which is thought to be wholly insufficient in strength to support the great weights that are con- tairec in it. They then made a report to the joint committee on printing, under which the work was to be done, which re- port has not yet been given to the public. In purcvance cf its recommendations, how- ever, Senator Gorman, chairman of the Senate committee on printing, into whose hands the matter has’ been placed by his colleagues, addressed a letter on Tuesday to Mr. T. E. Benedict, the public printer, authorizing him to lease outside quarters for sufficient people to relieve the H street wing of much of the weights, and speaking most emphatically of the necessity of a new building for the office. Acting under these instructions, Mr. Benedict has leased the fifth floor of the Union building, on G street between th 4nd 7th streets, partly occupied by the city post office. He has detailed two di- visions to be transferred there, and the change will be made as soon as possible. There ere about 3U0 people in the two sec- tions thus chosen, comprising the patent specification room and“ the job finishing room of the bindery. Mr. Benedict said this morning to a Star reporter that these employes will now be the favored hands of the office. “They will have a beautiful room, clean, airy, with lots of light and ventilation. They will be out of danger from crumbling walls, and they will have facilities for pre- serving their health that they cannot have here.” “Are there not sufficient accommodations in that direction in this building?” asked the reporter. Mr. Benedict then made a most emphatic statement. “There is not a factory inspec- tor in the state of New York,” he said, “who would not instantly recommend the destruction of a building used for the hous- ing of hundreds of people with so little means for the preservation of health as this. It is abominable, it is inhuman, to make these employes work here daily with- out even the actual necessities of hygienic comfort. I can understand why an em- ployer, eager for eyery cent of profit, might do such a thing, but I cannot for te life of me understand how Congressmen, who have such intimate relations with this office, and whose personal friends—if I am to we them-are here employed, can per- these coi ns to go on year after year, without consenting to the very meager expenditures that would place in this build- ing modern and sufficient plumbing. They go ahead and appropriate millions of dol- lars for post offices and court houses where they are not needed, and yet they grant enly pitiful sums for this structure, which is one of the most important in the whole list of the holdings of the government. “But we must expect that. What we are to do is to relieve the pressure as much as possible, and so with the $75,000 that Con- gress gave last session we can do a little toward preventing, maybe, a disaster. We can put 300 people in an outside building and so save that much space in this one, which will go toward relieving the pressure cn the H street wing. But in addition the engineers are going to build a fifth story cn the southwest i, and fill in all but ote story of the wide wall between that and the south wing. There will be a drive- way left at the bottom, but over that there will be a solid structure for four stories. That will give, as you can see, a good deal more room. It will also enable me to ex- tend some of the rooms in the south wing toward the west, especially the stereotyping department. “This addition of space, together with the reduction ‘of the occupants of the building, will give a great deal of relief, all of which will be applied to the H street building. The ergineers were authorized to look at that part of the house and to see if it could be so repaired as to remove the danger of its collapsing. They made a most thor- ough inspection, testing the walls and cal- culating the strength of every brick and rod and beam. I do not know what their report was, but I have a distinct idea that they advised the committee on printing that the wing is so bad that no repairs can be safely made, and recommended that the wing be leveled to the ground. “The advertisements for this new work and for the materials have already been published, and I have no doubt that the work will be begun without any delay. The repairs will be in charge of Colonel Wilson, superintendent of public buildings and grounds, with Lieutenant Sewall, his as- sistant, as the active inspector of the work. Lieutenant Sewall supervised the recon- struction of the Ford's Theater building.” eS eee, PROPOSED SHIP CANAL, The Board to Determine the Route Met at the War Department Today, The board appointed to select a route for the ship canal with which it ts pro- posed to connect the waters of Chesapeake and Delaware bays met at the War De- partment at noon today for the purpose of organizing and preparing a plan of action. ‘The board is composed of Gen. T. L. Casey, chief of engineers, U. 8. A.; Col. W. P. Craighill, also of the engineer corps; Capt. George Dewey of the navy, and two emi- nent civil engineers, Mr. Mendes Cohen of Baltimore and Mr. J. A. Porter of Savan- nah, Ga. Their task is to select front sur- veys already made by the War Depart- ment the route which will “give the great- est facility to commerce and be best adapt- ed for national defense. ‘The surveys referred to were made by Col. Craighill about sixteen years ago under authority of an act of Congress. He ex- amined half a dozen routes crossing the peninsula in various directions. The short- est cut across the peninsula was found to be by the Sassafras river near the line of the existing Chesapeake and Delaware canal. Its drawbacks are that its ap- proaches are very expensive to maintain, and that it is more liable than the others to blocking by ice in the winter. The other routes surveyed are to the south of the Sassafras river, and the cost of their con- struction was estimated at three or four times as much. ‘The present board s to consider nof only facilities for commerce, but suitability for national defense, the idea being to have the means of sending warships to and from Faltimore to the Atlantic ocean. The com rercial advantages of the enterprise, how- ever, are the main objects. A ship canal would bring Baltimore very much nearer New York and Philadelphia by avotding the circuitous route around the peninsula, and it would also shorten the distance between Baltimore and the ports of Europe, thus greatly increasing the transatlantic com- merce of Maryland. The purpose of the present board, however, is the selection of a route, and it is required to report to Con- gress at the coming session. CHEWED HIS STRAPS DEATH OF THE CZAR A Smallpox Patient Nearly Escaped From Hospital. Desperate Struggle of Samuel Mun- dell With Dr. Nevitt—The Seare Dying Out. - Samuel Mundell, one of the smallpox pa- tlents, broke loose from his this morning in a wild dell caped from the hospital. Dr. rapid footsteps in the hall, and opened his door in time to see Mundell vanish through the front door. Without waiting to dress himself, Dr. Nevitt called to Miss Bessley, one of the trained nurses, to follow him, and he hurried after the delirious patient. Surrounding the hospital is a high fence, and straight for this Mundell made his way, with the doctor, who is a good sprinter, close after him. Arriving at the fence Mundell swung himself on the top rail, only to be dragged down again by Dr. Nevitt, who, breathless, had reached him just in time. Then began a struggle. Mundeil, crazed by the disease, fought like a tiger, but his weak condition began to tell on him and soon, the doctor had him secure. Tue nurse arrived at that time, and Mundell was led back into the hospital. Here an investigation showed he had chewed his straps in two, and, with the cunning of a crazy man, had slipped through the hospi- tal unnoticed. The straps are used to pre- vent the patient from scratching his face and thereby disfiguring himself. Patients Doing Well. At a late hour this afternoon Dr. Nevitt telephoned that all of the patients were doing well. Mr. Anderson had the lightest case of all, and he thought would be the first to leave the hospital. Judge Parker and Judge Rucker were also on a fair road to recovery and were resting easily. Their temperatures were about normal, and there was a marked improvement in their condi- tion. If no new cases developed, he thought every one would be ready to leave the hospital by the end of the month. The Scare Over. ‘The emallpox scare hes subsided, and the health office today presented a deserted ap- pearance. Some of the physicians, who had business in the office, as well as the physi- clans to the poor, who wanted an additional supply of vaccine points, discussed the situation, and it was the general impres- sion that the worst of the disease is over. There was rot even a suspicious case re- ported during the morning, which left prac- tically nothing to do in the line of smali- pox, except to continue the vaccination and look after the seven patients who are now in the hospital. See, POSTAGE STAMP GUM. A Defect Which Has Been Remedied by the Printing Bureau. The first batch of stamps issued by ‘the bureau of printing and engraving, which, 's is well known, has recently taken the contract for printing the stamps for the government, were rather deficient in the quality of the gum which was used. It was found that the stampe failed to adhere with the ease and celerity which the public have been accustomed to expect, and that unless some care was é¢xercised in applying the stamps to the envélopes, they were apt to come off. Some complaints have reached the bureau, bringing to the attention of the superintendent, Mr. Johnson, a condi- tion with which he was already familiar. The defect was found to be in the thinness of the gum used and this has been rectified by the adoption of better facilities in its manufacture. Mr. Johnson said today to Star reporter that the ccndition complained of was only temporary, and that the stamps now being furnished were superior to those first issued, and would, he thought, prove entirely satisfactory to the public. He thought that it was only to be ex- pected that the bureau in undttaking the manufacture of stamps would not at first reach the proficiency which the private contractors had attained after twenty years of practieal experience. He thought that under the circumstances the bureau had done well and it was his intention to so perfect all the details of the manufacture of stamps that the output would give en- tire satisfaction. ——__-e-___. UNUSUAL ACTIVITY, Over Eighty Men at Work on the Post Office Building. It may be the near approach of election day or it may be a realization of the fact that life is short and the weather is Ackle, but one cf these two elements has caused a tremendous jump in the number of men employed on the city post office building. In fact, so great an increase has been made since yesterday that there are’now more men than can be well counted. The in- clined planes have been removed, thus preventing convenient access to a good vantage point from which the reporter for The Star can take a census. By every in- dication, however, and by such count as can be made, there are probably upward of eighty men at work today on the building, all of the fron handlers having reported for duty and several additional bricklayers being employed. Once more the tremendous generosity of The Star’s estimates is exemplified. On the basis of the original computation of over four weeks ago, when there was no pros- pect whatever of there being more than fifty men employed on the building at one time, eighty men might finish the bulld- ing by the 234 of April, 1806, eighteen months from now. The idiocy of this pre- sumption is apparent, especially when it is noted that the building has been under way for two years, eight months and a third, and is now only up to the second story in the masonry, and not quite to the fourth in the iron work. It is not beyond the range of possibility that in a few days, if this effective com- bination of Energy, Determination and Op- portunity should continue, the recent dream of a well-known merchant of this city, from whose place of business, directly opposite the post office site on the ave- nue, he daily watches the progress of the pile, may come true. The other night, be- ing attacked by a fit of indigestion, caused by hot muffins, he had a most terrible nightmare, in which he fancied that he saw streams of workingmen pouring into the inclosure and taking thelr places on the walls until the whole square was fairly alive with humanity, The millennium seem- ed so near that the dreamer, gasping for breath, awoke. So real had been the vision and such a firm hold had it taken upon his mind, that he dispelled the iliusion with considerable difficulty, and he hastened to bis office with eager steps to ascertain by visual evidence whether it was a dream or not. It was a dream. ———— To Relieve Capt. Beach. First Lieut. Wm. V. Judson, corps of en- gineers, now at Rock Island, Tl, has been detailed to duty as assistant to Maj. Miller, in charge of improvements to Galveston harbor, relieving Captain L. H. Beach, vn- der orders to this city as assistant to the Engineer Commissioner of the District. oe ee An Appointment. The President today appointed James F. Connelly collector of internal revenue for the fifth district of New Jersey. This fills the last vacancy in the office of internal revenue collectors, He Passed Away at Livadia This Afternoon. HE WANTED 70 DIEIN RUSSIA The Reason of His Refusal to Go to Corfu. HIS FAREWELL TO HIS TROOPS LIVADIA, Russia, November 1.—The czar died at 3 o'clock this afternoon. The following bulletin was posted at 10 o'clock this morning: “The czar passed the night without sleep. The activity of his heart is diminishing rapidly. His majesty’s condition is very dangerot a.” Immediately after the body of the czar has been prepared it will be laid upon an inclined’ table preliminary to being placed in a temporary coffin. The priests will then enter the bed room and will chant a requiem. This. will be xepeated three times daily until the burial takes place. All the members of the imperial family will be present at the ceremonies. It 1s expected that the body of the czar will be removed tomorrow to the private chapel, where special prayers for the re- pose of the emperor's soul will be offerad, and where, once a day, the litany will be sung in addition to chanting a requiem, as previously stated. When the priests enter the death room they will first cenze the body and will then commence the service. It is understood that the czarewitch will The Czar. immediately ‘ssue a proclamation declare ing himself czar, and all the Russian offi- elals throughout the world will take the cath of allegiance as soon as possible. PARIS, November 1.—A dispatch received here from St. Petersburg confirms the statement that the czar is dead. False Report Circulated. LONDON, November 1— statement: telegraphed to the United Sta to the ef- fect that the czar died this morning Is false. Death occurred at 3 o'clock this aftertioon. ‘The Daily News posted a bulletin that the czar was dead, but inquiry at the Russian embassy failed to confirm the report then. Accordiag to a private dispatch received by the Queen of Denmark, mother of the ezarina, the czar died at 3 o'clock this af- ternoon. From the time today’s bulletin from Livadia was issued it was known that the czar’s death was only a question of hours. But the bulletins announcing his death as having occurred this morning, which were posted in London, are shown to have been premature. The Berlin foreign office and the Russian embassy here: did not receive the news of the czir's death until 6 o'clock this evening. This morning's bulletin of the czar's con- dition was by far the gravest yet issued, and the general belief here was that the death agony had begun and that the czar could not last through the day. It is understood that his majesty did not sleep at all during the night, and that the difficulty he experienced in breathing made every moment a supreme struggle. According to a dispatch from Berlin, which has been received here,Emperor W liam has received a dispatch from Gen. von Werder, the German ambassador to Russia, who is now at Livadia, saying that he czar had refused to go to Corfu as he desired to die in Russia. According to a special dispatch received here from St. Petersburg, a conspiracy against the life of the czarewitch has been discovered there. It is added that for sev- The Canrewttch, eral days past the police have been actively engaged in arresting niuilists. Among those arrested are several students. The police have also obtained possession of incriminating documents. News at St. Petersburg. ST. PETERSBURG, November 1,—The death of the czar was announced here at 6 o'clock this evening. ST. PRTERSEURG, November 1.—Gen. Kostanda, commander of the troops of the Moscow district, im reply to a telegram of congratulations, sent to the czar upon the anniversary of the latter's escape from death through the railroad disaster near Borkio, has received the following message from his majesty: “I heaztily thank you the sentiments and good on anniversary of us as our mirac- ADVICES. The State Department Relies on th Press Dixputches. Up to 8 o'clock no official information had reached the State Department In regard to the death of the czar, and consequently,no action had been taken with respect thereto. It ts expected that the Mussian minister will make known the sad Intelligence to the officials of the State Department late this afternoon. Secretary Gresham ts sick in bed today with an attack of malaria and Mr. Adee is NO OFFI etna aa