Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1894, Page 1

Potter Building. ed to subseribers tm the lr own secuunt, at cents month. at the mail rein the postage prepaid 50 cents Pfaturday Quintuple Star, $1 et Rheet year; with foreten op advled, $1.00. ve (Entered at the Post Oflice at Washington, D. C. ar second-class ma‘l matter.) New York Office, 49 4 ‘The Frening Star te | ty carviore, ‘cu. th ety fers conte each. Canada || uy £7, All mall subscriptions most, be paid In advance, tes of advertising made known om applicatton. Che £vening Sar. THEY WILL PROTEST Plate Printers Object to a Sudden Cut in Wages. TO INTERVIEW HR JOHNSON \ The Reduction at Bureau Engrav- ing and Printing. OTHER EXPLANATIONS A delegation of plate printers will wait on Chief Claude M. Johnson of the bureau of engraving and printing at 4 o'clock this afternoon to pretest against a reduction of their wages to the extent of 10 per cent. The notice of this reduction was served on the mea working on what is known as the stamp presses yesterday afternoon, and a meeting at Typcgraphical Temple followed in the evening, with the result that a com- mittee was appointed to argue with the chief today to secure, if possible, a restora- tion of the rates. Mr. Johnson explained the causes that led up to his order to a Star reporter this morning. “The men affected,” he said, “are engaged in printing the internal rev- enue stamps, which require much less care and attention, and indeed much less skill, than the vignettes or bank notes. A good man can tura out many more sheets of stamps than of notes, for this reason, and so at the same rates of pay he can make far more money, with less skill and labor. This fact was brought to my attention some time ago, and I have been considering it since, with the view to evening up the two classes of pay in some way. So I de- cided that the best way was to take 10 per cent from the stamp men. That is a say- ing to the government. No, it will not be applied to the wages of the bill men, whose wages are now high enough. There is, as far as I can learn, no complaint among these men. I do not, of course, know what they may do in the light of the recent order,” “It seemed to me that the government was practically paying a premium for easy work by allowing the high rates for stamps to continue. Even at the reduced rates the swift men can make upwards of 7 a day, and the average will make over 50. That is very high wages for even skilled artisans. It is not to be duplicated anywhere else, either in or out of govern- ment service. Now, as to the protest that the men have to make, I am perfectly will- ing to hear them, and to listen to their arguments. I am not prepared to say what I shall do. I am open to argument, and if they can convince me that I have been wrong in this matter I wiil do what I can to rescind the order. At present I think I am right, and it may take a good deal of argument to change my views.” One of the peculiar features of the in- equality in the rates was that the expert men, allured by the chance to make such good stakes on the stamps, were getting off the bill presses as fast as they could and taking stamp presses, so that the best men were leaving the fine work. The chief says that this would soon have brought the quality of the work down consider- ably. Overtime Work. There has been considerable complaint come to The Star through various chan- nels of late that the gtrils in the postage stamp division are being worked over time, and, in one branch of the work, under very unwholesome conditions. It may be re- membered that when the work of print- ing the stamps was given to the bureau it was decided that it would be necessary to work over the legal limit of eight hours, and so the regular force that was em- ployed on this kind of work was given work from 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening. For the extra four hours addi- tional pay was granted. ‘The eight-hour law does not contemplate any question of payment for over-time, but is very strict in stipulating that no government work of any kind shall last more than eight hours per day per man— or woman. But there is a clause that per- mits over-time work in cases of emergen- cies. The necessity for getting a large stock of stamps on hand at once was con- strued to constitute an emergency, and hence the extra hours and pay. It has been thought by some that time enough had elapsed to permit the bureau to catch up with the Post Office Depart- ment’s needs, and complaint has been made that there is no longer any need of violating the law. Then, too, it was rep- resented that the girls working in the gum- ming room were compelled to endure ex- tremely high temperatures, ranging even as high as 110 and 120 degrees at times. Some of the girls there have as a duty the task of picking from the ftoor the sheets of stamps that coma from the gumming machine not perfectly ty, which are torn off by a girl who stands by the endless chain delivering them, to test them with her finger. In the hurry of the work she has to throw them on the floor, and it is the work of picking up these sheets that is so laborious, for it must be done stoop- ing over. Want to Exchange. The reporter mentioned this complaint to Mr. Johnson this morning, and he re- plied frankly that there were some dis- agreeable features about the work that, however, could not be avoided. “All I can say,” he continued, “ts that I have heard no complaint, and I know that everything has been done to make the work just as light as pcssible. I have evi- dence to convince me that though the gum- ming room {s not a very pleasant place in which to work, there is the greatest eager- ness on the part of the girls in the other sections of the bureau to get on this ~branch, in order to earn the extra pay. We give the extra people proportional rates for over-time, from fifteen cents an hour upward, according to their regular day rates. If there is any girl in the pos- tage stamp division who Is not willing to work the extra time, she can secure an ex- change at any hour with some other gir in the general press room, or any other branch, for there are dozens and scores there who are applying daily for the chance to make extra money. i know the hours are long, but they appear to be necessary now. “Vie have not yet caught up with the de- mands of the department for an extra sup- ply of stamps. The daily requisition from the post office amounts to about 8,000,000 siamps. You can judge of our output from the fact that in the past three days we aggregated about 50,000,000. This, you see, is a little more than twice the actual consumption, giving us a gain of some- thing over 5,650,000 aday. I believe that in about thirty days more we shall have got sufficiently ahead to be perfectly sate In going back to the regular hours once more. I shall be very glad of it, too. Relieving the Work. “But, in order to relieve the working peo- ple as much as we can from this extra pressure, I have just organized night gangs to work in the press room and perforating machines of the postage stamp division. They will go to work Monday next and will work from 6 o'clock in the evening until midnight, which will just give time to catch the last car. I have not organized such a gang for the gumming room, because it could not profitably be done. As to the con- ditions in the gumming room, I should say that they cannot well be alleviated. The room is necessarily kept at a high tem- perature to dry the gum, but there is no ob- jection to opening the windows. I go into the room frequently and find the windows all closed tightly, and have to expostulate with the girls for their carelessness. They say they prefer to keep the room hot. With all the burdens and hardships of this work, there are hundreds of applicants waiting for positions, knowing full well all the con- ditions. I can say no more than that.” —_—_—___ -e-____. INVITATION WITHDRAWN. Consul Jewett Will Not Investigate Armenian Massacre. The Sultan of Turkey has withdrawn his invitation to the United States to appoint @ commissioner to investigate the Arme- rian outrages, and the Secretary of State has recalled the instructions to United States Consul Jewett to make such an in- vestigation. The United States govern- ment is therefore no longer connected with that affair. It is said at the State Depart- ment that the action of the sultan is due to the limitations imposed by President Cleveland upon the functions of the Amer- ican representative, especially that one which prevented his acting in concert with the representatives of other powers. The implication that the sultan could not be trusted In the matter was naturally un- palatable to that sovereign. Mr. Jewett's appointment has been canceled, but it is believed that, in deference to the religious sentiment of the country, the President will instruct him to make an entirely inde- pendent investigation, and report only to the State Department. It ts argued that this can be by es without affecting our re- lations with Turkey and without compro- mising the United States in any respect. Pte Bastiaans AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION. A Noyel Plan for the Relief of t Farmer. The committee on agriculture gave a hearing today to David Lubin of Sacra- mento, Cal, in connection with the in- vestigation now being made by that com- mittee of causes of the present depressed condition of agriculture. Mr. Lubin is a prominent member of the California grange. He presented a novel and interest- ing. plan for the relief of the farmer, based upon the theory that the agriculturist whose products were sold in the free trade markets of the world should be compen- sated for the increase in the price of what he buys which is sold in a protected mar- ket by the levy of an export bounty on staple egricultural products, like wheat, corn, cotton, &c. He explained his plan, which, he said, would stimulate agriculture by increasing the price of exported farm products and by reaction of the price of such products sold in this country. Last year about $800,000,000 of agricultural products were exported. This was about a third of the total products. If an export beunty of, say, 10 per cent had been levied for the benefit of the farmer the latter would have received $80,000,000 more for his products exported, and the effect of the bounty on the home price would have, in his opinion, increased the value of the products sold in this country $160,000,000. in his argument Mr. Lubin presented those against as well as for the plan. He will be given a further hearing after the holidays. ———___— DISCRIMINATING AGAINST WOMEN. A Policy Said to Be Inaugurated as to Treasury Promotio: It is stated on excellent authority that the officials of the Treasury Department are discriminating against the advancs- ment of women employed in that depart- ment by the enforcement of a policy against their promotion above the grade of $1,200 a year on tne theory that much &f the work of clerks of higher grades can- ot be er.trusted to women by reason of its ature. This assertion has been made be- fore and has been denied at the depart- ment, but several cases have occurred re- cently that shows that sex has considerable weight in the matter of promotions above the $1,200 class. —_+-o+____ CIVIL SERVICE EXTENSION, All the Chief’ of Divisions Expected to Be Included. It is expected that in the near future an order will be made embracing the chiefs of divisions in the various government de- partments under the civil service laws. In conversation with a Star reporter this af- terncon Civil Service Commissioner Roose- velt said that the commission has recom- mended that the chiefs of divisions be In- cluded as referre’_‘o. The same recom- mendation, added —.. Roosevelt, has been made every year since he has been connect- ed with the commission, The President late this afternoon sum- moned Civil Servico Commissioner Proctor to the White House, but for what purpose neither Mr. Proctor nor Mr. Roosevelt could say. —_—___+ e+ ______ Personal Mention. Capt. Harry Douglas King, private sec- retary to Representative H. A. Cooper of Wisconsin, returned to the city this week from his old home, Janesville, Wis., having spent two months there, and traveling in the west, visiting Chicago, Kansas City, Denver and Helena, Mont. Mr. E. L. Reckard, private secretary to Postmaster General Bissell, has returned from a brief visit in New York city, Rev. Dr. D. J. Stafford, assistant pastor at St. Patrick’s Church, lectured in Rich- mond, Va., last night. After Christmas Dr. Stafford will deliver a course of lectures at Notre Dame University, South Bend, Ind., and will begin his class in the Catho- Me University. er District Appropriation Bill. The appropriation subcommittee of the House having charge of the District ap- propriation bill today commenced consid- eration of the bill by sections, having prac- tically closed the general hearings on the bill. As the subcommittee proceeds, how- ever, hearings will be given if they find it necessary to gather any addition informa- tion upon different sections of the bill. The subcommittee is making very rapid pro- grees with the bill and will soon have it before the full committee. — e+ —______—_ Must Complete Examinatio: Complaints have been received at’ the Treasury Department of the fallure of customs officials at New York to complete the examination of baggage of passengers on incoming vessels, when to have done so would have taken time after sundown. Secretary Carlisle has directed that an in- vestigation of these allegations be made, and sending a report he has directed tho collector of customs to let the examina- tion of baggage landed from any steamers before sunset continue after sunset until finished, pending decision to be rendered on report called for. Acts Approved. The President has approved the act to provide for the location and satisfaction of outstanding military bounty-land warrants and certificates of location under section 3 of the act of June 2, 1858; the act for the relief of ", F. Berry, and the act to au- thorize the issue of a duplicate of a land warrant to Emma A. Ripley. —_———_+o+____ Hurricare Signal. The weather bureau of the Agricultural Department has adopted an additional wind signal to be known as the “hurricane siz- nal,” which will go into effect on the Ist proximo, “Ver 85, No. 21,069. WASHINGTON, D. 0. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1894—-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. TWO OENTS. PERILS OF THE RING Andy Bowen Dies From a Knock- < Out Blow. FATAL END OF LAST NIGHT'S FIGHT Lavigne and His Friends in Custody. TONIGHT’S AFFAIR IS OFF —__+—__—_. NEW ORLEANS, December 15.—Andy Bowen died this morning at 7:15 o'clock while Father Delany was praying over him. He never regained consciousness from the time the blow was landed by Lavigne in last night's prize fight, and he was conveyed from his dressing room at the club to his home on Thalia street near Magazine. The scene at the house this morning was a mcst pathetis one. Dr. E. D. Martin was called in at an early hour, and did all that human skill could do to save the life that hung in the balance, but to no avail. The mother of the pugilist, when he was carried into the house, predicted that he would never recover, while his ydung wife grew hysterical in her agony. They sat beside the unconscious man and wept and prayed as only a woman can, but it was of no avail, His eye had looked on them ior the last time, and he never open- ed his lips. Between 2 and 7 o'clock faithful watch- ers stood by the dying pugilist’s side, hop- ing that his eyes would give them some sign of intelligence. Medical science rack- ed its brain in search of a remedy, how- ever violent, that wculd quicken the pulse and set the brain to wcrking. At 8 o'clock Dr, Finney thought that Bowen had im- proved, and at that hour he did not think the fight would have a fatal termina- lon: In reply to a request from the chief of police office, Dr. Finney sent a certificate saying that Bowen was better. It was a message of relief to Lavi and Duffy and tue seconds of Lavigne, Who had been arrested when Bowen's condition became alarming, and who were prayerfully wait- ing to hear that the unconscious pugilist had come back to life. The doctors remained with Bowen to the end, with his wife standing by his bed- side. Just as the hands of the clock were erecping avound to 7, Mrs. liowen leaned over the bed and said: “Oh! Andy, say something to me,” and her ears were strained to catch the word. Andy shivered and groaned, his frame shook, and then, without ever having come back to consciousness after Lavigne had landed, he breathed his last, and the recor of a tragedy was with it. As soon as Bowen died a handkerchief was tied gently about his face and a mes- Sage was sent to the police station over the nearest telephone notifying that office of the death of the pugilist. The police station, in turn, quickly sent word to the coroner. Spread of the News. A reporter was at the Bowen residence shortly after Andy breathed his last. The news of his death spread with lightning- like rapidity, and in less time than it has taken to write this accourt the intelli- genve had been communicated to the four corners of the United States. Crowds im- mediately began to congregate about the Bowen home, and the newspaper men and friends of the dead pugilist, with his rela- tives, were permitted to view the remains. ‘The dead man showed signs of the rough treatment he had received. Those who saw the fight said that it was not so much the blow which Lavigne had struck upon the jaw that was fatal, but the concussion produced by his falling upon the flooring of the ring. Bowen's body lay on its back when a reporter saw it early today, and what- ever wound there was on the back of the head was not visible. The lips were swol- len and there was u tinge of purple about him, and his rather large face seemed somewhat larger than usual, although there was no strong sign of pain upon it. ‘The features were natural, the mouth part- ly_ open. The news of Bowen's death was made. known to Lavigne and his party shortly after it had been communicated by tele- phone to the central station, Lavigne had been detained at the station with hig sec- onds and attendants all night and he alept but little, being anxlous every moment to get tidings from the bedside of the wound- ed pugilist. What Lavigne Says. Lavigne was inexpressibly shocked when he heard the news of Bowen's death and expressed his profound sympathy, for Bow- en’s wife. In answer to a question, he said that he did not feel that he had been the direct cause of @he death of the pugi- list, in other words, the blow which he had delivered on Bowen's jaw had not been suifictently forceful to have carried with it fatal consequences. He said he believed that whep Bowen fell that his head had struck the pine flooring and that the con- cussion had been the immediate cause of his death. Lavigne was not cnly sorry for Bowen's death, but he was in much ap- prehension as to what would become of himself in connection with the fight and how lorg it was likely that he would be kept in_ prison. Friends assured him that he would prob- ably have no difficnity in obtaining his release after the usual formalities of the law had been complied with, that he need have no fear of lack of friends and influ- ence to help him out of his dilemma. At 9 o'clock Lavigne and his party were told to prepare themselves to be taken to the third precinct station. An affidavit against all concerned will be made during the day in the second recorder’s court. Tonight's Fight. Capt. Frank Williams of the Auditorium was very much cast down over the acci- dent. When asked if it would interfere with tonight's Dempsey-Ryan fight, he said it certainly would. The club did not intend to violate any law, and until the unfor- tunate result of last night’s encounter was fully investigated would go no further with glove contests. The fight was sub- sequently declared off. When asked about future events he said that he thought it looked very dark for pugilistic events in this state hereafter. Lavigne was later admitted to bail in the sum of $10,000, the others $5,000. Duffy, the referee, and Spitzfaden wese the only ones to furnish bonds. The Fatal Blow. ‘When the men faced each other for the eighteenth round, it was apparent that the end of the fight was near. Bowen had re- ceived so many hard right handers over the heart that he was weakened and groggy when he left his corner. He was game, however, and walked mechanically toward his strong young adversary. Lavigne opened with left jab on the neck, and, although the blow was not a particularly hard one, it brought a look of anguish in the face of the thoroughly beaten little man. His mouth was partly open, while his eyes wore a wild, frightened look. His cheeks were bruised and swollen, and his lps were puffed out. The cut over the left eye was the only color in his pallied face. s breath was coming in short gasps, and, after breathing for a moment, he would catch his breath. ‘With wonderful gameness he would not flinch from the shower of blows rained on him by Lavigne,and, although his strength was gone, he tried bravely to fight back every..time the visitor was close enough. Lavigne would either dodge the blows thus attempted or let them land harmless- ly on aim. He was landing on the local man at will. Bowen was staggered to the ropes, by an onslaught of his powerful foe. While there in a helpless condition and trying to clinch, Lavigne planted his left over the heart and crossing savagely with his right, landed a terrific blow on the angle of the jaw. Bowem fell back like a felled tree and his head struck the floor heavily. Lavigne walked to his corner, while Duffy counted the ten seconds. The beaten man was picked up limp, and, to all appearances, lifeless, by his handlers and carried to his dressing room. The Floor Should Have Been Padded. Concerning Bowen's injuries the Times- Democrat “The blow which @ent ‘Bowen down was not one of extraordinary force, for it was delivered at very short range, but he was so weak as to be able to make no resistance and falling directly cver backward the back of his head struck the unpadded floor of the stage upon which they: had been fighting with such tremendous force that it sounded as if the floor had been heavily hit with the poll of an ax. When Hall and Fitz- simmons fought in this same arena the floor was thickly covered with felt pad- ding, over which a sheet of canvas had been tightly stretched. Last night, for some unexplained reason, this padding had been removed and the canvas had been stretched over the bare boards of the stage. Had the stage been in this condition ,when Fitzsimmons knocked Hall out there appears to be little doubt that Hall would have been fatally injured*and, with such a circumstance fresh in the memory, it seems almost unaccountable that the man- agers of the club should have taken such @ serious risk as that to be incurred by permitting men to fight on an unpadded floor. ‘he doctors who were in attendance upon Bowen last night said it was not the blow which had done the mischief, but the strfking of his head upon the floor, which had produced concussion of the brain. Andy Bowen's Career. Andy Bowen was born in this city in February, 1868. ‘ivere were no incidents of special interest in xis early life, but from his earliest youth he had always shown a predilection for athletic sports, including base ball and fighting, and it was his ambi- ticn to become a fighter of note. He com- menced his career as en when he ‘was bul sixteen years ok Among those he has defeated are Mike Murphy, John Wilson, ler, Jas. Boyle, Jimmy Oliver, in Chicago in nine rounds; Norton, Chicago, two rounds; Char- Me Wilson, in three rounds; Tommy Ryan (ight-weight), in three rounds; Charlie Johnson, thirty-nine rounds, draw; Billy Myer, twenty-eight rounds and a second decision on a foul. Beaten by Jimmy Car- rell; beaten by Austin Gibbons; defeated Joe Fielden; a draw with Jack Burke in lefeated Jack Everhardt in 80 ; Stanton Abbott, a ten-round draw. His last encounter resulted in a twenty- five-round draw with Jimmy Carroll. Fitssimmons Refuses to Talk. LOUISVILLE, Ky., December 15.—Fitz- simmons refused to talk on the subject of Bowen's death. He said, however, that he had telegraphed Lavigne his sympathy and would give him any help he desired. am willing to aid him financially,” he said. a WHEN IMPORTANT THINGS OCCUR. Then the Superiority of the Associat- ST. JOHNS, N. B., December 15.—The Sun editorially says: “Tt ig@but doing sim- ply justice to say a word in commendation of the superior service being-given by the Associated Press over all other news gath- ering associations. Especially has this been noticeable when any impértant event occurs. It was the Associated Press which gave the first news to St. Johns, as well as all Canada, of the death of the premler, and enabled afternoon papers served by it to distance all United Press competitors.” The Associated Press is beyond all doubt giving Canada the best news service it ever had. The Sun is particularly pleased at this, as it was the firet rin Cana- da to enter the Associated Press. oo CUBAN SUGAR DUTIES. The Spanish Government is Petitioned to Abolish Some of the Taxe Consul General Williams at Havana has submitted to the Department of State published account of the proceedings of a meeting of the Cuban sugar manufacturers and cane growers, convoked by the board of planters for the purpose of addressing the Spanish parliament upen the subject ef internal reforms. The meeting resulted in the sending of the following cablegram, through the governor general, to the min- ister for the colonies at Madrid: “The sugar manufacturers and cane growers, assembled in mass meeting, petition your excellency for the immediate abolition of the manufacturing tax, together with the loading duty on sugar and molasses, be- cause of their burdensomeness on produc- tion. We ask this without prejudice to the definitive resolution of parliament upon the petition for reforms indispensable to the life of ths country,” .which are set forth in the resolutions adopted, ———_—_ +e BELOW THE LIMIT. Condition of the Gold Balance in the Tre rye The total withdrawals of gold yesterday aggregated $4,875,000, reducing the net gold balance today to $96,341,884, or $3,658,116 less than the reserva limit, Assistant Sec- retary Curtis is of opinion that the heavy demand for gold during the last week was to meet dividends and other rayments fall- ing due on January 1 of each year. During the first two weeks in each December sterling exchange alwa; advanced, and very often to the shipping point, as is the case at present. He says that after this week the exportation of gold will probably materially decrease if it does not cease al- together. “Of course, it is a matter of serlous regret,” he says, “that our mone- tary system is such as to permit these heavy withdrawals against our will, but until Congress eg the matter in hand nothing can be done except to hand out the gold whenever demanded.” 25 --O- oe PERSONNEL OF THE NAVY. The Changes Recommended in the Re- port of the Joint Committee. Representative Moyer of Connecticut has drawn up the report of the joint congres- sional committee on the personnel of the navy. A bill accompanies the report pro- viding that promotions be provided for the command grades, and that no fewer than sixteen promotions annually to the grade of commander and 20 to that of lieutenant commander should be made; that the title of brigadier general be given to the colonel ecmmandant of the-marine corps, and a re- tired list similar to that of the army and nevy for enlisted men is provided for the corps. ‘The active list will consist of 16 rear admirals, #0 captains, 100 commanders, 255 Neuteffants, 75 Heutenants of junior grade, and a number of ensigns to main- tain the total number of active officers at @ number not greater than now provided by law. A reserve list is to be formed, in addition to the active list, by transfer to it of officers of the line of the navy who en- tered the Naval Academy from 1861 to 1887 inclusive, upon application to the Secretary of the Navy. Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $411,512, Government receipts— From internal reve ; customs, $845,201; mis MADE UP ITS MIND The House Committee Will Report Carlisle’s Currency Measure. ANSWERING ADMINISTRATION'S APPEAL Bankers Present Divergent Views at the Final Hearing Today. a OLOSE OF THE CONTROVERSY The House banking and currency com- mittee propose to report the Carlisle bill, without amendment, on Monday, and begin the consideration of it in the House Tues- day. At a conference of the democratic members of the committee held last night this conclusion was informally reached, though there was no vote taken. This does not signify that the democrats are unani- mous in favoring it or that even @ ma- jority of them approve the measure en- tirely. The spirit in which the report is made is that something must be done, and that this might as well go as an experi- ment, With the heavy reduction of the gold reserve in the treasury, and an almost cer- tain prospect of another issue of bonds within sixty days, together with the earn- est appeal of the administration for as- lance, and the assurance of Mr. Car- Msle that this measure will give the re- Nef desired, the democrats of the commit- tee and most of those in the House are disposed to make the experiment, putting the re@ponsibility on Mr. Carlisle, though they haven't much confidence in the re- sult. Want a Special Order. In anticipation of making the report on Monday the committee have asked the committee on rules to give them a special order fixing the mode of procedure as to amendments and the hour when a vote shall be taken. They have received as- surances from the members of the com- mittee on rules that a suitable order will be reported to the House. The desire of the committee 1s that five or six days should be given to the consideration of the bill in the House, but this would carry it over beyond the ordinary time for the holl- day adjournment, and there is very great anxiety to have the matter disposed of so far as the House is concerned before the Christmas turkey 1s served. As far as the members of the ccmmittee are concerned the anti-state bank tax democrats have abandoned the idea of striking out the ate bank tax feature. They have con- cluded that such an amendment would drive most of the sduthern men away from the support of the measure, while not win- ning the support of the republicans, and in their anxiety to avoid the responsibility for failure of action they propose to try and get the bill through as ft 1s. If they succeed they argue that It will relieve the House from responsibility, and that the Senate, which will surely never pass the bill, may be compelled to endure the pub- Ue reproaches for a fallure to relieve the situation. ‘Two Amendments Likely. It ts not altogether certain, however, that the bill can go through the House without amendment. The greatest danger to it comes from two propositions to amend which the republicans will make. The first of these will be to strike out the state bank feature. This may not carry, for the reason that democrats who favor it may decide for party reasons to oppose any amendment to the bill which would so certainly defeat it. The other amend- ment will be one providing for the im- mediate issue of enough bonds to redeem all the oustanding greenbacks and notes of "90, which now may be used to draw gold from the treasury. There is a possi- bility that this amendment may carry, for the reason that the administration is in favor of authority being given to issue bonds for this purpose, and a con- siderable number of democrats in_ the Heuse will vote for dt. This amendment will provide for the issue of five or six hundred million dollars of bonds at low interest, and, if adopted, will probably defeat the whole measure by driving from {ts support the democratic opponents of the bond issue, who are a large majority of that party in Congress. Incidents of the Closing Hearing. Great interest was manifested today in the closing hearing before the committee on banking and currency. Secretary Carlisle was present at the opening of the session. The bankers to be heard represented two widely divergent views, President G. G. Williams of the Chemical National Bank of New York representing the prevailing view among bankers, while President W. P. St. John of the Mercantile Bank of New York represented the eastern view favorable to silver. The presence of Mr. St. John had drawn Senator Teller to the hearing, anx- lous to hear the views of an eastern silver man on currency revision. Chairman Springer r a letter from President Post of the York National Bank of York, Neb., indorsing the Carlisle plan. Representative Johnson (Ind.) asked why this letter was chosen to be read when many letters giving different views were re- ceived. It was explained that this was the only letter from a national bank indorsing the Carlisle plan. There was some sparring — the letter, and Mr. Springer withdrew it. There was added interest in the state- ment of Mr. Williams, who opened the hearing, from the fact that the bank of which he is president has the largest de- pened in the United States, if not in the world. The Most Important Problem. “The situation is one requiring firmness and common sense,” said he. “The first problem in our clumsy and conglomerated financial system {s the disposition to be made of our legal tender notes He urged that these notes should be funded, $50,000,000 at a time,until they were eliminated from our fiscal system. Bonds at 3 per cent should be received as security of national bank notes on a basis of par for the bonds, the government to have a first lien on the assets of the bank. These notes should be redeemable in New York city, and when issued in sufficient volume, and’ being readily convertible, would fvr- nish adequate elasticity to the currency. The tax on the circulation of national banks should at once be removed. ‘As to the Baltimore plan, Mr. Williams said ft would be safe in large cities, but it might start many mushroom banks merely with a view to issuing notes, and the failure of such banks would cause loss to the whole system. Conservative and well managed institutions would absolutsly refuse to join hands in meeting the losses sure to arise from these mushroom banks. Suggesting the Way to Sound Money. After funding the legal tender notes and giving a new natioral bank issue, Mr. Wil- liams said the next step was to look after the silver certificates and Sherman notes. The latter were amply protected by the one hundred millions in the treasury. As to the silver certificates, Congress should pass a law redeeming them in stiver bullion at its market value at the discretion of the Secretery of the Treasury, and it might be well to similarly redeem the Sherman notes. With these changes, our currency sys- tem woukl bevome absolutely sound, and our banking system the most perfect ever devised, Mr. Williams was questioned as to the condition of his own bank. He said its cepital was $300,000. It had a surplus of $600,000. The undivided profits were more than one million. The ‘epcsits reached $30,000,000, probably the largest in the United States, if not in the world. The dividends were 150 per cent annually. The bank stock sold for $4,300 per share of $100. Banker St. John Favors Silver. President St. John lent much spirit to the hearing by the vigor of his statement and its novelty as coming from an eastern banker. Mr. St. John characterized the repeal of the Sherman act last year and the closing of the Indian mints to silver as “the world’s blind experiment” in money. It severed the last link that coupled silver to its crippled right of money in the western world, and he declared that it was the duty of Congress to stop experimenting and go back to the Hamilton-Jefferson coinage system: to restore Limetallism independent of other nation: He cited the record of France in inde- pendent bimetallism, and said the condi- tions fr. the United States were much more propiticus for suck action. Within ten years there was promise of exceeding the population of Great Britain and France, and our use for gold and silver would cir- culate over a territory seventeen times the area of France. . Mr. St. John closed with stating the notable features of the present financial condition. The dollar is efficient, but prices are ruinously low; capital lacks invest- ment, manufacturing is restricted by low prices, and labor starves. “The enduring fact,” said he, “if this aspect of money is to be preserved, is that the rich be made richer and the poor poorer as the one achievement of our statute law.” ————————— IMPROVING THE POTOMAC. Maj. Davis Reports the Result of Gperations During November. Maj. Davis has reported to the chief of engineers in regard to the improvement of the Potomac river that excellent pro- gress was made in dredging in the Vir- ginia channel during the month of No- vember. A cut averaging atout 160 feet in width was made on the west side of the chennel for a distance of about 3,100 feet. During the month 162,651 cubic yards of material were dredged. Mest of it was deposited on section 2, between the sewer canal and the reservoir inlet, and a small portion on section 1. Tne fill over the greater part of section 2 now = to The channel is being widened from about 240 feet to 400 feet and the average depth made is full twenty-one feet at low tide, On the 15th ultimo a bad break occurred in the sewer canal bank, causing a delay of two days for repxirs. About 1,000 yards of material were washed into the canal and will have to be re-excavated. Work has been continued with a force of fifty laborers on the embankments at section 3 for retaining the material at the proper grade. These embankments are now uear- ly completed. Good progress is reported on the sea-wall in the tidal reservoir and on the training dike on the west side of the Virginia channel. The Aqueduct Bridge. In regard to the Aqueduct bridge, Maj. Davis reports that the repairs to pliers numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were completed y the end of the month. These repairs ere made by means of concrete in bags put in place by divers. The largest cavity found was at pier No. 3, which had evi- dently increased ir size since the examina- tion of 1893. It required 89.1 cubic yards of concrete to make this pier secure. At pier No. 6, in addition to the cavity found in 1893, the masonry at the southwest cor- ner of the pier had been carried away, avaene dl by the action of masses of ice. tensive repairs were also required on this pier, 57.7 cubic yards of concreie being laid. The total amount of concrete put in place in these six piers was 194.6 cubic yards, distributed as follows: Pier No. 2, 18.9; pier No, 3, 89.1; pier No. 5, 3.6; pier No. 4, 57.7; pier No. 7, 19.6; pier No. 8, 5.7 cubie yards. Snags Agal the Piers. On the 17th ultimo the eight cribs form- ing the lower part of the cofferdam were towed to pier No. 4 and put in position around it. The cribs were next secured together by overlying courses of timber, drift bolted and framed, and the floor put in place in the pockets, which are to be filled with riprap. At the close of the month about one-third of the height of the crib had been built. This branch of the work is delayed by the non-arrival of the necessary timber. At pier No. 5 sev- eral large trees and snags were found lying on the bed of the river and lodged across the up-stream end of the pier, They have been removed. At pier No. 8 a tim- her was found belonging to the cofferdam in which the pier was built in 1839. The timber was partly afloat, being beld at one end. It was twenty-seven feet long and sixteen Inches square. It was sawn off by the diver. The sides are water-worn, but the timber is in a perfect state of preservation, after having been under water for “ifty-five years. ‘uring Decem- ber it is proposed to complete the coffer- dam and to protect with riprap the piers already repaired. —— IMPORTANT NAVAL TESTS Being Carritad on Today at the In- dian Head Grounds. Two important ni 1 tests were con- ducted at the proving grounds at Indian Head, Md., today in the presence of a dis- tinguished audience, including members of the congressional naval committees, Capt. Sampson, chief of the bureau of ordnance, and severa) other naval officers. A typical 17-inch Harveyized steel plat made by Carnegie, representing 350 tons of barbette armor for the battleship Oregon, was attacked with projectiles from a 12- inch rifle. The acceptance of this lot of armor is contingent on the success of this plate. A test was also made of a new type of 8-inch carriage for use on all the battleships. The recoil of this carriage is governed by springs instead of by hydraulic cylinders a8 on the present carriages. —— + © + The Katahdin’s Tria Admiral Ammen, the designer of the ram Katahdin, which recently underwent a pre- liminary trial on the Kennebec river, is highly encouraged by the results, which have just reached the Navy Department. They show that the vessel made 14.4 knots per hour with 132 revolutions of the pro- pellers and natural draft. As the engines are calculated to work up to 160 revolu- tions with forced draft the boat's maxt- mum speed is expected to reach 19 knots, or two more than the designed speed. eo. Utah Indian Troubles. Gen. Schofield received a telegraphic re- port from Gen. McCook today concerning the Indian troubles in Utah. He reports that the Indians have agreed to return to their reservation in Colorado and will do so as soon as they round up their cattle,which will be in five or six days. Col. Lawton, the inspector. general of the department, will remain with the Indians to see that the plan carried out. 8 Armenian Agitation. A delegation from the United Friends of Armenia, composed of Dr. Barrows, Dr. Blackwell and C. H. Gulesian, called at the White House yesterday relative to the attitude of ‘the United States in Armenia. They did not see the President, who was about to enter the cabinet meeting, but were referred to the Department of State. Armor Plate Test. The members of the Senate and House naval committee and other notables have been invited to attend the trial of a great seventeen -inch Harvey! steel armor plate, representing the barbettes of the Ore- gon, AN EXCITING SESSION Federation of Labor Discussing @ Platform. THE SOCIALIST PLANK TAKEN UP fA Delegate Cried Down for Per sonalities. M’GUIRE’S CHANGE OF MIND DENVER, Col., December 15.—The dis+ cussion of plank 10 in the political platform (the socialist plank) was resumed in the convention of the American Federation cf Labor toda: The chair ruled that no member should be allowed to use the time of another. : Delegate Lloyd of Boston moved to re= refer the plank to the subordinate unions. Patrick McBride, secretary of mine work~ ers, said that he was willing to take suoh action. He was instructed to vote for the plank, but he hoped, if it was voted upon, it would be defeated, “because,” he said, “our side cannot stand defeat good-na- turedly, and, from the displays that have been made in this convention, I doubt if the other side can. Treasurer Lennon supported Mr. motion on the ground that the vote many unions on the platform was not representative one. Delegate Brettali reads a long newspa- per interview with Attorney General 0! ney, in which he was ‘to have said he would break up every labor union in America by means of the anti-trust law, Mr. Brettali thought that independent <4 litical action was necessary to protect Delegate Hysell of the mine workers boring men. doubted the truth of the interview. He did not believe the vote in the union was representative. Delegate P. J. McGuire made a strong ar gument against re-referring. He said the question had made trouble enough in the unions. He was once a socialist, but had become convinced of the folly of the i He spoke against socialism, asserting its advocates had become crazed by hard times. Mr. Morgan arose to e@ point of privilege. He said that Mr. MoGuire reflected upon him. He said he got his few lessons in socialism from Mr. McGuire when he was organizer for a socialist labor party. He said: “He was in rags. I ashamed of his personal appearance.’ (Cries of “shame."’) The speaker was called to order by the chair, who ruled that the floor was fof- feited. Mr. Morgan refused to sit down, after repeatedly being ordered to do so, Finally he appealed from the decision of the chair. The decision was sustained by the convention. Delegate Pomeroy made a vigorous ad~ dress against socialism. His time was ex~ tended by the convention, and he spoke for twenty minutes. He said that the greatest need of the day was abolition of that un- American organization, the A. P. A. He strongly advocated the single tax theory. The plank under discussion was: ownership by the people of all means of preduction and distribution. — + DRUG CLERK WARD'S DEATH, San Francisco Police Puzsied Over the Recent Murder. SAN FRANCISCO, December 15.—There 1s absolutely no clue to the perpetraters of the horrible murder of Eugene Ward, the drug clerk who was so foully murdered about 1 o'clock Friday morning as he was preparing to leave the store for the night, The police seem to be absolutely in the dark, their main efforts being directed te tracing the young man’s past, and his as- sociates, both male and female. The robbery theory has been abandoned, and the motive for the murder is now cribed to jealou: Mr, Ward was on intl- mate terms with a number of women, s@ many of his female friends calling to see him at the drug store that the proprietor was obliged to intordict these receptiong. The number of wounds on the dead man'’¢ breast indicate fury on the part of the murderer, and many believe a woman's hand wielded the fatal knife. Neither money nor valuables were removed fro the dead man’s person, nor the store, a the only theory considered tenable is tl a@ woman is directly or indirectly respor ble for the crime. FRENCH TROO! DEFEATED. Rout of the Republic's Forces. on the Ivory Coast. LIVERPOOL, December 15.—The steam- ship Dahomey, from West Africa, has arrived here, and brings news of the serious defeat of a detachment of 800 French sol- diers near the Grand Bassam river, on the southern part of the Ivory coast. The French expedition was on its way to Kong, when it was attacked by a powerful body of natives. During the engagement eight Frenchmen and @ large number of Senegalez troops and natives were killed. The French re- tired toward the Grand Bassam. When the steamer left a reinforcement of 200 French cavalry was on its way to assist the expe- dition. oseaineiente CONFERENCE WITH THE PRESIDENT Persons Promoted From the Cla rvice to Be Protected. Mr. Procter, president of the civil ser- vice commission, had a conference with President Cleveland at the White House this afternoon, with a view to an amend- ment to the civil service rules, so as to provide that persons within the classified service who may be selected for uppoint- ment to office outside of that service, preat- dential or otherwise, may be eligible for restoration to office within the service in the event of their losing the outside office by reason of its abolition by law and from some othor cause. It is the President's de- sire that employes thus promoted or trans- ferred to office outside the classified ser- vice, because of special merit or efficiency, shall not on account of such preferment lose their standing within the classified service. He has therefore suggested to the civil service commissioners the propriety of an amendment to the regulations for the pro- tection of such persons. The plan proposed is that the commissioners shall issue cer- tificates to persons leaving the classified service in this way which will preserve their standing in that service while em- ployed in other public places, and insure their return in case of necessity without loss of prestige. Private Secretary Thurber says that te- day's conference had no relation whatever to the case of Recorder Taylor or to extension of the classified service to chi of division. ea - Resignations and Promotions. Jerome W. Turner of Michigan, assist ant attorney, at $2,000, In the office of the assistant attorney general for the Interior Department; Chas. H. Babbitt of Iowa, @ $1,600 clerk, and Copyists L. L. Dennett ef California and N. Z. Seits of Pennsy! nia at $900 per annum, resigned Secretary Smith has appointed W. Richards of South Dakota transcriber | the general laad office,