Evening Star Newspaper, December 24, 1894, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor, 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. New York Ofc, 49 Fotter Building. eit tar Is served to subscribers in the mtb. ¢ the By mail-anywhere tn the ed States or Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents month, Quint Star, $1 per year; with foreign posta: 3.00. jered at the wice at Washington, D. C. as nd-class im EF Al mail subse Rates of known on application. INTO TWO CAMPS —_>+—____ How the Democratic Party is at Present Divided. caeipeeielaeniesca WORK FOR NEXT MONTH }aga6CUS: eae eeerere vor Shall the Currency Question Be Settled at This Session? a as NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS ‘The democratic eavcus preposed vpon the Feussembling of Congress will, there is high authority for as: 1g, represent very much more than an opportunity for the expression of views on the part of con- jonal leaders. The views, also, minent democrats not in o/fice will be represented through the mediura of those entitled to attend, and in this way the con- ference nd the decision reached be made to reflect the best and widest obtainable Farty opinion as to what should be at- tempted during the session. Serio Concern for t Future. Democrats of national reputation openly press the most serious concern for their perty’s future. Following tie November elections, which went so overwheimingly against them, has been a period of several Weeks’ discussion in Congress, leveluping wide differences of opinion in the ranks of their party, and a spirit, or the want of it, too strongly resembling helplessness They are making a sturdy effort to get together, Party's and a number of them have gune home for the holiday recess resolved to sound senti- ment in both business and political circles as to the necessities of the hour. This sen- timent, as obtained, will be laid before the formal conference or caucus when held in January. Divided Into Two Camps. The democracy today, as old observers see it, is divided into two camps. In the one are to be found the men nothing should be done at this the routine business. This, as they think, is not the year for an issue of any kind. et everything go over until next year, the great occasion will require of the new Congress some definite and compre- hensive line of policy, and when the de- being then the minority party in ill not be weighted with the lity of proposing a policy. other camp are the men who point to the one question affecting the Treas- ury Department, and declare that that, at least, at th session must receive some attention. They will consent to a postponement of the still disputed features of the tariff until next winter, but they in- sist that to send the currency question over until then, without making an earnest ef- fort even to agree upon a bill, although de- signed only for temporary effect, would be tantamount to a confession of complete in- capacity, and result practically in dis- bandment of the party. Neat Year's Elections. These men have in mind and point, too, those states that will hold elections next year. There ere a number of them, and some of the elections will be important. The condition in two of the states is cited 4s illustrating the general situation. Ohio is a republican state, and wes carried by that party last month by one hundred and forty thousand majority. The republican leaders there are declaring their ability to repeat this performance for their state ticket next year. Kentucky, for thirty years, until last month, had given demo- eretic majorities ranging from thirty to fifty thousand. The republicans claim to ve polled three thousand more votes in November than the democrats. They gain- ed four Congressmen, and the result of a contest may give them five. They are preparing for next year’s fight with much spirit. The democratic local leaders con- je their danger. They are already co sidering the probable necessity of changing certain plans heretofore made and putting their very ablest men in nomination, Sec- retary Carlisle, even, the pride of his party #t home, is mentioned for governor, upon the ground that it may take the strongest man in the state to carry the democracy to victory. Action on the Currency Question. In view of such a condition of affairs, those democrats who are insisting on some action by this Congress on the currency question are attracting attention. As they put the case, a postponement of all action will meau annihilation. ‘The party will not be able to make even a respectable show of a campaign In any state. The game of putting gold into the treasury, and then releasing It upon the demand of legal ten- der holders, will have to be kept up. The selling of bonds will have to go on, and will go on. At least three more sales of fifty millions each wil! have to be made be- tween March and December unless some- thing is done. The state campaigns will be in progres: d these democratic leaders want to know how an effective answer could be made from the stump to the re- publican speakers who would entertain the crowd reading one of these treasury pro- posals for bids. No answer, in their opin- fon, could be made, and the result would be another republican tid: wave sweeping over all of the territory involved. And then, as they ask, where would be the democracy? and where could hope find lodgement for 18967 +o SWAIM FINALLY GEN. RETIRED. The Order Was Signed Saturday and Promuigated This Morning. By direction of the President Brig. Gen. David G. Swaim, judge advocate general of the army, has been placed on the retired list to date from the 22d instant. The order was signed by Secretary Lamont Saturday afterncon and was offically pro- mulgated by Adjutant General Ruggles this morning. It is expected that the va- cancy will be filled as soon as the Senate recenvenes after the Christmas rece It the appointment does not go to Col. G. Norman Lieber, acting judge advocate zen- eral, there wili be great surprise {n mili- ary cireles. The statement that Col. Barr fs an applicant for the place is denied at the War Department, where, it is explained that Col. Barr and all the other officers of the law department have united in sup- port of the movement for the promotion of Col. Lieber, the senior officer of the ecrps. That officer will be acting judge advocate general until a permanent ap- pointment is made. Gen. Swaim will con- tinve his residence in this cit ssc —<- as Acts Approved. The President today approved the act making appropriation to supply an urgent deficiency in the reg appropriation bil! tor public printing and binding; the joint Fesoluticn extending time for report of board of engineers surveying canal routes from Lake Erie to the Ohio river; the act making appropriation to supply urgent de- ficiencies in the appropriations for tre eleventh census, and the act amending the act for the construction of a bridge across the Mississippi above New Orleans, ——— a Pension Money. The Secretary of the Interior late Satur- @ay issued a requisition on the treasury for $10,700,000 for the quarterly payment of pensions. Che Evening Star. Vor. 85, No. 21,076. WASHINGTON, D. ©, MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1894—-TEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. Te proof of te pudding is in fhe eating. Safurdap’ Star confained 52 cofumns of advertisements, made up of 825 separate announces ments, These advertisers foua$t pufficitp—not merefp space, » THORP VS. M'KENNEY Notice of a Contest Served on the Oon- gressman-Elect. Allegations of Fraud Made—The Al- “leged Iniquitous Provisions of the Walton Election Law. Notice was teday served upon Mr. W. R. McKenney, Congressman-elect from the fourth Virginia district, that Mr. R. T. Thorp would contest the seat in the next House. The notice was served at Peters- burg this morning. The main basis of the contest is a question of’ fraud, and the contestant furnishes detaiis for each pre- cinet in the district. In closing his notice of contest, Mr. Thorp says: “I charge that elections hold in this sec- tion of the state had become so notoriously corrupt, false and untrustworthy, because of the bad character and fraudulent pra ti ef election officers appointed by partizan democratic electoral boards, that about the beginning of the present year, while the legislature was in session, a general outcry against such fraudulent practices and methods went up from the honest people of the state,regard- less of party alliliations, was taken up by leading democratic newspapers, and many instances of the fraudulent methods by which democrats were returned as elected from counties and cities known to be over- wheliningly republican, exposed to such an extent that the legislature was forced by public opinion to take some action. . The Walton Law. “But composed as it was of members many of whom were the creatures and beneficiaries of these very fraudulent methods and practices, the legislature did not pass anghonest and fair election law, but defeated just amendments offered by honest democrats to secure fair elections, and passed what is commonly known as the Walton bill—a law artfully pretending to provide an honest Australian ballot sys- tem, but leaving unrepealed and in full force all the odious provisions of the in- ‘ormick law, under n of which frauds had been encouraged arid sustained, the effect of the Waiton law being, as a careful analysis of its provisions will show, to open another door by which election rooms may be en- tered, and the honest expression of the will of the voters may be defeated. “Indeed, it was an open caucus secret at the time this law was under consideration that its passage was urged by prominent democrats of the black belt of the state upon the ground that it was the only law which could save this part of the state and the fourth congressional democra district to the party, because the honest people nad become so disgusted and well acquainted with the old fraudulent prac- tices and devices they could not be relied upon, and some new way of defeating the will of the majority had to be devised— some new cogs had to be added to the wheel of the old machine. Even a cursory view of this so-called Walton bill will show its partisan character. A more careful reading of it will reveal its real infamy. The Constable. “The creation of a new officer—special censtable—of election, with duties ill-de- fined, evidently by design; his appointment by partisan electoral boards, whenever it suits their convenience; removabie at their sweet will, and removable even on election Gay at the will of a majority of the judges; vested with extraordinary powers; the great care taken to conceal the character of the ballot and the names of the candi- dates; the heavy penalties imposed upon private citizens who dared to inform ignorant voters, and the care taken to force such voters into the clutches of a partisan constable. These and many other provisions of this law stamp it as a unique specimen of election machinery which opens wide enother door to fraud, and in- vites corruption to step in without fear of detection or punishment.” THAT CLAIMS COMMISSION. ‘The Third Member Has Not Yet Been Found. Minister Andrade and Judge Jeffries, the two members of the Venezuelan claims commission, are meeting with much diffi- culty in securing a colleague to complete the commission. In the first place Mr. G. de Weckherlin, the minister for the Neth- erlands, was selected; but after a consid- erable delay, he cabled a declination. Then the choice upon Baron Saurma-Jeltsch, the German ambassador, but he, too, has declined on the ground of inability to spare the necessary time for the work in hand. The two commissioners are again casting about for a third commissioner, having but four days remaining to make the selec- tion, and it is probable that the place will be tendered to Minister Grip of Sweden and Norway or Count F. de Reventlow, the Danish ministg: “More Medals of Honor. Medals of honor have been awarded to Capt. Wm. H. Ward, company B, forty- seventh Ohio volunteers, for distinguished gallantry in leading an assault upon a confederate battery at Vicksburg, Miss., on the night of May 3, 1863; to Capt. Louis S. Wisner, company K, one hundred and twenty-fourth New York volunteers, in voluntarily exposing himself to save his men, at the battle of Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; to First Sergt. Carlos H. Rich, company D, fourth Vermont volun- teers, for conspicuous gallantry in saving the life of one of his officers at the batile of the Wilderness May 5, 1864; to Private James K. Sturgeon, company F, forty- sixth Ohio volunteers, for advancing be- yond the line of battle, and with three comrades, capturing twenty-five prisoners at the battle of Kenesaw mountain June 6, 1864. Arsiatant ‘The successor of Gen. Armstrong as as- sistant commissioner of Indian affairs will probably not be eppointed for several weeks, although his resignation takes ef- fect this month. Between twenty and twenty-five applicants are in the field, in- cluding several Congressmen. Representa- tive Baldwin of Minnesota is among the number. —e ney for the Nez Perces. The problem of making the payment of $000,000 to the Nez Perces Indians for their lands in Idaho, which has confronted the Interior Department for some time, has just been settled. A special agent will pro- ceed to the lands and make up a roll of the Indians entitled to the money. The roll will be forwarded direct to the office, and drafts will be made out payable to each Indian in his own name for the amount due him. ‘The drafts will be for- warded in the care of the special agent, who will identify each of the Indians. There are 1809 of the Indians, each of whom will receive about $330, sean nats a Lost Many Numbers, The Secretary of the Navy has remitted the unexpired portion of the sentences in the case of Commander Heyerman and Lieut. Lyman, under suspension for the lcss of the cruiser Kearsarge on Roneador reef. Each has lost many numbers in his grade during suspension. — Personal Mention. Dr. Daniel H. Williams, surgeon-in-chief of the Freedmen’s Hcspital, left yesterday to spend the holidays at his home in Chi- cago. Mr. D. S. Hoover of the Treasury De- partment left the city Saturday night for a week’s visit to friends and relatives in‘ Asheboro’, N. C, THE INCOME TAX A Spirited Discussion of the Ques- tion Expected After Recess. MR. HILL 10 BE IN OPPOSITION Just What Move He Contemplates is Not Known. ONLY A YEAR OF LIFE —___+—___ The failure of Congress to pass the urgency deficiency bill before the holiday recess redirects especial attention to the income tax, and, in the opinion of promi- nent men in elther house, foreshadows a spirited discussion of that tax upon the re- assembling in January. The urgency Dill carries an item providing money for col- lecting the income tax, and unless this money is appropriated by Congress, posi- tively without stipulation, that feature of the Gorman-Wilson law will remain inop- erative. The present status of the case is this: Secretary Carlisle, under authority con- ferred by Congress in the new tariff law, has prepared regulations to guide treasury officials in’ assessing and collecting taxes on incomes. Then Mr. Hill, who tried so strenuously to defeat the income tax at the last session, introduced a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Treasury to for- ward for the information of the Senate a copy of these regulations. This resolution was adopted without dissent, and when the Senate reassembles the desired infor- mation will be laid before it. Mr. Hill's Course Uncertat Mr. Hill's further course in the premises is not known to anybody. He has dis- tinetly declined to state his intentions. He has discussea the question in a roundabout way with Senators and other people, but never, so his intimate friends declare, to the extent of committing himself to a given line of conduct. The best belief is that he meditates a move of some kind, in modification, at least, of that feature of the tariff law. The regulations prepared by Secretary Carlisle have been printed, and Mr. Hill, it is understood, is not so much seeking Information by his resolu- ticn as he is preparing a basis upon which to offer an amendment to those regula- tions. The regulations are, of course, amendable by Congress, and, whatever Mr. Hill may propose on the subject will be fn order to be considered and passed upon when the income tax item of the urgency bill comes up for flaal acticn by the Sen- ate. Will Urge Some Modifications. Mr. Hill has said that, as a general prop- osition, Congress having enacted a law, should provide the money necessary for its fair enforcement. But that in some way—either by a proposition materially amending the proposed treasury regula- tions or by a renewed assault on the whole provision itself—the New York Senator meditates calling attention afresh to a law which he regards with such thorough and uncompromising disfavor is considered cer- tain. He will spend the vacation at home, and there is probably little doubt that while there he will take counsel of his party friends and advisors relative to the best course open to him. There is already talk in New York of carrying the whole matter into court, and this, it is suggested, may strengthen the Senator in his resolu- tion, and play an important part in what he shall say to the Senate on the subject. Different From the Popgun Bills. The efforts to take up the popgun bills was discouraged, on the ground that such action would necessarily reopen the whole tariff question and create fresh alarm in business circles. The oppenents of the in- come tax aver that no such objection Hes against their proposition to again go Into an examination of that feature of the tariff law. They hold that that provision has no legitimate connection with the tariff ques- tion, and was most unwisely grafted on the measure, They assert, moreover, that, in the east particularly, it was the inconie tax that bore so heavily on the democracy in the last elections, and that the result at the polls then should be accepted as in- structions either to repeal the feature out- right, or else put it into operation in the most inoffensive manner. They hold, as well, that the tax cannot possibly have a life longer than a year, at farthest, and that any elaborate and expensive prepara- tion for its enforcement would be unwise and the wasting of public money, Cleveland Would Approve a Repeal Bil. The reference to what is expected of the next Congress on the subject 1s accom- panied by the statement that such a repeal bill, even though passed by a republican Congress, would be Ikely to recetve the signature of Mr. Cleveland. It is pointed out that the income tax, as incorporated into the tariff bill, did not meet with his approval, and it fs even asserted that it added to the disfavor with which in the end he came to regard the whole tariff work of the Congress. His friends in New York and throughout the east denounce the tax, and, taking one consideration with another, and all together, there are many democratic leaders willing to predict that the income tax never yields the govern- ment a tithe of what was expected of it, if, indeed, anything at all, prin eee CAPITOL TOPICS, Will Have a Heart Representative Bryan of the ways and means subcommittee has arranged to give Commonwealers Coxey and Carl Browne a hearing on the “good roads” bill and the Coxey bond bill on January 15. In the meantime Coxey and Browne will attend a populist convention at St. Louis, Decem- ber 28. The Sugar Bounty. Senator Blanchard has presented a peti- tion, numerously signed by cane sugar growers of western Louisiana, for the pay- ment of the bounty of 1894. The petition- ers represent that they are poor people; that reiying upon the government to pay the bounty they contracted — obligations which, in view of the repeal of the bounty law and the refusal of the treasury to pay the bounty, are, they represent, certain to bring ruin upon them unless relief is fur- rished. They represent that much of their outiay was for implements for sugar cane culture, which are useless for other work. a Army Orders, Capt. James D. Glennan, assistant sur- geon, will be relieved from duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma territory, and will report for duty at Fort Snelling, Minn. The leave of absence granted Second Lieut. Wilbur E. Dove, twelfth infantry, is extended fifteen days. —-e- Inspection of Military Posts. Gen. Schofield has given orders for the annual inspection of the public buildings at the several military posts on the Ist of March next. —__—_—__-e Mrs. Doe Seriously Hi Mrs. Doe, wife of Gen. Doe, assistant secretary of war, is seriously ill at her residence on 2ist street, and her friends jare alarmed at her condition. PRESIDENT AND CABINET How the Chief Executive and His Advisers Will Spend Ohristmas. Mr. Cleveland Returned From His Ducking Trip Bronzed and Hearty —At Work Today. President Cleveland afd his party of duck hunters returned to Washington at 9 o'clock yesterday morning on the At- lantic coast express, two hours late. The party consisted of the President, Dr. O'Reilly, his physician; Captain R. D. Evans and Mr. Joseph Jefferson. ‘They were met at the depot by Private Secre- tary Thurber and escaped a public demon- stration. Altogether they killed about 800 ducks, for more than half of which the President is given credit. The President showed his outing in @ bronzed face, bright eyes and a more elastic step than when he went away. He said he had en- Joyed his trip very much and felt that it had done him a great deal of good. His rheumatism is much reduced and bids fair to leave him altogether. Yesterday afternoon he took a long drive in the suburbs with Mrs. Cleveland and to- day he devoted his whole time to the dis- patch of business that had accumulated on his desk during his holiday. There were a few callers at the White House today, but their business was of no special im: portance. The regular Tuesday cabinet meeting will be omitted tomorrow on ac- count of the holiday. The President and Mrs. Cleveland pro- Pose spending Christmas day very quietly at the White House, with Mrs. Perrine as their only guest. Ruth and Esther will give a party to a select circle of friends, including the children of the members of the cabinet and Private Secretary Thur? ber. A large Christmas tree laden with good things and a nice little luncheon have been provided for the amusement of the Uttle ones. Most all the cabinet families will also spend the ¢ay in this city. Secretary and Mrs. Gresham wilt dine quietly at the Ar- lngton. Secretary and Mrs, Carlisle will entertain a family party at dinner, includ- ing Mr. and Mrs. William Carlisle, Mr. Lo- gan Carlisle and Mrs. Herndon of Mobile, Ala. Secretary and Mrs, Lamont will dine quietly at their I street residence, and will probably accompany their children to the juvenile White House party, Secretary Herbert's dinner party will be a strictly family affair, including Mr. and Mrs. Mi- cou and Miss Herbert. Postmaster General Bisseli will spend his Christmas quietly at his home in this city, with his wife and little daughter. Secretary Smith will spend Christmas with his family in this city. He wili have several friends at dinner, but the day is to be celebrated in a very informal way. $+ @-+—_—_ SENATOR FRYE AMUSED. He Made No Opposition ,to Mr. pler's Conti fon as Postmaster. The story that has been published in re- gard to Senuter Frye s opposition to the confirmation of J. L. Rapier as pustmaster at Mobile, Ala., anmses the Maine Senator very much. It was represented that Mr. Frye had made “active an@ earnest oppo- sition” to confirmation Leceuse Mr. Rapier had at one time abused Mr. Blaine, and that confirmation was hanging in the bai- ance, when “Senator Waleh moved over to a vacant seat beside Mr, Frye and pro- ceeded to exercise his peculiatly captivat- ing powers upon the Maine Senator,” when “to the surprise of everybody” the oppost- tion _ withdravn and confirmation fol- 1 . ‘I made no opposition,” said Senator Frye, “to Mr. Rapier’s confirmation, unless a slight inquiry concerning some charges which had been brought to my attention may be construed as opposition. While it is true that Mr. Rapier had attacked Mr. Blaine, the charges had no reference to this matter, and I had no Intention of bringing this attack into the Senate or of using it against Mr. Rapier. “I asked the Alabama Senators about these charges, and I was assured by Sen- ator Pugh that they were without founda- tion. I also spoke to Senator Walsh on the subject, because he, as the committee's representative from that section of the country, would naturally have the matter in charge, but it 's my recollection that I looked him cp. At any rate, it is not true that he exercised any ‘peculiar blandish- ment’ cn me. Certainly I was not hypno- tized,” he added, laughingly. As to how formidable the opposition to Mr. Rapier was may be judged by the fact that on the day that he was confirmed, the 11th instant, the Senate was in executive session twenty-five minutes, and confirmed, besides Mr. Rapier, ninety-three postmas- tera and sixteen nominations to other of- ices. - THE CAPITOL DESERTED. But Few Representatives and Sena- tors at Their Desks Today. The Capitol was practically deserted to- day. Only a few rambling sightseers, the Capitol policemen, and now and then a stray Senator or Representative woke the echoes of its spacious corridors. The charm of the festivities of Christmas at home was the magnet that had drawn every one who could leave from the Con- gressional grist mill. Only the Represen- tatives and Senators from the far west and south and those whose families are in Washington remained here. Several of them were at their desks for a short time today, examining their mail, but they had put their congressional labors behind them, and matters congressional were in a state of suspended animation, Speaker Crisp was in his room, in the rear of the Hall of Representatives, about noon, dictating answers to his letters, but he was almost the only member in the vi- cinity of the Capitol today. Mrs. Crisp and his son and daughter are here to eat their Christmas turkey with him, and he will remain here throughout the holidays. No committee work will be done at either end of the Capitol during the recess. Senator Blackburn says the committee on rules, of which he is chair- man, will not take up the question of a cloture rule or any other subject until Jan- uary 6. The Kentucky Senator left the city today, and will not return until Con- gress reconvenes. Some work will probably be done on the appropriation bills yet unreported by Chairman Sayers, and some of the mem- bers of the subcommittees, but their work will be subject to ultimate revision when the full committee meets. o- Pcru to Tax Tobacco and Cigars. The bureau of American republics has re- ceived official information to the effect that the president of Peru has announced that in order to meet the financial necessities of the country an additional tax will be levied on all tobacco, cigars and cigarettes sold in the republic. The duty on all kinds of tobacco tmported from the United States will be $1 per kilogramme (2.20 pounds); cigars, $3.50 per kilogramme; cl- garettes made of tobacco from the United Staies, $50 per 1,000 packages; foreign chewing tobacco, snuff, cut and fibred to- bacco, ready for use, per kilogramme, $1.5 The law goes into effect January 1, 1895. +2 +__. ‘Temporarily Physically Unfit. Lieut. James KR. Selfridge of the navy, who was recently examined. for promotion to the grade of lieutenant commander, has been reported temporarily unfit physically tor promotion. Secretary Herbert will not act in the matter until February 15, in the hope that Lieut. Selfridge’s physical dis- abilities will have been fully removed by that time. DIVERSE OPINIONS|™E BRITISH ADMIRALTY) 1QQKS LIKE A DEAL Two Cabinet Officers Differ Upon Law Points. PRESIDENT ACCEPTS GRESHAM'S VIEW Louisiana Men to Oppose Repeal Unless Their Rights Are Preserved. THE INCOME TAX SUIT + The Secretary of State and the Attorney General, both lawyers of eminence, are at variance as to the legal effect of the one- tenth provision against German bounty sugar. These opinions were set forth in The Star last Saturday, and their wide di- vergence shown. ‘The President in this matter seems to have taken the view of Secretary Gresham, namely, that the one- tenth provision of the existing law is a violation of the most favored nation clause of the treaty. It is understood, at least, that the bill wnich was introduced by Mr. Wilson represents the desires of the Presi- dent. The Sugar Planters’ Contract. ‘There are difficulties, however, in the way if the administration expects to secure the passage of this bill without reopening the tariff question. The Representatives from Louisiana and from the other states de- clare that it is no more important to legis- late to prevent the alleged violation of the treaty with Germany (when the Attorney General of the United States says it is not a violation), than for Congress to violate the definite contract between the United States and the sugar growers of this coun- try by the repeal of the bounty law, which is effected in this same new tariff act. They have legal opinion that the repealed law is a contract between the Unitec States and the sugar-growers, and that the sugar planters will have a remedy against the United States for breach of contract. If Congressman Wilson shall press his bill to repeal the one-tenth against the German bounty, sugar amendments, which are ger- mane, they assert, will be proposed to re- store the bounty law, or to provide a more specific remedy than exists under the present law to secure damages. The Inceme Tax Injunction, The administration has been taken en- tirely by surprise at the suit which was filed here Saturday for an injunction to re- strain the commissioner of internal rev- enue from collecting the income tax. The government authorities have no opinions to give as to this suit, for-they have not yet sufficiently recovered from their amaze- ment to form any. As the treasury is to have one-half holiday today, there is no probability that any plan will be formed unul the court shall have taken action upon the bill for am injunction, If the in- junction shall be granted, the Secretary of the Treasury will have no alternative ex- cept to answer it, and the issue will be joined in the courts before the commis- sioner of internal revenue can proceed to make his assessments and collect the in- come tax. There can be no doubt that the United States courts will furnish every fa- cility to bring the case to a final decision at the very earliest possible moment. The op- ponents of the income tax have secured a legal advantage by getting the case into the courts before the law shall go into ef- fect. It is, of course, the object of those who bring the suit to have the question of the constitutionality of the act determined, if possible, before the first collection shall be made. For that matter, it will be of equal advantage to the government to have an adjudication of this important question immediately, for if the tax can- not be legally collected the government will not care to expose Itself to the danger of being compelled to refund payments of large amounts unconstitutionally collected. Moreover, If the law is unconstitutional, it will be necessary also for the government to provide some means by which additional revenue can be secured, for the new tariff law does not now supply sufficient revenue for the currert expenses of the govern- ment, and the experience of the last few months shows that it is not likely tado so. A Question Mr. Carlisle Did Not Answer. It is significant in this connection that the direct question which was asked Sec- retary Carlisle in the recent hearings be- fore the banking and currency committee in support of what has been called the ad- ministration currer cy bill, whether the two gold loans of an aggregate of $100,;000,000, which have been negotiated, have been made necessary because of a deficit in the receipts for current expenditures, or wheth- er the gold was secured simply to main- tain the parity into currency, has not been answered. It is a fact which has not es- caped public attention, and which is rather a startling fact, that Secretary Carlisle dis- tinctly omitted to answer, if he did not positively refuse to answer, the inquiry, whether any portion of this $100,000,000 in gold had been used to pay the current ex- penses of the government? It is the opin- jon of those who are the most familiar with the operations of the Treasury De- partment that a very considerable portion of this gold has been used to defray cur- rent expenditures. So that if the income tax shall be declared unconstitutional it will evidently be necessary to have addi- tional means of raising money. - ——_+-e Commissions to National Guard Offic- ers. The President today issued commissions to the followifg named officers of the militia of the District of Columbia: Geo. W. England, captain company D, fifth infantry; Joseph H. Griffiths, it lieuten- ant battery A, light artillery; Sidney R. Jacobs, first Heutenant company C, fourth infantry; George E. Tralles, second lieuten- ant company B, second infantry; Thomas Marron, second lieutenant battery A, light artillery; James E. Leeman, second leu- tenant company D, fifth infantry. oa Has Resumed His Duties. Assistant Engineer J. K. Robison of the navy has resumed his duties at the Navy Department, after completing a course of instruction at the French National Naval School at Paris. —_——_-e-—_____. The Gunbont Castine. The gunboat Castine has arrived at Prov- incetown, Mass., on her way td Castine, Me., where she will receive a silver punch bow! from the citizens of that town, prior to departing for the South Atlantic sta- tion. —_——_+- 2+ A College Detail. First Lieut. Philip P. Powell, ninth cay- alry, has been relieved from duty at Peeks- kill, N.Y., Military Academy and has been detailed to duty at the Grove City, Pa., College, relieving First Lieut. Charles W. Rowell, second infantry, who is ordered to join his company. 2+ Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received for re- demption today, $226,172. Government re- ceipts—From internal revenue, $757,353; customs, $325,530; miscellaneous, $08,406. - Tres ry Statement. The cash balance in the treasury today was $153,756,998; gold reserve, $89,061,277. Said to Have Been Aroused by Admiral Walker's Hawaiian Report, - But It is Net Believed That It Will Develop Into an Interna- tional Incident, It is sald that the British admiralty has been aroused by the character of Admiral Walker’s Hawaiian report, and that his implied reflections against the commander of H. M. 8, Champion will be resented in an official communication to the Secretary of State. One authority states the position of the government in this matter as fol- lows: “The administration has felt from the start that it would be unwise to make pub- lic Admiral Walker’s reports, and it hesi- tated to obey the resolution of the Senate calling for them. It is thought now by the officials of the department that it was very unwise to send in the report of August 17, in which charges of conspiracy against both Minister Wodehouse and the com- mander of the British man-of-war Cham- pion are made. This report was submitted as a confidential document, and Admiral Walker, it is said, has expressed considera- ble indignation that it should have been published. It is claimed that had he in- tended the communication as a public doc- ument he would have eliminated from it many of the charges he has made.” No Int@rnattonal Complication Likely. Notwithstanding the above assertions, it is generally believed in diplomatic circles that the British government will not take any official cognizance of the matter, inas- much as the report in question represents only the individual views of the author and not the views of the administration, and as such does not call for any notice from the British government. It is a fair as- sumption that many of the statements made by Admiral Walker in regard to the actions of the British representatives at Honolulu are displeasing to the British authorities, but Admiral Walker evidently did not take that into consideration, inas- much as he was sending a confidential communication to Washington solely in the interests of his own country. The general impression in official circles is that the report will not in itself develop into en international incident. THE FIDELITY ASSOCIATION. ‘The Receivers Make a Report and Ask the Court for Instructions. In the case of the Fidelity Bullding, Loin and Investment Association the receivers, Messrs. L. H. Poole and L. Cabell William- von, have filed a preliminary statement and bave asked for instructions from the court. They state that the assets consist princi- pally of small loans, repayable in iustail- ments, extending over a period of years, more than half of which loans are secured only by the stock of the association. The receivers state that they believe that the net assets collectable by them will not be sufficient to pay the preferred claims, and that there will be no dividend on’ the Monthly and weekly installment stock.. The receivers therefore ask instructions upon the following points: First, shall they collect installments upon unpledged installment stock? and second, what. answer shall they give to installment stockholders inquiring whether it is neces- sary to continue paying their installments in order to, prevent laps»s and forfeitures of stock. a Value of Cassava. The Agricultural Department has issued a bulletin on the culture, properties and uses of sweet cassava, which is found in the southern peninsula of Florida and well up in the frost belt. From a careful study of the climatic conditions under which the plant flourishes it is safe to assume, says the bulletin, that it may also be grown with success in southern Alabama, Missis- sippi, Louisiana and Texas, Cassava is a rame which should properly apply only to the purified starch derived from the roots of the plant, but it has passed into gen- eral use to designate the plant itself. The fleshy root of the plant yields the greatest portion of the daily food of the natives of many portions of tropical America, and one of its forms of starch is imported largely into this country as tapioca. SS BASS e ite de aaa, Armenian Massacre. The Turkish minister in this city has received advices from his government in regard to the Armenian affair. One dis- patch, furnished to the press, reads as follows: “It has been published that the arch- bishop of Marash was imprisoned at Alep; that the bishop of Hadjin, the archbishop of Zeiatoun and Father Jarask of Marash were condemned to death; that sister Eliz- abeth and twenty-five other prisoners were under arrest, and that fifteen leading men of Alep were sent to prison. All these as- sertions are without the least foundation in fact. Nor was the church in Beylan closed, as has been falsely reported.” a In Judge Clarke's Interest. Attorney General Olney received a call on Saturday afternoon from a delegation of citizens of Chattanooga, Tenn,, headed by Congressman-elect Brown, in the in- terest of C. D. Clarke, whose nomination to be judge of the eastern and middle districts of Tennessee was first confirmed by the Senate and then reconsidered, on the ground that charges of unprofessional conduct had been filed against him. It is asserted by his friends that they will dis- prove all assertions that have been made against him. No action can be taken until after the holidays, ubmarine Boat, The Navy Department will contract with the Hollend Company for the construc- tion of a submarine boat at a cost of $150,000, The naval bureaus which have had the subject under consideration report their belief that the plans for this vessel are entirely feasible and that there will be no danger to the crew by the submerg- ence of the boat. Bids Opened. Bids were opened at the Navy Depart- ment today for supplying 400 semi-armor piercing shells for the 13-inch naval rifles. Three bids were received, namely: Mid- yale Steel Company, 25 cents per pound; Sterling Steel Company, 25 cents, and Car- penter Steel Compan: 1-2 cents. Injured by E ing Sewer Gas, CHICAGO, December 24.—D. McFlanni- gan, Edward Sullivan and @John Costello, city employes, were injured by an explo- sion of gas in a sewer at Adams and La Salle streets today, just in front of the board of trade. The men had entered a man-hole, when the light from a match caused the explosion, which hurled them ten feet above the street level. Sullivan was fatally injured, but the others will re- cover. —__—+> Lawyer Mason of Annapolis Dead. BALTIMORE, December 24,—Lawyer John T Mason of Annapolis, son of the late Judge Mason, who was struck by a fenderless car last night, died today. _— Train Robber Morganfield’s Case. RICHMOND, Va., December 24.—Gov. O’Ferrall was informed by wire today that the case of Morganfield, the Quantico train robber, will come up in Cincinnati this morning. Dr. Parkhurst’s Opinion of Letting ~ Byrnes Alone, HOW THE LATTER HAS OPPOSED REFORM Frequently Tried to Block Investi- gation. A STORY ABOUT GOFF NEW YORK, December 24.—Rev. Dr, Parkhurst is not pleased at the Prospect that the investigation of police corruption is to be stopped before the heads of the department shall have been called upon to testify, and still less is he pleased with the Proposition, which is said to be favored by members of the Lexow committee, that Superintendent Byrnes be charged with re- organization of the department. Dr. Parkhurst said today that he would rot stop, even if the Senate committee did. He sald he believes the committee is about through with its work. “It is evident, and 1 am informed,” he added “that Superin- tendent Byrnes is to be subjected only to a perfunctory examination, and that it was he who planned the confession of Capt. Schmittberger. Putting these things to- gether it looks very much like a deal. But there are other possible explanations of the changed spirit of the committee, and I do not care to say anything now about the matter. “My opinion of Superintendent Byrnes has not changed with ‘the attitude of the committee. I had hoped to have had the investigation completed, not stopped, 80 that I might have a rest. But if it Is not finished by the committee, I will simply have to go on Of course I am free to do so. I am not bound by anything the com- mittee may have «greed to, and I will con- nue my work Ull it is rightly ended. “I am in doubt as to what I shall do at the moment, partly because I dread a mis- interpretation of my motive. I would not have it thought that I am actuated by a mere prejudice against Superintendent Byrnes. But I do think that he is the head of the exposed police system as he is of the police force. A gentleman said to me re- cently that he would as soon think of ask- ing Satan’s advice on the reorganization of hell as Byrnes’ on the reorganization of the police, That expresses my opinion exactly. There is no prejudice in my feelings against Byrnes, but I have met his power of ep- position to my work of reform at maay points, and hence I have gained a knowl- edge of him which has been such as to make me hold aloof from any alliance with him, and I will not be restrained. now by any co-operation with him that may be ac- cepted by other: John W. Goff, recorder-elect and chief counsel to the special committee of the senate, declined today to discuss, admit, or deny a story published today to the ef- fect that his relations with his associate counsel, Frank Moss, were strained by reason of his having been forced by Mr. Moss to ask questions of the former keep- er ot a disorderly house, the answers to which it was known would reflect on Capt. (now superintendens) Byrnes, through the acts of his wardman. it was also stated that the protective attitude of some of the members of the committee and Mr. Goff toward Byrnes had served to make the tension greater between the two coun- sels. Said Mr. Goff: “This story ts not worth dignifying with an answer or by discussing Sg et CRUELTY AND NEGLECT CHARGED, Stories About the United States Marine Hospital at San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, December 24—The Chronicle says: If the btories told by some of the pa- tients are true, the United States Marine Hospital is being conducted in a manner not creditable to those in charge of the in- stitution, If it be true, as charged, that the employes of the hospital make sport of dy- ing men and ignore their appeals for aid, it would appear to be time for an investi- gation of a very searching character. The surgeons in charge of the hospital enter a general denial to the accusations made, but at the same time admit that the patients are not given such nursing as they require. According to the statements made by the hospital authorities, the only attention given during the night to the patients now under treatment is such as can be be- stowed by the night watchman, Ralph De- jcs. The watchman is supposed to make the rounds of the wards, as well as the hospital generaily, every ‘hour, and is not even a professional nurse. A Russian sailor died a few days ago, and it is said he was the victim of cruel treatment and gross neglect. Many in: stances of improper medical attention are being cited by patients. Dr. C. H. Gard- ner says the hospital is short of help, but adds that it is the fault of the government, and not the management. The above dispatch was shown to Sur- geon General Wyman of the marine hos- pital service, and he said that the charges will be looked into by the bureau. For the present he contented himself with saying that there was a full force of officers and attendants at the station, which he enu- merated as follows: A surgeon, two assist- ant surgeons, one acting assistant surgeon, two internes, who are graduates of medi- cine, two hospital stewards and twenty- one ‘attendants. oe: DEMANDS INVESTIGATION. Alderman Powers of Chicago Wants a Vindication, CHICAGO, Il, December 24.—Alderman John Powers, who is alleged to have of- fered to “deliver” for a consideration (sald to be $25,000), sufficient votes in the city council to kill off the anti-cigarette urd- nance, has announced that he will demand a searching investigation, which he claims will vindicate himself and the other city officials, who are implicated in the allewed expose. The Civic Federation will take a hand in the matter, : President Lyman J. Gage of the Civic Federation said: “Such a crime will net go unpunished. If the officers of the law fail to act and allow such an enormity to go by unnoticed, the Civic Federation most certainly shall not. Getting Ready for Wa CITY OF MEXICO, December ~Ad- vices from Puebla state that a large volun- teer force has been organized in the state of Guerrera for service inGuatemala in case war is declared on that country by Mexico, At the port of Acapulco, the government has made preparations for the quick handling of troops and their transportation by water to Guatemala will be easily ac- ccmplished should there be necessity for such a movement. —_—>-_— No Perquisites for ‘olice, NEW YORK, December 24.—Superinten- dent Byrnes has issued an order prohibit- ing the police from riding free on elevated or street cars. They are forbidden to ac- cept any free transportation or franking privileges,