Evening Star Newspaper, January 2, 1895, Page 1

- PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR EUILDINGS, 1101 Feonsstvanta Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by 2 Company, 3. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. Yew York Oiico, 49 Fetter Tuildine. padi Sea The Evening Star is rerved to swhser city by carriers, on their own accornt, we or 44 cents per uiowih. 2 cents each. Py mati -aoy tates or Canada -postage prepaid —S6 vents h Sheet Star, $1 per year; postaze adied, $3. (Entered at the Port Om: a8 second-class ma‘l matter. TT AN nail subscriptions must be paid In advance. pm made known on 1pplication. The Evening Star. —— eee oe — Washington, D. C. | No. 13,051. WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY,' JANUARY 2, 1895-TEN PAGES. TWO OENTS. ——————— | Te proof of te purddins is in fe cating. Yesterday's Sitar contained 37 cofumns of adverfisements, mare up of 546 separate announces menfs. Bese advertisers fouaht pubficify—nof merefp Space, TALK OF A CAUCUS|N!PPED BY FROST) THEGARBAGEMENACE Necessity for House Democrats to Formulate a Definite Policy. WHAT REPRESENTATIVE COOMBS SAYS ele melinins Leaders Look for the Defeat ot the Carlisle Bill. NEW RULE NEEDED a a A ‘The question of a caucus is being very generally discussed among the democrats of the House, but nothing has been decided on, and no one knows just what to look for. Caucuses seldom accomplish anything. but as they do not know what else to do some think the best thing is to assemble together and talk it out. In this connec- tion the proposition is made that custom should be violated and the Speaker should be asked to preside over the caucus. What is desired to be avoided if a caucus is held is endless discussion of theories, and it is thought that there might be some chance of reaching a conclusion if one preposition after another of all those which have been made could be put to a vete and the sense of the party taken. Some of the most observant members of the House are now satisfied that the Car- lisle biil—or rather, the substitute—which will be voted on tn place of the original bill, will be defeated in the House, and that it will be incumbent upon the ma- jority to determine what they will do and then go ahead at once and do it. Must Have a Definite Policy. To accomplish anything they must fix upon some definite general policy—either that they will adopt the principle of the Carlisle plan or will not; that they will authorize the issue of bonds or will not; that they will extend the function of is- suing currency to the state banks or will not. It is seen that as far as the Carlisle plan is concerned the mistake was made of reporting a bill befere the pelicy of the party was fixed. Such shrewd observers as Culberson of Texas think that the bill is going to be defeated, and an Issue of 2 per cent bonds, upon which to contmue the present national bank system, and through which the greenbacks will be re- tired, will be ultimately authorized. It is felt that it ought to be determined in caucus whether a majority of the party are in favor of the issue of bends ’and the perpetuation of the national bank system, and whether or not they want to have a state bank currency under any conditions. What Mr. Coombs Says. Representative Coombs says that in his opinion there is no use in having a caucus unless it is presided cver by the very best presiding officer they have, and the ques- tions involving the policy of the party are put promptly, one after another, until the sentiment of a majority Is ascertained. hey should then, in his judgment, pro- ceed to determine how those things must wercrally favored, which are not antago- nistic to eacheother, may be combined. He has a great deal of faith in the proposition to Issue bonds as a basis of Mank note cur- rency and to retire all the legal tender notes. He would permit an issue of notes up to par of 2 per cent bonds, and would let the state banks become banks of issue on the same security. To procure greater elasticity in case of emergency he would, where banks do not take cut on bonds a currency to exceed 75 per cent of their capital stock, permit issue of notes to the amount of 25 per cent of their capital stock in interest-bearing notes. A New Rule Wanted. One trouble about getting the bill now before the House Into such a shape as to fully meet the appreval of a majority is that the rules of the House do not give sufficient latitude of amendment. It is as- sumed by the rules that a bill has been put through all the preliminary prepara- tion in the committee. In the present in- stance, however, the committee practically returned the measure to the House without consideration, and asked the House to do all the work, as if 1t were to the committee. This renders desirable greater latitude of amendment and substituuion than ordinary, and it is believed that a rule giving ex- ceptional oppprtunity for substitution, as weil as fixing the time for a final vote, will be reported trom the committee, — SfOUX INDIANS. THE Cenference of Agents to Meet This Some time ago the Department of the In- terior began to realize that its Indian pol- fey lacked In plan and purpose. With a view to blocking out a plan of action and getting ‘light on the needs of the Indian, with especial reference to the Sioux na- tion, the Secretary of the Interior issued a call for a-conference to convene on the 7th instant, at which there should be pres- ent himself, Judge Browning, commissioner of Indian affairs, and the agents from the Sioux egencies of Standing Rock, Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Cheyenne River, Rose- bud and Pine Ridge, and also the agents from the Chippewa agency of White Earth, the Shoshone agency. La Poima and Fort Berthold. The unsatisfactory condition of the Indians at Pine Ridge and Rosebud agencies, so far as agriculture is concern- ed, bas been the subject of uneasiness with the department for some time. The agents will discuss this matter thoroughiy. The question of irrigation will be discuss. and if it should be decided that this pol! would be a antageous, a great irrigation scheme may be r2commended. Cattle rais- ing will come in for its share of considera- tion. The conference will probably last several days, and it is believed will be pro- ductive of mueh good in the direction of suggestions locking to a solution of the vexing Stoux problem. The agenis who have already arrived in the city are Cap’. Roe from Shoshone agency, Lieut. Mercer from La Pointa and Capt. Clapp from Fort Berthok —~ e+ SUGAR IMPORTERS’ HEARING. A Committce to Meet Secretary Car- Male at the Treasury Tomorrow. Secretary Carlisle tomorrew will give a hearing to a cemmittee of the Sugar Im- perters’ Association of New York on sev- eral customs questions affecting their in- terests. One of these questions to be argued will be that of determining the ‘value of fmported sugars. The present law fixes an lorem rate and in no case re of the ar to be rated low invoice price. It will be contended im many cases the involce price is than the polariscove test would The committce will ask tha miform method of determining value the importers who George Mosle, chairman, at Thompaen has © look a Southern Fruit and Vegetable Crop Will Be Short. Lecal Commission Merchants on the Failure—Oranges From Califor- min and Abroad. The frosts in the gulf states have hurt the market very considerably. Oranges are becoming a bit scarce, and the pros- pect fs that there will be considerable diffi- culty in getting supplies of the early vege- tables that usually come about this time from the far southern states. The report is verified that the cntire crange crop in Florida is destroyed. One of the leading commission merchants said today that he has had private advices that go to show that the loss is complete,.A resident of this city, he said, told him this morning that his own grove, whith has a very large annual output, will not give a bushel of oranges this vear on accomnt of the sudden and intense cold that swept. over the state last weck. As yet the effect is not very marked, for there has not been time for the freights ceming in to be affected by the disaster. It is likely that by the first part of next week the supply will begin to run short, and then there may ge quite an orange famine. There 1s, however, another source of supply, and that is the California grove, which is sufficiently prolitic to furnish fruit for a large part of the country. Ow- ing to the great difference im freight rates, however, the Florida oranges have thd call on the eastern markets. There is not much business done here with California oranges except in just such emergencies as this. Then, too, there is sure to be a great importation of Sicily oranges, which are quite abundant this year, it is*re- perted. Jamaica, too, furnishes: quite a supply early in each season, until the Florida crop has got under way, and then the importations from the islands begin to drop off. ‘The foreign fruit cannot compete with the domestic stock, owing to the cost of transportation. It would seém that there-is an-effort hée- ing made by some orange operators in California to corner the ‘market there’ in view of the Florida disaster. Reports have come east from San Bernardino, Cal:,: to the effect that within the last few days buyers of the fruit have been active in picking up choice lots at an advantageous price. The news of the frosts in Florida caused a rise from 5 cents to $1 a box. Extra fine gradés are being held by the growers at from $1.10 to $1.50 a box. It is the opinion of the merchant with whom The Star reporter talked today that any effort to corner the market will result sadly for the operators, for the Sicilian and Jamaica supply is too easily reached. Beans, cabbages and some other vege- tables are being received in small quan- tities, and it is thought that the frosts will have the effect of cutting off this supply for a time. The shortage would not be felt here for a week yet. Cabbages may have been saved, for they are not so sus- ceptible to the frosts as ‘the other earlv growths. If there was time ‘to cover them with straw especially, they could have been saved. It is not known Bere yet just how far the vegetables were injured. If they were wholly destroyed there will be a de- lay in the general supplies of at least a month. ——.—— |; PROPOSED BRIDGE. for Memorial Across Potoma: Ex-Serator John B, Henderson “of Mis- sourl, Mr. J. E. Clements, Col.’ J. EB. Sickels, Frank Hume, G. W. Mankins, George Kearney and A. T. Holzman called at the recm of the House committee on interstate and foreign commerce this morning to have a talk with Chairman Wise upon the bil: for the proposed bridge across the Poto- mac river from the old naval observatory grounds to the Arlington reservation. One consideraticn which is being urged upon Congress for the construction of this bridge by the government is the advantage which the United States will derive from the ap- preciaticn of the waste land which it owns. upon the Virginia side. There are several hundred acres of uncultivated and ‘unused land in the Arlington reservation, and: the advocates of the bridge say that this land would immediately become salable as building lots upon the construction of the bridge. It is claimed that the cost ofthe bridge would be defrayed many times over by the sale of the land thus made market- able Sy It is undersiood that there is a disposi- tion vpon the part of some of the mem- bers of the committe: to require the Dis- trict to pay half the cost of the bridge; upon the grcund that while it is true the government will use the bridge to a great extent and derive a great deal of advan- tage from it, together with the fact that the residents of Virginia are also vitally interested in it, the District should pay be- cause the bridge affords access to Wash- ingten. ————— DISTRICT APPROPRIATIONS. Arg T Structure The Bill t. Be Reported to Committee Shortly. The House subcommittee on appropria- tions having charge of the District appro- priation bill expect to meet this week and try to close their work on the bill and re- port {t to the full committee. Mr. Dockery of the subcommittee, who has been in Mis- souri during the holiday recess, is expect- ed to return to Washington this evening or tomorrow morning. Gen, Coggwell of Mas- sachusetts, who has been very 1H at his home in Salem for two months, returned to the city this week and will, resume his congressional duties. Loo 2 It is understood that not a great deal of work remains to be done upon’ the bill, and it will probabiy be reported to the full committee and to the House before the end of next week. —_—_——__-e--___ Medals of Honor Awarded. Assistant Secretary Doe has awarded a medal of honor to William H. Withington of Jackson, Mich., brevet brigadier general, for distinguished gallantry tn voluntarily remaining on the field under heavy fire at the battle of Bull Run, July, 1861, to aid and succor his superior officer, Gen. O. B. Wilcox, who had falien from a wound, re- sulting In the capture of both officers. A medal has been awarded to J. C. Julius Langbein, late of company B, ninth New York volunteers, Hawkins’ zouaves, in vol- untarily going to the eid of a wounded officer under heavy fire at the battle of Camden, April, 1862. —+ Appointments at the Navy Yard. The Secret».y of the Navy today ap- pointed H. ©. Giles to be master mechante at the Washington gun foundry, In place of M. A. Lynch, who was recently pro- moted to the foremanship of the gun shops. At the recent examination to fill the last named place Mr. Giles made a high average, and was second to Mr. Lynch, the successful competitor. + e+ —_____. Col. Lieber W Suceced Swaim. It is expected that the nomination of Col. Guido Norman Lieber to be judge ad- voecate general of the army, to succeed Gen. Swaim, retired, will be sent to Con- gress tomorrow. Col. Lieber is at present acting judge advocate general, a position he has filled since 1884, ‘til Piling Up in Heaps at the Wharves. NO PLAN DECIDED ON Serious Danger in Case There Should Be a Thaw. OFFICIALS PERPLEXED ———— The garbage problem remains unsolved and the garbage pile at the foot of G street wharf is assuming startling proportions. Nor is this all. Dead animals are being piled up at the foot of South Capitol street and altogether the situation is more ag- gravated and alarming every day. ‘That the Commissioners are determined to compel the contractors to carry out the contract is not doubted, but how or when the accumulated garbage will be removed fg-a° question that no one seems competent to answer. Representatives of the Fidelity Company of Baltimore, which, as the bondsmen of the. old National Sanitary Company, is prosecuting the contract, appeared before the ‘Commissioners this morning and asked for instructions, adding that the company was not only willing, but anxious, to carry out ‘the terms of its contract and take the garbage outside of the limits of the*city. When Commissioner Ross arrived at the District building this morning he found Mr. S. P. Bayly, manager for the garbage contractors, waiting for an interview. He was accompanied by Mr. J. N. Wartield, brother of the president of the Fidelity Company, and Mr. C. Z. Landreau, general inspector. Manager Bayly explained the situation. He»said it was more aggravated than it was Monday, when The Star first called attenticn to the condition of affairs. Mr. Bayly said: “Gentlemen, I desire to report that the contractors for removing garbage are powerless to take away the garbage that has been piled at the G street wharf by:.reason of the ice in the river, which prevented its transportation. We have offered to pay double rate for scows, but could not get.one to do the work. The ice is increasing in thickness every day, and I see no prospect of getting rid of the gar- bage for some time to come.” Some Suggestions. Commissioner Powell asked how thick the ice was. ‘About four inches,” replied Mr. Bayly. “That is thick enough to bear the weight ofa team. Why, since the channel is open, could the scows not be brought up opposite the wharf and loaded? Or, better still, why net put a force of men to work with wheel- barrows, and load the scows?”" While such a scheme may be feasible,” rejeined Mr. Bayly, “and it may be posst- ble: to load the scows, provided we could get them, where are we to deposit this garbage? The authorities of Maryland and Virginia have repeatedly prohibited us from landing scows loaded with garbage in either state. So, even though it were Bossible to get the scows outside of the eity limits, where is the garbage to be dumped?” “What's the matter with dumping it in the river?” suggested Commissioner Ross. “Why, there’s a United States statute against that, and we would be Hable to a fine of $1,000 for each offense.”” “At that rate,’ rejoined the Commissioner with a twinkle in his eye, “you would have been Hable to a fine of a great many thou- sand dollars last summer, for the report ¥.as current that many a load of garbage was emptied into the river.” “True enough,” said Mr. Bayly, “but we were never caught, and consequently there is no proof that such were the facts,” “The Commissioners have nothing to do with where you put this garbage, so long as you get it outside of the city limits,” said Capt. Powell, returning to the original proposition of getting rid of the garbage. “The District is in no way responsible as to where you put it, and the Commission- ers are not required to provide a place for you to deposit it.” i “The contract states,” replied Mr. Bayly, “that the garbage must be deposited be- yond the limits of the District, at such point or points approved by the health officer. If the Commissioners will desig- nate a point where this garbage can be deposited, I promise you the contractors will not be found wanting. As the situa- tion now exists, we cannot even haul it into Maryland or Virginia by teams, and se, you see, we are barred all around from doing anything.” In Case of Thaw. Commissioner Ross said: “You can cer- tainly take it outside of the District on scows.”’ “We might be able to do that and dump it.in the river, if we could get the neces- sary authority. Would it not be practicable to get a joint resolution through Congress giving us permission to do that?” “That would hardly be possible,” said Commissioner Ross. “There is not time enough, and then I hardly think it would be possible to get such a resolution through.” “L's just this,” said Capt. Powell: ‘‘When a thaw comes the stench will be awful.” “The garbage is so piled that it could be transported in a very short space of time after a dump is located,” volunteered In- spector Landrean. here are your scows now?” said Mr. addressing Manager Bayly. ‘ ey are frozen in down the river some- whe! There are three of them there and they, cannot be moved. All of them are frozen tight in shallow water and no tug could get to them to break them out.” “You say the river is frozen over?’ que- ried Capt. Powell. “Yes, sir, that is correct.” Must Be Done. “But the steamboats are plying between here and Norfolk and the channel must be free. Get your scows in the channel opposite your wharf, and load them by wheelbarrows.”” “I have already said, captain, that even were this possible we have no place to de- posit it outside of the District. We don’t know what to do with it afterwards.” “That's not the business of the Commis- sioners,” said Capt. Powell, rather testily. “We are ready to carry out your orders, gentlemen, but you can’t expect us to work impossibilities.”” “I think you ought to carry it away from Washington. It must be done,” said Com- migsfoner Ross. ‘tien’ there was a long silence, during which Capt. Powell busied himself reading the following letter from President War- field of the Fidelity Company to the Com- miisgionefs, which says: ' “Moursfof the 31st ultimo in regard to garbage matters received. I thank you for giving me this notice, and assure you that steps will be immediately taken to comply with your wishes. I have instructed Mr. Bayly and our other representatives to ar- range for the removal of the garbage now deposited on the wharf.” Then there was a sign of life among the garbage people, and Manager Bayly said: “The contractors do not want to shake any responsibility, but no contractor can control the elements, and during each spree of weather such as we have recently experienced it is physically impossible to remove the refuse cf the eity in scows. The removal of this matter beyond the lin&ts of the District by land was out of the question, the authorities of both states having forbidden the contractor to deposit the refuse of the city within their ter- ritory.”” To hivestigate. Harbor Master Suttof*pat ih an early ap- pearance at the Commissioners’ office. He said the river wae frozen over, and the ferry boats were having considerable diffi- culty getting through. He had investigat- ed the garbage sftuatfon and found it bad enough. All day yesterday he~had tried to et scows: to talre:the garbage away, but was unsuceessful:’:The owners were afraid of the ice demolishing their scows. Tug- boats could be obtained ‘to break the ice, but scows were: unobtainable. Inspector Beggs looked over the situation yesterday, and found it-substantially as set forth in Monday’s Star. The tce was thick near the wharf and ft was impossible to get scows: near {t.. He could suggest no way out of the dit Commissioner Ross said, .when asked what he thought of the sttuation: “It is a condition, not a theory, that con- fronts us. While the garbage is piled up in large quantities on the wharf, Le frozen, and there is no odor from it. You can depend upon it that before a thaw comes the Commissioners will have that garbage removed. We are going to deal with this matter immediately.” Harbor Master Sutton was dispatched to the wharf at noon with instructions to make a full report upon the conditions there. The Contract. Health Officer Woodward, in conversa- tion with a Star reperter this afternoon, said that the garbage will be removed be- fore it is a menace to the health of any- bedy. It will be removed, he said, either by the contractor or the District. He recognizes the fact that it is impracticable to haul it over the snow and ice-covered roads just at present, and heretofore, he said, the railroads have refused to haul it. He refcrred to that portion of the contract which reads: “All loss cr damage due to negligence or arising out of the nature of the work to be done, or from-any unforeseen or unusual obstructions or difficulties which may be encountered in the prosecution of the same, er from the action of the elements, will be sustained by the contractors.”” Under this clause, he said, the contractors are clearly liable for any loss that may be caused by the elements, and another part of the contract referred to reads: “Shall transport all garbage, refuse ani- mal and vegetable matter, condemned food and dead animals so collected beyond the Umits of the District of Columbia (or in- cinerate the same at such place as the Commitsioners of the said District shall designate).”” This clause, Dr. Woodward says, imposes upon tke contractors the duty of removing the garbage to a place beyond the District limits, and this clause, he said, the Com- missioners will enforce, even if they have to resort to the railroads. ‘The garbage, he said,'wjll-not be offen- sive so long as the weather’remains cold, but, he said, there is bound to be a troubled period unless the garbage, is removed be- fore the thaw. 4 Dend Hotsen. A Star reporter this afternoon visited the wharf at the foot of Senth Capitol street, where the dead animals are taken to be Icaded on scows for reiioyal, and also the } goveriment wharf at the river end of G street northwest, the spot on which the garbage gatherers dump their collections. A seore of dead horges,\ miles and cows, frozen. stiff, were lying, “with legs ing skyward, on the South Capitol si t whart. There was ho stench whatsoever percepti- ble, but with a few days of warm weather the,condition of affairs af that point would surely. become alarming. - The’ animals have. been accumulating for — week, and the pile is likely to be- rt at any moment. There is no reflef possible until a passage ‘s made through the ice for the boat which transports the carcasses. When the river is free of ice the dead animala.are started down stream within a few minutes after they reach the wharf A gang of men was employed today at the edge of the South Capitol street wharf cut- ting’and pulling ashore blocks of ice, which were loaded into carts and taken away for storage in an ice house. This was going on within ten feet of the carcasses, and a by- stander remarked that the attention of the health officer should be called to the mat- ter, as, it was claimed, it is sible for the ice to become contarninat by near ap- proach to the animals. Pile of Garbage. A huge pile of garbage, little short of 200 tons, is at present located on the G street wharf, and is being added to every few minutes, at the rate of 40 tons a day. Had it not been for the; impediment to navigation in the river, every scrap of such refuse would disappear pefore nightfall daily. ‘The mass {s frozen throughout. The reporter sniffed to the best of his ability at the pile from all sides, and could detect not as much odor as is usually noticeable about a swill barrel, but, as in the case of the horses, with a few days, or perhaps a few hours, of milder temperature than now prevails the state of affairs would un- doubtedly assume a dangerous aspect. Ice at this point is about five inches thick. Harbormaster Sttton journeyed to the wharf this afternoon In company with Capt. Henry Brown of Baltimore. The latter is the owner of the heavy tugs which were employed in clearing the Po- tomac channel durirg the extended freeze two years ago. Although it would be a comparatively easy matter for such tugs to pass through the present field of ice, the conclusion was reached by Mr. Sutton and Capt. Brown that the ice would cut through the garoage scows and. render them useless. Eve were they sheathed with iron, it was stated, they would not then be rendered ice proof. Harbormaster Sutton has not entertained for a moment the proposition to throw the garbage into the river, for the reason that it is a punishable offense to do so. Thus every one seems to be at a loss what to do in regard to the matter, but, as stated, the garbage continues to accumulate at the rate of nearly half a hundred ‘tons per day. 5 ee ASKED CARLISLE’S REMOVAL. Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, Representing New York Buvkers, Made the Request. The statement is made this afternoon, with strong evidence of truth, that J. Pier- pont Morgan, the New York banker, called upon President Cleveland. Monday, repre- senting certain New York bankers, and made a formal request for tite removal of Secretary Carlisle from the cabinet. The grounds for his request are under- stood to be that the Secretary has not kept faith with the bankers, ‘through whose agency the bond issue was floated, and that he was not demonstrating suftable capacity in handling the financial qaffairs of the country. y It is understood that ‘ithe President did not say anything to Mr Carlisle about the matter until yesterday, when he notified him of Mr. Morgan's visit and the details of his demand, and. said that this had not changed his feeling toward the Secretary. 2+ Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received for re- demption today, $300,507. Government re- ceipts—from internal revenue, © $478,975; customs, $345,033; miscellaneous, $60,62: Coinage During December. The total coinage at the mints during December was 10,835,384 pleces, of the value of $3,456,663. Of this amount $2,072,- O42 was in gold, $1,210,028 in silver, and $114,503 in minor cofns. —e Bank Receiver Appointed. ‘The controller of the currency has ap- ted Hon. Jim Stevens receiver of the Central National Bank of Rome, N. Y. oe Personal Mention. Birst Lieut. C. B,° Baker, seventh in- fantry, aid-de-camp to Gen. McCook, is stepping at 1741 Q street. TROUBLE AHEAD) THE CORCORAN GALLERY AND OUT OF BELGIUM Administration's Financial Proposi- tion to Be Severely Arraigned. Tt 8 BETWEEN TWO HOT FIRES The Republican Charges and Those by Silver Democrats. THE REAL DIFFICULTY Se If current expression in town may be taken as a guide, the administration's financial proposition is booked for a severe arraignment within the next few days. ‘The republican leaders and the silver demo- crats unite in the opinion that the question is now in a most confused state, and ought to be thoroughly examined before anything 1s done. Upon the whole, they think that the advancing and withdrawing of first this thing and then that has put the adminis- tration-at so serious a disadvantage that it is now reduced almost to a condition of helplessness. ‘They will not agree that there 1s now even a definite proposition be- fore Congress. he administration, they believe, will take anything it can get that bears any resemblance to what originally was requested. The two fires between which the admin- istration is placed are so hot that old ob- servers hesitate to predict the resuit. The republicans make one accusation, and the silver democrats another. But the gist of both charges is that the administration is not dealing with entire frankness, either with Congress or the country. The Republican Charge. The republican charge is that the tariff is at the bottom of the whole difficulty. ‘The first question to be settled, as they see the matter, is a provision for enough reve- rue to pay the running expenses of the government. They insist, therefore, that instead of talking about authority for the sale of low-rate bonds to keep the treasury’s gold reserve intact, Secretary Carlisle ought to confess the real situa- tion and ask Congress to take immediate steps for raising more revenue at the cus- toms houses or by additional internal taxa- tion. If he will do this—and ‘hey declare that the truth of the situation demands it—they will aid him in every way in their power. Then will come the question of more morey by a new adjustment of the currency, with such safeguards as ought to be thrown around a matter so impor- tant. The one question, they hold, could be settled in a very short time, and this would tide the country over its present difficulties. The other, the currency ques- tion proper, could be thought out more at leisure and be referred even for a partial popular verdict at next fall’s state elec- tions. » What the Silver Democrats § The silver democrats, all of whom are tariff reformers and helped to make the Wiison bill, refuse to accept any such ex- planation” of the case. They express the opinion that the tariff law, if permitted to stand, will justify itself and bring money enough into the treasury. The only changes they will even discuss relate rather to fur- ther reductions than to increases in rev- enue. They refuse to see anything more in existing embarrassments then a capitalistic scheme for forcing interest-bearing obliga- tions from the government for the enrtch- ment of eastern bankers. One of the most prominent of the silver men from the south within the past few days, in conversation with a cabinet officer, declared that nothing ought to be done in the premises by Con- gress upon any line which did not have first in view the checking of the rapacity of the east. In his opinion, this putting of gold into the treasury one month and draw- ing it out the next is no better than a bun- co game. He predicts even that if it is not broken up it will be improved upon by its designers until they will be able to force the government into the market as a bor- rower at their pleasure. He suggests that, if no change is made, the gold dollars ought actually to be bored in the center and strings run through, so that the bank- ers and brokers can receive back at their own convenience the identical pieces they may have left on that sort of special de- posit. What Makes the Difficulty. While criticism is so free, and in Some quarters so fierce, there are no suggestions that do not involve a surrender of the ad- ministration’s whole case. This makes the difficulty. The President -and Secretary Carlisle are determined to prevent, if pos- sible, the bringing of affairs down to a silver basis. The credit of the country, in their judgment, would not, could not, sur- vive such a result. Holders of the govern- ment’s obligations of whatever character must be assured of a redemption in gold if they desire and demand it, or a general crash will swiftly follow. No difference can be made between a syndicate of bank- ers or a single individual at the treasury'’s counter. But the silver men urge that a difference is permissible and should be, made. Let the individual in the transac- tion of legitimate business have gold upon his demand for it, but let the syndicates be warned that if they appear at any time with a fresh batch of government netes in their hands, to take back for the purpose of speculation the gold they have only recently paid into the treasury for bonds, such of the notes as the Secretary of the Treasury may, under the law, ex- ercise his option upon will be redeemed in silver. To the objection advanced that the syndicates offer only greenbacks, the sil- ver men reply that the bare threat, with a meaning behind it, of a purpose on the part of the governirent to exercise its cption in the redemption of treasury notes would exercise a restraining influence on the money power everywhere. The re- sponsibility, as the silver men assert, would then be thrown upon the money power. It would be for the bankers of the east then to decide whether or not to force the hand of the government prior to a distinct appeal to the people on the whole money question, shaken clear of the tariff and all other kindred problems. What the Silver Men Want. This makes it ertirely plain that the sil- ver men want Secretary Carlisle to make, over his official signature, the announce- ment accredited to him in the spring of 1898 about redeeming a treasury note with a silver dollar. This purpose, it will be re- membered, was denied both ty Mr. Car- lisle and the Presiaent. But the silver men insist that the declaration on the Secre- tary’s part of such a purpose now would not only be a wise and timely act, without any injury whatever to the public credit, but would go far toward breaking up what they term “the gold bug conspiracy in New York.” Some of them think that that path would lead to the next democratic nomina- tion for the presidency. None of them, however, expect to see Mr. Carlisle take it. —_____-oe.____ Testing a Rifle. A three-inch.-rifle, with Fletcher breech mechanism, manufactured at the Washing- ton navy yard, is undergoing a test at the naval proving grounds today, similar to that to which the Driggs gun of the same caliber was recently subjected. —__-e. Promotion Recommendations. The President has approved the recom- mendations of the examining -boards look- ing tothe promotion to the next higher grades of Lieut. A.\V. Wadhams, Surgeon Jos. B. Parker and Assistant Surgeon\L, H. Stone, United States navy. _E, De Haven of Missouri, clerks, $1,200. | Watts’ “Love and Life” to Be Hung on Its Walls, The President Turns the Work Over to the Custody of the Gallery ‘Trustees. ‘The question of the disposition of Watts’ famous painting, “Love and Life,” has been settled. It will hang on the walls of the Corcoran Art Gallery. The President today issued an order turn- ing the picture over to the trustees of the Corcoran Gallery. They will be the cus: todians of it until such time as the proper authorities of the government should ask for its return. The painting will be un- packed today, and tomorrow it will be on exhibition in the Corcoran Gallery. It will be remembered that the: picture, which is considered one of Watts’ master- pieces, was presented to this government shortly after the close of the Chicago ex- position, where it had been on exhibition, to be exhibited in the national art gallery. It was received by the Secretary of State- and by him turned over to the President for such disposition as he should see fit. As there is no national gallery the Prest- dent was at a loss as to where it should be placed on exhibition. He realized, how- ever, that the object for which the gift was made could best be attained by making the Corcoran Gallery its custodian, and as the well founded apprehension that the picture was in danger of injury by remaining packed so long in the basement of the White House had considerable weight with him, he issued the order at once, and, as stated, the picture will be on exhibition to- morrow. —o+____. A SPECIAL MESSAGE. ‘ The President May Send One in Dis- cussing the Currency Question. It is said that the President is considering the expediency of sending a special mes- sage to Congress urging patriotic, non-par- tisan and harmonious action in providing an improved. currency system. According to the sarhe authority, the matter will be settled at'Friday’s meeting of the cabinet. It is known that the President takes a deep personal interest in the currency question, and that he has lately had several long conferences at different times with Secre- tary Carlisle, Controller Eckels, Speaker Crisp, Representative Springer and other Congressmen on the subject. He indorsed the Carlisle plan in his annual message and has since personally expressed his ap- proval of the substitute measure, amended to meet the objections to the original. Rep- resentative Springer, who has been almost a daily visitor at the White House since the House began consideration of the cur- rency measure, is credited with being a strong advocate of a special message, as calculated to bring the democratic ma- jority together on this question. 2 ARMY AND NAVY CHANGES. An Unusual Nuinber of Retirements to _. Take Place This Year. The year just opened will be marked in its progress by an unusual number of im- portant cKangés in the army and navy, as the result of retirements in all grades, fromthe. highest to the lowest. Maj. Gen. J. M. Schofield, commanding the army, will be placed‘cn the retired list September 20. Maj. Gen. A. McD. Mc- Cook, commanding the Department of Col- orado, will leave the active list April 22. The corps of engineers and the pay corps lose their two ranking officers—Brig. Gen T. L. Casey. chief of engineers, who will retire May 10, and Brig. Gen. William Smith, paymaster general, March 26. Col. G. H. Mendell, engineer corps, will retire October 12, and Col. H. L. Abbot August 13. Other officers of this corps who will be relegated to the retired list are Col. C. B. Comstock, February 3, and Col. G. H. El- liott, March 31. Maj. William H. Eckels of the pay corps will retire on February 11. In the quartermaster general's depart- ment Col. H. C. Hodges will be dropped from the active list January 14, and Col. J. D. Bingham May 16. In the medical de- partment Col. J. R. Smith will retire April 18, and Maj. R. 8. Vickery December 7. Lieut. Col. J. N. Gilman, assistant commis- sary general, will retire November 11, and Lieut. Col. William Winthrop, deputy judge advocate general, August 3. The line officers of the army who will be relegated to the retired list are Capt. W. N. Tisdall, first infantry, gipril Col. E. €. Mason, third infantry, May 81; Capt. G. L. Lahn, fourth infantry, February 19; Col. P. T, Swaine, twenty-second infantry, January 21; Capt. F. M. Cromdall, twelfth infantry, May 12; Capt. R. L. Livingston, third artillery, February 12, and Capt. Os- car Elling, third cavalry, August 8 Post Chaplain J. D. Parker will retire Septem- ber 8. ‘The only rear admiral to retire this year is Admiral Jas. A. Greer, president of the naval examining board, who will be reie- gated to the retired list February 28. Com- modore E. E. Potter will retire May 9% Of the staff officers, Medical Director R. C. Dean will be first to retire, on May 27. Medical Director A. L. Gihon, the ranking cfficer of his corps, follows on September 28. Pay Inspector Goldsborough will be the only officer of his corps to retire during the year. His active duties will end on October 9. The engineer corps will lose three officers by retirement, Chiet En- gineers Elijah Laws on March 20, B. B, H. Wharton on June 13, and Tnomas William- son on August 5. Engineer-in-Chief- Mel- ville’s term of office as chief of the bureau of engineering will expire on August 9, but it is generally belleved that he will be re- appointed for a third term. + e+______ Interior Department Changes. The following official changes in the De- partment of the Interior were announced today: <e Patent office—Appointments: Harry W. Bowen of Massachusetts, fourth assistant examiner, $1,200; Robert C. Schoenborn of Maryland, model attendant, $800. Promo- tion: Clifford K. Berryman of Kentucky, model attendant, $800, to copyist, $900. Resignation: Henry G. Strong of Wiscon- sin, fourth assistant examiner, $1,200. Pension office—Resignation: Giles Rush of Illinois, clerk, $1,600. Geological survey—Appointment Rich- ard M. Webster of Kentucky, clerk, $900. General land office—Appgintment: Fred’k . Livings of Indiana, transcriber, $600. Office of Indian affairs—Appointment: Crawford T. Johnson of Tennessee, copy- ist, §900. Promotions: Frank Govern of New York, clerk, $1,000 to $1,200; Miss Fannie Cadel of Maryland, copyist, $900, to sjerk, $1,000. Resignations: Mrs.’ Marilla ‘Wakefield of Massachusetts, and Samuel Cc. Wm. Hamilton of Pennsylvania, assist- ant general agent of education in Alaska, has been promoted from $1,200 to $1,500. <2. —______. The Minnenpolis. In order to save the big cruiser Minne- apolis from possible danger from drifting ice in the Delaware river, that vessel has been ordered to leave her anchorage off League Island as soon as possible and to Proceed to Norfolk. Chief Naval Con- structor Hichborri, who has just returned from an official visit to the League Island navy yard, reports that the vessel is appar- ently ready for sea, but is tied up at the dock to escape the ice drift as much as possible. ° Importation of American Live Cattle Forbidden. RETALIATING ON THE UNITED STATES Germany's Fight for Her Sugar Industry. WHAT IS SAID HERS CHICAGO, January 2.—Nelson Morris hag @ cablegram from his agent at Antwerp that the Belgian government has prohibited the importation of live cattle from the United States, on the ground that pleuro- Pneumonia is prevalent in this countrys This closes all the ports of continental Europe against American cattle and beef products, and leaves to the exporter only, the British market, which in its present condition is not a desirable one. This is in addition to the embargo on dressed beef and packed goods, which has been in force in most of the European countries for some time. ‘ According to Mr. Morris, Belgium is merely following the lead of Austria, Ger= many, France and other European nations in taking retaliatory measures against th@ United States for the abolition of the reci- procity treaties, under which their sugar industry prospered. Officials.of the Department ot Agriculture said that they were not surprised at the action of Belgium in excluding American cattle from her ports. She is one of the countries closely allied with Germany tn her commercial interests and it was ex- pected that she would follow the example of her more powerful neighbor in this mate ter as Denmark has already done. It tg believed that Germany has been bringing her influence to bear upon adjoining na- tions to effect the complete exclusion of American meats. While this belief is not susceptible of proof it is thought that its accuracy would be strikingly demonstrate@ by the promptness with which Europe would decide that our meats are pure if Congress should abolish the sugar duties, Dr. Sa%mon, chief of the bureau of anl- mal industry, says that there has been no pleuro-pneumonia in the United States for two years and that the several cases which foreign inspectors have thought they dis- covered have been proven by investigation to be false alarms. The department has furnished to the State Department statements of the thor- oughness of the American system of in- spection and expert proof of the impossi- bility of the transmission of Texas fever, the first alleged cause for the existing meat complications, Some of the agricultural officials are in- clined to believe that the faction of the German parliament which opposes the ex- clusion policy of the agrarians may suc- ceed and that the possibilities of a tariff war may be averted. ‘ (a FOUR MURDERERS ESCAPE. NASHVILLE, Tenn, January 2—A. J. L. Roddick, Andrew Winter, George Alex~ ander and C. D. Kiger, held for murder, and confined in the county jail, made their escape last night by sawing the bars. The escape was effected some time be- tween 9 o'clock last night and 4 o'clock this morning. It is supposed that Winters, who was intrusted with the keys to the cage, released the other men during the night, and with the aid of a saw, furnished by friends on the outside; they were able to saw the bolts of the fire escape door. Officers are in pursuit of the fugitives, all of whom are awaiting trial. Roddick was charged vith the murder of Deputy United States Marshal Smith at Tracy. City; Alexander with killing two men in Lincoln county; Kiger was recently con- victed of the murder of Buck Smith in Rutherford county and Winters was await- ing trial on the charge of killing a toll. gate keeper in vidson county. % TOOK WHISKY AND MORPHINE. Suicide of, Charles Kohler of San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, January 2—Charles Kohler, head of the firm of Kohler & Frohe ling, leading whclesale wine merchants of this city, committed suicide at the Ham- mam bathg early this morning by means of morphine. He had been drinking a great deal, and @ year ago took the Keely cure. He began to drink again and to such an extent that a few days ago he was deprived of the right to issue checks on behalf of the firm, This preyed upon his mind so that he end- ed his life. He -was very well known in this city and throughout the state. About a month ago Kohler attempted to commit suicide by the same drug in the same place. He placed the morphine in a quart of whisky which he drank. ——— JUDGE VINSO! RETIREMENT. It Will Take Place on Saturday Owing to Age Limitation, } Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. BALTIMORE, Md., January 2.—Judge John T. Vinson of Rockville, associate judge of the sixth judicial circuit, called on Gov. Brown today ani notified him that ha would retire from the bench on Saturday, owing to the fact tha: on Sunday next, the 6th instant, he would be seventy years old, and would be constitutionally disqualified from holding the place any longer. The last session of the general assembly rey fused, on partisan grounds, to extend Judgq Vinson’s term, owing to the fact that he ta a republican. S Gov. Brown says that he will not appoini Judge Vinson’s successor until he has heai from the people of the.circuit. The candie dates for the appointment are State Sene ator Hattersley, W. Talbott and Messrs. Thomas Anderson, Wm. V. Bowie end Henderson, all democrais. As the other judges of the circuit, McSherry and Lynch, are both residents of Frederick county, ac- cording to the constitution, Judge Vinson’ successor must be a residsnt of Montgomi- ery county. Ex-Senator Edward Wooten called on the governor today to urge the appointment of! Mr. Thomas Anderson, his brother-in-law. —_—.—_ SENATOR WOLCOTT NOMINATED. Joint Caucus of the Republican Legis< Intors of Colorado, DENVER, Col., January 2—The republi- memiers of the legislature in joint session last night unanimously nominated | U. 8. Senator Wolcott to succeed himself. ‘yhe Senator's re-election being thus se-/ cured, his quarters in this city have been ciosed. ————— Senator Dolph Confident. PORTLAND, Oreg., January 2.—Senator, J. H, Dolph has arrived here from Wash-; ington to remain until after the election of; a United States Senator by the legislature, which meets January 14. Senator Dolph is confident of re-election, 3