Evening Star Newspaper, January 16, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenne, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. telat arias New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star Is erved to subscribers tn the city by carriers, om their own account, at 10 ernts per week, or 44 cents per month. opies at the counter cents each. y mall—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 cents per imonth. Saturday Quint Sheet Star, $1 per year, with $3.00. ost Oifice at Washington, D. C., 8 mail matter.) Ghe Even ny Star. No. 13,063 ONE DOLLAR GAS Something of an Explosion at a Senate Committee Hearing. 10 SELL OUT ALLEGED PROPOSITION By a Company That is Seeking a Charter. LEETCH’S STATEMENT Cn Oe MR. Dollar gas caused quite an explosion yes- terday afternoon at a hearing before. a subcommittee of the Senate District com- mitte Senators Hunton, Faulkner and McMillan sat to hear arguments on the bill that passed the House at the last ses- sion, providing that in the future no more than $1 per 1,000 feet shail be charged for gas in the District, except in case of ar- rears, when $1.2% may be charged. Mr. F. P. %. Sands appeared to contest the second section of the bill, which permits a certain per e of sulphur and ammonia, but requires absolute immunity from sulphuret- ted hydrogen. He argued at some length to show that this practically permitted two impurities that are dangerous to health. He further stated that the section is defi- ent in that it doe: ° it sufficiently plain that the inspect 3 the Dis- trict is to do m an to mevely report any exe f sulphuretted hydrogen to the compan: ection did, it fs true, pro- vide for a penalty being’ inflicted in all cases of conviction of this offense, but it did not require the inspector to go further than to make a report of the impurity to the coi any. ‘The Inspector's Duty. Senator Fauikner was inclined to believe that the Inspector.would be required,’ in the general performance of his duties, to go to the extent of a prosecution. Mr. John Leectch, general superintendent of the Washington Gaslight Company, who was present to repr that corporation, said that und: the existing law the inspector y report to the company, the 2 District and the as- ine Interior. iS proceeded@go present the fea- s of the gas reform bill introduced in House by Mr. Grady of North Carolina time ago. Mr. Grady, he explained, is xctical chemist, and his attention was to the need of a new law on the by the poor quality of his" own which aifected his eycS hen he His bill was given ject ‘shts, tried to work at night. at some length, and Mr. Sands urged that the purity and penalty sections of this measure should be substituted for section 2 of the pending bill. Absolutely Pare Gas. Senator Faulkner ed Mr. Sands if there was such a thing known as absolute purity in illuminating gas? Mr. Sands said that he believed such a thing was not only possible, but easily obtainable. Mr. Faulkner admitted that he had never be- fore heard of abzelutely pure gas, and he sd that such would be required if ions advocated by Mr, Sands were | into law. Senator McMillan re- 1 that absolutely pure gas is not re- quired in any city of the country. Then Mr. Sands came to the front with a proposition. He hes for some months been urging the passage by Congress of a bill granting a charter to a gas company that proposes to furnish illuminating ma- terial to the citizens for 73 cents a thou- cubic feet, aud to the government or city for 60 cents. E “Our company,” he said, “is prepared to furnish absolutely pure gas for’ those fig- 8. We stand ready to give a bond of $200,000 for the strict compliance with the provisions of the bill we are presenting.”” An Alleged Offer to Sell Out. | “Is it not true, Mr. Sands,” asked Sena- tor Hunton, “that a member of the com- pary that you are proposing to charter has recently made an offer to the Wash- ington Ges Light Company to sell out to that company as a consideration for not further pressing that bill?” Mr. Sands expressed the , and amazement. He asked Senator anton for the name of the man who had Qsade such an offer. The Senator said he c net teli him. “I have been Informed greatest sur- a Senator who says he saw the docu- ment,” he went on, “that that offer is new in writing, over the signature of the man who made it.” Senator McMillan as- too, understood that such is now in existence. amazement appeared to in- ed that within a few rd there was a movement certain of the directors woul any to drop him as Its unsel, and he had written at once te the man who controls the patents under which ‘the work is to be done. This man had come to Washington immediately and tell him (Mr. Sands) that there to be no change. and made the proposition that any further business to be transacted about the proposed company should be done t Sands in his office. Wants the Name of the Man. “I shall be very glad to hear the name of the man who has made such an offer to the Washington Gas Light Company,” he cor.tinue warmly. “If I were convinced that such a scheme were on foot I would be the very first man to drop the whole business and let the bill slumber. I would Rot have anything to do with it. “Well, id Senator Hunton, “the only this committee has in the ex- h an offer is its desire to vy whether this effort to obtain a new r is a bona fide desire to establish a business or merely a scheme for le 1 upon the existing company. »w mre, Senator Hunton,” return- ed Mrs warmly, “and you know that I would be a party to any such Meanwhile Senator Faulkner had been I to retire from the committee room ch a train for West Virginia, and proceedii were wholly informal. her hearing was agreed upon for to- 4) o'clock. Mr. Sands asked 3 that they make an effort to to then furnish him with the name man who has made this offer. Leeteh Statement. © the talk ended Mr. 1 made a brief s shington al sup Leetch tement on be- is Light Company. nt of that com- @ probably as the ideas of rintene nd Th acquaintance with R. McLean, tts pr t, in re- its conce as any man’ living. rfectly authorized to say here, for that he w id at no time ent piece for any could ever be obtained from any rival compas or for the 1 of any bill now pending or may ever be pr: 3 Mr. Leetch sald later, while the Senators ving the room, that he had seen uded to and that he oo; " Joined the Associated Press. El Paso Herald has discontinued the and is now served by the As- sonvi je Citizen, the leading aper of Florida, has ned ® con- the Associated Press and begun nt of the servic: the Associated Press report. REVOLT DAVID MARTIN’ It May Involve Serious Consequences to the Pennsylvania Senators. A Belief That He is Backed by the Republican Business Interests of Philadelphia. There is a growing impression in polit- ical circles that the row between Senator Quay and David Martin of Philadelphia is of greater import than was at first sup- posed. On its face it appeared to be merely the revolt of a lieutenant against his ol’ commander. Mr. Quay had de- cided on a candidate for mayor of Phila- delphia, and sent orders to Martin, who controls the republican organization in the city, to get his men in line. To his un- speakable amazement, Martin refused. Mr. Quay sought an interview, confident that whatever the misunderstanding might be it could easily be settled at a personal meeting. But Martin declined that, send- ing word that his course had been chosen, and nothing now could change his policy. ‘The city convention followed, when Mar- tin’s man, and not Quay’s man, was put up for meyor, and following that came Mr. Quay’s angry outburst in the Senate, when he characterized Martin, though not by name, a3 the tool of ‘a Pennsylvania cor- poration, Martin Made by Quay. This one phase of the matter Is consid- ered serious for Mr. Quay. Whether Mar- tin is ungrateful or not is another ques- tion. It 13 not denied that Martin owes his rise in politics to Mr. Quay’s interest,and irfluence. He was picked out by Mr. Quay and rapidly “advanced both in office and committee place over many able local workers, and his conduct is not only de- nounced by Mr. Quay’s friends, but his dis- placement from party place suggested. But the question arises, can this be done? Martin is represented as being a shrewd and capable man, with just the talents requisite for the management of party workers in a large city. He keeps his hand firmly on the machine, and the machine, as now constituted in Philadelphia, though quilt in Quay’s name and with his help, is under Martin's control. It consi ered certain, therefore, that if Martin de- clines a reconciliation with his old chief, and sets out further upon a course of his own, Mr. Quay will be greatly embarrassed in his future operations at heme. Phila- delphia has a large representation in the republican state conventions in Pennsyl- vania, and if this is to be withdrawn from the Quay camp slates cannot be made or smashed with the ease of old. Revolt Against Cameron Also. A late and most important suggestion is, however, that Mr. Quay has not fathomed the real depths of Martin's action. Martin, it is believed, 1s not representing merely one business interest of Philadelphia, but all the republican business interests of the city. Nor, it is sald, is the revolt only against Mr. Quay. Mr. Cameron is aimed at as weil, and the purpose, as is aileged, is to emphasize the disapproval of Mr. Cameron’s course on the silver question felt by the business men of the Quaker city. It Ig idle, it is said, to suppose that Martin, acting under the direction of one corporation, could have accomplished so much on one move against so strong a man as Mr. Quay. He is represented as having, instead, been backed by numerous power- ful republican inttuences, all feeling that the cause of sound finance had been im- paired by Mr. Cameron's vote for free coin- age. ‘This was the first step. The next step, according to report, will be taken in time in some effective way to bring both of the Pennsylvania Senators to a realization of the fact that they are at variance with the views of the constituents whose com- missions they hold. The Next Step. This next step, if taken, cannot long be delayed. Mr. Cameron’s term as Senator expires in March, "97. He will be a candi- date for re-election, and, it is expected, will again be supported by Mr. Quay. The two men have always worked together harmoniously in politics. The combination is regarded as one of exceptional power. Neither man is a speaker, but both possess the executive and organizing capacity in an eminent degree. Mr. Quay is said to be the traveling man of the firm. He visits the different localities, confers with local leaders, receives their reports and gives them instructions. It was in this way he found Martin, pushed him along as a good manager and came in time to rely on him for keeping things straight in Philadelphia. Mr. Cameron is the adviser on the more difficult problems and gives attention only to those problems. Martin’s revolt, it is said, was not only a surprise to him, but its real meaning a puzzle. He had left Martin to Quay, and, while knowing in a general way the man’s value, gave him, himself, no particular attention. Hard Luck on Other Scores. It is observed, too, that Mr. Quay is in hard luck on other scores. His program for fighting the income tax has been re- pudiated by the republican leaders in the Senate. They even ridicule it. He has been forced to abandon it. He had con- ceived the idea of entering upon another long speech, with the intention of block- ing the way of the appropriation bil) con- taining the provision for collecting the in- come tax. His party friends refused to follow him. Mr. Sherman took the other side with some emphasis, and there the matter stopped. This, coupled with the Philadelphia reverse, makes the lot of Mr. Quay just at this time almost as unhappy as that of Mr. Ibert’s policeman. —_—_——__+-e+______. NEWS FROM AMBASSADOR EUSTIS. He Says That No Treuble is Appre- hended in France. Secretary Gresham this morning received a cable message from Ambassador Eustis at Parls, con‘irming the reported resigna- tion of Casimir-Perler, the French presi- dent, and adding that “no trouble is appre- henéed.”” Mr. Gresham said that Mr. Eustis was a careful, conservative official, and conse- quently his judgment of the situation was valuable. The Secretary remarked that he did not care to discuss the matter further than to express a sincere hope that Mr. Eustis’ statement that no trouble is appre- hended will be fully borne out by the prog- re of events. ‘Ambassador Eustis’ advices were sent to the White House for tlie information of the President. it is said at the State Depart- ment that the state of affairs in France dees not call for any action at present on the part of this government. Comment at the Capitol. Senator Sherman seemed rather less sut- prised at the news than other members of the foreign relations commiiétee. “The cabi- net in France has recently resigned,” said ‘and I suppose that Is the cause of the dent’s resignation. It fs not very un- al for a French president to resign. ry and Grevy both did so. There {s no resson why the matter should affect the relations of France with the United States, . with any nation.” Representative McCreary, chairman of the House committee on foreign relations, said that he had been watching French pol- itics closely, but had had no reason to ex- peet any such occurrence. ‘Iwo ministries have resigned in France recently,” said he, “but that is no reason for a president to'do so. They resign very easily over France has averaged one ministry y year since she has been a re- WASHINGTON, D.C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1895 TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. WIDE COMMENT|!NCOME TAX SUITIPERIER IS CENSURED/O'STRICT IN CONGRESS/ ALL FOR CHARITY On the Correspondence in the Japa- nese Students Case. MR. GRESHAM’S CONCLUSIONS Not Considered Borne Out by the Letter Submitted. WHAT MR. LODGE SAYS "The notable variance between Secretary Gresham's letter of transmission sum- marizing the correspondence on the execu- tion of Japanese students and the char- acter of the correspondence itself is excit- ing wide comment. Yesterday afternoon Mr. Gresham's letter alone was published. ‘This made it appear that the students turn- ed cver to the Chinese authorities by the American consul, and beheaded by the Chinese, were unquestionably spies, and their execution was proper. The corre- spondence Itself appears to put a very dif- ferent phase on the question, and it is com- mented upon as remarkable that Mr. Gresham should have found in it any war- rant for the turn which he gave to his synopsis. Most of the readers contented themselves with a perusal of the letter of Mr. Gresham, and were thus entirely mis- led until a few men who devote especial at- tention to foreign affairs pointed out the great dissimilarity between this letter and the correspondence quoted in the press. Something to Say Later. The full correspondence has been sent to the printing office to be printed for the use of Congress, and when it is returned, 80 that a careful study of {t may be had, Mr. Lodge and other republicansd will have something to say on the subject. It was with the utmost astonishment after read- ing Mr. Gresham’s letter that those who went further and read the correspondence discovered that our minister to China, our minister to Japan and our consul general at Shanghat all insisted that the two stu- dents who were sacrificed were not spies at all, and that the precedent which would be made by their being turned over to the Chinese authorities to be beheaded would be extremely dangerous to foreign citizens in China. No Misapprehension as to Authority. ‘The protestations of Mr. Denby and Mr. Jernigan that there was no misapprehen- sion on the part of the consul general as to his authority; that he was acting within his authority and the proprieties of the case, and that he was sustained by all the foreign representatives at Shanghai, seems to give very little warrant for the view of the cas¢ which Mr, Gresham presents. ‘The earnest argument of the consul gen- eral against being compelled to surrender these students, coupled with the statement that the highest officials of all nationali- ties are against surrendering them with- out conditions, and his final statement when compelled to make the surrender by orders of the department, that “you seem not to understand the position here,” is pointed out as entirely antagonistic to the analysis made of the correspondence by Mr. Gresham. What Senator Lodge Says. Senator Lodge, on whose resolution the ecrrespondence relating to the execution of the Chinese students was sent to the Sen- ate, sald to a Star reporter today: “I read this correspondence in the original manu- script before my resolution was intro- duced. I intend to read it over again care- fully as soon as it comes from the printers and will endeavor to speak on the subject in the Senate. Unfortunately, there is no action I know of that the Senate can take in the matter. My reading of the corre- spondence is entirely different from that of Secretary Gresham. I don’t see where he finds any warrant for the construction which he puts upon it in his synopsis. In- stead of these students being confessed spies our representative in China insisted and goes on to prove that they were not spies at all and that there was nothing to sustain the charge against them except the assertion of the Chinese. How Mr. Gresham could find warrant for his in- terpretation I cannot understand. During the Franco-Prussian war our minister, Mr. Washburn, who had identically the same instructions as those ef Mr. Denby, ex- ercised his good offices and saved the lives of many people. Peculiar Condition in Shanghai. “Moreover, the condition tn Shanghai is peculiar. Residents there are tried by the consular courts and what our consul gen- eral proposed 10 do in the case of the Japanese students was exactly in accord- ance with the laws and customs of the city, which is practically a foreign city in China, The exceptional feature cf the case was the surrender of these men to the Chi- nese, There would have been nothing ex- ceptional or strange iff the course which the consul general proposed t6 follow, and it was in accordance with the usages of foreign authorities. The principle in- volved in this surrender might prove dis- astrous to Americans and other foreign citizens in case of a war with China.” —_—_—_—_+-2+_____. THE RICKS IMPEACHMENT. Oppesition to the Resolution Expect- ed When It Comes Up. The resolution for the impeachment of Judge Hicks of Cleveland for malfeasance in office, wnich was authorized by the House judiciary committee late yesterday afternocn, will be presented to the House next Friday. it 1s said that vigorous oppo- sition will be made in the House to the adoption of the resolution of impeachment. It was by a vote of seven to six that the committee’s action was taken, and the minority proposes to make a strong plea in behalf of Judge Ricks. In the event of the resolution being adopted by the House, it is said there is a probability that the Senate will fail to act in impeachment proceedings at this ses- sion; in which case the matter would die with this Congress. It would hardly be renewed by the republican House, it is said, and in view of these circumstances the friends of Judge Ricks are hopeful of preventing final action averse to his in- terests. Representative Balley of Texas says that he proposes to press the impeachment of Judge Ricks and will not permit any delay beyond this week, if it is In his power to prevent it. The time is short until the close of the session and prompt action will be necessary to dispose of the case. —____ o+____. It Was Not Mr. Olney. Attorney General Olney desires to have it understood that the interview with a cabi- net officer in Monday's Star in regard to the Debs case did not emanate from him and does not represent his views. He makes this statement, he says, because it seems to have been accepted that he was the unnamed cabinet officer of the inter- view. ——_———_-o-+___. New Artillery Tactics. ‘The War Department has completed the revision of the artillery tactics and has announced the changes made. The work was done by a board of officers convened at Fort Monrce. It appears that the existing tactics have never been revised since the days of muzzle-loading cannon, Conclusion of the Arguments in the Oase of John G. Meore. Judge Hagncr Says He Will Announce His Decision Next Weduesday—Mr. Wilson for the Complainant. The hearing of the case of John G. Moore of New York against the commissioner of internal revenue, in which Mr. Moore asks the court to restrain, by an injunction, the commissioner from proceeding to collect the income tax, was resumed this morn- ing before Judge Hagner in Equity Court No. 2. ~ Mr. Jere M. Wilson, continuing his argu- ment on behalf of the Complairant, said that the United States Supreme-Court with the greatest reluctance, pronounced an act of Congress unconstitutional. Nevertheless it never failed to do so when the facts and law required it. A Jaw which is unconsti- tutional, said Mr. Wilson, is no law at all, and could not be executed by any of- ficer of the government. It would be @ startling proposition to assert that an act yoid in law could be executed to the in- jury of a citizen, and it would be no less startling and remarkable to discover that there is no law or power in the courts to prevent the execution of an unconstitution- al act. It would be equally startling to find that Congress could make a Jaw and then deliberately say that no cne should be permitted to invoke the aid of the courts in setting it aside, notwithstanding the unconstitutionality of the law. Injunction the Proper Remedy. It was clear, argued Mr. Wilson, that an Injunction is the proper remedy in the present case, for, where an executive re- fused to perform a plain duty incumbent upon kim, a mandamus was the proper writ to compel him to perform, and where such an officer was performing, or was about to perform, a duty for which there was no warrant of law, the officer could most properly be restrained by an injunc- tion. So, too, said Mr. Wilson, In the case of an executive proceediig or about to proceed under an. unconstitutional law. For in the latter event he has no sem- blance of law—an unconstitutional act be- ing no law at all. Discussing tie case of Noble against Logging KR. R. Co., in which the United States Supreme Court had affirmed the granting of an injunction against the Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Wilson stated that that case furnished a clear precedent. If, as the counsel for commissioner had asserted, no argument was made in that case against the power of the court to grant the injunctio’ it was because, argued Mr. Wilson, that the right of the court was not questioned by tha Secretary. And, said Mr. Wilson, as the Supreme Court’ had aiilrmed the de- cision below, the warranted inference was that that tribunal so thought. An Obnoxigus Law. The income tax act, said Mr. Wilson, was one of the most phenofgenal and obnoxious laws ever enacted. It tixed incomes reach* ing back two years, and it was also a dual tax act, taxing. the net earnings of a company and then its @tyidends. Mr. Wil- son also pointed out that should a foreign student, studying at one of the American colleges, enjoy an income derived whoily or in part from foreign or American in- vestments, so mu¢h of the income exceed- ing $4,000 'a year would be subject to the tax of 2 per cent. The tax was not a uniform one, declared Mr. Wilson, for it selected men who were fortunate enough to enjoy an annual in- come exceeding $4,000. The act seeks to prevent thrift, enterprise and energy, con- tinued Mr. Wilson, by taxing them. Yet it was all that which had made the country all that it is today. To stop the ambition in business affairs of men was a most dangerous thing, he said, and a matter with which Congress should never interfere. Mr. Wilson said, further, that the tax act is fraught with danger to the people and a discrimination of class. As it is discrimi- nating it is anything but uniform, and therefore contrary to the Constitution. The various provisions of the act, contended Mr. Wilson, are inseparable, and if any one of them is found to be void, the whole act besomes tainted, and the act is thereby rendered unconstitutional. Ex-Senator Geo. F, Edmunds of Vermont, who was expected to address the court in support of Mr. Moore’s bill, was again pre- vented by indisposition from taking part in the case today, and upon the conclusion of Mr. Wilson’s argument Assistant Attorney General Whitney replied briefly in support of his motion to dismiss the suit. Mr. Whitney’s Reply. Mr. Whitney said that it was no more than froper that those who enjoyed in- comes exceeding $4,000 a. year should con- sent to pay a tax of so small an amount on them. He was one so favored by for- tune, and he persorally did not object to the tax. Discussing thé legality of the act, Mr. Whitney read several decisions of the United States Supreme Court, which, he claimed, sustained previous income tax acts. Some of them, he said, were more obnoxious than the present one. Respect- ing the taxing of the incomes of aliens, Mr. Whitney declared that he saw no rea- son why that should not be done. The act merely taxed that portion of the income under the protection of the United States government. Mr. Whitney said that he could not agree with Mr. Wilson that an unconstitutional clause of the act made the whole act void. On the contrary, he quoted a number of cases-in which, he argued, the United States Supreme Court had sustained his position. The courts had decided, too, he said, that questions as to taxation must always be ralsed by law. It had not béen so raised in the present case, he argued, and he felt sure that the court would hold that it had no power or right to interfere. At the conclusion of Mr. Whitney's brief argument Judge Hagner took the papers, stating that he would announce his decision next Wednesday. . ——.-—— AT THE WHITE HOUSE. “Iwo Stars” and the Great Father Have x Pow-Wow. “Two Star: chief of ‘the Wahpeton and Sisseton tribes, had a pow-wow with the Great Father at the White House this afternoon. He was accompanied by Senator Kyle, Maj. Kelly and an interpreter. He represented to the President that times were hard on the reservation and that the Indians would suffer great hardships this winter unless the government came to their aid. In order to enable them to seed their winter grain, &c., he asked that they be allowed $250,000 out of the principal of the fund realized from the sale of their lands. Among the things that “Two Stars” said to the President was that he had two pictures in his house, one of Pres- ident Washington and the other of Presi- dent Cleveland. oo THE SUGAR DUTY. Democrats Intend té Call Up the Re- peal Kill Tomorrow. It is the intention of the democrats of the ways and means committee to call up their bill to repeal the discriminating sugar duty to one-tenth of a cent either tom r- row or next day and to force it through the House at once, if possible. —+-o+—__ = _ > Treasury Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $523,103. Government receipts —From internal revenue, $269,779; customs, ; miscellaneous, $72,513. His Resignation Strongly Condemned in Paris, THE PRESS UNANIMOUS IN THE MATTER Even His Intimate Friends Oppose the Step. ee THE CITY REMAINS TRANQUIL 5 —— PARIS, January 16.—The attention of the whole of France, and for that matter, the attention of the whole cf Europe, is cen- tered upon this city today. There is no doubt that the political crisis, resulting from the,resignaticn of the Dupuy min- istry and the subsequent resignation of President Casimir-Perier, is one of the most serious in the history of France. At 11 o’clock this morning M. Casimir- Perier received Premier Dupuy and the rest of the cabinet ministers. After a short conference ‘they withdrew and an officer of the president’s military house- hold later conveyed to M. Dupuy, M. Casi- mir-Perier’s letter resigning the presiden- cy of the French republic. The ministers met at noon and it is un- derstood that the whole political situation was thoroughly discussed and weighed from all standpoints. This meeting took place at the ministry of the intericr,which Was surrounded the while by crowds of anxious people, ail eagerly discussing the crisis in the affairs of France. whe President’s Letter Read. The senate and chamber of deputies met at 3 o’clock this afternoon, and the follow- ing letter from M. Casimir-Perier was read to both bodies: “I did not conceal from myself the difm- culties of the task which the national as- sembly imposed upon me. I had foreseen them; but if one does not refuse a post in a moment of danger one can only preserve one’s dignity in the conviction that the country is being served. A president of the Tepublic without means of action or with- out contrgl can derive from the confidence of the nation alone that moral force with- out which he is nothing. I doubt neither the good sense nor the justice of France. But public opinion has been led astray. Mcre than twenty years’ devotion to the same cause, more than twenty years of at- tachment to the republic and devotion to the democracy have sufficed neither to cen- vince the republic of the sincerity and ardor cf my political faith nor to disabuse my adversaries, who believe, or affect to believe, that I wiil make myself the in- strument of their passions or hopes. “For the last six months a campaign of has been going on slander and insult against the army and the hierare! ‘this “license to is a continues to be called ‘liberty of thought.” “The respect and ambition which I enter- tain for my country will not allow me to acknowledge that the best servants of the country and he who represents it in* the nce of foreign nations may be insulted y day. “Iam not content to bear the weight of moral responsibilities placed upon me in the condition of powerlessness to which I am condemned. Perhaps I may be under- stood when I affirm that constitutional functions cannot silence the exigencies of political conscience. Perhaps in laying down my functions I shall have marked out the path of duty to those who are so- licitous for the dignity of the power and good name of France in the world. In- variably true to myself, I remain persuad- ed that reforms can be carried out only with the assistance of a government de- termined to insure’respect for the laws, make itself obeyed by its subordinates and group them all together in common action for the common good. “In spite of the gloom of the present hour, I have faith in the future of social progress and justice. “IT lay on the table of the senate and chamber of deputies my resignation of the functions of president of the republic. “CASIMIR-PERIER.” One of the most significant features of the resigration of the president is the fact that his action is condemned even by his most intimate following. In spite of tne great interest taken in the political crisis the city remains tranquil. The resignation of the president produced a complete change in the business tendency on the stock exchange. Buying was entire- ly stopped and there was a closing of ac- counts for a rise. This is proceeding rap- idly in all departments. There was a gen- eral, though moderate, decline. French rentes fell one-half with the majority of other international stocks. The President Condemned. The opinion expressed this morning at the clubs and on the boulevards is unani- mous with that of the press in strongly condemning M. Casimir-Perier for having resigned in the midst of a parliamentary crisis. The Journal.Des Debats says that in view of the terrible perils to which the ever- increasing activity of the revolutionsts and the inertia of the moderates expose France, other courses than abdication should have been pursued. ‘The Gaulois expresses the opinion that the resignation of M. Casimir-Perier is “simply desertion, and the reasons for it will be found in his antecedents and personal char- acter. The Figaro says: “If M. Casimir-Perier persists in his determination to resign, Burope must judge him as severely as France doe: In the opinicn of the Journal the present condition of affairs is the result of the state of anarchy in which the different political parties exist. = ‘according to the Autorite, the resignation of M. Casimir-Perier not only requires the censure of one man, but it also calls for the condemnation of a regime. ‘fhe Lanterne says: “The resignation of M, Casimir-Perier does not end Lut begins a coup d’etat against the independence of the chamber and the rights of universal suffrage, for M. Casimir-Perier is desirous of a new investiture.” “The resignation of M. Casimir-Perie says the Petit Journal, “is a matter of ex: cepticnal gravity, and can only complicate the situation, which is already perilous.” The Soleil assert: “M. Casimir-Perier did not wish to compromise his dignity in struggles the issue of which were not doubtful. In tendering his resignation, with sovereign disdzin, he has proved hir- self a crafty player. His resignation ne- cessitates a revision of e constitution.” The Hstafette says ‘hiers, Gambetta and Ferry had other assauits to with- stand, but not one of them shrank from his duty. The republic, however, will show its vitality, and on Thursday next when the national congress meets nothing will be changed in France. ‘The Matin is of the opinion that the pres- ident should have dissolved parliament, and that he should not have resigned. The Officini Notice. The Journal Officiel this morning pub- lishes the following notice: ‘The president of the republic has resolved to resign his functions, and has begged the ministers to withdraw their resignations provisionally, in order to assure the transmission of powers.” What Is the true reason of the step taken by the president is a question upon which there is a great conflict of opinion. The people are unanimous only in holding that M. Casimir-Perier is to blame for having (Continued on Third Page.) A Hearing of the Foderation of Labor Committee on Local Legislation. Members Want the District Commis- sioners’ Estimates, Particularly as to School Houses, Restored. A few days ago President McHugh of the Federation of Labor of the District ap- pointed the following committee to watch local legislation this year in the interests of the federation: E. M. Blake, William L. Dewart, George O. Cook, Charles E. Wells and Frank J. Sloan. This committee was at the Senate today, and waited on Sena- tor Call to thank him for introducing Sen- ate bil! 2434, providing fcr a regulation of wages and hours on street railways in the District of Columbia. ‘This bill was intro- duced during the agitation caused by the recent strike on the Metropolitan railroad. The committee urged the passage of the bill, with one amendment. They asked the elimination of the clause which provides for extra pay being given for more than eight hours’ work, ard for the substitution therefor of a clause prohibiting more than eight hours’ work, except in cases of emer- gency. Went the Estimates Restored. Senator Call presented the committee to Mr. Gorman as chairman of the subcom- mittee of the appropriations committee in charge of the istrict bill, The represen- tatives of the federation asked that the Senate committee should restore the esti- mates of the District Commissioners, which were cut down by the House. In particular they desired the restoration of the pro- vision for eight school houses, which was cut down to four in the House, and six buiiding inspectors, reduced by the House to two. They also urged that the pay of the firemen snould be increased. The com- mittee also protested against the passage by the Senate of the bill providing for an issue of §7,000,0W) of bonds by the District to pay for the development and extension of the street and sewer systems of the city. - The Bond bill. Sanator Proc-or, who is in charge of the bill providing for the issue of bonds to complete the sewer and street extension of the District, called it up during the morn- ing hour and asked unarimous consent for its present consideration. There was no immediate objection and the clerk had read the bill about half through when Senator Cameron interposed an objection, which threw the bill back on the calendar. ‘The Printers’ Wages. Chairman McGann of the House com- mittee on labor today asked unanimous consent for the consideration of a resolu- tion inereasing the wases of printers and bookbinders in the government printing office to 50 cents per hour. Objection was interposed by Mr. Sayres, and the resolu- tion was not considered. The lack of a qucrum prevented meeting of the House District committee today. Chairman Heard was absent on ac- count of illness, and other members stayed away for other reasons, so that those mem- bers who did appear could not do any busi- ness. A subcommittee gave a brief and informal hearing to Mr. F. P. B. Sands, in behalf of the bill to incorporate the National Gas and Electric Light, Heat and Power Company. To Sell the Land. The. House today passed the Senate bill authorizing the sale of a smail tract of land near the Cabin John bridge to William H. and George Bobinger. These persons had unknowingly encroached upon a piece of government land, which they thought was included in their property, and having built a hotel upon the same, are now per- mitted to purchase the ground. Report of the Anacostia R. R. Co. Senator Harris, as president pro tem., to- day laid before the Senate the annual re- pert of the Anacostia Street Railway Com- pany, submitted by H. A. Griswold, its president. The receipts of the company during the past year aggregated $209,885.78, and the expenditures $210,515.51. The re- ceipts were made up as follows: From bonds, $25,500; from traffic, $53,607.28; trom sale of materials, $1,015.60; from bills pay- able, $129,702.90. The Rock Creek Railway. Senator Pettigrew was on the floor of the Senate today for the first time this ses- sion, and was warmly congratulated by other Senators upon his re-electicn. He introduced a bill during the morning amending the charter of the Rock Creek Railway Company of the District, similar to that introduced on the 3d of the month by Mr. English of the House. The bill was referred to the District committee. To Pay Mr. Mills. Senator Butler today introduced a Dill providing for. the payment of Theophilas Fisk Mills, a son of the late Clark Mills, the sculptor, for a plaster cast of the lat2 Gen, John A. Rawlins, which was used in the preparation of the statue ncw standing at the corner of Sth street and Pennsylva- tia avenue. The Dill apprcpriates $7,500 fer this purpose. Such a bill has been pend- ing Lefore Congress for several years. ‘The measure was referred to the committee on the library. The Navy Personnel. The Senate committee on naval a‘fairs to- day authorized Senator Butler to report favorably the bill for the reorganization of the personnel of the navy. The bill as ac- cepted by the Senate committee conforms substantially with the bill as reported by the House committee. There are a few changes. One of these strikes out the previso in section 49 excepting officers of the medical corps, engieer corps and chaplains now in the service from the pro- visicn fixing the pay of staff officers at the seme figure a3 that paid to officere of the line of equal rank, and also the portions of section providing that vacancies in the grade of quartermaster shail be filled by promotion, by seniority, from the as- sistant quartermasters, and that the rank of adjutant, inspector, quartermaster. and paymaster of the marine corps shall be that of lieutenant colonel after the com- pletion of thirty years of service. as a A Bonus Still Available. - The United States consul at Matamoras, in a report to the Department of State, says that the bonus of $160,000 offered by the town of Brownsville, Tex., to the first company building a railway from that point to Corpus Christi or to San Antonio is sUll available. Either of these lines would greatly facilitate trade between the United States and Mexico. The movement by Baltimore capitalists for the deepening of the harbor at Aransas Pass, adds the censul, will insure the building of the rail- way, now surveyed, to Brownsville. - Se Naval Orders. Commanders William B. Hoff and E. F. Harrington have been ordered to examina- tion for promotion. Ensign Houston El- Gridge from the Albatross and two months’ leave. Ensign W. G. Miller from the En- terprise to the Albatross. Chief Engineer James Lowe detached from the New York ard placed under treatment in the Norfolk naval hospital. Chief Engineer Cipriano Andrade from the Columbia to the New York as fleet engineer. Chief Engineer W. Ho Harris from the Wabush to the Colum- An Evening Star Pound Party to Be Held on Friday. ALL CAN CONTRIBUTE A LITTLE Plans of the Entestainment Come mittee for Saturday. EVERYBODY AT WORK Friday next, day after tomorrow, from 8 in the morning until 8 in the evening, there will be a mammoth pound party at The Evening Star buildings, the proceeds of which will be used to relieve the hunger ataong the poor of Washington. Every reader of The Star is invited to tring or send a pound of groceries or pro- visions of some sort, and it is confidently, believed that thousands of pounds of use- ful and needed articles can be secured in this way without any one feeling it as a rain upon his purse. Not every man can give $5,000 for the poor, but, excepting the very poor themselves, there is not @ man cr women who cannot afford to give @ pound of something for the relief of suf- fering. If twenty-five people think to bring a pound on Friday it will be jus! that much to the good. lf twenty-five hundred, so much the better, and if twenty-five thousand each give something the little poverty so bravely wili be so well supplied with the pro- Visicns of be_ theirs. helps, and it only a quarter of the regular surely the little war that victory mr lt is a case where of The Star should see fit to wer the appeal so earn made there will be literally tons of groceries on hand for distributioa on Saturday among homes where otherwise the larders wouid be quite bare. The Neccssaries of Life Wanted. Never yet has a request of this sort made by The Star gone without generous re- sponse from the good people of Washing- ton. This time no money is asked for, nothing but the bare necessities of life given in small quantities by those who can afford it. All that comes in will be turned over directiy to the central relief ccmmittee, to be used as it thinks best. The purpcse of the pound party at this particular time is to endow the committee with a large amount of goods which can be used without any delay in emergency cases. The commiittee’s appeal for funds has already met ha hearty response, ow, let every one who connot afford to give much money come up with his little mite, so that the work: among the poor will have at their disposal barrels and barrels of potatoes, great boxes of coffee, ficur, meal, crackers, tea, beans, canned gcods, bacon, food of all sorts, strong and nutritive food for the hungry, delicacies for the sick. Some may want to give a pound of silver dollars. There’s not the least objection to that and there is no necessity for one to limit himself to a pound of anything. If any one feels called upon to give a quarter of beef or 4 ham or a barrel of pork or a big bag of flour or meal it will be most thankfully received, and if your contribution is too big to be carried to The Star office in person just notify the office of the Merchants’ Parcel Delivery and it will be called for free of charge. Let’s Haye Lots of Pounds, But what is wanted is pounds, lots of them, from the people who can give in small quantities and not in large. The sug- gestion for holding an Evening Siar Pound Party came from a poor woman, who wrote to the office that she was not able to give much, but that if some such novement as this were put on foot she would be only too glad to do what she could. In the belief that there are thousands of others similar- ly placed, the matter has been taken up in earnest and will be pushed to a conclu- sion. For weeks The Star has told of pitiable cases of suffering in this city. 1t has done its best to put before the public a fairly accurate picture of the condition of affairs. Now The Star asks its friends, and, judg- ing by the letters of encouragement which have been pouring into the office ever since the work was undcrtaken, they must be legion, asks them to join in making Friday a memorable day in charitable work, and in making The Evening Star Pound Party a gigantic success. A big reom cn the 11th street side of The Star buildings, a few doors above the avenue, will be set aside for the pound party and will be kept open from 8 a-m. until 8 p.m. With these long hours every- one will have a chance to give. Business men and clerks can stop in on their way to their places of business. Workingmen will have a change before or after their day's labor. Women who are down town shopping can easily stop in at a grocery store and order a pound sent to The Star office. . Come early, come late, only come some time. Don’t forget. It will only be for one day, but it will be possibile to make that day one never to be forgotten. Let us all help and see how much can be raised in this easy, simple way. Branch “Pound” Offices. For the convenience of people who live at a distance from the center of the city and who may happen not to be coming down town on Friday, arrangements have been made for the establishment of two branch offices for the receipt of ‘pounds.’ One is to be in East Washington and the other in Georgetown. In this way none will have en excuse for not being able to contribute their mite to the good work. In East Washington the headquarters will be in the new Masonic building, north- west corner of 4th street and Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Naval Lodge, No. 4, F. A. A. M., has placed the handsome store room on the corner at the disposal of The Evening Star for the day, and the same hours will be observed there as at the headquarters In The Star buildings. The builder, who is still in charge of the work, Mr. Wm. Yost, has offered his assistance in every way, and has donated the lights for use in the evening. In Georgetown the headquarters will probably be in, the post office, but definite announcement of this cannot be made un- til tcmorrow, 2s Mr. Manogue, the collec- tor of the port, who is in charge of the building, could not be seea this afternoon. His deputy, however, said that he had no doubt formal permission to use the corri- dor of the office could be secured. All contributions left at either place will be carried to the general headquarters by the Merchants’ Parcel Delivery Company, which has volunteered the use of its wag- ons, not only to The Star, but to individu- als who at any time have contributions to send to the charity organizations for the relief of the poor. The Charity Concert. Arrangements are also being _ pushed rapidly forward for the great charity con- cert, which is to be given at Metzerott Hall next Saturday aflernoon to provide immediate funds for the central relief com- mittee in its work of meeting calls for aid. The concert committee which was re- centiy appointed by Judge Cole met yester- day afternoon, with Dr. F. T, Howe as chairman and Mr. E. F. Guzman secretary. A number of preliminary matters were cleared up and enough accomplished to warrant the statement that the concert will be one of the most remarkable and inter- esting entertainments this city has ever seen. The plan, hinted at in The Star yes- terday, of having a continuous perform- ance from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until 11 in the evening was definitely adopted,