Evening Star Newspaper, January 31, 1895, Page 1

. n internal revenue, $4 THE EVENING STAR Prowse chan PUBLISHE! AILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 201 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. ‘New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ~ The Evening Star is served to subscribers im the «ity by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per a or 44 cents 4 month. flew at the counter 2 cents each. By mafl—anywhere in the United States or Cunada—postage prepald—S0 cents per mon: Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, . (Entered at the Post at Washington, D. C., aa second-class mail matter.) TAN mall he Lven ‘Star. No. 13,076. WASHINGTON, D.O., THURSDAY, JANWARY 31, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. TWO OENTS. Tbe proof of te pudding is fn fhe eafing. Yesterday's Star confained 50 cofumns of adverfisemenfs, made up of 590 separate announce: ments. Bese advertisers INCENDIARY AT WORK Arson and Murder Attempted Early This Morning. NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH Coal Oil Poured in an F Street Building. THE MATCH APPLIED There was a bold attempt at arson and murder made this morning at No. 910 F street northwest, and the police are now looking for the criminal. Persons in the building narrowly escaped being burned to death or crushed to death by jumping from the upper stories. The quick work of the police and firemen, it is thought, prevented a fatality. It was just five min- utes before 4 o'clock when an alarm of fire was sounded from box 131, and in a short while several fire companies were in op- eration. The building in which the fire occurred is oceupied as an office building and there are also a number of persons living there. A room on the second floor is occupied by John Saum, a former clerk in the Interior Department, while on the third floor Mr. Minter P. Key, the real estate agent, and s sister occupy rooms. Mr. Saum was awakened by the smell of smoke, and, thinking it came from the room of one of the other occupants, he drew the bedding carelessly over his head and waited for the smoke to clear away. But instead of the smoke clearing away there was the sound made by the fire eat- ing its way through the door. Door in Flames. Uncovering his head Mr. Saum was sur- prised to see the door a solid mass of fire, and his only avenue of escape had been cut off. There were two windows in the room, but to jump from them meant al- most certain death, and just what to do he did not know. With a chair he smash- ed the windows to let out the smoke, and then he called loudly for assistance. His call was not in vain, for assistaice reached him, and the firs alarm was sounded. While waiting for some one to come, Mr. Saum made a rope of his bedding and suspended himself out the window, but the rope was not long enough, and there he hung until a policeman opened the window under him and assisted him from his perilous position. Others Cut Of. In the meantime, Mr. Key and his sister had been aroused, and they, too, had been cut off from the lower floor by the flames, which had eaten their way up the steps to the third floor. He happened to have a rope handy, and he constructed a fire es- cape, to be used as the last resort, but the ive work of the firemen 1 necessary, for the flames were cleared away and the occupants of joor rooms were able to get out, s Key having to be carried out by the firemen. ‘There was a strong odor of coal oil and turpentine ‘n the house during the time the fire was in progress, and this made it apparent that it was the work of an incendiary. When the flames had been ex- tinguished it was discovered that the coal oil had been poured over the floors in the hall from top to bottom, and near the door of Mr. Saum's room had been a can of turpentine, which the incendiary evi- dently thought would explode or do dam- age. On Used. It appeared that the oil had been poured beneath the door into Mr. Saum’s room, and lighted there by the incendiary, who then left the building. Near the front door the police found a pair of rubbers, and these were filled with coal oll. Soon after daybreak Mr. Key started an investigation. and is assisting the police in their efforts to apprehend the guilty y or parties. He was at headquarters with Lieut. Amtss, and had a conference with Inspecuor Hollinberger about the mat- ter, explaining the whcle affair, and tell- ing his ideas and suspiciers. ‘The officers think they mey find the guilty party. The rubler shoes may play an important part in the investigation. eo NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON. The New York, Kalcigh and Cincinnati Have Sailed for St. Thomas. The flagship New York and the cruisers Raleigh and Cincinnati of the North At- lantie squadron sailed out of Hampton Roads in company yesterday afternoon for St. Thomas, W. L, by way of Samana. ‘Vhey will be followed later by the cruisers Columbia and Minneapolis, now being fitted eut at Norfolk. When the five vessels as- semble at the appointed rendezvous In the West Indies they will be put through a series of fleet evolutions, conducted by Kear Admiral Meade, commanding the North Atlantic station. Assistant Secre- tary MeAdoo, who takes a personal inter- est In the proposed evolutions, went to Norfolk a few days ago to see Admizal Meade and inspect his fleet. Mr. MzAdoo returned to Washington this morning. He speaks highly of the condition of the ves- sels and the discipline of their crews. ———— THE JAPANESE TREATY. Minister Kurine Has a Conference w Secretary Gresham. Mr. Kurino, the Japanese minister, had an interview with Secretary Gresham at the State Department this morning in re- gurd to the Japanese treaty, which was ratified yesterday by the Senate. Inas- much as the treaty, as concluded by Mr. Kurino and Secretary Gresham,was amend- ed by the Serate, it will be necessary for Mr. Kurino to obtain the sanction of his government to the modification before any further steps can be taken to put the treaty into effect. It is thought there will be little delay on this account, inasmuch as the amendment does not affect any vital peint in the instrument, and will probably be accepted by the Japanese government without question. ot {oe Death of Col. Osborne. Col. Nathan W. Osborne, fifth infantry, who died at St. Augustine, Fla., yesterday from an attack of Bright's disease, was in the sixtieth year of his age. He entered the army in May, 1SGl, and served through- out the war with credit. He was brevetted major for galient services at the stege of ‘Vicksburg. Passing through successive grades, he became colonel of the fifth in- fantry in August, 188%. His death will re- sult in the following promotions: Lieut. Col. William Lucius Kellogg, fifth infantry, to be colonel; Maj. Henry Blanchard Free- man, sixteenth infantry, to be lieutenant colonel of the fifth; Capt. William Henry McLaughlin, eighteenth infantry, to be major of the sixteenth; First Lieut. Charles McClure, eighteenth infantry, to be captain in that regiment, and Second Lieut. Jam2s Baylies, fifth infantry, to be first lieaten- ant of the eighteenth infantry. ——_+e Treasury Recetpts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $305,652. Government receipts F 7,458; customs, miscellaneous, $44,262, MONEY FOR THE DISTRICT BEER OR WHISKY? ANOTHER GAS HEARING STORY OF THE WRECK WASHING The Appropriation Bill Considered in the Senate. Many Amendments Passed and Then a Constitutional Debate Consum- ed Much Time. The Senate took up the District appro- priation bill today, with its hundred amend- ments made by the appropriations com- mittee, involving an aggregate increase of nearly $650,000 in the budget over the total sum granted by the House. The bill was not taken up without considerable parlia- mentary sparring, in which Senators Gor- men, Hill and Chandler took part. Mr. Chandler would have blocked the wheels of the legislative machine by interposing a resolutica about Senator Martin’s right to a scat in Congress. The republicans started a filibuster, but it did not avail, and the motion to take up the local budget finally prevailed. Mr. Gorman asked unanimous consent to dispense with the formal reading of the bill, but Mr. Chandler, smarting under his re- cent reverse, objected, and the clerk startéd to read the bill by paragraphs. Mr. Chandler Gives Way. Before he had finished the first para- graph Mr. Gorman made an appeal to Mr. Chandler to withdraw his objection to what Was a most usual request. Mr. Chandler replied that he had merely interposed an objection to give the “overheated Senators on the other side an opportunity to calm down,” and as that had evidently been ac- complished, and as one of those Senators (Mr. Butler) had been called to the chair, he would withdraw hits objection. ‘The amendments were all accepted with- out debate in the first few pages. ‘Mr. Gorman moved a new amendment, giving three clerks at $1,200 in the asses- sor’s office, instead of two. This was ac- cepted. Must Be Practical Plumbers. Mr. Cullom satd he hoped that the pro- vision for the inspector of plumbing should be so drawn as to require him and his assistants to be practical plumbers. Mr. Gorman sa‘d that these officials are now practical plumbers. Mr. Cullom ex- plained that he had recently received let- ters asking that this amendment should be made. Mr. Gorman said that he might ac- cept the amendment 2 ttle later, and Mr. Cullom withdrew his suggestion. ‘The amendment changing the tax penalty from two to one per cent per month was, at Mr. Gorman’s request, passed over tem- porarily. Street Extensio: The paragraph relating to the Olmsted plan for the highway extension attracted the notice of Mr. Aldrich, who called at- tention to the authority given to the “au- thorities” to change existing subdivisions to make them conform to the city system of streets. Mr. Aldrich asked for an ex- planation of this authorization. Mr. Gor- man said that #ubdivisions had been laid in a very disjointed way, until there is a very awkward mixture. In some cases the streets of the city will not match those of the suburbs. The plan was to permit the Commissioners, probably the Engineer Commissioner, to conduct a scheme of cor- recting the evils. Mr. McMillan further explained the ne- cessity of straightening the suburban streets. He praised the work of Mr. Olm- sted and said he felt sure everybody would be satisfied with the work when it shall be finished. Mr. Aldrich said he only criticised the looseness of the language of the amend- ment. He thought it shculd be so drawn as to specify the exact “authorities” and the precise nature of the changes to be meade in the plans. The amendment read: “Such minor and essential changes.” This was too wide a power. It might involve the District in an enormous expense. Mr. Gorman said he was willing to insert the Commissioners by title in the place of “authorities in charge.” But Mr. Aldrich insisted that changes should be made more definite. Mr. McMillan said that the general plan for the extension had elready been made and approved, and the changes in question will be very insignificant. Mr. Faulkner declared that the changes contemplated were all now in mind, and are really minor, although quite essential. There was considerable discussion when Mr. Harris insisted that the langucge was free from error. Mr. Platt declared that the amendment changed the highway act of 1893. Mr. Aldrich confessed that he was willing to give somebody the power to make such changes as might be necessary to continue the Leautiful and artistic plan of the city, but it was liable to involve the District in @ great expense. Mr. Gorman called for a vote on the amendment, and the presiding officer, Mr. Terpie, was inclined to think that it was lost. But on the second call he declared it carried. Schedule for Improvements Passed. The schedule for street improvemerts, with their large increases, were thus pass- ed without questicn. But afterward Sena- tor Harris asked Mr. Gorman for an expla- fatiow of the amounts. Mr. Gorman suid that the committee had increased the iotal of the bill after careful consideration, but it was below the estimates. He said that the recommendations of the Commissioaers were adopted and the rule was iaid down that the health of the city should first be cared for. So the appropriations for sew- ers were increased. Next came the in- creases for street paving, but still below the estimates. Then came the public schools, for which the House has made in- sufficient appropriations. There are too many children now unable to obtain seats in the schools. Next came the need of the contagious hospital~ In summing up, Mr. Gorman said that sewers, streets and schools consumed the bulk of the increases in the bill. Mr. Chandler Urges Caution. Mr. Chandler inte:rupted the reading a minute later to ask for an explanation of the great increases over the House bill. The House of Representatives, he said with sarcasm, is the great guardian of the lib- erties and the money of the people, being vested by the Constitution with the right to raise revenue and to originate eppro- priations. Therefore the Senate should be careful how it increases the appropria- tions. It should confine itself to moderate changes, and, in conclusion, Mr. Chandler laid great stress upon the democratic or- ganization of the Senate committees. Mr. Harris asked Mr. Chandler for the con- stitutional authority for his contention that the Senate cannot originate appropriations, a contention that he emphatically denied. He said that he had complete faith in the power of the Senate to originate appro- priation bills. This led to a debate be- tween Mr. Harris and Mr. Chandler, with other Senators joining occasionally, on the Constitution of the United States, which seemed to verify to some extent the rumor that is afloat to the effect that the repub- licans intend to prolong the debate on this and other appropriation bills, and make them consume time, to the exclusion of other legislation. Mr. Chandler warned the democrats that as they are so soon to lose control of the Senate and the House and, in two years, of the presidency also, they had better seek to cut down the appropriations. He said he would be giad if the bill could be sent back to the committee and revised on @ more economical plan. Mr. Harris’ Reply. Mr. Harris replied that the careful esti- mates of the District Commissioners were entitled to -nore respect than even the great financial opinions of Mr. Chandler. One or the Other, or Both, May Be Farther Taxed. — BREWERS HOPE FOR A YEAR'S DELAY Republicans Not Likely to Greatly Disturb the Schedules. BREWERS’ ACTIVITY The brewing interests are said to feel somewhat relieved at the activity of the republicans in the House toward putting a financial scheme in shape. That proposed dollar a barrel additional on beer seems Not now to be so imminent. But the brew- ers were very much disturbed two weeks ago. An increased beer tax at that time assumed almost the aspect of a certainty, and the threat brought out many expres- sions of dissent from the numerous or- ®anizations of the trade. The question seemed to be only one of time. Would this Congress impose the tax? or would the matter be left for the next Congress to decide? The relief felt by the brewers, therefore, relates to the additional time they are likely to have in which to pre- pare for the engagement. They are cx- pecting an earnest agitation of the matter, but they believe that the passage of a bond bill or one authorizing the issuance of exchequer notes by this Congress will Postpone that agitation for at least a year. ‘Toere is a very general opinion in con- gressicnal circles that sooner or later more revenue must laid, and that malt or spir- ituvus liguors, or both, will have to bear the great burden of it. The tariff sched- ules, it is argued, will rot be materially changed. The republicans themselves are disposed to let the schedules ajone. An additional tax on sugar would not be pop- ular. It is to liquors, then, that Congress, it is thought, will not only be likely, but obliged to turn in the extremity. Beer or Whisky. There is much speculation as to which of the two articles, beer or whisky, would win in such a contest, providing it should be decided that both need not be further assessed. The brewers, it is pointed out, are, as a rule, rich and induential. They are likewise, as a rule, active politicians, This is explained by the statement that they stand financial sponsors for thou- sands of retail dealers in thelr beverage, whose houses during every political cam- paign are the resorts of political clubs and almost headquarters for many candidates. Moreover, as the brewers contend, beer is not properly classed with whisky. They hold that it is a family drink, and that bree should be as little hindered as pos- sible. ‘They are opposed to ary additional tax, and will make a vigorous fight against the proposition when It comes up in Congress. ‘Their influence is chiefly in the west and northwest, although the eastern brewers are sd enormously rich that they may be expected to cut an important figure in the fight. The distillers also are rich and™influen- tial. Their holdings are always large. Whenever their trade is touched by Con- gress they show an immediate and most active interest. They have not as a rule, however, entered vigorous p.otest against increases in the tax on whisky. Their chief concern has always been that in such legislation due care should be taken to pro- tect the market against disastrous fluctu- ations growing out of bringing whiskies produced under different rates of taxation into competition with one another. But on the question of taxation pure and simple the distillers stand to the government in the relation merely of agents for the col- lection of the tax. They pay it for the con- sumer. whenever the goods are removed from bond for consumption, and, of course, collect the tax for the government at that time. The tax cuts ro figure in their cal- culations about cost of production or other. such matters. They are allowed liberal” time in which to dispose of their goods, and this also leaves them in an easy frame of mind as to the tax. The Moonshiners. An argument used with some force in the past about the rate of taxation on whisky related to the encouragement that a very high figure seemed to give to the “moon- shiners,” the unlicensed distillers. Soon af- ter the war the whisky tax was fixed at $2.50 per gallon. After a few years it was reduced to $2. The “moonshiners,” during those two periods, flourished to a-great de- gree in the mountains of the two Virginias, the two Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. But it is held now that the whole of that production never really af- fected the market. There was a good deal of stir about it, but this, it is asserted, grew out of the fact that the means adopt- ed to put an end to it afforded so many sensations for the newspapers. The ratd- ing parties of the United States marshals were obliged to engage the ‘‘moonshiners” in running battle in the mountains, and the popular impression grew to be that the game must be of great importance to be worth such a candle. But “moonshining,” it is now declared, has dropped to the diminutive proporticns of petty larceny, and those who advocate an additional tax on whisky kLelieve that fifty cents a gallon more, which would bring the tax up to $1.50, might be imposed without injuring the legitimate or increasing the illegici- mate output of the article. Many of the politicians are nervous over this prospect of trenching so closely on the temperance question on the eve of a presidential election, but most of them consider that more revenue will mean eith- er an additional beer tax or an additional whisky tax, with the probable effect of bringing the brewers and the distillers ac- tively before Congress. ——o--—___—_ CIVIL SERVICE EXTENSION. Conference on the Subject Held at the White House. A conference was held at the White House yesterday afternoon between Presi- dent Cleveland and a committee of the Civil Service Reform Association, compris- ing Rev. Dr. Mackay-Smith, John Joy Ed- son and Frederick L. Siddons, for the ob- ject of extending the application of the civil service act to the office of the recorder of deeds of the District cf Columbia. It is urderstood that this will be done if the law will permit it. It was also suggested to the President that the civil service act be also extended to the office of the recorder of wills. It was brought out at the confer- ence that the President had also considered the question of placing all the employes of the District of Columbia within the civil service law, but that after consultation with Attorney General Olney it was decided that there was no law to warrant this step. The President thought, though, that all the employes would be benefited, and the service of the District would also be improved, if this could be done. He sug- gested that the Reform Association should exert its2lf toward securing the passage through Congress of a bill with this end in view. a os Personal Mention. Mr. Charles Thompson, the well-known lawyer, is lying seriously ill with pneumo- nia at his residence, No. 1721 R street. Drs. J. Ford Thompson, McArdle and Har- rison are in attendance on the patient. Capt. H. C. Taylor of the Naval War College at Newport is on a visit to this city. He is stopping at the Cosmos Club. Representative Livingston Advocates the Charter of the New Company. Some Remarks by Mr. Cooper as to His District—An Executive Meet- ing by the Conimittee. The House District committee today gave a hearing upon the bill to incorporate the National Ges and Electric Light Company. Representative Livingston, of Georgia ap- peared before the committee in behalf of the measure. He said this bill proposes to authorize a company that will reduce the price of gas from $1.26 to 75 cents to the co-sumers and to 60 cents to the govern- ment. The only question is whether the company is in earnest, and Mr. Livingston asserted that the company means business. Up to day before yesterday, said Mr. Liv- ingston, there was a cloud upon this bill. A Senator had said that there was sus- Picion of this company offering to sell out. It has been developed in testimony before the Senate committee that the man who Proposed to sell a franchise did not have reference to this ccmpany, and did not know any of the incorporators. “The fact is,” said Mr. Livingston, “‘the Commissioners of this District have block- earcombeti ton: and they propose to block ‘Mr. Hull asked if it would be easier to regulate the price of gas than to grant a new_ charter. “No,” replied Mr. Livingston, “because this company will make it pure, manufac- turing it under a process unknown to any one else.” He said the process ig not in operation anywhere else. The only objection urged against the bill by the Commissioners was on account of tearing up the streets. A Mere Subterfuge. “There is no man around this table but knows that this objection is merely a sub- terfuge," said Mr. Livingston. “I don’t know that it is so," protested Mr. Heard. “Of course it is so,” continued Mr. Liv- ingston. “The proof is that for sixty days New York avenue has been torn up, because it was a necessity. It would be a necessity to tear up the streets for this purpose, too. It would save the government and the peo- ple of this city $1,000,000 a year in gas bills. Moreover, it would benefit the health of the people and save their eyesight by giv- ing them pure gas.” 3 Mr. Livingston declared that this comn- pany will not allow any other,to succeed it, and would sell to the government if it was decided to establish municipal gas works. Mr. Sands, attorney for the company, fol- lowed in an address in behalf of the bill. He said the streets are constantly being torn up for the extension of gtreet railways and the public do not myrmur at the tem- porary inconvenience, because of the bene- fit that is to follow. It is much more to the benefit of the public that they should have cheaper and better gaa. What Mr. Cooger Said. Mr. Cooper of Indiana asked how much the government pays the Washington Gas Company for supplying ,the public build- ings with gas. In this connection Mr. Cooper took occasion to state that he had started the investigation of the 4as ques- tion at the last session, The result was that the Washington Gas Company dic- tated dispatches which were sent from Washington to every county in his district, stating that he was busying himself look- ing after the interests of the people of Washington instead of his own people. Mr. Aldrich asked Mr. Sands for informa- tion as to the process of manufacturing gas. Mr. Sands replied that the process has not been patented and the owner dces not think he should be galled upon to ex- plain the process. Mr. Aldrich held that this is not a valid excuse for withholding the information and declared that it would be an unheard- of proceeding to grant the franchise upon such shadowy grounds. Iu Executive Session. The committee then went into executive session to vote on the bill. Those present were Messrs. Heard, Richardson, Cobb, Meredith, Cooper (Ind.), Cooper (Fla.), Har- mer, Babcock, Hull and Aldrich. On the motion to lay the bill on the table the vote was a tie. A motion to in- definitely postpone action also resulted in a tie. The committee then adjourned with- out further action, leaving the bill in an unfinished state. NOW TELL THE TRUTH. Income Tax Blanks Sent Out in Wash- ingtum and Vicinity. Collector Vandiver commenced today to distribute forms for making returns of geins, profits and incomes to all persons in his internal revenue district, composed of Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, ‘Accomac and Northampton counties of Virginia, who have annual incomes of $3,500 or more. = While the law imposes a tax of 2 per cent only on the excess of income derived over and above 34,000, yet it requires all persons of lawful age, having an annual income of $3,500 or more in this collection district, to make a return to the collector of the internal revenue. These returns must also be made by sll guardians, trustees, executors, administra- tors, agents, receivers and all persons or corporations acting in any fiduciary ca- pacity, who reside or do business in this collection district, of the amount of the in- tome of any minor or person for whom they act. Corporaticns are required to pay 2 per cent on ret profits, and special forms will be furnished them on application. All the torms must be correctly filled up and returned to Collector Vandiver on or be- fore the first Monday im March next. The first taxable year is the year of 1504, and the taxes are computed on the taxable in- comes received last year from the Ist day of January to the 3ist day of December, both days included. The taxes are due and Fayable on or befcre the Ist day of July, iss Failure! of persons or corporations to receive the proper forms, or the failure to receive any notice that the proper forms should be filled up and returned to the col- lector’s office, or that any act enjoined by law should be complied with, is not deemed a valid excuse for not making such return, or not complying with the provisions of law in the time and manner prescribed, and will not prevent or reduce the penalties im- posed by law for such failure or neglect. ——___+2+_____ MEXICO-GUATEMALA. The Minister of the Latter Country Confers With Secretary Gresham. Senor Arriaga, the Guatemalan minister, had another conference with the Secretary of State today in regard to the amicable adjustment of the boundary dispute be- tween Guatemala and Mexico. The Presl- dent of Guatemala has conceded certain points insisted upon by the government of Mexico, and from now on the negotiations between the two countries over the bound- ary question will relate: princjpally to mat- ters open to a reasonable doubt. Although the Guatemalan government has admitted its liabiltty to a reasonable indemnity, the amcunt and manner of payment are still to be settled. It may yet be found neces- sary to submit the controversy to a frierdly government for arbitration, and in that event the chances favor the selec- tion of Brazil; but as that country is re- ported to be in danger of another revolu- tion it ts possible that the United States government might be chosen as the arbi- trator. Narrating the Details of the Elbe Disaster. TALES TOLD BY HE SURVIVORS Indignation Against the Offending Vessel Expressed. FAILED TO ‘‘STAND-BY”’ LOWESTOFT, England, January 81.— The horrible details of the loss cf the North German-Lloyd steamship Elbe and her human freight are being discussed here by crowds of people gathered at different places where the survivors remain, al- though a regular blizzard is blowing, and, under ordinary circumstances, very few people would have ventured out of doors. The bitterly cold weather prevailing, and the lack of news from any point along the coast, shows that there is little, if any, hope of any other survivors of the disaster reaching land, ‘A lifeboat, supposed to have belonged to the Elbe, has been washed ashore near Yarmouth. In the boat were a number of life-belts and oars, and it is believed to be the beat from which the fishing smack ‘Wild Flower rescued the few persons who escaped from the steamship after the col- lision of yesterday morning. Everybody here is asking his neighbor the same question: ‘How did it occur?” And nobody seems able to give a satis- factory answer. A-handful of the survivors, who wero clustering around a hotel fire this morning, indulged in the most bitter criticisms of the still unknown ship which rammed and sunk the Elbe. They all claim that she should have.stood by tho Elbe, and that if she had dcne so a great many lives would have been saved. This, cf course, is a matter which cannot be decided until all the facts in the case are brought to light by the court of inquiry which will inquire into the matter. Doubt About the Crathic. The agents of the North German-Lloyd Company at Southampton have been in constant communication with the German vice consul, who has been upon the spot ever sincé a short time after the disaster became known. It is not definitely estab- lished that the Crathie was the offending steamer. There are several interesting points in this distressing story which re- quire definite expiapation before all the facts in the case will become generally known. For instance, there are people who be- Neve that a second steamer may have foundered. They base their opinions on the fact that the Ramsgate life boat put to sea yesterday evening in answer to sig- nals of distress supposed to have come from a steamer. But the life boat has not returned, and as she got away in a blind- ing sncw storm tt is believed that she is lost and that the steamer she attempted to assist also went down. Then again, the word “Azonia” is brand- ed on the oars of the boat stranded near Yarmouth, so people say that it could not be the boat from which the Wild Flower rescued the survivors of the Elbe. The name of “Azonia” is not known in shipping circles here. The German vice consul and the agent of the North German-Lloyd Ccmpany have | cautioned all the survivors of the crew of | the Elbe to furnish no information of any description to anybody until they appear and as the | before the court of inquiry, men are strictly obeying these directions, very little can be gathered, except from the passengers, who, of course, are not | posted on maritime rules and regulations | and are therefore unable to furnish the; facts which might cnable the mystery of ; the sinking of the Elbe to be cleared up as promptly as most people wish. Neither Pilot on the Bridge. It seems, however, that neither of the two pilots was on the bridge of the Elbe at the time of the collision. The German pilot ceased his duty when the Elbe clear- ed from the Weser and the turn of duty of the Trinity, or English pilot, did not commence until the steamship entered the waters of the Isle of Wight, and the sur- viving officers of the Elbe refuse to say who was in charge of that steamer when the collision occurred; but it 1s supposed to have been Third Office: Stollberg, who was one of the survivors. Stollberg is un- derstood to have asserted that the steam- er which sank the Elbe was out of her course, and he is said to have admitted that he saw a green light on the port bow of the Elbe shortly before the collision occurred. He describes the third life boat lowered, and which, it is still thought, may have escaped, to he about twenty feet long. She cleared the Elbe all right and a num- ber of people inside of her. Stollberg, how- ever, does not believe it possible for her to have lived for any length of time in the heavy sea which was running at the time of the accident. The Point of Collision. Chief Engineer Neuzell says that the stem of the unknown steamer struck the Elbe about 150 feet forward of the rud- der, or just abaft the engine room. The engines were not damaged by the collision, but the water soon poured in, and, al- though the steam pumps were put to work, in about three minutes’ time it became useless and the engine rooms were soon deserted for the upper deck. The English Pilots Statement. Later in the day, at the request of the agents of the North German-Lloyd Steam- ship Company, Greenham, the Trinity pilot, made the following statement: “When I came on deck with some of the passengers Capt. von Goessel was in charge. The first order given was to swing the boats out, but not to lower them until further orders. The next “order was for everybody to come on deck, and for the crew to go to their stations. Then fol- lowed the order for the women and chil- dren to go to the starboard boat, in which it was proposed to save them. e first of these orders were given by Capt. von Goessel, and repeated by Chief Officer Wil- helm. he captain was on the bridge, and 1 believe he went down with his ship. “The next order which I heard given was to lower the boats. There was no con- fusion whatever, nor was there a panic. very order was executed with the great- est calmness and propriety. “At the time of the collision there was a high sea running, and a strong wind was blowing from east-southeast. 1t was bit- terly cold, and there had been nineteen degrees of frost on the morning before the day of the collision. The lanyards and j boats, grips and falls, were frozen, and the lanyards securing the falls had to be chopped, in order to save time, but that would have been done in any case in the event of a collision. The Elbe went down about two minutes after we left her side.” The explanation given by the surviving officers of the Elbe, as to the proportion of the crew saved to the number of passen- gers saved, is that the following orders were given by the officers of the Elbe: The children were to be saved first, and then the women, and they were to be placed in (Continued on Third Page.) TONIANS LOST Anton Fischer Took the Train and is Safe. Mrs. Rhodes and Her Son Were Lost— Mrs. Nussbaum’s Young Son Probably Went Down. / A Star representative called at the home of Anton Fischer on G street to tmpart the news of Mr. Fischer’s safety. to the anxious wife. Mrs. Fischer was unable to appear, but Mrs. J. M. Lamb, sister of Mr. Anton Fischer, received the reporter. When told that the dispatch stated that Mr. Fischer was not a passenger on the Elbe, she replied: “Oh, my, this is desperate news you bring. I can hardly believe it.” Her informer stated the source of infor- mation, and added that Mr. Fischer took the train for Southampton at a late hour. Mrs. Lamb paused a moment and re- plied, while tears slowly gathered in her eyes: “Yes, he did not intend to return to the United States for a week yet. Ac- cording to his statement he was to have spent a week in London and to have come to this country on the Saale.” This confirmed the story that, intending to stop at Southampton, and preferring the train, he had not, after his name went on the list, taken the Elbe, but went on by train. ‘The truth of the dispatch dawned upon her, and Mrs. Lamb burst out 2rying, and rushed up the stairwiy to impart the glad news to Mrs. Fischer. Carl Nussbaum. Among those on board the Elbe, it is sup- posed, was Carl Nussbaum, the sixteen- year-old son of Mrs. Lena Nussbaum cf this city. Mrs. Nussbaum fs in the employ of Dr. William A. Hammond at Mt. Pleas- ant, and has been in this country but three years. Leaving Germany at that time, she left Cari in the care of his aunt. It was a terrible blow to the mother when the rews of the fate of the ship was conveyed to her this afternoon by a Star reporter, as her boy was her idol. No longer ago than yesterday she had been conversing about his prospects. Carl has been engaged ar- duously in study for the last three yeurs, and several weeks ago the mother, who had gathered together sufficient money, bought a ticket from Mr. Droop and mailed it to Carl, with instructions to take tke Fulda, January 22, for this country. The ticket did not reach Bremen in time for the Fulda, and a cablegram told the boy to take the E!be. His name appears among the list ef pas- sengers traveling second class, and there is every reason.to believe him one of the unfortunate passengers that were not saved. Dr. Hammond stated that Mrs. Nussbavm was a lady of excellent parent- ege. She has relatives in this city, is a sister of Charles Ebel, a Center market butcher, and daughter of the late Charles Ebel, whase death only a few months ago has preyed upon her mind considerably. The following dispatch came this morn- ing to Mr. E. F. Droop from the New York cftice of the North German-Lloyd: “Carl Nussbaum appears on cabin pas- serger list Elbe, but does not appear on list of the saved. Company has ordered steamer out to make thorough search.” * Mrs. Rhodes and Her Son. Two of the Washingtonians aboard the ill-fated Elbe were Eugene Rhodes and mother of No. 621 2d street northwest. They were returning from Heldeiberg, Germany, in answer to a cable message announcing the death of young Rhodes’ father, Oliver W. Rhodes, who died on Sun- day lest at one of the city hospitals from the effects of injuries in the head, due to a fall on the ice. Eugene Rhodes and his mother sailed from New York on September 5 last, Mr. Rhodes to take the post gradu- ate law course at Heidelberg University. He, resigned from the coast survey in Au- gust to make this trip. He graduated from Columbia law school in the class of "33, and was one of the prize men in the post graduate course at Georgetown in "4. It was to complete this line of study that he went abroad. After taking the Heidel- burg course it was his intention, as stated in a late letter to his friend, Mr. Frederick A. Fenning of the United States pension agency, to take a short trip around Eu- ‘ope, and then setile down to the practice f the law. Rhodes came to Washington from Kansas, and by his friends was con- sidered an especially bright young man. He was president of the Young People’s Seciety of the First Presbyterian Church. The three deaths, coming so close together, make the case one of peculiar sadness. There is no known survivor of the immedi- ate family. Mr. Rhodes had a good deal of artistic ability, and had studied in this city under some good instructors. Henry Castle of Hawail. Senator Kyle, who was acquainted with Henry Castle of Hawali, who was among the passengers who lost their Ives on the Elbe, says that Mr. Castle was a brother of the commissioner, and not the commis- sioner himself, as has been represented. He also states that instead of being a royalist, Mr. Castle was a strong supporter of the present administration of Hawaiian affairs and an advecate of annexation, in which interest his older brotrer came to this country in 1892. He was the editor of the Honolulu Gazette. Senatcr Kyle also corrects the statement that it was Mr. Castle's wife who was drowned with him, but says it was his four-year-old daughter instead. = —— Nominations by the President. The President today sent to the Senate the following nominations: Treasury—To be collectors of customs: Wm. Richmond of New York for the dis- trict of Niagara, N. Y.; John W. Deering of Maine for the district of Portland and Fal- mouth, Me., Jos. KE. Moore of Maine for the district of Waldoborough, Me.; Aaron L. Simpson of Maine for the district of Ban- gor, Me. Postmasters—Spaulding Evans at Lock- pert, N. ¥.; Albert Nunez, at Arabi, La. —EE Ensign Dodd’s Case. The trial of Ensign W. L. Dodd cn charges of financial irregularities will be resumed at the Washington navy yard to- morrow morning. The proceedings cf court- martial in this case were suspended last week by order of the Secretary of the Navy in order to permit the formulation of addi- tional charges against the accused. These charges relate to financial transactions and are in a line with the original charges al- ready considered by the court. Ensign Dodd will be called upon tomorrow to an- swer the new charges. oe Naval Movements. The gunboat Machias arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, yesterday, ten days from Aden. The cruiser Detroit is at the same post, having preceded the Machias a few days. The two vessels are destined to the Chi- nese, station and will resume their voyage in a few day —————_-e+ Cadet Appointments. Cadet appointments to the Military Acad- emy have been issued to Wm, A. Shallen- berger (alternate), Rochester, Pa.; W.°T. Kennerly, Congersville, Tenn.; Sam’l R. Robertson (alternate), Jackson, Tenn; Wm. J. Nixon, Chattancoga, Tenn.; Wm. P. Smith (alternate), Charleston, Tenn.; Thom- as F. Hughes, New York city, N.Y. ns Tax on Beer. In the Senate today Senator Teller gave notice of a proposed amendment to the act repealing the one-tenth differential duty on sugars by the addition of a section im- posing a tax of $2 per barrel on beer, porter, ale, &c. BIG TELEGRAPH BILL Evidence Presented Today in the Howgate Case. VOUCHERS AND ACCOUNTS SUBMITTED Western Union Officials Tell of the Company's Methods. LONG DRAWN OUT In the presence of a crowded court room, the trial of Capt. Henry W. Howegate, on an indictment charging him with the em- bezzlement, September 6, 1879, of $11,800 of government funds, and on an indictment alleging that he forged the name of Ros- well H. Rochester, treasurer of the Western Union Telegraph Company, to a voucher for the said amount October 15, 1879, was resumed in Criminal Court No. 1, before Judge McComas, this morning. As on the previous ‘days of the trial, the now famous defendant was accompanied by his daugh- ter, Miss Ida Howgate. At the request cf the defense the New York witness,\John A. Fletcher, was re- called this morning, and to Mr. Worthing- ton Mr. Fletcher stated that he learned the name of “Charles H. Williems” from bexes which came to the defendant while occupying rooms at the house of witness. The witness said, in reply to a question asked by Mr. Birney, that he never knew of the defendant receiving a letter while at witness’ house. Telegraph Accounts. The witness then left the stand, and was followed by John B. Van Every, who stat- ed that he was the auditor of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Being asked as to the number and character of the ac- counts rendered by the company to the United States signal service office during the years 1878, 187) and 1880, he stated that the accounts numbered thirty-six dur- ing that time. The accounts, the witness explained, were for special messages, cir- cuit messages, leased wires and a few mis- cellaneous bilis. Twelve of these accounts were rendered during the year 1879. At the request of Mr. Birney, the witness produced the books of his office, and wase asked as to the accounts therein stated. The inquiry was vigorously objccted™to by the defendant's counsel, who explained that before the books could be used as evidence it must be shown by the men keeping the books that they were correctly kept. Everybody knew, they said, that the witness could not testify personaliy as to their correctness. The government should Pee the man or men who kept the Judge McComas sustained the objection of defendant's counsel, and then the wit- ness testified that the books had been kept by Stephen H. Wilkins and Edmund 7. McKay. Neither was with the company, and both lived in Brooklyn, N. Y. The court, however, allowed the witness to re- fresh his memory by an inspection of the accounts, when he stated, despite the ob- Jections of defendant's counsel, that no bill not dated was ever rendered to the signal service office by the company, or one not specifying the particular services for which the account was rendered. The witness, being shown the photo- graphic reproduction of the $11,400 vouch- er, “for services,” stated, against the de- fendant’s counsel’s vigorous objections, that, refreshing his memory from a search made for the voucher in 1881, no such ac- count was ever rendered by the company. Matter of Signatures. Mr. Birrey next handed to the witness the accounts rendered by the telegraph company and paid during the fiscal years of 1879 and 1889, explaining that he offered in that way to prove the bills of the com- pany paid by the signal service office. Mr. Worthington objected, contending that the government could not prove that the company was not paid the $11,800 men- tioned in the indictments by showing that certain bills were paid. His object, explained Mr. Birney, was to show that all legitimate bills rendered to the office by the ccmpany were properly dated, ihat they specified the particular service for which they were rendered, and that all had been paid and properly re- ceipted by Mr. Rochester, the treasurer of the company. In explaining their objections counsel for the defendant stated that the United States Supreme Court had several times hela that an alleged forgery could not be preven by the introduction of true signa~ tures. But the court had also held that once genuine signatures or writings were admitted in evidence for another purpose, such signatures or other writings could then be used by the jury for comparison with the alleged forged writing. Counsel for the defendant, said. Mr. Worthington, were just bad enough to believe that the district attorney, under the pretense of desiring to prove the character of the accounts, was really endeavoring to get the signatures of Treasurer Rochester in evidence that later the jury might have them to compare them with the alleged fcrged signatures of Mr. Rochester. Judge McComas decided that the vouch- ers tended to prove or disprove the issues raised in the trial, and he would, there- fore,-allow the vouchers to be introduced, being of the opinion that it was proper to show the whole business of the company. Counsel for the defense noted an excep- tion, and, postponing the introduction of the vouchers for a time, Mr. Birrey pro- ceeded with the examination of Mr. Van Every. Long Accounts. Mr. Birney then stated that, although it would prove a long and tedious matter, he would excuse Mr. Van Every and recall Mr. Webster of the auditor's office, having charge of the accounts of the signal serv- ice office, and prove by him and the ac- counts every bill rendered and paid during the fiscal years 1879 and 1880. Mr. Webster thereupon took the stand and for an hour waded through the accounts, reading exch t 12:20, the accounts for the year 1 was taken until 1 o'clock. After Recess. Upon the resumption of the trial after recess Mr. Webster resumed the witness stand, and proceeded to show from the accounts the payments made by the signal service office to the Western Union Tele- graph Ccmpany during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. Among them was the one for $11,800, the amount alleged to have been embezzled by Capt. Howgate. That item was found in the accounts for October, 1879, the number of the voucher being 73. That voucher, the witness stated, was one of those which had been lost. The reading of the accounts finished, they were offered in evidence, the defense of- fering no objection, and, upon Mr. Wor- thington’s motion, the court directed them to be placed in the custody of the clerk of the court until the further order of the court, counsel for the defendant to have the privilege of examining them. —>—_—_ Incrensing Commerce. The increasing commerce of British Co- lumbia with the Hawailan Islands Is the subject of 2 report to the State Department by Consul General Mills, at Honotulu. Much of the freight brought to that port by Canadian steamers, he says, is for their own account, and what they may lose in the way of freight when the goods are sold is more than made up by the large sub- sidies which they receive from the British government.