Evening Star Newspaper, February 4, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. eect Piaeectmeet PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, * 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. New York Office, 49 Potter Building, ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the city by carriers, om their own account, at 10 cents oc £6 conte ger month. Copies at the mail—anyw! in the ‘Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents Sheet Star, $1 per year, with === The Even gq Star. WASHINGTON, D. 0., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. TWO OENTS. THe proof of the pudding is in t§e eating. Safurday’s Star contained 48 cofumns of advertisements, made uz of 841 separate announce: nea OE RRC sani reese argc ry, THE DRAW WAS OPEN|THE FINANCIAL QUESTION) IN CONGRESS TODAY|REC!PROCAL TRANSFERS/REPUBLICAN WORRY|UN'ON DEPOT SITE TRIAL CONTINUED Terrible Accident to a Milwaukee Trolley Car. PLUNGED THROUGH KINNICKINIC BRIDGE * Broke Through the Ice of the River.” RESCUE WORK PROGRESSING cncereneeneacreenniat MILWAUKEE, Wis., Februgry 4.—A trol- ley car on the Russell avenue and Holton Street line ran through the open draw of Kinnickinic bridge at 8:20 o'clock this morning. The car struck endwise on the fee, through which it plunged into the water. The motorman was drowned, and two passengers lost their lives. The car was bcund toward Bayview,and was pretty well filled with passengers when the acci- dent occurred, but part of them were res- cued without serious injury. The ice broke the windows of the car, which stood on end, and only partially filled with water. The first body recovered was that of a woman, who was taken out a few minutes after the accident. The confusion was such that nobody could tell an hour after the catastrophe how many people had lost their lives. * There were ten or twelve people in the car, the exact number being unknown. P. Those rescued were: W. Zevery, 702 Walnut street, hand cut, Oertel, 766 Island avenue; G. W. Chase, 732 4th street; H. Kuehn, Reed street; R. Brandt, 40 Grove street; Ella Wachelse, 1118 ilth street, hurt about the head. The Drowned. The dead are: Miss Kuntz, a kinder- garten teacher in the twenty-eighth dis- trict primary school. A daughter of Prof. Ehiman, director of music in the public schools. John Kennedy, motorman of car 145. The car was in charge of Conductor Petersen. The bridge had been opened to permit the passage of the fire beat Foley, which was breaking the ice in the Kin- nickinie river. The members of the Fo- ley’s crew rendered valuable assistance in rescuing those who were saved and in re- » ecvering the bodies of the victims. The Awful Plunge. The Chicago and Northwestern rail- road crossing, situated about two-thirds of a block north of Kinnickinic bridge, was made on schedule time. At the conductor's signal to come ahead, Motorman John Kennedy applied his power and the ill-fated car started onward. Roll- ing along at a fair speed, not more than probably ten or twelve feet from the bridge Conduetor Petersen, who fs said to have been in service only a short time, rang the bell to stop. Instantly the passengers be- came alive to the fact that there was some- thing out of the ordinary wrong, and look- ing out saw the open bridge almost at hand and no brakes had yet been applied. At the sound of the bell, the motorman grasped the brake crank and twisted it with might and main. But the wheels slipped, there was no time to reach for sand, and to the horror of the helpless passengers they realized that no power on earth could prevent them from plunging headlong into the icy waters. Wild shrieks from the women passengeys intermingled with the breathless gasps of the pale-faced men. There was no time to plan or to say a word. The rear door was all the means of escape that was offered. The men on the rear end, three, including the conductor, had jumped. Wm. Zevery was the first toereach the dcor. He had occupfed the front seat at the window and had seen the bridge open shortly after the railroad crossing had been passed. He needed not the warning bell of the conductor to notify him of the danger. He was the first to bound forward * and reach the handle of the rear door. But he never opened it. The fant he touched it the forward end went down, and he, tegether with the terror-stricken passe! gers who were crowding behind him, were thrown to the ‘rent. ‘The Work of Rescue. A heavy crash followed as the ice was struck and then the car gradually sank midway into the water. Fire was instant- ly quenched and the passengers entirely submerged. The two ladies who met their death must have been at the very bottom and were instantly suffocated, as their + bodies bear no signs of bruises. One wo- man clung desperately to a man as he continued to raise himself out of the wa- ter. He could lend no assistance, how- ever, as his strength was almost gone. But the strong arm of a rescuer was near at hand, and the helpless woman was safely borne above the waters and soon placed in a place of refuge. Another woman was rescued in a similar way. Their preservation is due to the fact that they chanced to be farthest away from the rear door in the first attempt to escape. Miss Kuntz's body was first discovered. Afterward the body of Miss Ehlman and the motorman were taken from the car. Two attempts were made to lift the car, but the chains broke each time. Polico used grappling hooks on the wrecked car without effect. « It is now thought the list of dead will be Umited to the three names given. -— FROM THE WRECKED ELBE. Recovery of the Corpse of One of the Victims. LOWESTOFT, England, February 4— The fishing smack Verena has landed here the body of Fredrich Ernst of Magdeburg, Prussia, one of the drowned passengers of the Elbe, and some maiPbags, one of which was marked “Stockholm.” The body of Ernst presented a shocking appearance, «with {ts hands clencked across the chest and the mouth wide open. The body was found forty-five miles southeast of this place. What the Crathie’s Captnin Says. ABERDEEN, February 4.--The owner of the steamer Crathié, which, it ts alleged, sunk the North German-Lloyd steamer Elbe, has returned here from Rotterdam. He says that the statement made by:Capt. Gordon of the Crathie to the underwriters was that the colliston so seriously dam- ed the Crathie’s bows, the wreckage con- ting of @ large derrick and two anchors ing in dangerous positions over the si threatening to povnd holes in her, that when he signaled to the large vessel the steamer had run into, and received a « peply, he belleved’ that’ ‘the fatter was standing by him, and, consequently, Capt. Gordon took steps to repair the damage done to his vessel. According to “thd owner ‘of the ‘Crathie, Capt. Gordon added that. the big steamer lay to for some time, and then proceeded fn the direction of . ‘The- Crathie, her commander iso stated, remained in the vicinity of the piece ‘where the‘collision @courred until daybreak. — Balloting at Dover. DOVER, Del., February 4—Two more bal- lots were taken today for a United States Benator. They resulted as follows: Hig- gins, 9; Addicks, 6; Massey, 4; Wolcott, 6; icholson, 2; Tunnel 1. Speaker McMul- Jen declared’ in the house today that he was in favor of a continuous session until @ Senator waa elected. le, Republicans in the House to Take a Hand ’ in Its Settlement. Ex-Speaker Reed Will Probably Offer a Substitute for the Administration Bill Simpty Providing for Bonds. The republicans contemplate taking a hand seriously in the financial question when it comes up under the special order tomorrow and the two fcllowing days. Mr. Reed will take the lead, offerirg a substi- tute for the committee's bill, and he will probably have a solid republican following, or practically so. The special order fixing these three days for the consideration of the subject, and naming an hour for the vote to be taken Thursday afternoon, will probably be adopted without difficulty, but even most of the advocates of the meas- ure reported from the committee are satis- fied that it cannot be adopted. A number of informal conferences have been held between the ‘eaders on the republican side in view of fixing upon a line of conduct. This they have substantially accomplished, only a few men, whose position might be doubtful, remaining yet to be consulted. The plan supported by the leaders is te drop all collateral questions and appeal directly to the simple provision for the re- lef of the treasury by the issue of bonds. Mr. Reed’s Substitate. Mr. Reed expects to offer as a substitute for the whole bill of the committee a bill of a few lines giving the Secretary of the Treasury authority to issue low interest bonds. This propositicn, it is believed, will have the support of nearly all of the re- publicans, and, if anything at all can be passed, has the test chance of being adopted. The position taken by the republicans is not that of opposing other legislation for the improvement of the financial system. They hold, however, that nothing except a simple and unincumbered proposition ‘can be adopted, and that they should devote themselves to that which there seems su:ne prospect of accomplishing, and which would give immediate relief. Other legisla- tion which may be deemed desirable may be taken up by the next Congress, but to attempt it now would simply render it im- possible to do anything at all. It is proba- ble that a considerable number of demo- erats will vote for Mr. Reed’s substitute, and its advocates believe that it can he put through the House on Thursday, and that it Is possible to secure its passage by the Senate. «The proposition is for low in- terest coin bonds, the term “gold” not being used. At first it was suggested that it should be gold bonds, but a ‘discussion of the question led to the conclusion that this would be unnecessary and would injure the value of bonds now outstanding by imply- ing that they were payable in something other than gold, whereas the almost un- changeable policy of the government makes all coin bonds payable in gold. - HABEAS CORPUS DENIED. Supreme Court Action in the Cases of Chapman and Shriver. ‘The Supreme Court of the United States today denied the application of Elverton I. Chapman, the recalcitrant witness in the Senate sugar trust investigation of last summer, for a writ of habeas corpus on the ground that it was not competent for the Supreme Court to interfere in the matter until after the case should have been finally disposed of by the District courts. Chief Justice Fuller, who delivered the decision, said that if after the final decision of the case and if that decision should be against him it would be competent for Chapman to apply for a writ of error to the United States court, and in case that should not be granted them to apply for habeas corpus, but he thought the ends of justice woul+ be better subserved if there should be no interference at this time. Chief Justice Fuller, sald the court, had been unable to see that Mr. Chapman’s case presented any exceptional circum- stances as he set up in his petition. ‘The application for a writ of habeas cor- pus was also denied in the case of J. <. Shriver on the same grounds, the court re- marking that it was essentially similar to the Chapman case. Justice Field dissented from the opinion. panera ee, reeset FOUND DEAD IN THE RUINS. An Old Denver Cigar Dealer Perished in His Burning Shop. DENVER, Col., February 4.—About 4:30 o’clock this morning an explosion of gaso- line set fire to the cigar store of A. L. Bowers, 1317 17th street, and burned to death the proprietor, who slept in a room at the rear of the store. Bowers was sixty years old and has been a resident of Den- ver for twenty years. Ho lived alone in his little shop and sold patent medicine as well as smokers’ articles. When found in the ruins Bowers lay burned to a crisp in bed, and close to him stood a gasoline can. He is supposed to have lighted a pipe or cigar and by accident thrown the match Into the vessel of inflammable fluid. READING, Pa., February 4.—Mrs. John Zeller, a widow, and her grandson, James Heckler, were fatally burned yesterday at the residence of Mrs. Zeller, in Spring township, this county. The boy died this morning, and it is but a question of a few hours until Mrs. Zeller succumbs to her terrible burns. The aged woman and her grandson were the only persons in the house at the time of the fire. It is be- Heved that they attempted to start a fire with coal ofl. ——— EARTHQUAKES IN MEXICO. Shocks Have Been Repeated Almost Daily for Weeks. OAXACA, Mexico, February 4.—The se- vere earthquake shocks which have been felt in the district of Tuxtepec, this state, almost daily for the past four weeks are becomigg more frequent and severe. Al- most every house in the town of Tuxtepec is in ruins, and the damage will amount to many thousands of dollars. That dis- trict Is very mountainous, and there is smoke pouring from the crater of an ex- tinct voleano near the town, which indi- cates that the earthquake shocks are caused by the threatened volcanic eruption. ——_ EXPLOSION OF FIRE DAMP. A Number of Men Killed in the French Mines. PARIS, February 4—An explosion of fire damp is reported from Montceau Les Mmes, department of Saone Et Leire. Fire broke out yesterday in the St. Eugenie pit, and while the miners were fighting this fire an explosion occurred, which wrecked the galleries and entombed the miners. ‘The rescue party thus far has recovered twenty-one bodies and has removed from the ruins eight terribly injured miners. es PRESIDENT GREENHUT OUSTED. His Acts Criticised and Another Ap- pointed Receiver. CHICAGO, February 4.—Judge Grosscup today ousted President Greenhut from the receivership of the whisky trust. He al- lowed Receiver Lawrence to remain in of- fice as a representative of the directors, and appointed Gen. John MecNulta as re- ceiver-in-chief. John J. Mitchell was appointed another receiver, to represent the New York stock- holders. The decision accompanying the Cert! was long and criticised Greenhut’s ac Matters That Came Up in the Senate and House. MINNESOTA SENATOR'S CREDENTIALS A War Claims Rule Excites Much Opposition. — THE HOUSE CARRIES IT Sa Secretary Carlisle submitted a letter of information to the Senate today, which dissipates the gloomy forebodings as to a lack of revenue to carry on the govern- ment. It is in response to a resolution of inquiry adopted last week when Mr. Gorman (Md.) urged the seriously crippled condition of the treasury. Mr. Carlisle's letter is brief and to the point, and esti- mates that the revenues for the current year will exceed expenditures by $22,51 022. The text of the letter is as follows: “In reply to Senate resolution of January 28, 1805, that the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to inform the Senate what is the estimated deficiency in the revenues of the government to pay current ex- penses between the 31st day of December, 1804, and the 3ist day of December, 1895, and if the $153,337,379.99 cash balance in the treasury on the 3ist day of Decem- ber, 183, will be sufficient to meet such defictency,” I have the honor to state that from estimates made upon the basis of laws now in force it is belleved that for the twelve months ending December 31, 1895, the revenues of the government from all sources will exceed ordinary ex- penditures by $22,563,023. Respectfully, (Signed) J. G. CARLISLE, Secretary. The reading of the letter was closely fol- lowed by the Senate. iz Mr. McPherson (N. J.) went to the clerk's desk to personally inspect it. Then Mr. Aldrich (R. I.) sent for it, and a group of republican Senators gathered about him and read it over his shoulder. Mr. Gor- map smiled significantly at the Secretary’s direct and positive estimate of the ample- ness of revenues. Judge Jackson's Retirement. Mr. Vilas (Wis.), from the judiciary com- mittee, favorably reported the bill retiring Mr. Justice Howell Jackson from the United States Supreme Court bench, and asked immediate consideration of the meas- ure. Mr. Aldrich, still holding Secretary Carlisle’s letter, suggested that there were some other things which would prevent the full consideration of this measure, and it accordingly went over. Mr. Davis (Minn.) presented the cre- dentials of Knute Nelsvua, elected a Senator from that state for six years beginning March 4 next. The House bill to establish a national military park at Gettysburg, Pa., was passed. Unanimous consent was secured to con- sider a bill for the classification of mineral lands in Montana and it was done, with the understanding that there would be no op- position, but a spirited debate arose, and Mr. Gorman interpesed an objection which sent the bill over. ‘The resolution was agreed to calling on the interstate commerce commission to fur- nish information as to contracts between the Canadian Pacific Railroad Company and American lines by which the former refrained from competing on freight and traffic in certain localities. The House bill was passed to regulate commerce on the great lakes and con- necting waters as to lights, signals, etc., to exterd the international code already established. The Senate then resumed consideration of the District of Columbia appropriation bill. THE HOUSE. ‘The omnibus war claims bill was consid- ered in the House today. Some prelimi- nary routine business preceded the presen- tation of the special order. The conference report on the fortifications and army ap- propriation bills were adopted. Bills were passed to authorize the Arkansas and Northwestern Railroad Company to con- struct a road across the Indian territory; to authorize the governor of Alaska to create precincts and appoint justices of the peace. Mr. Catchings, from the committee on rules, then introduced a special order for the ‘consideration of the omnibus war claims bill. It gave the day to the consid- eration of the bill, with provision for a yote at 4 o'clock. Under its terms any item in the bill not for stores and supplies, favorably reported upon by the Court of Claims under the Bowman act of 1883, and favorably reported from the claims com- mittee, should be subject to a point of order. Protests Against the Rules. Mr. Mahon (Pa.) questioned the right of the committee on rules to bring in such a rule. Mr. Beltzhoover (Pa.) made an indignant speech, protesting against the rule. He characterized this as an attempt of the rules committee to ride roughshod over a decided majority of the war claims com- mittee. ‘He appealed to the Speaker not to hold that such a report was in order. Mr. Catchings, in reply, warmly declared that every item in the Dill had been found due by the Court of Claims, and had been favorably reported from the committee on war claims. The omnibus bill, to which Mr. Belizhoover had referred, on the other hand, had contained a claim of $1,000,000 by certain citizens of Pennsylvania, which had never been favorably acted upon by the Court of Claims. Addressing himself to the merits of the bill, Mr. Catchings said that but $12,000,000 had been appro- priated for war claims, despite the public impression that the sum was much larger. Point of Order Overruled. After soma further debate cn the point of erder, in the ceurse of which Mr. Her- mann (Oreg)n) »-retested against the meth- od of legislation proposed by this order as an usurpation of power by the committee on rules, the Speaker overruled the point of order. He said that in bringing in such an order the committee on rules usurped nothing. It simply provided for the dis- charge of tha committee on war claims from the further censideration of this bill in order that the House might have an op- portunity to consider it. Mr. Catchings then demanded the pre- vious question. On a rising vote it was ordered (97—73), but Mr. Mahon (Pa.) made the point of no quorum, and Mr. Catch- ings demanded the yeas and nays, and the roll was called. The previous question was ordered (128— 95). Under the rules, fifteen minutes were then allowed on a side for debate. ——___- e+ Conrad and Dickinson Favorably Re- ported. | The Senate judiciary committeo today voted to report favorably the nominations of Holmes Conrad of Virginia for solicitor genera) and I. M. Dickinson of Tennessee for assistant attorney general. As neither Virginia nor Tennessee is represented on the judiciary committee the favorable re- ports were made subject to objection by Senators from, these states. Objections, however, are not expected. Street Railway Representatives Discuss the Question Today. Many Come to Some Decision Regard- ing a General System—Metropoli- tan Road’s Position, There was an important gathering of railroad men at the oifice of the District Commissioners this morning, while the room of Commissioner Powell was turned into a meeting place for the representatives of the varlous roads—cable, horse and electric—that carry the people of Washington around town at the rate of 5 cents a trip, six tickets for a quarter, some- times with the privilege of transfers, but more often without. Eight railroads were ‘represented in the collection, which was evoked by the publi- cation of the notice that the Commission- ers would give a hearing this morning at 11 o'clock to a representative of each of the street railroads of the District with refer- ence to the matter of reciprocal transfer and trackage arrangements between the different roads. This is a matter which has heen occupying the attention of the Com- missioners for some time past, and they came to the conclusion that.the best thing to do in the premises wasito hear the views of the different roads before taking further and definite action. There was quite a large attendance at the meeting, and there was evidently the great- est interest felt in the matter under dis- cussion. The representative of the Mctro- politan road showed that his people were particularly anxious to have the whole question settled with as little delay as pos- sible, for the reason that his read is r quired by la‘7 to enter into reciprecal ar- rangements involving transfer and track- age privileges pending the substitution of the new motive power. In other words, ar- rangements of this sort must be completed with all roads that touch or intersect the Metropolitan before its underground sys- tem can be completed, and Mr. Phillips evidently had no desire to lose any time that could be saved. The roads represented at the hearing this morning were as follows: Metropolitan, S. L. Phillips; Columbia, Natharicl Wilson; Washirgtcn and Gecrgetown, George T. Dunlop; Eckington, W. K. Schoepf; Belt Line, John Rideout; Brightwood, Charles Williams; Tenleytown, Gecrge E. Emmons and Spencer Watkins; Rock Cre@&, F. G. Newlands. The Hearing. . Maj. Powell began the hearing by read- ing over the Commissioners’ proposed amendment to the charter ofthe Metropoll- tan railroad. This amendment, the sub- stance of which has heen already printed in The Star, requires the Metropoltan and other roads of the city to,enter-into re- ciprocal transfer and traekage arrange- ments under conditions Igi@ dowm by the Commisstoners. He alsc read the draft of a clause pro- posed by the'road itself, differing from the proposition of the Commiggioners. only in some matters of detail wigh reference to the jurisdiction of the cou It gives to the Supreme Court of District the duty of settling any questions that may arise between the roads to the eom- pensation cf the roads, the proportion which shall be paid to each, the propor- tions each shall pay for the supyort of transfer facilities, etc. At the conclusion of this reading, Pres- ident Newlands cf the Rock Creek road sprung @ proposition that: was in the na- ture of a surprise. He suggested that without any formal hearjng the represen- tatives of the different roads get together and see if they could not come to some mutual agreement that would be satisfac- tory to themselves and to the Commission- ers. He said that as they were all ~ on hand there was no reason why there should be any delay in the matter and he suggested that an adjournment be taken until tomorrow morning to give them an opportunity to confer. There was a gen- eral feeling in favor of this proposition, but Mr. Phillips seemed to think that there was no need for waiting so long. He sug- gested that they should report to the Com- missioners at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Commissioner Ross said that they would be willing to hear the report whenever the railroad men might be ready with it, and he suggested that they adjourn with the understanding that they come back at 2 o'clock if they should haye agreed at that tine. Commissioner Powell then placed his room at théir disposal, and they began their deliberations in there without delay. The doors’ were tightly locked and the conference was held with every effort made to preserve the greatest secrecy. CUTTING OFF SINECURES. A Provision in Regard to the Inspec- tion of Fuel. The legislative, judicial and executive appropriation bill, reported today, contains a provision which cuts off several sinccures in the departments. Under, existing law there is an inspector of fuel in each de- partment, who is paid 20 cents for each ton of coal bought by the government which he inspects, and 9 cents a cord for wood. ‘These fees are paid by the coniractor. In- quiries on the part of the Dockery coin- mission developed the fact that In nearly all of the cases this sinecure is held by a government clerk already drawing salary. In one caso an $1,800 clerk gets $1,200 addi- tional in fees from the fuel contractors. The present bill provides that the head of the department shall designate a clerk to act as inspector without additional +emu- neration. —___+-e+____ DISTRICT IN CONGRESS. Government Snow and Ice.- Col. John M. Wilson has submitted to the House an estimate of an appropriation of $500 for clearing snow and ice from pave- ments in front of public reservations. He said in his letter that there; are thirty-one miles of such pavements, coyering an area of about forty-five acres. District Claimants. In the omnibus war claims bil, pend- ing before the House today, are the fol- lowing claims of residents of the Dis- trict of Columbia: The administrators of David Shoemaker, $1,255; George W. Gun- nell, $5,124; Stephen M. Gelden, $840; Jes- sie Owings, trustee of Ann E. Harper, $1,688; John, Peter. and Patrick Mulhol- land, $630; Bernard T. Swart, $5,040, Georgetown Abolished. ‘The Senate bill legally abolishing George- town as a separate title, which was passed by the House, with amendments, on Fri- day, was finally passed today, the Senate concurring in the amendments. The mem- bers of thc Senate District committee agreed to accept the changes without wait- ing for a meeting. The bill now goes to the President. SS ee SEEKING THE CHICORA. A Tug Boat Sent Out From Chicago After the Wreck. CHICAGO, February 4—The Dunham Towing Company: today sent a tug to South Chicago with instruetiong to make every effort to reach the point where the sup- pesed hull of the missing Chigora was seen yesterday. Owing to the heavy. ice, it was thought that the chances for the tug reach- ing its destination were slight, and the general opinion among marine men was that the object seen in the ice is not the Chicora’s hull, but a pile of debris. and for a. Some Difficulties Attending a Tidal Wave Triumph. FACTIONAL DIFFERENCES IN STATES Considerable Anxiety Felt in Re- gard to New York. oe NO REMEDY SUGGESTED eS The republicans are beginning to ex- perience some of the difficulties and em- barrassing responsibilities that attend a tidal-wave triumph, and although the presi- dential election is nearly two years dis- tant, and the present condition of the de- mocracy so demoralized, the more far- sighted cf the party leaders are already discussing certain unpromising signs of the times. It was expected that there would be lively contests for the prizes in a number of states, but several of the contests have taken a most undesirable turn. The one in Delaware is especially regretted. Mr. Addicks, whatever his personal worth may be, has been put in the attitude of seeking the senatorship from that state almost solely because of liberal contributions to his party’s campaign fund. He may not win his fight, but the fear is expressed that such a candidacy, if only deadlocking the legislature for weeks, must work In- jury to the party everywhere. In Oregon Mr. Dolph has been halted on the very threshhold of success. The two votes he lacked at the beginning of the balloting he still lacks. The difficulty is over his 1ecord on the money question. He was the only western Senator to take extreme and aggressive ground against free coinage atq the special session in 1893, and silver senti- ment in his state is now trying to retire him. If the effort succeeds it will carry a distinct warning to Mr. Sherman and his friends as to how delicate the task is of adjusting republican differences on the money question, and how determined the west is to press her case to substantial recognition. Much bitterness remains as the result of the defeat of Mr. Washburn of Minnesota for re-election. He and his managers charge urfair dealing on the part of the winning combination, and those familiar with the situation are apprehen- sive that the party may, in the near future, suffer because of the divisions. j Dissensions in New York. But the chief concern relates to New York, where every day seems to develop new dissensions, and where there are as many republican as democratic factions now. The republicans, indeed, appear to be paraileling the democrats at every turn, and to be heading for an abyss the equal in depth to that into which their opponents plunged at the last election. If Croker was a source of anxiety to certain demo- crats last year, Mr. Platt is giving the same uneasiness to certain republicans this year. If Gov. Flower failed to meet the wishes of the Fairchild-Wheeler faction, Gov. Morton is failing to meet those of Dr. Parkhurst and his friends. There is com- plaint about the legislature,complaint about the latest aspect that reform is taking in the city, and complaint about the tendency of things in general. So great, indeed, is the disaffection, and so emphatic is the ex- pression of it, that some of the most prom- inent of the men who assisted in the over- throw of the democracy last year are re- ported to be in search now of a good and suflicient reason for that action. Leaders in Congress Disturbed. ‘The republican leaders in Congress are very much disturbed by all of this. They are not inqujring into the merits of the controversy, nor trying to fix responsibility for the trouble. In a certain local sense it ts not their province to do so. ‘They recognize in Mr. Platt an organizer of unusual ability and a very useful man. Their esteem for Gov. Morton .s high, They regard him as being both a pure and a sagacious leader, and they believe that he is actuated by the best imctives to the state as to his party in whatever steps he takes. At the same time, there are men in the opposing fac- tion whom they likewise know and thor- oughly trust, and they see that the party at a distance, viewing the struggle between factions so well mustered and so well led, can, like themszives, experience only dis- couragement and regret. They regard New York as the great center of things, both for thelr own party and for the democ- racy. Political maneuvering there attracts the attention of the whole country, and states distant as Texas in one direction, and as California in another, are influenced by the results. The main support of the democracy in its national contests for twenty years has been its power in the empire state, and the brightest Jewel in last year’s republican crown was the signal overthrow of that power, both at Albany and in the metropolis. The national repub- lican leaders, therefore, fear the effect on the party at a distance of an impression that this lately acquired republican advan- tage is already imperiled by factional strife, and that the great citadel will have to be fought for next year again as stub- bornly as if it'had not so recently been taken. Bright prospects as to New York, they think, make bright prospects in all the states, while, in equal degree, doubt as to New York carries a shadow clear across the continent. No One Suggesting a Remedy. Nobody is suggesting a remedy for the difficulty. Everybody sees the difficulty, and many discuss it with freedom. It is generally conceded that it is fraught with real danger. There 1s no thought in shrewd republican circles that next year’s presidential race 1s to be a walk-over. Signs of democratic revival are noted here and there. Tammany, even, is not alto- gether without hope. One’ of Richard Groker’s personal friends stated at the Capftol on Saturday that the reform move- ment in New York had spent its force, and that through republican divisions Tam- many would carry the town again next year, Then there are the dangers to pro- ceed from responsibility for legislation In Congress, #ith an unwieldy party majority in the House, and the necessity for making some sort of combination in the Senate, and a President in the White House watch- ing tho corners for the demccracy. The republican leaders expect to win, but it would not surprise them if it should be in a driving. finish, They don't want to be obliged to carry more welght, therefore, than absolutely necessary, und they desire this fact noted in New York, as every- where. < 5 THE NEW BOND ISSUE. An Official Announcement Expected Wednesday or Thursday. There is no special change in the financial situation today. Assistant Secretary Curtis has returned from New York, and has given the Secretary of the Treasury, and through him the President, the result of his conferences with the agents of foreign banking houses on Saturday in regard to the issue of a new government loan. It is understood that this question will be con- sidered and possibly settled. at the meeting of the cabinet tomorrow. The latest report is that an‘ official announcement of a bond issue will be made on Wednesday or Thurs- day next. So far as the Treasury Depart- ment is advised, there were no gold with- drawals todey. Blasting Has Been Stopped in Order to Protect Neighboring Houses. The Gigantic Task of Excavating Thousands of Tons of Rock—Work Going Forward. The work of excavating for the new union street car depot on M street, George- town, has alarmed people living in the neighbort.ood, until a lively watch is kept on thg operations there. Undeniably, the proportions of the undertaking are so great that to the uninfcrmed spectato: there may seem to be cause for apprehension. This, at least, was reasonable, when a few days ago the continual blasting shook the whole hill, and threatened to cause a gen- eral landslide, which would involve ad- joining houses and the surface of Prospect street for the length of a block. But all blasting was ordered stopped by the rail- way company befor? any action was taken by the District authorities, and every pox- sible precaucion is being taken to prevent any mishap. The Situation. The situation, briefly stated, is this: The excavation for this union depot, which is to be 200 feet wide by 230 long, involves the removal, chiefly by blasting, of a mass of rock, some hard and firmly in place, some rotten ard liable to slide together with a large proportion of earth. This mass, roughly estimated, amounts prob- ably to 55,000 tons of matter. The rocks in this encrmous weight trend from the northwest to the southeast. A landslide, i? it should occur, might re- sult in the displacement of two-thirds of the entire mass of rock and carth. The first excavation made was along the east side of the proposed structure. This is a trench twelve feet wide and sixty feet deep, at the rear of the lot on Prospect street, and for a distance of 150 feet southward toward M street. Every precaution has been taken where this excavation hus been made. Heavy shoring timbers have been placed every few feet directly across the trench, squarely against the breast of the high perpendicular walls on each side. These timbers are supported by braces, and the greatest possible strength of the shoring Is secu! The Danger Well Considered. ‘The weight of rock and earth that they hold in place is well known, and Mr. J. L. Parsons, the superintendent for the con- tractors, said this morning that he was al ways careful to have the supports amply in excess of the requirements. He has been engaged in this sort of work twenty- five years and says he has never had a man killed or even hurt under him. It is clear, of course, that if these precautions had not been taken a hole sunk sixty feet in the ground only thirty feet from the Mor- ris house—a four-story brick structure— would have caused a landslide that would have split the Morris house in two and caused its destruction. Further blasting and excavation on the west side of®the lot might have damaged the home of Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth, a modest frame cottage. When the work began it was supposed that the contractors had only solid rock to deal with, in which case no dathaze could possibly have been apprehended by those living in the vicinity. As soon as it was found that the rock was rotten the railwey company, which has-+an inspector con- stantly on the ground, and the contractors modified their plans and took the most thorough precautions against accidents. Plans for Greater Strength. The plans of the building were at once charged and measures taken to thicken the walls. The wall along the east side cf the depot, as now provided for, 1s to be 11 feet thick at tha base on Prospect street. This 11-foot wall will be continued up 20 feet from the bottom. Then it will be 8 feet thick for 18 feet, and then 4 feet to the surface. These thicknesses will ex- tead forward to the south from Prospect street 50 feet. From there on, where the hill slopes, and the pressure diminishes, the wall will be narrower—10 feet at the bot- tom, then 7 feet 2 inches, and 6 feet. In che next 45 feet it will be 8 feet, 6 feet 2 inches, and 6 feet in the various vents from the base to the top. On M street, where the hill sloves to the grade of the street and there fs no lateral pressure to sustain, the walls will nowhere be less than 3 feet thick. Thus it is apparent that provision is made for an ample retaining wall. The present contract Includes the exca- vation for only the east side of the lot. The contractors gave a_ $40,000 bond by the American Security Company of New York and cannot themselves afford to take any chances, even if the railway company or the District authorities were negligent. Contracts have not been let for the excava- tion along Prospect street and on the west side of the lot, but these are already pre- pared, and the plans are ready, so that/the work will be provided for in a few days. Probably no work will be undertaken for the present that requires blasting. The east wall will be built as rapidly as possi- ble and completed, it is expected, in about two months. The landslide that occurred two weeks ago did no damage. No blasting has been done since it occurred. Most of the excavation where this landslide oc- curred can be done probably with the pick and shovel, and beyond all doubt will be done under just as thorough care and pre- caution as the contractors have displayed in the work so far. Mr. Dunlop of the Washington and Georgetown Railway Company sald this morning that the District authorities and the railway sompany had their inspectors there all the time to inspect and report on every stage of the werk, so that they would have immediate nctice if anything occurred that might endanger any adjoin- ing property, and neither the company nor the contractors could afford to neglect any safeguard available to protect themselves, the men and the nelghbcrs. aes MR. SPRINGER’S AMBITION. After the New Circuit Judgeship— Some Other Candidates. Mr. Springer of Illinois, who ts “hoping” so indefatigably for financial legislation, has another judgeship in his eye. Some time ago it was announced that he was a candidate for a seat on the Court of Claims bench, which is expected soon to be va- cated. Now there is another and more tempting position in prospect he will make a strong effort to secure. A bill was passed just before the close of last week, and sent to the President for his signature, creating a new circuit judgeship for northern Illl- nois. It is said that the President will sign the bill, probably today, and that Mr. Springer will at once become a candidate for the place. Telegrams are already pour- ing in upon the members of the Illinois delegation urging a number of candidates for the place which the President's signa- ture is expected to create. A number of telegrams received have urged members of the delegation to recom- mend the appointment of Judge Shepard of Chicago. Corroration Counsel John M. Palmer, son of the Illinois Senator, and Judge W. A. Vincent, president of the ‘Waubansee Club, and of the Democratic Legal Club, are also mentioned for the pcsition. —_—_—_—__—_-e+______ Sugar Bounty Claims. Senator Mitchell of Oregon, of the sub- committee on claims, which considered the bill for paying sugar bounties for last year, today reported the bill without recom- mendation to the full committee for such action as it thinks proper. Howgate Case Goes On Without Mr. zy Worthington. UNIMPORTANT . . EVIDENCE TODAY Time Spent in Going Over Old Western Union Accounts. NOSTARTLING DEVELOPMENTS ——— Although Mr. A. 8. Worthington, one of Capt. Henry W. Howgate’s counsel, was unable because of illness to appear in court today, the trial, by direction of the court and despite the objection-of his other coun- sel, Mr. Jere M. Wilson, proceeded this morning. As stated in The Star last Fri- day, Mr. Worthington is sufferir.g from an attack of the grip. He is still confined to his bed, and Mr. Wilson this morning so informed Judge McComas, and asked for a short postponement of the trial. Mr. Wilson said that Mr. Worthington was perfectly familiar with the details of the case, and, unfortunately for the de- fcndent, he was not. He felt that he (Wil- son) was not, therefore, prepared to proceed without his associate's assistance, and was confident that if the trial should proceed during Mr. Worthington’s absence the de- ferdant would be placed under a very great disadvantage. Mr. Witron, therefore, earnestly requested for a reasonable post- ponement uutil Mr. “Worthington “should have recovered. a es Judge McComas ht, however, that Mr. Wilson was suffi tly familiar with the case to have it proceed during Mr. Worthington’s absence, and remarked that if it became necessary the witnesses for the defense would be recalled when Mr. Worth- ington appeared. Trial Continued. Mr. Wilson noted an exception -to the court’s ruling, and then District Attorney Birney called to the witnesse stand Edwin T. McKay, who stated that he was an ex- pert accountant, and was chief accountant in the office of the auditor of the Western Union Telegraph Company..during the years 1878 and 1879. Being shown the books of the company kept during those years, Mr. Birney asked the witness if the en- tries therein were correctly made. Mr. Wilson vigorously objected to the question, on the ground that the answer would clearly be hearsay evidence. The testimony was also, irrelevant, remarked Mr. Wilson. H Mr. Birney explained that the entries were exact copies of the bills rendered by the company to the signal service office, and the object of the inquiry was to neg- ative the intimated contention of the de. fendant that the bill in question, for $11,300, and other bills, had been rendered to the oflice by the company. For that reason, argued Mr. Birney, the inquiry was per- fectly proper. 2 ¢ But Mr. Wilson called attention to the fact that the company, and not the defen ant, originated the bills. The defendant therefore, was not cl le with the fact that only a record of certain bills were kept by the company. The bills themselves, .said Mr. Wilson, should be produced. The district attorney, however, remarked that the bills had been destroyed years ago by the direction of the Secretary of War, by authority of an act of Congress pro- viding for the destruction of accumulated accounts. “Then, may it please your honor,” ex- claimed Mr, Wilson, “I urge as an ad- ditional objection that the government, having destroyed its own evidence, is pre- cluded from now employing secondary evi- dence. The government, having knowingly destroyed such evidence, I submit that it cannot now make use of any other.” The Judge Rules. Judge McComas said that he understood the purpose of the government to be to snow what bills had been rendered by and paid to the company, and in that way ex- clude the conclusion that the bill and voucher referred to in the two indictments had been included in the accounts referred to. ‘The accounts, the government claimed, were part of the res gestae, and the court, being of such an opinion, would admit the evidence objected to, especially as the gov- ernment had promised to show the totals of the entries made prior and subsequent to the one mentioned in the indictments, October 15, 1879. Mr. Wilson noted an exception to apply to all of the entries, and Mr. McKay then, month by montn, beginning with January 1, 1879, figured out the totals of the pay- ments made by the office to the company. Another Witness. 2 It was soon discovered that the ascer- tainment of the totals would consume a great deal of time, and while the witness went over the books, court and counsel sat idly by for an hour. At length Judge McComas suggested that another witness be called. while Mr. McKay went over the accounts. Mr. Birney then called James L. Whitesides. of the weather bureau. He testified that he had been in the office since June, 1884, and stated that he had assisted in assorting the papers which had been destroyed. Those destroyed were letters re- ceived during the years 1879, 1880 and 1881. The papers were sent to Mr. Thorpe, the property clerk of the War Department, who destroyed them. To Mr. Wilson the witness stated that he had discovered bills rendered to the office unaccompanied by letters of trans- mittal. ‘The witness was then excused, when Mr. McKay proceeded to give the totals of the bills of the telegraph company paid by the signal service office during the years 1878 and 1870. That done a recess was taken at 12:35 until 1:15. After Recess. Upon the resumption cf the trial after recess Mr. McKay stated to Mr. Wilson that he recalled a payment of $100,000 by the signal service oflice to the company, but it was, he thought, five or six years 2g. To Mr. Birney the witness stated that the bills of the company. would be reduced by the office monthly, and at the district attorney's request he went through the ac- count books for the years 1879 and 1890, showing the monthly reductions averaged stout $900. To Mr. Wilson the witness explained the deductions were made because of over- chargés by the company—that is, because of messages not being delivered, fallen wires, etc. Disputes in such matters cov- ered a period of fifteen years. That concluded the testimony of Mr. Mc- Kay, and District Attorney Birney called Geo. W. Yates of the United States treas- urer’s office at New York. He produced a number of checks drawn by the defendant in payment of bills of the Western Union Telegraph Company during the years 1879 and 1880. Mr. Birney read those paid dur- ing 1879, several of them being in payment of services rendered by the company dur- ing the preceding year. The vouchers for the checks, said Mr. Birney, had already been put in evidence, his purpose being to show that all accounts rendered had been settled, and that the checks were made payable to the Western Union Telegraph Company or order, while the check referred to in the indictments was made payable to bearer. ‘The treasurer of the telegraph company, Mr. Roswell R. Rochester, was then called to the stand. Mr. Rochester stated that he had been treasurer of the company for twenty years.