Evening Star Newspaper, February 26, 1895, Page 9

THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. WIPE OUT THE RACE ‘She Pribilov Seal Herd May Be Ex- terminated. : T0 SOLVE THE PROBLEM in the Interests of Humanity Drastic Measures Necessary. GERRIBLE CRUELTY The treasury has already reckoned up the number of seals left in the Pribylov herd, and has arranged the details of the slaughter that is to take place in case it 1s decided to wipe out these valuable fur- bearing animals entirely and forever. Stock having been taken, as it were, it Is found that there remain from 350,000 to 400,000 females and 40,000 or 50,000 males, All of these can be.-killed next summer, being driven by squads in the usual man- - mer from the hauling grounds to the *kill- ing places and clubbed to death. As fast ~ as this is done the skins will be salted down in the salt houses on the island, where they may be kept in good condition for four or five years, £0 as not to flood the market with a great quantity of hides at once. Prices would thus be maintained, and the last ones disposed of would go off at huge figures. ‘These 400,000 or 460,000 seals, which are all that are left from a herd numbering millions twenty years ago, represent today @ total value of about $14,000,000. When the animals have been killed, this money will be turned into the treasury. Quite possibly it will be made a permanent fund for the benefit of Alaska, being sufficient to support the government of the whole ter- “fitory in prepetuity, yielding a consider- able annual surplus in addition. Of course, the destruction of the fur seals will de- prive the natives of the Pribylov Islands of the means of support on which they have relied hitherto. But there are only 200 or so of these natives, and in such an event they would doubtiess migrate to Oonalaska and Kodiak, where they could fish for a living or find work in the salmon canneries. Rapid Destruction, At present Uncle Sam finds himself in the position of having $14,000,000 worth of capital invested with no security at all. It is a prey to robbers, and the only way J to save it is to withdraw it from the Pribylov Islands for good. How rapidly e seals have been destroyed may be judged by a glance at a few figures. In every year between 1886 and 1889, inclu- sive, somewhat more than 100,000 of the animals were killed on the islands. In 1890 their numbers had been so far re- duced by the operations of pelagic hunters that It was deemed expedient to slaughter on the islands only 25,000. This was re- duced to 14,000 in 1891, and, under the mo- dus vivendi, to about 7,500 in 1892 and 1893, respectively. In 1894, though the regula- tions of the Paris tribunal permitted the slaying of 20,000 seals on the islands, only 15,000 were killed, because it was evident that the race was in imminent danger of extinction. While this wise and merefful economy has been practiced on the islands, the pe- lagic sealers have increased the measure .of their destruction year by year. The climax was reached in the season just ex- pired, when more than 55,000 of the ani- mals were killed at sea. This, be it ob- served, was the same year, 1894, in which the killing on the islands was limited to 15,000. When it is further considered that at least three-fourths of the seals taken at sea were females, heavy with young, and that probably at least half as many more were killed, but lost, while all of the island catch were carefully selected males, some conception may be had of the disas- trous results of pelagic sealing. One effect of this destruction in Bering sea was the finding of 12,000 dead pups by the treasury agents last fall on the Pribylov Islands, on accessible parts of the rookeries. A care- ful estimate based on this count makes the total number about 20,000. These pups died of starvation, their mothers being 4cilied at sea while seeking food. Greatest of All. Last spring Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Hamlin became impressed with the idea that the rookeries were in danger, in spite Of assurances to the contrary by Messrs. Foster,Phelps and Carter,our egent and counsel at the Paris tribunal. He re- sclved to go to Alaska himself and see hhcw things were working. There he found that the regulations adopted at Paris call- ed for the patrolling of alarge part of the Pacific ocean by a fleet of nine or ten ves- sels of war and revenue cutters, at an an- nual cost of at least $100,000 to the public treasury; also that the new regulations not only did ‘not protect the seals, but actually facilitated their! destruction. Having vis- ited the Pribylov Islands last summer, he aeturned to Washington with full evidence on these points in hand. In November he had an opportunity to see the returns of sales of sealskins in London, which is the { market for practically all of the pelts. ‘These returns gave positive and undeniable information that the pelagic catch of fur seals for the year 1894, under the regula- tions adopted at Paris, was the greatest in the history of the business. Horrible Cruelty. The fearful significance of the figures aroused the Treasury Department and the Secretary of State to a perception of the fact that it was necessary to secure an immediate change in the regulations or to submit to the entire loss of the herd. Mr. Henry Elliott, the naturalist, recognized as the greatest living authority respecting -the seals, was called into consultation. He urged that Great Britain had united with the United States in the preparation of the regulations for the sole purpose cf saving the seals for the benefit of all mankind. These regulations had been enforced, and the result was worse than failure. There- fore, if Great Britain insisted on contina- ing such ineffective measures she was guilty of violating the faith which the United States reposed in her. If, when asked by the United States to right this wrong, she refused, this government would. be warranted in turning to the islands and taking every one of the seals left thereon. > “Mr. Elliott further urged that under the cireumetances this measure, harsh and drastic though it seemed, would be merci- ful and humane. Under the existing regu- Jations thousands, and even tens of thou- sands, of nursing mother seals are slaugh- f tered at sea by the pelagic butchers, leav- ing their helpless offspring by myriads to starve to death miserably. The exhibition, he declared, was so very cruel and horri- ble that, if it did not oceur so far away, the authors and perpetrators of the dia- _ polical mischief would be jailed and pun- ished like felons. Drastic Measures. In accordance with these representations certain members of Congress urged the Depagtment:of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to take steps at once toward ’ reopening the case with Great Britain. The figures on the subject were laid before ‘ongress January 23 last. On that very iay Mr. Dingley of Maine arose in the House and called the attention of the coun- try to the shameful results of the enforce- ment of the Bering sea regulations. He introduced a bill, which was referred to the committee on ways and means. This bill repealed certain sections of the exist- ing law protibiting the killing of female fur seals on the Pribylov Islands. It also directed the Secretary of the Treasury to kill all of the fur seals and turn the pro- ceeds into the treasury. However, it was provided that the President might suspend the execution of the act in case Great Britain should decide to co-operate with the United States in such measures as, in the judgment of the President, would pre- vent the extermination of the Alaskan herd. ‘Hecause of the shortness of the time re- maining to the present Congress, Senator Pettigrew introduced a measure to the same effect in the Senate. If, as seems probable, Congress makes it a law, one of two things must happen. Either Great Britain, Russia, Japan and the United States will agree on some better plan for the preservation of the seals, or else all of the animals will be slaughtered next sum- mer. In the latter event, Uncle Sam will put the $14,000,000 into his pocket, and the whole dispute will be brought to a sudden and peremptory close. Incidentally, an im- portant British industry will be destroyed, » that of curing and preparing the sealskins for market. Practically all of tis has been done hitherto in England. ry EF} -is sufficient or t! SILVER IN MICHIGAN [FIFTY YEARS PASTOR Both Parties Demanding Some Definite Utterances. Republicans and Democrats Alike Divided—Chances of the Com- ing Campaign. Correspondence of The Evening Star. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., February 25. The republicans in state convention last week dodged the silver question, but the dodging was not done gracefully or skill- fully. The resolutions presented merely re- affirmed the platform declaration of last summer without going into details in re- gard to the financial faith of the party,and indorsed the action of the Michigan dele- gation in Congress. The resolutions were presented very late in the day, after all the nominations had been made and many of the delegates gone, and when'those who did remain were hungry and tired after a session which opened at 2 o'clock and did not close until after 8 o'clock. It was too late, and everybody was too willing to es- cape to contest the adoption of straddle resolutions, and only one voice was raised up against the proceedings. The fact is there is a very strong silver sentiment in the state and it is rapidly growing. Four- teen county conventions to elect delegates to the state conventions adopted free coin- age 16 to 1 resolutions, and ex-Gov. Luce, James M. Turner and Judge J. G. Rams- dell, pronounced silver men, were elected by their respective districts to the commit- tee on resolutions. The silver sentiment is, of course, strongest in the rural districts, but it is developing in the cities, und it is only a question of time when the party will be obliged to declare itself one way or another, or have a mighty row to contend with. The row will undoubtedly come any way, and the party will be divided on the financial question, but the hour for part- ing has not yet arrived. The Democratic Convention. The democratic convention will be held Thursday, February 28, at Saginaw. It will not be a very cheerful assemblage of patriots, and the indications are the at- tendance will be small. Chief Justice John W. McGrath will be renominated for the supreme court, if he will accept it, and anybody who wants the regency nomina- tions can have them for the asking. The convention will probably declare pretty squarely in favor of free silver coinage, even though such resolution will be a blow at the present administration. The plat- form adopted last summer is mildly silver in tone, but the silver advocates will not be satisfied until the declaration is em- phatic and unequivocal. While the plat- form last summer had a leaning toward silver the campaign was conducted, by order of Don M. Dickinson, on an absohute- ly free silver basis, but the well-known at- titude of the administration counteracted any virtue there may have been in the campaign policy in catching votes. While there is a large free silver sentiment in the democracy, there are many who be- lieve in the gold standard, and, like the republicans, the democrats will be badly divided. The Republican Ticket. The republican ticket, with Judge J. B. Moore for justice of the supreme court and Boyer W. Butterfield and Charles H. Hack- ley for regents of the State University, is exceptionally strong, and the present indi- cations are that it will be elected, though probably not by so large a majority as Gov. Rich secured last fall. The democrats are so thoroughly disorganized, dissatisfied and discouraged that they will not put up any sort of a fight, and the election will practically go by default. The republicans, on the contrary, are thoroughly organized and entirely confident, and this feeling will go a long ways toward carrying the elec- tion. The prohibitionists have nominated Myron H. Walker for justice ’of the supreme court and adopted a platform containing a free silver plank. The most notable feature of their convention was the retirement of the venerable Rev. John Russell from the chairmanship of the state committee. Mr. Rvuesell is a pioneer in the prohibition T™movement, presided over the first national convention, and has long been active in the cause. He has been chairman for eight years past, but was retired last week, be- cause he was a “one idea man,” whereas the party thought more progress and ener- gy should be brought into the race. M. J. Fanning of Jackson was elected his succes- sor. Gubernatorial Candidates. Congressman D. D. Aitkens of Flint has entered the list of gubernatorial candidates for next year, although he has not as yet positively announced himself. With ex- Congressman James O'Donnell of Jackson, who is also a gubernatorial candidate, he shares the honor of being one of the most cutspoken and prominent free silver advo- cates in the state, and in the republican ecnvention crowds last week he was very Eusily engaged in piling wood for future consumption. ——S Bonds for Public Officers. To the Editor of The Evening Star: In The Star of yesterday was published an extract from the report of the Dockery commission in favor of a system of bonds for public officers. Therein it was stated that “there is no provision made for the examination of bonds at any regular in- tervals to determine whether the amount sureties solvent, except in one instance—that of the paymasters of the army, the law requiring that they be renewed each four years or oftener by the order of the President.” There is an exist- ing statute governing bonds of the dis- bursing officers of the several executive departments. Section 176, Revised Stat- utes, provides that “the disbursing clerks authorized by law in the several depart- ments shall be appointed by the heads of the respective departments from clerks of the fourth class, and shall each give a bond to the United States for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office accord- ing to law in such amount as shall be di- rected by the Secretary of the Treasury and with sureties to the satisfaction of the solicitor of the treasury, and shall, from time to time, review, strengthen and in- crease his official bond, as the Secretary of the Treasury may direct.” Thus, it will be seen that this class of bonded officer: are required to give a good and sufficient bond, with ample security, and it is made the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury and the solicitor of that department from time to time to examine such bonds to as- certain whether or not the United States is amply protected. It is true that many of these bonds are ten or fifteen years old. It is also equally true that in most cases the sureties on said bonds are alive and in better condition financially than when they bonded. Considering the vast sums of money disbursed by these officers in this city, amounting to at least $50,000,000 an- nually, the loss, if any occurs, to the United States is infinitely small. While it is a daily occurrence to read of defaulting bank officers and others in private finan- cial institutions and corporations, it is a Tare thing indeed that you hear of a United States paymaster or disbursing officer prov- ing faithless to the trust reposed in him. Only two or three in the last fifteen years have defaulted, and in each case if the United States had performed its duty by promptly adjusting the defaulting officers’ accounts said defalcation might not have occurred. In these instances, however, the total defalcation amounted to no more than what the average defaulting bank official gets away with at one swoop. It is only a year since that Congress enacted a law granting authority to security and trust corporations to furnish security or bonds for United States officials. Now the Dockery commission proposes to require all bonded officers to renew their bonds every four years, thus compelling the payment out of the already meager salary of the bonded officer of a periodical commission for the security so furnished. It seems to me that some provision of law should be made whereby the paymaster, disbursing officer or other bonded officer should not be called upon to pay the cost of securing such bond from his salary. Such expense should be paid by the departments from their contingent funds. It is now the cus- tom of all banks and other moneyed ingti- tutions to pay from their treasury the cost of bonding their officers. DISBURSING OFFICER. sseoriiastaiat Letter Currier Claims. The court of claims has announced judg- ments in favor of about 150 letter carriers of New York, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia aud Memphis for services rendered in ex- cess of eight hours a day. Dr. Hoge’s Half Century of Service at Richmond. THE LEADING SOUTHERN PREACHER Growth of the Field e Labors. HARD AND LATE WORKER of His Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. RICHMOND, Va., February 26, 1895. Tonight will mark the beginning of one of the most elaborate and auspicious de- nominational events that has ever occurred in the south. The occasion is the fiftieth, or semi-centennial anniversary of Dr. Moses D. Hoge’s unbroken service as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of this city. Dr. Hoge is one of thé most eminent divines in the United States, be- ing prominent in the national councils of his church and ecclesiastical celebrities of every denomination from all over the country are here to extend to him their congratulations. The exercises proper will open tonight, when Dr. Hoge will hold a public reception Rev. Dr. Moses D. Hoge. at the Masonic Temple. The reception will be entirely informal. The first regiment, of which Dr. Hoge has been chaplain since its reorganization, will attend in a body, together with other military organizations in_ the city. Dr. Hoge stands high with the military. He was with the soldiers in time of war, being the intimate spiritual adviser of Stonewall Jackson. The second half of the celebration will take place tomorrow night, when Dr. Hoge will deliver a retrospective and reminiscent discourse. 5 When He Chme. ‘When Dr. Hoge came to Richmond, fifty years ago, the lot on which his church now stands was a vacant piece of ground. He gathered the little congregation, which first worshiped in a lecture room, and which grew until it became necessary to erect the church, which was built in 1848, and was greatly enlarged in 1873. There are few churches in this city with a mem- bership so large, and probably none have sent out more branches and equaled it in its contributions for spreading the et re home and abroad. in spite of many years of complicated labor, Dr. Hoge’s health and strength have been wonderfully spared. He is today one of the most active men in the city. Be- sides the performance of heavy pastoral duties, he preaches regularly twice on Sun- day and every Wednesday night. A Hard Worker. He is a late worker. In the far hours of the night when most people have been asleep for hours he sits down to study at his residence at the northeast corner of Main and 5th streets, next to his church. The house was long years ago the home of Maj. Gibbon, a revolutionary soldier, who led the forlorn hope at Stony Point. On almost any night between 12 and 2 o'clock a light may be seen through the window of his study. And yet he fs an early riser. Frequently by 7 o'clock he is seen on horseback gal- loping along country roads or through by- paths in the woods, drinking in inspiration for many of his thoughts that illumine his discourses. Whether on horseback or afoot, Dr. Hoge is a striking figure. He is six feet in height, straight and without surplus flesh. He has the bearing of a military man, but with the air of gentleness substituted for sternness. His head ds poised high above the shoulders. His complexion is dark, and for many years he has worn a closely trim- med mustache. His face blends piety, in- telligence and delicacy of feeling. He is one of the most approachable of men, al- ways cordial and considerate for the feel- ings of others. Prominent Pulpit Figure. He is by far the most prominent figure today in the southern pulpit and few men anywhere have as wide an acquaintance and influence as he. He has perhaps addressed more ecclesi- astical bodies than any man in America, many of them outside of his own church. During the first years of the civil war Dr. Hoge was a volunteer chaplain in the camp of instruction (Camp Lee), where the exposition buildings now stand. He preach- ed to the soldiers two or three times a week without discontinuing his services in his own church. In 1864 he ran the blockade from Char- leston, and went to England by way of Nassau, Cuba and St. Thomas, to obtain Bibles and religious books for the confed- erate army. —— “DOROTHY” TO BE REPEATED. The Proceeds to Go for the Benefit of thé National Homeopathic Hospital. The repetition of the opera “Dorothy” by the Players of Columbian University, which was postponed from last Tuesday evening because of death in the families of two members of the cast, has been fixed for Friday afternoon next at the New National ‘Theater for the benefit of the Homeopathic Hospital. The experience of one performance has brought to light a vast deal of valuable material, which before lay undiscovered, and it has also afforded opportunity for the correction of such small defects as were then occasioned by the shortness of time in preparation. The chorus is mate- rially strengthened and enlarged. There are several additions to the ballet and the cast, though unavoidably changed, promises to make the second production of “Dorothy” eclipse the first. The cast as now completed for the per- formance of next Friday afternoon is as follows: A *Squire Bantam, Chanticleer Hall, J. Tay- lor Cronin; Dorothy Bantam, his daughter, Hazen Bond; Lydia Hawthorne, her cousin, Mr. LeRoy Gough; Geoffrey Wilder, nephew to Bantam, William Archibald Secor; Harry Sherwood, friend of Wilder, W. _H. Harris; John Tuppitt, village land- lord, Oliver C. Hine; Phyllis Tuppitt, his daughter, Will H. Grimes; Tom Grass, her lover, F. Milton Supplee; Lurcher, a sher- iff's officer, William H. Conley; Priscilla Privett, a widow, John Joy Edson, jr.; Lady Betty, guest of Bantam, Dr. W. Willis Pomeroy; Wilson Bantam’s valet, Horace H. Wescott, Seats have been placed on sale at the box office of the theater and in the hands of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the hospital at regular theater prices. Many prominent ladies have consented to act as patroness- es, and the production promises to be a social, financial and artistic success. ——.—__ 5 Money for Pensions. The Secretary of the Interior has entered @ requisition on the treasury for $10,850,000 for the quarterly payment of pensions at various agencies. The amounts are dis- bursed at agencies as follows: Columbus, Ohio, $3,850,000; Washington, D. C., $1,950,- 000; Boston, Mass., $1,800,000; Detroit, Mich., $1,700,000; Augusta, Me., $800,000, and San Francisco, $750,000. Deptt of Snow on Ground at 8PM. Madey. Feb 25 1895 ° ane Ae THE SNOW MAP. The Only Limited Arcas Now Covered to Any Great Depth. During the past week the snow has rap- idly disappeared, leaving only limited areas still covered to any great depth, the great- est being reported from the upper lake region, where 2% feet remain on the ground; 18 inches are also reported from western New York, and 13 inches in south- ern Maine. Telegraphic reports show that the snow Umit on this date is not as far south by from 200 to 300 miles as that of last week, none being reported west of the Mississippi river south of Hannibal, Mo., nor east of Mississippi river south of Charlotte, On the corresponding date of last year the southern limit of snow extended from @ line a little south of Vicksburg eastward, to within a few miles of the Atlantic coast, although at that time a large area west of the Mississippi river, as far north as Minnesota, was entirely uncovered with snow. The winter wheat region has been cover- ed with snow during the extremely cold weather of the past month, but at this date about one-half of that section Is exposed. Ice in Rivers and Harbors. With but very few exceptions, reports in- dicate a rapid decrease in the thickness of ice in rivers and harbors. In the Missouri, from Williston to St. Louis, changes of from one inch to nearly one foot are reported, the greatest being at Omaha, which station reports a decrease in thickness of 11% inches during the past week; in the Mississippi, from St. Paul to St. Louis, nearly the same changes are shown, Keokuk, with ice one foot thick, reporting a decrease of eight inches. On the corresponding date of last year the thickness of ice at most stations on the upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers and on the great lakes was from three to eighteen inches less than at this time. The following special reports were tele- graphed by weather bureau officials last evening: Lake Michigan—Milwaukee, Wis.: No ice in Milwaukee river or harbor. Grand Haven, Mich.: Navigation continues to be obstructed. No departures and only one arrival during week. St. Mary’s river—Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.: Ice twenty-two inches thick. Lake Huron and St. Clair river—Port Huron, Mich.: Recent high wind broke the ice bridge at foot of Lake Huron. No ice in sight, except small quantities floating in St. Clair river. One steamer arrived from Marine City today. Miles. City, Mont.—Ice breaking. Cincin- nati, Ohio—Ice moving here from Coal Heven to North Bend St. Louis, Mo.—Ice at Hermann broke at 3 p.m. ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS, Lentem Services in the Different Churches Arranged. The following services. will be held in the different churches during Lent: Christ Church—Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5 o'clock. St. Paul's Church—Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. Grace Church—Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m., Wednesday and Friday at 7:10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday; childrens’ serv- ices at 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday night special course of preachers to be announc- ed, and on Tuesday lecture, followed by confirmation class. St. Mary’s Church—Masses each day at 6 and 8:30 a.m. Other services to be an- -nouriced later. German Lutheran Church—Every Wed- nesday at 7:30 p.m. 2 County Court. + ‘The Alexandria county coutt, Judge D. M. Chichester, began its February term in the county court house, on North Colum- bus street, yesterday. -Mr. John McCuen of this city was appointed aypspecial con- stable for the county and was sworn in. A judgment for $154.50 was entered for the plaintf® in the attachment suit of John G. Dorsey against Benj. Rosenheimer. In the attachment suit of @. F. Wilkins & Sons against W. Denning’ a fudgment for the plaintiff for $23.83 was entered. Mr. James E. Clements qualified as a notary public for the county and gave the re- quired bond. City Couneik ~ A regular s¢mi-monthly meeting of the eity council will take plact tonight. A fight over the committee report on the gas house lease matter is expected.. Some street im- provement measures will come; up, and it is understood that the matter of creating the olfice of building inspector (which is very badly needed here) will aiso be brought up for discussion. Briefs. The colored relief committee closed their headquarters on Duke street yesterday, af- ter having supplied 512 families. The suc- cess of this committee is due to the charit- able citizens of this city and not to an ap- Ppropriation of the council, as many sup- pose. Mr. Lewis C. Barley and others have sold to Mr. J. T. Millec the two-story brick house on the northeast corner of Prince and Lee streets for $700. O’Kane Council, C. B. W., has changed ite meeting nights from the first and third Mondays to the first and third Sundays in each month. Mr, Bernard Cline, who had his arm amputated, a3 mentioned in The Star, has sufficiently recovered to be out once more. Miss Lovie Randall of Washington is the guest of Miss Mary B. Harlow, on North Royal street. Miss Lulie Daily of Washington is the guest of Mrs. Chas. Fleichman, on Cameron street. Mr. Harvey Sel2ctman left last ntght for New Orleans to witness the Mardi Gras. The Railroad Brotherhood of St. Andrew will hold a meeting in their rooms, on South Henry street, tonight. Mrs. H. H. Young, wife of the county clerk, who has been: quite ill, is improving slowly. The condition of Mrs. B. F. Price of this city, who is ill at the residence of her daughter in Richmond, is reported very serious. —_—__ Marriage Licens: Marriage licenses have been granted to the following: Tom J. Lyon of New York city and Anheuva Getsinger of Buffalo, N. Y.; Daniel W. Webster and Harrlet"F. Lyne! Wm. W. Abraham, jr., of Rich- mond, Va., and Mimica F. Zifmmerman of Frederick, Md.; Geo. W. Stinchcomb of Baltimore, Md., and Lucrezia V. Elms of this city; William G. Monroe of Clifton Forge, Va., and Laura A. Woody of Gynch- burg, Va.; Henry Colfax Simms and Mamie Lena Price; Hugh McNally and Nora Driscoll; Howard L. Macdonald and Clara _Stoever, both of Philadelphia, Pa.; Wm. Payne and Mary Thomas; Michael A. Foley and Catharine T. Halpin; Herbert R. Ferguson of Waterville, N. Y., and Leta May Morse of this city; Geo. T. Phebus and Mauzeller Young, both of Frederick, Md.; John M. Mann and Eva: May Galla- gher; William McC. Thompson and Martha BE. Lyles; John E. Robey'of this city and Vienna F. Gertenbach of*New York city; Charles H. Kline and Bessie Boarman; J. Luther Thomas and NataHa F. Hill, both of Orange county, Va.; Walter B. Ken- nedy of Whitfield county; Gai, and Cath- arine G. Robey of this cit: ——o Officers Eleeted. The annual meeting of the Sunday school board of Grace M. E. Church was held last night, and officers were elected for the en- suing year as follows: James.H. Galleher, superintendent; Geo. S. Gibson, assistant superintendent; Diller F. Groff, secretary; Wm. Lynn, assistant secrétary: A.H. Groff, treasurer; A. D. Smith, L. T. Jones and E. Moling, librarian; Miss V. Emory, organist; Miss J. Watts, assistant’ organist; Thos. Young, chorister; Miss E. ‘Brown, president of Missionary Society; Miss J. Watts, sec- retary of Missionary Society; Mr. A. H. Groff, treasurer of Missionary ‘Society. —_ It Was Buried. A permit was issued at the health office this morning for the burial of the body of Grace Wooden, colored, ninety-one years eld, who died Friday at the house of her son, Samuel Hawkins, on Fenton street. The body had so badly decomposed that the neighbors last night made complaint to the police. Her son is too poor to pay the funeral expenses, and he was keeping the body, hoping some relatives from Maryland would come and defray the expenses. As they did not come, the body was buried at the expense of the.District. JURORS FOR MARCH. List of Those Summoned to Serve During Next Month. The following persons have been drawn for service as jurors in the Criminal and Circuit Courts during the March term of those courts: Criminal Court No. 1—David Stewart, 223 16th street northeast; Fred’k Lenz, 1033 Jefferson avenue; Geo. G. Scharr, 609 Penn- sylvania avenue southeast; Robt. Smith, 3405 O street; Joseph Magruder, 26th and D streets; Chas. E. Moberly, 1411 F street; Fred’k E. Seegelkeen, 1027 New Jersey ave- nue; Wm. Bowles, Woodley road; Edw. A. 2824 Dumbarton avenue; 225 Pennsylvania avenue; G. G. lartin, 1750 Q street; Benson Locke, 1526 sth street; John Love, 1314 35th street; Frank W. Dowling, 1411 20th street; Frank Middleton, Woodley road; Andrew East- land, 1213 F street; H. M. DeAtley, 8th and H streets; Jas. D. Masson, Arthur street, Anacostia; Thos. H. Roland, 1006 K street southeast; George Gebhard, 1321 6th street; Benj. E. Taylor, 1430 7th street; T, Edw. Dailey, 140 C street southeast; W. M. Whyte, 300 13th street; Jas. Archer, 4% and M streets southwest, and Arthur Burt, 1211 F street. = Criminal Court No. 2—George W. Shoe- maker, Pierce street, Anacostia; H.. B. Darling, Jefferson street, Anacostia; Wil- liam E. Reed, 1341 B_ street south- eest; Chas. G. Schroth,238 9th street south- east; Geo. S. Robinson, 410 G street south- east; George W. Pittman, 816 22d street; Wm. G. Betts, 208 16th street southeast; Harry D. Gordon, 26 Grant place; Calvin Crutchfleld, 313 K street; John Mickeljohn, Blair road; Chas. Warl, 2217 H street; John R. Purcell, Jefferson street, Anacostia; Washington D. Quinter, 14 Howard avenue, Mt. Pleasant; Stewart Diehl, Brookland; Dan’l L. Weyman, 1634 14th street; Willis Tibbs, 1901 12th street; John Breen, 2110 Pennsylvania avenue northwest; Wm. Boyd, 26 D street southeast; Wm. R. Brad- ferd, 1123 24th street; Douglass Allen, 408 4th street southeast; R. Morris Buckley, 920 1st street; John R. Majcr, 700 7th street; Charles Volkman, Conduit road; Edwin Forest, Garfield; Walter H. Marlow, 410 B street northeast, and Brooks Cross. Circuit Court No, 1—Waldo G. Perry, 1410 Gth street; Jas. Dennison,Tenleytown; John S. Heisley,1306 14th street; John N.Dorster, 1445 Pierce place; Dorsey Clagett, 1319 F street; Henry P. Elliot, 1230 E street south- east; Harry Selby, Pennsylvania ave- nue; Alfred Heitmuller, Brentwood road; S, T. Earnest, 1318 4% street southwest; Harry C. Sioussa, 1919 H street; Wm. J. Armstrong, 1304 F street; Delaware Hud- nell, 1940 i1th street; Colbert S. Syphax, 1631 L street; F. A. Newman, 632 4% street southwest; Louis Hartig, 1001 7th street; Chas. A. Kosche, 611 K street; John Welch, 144 A street northeast; James Daly, 2112 H street; Wm. G. Lown, 7th and C streets southwest; R.T. Hanson, 432 Wilson street; Frank Schroth, 1435 ‘Maryland avenue northeast; W. H. Marshall, 403 20th street; A. T. Griffith, 123 Jackson street, Anacos- tia; Chas. Earley, 1603 Connecticut avenue: Clarence Moore, '1634 Connecticut avenue: James M. Durant, 1729 Corcoran street. Circuit Court No. 2—-Howard H. Williams, 1539 14th street; John W. M. Stewart, 1512 i2th street; Max Hoffman, 1626 14th street; Harry Wilder, 2001 I street; Thos. Bell, Shepherd's road; Jas. Dyer, 646 Pennsylva- nia avenue southeast; Lorenzo Gaskins, 1344 28th street; Thos. F. Murray, Monroe and Jackson streets, Anacostia; Geo. Pea- cock, 324 Jefferson street, Anacostia; Geo. Brandstetter, 822 14th street; Maurice Keane, 224 K street southwest; Wm. H. Clark, 1817 8 street; Wm. H. Flood, 937 C_ street southwest; Adam H Beck, 8J4 8th street northeast; Columbus Robey, Polk street, Anacostia; Frank M. R. Johnson, 469 Pennsylvania avenue; John H. And=son, Harrison and Taylor streets, Anacostia; Robt. E. Frey, 1319 F street: Sydney Robinson, 1721 E street; Jas. O. Bampfield, 1521 L street; O. M. Ball, 16 3a street southeast; Henry F. Simpson, 1017 South Carolina avenue southeast: S11 12th street; Wm. H. Campbell, j: 9th street southeast; Jos: A. Kolb, 70 street northeast, and W. H. Scott, 1618 street. H R —_—.__ Complications Over a Frauduient Deed. Burr R. Tracy,a retired real estate dealer, who resides near 15th and Q streets, will appear in the Police Court tomorrow to respond to a charge of false pretenses pre- ferred by Samuel W. Augenstein, a 7th street merchant, the amount charged to have been obtained being $1,000. The case grows out of cne of the aleged forged deeds in which John H. Brooks, colored, figured. Mr. Tracy’s friends claim that he (Tracy) acted in good faith in the Augen- stein deal. It appears that Brooks nego- tiated through Tracy a loan of $500 on the strength of the forged deed. Subsequently another loan of $1,000 was obtained, Mr. Augenstein’s wife furnishing the money. Mr. Augenstein has made efforts in the civil courts to recover the money, and fail- ing in that direction has now applied to the criminal courts. Mr. Tracy is under $2,000 security for his appearance. Temperance Meeting. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, Chapin Auxiliary, pf which Mrs. M. E. Cohen is president, and which has the largest membership of any branch in the District, will hold a speci’ Gospel service in the vestry of Foundry. M. E. Church to- morrow at 2 p.m. Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, vice president at large of the National W. c. T. U., and Mrs. Emily Burlingame Cheney, formerly president of Rhode Is- land W. C. T. U., will speak. An oppor- tunity will be given to sign the polygtot petition, and meberships to the local so- ciety will be solicited. —————— Sons of the American Revolution. The Sons of the American Revolution will hold their annual banquet this even- ing at 8 o'clock. An enjoyable time is’ an- ticipated by these patriotic gentlemen, as those who have engaged tickets are a guar- antee of a successful dinner and a flow of elequence. The banquet will be held at the Ebbitt House. For a Quick Turn. Those $10 and $12 Trouser- rs ings which we secured and are running at $6.85 were bought for a quick turn! The sale of a hundred, or even two hundred pairs a day is hardly a just recognition of their worth. Besides, we are ex- erting extra efforts in the making, for our only profit is « the good advertising we get out of them. They fit or money refunded! While most of the patterns are for wear “right now” many are suitable for Spring and Summer, G. WARFIELD SIMPSON, “Expert” Trousers Maker, 12th & FSts, A CUNUNDRUM ANSWERED. A Pound Not a Pound on Many Scenles. Mr, Frank A. Bond, sealer of weights and measures for the District of Columbia, has an interesting exhibit of specimens of fraudulent weights and measures. Mr. Bond was appointed to succeed Mr. Frank Aldrich, and since his induction into office has made repeated efforts to have the de- fective law against selling under weight and measure so rectified as to be practic- able. Not a day passes, said Mr. Bond, but that a score of false weights and short meas- ures are confiscated, but in order to se- cure conviction the merchant must be caught absolutely in the act of selling by that weight or measure, and then tpon conviction the fine is about $1. He thinks it desirable to have the law so read that it shall be unlawful for any merchant to have in his possession an unlawful weight or measure, and an adequate penalty at- tached in the event of a conviction. A great array of scales, which had been confiscated at divers times, was on exhi- bition. They were all crooked. There was one scale of apparently ordinary pattern, which was above the usual interest. By the adjustment of the weights that scale would cheat elther a buyer or a seller. By placing the weights directly over the centers of the discs the scale would balance perfectly, but by placing the same weights slightly away from the centers of the same discs, that scale could make twelve ounces indicate a pound, or would compel twenty ounces to be placed in the scoop before it would indicate a pound. The mechanism of this scale has thus far baffled the offi- cers of the law, and is by them considered a very dangerous device. Several of these scales have been found in various sections of the city. They have been found in stores of both low and high degree. The most common scale, however, is that which has passed the inspection of the sealer of weights and measures and has then been finally tampered with by load- ing it in a way to give short weight. These are picked up every day and are largely affected by hucksters. The reporter was shown several where the bottoms of the scoops had been leaded. No ordinary buyer would discover this cheat, unless he re- weighed the wares on a just scale. Then there were all manner of short dry meas- ures—bushel measures that didn’t hold a bushel by any means; peck measures with false bottoms, and half-peck measures which were glaring swindles. The most ordinary cheat, however, was the common metallic weight—pound, two pound, four pound, etc., with from one to eight ounces of the original metal bored out of the lower side. There were shundreds of these. Mr. Bond believes that as the law is manifest- ly defective, some judicious action in the matter should be taken. He charges and says that he can prove that a very high percentage of the alleged pounds which are sold in the District of Columbia are not pounds. —_.__ 9 Came to the Relief of Washing- ton? To the Editor of The Evening Star: I wonder if all I see in the papers about clearing the Potomac of ice reads as strangely to cthers as it docs to me? Two years ago, when the river was closed, the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Com- pany made an offer to the Commissioners to do the work, which was declined, and we went to Baltimore and hired some tugs, which came up the channel opened by above named company’s boats, and I think it doubtful if they had gotten here before spring otherwise. This year the sald com- pany made no offer, but when it got ready its boats went on about their business and opened a channel, as was done two years ago. Then we are told that the District government sent to Baltimore again to hire tugs, and got the use of the Triton. Then we are told that boat made a trip to Indian Head and experienced no difficulty in so doing! Of course not, when it had an open channel to run in. Then one of the tugs “coming to the relief of Washington” got stuck in the ice and no telling how long it would have staid there if one of the Norfolk boats hadn't come along and cut it out. I don’t know anything about the Norfolk and Washington Company, never was on one of the boats and never even saw them except parsing on the river. All I know on the subject I have learned from the papers. Now, after those boats have cpened the channel so the tugs can move, w and the weather has softened the ice, latter, we are told, are doing fine breaking it up. For half what the Com. missioners pay these tugs the Norfolk and Washington Company, I don’t doubt, would have just sailed up and down the rivet cutting a new channel about every twenty- four hours, and in about a day done than all three tugs can do in a week. am not sure whether they cculd run above the bridges or not, but euppose they cot in the channel. I don’t remember w! the offer of the Norfolk and Washington Company was two years ago, but thought at the time that it was very strange it was not accepted, and think it strange it was not solicited to do the work this year. WEST ECKINGTON, ———— Was a Professio: “I'm a man of the world, and a profes sional base ball player,” was the statement made in Judge Kimball's court this morne ing by John C. Hayden, in justification of his presence in a house in the “Division’* last night under the influence of liquon He and a companion had endeavored to take possession of the house, and were “bounced” by Policemen Flathers and Kilmartin. Had they gone off quietly they would not have been arrested, but Hay: as he gave his name, insisted that he had @ right to return to the house, and then they got arrested for disorderly conduct. Hayden had about $70 in his pocket, and would have been released on collateral had he behaved himself, but as it was, he was put behind the bars, where he 2 tin drinking cup and made all sorts of long after daybreak. noises until In court he made a spread-eagle accused the policemen of being “bouncers” for the house, and openly stated that he Faid $1 a round for beer in the place,where the proprietress has no liquor license. Judge Kimball defendéd the officers from the attack made on them, and told i den that if he was so much a man of tho world as he says he is he ought to know better 2S to “buck” against the officers, experience cost him $10 the police station. Se ene —_>__ A Strange Case. Robert E. Weaver, a pupil in the Eastern High School, was charged in the Police Court this morning with taking a military overcoat belonging to Samuel ©. Spaulding, one of his classmates. The overcoat dis- appeared from the school last Thursday, but so far as is known no one missed Weaver from the building. Detectives Boardman and Rhodes made an investigation, which resulted in the ar- rest of Weaver and recovery of the coat from a store, where, it is charged, it had been sold by Weaver for $3. Although the testimony was strongly against young Weaver, when put on the stand he recol- lected every happening with the ex of the transaction of selling the coat. That to lim was a perfect blank. He recollected that he attended school on the day in ques- tion and was present at the drill in the afternoon. His father, who was called to the stand, could not account for his son’s strange con- duct. Last year he said his sen made Percentages in his studies, but this year has made a poor showing. In conclusion said he had thought of having his sanity examined into. The court made no attempt to account the boy’s conduct and Imposed a fine of which was paid. oe Four Warrants. Four warrants were issued from the Police Court yesterday afternoon against persons for alleged violations of the law against street obstructions. Two of them were against Chinamen Sun Lee and Chung Wah.The former has a swinging sign in front of his place on Brightwood a1 nue, while Chung Wah has an alleged structicn in front of his ed on street. There was a warrant issued Patrick Collins for having an ice on the park in front of ne heme on Capitol street. Lorenzo a is cl with occupying the park front his place with a sign. The Accomac Heard From, It is reported that the steamer Accomag of the Virginia oyster navy, which it was announced had been crushed in too is the and sunk, has been heard from. She merely ice-bound in Tangier sound, Accomac county, Va, and will be relsased by the thaw within a few days.