Evening Star Newspaper, March 26, 1895, Page 1

. ~ THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXOEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAB 2201 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor, 11th Btreet, by Star Newspaper Oompany, 8, H. KAUFFMANN Pres't. Mew York Office, 40 Potter Building, oS ES ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on thelr own account, at 10 cents per oc £4 conta pee month, at the Serle cents aa, y_mail—anywhere in the ted States or Cansda—postage cents Gaturday Quintuple Sheet Star, year, with forelgn paataee eee 00, red atthe Post Otice it Washington, . ao 11 Pal atte 14 tn as tall subse Hiccorer savertaies tasde Baowete sane Ghe Evening Star. No.-18,122. WASHINGTON, D.O., TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. TWO OENTS. THe proof of the purding is fn fhe eating. Yesterdar’s SHfar contained 45 cofumns of advertisements, mare up of 710 separate announce: ments. Bese advertisers BougSt pubficify—nof merefp space. FOUND MANY VICTIMS The Montana Mining, Loan and In- vestment Company. PRESIDENT HENRY Mi. HAUPT ON TRIAL Deluded Purchasers With Worth- less Claims. DID A BIG BUSINESS BUTTE, Mont., March 26—WHenry M. Haupt, president of the Montana Mining, Loan and Investment Company, is on trial in the United States court here on the charge of sending unmailable matter through the post office. The testimony in- troduced has developed a gigantic swin- dling scheme, in which many prominent men were innocently implicated. The com- pany claims to have a paid-up capital stock of $12,000,000, and its stock is valued at $129 a share. It was organized in January, 1892, and has been doing a tremendous business since. Upon the representation, so the government witnesses said, that he intended to organize a legitimate mining company, Haupt induced John E. Rick- ards, present governor of the state, ex- County Treasurer H. C. Kessler, P. A. Largey, H. G. Valitoo, M. L. Holland and €.J.Stephenson, all-prominent and wealthy mining men, to join the incorporation. With the names of these corporators he then went to all the banks ard secured permis- sion to use their names as reference. A dozen worthless mining claims were located hy him and deeded to the company in consideration of $100 in cash and che entire capital stock. He then sent out ~ efrculars all over the world, advertising the property as highly developed and valuable and sold the stock on the monthly install- ment plan, issuing certificates at $1 each. One hundred thousand certificates were issued each month, and the purchaser of a certificate was entitled to apply for a loan in any sum under $10,000, The trustees of the company pretended to meet every month and apportion $50,000 among the borrowers. The person securing a loan was required to give a note for the amount, payable in 1912, without interest or se- curity. When the purchaser had 120 certificates he was entitled to a share of stock. The remaining $50,000 froma the monthly sale of certificates was supposed to go into office expenses and the development of the com- pany's mines. The testimony at the trial showed that Haupt was the sole manager of the con- cern and reaped all the profits. He ap- portioned the loans in cities where he thought he should have bigger returns and induce others to purchase certificates. When the incorporators and the banks learned of the swindling nature of the company they drew out of it, and the trus- tees withdrew the stock from the market, but this did not disconcert Haupt, for he selected new trustees and continued his operations. The entire property of the company is not worth over $2,000, and its mines, which are located near Butte, are worthless. Haupt, it is alleged, has offices in London, New York, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco and other cities. ——__ W. K. CARLISLE’S TRANSFER. Left the Parts Before the Health Officer Arrived. NEW YORK, March 26.—Health OMcer Doty has as yet received no official reply to his letter to Collector Kilbreth and Capt. Watkins of the American line steam- er Paris, in relation to the landing of W. K. Carlisle, son of Secretary Carlisle, who arrived on board that yessel from South- ampton, and who was transferred to the revenue cutter Hudson, prior to the visit of the health officer. : Dr. Doty was not at quarantine this forenoon, having made an early visit to the city. Private Secretary Hall stated that an answer was hourly expected to the communications sent yesterday to the col- lector and Capt. Watkins. Dr. Doty, Sec- retary Hall said, was, in the first place, reluctant to criticise the action of Scere- tary Carlisle or Collector Kilbreth, but the Yiolation of the quarantine law was so flagrant that he was compelled to take cognizance of it. Secretary Carlisle refused absolutely to- @ay to say anything about the case. One @flicial said that the Secretary had no in- fention whatcver of transgressing the har- Sor regulations or the quarantine laws, and *f{ he did so, it was through jack of knowl- @dge. There would have been no trouble for him to have secured a permit, and he Would have taken that course if he had ‘ought it at all essential. —— WILLIAM S. KIMBALL DEAD. One of the Leading Business Men of Rochester, N. Y. ROCHEST N.Y., March 26—William 8. Kimball, president of the Post-Express Printing Comp ident of the Ameri president of the Union Bank, president of the City Hos- pital, president of the Industrial School, vice president of a security trust company and a director in a Rochester railway com- pany, Lyceum Theater Company and To- ronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railroad Com- pany, died at Virginia Beach, Va., today. — NDW CAPTAIN GENERAL. News of the Cuban Revolt Received at Madrid. MADRID, Murch 26,—General Gamir will probably replace Captain General Calle in Cuba. An official dispatch from Havana, Cuba, fs confined to the ; that most of the in- without arms, and that they do not hold any places of importance. —_ > MORGANPIELD'S CRUTCH They Cause a Contention Virginin Judges. Between FREDERICKSBURG, Va., March 26.— Two judy how contending whethe' Morganfi Aquia creek train rovber shall be 1 with r of crute! atement of their 3 y by the ian, Dr. C. M.D. Judge ‘A.W. Wallac: 1 the erutches on the greund th: do his guards some viclence. Judge n has given an order to give him the . oe CHARGED WITH TRAIN RONBERY. Five Men Under Arrest at Cripple Creck. CRIPPLE CREEK, Col ch 26.—Five men are now under arrest charged with the robb in on the Florence and € y night. ce, Lou Gibson. Vannieck, Crumley E em- Ployal at t! mine. Crumley is the m: no hack at Colorado $ when Gen. Tarsney was taken he Alamo Hotel to t Kirts of e city and tarred a t . The dhound played an fraportant part in tracking the men. SENOR DEPUY DE LOME The Now Representative of the Spanish Government at Washington. One of the Ablest Men in the Diplo- matic Service of His Country—He Preceded Senor Muruaga. Senor Depuy de Lome, who has been se- lected to succeed Senor Muruaga as the diplomatic representative of the Spanish government at Washington, is regarded as one of the ablest men in the diplomatic service of that country. He is well known in this city, having preceded Mr. Muruaga as minister to the United States. Although his service in that capacity lasted erly six months, it was sufficient to demonstrate his capabilities and make him many friends and admirers in this country. His detach- ment was mainly due to the fact that he is @ conservative, and the radical parly, to which Senor Muruaga belongs, was then in power. Now the politics of Spain Rave taken another shift, ard Mr. de Lome comes back to his former station. He also served in this country as one of Spain’s world’s fair commissioners, the post being particularly important at a time when one of Spain's royal family, Princess Eulalie, visited the world’s fair as the guest of the nation. Acceptable to This Government. Although it is not admitted at the State Department, it is understodd that Senor de Lome’s appointment to this diplomatic station was not made until it was officially ascertained that it was entirely acceptable to this government. This condition is con- sidered essential to a proper conduct of the correspondence and negotiations on the various important questions at issue be- tween the two countries. Although no de- mand had been made for the recall of Senor Muruaga, recent occurrences have severely strained the relations between that official and Secretary Gresham, to an ex- tent as to destroy the minister’s useful- ness in his present field of duty. Regard- less of the desire of Secretary Gresham in the matter, Minister Muruaga has en- deavored to be relieved of further service here, and only withdrew his resignation at the instance of his own government. In view of existing complications, however, it is believed that he will remain at his post until his- successor arrives here and re- ports for duty. Will Re Gazetted. MADRID, March 26.—The appointment of Senor Dupuy de Lome as Senor Muruaga’s successor will be gazetted so soon as it Is known that the appointment receives the approval of the United States government. ee Se THE MONETARY CONFERENCE. No Delegates to Be Appointed by the President. It is practically certain that there will be no participation by America in the rro- posed monetary conference, under the pro- vision of the sundry civil bill. It is re- garded as doubtful whether the delegates elected under this provision would have authority to consider any question except that of ratio and free coinage of silver, and it is said that Mr. Cleveland does not expect to appoint any commissioners un- der this plan, if at all. It is aot believed now that the monetary conference will be held, but, if it is, this country will either not be represented or else will be represented by delegates lected by the President under the general law. In other words, the action of Con- gress in authorizing the selection of three Senators and three members of the House by the respective houses of Congress, und of three private citizens by the President, will amount to nothing. This Is realized now by the members of Congress selected on the commission, and the President is said to have no thought of making any appointments. In view of the almost certain failure of this move for an international conferene, it is heing urged that invitations should be sent out by ‘this country for foreign na- tiens to join us in a conference to be held in Denver, Col. This proposition, however, dees not appeal to the President, and there is no probability of its being carried out. + o+_____ BRIG. GEN. WM. SMITH. The Official Order Announcing His -Retirement From Active Service. The Secretary of War Issued the follow- ing general order today: “By direction of the President, the re- tirernent from active service this day, by operaticn of law, of Brigadier General Wil- liam Smith, paymaster general, under the provisions of the act of June 30, 1882, is an- nounced. “Gen. Smith entered the service as ad- ditioral paymaster of volunteers on the ith of August, 1861, and was honorably mustered out July 20, 18668. He was ap- pointed major and paymaster in. the per- manent establishment on the 17th of Janu- ary, 1867. He was promoted to be lieuten- ant colonel and deputy paymaster general on the 6th of September, 1868, and was ap- pointed paymaster general with the rank of brigadier general on the 10th of March,1890. ‘or faithful and meritorious service dur- ing the war he received the brevet of leu- tenant colon of yolurteers, on the 13th of March, 1865. His services during the war vere confined to paying troops in the field in the Army of the Potomac, the west- ern urmies and on the Indian frontier in the northwest. Since the war he has seen service In the Department of the Cumber- lard, the Department of Dakota, the De- partment of Texas, the Division of the Mis- seuri and in this city. “The highest grade in his department came to him in recognition of merit. He ires with a completed record of service well performed.” WIL Com: Several da With the Law. ago the attention of Mr. James W. Archer, superintendent of the pension building, was informed that John Byrd of Philadelphia, who has the contract for coppering the roof of that bulldirg, was working his men nine hours a day. Superintendent Archer then a@dressed a communication to the contractor, pointing out to him the previsions of the eight-hour law, and re- x him that the law was mandatory. evening Contractor Byrd came over Phil lelphia, and at a conference dent Archer signitied his on to comply with the law, and de- The work of re- ast Week, and the s within which to contractor has sixty complete the contrac 2 Pensions Granted. Among the pensions granted today were: trict of Columbia—John Surratt, Sol. s' Home; Thomas George Tait, Soldiers’ Home. yiand—Minors of Aaron Prince, An- i e Dade, Raccoon Ford; Em- el A, Lumsford, Mendota. e+ Max Received His Commission. Mr. Frank J. Semmes of Loutsiana, re- appointed assistant paymaster in the , has passed the necessary physical and mental examination and has received his commissicn. He will be temporari d to duty ion in his new duties. tive of Capt. Raphael at New Yerk for p: Mr. mes of the confederate cruisers Alabama and Florida. Gough, Soldiers’: THE ONLY QUESTION Attorney General Olney’s Argument in the Debs Case. JURISDICTION OF THE EQUITY COURT Right of the Government to Bring the Bill Defended. RESPECT FOR THE LAW The Supreme Court of the United States today continued the hearing of arguments in the Debs case. Attorney General Olney in person defended the position of the gov- ernment in the proceedings against Debs and his associates. Mr. Olney said the single question before the Supreme Court was whether the court below had jurisdiction of the case made by the original bill and proceeded to show that as he viewed the matter it had. He devoted but very little time to the discussion of the government’s technical relation to the mails and the mail bags, or to the provis~ ions of the act of 1890, which he character- ized as “an experimental piece of legisla- tion,” and passed immediately to the con- sideration of the strike as a violation of interstate commerce regulations. Interstate Commerce. The interstate commerce, which is subject to the regulation of Congress, comprehends, he said, a great variety of different subject matter. It is held as respects some of them that in the absence of positive action thereon by Congress there may be action by a state; but it has always and uni- versally been conceded that the moment Congress does act upon any matter which is part of interstate commerce, from that moment the jurisdiction of the United States becomes absolute and excludes all other authority. Intercourse and transpor- tation between the states and all the in- strumentalities of either are admittedly parts of interstate commerce. Transporta- tion of passengers and freight by ratlroad is, of course, included. Not only is that so, but it is also true that interstate railroad transportation has been taken in especial charge by Congress. Having power to con- trol it, Congress has not permitted the power to lie dormant, but has freely and decisively exercised it. He then enumerated many of the federal statutes bearing on the question of interstate traffic, including those applying to the mail service, those relating to the carrying of live stock and those requiring the use of certain kinds of brakes, &c. The Purpose of Congress. “But in this connection, and for the pres- ent purposes,” he continued, “It is more important to note the provisions of several general statutes which cover the whole field of interstate railroad transportation and show most conclusively the purpose of Congress to exclude every other source and form of regulation except its own. Section 5258 of the Revised Statutes declares as follows: ‘Every railroad company in the United States whose road is operated by steam, its successors and assigns, is here- by authorized to carry upon and over its road, boats, bridges and ferries and prop- erty on their way from any state to an- other state and to receive compensation therefor and to connect with roads of other states so as to form continuous lines for the transportation of the same to the place of destination.’ Having by this legislation made steam railroads interstate commerce carriers for both governmental and private purposes, Congress, by the act of 1887, known as the interstate commerce act, in- augurated measures more radical and com- prehensive than anything ever before at- tempted by virtue of the power to regulate commerce. By that act the principles in accordance with which interstate railroad transportation shall be conducted are laid down and defined, their violation is inhibit- ed under severe penalties, and, to crown the whole, all the interstate commerce railroads of the country are practically put in charge of a commission, which is to see to it that their duties as interstate car- riers as prescribed by Congress are faith- fully discharged. “Finally, recognizing the existence of an evil of great magnitude, Congress by an act of October 1, 1888, made provision for the creation of boards of ar- bitration to settle controversies between railroad companies and their employes, when such controversies are having the ef- fect of hindering and interrupting the in- terstate transportation of property and passengers.” Equal to Express Statute. Mr. Olney contended that the result was the same as if there were an express pro- hibitory statute on the subject, and argued that the prohibition against interference with interstate railroad transportation was a prohibition addressed to all persons in their private capacity. This pro! don did not merely annul conflicting state legis- lation, but would prevent any such legisla- tion being an excuse or defense for viola- tion of the prohibition. Hence, the con- clusion by the speaker that as a matter of law, in July, 184, federal legislation had put interstate railroad transportation into the exclusive keeping of the United States and had prohibited all interference with it from any quarter. “As a matter of fact,” he said, “in July, 1894, interstate railroad transportation was being inter- fered with in the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. The interference was on an immense scale. It included all the twenty-one or two railroads centering in Chicago, with their 120,000 miles of track, all of whose operatives were practically paralyzed. The interference was not senti- mental, nor brought about by persuasion or cajolery, nor even byethreats only. It was accompanied with the burning of cars, with the derailment of trains, with the destruction of signal towers and other ap- pliances for the safe operation of trains, with assaults upon passengers and em- ployes by which- many were killed and many more wounded, with howling and ex- cited mobs in full occupation of entire districts and terrorizing entire communi- ties. It was an interference for which, with all its consequences and incidents, the present petitioners are to the fullest extent responsible, unless it be true that men can wantonly touch the match to powder ard yet be blameless because not rightly realizing the ensuing devastation; unless it be true that men can make vehement appeals for something to be done and yet plead not guiity when their tools and dupes resort to the only means by which that something can be done; unless it be true that those who seck to execute a plot by the only means possible, in the open, and taking the legal consequences upon their heads, are to be branded as criminals, while those who sit in an office and hatch the plot and urge on its consummation are to go unwhipped of justice because of loud- mouthed professions of virtue in general and respect for law and order in particu- lar.” The Duty of the Government. The Attorney General then referred briefly to the general effect of the strike, and contended that as the strike was aimed at interstate commerce transporta- tion, it was the duty of the government to suppress the unlawful demonstration and punish the offenders. He admitted that it was the duty of the state authorities to deal with certain phases of the offenses ecmmitted, and said: “If they had done so promptly and vigorously, the interruption o” interstate railroad transportation might pessibly have ceased, but instead of their doing this they allowed day after day to an Prohibitive pass, marked either by total mactivity or ty effort so ill-directed and inadequate as to aggravate all the evils of the situation.” Hence it became necessary forthe govern- ment to step in, not only in defense of in- dividuals, but in obedience to its obliga- tions to protect interstate commerce, and because it is the duty of every govern- ment to exercise its functions whenever occasion requires. Mr. Olney then passed on to the consid- eration of the means at the command of. the government for the suppression of the strike, the principal of which was the courts, which must be.depended upon, so far as practicable, to deal with it. Cer- tainly the government could urrest end Prosecute men for interfering with the mails, but in dealing with mobs of thous- ards that process was inadequate. Remedy Furnished by the Courts. “Had the United States any other rem- edy? It had,” he said. “I-submit with | 8reat confidence the exact remedy which it did apply for, and which the courts did, in fact, furnish. It had the right to go Into its courts of equity, to set out the facts by proper bill, and to ask that upon these facts the defendants and their con- federates should be restrained from a Wrongful interruption of interstate rail- road transportation, which was working private and public injury of the most wide- spread and most irreparable character. ‘It had the right to bring such a bill and to ask and to get such relief on the most incontestable grounds. The sovereign can always resort to its own courts under cir- cumstances which authorize private indi- viduals to resort to them, and for the same purposes. The United States by the bill in question presented a case of equitable cognizance beyond all cavil—a case to which criminal pfosecutions and actions for damages were wholly inadequate, a case involving innumerable suits and great and entirely irreparable injury unless the imminent and impending mischiefs were averted through the restraining orders of @ court of equity. That a private party plaintiff having the proper interest would under the circumstances stated in the gov- ernment bill have been entitled to main- tain such a bill and to receive the equitable relief therein prayed for admits of no question. If, for example, all the twenty- one or two railrcads entering in Chicago had been cwned by one individual or one corporation, that owneg might without doubt have successfully appealed to a court of equity for protection against acts such as those set out in the government Dill. The petitioners will hardly take issue on that point and I do not understand that they do so, The inherently equitable na- ture of the case made by the government bill being conceded because: indisputable, the real contention is that the United States was not a proper plaintiff to any such bill, and had no right to bring it. Hav- ing no direct property interest involved, the United States, it is claimed, could not be plaintiff in such a bill withaut express enabling legislation on the part of Con- gress. But this proposition fs, I submit, neither sound in principle nor supported by precedent. A trustee’s right and duty to protect by suit the subject matter of the trust are in nowise affected because he is without private interest in that subject matter. Yet, as regards interstate rail- read transportation, what is the United States but a trustee for all parties and in- terests concerned, a trustee bound by its relations to the states, as well as individu- als to sue at law or in comity whenever such suit will ald in the dis¢harge of the trust?” Congress having provided the means, it remained for the executive to put the law into execution, and that division of the government was bound under these laws to deal with the situation in Chigngo in 15}. Mr. Olney then proceeded by quoting pre- cedents to show that the afpiieation of these laws to similar cases was not new, to consider the assertion that the Chicago affair was exceptional and to controvert ‘the allegation of errors in the court below, and in closing, said: His Closing Remarks. “What was done by the government and its courts at Chicago in the summer of 1894 was done on a conspicuous theater,and dealt with events striking in ,themselves and in the scale on which they were con- ducted, and which strongly appealed to the imagination as well as the passions of men. Its action was denounced from the outset as novel and unprecedented, so that it even became expedient to publicly pro- claim the trite and familiar principle that for the execution of national functions every foot of every state Is national scil and national property. Since then the same policy has been persistently pursued, and the government bill in equity, the in- junction, and the proceedings for contempt, have all been loudly condemned as anomalous, extraordinary and revolution- ary. To such charges there could he no more decisive answer than is furnished by this debate and by the contentions of the respective parties. Who ts compelled to claim here that the sovereign is not com- petent to protect public rights by enjoin- ing their violation through its own courts of equity; that acts which threaten prop- erty cannot be arrested y injunction be- cause they are also crimes; that court ts helpless as against a contempt because it is also a crime, and that the jurisdiction in equity and the power of every court to try and punish contempts of its authority is not as surely provided for by the Con- stitution as the right of trial by jury itself? It is not the government who is driven to make these or any other like novel conten- tions. On the other hand, having to deal with an extraordinary and unique situa- tion, it had the good fortune to find that nothing was needed but the firm and fear- less application of old and well-established principles. It did apply them, and applied them with a success which is the root of all the bitterness with which its action has since been assailed. It was a success im- mensely important in immediate results as well as greatly reassuring for the fuiure. It demonstrated the inherent exceilence of that system of jurisprudence with whose inheritance we have been blessed, and whose principles and ‘nethods have never failed to be adequate to the varying cx- igencies of a’ progressive civilization. It further demonstrated that there still sur- vives that ingrained and deep-seated re- gard and respect for the laws of the land, as administered through the courts, which has ever been a characteristic as well as a chief safeguard for our institutions, and which enables us to present to the world the astonishing spectacle of a nation of 70,000,000 of people to.whom standing armies and all the burdens and evils cf military service are practically unknown.” Mr. Olney closed at 1 o'clock and was followed by Mr. Darrow in the interest of the petitioners. The court will announce its decision probably before adjournment in May. aoe Paes PROMINENT BOSTONIAD ARRESTED. George D. Burton, Inventor of the Stock Car. NEW YORK, March 26.—George D. Bur- ton of Boston was brought here today under arrest for giving worthless checks to the banking firm of Brouwer & Mc- Gowan. Mr. Brouwer said: “Burton is a repu- table man and quite prominent in Boston. He is president of the United States Elec- tric Forging Company of that city and the senior member of the George D. Burton Heating and Forging Company. He is the inventor of the Burton stock car, which is used extensively by the railroads for the transfer of live stock.” ——— Two Hlinois Invalids. SPRINGFIELD, Ill, March 26.—Gen. Jno. A. McClernand, after several months’ se- yere illness, is able to be about, though he is still quite weak. : Ex-Gov. Rich’d J. Oglesby is still confined to his home at Elkhart, thongh his family ce nol express any grave fears as to his condition. e ———— Can Dock at Night at New York. NEW YORK, March 26,—Dr. Alvah H. Doty, health officer of the port, has made arrangements so that hereafter all steam- ships reaching quarantine after sundown will be promptly inspected up to 9 p.m., so that they can dock the same night. LI HUNG CHANG Remarkable Career of the Great Chinese Statesman. THE BSARCK OF THE ORIENT Lessening of His Reputation by Recent Events. CAREER PRACTICALLY CLOSED The sympathy expressed in official cir- cles for Li Hung Chang is coupled with much discussion of his remarkable career and some expression of opinion as to how much his fame has been affected and how his place in history will be affected by the recent Chinese reverses. He has for years among civilized people been the most high- ly respected of all the oriental statesmen. His breadth of view, his progressive ten- dencies, his firm hold on affairs at home, have generally been accepted as indicating powers of a very high order. He has been called, indeed, “the Bismarck of the ori- ent’—the man who had knitted his people the more closely together and given in- creased importance to the empire. Until a very recent date, indeed, he was fonsidered the first Man in all the world outside the confines and influences of Christian civili- zation, and to have at his command re- sources sufficient to dominate the situation all around him. ; Feeling When War Began. When Japan first took the field against China it was pronounced the most fool- hardy act of modern times. The consensus of opinion was that the little kingdom would be speedily crushed. How could she hope to win? Li Hung Chang had untold wealth and millions of men to draw upon, and he would put a force in the field and on the water that would simply be irre- sistible. What if the Chinese were back- ward in military equipment? With so much money on hand. could rot she supply her- self out of the stores of the more advanced nations, and even hire European comman- ders to drill her men and fight her ships? But the great reliance was on Ji Hung Chang. He was at the helm, he was the greatest of oriental pilots, and everything in the end would go well with his people. The first few Japanese victories were an- swered with the statement that China, be- ing a big nation, had not yet become aroused. Wait until the giant should wake up and shake himself. Wait until Li Hung Chang had had time to get his great hordes of fighting men fairly afoot. Then little Japan, with one or two dextrous blows, would’ be knocked into the middle of the next week. But the giant didn’t wake up, the great hordes, if afoot, seemed to be facing in the wrong direction; things gen- erally were amiss, and China’ was obliged to sue for peace to her foolhardy and de- spised little opponent. If Li Hung, Chang. Had Dicd. The question is asked: What {f all this | had happened with Li Hung Chang in his grave? What if he had died a few months or a year before the war began, and an- other man had been in his shoes? How the Chinese weuld have complained! How they would have sighed for just one hour of the “old man” in his old form! How cer- tain they would have been that under him uo such disasters could have overtaken the country! How the Chinese arms under him would have carried everything before them! His successor'’s friends would have pleaded in vain for him. It would have been useless for them to point out that China as then engaged was the China of Li Hung Chang, and almost in the same condition in which he had left her. There would still have been the supreme confi- dence felt that had the great man lived to direct matters everything would have gone China’s way. And so Li Hung Chang would have grown even in his grave, and have attained a stature overtopping all but the tallest of the century. His Stature Reduced. How much will these disasters, sustained under the great man, reduce his stature? Or will they serve merely to bring out the real facts, and demonstrate how impossible it was for even an oriental of Li Hung Chang's abilities to succeed amid su>- rcundings of such backwardness and tcrpor? He will always receive credit, tis admirers claim, for the reforms he wrought, and even for those he tried to bring about, and this, they declare, fixes brim securely in a high and permanent place in history. But they admit that the events of the past year will deprive him of much admiration and confidence that ctherwise would have attached permanent- ly to his name and fame. He.must stanl upon the record, which now has its da-k pleces, and not in any measure upon the white, bright ground created by the pop- ular imagination. The Likeness to Bismarck. But the likeness to Bismarck is thought to continue even in the hour of adversity. The great Chinaman, like the great Ger- man, is “the king's man. His master may condemn him and humiliate him, but he cannot make him disloyal or indifferent to the empire. Peacock feathers and yel- low jackets and all that sort uf precious paraphernalia may be withdrawn, but he still loves China and is still willing to work for her. Stripped and unornamented, he responds readily to the emperor’s com- mand and goes to Japan to make terms. It was a painful duty to exact of him. He, like Bismarck, had always carried himself rather haughtily toward his op- porents. He had given Japan many a snub. He had shown her repeatedly that he despised her. And now he was required to go and bend the knee to her, and ask her please to put up her sword. His Carcer Closed. While the wish is profound and sincere that he may recover from the assassin’s bullet, there is a feeling that if he should die from it his fame would benefit. What is called a “glorious death” is something that statesmen and soldiers are taught to covet. Glory is largely their game, and glory is their reward. A general may lose a battle, but if he dies on the field, and particyarly while directing some perilous feature cf the day, he wins out. The his- torian takes care of him, and the country builds him a monument. Li Hung Chang has played now in the hardest luck for the last nine months. Much of his own prestige is gone, end his country has bean humbled into the dust. He has become merely an instrument to arrange the price of a peace. That is a great fall for so great a man! But if in performing that service--a great service for his country—he meets his death at the hands of an a: sin it must soften feeling for him and about him everywhere in China and throughout the world. If the curtain falls to a funeral march the whole audience will weep. The great man’s career, in any event, is thought to be closed. If peace is arranged he passes from the scene. His power is gone. China must get somebody else for the first place. She cannot hold her own among the nations with a broken idel on her pedestal. She cannot hope longer to conjure with the name of Li Hung Chang. She must try to recover some of her lost ground, end success in such an endeayor can only come through new agents and an entirely »bew policy. The old order cannot be re-established. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT Major John G. D. Knight to Succeed Col. Elliot in Oharge. He Has Been on Duty Here for Five Years and is Perfectly Familiar With His New Duties. Gen. Casey, chief of engineers, with the sanction of the Secretary of War, today ordered Maj. John G. D. Knight of the corps of engineers to relieve Col. G. H. Elliot, corps of engineers, of all the duties now in his charge, except the Dalecarlia receiving reservoir improvement, which lat- ter Col. Elliot is detailed to complete by special provision of Congress, despite his retirement. This order takes effect on the 30th instant, and will place Maj. Knight in charge of the Washington aqueduct, in- creasing the water supply of the city of Washington, and of the disbursement of the funds pertaining to the erection of the fishways at the Great Falls of the Poto- mac. he assignment also includes the work of raising the height of the dam at Great Falls, strengthening the conduit and testing the tunnel conduit, in accordance with the legislation of the last Congress. Maj. Knight's Career. Maj. Knight is well known in this city, having served for five years as an-assist- ant to Gen. T. L. Casey, chief of engineers. He is a member of the board of officers to test range and position finders and is also a member of the board on geographic names. He is a native of New York, but was appointed to the army from Missouri. He entered the Military Academy Septem- ber 1, 1864, and graduated June 15, 180s, number two in his class. He was appoint- ed a second lieutenant, corps of engineers, and was assigned to duty with the engi- neer battalion at Willet’s Point, where he remained until August 29, 1870, when he was made assistant engineer on the de- fenses of the eastern entrance to New York harbor. He reached the grade of first lieutenant in January, 1870. His next service was as chief engincer of the division of the Pa- cific, from March 16 to August 12, 1 . and he‘was principal assistant professor of mathematics at the Military August 30, 1874, to August 1881. Sub- sequently he was disbursing officer of the issippi river commission, and was in charge of levees and improvements from Cairo to Island No. 40 from September 2, 1882, to April 20, 1885, He was appointed captain June 15, 18$ From May, 1885, to November, 1887. he was in command of an engineer company at Willett’s Point, after which he was successively in charge of Fort Schuyler, N Y., on detached service with the New York National Guard, and as iastructor in engineering in the School of Application, Fort Leavenworth. Transferred to Washington. He held this last-named assignment from December, 1887, to June, 1890, when he was transferred to Washington for duty in the office of the chief of engineers. In the performance of his office duties he was re- quired to revise the reports of the officer in charge of the Washington aqueduct, and in that way, as well as by personal ob- servation, he has made himself thoroughly familiar with the character and progress of that work ~~ He was associated with Col. Elliot in the investigation of the water power of the Potomac river, with respect to its utility for electric lighting purposes in the Dis- trict of Columbia. Although the junior major of engineers, he stands exceptionally high in the corps. Gen. Casey said today that Capt. Knight was selected for this de- tail simply because he was regarded as the best man for the place. Promotions to Follow. Col. Elliot retires by operation of law on the 3ist instant, when he will reach the age of sixty-four years. As that date falls on Sunday, the actual transfer of the office | to Major Knight will be made on the 30th instant. Col. Elliot’s retirement will result in the foliowing fee es in the corps of engineers: Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Wilson, to be colonel; Major O. H. nest, to be lieutenant cclonel; Capt. Richard L. Hoxie, + to be major; First Lieutenant W. C. Lang- fit, to be captain; Second Lieutenant Rob- ert McGregor, to be first lieutenant, and Additional Second Lieutenant James B. Cavanaugh, to be second lieutenant. Col. Biliot’s service in the army dates from 1855. He first entered the artillery, but in 1857 was transferred to the engineer corps, and he has been regarded as one of the most brilliant and efficient officers of that corps. He has been deeply interested in his work in charge of the Washington aqueduct, and has done much to bring about an improvement of the water service of the capital. = See ABLE MACHINE GUN. Difficulty of the Navy Department in Securing Onc. The Navy Department is having consid- erable difficulty in securing a suitable ma- chine gun. As a solution of the problem it has been suggested that possibly two distinct types, of common caliber, might be selected. The last board of ordnance officers which investigated this subject was unable to agree upon a gun. It is now said that a pew board will be appointed to consider the subject, and that the neces- sary tests will be made at the Washington navy yard. The members of the poard will probably be Commander Sperry, Prot Alger and Ensign Twining. that three guns will be submitted to the beard: The Accl a new gun of which comparatively little is known, the inventor of which was formerly an employe of the Gatling Company; the Maxim-Norden a gun which has met with conside favor abroad, and the celebrated Gatling gun, which perhaps is the best known of the three. The test will begin as soon as the Maxim Gun Company shall furnish a sample weapcn. The contract to furnish these weapons is, of course, a valuable one, especially as it gives official indorsement to the weapon selected. SSS ee The German Embassy. Official confirmation has been received here of the transfer of Baron Von Saurma- Jeltsch, the German ambassador here, to Constantinople. The fact has been com- municated to members of the diplomatic corps, who have been calling at the em- bassy today to extend their congratula- tions. Baron Von Saurma will leave in May. His successor will be Baron Von Thielmann, now German minister at Mu- nich. Baron Yon Thielmann is a_ remarkable . He has written of his travels in Persia and Asiatic Turkey, and is author of a beok entitled “Four Journ Across America.” A SU +e] Personal Mention. Commander N. M. Dyer of the navy Is at the Ebbitt. Assistant Secretary Hamlin, who had a slight touch of the grip, is better today and expects to resume his duties at the Treasury Department in a day or two. —_—_—_—_—_—_-oe+__ Patents to Local Inventors. Patents were granted to Washington i ventors today as follows: Wm. C. MeIn- tire, cover for bicycle saddle; Frank L. O. Wadsworth, telemeter and telemeter at- tachment for telescopes; Charles M. Jor- dan, electric current regulator. ——SSS Government Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $277,253. Government receipts— From_internal revenue, $98,312; customs, $274,474; miscellaneous, $7,754. It is expected | ‘ademy from | WILL GO TO HAWAII Minister Thurston Decides to Return to His Home at Once, AN AUTHORIZED STATEMENT FROM HIM No Official Information That His Recall Has Been Requested. GOSSIP OF DIPLOMATS Minister Thurston has decided to leave Washington and return to his Hawaiian home. He will take his departure from this capital tomorrow or next day, in time - to catch the steamer sailing from San Francisco April 4. Mr. Thurston broke silence today for the first time since the recent reports of Sec- retary Gresham's demand for his recall,and gave out the following authorized state- ment: “I have received no information from my government or from Mr. Gresham that my recall has been requested, and up to the present time there has been no change in my official relations with the State Depart- ment. Whether my recall has been re- quested or not I do not know. In any event I shall not remain in Washington. There is nothing of especial importance to keep me here at present, while there are several matters requiring my attention at home. I shall, therefore, return to Honolulu _im- mediately, leaving San Francisco April 4. Surprise in Diplomatic Cireles. The announcement of Mr. Thurston's sudden determination to leave Washington occasioned a surprise diplomatic cir- cles. It had been rumored that even in the event of the severing of his officiel relations with this goverament he might remain here in a private capacity to give his advice and the result of his experience to the minister who should su and at any rate it was thou wait until official ac was taken. Mr. Hasiings, secretary of the legation, will act as charge duriang Mr. Thurston's absence. Mr. Thurston would not say to- day whether he proposes to return to Washington or not. It was remored in some quarters that he might become the minister of foreign affairs for his govern- ment, and that Mr. Hatch would succeed him at this capital. None of the rumors eurrent could be verified at legatioa, Mr. Thurston declining to 41 iss the mat- ter further than in the authorized state- ment given to the press. It is understood that Mrs. Thurston, wife of the minister, will not take the trip with her husband, but will visit her relatives in Michigan, The Hawaiian legation will re- main in its present quarters. As yet there is no packing up and no external evidence of the minister's departure. Mr. Thurston and Mr. Hastings, assisted by their clerical force are busy preparirg and signing doc- uments. A Shrewd Diplomatic Stroke. In some quarters Mr. Thurston’s move is regarded as a shrewd diplomatic stroke. It is recalled that he left unexpectedly about fifteen months ago, when the ques- tion of restoring the queen to the throne was at a critical stage in Hawaii. The Hawaiian goverament was on the point of reaching a decision, but had not yet done so. At this juncture Mr. Thurston suddenly left Washington, his departure not being known until he was well on his way to San Francisco. He had full information as to the sentiment in the United States, and when he reached Hawaii his advice had much to do in the final action of the gov- ernment. It is being suggested, *therefore, that his departure at the present juncture, | before it is known what action the Ha- walian government has taken on Secretary Gresham's demand, may result in his being at Honolulu when final action is taken. No information has yet come from Hawaii as to the course of the government. The first ship to arrive is the Australia, expected at San Francisco tomorrow. ———__+e A DISASTROUS FIRE. Burning of 2 Dry Goods Store in Southeast Washington. Fire this morning completely wiped out the stock and fixtures of the People’s Bar- in Store, 1235-87 11th street sovtheast. For a time it looked as though the would spread to the adjoining + but by hard work the firemen managed to confine them not only to the same building, but even to the same floor where they had their origin. The fire broke out about 9:40 o'clock, and it was quite 10:30 before it was really ex- unguished. Owing to the nature of the contents of the building the flames found plenty to feed upon, and the reslt was that they spread with great rapidity. The alarm was turned in by Policeman Smoot frem box and ergines 1 and 3 and truck A res ed. Assistant Chief Belt Was on hand and took charge of the fight h the flames. It was soon seen that the ce Was hot Suilicient to cope with the fire and a second alarm brought a rein- forcement and with it Chief Parris. ‘The policemen from the fifth precinct hastened to the spot and maintained the best of order. The burned building is a three-story double brick, and wes used for one of the largest stores iu the vicinity of the navy d, The store is owned by H. Harrison, who was in Baltimore this morning for the pur ose of buying his spring stock. It was al dry goods and furnishing store, ed a large line of goods. Practi- cally nething was left of them bu: charred remains, which were hardly worth shovel- ing o The store had two entrances,and between them wes a stairway leading to the upper stories of the building, which were used as a boarding house. All the occupant aged to make their escape without In the rear of this central stairw: the connection between the two stor in this narrow passageway there was a big box stove, from which the fire is supposed to have started. orts of dry goods were p rit, and as a result the fire had an excellent chance to spread in Loth directions. Ry the time the fire, which a bard one to fight, had been extingaished, the stock of dry goods was comply reined and the salvage amounted to little or neth- In the upper part of the building com- ively little dam was done, and t of that was caused by the water, which was necessary to flood the lower story. The walls and ceiling were con- siderably dama ut it will not require a large expenditure to put them in gcod shape. Mrs. Harrison said that the stock in the store was worth $20,000, and if that was the case the loss was a heavy one. At any rate it was one of the most disastrous in that section of the city in many yea = Army Orders. First Lieut. C. B. Gillette and Second Lieut. H. Deakine of the engineer corps have been ordered up for examination be- fore a board to convene at San Francisco, of which Col. G. H. Mendell Is president. The foliowing officers of the engineer corps have been ordered to report to the examining board in New York for exami- nation for promotion: Capt. Joseph H.Wil- lard, Capt. Carl F. Palfrey, Capt. William H. Bixby, First Lieut. James C. Sanford, First Lieut. Hiram M. Chittenden, Second Lieut.Charles Keller, Second Lieut. Charles S. Bromwell.