Evening Star Newspaper, April 24, 1895, Page 1

a THE EVENING STAR tae EXCEPT SUNDAY aT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 2 Lise fat roe Gor. 11th Street, by 10 at the.| im the cents She proof of the pudding is: tn Ge eafing. Yesterdar’s Star contained 67 cofumns: of adverfisements, made up WASHINGTON, D.C., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. SILVER THE ISSUE It is Said Republicans Will Be Solid for Bimetallism. WHILE DEMOCRATS WILL BE DIVIDED Utterances at -the International Conference Recalled. re ENGLAND’S ATTITUDE ed There is a growing belief among many of the political gossips at the national capi- tal that the next few months will find the republican party aligned for bitmetallism and the democratic organization divided into distinct and avowed gold and silver monometaliistic factions. This belief, it is explained, is based upon some recent events and upon a review of past occurrences. The people who entertain this opinion say that nothing further is needed to demon- strate that the democrats will divide upon gold and silver monometallism than the President's recent declaration of the com- ing fight lying between sound money. and silver monometallism, and the subsequent announcement of some of the party leaders in favor of gold monometallism. This, in connection with the’ efforts now under way in several states east of the Mississippi to get free silver conventions, is proof posi- tive, they gay, of the great chasm that is yawning in the democratic party. The Republicans and Bimetallism. It 1s claimed that the republicans propose to avoid precipitating any such severe is- fue in their own party, and are. going to begin early to take the firm ground that bi- metallism is a possibility and not a hopeless case, as represented by democrats. Recent utterances of prominent republicans, Sen- ator Allison and ex-President Harrison in Particular, are pointed to as straws indi- cating the trend of opinion in the republi- “in this 7 in tl connection references are bet: made to the developments before the inex national monetary conference, and the statements of the prominent financiers of the world at that gathering are being re- called and invested with péculiar interest at this time. One statement which was made at that conference is distinctly re- membered by many politicians, who have seen what they claim is a fulfillment of a Prophecy made. M. de Rothschild, one of the delegates of Great Britain, and recog- nized as repres2nting the sentiment of that government at the conference, made this statement: “If this conference were to break up without arriving at any definite result there would be a depreciation in the value of that commodity (silver) which it would be frightful to contemplate, and out of which a monetary panic would ensue, the far-spreading effects of which it would be impossib!+ to foretell.” That prophecy was made in November, 1892. The confer- ence did adjourn without arriving at any definite result, and the following summer saw the commencement of that great finan- clal and industrial depression which every one ie. England's Standards, One of the reasons which have frequently been ascribed as a cause of the adjourn- ment of the conference without arriving at @ definite result was the hostility of Great Britain toward bimetallism. That hostility, amounting to the most yigorous opposition, ‘was expressed by Mr. De Rothschild, who said: “That a gold standard for England was the only possible one, and if we con- sider that the whole of her commerce and the great part of that of other countries is carried on by bills of exchange on London, which are naturally payable in gold, I think it must be admitted that the -vorld in general transacts its business on a gold basis, and thet in reality such a thing as a double standard, except in a very modified form, does not exist even in those coun- tries who profess to pay in either of the two metals. * * * England, no doubt, owes @ great part of her enormous wealth to the confidence which her monetary sys- tem hag inspired, both at home and abroad; confidence based on the fact that our bank notes represent sovereigns, and that a bill drawn upon England from any part of the world will at maturity be payable in the same metal. * © *- Apart from other considerations, it seems to me impossible to come to a universal arrangement in respect to a general currency question, as no two countries are alike as regards their individual wealth, resources and expendi- ture.” Mr. De Rothschild expressed the hope that he had “conclusively shown that bimetallism for England is an absolute impossibility.” This view met the concurrence of Sir R'vers Wilson, another delegate of Great Britain, who, speaking for himself and for Sir Charles Fremantle, said: “Our faith is that of the school of monometallism, pure and simple. We do not admit that any other-than the single gold standard would be applicable to our country.” It was ad- mitted on all sides that no agreement in behalf of bimetalliem, which would be ef- fective, could be reached without the con- currence of Great Britain, and such con- currence seemed impossible in view of the statements of the leading delegates of that ecuntry. A Strong Bimetallic Sentiment. ‘There was a strong bimetallic sentiment at the conference, however, and even the British delegation contributed to it. Sir William Houldsworth of the British dele- gation, in reference to the general fall in prices and financial depression, said: “I frankly admit that, in my opinion, there will never be a permanent solution of this 4 fficulty until we have an International bi- metallic agreement.” Sir Guilford Moles- worth, delegate of British India, in making an argument in behalf of bimetallism, quot- ed the remarks of Mr. Gibbs, late governor of the Bank of England, and Mr. Goschen, late chancellor of the exchequer of Great in, as follows: ites Goschen and I were together on the conference in Paris; both of us were sturdy defenders of gold monometallism, but I have changed my inind. I do not say that Mr. Goscher has changed his mind, but he has somewhat modified * Mr. Goschen was quoted as follows: “There is a class of monometallists who say that bimetallism is ell nonsense, and they cannot under- stand what it means. Now, I do not think it is nonsense at all. I think it is a very serious demand for a change, which, if adopted, would produce very large results.” It is now claimed that these arguments show that even as far back as 1802 there was strong bimetallic sentiment in Eng- land, which has been signally increased and accentuated by the great financial de- pression consequent upon the fulfillment of Mr. de Rothschild’s well-remembered prophecy that disaster would follow if sil- ver were not protected in some way. It ts claimed that the last two years have demonstrated an increase in the bimetallic sentiment of Engiand--that is, among the industrial classes—as in this country, bor- dering {n a degree upon the extent of the spread of bimetallism among the people of the United States. The political gossips admit that there may have been no change of feeling on the part of the De Rothschild element, but that on the contrary the De Rothechild element has succeeded in im- pressing gold standard ideas upon many Americans. American Sentiment. The point ‘s made, however, that the mass of the people, the element that it is clalmed will eventually determine the fiscal policy of the nation, are showing a de- cided leaning toward bimetallism and cla- moring for @ trial of it anyhow, and that if an international conference can be held within the next year or two the opposition put forth by the British delegates at the last meeting will have at least been modi- fied to such an extent as not to present an insuperable tar to an agreement. This is said te be the belief of a great many re- publicans in this country, who are at least willing to wait a year or two longer, if nec- essary, in order to give it a trial, rather than to rush either to the extreme of gold monometailism, which they declare to be un-American, or to silver monometallism. At all events, they say it is too early to give up absolutely, and to say that it must be “gold monometallism or nothing,” or to take the ground that bimetallism is a chi- mera and unlimited rational free coinage the only alternative of gold monometallism. It is argued that the pursuance of the line of action thus indicated will draw into re- publican ranks the conservative people of all classes, democrats included, who would regard this position as the safest and as most likely to contribute to national pros- perity. THE INCOME TAX About Twenty Per Oent Have Failed to Make Their Returns. Some Wealthy People Included in This List-How Exemptions. Can De Maude. Revised calculations indicate that about 20 per cent of the persons subject to the income tax have failed to make the return prescribed by the law. The first estimate placed the number of delinquents at about 10 per cent. Each day adds to the difficul- ties and perplexities in the enforcement of the emasculated statute. Although se- crecy is properly observed by the officials in regard to individual cases, it is generally understood that many of the wealthiest men in the country have ignored the law completely. This is said to be particularly the case with several well-known million- aires, whose incomes are derived mainly from rents. The Vanderbilts are classed in this category, and several rich men in Philadelphia, Baltimore and this city are said to have failed to inform the internal revenue Officers of the character and ex- tent of their income. ‘Will Be Proceeded Against. It is a reasonable theory that the people who have failed in the initial matter of making a@ return will also fail in the more important matter of paying the tax. This class of persons will be proceeded agajnst by the government, atid may be expected to make an earnest legal resistance. It is too early to indicate exactly what steps the ‘Treasury Department will take to compel the delinquents to meet their obligations under the law, but fit !s announced that the government will exercise its full legal powers in the premises. : Ingenious Exemptions. A gentleman who has looked carefully into the law, after its severe shattering by the Supreme Court, says that the exemp- tions,if availed of by persons smart enough to take advantage of their loose construc- tion, can very easily be made to wipe out any income, however big. It is said that one gentleman of extensive possessions made up his income at $192,000 and then, in an off-hand, careless way, with the assist- ance of the collector: of his revenue dis- trict, checked off the exemptiofis to which the law entitled him. They went over it twice, and the collector pronounced it to be all right and then went to work to add up the exemptions. Imagine his surprise and consternation when the exemptions footed up $198,000, or $0,000 more than the income. In another district a salaried man gave his salary as $6,000. “That leaves you $2,- 000 to pay upon,” said the collector.. But it seems the salaried man had borrowed during the year $50,000, upon which he paid $2,500 interest. This the law permitted to be deducted, and so he had nothing to pay. Another case was that of a person who claimed and was allowed an exemption of $100 on account of rent for a box in a safety deposit vault, which he declared was necessary for the conduct of his business. —___-e-—______ EX-CONSUL WALLER’S CASE. Senator Voorhees Interested in the Settlement of the Matter. Senator Voorhees is taking a deep per- sonal interest in the case of ex-Consul Waller, who is imprisoned in France be- cause of his conduct in Madagascar. The Indiana Senator had a talk with Secretary Gresham at the State Department today in regard to the case. Subsequently, he said to a Star man that the State Depart- ment was investigating the matter, and had sent instructions to Ambassador Eus- tis to that end. “I am satisfied,” said Mr. Voorhees, “that the government is doing everything it can to sift the case to the bottom and to see that exact justice is done to Waller.” The instructions sent to Ambassador Eus- tis in this matter went by mail and will reach him in a day or two. POOR CUBA. Bad Condition of Things on the Is- land. A private letter received here today from one of the most prominent public men at Havana says: “Poor Cuba! condition of affairs here is not yet realized by the outer world. With the close of the sugar season next month there will be misery. and famine. The sugar crop has been far below the average this year, and all of it will now be subject to the new United States tariff on sugar. It means much loss to the planters, and with the beginning of the ‘dead season,’ lasting from the close of the sugar season until next September, there will be no employ- ment for labor. It means idle hands— white and negro. Such conditions cannot but add to the smoldering fire of the re- bellion.”” ee SPAIN WILL GIVE SATISFACTION. An Assurance Received by the State Department From Madrid. Secretary Gresham has received a dls- patch from M:. Hannis Taylor, United States minister at Madrid, assuring him that Spain would accede to the demands of the United States in the Allianca affair, and that the captain of the Conde de Ve- nadito would be punished for his offense in firing at .n American vessel outside the zone. The tone of the dispatch is such that the State Department feels that its course will be absolutely vindicated by the result. eee Interior Department Appointments. Carlton J. Wellborn of Georgia has been appcinted assistant attorney under the At- torney General for the Interior Depart- ment. R. B. Armstrong of Kansas has been made a special agent to buy lands for the absentee Wyandotte Indians of Kansas. These Indians sold their lands to the gov- ernment, and the government was to pur- chase each a certain portion of land. Henry E. Cutting of South Dakota has been appointed custodian of the Fort Sully abandoned military reservation in South Dakota. The horrible [- THEO. ROOSEVELT|™X TITLES INVOLVEOITHE PRICE OF BEEF Effect of His-Appointment as a New York Police Commissioner. MR. STRONG EMBARRASSED BY WARING His Denunciation of the G. A. R.. ' Causes Much Excitement. POSSIBILITIES IN THE FUTURE Se Those New Yorkers in Washington who wish Mayor Strong success in his fight against boss dictation in adminstering his office are most highly gratified by the appointment of Theodore Roosevelt as a poiice commissioner for the metropolis. They prédict, too, that the effect of the appointment will be felt quite as much In a@ general way as in the special field to which Mr. Roosevelt has been assigned. Mayor Strong's is no holiday task. He is fighting the machines of both parties, the one directed by Mr. Platt and the other by Mr. Croker. He has need, therefore, of the assistance of men who are not only stout hearted in the case of reform, but experienced in the affairs of politics. Mr. Roosevelt is thought to posses this quali- fication in an unusual degree. He stands for reform in its best sense, and he has benefited by the experience of some years spent in office. He knows what is wanted and how to go about getting it, and hie individual performances in his new place no less than his suggestions to his chief are likely to realize in their practical value the highest expectations of his friends. Mr. Waring’s Blunder. It sod happens that, just at this time, Mayor Strcng is being brought under fire fcr an appointment, which, while excellent encugh on personal grounds, has failed on other grounds. The street cleaning depart- ment of the city is in the hands of Colonel Waring, a man of excellent standing, but, as it has turned out, not a politician in any sense, and most indiscreet in his utter- ances. Being approached recently by sev- eral local commanders of the G. A. R. for Places for members of that organization, he is represented as flying into a passion and denouncing the whole G. A. R. asso- ciation in the most offensive terms, The episode, indeed, but narrowly escaped being turned into a fist fight in Colonel Waring’s office. A tremendous stir in G. A. R. circles has naturally resulted. The 's of the organization throughout the state are meetirg and denouncirg the street clean- ing commissioner, and demanding his im. mediate removal. The indignation is gro’ ing, and may become national. Mayor Strong is embarrassed. He is reluctant to threw Colonel Waring over so soon after aprointing him. There is a certain con- fession of failure in an act of that kind which sometimes operates beyond the limits of the individual case in evidence. And yet it will be difficult, the mayor's friends themselves admit, for him to ignore this complaint of so powerful an order as the G. A. R. if it Is persisted in. There are no points in dispute. Colonel Waring ad- mits having used the language complained of, and he does not withdraw it. If the racket continues, therefore, Mayor Strong's choice is Inevitably between Colonel War- ing and the good will of the G. A. R. Either Colonel Waring must go, or the op- porents of the mayor will reap a certain: advantage from the indignation of the in- tersely aroused old soldiers and their friends. What Platt’s Friends Say. The supporters of Thomas C. Platt are alert. They are already imbued with what they characterize as the lesson of the af- fair. “See,” they are saying, “‘the effect of trying to run even the local affairs of popular government outside of all party considerations and public influences. There is more even in the street cleaning depart- Pinatt in New York city than the mere matter of business presented. Colonel Waring is a good man of business, and may know how to economize as a thrifty merchant does, but never having been in leadership before and despising what is properly calied leadership, he is totally un- acquainted with the popular currents and their influences and is wrecked on the first shoals. If Mayor Strong will only appoint a few more Warings to important places under him we need not fight him ourselves. He can then be left to destroy himself.” Efiect of Roosevelt's Appointment. But the appointment of Mr. Roosevelt convinces many people that Mayor Strong will not oblige Mr. Platt in this matter. He is getting a firmer hold as he goes along. He 1s finding out more about men and where to place them. He wants re- form and intends to have it, but In a prac- tical way and with due respect to popular feeling and sympathies. Mr. Roosevelt is one of the foremost exponents of the principle that the government should be as well served by its employes as a private business man insists upon being by his. He can see no difference in the obligations attaching to the two engagements. But he has been in public life long enough to dis- cover how best to secure one’s ends, and to learn that the best attainments go hand in hand with the humanities and civilities. And it is thisexperience, this information, that will make him so valuable an assist- ant to Mayor Strong He will insist on a business-like reorganization and conduct of his department, but will be able to se- cure this without injuring either himself or his chief by antagonizing whole bodies of men by injudicious utterances. Possibilities for n Reformer, ‘The situation in New York city is grow- ‘ing so interesting and so difficult it seems likely that if Mr. Roosevelt cares to im- prove It beyond a conscientious discharge of his official duties there he is entering upon the greatest opportunity he has yet enjoyed. To begin with, he will be at home; and what vith his youth, his wealth, fine capacities, and the prestige of a most hon- orable name, he may surrender himself wholly to his work, with the feeling that whenever he does score it will be effective- ly, and that he can afford to wait a while for a due reward. Ten years from now he would still be a young man for the gov- ernor’s chair, or a seat in the United States Senate, and there are experienced poli- ticians who believe thaf the presidency it- self lies in the path of the man contributing most to solving the question of thorough good government for cities. —— = An Indinn Pow-Wow. A delegation of Otoe and Missouri! Indians galled at the Interior Department this morning for a pow-wow with Assistant Secretary Sims. Their object was to obtain in cash the $20,000 appropriated by the last Congress as a realef for the tribes who lost all their crops in the recent droughts. Prob- ably some of the money will be given in cash to the more responsible ones, but most of it will be distributed in the form of pro- visions and farming supplies. —————+o+—___ The Revenue Cutter Service. The President has made a rule making all final graduates of the Naval Academy eligible for admission as third lieutenants in the revenue cutter service, without fur- ther professional examination. —_—_—__—- --—____\__ On Permanent Waiting Orders. The following named officers of the rev- enue cutter service have been placed on permanent waiting orders on half pay: Capt. Douglass Ottinger, Chief Engincer Geo. M. Robinson and First Assistant En- ginecrs C. S. Dyce and James Fitzpatrick. An Important Case Argued Before Judge Cox. x Claimed That Tax Sates Are Invalid— The Contentions of Counsel— Decision Reserved. Judge Cox today cohsidered the case of Avgustus Burgdorf against the District of Columbia, in which Mr. Burgdorf seeks to have the District Commissioners restrained from selling his property for unpaid taxes. |The property in question consists of lots 1 to 13, inclusive, square east of square 710, and lots 1 to G, inclusive, square east of square 7i1. Under the act of Congress of March 3, 1877, taxeS were levied against the several lots running from $1.00 to = In addition to the tax, the Com- missioners added a penalty of 2 per cent for non-payment. ‘That is, on December 1, 1893, and on the first day of the following January, Febru- ary, March, April and May, they added 2 per cent of one-half of-the taxes; and June 1, 1804, and on the first day of each month thereafter, they added 2 per cent of the whole tax, demanding payment of said penalties and $1.20 on each lot as cost of advertising. Mr. Burgdorf was represented by Messrs. A. A. and T. W. Birney, Messrs. S. T. Thomas and A. B. Duvall appeating on behalf of the District. The Contention. In opening the case, Mr. Thomas. ex- plained to the court that the complainant contended that the act of 1877 was only tem- porary in {ts nature, and applied only to taxes for the year ending June 30, 1578. As the bill of compiaint, sald Mr. Thomas, involved cnly the construction of the statuies, the District _had entered a de- murrer. The act of 1877, stated Mr, Thom- as. Is the permanent tax law of the Dis- triet, and April 3, 1878, Congress amended section 3 of that act by striking out the year, making the section general and leav- ing untouched section 4, which authorizes the penalties referred to. ‘There can be, declared Mr. Thomas, no doubt of the right to impose penalties for the refusal to perform duties under tax laws, and there is no legal presumption either that the citizens will, if possible, evade their duties, or, om the other,hand, that the government will exact unjustly or beyond its needs. It was also claimed by Mr. Burgdorf, explained Mr. Thomas, that the cost of advertising and printing the pamphlet containing the delinquent tax list shall be paid by a charge or 20 cents for each lot or pleee of property ad- vertised, and that Mr. Bungdorf has ten- Gered this to the District with the amount of the principal of hig taxes. The District refused to accept the same, demanding payment at the rate of.$1.20 for each par- cel. This charge of $1.23, said Mr. Thomas, is based upon a clause jn the District ap- propriation bili approved. August 7, 15804, such a provision having been inserted in the appropriation bills gince that of July 14, 1892. Will Inyalidate Tax Titles. Should Mr. Burgdotf's contention, stated Mr. Thomas, that penalties for non-pay- ment of general taxe’ is limited to the years 1877 and 1878 be well founded, the result would invalidate aN tax titles since the latter year. Mr. Burgdorf, contended Mr. Thomas, could have avoided the penal- ties by promptly paying the taxes, and, not having done so, he is notin a position to make complaint. The e¢nse, said Mr. Thomas, in conclusion, is of the very first importance to property owners as affecting title, and to the District as affecting its revenue. For, declared Mr. Thomas, if the contention of Mr. Burgdorf is sustained, his case will be made the foundation of claims to refund, which, ‘if allowed, will require, it 1s estimated, more than $1,000,- Qu to satisfy. Mr. Birney’s Reply. Replying to Mr. Thomas, the Messrs. Birney contended that the act of 1877 ap- plied only to taxes during the following year, saying that the eighteenth section of the act did not have the effect of provid- ing penalties for failure to pay taxes in any subsequent year, since the fourth sec- tion of the act provided ,only for failure to pay taxes in the year 1878. Therefore, they said, not since that time has there been any provision of law for the imposi- tion of penalties for failure to pay the taxes when they become due. The act of 1878, argued the counsel for Mr. Burg- dorf, merely changed the time at which the ‘installments of the gaxes should be payable, but did not provide for the im- position of penalties for failure to pay those installments when due. So, in the absence of expressed authority, the court cannot infer penalties, but must find ex- press warrant for the same in the terms of the statute, and cannot, by implication alone, extend such penalties to subsequent years. - Referring to the cost of advertising, Mr. Burgdorf’s counsel contended that the law does not provide that such cost shall be charged against’ the property. Nor did Congress, in apropriating $12,000 for ad- yertising, provide that it should be charged to delinquent taxpayers, and, therefore, such amount did not constitute a len. by which the property of those in arrears could be held. The charge of $1.20 against each delinquent parcel, argued counsel, is greatly in excess of the true cost of ad- vertising, and certainly to the extent in ex- cess the charge {s clearly Mlegal. The cost ef such advertising, claimed Mr. Burgdorf, was about $5,600, while a charge of $1.20 against each parcel in arrears amounted to about $32,000, resuiting in a clear profit to the District of $26,000. That great excess it was sought to compel those in arrears to bear, an act which, counsel for Mr. Burg- dorf claimed, invalidated the proceeding. Decision Reserved. Mr. A. B, Duvall closed the argument, elaborating the points urged by. Mr. Thomas, and insisting that Mr. Burgdorf was not entitled to the relief prayed. Judge Cox took the papers im the case, but did not state when he would announce his decision. ———.—_—_ POTOMAC FLATS OASE. The Arguments Today on the Mnr- shalt Claims, The attention of Chief Justice Bingham and Justices Hagner and M¢eComas, in the case of the United States against Martin F. Mcrris and others, to quiet the title of the forty or more defendants to the Potomac flats aud the adjacent river front, was oc- cupied teday by Mr. E. Byrd Lewis, one of the coursel for the Marshall heirs. As stated In yesterday’s Star, the Mar- shall heirs claim by purchase under grants from the English crown to Lords Cul- peper, Fairfax and Baltimore, contending that they possess a clear, indisputable title to the whole bed of the Potomac river from shore to shore. : Mr. Lewis spoke not only about all of yesterday, but also today<until after 2 o’ciock, when Assistant District Attorney Hugh T. Taggart arose to address the court in reply to the argument of Mr. Lewi: Mr. Taggart Replics. In beginning his reply to Mr. Lewis’ argu- ment, Mr. Taggart said Ne feared the Marshall heirs were somewhat too :nodest in their claims. He thought that they might just as properly have claimed own- ership of the bed of the Atlantic ocean. Mr. Lewis’ argumen:, he said, while in- genious and while very interesting, con- tained nothing, he thought, likely to induce the court to sustain the contentions of the Marshall heirs. And then Mr. Ta,sgart entered into an earnest discussion of the legal aspect of those. contentions. | It May Be Lowered by South Ameri- can Exports. MR. MORTON AND THE CATTLEMEN Why the Secretary Thinks There is a Ring. PRICES THAT DISAGREE — Steamship people send word from New York that a South American folution of the beef boom may be on its way. It is autumn in the southern hemisphere. The cattle of southern and central South Amer- ica are just going into the winter with a summer's and an autumn’s fat on their ribs. They are ready to slaughter. These South American ranges are a trifle over 6,000 miles from New York. A swift steamer cam cover it in less than four ‘Paso, Laredo or Eagle Pass, the four. points on the boundary between this coun- try and Mexico opened to the coming of hale, sound Mexican cattle by Secretary Morton’s recent decree. “The department has not as yet complet- ed its inquiry into the causes of the beef rise, and of course cannot as yet announce any conclusions. So far, however, there is nothing which would point to sharp, unfair practices on the part of either the live cat- tle seller or the retail butcher. If this wood pile harbors a colored individual, it is in the vicinity of the big slaughterers, who buy from the cattle raiser and sell dressed beef to the butcher.” Mr. Morton for “Free Beef.” _In discussing the 20 per cent ad valorem tariff on cattle and dressed beef, Secretary Morton declared. himself as vigorously in favor of a free list for beef. ‘Free beef,” he thinks, would solve present beef trou- bles rapidly and surely end keep them solved. But Congress is months and months in the future. Pending which beef is at top-notch figure: MR. ROOSEVELT’S SUCCESSOR No Action Has Been Taken Regarding His Selection. President Cleveland Will Wait Until He Receives the Resignation in weeks. A line of refrigerator steamers |, piy between the cattle fields of South America and England loaded to the guards in the dressed beef trade. Nothing would be commercially easier than to divert one, two or a dozen of these dressed beef steamers, and instead of sending them to England send them to New York. Should the present high figures in. porterhouse, sirloins and dressed beef generally prevail steamboat folks declare that it will be done. Indeed, the stcry is that London und Boston people are already arranging to do this. They say, too, that should a dressed beef steamer lack a freight from New York to South America for a return trip she can be freighted from New York to England and from the latter point back to the dressed beef depots of South America. There is no risk of making any part of the round trip “light” ‘by following this triangle of trade. The Ad Valorem Duty. The orly barrier now being considered by these would-be beef importers is the 20 per cent ad valorem tariff. But as this is as- sessed on the South American value, and as that value is dwarfish when compared to present New York prices for dressed beef, if anything lke the present figures ccn- tinue, the 20 per cent tariff could be paid and a big profit accrue to the importer. From signs now clear it may be no distant day when the whole northeastern portion of the United States will be fed by beef grown south of the equator. Freights by these refrigerator steamers are not high; there Is no danger of a cargo spoiling at sea for months; and, as a steamship man remarked today, “There would be more safety and less expense in bringing beef from South America by steamer than from Mexico by rail.” Secretary Morton’s Search. The dressed beef extortion still continues, and Secretary Morton’s effort to locate the blame and discover just how much of the recent beef rise is honest, and how much is robbery, still continues. Of late the Sec- 1etary has suffered at the hands of both the Kansas City and the East St. Louis live stock exchanges in the way of resolu- ticns. These stock yards bodies condemn the agitation of beef, consequent on Sec- retary Morton's inquiries. They say that it has caused the consumption of beef to. fall off, and has lowered the price of cattle at the yards and on foot; and so deprived the live cattle seller of his fair profits. Sec- retary Morton does not yield in any way to these rerolutions. Speaking of them to a Star reporter today, Secretary Morton said: “There has been no agitation by the Agri- cultural Department of this beef question. The retail prices of beef, particularly sir- loins and porterhouse, went up tremen- dously a few weeks ago. They have re- mained up. This rise is what caused the agitation, as far as there has been any. And this high price in beef is what has caused the falling off in beef consumption. If beef goes to fifty cents per pound con- sumption will fall off still more. Should the coterie which has the market in its hands put beef at $1 a pound, I should ex- pect consumption to stop altogether. It is the high price which takes away the pub- lic’s appetite for beef, not agitation. And the price is very much under the control of these men who complain so dismally of the ‘agitaticn’ by the Agricultural Depart- trent. 4 Not the Live Cattle Man. “It is amusing to me,” continued Secre- tary Morton, “‘as he read the dispatch from the St. Louis stock yards people, “how excessively tender these gentlemen have become toward the live catfte seller, and how ardently they long for him to get a biz figure for his cattle. Now, listen to a few facts. Let me say first, distinctly, that nobody believes the live cattle seller is getting too high a price for his cattls. The rise in the price of live cattle has been less than $1 a hundred, or less than one cent per pound, during the last year. That has been honestly caused by scant pas- tures and short corn crops. ‘Rut on that rise of less than one cent per pound for live cattle dressed beef has gone up from five cents to ten cents per pound. On Its face this looks like extortion. It has the appearance of being the work of a beef ring, or pool or combine. There are many people who charge that a beef ring exists; that it stands in the center of the cattle trade in the guise of big slaughters and plunders both ways. It puts down prices for live cattle which it buys and so pil- lages the cattle raiser. It puts up the price of dressed beef and lightens the pockets of the consumer to its own unfair advantage. A Beef Ring. “There are sinister facts which go a long way to justify the claim that a beef ring exists. One is that while, as these stock. yards people complain, beef consumption has fallen off, it hasn’t served to lower the price of retail beef. It would seem to have skipped clear over the dressed beef—this falling off in consumption—where it might naturally be expected to lodge in its effect, and while dressed beef still stuck at ex- tortionate figures to have beaten down the price of live cattle. Now, why? Does it not look as if a combine, buying cattle to slaughter and sell as dressed beef, held dressed beef figures at high-water mark by sheer ring strength, while buying cattle at lower figures than usual. Prices Do Not Agree. “Again, there's no consistency in the re- tail prices of beef. While up above 33 centg per pound in New York city, the same cuts sell at retail at 15 cents in central Illinois. No two markets agree. Chicago does not match New York, nor does either place compare honestly with any other. ‘The freight rate on dressed beef to New York trom Chicago is about three-quarters of a cent, while the difference in dressed beef prices between the two points is far in excess of this. The whole thing looks as if there were an under current of un- fairness and sharp practice in this muddle of beef. And it is to determine that fact, and locate the sharpers, if they exist, that the Agricultural Department is making these inquiries. And the search for beet rascals will continue. If honest inquiry Is calculated to hurt an honest man and an honest market, I have yet to find it out.” Mexican Cattle. Dr. Salmon, chief of the bureau of ani- mal industry, was asked by The Star man what information the department had of herds in northern Mexico making ready to enter the United States at San Diego, El an Official Way. ‘The forthcoming resignation of Civil Ser- vice Commissioner Roosevelt has led to a great deal of speculation concerning his probable successor, and many names of gentlemen prominent in furthering the cause of civil service reform have been sug- gested in connection with the vacancy. Mr. Carl Schurz has been spoken of as a likely man to take Mr. Roosevelt's place, and the neme of Correspondent Francis E. Leupp has also beén mentioned in the same con- nection. There is no possible chance of Mr. Schurz accepting the porition, even if it were offered to him, which is extremely un- likely. He is now the political editor of Harper's Weekly, and he has other im- portant interests which would make his be- coming a civil service commissioner some- thing of a sacrificial proceeding. It is not believed, either, that Mr. Leupp would ac- cept the place if it were tendered to him, although his appointment would be ex- tremely gratifying to civil service reform- ers all over the country. It may be stated, however, that President Cleveland has not given the question of filling the prospective vacancy the slightest attention. While he has been informed of Mr. evel! in- tention to resign, and is aware that no per- suasion can dissuade that gentleman from his decision in the matter, he has not taken.up the subject of another man, and will not until Mr. nation is in his hands. The President Proctor of the civil service com- mission, who is very warmly regarded by. Mr. Cleveland, will undoubtedly have con- siderable effect upon the latter when he se- lects the new commissioner. The Presi- dent is perfectly well aware that the battle in favor of civil service reform has not been won as completely as its champions would wish. The spollsmen enemies have, according to the civil service reformer,been beaten back and badly demoralized, but they have not been as effectually routed from all their points of vantage as Mr. Cleveland and the civil service commission would like to see. Consequently, in select- ing a successor to Mr. Roosevelt, it will be the endeavor of the administration, it is said, to secure a man in sympathy with Mr. Roosevelt's ideas and methods, so that the fight may be continued on the same fearless and aggressive lines that have hitherto characterized it. a LOST BY A TIE VOTE. Yhe Bi-Partisan Police Bill in the New York Senate. ALBANY, N. Y., April 24—The bi-parti- san police reorganization bill has been de- feated in the senate by a tie vote—yeas 16, noes 16, Bradley, independent, Coggeshall, Reynolds and Robertson, republicans, voted with the democrats, ‘The bill was one of thore known as the Lexow bills, and provided for the reorgani- zation of the police department of New York city by the bi-partisan police com- mission, which was given power to report for dismissal any officer or officers who might be shown, to the satisfaction of the commissioners, to have been inefficient or corrupt. The bill also enlarged the duties and powers of the superintendent of police. The fact that the commission was to be bi-partisan caused opposition by the New York city committee of seventy and by the committee of ten. It also been under- steod that Mayor Strong was opposed to the bill. In the assembly it was amended, giving to accused policemen the right of appeal. In the senate today this amendment was defeated, the deciding vote being cast by Lieut. Gov. Sexton. When the bill came up on its passage twelve democrats and the three republicans and independent named above voted against it, and sixteen repub- licans voted for it. Upon the question of the final passage of a measure the lieuten- ant governor has no vote, and so the bill was killed. — WILL BE STRICTLY NEUTRAL. Assurances ®f Various Governments to Spain. HAVANA, April 24.—The minister of the colonies, Senor Castelannos, according to advices received here from Madrid, has notified the Spanish government officials here that the government of Spain has re- celved assurances from Great Britain, Den- mark, Santo Domingo and Hayt! that the strictest neutrality will be observed during the trouble with the insurgents of Cuba. It is stated that the British government has reiterated its instructions to the British authorities In the Antilles to do everything poSsible to prevent the carrying out of filibustering projects. It is also stated that Costa Rica has also assured Spain of her friendship and has in- structed the Costa Rican minister at Paris to go to Madrid in order to personally as- sure the Spanish government of the sincere friendship of Costa Rica. MADRID, April 24—The government has received an official dispatch from Havana confirming the announcement that Gen. Bosch had defeated the insurgents near Guaybel, killing ten and wounding many of them and capturing a quantity of their arms and ammunition. The Case of the Ethelred. BOSTON, Mass., April 24.—The zteamer Ethelred, one of the Boston Fruit Com- pany’s boats rlying between this port and Jamaica, which was reported to have been chased by a Spanish gunboat on her last trip to Jamaica, arrived in port today. Capt. Hopkins, her commander, when seen by a reporter of the Associated Press, said: “There is no truth in this report. There is a Spanish gunboat off Cape Maysi, on the lookout for vessels having arms, ammuni- tion and men for Cuba, and she is kept pretty busy. The only .eason that I can give for this Story is that the gunboat chased a small vessel which went in before ug, but we were not interfered with.” On a previous trip {t was reported that the. Ethelred had been fired upon by a Spanish gunbcat, but it was learned later that the gunboat simply fired a blank shot and requested the steamer to display her colors. This being done, she was not mo- lested. —o Government Receipts. National bank notes recelved today for redemption, $276,174. Government receipts: From Internal revenue, $342,880; customs, $511,199; miscellaneous, $14,263. | DIVIDING THE SPOILS The Powers’ Interference in the East, ROSSIA APPER A POS? IN COREA Japanese Officials Here Inclined - to Ridicule. GENERAL FOREIGN “TOPICS ‘LONDON, April 24—The London Daily News says it understands that the govern- ment will not join any combination of Fowers to interfere with the results of the Japanese victories. The ministers were willing and anxious to avert the war, but they do not consider that British interests are injuriously affected by the terms of peace. The Standard’s Berlin correspondent tets- graphs: The action of France, Russia and Germany has not yet exceeded a friendly but energetic protest against the Japanese annexing any part of the Chinese main- jand, but I hear that the Russian minister at Pekin has “already been instructed to negotiate with the Tsung Li Yamen of the Chinese foreign office regarding the ces- sion of Chinese territory which Russia de- mands in compensation for the Japanese acquirings. V:ERLIN, April 24—A dispatch received here from Tokio today says that the envoys of Rugsia, Germany and France have for- mally-protested at the Japanese ministry of fcreign affairs at the incorporation by the terms of treaty of peace between China and Jepan of any of the Chinese mainland in the Japanese empire. Japanese Laugh at the Reports. The Japanese officials heresare disposed to treat lightly the reports from European capitals to troubles over the China- Japan settlement. Minister Kurino is sat- isfled all will be amicably arranged, if, as he jocularly expressed it, “a temporary armistice cn European press reports can be arranged.” In other official quarters, however, there is considerable apprehension at the menac- ing attitude of Russia, Germany and France. The report that Russia had in- structed her ambassador at Pekin to de- mand a cession of territory for a harbor on the Pacific, confirms the view that Washington diplomats have long held that Russia would obtain Port Lazareff before the negotiations ended. A prominent diplomat, who has visited Port Lazareff, says that it is a superb har- bor and will give Russia one of the finest nayal stations on the Pacific. The cables made to Japan and to Corea, if the latter's inde- pendence is recognized. The failure of Engiand to join in the menacing action of other European nations is explained by officials on the ground that England already has her Asiatic pos- sessions and Pacific naval stations, 0 that she is anxious to maintain the status quo, while the other powers are anxious to secure similar territorial and naval ad- vantages. < WON BY THE FAVORITE. Reminder Took the City and Subur- ban at Epsom. EPSOM, England, April 24.—An immense crowd of people began gathering here at an early hour today in order to witness the race for the city and suburban handicap |.(one and one-quarter miles), in which event the greatest possible interest is taken. T. Cannon's bay colt Reminder, by Melanion out of Postscript, previous to the start was the hottest kind of a favorite, and justified confidence in him by winning. He is a bay colt, four years old, and car- ried eight stone nine pounds. Mr. B. L Barnato’s chestnut colt, Stowmarket, by Timothy out of Tenax, four years old, car- rying eight stone nine pounds, was sec- ond; Mr. H. McCalmont’s Irish Car, a bay filly, by Crafton out of Pride of Kildare, four years old, carrying seven stone five pounds, third. The crowd present was the largest ever known at this event, and included the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and hundreds of sporting notabilities. Willie Sims, the colored jockey, in the employ of Messrs. Dwyer and Croker, was among those who witnessed the race, and he_ attracted much attention. Reminder, the winner, was looked upon with such favor by Donoughue that he offered to buy him for 10,000 guineas. Wedded at St. Margaret's. LONDON, April 24—At St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, this afternoon, Miss Julia Peel, daughter of thé late speaker of the house of commons, was married to Mr. Rochfort Maguire, who represents the west division of Clare in the house of com- mons. There was a large and fashionable attendance, and the Bishop of Derry and Raphace, the Right Rev. William Alexan- der, assisted by the Dean of Canterbury, the venerable Farrar, officiated. Wilde’s Application Denied. LONDON, April 24.—The application of counsel for Oscar Wilde to have his trial, which is set down for Friday next at the Old Bailey court, postponed on the ground that his lawyers have not had sufficient time to prepare for the defense, and that the present state of public feeling made a fair trial impossible, was refused today. Oscar Wilde’s home was sold out by the sheriff today in the presence of a great crowd of curiosity mongers. Countess Russell's Suit Failed. LONDON, April 24.—Earl Russell today was granted a judicial separation from his wife, Countess Russell, on the ground of legal cruelty upon the part of his wife, and her suit for a restitution of conjugal rights consequently fatied. A Liberal Unionist Elected. LONDON, April 24.—In the election for a member of parliament to represent the mid- dle division of Norfolk, Mr. R. T. Gurdon, liberal unionist, who at the last election un- successfully contested this seat against Mr. C. Higgins, Q.C., home ruler, was elected by a vote of 4,112, defeating Mr. F. W. Wilson, radical, who polled 3,904 votes. At the last election Mr. Higgins polled 4,069 votes, to 3,509 polied by Mr. Gurdon. —— GIVEN THE FULL PENALTY. Mrs, Butts’ Assailant Sent to Prison for Ten Years. FREDERICK, Md., April 24.—Frank Win- terchief, the regro who- waylaid and flend- ishly attempted an assault upon Mrs. Emma Butts on her return from St. Mary’s Catholic Church Sunday morning at Broad Run, this county, was taken before the cir- cult court at 12:45 today, having been in- dicted by a special session of the rand jury. He pleaded guilty and Judge Lynch sentenced him to ten years in the Maryland penitentiary, the full penalty of the law.