Evening Star Newspaper, May 1, 1895, Page 2

THE EVENING STAR, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1895—TWELVE PAGES. LATE NEWS BY WIRE Meeting of the Ohio Miners in Con- vention. QUESTION OF WAGES 70 BE SETTLED pees Work Stopped Until a Scale is Arranged. TRYING TO END A STRIKE = COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 1.—The Ohfo Miners’ Association, Auxillary to the Unit- ed Mine Workers of America, met today “to deal with the price question.” Accord- ing to former agreements, Ohio miners worked 9 cents below the Pittsburg dis- trict. The important question now Is, shall this differential of 9 cents continue? The call, as read, shows further that the men who stopped work today in Ohio did so by recommendation of their organization officials, until a scale is arranged. The morning was consumed in the ap- pointment of committees. The convention then adojurned, pending the preparation of the credential report. The delegate from the Messenger mine said that his men would continue working at the old scale until they heard from him. The .fassillon delegates after the conven- tion took a recess, held a meeting to con- sider the matter of deciding to ask for a scale of 70 for Ohio, 79 to be the Pitts- burg rate, and Ohio operators to hold buck 10 cents to go to the support of striking miners at Pittsburg, who are being pressed to work below the scale of '%. This plan is opposed by all Ohio operators and many miners on account of its being dangerously near, if not full-fledged, conspiracy. President Batchford said to the Associat- ed Press reporter that 60 cents 1s not enough for the Ohio miner, who during the latter part of the winter lived upon charity. He said the indications were that an ad- vance would be asked, but he could not say how much, nor could he say what action the convention would probably take with reference to the situation in Pittsburg. The first annual address of Ratchford to the Ohio miners was issued today. Katch- ford says that the Columbus convention is to determine whether the miners will main- tain last year’s prices, or whcther they will force an end to the cruel and dishonest competition under which they are being ground down to the level of the lowest class of foreign labor. For the first time in the history of Ohio her miners are called upon to fix a rate for the entire bituminous fields. Mr. Ratch- ford sarcastically concludes that if the miners of the country found their invest- ment profitable last year, it will require no argument to cause it to be reaffirmed, but if, as time has clearly proved that it was a wild and untimely speculation, they should hesitate before repeating that memorable action. Thus {t will be seen that although he makes no definite suggestion, practically he advises the Ohio miners to insist upon an increase over the present scale of sixty cents. PITTSBURG, Pa., May 1.—This was the day set apart by the operators for general start of the mines on the Wheeling division of the Baltimore and Ohio road with a view to breaking the strike. The start was made, but it was not up to the expec- tations of the operators, for very few men are at work. At the Jumbo and Midway mines of F. L. Robbins, about eighteen ™men are at work, which is a small propor- tion of the capacity. Henry, Flowershems, Germania and Nottingham mines are also in operation with a few diggers at work. A number of operators made no attempt to start today, but expect to have plenty of men in a few days. The river mines are now running at the sixty-nine cent rate, and it is thought that as soon as they close down the miners who will be thrown out of employment will be glad to get work at sixty cents per ton. POMEROY, Ohio, May 1.—Through the state board of arbitration the mining trou- bles were adjusted at Minersville today, and the old men will go to work tomorrow at the two cent rate. Concessions were made on ail sid ——>+ NEWTON DEAD. GEN. He Won Fame by the Destruction of “Hell Gate.” NEW YORK, May 1.—Gen. John Newton, president of the Panama Railroad Com- pany, died today. Gen. Newton died of debility resulting from rheumatism. Gen. John Newton was born in Norfolk, Va., in 1823. He graduated from West Point in the class of 1842 and among his classmates were Generals W. S. Rosecrans, John Pope, D. H. Hill and James Long- street. He was made a second Iteutenant of engineers, and at the beginning of the clvil war the chief engireer of the depart- Ment of Pennsylvania. He was assistant engineer in the construction of the defenses of Washington. He became brigadier general of volunteers and had charge of a brigade in the of Washington. He participated in ttles of Gaines’ Mills, Glendale, An- tietam, Fredericksburg and Salem Heights, and took part in the Atlanta campaign: He was made brevet major general of yolunte in 1855, and brevet brigadier general and brevet major general of the Yegular army. He was mostly employed after the war in eng! ing work in the vicinity of New York, and his greatest achievement in the way of engineering was the removal of the obstruction in the Hell Gate channel, where two of the most dangerous rocks and reefs in the path of commerce were Flown up in December, 1876, and October, Isso. He became colonel of the engincers and was made chief of engineers, e rank of brigadier general, in March, 1884. He retired from the head of the engineer corps in August, 1887, when Mayor William R. Grace appointed him commissioner of Public works of New York city, which g sl- tion he held for several years. He an inventor of considerable ability, and many of his devices are now in use by engineers. He was made a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1876, He had a large acquaintance in this city. os 2e: Two Men Applying for Work at Bal- timore Assnulted. BALTIMORE, Md., May 1.—One hundred employes of different tailoring establish- ments today joined the rfnks of the strik- ing garment makers. Two men who applied for work this morning were assaulted by the strikers. cL -AND, Ohio, May 1.—The molders employed in eight different foundries went on strike this morning for an’ increase in L.OUIS, Mo., May 1.—One thousand ard workmen, all employed in the Went on strike at noon today for more nd a nine-hour working day. ven different brick yards were stop- nd building operations will be badly SHEBOYGAN, Wis., May 1.—Over 1,000 idle In this city owing to a strike er wages at the Mattoon Monu- ure factory and hetzscse & Son to- the strike will ud to some of the other large fac- 2 here. CASES. Reply of the Constables to Judge Simonton's Order. C., May 1—In the yurt today W. Gibbs dispensary constables, order of Judge Simon- the suit of James Donald, to show cause why they personally enjoined against a return to the t be juor imported in this state for mption. —_——— Condemning the Administration, ALBA today « cours gard in vie the repu : adopted, 91 to 15. May 1.—In the assembly tlon In condemnation of the national administration In re- ish-Nicaraguan affair was ntative Ainsworth, The resolution was THE HOLCER ROBBERY|STQRY OF THE WIRES A Discharged Soldier Named Eiler Ar- rested as the Thief. He Had Speat Money Freely in Fred- erick—His Crime Confessed—His Confederate Unknown. The police think they have cleared up the Holcer robbery, and Nicholas Holcer, the victim, may recover a portion of his $1,651. Since the robbery was committed Detectives Carter and Gallaher have re- ceived a number of supposed clues, but the one to which they attached the most im- portance implicated a dishonorably dis- charged soldier named John Eiler or Eyler. This man, who is only about thirty years old, had been a frequent visitor to Mrs. Ben. Holcer, and he had been seen with her a number of times. It was certain that the theft was committed by some one who knew well the location of the $1.300 in gold and $351 in greenbacks, and because of his friendly relations with the daughter-in-law of the aged couple the detectives deter- mined that they would arrest him and then arrest Ben. Holcer’s wife. Eller first came here as a soldier and had been stationed at the barracks. It is stated that he was dishonorably discharged and from here he went to Texas. He next turned up as a member of Coxey’s army and marched here with that body. Soon after reaching here he stole an overcoat from a driver in the employ of Knox's Ex- press Company and was arrested by De- tective Rhodes. While serving a six months’ sentence Mrs. Ben. Holcer, the police say, visited him and was known at the jail as Miss Owens. Hunting for Their M: When the officers had deterniined upon Eller as the man they wanted, they started cut to ascertain something of his move- ments here, but It was not until last Satur- day that they learned with any degree of certainty that he had been here recently. Inspector Hollinberger had an idea that while here he had been in hiding. The next thing to do was to locate the man. This the officers endeavored to do by notifying the authorities of other cities, but it was not until Sunday, when they read an account in a New York paper of the man’s escapade in Frederick, that they lad any idea of his whereabouts. It appears that Eiler had been engaged to a Frederick lady, and about the time ap- pointed for the marriage she drew from the bank $200, and gave him, and then they were not married. Saturday night he turned up in Frederick with more wealth than he had ever had at any time previous, and, because of his former love affair, he was arrested and held in $200 security for trial on Monday. He deposited this amount of cash and was set at Hberty. Then he had reason to cele- brate, and when he had partaken of consid- erable liquid refreshments he gave away ten and twenty-dollar gold pieces, as if he were a fakir distributing advertisements. Arrested in Westminster. ‘This conduct did not seem to arouse the suspicions of the police authorities in the Maryland town, for he was not required to give any explanation of Where he got his wealth, but was permitted to leave there without being arrested again. Yesterday afternoon Detectives Carter and Gallaher went to Frederick In search of the man, and last night he was found at Westminster. The officers had a war- rant for his arrest, and Justice Carroll held him for the authorities here. Mra. Holcer at Headqaarters. This morning Mrs. Ben. Hoicer was sum- moned to police headquarters, where she was to have been interviewed by Inspector Hollinberger, but she had spasm after spasm, and after being attended by Dr. Fowler of the health department she was sent home. Her husband is in Providence Hospital, and is expected to die at any moment. The Prisoner Here. The detectives reached here this afternoon with the prisoner, from whom they recov- ered only $2.50. While under arrest in Westminster the prisoner had very Uttle to say, but cn his way here sald he would talk to Inspector Hollinberger, and he also sald that he would clear the woman. While away last evening the officers learned that on the morning following the robbery Eiler, or Eyler, spent considerable money in Baltimore, where he bought jew- elry, and later he wag very free with his money in Frederick, where, it Is said, he gave $200 to his parents besides the $200 left as collateral and what he spent and gave away. When the prisoner was taken in Inspector Hollinberger’s room he made a clean breast of the whole affair, and claimed that he had an accorplice. ‘As {s usual in such in- stances, he claims that the accomplice,who was a stranger to him, and whom he knew only as “Eddy,” did ‘the actual stealing, while he (Eiler) watched for the police. His Accomplice. He said he met “Eddy,” who, he eays, ‘s a tramp, near Washington junction, about forty miles from here, on the Met- ropolitan branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and brought him here. He (Eller) told him where the money was,and he went and got it. That night they went to Baltimore and stopped at the Continental Hotel, where the money was divided, he getting only about $500 in gold. They then separated and he went to Frederick. ‘The prisoner gives a good description of his alleged accomplice, and exonerates Mrs. Ben Holcer, who, he says, nothing of the affair. After making the confession the prisoner was locked up for a hearing tomorrow. Showed Fight When Arrested. The arrest was made on the street in Westminster by the Washington officers. Eller had a loaded revolver in his hip pock- et and showed fight, and there came near being a clash between the Washington offi- cers and the county sheriff on one side and the town police on the other, as the latter claimed the man as thelr prisoner. While in Westminster the officers learned that the prisoner had served a term in the Maryland reformatory when he was four- teen years old, and they were also inform- ed that he is wanted in Newville, Pa., for an alleged criminal assault on a female. The officers say they expect to recover about $500 of the stolen money. Lcoked Like a Clothing Stor, Judge Miller’s court room presenied the appearance of a clothing store this after- noon when Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny called for trlal the cases of Robert L. Ryan and his wife, Valonia Ryan, charged with being responsible for the loss of about 3500 worth of clothing from M. Dyren- forth’s clothing store. There wero thirty- two informations in the case. Twenty of them charged the husband and wife jointly with larceny. There were six separate charges of larceny against the wife and six of receiving stolen property against the husband. knew —————— Change of ‘Quartermasters. Major D. D. Wheeler, quartermaster, has been relieved from duty in the office of the quartermaster general in this city and ordered to duty in Philadelphia. He will be relieved of duty in this city by Major J. V. Furey, quartermaster, now on duty at St. Paul. Naval Cadets Appointed. Cadets at the Naval Acudemy at Annap- ells have been appointed as follows: Wm. C. Parish, alternate, Greensburg, Ind.; D. Ch White, alternate, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leroy Banes, Metamosa, Ind.; John’ C. Bailey, londa, Mich.; Cc. Hazlett, alternate Ww. Charles E, £ 3_John W. - Green- John J. Garberson, D. Kellogg. alternate, Ty M. Gleason, Alma, xwell, alternate, To- “aledonia, Ohio; O. Vineland, J.; He Kan.; Robert D. M I & Exercises at Gallan 3 o'clock 3 were usual an annual ld at Gal- As tlarge cro 1 kendall and Mrs. large garden pe. Meeting of the Telegraphic Historio Society. INTERESTING HISTORICAL DETAILS Presence of Professor Morse’s Son With Numerous Relics. MEMBERS’ BANQUET TONIGHT a There was a unique and interesting gath- ering of men in the board of trade rooms this morning, and for a couple of hours they listened to the reading of papers and talked of old times, when telegraphy had not grown to be the great factor in civiliza- tion that it is today. It was the annual meeting of the members of the Telegraphic Historical Society, an organization which was instituted in this city a year ago, largely through the instrumentality of Mr. George C. Maynard, himself an eid manip- ulaior of the keys. The purpose of the society, as its name implies, is to collect data of the early his- tory of the telegraph, to give credit where credit is due for pioneer work in making the idea of telegraphy a practical system, to clear up any clouds that may exist over the history of the original inventions, and, incidentally, to promote a feeling of fel- lowship among the men who handled the keys when the science was in its infancy. Seattered Into Other Fields. According to the report of the secretary read at the meeting this morning the so- ciety now has a membership of 265, scat- tered all over the United States. By no means all of them are today connected with the telegraph business. Many of them have drifted into other vocations, in which for the most part they have achieved suc- cess, but all of them love to think ard to talk of the days when they had a share in the work of spreading the usefulness of the system for which they all delight to honor the memory of the late Prof. Morse. as showing how the members have scat- tered into other fields of activity, it is sald that the present president of the Western Union Telegraph Company recelved his first lessons in the use of the Morse alpha- bet from a man who is now prominently connected with the newspaper business in this city, but who was in the early days an operator in a small town in Ohio. The meeting of the society lasts only through today, and this evening the mem- bers who are here for the meeting will sit down to an informal banquet at the Down Town Club, when, it is safe to say, the con- versation and the speeches will all have for their subject the history of telegraphy. Prof. Morse’s Son Present. Among those who were present at the meeting today were Messrs. J. B. Austin, Washington; M. W. Barr, Washington; Dr. James J. Clark, Forest Glen, Md.; P. V. DeGraw, Washington; Jules Guthridge, Washington; Goff A. Hall, Washington; George Kennan, Washington; James H. King, Washitgton; Morrell Marean, Wash- ington; Henry A Reed, New York; Fred. W. Royce, Washington; A. G. Safford, Washington; John B. Taltavell, New York; J. B. Yeakle, Baltimore; Wm. H. Young, Washington. The president of the society is Mr. Alonzo B. Cornell of Ithaca, N. Y. He was unfortunately detained by a busi- ness engagement in New York and was unable to be present this morning. In his absence the meeting was called to order by the second vice president, Mr. Wm. B. Wilson of Philadelphia. The youngest son of Prof. Morse, Mr. Edward Lind Morse, was also present today, and took an active part in the discussion of some of the points connected with the early history of tel- egraphy. He had with him a number of interesting relics, letters and note books from his father’s collection, which cast some new light on several mooted ques- tions, Mr. John B. Wight, secretary of the board of trade, addressed the society briefly this morning, welcoming them to the rooms of the board, which were placed at the dis- posal of the scclety for their sessions, and volunteering his assistance In any way that it might be of use. Husiness Meeting. Some routine business was transacted, In- cluding the election of officers to serve for the ensuing year. A committee on nomina- tions was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Reed, Marean and Maynard. As a result of the election, officers were chosen as fol- lows: President, Alonzo B. Cornell, Ithaca, N. Y.; first vice president, S. H. Kauff- menn, Washington, D. second vice president, Wm. B. Wilson, Philadelphia, Pa.; third vice president, Thomas D. Lock- wood, Boston, Mass.; secretary and treas- urer, Geo. C. Maynard, Washington, D. C.; members of executive council, J. H. Em- erick, New York city; B. F. Dillon, Jack- sonville, Fla.; Wm. R. Plum, Chicago, IIL; J. _Q. Mason, Tacoma, Washington. The presiding officer of the meeting read a number of letters from officers and mem- bers of the society regretting their ina- bility to be present today. Accompanying the letter from the first vice president, Mr. S. H. Kauffmann, was a handsomely fram- ed proof photo-lithograph of an_ historic group, by Mr. F. B. Mayer, containing the portraits of Prof. Morse and others who were active in the early days of telegraphy. With it was a letter from the artist, and the picture was presented to the society by Mr. Kauffmann as a testimonial of his interest in the work, although he himself was compelled to be out of town during the meeting. The society was also made the recipient of another handsome present, whose his- torical value will but increase as the years pass by. It was a framed collection of portraits of Prof. Morse and the members of his family. It was presented by the in- ventor’s grandson and namesake, Mr. S. F. B. Morse. Reminiscences of Prof. Morse. Later the meeting became rather in- formal in its character, and a number of those present were called upon either to read papers or to recount some of their experiences in the early years of the ex- tension of the telegraph. The principal paper of the morning was presented by Mr. Henry A. Reed, on the subject, “The Paternity of the Telegraph.’’ Mr. Reed's paper was largely of a reminiscent nature, and told a good deal of Prof. Morse as he knew him. Mr. Reed said that when Prof. Morse first made the claim among his friends that the time would soon come when he would be able to transmit words at great dis- tances by means of lectricity and the wire, he was regarded by some as inspired and by others as crazy, and even now there is a revival of the old cry of fraud. With the coming of success the theory of Ivnacy, however, disappeared, and when it was seen that there was profit in the in- vention lots of men were willing to claim that they had had a share in the work fro} the beginning, and should have a share in the prolits. In his paper Mr. Reed sought to sustain the theory of inspiration. Prof. Morse never claimed to have invented the battery or the electro-magnet, but he did claim to have practical use of these and to have in- vented the science of telegraphy. In 1932 he described to friends practically all the details of the system, though the machine- ry that he needed was not presentable for several years thereafter. The Valls and Prof. Alfred Vail gave him a moral support that was quite as helpful as was the financial aid which he induced the senior Vail to render. During life there was no question of rivalry between Morse and Vall, ard, according to Mr. Reed, as well as to Morse. spoke today, Prof. nd ready to are Mr. Reed of the wonderful pe of inventions, He seemed to have conceived practically all the Important Cetails in the science which have since en adopted as the most practical. In his earlier years Mr. Reed was as- ed with Profe rr Morse in many ex- eriments on the telegraph lines extending northward and y ward from New York city, and wes largely engaged in testing the wires and locating faults and superin- tending repair He was one of the most ¢ be If a paper receives credit for having a l'afger circulation than it really enjoys, a reason exists for withholding from the advertiser the actual cir- and mystify- tees with “about” and ‘approximately.”” The Star, however, has a circu tion that it 36 proud of and each Saturday prints a detailed sworn statenient of its actual circulation, giving the adver- tiser what by business ethics he is plainly entitled to--a guarantee of that which he is buying. The advertiser in The Star is not asked to “trade jackknives, sight unseen.”” He knows exactly what he is pay- ing for. The Star is .alone among Washington newspa- Pers in makiug public an- nouncement of its circulation figures. Last week the daily average was 33,896 copies. . Taphers as a forty-niner, having com- menced the business in that year. Farragut and Sumter. In 1852 he was first assistant of the New York office, in which all the northern and western business was transacted, and had an operating force of just three men. He received the news of the firing on Fort Sumter in the Poughkeepsie office, while Commodore Farragut, who was_ visiting friends in that city, stood beside him and read the message as Reed wrote it down, and the commodore said to him: “That means I must go to Norfolk at once. I have many friends there, but if duty re- quires I will blow the city to h—1.” Dr. J. J. Clark gave some personal remin- iscences of Morse and Vall as he knew them, and after the reading of a historical paper written by Mr. Thomas D. Lock- wood the meeting adjourned. —>—__—_ CARL BROWNE METAMORPHOSED. The Commonweal Leader in Town With a» Plug Hat. It is just a year ago today that “Gen.” Coxey, Carl Browne and their choice col- lection of commonwealers made thelr now famous onslaught on the Capitol and their parade on the grass which landed the two leaders and Christopher Columbus Jones in the District jail. Carl Browne is in town again for the purpose of holding an anniversary celebration of “that wondrous event in history,” but it is not the chief marshal of a year ago, he of the big som- brero and the bucksk{r coat. He wears a plug hat and a frock coat these days, and he does not look or dress the part of a leader of the people. In talking with a Siar reporter today he said that this was the anniversary of gne of the most mo- mentous occasions of all history, and the time would come when May 1 will be cele- brated by the people of the United States with more entbusiagth than they now look upon the anniyersary of the battle of Bunker Hill as being ‘a far more important feature in our national history. He ex- lains his failure to get married on the ‘apitol steps tédayj/as it was announced some time ago he would, by saying that he has an important engagement in Can- ton, Ohio, on June 1, when he will Se call- ed upon to answer to, the serious charge of criminal lbel. “As hé feels confident that he will be sent: to jail as a martyr to his principles he thought it would be better not to wring the heart of a young woman by making her the bride of an about-to-be- convict. He has anhounced a mammoth anniversary theeting at Typographical Temple this evening,when he will review the army of the commonweal and will elec- trify the world with some hitherto unpub- lished inside history of the famous march on to Washington. Incidentally, he will make a speech. In that respect he is the same Carl Browne of old. The Weather Has an Effect on Race Goers. As a result of the disagreeable weather which prévails here again today, a gather- ing of less than 1,500 made the trip to the St. Asaph track. The card was a small one, but contained fairly good horses. The feature of the day was the Analostan stakes, end brought out three cracks. The Ellerslie stakes of $1,000 for_three- year-olds and upward will be run Friday. Sixteen books were on. The track was in very bad condition. * First race, five furlongs—Ornus (Scott), 7 to 5, first; Lady Adams (Keefe), 6 to 1, second; Tolosa (Nancy), 20 to 1, third. Time, 1:06. Tomorrow's Alexander Island Entries First race, five-eighths mile, selling— Wang, 110; Duke John, 110; Reynard, 110; Andrew D., 110; Elmstone, 110; Simason, 120; Prince Klameth, 107; Little Bravo, 107; Moderate, 107; Mamie R., 105; Jennie T., 105; The Clown, 104; Clausman, 104; Cash- mere, 03. Second race, six and a quarter furlongs, selling—McFonso, 105; Surgeon, 105; Lady Danby, 104; Rienzi, 104; Jimmie James, 103; Caroven, 102; Boonton, 102; Bellagio, 107. Third race, six and a half furlongs, sell- ing—Bonneville, 106; Rarus, 102; Anxiety, Nemo, ‘9; Pomona Belle, 97;’ Despatch, Gascogne, 95; Mistletoe, 87; ‘Sir Happy, Irish H., 105; Wheatland, 105; Olive, 102; Rapids, 107; Wistful, 114. Fifth race, one and one-sixteenth miles, selling—Galloping King, 109; Gonzales, 108; Glenall, 104; Paris, 104; Pat Woodcock, 103; Pestilence, 103; Blizzard, 102; Cerberus, 100; Brighteys, 100. Sixth race, five-eighths of a mile, selling —Benjamin, 11: Key West, 113; A. O. H., 110; Civil Service, 110; Imp. Frolicsome Lass, 108; Walcott, 107; Halcyon, 105; Mar- guerite, 103; Tim’ Flynn, 104; ‘Frederick, 104; Annie T., 99. oe DISTRICT GOVERNMENT, Blacksmith Shops. The Commissioners today amended the building regulations regarding the estab- lishment of blacksmith shops by adding the words “front a street or avenue” after the word “dwelling” In the fifth line of sec- tion 14, paragraph 3. Blacksmith skops may now be Iocated within thirty feet of dwellings fronting on alleys, provided the written consent of the owners of such dwellings be first obtained and filed in the office of the inspector of bulldings. An Applicatton Rejected. The excise board today rejected the ap- plication of Michael Peters, jr, for a wholesale liquor license at 1058 Jefferson street northwest. The Dog Tag Contract. Bids were opened this morning for fur nishing dog tags. There was but one bid- der, A. G Lutz. His bid was as follows: Brass, $12 per thousand; German silver, $14 per thousand, and aluminum, $18 per thou- sand. It is believed that the Commission- ers will order a readvertisement of the proposals. Building Permits. A building permit was issued today to Baker & Lampton to erect three buildings of brick and stone at Nos. 1315 to 1319 Yale street, Columbia Heights, to cost $20,000. To Secure a Conveyance. James R. McClellan and Elizabeth Mc- Clellan this afternoon filed a bill in equity against John C. McClellan and Maria Mc- Clellan to secure the conveyance of certain property known as lot 42, and part of lot 41, square 69. —— Fourth-Class Postmasters Appointed. ‘The following fourth-class postmasters were appointed in Virginia today: At Creeds, Princess Anne county, T. S. Land, vice T. K. Etheridge, resigned; at Hay- wood, Madison county, T. L. Carpenter, vice Virgie Aylor, resigned; at Vanlear, Augusta county, W. H. Pugh, vice G. A. expert testers, and Is known among teleg- | Harris, resigned. THE POTOMAC FLATS Progress Today of the,Argument on ; the Title. MR. TAGGART'S ABLE EFFORT Application of the Wharfage and Police Laws. QUESTIONS OF OVERFLOW Assistant District Attorney Taggart had not concluded his argument in answer to the contentions of those claiming under the so-called Kidwell patent when the Court in General Term adjourned yester- day, and this morning he resumed his ar- gument, arguing that the state of Mary- land and subsequently the United States held the soils and beds of navigable water in trust for their common use and of com- mon right, as an incident to their sover- eignty, cnd could, therefore, only dispose of the same for the avowed purpose of con- serving the rights of the public under the trust. Such, explained Mr. Taggart, was the doctrine announced by the United States Supreme Court in the well-known Chicago lake front cases (146 U. S., 452), the court declaring that the title to such lands is different in character from that held by the state in lands intended for sale. Congress, said Mr. Taggart, in 1839, by the act creat- ing the late corporation of the city of Washington, recognized the public charac- ter of the Potomac river, and conferred large powers upon the municipality in the interest of navigation and commerce, pow- ers with the exercise of which such grants as that made to Dr. Kidwell were wholly inconsistent. But even earlier than 1839, stated Mr. Taggart, Congress, by the act of May 15, 1820, provided that the city should have power to preserve the naviga- tion of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers adjoining the city. Hence, it is clearly evi- dent, he said, that the lands mentioned in the Kidwell patent were not lands subject to such disposition, but were lands ceded to and acquired by the United States for public purposes; and, as was said by the United States Supreme Court in Mann vs. Tacoma Land Company, 153 U. S., 284, “it is settled that the general legislation of Congress in respect to public lands does not extend to tide lands.” The Kidwell Patent a Nullity. For such reason, remarked Mr. Taggart, it is clear that the Kidwell patent is an absolute nullity, and although he might, therefore, well rest his argument against its validity, the patent is also void, for two other reasons, viz: That the land granted was within the limits of the city of Washington, therefore being expressly excepted, and because the patent was ob- tained by fraud. The limits of the city, explained Mr. Taggart, have never been specifically defined by any act of Congress, and Thomas Jefferson, in 1790, at that time Secretary of State, observed that “it seems essential that the District should compre- hend the water adjoining the establish- ment, and eligible that it should compre- herd the opposite shore.” Mr. Taggart then; at great length, de- tailed the work of laying out the city, stating that the plan of Major Ellicott, who succeeded Major L’Enfant in 1792, became the authentic plan of the city. The Ellicott plan, explained Mr. Taggart, was deficient in one feature—in the failure to show the reservations of land in the city for public use, hence, in 1795, Surveyor Dermott was directed by the city commissioners to pre- pare a plat of the city with every public appropriation plainly and distinctly de- lireated. Such a plat was duly prepared by Dermott, and in 1803 Surveyor Nicholas King prepared another, and both plats, said Mr. Taggart, show that some squares were laid out partially and others wholly in the waters of the Potomac and Eastern branch, the King plat having always been regarded as the standard one. Yo the Navigable Center. It has been established beyond the pos- sibility of serious controversy, said Mr. Taggart, that in laying out the city its founders, who had full powers in the prem- ises, intended that its limits should include the rivers to their navigable channels, and that Congress, by the powers it conferred upon the city corporation when created, recognized that fact. The Wharfing Regu- lations issued July 20, 1795, formulated a clear and complete scheme for the making of streets by the reclamation of land be- tween the fast land adjoining the shores, ard an assertion was made that all of such lands out to the navigable channels were appropriated to the uses of the city, and hence included within its limits. In 1852 the matter was judicially de- termined in the case of the city against Job Corson. Corson was charged with run- ning his steamboat at a greater speed than eight miles an hour in the harbor of the city, and, upon his appeal after convic- tion, the District Circult Court, in affirm- ing the judgment below, held that the cor- porate limits of the city extended to the middle of the main channel of the river, and the violated city ordinance-was rot a regulation of commerce, but a proper po- lice regulation within the granted powers of the corporation. Not an Island. Mr. Taggart next addressed himself to the claim thac the land conveyed was a well-defined island. It was claimed, he said, that a wide channel of flowing water separated the land included in the patent from the mainland, but he insisted that the so-called channel was nothing more thar a shallow drain, in which, at high tide, there was from a foot to a foot and a half more water than over the flats. It was not a navigable channel, and the testimony was read from several persons, long residents of the vicinity, to the effect that within the whole period of their recollection, and down to the time when the work of re- claiming the flats began, the land was sub- ject to overflow by every tide, and was at no time entirely bare of water, except when there had been a general lowering of the water by reason of long-continued high winds. And those witnesses, stated Mr. Taggart, also declared that there had not been dur- ing their recollecticn a channel along the cana} towpath. They stated that the water along the towpath was slightly deeper than at any other point by reason of the existence of a drain caused by the action of the tides, and that near the site of the old glass house there was an elevation in the drain which caused the tides when receding to flow, as to one part, in the di- rection of Easby’s Point, and as to the other in the direction of 17th street. Mr. Taggart reviewed at length the his- tory of the Kidwell patent. He was still speaking when The Star’s report closed. —_—_. The Hearing Postponed. Ed. Seebold, Dallas Glenn and Andrew Slagel, the three young men who were ar- rested last Sunday on the charge of coun- terfeiting and passing counterfeit money, were brought before United States Com- missioner Mills at 2 o'clock this aft2rnoon for a preliminary hearing that was post- poned from Monday morning. See2!d ts the only one of the three who has been able to give bonds, and the other two have been kept in confinement. ‘The fourth mar who is supposed to have been connected with the band has not yet been arrested. It is understood that he has Leen located in Pittsburg, and his arrest is likely to follow. The authorities are not willing to talk about the case, and refuse to divulge the name of this person or to rake known his supposed connection with the alleged counterfeiters. The hearing of the three men was set for 2 o'clock this afternoon, but Mr. Shilling- ton, attorney~for Seebold, was detained in court, and could not be present at the time set, so the hearing was again postponed un- til Friday at 1 o'clock. SS Officers Elected. At a regular meeting of Liberty Lodge, No. 8, I. O. G. T., at Weller’s Hall, 8th and I streets southeast, the following offi- cers were elected: Chief templar, Mr. W. T. Knight; vice templar, Mrs. A. J. Ken- nedy; chaplain, Rev. D. W. Skellenger of the Sixth Presbyterian Church; sectetary, Mr. Dave Brown; financial secretary, Mr. H. C. Wolf; treasurer, Capt. W. W. Mills marshal, Mr. J. H. Simmons; guard, Mr. R. B. Bond; sentinel, Miss Emily Gill. VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS Nomination ef a Good Government Ticket in Alexandria County. The Outlook for Overthrowing the Gamblers in the Coming Campuign. The republicans of Alexandria county met in convention at noon today at Con- valescent Camp, in the county, to nominate candidates to run for county officers at the general election to be held May 23. The convention was composed of five delegates from each of the three districts in the county, and in this case all were colored. The room was well filled, and not more than a dozen white men were in the crowd. R. W. Johnston, commonwealth’s attor- ney for the county, called the convention to order and J. W. Pendleton was chosen as chairman, with Frank Williams secre- tary. The members of the convention, shortly after its organization, retired to a room to hold a caucus, and on their return, and while waiting for the report of the committee on credentials, R. W. Johnston made a speech, in which he denied the ac- cusations in the press. Mr. Johnston made an attempt to defend the position he has occupied in connection with the race tracks of the county, admitting that he Owned horses and raced them daily at Aiexander Island. W. L. Holmes also made an address. The committee on credentials reported all delegates correct and all the delegates were present. The Nominations, R. W. Johnston was unanimously nomi- nated for the office of commonwealth attor- ney. W. C. Wibert was nominated for county treasurer. H. L. Homes was chosen by ac- clamation for the office of commissioner of revenue. Christian J. Costello was nom- inated for sheriff. : After the nominations had been made the convention dissolved itself into a general repo and discussed the political situa- ion. The Star reporter called on Mr. H. H. Young, clerk of the county court, this morning, and was informed that the candi- dates who would run agiinst those nomi- nated at today’s convention would be Will Palmer and R. W. Veitch for sheriff, Will H. Douglass for commonwealth’s attorney, and for county treasurer, Duke Torrtson. There will be*no opposition to the com:nis- sioner of revenue. Mr. James E. Clements, in a speech made at Carne’s School House last night, stated that it would be impossible for him to be a candidate for commonwealth’s attorney, as was anticipated. The “moralists,” as they call themselves, have gotten together and noi well organized, and the fight will be a ot one. Effort for Good Government. The outcome will mean good government in the county of Alexandria or the con- tinuance of the lawlessness that now ex- ists there, and tne fight Is watched with a great deal of interest by all good-gove-n- ™ment people in this section of the country. A prominent politician of the county told The Star reporter that the reason James E. Clements had withdrawn from the fight is that he ls promised no opposition to his candidacy for the legislature next fall. The Veitch-Johnson combination have Plenty of money and are backed by the gambling element. The republicans feel confident of carry- ing the county by a large majority. There are 900 voters in the county, 600 of which, it is said, can be bought. ———__ THE HEALTH OF THE CITY. The Death Rate for a Week—Causes of Mortality. The weekly report of the health depart- ment, issued today, says: “There was a material rise in the number of deaths last week in the District, as compared with the several preceding weeks. The mortality, as reported at the health department, from 103 reached 140, and the death rate went up fiom 19.79 to 26.91. The principal causes for this increase were affections of the lungs. These numbered 54, as against 32 as by the last report. There were also a large num- ber of deaths among aged persons, of whom 41 died. These constituted nearly one- third of all the deaths, and about double the average of this class so advanced “in life.’ On the other hand, the city seems to be comparatively free from acute con- tagious maladies. There was no fatal case of typhoid fever, whooping cough nor diphtheria reported, and but one from scarlet fever, while at the same time there was a corresponding decrease in the number of cases of these two last men- tioned diseases.” —__—. Suing for Bottles. Two more suits of replevin against Wil- liam H. Brinkley for the recovery of bottles alleged to be held illegally by him, hav been filed, and writs were issued this after- noon by Justice Smith of Anacostia. One of the writs was at the instance of Samuel Cc. Palmer, who claims eighty dozen soda water bottles, and the other at the in- stance of E. R. Levy, manager for Smith- son < Massenger, who claims forty dozen ottles. SS Marringe Licenses. Marriage licenses have been granted to the following: Michael J. Munroe of Wash- ington and Sarah Travis of Alexandria, Va.; Martin Quigley and Ellen T. Lane; Lewis W. Bailey and Florence H. Allen; William H. Desperate of Washington and Bertie Irvin of Baltimore, Md.; George E. Welch and Hughgenia Oliver; Dr. A. B. Cosby and O. J. Hart, both of Richmond, Va.; . ger; William Harvey and Ida T. Irick; Marion F. Davis of Fairfax county, Va, and Mamie J. Woodyard of Prince William county, Va. 7 —— Real Estate Matters. Edwin A. Newman and wife have sold to Enos Newman certain land fronting 41.62 feet on 1ith street between H and I streets northwest, the consideration being $25,000. Graiu and Cotten Markets. Cotton and grain markets, reported by W. B. Hibbs, stock, grain and cotton broker, 1421 F st GRAIN, High. Low. Close. spbugeas eoseke BRERES feee NSGSRs pees Bees 2. Baltimore Markets. BALTIMORE, May 1.—Flour strong, unchanged— receipts, 10,423 barrels; shipments, 24,384 barrels; sales, 900 barrels. Wheat strong—spot and month, 68 bid; June, 68 asked; July, a6%—_; Auzi 7 No.’ 2 red, 65a65's—recel 3 stock, 1 0e0 bushels; southern w! on grade, 6514068" mouth, 52% 234 ‘bid: 24a a1 — 000 bushels; southern white ‘corn, 53; d yellow, "3. Oats qilet, and steady No. '2 waite XN tilxed, 3314034—recelpts, 1,655 bushels. Rye qulet— 60—receipts, 518 bushels; stock, 13,468 l-ush- ‘Hay steady—good to choice timothy, 313.000 Grain frelghts unchanged. Sugar’ strong— ‘ulated, 4.25 per 100 pounds. Butter—fancy 9) creamery, 20221; do. Imitation, 1516; do. ladie, 12413; good ladle, 9a10; store packed, 8910. Eg; firin fresh, 12%." Cheese steady—tancy New York, 12124. —_——.——_ Washington Grain Market. Reported by the Grain Exchange. tent flour, per barrel, 3.90a4.10; spri jour, per barrel, 3.75a3.90; winter paten| per barrel, 3.60a3.75; winter straight four, rrel, 3.30a3.50; winter extra flour, per bar- clipped white oats, pe 39a white oats, per bushel, 37a374 per bushel, 33% 3, No. 2’ yellow per bushel, 54a35; No. 2 white corn, per i . 1 timothy hay, per ton, 13.00a 11.50: Spring straight flour, 13.50, o. 2 timothy hay, a ton, No. 1’ mixed hay, per ton, 11.50a12.50; No. 1 clow hay. per ton, 9-00a10.00; 1 cut hay,” per ton, 13.00a14.00; bulk bran, per ton, 17.00218.00; bulk pe per ton, 17.00a18. ; wheat straw, rye straw, per ton, ton, 5.5026.00. The 8 delivered on track, FINANCE AND TRADE Sugar Advances as the Result of Continuous Purchases. GENERAL ELECTRIC'S EARNINGS LESS eee Northwest the Feature in the ; Railways. GENERAL MARKET REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. : NEW YORK, May 1.—Opening prices this morning were barely steady, and were inclined to yield to the professional clamor for a reaction. The May day celebration in London deprived this market of an im- portant speculative factor and had a ten- dency to restrict the volume of business in railway shares. A further advance in the price of refined sugars and Mberal purchases of the stock representing the company profiting most by the advance had a good influence on the entire market and prevented any pronounc- ed selling movement. Had sugar been in sympathy with the yielding tendency else- where noticed substantial concessions would have been recorded at the close of the day’s business. The bulk of the wading was attracted to this stock and the price advanced more than 2% per cent om con- tinuous purchases of large amounts. The condition of the trade is sald to be per- fectly satisfactory for this season of the year, with marked indications of further improvement. General Electric was marked up % per cent during the early trading, but'sold off later on a small volume of business. The annual statement of this company, on which most of the recent activity has been based, reflects a-net decrease for the year of $1,182,680. Distillers sold down % per cent on a fair volume of business, and American Tobacco reacted to 102% on a few transactions. In the railway list Northwest was the feature at a decline of 1 per cent, due to a renewal of bear attacks in anticipation of adverse action on the dividend ques- tion. The weakness in the property was reflected to a moderate degree in other members of the group, but the small vol- ume of business prevented any significant declines. The undertone of speculation contains little encouragement for the advocates of lower prices, although it is generally ad- mitted that no reaction consistent with the extent of the advance has n had, and until such a movement sets in buyers will be more or less cautious in their trad- ing. It is not unlikely that a period of caution will be substituted for one of re- action, and that any activity will be in the direction of advanced values. It is a significant fact that the buying on an advancing market is at present superior to the selling on a declining one. The in- dustrial group continued to monopolize the trading during the closing hour, and in most instances the best prices of the day were recorded toward the close of the ses- sion. Sugar advanced to 112 during this period, and encouraged purchasers of other mem- bers of the industrial group. There was some difference of opinion as to the inter- pretation of General Electric's report, but the majority considered it all that business conditions could reasonably warrant. The railway list closed dull and irregular with- out significant changes. ———_—_. FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL, The following are the opening, the high- est and the lowest and the closing prices of the New York stock market today, as re- ported by Corson & Macartney, members New York stock exchange. Co! High. Low. Close. 102% 10935 11996 9% Bs um LL nf s58 a 4 18% «18K hesapeake anc C.. C., C. and St. L. Chicago, B. and Chic.and Northweste! Loutsvilie and Nashville Island Traction. . rage Co... U.S. Coraage Co. Pfd:: New Jersey Central a York Central. Wisconsin Central. Silver.. “Ex-div. 2 Washington Stock Exchange. Sales—regular call—12_ o'clock ‘Washington Gas, 100 at 53. U.S. Electrie ae 3 at 134%; 10 at 134%; 5 at 134%. | Pneamatic Gun Carr 100 at 31 Cents; 25 at 31 cents. After call— lumbia Title Insurance, 100 at 7% Linotype, 16 at 100 at 53%; 100 at Government Bonds. . $5, bid, 112 asked. 4s, coupon, 112% bid, 11: asked. “U.S, Ss, 115 bid,’ 115% asked. of Columbia ‘Bonds.—20-year fund 5a, 30-year fund Os, cold, 114% bid. | Water stock 7s, 1901, currency, 116 bid. Water 7a, 1003, carrency, 118 bid: 3.658, funding, currency, 111% bid. 3%, registered, 2-108, 100 bid. Miscellaneous’ Bonds.—Wasbington and" George- town Railroad conv. 6s, Ist, 130 Did, 140 asked. Washington and etown Railroad conv. Gs, 2d, 130 bid, 140 asked. Metropolitan Railroad cony. 102% bid, 103 asked. Belt Railroad 5s, 85 tld, asked. bi Columbia Ratlroad 63, 110% bid, ington Gas Company 6s, series ‘A, 115 bid. Waah- ington Gas Company ts, series"B, 116 bid, 118 ‘Washington Gas Company’ conv. 6a, 135 bid, 140 asked. “U.S. Electric Light conv. 5s, 135 bid. Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone 5s, 100 ed. American Security and Trust 100 bid. American Security and T. Se, A. and O., 100 bid. Washington Market Com ay Ist Gs, 110 bid, 115 asked. | Washington Mar t Company imp. 63, 110 bid, 115 asked. Wash- ington Market Compaby ext, @6, 108 bid. ° Masoote Hall Association 5s, 106 bid." Washington Infantry Ist 6s, 101 bid. Washington Light fantry 2d 7s, 100 bid. d 1 Bank Stocks.—Bank of Washington, 280 bid, 300 asked. Bank of the Republic, 250’ bi Metropolitan, asked. District 106% ed, 283 bid, 297 nid. Farmers and Mechant 137% bid, 150 asked. 135 bid, ‘145 asked. Capital, 108% bid, 111% asked. Traders’ coln, 100 ‘bid. Ohio, 84 bid. Safe Deposit and Deposit and Trust, 260 iid. bia, 63. bid. Metropa Belt, 25. asked. Exkington, 20 bid. Georgetown and Tennaliytown, 35 asked. fe Light Stocks.. shington Gay Georgetown Gas, 50° Dd, 52% », 134 bid, 135 asked. Firemen’ 38 bid, 41 asked Stocks, 5 bid. Franklin, |. Metropolitan, 70 Wid. Corcoran, 56 bid. ' Potomac, 69% Arlington, 152 bid, 55 asked. German-American, 162 bid, 200 asked. By bid, onal. Taton, T4iy asked. Columbia, #135. bid. Riggs, or bia, 73 asked. People’s Big bid, 5% asked, Lincoln, 84 bid, 8% asked. Commercial, 4% bid. {tle Insurance Stocks.—Real Estate ‘Title, 108 bid, 116 asked, Columbia Tite, 7% bid, 8 asked. Washington Title, 8 asked. District Title, 10 bid, asked. ‘Telephone Stocks.— lvania, 37 bid. Chena- peake and Potomac, 51 bid, 54% ‘asked. American Graphophone, 235 bid. Pueumatle Gun Carriage, 80. ‘asked. ‘Miscellaneous -Stocks.—Washington Market, 14 bid. Great Falls Tee, 130 bid, “145. asked." Bull Run Panorama, 30 asked. Norfolk and Washington PANY, ‘Line Steamboat, 94 bid. Washington Brick “Com 00 bid. Lincoin Hall, 80 bid. Mergenthaler type, 195 bid, 205 I "Tex ‘div.