Evening Star Newspaper, August 3, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR ———_—___ PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Fenreylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, b7 The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. eee Rew York Oiice, 49 Potter Building, es ‘The Evening Star city by carriers, on : per week, or a4 reat counter 2 cents each. United States or Cat ee aie Qui in ahee $ Saturd ntuple $ et Star, $1 ear, jt! foreign postage added. $3.00. baat mae (Entered eo neroomne mee mall, matter.) mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rares of advertisiog made known on apottcaties: t the Post Office at Washington, D. C., | he Zoening Star. No. 13,234. WASHINGTON, D.C.. SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. MASSACRE IN CHINA Missionaries Reported Murdered at Ku Cheng. GRAVE FEARS AMONG THE METHODISTS —— Secretary Leonard Has Had No Advices. WHAT OFFICIALS SAY SHANGHAI, August Advices from Foo Chow are that a telegram received there or the 3d says that a fearful mas- sacre of Christians has occurred at Ku Cheng. Five forsign ladies are among the murdered. Methedists Much Concerned. NEW YORK, August 3—An Associated Press cablegrim telling of a massacre of Christians, including five women, at Ku Cheng excjted the gravest fears ut the headquarters of the foreign board of Meth- odist missions in this city today. The Methodists have a mission at Ku Cheng. It is in charge of Miss Mabel C. Hartford. Her assistant is Miss W. H. Rouse. In ad- dition to these it is feared that two other women, Miss Maoel Allen and Miss Sarah Peters, are also in the vicinity of Ku Cheng. Corresponding Secretary A. B. Leonard of the Methodist board of foreign missions, who has spent considerable time in China, said today: “In view of the fact that we have received no cablegram from China, we can only hope for the present that our people are safe and well. Had any of our Feople been massacred I am sure that the Rev. W. H. Lacy, our representative and treasurer at Foo Chow, from which place the advices were received, would have cabled to us without delay. We will not commuricate with Mr. Lacy unless we re- ceive information of the alleged massacre from him."" Miss Hartford is a resident of Dover, N. H., and has spent several years ns a missionary in China. She was some time ago put in charge of the women’s work at Ku Cheng. Miss Rouse, her assistant, came from Lakefield, Minn. No Presbyterians There. The Rev. Job Gillespie, secretary of the foreign board of missions of the Presby- terian Church, said today that his church has no missionaries within 250 miles of Ku Cheng, and ‘expressed the opinion that the massacre affected most seriously the Church Missionary, Society of England, which established a mission at Ku Cheng in 1847. The mission is attached to the Church of England, and has two mission houses there. The society maintains twen- ty-two schools in the province, one of which 1s In charge of a native pastor. There is also a small church for lepers in the leper villagé, just outside of the south gate of the M..E, compound. Rev. E. E. Chivers, secretary of the board of Baptist foreign missions, said that the Baptists have no missions nearer the scene of the alleged massacre than Che Klang, which {s 200 miles distant. Other missiOMaries are located at Ki Cheng, which Is also about 200 miles from Ku Cheng. Never Heurd of the Place. BOSTON, August 3.—Rev. Justin Smith, D. D., one of the secretaries of the Ameri- can board of commissioners for foreign missions, whose headquarters are In this city, said to an Associated Press reporter today regarding the cablegram from Foo Chow, China, that a massacre of Christians Occurred at Ku Cheng: “T have heard nothing of such a massacre and cannot say whether or not the report is correct. I received a letter from one of sionaries in that vicinity in June, but he said nothing of any fricti that section of China for the c sion and the American board, and a large number of missionaries, both men and women, in that section. At the present time I do “not know of any mission at Ku Cheng; indeed, I have never heard of the place before. ‘It ts not mentioned in our latest st of Fico Chow missions. It may have been established recently, however.” The Report Confirmed. The State Lepartment has recetved a cablegram from United States Consul Jer- nigan at Shanghai, stating that one Ameri- can female missionary was wounded and four British female missionaries killed at the mission of Ku Chang. No further de- tails ave given in the dispatch, and the Place described ts believed to be in thé province of Hupe, far up on the hanks of the Yangste river, beyond the reach of men-of-war, and about 400 miles north of Cheng Tu, where the last missionary riots occurred. "The State Department will take steps in the natter at once. Sa eg DEFENDER FAR IN THE LEAD. Run of the New York Yacht Club to Cottage City. NEWPORT, R. I., August 3—The run of Club from Newport egun at 1040 a.m. and the wind only _ with a new gaff re- placing the one which broke yesterday as she was nearing the finish line, and with a new suit of sails as well, was on hand early. The preparatory gun was fired at 10:39, and at 16:40 the starting gun for the small sloops boomed. The Wasp led the fieet, crossing at 10:41:50, with Hilde- gard second, at 10:44:40. The starting gun for the schooners was fired at 10:45. Lasca was first to.cross, at 10:16:10, with Constellation and Neaera close after her. Th tarting 10:3 the New Yerk Yac ttage City was to ¢ gun for the big sloops was Defender was the only one ar the line, she crossing 40 seconds after the firing of the gun. Volunteer and Vigi- lant crossed together, at 1 0, but Vig- flant immediately drew away from the Volunteer, whose head sails were drawing oorly. Jubilee did not cross, and slowly Followed the Boats with working topsaii set. Defender rapidly drew ahead of the fleet, and when she went out of sight in the mist, had doubled the distance between her and Vigilant. The wind was from the southwest, 18 knots an hour. BETTERED HER RECORD. The St. Louis the Co NEW YORK, Augu line steamer St. Lou’ arrived at Sandy len Was Chasing ia. t 3.—The American from Southampton, Hook bar at 2:50 this morning, h ‘ing made the run from the Needles in six days, seventeen hours and twenty minutes, reducing her record by nty-seven minutes; totai MS krots, at an aver- an hour. one hour a Gistance cc age speed of 1S. 2, 735 p.m., fifty miles the St. Louis passed an apparent disabled steamer, with black fennel, barkentime rigged. She showed no signals requiring assistance. . PHILADELPHIA, Pa., August 3 ican line fleet, kas b and the new steamer St. she goes into service between New York and Southampton in October. Capt. Jamison fs the captain of the steam- ship Paris, and has been in the service of the Interaational Navigation Company for several years. Farther Applications Likely to Be Called For Soon. This Week’s Examinations Will Not Furnish an Adequate List of Eligibles. There were sixty applicants who took the examination today at th2 civil service rooms for the positions of typesetters, pressmen and bookbinders in‘the govera- ment printing office. Six of them were young women. Among the men were sev- eral who had evidently given up the use of hair restorer in utter despair. Other- wise the examination recom had very much the appearance of a similar scene in some college or high school. In addition to the ordinary and simple tests of efficiency in arithmetic, geography and similar English branches, a very severe test was given those who took the exami- nation for positions as compositors in proof reading, grammar, syntax and typography. Test pages were furnished each applicant of matter photolithographed, with every conceivable error possible in typesetting. These the candidate was expected to set straight. These photolithographed tests consisted of about an octavo page of. mat- ter, the lines wide spaced and every word numbered, so thet the answers could also be numbered to correspond. There were singular subjects. with plural verbs and vice versa, commias inverted, colons in the wrong place, battered type,.“‘wrong font” letters and a great variety of ingeniously erroneous writing. Another photolitho- graphed page represented a sheet of proof that had been to the proofreader and bore upon the margins his corrections, the sp- plicant being expected to explain each and all of them and show just where and Low the correction should be made. This is as far as the practical tests went into today’s examination. Those who passed this preliminary examination will go upon the list as eligibles. Whenever any of these eligibles are certified to the pullic printer for appointment a second and final examination will be held at the government printing oftice before a board Specially appointed by the civil service commission. These final tests will involve only practical efficiency in the class of work for which the appointee is a candi- date. For the candidates for appoint- ment as ccmpositors and pressmen a board, consisting of Messrs. Harold Benedict, George N. Pierce, A. P. Marston, George R. MeNier, E. A. Sardo,, W. H.-Collins and R. B. Hastie, will act as examiners. For those who apply for places in the book- bindery a board, consisting of Messrs. T. F. Callahan, P. Baine, W. H. Muckleton and J. L. Nuber, will act as examiners. Difficulty of Practical Testa. The commission has given a good deal of time and study to this matter of practical | tests, ani has been greatly embarrassed in arriving at a feasible solution of the difficulties presented. The examinations are open to candidates from all parts of the United States, and precisely such tests as have been made here in Washington during the past two or three days will be held in the various cities where civil serv- ice examinations are appointed. But in nore of these places except Washington did the commission have at its command the facilities essential to the practical tests of efficiency necessary to be made. Not even in New York, where the government has quite an extensive printing office in the pest office building, was there an oppor- tunity for such practical tests as are neces- sary to admit an applicant into the service at the government printing cfiice. If it was simply a matter of testing com- positors, that could be done in almost any of the large cities, byt among the appli- cants are elestrotypers, job printers. press- men, stereotypr3, Lookbinders, and one or two other classes of special mechanics. Only In the government printing office has the government at its command the means of finding out what those who want to en- ter the service can do in the:r special lines of employment. The job printers were tested today in the examinations at the civil service building by means of printed specimen jobs in which érrors of typox- raphy and printer-like taste were made and the candidate given an opportunity to correct absolute errors and express his opinion of what good taste in job work re- quired. The Probationazry Examinations. Under rule 4 of the civil service rules to apply to the government printing office it is provided that any person who has pass- ed the preliminary examination and been certified to the public printer for appoint ment shall be given work for a probational period of six months, during which the officer under whom the probationer Is serv- ing is exp2cted to observe carefully and report In writing upon the character of the work done and the qualifications of the probationer as to punctuality, industry Labits, ability and adaptability, an-l th reports are to be preserved on file in manner prescribed by the civil service commission. This fs virtually an examina- tion. ‘Che appointee is also to be subjected to a practical test, in which he or she must attain an average of 70 per cent on a maximum of 100 per cent or be rejected The bookbind2r is given a book to gacber stitch and bind. ‘The pressman will be given a form to put upon the press ready with “underlays” and and the com- positor will receive a “take,” which he must go to a case and set as well as he can and as rapidly as possible, and the electrotyper will be given a page of type or a cut to mold and electrotype, or an electro- type “shell,” already produced, to “back” with lead. In this way the expert boards which have been appointed wilt very quickly be able to decide upon the efficiency of the persons who have been certified for eppoint- ment. More Examinations Soon. Notwithstanding the publicity given to the fact that these examinations were to be held this week, and the large number of candidates who presented themselves for examination, it seems to be apparent that the eligible list resulting will be wholiy in- adequate to supply the government printing. office with the number of employes that will be required in the next few months. This means that those applicants who have successfully passed these examinations are a y likely to be appointed without very great delay, provided the quotas from the states where they reside are not already full. Until a sufficient eligible list is established by the civil service commission the pubiie printer under the law and the precedents that have been established will make ap- pointments in the old way, upon reco mendation and such practical tests as bave been in vogue in the office for many years. It is likely that the civil service commis- sion will at once announce another: ex- amination for bookbinders and pressmen, as there were very few applicants for these positions, and with the ordinary require- ments of the office the eligible list in these two lines of employment would be very quickly wiped out. It is not improbable that there will also be another examination for compositors before long. A similar ne- cessity does not exist ip the matter of skilled labor, where the appligants are chiefly women. Se MERELY A HOAX. The Report That Beaver Island Had Been Devastated. CHARLEVOIX, Mich., August 3.—The report that Beaver Island, has been de- yastated by fire isa hoax. There are small fcrest fires on the island, but none of great Importance. : : TESTING THE PRINTERS STREET EXTENSIONS GOV. First Section of the Commissioners’ Plan Approved. THE HISHWAY COMMISSION'S ACTION Some Few Exceptions to the Rec- ommendations Made. TO BE PLACED ON FILE The first section of the street extension plan was finally approved by the highway commissicn today. Within the next two weeks it will be placed on file with the District assessor. No changes can now be made in the map. The action of the high- way commission makes it final, and the only recourse affected property owners have is either by the courts or through special legislation of Congress. Yesterday afternoon Secretary Lamont gave notice of a meeting to finally consider the first section. The meeting was called for 10:30 a.m. today, and promptly at that hour Secretaries Lamont and Smith, who, with Gen. Craighill, form the highway commission, met in Secretary Lamont’s private office. Capt. G. J. Fiebeger, the secretary of the*commission, was also pres- ent. Ever since the completion of the public hearings, the individual members of the commission have been carefully studying the situation. When the. meeting was call- ed to order this morning the commission was ready to take final action. One by one the amendments offered by the Commissioners to their original plans were taken up and discussed. The wis- dom of the changes were commented upon and all of them unanimously adopted and incorporated into the plans. Briefly speaking, the plans of the first section as proposed and recommended. by the Commissioners of the District of Co- lumbfa have been approved, with the fol- ‘@owing exceptions: Changes Made. Crescent and Prospect streets, Meridian Hill, will retain their present lines, except that they will be widened. The advantage to be derived from straightening these streets did not seem to warrant the «xpense involved. It will be recalled in this connection, there was considerable opposition to the plans of the Commissioners on the part of the property owners. ‘The width of Spring street boulevard was changed. That {s, it was narrowed fcerty feet, and will be 160 feet wide on the new plans instead of 200 feet wide, as proposed and recommended by the Commissioners. The highway commission, in commenting upon this change through Capt. Flebeg>r, sald it did not feel warranted, under the highwdy act, to upprove any avenues of greater widths than 160 fect. The commis- sion, however, favors action by Congress increasing this width to that proposed by the Commissioners. Case of Connecticut Avenue. Perhaps the most important recomnr-ntia- tion of the commission was that relating to Connecticut avenue. Capt: Fiebeger, speak- ing for the highway commission, said in this connection: “The highway commission is in favor of the ‘straight extension of Connecticut ave- nue, but decided that under the law it was rot warranted in changing the Connecticut Heights subdivisions, which had already obtained the sanction of the District Com- miss oners, and. were made under the act of 18371883.” ‘These were all the changes made by .the highway commission, except those made in accordance with the amendments of the Commissioners of the District, which have heen published from time to time in The Star. These amendments, as _ already stated, were accepted by the highway com- mission. As soon as these changes can be incorporated in the maps submitted by the District Commissioners the maps will be returned to the latter, and then be filed with the surveyor of the District. The Commissioners will then be in a position to apply to the courts for condemnation pro- ceedings in such cases as they deem neces- sary. The Law as to the Map. | The law touching the filing of the map reads: : “That within thirty days after any. such nep shall have been recorded as aforesaid which shall alter any highway or highways in any then existing subdivision in the area included in such map, or which shall dis- pense with any highway or highways, or any part thereof, in any such subdivision, the Commissioners of the District of Co- lumbia shall make application to the Su- preme Court of the District of Columbia, holding a spectal term as a district court of the United States, by written petition, praying the condemnation of a permanent right of way for the public over all the land lying within the limits of such subdivision not already owned by the United States or the District of Columbla or dedicated to public use as a highway which shall be in- cluded within the highways or reservations laid out by the Commissioners and_indi- cated.on such map. Upon the filing of such petition the said court in special term shall froceed to condemn a permanent right of way for the public over said land ‘In the manner hereinafter provided.” SS NO REGISTER YET. in Proceedings at Gray Gables Suspected. Another week has come and gone with- out shedding any light on the question of succession in the oflice of register of wills of the District. Col. Wright, the incum- bent, placed his resignation in the hands of the President early last week, gpon re- ceiving an official intimation that the Presi- dent was prepared to name his successor. The appointment ‘has been anxiously awaited every day since then, until now it bears a strong resemblance ta the case of the “letter that never came.” A serious hitch may have occurred, and it is possible that the President has concluded that the man he had selected is not the proper per- son for the office. however, the question will be settled defi- nitely next week. A Hiteh = Persopval Mention. Lieut. D. J. Rumbough, third artillery, is in this city on leave of absence. Mr. Eugene T. Chamberlain, commis- sioner of navigation, will leave New York on the steamship St. Louis on Wednesday ext for a brief visit to England. Maj. Thomas Harris, retired, president of the Soldiers’ Heme at Milwaukee, is on a visit to this city. He is at the Ebbitt House. Capt. Goethals, an assistant to the :iief of engineers, has gone to visit his family at Vineyard Haven. S Hoover C. Snyder, who has been acting as private secretary to the Secretary of the Navy for some time, left Washington to- day for New York, whence he will embark on a steamer for Portland, Me. Returning, he will make a short stop at each of the New Jersey summer resorts. —_———__-e.__. Going Back to His Post. Mr. Thomas, United States consul et Marseilles, called on Acting Secretary Adee today prior to his return to"his post. ~ Unless all signs fail, They Are Working for His Nomination to the Presidency. r Conditions in New Yokk Require His Candidacy to Avéetd Risk of Losing the State. The friends of Levi P. ‘Morton, and per- haps the repubMeams sénerally, in New York, fcel that the ex-Vice President stands sn excellent chance of béing the rerublican nominee for President. The ‘situation de- veloping in the emplre state 4s thought to tend greatly te the promtion of his pros- pects. The republicans ate auch disturbed over the antagonism ‘which has been aroused by the *adnfinistration in New York city. The Mberal rights element im the city is mp in arms, and there are many compleints from other quarters against the Stccng governmert of the city, which threatens to cost the republicans a great many votes. Agninast the Strong Administration. Some republicans who were active in working for the -eform ticket last fall, and some who were members of the good gov- ernment clubs, have denounced the Strong administration, and appHed for member- ship in the Tammany organization. The strongest wing of the Tammany organiza- tion is active mn preparing to make a big fight to regain power at the first oppor- tunity. It is generally conceded that the antagonisms excited by the reform govern- ment will cause a reaction from the upris- ing of last year, which is likely to restore Tammany. Republicans recognize this, and feel that at the next election they’ will have an exceptionally large democratic majority in New York city to overcome. They fear that they will be in danger of loging the state in the election of 96, unless the republican national ticket is such as to secure an imrtiense vote in the state out- side the democratic strongholds. Morton the Strongest Candidate. It !s urged by: Mr. Morton's friends that he Would be the strongest possible candi- date in the state. With all the friction anticipated over the financial question and the possible loss of some of the Rocky mountain states,1t is urged the republicans will hay2 to carry New’ York in ord2r to elect their ticket. The empire state will thus be in a commanding position at, the national convention. The prestige of his immense ma&jority*fer governor will, they say, put him forward as the man on whom they can Re eat to carry the state... Nothii of. a positive re- fusal on nn rete be ‘candidate, it is declared, can prevent the solid New “York Gelegation from going. to the convention in his interest, and at the convention they will be powerful enough to campel the nomina- tion. Can’t Risk Losing New York. It will be represented that it will not do to run the very great risk of losing New York,’ anidth&f’thcy must nominate Mor- ton.if thay want to be sure of carrying that s! nen Oe ie A tew “months ago the republicans thought that they could rely confidently on New York, no matter whdm the conven- tion might select ax statdard-bearer, Lut now they feel there fs great danger of their losing it. Al this ia operating to put Morton forward es a-eandidate. —— + e+ “PERMANENTLY ‘ESGAGED.” Diffeulty in Present##g a Medal to thé President. It is reported that the telations between the Society of Colonial Warsand that por- tion of the admirfstration represented by Private Seeratary..Thurver re seriously strained. An interesting feature of the celebration on June 17 to ¢cmmemorate the 150th anniversary of the tapture of Louis- burg in 1745 by the American colonists were the medals struck in its honor. They were made from the metal of the cld brass carnon found onthe Fremch frigate in the harbor of Louisburg. Feeling certain that so ‘interesting: a his- torical relic would be appreciated, the so- ciety decided to send a’ medal to Queen Victoria, another to-Lerd Aberdeen and a third to President Cleyeland. The medal for Lord Aberdéen was semt by mail and that to the queen was intrusted to Am- bassador Bayard. Nis To Rear Admiral Rowe the society gave the medal designed for the President of the United States. Admiral Rowe is the dep- uty governor general of the society for the District of Columbia, and lives in this city. According to the current story, Admiral Rowe went to the White House some weeks before the President left for Buz- zard’s Bay. Before he could reach the President he was confronted by Private Secretary Thurber, who, it is said, firmly insisted on knowing the nature of the bus- iness. Rear Admiral Rowe is not a quick- tempered man, but he felt hurt at Secre- tery Thurber’s inquisitiveness and finally withdrew. The admiral made one more ef- fort, and met with a simfJar reception. Mr. Thurber informed the admiral that the President was engaged. -“When may I see him?” was asked. Admiral Rowe has writ- ten to the society's officers here that Secre- tary Thurber’s answer was such that he was convinced that he would never be able to reach the President. ;““The second time I called,” he said, “he told me the Presi- dent was permanently engaged. Never in ny life was I so treated by a private.see- retary.” Dy . The members of the society have had no intimation from Admiral Rewe that he made a further effort to get the medaf to ‘Mr. Cleveland, se THE SUGAR BOUNTY HEARING. The Controller's Power to Decide Constitutionality Questioned. There appears to be’¢onsiderable misap- prehension in regard to the exact purpuse of the sugar hearing tefore Judge Bowler, controller of the treasury, next week. Ac- cording to that official, the question of the conscitutionality of the sugar bounty clause of the tariff act may not come up for eon- sideration at allcn that occasion, inas- much as the attorneys for the sugar claim- ants have notified him of their purpose -to direct the arguments first toward the pre- liminary question of the right of the con- troller to pass upon the constitutionality of an act of Congress. Judge Bowler has admitted that there is a grave doubt in his mind on that point. The sugar men will exert their greatest eloquence to per- suade him that he ig not legally vested with such power, and if they succeed in convincing him on that point, there will of course be no necessity for any argu- ments on the question as to the constitu- ticnality of the bounty law; and there will then be no longer any otstacle to the pay- ment of the approved sugar claims, so far as the controller is concerned, from a con- stitutional standpoint. _” It is possible, therefore, that.an easy so- lution may be found in this way for the gettlement of sugar bounty ‘claims aggre. gating nearly $5,500,000 without a decision as to the constitutionality of ithe-bounty. es Reccivers for Rabber Companies. TRENTON, N. J., August '3.—The rules to show cause why receivers should not be appointed for the Eastern Rubber Com- pany and the Trenton ‘Rubber Company were made absolute today by Vice Chan- cellor Bird, who then appofnted ex-Senator John D. Rée as receiver for the Trenton Rubber Cémpany and County Collector Samuel Walker as receiver for the Eastern Rubber Company, *" A New Phaso as to the Ownership of It. TITLE LEGALLY IN THE UNITED STATES Was Taken Possession of by the Late Confederacy. MR. MORGAN’S STORY Perhaps the United States owna the Is- land of Trinidad, off the coast of Brazil, now claimed by Brazil, which has hecome greatly excited by the suspected purpose of the British government in taking posscssion of it for use as a cable station. When the subject of the ownership of the igland was brought up some days ago, Mr. H. H. Marmaduke of the bureau of Ameri- can republics wrote to an old friend, J. M. Morgan, whom he knew to be an ex-mid- shipman jn the confederate states navy, and who had visited the Island of Trinidad during the late war. Mr. Morgan was con- sul general of the United States at’ Mel- bourne, Australia, under Mr. Cleveland's first administration, and is a brother of ex-Minister Morgan, who filled the Mexican mission under the Harrison administration. Mr. Marmaduke is an ex-lieutenant in the confederate states navy, and has been a close personal friend of Mr. Morgan ever since the two served together in <he con- federacy. Mr. Morgan was asked to tell what he knew about the Island of Trinidad, and the following is his reply: * Belongs to the United States. “In reply to your inquiry concerning the Island of Trinidad, the title of which is now in dispute by Great Britain and Lrazil, I would state that it does not belong to either of them. Strange as it may appear, the title legally rests with ‘the United States, as the residuary legatee of the late southern confederacy. “In the summer of 1863 I was a midship- man on )poard of the C. S. cruiser Georgia, then lying in the harbor of Bahia, Brazil, in company with the Alabama. Capt. Semmes decided to cruise to the southward off Rio Janeiro, and thence to the Cape of Good Hope, while the Georgia was to fol- Yow as far south as Rio and then vroceed to.the Island of Trinidad for coal, our col- lier hav'rg been ordered there, and also for the purpose of making a digression in favor of the Al “The Island of Trinidad is a very pic- turesque spot. It is six miles in circumfer- ence and feet high. Alongside of it, at the eastern end, and helping to form the little harbor, {g the ‘monument,’ which is scme 250 feet in diameter, and rises out of the sea tg a height of 1,200 feet. Here the Georgia lay for some six weeks. Ves- sels, after rounding the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, endeavor to sight Trinidad forthe purpose of seeing if their chronom- cters are all right, and then shape their courses for New York or Liverpool, and while we lay in tiis ccve, or harbor, we “brought to’ mang merchant vessels. The first intimation they would have that a con- federate cruiser ee the neighborhood wai 92 BOE Ipping across their bows. Beene ae that we captured and burned in thé hath5ethe-siip Constitution of Bos- ton, and also captured and bonded the City o7 Bath of Bath, Me. An Ideal Coaling Station. “Trinidad is an ideal coaling station for commerce destroyers or a naval for the Frotection of commerce. It is habitable, although not inhabited when the Georgia teck possession. A few -wild hogs and millions of “sea fowl were the only living things tc be seen. A frigate bird one day attacked the tookout on the topmast cross- tree, and oeilng-cut in the wing with a knife, dropped to the deck. It measured over seven feet from tip to tip. “Trinidad could be easier defended than Gibraltar, and is naturally a stronger posi- tion. In certain winds the waves, with the full sweep of the Atlantic, strike the island and send the spray some 300 or 400 feet into the air. The sight beggars description. “At the time the-Georgiu took possession and made it a confederate coaling station the Island of ‘Trinidad was not claimed by any nation. Had it teen so Capt. Mitury was much too careful a commander to have broken the neutrality laws by taking prizes in there, coaling ship without per- mission, and ‘heaving to’ nectral ships as he lay at anchor in the harbor.” A New Phase of the Question. This communication of Mr. Morgan places a phase on the subject of the pos- session of the Island of Trinidad, and of the uses to which tha® island may be put that have not before received attention. It has been stated that Great Britain will offer to buy the island from Brazil, but it is not likely in the present condition of excitement under which the people of Brazil are laboring that they would con- sent to transfer the title of the island to @ country which they are now denouncing as being arbitrary and grasping. The Island of Trinidad has been generally regarded as unfit for any use, except as a cable sta- tion, especially as it has been represented that it was impossiole for vessels to land there. Mr. Morgan, who is a man of intel- ligence and who had had full opportunity to.know the facts that he states, shows that the island may be made very form!d- able. As a coaling station for vessels in time of war the Island of. Trin'dad might become of vast importatice, and it might be easy, though very expensive, to trans- form it into a Gibraltar, where English ships might coal in safety at’ all times. Being but five hundred miles from Rlo Janeiro, the Island of ‘Trinidad in the pos- session of a hostile country might prove exceedingly harmful. Never Laid Claim to It. Although Mr. Morgan states in his letter that the title to the Island of Trinidad rests in the United States, this govern- ment has never in the remotest way laid claim to the island, and people acquainted with the subject do not think there is the least possibility of such action. There is a belief amozg people well informed on the controversy that Brazil will not part with the title to the Island of Trinidad if it is proven that she has undisputed title, but will probably permit England to make a cable station of it, just as the shores of any country might be used as a cable sta- tion. This would obviate any danger in the future of having the island turned into a fortified coaling station. It is not thought likely that England will prolong the dispute over the Island of Trinidad, as there is now much talk in Brazil of discriminating against English importations. England sehds to Brazil yearly more than the combined exports to that country of Germany and France, and mere than five times the amount exported to Brazil from the United States. E: land’s exports to Brazil aggregate $80,000,- 00. England’s commercial interests will probably be the greatest factor in bringiag @ prompt s¢ttlement of the dispute over the Island of Trinidad. -o+— Revenue Mrrine Not of the Navy. Assistant Secretary Reynolds of the In- terior Department has decided a pension appeal case in which he holds that those who served in the revenue marine on ves- sels that co-operated with the navy were uevertheless not in the naval establish- ment of the United States, and are not en- titled to pension. He also helds that a pay clerk is an of- oe of the navy, and is entitled to pen- sion. TWO CENTS. The proof of the pudding is in fhe eating Yesterdap’s Star contained 36 cafumns of advertisements, made up of 533 separate announce: ments. These advertisers Boua$t pubficifp—-nof merefp Space. ‘ The New Members of the House Will Be Manageable. No Kickiug Over Committee Appoint- ments to Be Madc—Effert for a Short Burlness Session. Word is being passed around among the new republican members of the next House of Representatives that everything possi- ble must be done to make it easy for Mr. Reed, after he is elected Speaker, to con- trol that branch of Congress. The wpinion is often expressed by people of experience about Congress that a House with such a majority of new men in it will be unman- ageable and that Mr. Reed would he bet- ter off without the spea:ership. This has inspired some of the newly elected and consequently inexperienced republicans with an idea. They want to prove that the suspicion aroused by their newness is not well grounded. Picks Want to Prove Their Wisdom. They want to prove their wisdom by showing that thesdepew how to obey, and, in order to do credit to themselves, an un- derstanding is being reached among all the novices that they are to recognize Reed's superior experience, abiding by his decisions and carrying out his orders. So the word is being passed around, and all are swearing allegiance to their chosen leader in all matters of legislative policy. They recognize that at the start it is going to be a difficult thing to make up the com- mittees, with so many new men, in a man- ner to gratify or even satisfy every one. Therefore the first precept of loyalty is: “Take what you get and don’t kick.” If this is adhered to the first difliculty will be happily overcome. Power the Speaker Will Have. These new men admire Reed most in the character of czar. They propose that in the next House he shall be more than ever a czar. They propose that he shall have the power of life and death over all sug- gested legislation, and that he, shall be rec- ognized as the law-giver of the party in the House. This is not because they all want to advance his interests as a presi- dential candidate, but because they want to contrast the perfect discipline and har- mony of their party with the lack of both exhibited by the democrats during the last Congress. They want to make an exhi- bition of party loyalty and harmony which will be inspiring to the great body of re- publicans in the country at large. If they adhere to their good resolutions Reed will mount the chair on the first Monday in December as a monarch. Those who kre most active in passing the word along are more ready to spercrs the plan because they understani it to be Reed’s policy to avoid all questions on which there is a dis- agreement ir the party and to devote the session to ruutine business. A Short Session. It is understood that Reed himself has started the idea of making the session as short as possible, and every one is ex- Pected to assist all in his power to inake it the shortest “first session” in the recent history of Congress. Early in March is fixed upon as a good time for ending it. The idea is b taken hold of, and the ery is for chedience and expedition. So prompt an ment ‘would greatly ies- sen the danger of complications and give smaller opportunity for circumstances to arise to impair the Maine man’s availabil- ity for the presidential nomination. The young men are indulging in visions of a meteoric session, which will dazzle the country and spread confusion among the democrats ——_-2+_+___ ATTORNEY GENERAL HARMON. He is a Singer in Addition to His Other Accomplishments. Attorney General Harmon bids fair to be- come the most famous in the cabinet. Among the politicians of both parties Hoke Smith has made best progress in popularity; but all the while some new characteristic or mannerism is attracting attention to Harmon. It has now developed that he sings. His repertoire is said to be limited to one song—“‘I Know a Little Yellar Gal”— one of the most charming of negro melodies, but he sings that with evident enjoyment. There is no affectation about him, and he sings only for his own amusement. He has not yet acquired that impression, so com- mon to great men, that everybody's eyes are upon him, and he has ah unconscious way of doing as he pleases. If he wants to let his spirit out in song, he sings. He whistles when he feels like it, just as he eats pie in a dairy lunch room if he is so in- clined. During the warm season he is stop- ping in the suburbs, where there is plenty of fresh air, green lawn and freedom. It is his delight to putter in the garden after go- ing home from the department, and as he pulls up weeds and scratches about in the grounds, unconscious of ail about nim, he sings in a rich, full voice, broken In upon now and then by something that attracts his attention: “I Know a Little Yaller Gal.” He will sing a line or two and then stop to pull up a weed or scratch the earth around a plant, and then take up the song again where he left off, now humming softly to himself, now raising his voice to its full volume. He is not eccentric,but is a gentleman and a right good féllow, who is not always troubling himself with the idea that other peopie are looking at him. Our best known men often have talents and great gifts which they keep hidden from the world. Two of the most gifted poets in the country occupy seats in Congress, and neither of them is known to have ever published any verses. One is Senator’Jones of Nevada. The other is Representative Miltiken of Maine. Jones has written some verses of western sentiment, in mining camp dialect, which are as good as anything Bret Harte ever wrote. One he wrote on the check of Infidelity in a mining camp is unsurpassed in dialect verse. His humor fs quaint and striking. Sometimes he repeats a poem to some of his particular chums in the Serate cloak room, and sometimes he writes a verse at their expense, but he is careful not to get into print. Milliken of Maine has written some senti- mental poems that would do credit to Wordsworth. He, too, avoids print. ———____ o+—_____ FEDERAL EMPLOYES. A Circular ns to Service Outside of Their Regular Employment. The Secretary of the Treasury has is- sued a circular to govern federal employes in rendering service outside of their regu- lar employrrent, as follcws: “Whenever autbcrity is given to appoint any person to a position tc which compen- sation is attached, cr to employ a person for any particular werk, with pay, either in Washington or elsewhcre, no person who at that time holds a pcsition under the governmer.t to which compensation is at- tached, or is employed in doing service for the department, or any of its bureaus or offices for -pay, shall be appointed or em- ployed under such authority, unless it is specially so provided therein. But any such persen may be detailed cr required by the prope: authority to perfcrm any par- ticula> services or the duties of any other office than that In which said person is employed without further or additional pay than that which pertains to the office or employment from which the detail shall be made, and such detail shall not be consid- ered as an «ppointment to any othe> office.” MORTON'S FRIENDS/ TRINIDAD ISLAND/E4SY FOR MR. REED| TWO BORDER STATES Administration Democrats Anxious . About Maryland and Kentucky, A PARTY CONFERENCE (0 BE HELD Defeat Would Have a Disastrous Effect Next Year. ATTEMPTED HARMONY It is conceded in political circles that the administration democrats are ia an em- barrassing position in both Maryland and Kentucky. They are in a small minority in Maryland, but they hold the November re- sult in the hollow of their hands. If they refuse to support the Gorman ticket, the republicans will carry the gtete. Im Ken- tucky the situation is somewhat. different, but the responsibility of the President's friends is still very great. They controlled the state convention and wrote a platform in accordance with the administration's wishes, but a sort of rebellion has broken out since. The silver men, with Mr. Black- burn as their spokesman, insist upon put- ting a free coinage interpretation-op the Platform, and Mr. Blackuurn is condycting his race for the Senate as a silver candi- date. A remedy of some kind must be found for this, but so far it has not been found. The silver men are the offenders, but inasmuch as the gold men controlled the convention, they are expected to put the fghting force into the field-In winning order. That order has as yet to be secured. The continuation of the present order, or rather disorder, will, beyond all question, it is thought, land the blue grass state in the republican camp. Effect of the Loss. How great the loss of these two states this year would be to the democracy is easy of computation. Many prominent democrats view the situation with the gravest alarm. Both states have been in the democratic column for more than a quarter of a century. They have safely weathered the severest storms in alf™that time. When the democracy in other states Was routed, both in local and national con- tests, horse, foot and dragoons, the party in Meryland and Kentucky stood as true as a trivet. They have served as fine ex- amples of party courage and fidelity, when it was necessary, after severe defeat, to build up hope in distant ities where hepe had almost been abandoned. And what if these hitherto invincible strong- holds should be carried by the republicans now? Would not the result be national in its effect? Would not it be claimed as prcof of the assertion that the democratic party is in a condition of disintegration? Would not Richard P. Bland’s words then be everywherc quoted and accepted as fact, that there is no democratic party? Both Border States, More than this, as the politicians point cut—Marylend and Kertucky are border states in the geographical division that ac- equnts for the solid south. They are two of the guards ut the gete. If the gate is carried the whole territory is imperiled, and if the solid south is cnce realiy dis-- rupted the democratic party, it is insisted, will inevitebly disappear as a.naticaal or- ganization. The party has no footholil at. all now outside of the south. In New York ard Indiana, where the democracy held sway, the republicans are in full control. Irdiana, it is trve, has a-Gemocrat-in the governor's chair, but he is all that remains of a once powerful party in the Wabash ccuntry. So that, in every practical ac- ceptation or the term, the south, it ts held, is today the democratic party. West Vir- ginia has wobbled, North Carolina is in possession of an anti-democratic coalition, and Louisiana, with Controller Bowler standing between her and the light, ia firding it mighty hard to read her creden- tials. And now Maryland and Kentucky? “I want to know!” exclaims the anxious democrat. A Party Conference. It can be stated upon high authority that an effort will be made to have a party conference, composed of friends of the Presidént’s and Mr. Carlisle, on the one side. and friends of Mr. Gorman and Mr. Blickburn, or those two leaders themselves, on the other, called to consider all matters, personal or otherwise, threatening. har- mcrious democratic action at the polls in Maryland and Kentucky in November. It is not denied that an adjustment of the ex- isting differences will be difficult. Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Gorman are wide apart, and there is come bitter feeling between the Carlisle and the Blackburn followings. But the peril is so great, an attempt at least, it is contended, should be made to close up ranks and put the party in con- dition to do something. ——__~+-o+__ A QUEER CASE. Divorce From n Dend Man Annulled by an Ohio Court. A curious case of divorce has been brought out by a decision of Assistant Sec- retary Reynolds in a pension appeal case. Susan McLeod was married to Daniel Mc- Leod in Athens county, Ohio. The husband served during the war, and shortly after, in 1869,he obtained a divorce from his wife and married again. He died in 1880, and eleven years after his death, on petition of the first wife, the decree of divorce was set aside by order of the court.*The first wife then claimed a pension as a soldier's widow. Secretary Reynolds reaches the conclusion that the action of the court undertaking to annul the soldier’s divorce from the claimant was illegal, and the rejection of the claim on the ground that claimant is not the soldier's legal widow under the law of Ohio is affirmed. - o AMERICAN MISSIONS IN CHINA. Miniater Denby Endeavosing to As- certain the Amount of Their Losses. Under instructions from the State De- Fartment United States Minister Denby is now engaged in investigating the damages sustained ty the American missions at Ckeng-Tu, China, during the rioting there. The Chinese government has aiready given assurances that it will pay a suitable in- demnity, and has taken steps to ascertain for itself, through a commission, the ex- tent of the losses sustained by the for- eigners. ——___e-——_____ TO BE RETIRED. ~ Chief Enginecr Willinmson’s Last Day of Active Service. This is Chief Engineer Thom William- son's last day of active service in the navy. Monday he will be placed on the retired list on account of age. On that day he will also be succeeded as superintendent of the State, War and Navy Departments building by Chief Engineer George W. Baird, lately de- tached from duty on the dispatch boat Dol- phin. . No one has yet been detafled to duty as assistant to the new superintendent to succeed Passed Assistant Engineer Fred. C. Bowers, who has been ordered to the battle- ship Texas. e = Caught Between Bumpers. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. ‘ ROCKVILLE, Md., August 3.—Chas, A. Mewshaw, telegraph operator and agent at town, Md., while. stagding on~the venee ‘of a Baltimore and Ohio freight train at Gaithersburg this morning had foot caught and badly mashed. He wi brought to his home here. ae es