Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1895, Page 1

" THE EVENING STAR Sa eee PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. eee ans Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building, ‘The Evening Star Is served to subscribers fn city by carriers, on :helr own account, at 10 c Det week, or 44 cents fer month. jes at the counter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Canddu—postage prepald—so r month. P Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, §1 per year, with postage added, foreign . the Post Office at Washington, D. C., (Entered a F Ail mall subscriptions oust be paid in af ‘mall subecriptions sus In advance. Rates of advertising made knows on application. MINISTER He Will Promptly Be Reappointed by the President. HIS ACCODNTS SETTLED 10 JOLY 1st Attorney General Harmon Said to Indorse the Opinion. MR. BUTLER AS CHARGE It is understood that aside from the in- conventence which will be occasioned to Minister Ransom by the failure to receive his salary promptly, and the necessity for his reappointment, there will be no other ecmplications attached to a decision which has been rendered by the solicitor general that, under the Constitution, Mr. Ransom's appointment was irregular, because made during his term as Senator. Mr. Ransorn has understood for six weeks that the sclicitor general!’s decision would be against him, and, while he was fore- warned to this effect, he was notified at the same time that as soon as practicable after the decision should be rendered he would be reappointed. It was this knowl- edge of the effect of the decision which has caused Mr, Ransom to remain in this coun- try as long as he had, but the assurance of his reappointment has been made so plain that he has made all preparations to return to Mexico toward the close of the present month. The provision of the Constitution under which the treasury refused to avdit and allow his aceount will not apply to a reappointment, and there will be no fur- ther difficulty in the matter. Settled With to July 1, The minister's accounts were regularly allowed up to the Ist of July, so that at present the government fs indebted to him only for his salary from July 1 to the pres- ent time. It 1s not doubted in any quarter that Congress will afford him relief in this respect through an appropriation in the first urgent deficiency bill which becomes & law after the beginning of the next ses- sion. At the time of Mr. Ransom's appoint ment a question was raised, and fully ex- ploited in’ the press, as to whether or not his appointment was regular, and then the opinion was expressed at the White House that his case did not come within the legal pronibition, and that even if it should be so held, the ‘President's right to reappoint iim after Congress adjourned was clear and indisputable. A Recess Appointment. It is expected that the President will in a few days issue a commission for Mr. Ransom to serve as minister to Mexico during the recess of Congress, which com- mission will run until the Senate shall have acted cn Mr. Ransom's nomination, which will be sent in early in December. Until Mr, Ransom receives this recess appoint- ment, the United States will be represented at the captial of Mexico by Mr. Butler, who was regularly designated and recognized as charge d'affaires at the time of Mr. Ran- som’s departure for home a few months ago. The new complication over the legal- ity of Mr, Ransom’s appointment will have no effect whatever on the diplomatic rela- tions between the United States and Mex- ico, as Mz, Butler is fully authorized to rep- resent this country in a diplomatic capacity in any business with the republic of Mexico. Mr. Ransom had an interview with Acting Secretary McAdoo last Saturday, and left for his home jn North Carolina with the full understahding that he would be unable to return to Mexico in his former official capacity until after all doubt as to his legal status had been removed by his reappoint- ment by the President. The Department of Juatice’s Opinion. _Although the opinion of the Department of Justice in regard tj Mr. Ransom’s case hears the signature of Solicitor General Conrad, it is understood that the opinion Was approyed as sound by Attorney Gen- eral Harmon and Secretary Olney before it was officially rendered. Attorney General Harmon's recent visit to the Presideat at Gray Gables ts belleved to have relation to this case, and that ft was then concluded that the best way out of the legal entangie- ment was the issue of an entirely new com- telssion to Mr. Ransom. How the Question Was Raised. The decision of the acting attorney gen- eral was based on a question raised by Auditor Holcombe as to the legality of Mr. Ransom’s appointment to the Mexican mission in view of section 2, article 6, of the Constitution, which declares that “no Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be ap- pointed to any civil office under the author- ity of the United States which shall have been created or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time."* This provision fitted the case of Mr. Ran- som, for he was nominated by Prestdent Cleveiand and contirmed by the Senate be- fore his term of office as Senator from North Carolina had expired, and during that term the salary of the Mexican mis- sion had be2" increased $5,000 a year. a ee THOSE OVERUEAD WIRES. Costly Illustration of Their Danger- ous and Destructive Character. One of the dangerous overhead electric light wires crossed one of the fire alarm wires near the Baltimore and Potomac de- pot last evening about 7 o'clock and did considerable damage. The affair happened about the time the electrical storm passed near the city, and Operator Simpson, who was on duty at headquarters, by his prompt action, saved some of the valuable instruments in the office from destruction. The extent of the damage could not be ascertained last night, but early this morn- ing Superintendent Miles had his Hnemen at work to discover just what damage had been done. It required some little time to complete the work and locate the place where the wires crossed. When this was accom- plished it was ascertained that thirteen of the twenty boxes on that particular ctreuit had been completely burned out and ruined. These boxes were scattered in the south- east and southwest sections of the city and had a fire occurred fn either section last night, some difficulty would have been experienced in calling out the fire depart- ment. The boxes cost $125 each, making a tetal loss to the District of more than $1,600, Superintendent Miles said this afternoon he did not know whether the electric light company would have to pay the damage or Got, as the responsibility for the affair will have to be ascertained before any- thing in this direction is done. It is more than probable that the burn- ed boxes will have to be sent away to be repaired and just what will be done in the meantime for the people In the sec- tions mentioned Is not known. It is likely that they vil! have to depend on the few remaining boxes and telephones as a means of csiling out the fire department. ——— Rain in the West. MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa, August 17.— A terrific electric storm and heavy rain last night broke the long seige of hot, dry weather. Lightning did some damage in this city. The rain will be of immense benefit. Che Evening Sfar. No. 13,246, It Will Certainly Not Hold Against Die- abled Soldiers. District Men Are Specially Fovored in the Matter of Appointments on the Ground of Emergency Needs. ‘The results of the recent examination of aprlicants for positions in the government Printing office were today summarized. Of those who were examined for compositors, per cent passed. Of those who tried for Pressmen, 10 Oper cent passed. Of the kookbinders, 67 passed, and of the skilled laborers, 79 per cent passed. This the com- missioners regard as a very good showing, and one that ought to establish, {f any- tning can, the fact that these examinations are not so difficult as to bar any really deserving workman, District Eligibles. The prospect of modifying the rules in some particulars draws cut a great num- ber of criticisms of the system, some of which have reason and merit, and some are frivolous. Amorg other things it is said that the commission ‘s trying to shut out District printers. This is not at all the case. On the contrary, as the work in the government printing office is largely emergency, employment requiring at some parts of the y2ar a much larger force than at other scasons, particular favor 1s shown District printers, pressmen and bookbind- ers. There is not a word in the rules or in the blanks barring District people from the examinations. é When it comes to appointments the law must be observed in regard to state quotas if there is no pressing emergency. If there 4s, District eligibles on the ground will have their chance promptly. A waiting list, or emergency list, is kept of District eligibles, and they have the benefit of an entire absence, if there 1s such, of eligibles from any state. Age Limit. The action in regard to the forty-flye- year age limit is largely the result of a careful consideration of section 1754 of the Revised Statutes, which gives preference to soldiers disabled in service. The section is as follows: “Persons honorably dis- charged from the military or naval service by reason of disability resulting from wounds or sickness incurred in the line of duty shall be preferred for appointments to civil offices, provided they are found to possess capacity necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of gpch oilices.” August 3 a letter was received from an old printer in Pennsylvania which in a very able and convincing manner called the at- tention of the commission to the age limit in connection with this section. After care- ful study of the matter the commission took the view that it had no right to revent an old soldier disabled in service rom showing in an examination whether he had the capacity necessary for the place for which he desired to be an appli- cant. The age limit will beyond all doubt be suspended for a time, although the com- mission has not formulated its action. A District Printer's View of It. ‘To the Editor of The Evening Star: Much has been said in your valuable sheet In regard to the injustice of the civil service laws now in effect in the gov- ernment printing office, and no doubt such an injustice will be talked down for a long time to come. In this connection permit me to call attention to the clause, “No Dis- trict printer need apply.” There is now in the city a number of printers who were born in the District of Columbia who have, at various times, worked in the govern- ment printing office, some of these serving their apprenticeship in the office. OW, think of the unjust discrimination against these men. Take the man that served his apprentice- ship in the government printing office. Does any one have the slightest doubt that after serving four years’ apprentice- ship, under the training of some of thg finest printers that were ever employed or will be employed in the G. P. O., that he is nol ogres tO Gi 2 pesition in tho dmicé? But, according to the blanks, fur- nished by the civil service commission, he is barred. There are today some of the finest prin- ters in the country walking the streets of this city, and may continue to walk if this clause is permitted to remain, just on ac- count of the injustice of said clause. ‘As a District man, an ex-employe, serv- ing my appreticeship om ce c a O., L can- not let go by unnoticed this injustice. e EX-EMPLOYE. —_.__ EFFECT ON THE PARTY. One Significant Thing About the Re- cent Silver Conference. As far as its effect upon the democratic party is concerned the silver conference held here this week will probably prove much more significant and important than the attendance and public interest in it would Indicate. As a spectacular perform- ance, it was extremely insignificant. The fact worthy of consideraticn is that six influential democrats, three of them United States Senators and one the President pro tem. of the Senate, have been given the form of an official authority to select a national committee of silver men to work upen and endeavor to shape the policy of the democratic party. Eliminating everything else connected with the confer- erce, this ts a matter of consequence to the party concerned. Standing of the Committee. ‘The members of this committee are men of such standing in the democratic party that their suggestions will be received by the average run of their own party in democratic sections of the country, with respectful, if not acquiescent, considera- tion. They have the naming of the “sil- yer national committeemen” for all the states, In these positions they will natu- rally place those men who are the recog- nized leaders of democracy. By this alone they will almost dominate their party. At all events they put their “cause” into a scclety of political respectability far su- perior to that it finds in the populist or the independent silver party. In the south and west the strongest men of the democratic party are available for service on this national committee. Thus; by a very clever political plan the least appearing of ali the silver demonstrations, the meeting of smallest proportions, 1s lia- ble to prove the fatal one to “sound money” in the democratic party. Senator Harris’ Shrewdness. Senator Harris of Tennessee is as shrewd as he is old. No one knows how old he ts, except that he Is very old. No one knows how shrewd he is, except that there is no one in the Senate more so. He and Turpie and Jones of Arkansas have no idea of joining the populist party. They have sim- ply got a well-laid plan for committing the democratic party to silver. If it defeats the party at the polls, that’s another story, If they succeed in their plan it is Ikely to drive all the “sound money” democrats of the Cleveland school to the support of the republican candidate, and the old dem- ocratic leaders do not object to that. ————— Post Offtce Allowauces. Acting First Assistant Postmaster Gen- eral Lamar today fixed the allowance for rent and office expenses in the Alexandria post office for the present fiscal year at $2,- 748. The allowance for Portsmouth, Va., was fied at $2,100. WASHINGTON, D.C.. SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. Report of the Board as to Damage Sustained. INJURIES © STATED »=« IN’ DETAIL Caused by Generally Careless and Unskillful Docking. REPAIRS RECOMMENDED Commodore Selfridge, Naval Constructor Bowles and Chief Engineer Farmer, the special board appointed to examine the hull of the cruiser Columbia at the New York navy yard to determine the extent of the damages she sustained by being docked at Southampton, has reported to the Navy Department. “In general,” the board says, “the actual damage is slight, it being confined to loose and leaky rivets and a few leaky butts and seams in the flat keel plates and to dents in the flat keel plates and garboards. These dents occur evidently where the ship rested on the keel blOcks at Southampton, and are all located at the outer edges of it on the flat keel plate and in the seam of the keel plates and garboard, or at an average of seventeen inches from the vertical keel. The starboard side has suffered markedly more than the port. The damage to the keel and garboard ts greatest at the fore end, just abaft the buckle, where the keel begins to cut up, and noticeably decrease aft, until all damage, even to the cement, disappears forward of the engine room. Forward of the knuckle nothing has been injured. Five of the seven long stanchions in the fire room, reaching from the protect- ed deck to the inner bottom, are buckled, the worst having a permanent set of lig inches. No plates or angles are cracked. Four rivets are sheared sharp off, which secure a floor bracket to the frame bar within the double bottom. “Two brackets, two floor plates, two wa- tef-tight floors and the vertical keel are buckled, none of them seriously. We find Ho beta to the machinery has been sus- ained. Cause of the Damage. We find that the cause of the damage and injury sustained by the hull of the Columbia by the docking at Southampton was generally careless and unskiliful dock- ing, as shown by apparent neglect of most elementary proportions to secure the uni- form support of the keel of the ship. The immediate cause of the dents and bruises to the bottom plating of the Columbia was that the keel blocks in Southampton were nut properly aligned, and did not bear equally, and that each block was not squared off to give support to the flat and level surface of the flat keel. On the con- trary, the keel blocks had been repeatedly used, and by bar keel vessels, so that they were crushed down in the center to such an extent, that, when examined, as soon as the watcr was out of the dock at South- empton, a considerable number showed no bearing whatever on the flat part of the keel, and only bore on the outer edges on the bottom plating. Wedges were driven between the keel and the center of these blocks at the request of the officers of the Columbia. A vessel was floated out of the Scuthampton dock just before the Colum- bia was teken in. A serious contributory cause to the dam- age was that the keel blocks were not built up forward, where the forefoot ts cut awey from a point 107 feet abaft the for- ward perpendicular. This very consider- able proportion of the length of the ship was left entirely unsupported, and was orly shored up some time after the dock was pumped out, at the request of the officers of the ship, an ineffectual method of taking the weight, if promptly and properly done. No bilge blocks were used, and the bilge shores were only put in whan requested, ~ Repairs Recommended. The following repairs are recommended: Loose rivets to be cut out and re-driven, leaky butts and seams to be caulked and Te-riveted where necessary, bent bracket frames to be straightened and re-riveted, Efoken end cracked cement to be replaced. ‘The estimated cost for this labor Is $4 and the material, $50; a total of $525, an the total time required, twelve days. It will be noted that the fire-room stanch- fons showed slight increase in buckling after the ship was docked on the 12th tn- stant, although the ship rested equally on fair true blocks, built up forward to a poinz forty-six feet from the forward per- pendicular, therefore we recommend that these stanchions be renewed when oppor- tunity occurs after the ship is afloat. Est timated cost of six new stanchions is: Labor, $275; material, $200; time required, eight days. Acting Secretary McAdoo kas ordered the repairs secommended by the board. The report is believed to exonerate Capt. Sum- ner from blame for the docking, and no further action is probable. ——— MR. TINGLE’S surr. The Answer of the District Read to the Commissioners. The attorney for the District appeared before the Commissioners this morning and read over the answer of the District to the suit of Mr. Tingle for an injunction to prevent the Commissicners from placing on reccrd the first section of (the street ex- tension plans. At the present time the map ts in the hands of the highway com- mission for their official approval. After the map was returned to the Commisston- ers the changes recommended by the high- way commission were embodied in a new map and sent back for approval. As soon as the map is returned it will be forthwith filed with the surveyor of the District, as required by law. ——.__. MARY LANCASTER MISSING. A Faithful Servant Disappears From Her Home in Maryland. Mary Lancaster, a colored woman who had been in the employ of Mr. Jas. G. Cashell, near Redland, in Montgomery county, Md., for over tweuty years, left her home on July 26, since which time nothing has been heard from her. She purchased a ticket at Derwood for Forest Glen, and when she left took no clothing with her. She also left some money to her credit in the Sandy Spring Savings Bank. Clothing and other articles to the amount of over $80 were also left at home. She was a very faithful and de- yoted servant to Mrs. Cashell, and that lady is very anxious to iearn her where- abouts. —.__ Must Enter Her Appearance, In the petition for divorce filed July 27 last by Stewart B. Shepperd against Mamie C. Shepperd, on the ground of desertion, Judge Cole today ordered the defendant to enter her appearance within forty days from date, otherwise the cause will be pro- ceeded with as in a case of default. —_——_—_ One Woman Severely Injures Another. Lottie Coates was arrested ‘this after- noon and locked up at the Anacostia sub- station by Officer Marr on the charge of assaulting and severely injuring Sarah Johnston by striking her in the side with two large stones. The difficulty occourred lest night near Douglass Hall. | mg to the terms of hig contract. Determination of the Excise Board in Re- gard to the Division. In Several Other Localities Will Ap- plications Also Be Refased—The Placard Order Construed. ‘There will be no licensed liquor saloons in the “Division” next year. This has been absolutely determined by the excise board. For many years that section of the city has been made worse by the presence of a number of low dives, which dispensed the vilest Mquor to the most depraved class. Many of the crimes which have been committed down there have been traced to these saloons. It has been argued time and time again when ap- Plic&tions for liquor licenses in this local- ity have been refused that the saloons were necessary for the class that patron- ized them. But the excise board thinks differently, and after mature deliberation, and a personal inspection of the places when no one knew it, each member is sat- isfied that not only are the saloons not needed in that vicinity, but their presence is a positive menace. So when the new leense year rolls sou they will be closed for good. A Transfer Refused. The toard showed its hand today when it refused to issue a transfer license to a man who desired to conduct a liquor busi- ness on D street. The applicant was wor- thy and there was nothing against him. The lieutenant of police made a favorable report, but the application was refused. Then it developed that the board had de- cided to issue no more licenses in that sec- tion, and to wipe out all of those that re- mained. Nor is this all. The board pro- poses to refuse licenses to places on 2ist Street, and to close every saloon in Willow- tree alley. This will be followed by closing several of the places on 10th street south of Penn- sylvania avenue. It was stated today that many of the saloons south of the avenue, and located between 10th and 13th streets, had alley entrances, and allowed men and women to congregate in the back rooms and drink, making night hideous with their orgies. All of these facts have been re- ported to the excise board bythe inspect- ors, and as stated above the*members of the excise board have looked into the mat- ter themselves that they;might better be able to understand the situation. This ac- tien on the part of the excise board will throw out of business between 25 and 30 places. The Placard Order. Following the statement made to the committee from the Fedetation of Liquor Dealers, regarding the posting»of placards, the excise board has issued the following order: : “The order of July 27, 1805, respect- ing the placing of catds notifying the pub- lic of aplications for liquor licenses, is hereby construed as to apply to applica- tions for new places and transfer of own- ership of bar rooms.” The excise board met <nigmorning and disposed of the following Applica- tion for transfer of bar-room license to Moore & Presieau, 1220 D stfect northwest, refused. Application of Jas. B. Roche, 1009 lith street southeast .(transferj, approved. —_.—— THE GARBAGE CONTRACTOR, He Will Be Continually Fined for Doing Poor Work. The authorities are pressing the con- tractor for removing garbage, and if continual fining for poor work will bring him to time, there is every reason to hope for good garbage service. The garbage inspectors Gré ihvestigaiing every com- plaint that comes to the Health office, and if it is found that the contractor is re- sponsible, he is immediately fined accord- This ‘ing the fines imposed amounted to 2. It Was authoritatively stated today that there would be no cessation jy tha fines, and every day they would be inflict- ed, until the service was as it should be. This fining has had a wholesome effect upon the contractor, and he is doing some hustling. He said ‘today that after he had succeeded in systematizing the col- lections there would be no complaints. Several complaints have been recently filed against the use of horns by the col- lectors. who make sleep impossible in the early morning by their hideous toot, toot, toot. Before the new contract was en- tered into, the Commissioners stated there would be no need for horns under the new arrangement, but they are waking the tired citizens up evefy morning just the same. MR. DABNEY WIL§ RESIGN. His Connection With partment to Cense Si Mr. Walter D, Dabney resign his office as solici Department, to take effe in order to accept the pos! of law at the Universit; which he was elected T! ceived formal notice of §$is appointment this morning and forwar his letter of acceptance during the afternoon. He has not yet resigned his federal office, but will do so in a few days. e State De- tember 15. September 15, fion of professor ff Virginia, to irsday. He re- Pei nal Menfion. Mr. R. B. Claughton, reteiving teller of the West End National Bank, has gone with a party on a bicycle trip through the valley of Virginia, after which ho will go to Atlantic City for a week. Major W. P. Hall, asgistamt adjutant general, ‘has gone to Cape May with his family for a two weeks’ yisit. Assistant Naval Const) or H. G. Smith is in the city on leave. Chief Engineer Canaga, timore, was at the Navy cn business connected w! the construc- tion of the new torpedo ts. Major Jno. W. Collins pf the Treasury Department, has recovere@from his recent severe illness, and has gdme to his home in Brooklyn, N. Y., for short rest be- fore resuming his official dties. Captain Harry Douglas! King and Mr. Victor Henry Esch of thistcity are enjoy- ing a_week's vacation at Colonial Beach. Mr. Esch has just returned from a two months’ journey to Germany. Mr. William A. Case, son of Rev. Watson Case, pestor of Grace M. B. Church, has been appointed professor of mathematics in the Williamsport Dickinsoa Seminary, Williamsport, Pa. Mr. Case is an alumnus of St. John’s College, Annapolis, Md., and a ‘95 graduate of the Graduate School of Columbian University. Dr, H. M. Neuman has returred after an extended stay in Europe, ——_-e-______ Pensions- Allowed. Virginia—Renewal. and reissue, Thomas Vann, Hickory, Norfolk. Maryland—Original, Owen Ward, de- ceasei, Baltimiore; original, Jacob Green, Mechantiestown, Frederick; increase, Michael Noland, Sharpsburg, Washington; reissne, Watson B. Nichols, Baltimore; reissue, Wm. F, Cherry, Calvert, Cecil; reissue, Wm. Hempton, Baltimore; reissue, George W. Gill, Baltimore, ‘ Consul Recognised. ‘The President has recognized William R. Tucker as Russian vice consul for the port of Philadetrhia. A Party Leader's Responsibility Ac- cording to Silver Democrats, RESPECTS PAID 10 MR. CLEVELAND The Kind of Candidates Wanted for Next Year. HOW TO WIN SUCCESS ———— The democratic silver leaders at their meeting here this week paid their respects with much freedom to President Cleveland, and out of the many things sald was to be evolved a pretty clear idea of their opinion of party duty and a party leader's respon- sibility. They agreed, to a man, in ascrib- ing the whole of the democracy’s present embarrassing plight to Mr. Cleveland's in- dependent action on questions respecting which, if they are right, he should have been in a very large measure controlled \by the party’s well-accepted promises and undeniable record. And then, as was fur- ther charged, not content with antagoniz- ing his party on several important ques- tions, he went further and made an open alliance with the commen enemy, and on the silver question overthrew his party in Congress with the aid of the enemy. The Lesson Drawn. Ofcourse there was a lesson drawn from all this—a lesson to be applied in choosing the national leader next year. The party must never again, these gentlemen con- tended, follow any man whose democracy is not thorovghpaced. It must insist on future on candidates who will feel them- selves committed to and bound by a plain reading of the yarty’s platforms ang pro- fessions. The next triumph, if another triumph is to be achieved at the polls, must be genu- ine in every way. Better not another tri- umph than one involving the party in such bickerings and the country in such doubt as have existed for the past two years. Better wait, if for some years, until per- fect agreement has been reached on all vital questions, and a leader secured who will in the fullest sense be the party's rep- resentative in office. Never again, it was most emphatically asserted, should the de- mocracy give its support to any man for the presidency capable, if installed in that office, of using a minority majority—a coa- lition of a few democrats and the van- quished republicans—to substitute his own views, although well known in advance, for the views of a large majority of his own party, equally well known in advance. How to Win Success. But the silver democrats do not believe there need be any delay at all. They insist that another triumph awaits the party next year, ard that nothing will contribute more to making that triumph absolutely certain than for the party to prepare to make it absolutely genuine. The prescription is simple. The party must nominate a man of whom nobody will declare or believe that he is better than his party. He should, of course, be a man of experience in public affairs, in the thorough confidence of all his party asso- clates and willing to surround himself with the best of party men. He should In no sense be a party hack, but he should have served the party long and faithfully, and in this way have grown to respect and al- ways to obey his party’s history and tra- ditions. Hes should, in a word, be a firm believer in the jaf roug sf thé party, and as a democrat Wilke te Promote at all times and above all things the rule of the majority. Then when this man has been decided upon put him on a platform whose meaning will be as clear as his own character is consistent, and, as the silver democrats believe, the country will ratify the action at the polls. What Next Year's Candidate Must Be. As severely as they arraigned him, some of these silv: n were willing to concede that Mr. Cleveland ought not to be tried by a rule as strict as would justly apply to a democrat who had come to the presidency under circumstances they define for next year’s race. The parzy, both in 1884 and in 1892, accepted him with a full knowl- edge of his environment and obligations. His personality was permitted both times to supersede and overshadow the party’s plat- form. He was permitted to appeal definitely to an independent element for support, and upon that appeal he received that support. His success, therefore, was not distinctly a democratic success, but a success carrying a first mortgege to the mugwumps, who compose the bulk of his democratic support on the financial question. But what the silver democrats now urge is that the party's next presideatial candidate shall not incur any obligations outside of the party, but shall, on every question, be the party’s loyal and accepted representative, and a office the party’s servant to com- mand. _———e OUT OF POLITICS. The Force of the Agricultural De- partment Under Civil Service. The extension of the classified civil ser- vice to practically the entire force of the Agricultural Department is formally an- nounced in a circular issued by Secretary Morton. In a communication to Dr. D. E. Salmon, chief of the bureau of animal in- dustry, Secretary Morton says the classi- fication affords protection from removal for purely political or personal cause, adds to the responsibility of every employe, and should secure from each additional fidelity. vigilance and attention to work. Discuss- ing the effect of the extension, Secretury Morton adds: “A classified service means an improved service in all that contributes to thoroughness and efficiency. No person need expect to be held in place or pro- moted because of any political or other extraneous influence which may be wielded on his or her behalf; meritorious service will be the sole ground of promotion, and reductions in grade or salary will be made only as the result of inefficieacy. Removals will quickly follow insubordination, inat- tention to duty, intemperance, or incapac- ity from whatever caus2. The service must be conducted in a business manner ond according to business methods.” ——_———_—_—-o.___ MIXED IN GEORGIA. Senator Gordon Thinks the Adminis- tration Will Win. Senator Gordon of Georgia, who is in ‘Washington today, expressed the opinion to a Star reporter that the attitude of Georgia on the financial question was extremely un- certain. “The situation in the state,” he sald, “is greatly mixed. I do not think any. one can say at this time what the outcome will be. Six months ago Georgia was largely in favor of the free coinage of silver. Indeed, I think probably the state is still for silver, but not as strongly so as before. Secretary Smith’s speeches, which were very’able, have had a great influence in the state, and the administration has greatly in- creased in strength. So much so that I think there is a very fair prospect of the administration forces finally getting into control.” e ——-e-—____ Aasintant Paymaster Appointed. ‘The President has appointed H. E. Biscoe and John Irwin, jr., son of Admiral Irwin, to be assistant paymasters in the navy. TWO CENTS. One Obstacle It May Meet With at the Democratic Convention. The Ex-Secretary Held Responsible for Unfulfilled Promises Made for Mr. Cleveland. ‘There is one obstacle the Whitney boom is liable to meet with at the democratic national convention which those desiring his nomination may not have thought of. He may not be as popular there as they expect. Democrats who were at the last convention hold him responsible for Cleve- land’s nomination. This might not be so bad, but he is held responsible for a great deal more. A great many pledges were made at that convention which have not been redeemed. Mr. Whitney, it is said, made these pledges as the representative of Mr. Cleveland. It has been a matter of common gossip that the relations be- tween the President and his ex-Secretary of Navy have been rendered less intimate on account of the failure of the former to honer obligations contracted in his name. A Fair Promiser. Whatever the truth of this may be, Whit- ney is held by many to be a “fair prom- iser,” and if he happened to have many of the same set of men to deal with in "96 they would be apt to make inquiries as to his ability to carry out his promises. One of his strongest pleas for Cleveiand in his visits to the various delegations in that candidate’s interest was that Mr. Cleveland had had about enough of civil service reform, which kept his friends out of office; that he had learned some- thing since his first term, etc. While it cannot be said that he was misinformed as to the fact, the construction which his hearers put upon the declaration led them into error. It was not the disregard of civil service reform in the abstract they were so much interested in. They wanted the offices, and they hold that they were as much deceived as if the reform had not been abandoned. But this is only a general proposition. Some more definite and distinct promises are claimed to have been made and not kept, and it is all charged up against Whit- ney. This is liable to render him less pop- ular in a convention than he would be otherwise. Perhaps this will not matter to him. A Friend’s Statement. One of his most intimate friends has de- clared to a Star reporter that he is hon- estly not a candidate and would probabiy not permit his name to be used even with a certainty of the nomination. The reason given for his attitude is a sentimental one, and one which must be respected if, in- deed, so strong. It is that since the death of his wife he cannot bear to be in Wash- ington fo~ any length of time, and that the idea of taking up a residence here, and particularly of participating in official life, is repugnant to him. This was given as his reason for refusing to go into Mr. Cleveland's cabinet this last term. When he was Secretary of the Navy his house was the gayest and most hospitable in Wash- ington. Mrs. Whitney was a woman of very attractive qualities, great force of character, tact and amiability. Her social career here was brilliant, and her hus- band’s devotion and pride in her excited the admiration of official society. To re- new official life here without her, his friend said, would be so different that the svrmestion is painful to him, and no am- bition could tempt him to it. ——— THE CHINESE RIOTS. Members of the ! tton Here Don’t oid the Végctarians Reapongible; The better class of Chinamen in this city, notably those connected with the Chinese legation, discredit the report that the re- cent riots in China have been committed by the vegetarians. Said one of these gen- tlemen in discussing this report: “It Is in- credible. The vegetarians in all castern countries are persons who abstain from the use of all flesh as an article of diet because of céhscientious scruples against the taking of any form of life. They are of Buddhist faith, and do not believe in killing animals, much less human beings, and it is not to be telieved tnat they would have let their entagonism to the Christian religion betray them Into any violence that would cause the loss of iife. They are more or icss fanatical, to be sure, but they are regarded as of a submissive disposition.” Strong Prejudiccs Against Mission- aries, Discussing the matter further, the gen- tleman said it was true that strong preju- dice existed among the vegetarians against the missionaries because of the former's abhorrence of meat as an article of diet, and because they believe that the practice of meat eating is a part of the Christian faith. Many of them think that if they should become Christians they would be compelled to adopt a meat diet, and some of the native converts to Christianity, be- tween whom and the followers of the other faith there is always a sharply defined an- tagonism, have done much to intensify the feeling by performing acts especially calcu- lated to shake the sensibilities of the anti- flesh eaters. But intense as is the feelirg on the part of the Buddhists on this ac- count, the gentleman quoted does not be- lieve that it would have led them to com- mit an act in direct contravention of their primary doctrine. He thinks it more likely that advantage has been taken of the knowledge of this antagonism between the vegetarians and the Christians to lay the blame for the killing of the missionaries at the doors of the anti-meat eating sect, when, in fact, they are in no way responsi- ble for it. —_—_-2-—______ SUFFICIENT FLOORING. Workmen on the Post Office Building Now Protected. “Workmen on the new city post office are now enjoying the safeguard of sufficient scaffolding,” said Superintendent Kinsey to a Star reporter today. “The ironworkers are now finishing the work on the seventh and eighth floors on the southeast corner of the building. They are all in a contracted space, and plank flooring has been placed under them so that in case of a fall a man “would be caught and would not make the terrible leap among the rafters to sure death. “The protection now provided is superior to any precautions that have been taken for the ‘ety of the ironworkers. No new plank has yet been delivered here for this purpose, but the men being gathered in a small space there is enough plank to cover the beams directly under them. The work on the seventh and eighth floors Is now nearly completed, and it is not likely that there will be any extensive laying of floor- Ing until It is placed on the eighth floor to protect the men when the ninth story goes up. “The foreman representing Thorp & Bond has ordered additional flooring, which will be delivered in time to be used when the ninth floor work is commenced. I have not been informed of the amount of this floor- ing that has been ordered, but understand that it is ample to protect the men.” —— Application Denied. Judge Cole today denied a motion for all- mony and counse: fees in the proceedings for divorce brought December 11. last by Olga Palmer Bagaley ugainst Walterman Palmer Bagaley. Te proof of fhe pudding is in fe eating. Yesterday's Sfar contained 29 cofumns of advertisements, made up of 487 separate announce: ments. These advertisers Bouaht pubficife—nof merefp Space. RANSOM PRINTERS’ AGE LIMIT CRUISER COLUMBIA NOLICENSES TO BE GRANTED EXECUTIVE DUTY THE WHITNEY BOOM THE FIGHT ON BRICE Will Lose the Delegation From Cleveland, EX-CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON AT WORK Ohio Democrats Divided as to Means to Be Employed. CURRENT POLITICAL GOSSIP CLEVELAND, Ohio, August 17.—The democratic county convention to select delegates to the state convention, to be held next Tuesday and Wednesday at Springfield, was called to order at 10 o'clock this morning. After a hot fight Alfred Whittaker was elected chairman Lover James Lawrence by a vote of 227% to 189%. The selection cf Whittaker as chair- man was a decided victory for the free sliver and anti-Brice faction. A motion by a free silver delegate to ap- point a committee of seven to select dele- gates to the state convention caused a row that for a time threatened to result in more than a war of words. The fight resulted in a number of the gold and Brice men, headed by James Law- rence, retiring from the hall with the an- nouncement that they would at once hold a “rump” conventicn. After their with- drawal the motion to select a committee of seven to choose delegates to the state convention prevailed. This committee, as selected, was composed entirely of free silver and anti-Brice men. ; This ccunty has long been the fortress cf the anti-Brice sentiment. Six years ago the democrats held an indignation meet- ing, in which Mr. Brice, who wanted to be Senator, was roundly denounced by the leading members of his party. That same sentiment prevails today. Six years ago ex-Congressman Tom L, Johnson spoke at the anti-Brice miceting, and he is working tooth and nail against the Senator now. This is true, in spite of the fact that Johnson stands shoulder to shoulder to the Senator on the financial question. Johnson hates Brice more than he does silver, and it is believed that, although he will not vote for a silver plank, he will combine with the silver men in any other plan to humiliate the Senator. Johnson ad- vocates the election of Senators by the peo- ple and the nomination by the Springtield convention of a candidate for Senator. If Mr. Brice should find himself in control of the convention he might embarrass Mr. Johnson by accepting his proposition. The democrats here are suffering from the same disease that pervades the party through the state. L. A. Russell, one of the leading democrats in the city, has stat- ed the position of his colleagues very accurately. He says: “All democrats are agreed that equal justice to all, special privileges to none, is the object of govern- ment, but we are badly .divided in our method of attaining this end. I, for one, am in favor of free trade, single tax and the precious metals for our primary money, at the ratio of 16 to 1. In each of these views I am at disagreement with most democrats, and so is Mr. Tom L. Johnson, and so is Senator Brice. I love Brice and I love Johnson. But Brice, while in the Senate, played into the hands of the protectionists. He did this because he was a practical politician, Then the democrats, at the sug- gestion of such leaders as Mr. Johnson, declare protection to be a fraud, and the party then proceeds to give us more pro- tection. This makes me unhappy, and I am waiting for my party fo ge: “#ht om the issues of the day. ¥ want > 29 to Springneld next Week to do what I can io steer the old ship back into proper chan- nels.” The seceders to the number of about seventy-five at once went to another hall, organized and elected fifty-nine delegates to the state convention. Resolutions were adopted condemning the methods pursued by the so-called regular convention, and after giving three rousing cheers for Senator Brice adjourned. A Third Term Impossible. NEW YORK, August 17.—Gov. William J. Stone of Missouri, in an interview here, said: “You ask about Mr. Cleveland and a third term. I have no idea that Mr. Cleve- land will be a candidate. He could not be nominated if he were to be, nor elected if nominated.” McKinicy the Favorite in Kansas. ROCHESTER, N. ¥., August 17.—Gov. Morrill of Kansas has been interviewed here. He was asked who is his favorite for the republican nomination in Kansas, and replied: “Wm. McKinley is decidedly the choice of the Kansas republicans. He is @ level-headed man and a safe man. He has the personal popularity with the people of the west. . “Reed, however, is an intellectual giant. He has many admirers in Kansas and throughout the west and he is generally regarded as one of the most brilliant men in public life. “Allison is highly respeeted, and his nom- ination would be very acceptable to Kansas; but I do not expect to see it. I met Allison a short time ago, and he told me frankly that he did not intend to make any special push for thé nomination this year as he had made in previous years.” Senator Davis for President. 8ST. PAUL, Minn., August 17.—The Dis- patch this evening will contain an inter- view with Captain H. A. Castle, a life- lcng friend of Senator C. K. Davis. Capt. Cestle states that friends of the Senator are convinced that there is a strong sen- timent in favor of Mr. Davis as candidate for the Presidency, and that from now on they should boldly urge and work for his nomination. —-—_—_ TRACK LABORERS SUFFOCATED. Peculiar Manner of the Death of Five Italians, CLEARFIELD, Pa., August 17.—Five Italian laborers employed in grading the roadbed for the new Pittsburg and Eastern railroad lost their lives in a peculiar man- ner last night. A number of men were at work near McGee's, this county, and a heavy blast of dynamite and powder open- ed up an abandoned coal bank nearby. The escaping gases from the bank uniting with the powder smoke overtook the work- men before they could reach a place of safety and suffocated five of them. Six others were overcome by the vapors, but after working all night the physicians pronounce them out of danger today. All of the killed and injured were Ital- jans and known only by numbers. Their names, therefore, cannot be given. ——— FIST FIGHT IN COURT. Tennessee Lawyers Come to Blows Without Doing Much Damage. Col. T, M. Burkett and Attorney Kinser of Athens, Tenn., had a fight in the court room at that place Thursday afternoon. Both of the gentlemen were engaged as at- torneys Ir a case on trial, during which At- torney Burkett melee to Attorney Kin- in an uncomplimentary manner, wer taner resented the same and a fist fight followed, without serious injury to either party, Col. Burkett getting the worst of the fight. | It is feared that the two men may do each other more injury before the affair is settled.