Evening Star Newspaper, August 17, 1895, Page 13

THE EVENING STA = IO~CUOCEC~———————_— R, SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 1895-TWENTY PAGES. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS = _Lost by Uncle Sam Through Queer Methods of Smuggling. PARIS DRESSES AND LONDON SUITS Naval Officers, Senators and Gov- ernment Officials. AWN OPIU RING (Copyrighted, 1805, by Frank G. Carpenter.) HE ENORMOUS amounis of which Undle Sam is robbed through custom house frauds will never be known. The government has 4,806 employes -devoted to their detection,, and its spies are scatter- ed all over the world. Its collections in the way of duties amounted last year to more than $1 000,000, and the expenses of making thes collections was almost 6 per cent of this vast sum. The amount uncollected will never be known. Our custom house rec- erds are peppered with perjury and fraud. Many of the big importers are in collu- sion with the European manufacturers to evade the payment of duties. They enter their goods at much lower prices than they actually pay for them, notwithstanding the fact that if discovered they are sub- ject to heavy fines and increased duties. I Saw a summary of the collections made by the Treasury Department during the past few years of this sort of fines and amounts arising from undervaluation. During the past five years the Treasury Department has collected more than $5,000,000 in penal- ties and in the increase of duties. This is @ million dollars a year, and it probably Tall Woman, Short Drensf does not represent one-tenth of the actual amount that Uncle Sam is annually robbed of in this wiy. The law as to the impor- tation of gocds is very strict. A foreign merchant who ships gcods here must first go before the American consul at the ports from which he intends to ship the mer- chandise and swear as to the kinds, qual- ity and quantity of the articles he pro- poses to ship to the United States. He has to have three invoices, describing the goods . and giving their cost in Europe. The law provides that the goods must be entered for duty at the market price paid for them in Europe, and at the prices at which they are sold to other countries. In many cases the goods are entered at a much lower val- uation than this. The European merchant charges the importer a fair price, but he makes out the bill for a lower price, and the two try to cheat the government out of its duties. At the present time the cus- toms bureau has its special examiners or detectives traveling about through Europe and trying to prevent this. They are vis- iting big fectories. They are inquiring into the prices. They are making their reports to the consuls, and it is their business to find out how Uncle Sam is being cheated and prevent it. They are not doing this, but they are doing something. But not- withstanding their cfforts millions of dcl- lars’ worth of goods are fraudulently im- ted every year, and they strive in vain fo mend tkis kole in Uncle Sam’s pocket. How Travelers Cheat the Customs. Enormous amounts of goods are smug- gled into the United States by travelers every year. It Is estimated that there are now in Europe more than 100,000 Americans who are taking their summer vacations on the other side, and who will return in the fall. At a low estimate ninety out of every hundred of these will bring back at least $100 worth of European goods. I talked with a Treasury Department official about this matter yesterday, and he said that $200 would be a low estimate. You can easily see how these purchases will run into the tens of thousands and into the mil- Nons. The most of the geods will be du- tiable, and it is safe to say that the above amount will cvade the customs. At $100 per traveler this mezns the Introduction of $0,000,000 worth of dutiable goods, and at $200 per person it would amount to $18,- 000,000 worth. These travelers will be met upon their arrival in New York, and the goods will be passed as personal effects. A woman has the right, according to the law, to a wardrobe corresponding with her station in life, and if she is well-to-do she can load herself with diamonds. Many a New York swell brings in eight or ten suits of clothes, and I am told that there are men who make vacation trips to Europe on the basis that the expenses of their trip will be largely made up by the rofits which will come to them through uying their winter clothing in Europe. Paris Dresses Are Smuggled. This is especially so when women aro to be considered. Dresses cost just about half abroad what they do at home, and they are smuggled in by the tens of thousands. I was told the other day by a man connected with the customs that New York dressmakers often send the girls in their employment to Europe with the proper “Before and After.” measurements for dresses for their cus- tomers. The dresses‘are made In the latest Paris styles and are furnished to the Amer- feans at exorbitant prices. The dressmak- ing girls pass them through as thelr own personal property, and some of the maidens who, on the big ocean liners, are looked upon as American heiresses are smuggling milliners. The government does all it can to prevent such importations, It has its detectives on both sides of the big pond, and the stewardesses of the steamships often give tips to the inspectors. There are female inspectors at New York who some- limes meet these smuggling maidens upon thelr landing. I am told that there are English tailors who send their representatives to America every year to carry clothes ever and bring new measurements back. Among the cus- tomers of these men are seme of our most noted public characters, and a list of the names of American swells who get their clothes in this way would make interest- ing reading. - A Drink Which Cost $300. An. American, who for ssome time was the head of an American ex- change in London, did quite a smuggling business in the way of diamonds. He pass- ed the customs several times and he finally became so bold that he boasted to his fel- lows tkat he could bring through any emount of jewels without trouble. One day while taking a drink in the Hoffman Hevse tar room the subject of passing the customs officers came up, and this man sald: ‘ “Why, genzlemen, It is the easiest thing imaginable to skin those custom house officers. They think they are very smart, tut they are blind as bats. 1 could give you a dozen ways to get past them. I A Silk Dress for a Man. have brcught in clothes and jewels, and I hav> never been detected. Why, only last January I bought in a diamond neck- lace and sold it to a big corset manufac- turer who wanted it for his wife. I got $1,280 for that necklace and both the lady and myself made a nice thing off of it.” While the young man was saying this, however, it happened that a special treas- try agent was standing nearby. He in- quired as to the smuggler’s identity. He looked the matter up during the next few days and reported it to the collector. The manager of the exchange, the gentleman smuggler, received notice to come to the custom house, and befcre he left he paid 3200 for that drink and indiscreet remark which followed it in the Hoffman bar room. The detective, of course, got his percent- age, and had the smuggler not been a man of prominence he might have gone to prison. Diamonds are smuggled in all of ways. They are so small that they can easily be concealed, and it is not unusual to put them, into soap, to have them sunk between the soles of the shoes or in the padding of a coat. The treasury officials say that in- stances are known of men concealing dia- monds and pearls under pcrous plasters, and cases have occurred where they have been put into raw meat and fed to dogs just be- fore landing, and the dogs thus brought off with the diamonds inside of them. This last is something similar to a story which kas just come out concerning the smug- gling of opium from British Columbia into the United States. As the sto-y goes, it is doctored up and fed to old oxen, who are then driven across the frontier and killed in order to get the opium out of their stomachs. Any one who knows anything as to the horrible taste of opium and of the decided objection that any sensible ox would have to egting it would regard this story us decidedly fishy. At least it is so regarded at the Treasury Department. Money in Opium. Opium is smuggled, however, in all sorts of ways. The business has fallen off some since the reduction of the duty from $12 to $6 a pound. It still goes on, how- ever, and great quantities are. shipped into the United States every year. It, is. estimated that 400,000 pounds of the drug are used annually in the United*States, and a@ treasury official says that more than 1,000,000 of our people have the opium habit in a greater or less degree. There are hundreds of men and women who use laudanum and opium who are never sus- pected. At any rate, there fs a_vast consumption of opium in the United States, and it is estimated that at least 100,00@ pounds of that used are smuggled across the northern frontier from British Columbia. This escapes the duty, and at the old rate {t would represent a loss to Uncle*Sam of $1,200,000 a year, and at the present duty of $600,000 a year. The opium is brought in the crude state from China or India and is manufactured at the great factories along Puget sound into opium for smoking and medicine. The British own the factories, but the Chinese, I am told, do the work. It is said that hundreds of thousands of dollars are invested in the business, and fortunes have, I am told, been made by smuggling the drug into the United States. ud For years there was a great opium ring on the Pacific coast. The department knew that it was in operation, but it could not get evidence against it. It was so strong that it bribed or intimidated thé agents. About two years ago, however, sufficient evidence was collected for the demanding, of a special grand jury at Portland, and this grand jury found indictments against twenty-seven persons, among whom wero an ex-collector of customs and an ex- special agent. A few months later an- sorts “It's Easy to Skin Uncle Sam.” other grand jury found additional indict- ments, and forty persons were charged by the two juries with conspiracy to smuggle opium and Chinese laborers into the United States. the matter went on it was found to be even more serious than had been suspected. The trials established that in the twelve months preceding 30,000 pounds of opium had been smuggled into Portland alone. This should have paid a duty of $180,000, and it was also shown that the same ring_had during that time smuggled in 1,500 Chinese laborers. In the ring were some prominent men of the states of Washington and Oregon, and of the forty seven of the smugglers pleaded guilty and three others were convicted. Naval Officers as Smugglers. I am told that a great many things are brought into the United States ‘by naval officers. They are classed as personal ef- fects, and they are not as a rule offered by the officials for sale, though such cases have been known. Not a long time ago a merchant vessel was sent by the Navy Department to Havana to bring back to the United States some shipwrecked sailors. While there the officers in charge bought a great lot of cheap cigars. There were s0 many of them that they corded them up in @ great pile on the deck and over this pile they threw a lot of old salleloth. When the customs officers appeared and asked them if they had any dutiable goods on board the naval officers pointed to this pile and said that {t contained cigars. They laughed as they did so, and the customs officers thought that they were being guyed. They had never seen cigars put up in that way, and they passed over the stack of sail- cloth without further examination. Liquors have been brought into Canada by naval officers, and one of the revenue marine corps told me once of an_experi- ence which he had at Halifax. He had gone into a large liquor store, and the man had offered him some very cheap cigars and showed him samples of fine wines, Mquors and brandies. As he tasted them the merchant said, “Of course, you want to load up here with Scotch whisky and Hennesy brandy. You can get the goods here for half what they will cost you in the United States. We are doing a big trade with the navy. A number of your ships have called here, and I have sold the officers large orders.” My friend of the revenue marine said that this was agaist the law, and that he could not take goods into the United States in that way. The merchant was much surprised, and he had evidently been doing a large business with the navy. A United States Senator and a Smug- gled Drens. It is not often that our American consuls try to rob Uncle Sam, but they do it now and then. Some years ago a United States Senator was caught smuggling. His son was vice consul at one of the interior towns in Germany, and he had sent in the State Department mail bag a package to his father, which was supposed to contain pa- pers. The Treasury Department had been much troubled with petty smuggling, and in some way this package came under the eyes of one of the special agents abroad. He wrote to the State Department and asked if it could be examined. The Senator was notified when the package arrived, and he went to the department for it. He was told that there had been a question raised as to the contents of the package, and that it must be opened at the department. He stormed and protested. The clerk in charge, however, quietly opened the package in spite of his objections, and then held up before the Senator’s eyes about thirty yards of the finest black gros-grained silk. The Senator at once subsided. He became as meek as a lamb, and allowed the silk to be sent on to New York for appraisement. The duty was high at that time, and he pail about a dollar a yard to get the dress. The matter was kept quiet, and it came to me through one of the old officials, who was connected with the State Department at the time. FRANK G. CARPENTER. ——.—__ Her Suggestion. From the Chicago Tribune. ‘I have come this evening, Miss Mildred,” kegan the youth, fingering his hat ner- veusly and clearing his throat, “to ask you—that !s—” He cleared his throat again, swallowed a lump that seemed to go down hard and resumed: “I came this evening to—tell you, Miss Mildred, that—h'm—that whether I—h'’m— ever come again or not will depend on your reply to what I—-to what I came to say this evening.” “Why, Mr. Spoonamore,” said the young lady, “what can you mean?” “I mean, Miss Billiwink—Miss Mildred— that the time has come when I can no longer—h'm—can no longer pretend to hide from myself the knowledge that I—h’'m— have become too deeply interested in you to endure the thought that some other m—ahem—some other man may win the prize on which I have set my heart.” His voice was growing more husky, but he went on: “TI feel that I am laboring under a dis- advantage, Miss Mildred, and _yet--h’m— if you knew the strength of the—h'm--of the feeling that moves me—that compels me; I might say, to run the risk of—h'm— of seeming ‘to be in too big a hurry, you would understand why I have come to say —h'm—to say what I have come tg say this evening. H’m.” “Don't you think, Mr.-Spoonamore—’ ‘Miss Mildred, a man in my condition doesn’t think! He can’t think. He can only—h'm—he can only fecl. That is—h’m— what ails m2. If you would—would only —h'm—help me out—” “Mr. Spoonamore,” said the young wo- man, in whose eyes there shone the light of a sweet and tender pity, “if I had your voice I would go and get it sand-papered.” eiacel eben eee emir A Few Points About Matches. From the New York Times. A commission appvinted by the French government has been investigating the manufacture of matches, with the object of ascertaining if there was not some sub- stance whose substitution for phosphorus would render that industry one in which men and women could engage without be- coming the victims of horrible and fatal forms of poisoning. The commission has just made {ts report, and the conclusions reached by it are of great interest. There is, the commissioners say, nothing that can replace phosphorus as a quick and con- venient means to start combustion. Other chemicals would, indeed, be safer for the employes, but none of them is even ap- proximately as safe or useful from the standpoint of the public. It is evident therefore that the use of phosphorus must continue; but, thougn that is the’ case, it by no means follows thet the manufacture of matches must be at the cost of hun- dreds of lives every year. By using proper precautions, the commissioners declare, in the ventilation of factbries, in the structure of machines and in the personal habits of the work people, practically all danger can be removed. In the best regulated estab- lisbments measures have already been taken that put an end to the diseases that a careless and unscientific use of phos- phorus proguces in those that handle it. Adequate safeguards against necrosis end blood poisoning are known and in use—by some manufacturers. Others persist in the old ways, and their employes continue to die, also in the old way. A startling fea- ture of the report is its assertion that the match factories. owned and conducted by the French government itself are precisely those in which the conditions are the worst, while many private companies have already made their premises models of ar- rangement and method, as healthful to work in as could be desired. It has long been known that the “allumittes de la regie” were the worst in the world, but perhaps 'the labors of this told snd out- spoken commission will result in improving the official matches as well as the places where they are made. +++ —_____ Died for Her Young. From the New Haven Morning News. - Burton H. and Edward R. Alling of Ham- den and three New Haven boys last Monday afternoon saw a snake of the copperhead species emerge from a hole near the upper end of Wintergreen lake. The reptile was a male and was soon fol- lowed by the female, with a host of little progeny by her side. When the boys rush- ed to attack the snake family the male reptile fied. But the female stood stock still, opened her mouth, and her fifty-three offspring raced down her throat for safety. The boys battered and pelted the female snake to death with sticks and stones, and then took thelr capture to the Alling Homestead, in Hamden. They told the story of their experience to a man well versed in the knowledge of the habits of reptiles, and he dissected the dead female snake. ‘The result was very interesting. Out fell fifty-three little snakes, none of which was more than two inches long. Some were dead because of the beating that had killed their mother, but most of them were alive. They, however, were quickly dispatched, and the complete score of the killed, includ- ing the maternal female, made just fifty- four snakes. The copperhead female, like all other snakes, lays a numerous nest of éggs, which she hatches and then protects a3 best she can until her little ones are able to care for themselves. The fact that the offspring of the female snake killed lei t Monday did not exceed two inches in lengt is proof that the little ones could not have been over a few days old. —+o+—___ Undoubtedly. From the New York World. Krox—“How do you know it 1s you and not your money George wants to marry?” Ethel—“‘He told me s0, papa, dear. He said he was willing to ‘live on his love.’ ” ——_~+o+___ Every Dog Has His Day. From Truth. Over the oliff with them into oblivion, Where others have gone and where others will go— Trilby the naughty, Napoleon the tyrant— pry they are dead; now give others a show. DAVE HILL “HOPEFUL ae. ae He Gives His Views in Regard to Democratic Sugocss. PRESENT TARIFF LAW “WILL STAND His Summer Home Near Albany and How He Lives. PLATFORMS OF 1896 (Copyright, 1895,) SPENT A DAY with Senator David B. Hill at Albany re- cently. Albany is Senator Hill's sum- mer resort. He has to spend some of his summer days in Washington when Congress is in ses- sion. When Congress is not In session he spends at intervals a few days at Nor- mandie-b y-the-S e a. But for » choice he remains in Albany during the warm days. Perhaps if you had as beautiful a home as Senator Hill, you would be content to remain there rather than stow yourself away in the cramped quarters of a seaside hotel. Senator Hill's home is the beautiful dwelling overlooking the Hudson river, seven miles north of Albany, sometimes known as ‘Fritz Villa,” and sometimes os “Wolfert’s Roost.” From his home, when he is in Albany, he comes in at about 10 o'clock every morning to his office, which is on the second floor of a building oppo- site the post office. It is a very handsome office which the Senator occupies. It is designated at the foot of the stairway in large letters as the “Law Office of David B. Hill.” There is a suite of three rooms, eT the largest of which is used.by Mr. Hill as his private office. Its walls.are lined with bookce.ses, filled with calf-bound, gilt-let- tered law books. Mr. Hill sits at a roll-top desk of polished light oaly; in-a canc-seated tilting chair. There is a handsome carpet on the floor, and a general @ir of newness which is not customary in) a law office. It is the first office on which, Mr. Hill has pat rent for a long time.. For seven years he occupied offices in the governor's qnan- sion. ; The morning I called on the Senator at Albany I sat opposite him while he opened his mail. Most of it concerned his law practice, but some of the letters were ubout offices. A local newspaper, man came in to ask the Senator. a question, and casually said: ‘What is the outlook,, Senator?” “If my mail is any indication,” said the Senator, ‘the outlook for the democracy is excellent. I thought.we might have to beg people to take the nominations; but I find how that the candidates are coming for- ward in droves. That is a pretty sure sign that the party has confidence in itself. I think that all we need to do is to sit back and let the republican party make mis- takes.”" Preparing for a Convention. Referring in his conversation with this visitor to the applications for nominations which were coming to the party leaders, Senator Hill turned to me and said: “‘Pos- sibly you don’t appreciate the fact that consultation Is absolutely necessary before a convention is held. Public sentiment to- ward the different candidates outlines it- self pretty well in advance. But if the delegates should go ahead without any guidance and without consultation among leading men, they would make foolish mis- takes oftentimes. I recall a convention in my own former city, Elmira, which was al- lowed to run itself. It was not an impo-t- ant convention, and we tried the experi- ment of letting the delegates act entirely on their own judgment and without prior comparison of views. “When the convention was over they brought me the ticket. I found that five of the seven men named lived in one ward, Of course, the ticket was defeated. Now, I do not believe altogether in what is known as the geography of politics, but {t is ab- sclutely necessary that the candidates on a ticket shall represent different parts of the state—that they shall not be chosen all from the same section. The people who vote would resent the fact that all the honors of the convention had been be- stowed on one part of the state. If the nominations are distributed to different parts of the state, the ticket will stand a better chance of getting a majority of the votes cast. That is not politics—it is sense.” I asked the Senator if it was not a little early to be working out the fate of the state ticket to be named next fall. “Campaigns in this state are won often- times in June, July and August,” said the Senator. “In those months the voters who are in the cities, chiefly because they can- not get away, make up their minds how they are going to vote. A little educa- tional work done at this time is worth much more than all you can do in the fall.” “Then you believe in educational cam- paigns?” “Absolutely. Elections in New York are won by arguments first, and then, secondly, by getting the vote registered, and to the polls. But I am talking politics, and there is too much of that in my daily life now.” Debate in the Senate. “Do you still adhere to your views as to the desirability of an amendment to the Senate rules limiting debate?” I asked. “Certainly, I do. I favored such an amendment when the democrats were in power; I favor it now, whierl neither the republican nor the democratic party is in control of the Senate, but the populists hold the balance of power, and I should favor it if the republicans;held the Senate, as they may in the near,future. The ex- pedition of public business should not be regarded a3 a political question, but what- ever party is invested with legislative power should be enabled t6 enact its legis- lative measures with promptness, after reasonable debate- allowed the minority. The democrats in 1893 should.have amend- ed the rules so that the Sherman repeal Fill could have been speedily passed, to be followed by the prompt enactment of a tariff reform bill. The long delays which ensued in the enactment of those measures largely contributed to the loss of confi- dence in our party on the part of the busi- ness Reena Ae { “Are you satisfied with your tariff ex- perience in the Senate?” “I believe that the tariff law_as it now is is far better than the McKinley law, and will prove more satisfactory as time progresses. I should have preferred free Taw materials as being more in accordance with democratic pledges and expectations, but, nevertheless, they were made freer by the duties on them being materially re- duced, which was a long step in the right direction. Now that the income tax has been eliminated from the tariff law by be- ing declared unconstitutional, it may be regarded as a reasonably satisfactory measure. Already manufacturing is re- viving under its influence. All through the state of New York business is looking up. “It augurs well for the future of the democratic party in the next national elec- tion that prosperity should reappear under a democratic tariff law. It wag unfortu- nate that we did not pass a tariff law sooner—that there was not an extra session Congress, And then we were placed in an awkward position because the demands of the government for revenue were guch that we bad to make a little reform go a long way. Besides, I still adhere to my private opinion that it was unfortunate that the President did not seem to have the courage or foresight to either veto or sign the tariff bill. I think he should have done one thing or the other. It was, how- ever, unloaded on the party, and our op- ponents last fall facetiously called it ‘no- body's child." In. the light ‘of the Presi- dent's non-action, the party’s attitude to- ward the bill requires altogether too much explanation. We ought not to have been placed in that position.” As to Tariff Legislation. “Do you look for any further radical changes in the tariff to occur in the near future and demoralize trade interests lican, will not disturb the present tariff law. ‘The Senate is too close for any new tariff legislation, and, besides, the business interests of the country demand industrial peace. Some new or additional internal taxes may temporarily be imposed for the purpose of supplying existing deficiencies in revenue, but no material tariff changes will be made. Of that the business men of the country may rest assured, and may make thelr arrangements accordingly. “How do you regard the prospects of the democratic party in the near future?’ “I am hopeful, but not confident—or rather, not overconfident. The average ci izen seems to think that our party through- out the country has been wrecked almost beyond recovery, and we shall have to overcome this very general impression which unfortunately prevails. The fact cannot be overlooked or disguised that we have not won a victory in a single northern state since the advent of the present na- tional administration in power ard he- “sides have lost many southern states. We have lost the next House of Representa- tives and the control of the Senate. “I trust the reaction will soon come, but it may be postponed for two years yet— until conditions change. A victory this fall in New York and in one or two other nor:n- ern states will infuse the Gemocracy with new life and brighten our prospects for 1896. That victory cannot be procured by non-partisan professions, by catering to independent movements, by unfit and un- popular appointments, by breaking down regular organizations of the varty, by indifference to democratic local successes, by dividing the party on premature er ir- relevant issues or abstract questions upon which it is now called upon to pass, but can better be obtained by an effort to re- vive democratic traditions, to build up, solidify and strengthen party organiza- tions, to infuse a healthy party spirit among the rank and file, to encourage po- litical activity, to adhere to old-fashioned democratic principles instead of sanctioning or tolerating populistic heresies, and gen- erally to advance the interests of the whole party and thereby help the whole country.” The Platforms of 1806, “Will you predict the platform of either the republican or democratic party on the financial question for 18967” “They will probably readopt their re- pective platforms of 1892 on that question. That will be regarded as a safe course un- der existing circumstances, and political parties are always expected to act with prudence. The recent democratic conven- tion in Kentucky and the republican con- vention in Ohio substantially adopted that course, and it will be natural for other states to follow, which will render the task of each of the national conventions an easy one.” “Will you give me your idea of wko the nominees of the respective parties will be in 18962” “Please excuse me,” was all the Senator would say. “And row,” said the Senator, “I am ready to go hcme.” It was 4 o'clock in the after- noon, the regular hour for the Senator to leave his office. We took the Troy car which runs past his office door. It is a trol- ley car, whose off side is protected by a net, which keeps the hilarious Albanian from rolling out and at the same time admits the breeze. After a ten-minute ride on this car, the Senator finds his double-seated, one-horse trap waiting for him at a cross- road. It is a pretty mean cross-road, like all the roads in and out of Albany. There is a stretch of dirt on one side and a plank driveway on the other. From thts the Sen- ator’s trap turns into a fairly smooth coun- try road which leads, after a five-minute drive, to the gateway of “Fritz Villa.” That is the name carved on the two stone pillars which face the road. There is a pretty frame house for the lodgekeeper just within the gateway. A winding gravel drive circles about a little lake, which nestles low in banks of sloping well-trimmed turf. Rustic bridges cross the lake at two points, and near the roadway is a quaint windmill of red shin- gles, whose wheel pumps water for the turf. Facing this windmill, at the head of a long, abruptly sloping lawn, is the many-angled frame house of dull red, which “Joe” Em- mett, the comedian, built for himself, and which Mrs. Emmett sold to Senator Hill. The purchase of this place set afloat many stories of the Senator’s wealth. He is cer- tainly not a poor man, for he lives in very good hotel quarters in Washington, and I have seen him calmly order his secketary to hire a special engine to bring the manu- script of one of his speeches after him from Washington to Jackson, Miss. But the Sen- ator’s friends deny that he is a wealthy man, and ridicule the story that he pald $100,000 for his country home. A Bachelor Home. The balcony landing of Mr. Hill's stair- way looks on the dining room, at whose square table of polished oak the New York Senator sits in solitude at half-past 6 o’clockeevery evening. A bowl of cut flow- ers is before him; exquisite napery is be- neath his plate; his table service is of the finest cut glass and silver. His food Is served to him from a massive oak side- board by a Swiss butler, who was with him when he was in the exccutive mansion, and who followed him to his new home. Ru- dolph and Rudolph’s wife take all the cares of housekeeping from the Senator’s shoul- ders. The Senator’s dining room is an octagonal apartment opposite the entrance to the house. At the left of this entrance ig an octagonal reception room. From its plush centerpiece rises a colossal blue and white vase, which’ is the standard for a cluster chandelier. At the right of the receotion hall, when Mr. Hill bought the house, were three little rooms of odd shape. Senator Hill had the partitions taken out and threw the rooms into one. This is a handsome L-shaped apartinent. It opens into a large billlard room. These are the principal rooms on the ground floor of the house. ‘The impressive pecullarity of the second floor is the independence of its apartments. One, which opens into the main hallway, end which is known as the guest chamber, is the only one evident when you reach the head of the stairs. When you turn a bend in the hall you encounter another suite of rooms, and two individual rooms open on other spaces. No doorways face each oth- er, and every apartment seems cut off en- tirely from every other part of the house. The Governor's Bed. The guest chamber ts a room of many sides and angles. Standing a few inches above the floor, on a little platform just within the doorway, is a broad, generous mahogany bed. It is the bed bought for the executive mansion by Gov. Cornell, in which Grover Cleveland slept for two years and David B. Hill for seven. Gov. Flower used it during part of his term, but when Gov. Morton came to Albany he preferred a brass bed; so the old bed was sold, and Senator Hill became its purchaser. It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. Hill did not buy it because Grover Cleveland had slept in it for two years. Opposite the big bed is a nook in which Marguerite might have sat at her spinning- wheel. The wheel is there and a quaintly fashioned chair of oak, so old that it is al- most as black as dull ebony. These are on a platform six inches above the floor. Be- yond them is a window seat with a couch from which one can look across the valley. Opening out from the guest chamber are two sitting rooms with ceilings and walls paneled in dark woods and there fs a dress- ing room within one of these. Senator Hill’s rooms are north of the guest chamber. There are two rooms and a dressing room e sui! The outside room is the Sen: ‘8 “del provided with a flat-topped oak desk. If the Senator has an inspiration in the night, it is only two steps from his bed to the desk. The bed chamber, like the den, is furnished in light oak. The walls of these rooms are papered in bright, tasteful colors. ‘The servants’ quarters are at the top of the house. They are reached by a private stairway. Another stairway leads to the orly guest chamber to be found on the third floor. It is in an independent wing. ‘This is known as Dr. Pearse’s room. It is kept in condition for the occasional visits of a young ward of Senator Hill, who has gone through college and through medical ool under the Senator’s protection, and Ww! is now ete 3 ie ROL eee ae ap- prenticeship in the hospit of New York city. Some tennis rackets on the wall of his room suggest that the Senator’s spa- cious lawn may be put to a better use than mere scenic adornment at some future day. Interrupted by Politicians. The Senator does not half appreciate some of the advantages of his lovely hom@ In the basement is a fully equipped Turk- ish bath, with steam table and tile-lined pool, which, Mr. Hill tells me, he has never used. Possibly the politicians ¢o rot give 4 the Senator time to swim, for his butler weeps bitter tears over the irregularities of the Senator’s meals. Just as dinner Is served a carriage is likely to drive up with a delegation to consult the Senator. about matters political. That means good-bye to dinner for an hour or more. But I think the Senator would rather talk politics than eat at some critical times. The Senator's only comrades in this big house are his St. Bernard dog and two sleek cats, “Tom” and “Jerry.” When I was taking some snap shots of the Sena- tor’s house and its surroundings he was very anxious that Tom and Jerry should be included in the foreground; but Jerry has vagrant tastes, and Tom evidently be- Heved the camera a death-dealing instru- ment, and we found it impossible to group them among the lilies which fringe the Senator's front veranda. Sitting on this veranda, I asked the Senator if he did not find it lonely in the big house. “It is rather a relief,” he said, “to get off here by myself after talking to so many people in town.” The Senator’s peace will be invaded more frequently perhaps when the proposed new boulevard from the Heights to Albany is constructed. The contract has been let, and Mr. Depew’s raiiroad will pay most of the cost under an assessment of the city of Albany. When the boulevard is completed the Senator can drive from his office to his house in fifteen minutes. The gas com- pany, as a compliment to the Senator, has extended the city gas.mains to his house. With the new driveway completed, the Sen- ator will have all the comforts of city life, with the rural surroundings which make hfe so picturesque in summer days. GEORGE GRANTHAM BAIN. PRIVILEGES FOR JESSE POMEROY. The Life Convict to Have His Solitary Confinement Relieved. Frem the Boston Traveler. Jesse Pomeroy, whose fiendish crimes startled the public over twenty years ago, is about to enjoy a relaxation, to a degree, of the rigorous life which he has led in the state prison at Charlestown’ since his sen- tence was commuted from death by hang- ing to solitary imprisonment for life. Pom- eroy was found guilty of murdering two children by heinous methods and torturing another in a bloodthiysty manner. His imprisonment has been very close, and during all its years he has borne it with seeming indifference. He has been closely guarded, and all possible avenues of escape have been zealously looked after. Owing to his fiendish nature, his keepers have regarded him as a particularly dan- gerous prisoner, and have never allowed him any visitors, and have paid more per- sonal attention to him than to any other convict. This close survelilance, it is said, has given Pomeroy the impression that he was considered an important prisoner in the strictest sense of the word, and as a conse- quence, his bearing toward the officials has been bold. - Pomeroy’s sentence contained one con- dition, an equal of which is found only in the sentence of . Robinson, the woman prisoner who is now in the Lowell jail for life, having been convicted of poisoning her family. The condition allowed Pomeroy an hour in the yard each day, under the guard of an officer. Pomeroy refused to accept the condition, stubbornly declaring that he would not go into the yard unless he could go alone and fraternize with the other pris- oners. Since then he has remained in his cell, visited only by the officers of the prison. Now, however, Warden Bridges, who has just finished a very successful two years’ administration of affairs at the prison, pro- poses to shed a little light into the life of Pomeroy, believing that it is a wiser and better policy so to do. As a first step, Warden Bridges hes re- moved Pomeroy to one of the cells in the new addition, which has just been com- pleted. This addition is a building designed on an extremely modern pian for refractory prisoners. The cells have all the requisites of prison life, and are lighted by means of @ narrow opening in the roof. The walls of each have been covered with such a fine coat of whitewash that the slightest at- tempt to escape through them would be at orce noticeable. The isolation of the pris- oners is rendered complete by means of two doors, the inner one being constructed of iron gratings and the outer a sliding panel of very heavy oak. The next step which the warden will take for.Pomeroy’s interest will be to get per- mission from the governor and his council to give Pomeroy a certain amount of work to perform each day. This will be a radical move, inasmuch as it is considered to con- stitute a rearrangement of the sentence. It is understood that Pomeroy will welcome the expected with much satisfac- tien. Heretofore all his waking hours have been devoted to reading. He has read thousands of books during his imprison- ment, and that portion of the prison li- brary which suited his taste has been quite thoroughly read by him. Besides the books afforded by the library, he has been fur- nished with literature by Mrs. Pomeroy, his mother. Warden Bridges will also offer to Pome- roy the privilege of a turn in the yards connected with the new addition. He will be allowed an hour in the open air each day, always accompanied by an officer. The yards are, in themselves, a pecullarity. They are arranged in a series, extending alongside one wali of the addition. They are merely clean pens, separated by high brick walls. The idea embodied in the con- struction of these yards was to carry out the significance of solitary confinement while affording the prisoners occupying the addition a breath of fresh air. ‘The warden has not made up his mind as to the class of work that shall be given to the convict. He says, however, that in his opinion, various branches of work might be taught him in a short time. Warden Bridges says that Pomeroy is, in general, an excellently behaved prisoner, He is of a taciturn disposition, and has often told the warden that he did not wish to see any one. ‘The warden says that Pomeroy is reading books of a higher tone than was formerly his custom. He said that Pomeroy had told him that he was led to commit the crimes iarcuen reading the yellow-covered type of literature. He has expressed to the war- den his regret that the public should be- Neve that he was born with such a fiendish nature. ——_—_+e+_____ The Tailor’s Response. Frem the Hotel Reporter. The tailor knew the young man who was looking. over the samples. “What's the price of that?” sald the customer, picking up the best thing in the lot. “Seventy-five dollars.” The young man snapped it through his fingers as if mentally calculat- ing. “Well,” he asked, “if I order it now when can I get it?” “When you pay for it!” responded the tailor, with a confidence that almost unbalanced the young man. a La. FOIBLES OF FASHION. Some of the Latest Styles for Men’ Costumes. From Clothiers and Furnishers. Individuality in dress becomes more gen- eral and more discernible in the summer season than at any other time during the year. During the cooler months men are gcverned by prevailing styles, but bright and gay colors are prominent in all sum- mer costumes, and effect combined with comfort is more the desired aim than a strict adherence to the prevailing mode. There is quite a tendency this season in favor of linen suits. In fact, the partiality shown this class of goods has not been excelled for many years past. “Kentucky tow” and similar cotton and linen suitings have come into popularity with marvelous rapidity. The fabric is cool and comforta- ble and very desirable for wear during thé werm months, it is expected that fashion will soon de- mand the fancy silk vests for indoor wear. A vest of a_ pretty pattern is a thing of beauty, and we shall be glad to see the re- vival of this old-time custom. We unde! stand that the ew fad will be conceived in Albert Edward's wardrobe, where it is at present in an em- - bryotic state, A free-roll, double- breasted sack suit is illustrated herewith in fig. 1. The coat and trourers of the model from which this iustration was obtained were of a blue cheviot, while the vest is of a fancy fabric, An Alpine hat of a pearl gray color goes well with this suit. The lawn tennis suit shown in fig. 2 is made in a shepherd’s plaid cheviot. The coat is a shapely sack, with an average length of thirty inches and buttons five and shows patch pockets. The trousers ine of moderate width, with no spring. Th outside seam shows a cord. Sufficlen' length should be given to the trouser leg, 80 as to allow its being turned up. A straw hat, neglige shirt, turn-down collar, flow- ing end bow, leather belt and low russet shoes complete the costume. The third figure shows a double-breasted suit of white flannel material. The coat is modeled something similarly to that shown in fig. 1 The vest can be made sin- gle or double breasted, it being quite sult- able in either style. trousers are the same as those in the first figure, with the exception of some slight differences in finish. A straw hat, with quite a narrow band, accompanies this costume. A new idea in a vest recent- ly came under our notice. The buttons of the garment were concealed. It is an 4 extremely novel ef- fect. A lounging cos- tume for hot weather in vogue among the better classes and elubmen is a sack coat, vest and trous- ers of “Kentucky tow,” russet shoes of low cut, neglige shirt and straw hat, or a silk or duck field cap if preferred. Straw hats are much higher in the crown and less wide in the brim than those of twelve months ago. Colored hat bands are passe. Black and dark blue bands only are being worn by correct dressers. Russet shoes are generally adopted for outdoor wear. Favoritism runs to the lace shve in the dark shades. Neckwear and Footwear. Ties are being worn much narrower than before, and there’s a strong probability that they will be much sought after during the early part of the season. It is in- teresting to note how suddenly and suc- cessfully the brown liven crash scarfs and ties tock. Those dealers who wi fortunate enough to obtain them no soon- er made window dist plays than they sold at once, not only cause they were real- ly new, but also bé- cause it was once discovered that they looked well whether wern with white or colored shirts. The shapes consist of four-in-hands, flowing ends, Ascots, flats and string ties; fhe four-in-hands and ties soon, however, tak- ing precedence. The material used is nqt ccmmon nor easily found, for, to make graceful knot, it must possess a certain body, it must have an even surface, with+ out knots or irregular threads, and it must have very 2ittle dressing. ——+ee—____ The Sight of Birds. From the Spectator. Birds are commonly credited with an exy traordinary range of vision. Circumstant lend aid to the development of the ment factors in their case. The usual dis! at which terrestrial species use their e; is Mmited by the ground horizon. But the case of the soaring birds, such as tures and eagles, the horizon, the nat limit of sight, is enormously exten Macgillivray early noted that though of prey have orbits of great size—the eye- ball of the common buzeard being 1 1-8 inches in diameter—they do not, as a rule, soar when seeking their prey. The eagle, when hunting, files low, just as do the sparrow hawk and the hen har- rier. Yet the vultures and condors, bir: which admittedly do soar when seel food, have been proved to find carrion sight. A ‘was covered with can’ and some offal placed upon it. The tures saw this, descended and ate it, and then sat on the covered portion within @ few inches of a putrid carcass. When ¢ hole was made in the covering they saw and attacked the food below, But thé rapid congregation of vultures from a dis- tance to a carcass is probably due to thelr watching their neighbors, each of which is surveying a limited area. Charles Day- win pointed out that in a level count the height of the sky commonly not by a mounted man is not more than fifteen degrees above the horizon, and a vulty on the wing at the height of betweén 3,4 feet and 4,000 feet would probably be two miles distant and invisible. Those which descend rapidly and appear to have come from beyond the range of human sight, were perhaps hovering vertically over the hunter when he killed his game. ——-~ -eee—_—__ In the Dry Goods Store. From the Boston Transcript. Heard at a heap of dry goods labeled $1.00. Irish woman with a baby in her arms. “Phwat is the price of them?” “One dollar and sixty-nine,” politely an- swered the proprietor, “Which are the $1 and which are the 0- cint wans?”" “There are none those prices, n:a’am.” ‘Shure, thin, ain't thim your ewn fig- ures?” SOME USES OF THB WHEEL.