Evening Star Newspaper, September 3, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenne, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building, siamo dui ‘The Eventi city by carriers, on thelr gum Sceouat ee tO tert month. ies at th counter 2 cents each. By mall—anywhere in the United a or Canads—postage prepald—50 cents ba Braces Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with iets ote pet Gace at Washington, D. C., “Ez gall toherotons art be pald in efranea ites of advertising made known on application. Che £Fveni g Stat. ne No. 13,260. WASHINGTON, D.O., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 38, 1895-TWELVE PAGES. TWO OENTS. S$ Te proof of the pudding is in 6e eating. Yesterday Star contained 30 cofumns THE WORD “FREE” What It Meant in the 1892 Demo- cratic Platform. PATTERSON'S EXPLANATION VERIFIED The Part Played by Mr. Whitney at That Time. ‘T WAS A “VOTE GETTER” ———— The contribution of Mr. Patterson of Colorado to the current talk about the meaning of the financial plank of the last democratic national platform is considered interesting and important, and many poli- ticlans accept it as an uncolored state- ment of fact. The gist of Mr. Patterson’ statement fs that although the word “free” as applied to the question of coinage in the platform was rejected by the commit- tee on resolutions, Mr. Bayard of Dela- ware, Mr. Vilas of Wisconsin and Mr. Mc- Pherson of New Jersey, all members of the ccmmittee, and all recognized in the convention of 182 as representatives of sound money, proposed friendship for sil- ver and voted against the insertion of the word “free” only because they feared an injurious interpretation might be put upon it in popular discussion in the east. They declared that the plank as drawn was strong enough, and that it guaranteed everything, without the word “free” that the silver men desired and were asking. Mr. Patterson was a member of the com- mittee, and confesses that the rejection of the word “free” made him, despite the as- surances of Mr. Bayard and his friends, as friend of silver doubtful of ‘the result, and impelled him subsequently to abandon the democracy and support the populistic presidential ticket. But a more trustful free coinage man, he concedes, might have stood upen the platform in authorized ex- pectation that national democratic success would mean something substantial for the white metal. The Party Situation. Mr. Patterson's story finds value in the fact that it is thought to be borne out by the party situation at that time. The de-~ mocracy was out of office, and nobody on either side dreamed that a tremendous revolution was impending. General Harri- son had given the country an excellent ad- ministration, and had been renominated. The democracy was full of fight and hope- ful, but its leaders recognized the neces- sity of putting their best foot foremost at every stage of the proceedings. A good platform was as necessary as a good can- didate. The party was divided, both as to silver and as to the tariff. The conven- tion, with a most difficult job on its hands, put its best phrase-makers on the platform committee. The duty of these gentlemen Was trying in the extreme. They labored long and earnestly, but, after all, made one conspicuous failure. The full convention turned them: down on the tariff plank. The Plank that they reported was denounced as an evasion in the interests of protection, id the convention by a large majority substituted for it the most extreme low tariff plank ever adopted in this country. The money plank passed muster, but only, as Mr. Patterson asserts, after an earnest and # protracted controversy in committee. Every phase of the situation was discussed, because every yote In the country was at that time thought to be important. How will this read in the east? how in the south’ how in the west? were questions which, according to Mr. Patterson, the . Platform committee wrestled with while preparing the deliverance on money. Mr. Whitney's Part. The part Mr. Whitney Is reported to have taken in the discussion is also thought to square with all of the probabilities and with many of the actualities. Mr. Whitney was not a memter of the platform’ com- mittee, but he wes so conspicuous in the business of the convention as Mr. Cleve- land's leading 1epresentative that his ad- vice on all disputed points was eagerly sought. He was consulted about the money plank, and he is quoted as favoring a com- promise offered by the silver men, which he denominated a “vote getter." He differed With Mr. Bayard, Mr. Vilas and Mr. Me- Pherson on the subject, but could not move them, and at last went with them. But Mr. Pattergon says that, eastern man as he Was, and advocating sound money, Mr. Whitney waated the financial plank in the platform to be a “vote getter.’ This attitude of Mr. Whitney as to money Goes not differ from Fis attitude as to the tariff. He was bending his energies loward securing the nomination of Mr. Cleveland, | and everything else was subordinated to that. The reporting of the protection plank of the platform did not disturb him. He illing that it be adopted, and that Cleveland should stand upon it. He made no protest when that plank was re- jected and the free trade plank put in its Place. He accepted that, and his candidate Was nominated on it. Why, then, the ques- tion is asked, should he have been a stick- ler as to the money plank? His one object Was to secure the nomination of Mr. Cleve- land, who, as all ef the Cleveland men Were then contending, was a platform in him: Nor was this a mistaken judg- yt; for, as a matter of fact, the candi- aie, in his letter of acceptance and in his other campaign utterances, did set up views of his own. Finer Work Needed Next Year. Will as “fine work” be necessary in 1893 as was executed in 1892? Finer, the poliu- cians believe. The finest nay be necessary. Silver in 1893 Is to run the gauntlet in con- vention that the tariff did in 1892. Every word of the financial plank in the next democratic natioral platform will weigh a fon, and will have to be mest carefully se- lected. — so COL. JAMES FORNEY'S CASE. The Court of Inquiry to Be Recon- vened to Correct Irregularities, The case of Col. James Forney of the Marine corps is now awaiting the action of the Navy Department. His official con- duct was recently investigated by a court of inquiry at New York. The charges against him involved certain alleged ir- Tegularities in his administration of the affairs of the Brooklyn barracks. The court concluded its investigation several days ago and submitted the result to the Navy Department. It has been found nec- essary to reconvene the court for the cor- fection of certain discrepancies in its rec- ord of proceedings. It is understood that it has been asserted that Col, Forney’s books show that he has sold sovernment rations for horses to a Brooklyn feed firm without making proper Teturns of the proceeds. By virtue of his office as colonel commandant of the sta- tion, Col. Forney was allowed the use of @ certain number of horses, together with the n ry rations. If he did not keep the ho! however, he was not tled to the rations nor their money equivalent. It is now alleged that Col. Forney violated the regulations in this respect, ard that he received moncy to which he was not e€ titled. If the charges against Col. For as the second ranking offlcor in the marine corps, are substantiated, he will be court martialed. Secretary Herbert will act on the case late this afternoon or tomorrow. ABLE SEAMEN Not Enongh to Equip the New War Ves- sels as They Are Compléted. Expedients That Are Resorted to by the Department—An Appeal to Congress. The Navy Department is having unex- Pected difficulty in getting enough men to Properly man the new ships reported to be ready for active service. The last Congress provided for the enlistment of 1,000 addi- tional men, and recruiting began on the ist ot July last. The men have come forward so slowly, however, that it has been found necessary several times to postpone the dates of putting new vessels into commis- sion. Ever since the monitor Amphitrite went into commission last spring the de- partment has been seriously hampered in its operations by the lack of able-bodied seamen. This state of affairs has so far prevented the use of the battle ship Maine and the gunnery practice ship Lancaster, which it had been proposed to put into commission about the Ist of August. Situation Improving. Recently, however, the situation has he- gun to improve, and it is now announced that there are mien enough for the Lan- caster, and that she will be put into com- mission at New York on the 12th instant. The crew for the Maine fs still short about 150 men. In order to make up the de- ficiency the cadet practice ship, Mononga- hela, Was put out of commission at An- napolis yesterday, and the Maine's comple- ment will be supplied from her crew. That such action Is necessary is very much de- plored by naval authorities, one of whom said today that it was highly discreditable to the American navy that for every vessel put into active service another vessel had to be put out of commission. The Maine will go into commission on the 15th stant. She will join the North Atlan| squadron. An Appeal to Congress. Secretary Herbert will makes an earnest appeal to Congress for a further increase of the enJisted strength of the navy, suffi- cient to utilize the new vessels now nearing completion. In his last annual report he pointed out that 2,000 more men were need- ed, but Congrets considered the number ex- cessive, and provided for but 1,000. In his next report Secretary Herbert will show that that number is inadequate to the needs of the service, and he will recom- mend a further increase of 1,000 and pos- sibly 2,000 men. Several large war ships will be completed before the close of the next fiscal year, and in naval circles it is questioned whether even 3,000 extra men will meet: the requirements of the service. ——__—_e._____ BRIG. GEN. COPPINGER HERE. He Has a Conference With Secretary Lamont and Commissioner Browning. Brig. Gen. Coppinger of the Department of Colorado, who had command of the recent military expedition to the Jackson Hole country, in connection with the trou- ble with the Bannack Indians, Is in the elty. Today he had a conference with Sec- retary Lamont, at which Commissioner of Indian Affairs Browning was present. The conference continued for more than an hour. When it closed none of those who had been present would say more than that there was nothing new in the Indian situa- tion and that there was nothing to give to the press. “I do not consider the Indians were to blame for the Jackson Hole af: fair,” said Gen. Coppinger. “They are en- tirely quiet and have been. In fact, they would not say boo to a goose.” To Annex the Jackson Hole Territory. One question which the general brought to the attention of Secretary Lamont and Commissioner Browning was the advisa- bility of annexing the Jackson Hole coun- try to the Yellowstone Natignal Park. He Suggested that this action would solve the Indian problem by preventing all parties from hunting and fishing in that section, and he said that as the country was not densely settled he thought there would be comparatively. little difficulty in making the change. Mr. Browning replied to this suggestion that it would, in the first place, be a mat- ter for Secretary Smith, and then for Con- gress, adding that he did not know how the people of Wyoming would regard it, as it would involve the loss of territory to that state. Gen. Coppinger had his report on the In- dian trouble with him, and it was gone over quite thoroughly. Tae report has been turn- ed over to Secretary Lamont, and he is not yet prepared to give it out. Gen. Coppinger Said, in reply to a question, that che report was brief. He declined to say whether he had male any reconimendatio.s for the con- of troops in the country or for ishment of the whites who had rre- cipitated the trouble. — al Mention. Assistant Secretary Hamlin, now at Marion, Mass., is expected to resume his duties at the Treasury Department by the end of the week. United States Treasurer Morgan has re- turned from a visit to his home in Bridge- pert, Conn. Mr. E. W. Godwin, W. L. Hamerly and Frederick Beresford left the city Saturday evening to visit Mr. William Hamerdinger of Philadelphia. They will then go to New York and Buffalo. Before returning to Washington Mr. Godwin will make a visit to England. Mr. Lay C. Kellogg has returned from a pleasant visit to Atlantic Clty and New York. Congressman John B. Robinson, an earn- est supporter of Senator Quay, is at pres- ent outing et tho Essick, Highland Lake, Pa. Mr. Francis E. Storm, chief clerk, office commissioner of railroads, will pass the month of September with his family at the Hotel Powhatan, Charlestown, W. Va. Mr. Herman F. Mandler will leave in a few days for a visit of some duration in the mountains of Virginia. Mr. James Leerirg will accompany him. Assistant Secretary McAdoo left the city last evening for a two weeks’ holiday in the Adirondacks. Secretary Lamont returned from New York last evening and was at his desk as usual today. Mr. Renshaw of the geological survey,is in town for a few weeks, after an extended western trip for the department. He is stopping at Cosmos Club. Prof. George J. Becker left for Wheeling, W. Va., yesterday, to be absent about two week: ‘apt. George W. Goethals of the engineer corps resumed his duties at the War De- partment today after a month’s visit to his home at Vineyard Haven. Dr. Francis WB. Bishop left today for Toronto to attend the annual meeting of the International Electro-Therapeutic As- sociation, before which he will read a paper. He was accompanied by his daugh- ter, Miss Edna. The lowa's Armor. Commander F. Courtis, inspector of steel at Pittsburg, has come to this city to wit- ness the test of the side armor of the battle ship low: SS An Interpreter Appointed, The President has appointed Ransford S. Miller, jr., of New York interpreter at the United States legation at Tokio, Japan. WANTED |THE WILL MYSTERY ee Washington Holt Has Gone to His Home in Kentucky. INABILITY 0 SOLVE THE CASE Judge Holt of Mississippi Exam- ines the Document. THE JUDGE’S PECULIARITIES Nothing new was developed today at the office of the register of wills respecting the mysteriously received will of Judge Holt. The usual number of curiously inclined people inspected it, but no one was able to suggest anything tending to solve the mys- tery concerning the instrument. Mr. Jere M.Wilson, counsel for Mr. Wash- ington Holt and the other heirs at law, visited Col. Wright early in the day and again closely inspected the will. Later Mr. John Holt of Mississippi, a nephew of Judge Holt, also called for the purpose of inspecting the dccument. Whatever he thought of it-he failed to divulge to those in the office, leaving without indicating whether he considered it genuine or not. This afternoon Mr. Blair Lee and Mr. J. J. Darlington called to inspect the will. Toa Star reporter they explained that while they had been spoken to by Mr. Devlin, the ex- ecutor named in the instrument, neither of them had yet been actually retained in the case. They admitted, however, that it was probable that they would be, and then they spent some time examining the will, and also the other papers in the case. Mr. Washingtcn Holt Gocs Home. Mr. Washington Holt left here this after- noon at 2 o'clock to return to Kentucky. His daughter arrived this morning to ac- company her father on the homeward journey. In conversation with a Star re- porter Mr. Holt said: ‘The case is certainly full of mystery, and every day seems to add a new phase. I confess I know almost as little as any one about it. I want, be- fore I go, to thank all the old friends of my uncle, and the newspaper men gener- ally, for their kindly offices. I can only say that 1f It is possible the mystery will be unraveled.” Mr. Cutter Indignant. The many friends of Mr. Edwin K. Cut- ter in this city are extremely indignant over the persistent attempts made to con- nect him in a sensational manner with the alleged firding on a refuse heap of the wiil of the late Judge Holt, especially since Mr. Cutter has directly and emphatically con- tradicted the story. Mr. Cutter himself is nene the less angry over the same cause. In conversation with an Evening Starr porter today Mr. Cutter said that he first Saw an account of the will ina New Yor paper, which particularly mentioned the burnt edges of the document. Having had some of his own family papers charred in this manner, and found afterward on a refuse dump. Mr. Cutter says tt struck his aunt, Mrs. M. F. Fox, as well as himself, that the will, like his own papers, might have been stored in the Knox storage house and partly burned in the Knox fire. He says he began a note to the New York paper, mentioning the finding of his own papers and suggesting the idea which he had formed. This note, however, was never sent, as he deemed it wise not to interfere in the matter. Mr. Cutter declared, in conclusion, that he had not seen the Holt will last May nor has he seen it since. ‘I am indignant in the extreme at the way my name has been used in the affair,” stated Mr. Cutter, in conclusion. Jadge Holts Secretivenes: An old friend of Judge Holt, who wished his name kept from publicity, gave today the following interesting interview on the situation: : “Almost before the smoke of battle had cleared from the southern fields,” said this friend, ‘matters of vital interest brought the writer to this city and placed him in a Position to see and hear things of important social, historic and political bearings. The only person here then of a former acquaint- ance was the late Judge Holt, whose name and private relations connected th his last will are now being so recklessly ban- died about. His reserved, reticent and se- cretive nature,regarding personal concerns, was never more clearly demonstrated than in the difficulty experienced to discover and establish his last will as to the dispo- sition of his estate. That there was such a will no one can dcubt, nor that in time the fact of its existence and lodgment will be revealed. His Love of the Old Home. “About the year 1887 he wrote: ‘I set out tomorrow on my annual pilgrimage to the west, to be absent three or four weeks. It is a precious privilege to be able once a year to escape from tie shadows in which 1 live here, into the surshine of my dear honie, which for me never loses its brightiess.’ “Bearing on the disposition of his prop- erty on’ Aprii 9, 158%, he wrote: ‘My house will be for sale one of these days, as the good Lord may appoint, and I avail my- self of the opportunity to beg that you will attend the auction and see to it that it is not so shockingly sacrificed as to disturb the repose of “ny spirit.’ “As a prominent figure in the country at all times, first as a man of letters, a jay circles, a member cf ret, who stood out boldly for the Union when other southern members were desert- ing him; as an appointee of President Lin- coln to the position of judge advocate gen- eral, who sat in judgment upon his assas sins, and who was charged with holding in his hands the life of Mrs, Surratt, and of withholding the petition for her pardon from President Johnson—all go to make up a subject of interest to the country which will not cease with the uncertain history connected with his name. In the case of Mrs. Surratt, there. was between the state- ments of Judge Holt and Mr. Johnson a direct issue of veracity between them, Mr. Johnson contended that he did not see the document until ‘too late’ to save Mrs. Sur- ratt's life; and Judge Holt claimed that he read the petition-to the President, but, unfortunately, had no witnesses; that the President remained silent during the read- ing of the paper, which prayed: ‘If a par- den, nor a commutation of tfe sentence could not be granted, would the President not give her a longer time to prepare for death; that Mr. Johnson replied, ‘How long a time did they give their victim to prepare for death?’” What President Johnsen Said. Mr. Johnson, on the other hand, said to me that when-he first saw the petition it was too late to save Mrs. Surratt’s life. That he would have been only too glad of the opportunity to do so, but dared not act on his own responsibility, that they were trying to make him one of the conspira- tors; and no little perjury was used to this'end. I believed both statements; belleved both men to be men of honor and truth, and could gnly reconcile the contrary statements in one way: That by a higher authority than Judge Holt’s (and which was never betrayed) the peti- tion was withhzld from the President until such a moment as to render it “too late” to save the life of the unfortunate woman, but was read to him all the same by Judge Holt—thereby verifying the two state- ments. I know that Judge Holt would never have misstated the fact, and I am convinced that Mr. Johnson felt grievously wronged by the withholding of the valuaple document until “too late” to save the life of Mrs. Surratt. Judge Bing- ham, who sat as a special judge advocate Mr. Buchanan's cabi- | yer of renown, a courted member of social | in the trial, and who summed up the evi- dence, remarked in my presence that Judge Holt had read the petition to the President in the presence of his cabinet. I said to him, “Be careful, judge, how you say that; Judge Holt told me that he had no witnesses when he ‘read the paper to the President.” Judge Bingham ex- pressed surprise, and said nothing more. Thus the truth remained unexplained and hidden. Judge Holt suffered keenly from the cruel imputation of withholding the petition, and spared no trouble to dis- abuse the minds of his friends on the sub- ject. Likewise, Mr. Johnson was much in- cenged at the accusation of willful and brutal inhumanity to Mrs. Surratt. Only on the great day, it seems, when the sea shall give up its dead and all things will be made known, will the truth ‘of these things be revealed. And it may require the same great day to reveal the truth concerning the last will and testament of the late Judge Holt. THE PEOPLE OBJECT Residents of South Washington Oppose a Garbage Orematory in That Section. The Chairman of the Citizens’ Com- mittee Leaves a Vigorous Document With the Commissioners. William A. Richards, chairman of the committee of ten of the,South Washington Citizens’ Association, appearcd before the Commissioners this marning and left a protest against the ereetion of a garbage crematory at the foot of South Capitol street. The dccument {s as follows: “Ob- serving from newspaper reports that on Tuesday next your honorable body purposes to reach a final settlement of the matter of the garbage contract, we, on behalf of the South Washington Citizens’ Associa- tion and the people of South Washington and in advance of the meeting of the said association called for Tuesday evening next, do hereby enter our protest against the erection of a garbage crematory or reduction plant of any character at the foot of South Capitol street, and bes to refer to the proceedings of the said asso- ciation after the former reduction plant had been in operation some time and found to be a public nuisance. We are convinced that any crematory or reduction plant in our midst would be intolerable and a men- ace to our health and the value of our property, and refer with approval to the editorial in The Evening Star of Ausust 1895. Let the crematories be jocated outside the city limits. “We feel that the recent developments fully sustain and justify Ds in the stand we take. Briefly, your honorable body made an investigation of the varfous xar- bage systems and reached the conclusion that the Smith ts the best,’ yet, when your decision is announced, the contractor ap- pears before you, brands the Smith system as a failure and offers. newspaper publica- tions and affidavits to the effect that the people are complaining bitterly of the stench arising from the. Smith plants and that the system is wholly unsatisfactory. “In the language of Mr. Bayly, superin- tendent for the contractor (Evening Star, August 28, 1895): “In fact, it is the most miserable excuse for a crematory I ever saw, and I have had considerable experience. It costs a small fortune to keep it in-repair. .Now, this is what we will do to prove our position. Pay the expenses of the health;officer to Phila- delphia tonight, and if, after investigation, he says the system is a proper one for Washington, we will adopt it. I say this because I am certain that no fair-minded man will question its utter uselessness after once Inspecting it. That system is an abor- tion, a fraud and not worth one cent.’ “We therefore urge that your honorable body will refrain from approwing the foot of South Capitol street as a site for a par- bage plant of any kind and save us from annoyance, possibly danger to our health, depreciation of our property and expense of litigation, to which we would be forced in defending ourselves from what we would regard as an unnecessary and unjust im- position.” —— SUGAR BOUNTY CASES. Judge Bowler's Decision in Expected Day After Tomorrow. Judge Bowler, controller of the treasury, has practically completed fhe preparation of his decision in the sugar bounty cases, and will probably announce it publicly day after tomorrow, It is very long, and covers alt the points raised by the numerous coun- sel in their arguments in support of the bovnty claims. The main questions involy- ed are the eonstitutionality of the sugar beunty clause of the McKinley law and the right of the controller of the treasury to question the constitutionality of an act of Congress. The impression is general that the controller will disallow the test claim, on the ground that the act of Congress was unconstitutional, and in so doing will aiso assert his right to withhold the pay- ment ef any claim against the government where he @ouvts the constitutionality of the legislation on which the claim is based. ——___ e.____ THE V) ZUELAN BOUNDARY, Sir Edward O'Malley's Presence Here May Have Some Connection With It. ‘The presence of Sir Edward O'Malley, chief justice of the supreme court of British Guiana, in Washington has exeited some sp22ulation concerning the boundary dispute between Great Britain and Vene- zuela. It is known that this country has taken a hand in that matter and is in- sisting upon the Immediate reference of the dispute to arbitration. Some important correspondence has passed on the subject and the situation is said to be serious, in- asmuch as this country has taken a firm position and given notice that encroach- meats by Great Britain on Venezuelan ter- ritory will not be tolerated. The belief is that the presence of the chief justice of British Guiana has to do: with this case, and that he is here to give his assistance to the British ambassador in making out the case of Great Britain, ——_- + © + __ EXCESSIVE ABSEKCE, The Secretary’s Cireular Ordering Stoppage of Pay Therefor. Secretary Carlisle has issued the follow- ing circular letter: “Begining with the month of September, 1895, you are hereby directed, in all cases where the time reports of your respective bureaus or divisions show an excessive ab- sence for the calendar year of any em- ploye thereof, to make the necessary stop- page of pay on the pay roll for the montn in which such excess occurs, noting on the pay roll the amount of morey end number of days stopped. This to be dome before the pay roll is sent to the division of ap- pointments for approval.” ———_+o+—__\__ Patents Allowed. Patents were issued to Washington inven- tors today as follows: George K. Ashley, line clamp; Henry H. Bliss, assignor to J. A. Jeffrey, Columbus, Ohio, electric tool and machine; Henry H. Bliss, assignor to J. A. Jeffrey, Columbus, Ohio, electric coal or rock drill. : ————— The Star and Labor Day. If you want to send away the most com- plete account of Labor day in Washington get The Evening Star of that day. Two cents a copy at the business office, or three gens when ‘wrapped and stamped for maii- rg. DURRANT ON TRIAL Opening of the Celebrated Murder Case, ‘WHAT THE STATE HOPES 10 PROVE When Blanche Lamont Came to Her Death. DISTRICT ATTORNEY OPENS —————————— SAN FRANCISCO, September 3.—The actual trial of Theodore Durrant for the murder of Blsnche Lumont commenced to- day. District Attorney Barnes delivered the opening address. He sald: District Attorney Barnes Opens. “At this point in the trial, and before Proceeding with the evidence, it becomes my duty as representative of the people to make what is called the opening statement of-the case. The opening statement should not be regarded by you in the light of testimony, neither should it be regarded as an argument upon the facts. It should not have any weight with you nor should you consider it as mitigating against the prisoner. It is merely a statement of what the people expect to prove—a statement of the evidence which they intend to set before your consideration, and upon which they will confidently rely for a verdict at your hands which shall sweep away the sophistries and the technicalities that have enveloped criminal proceedings in this state as with a garment, and shall declare that the land we live in is blessed not only with the manifold gifts of nature and of God to man, but is further blessed with the hard, clear common sense than can rise above the tortuous eavironments that sur- round the criminal. and punish the crime committed in the manner required and de- manded by all laws, both human and divine. Blanche Lamont. “We will show you that in the month of September, 1894, Blanche Lamont, a young girl about twenty years of age, came to San Francisco from her home at Dillon, Mont., in the hope that the mild climate of California might benefit her health. She went to reside with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Noble, and from the time of her arrival until April 3 she was engaged in attending school. She was not a society girl in any sense of the word. She was of a quiet disposition, home- keeping and religious. She never attended parties nor theaters or other places of ameusement except in company with her relatives. “We will show that Blanche Lamont in her lfetime was well, too well, and yet not well enough acquainted with the pris- oner, Durrant; that he was in the habit of accompanying her home from church and prayer meeting; that he was a caller upon her at her aunt's house; that upon the only occasion upon which she ever went anywhere with any young man, as far as we are informed, she visited the park one afternoon in company with Dur- rant, “We will give you a history of her life and her movements, as far as we are able, up to the 3d of April, 1895, in order that you may form a just appreciation of the character and the habits of this unfortu- nate young girl. We will show you her connection with the defendant, and we will show you the reason why, when the murdered body of Blanche Lamont was found in the darkened belfry of Emanuel Church, and the question sprang from the lips of every resident of this city and of this country. “Who ts the murderer?’ “Why it is that the state answers that he who was responsible for the slaughter of this young life is William Henry Theo- dore Durrant. Durrant, once the friend of Blanche Lamont; Durrant, once in charge of the Surday school library; Dur- rant, once assistant superintendent of the Emanuel Sunday school; Durrant, once the electrician, who knew the ins and outs of the great building; Durrant, once the handy man and jack of all trades at the church, and now Durrant, the prisoner and on trial for his life. We shall show Dur- ‘rant’s connection with the crime and shall demonstrate by irrefutable and unanswer- able evidence that he, and he alone, com- mitted the murder. “If we show you these facts—it we show you that Durrant met this ill-fated girl on the date of her death; that he accom- panied her to the church; that he was seen to enter the church with her; that he was seen afterward in the church’ alone; that Blanche Lamont was never scen again by human eyes from the moment when she entered the portals of Emanuel Baptist Church with the defendaat, that in the church were found her dead body, her clothes, her school books—showing that she had never been home and that she had gone straight from her school to her deat; if we show you, as wo confidently expect, that no one but the prisoner could have committed this outrageous and hor- rible crime, we shall look to you as citizens of the great state whose reputation for justice and for enfcrcement of the laws we, as its officers, are trying to uphold to render ycur verdict that the prisoner at the bar is guilty of murder in the first degree.” eciaabe arse VISITING THE FATHERLAND. German-Americans Viewing Sights in Berlin. BERLIN, September 8—The German- American veterans of the war of 1$70-71 visited the arsenal museum and Rathhaus here today. An Mustrated memorial of the Rathhaus “was presenied to each visitor. ‘They were shown the glass from which the emperor (then Prince William of Prussia) drank on the occasion of the famous com- petition which took place in the Rathhaus in_1869. This evening the excursionists will at- tend a conversazione in the Buggenhagen Bier Halle. Tomorrow they will deposit upon the coffin of William I, in the Im- perial Mausoleum at Charlottenberg, and upon his monument in the Friedenskirche at Potsdam laurel wreaths fastened with ribbons inscribed “From the German Vet- erans’ Club of America.” After a visit to Leipzic and Thuringia the party will disperse. —__ MUTTERINGS IN GLENCOE. the Tbe Campbells Are Coming to the * Scene of the Massacre. LONDON, September 8.—Sir Archibald Campbell has arrived at Inverary, Scot- land, to complet? arrangements for the march of his band of pipers ey Glen- coe. Sir Archibald denies the rept that his expedition is for the purpose df cele- brating the anniversary of the massacre of the MacDonald Clan by the Campbells in 1692, but says that his pipers will mere- ly traverse Glencoe en route from Inverary to a Gaelic concert which is to be held at Oban, The MacDonald clansmen are not satisfied with Sir Archibald’s explanation, but maintain a turbulent attitude and mutterings of anger are to be heard among the people of the Glen. —_—-—__ Began an A. P. Service. CHICAGO, September 3.—The Las Vegas, N. M., Examiner and the Lima, Ohio, Democrat commenced taking a report from the Associated Press today. —_—_—._—_. Confiscation of Vorwaerts. . The Vorwaerts of Berlin, the radical journal, has been confiscated, owing to anti-patriotic utterances. The editors will be prosecuted. THE UTAH COMMISSION All the Proceedings Leading Up to Admis- sion as a State Discussed. Strength of Political Parties Shown— The Constitution to Be Voted on Next November, ‘The Utah cr-mmission today filed its four- teenth annual report with the Secretary of the Interior. The report recites the legis- lation by the territorial legislature and by Congress preceding the organic act by which the state of Utah has been erected. The commissioners state that all proper forms connected with the election as. pro- vided by the law have been observed. The only questions of differer.ce arose over the matter of formulating the oaths required of voters and of delegates to the constitu- tional convention. Forms were agreed upon by all parties, and no one was denied his constitutional right. The total registered vote of the territory for territorial pur- poses was 48,834, und to elect delegates to the constitutional convention was 45,624. The Registration Lista, There was considerable friction, says the report, over the right of one party com- mittee (republican) to inspect the registra- tion sts in the absence of a similar re- quest from the committee representing the opposite party. The commission steadfast- ly refused to permit the lists to be inspect- ed, and an unavailing effort was made by mandamus proceedings to force the com- mission an‘ the registrars to turn over the lists. In previous years there were as many as 800 complaints of illegal registra- tions; this year there was but one. A full set of judges, numbering 1,100,were appointed for all the polling places, and full printed information for the instruction and guidance of ill voters was furnished. The election was held November 6, 1894. ‘Three tickets, republican, democratic and populist, were in the field. There being some danger of charges of unfairness in the count, the commission ordered all bal- lot boxes sent in promptly and put under jock and seal. After prolonged litigation over returns from a few districts, certifi- cates were given to 107 delegates to the constitutional convention. The convention assembled March 4, 1895, and in sixty-six days drafted a constitution for submission to the people of Utah November 5, 1895. Few cases of violation of the anti-polyg- amy laws are reported. The total expense of the election last fall were $22,502. Strength of the Three Parties. The commissioners give a most interest- Ing history of the political parties in Utah in the last twenty years, The returns at the last election showed the relative strength of the parties. The democrats cast 19,000 votes, the republicans 21,000 and the populists about 500. Of the 107 dele- gates in the constitutional convention, forty-eight were democrats and fifty-nine republicans. This is probably the last full report the cemmission will make. The work of regis- tering qualified voters in the initial steps in organizing the new state remains for it to do, and of that an account will be given in a supplemental report. With that done, the days of the commission are practically numbered. °-—_—__—_ CONSUL ROBERTSON’S CHARGE. Says He Was Snubbed by Admiral Kirkland at Kiel. A communication has reached the State Department from Mr. W. H. Robertson, United States consul at Hamburg, com- Plaining that Rear Admiral Kirkland, com- manding the European squadron, failed to extend the usual official courtesies to him during the squadron’s participation in the Kiel canal celebration. One special act of discourtesy on the part of the naval com- manéer, according to the consul, was his failure to invite him to accompany the cruiser Marblehe1d on her trip through the canal when it was formally opened, not- withstanding the fact that he (the consul) had a letter of introduction to the admiral from the Secretary of the Navy. Another cause of complaint against the admiral is that he practically ignored the consul at the banquet given by the German emperor, although they both sat at the same board. The consul’s letter shows that he considers that he was impreperly treated by the American admiral to an extent amounting Practically to a deliberate snub. It is not likely that any official notice will be taken of the complaint, however, for the reason mainly that the whole affair was probably nothing more than a mere misunderstand- ing between the twe officials, and that the fetes had no intention of slighting the consul. REPRESENTATIVE LESTER. He Can't Tell the Effect of Secretary Smith’s Work in Georgia. Representative Lester of Georgia is in Washington. He says that the people in that state are not talking politics much now, but that they are not indifferent about political affairs. “We have one contest for a seat in Con- gress; that between Black and Watson in the tenth district. It is getting warm there and will be hotter. I think that Black will be elected al! right.” “What Influerce has Secretary Smith's ‘sound. money’ campaign had upon the state?” was asked by The Star reporter. “ don’t know. No one hears anything about it. The people of Georgia do not believe in a single standard. They believe in the use of both metals, and are going to hold to that belief. The question to be settled is how to get back to the use of both.” —————+ 2 Ordered to Washington. Capt. Leonard Wood, assistant surgeon, has been relieved from duty at Fort Mc- Pherson, Ga., and ordered to duty in this city as assistant to Major O'Reilly, attend- ing surgeon for this district. Capt M. C. Wyeth, assistant surgeon, stationed at Hot Springs, Ark., has been transfrred to duty at Fort McPherson. Se An Electric Light Contract. The contract for the installation of an electric light plant in St. Elizabeth's Asy- lum was today let to the General Electric Company of New York city. The system is to be an extensive one, embracing nearly all the buildings at St. Elizabeth's, and the cost of it is $11,454. — —__.-_______ The Mohican at 'Frisco. The cruiser Mohican, which has spent most of the summer in testing coal pro- duced in the states of Oregon, Washington end vicinity, arrived at San Francisco yes- terdcy from Seattle. Se Government Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $297,708. Government receipts —From nal revenue, $1,073,46%; cus- toms, $878 miscellaneous, $179,521. Coimage for August. The coiaage executed at the mints of the United States during August amounted to $4,517,600, as follows: Gold, $3 $748, minor coins, $97,400, Se eae Permitted to Change Hin Name. Judge Cox today granted Francis Tovar permission to change his name to Jszs0od, the maiden name of Mrz. Tovar. SEWERS AND TREES Captain Beach Makes An Interest- ing Report, THE COST OF DISTRICT SEWER WORK Destruction Due to Growth of Tree Roots. ——_+—___ STREET EXTENSIONS THE The annual report of Capt. Lansing H. Beach, in charge of the division of sewers, was submitted to the Commissioners this afternoon. The report starts out with a detalled account of the work done during the year, as well as a statement of the cost and the methods employed in laying. sewers. Speaking of pipe sewers, he says: This city has had great trouble with the pipe sewers laid about twenty years ago, and very many of them have to be re- placed entirely, the expense of doing so without interrupting the flow of sewage making the replacing sewer cost more than one of the same size laid as a new one. The active cause of the failure of these sewers is root intrusion, but the rested causes are several, as stated by Mc- Comb in his report, one being lack of prop- er gradient of the bottom of the sewer trench, the grade having been tested at in- tervals of 100 feet and guessed at for the intervening Interval, and if any obstacle, such as a boulder or stump,-was encoun- tered in the trench the sewer was simply laid around it or over it; another, az stated, was carelessness in jointing, the hav- ing been simply laid in the bottom of the trench without any particular care to sce thet each eection occupied its proper posi- Ucn. This defect has doubtless been in- creased by the action of the roots of trees entering the joints and forcing the pipes apart, but when a sewer on being uncoy- ered resembles in lines a rail fence on un- dulating ground more than any other en- gineering structure, the trees cannot be held entirely responsible. The failure in strength of the pipe is also fully explained by Mr. McCcmb. ‘This work was all done by contract, and, as the District had but one inspector to each section of the city, who was supposed to look after all operations of building, street paving, sewers, etc., in that section, it is not surprising that contractors could do work pretty much as they pleased, and it may be a matter of congratulation that only one sewer, that on the east side of 2ist street northwest, between N and O streets, was paid for and never found. Were it not on account of the stoppage of the sewer by tree roots, many of those that now have to be replaced would continue tolerably serviceable for many years to come, but when a single roct not as large as a lead pencil, entering a joint, can de- velop such a mass of rootlets as to com- pletely choke a ten-inch pipe for a length of several fect, and entrances for the roots exist every few feet, the necessity for re- placing many of these p'pe sewers without delay is evidert. The photograph accom- panying this report shows a mass of roots similar to what is encountered in almost any sewer being replaced. Under the Sidewalks. Waskington streets, with their width, fine pavements and magnificent lines of shade trees, are models for the world, but, owing to the width and expensive pave- ments, it has been necessary to place most of the pipe sewers in the sidewalks, where they are most exposed to the action of the tree roots. This condition of affairs ren- ders necessary in sewers now built a de- gree of protection for the joints that would be extravagant in most cities. In many cases where the roots have entered the Sewers they are cut out and the Interior of the sewer freed in this manner. This method, however, can afford but temporary relief, and as the larger part of the old Sewers are so crooked that nothing can be done beyond a few feet from the man- hole, the only remedy is to rebuild them. The softer-wooded and most rapidly grow- ing trees appear to cause the most trouble. Connection With Brick Sewers. The number of new connect:ons with brick sewers has, Curing the year, been re- stricted a, muchas possible, and in all cases where practicable connections with Pipe sewers have been made instead. The reason for this ;s that a sewer of the com- bined system beng necessarily much larger than required to carry merely the sewage, or dry-weather flow, and the house lateral entering the sewer not lower than the spring:ng line, it follows that except dur- ing time of heavy rains the sewage from the house trickles down the side of the sewer into thin layer expcsed to the air, thus being placed in a condition most fa- vorable for putrefaction with all the re- sulting discomfort of offensive odors and some of the dangers which the sewerage system was constructed to ayoid. The Sewer Extensions. As soon as the system of street exten- sion is approved and the grades of the ftreets decided upon, the plans and esti- mates for the trunks sewers to the outly- ing districts will be prepared, so that work thereon can be begun as soon as the ap- propriations at the disposal of the depart- irent permit. The importance of carrying out the plans adepted by the government for the sy: tem of sewerage disposal has been re- Ferted before, ard it is not necessary here to do more than invite attention to those reports with the remark that time has emphasized all that was said in them. In conclusion, I would state that the credit for the sewer system of the District of Columbia as described belongs to my Fredecessors in charge of this office, and to Mr. D. E. McComb, who has been super- intendent of sewers for many years. Hav- ig been here but a few months, my share has necessarily been small. . Plumbing Office. Mr. Ball, inspector of plumbing, in his report appended, describes the operations of this office for the past year year. The value of plumbing inspection is becoming better known and appreciated by citizens, and in many cases people now decline to rent a dwelling unless a certificate is fur- nished as to the safe cond.tion of its plumb- ing. Were this stand assumed more gen- erally, the people would be much better protected in the sanitary conditions of their homes and the reputable plumbers of the city greatly assisted in their effort to secure a proper and safe quality of work under all circumstances. The amount of werk devolved upon this office is such that it taxes the present force of inspector and five assistants to the ut- most to make all the necessary examina- tions, and {t is only with great exertion that they are able at, times to avoid causing the plumbers to wait for inspec- tion. Were the force increased by an x«d- ditioral assistant, the work of keeping the oftice records could be brought to date and kept in a more satisfactory manner than is possible now. With the increase of building ir the outlying districts the in- spectors are able to make fewer inspec- tions than was possible when work was confit.ed te lecalitles nearer the center of the city, and this condition of affairs is growing steadily more onerous to the office. It_is, In many respects, desirable to ex- tend the province of the office to the in- spectior. of gas fixtures in old ho:rses, but until some increase of force is made ‘it is Impossible to properly take up this duty. The inspectors, in examining plumbing re- pairs, have occasionally notified the occu- pants of the houses as to the dangerous condition of the leaky fixtures, or keys un- provided with stops.