Evening Star Newspaper, October 18, 1895, Page 2

Ger it Iegible—this without the knowledge or consent of the said Joseph Holt, de- ceased. “8. These caveators further say that, even if the said Joseph Holt, deceased, did execute and sign the said paper writing, which they deny, yet they allege that such signature and exccution was procured by , the fraud and undue influence practiced against and upon the said Joseph Holt, de- ceased, by some person or persons to them mow unknown. “Wherefore, these caveators pray that “the said paper writing may be refused pro- bate, and that issues may be framed be- ‘tween these caveators and the prcponents of said alleged will and sent to the Circuit Court, to be-there tried by jury, in order to determine the allegations of fact bear- ing upon the validity of said will.” ‘The caveat is signed by Washington D. Holt, W. G. Sterett, Margaret Dowmer, by W. G. Sterett; Jno. W. Holt, Lockie W. Iglehart, Sarah Holt, by Jno W. Holt, guar- dian; Robt. S. Holt, Thomas Holt, James Holt, by Jno. W. Holt. Future Proceedings. ‘The caveat now having been filed,the next step in the case, according to the usual practice in such cases, will be a replication, to be filed by the propounders of the alleged will, the executor and beneficiaries under it. %m that they will, of course, deny the alle- gations made in the caveat attacking the alidity of the instrument,-and will also as- sert that the instrument was duly. and le- gally signed and executed. In other words, those who offered the paper for probate will join issue with the heirs-at-law, and ‘will then join in the prayer of the latter for a making up of the issues offset to be Getermined by a jury in the Circuit Court. ‘The respective parties may, as is not un- usual in svch cases, be unable to agree ‘upon the precise form of the issues, and in such an event the court decides just what issues shall be sent to the Circuit Court. ‘ie replication of the propounders of the alleged will may be filed at once, or it may not be filed for weeks. But if it should not be filed within a reasonable time, the heirs- at-law would be entitled to come into court and ask that it be filed within a certain fixed period. . It Is more than probable, however, tbat there will be no unnecessary or unreason- ble delay in the matter on the part of either side, and it is believed that within a month’s time the Issues will have been made up and the case duly certifled up to the Circuit Court for trial there. Chances for Trial. ‘Will cases have precedence in the Circuit Court, and those already upon the calendar ef that court are, at the commencement of each term, generally set down for an early hearing. The calendar for the present (October) ‘term of the court was long since made up, end it is extremely doubtful, it is said, whether the Holt case could be tried at ithe present term, which closes with De- ‘cember. But it is thought that the issues 4m the case will have been made up before then, and hence it is more than probable that the case will be on the calendar at ‘the commencement of the January term, the first Tuesday in that month. Therefore, a trial of the now famous ase may confidently be expected some time during January, or February next. In fact, Mr. Blair Lee, of counsel for Executor Devlin, stated, this afternoon, that ie he- Meved that the case would be tried some time next January. Mr. Lee explained that he had not read the caveat filed today, and begged to be excysed from saying anyihing further in the matter at the present time. Supreme Court. Of course, an appeal lies in such cases from the Circuit Court to fhe Court of Ap- peals, and to the latter tribunal it can be taken on appeal by the defeated parties. Whe amount in contrcversy far exceeds, of course, tho sum of $5,000, and hence the ease can therefore be carried to the United Btates Supreme Court. That it will, in course of time, reach that court, there seems to be no doubt whatever, as the case is expected to develop into one of the longest and fiercest legal fights ever known here. Mrs. Throckmorton’s View. When a Star reporter called upoa Mrs. fhrockmorton, grandmother of one of the heirs under the will, and told her of the na- ture of the answer that had been made by the lawyers for the heirs-at-law, she expressed much interest in the allegations set forth. ®peaking of the assertion that the will of 4873 was a forgery, she said: “T have nat geen the will itself and am only able to judge from the copy of it I saw in The Star in August. I do not believe that any one who is at all familiar with Judge Holts handwriting would have any doubt of the will having been written by him. As to the statement that the will was procured ‘by fraud and undue pressure, I cannot un- derstand how that can be said, for one of us knew that this will was in existence. “I did not know a thing of it until I was told of it the day it came out in the news- Papers. It does not seem reasonable that any one else—any one unknown to us would have gotten this will from Judge Holt for tthe benefit of my granddaughter and Miss Hynes. What their motive could have been I cannot understand, and, more than that, Judge Holt was not the man to do things fn that way. What he did he meant to do. Neither my son nor myself certainly made any attempt to persuade Judge Holt to make any disposition of his property to our advantage, and Josephine when this {will was written was a little child. She ainly did not. i can give no reason why the will was tten as it is, or why Judge Holt should have made the disposition of his estate that he did, but I feel sure that this will is in Judge Holt's handwriting, that. he meant to do what he did, and that uo one 4nfluenced him in it.” Judge Chonte Retained. .The step taken this morning by the heirs- Bt-law is simply their formal acceptance ‘pf the challenge for combat. When tha case will be taken up, or what the line of battle will be on either side can now be only a matter of conjecture. It is said, upon good authority, that Judge Joseph H. Ccoat= of New York has been retained by Maj. Throckmorton to assist Messrs. Blair and Darlington In the conduct of the czse. This shows their firm belief in the wufliciency of the will, and the advantage they have in the situation. ee THE NASHVILLE PARTY. Bad News Which Took the Mayor and His Daughter Home. ‘The mayor of Nashville and party ar- Fived here this afternoon eg route to New- pert News. They took apartments at the Wational Hotel. On reaching Harper's Ferry the mayor was informed of the death of his son last night, after his departure for this city. It was a great shock to the party, but it was found that it would be n ‘y to continue the trip to Washing- tor. before arrangements could be made for the return of Mayor Guild and his daugh- ter. They started back for Nashville this afternoon. Miss Reid or Miss Orr will Probably act as Miss Guild's substitute in christening the gunboat Nashville tomor- row. eee He Was Fined. Frank Hall, the South Washington saloon- , charged with violating the Sunday sor law several weeks ago, whose case caused so much comment, appeared in Miller’s court this afternoon to have r C, Maurice Smith, who appeared t several days ago when the case ‘st called for trial and demanded a ty trial, said he desired to withd al and enter a ; deration of this fact Impoved the lowest penalty, a fine of $60. ‘The fine was paid and the case iinally flesed. —————— The Forrest Divorce. Chief Justice Bingham, in granting Sarah Gane Forrest a divorce from Edward For- iS petitioned for the di- Yorce, the custody of the child and per- Mission to resume her maiden name of Mu The parties were fnarrie 3876, and Mrs. Forrest hare v husband willfully desert fnd abandoned her August 5, 19650" Fined for Stealing. Wiliam McDevitt the young man arrested by Detectives Horne and Weedon for yari- ows thefts, as published in yesterday's Star, ee guilty in the Police Court today to Fs arges and wae fined $0 or four THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1895—SIXTEEN PAGES. LATE NEWS BY WIRE Official Speed Trial of the Battl:- ship Indiana. AVERAGED OVER FIFTEEN KNOTS According to the Estimates a Sati£:ctory Trial. WEATHER FAVORABLE oo STRAITSMOUTH, via Rockport, Mass., October 18.—The official speed trial of the new United States battle ship Indiana was made today under most favorable weather conditions over a course from Cape Ann to Boone Island. The distance to be covered was sixty miles, which, according to the builders’ contract, had to be sailed in four hours at the outside, as a speed-of fifteen knots had to be sustained by the battle ship in order to fulfill the conditions. The Indiana started on her trial at 10:04:15. It was about 9:30 when the Indiana was sighted by observers here coming around the point. Everything was in readiness for the start, the stake boats having taken up the‘r positions previously. The revenue cutter Dallas was the mark boat at the start and the tug Iwaus, the dispatch boat Dolphin, the navy tug Nina, the- revenue cutter Woodbury and the United States supply boat Fern were sta- tioned at points along the course, the dis- tance between each being 6.2 miles. After Ffassing the Fern the battle ship waa to turn and re-cover the course, finishing after passing the Dallas a second time. ‘Weather Conditions Favorable. ‘The weather conditions were almost per- fect for the trial. The sky was cloudless. A fifteen to twenty-mile west northwest breeze was blowing, which served to make the water at the starting point compara- tively smooth, but which farther down the trial course kicked up considerable of a sea and dotted the surface of the ocean with innumereble white caps. The trial was in charge of Commodore T. O. Selfridge, assisted by Lieut. Commander Swinburne, Commander Bradford, Lieut. Commander Schroeder, Lieut. Conly, Lieut. ‘Thornton, Capt. Picking, Naval Constructor Varney and Assistant Naval Constructor Watt. The horse power developed was noted by Chief Engineers Allen, Milligan and Stephenson. As the Indiana came in sight the great volumes of black smoke pouring from her two short funnels proclaimed the fact that she was urder forced draught and coming at top speed, and that no time was to be lost in getting off at the start. Without any preliminary maneuvering she made straight for the line. The wind at this tims had hauled a little to the west- ward, blowing directly cn the weather quarter. The Start. At 10:04:30 am. the battle ship crossed the line, and twenty-three minutes and twenty-five seconds later, at 10:27:55, she passed the first mark. This indicated a speed slightly better than fifteen knots. At tis point she got the full force of wind and water, which was against her, but which would help her on the run back. Doing Remarkably Well. At 10:55 she passed the Dolphin, the sec- ond stakeboat, 12.4 knots away. Her speed up to this point averaged about her require- ment of 15 knots. Besides wind and sea she had also the tide against her, and under these adverse conditions she was doing re- markably well. At 11:12 she was hull-down and a few minutes later had disappeared from view here. An Isle of Shoals dispatch says: Just after 11:20 o'clock the line of black smoke indicating the oncoming battleship Indiana was discerned from: here, and fifteen min- utes later she was in clear view, throwing out a huge white mound of water at either side. At this distance the bole looks larger than the ship. At 11:42 she passed the cen- ter of the island and at 12:20 she had turn- ed the mark boat at Boone Island and was coming this way at a great speed. Avernged Over Fifteen Knots. At 12:40 p.m. she passed the center of Appledore Island on her return, and in half an hour had again become nothing but a line of sinoke. The Indiana was sighted from here on her return at 1:02 p.m. She passed the Dol- phin at 1:31:25 p.m. and the Irwana at 1:58:30 p.m. She crossed the finish line at 2:23:30 p.m. From figures at hand it ts estimated that the speed for the entire course will average 15.3. knots. After crossing the line, the battle ship proceeded vut of the harbor toward her berth in President’s road, Boston harbor. eS Suicide From Blighted Affections. MT. WASHINGTON, Ky., October 18— Miss Nellie Easley, a handsome and high- ly cultured young lady, twenty-one years old, committed suicide last night about 10 o'clock by hanging herself. She placed a rope over the limb of a tree, got on a chair and placing the noose over her head Kicked the chair from under her. Unre-* ciprocated affection caused her to commit the rash act. ————————— Chief Actor Not om Hand. MOUNT PLEASANT, Ky., October 18.— Bud Ford Overtor was to have been hanged today for the double murder of Gus Loed, an old peddler, and his wife, but the event has been indefinitely post- poned by the escape some weeks ago of Overton, and there is still no clue to the whereabouts of the murderer. eee Transfers of Real Estate. Deeds in fee have been filed as follows: Mary G. Davis to Ernest A. A. Dunn, lot 82, sq. 178; $10. Carl B. Keferstein, trus- tee, to Campbell G. Berryman, lots 144 and 145, eq. 70; $10. Henry R. Lemly et ux. to M: @ H. Meline, lot 14, Widows’ Mite; $3,250. Jno. S. Rich et ux. to R. Parker Crenshaw, ‘ot 15, sq. 304; $10. Edw. B. Rapley et ux. to Chas. S. Bundy, lot 11, block 12, Mt. Pleasant and Pleasant Plains; $2,600. Michael M. Rankin et ux. to Frank J. Calhoun, lot 26, and part lot 25, block 6, Mt. Pléasant and Pieasant Plains; $10. J. Paul Smith et ux. to Wm. F. Lammers, parts lots 186 to 190, sq. 546; $1,550. Dennis A. McDonald, part lot 9, sq. 775; $10. Thos. J. King et ux. to Wm. A. H. Chureh and Thos. P. Stephenson, lot 48, sq. 389; $10. Katherine Pine to Mary A. Crellen, lot 17, block 4, East Deanewood; $150. Same to Lizzie William- son, lot 12, block 12; $150. Same to Jennie Hankey, lot 12, block 11; $150. Same to Wm. R. Banks, lot 28, block 13; $125. BIG FIRE AT CRERDE. The Business Buildings in That Fa- mous Camp Burned, DENVER, Col., October 18—A dispatch from Creede says that all the business buildings in that town were burned last night. It is the most disastrous fire that has ever occurred in that famous mining camp. _A later dispatch states that the fire burned over the three blocks between ist and 4th streets, Thirty-four business housesare destroyed, including the post of- fice and tle two newspaper offices, those of the Sentinel and the Candle. The loss es- timated at $150,000. Sa CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS. INJURED. Misunderstanding of Orders Caused a Collision at Detroit. DETROIT, Mich., October 18.—Shortly after 11 o’clock last night two cars on the rapid railway collided when a short dis- tance out of Mount Clemens. The west- bound car was’ crowded with members of the Detroit Christian Endeavor Societies, who had been holding a rally at Mount Clemens, and a number sustained serlous injuries, among them being a man named Knight, Mrs. Frank Kennedy, Clifford Cooke of Detroit and the motorman, whose name could not be learned. The Detroit people were brought in by cars, and then taken to their homes in caz- rlages. It appeared there was a misunder- standing regarding the place at which the two cars were to meet. Both motormen claim to have had orders to meet the other at different switches. ——— NATIONAL W. C. TT. U. The Annual Convention Begins, in Baltimore Today. BALTIMORE, October 18, 1808. The twenty-second annual convention of the National Women’s Chrjstian Temper- ance Union began this morning. The stage was festooned w.ta evergreens, “Old Glory” is everywhere displayed, and one of the features is an Indian banner made by the women of the Indian territory out of furs and skins. At 10 o'clock Miss Frances Willard walk- ed to the front of the stage and called the convention to order, amid much clapping of hands. Then the voices of the delegates and many of the spectators joined in sing- ing “America.” Mrs. Monroe of the Ohio W. C. T. U. led in prayer. Mrs. Clara C. Hoffman of Mis- souri, the recording secretary, then called the roll. Committees were then appointed as fol- lows: Credentials—Mrs. K. L. Stevenson and Miss Elizabeth P. Nichols. Telegrams—Mrs. Lucie Tyng and Mrs. Olive Amiss. Courtesies—Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, Mrs. tup, Mrs. W. Jennings Demorest and Mrs. T. B. Corse. Miss Willard then advanced to the front of the platform and in a clear, loud voice read her annual address. The annual report of Mrs. Katharine Lente Stevenson, corresponding secretary, followed. One hundred and five unions were organ- ized, with 2.794 active and 509 honorary members. The total of new members se- cured by these organizers, in both new and old unions, as recorded in official blanks, is about 5,000. Mrs. Mollie Mcgee Snell of Mississippi, national evangelist, led services through the “evangelistic hour,” and “noon tide prayer” followed, after which the conven- tion listened to the annual report of the treasurer, Mrs. Helen M. Barker of Illinois, The total receipts of this year $23,088.96; total expenditures, $18,059.37; leaving a balance in the treasury, after all bills are _pald, of $4,979.59. Received for dues, $14,75 20, ——. From Two Humoris In Saturday's Star will appear anothor letter from the humorist, Mr. Lederer, who describes what he saw 2nd heard in Ham- burg. Robert J. Burdette contributes a bright and amusing sketch of his experi- ences a8 a story teller before a juvenile audience. —_—_—~.__ The Street Schedule. ‘While there has been some scaling in the Commissioners’ estimates in certain quar- ters, there has been a material increase in the amount to be recommended for street improvements. The preliminary schedule (heretofore published in The Star) will be increased from $400,000 to $600,000. This will give an additional $200,000 to expend upon the streets in the several sections, if the entire amount shall be approriated. The schedule, as heretofore published, will, it is understood, remain practically as it i will be added to. All of ene petitions a letters bearing, tipon the su et of strest improvements tive |+en collected, and will tecelva dve coy ration when the time comes, _-— Mobloctes Reported. Last ever vetween 6 and 7 o'clock burglars vd the residence of BE. L. Dorsey, * i) California avenue, and stole $21.50 In cash. Mrs. Alice Ward of Pitts- burg reports the theft of a 1,000-mile rail- road ticket. The ticket, she complains, was stolen from her room at €22 Pennsylvania avenue. Here is another suggestion for the business man who adver- tises or ought to advertise. Advertising spate is valuable in proportion to the extent and character of circulation of the advertising medium. ‘ The Star’s advertising rate for a given space for three months or more is less than 5 cents per line, without changes; for ten thousand lines to be used within a year, changes at will, the rate is 7} cents per line. The Star’s circulation is be- lieved to be five times that of any afternoon paper in Wash- ington—no other afternoon pa- per makes public its circulation. On this basis it is therefore easy to calculate that a fair rate for space in other afternoon papers would be one cent a line where The Star charges five and 14 cents a line as against The Star’s charge of 7} cents. TAXES AND VALUES What Asseseor Trimble Says in His Axpual Report. QE NEW ASSESSMENT €. Need of a kdw to Regulate the Insuratice Business. DELAY IN AN OBJECTIONABLE TAX Assessor Trimble this afterncon submit- ted to the Commissioners the annual report of the operations of his office during the past fiscal year. Assesgor Trimble in his report deprecates the necessity of a fur- ther extension of time in the return of the triennial assessment, which is now under consideration by the board of permanent assessors, and which the latter has found it impossible to complete. He also calls at- tention to the personal tax law and recom- mends its abandonment. The report says: “I have the honor to submit herewith my report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1895, and, in accordance with the usual custom, a statement of the assessed value of the taxable real estate and personal property in the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1896. Washington city— ‘Taxable on lan Taxable on imp: Washington county Taxable on I oo nud at ‘Taxable on improve. ments at $1.50. Taxable on t = land a 17,116,160 00 $5,396,764 00 1,009,600 00 6,406,364 00 Total ossessed value of taxable real es- tate .... = . S,922, Personal ‘prope oper teed ashington city... ..$10,585,364 00 Wasuington county. 96.085 0D Railroads, taxed on Bross recelpts..... 889,388 00 10,971,737 00 Total assessed value of taxable real ¢: persoual property in the Dis- trict of Columbia on July 1, 1805... $199,894,080 00 Amount of tax— pe Washington city at . $1.50 5 $2,480,007 29 256,742 40 $2,801,808 33 el] ways at 4 pes'cent) 11,428 84 $55,667 groan. rer ceipts street rail ways at 2; per eae weeee Moe’ 1,073 35 Total tax on mal property a 171,987 43 poral tax bp Peal: #008 Fre seas shia? $2,973,700 76 ‘The decrease in the assessed value of the real estate as represented in the foregoing figures, below those presented in my report of last year, ts! owing to the revision which was made under the act of August 14, 1804. The Triennial Aguessment for 1896-97 The act of Augyst 14, 1894, made pro- vision for a board of assistant assessors, whose first duty was to make a revision and equalization of the real estate assess- ment then in existence, and make return of their action on or before the first Mon- day of January, 1803, The next most im- portant duty was the triennial assessment to be returned on or before the first Mon- day of January, 1896, on which date said board, with the assessor, will act as a board of equalization and review until the first Monday in June following, thus giving one full year to view and assess the property and five months to receive and consider complaints. The matter of giving sufficient time for the proper performance of these important duties was carefully considered in the original preparation of our present law, and the periods decided upon were generally considered as ample for the pur- poses indicated. Congress has treated our Tequests for assessments and revisions in the last few years with remarkable prompt- itude and liberality, and hence I regret ex- ceedingly that our board of assistant as- sessors have found it necessary to ask for another extension of time, as will appear from the followinz letter: WASHINGTON, September 6, 1395. To the Assessor of the District of Coiumbia: Dear Sir: The law creating tne board of assistant assessors requires that the board shall, on or before the first Monday in Jan- vary, 1896, and every third year thereafter, make and deliver to the assessor of the District of Columbia a return, in tabular form, of the amount, description and value of the real property subject to be listed for taxation in the District of Colum! that said board shall determine from tual view the value of each separate trac or lot of real property in lawful money. 'To do this properly, and as required by the law, and make the return by the first Monday in January, 1896, will be physical- ly impossible, and the board requests that Congress be asked for an extension of time to June 30, 1896. ; ‘The bill making the appropriation to car- ry out the law passed March 2, 1 T board began its work March 2i, 185, and has been constantly in the field, except when performing duties as an excise board, muking the assessment from actual view. Five weeks of tine were occupied by the board assessing new buildings constructed in the District for the year ending June 30, 1895, which must be returned to the as- or by July 1 of each year. When it is understood that there are sixty-nine and a half square miles of ter- ritory in the District of Columbia, every piece or lot of which must be assessed from Actual view, and the further fact that five ‘weeks of the time, from March to January, 1896, were taken up in assessing new build- ings, and the a-iditional duty involved as an excise board, there being 580 retail and 176 \cholesale places under its supervision, it Nil readily be understood how impossible It will be to make the return, as required, y, 1896. Pipe excels hoard will have to © sider. tn ff this year, the ques' ARIES fenewal of license to all of the Shove places, and, this, of necessity, will require much time and careful considera- ‘ully, ie Respeles A, BATES, Chairman. A postponement; of the time when this assessment is to be returned t tinued uncertainty, as to whether a) for the next three Years are-to be higher o1 lower than at iresent, and would make taxes for the year ending June 30, 1897, cue and payable in one installment in the month of May of. that year, instead of one- Palf in November, 1896, and the other half in May, 1897, as now provided. "The revision provided for in the second section of the act referred to was returned to this office at tha required time, and, 2l- though not as,satisfactory as was generally expected, it myst be remembered that the time occupied in the work was limited to a few months, giving slight opportunity to make personal insyection of ihe properties complained of. The promise was made, however, that existing errors and inequali- ties would be examined and the proper remedies applied in the new assessment. ‘The law requires. this assessment to be re- turned by the first Monday of next Jan- uary, and our taxpayers are anxiously awaiting the result, so as to know what will be the standard of valuation on which their taxes will be collected for the ens three years. It appears, however, that a rnanswerable reason for the extension ‘s presented by the board, and, it being shown that it “will be physically impossible” to complete the work by the time indicated, I Submit the question for your ae Personal Property Tax. I have so frequently called attention to the personal property tax that it would seem useless to say anything further on the subject, but I am so well satisfied that an ‘equitable enforcement of this law is ab- solutely impossible that I deem it my duty to raake another appeal Zor its : bolishment. In former reports I have claimed that this law was wrong in principle; that it invited perjury and was calculated to demoralize the standard of public morality. I have presented unassailable facts and figures in support of this position, and have also shown that the small revenue resultaat from this tax could easily be made up in a revision of our license laws, which would avoid the re- cessity of prying into the private affairs of our citizens. I venture this further asser- tion, that if appealed to our courts would find a close relationship betw2en :his and the much-abhorred income tax which was lately abolished by a dec‘sion cf our higkest judicial tribunal. I submit the yuestion without further argument or suggestion, in the hope, however, that the law will be re- pealead. The assessor makes a strong appeal for @ recognition of the services of the employes of his office by means of a reclassification of salaries, and shows how enormously the work of the office has increased through the filing of subdivisions and the increase in real estate transfers. The report gives an account of the work of the clerks employed in bringing up the accounts of arrears of taxes, and also the work imposed on his office by the issue of tax certificates. It also gives an account of the work done during the »ast year in having the plats of the subdivisions of the var‘ous squares in the city of Wasnington photolithographed. Licenses, During the year ended June 30, 1895, 2,928 Licenses were issued, including 605 bar room and 172 wholesale I:quor licenses. There have been certified to the collector of taxes 459 certificates for miscellaneous receipts, in- cluding 166 for steam engiaeer 1s total amount collected was $37: included $25. bs quor deal- ers. The total decrease in rece!pts from licenses of all kinds for the year ‘vas $16,- 798. It will be perceived,” says the report, that there is a slight decrease in some of the items of revenue, principally from liquor licenses. This deficiency is more apparent than real, however, asthe enormous :acrease of the previous year was cased by excep- tional conditions, viz: The passage of a new excise law and a duplicate payment after- ward refunded. The other items are to ‘be attributed ta the prevailing business de- pression and adverse dec‘sions of the courts in the construction of some of the Ilcense “I Rave had occasion heretofore to invite your attention to the necessity for an im- mediate revision of the license laws and the passage of new legislation to make them effective. Some of them are obsolete or nullified by judicial rulings, and should either be re-enacted in accordance with modern necessities and condfiions or e: punged from the statute books. The offi- para charged with thelr enforcement would lever ‘rom ye necessi| “3 ing legal advice. Shes “No license taxes have heen collected during the past year elther from brewers or their agents. Distillers and manufac- turers of liquors contribute nothing to the license revenues of the District. Clabs and the Excise Laws. “The present excise law was enacted March 3, 1893, and amended May 11, 1894. It has already engaged the attention of the law officers in defining the rights of citi- zens claiming exemption from taxation. The amendment passed with a view of se- curing the privilege of hotels to dispense Liquors, in view of certain rulings, bids fair, at an early date, to be the subject of con- tention in the courts, Certain clubs, at the beginning of the last license year, complied With the law, and deposited their license fce3 with the collector of taxes, but subse- quently, upon an alleged decision of the Police Court in a case with which they claimed their interests were identical, de- manded the return of their money. The Commissioners promptly refused, and there the subject rests. It is safe to predict that the matter will be brought to an issue at an early date, as all liquor licenses expire Oc- teber 31. Should the law taxing clubs dis- pensing liquor prove defective, it will, in my opinion, prove particularly unfortunate for the interests of the District. There should be something more tangible, apart frcm sentiment, than the mere filing of ar- ticles of incorporation as a condition-prece- dent to exempticn from taxation in the sale of liquors. At the present time, the condi- ticn of affairs is being taken advantage of by those whose claims are, as a matter of fact, without the slightest foundation. No liquor law can or ought to be in existence which discriminates between citizens seek- ing its protection. Organizations or clubs. as well as individuals, should pay if they engage in the business. Manufacturers. “The section of the law exempting makers. or manufacturers of distilled or fermented liquors, wines, or cordials, has, as time has elapsed, developed a capacity for exemption little dreamed of at the date of its passage. The liquor traffic is legalized by Congress and law-abiding citizens in that business, while held to a strict account, should re- ceive business protection. Breweries and manufacturers of liquors from nearly a dczen cities of the Union are represented in the District of Columbia. Their goods are shipped, sold and dispensed here with- out being taxed. As a matter of equity, IT can see no reason why this unjust discrimi- nation should not be removed by proper legislation. Merry-Go-Rounds. “4 subject which has been ihe source of endless vexation to the community and this office during the year has been the licens- ing and location of merry-go-rounds or flying horses in certain sections of our city. ‘They, in most instances, attract crowds, re- quiring police surveillance and constant vig- flance in the suppression of disorder. Resi- dents in their vicinity. complain pitterly, and they are regarded as.such a nulsance that the Commissioners deemed it wise to refuse tfie proprietors license to conduct their busi- ness. Unfortunately, this course has only resulted in a loss of revenue, without abat- ing the evil. Each day the proprietors call at this office, tender the money for a license and are refused, thus securing exemption from prosecution in the Police Court. The only remedy seems to be with Congress, to either abate them entirely or banish them beyond the city limits. License Taxes of Street Railway Com- Panies. “No license taxes have been paid by any of the street railway companies using horses as a motive power during the past year, the validity of the law taxing them having been affirmed by a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. It- was hoped there would be no further jelay in the pay- ment of taxes in arrears. I can only direct attention to this fact. Insurance Companies, “One hundred and eighty-four insurance companies or their agents have been licensed since my last: report, viz: 109 fire, 55 life, 20 casualty accident and live stock compa- nies. This department is overwhelmed at times with communications from and In reference to various assessment, fraternal, and so-called benevolent organizations, building and loan associations with an in- surance branch, maturity certificate com- panies, and the originators of a thousand and one schémes to subsist upon the com- munity by offering promises, for cash, and inducements of profit which can never be realized. I regret to say there seems to be no law to prevent their coming here. Some of them locate, thrive apace, and when the golden harvest is ripe, fold their tents and disappear. If they remain it is useless to sue them, for they have nothing, and their contracts are so shrewdly worked that it is dieult to prove actual fraud. It seems snnecessary to Trepeat_my recommenda- tions of former years. New laws should be passed, which would better protect the in- terests of the citizens of the District. There should be proper supervision, and the law made effective by the imposition of proper penalties for its infraction. Every com- pany soliciting insurance business,or agree- ing for a consideration to pay sums of money, after the lapse of a certain period of time, should be required to deposit with the District Commissioners not less than $10,000 in cash or securities, in their dis- cretion, to secure their policy or certificate holders from loss. Public Vehicles. “Five hundred and forty-seven vehicles were licensed the past year, divided as fol- lows: “Numbered hacks, omnibuses and two- horse vehicles. 5 “Numbered cabs, ne-horse vehicles. “Herdis coaches rt routes .. “Total... —— An Inventor at Home. An interesting account of a visit to the laboratory in this city of Alexander Gra- hem Bell, the invertor of the telephone, will be printed in Saturday’s Star, to- gether with a talk with him in regard to his inventions and the future of the tele- phene. FINANCE AND TRADE Extreme Dullness in the Movement of Prices, THE ATTEMPTED CORNER IN COTTON Export Movement in That Com- modity Restricted. GENERAL MARKET kEPORTS es Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, October 18—The inter- ctanging of securities by the professional trading element was resumed this morning without prejudice to values in either ac- count. ‘The narrow groove which has of late served to contine the daily fluctua- tions in prices cannot be further narrowed without forcing a period of total inactivity. The market is extremely unresponsive, good and bad intelligence passing almost unngticed. Prices hover aimlessly about a pivotal point, the occasional deflections at- tracting sufficient covering to re-establish a practically fixed value. ‘The suit brought against the Chigao Gas reorganization committee by a prominent hulder of the bonds of the constituent com- pantes, to restrain further action under the proposed plan of consolidation, had no ef- fect on the price of the stock concerned. Arguments in the case have been set down for November 6, the effect of this postpone- ment acting as a stay to further progress under the new plan. The injunction is sought on the grounds that the proposed acticn will impair the value of the fran- chises of the several companies involved and that the supreme court of the state has practically decided against the validity of such consolitation. The market for foreign «xchange shaded off fractionally during the day, posted rates being fully one-quarter per cent lower than those of yesterday. The speculative ad- vance in Cotton resulting from efforts to control the market on the part of a few brokers, has necessarily restricted the ex- port movement in this commodity and left the market bare of the class of bills usually relied upon at this season of the year. Sugar was moderately active under cov- ering by traders who sold yesterday, but rallied with greater effort than hereto- fore, owing to the fact that there is no evi- dence of the inside support which has al- ways preceded an active upward movement. Tennessee Coal and Iron was again a Prominent feature of the day. ‘The trading of the last hour was un- changed in character, prices being irreg- ular arcund the upening level. ee FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The following are the opening, the high- est and the lowest uad the closing prices cf the New York stock market today, as re- ported by Corson & Macartney, members New Ycrk stock exchange. Correspondents Messrs. Moore & Schley, No. S0 Broadway. American 81 iors e1 ugar... ‘American Sagar, ime Iiinois Central Lake Shore. Erie...... Loulsvilie & Nashviiie. Long Island Traction.. Metropolitan Tract‘on. Manhattan Elevated Michigan Central. Missouri Paciile National Lead Co- New Jersey Central. New York Central N = &N. ‘Tenn. Coal & Union Pacitic. Wabash = Wheellng. ‘Western Silver... ——_—_>—_—_ ‘A Washington Stock Exchnnge. Sales—regular call—12 o'clock m.—Com- mercial Fire Insurance, 100@4%. Chesa- eee and Potomac Telephone, 10@56; 10@ Government Bonds.—U. 8S. 4s, reg., 111% bid, 112% asked. U. 8. 4s, coup., 111% bid, 112% asked. U. S. 4s, 1925, 122% bid. U. S. 5s, 115% bid. District of Columbia Bonds.—20-year Fund. 5s, 104 bid. 30-year Fund. gold 6s, 112% bid. Water Stock currency 7s, 1901, 116 bid. Water Stock currency 7s, 1903, 118 bid. Fund. currency 3.65s, 112 bid, 114% asked. Reg. 2-103, 3%s, 100 bid. Miscellaneous Bonds.—Washington and Georgetown Railroad conv. 63, ist, 165. bid, 180 asked. Washington and Georgetown Rallroad cony. 6s, 2d, 165 bid, 180 asked. Metropolitan Railroad conv. 6s, 114 bid, 115 asked. Metropolitan Railroad 5s, 100’ bid. Belt Railroad 5s, 85 bid, 90 asked. Ecking- ton Railroad 6s, 100 bid. Columbia Railroad Gs, 110% bid, 111 asked. Washington Gas Company, ser. A, 6® 113 bid. Washington Gas Company, ser. B, 6s, 114 bid. Washing- ton Gas Company conv. 6s, 128 bid, 138 asked. United States Electric Light conv. 140 bid. Chseapsake and Potomac Tele- phone 5s, 100 bid. American Security and Trust 5s, F. and A., 102 bid, 105 asked. American Security and Trust 5s, A. and O., 02 bid, 105 asked. Washington Market Company Ist 6s, 110 bid. Washington Mar- ket Company imp. 6s, 110 bid. Washington Market Company exten. 6s, 110 bid. Ma- sonic Hall Association 5s, 103 bid. Wash- ington Light Infantry 1st 6s, 100 bid. National Bank Stocks.—Bank of Washing- ‘on, 280 bid, 300 asked. Bank of Repubiic, 240 bid. Metropolitan, 286 bid, 310 asked. Central, 273 bid. Farmers and Mechanics’, 180 bid, asked. Second, 136 bid. Citi- zens’, 130 bid. Columbia, 132 bid, 140 asked. Capital, 116 bid. West End, 106 bid. Trad- ers’, 105 bid. Lincoln, 95 bid, 102 asked. Ohio, 82 bid. Safe Deposit and Trust Companies.—Na- tiom#] Safe Deposit and Trust, 127 bia, 140 ked. Washington Loan and Trust, 121 bid, 125 asked. . American Security’ and Trust, 139% bid, 141% asked. Washington Safe Deposit, 70’ asked. Railroad Stocks.—Metropolitan, 100 bid, 105 asked. Columbia, 50 bid. Belt, 80 asked. Eckington, 30 asked. Georgetown and Ten- nallytown, 30 asked. c Gas and Electrie- Light Stocks.—Washing- ton Gas, *47 bid, 49% asked. Georgetown as, 55 asked. United States Electric Light, Stocks.—Firemen’s, 36 bid. Metropolitan, 70 bid. Cor- Insurance Franklin, 40 bid. coran, 50 bid. Potomac, 68 bid. Arlington, i40 bid, 160 asked. German American, 160 bid, 200 asked. National Union, 15 asked. Columbia, 12%, bid, 144% asked. Riggs, ™% bid, 84 asked. People’s, 5% bid, 6% asked. Lincoln, 7% bid, 8 asked. Commercial, 4% bid, 5 asked. Title Insurance Stocks.—Real Estate Title, 107 bid, 116 asked. Columbia Title, 7 bid, 8 asked. District Title, 8 bid, 12 asked. Telephone Stocks.—Pennsylvania,50 asked. Chesapeake and Potomac, *50 bid, 60 asked. American Graphophone, 8% bid, 3% asked. Pneumatic Gun Carriage, .30 bid. Miscellaneous Stocks.—Washington Mar- ket, 14 bid. Great Falls Ice, 132 bid, 140 asked. Lincoln Hall, 60 bid. Mergahthaler Linotype, 212 bid, 250 asked. *Ex. div. —_——__ Baltimore Markets. BALTIMORE, October 18.—Flour firm, unchanged —receipts, 14,305 barrels; sales, 900 barrels. Wheat aull—spot’ and month, &5%4a65%: December, 67a 674; steamer red, G2%a62%—receipts, 5,772 bushels; stock. 545,454 bushels; sal 29,000 bush- els—southern wheat by sample, G6a67; do. on grade, G3466%. Corn firm—spot, 37273: month, 874A November, wew or old, 35a85%; year, B3iga £4; January, = Saleem Bere pth 2 white western, 2o3eu No. els. Hay firm, active =cholce timothy, §15. ts Tigh Grain and Cotton Markets. Cotton and grain markets, w. B. Hibbs, stock, grain and cotton er, prec Fst. High; Low. Close. 6 23 29% 18 oto “ats 70! 267 9.00 9.62 5.72 BOT 5.67 S87 5.85 6.85 477 475 475 sees seen 4.92 High. Low. Close. 9.08 R895 8.95 B18 9.01 9.05 9.25 907 9.11 8 982 914 9.19 pte etre CONTESTS THE WILL. Estate of the Late Henry Pearson in Litigation. A caveat was filed today by Attorney Joseph Shillington for Annie Pearson in the matter of the estate of the late Henry M. Pearson. Miss Pearson is a sister of the deceased, and ske declares that the alleged will of her brother, dated July 12, 1895, is not his last one. At that time, she charges, he was not capable of making a valid deed or con- tract. Miss Pearson charges, further, that her brother did not at the time declare it to be chis last will, that it was not duly attested; that the witnesses did not sign it at his request; that it was obtained and executed by the fraud, circumvention, misrepresen- tation, and undue influence practiced upon the gprnegaued Sarah E. Davidson, or some other unknown person or persona, and that the alleged will was procured by the fraud and coercion of the said Sarah E. Davidson or some unknown person or per- sons. Therefore, Miss Pearson protests the probating of the instrument, and denies and contests its validity. —— ARRESTED HERE. Percy Bradiey Charged With an Of- fense in Virginia, Detectives Horne and Weedon this after- roon surprised a young man-named Percy Bradley, a clerk in Neudecker's cigar store, rear 12th and E streets, when they placed him under arrest and took him to police headquarters. His arreat was made on a telegram from Richmond, stating that he is charged in that city with seduction. When taken to headquarters he said he had an idea what girl had made the charge against him, and declared that he would never marry her. The prisoner has lived in Baltimore since he left Richmond. It 1s thought that the requisition for him vibes here ek ot employed rer fend him and it. in Ukely that a weit of habeas corpus will be obtained. Seduction is not an offense against the laws of the District, so it is said, and the officers think that the Virginia authorities will experience some trouble in getting the young man. ——— Eddie Stone's Death. Edward Stone, ten years old, whose par- ents live at 1324 11th street southwest, has been sick for several weeks, but his par- ents probably knew nothing of his illness. According to the doctors he had the ma- larial intermittent fever and died yesterday. Wednesday he went home from the Tyler school and was so sick that he had to ge to bed. About noon yesterday he seemed so much worse that a physician was sent, for, but before one arrived the little patient died. Coroner Hammiett invesigated the a sie Secenink EOe eye a eee ee jeath. —_———_. Bartlett Hills Applies for Divorce. J. Bartlett” Hills, through Attorney Irv- ing Williamson, today filed a petition for a divorce from Winona H. Hills, to whom he was married here April 27, 1887. The petitioner states that they lived together until about March 18, 1898, when, he charges, hia wife willfully deserted and abandoned him. He claims to have been at all times a faithful and affectionate hus- band, but says that for some time prior to the date of the alleged desertion and ‘abandonment of him Mrs. Hills appeared to have iost her affection for him, and he charges that she had no cause or provoca- tion for leaving him. el Demand for the Arms’ Retura. The demand of the attorneys for the discharged Cuban filibusters at Wilming- ton, Del., for the return of the twenty- seven boxes of arms, seized at the time of the arrests, has been received at the Treas- ury Department and turned over to Department of Justice. Attorney Harmon has had the matter under advise= ment, but has not yet come to a decision. ———__-2+ THE GREAT RUSSIAN LIBRARY. Some Facts of Interest About This Collection ef Books. From the Library Magazine. The University of St. Petersburg has the largest and best oriental faculty in Eu- rope; its professors lecture in Arabic, Per- sian, Turkish, Tartar, Armenian, Georgian, Mongolian and many others. Particular facilities are always given to students of eriental languages to pursue their studies, and many of them have been sent to China, Japan, Persia and elsewhere at the expense of the Russian government. For instance, Prof. Wassiljeff, the veteran ori- entalist and professor of Chinese, was sent to China. These are some of the peaceful means by which the Imperial library has been added to, but war and revolution have also contributed their quota. Gen. Su- varof, with his motto, “Forward and strike,” has been just as great a benefac- tor in his way to this great institution as the wealthy czars and merchant princes. ‘The sack of Warsaw, in which 9,000 Poles were slain, made him master of that town and master of the valuable Zaluski li- brary. But the benefit which the Russians reaped from the French revolution is, per- haps, the most notworthy of all. Count Dubrovski, a bibliophile, was attached to the Russian embassy in Paris when the great upheaval took place. During this time museums and palaces were pillaged by the raging populace, and collections and libraries burnt and scattered to the winds; hundreds of manuscripts and books were ruthlessly destroyed. Some, however, es- caped the hands of the destroyer, and were sold by the government of the day to small shopkeepers, from whom Dubrovski bought them for a song. Thus Russia has become the custcdian of unique treasures. Among the letters which were thus ac- quired are several written by Henry VIL, Henry VIII, Richelieu and Catherine de Medicis. The earliest printed book in Russia, which Is in kecping there,is a history of the aposties, with the date 1564 on its title page. As regards the public library build- ing there is not much to be sald; it is not @ very imposing building, nor is it so well adapted to library requirements as other large libraries. os Renovating Postal Cards. From the Chicago Tribune. In the course of time @ large manufactur- ing or wholesale house accumulates a quan- tity of postal cards that have never been used, but that have printed addresses on them. There is now w firm which makes a business of collecting these. They cover the addresses first with ink, then “bronze this over, and, if required, will print new ad- dresses on the bronzing and return them at the net price of about half a cent each on large lots. The other half cent is saved the customer. oo —_____ Representative Wm. 8. Linton and Rep- resentative-elect Résseau O. ot Michigan have leased a house on North Capitol street near the Capitol, which they will occupy jointly efter the meeting of Congress.