Evening Star Newspaper, October 24, 1895, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Penneylvania Avenue, Cor, 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. New York Office, 49 Potter Building. jeticeenees Bradinbact ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers In th: elty by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week, cr 44 cents per month. Copies at tho counter 2 cents each. By mail—unywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—50 cenis per month, Saturday Quintnpl> Sheet Star, $1 per year, with posta: ade $3.00. t Washins DISTRICT ESTIMATES What the Commissioners Ask of Congress. IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS WANTED Proposed Expenditures for Street Work and Sewers. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST —— This afternoon the District Commission- ers completed their estimates of the amcunt )equired to conduct the municipal- ity during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897, and sent the same to the Secretary of the Treasury, together with a statement of the estimated revenues, exclusive of the receipts of the water department. These estimates, the Commissioners say, do not include the amounts of salaries of the jus- tices of the Supreme Court of the District and the justices of the Court of Appeals, although one-half of the same is payable out of the revenues of the District. In all the Commissioners ask for an ap- propriation of $7, one-half of which the general government is to pay. The most important feature of the new estimates is the list of improvements the Commissioners contemplate making next yecr. This includes the streets to be paved and other important matters. Improvements Recommended. Following is a complete list of the streets recommended for improvement: Northwest. Virginia avenue from G to E streets, pave, estimated cost, $6,000; Ist street from O to P streets, pave, $4,000; W street from 12th to 13th streets, pave, $4,500; Florida avenue from Ist to North Capitol streets, pave, $15,000; T street from 7th to 9th streets, pave, $5,000; Riggs street from New Hampshire avenue to 19th street, pave, 36,- uv; U_ street from 1th to 18th streets, pave, $13,300; I street from 23d to 26th streets, pave, $10,000; C street from 11th to 12th streets, pave, $1,600; 25th street from H to K streets, pave, 3,000; T street from 7th street to. Florida avenue, pave, $5,000; Rhode Island avenue from New Jersey to Florida avenues, pave, $5,000; K street from Ist to Nerth Capitol streets, pave, $5,000; Florida avenue from Connecticut avenue to 18th street, pave, $7,00 ist street from Pierce street to New York avenue, pave, $6,000; 22d street from F street to Virginia avenue, pave, $3,000; 11th street from C to D streets, pave, $2,300; 12th street from C to B streets, pave, $1, Jith street from C to B streets, pave, $1,400; North Capftol street from O street to Florida avenue, pave, 312,000; B street from 9th to 12th streets, pave, $18,000; 25th street from M to N streets, pave, $7,000; Cedar street from 18th to 19th streets, pave, $4,000; O street from New Jersey avenue to Ist street, pave, $/,000; 3d street from P to Q streets, pave, $5,000; 24th street from M street to Pennsylvania avenue, pave, $6,000; W street from 13th to 15th streets, pave, $7,500. Total for northwest, $180,000. Northeast. M street, from 2d street to Florida avenue, pave, $12,000; Florida avenue, from 9th to M street, G. and M., $12,000; B street, from 8th to 9th street, pave, $3,500; D street, from Maryland avenue to 9th street, pave, 65,500; F street, from 3d to 9th street, pave, $20,000; G street, from Maryland avenue to 14th street, pave, $1,600; Florida avenue, fen M street to Brentwood road, G. and , $12,000; 10th street, from East Capitol lo C street, pave, 38,000; 4th street, from K to L gtreet, pave, $4,000; L street, from North Capitol street eastward, G. and R., $15,000; Florida avenue, from North Capitol Btreet to New York avenue, G. and R., $18,- 000; D street, from Massachusetts avenue to Maryland avenue, G. and R., $10,000; 11th street, from Massachusetts avenue to C street, G. and R., $8,000; F street, from 9th street to Maryland avenue, G. and R., $8,400; total for northeast, $133,000. Southeast. Tenth street, from Pennsylvania ave- nue to I street, pave, $10,000; I street, from 8th to 11th street, pave, $10,000; South Car- olina avenue, from 7th to 9th street, pave, $4,000; C street, from 11th to 12th street, pave, $4,000; Kentucky avenue, from Lin- coln Park to B street, G. and R., $4,000; 13th street, from East Capitol to D street, G. and R., $8,000; L street, from 4th to Sth, G. and R., $8,000; E street, from 13th to 14th street, pave, $8,000; 4th street, from to Virginia avenue, pave, $15,000; 9th street, from Pennsylvania avenue to South Carolina avenue, pave, $1,500; South Capi- tol stregt, from H to K street, pave, $10,000; E street, from 3d to 4th street, pave, $4,500; 5th street, from E to G street, pave, $5,000; South Carolina avenue, from 9th to 11th street, pave, 310,000; 4th street, from _Vir- ginia avenue to N street, pave, $15,000; North Carolina avenue, from E to B street, pave, 36,000; Ist street, from G to E street, pave, 4,000; Virginia avenue, from 3d to sth street, pave, $11,000. Total for south- east, $138,000. Southwest. D street from 7th to 9th streets, pave, $2,000; F street, from 7th to 10th streets, pave, $12,000; I street, from 2d to 6th streets, pave, $12,000; 3d street, from H to K streets, pave, 310,000; 6% street, from D to E streets, pave, $5,000; Virginia avenue, from South Capitol to Delaware avenue, pave, $8,000; N street, from 4% to 6th streets, pave, $5,000, Van street, from 3d to 4% streets, pave, $5,000; Delaware avenue, frcm K to L streets, G. and R., $3,000; 14th street, from B street to alley, pave, $1,500; Water street (widening), from P_ street northward, pave, $10,000; 3d street, from K to N streets, pave, $10,000; N_ street, from Sd to 4% streets, pave, $4,000; Virginia ave- nue (n. s.), from Delaware avenue to 2d $4,500. Total for southwest, Georgetown. ™m to 36th streets, pave, , from 34th to h streets, reet, from 33d to 34th reet, from ! M street, fi $6,000; M str 2 ets, pave, $7,000; 27th M to P streets, G. and R., $9,006 reet, from Sth to 30th streets, pave, N str st, from 27th to 2sth street: esapeake R street, from 34th to goth streets, pave, $2,000. Total for Georgetown, $1,000. Construction of County Ronds. For construction of county roads and sub- urban streets, as follows: For grading Columbia road, 16th street northwest extended, Pros- pect street, Crescent street, Superior street, Erie street, Central street, Meridian and Ontario avenues, Meridian Hill, continuing improvement, $5,000. Fer paving Connecticut avenue and Co- lumbia road between Florida avenue and Wyoming street, $12,000, For grading and regulating Sherman ave- rue, Roanoke and Irving streets, $12,000, continuing improvement. Provided, that thi: »propriation shall be available for re- moving buildings, terracing banks and re- placing fences of Garfield Hospital crounds, and other premises abutting on Sherman avenue between Grant and Princeton (Continued on Eleventh Page.) — Che Fvening Star. No. 13,304. WASHINGTON, D. 0. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1895—SIXTEE TWO CENTS. Look on page 12 for the “When the War Was Over.” $500 for the cor- rect solution of the mystery by a woman reader. GREAT BRITAIN'S SUGGESTION S E N ATO R Q U A Y ALL ON BOARD SAVED = « To Form an Alliance to Enforca the Monros Doctrine. What the Result of Such a Combina- tiom Would Soen Probably Be. In connection with the Venezuelan affair it has transpired that Great Britain has made a suggestion to this country to form an alliance for the en- forcement of the Monroe doctrine jointly as against other nations, the preservation of peace and stability of government in South and Central America, and to compel @ proper respect of international law and comity by these smaller republics. In other words, Great Britain ts willing that the Monroe doctrine should be enforced and that the United States should exercise a protective influence over the minor repub- lies of this continent if the English right, interest and power is recognized as equal to that of the United States. In pursuance with this idea Great Britain suggests that the two countries join in the construction of the Nicaraguan canal. This is said to come in the form of a suggestion, not as a tormal propusition. Believed to Have Beclined. The character of the reply, if one has Leen sent yet, is not known outside the State Department and the cabinet circie, but the belief is that the suggestion has not been entertained at all. While there is no doubt that the Monroe doctrine would be enforced against other nations through such an alliance, the greatest poacher would be exempted and would become the partner of the United States to share and share alike in the direction of the affairs of this continent. England would have noth- irg to lose by such an arrangement and this country would have nothing to gain, and under the present state of our diplo- macy our interests would probably soon be- come subordinate to those of the English foreign office. A Similar Suggestion. In the early part of the century Great Britain, then not entirely satisfied with the plans of the “holy alliance” of European powers, made a similar proposition to the United States to the one now suggested. The proposition was then rejected, not on account of any unfriendliness toward Great Britain, but in deference to the policy urged by Washington of avoiding all entangling alliances. —s THE COREAN TROUBLES. It May Result in Dixcontinuing the Legation Here. There is much regret in official circles because of the probability that the turmoil through which Corea has recently passed is likely to embarrass and possibly dis- continue the Corean legation in Washington, which has long been one of the most pic- turesque features of diplomatic life here. The legation has received no official advices from the new government, and it is becoming apparent that those in control at Seoul repre- sent the old ideas against intercourse with foreign powers. It was only a few years ago that the Cor- eans began their relations with outside countries, and it was regarded as an ad. vance towafd civilized methods. The fi legation established was in Washington, the Coreans regarded the United S country most friendly to them. Since then a consular agency has been opened in Lon- don, but the United States remains the only country with a Corean legation. The queen recently assassinated was friendly to these foreign relations, and through her influe: the legation here was kept in existence. with her death there is evidence that old methods will be resumed. The new minister of foreign affairs in Corea is said to be op- posed of foreign legations and such mediums of communication with outside powers, and this doubtless accounts for the fact that the Corean officials here are receiving no word from their superiors at home. —_____-e NEW LIGHT HOUSES. Plans for Those to Be Erected on the Lower Potomac. The light house beard has completed the preparations of the plans for the new light houses to be erected at Lower Cedar Point and at Smith’s Point, cn the lower Poto- mac. Bids for the construction of these‘ staticns will be called for in a few days. The appropriations available for this work are sufficient only to begin operations, and the next Congress will be asked to make udditional appropriations sufficient to com- plete the work. The Smith’s Point station will be practi- cally on the site of the old light, destroyed two years ago by ice floes, but in the new structure rip-rap will be used to further protect the light from the ice coming down the Potomac. The station at Lower Cedar Point is to be moved to the opposite side of the river from that of the old site, and will consist of a screw-pile structure, show- ing a light visible about tweive nautical miles. The character of the light has not yet been determined, but it will probably be of the flash-light order, with brief in- tervals between flashes. That at Smith's Point will be of the stationary order. ——_____+ e+ ______ THE RAM KATAHD Arrangements for Her Official Trial Over the New London Course. Arrangements have been completed at the Navy Department for the official trial of the ram Katahdin over the New London course on the 29th instant. A board has been appointed to conduct the trial, com- posed as follows: Capt. H. F. Picking, Chief Engineer A. H. Able, Commander R. B. Bradford, Naval Constructor Wm. H. Varney, Lieut. Commander Seaton Schroc- der and Lieut. S. A. Staunton. A peculiar feature of the contract for the construction of this vessel is that she is required to maintain a speed of seventeen knots an hour for two consecutive hours in order to insure her acceptance. Although there is no penalty allowance, there is a premium allowance of $15,000 for each quarter knot of speed in excess of the contract reauire- ment of seventeen knots. If she fails to make that rate of speed she will be re- jected. ‘1D ACRES. The Nez Perces Lands Soon to Be Opened to Settlers. Secretary Smith will proclaim the Nez Perces Indian reservation lands open for settlers in about a week or ten days. The allotments are all made and patents issued. The first payment of $626 pleted at once and the $50, ment will be made soon, whi 50, payment due in February will probably be met when due. Among the 2,000 Indians 182,00) acres have been allotted, aeres have been reserved as timber iand, while the balance of the 746,000 acres is open to settlers, being sold at $3.75 an acre for agricultural and $3 an acre for timber and mineral lands. The. country is well adapted to wheat and to grazing pur- poses. : - MANY THOUS. Court-Martial Sentence Approved. Gen. Ruger, commanding the Department ef the East, has approved the sentence of tho court-martial in the case of Private August B. Sanders, battery A, fourth ar- tillery, tried at Washington barracks for violating the 62d article of war and sen- tenced to bo dishonorably discharged, and to forfeit all pay and allowances due him. His Game of Politics in the Present Campaign, WANTS & BIG MAJORITY NEXT MONTH The Menace He Holds Over Mem- bers of the Combine. SYMPATHY OF DEMOCRATS The dispatches announce the presence in New York of Senator Quay on an errand of conference with certain members of the republican national committee. He had been expected for over a week, but was detained at home by business connected with the state campaign, which, now that he is again at the helm, he is very solicitous about. It is not a question of winning. The republicans are certain to win. But Mr. Quay wants the majority at least to approximate that of last year, when the figures ran up very close to a quarter of a millidn votes. He is said to be a little afraid of lukewarmness on the part of the combination he overthrew at Harrisburg in August, without whose co-operation at the Folls next month he cannct hope to make anything of a gratifying showing. Some members of that combination are suspected of a disposition to “take it out of him” by remaining inaciive, or by scratching the names of the Quay men on the ticket, and it is on those gentlemen the Senator has his eagle eye fixed. His Game of Politics. Mr. Quzy’s game of politics has been mucii commented on for success and in- genuity, but one play he is now making is regarded by his admirers as probably his very best. This is the special investigation ordered at the last session of the Pennsyl- vania legislature into the municipal affairs of Philadelphia. The Quaker city was at that time, and still is, the hot bed of anti- Quay republicanism in the state, and the investigation ordered was considered to be @ couuter move on the Senator’s part to bring certain of his cpponents to terms. The original program called for the be- &:nning of the investigation at once. But practically nothing so far has been done. Nor is it known how soon, if e the work is to begin. In some quarters the whole thing is looked upon as being only a bluff—as a menace to those who, with- out some such demonstration, would have felt inclined and altogether free to strike the Senator as hard a blow as they could deliver. The Investigation Menace. This menace,according to this explanation of the matter, is so constructed as to be capable of three distinct applications. It had one application in the fight at Harris- burg. It was reported then that if Mr. Quay lost that battle through the instru- mentality of the Philadelphia opposition to bim the investigation would begin at ouce. He won, and things went on as before. The menace is now in its second application. ‘the rumor is afloat that if the republican vete in the arti-Quay strongholds is allow- ed to fall off next month the screws will be put to the combine before Christmas. The opportunity for still a third application will come after next month's election, when, whether the vote is heavy or light, atten- ticn will at once be directed to preparing for the national convention. Shall, or shall rot, the delegation be put under Mr. Quay’s control? if the way is cleared for the Sen- ator, the investigation is to be dropped. If not—if the combine again raises its head and disputes the way, insisting upon a liberal share of the delegates and inde- pendent action by them—then the long- deferred work is to begin, and not only Philadelphia, but Pittsburg, subjected to a thcrough overhauling. Why He Wants a Big Majority. Mr. Quay’s desire for a large majority at home this year is based upon two reasons. In the first place, his work as state chair- man will come into comparison with that of Mr. Gilkerson last year. The Gilkerson campaign was conducted under exception- ally favorable circumstances, and an enor- mous vote was thrown. This cannot be re- peated this year, but Mr. Quay is anxious that the failing off shall be no greater than natural causes will easily explain. Then, in the second place, he has his candidacy for re-election as chairman of the republi- can national committee to consider. That might be retarded by the falling off of only a small vote in Pennsylvania this year. 1t might be difficult to explain to those at a distance why, with the return of the old chief to power at home, greater enthu- slasm was not aroused. And the awkward questions might follow: Does the old chief possess his old powe Did his triumph at Harrisburg cost him too much? Is it the sume old Quay that is presented for na- tional consideration again? Sympathy of Democrats. It is an interesting feature of the situa- tion in Pennsylvania that in the scrap be- tween the Senator and his republican op- ponents he has the sympathy of the demo- crats of the state. This Is said to be true to a man among the leaders. They have had the very hardest knocks from him, and yet they like him, and all of them wished him success at Harrisburg. The only ex- planation offered is that they naturally admire a good tighter, and, having proved the Senator's steel themselves, they sup- port him when he turns it against a faction of his own side. They probably remember, too, that in all the tariff contests he has stood for ail the interests of the state alike. ee ee WHAT HE CALLS A VICTORY. Ex-Congressman Stevens on the Com- ing Election in Massachusetts. “We are to have a democratic victory in Massachusetts this fall,’” said ex-Congress- man Moses T. Stevens to a Star reporter today. Mr. Stevens is a democrat, a manu- facturer, and was a strong advocate of free raw materials in the last Congress. “But the victory is to be this way,” he added, in a confidential whisper and with a sly twinkle in his eye, ‘we will reduce the republican plurality from 65,000 to 40,000, and that will be a democratic victory. The political situation is not one of absorbing interest in Massachusetts just now. The trouble is’—and here he heaved a sigh of regret—‘‘the result of the election is too much of a foregone conclusion. It will be a case of the Dutch taking Holland. There are no local issues of importance in the campaign, and the fight will be a straight- out party contest between the democrats and republicans. The A. P. A. question does not cut any figure in this campaign. There is no telling what twelve months will tring forth in this connection, but at pres- ent it is not a factor in the situation.” Safety of the Captain and Orew of the 8 Augustine. , They Arrived at Beston This Morning on the City of Macon—Story ‘of the Disaster. BOSTON, October 24.—Captain Gaskill, wife and the crew of the steamer City of St. Augustine, reported on fire at sea by the steamer Orizaba yesterday, reached this Port this morning on board the Savannah line steamer City of Macon. They were picked up by the Macon soon after leaving the burning vessel last Monday night, having suffered very little discomfort from the® experience. On learning of their arrival, a representa- tive of the Associated Press sought an in- terview with Captain Gaskill. The latter sai We sailed from New York for Jack- sonville with a general cargo of -freight Saturday. On board, besides myself and Mrs. Gaskill, were the crew of fourteen men. We had clear weather, with no mishap until we reached Hatteras. “On Monday night when about eighteen miles off Hatteras light, smoke was seen coming from the hold. The hatches were opened and we found the interior of the ship in flames. We tried to fight the fire, but af- ter our utmost efforts had proved fruitless in checking it, we were compelled to take to the boats with what few effects we could quickly gather. “We had been but a short time away from the vessel when the flames broke through the deck and climbing the rigging lighted up the ocean for miles. Soon afterward the City of Macon bore down toward us, and we were all taken aboard in safety and brought to Bos- ton. Captain Lewis and his men treated us with every courtesy, and we were made very ccmfortable on board the City of Macon. Captain Lewis had seen the flames and had come to render any possible assistance. The St. Augustine continued to burn fiercely as long as we were in sight. There is no means of telling how the fire originated. There was nothing more inflammable in our freight than what is to be found in any general cargo. When it was discovered it Was beyond control, and our utmost efforts to check it were put forth in vain.” Fighting the Flames. A member of the crew, im deseribing the burning of the City of St. Augustine, said: “In fighting the fire hand extinguishers, hose ‘and steam from the hoilers were turned Into the hold through the coal bunkers and the engine room. For three- quarters of an hour the flames wer at bay, but suddenly the steam in the tolls Ts gave out, and the fire Began to make rapid head There were 2 barrels of oil stowed just back of where the fire orig- inated, and as the flames were gradually working in that direction, preparation to leave the ship was speedily made. he port and starboard iffeboats we sisting the captain's wife te a place in ihe stern of one of the boats, left the burning dropped astern, where we caught the log line and by this meang remained in tion about eighty fathoms from the & steamer. After réfhaining about three-quarters of an hour in the boats a steamer, which proved to be the City of Macon, hove to near-by, and we immedi- ately cut loose from the log line and rowed to her. The fire had apparently not reached when we lost sight of the burning BOUNDARY. What Superintendent Duffield Says of the Survey Already Made. “The people of Juneau may possess their souls In peace,” said Superintendent Duf- ficld of the coast and geodetic survey, to- day, “as to the possibilities of that city’s being included in English territory, if zha results of our survey of the boundary line between Alaska and the British possessions as far as made be accepted as accurate. They would seem to be unnecessarily work- ed up over the situation. They should know that the commissioners acting on behalt of this country and Great Britain will have no voice in the final determination of tha dispute, as it will be settled by the high officials of the foreign affairs offices of the two countries. The mission of the com- missioners is to furnish data upon which these functionaries can reach a conclusion. and it is with this end in view that our en- gineers have been in the field this summer ard last. If our line is accepted, Juneau w.ll fall many miles within the American line. Of course, if England’s claim as to the location of the dividing line, running it through Clarence straits and Baehrn chan- aes and computing the ten marine leagues cified in the treaty from the outer shore of the islands along the coast instead of from the mainland, is recognized, Juneau would probably be in danger of becoming a British town; but I do not see how. in the face of t' ‘acts, such a settlement can ‘be reached, and I do not believe there is any danger that the matter will be deter- mined on thisebasis.”” Gen. Dutfield also says that practically all the gold district of the Yukon river lies within American territory, as determined by the work of the American surveyors. He furthermore thinks the prospects are good for the United States holding Chilcot Pass, the possession of which is regarded as of importance, as it is the gateway to much of the interior country of the north- west. —___-+-e+_____ SECRETARY OLNEY BACK. What a Friend Says of His Rumored Resignation. Secretary Olney surprised those people not advised of his plans py reappearing at his desk at the State Department this morning a!most as mysteriougly as he de- parted for Boston Monday nigit. His sud- den and unlcoked-fcer departure was the basis for a sensational report that he ts about to leave the cabinet because of a se- rious disagreement with the President over the man»gement of the Venezuelan affair. Although he will not dignify that report with a staterent, one way or the other, a friend of his said today that if his depart- ure meent dissatisfaction, his return to his diplomatic cuties ought certainly to mean the reverse, as one should signify as much as the other. ‘As stated in yesterday’s Star, Secretary Olney expects to visit the Atlanta exposi- tion with the members of the diplomatic corps later in the season, and he took ad- vantage of the President's absence from the capital to attend to some pressing pri- vate business in Boston, Today is diplo- matic day at the State Department, and several members of the corps called on the Secretary during the day. Senor Romero, the Mexican minister, who was one of the earliest callers, had a long conference with the Secretary in reference to matters in negotiation between the United States and Mexico, the most import nt of which prob- ably is the marking of the boundary line between the two countries. _o— Pensions Allowed. Maryland — Original, George Baltimore, Baltimore. < Virginia—Original, John McCabe, Nation- al Soldiers’ Home, Elizabeth City; Elisha Butler, Buckhorn, Nansemond; Henry Mc- Nell, Terry's Fork, Floyd. © District of Columbia—Original, AQdrew Johnson, West Washington; John O'Con- rell, Washington. Renewal, Willlam Gaft- ney, United States Soldiers’ Home, Wash- ington. Original widow, Mary McCarten, Washington. West Virginia—Original, Charles Krafft, Milroy, Braxton. ? Hubbard, Notice to Subseribers. Subscribers are earnestly requested to report any irregularity in ‘he de- livery of The Star and also any failure on the part of the carrier to ring the door bell. A proper service can only be main- tained through the courtesy of sub- scribers in reporting shortcomings. BERING SEA CLAIMS|SU'LTY OF MURDERIDITCHED THE TRAIN A Convention to Adjust Them to Meet Next Week. CANADIAN OFFICIALS "0 COME HERE A Result of the Award of the Arbitrators. —— THE VESSELS SEIZED ———— It is stated officially that the Hon. Mackenzie-Bowell, premier of Canada, and Sir Charles Tupper, minister of justice in the Canadian cabinet, will arrive in Wash- ington Morday next to assist in the Bering sea convertion. The meetings of the con- venticn will be held at the State Depart- ment, Secretary Olney representing the United States and Sir Julian Pauncefote (the British ambassador) representing her majesty’s government. The two members of the Canadian cabinet will act in an ad- visory capacity to Sir Julian. This will as- sure a strong presentation of the British pesition. Sir Charles Tupper was minister of marine and fisheries at the time the Ca- nadian sealers were seized by United States revenue cutters, and he has exhaustive in+ formation of the circumstances involved. Sir Julian and the Canadian premier 2]so have had long experience witi the ques- tion. It is not expected that Mr. Olney will be aided in conducting the American side of the case. Thcse most familiar with the American position are Messrs. Phelps of Vermont, Coudert and Carter of New York, Senator Morgan and ex-Secretary of State Foster, but so far as known none of them will be called into the convention. The Issue One of Fact. The issue involved is largely one of fact and not of law. The Paris tribunal held that the Canadian sealers captured in Ber- ing sea had a right to be there, and that they were entitled to damages for the seizure. The sealers claim over $1,000,000, but this was scaled down to $472,000 by an agreement between the late Secretary Gresham and Sir Julian Pauncefote. Con- gress refused to ratify the agreement, it being asserted by Senator Morgan in the Senate and Representative Hitt in the House that the amount was excessive. The coming convention will seek to reach a fair mode of adjustment. Under the Paris award some sum must be paid by the United States, so that the only question involved is how much that payment should be. Cause of the Convention. This convention grows out of the Bering Sea arbitration of "9 The award of the arbitrators was against the United States’ claim of jurisdiction over Bering sea er pro- prietorship over the seal, which we were seeking to protect. This ard involved a responsibility upon the United States to pay British subjects damages for seizure of Canadian sealers between the years 1 nd 1891, under the umption of jurisdiction by this country. The amount of damages remained after the arbitration to be settled between the United States and Great Britain. The claims of the Canadian sealers amount to more than a million dollars and involve not only compensation for actual loss, but also an allowance for what the sealers might have made had their business not heen in- terrupted. Mr. Gresham’s Recommendation. An agreement was reached between the State Department and the British repre- sentatives for a settlement on the imme- diate payment of $425,000 by the United States, Congress consenting. Secretary Gresham urged the appropriation of this sum by Congress, but Congress refused to Frovide the money, preferring to have the question of amount of damages legally settled. Thus the question was left to be adjusted by a joint convention. It Is this convention which is to meet next week. The adjustment will start upon the basis of the original claim of over a million dol- lars, but it is probable that the amount will be cut down below that for which the British were willing to settle as a compro- mise without formal adjustment of indi- vidual claims. Vessels Capturca. The vessels captured were the Carolina, ‘Thornton, Onward and Favourite, in 1886; the Anna Beck, W. P. Sayward, Dolpkin, Grace, Alfred Adams, Ada and Triumph, im 1887; the Juanita, Pathfinder, Triumph, Black Diamond, Lily, Ariel, Kate and Min- nie, in 1889, and the Pathfinder in 1890. The question was fully discussed in the House of Representatives when the propo- sition was made by Secretary Gresham to make 4 spot cash settlement. Representative Hitts Views. Representatives Henilerson and Hitt, both familiar with the subject, convinced the House that the amount asked was exces- sive. Mr. Hitt said that of the whcle gregate claim of $442,000, Americans w the real parties in interest. He gave a list of the ships for which damage was claimed and showed how they had been transferred from one party to another in order to make it appear that they were in the British service. Mr. Hitt also pointed out the fact that most of these claims were for “pros- pective earnings,” something which the great Geneva tribunal, in passing upon the Alabama claim, distinctly declared should not be considered in awarding indemnity. This tribunal refused to recognize the pres- pective earnings of the American vessels destroyed by British ships. The British claim in this Bering sea mat- ter is largely made up of claims tor “‘esti- mated catches.” Mr. Hitt said: “Out of the $439,161.48 of claims filed at Paris, and set out fully in the large blue book printed by the British government, 3 is for * timated catch,’ that is, for the catch whi they did not catch. Adding all the elai that have been brought since, making up the $542,000 of present claims, I find it is $377,000 that is estimated catch. This is more than three-fourths of the whole. “The claims of ships for what they did not catch is three times as great as for cll loss actually suffered, taking their losses ut their own extravagant figures. Take the $377,C00 claimed for estimated catch out o* the $542,000, and there is but $165,000 of damages for real losses to British and pre- tended British claims, and these losses are greatly exaggerated.” Mr. Hitt declared that if a competent commission was appointed to investigate these real claims the government of the United States would probably in the end pay about $50,000 worth of them. Edw: First J.ieut. S. Curtis, second artillery, has heen ordered to report to the examining board at Fort Monroe, Va., for examination as to his fitness for promo- tion. i Capt. James M. Ingalls, first artillery, has been detailed as a member of a special board of officers at Fort Monroe, vice Maj. . B. Rawles, fourth artillery, relieved. Col. Charles E. Compton, fourth cavalry, has been granted one month’s additional leave of absence. ‘The following transfers in the third cav- alry are made: First Lieut. John T. Knight, from troop B to troop M; First Lieut. At thi § Thayer, from trcop L to troop A; First Lieut. William C. Rivers, from troop ‘A to troop L; First Lieut. Charles A. Hede- kin, from‘troop M to troop B. John Harris Oonvicted of a Orime Today. The Murder of Matthew Spruell Will ‘Take Him to the Seaf- fold. The jury in the case of John, alias Pat- sey Harris, a young colored man, returned @ verdict at 1:15 this afternoon, finding him guilty of the murder of Matthew Spruell, colored, on the afternoon of the 4th of last July. As stated in The Star, the testimony in the case was concluded just before the. court adjourned yesterday, and this morn- ing, after the instructions requested by both sides had been disposed of, the case was briefly argued. District Attorney Bir- ney’s assistant, Mr. John E. Laskey, made the opening address, contending that no clearer case of malicious murder had ever been made out. For the defendant, Mr. Richard C. Thompson and Mr. C. L. Frai- ley admitted that the testimony on neither side warranted the presumption that the killing was done in self defense. Bpt they maintained, however, that the testimony did not warrant a verdict of guilty of mur- der, insisting that there was neither pre- meditation nor malice on the part of Harris. The man was guilty of no graver of- fense than manslaughter, they argued, and they virtually agmitted that they would be perfectly satisfied with such a verdict. Liquor No Excuse. District Attorney Birney closed the argu- ments, claiming, in a rather brief address, that Harris had not only previously threat- ened Spruell with death, but nad also de- liberately determined to carry those threats into effect, pursuing the deceased through the streets and shooting him down while the fleeing man was using every endeavor to escape from him. In his instructions to the jury Judge Cole told them that intoxi- cation did not excuse the defendant, and also told them that if Harris himself caused the altercation between him and Spruell he was responsible and could not urge their quarrel as an excuse or justification for what followed. Found Guilty. The jury retired at 12:27 to deliberate up- on their verdict, and the prisoner, in an extremely nervous condition, was taken to the cage below. He received the verdict consigning him to the scaffold with calm- ness, and, after the jury had been polled, and counsei for the defense had given notice of a motion for a new trial, Harris was remanded to jail to await sentence. Then Judge Cole called Messrs. Laskey, Thompson and Frailey, all young men, and highly complimented them for the ability they had shown in the conduct of the case, the first homicide case in which they had participated. District Attorney Birney also complimented them. In explaining their failure to place the prisoner on the witne: stand. Messrs. Thompson and Frailey stated that they did so in order to prevent the government from showing, on cross e: amination, that Harris had served time in the penitentiary for shooting a man. See Personal Mention. Ex-Mayor Berret is one of the old resi- der.ts best informed as to the desirability of the capital city as a summer resort. He rarely of late years leaves Washington at all during the warm weather, excepting for short trips to bis Maryland farms, and does not feel that he is losing anything by re- maining ‘here; one of his reasons naturally being the delicate health of Mrs. Berret, wo has rarely been seen out for the last year or so. Only that Mr. Berret’s recol- lections of what happened politically and lccally fifty years ago, when he was a young man, are as fresh and vivid in his mind and as fascinating in their telling as the events of the past decade, no one would believe so many years had passed over him. There is hardly a young man or woman in the resident families of the West End who waz not taught as a child that the former mayor of Wastington was not only ene of the kanGsomest saen in her ten square miles ct area, but alse the model of all that was gracious and courtly in man- ners end bearing. The hardsome figure is almost as crect, and the kindly face has lost none of its strong, manly vigor. Mr. Berret is fond of a good horse, and his favorite diversion is a long drive every fine day behind a speedy pair. Mr. Hallet Kilbourn, who has such a de- lightful fund of stories on his pioneer days in California, bas pioneer honors much nearer home. He was the first tenant in the Portland Flats, and the large suite of apartments which he selected are now, as then, the most desirably located in the house. With a charming family circle about him, time goes most pleasantly for a man who never could be lonesome, any- way, with a good book in reaching: di tance. History, especially of this country the standard works of the great authors, and a very liberal dash of the newest fi tion are his standbys. There are few men better informed on political points, so that his listeners get real inspirations, and fewer still with a keener knowledge of what the literary workers are offering to lovers of gved books. Representative Benjamin F. Howell of New Jersey and Mrs. Howeli are at the Cochran. Lieut. Wm. E. Almy, fifth cavalry, passed through the city today en route to Harris- burg, Pa. Lieut. Col. D. P. Heap, corps ef engineers, is “e the city on his way to Wilmington, N.C. Capt. C. M. Rockefeller, ninth infantry, is at the Ebbitt House. Thomas Coarow and wife of Brooklyn are at the Epbitt. 2 W. F. Haring and D. A. Melvin of New York registered at the Ebbitt. lL. R. Hammersly, the author of many naval books, is a guest at the Ebbitt. Wm. Greir, Mrs. Greir, Miss Greir Sidney Greir of Beifast, Ireiand, are ing the capital sights. They are at Arlingtoa. W. P. Hartman and wife of St ‘on and Mr. and Mrs. Max Mesbaum ef Baiti- more are guests at the Arlington. L. E. and R. L. Mond of London and B. G. Latimer and wife of Detroit are among today’s arrivals at the Arlington. Merritt H. Smith of Yonkers, N. ¥., is at orrmandie. Mrs. S. E. Oakes of New York are sojourning at tae Normandie. Mr. and Mrs. George G. Linen of Buf- falo are at the Shoreham. R. L. Campbell, one of the leading in- surance men of Hartford, ts at Page's. A. N. Shideler of New York is at the ! Riggs, where Mr. and Mrs. John P. Harley of the same city are also registered. Cot. Charles Page of the army is at the Raleigh. John M. Birch and Thomas M. Darrah of the Raleigh. rivals at the Raleigh | and wife of Fostoria, | ht of Kansas City. and see- the B. Ste H. P. W es + West Point’ Cadets. Cadet appointments to the United States Military Acadenly have been issucd during the past week 1s follows: Frank A. son of Round Pond, Me., with J. } of New Castle, Me., as alternate; Karl G. Cummings of Canton, Mo. Case Dismissed. The Supreme Court has dismissed the case of the Flournoy Live Stock Company against Capt. Black, agent of the Omaha and Winnetego Indians, for want of 2 printed record. Disastrous Wreck on the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. FIREMAN AND ENGINEER KILLED Many of the Injured Were Mail Clerks. CARING FOR THE VICTIMS a HARRISBURG, Pa., October 24.—A dis- astrous wreck occurred on the Pennsyl- vania railroad near Newport, a small town a few miles west of this city, early this morning. The southwestern express, which left New York at 7:30 and Philadelphia at 10:25 last night, ran into a disabled freight car of an eastbound train, the engine of the passenger train and four mail cars be- ing thrown down the embankment into the canal. Fireman Haines and Engineer Wolfkill, both of this city, were buried be- neath the engine and killed. = The injured are: C. A. Chamberlin, Har- risturg, left arm broken and a fractured wrist; E. S. Colville of Pittsburg, wound above right ear, sprain of right arm; E. I. Brand, Harrisburg, contusion of back or head and slight cut over the nose, sprained wrist and injury to right arm; A. E. Wood- ruff of Lewistown, Pa., spra! and back; M. S. Groff, Mee Soy, eee sion of left shonider and left leg; A. T. Rowan, Trenton, N. sight injury to left shoulder and left leg; J. O. Donald, frei brakeman, Mifflin, Pa., sprain = fee muscles and sprain of left ankle; George Gilmore, contusion of left shoulder; J. C. Campbell, Gallitzin, Pa., scalp torn, sprain of left knee and slight abrasion. Mail Cars on Fire. The mail cars piled on the top of the en- gine and were soon ablaze. On one of the mail cars were several employes and they were piled up in the midst of the burning debris. By heroic work they were soon iib- erated from their perilous positions, but some of them were badly bruised. Several houses near the burning cars caught fire and this city was immediately telegraphed to for aid. A special train bearing an engine, hose carriage and the entire hospital staff was at once dispatched to the scene of the wreck. Aid also came from Newport. The injured were taken care of by the hospital staff from this city and the search for the dead engineer and fireman was pushed forward. The water was drawn off the canal in order that the work might proceed with more vigor. The injured, a majority of whom were mail clerks, were brought to this city this morning and taken to the hospital. All the tracks are blocked and trains are being run over the Northern Central and Sunbury and Lewistown divisions, The accident is the worst that has oc- curred on the Pennsylwania railroad since the disastrous Dock street wreck in this city = few legetat aie The cause of the wreck was the breaking of a flangs freight car wheel. sd giv The bodies of Wolfkill and Haines are un- der the engine and cannot be reached until it is moved. ———___ “TEN LEAGUES OR FIGHT.” The War Cry Sounded by Americans in Alnska. SEATTLE, Wash., October 24.—The agi- tation of the Alaska boundary question has been taken up bodily by the American resi- dents of Junea, and a move is now being made to form a “boundary club” at that Place, to keep the people and the govern- ment fully alive to the danger of losing the invaluable Yukon mines. As already indi- cated, the war cry, “Ten marine leagues or fight,” is being sounded. The situation is given by G. B. Swine- heart, editor of the Alaska Mining Rect at Juneau, who is now in this city. “If England can effect an entrance to the Yukon country,” he said, “she will be satisfied, and she hopes to accomplish that object by securing Dyea inlet as a port of entry. She will also try to obtain Annette Island, but will waive that and all other ecnsiderations, in order to control the rich mines of the north. She would undoubtedly relinquish all claim to the rest of the terri- tory to gain her end, and, if she succeeds, we might as well give up any claim on Alaska.” W. Otis Smith, cditor of the Alaskan, rublished at Sitka, is also in the city. He says: “All England wants is a seaport at the entrance to the Yukon country, and she has raised this pretended claim on the scuthern boundary, so that she may figure in the eyes of the world as magnanimous. She will forego this claim magnanimously if the United States will admit the claims she is setting up in the Chilcat country and let her have a seaport, giving access to the Yukon. But the boundary has long been established, and I do not see why we should submit anything to arbitration.” ——.—__ ARIZONA KICKERS. The Presence of Two Prominent Citi- zens Revives Interest in a Fight. Mr. Richardson Ford, a prominent law- yer of Tucson, Ariz., is at the St. James, Mr. Morris Goldwater of Prescott, Ariz. one of the jeading bankers and politicians of the territory, is at the Arlington. Mr. Ford came here, as he states, for the pur- pose of arguing the land grant case of Anisa agt. the United States, involving the town of Nogales and a targe section of country surrounding it. Mr. Morris Goldwater is here to familiar- ize hims:if with the points of interest in end around Washington, and declines to see newspaper men. Both of these gentle- men arrived the same day, but stopped at different hotels. Prior to the eppointment of Gov. Hughes of Arizona charges were filed against him. Last June further charges were filed and a strong effort made to have him removed. These charges are on file in the Interior Department, but nothing has been done concerning them. Mr. Ford is a warm friend of Goy. Hughes and a fellow-towns- man. Mr. Goldwater is the most promi- nent candidate for governor in case Gov. Hughes is removed. Private advices from Arizona are thet the fight is to be renewed, and will affect other officers besides the governor. Secretary Smith stated the day before his departure for Atlanta that there was nothing mew in the matter, but at that time these prominent Arizonians were not in the c If the fight fs on again, as seems prob- able, it will prove of national interest, for the reason that much stronger efforts will be made at this session of Congress than at the last to have Arizona admitted as a state, and the effect of the territorial wrangle, if started again, will be to divide the leaders there upon’ the question of statchood, as they would prefer to fight it out in Washington to submitting it to the people at the pells, as this might prove disastrous to both sides, the voters prefer- ring men who have not been mixed up In the dispute. Nothing can be done until Secretary Smith's return, but the outcome will be awaited with interest, =.= Rudyard Kipling. Rudyard Kipling’s admirers, end they are practically everybody, will be interested in the story from his pen which will appear in Saturday's Star, the scene of which ts laid in the cold and darkness of the arctic region: