Evening Star Newspaper, December 2, 1895, Page 1

—— THE EVENING STAR. ——— PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenge, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. New York Office, 49 Potter Building, ge ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per Weck, cr 44 cents per inontl. Coples at the counter 2 vents each. By mall—answhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—0 cenis per month, Saturday Quintupts Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fcrelgn postage added, . Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., #5 second-class mail matter.) E7-Al mall subscriptions must be pald in advance. Rates of advertising made kncwn on application. Che £Fven No.13,387. * WASHINGTON, D.0., MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1895—-SIXTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. Look on page13 forthe twen- tieth installment of the new mystery story, “Before They Were Married.” $250 for the correct solution of the mystery by a woman reader. THE DISTRIC Annual Report of the Board of Commissioners, DETAILS OF A YEAR'S WORK Local Projects Commended to’ the Attention of Congress. MUNICIPAL BUILDING Sewer Plans, Grade Crossings and Other Matters Considered. STREET EXTENSIONS —_+——_ THE ‘ne Commissioners of the District of Co- Ivmbia this morning completed their re- port for the fiscal year ended June 50, 1895, and submitted the same to Congress through the President. The report is as follows: OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, December 2, 1895. The President—The Commissioners of the District of Columbia submit herewith their report of their official doings for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1805. The details of the transactions of the government of the District are mainly set forth in the accompanying statements of the officials immediately in charge of the several departments of said government, but the Commissioners have taken occasion to preface those exhibits with special re- perts and comments on matters of general local interest, and with recommendations for legislation designed to improve the ad- ministration of the affairs committed to their charge. Appropriations and Revenues. The appropriations for the year payable out 6f the general revenues were $6,614,- 275.72, The amount of general revenues receivéd during the year and of other re- sources applicable to the payment of such appropriations was — $7,043,366.71. $4,003,- 540.01 of that sum was derived from gen- eral taxes on private property, fees for licenses and privileges and receipts from ail sources other than the United States and the water department, but included a cred balanca on account of prior years of $684 485.30. The remaining $3,039,826.70 repr: sents the proportionate sum legally charge- able to tae United States on account of said appropriations. The expenses of the water department, which are wholly payable out of the rev- enues derived from water rents and taxes, amounted to $424,882.28. The revenues of saaid department, including repayments and ® balance at the beginning of the fiscal year of $212,769.03, were $343,042.96, The Debt. The bonded and other interest-bearing debts of the District of Columbia are un- der charge of the treasurer of the United States, but the Commissioners include in their annual estimates an estimate for the interest and sinking fund on these debts and for the salaries and contingent ex- penses of the sinking fund offite. The bonded debt on June 30, 1895, was as follows e 2 83 ons $2533_.3) 272S3228% | 285 3 3) 23 2242923 3 z $2) s232873., 3 3: =a} | 68§S825 Shoe ea ce Go Tlesek Bs | ES g Z| seas a | 38) 2233 a8 EPiS 32) 2'5 ag | F. HI 3 2F i a) ig eZ oe S| ze S a2, ml 9S é ae 5) Ss & 46 a Se B 1 eS g Ba 3] Le z z zs] 8 & A A Sea a22e: 22) 35 E Bz oP P A 4 8.) eT B eel &. a3 a7 ge Bl 32 2 E| SI > Z i & z The Non-Bonded Debt. On June 80, 1894, the District owed the United States on account of advances for increasing the water supply under the act approved July 15, 1882 (U. S. Stat. at L., Vol. 22, p. 168), $694,214.83, which was pay- able In sixteen equal annual Installments, with interest at three per centum per annum, out of any surplus of water rents. This obligation was thus in a process of easy extinction in a manner consistent with the uses to which the advances had been put, when, by an act of August 7, 1894 (U. S. Stats. at L., vol. 28, p. 262), that method of liquidating the debt was modi- fied by the following proviso: ‘Provided, That not exceeding three hundred thousand dollars of the surplus general revenues of the Distret of Columbia remaining on the Ist day of July, INM, shall be transferred to the water fund to be applied in the pay- ment of the principal of the debt incurred for increasing the water suppl vided in the act of July 15, 188 sequently by a proviso in the Di propriation act of March 2, 1895 (ib., page 74), transferring a like amount from the surplus general revenues remaining on the Ist of July, 1895, for the same purpose. Balance due July 1, 1894. -3684,212.83 Increase by new advances for work, interest and sinking fund and judgments of United States Court of Clat Less transfer of surplus of general revenues Less payment of inter- est and sinking fund... 40,408.98 540,408.98 $98,104.00 On July 1, 1895, the District ef Columbia owed the United States $248,566.65 on count of advances for the expense of lay. ing the 48-inch water main and the 14th street water main and connections. During the year the fowrth and last in- Btallment of the District's proportion ap- ropriated for the purchase of property for ock Creek Park, under the act of Con- ~ (Continued on Ninth Page.) GRADE CROSSINGS POWERS IN ACCORD AT THE WHITE HOUSE THE HOLT WILL LIQUOR Lieut. Kelly’s Report on the Streets Crossed by the B, and 0, Tracks, Cases Ordered to Be Brought in the Police Court as Often as the Law is Violated. The Commissioners have at last received a report of the grade crossings on the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad that are left unprotected. = The North2ast Washington Citizens’ As- sociation a long time ago called attention to this matter, ani a number of letters bearing upon th2 same subject have been received from time to time. For some un- accountable reason the Commissioners were never in a position to reply to the inquiries made by the association. The Star some time ago called] attention to the opinion of the attorney for the D: trict upon the subject, in which he held that in the event of the railroad compan failing to provide flazmen, as required by the act of the legislative assembly of 1871, the case should go to the Police Court. No prosecution, however, was brought, and the papers were finally referred to Lieut. Kelly for investigation and report. Lieut. Kelly made his report November and said: Lieut. Kelly's Report. “The matter has been delayed this long time on account of awaiting action of the Police Court. I report that all of the street crossings in the sixth precinct, south of and including H street northeast, have watchmen all night long, excepting E street. At this point Massachusetts avenue and E street come very close together, and they have a watchman there to attend both of those crossings. We applied for a warrant against Mr. Alvey, the superin- tendent, for neglecting to have a watch- man at each crossing, but it was refused, and I was directed to get the name of either the conductor or engineer of any train that passed one of those streets where there was no watchman at the time of the passing of such train. I then di- rected Private Hayes to go there and get this evidence, which he did. He then ob- tained a warrant against the conductor, Thomas Hendricks. He was brought into court, but the counsel obtained a postpone- ment twice, and finally, on yeste: No- vember 21, it was to come up again. But their counsel presented the name of an en- gineer to substitute for Mr. Alvey, super- intendent, who was also under arrest, and the case was taken to the upper court to test the legality of the law, and the case against Thomas Hendricks also went over, pending the decision in the case formerly against Superintendent Alvey for the R street violation.” Prosecutions Ordered. The papers in the case were then sub- mitted to the Commissioners for final ac- tion, and the following indorsement of Commissioner Truesdell was concurred in by the Commissioners: “The distance between E_ street and Massachusetts avenue at the crossing of the Ealtimore and Ohio railroad appears to be too great for one watchman tu com- ply with the requirements of the law. I suggest, therefore, that the major and superintendent of police be instructed to bring an additional case in the Police Court as often as the law is violated, and «iso that a copy of the report of Lieutenant Kelly be sent to Mr. Tucker in compliance with his request ——____ RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. What the Forthcoming Treasury Statement Will Show. The forthcoming statement of the re- ceipts and expenditures of the government will show that during the month of Novem- ber the receipts were approximately as follows: Customs, $11, enue, $13,040,085; miscellaneous, $1,491,1 making a total of $2: “03. During the month of November, 1894, the receipts were $19,411,403, and during November, 1893, $23,979,400. During the five months of the present fiscal year the receipts were ap- proximately as follows: Customs, $69,508,- 869; internal revenue, $63,587,187; miscella- neous, $6,274,768; making a total of $139,- 460,326. For the first flve months in the fiscal year 1894 the aggregate receipts were $137,523,320, and during the same months in the fiscal year 1898 they amounted to $12: 403,417. The deficit for the present month of No r will, therefore, amount to about $1,125,000, although tomorrow's re- turns may change these figures somewhat. For the month of November, 1894, the de- ficit was $),066,755, and for the same period 5, AD For the first tive months 1 year 184 the deficit amounted 142, and for the same period in mounted to $20,918,006, against $17,001,541 for the last five months, e+ FORD'S THEATER DISASTER. Work Done by the Commission and Yet to Be Done. It is expected that the commission to in- vestigate the Ford’s Theater disaster will hold a meeting before the Christmas holi- days. This commission has charge of ad- judicating the claims of the victims of the Ford’s Theater disaster, and has nearly completed the work of examining those who have. claimed injuries. The commis- sion !s composed of members of the Senate and House of the last Congress as follows: Messrs. Harris, chairman; Faulkner, White, Manderson and MeMillan, on the part of the Senate; Messrs. Maddox, Brookshire, Pig- gott, Daniels and Updegraff, on the part of the House. Work of the Commission. The commission has examined all claim- ants except Wm. L. H. Wright, now in Texas, and Cassius Clay Parker, now in Ohio, These claimants may come here dur- ing the present month to appear before the commission. There are eight claimants who have had their cases passed upon by the commission, but have not yet been examined by the medical board. They are Lloyd J. Smita, Winfred Beck, C. R. Owen, Clifton Lowe, Chas. McLaughlin, Alex. C John Henry Harding and Daniel P. M. Cornack. It is expected that the medical board to pass upon the disabilities of these claimants ing the coming two. weel This board consists of Dr. James M. Fl of the na t . Eddie of the army and Dr. Geo. ce of the marine hos- vice. The medical board grades the es of those injured at the Ford's Theater disaster by a method quite similar to that used by the pension office. A New Claim Received. The commission has lately received a new claim for damages frcm the disaster. It was made by the widow of one cf the em- ployes of the record and pension office, the latter having died on the 13th of last month. The deceased had not ‘filed a claim for compensation for injuries, but it is claimed by his widow that his death was caused by the shock reccived at the time of the falling of the floors of the building. The work of determining the amount of compensation to be given those injured at Ford's Theater has not yet been gonsidered except in an informal way. It is likely that the commission will hold a meeting for this purpose during the present month. Will Insist on Extra Ships at Con- stantinople. ENGLAND WAS A LITTLE PREVICOS An Explanation of the Affair. Dryad FIRING ON LOCH RANNOCH y , by the Associated Press.) CONSTANTINOPLE, December 1, via Sofia, Bulgaria, December 2—The powers egain appear to be unanimously resolved to insist upon their demand for the extra guard ships. In consequence the ambassa- dors have arranged for a meeting tomor- row (Monday) to discuss the situation end consider what action is recessary, in view of the sultan’s continued objection to granting the firmars. A Turkish official, who is usually well posted on the inner workings of diplomacy here, discussing the withdrawal of the Dryed, intimated that the matter was a very simple one, the substance of which was that the powers objected to any one power taking the lead in any action in Turkey, as such a step would be calculated to give that power a prestige, which was not part of the agrcement of the powers. In other words, if action is to be taken it should be combined attion upon the part of the powers, and not the isolated action of Great Britain. Thus it is intimated that if the passage of the Dardanelles Is to be forced it should be done by warships of all the powers interested. This, it should be added, was the original understanding ar- rived at, but Great Britain, it appears, was not disposed to delay matters beyond a certain po.nt. ‘A gentleman attached to one of the em- hose insight of political affairs is hen questioned as to the fore- admitted that it might one, but, he added, signiricant- it looked as if Great Britain had at- in view when the Dardanel ly, tained the object she had the Dryad was sent to show the sultan and the as well that while being desi. acting in accord with the other powers, her majesty’s government was prepared to act alone, if the nec should arize, and that if the pow re concerted they must act promptly, or Great vill take the initiative. Firing on the Loch Rar The so-called firing upor Loch noch, in the Dar urkish officials to be a matter of importance, and easily explained. ay that the Loch Rannoch arrived nd that, instead of an- ed to proceed and was hore, by a gunshot, to ad not do a second shot was fired, 1 the ‘Loch Rannoch .let go her ancho: » shell, which is suid to have whizzed over the head: of the captain of the Loch Rannoch, is pronounced to have been nothing more than the wad from the signal gun ashor Rumored Eseap A great Gea! of es here today by the report that ex-Sultan Mohammed Murad, who was deposed on the grcund of idiocy, on August 31, 1876 (he was only proclaimed sultan on the deposi- tion of his uncle, Abdul Aziz, on May 30, aped from the Yildiz Kiosk, is kept a close prisoner. he report, it app Brew out of the flight of Murad Bey, the imperial commis- joner of the council of the public debt, who d of having relations with the party. aid that grave charges, similar to t by the 'T little ring up. of an Ex-Sulian. ement was caused these brought against Muram Bey, are pending against other high officials. : In fact, it is difficult to name an official of prominence who is not suspected of tak- g bribes, if not of something worse. No Report From miral Selfridge. Admiral Selfridge has not yet notified the Navy Department of the reported refusal of the porte to permit one of the United States cruisers to enter the Bosphorus. Such permits have been issued in rare in- stances in the past, when aftai Turkey Were quiet, but the powers party to treaty of Berlin alone enjoy the right of entrance te these waters, and they are lumited to one ship each. BARBARA AUB SWORE FA ELY. Walter L. S. Langerman Discharged on Her Own Confession. NEW YORK, November 2.—Walter L. S. Langerman, who convicted on a charge of assault in the first degree, preferyed by Barbara Aub, was discharged by Recorder Goff, before whom he came for sentence. Miss Aub has made a full confession, ad- mitting that she had done Langerman a great wrong; that he Is not guilty of the charge of which he was convicted. The re- corder set aside the verdict of the jury and granted him a new trial. He was then com- mitted to the house of detention as a wit- ness in the proceedings that may follow. Garbara Aub was taken into court after the Langerman case had been disposed of and committed to the city prison. ‘The charge against her is perjury, on her own confession. a RED HATS FOR CARDINALS, Nine Conferred by the Pope in Rome This Morning. ROME, December 2—Tne pope presided at the public consistory held today and con- ferred the red hats upon the nine cardinals created at the secret consistory Friday last. The prelates who received the hats were: Mgr. Satolli, apostolic delegate to the Roman Catholic Cnureh in the United States. Mgr. Boyer, archibishop of Bourges, France. Mgr. Perrand, bishop of Autun, France. Mgr. Sembratowicz, archbishop of Lem- berg, Austria Haller, ria. Mer. Cascajares Y. Azara, archbishop of Valladolid, Spain. ‘assanas Y. Pages, bishop of Urgel, archbishop of Salseburg, Manara, bishop of Ancona, Italy. Mgr. Gottiz, the inter-nunciator, Brazil, who has recently been recalled to this city. —_—_— Consular Officers Recognized. The President has recognized John B. Keating as British vice consul at Portland, Me.; A. Zelius as vice consul of the Nether- lands at Pensacola, Fla.; Saito Miki Sho- shichii as Japanese consul at Tacoma, Wash.; chards as Costa Rican consul at St. Paul F, Walker as Costa Rican con- i , and Ikiades Effendi as Turkish consul general at New York. Senator Faulkner on Reorganization. Senator Faulkner of West Virginia said today concerning the organization of the Senate: “We cannot turn the Senate over to the republicans until they have the votes, Even with the two Senators from Utah, they will not have a majority unless Jones of N da votes with them, which is expected. Until that time we will have to continue in control.” the | The President Had But Few Visitors Out- side His Official Advisors, It is Not Expected That the Diplo- matic Correspondence Will Accom- pany the Message Tomorrow. By contrast with the bustle and activity at the Capitol today, the Executive Man- sion was as quiet as @ country church yard. The President was there all day, but he had scarcely any visitors outside of the members of his official family. He was also there all day yesterday, and did rot go out to his country home until late in the afternoon. Most of his time yester- day and today was occupied in revising the proofs of his annual message to Con- gress. That important state paper is now entirely finished, and will be submitted to Congress at noon tomorrow. The only thing that will delay its submission at that time will be the failure of the House to perfect its organization today. No Diplomatic Correspondence Now. It was intended to submit with the mes- sage the diplomatic correspondence of the past year in order to forestall congression- al demands for it, but it has been found im- preticable to get it into shape in time for transmission tomorrow.- According to the present outlock this correspondence will rot be transmitted to Congress in its en- tirety before the first of January. In case Congress calls for any special portions of it, however, there will be no trouble in meet- ing the call. There is a strong probability that this course may be followed in the Venezuelan and Cuban affairs, and possibly the Armenian troubles. ‘The impression is growing that the President will refer only Lriefly to these matters in his regular mes- sage in order to make them the subject of a special communication to Congress later in the session. This impression is don the belief that the negotiations in exch of the cases have not yet reached a sufficiently positive conelusion to call for a definite course of action on the part of either the executive or the legislative branch of the government. The Venezuelan rrespcondence in particul is in an _un- tate, owing to the delay of Lord in responding to Secretary Ol- Ss request that the Venezuelan boundary dispute be submitted to arbitration. Recess Appointments. It is expected that a long list of recess appointments will be nominated to the Senate during the present week. The most important of these are the appointments of Mr. Olney as” Secretary of State, and Mr. Harmon as Attorney General. An entirely new appointment that is looked for with the greatest interest is that of an associate justice of the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justice Jac! m. It is confidently asserted that this appointment will be made before the Christmas recess, The FE and Mrs. Cleveland and the children will probably give up their country residence tomorrow and make the White House their home for the rest of the int The presence of Congress makes it necessary that the'President shall be more accessible than-is possible under existing conditions. — —~ |: ASKS ADMISSIGN, Arizona Wants This Congress to Make Her n State, Mr. Nathan O. Murphy, the delegate from Arizona, reached the city Saturday, and after gathering in a big lot of correspon- dence settied down to work. Mr. Murphy told a Star reporter that his territory would go right ahead knocking at the doors of Congress for admission as a state, and he had high hopes of succeeding in getting an enabling act through this Congress. ‘The feeling in the country said Mr. Murphy, “is in favor of admitting the ter- ritories, and there is absolutely no excuse ing the door shut on Arizona. The tory is rich enough in men, land and mines, and we are not doing as some of the states are, advancing backward. “The people of Arizona are liberal in their views, and, for myself, this idea of bringing sectional feeling into public ques- tions is something that should be frowned down by everybody. Arizona wants to come into the Union on her merits, and the people of New England should want her in just as badly as the states on which she borders. “Yes, this Congress will have its hands full. I am decidedly opposed to negative action by any Congress. The people elected a republican Congress because they wanted something done, and the cry that we must be negative in order not to affect the presi- dential electon is a cowardly policy. 1f the -y is properly spent for improvements, I am not afraid of billion-dollar or double billion-dollar Congresses. Such a Congress is much better than one which locks up the money in the treasury, instead of circulat- ing it among the people.” -——_. R EMERGENCIES. TO MEET W. Results of the Observations of Army Fortification Bourd. The most important work before the army fortifications board at its monthly session just closed was the compilation of the observations made by it personally upon the present capacity of the large plants for the production of great guns, and upon the possibility of their extension to meet war emergencies. The board had visited the army plants at Watertown and Watervliet and the private establishments at Midvale and Bethlehem. It was found that by working three shifts of men at the government works the present output could be doubled, while the same re- sult could be obtained at the private estab- lishments without material imcrease of plant by concentrating the labor upon the government work. The board also visited Boston, dnd was surprised to witness the backward state of harbor defenses there, which are in much worse condition even than represented in the official reports, owing entirely to lack of appropriations. Not a_ single high- famed modern gun was in place, and eight cast iron mortars constituted the main de- fense of the harbor. Attention will be spe- cially directed to these conditions in the annual report of the board to Congress. te The Tariff and the Isthmus. United States Consul General Vifquain at Panama reports to the State Department that during the years 1893-94, before the Wilson tariff bill went into effect, the transit trade across the isthmus from San Francisco direct to Europe was practically nothing; but since that law went into effect this transit business has greatly increased, and foots up for the four months of July, August, September and October, a total ot tons, more than ever before in the history of the Panama railroad. the Notice to Subscribers. Subscribers are earnestly requested to report any irregularity in the de- livery of The Star and also any fail- ure on the part of the carrier to ring the door tell, A proper service can only be main- tained through the courtesy of sub- ‘scribers in reporting shortcomings. = Answer of the Beneficiaries Under the Instrument of 1873. IN WHICH TRE EXECUTOR JOINS Allegations of ‘Fraud Denied and a Jury Trial Requested. IN THE CIRCUIT COURT The long-expected answer of Mr. Luke Devlin, the executor, and Misses Lizzie Hynes and Josephine Holt Throckmorton, the beneficiaries under the mysteriously- forwarded will of Judge Joseph Holt, was filed this afternoon by Attorneys Blair Lee and J. J. Darlington, in reply to the notice of contest filed by the heirs-at-law of Judge Holt. The answer is substantially as follows: The respondents to so much and such parts of the petition of Washington Holt and others, filed herein on the 18th day of October, A. D. 1895, as they are advised it is material for them to make answer unto, answering, say: 1. They affirm that the paper writing dated the 7th day of February, A. D. 1873, purporting to be the last will and testa- ment of the said Joseph Holt, ts in fact the last will and testament of the said Joseph Hoit, and they deny the allegations to the contrary. 2. They deny that the sald paper writing is a forgery, and that the same was not signed and acknowledged by the said testa- tor. 3. They deny that the said paper writing was not signed by the attesting witnesses, and that the said instrumert was not de- clared by the above named testator as his last will and testament in the presence of said witnesses, and of each of them. Immaterial in Law. 4, They believe fhe allegation that the at- testing witnesses did not sign their names as witnesses to the said will at the request of said testator, nor in his presence, nor in the presence of each other, to be wholly untrue in fact; and, as they are advised and believe, and therefore,aver, the said allegations are, also, wholly immaterial in law, for all purposes touching the valid!- ty and effect of the said instrument in so far as the jurisdiction of this court is con- cerned. 5. The fifth paragraph of said petition for caveat, as these respondents are advised and believe, and therefore aver, sets forth only matters of law, and requires no an- swer from them. Nevertheless, as they are advised and believe, and therefore aver, the said fifth paragraph is insufficient in; law, in that it does not aver that the said paper writing was not attested and sub- scribed in the testator’s presence by three credible witnesses; and, further, because such attestation is necessary only to the validity of the said paper writing in so far as it affects the real estate of the testator, whereas the present proceedings, in this court, relates wholly to the personal estate of said decedent, to which personal estate the jurisdiction of this court is exclusively confined; and the respondentS pray the same benefit of such insufticiency as if they had demurred to said fifth paragraph. 6. These respondents do not admit, but on the contrary deny, upon information and belief, that the said paper writing was re- voked by the said testator, or that the said instrument was mutilated or burned by him for the purpose of revocation or cancella- tion, or for any other purpose whatsoever, | as is alleged in the sixth paragraph of the said petition, and call fer strict proof as to each and every of said allegations. As to the Will, 7. These respondents have no means of knowing, and do not, in fact, know, and are accordingly unable to either admit or deny, whether the said paper writing was in the possession of the testator at the time of his death, or whether it was found among his papers or effects, nor in whose custody said paper writing was at the time of his death, or afterward; and they call for strict proof as to each and every of the allegations in said seventh paragraph contained touching the custody and keeping of said instrument. They admit, on information and belief, that the said paper writing was forwarded to the register of wills of the District of Co- lumbia, through the m » by some person to these respondents unknown, and that said instrument had apparently been worn where creased or folded, and had been pasted upon another paper because of such wear, but they deny that it depended, or depends, in any manner upon such pasting for its legi- ility. They deny that the sending of the said in- strument to the register of wills was fraudu- lent, and aver that, if there was any fraud in the matter, it consisted in withholding the said paper writing from the files of the reg- igter of wills’ office beyond the period with- in which the custodian or other person into whose possession it had come was required by law to file it. Said paper was forwarded to the register of wills, heretofore, to wit, on the 26th day of August, A. D. 1895, more than a year after the testator’s death, and presumably without his knowledge, as the sua seventh paragraph of the petition al- leges. Unaware of Any Fraud. 8. These respondents are wholly unaware of any fraud or undue influence practiced against or upon the sald testator by any person or persons whomsoever, and believe the allegations of said petition, that the execution of said will-was procured by such means, to be wholly unfounded and untrue. If the said paper writing !s a forgery, or if it was not signed by the said JcsepH Holt, or if it was procured by fraud or un- due influence, or if it was revoked by him, these respondents do not desire its admis- sion to probate and record; but, believing that none of ‘the allegations in said peti- tion touching the validity of the said in- strument are well founded in point of fact, and that the same are wholly untrue, they unite in the prayer in said petition contain- ed that appropriate issues may be framed and sent to the Circuit Court for trial by jury, in order to determine the question of their truth and of the validity of said will. The answer of the executor and bene- fictaries having now been filed, the next move in the case will be the making up by the Probate Court of the questions at issue in the contest over the will for submission to the Circuit Court for trial there by a jury. This matter will, it is thought, be so arranged that a trial in the Circuit Court may be had early in next year. ——— Examination for Electrical Engineers There are several vacancies in the govern- ment printing office in the position of elec- trician or electrical engineer, for which the United States civil service commission will hold an examination in this city the 10th irstant. —____-e—_______ For a Department of Health, At a meeting of the Medical Association Saturday evening there was a discussion of the proposition to establish in Washington a department of public health, the head of which should be an additional cabinet offi- cer, It was voted to favor the measure and to choose a committee to co-operate with other associations In urging the pas- gage of an organic Jaw by the present Con- gress, The committee consists of Dr, H, L, BH, Johnson, Dr, Samuel C, Busey, Dr, W, W. Johnston, Dr, J, R. Wellington and Dr, Cc. H. A, Klindschmidt, LICENSES Recommendations in the Annual Report of the Exeise Board That, Clubs Come Under the Law— Proposed Penalty to Prevent the Adaulteration of Liquor. The annual report of the excise board of the District was made to the Commission- ers today. During the last license year the board granted 605 bar room liquor licenses, comprising hotels, clubs and ordi- nary bar rooms. It also granted 172 whole- sale liquor licenses, including groceries, bottlers, brewers, agents, confectioners and strictly wholesale places. The number of bar room applications rejected during the year was fifty-two, and the number of wholesale liquor applications unfavorably acted on was eleven. The board points out that since August 17, 1804, at which time it was created, it has not licensed any new bar rooms except the same were located in buildings used for hotel purposes, and having not less than twenty-five rooms for guests. One license, the board says, gas granted to a bar room not in a hotel, but the place had been licensed during the previous year, and was licensed only by the use of a license that had been granted to another place which kad been closed up. Continuing, the re- port says: “Originally it wus the opinion of the board that Congress had unintentionally augmented the arduous duties of the board of assistant aysessors by giving it jurisdic- ticn over excise matters, but experience has proven that the very duty the board is called upon to perform in making an as- sessment from actual view gives it the very best opportunity of ascertaining many important details as to the character of the place sought to be licensed, its surround- ings and the needs, if any, for a continu- ance of a liquor license. Considerations lvke these enter into and form the ‘evidence which enables the board to form intelligent judgment outside of police reports and.the data furnished by its inspector. Prompt Application. “The board respectfully makes mention of the fact that heretofore applicants for liquor licentes were ir the .abit of failing to comply with the law relative to the fil- ing of their applications, accompanied by the required deposits, on or before Novem- ber 1. This innovation was, however, cor- rected this year by the board, with the sat- isfying result that only seven licensees failed to comply with the requirements of the law. The revenue derived frem liquor applications amounted to $273,200, propor- tioned as follows: Bar rooms, $233,000; wholesale, $4,000. 5 The report calls attention to the fact that the law contains no provision for the pun- ishment of a seller of adulterated liquors, and the following proviso to the excise law Is suggested: “Every person so licensed, or any other person who shall intentionally or otherwise sell or give away, or direct or permit any person or persons in his employ to sell or give away malt, spirituous and vinuous liquors, which shal) be aduiterated with strychnine, astrontla, sugar of lead or any subgtance which ts poisonous or injurious to health, shall forfeit and pay the sum of three hundred dollars ($300), and in case of non-payment of such’ fine shall be impris- oned in the jail of the District of Columbia for a period of time not exceeding six months, or till the same is paid, and shall farfeit his or her liquor license. “In conclusion the board would respect- fully invite your attention to its letter dated October 9, 1885, addressed to your honorable body, in which were its recom- mendations, which in brief had in view the changing of the liquor law so as to pre- vent the adulteration of iiquors; to increase ‘the bar room license from $400 to $800; to increase the wholesale liquor license from $250 to $400; that clubs be required to take out Mquor licenses and to raise the salary of the assistant clerk to the board to $1,200.” ———_—_—_. THE FIRST CONTEST. Early Action Expected on the Bel- knap-McGann Election Case. The first contested election case which will be acted upon by the committee on elections in the House of Representatives will undoubtedly be that of Hugh R. Bel- knap against Lawrence E. McGann, con- testee, from the third congressional dis- trict of Illinois. The action upon the case, in the nature of things, will be merely formal, for the good reason that the sitting member, whose name is on the House roll, has renounced his contest, and will make an official statement to that effect. He has already announced that he was not elected and has introduced Mr. Belknap publicly as his successor. A distinguishing feature of this peculiar contesi is that every one seems to believe that “Larr, McGann is entirely honest in the matter, and that he was innocent and ignorant of the frauds in the count by -which, upon the face of the returns, Mr. McGann was at first shown to have re- ceived a plurality over Mr. Belknap of thirty-one votes, on the basis of which the certificate of election was issued by the governor to Mr. McGann, and the name. of the latter was recessarily placed upon the roll of the House by the clerk. Mr. Mc- Gann now admits that, as a result of the receunt, which was agreed upon, and ami- cably conducted by the parties to the con- test, Mr. Belknap was actually elected by 208 plurality, and is entitled to the seat. In* accordance with that conviction Mr. McGann will renounce further centest, and will make no objections to the striking of his own name from the roll and to the seating of Mr. Belknap. This contest was at first began with a good deal of asperity. It ended leaving the contestants good friends. It only remains for the House to act upon the result of the recount, and to go through the formality of seating Mr. Belknap, which need not take more than ten minutes, after the committee shall have been organized. A Lottery Order. Another radical step in the prosecution of lottery schemes by the Post Office Depart- ment was taken Saturday by the issuance of a general order to all postmasters for- bidding the use of the mails to the “Lot- eria Mexicana de la Beneficlencia Publica” of Mexico. The order is directed against the concern as operating under this name, the president, L. D. Ladish, the Tropical Fruit Company, Box 174, Huasteca, and the Co-operative Land, Coffee and Fruit Com- pany.’ The concern is charged with violat- ing the anti-lottery law. It has been oper- ating for about a year, claiming to be run for the public benefit of San Luis Potosi state, and to have a deposit of $100,000 in Kansas City as a guaranty to speculators, oe Merchant Marine, United States Consul Stephan, at Anna- berg, Germany, has sent to the State De- partment some figures bearing upon the merchant marine of Great Britain and Ger- many to demonstrate the fact that the lat- ter country {!s steadily pressing forward in the development of this important cemmer- celal adjunct and hecoming a formidable competitor of Great Eritain, He shows that smaller ships are giving way to larger tonnage, and that this is particularly true in Germany; for, although England has still eight times as many ships as Ger- many, the German steamers are consider- ably larger, their average tonnage being 810.7, as against 700,7 for English vessels, While the English ships increased in num- per by 541 per cent in thirteen years, their tonnage was only doubled, whereas in Gar- many, while the number only somewhat more than doubled, the tonnage was quad- rupled, IN CONGRESS Se Both Branches of the National Legislature at Work, ee THE GALLERIES ARE CROWDED Mr, Reed of Maine Formally Elected Speaker. GREETED WITH ENTHUSIASM Subordinate Officers of the House Are Chosen. SCENES AND INCIDENTS et The American Congress is again in ses- sion. Promptly at noon today the Senate and House were called to order in their respective chambers amid the scenes of animation and excitement marking the cpening of a Congress. All Washington lays siege on the big Capitol building on opening days, and today there was added interest on account of the present changes involved and the large influx of new tlood. The crowd came through drizzling rain, mist and mud, in conveyances, street cars and in long lines afoot, pouring through the many entrances, choking the corridors and elevators and besieging the galleries far beyond their capacity. But it was an or- derly crowd, and the largely augmented force of officers had Httle tronble in pre- serving order and preventing confusion, Spenker Reed. By 10:30 o’clock—an hour and a half bef#re the time of meeting—the public galleries in both houses were filled, and an eager crowd overflowed into the outer corridors. Many ladies were in the throng, but there was a noticeable lack of the color and fair wéather costumes which usually give a touch of brightness to the somber cham- bers. The day was dull and gloomy, rain fell at intervals, and when not raining the weather was foggy and the air heavy. New Rule as to Admissions. A new rule was put into operation today in regard to the admission to the public galleries of the House. Heretofore it has been the custom to admit the friends of members to the private and reserved gal- leries by card, leaving the general public ta scramble for seats in the public galleries— first come, first served. Today the publie galleries were opened only to persons bear- ing cards from members. The general pub- lic were met at the foot of the stairs by the Capitol policemen and refused access to the upper corridors unless they bore cards of admission. Three cards were issued to each member, and there was a large demand for the coveted pasteboards. The enforcement of the rule caused con- siderable irritation among the crowds that flocked to the House wing to witness the opening of Congress in that end of the Capitol. Electric Calls for Pages. The old method of calling pages in the, House by clapping of hands and wild ges- ticulation has been superseded by a quiet- er one. On each member’s desk is an elec- tric push button, which sounds an annun- ciator in one of the cloak rooms and brings a page to the desk. The pfges occupy, benches In the clgak room and answer calls’ by turn. The new method is designed to prevent confusion around the Speaker's desk, where the pages used to congregate, and to give rapid transit facilities to mem- bers in need of messengers, The Press Gallery. Charles Mann and Charles Holbrook, who have been in charge of the House press gallery for several years, had the zallery, in tidy shape for business when the cor respondents arrived today. The old mem- bers found their coat hooks numbered and ticketed, and everything prepared to pitk up the routine of business where they, dropped it lust year. ‘The old members of the gallery as well es the newcomers are required to make new applications for membership this year, under the limitations of the new rule ex- cluding employes of the government and legislative clerks. The House Weather Bureau, The weather bureau in the House wing resumed business at the old stand today, under the management of Mr, Randolph, This institution has become exceedingly, popular with the old members, and is ex- pected to engage the attention of the new ones, who can relieve in a measure that homesick feeling by stepping into the lobby and seeing at a glance the condition of the weather at home, Every one remembers the stories, true ones, too, of how Mr, Abbott of Texas used to wire his directions for hog. killing at home by the weather forecasta from this bureau, and the Michigan lumber king in the last House advised his horses in the pine woods of that state of the approach of snow storms long before the local goose bones had shown indications, Senators Handshaking, At the conclusion of the prayer offered by the chaplain of the Senate today there was the usual amount of handshaking among the Senators, This was watched with Interest from the gallertes, as many on the democratic side of the Senate had not met sizoe the overwhelming defeat at the polls, Whether It was the result of @ “fellow feeling” or not, etal stance = at the Ceraial in thelr Mutual greetings. immedi