Evening Star Newspaper, December 2, 1895, Page 11

1895—SIXTEEN PAGES. 11 STAR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, ‘assimere Suits, in single and donble-breas' styles, that were $10, $12, $13.50 and $15, ‘$5.00. 6.75: $8.50. $18.75. In short, we are overstocked. blue kerseys, December Reduction Sale of Men’s Suits and Overcoats. Briefly, This Is What It Means. Youth’s and Small Men’s $8, $10 and $12 Suits Reduced to This does not mean tnat every Suit and Overcoat in stock has been reduced. the case. We will be be frank. It is true that we have been busy this fall — done considerably = more business than we‘did last fall, but we expected to do more than double and bought ac- z} cordingly. We bought too heavily. stock and culled out about half. These have been “cut” in price. All these lots are on our first has been moved upstairs during this sale. Here are the lots again: = floor. The rest of the stoc' Sults for men up to 25 chest measur>, and Boys? Broken lots of Men's Overeoats, in nary blue, Long Parts Suits that have been $8, $10 and $12, § OO Diack and Oxford mixtures, that were $8, Will be closed out at G $12 and $15, to be closet out at = Men's Pinin and Fancy Cheviot and Fancy Mixed Men's High-grade Overcoats, in beavers and fancy were $25 and $30, wiil be clesed Men’s $10, $12, $13.50 and $15 Suits Reduced te Ten’s $8, $10, $12 and $15 Overcoats Reduced to Men’s $25 and $30 High-class Overcoats Reduced to Such is not We have run through the $10, $8.50 $18.75 black and navy mixtures, that out at PARKER, BI Clothiers, RIDGET & 315 7th st. Master Charles Lehman tee 420M St. N.W., Wins the Second Little Pony and Cart. To Whom It May Concern: This is to certify that we have examined the books of Messrs. Parker, Bridget & Co. and the cards of the little contestants, and find that MASTER, CHARLES LEHMAN has brought the firm the largest amount of trade during the month of November, and is, there- fore, entitled to the second little pony and cart. (Signed) J. WHIT. HERRON, Evening Star, ‘ ALBERT T. S. JOHNSON, Washington Post, M. F. TIGH, Washington Times, The above letter explains itself, called at the store at 9 o'clock this morning and received the little worked so faithfully and so justly earned. The winner was pushed closely by Louis J. Kessel, who was | | a close second, and Miss Lena Johnson, John H. Holmead and pony and cart for which he ha Freddie Earl Godfrey. The Third and Last Pony and Cart Will be given January 1 to the little boy or girl who influences for us-the largest amount of trade during the Cards upon witich to keep account of sales and all other necessary be furnished upon application at the store. Grand opportunity fdg'$ome bright young boy or girl under sixteen to se- cure a handsome Christmas present free. . information ws PARKER, BRIDGET & : Modern Clothiers, 315 “ils SEG SFEOOO0S590 5059 9906 > seses | 4 Cr A perfect system of Bookcases at last! New, original, stmple and POPEIIGYGOG-G S969 6900000809 9900 0005 It consists of a grea convenient. er or less utimber of independent Interlocking shelves, with noiseless glass-front automatic, dust-proof doors. An artiste plece of furni- ture, which can be added to at will without external evidence of it being sectional. You can buy one shelf or a thou- sand. We Are Sole Agents. ° {CRAIG & ‘HARDING, | $Cor. 13th and F Sts. D4 se5-3m1,80 be SLOSEHPOSSSOOSSSOIOOOS IOS SR AL ARERR ALLEL AI Rm ‘Keep it ; ‘in the House. » ( | NATIVE |} HERBS” |) s) en) Take it when > out-of-sorts : "Twill brace yon up wonder. 6% 4 guaranteed. Martin Wolf, Vv 515 ITH SB y with the Hudson Bay Fur Company. Necessity for Some Remedy for Ex- isting Evils. ‘To the Editor of The Evening Star: I beg leave to ask the publication of the following letter in the interest of the cor- rection of a crying evil existing in our city, the removal of which you have often ad- vocated most earnestly and ably: “To the Honorable, the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. “Gentlemen: I am_ gratified to learn through yesterday’s Star that the early re- moval of grade crossings in the city of Washington is strongly urged In your an- nual report for the year past. “My interest in this much-needed improve- ment is intensified by the fact that only last evening (Friday) Mrs. Gallaudet and two of my daughters, with a friend visiting us, es- caped instant death at the corner of 4th and I strects northeast by a matter of inches and seconds through the coolness and quick- ness of our coachman. “The gates at this deadly crossing were wide open, not long after 11 o'clock; no watchman was on duty; no sound of bell or whistle gave warning of the outgoing train. The coachman was careful to look both ways, as far as he could see, but the corner is so built up on the west side that the horses were on the track before he had a sight of the engine, then almost upon them. “There was but an Instant in which to turn the horses to the right, free of the track, when one of them was,struck by the train ‘and both were thrown down. “By what seems almost a miracle no seri- ous injury was done, but you will easily un- derstand that no narrower escape from a heartrending tragedy could be possible. “Hoping that you will take measures to have proper guards maintained at the very dangerous crossing alluded to, and that you will succeed in arousing the conscience of Congress to an appreciation of its duty in the matter, I am, very respectfully yours, i M. GALLAUDET.” Mr. Editor: I trust I may be aliowed a few words of comment on the incident I have narrated In my letter to the Commissioners, for I feel that a residence of many years at a point where the “deadly crossing” is a matter of daily interest and peril gives me a right to speak with authority on the subject. On nearly every one of the many occasions when I heve appeared before congressional committees in the discussion of the general ject of steam railroads in the federal ital evidences of antagonism have ap- 4 that have, very naturally, rendered solution impossible. Railway com- on the one hand, have shown a pur- holding or securing advantages In upancy of streets and avenues which and citizens have felt compelled to On the other hand, Congress and s have manifested a disposition to resist. eltiz compel the railway companies to incur ex- penses waich their representatives have felt oe ised to combat as unreasonable and un- just. I have always felt that in the determina- tion of so important a matter such an- tugonisms ought not to be allowed even to appear. Congress should secure, without de- lay, through the en:ployment of competent neers, quite independent of the railway anies interested, a well-digested plan oad terminals in the city. Some suitable judicial body should then be called upon to determine what portion of the ex- pense, if any, of carrying out such plan should be borne by Congress or the District of Columbia. And no consideration of expense should be allowed to stand in the way of minimizing the dangers to life and the invasion of streets, avenues and parks in a city destined soon to be the most beautiful capital in the world. E. M. GALLAUDET, Kendall Green, November 30, 1895. —>—-— A Feat in Photography. From Photogram, Photography has had many triumphs. One of the latest Is associated with the name of Prof. Macey, famous for his feats in instantaneous work. He has just suc- ceeded in photographing a dragon-fly on the wing—an operation which necessitated an exposure of only one twenty-five-thou- sandth of a second. The photographic part of the performance is wonderful enough, and surely some credit should be awarded to the man capable of accurately dividing a second into twenty-flve thousand parts. Certainly a man who can compute the twenty-five-thousandth part of a second can compute anything. : AUXILIARY CONV Preparing for the Big Christinn En- deavor Affair. The committee of "9% has approved the following additional appoirtments to the auxillary committees for the Christian En- deavor convention: Westminster Presbyterian. Decoration committee—Wm, Henry, Mrs. Wm. Henry, Mable Spicer. Ushers’ committee—Leidy S. Depue, Chas. D. Church, Wm. Henry, H. E. Bittinger, Frank Byram, Jno. Davidson, Chas. Bit- tinger, O. W. Williams, Jce Hopkins, Fred. Barniclo. Entertainment committee—Mazie Herron, Mrs. F, Byram, Lella Herron, Mrs. D. G. Miller, Mary Church, Emma Hopkins, Be: Excursion committee—H. E. Bittinger. Registration committee-—Mary Church, Mattie Church, Mrs. N. Hazen. Music committee—Miss G. Spear. Reception committee — Mrs. F. Byram, Miss B. Spicer, Mabel Spicer, Annie Handy, Lucy Bailey, Belle Leitzneitzer, Minnie Leitaneitzer, Arnie Nelson Amy Yerkes, Bessie Perso: Mrs. Wm. Henry, Yount. Fifteenth Street Presbyterian, Decoration committee—Grace Shinn, Fortune, Maude Smith. Ushers’ committee—Mr. Fortune, Robert Coleman, Reginald Bruce, R.Fearing, James Walker, Ira Wright, Henry Freeman, B. Freeman. Entertainment committee—Imogene Wormley, Mary E. Lewls, Ada Thomas, Josephine Wermley, Annie Gray, Clarence Wormley, John Love. Excursion committec—Chas. F. M.Browne. Registration committee—Nellie Burke, Ur- sulire Barker, Clarence Wormley. Music committee—Wm. Hurley. Reception committee—Carrie Burrill, Min- rie Russell, Alice Russell, Mattie Gray, Grace Shimm, Imogene Wormley, Ada Thomas, Cora Smith, Gertrude Smith, Car- rie Price, Minnie Price, Miss E. Shimm, Robert Bruce, Chas. F. M. Browne. Hyattsville Presbyterian. Decoration committee—H. E. Davis, J. W. Gray. Entertainment committee—Will S. Holton, George Stromont, Will Richardson. Excursion committee—H. O. Emmons. Alice Yerkes, , Ella Davidson, Bessie Barnes, A. G. Mr. Registration committee—Mrs. M. L. Mc- Neil, G. M. B. Bradshaw, Emily Schoepf. Music committee—F. A. Pi ston. Reception committee—Mrs. Laura Rich- ardson, Mrs. V. V. Hobbs, Eliza Bankhages, May Brown, Bertha Rathbone, Jerome Wil- sie, Annie Long. Ryland Methodist Episcopa Decoration committee—G. W. Hall, Em- ma Norris, Grace & Brewer. Ushers’ committee—George E. Barber, Harry O. Brown, Chas. Billingsley, Arthur O. West, James M. McAuley, Chas. Evans, N.C. Martin, G. W. Hall, John A. Garni Entertainment committee—Frank B. Gil- man, W. N. Hogan, Mrs. Ada J. Carter, Cora Penfield, Emma Stahl, Esther Gold- ney, Julia E. Atkinson. Excursion committee—Chas. Billingsley. Registration committee-W. E. Clyde Todd, Mary Espey, Ella Esve Music committee—Edward M. Hall. Reception committee—Emma Norris, W. N. Hogan, Richard Walker, Worth Harp: Teco Coggswell, Lilly Coggswell, Mary E. Donaldson, Mabel Walker, Daisy Conry, Rosa A. Frerch, Mrs. Ada J. Carter, Ella Lilley, Mary Lilley, Laura Halley, Gertrude all, Lincoln Memorial Congregational, Decoration committee—P. B. Bagley, Hat- tie Hill, Lillie Hill. Ushers’ committee—W. B. Johnson, Walter J. Taylor, T. S. Strong, G. W. Grice, J. W. Wright, Jas. H. Hill, Geo. W. Mitchell, C. Webster, G. W. Coffee. Entertainment committee—Miss - Cc. Johnson, Ida Turner, Katie Pinckney, Allie Grice, Sadie Robinson, Wm. Conley, C. 8. Brooks. Excursion committee—R. S. Registration committee- tie Wood, Katie Taylor. Music committee—Mary Wright. Reception committee—M M. I. Hill, Ju- lia McCauley, Georgia Scott, Miss M. E. Dean, Ada Pinckney, Zeta Ross, Mamie Gregory, Lucy Turner, Susie Scott, Esther Turner, Ollie Middleton, Dr. E. A. Allen, Jas. Poindexter, Lee V per. Smith. M. Nixon, Ka- 7th CO., November 30, 1895. Committee. and Master Charles Lehman month of December. THE BIBLE LECTURES. i as A Course Armnged the Society of Religious Education: The free course of lectures on the Bible established last year by the Washington committee of the American Soclety of Re- ligious Education was so successful that much Is expected from the lectures to be delivered this winter. This year, as last, the lectures will be delivered by leading Washington clergymen, who will be intro- duced by prominent men, and will speak in some of the principal churches. Five lec- tures will be delivered, one a month, begin- ring in December, and the admission to all will be entirely free. The lecturers this sea- son will be President Whitman of Colum- bian University, President Rankin of How- ard University, Rev. Dr. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of the Néw York Avenue Presby terfan Church; Rev. Dr. Hugh Johnstou, pastor of the Metropolitan M. E. Church, and the Rev. Dr. F. D. Power, pastor of the Vermont Avenue Christian Church; and they will be introduced to their audiences by Postmaster General Wilson, Secretary Smith, ex-Secretary John W. Foster, Repre- sentative McMillin of Tennessee, and Judge Cox of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Postmaster General Wilson is chairman, Thomas H. Anderson is vice chairman and Henry B. F. Macfarland !s secretary of the Washington committee of arrangements. The program for this seacon’s lectures is as follows: December 16, Rev. Wallace Ra cliffe, D.D., theme, “The Infallible Book, introduced by Postmaster General Wilson, in Foundry M.E. Church, 1ith and G street: January 2%, Rev. J. E, Rankin, D.D., them “The Bible ard the Human Intellect,” troduced by Judge Cox, in the New Yorl Avenue Presbyterian Church, 13th and New York avenue; February 17, Rev. Hugh John- ston, D.D., theme, “The Bible and Cha: acter Building,” introduced by Secretary Smith, in the Calvary Baptist Church, 8th and H streets; March 17, Rev.-F. D. Power, D.D., theme, “The Bible, the Standard of Religious Thought,” introduced by ex-Sec- retary Foster, in the Fourth Presbyterian Church, 9th and G streets; April 14, Rev. 1. L. Whitman, D.D., theme, “The Bible and Civilization,” introduced by Representative McMillin, in the First Congregational Church, 10th and G streets. —_—.__—_ Believes in the New System. Mr. E. P. Baldwin, auditor for the Treas- ury Department, in his annual report,makes a comparison of the old and the present systems of accounting, and says: “From:a practical knowledge of the sys- tem of accounting Ig practice prior to Qcto- ber 1, 1894, and of Sat substituted on that date and now in-foyce, I am satisfied that the new system ig a great improvement, it Is fully as accurate, muc! safer and cer- tainly more expeditious :n the dispatch of business. aKa “Under the old system, at the close of the fiscal year 1M, there were pending in this office, and in, the revising oflices of the first controller and commissioner of cu toms, not fewer than 2,000 unsettled ac- counts, some of ‘which were not adjusted for months thereafter. “Under the nav. system, at the close of the fiscal year 1§047no officer or claimant had pending an.aecount or claim which could have been aufted and settled I am clearly of the apinion that by the new system of requiring ihe manifests, Invoices and findings of appraisera, gaugers, weigh- ers and measurers to be sent to this oifice the absolute accountability of collectors of customs for property coming into their Pos- session and the collection of the correct duty thereon will be established.” Se eee The Battle Ship Texas. The battle ship Texas has finished the dock trial of her engines at the New York navy yard, and will start tomorrow for a short sea cruise to shape down her ma- chinery. She will go to Newport to receive her torpedo outfit, and will then join the Nerth Atlantic squadron in fleet evolutions, It is said the recent experience of the Texas in dry dock has not impaired the elliciency of her machinery in the least. ——————~.—___ Army Orders. The following transfers in the fourth ar- tillery are ordered: First Lieut. George L. Anderson, from battery H to battery M; First Lieut. Wirt Robinson, from battery M to battery H. THE SOLDIER'S LIFE. Gen. Ruggles Comments on the Causes of Desertion. In his annual repert on the condition of the army, Adjt. Gen. Ruggles makes the following statement in regard to desertions: “The number of desertions in the army during the past year was 1,165, an increase of 91 over the number reported for the pre- ceding year, and a fraction over 4 per cent of the enlisted strength of the army. “The cause of desertion is not altogether in the service; it must be looked for partly outside of it. Many young soldiers do not like the necessary restraint of military life and long for home and its surroundings; while the revival of business tempts others who enlisted when out of employment to return to their proper avocations in civil life. Desertions will only cease when rest- less men fail to enlist and the discontented in the ranks fully realize that the incon- veniences and annoyances which they find in a soldier's life are far preferable to the loss of civil rights under section 1998 of the Revised Statutes and the constant fear and danger of apprehension, swiftiy followed by adequate punishment.” According to Gen. Ruggles, the Indian as a soldier will soon be a thing of the past. The only existing Indian organization, troop L, seventh cavalry, composed of twenty-four Kiowa and Comanche Indians, was enlarged June 11, 1895, by the transfer to {t of the forty-three enlisted Indians of company I, tenth infantry. The twenty- four men are to continue on duty as cay- alry soldiers until they shall become en- titled to discharge; the forty-three are to be employed and controlled as before the transfer, but are to be neither mounted nor equipped as cavalrymen. Ultimately they are to be discharged. In regard to promotions from the ranks, Gen. Ruggles says: “The act of June 18, 1878, provided for the promotion, to the grade of commissioned officer, of meritorious non-commissioned officers found morally, intellectually and physically qualified for promotion. “Under the act of July 30, 1892, all un- married soldiers, under thirty years of age, of sound physique, who, being citizens of the United States, shall have served honor- ably in the ranks not less than two years, have borne a good character both before and since enlistment, are permitted to com- pete at prescribed examinations for com- missions in the army. “It was anticipated that this legislation would incite the ambition of men in the ranks, and attract to the military service young men of superior character and edu- cation, whose presence in the ranks would greatly benefit the discipline and morale of the army. “There are now in the army one hundred and nine officers of the line who were pro- moted from the ranks since the passage of the act of June 18, 1878. In the decade be- ginning with that year, forty-three men, with an average service in the ranks of six years and one month, gained commis- sions. From 1888 to January 1, 1895, sixty- six men, with an average service of four years and twenty days, were promoted to the grade of second lieutenant. For the four years—I888 to 1891—following the first decade, the average length of service in the ranks feli from six years and one month to four years and six months. It has since fallen to three years and five months. Should the present conditions continue, it may soon be reduced to two years, the minimum of service contemplated by the law of July 30, 1892. “It would seem, therefore, that the men who now compete for promotion are not so much men who enlist to be good soldiers as men who ‘enlist for commissions.’ Some of the disappointed have already sought discharge by favor.” Funeral of the Mine Victims. The funeral of five of the men who were killed in the disaster at the Tilly Foster mine Thursday took place at Brewsters, N. Y., yesterday. The men who were burled were Patrick H. Murtha, John Fa- gan, Michael Gannon, Thomas Dennis and en unknown Italian miner. The funeral of James Fox, James Clarke and three of the Itallans were held today at noon. The work of recovering the bodies still in the mine will be resumed today. It Is probable that Coroner Penny will not hold an inquest until all the bodies have been taken out. ——___ ++ —__ The wil' of the late Caroline S. Catlin, filed Saturday, appoints Mary J. D. C. Cloudy, a sister, executrix, and makes her sole beneficiary. NEEDS OF THE NAVY Recommendations Made to Congress _ by Secretary Herbert. TWO BIG BATTLESHIPS ASKED FOR Some Topics of Local Interest Discussed in the Report. THE GUN FACTORY Secretary Herbert's annual report is a particularly interesting suramary of the naval progress of the past year, and per- haps the most important feature is his recommendation that Congress authorize the construction cf two more big battleships and at least twelve torpedo boats. He con- tends that the lessous of Yalu and Wei Hai Wei and the experience of naval pow- ers,as shown in their programs for néw con- struction. amply demonstrate the efficiency of these classes of vessels, and he is encour- aged by the progress in shipbuilding in this ecuntry to hope that the ships can now be built at a consid2rable reduction from the prices to be paid for those last contracted for. Progress in shipbuilding at navy yards has been slow, but the Secretary has taken steps to hasten it hereafter by stopping the practice of divertiag the force of employes from construction work to make repairs on other ships, in order to avoid fluctuations in the force. The Secretary says that the same obstacle to rapid wor« exists at pri- vate yards, and for that reason the depart- ment has endeavored to pre construction therein by i tractors to the payment of penalties for failure to deliver ships on contract In this effort the de: ment has b somewhat thwarted by the avtion cf Con- gress in passing special ucts relieving the contractors from these penalties. The Gun Shop. Our system of naval gun construction at the Washington navy yard is said to be fully equa! or superior to any in the world, and Improved devices are being constantly applied. The six-lach guns are being srad- ually converted into rapid-fire guns, the efficiency of which type was strikingly shown in the Japanese naval engagements. The Secretary makes a strong argument in favor of the.allowance of the estimate he submitted to Congress at the last session of $300,000 for the procurement of a supply of guns for the auxiliary navy. He calls attention to the fact that the Paris and New York, taken from the British flag after the British government had provided guns and mounts for them, are at present with- out any guns, and that the St. Paul and St. Louis are In a similar condition. He sees ne in paying subsidies to ships and having no guns to make them available in time of war. Also he calls attention to the fact that under treaty the United States is now prohibited from keeping more than one naval vessel on the great lakes, and that Great Britain has now on hand an ample supply of guns to equip all of her mer- chant marine in these waters for war, and thus master the lakes and do incalculable damaxe to our cities. If we had a proper reserve supply of guns and ordnance stores. we could easily dominate the lakes. Secretary Herbert speaks with gratifica- tion of what he has accomplished during the year In the way of simplifying the business methods of the Navy Depart- ment, and then taking up the subject of dry docks, he discourages the plan of lib- eral expenditure for new and larger docks at various points. He says that by June 1 nexi we shall have two new large doc! on the Atlantic coast and the Puget Sound dock will su‘tice for the time for the Pa- cific coast, where the Oregon is the only ship that cannot now enter the Mare Is- land docks Therefore, one more dock, located at Norfolk, and a dock and repair- ing station on the Gulf Mexico, if Con- gress feels that the state of the treasury would justify the latter expenditure, are all that are recommended by the Secretary, who commends what was done by his pre- decessors, Secretaries Chandler and Whit- in the direction of closing up navy and concentrating work at a few lar- fer yards as scund Lusiness practice, which should not Le deSartel from pow, and urges that any money iv be expended upon y should be applied to uew ships of docks. Personnel of the Navy. The Secretary has very little to say about the reorganization of the personnel of the navy, but confines himself to a reiteration of his argument advanced to the last Con- gress and a statement that while the je- partment is not wedded to the plan then Proposed, the cendilicns existing seriously impair the efficiency of the navy and should be changed. He also argues strongly in favor of the allowance of a further increase in the number of enlisted men by 1,000 at once, and says that Congress should then make provision for calling into service a sutfi- clent number of sailcrs to man all of the government's ships. This prefaces a long chapter on naval reserves, in the course of which the Secretary compares the Brit German, French and lialian systems, holds that the time has now come to such a reserve in this country. He in- dicates that he proposes to set aside th> monitors and coast defense ships as the first reserve, estalYisbing stations, in Now England, New York harbor,the central At- lantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the l'acifie coast, where the ships migat be usel to drill the reserves and also fursish zilitia in place of lapidated craft acw assigned to th: The Secretary says he has fully sidered the arguments made by ne nav instead training to the naval the naval oficers in favor of the removal of marines from naval and he is de- cid adverse io the proposiijon, say- ing thet the modern ship 1s really a floa:- ing fortress im wisch the marines caa ic used to great advantage tr manning the guns, handling the small arms and repress- x insubordination. For inis reason he has determined to place marines on ali of the battleships. Touching upon the Naval Academy, the Secretary favors an enlargement of the course in English, and also a change fa the age of admission of the cadets, so that they may be acm'‘tted between the years of fourteen and sixteen, or fifteen and seventeen, instead of sixteen and twenty, as at present. He also speaks in terms of high praise of the naval militia, saying that while their status yet remains to be defined, they will probably be of value in aiding as gunners, etc., to fight our ships and manning reserve vessels, and that ex- perience has shown that the American holiday soldier, as he is sometimes called, is generally a fighting man in time of wa: The recommendation that the coast s vey be transferred to the navy is renew The esiimates for the next fiscal year ag- gregate $29,311,168, as against expenditures aggregating $20,334,925 during the current year. Observatory Circle, There are several matters of local in- terest In the report. In regard to the es- 1ablishment of Observatory Circle, Secre- tary Herbert says: “By act of Congress approved August 1, 1804, it was provided that no street, ave- nue or public thoroughfare in the neigh- borhood of the buildings erected upon the United States Naval Observatory grounds, Georgetown Heights, District of Columbia, shall extend within the area of a circle de- scribed with a radius of 1,000 feet from the center of the clock room of the observa- tory. This law further authorized the Sec- retary of the Navy to grant the right of way for the extension of Massachusetts avenue through the limits of the observa- tory grounds exterior to said circle, to sell certain portions of the observatory lands lying within the limits of the circle, and to purchase, by condemnation or otherwise, certain lands of private parties lying with- in the circle. “I have the honor to report that in pur- suance of the provisions of the above law, the department, under date of October 22, 1804, granted the right of way for the ex- tenson of Massachusetts avenue through the observatory grounds; that it also ap- pointed a board of appraisers to determine and fix a price at which the tracts of land lying outside the limits of the circle should be sold, and in order that full opportunity to purchase said lands might be afforded, the larger tract was subdivided into lots of convenient size, which land was offered for sale, after public advertisement, purchas- a ers being allowed, at their option, to bid upon any one or more of the subdivisions, or upon the tracts in entirety. _ ‘Under the provisions of this law these lands could not be sold at Jess than their appraised prices. One of the tracts, con- taining 14.45 acres, was appraised at $141,- 454.57, a fraction less than 22% cents per Square foot. The other tract, con 1.218 acres, was appraised at $18,569.63. “Aside from one proposal, which related to a subdivision only of one of the tracts, and could not therefore be occepted, no offers to purchase the tracts in question at or above the appraised prices were re- ceived. No sale was consummated, and the department has not, therefore, been able to purchase the lands necessary to complete the government's ownership of the observ- atory circle. “The department, having waited for months for other bids, by its order under date of October 26, 1895, reconvened the board of appraisers to consider whether or not it would be advantageous to the inter- ests of the government to reduce the price at which the lands “had been appraised; and if so, to what extent. This question is now under consideration by the board.” A Pavement Question. The Secretary calls attention to the fol- lowing extract from the report of superin- tendent of the State, War and Navy De- partments building: “The roadway on the east and south sides of the building is unpaved, and the prevail- ing southerly and easterly winds in the dry season blow the fine dirt from this road- Way, not only on the east and south sides, but Into the windows, and complaints have reached this office that the records are be- ing damaged. A northeast wind brings rain, which has so beaten the yellow dirt into the projections and even the flat sur- faces on the east side that its beauty is greatly-marred. The driving easterly winds and rain have so washed the joints of the projecting stones that they will requirs pointing in the near future. We have washed the north and part of the east front with water from our pressure pumps; the north side was readily cleaned, but the east side was not much improve; During the past dry season, the Secretary says, he has called the attention of the Commissioners for the District to the con- ditions set forth in the above extracts, and requested that this roadway be paved. It Was ascertained that the Commissioners had no authority or money to make this needed improvement. It is requested that Congress be asked to make the necessary appropriation. Labor in the Navy Yards. In regard to “labor at navy yards,” the Secretary say: “Four years ago the registration system of employing laborers and mechanics at navy yards was inaugurated, and it has now come tc be generally understood by appli- cants that it is necessary to register with the labor boards in order to be employed, that after registering workmen are taken on in the order of registration, that political or other influence plays no part in securing employment as a laborer or mechanic and that the department does not interfere in the matter of employing or discharging workmen at navy yards unless the rules have in some way been violated. As a re- sult there are few requests made tpon the department for the employment of la- borers and mechanics at navy yards,where- as much time was formerly consumed in hearing and answering applicants and their friends. “The rules governing the employment of labor at the navy yards were devised and put in force by my preaevessor four years ago. That the work was well and faithfully done sufficiently appears from the fact tht very few important changes or amendments have so far been found necessary. It ap- peared, however, during the last summer, when work-was running short in the sev- eral yards, that the rigid enforcement, al- ways insisted'on, of rules preventing trans- fers from one trade even to another allied trade or occupation, and some other kindred provisions, were so operating as to render it exceedingly difficult to keep together such a force of skilled workmen as every business establishment finds it important to main- tain. To remedy these and certain other de- fects which experience had pointed out it became necessary to make a somewhat ex- tended revision of the whole syst2m. This I have done after visiting the yards and con- sulting carefully with the commandants at Washington, Norfolk and Brooklyn. “The several amendments made, though none of them are radical, it is believed wil) tend to the betterment of a system which has so far met with general commendation throughout the service. To give an idea of the extent and importance of the work done, it may be stated that from September 1, 1894, to August 31, 1805, there were 3,868 mechan- ics and laborers employed through the boards of labor employment at the various navy yards. The number of appointments made through the United States civil service commission in the departmental, railway mail, Indian, customs and postal services, as shown in the last anrual report of the commission, was 4.372." TROPHY FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. A Fine Set of Horns From a Moose, Shot by Senator Proctor. The White Hcuse, acccrding to the New York Sun, is shortly to receive a magnifi- cent trophy of the chase in the shape of a large mocse head with a fine spread of horn from a big bull recently killed in Can- ada by Senator Proctor of Vermont, who was Secretary of War tn President Harri- son’s cabinet. The Senator was only three full days in the wocds, whither he was ac- companied by Mr. T. Crockett and two guides. In that time they succeeded in kill- ing four moose and one caribou. They might have killed almost as many more caribou as they desired, but being after moose, refrained from firing at them. One of the heads secured by the Senator is to ‘e movnted for the public brary at Proc- or, Vt. The country hunted by this party is be- sween Lake Temiscofiata and the Maine frortier, in the region known as the Squat- tecks, which is thickly besprinkled with lakes. The success of the party was large- ly due to the ability with which the guides imitated che cry of the female moose in calling the bulls. ‘The rapid increase of late in the large game supply in this region ts perhaps due to animals taking refuge in Canada from the number of hunters that annually frequent the forests of Maine. Caribou, in perticular, which are reported less frequent this year in Maine than moose and red deer, are exceedingly com- mon in southern Canada, and near the New Brunswick border in Maine, a few days ago, a white moose was killed that was a perfect albino. Another curious freak of the deer family that has been observed this year is that the red deer, which in eastern Quebec has con- fined itself for a long time past to the south of the St. Lawrence, has been seen crossing the river, and is evidently migra! ing northward. In the neighboring prov- ince of Ontario, where the ki'ling of moose has been prohibited for the last five years, so many hunters from all parts of the country were preparing to rush there in consequence of the remarkable increase in the supply that the government grew alarmed at the prospects of the terrible slaughter, and has indefinitely extended the close season, pending the making of eMicient provisions for the protection of this noble game. ———_+e+______ HYAMS BROTHERS ACQUITTED. A Verdict in Only Thirty-Five Minutes Given by the Toronto Jury. The second trial of the brothers, Harry and Dallas Hyams,for the murder of youns Wells, the beneficiaries of whose life insur- ance policies, aggregating $30,000, the Hy- ams ultimately became, ended at Toronte Saturday in a verdict of not guilty. ‘The crowds that thronged the court room and corridors of the court far exceede? those of any previous days. Men and wo- men crushed and jostled one another in their endeavors to get within the coveted space, and the utmost exertions of an ex- tra force of consiables were required te maintain order. ‘The jury were out only thirty-five min- utes, when they returned with a verdict of “not guilty.” There was some attempt at applause in the court, but it was promptly repressed. Whea Judge Ferguson told the prisoners they were free they started to leave the court room, but at the door were rearrested by Detective Cudahy on the charge of con- spiracy to defraud the insurance companies in the case of Martha Wells. ps ances The Girl Knew. From London Fun, George (nervously)—“T'd like the best in the world, Kitty, to marry you, but I don’t know how to propose.” Kitty (promptly and practically)—“Tha: all right, George. You've finished with me; now go to papa.” 3