Evening Star Newspaper, December 21, 1895, Page 1

————— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8S. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. ge heh Scarica Rew York Office, 49 Potter Building, The Evening Star is served to subscribers In the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents Der wece. cr 44 ceuts per month. Copies at the ¢eunter 2 vents each. By mall—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents ber month. Saturday Quintupl> Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fcretgn postage a Gcatertd atéthe Post Odice at Washington, D. ©, @s second-class mail matter.) CF All mail subscriptions must be patd in adeance. Rates of advertising made known on application. | Che Evening Star. / WASHIN GTON. ‘Dz C., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 1895-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. TWO CENTS. If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. THE LONDON MARKET|0!stRIcT IN CONGRESS Tendency to Steadiness in Ame can Securities Shown. ——__s—___. BANKERS NOT 70 WITHDRAW MILLIONS Disposition to See a Brighter Out- look. COMMENT CF THE PAPERS oe LONDON, December 21.—Public attention here is almost entirely diverted from the political to the financial aspect of the Vene- zuelan situation. The rumor circulated in this city that the Rothschilds had decided to Immediately withdraw £5,000,000 ($25,000,- (00) from Amer‘ca fs attracting great at- tenticn. But the Rothschilds informed the Associated Press today that this report, as well as that of the collapse of the negotia- tion for a United States loan, were utterly untrue and that no negotiations were pend- ing regarding a loan,and that ro withdraw- als of gold from the United States had been ordered on account of the Rothschilds. A representative of the Associated Press also called on the Morgans, Brown & Ship- ley’s, Morton & Rose’s and a number of ether leading banking houses, and es- Pp My those connected with the United States. They generally regarded the situa- jon as being more favorable. The head of one of the prominent bank- Ing firms said to the Associated Press rep- resentative: “It seems that the political question is now lald at rest by the aathori- zation of the appointment of a commission of sensible men, who will have time to make their influence felt. My telegrams fice! no notices of withdrawal for hoard- Ing. The Outlook More Favornble. Continuing, the banker said: “I am satis- fied that nothirg serious will come of it.” The manager of a house whose influence Is felt in every financial transaction re- marked: “If European investors take ev- erything seriously, there is no knowing where the declines will stop. But the out- look is somewhat more favorable today. After al% the merchants and bankers must make their influence felt, and we have In- dications that the really serious business men of America are anxious to undo the harm the jingces have done.”” The stock exchange opened with a ten- @ency to panic. All classes of securities were freely offered. Foreign government securities were heavy and the American market was quite disorganized. In fact, it was difficult to obtain quotations. Soon after the market opened Milwaukee fell 5, Loulsville 4, Canadian Pacitic 21-4, end Denver preferred 3 1-. This was fol- lowed by a partial recovery. Business on the stock exchange closed teadier. There was a recovery from the worst points shown, though the prices reached were below those of last evening. The general teeling on the stock ex- change here was that it will be a difficult tesk to restore the confidence of ordinary favestors in American securities. Most of the afternoon newspapers publish comparative tables, showing the great dif- ference betw the prices of American stocks before President Cleveland's mes- gage on the Venezuelan question was sent to Congress and the prices today. Criticising the President. The Pall Mall Gazette this afternoon de- votes an article to an attempt to show that in his pronouncement on the Venezuelan question President Cleveland committed a big blunder ard has Gone America great injury. In the course of this article, and citing President Cleveland’s message on the financial situation, the Pall Mall Gazette We think bis expression, ‘fatuous finan- cial operations,’ should have been ‘fetucus political operations." His message is very beautiful, but itis not much use to the men who failed yesterday. They were, perh: more blameless themselves than ‘the r lessness of the man who rebukes them. America fs now taking hand in the m ter. The commission bill has passe, ubt if the commission will ev ‘The St. James Gazette remarks: “If the conflict between nations com- mences when the effects of the strife 1 gin to be felt, then the tirst round ef the struggle between England and the tnited States, so unexpectedly forced by gent Cleveland, has not been favorable to his own country. Whatever the future may tring, America has already suffered no contemptible part of the loss wh ht be expected to follow the serious disaster of war. The Westminster Gazette expresses the opinion that “President C message mest dfstin ation. yveland’s second stly improves the s nt at the 1 ur It is a change of opportune moment, and hear more about gre Monroe doctrine for the next zew d: The Globe s we “President Cleveland s arrogant ma’ festo appears chiefly intended to promot his financial reforms, but now the eff-. is assuming larger and more dangerow: ai sions than he anticipated. Hi: sage of yesterday was sent in an end to allay the disquietude, and lest he be held up to odium as the chief wrecker of Am rade and industry.” ——— TAL RAILWAY © Reading Trains me Together Near Frankfort. PHILAD TIA, December 21.—The lo- cal nort yound train on the Reading ra‘l- roa], which left the station In this city at 615 o'clock t ing and reached the suburban town of Frankfort at 40, ed from Frankfort station without waiting, as is customary, for the down train, which arrives at 6:14, an] the result was a col- Ision at Sellers street, two blocks north of the Frankfort stattom. Two persons were killed and several injured, three of them aged seventy years, Anderson, sixteen Georg nk fort. rd Stott, erush*a; die. F twenty, ank- Injured internally; Samuel Seevers, fifty- and arm ¢ probabl i internally. Urbe five, Frankfort; both legs and arm broken. Geor Hudsell, r Hal; left arm: cut and both broken. Several others re less seriously hurt. —_ Treasury The following ch artment Changes, nges have been made In the Treasury Department: Appointment— Orville P. De West Va, $000, yising erchitect’s office. Promotio Teau of statistics-Wm. Bu of Columbia, $1,800 to $2.00 hoef, Michigan, $1,600 to $1,s00 Leesnitzor, District of Colurah $1,000; Wm. J. Coite, North © to $1,409; Arthur S. ie Ka $1,200; VV to $1,900. | Music will be rendered by the G. Report of the Columbia Railway Company's Condition Submitted. Its Receipts and Expenditures for the Last Year Set Forth—Other Matters. ‘The annual report of the Colunfbia Rail- way Company for the ycar ended February 2S, 1895, was submitted to the Senate today by James B. Adams, secretary and treas- urer. It was shown that the receipts of the company amounted to $192,824.85, di- vided as follows: Balance from last year, $3,742.61; passenger receipts, $110,299.47; sale of old material, $2,011.77; sale of tickets, $76.71. Disbursemenis were: Transporta- tion, $68,108.58; maintenance, $3,803.73; gen- eral expense: 58; taxes, H, 17; in- terest (sundry), $1,568.59; Cividend, $24,000; redemption of tickets, ; balance in hands of treasurer February 901.48; total cash credit, $14 formation regarding the as follows: Receipts, pe trip, .917; per mile, per passenger, 044. Operating expenses, total, $ per day, $217.0; per trip, per mile, 125; per passenger, .031; pay pasengers transported, pay passengers per pay passengers per mile ber of car trips, 113,688; number miles, 635,648; free transfer pass' transported, 884,810, Tickets with foreign companies during y: 150; Columbia tickets held by foreign com- pantes, $13,056; foreign tickeis held by Co- lumbia Company, 753,116; excess of Colum- Dia tickets held by foreign compani 2,020, The daily average of pay passen- gers carried was 6,86. The report also gives a summary of receipts and disburse- ments of the company since 1 Howe Teleph c day a bill to permit the Howe Tel Company of Washington, D. C., to insta maintain and operate a telephone and tc!- ephone pliant and exchange in the District of Columbia. It is similar to a bill intro- duced in the House a few days ago. — MR. CHILTON BACK. He and Mr. Hunter Witnessed the Riot at Trebizond. Mr. Robert S. Chilton of this city, who was recently recalled from Turkey to fill the office of chief of the consular bureau of the State Department, has arrived in this city, but has not yet reported his return to the department. He came home on the North German-Lloyd steamer Fulda, which arrived at New York Thursday. With Mr. Dulany Hunter of the State Department, he was sent to Turkey a few months ago to establish United States consulates at Erze- rcum and Harpoot, in accordane with an act of Congress. Witnessed the Riots, Owing to the long and unexplained delay of the Turkish government in considering their application for exequaturs as consuls, they started for their new posts without exequaturs. They got to Trebizond on the day of the riot, and, finding it dangerous to proceed, stayed there until the called to Constantinople by the partment. Mr. Hunter was out s at Trebizond \ cost so many lives. the excited mob, and only escaped its fu by disclosing his identity as officer of the United States. Mr. Chilton made a long report to the State Department ot the ish massacre at ‘Trebizo suppressed its publication. Chilton declines to be interviewed fact, Mr. on the subject. lt is expected that his appointment as chief of the consular bureau will be an- nounced in a few days. a e CAPITOL TOPIC: Presidential Postmasters. The President today sent to the Senate a number cf appointments of postmasters, made during the rec of Congres that have heretofcre been published. niirmations, The Senate, in executive session todz confirmed the foliowing nomination: Col. J. J. Coppinger, to be brigadier gen- eral in the army. John L. Peak of Missouri, to be minister to Switzerland. Also the following postmasters: Pasadena; Moutgomery, Oronville; M. Wm. S. Staley, Selma; P. C. Portersville; Joseph Mar! J. Byrnes, Visalia. O. D. Baker, y Ww. Uyalde; F Willis, Waxahachie; M. M. Tate, Baird; O T M. Manning, Hill eral Wells; W. . Board, S the the arm , to be major general; twenty-fourth in- First lieutenan Jno. T. French, jr., fovrth artiller B. AL shire, first cavalry; Isaac W. Littell, tenth infantry; Gonz: ham, ninth cay- an- ton, to be payme Corps of engince hill, to be chief of engine Judge ad neral or Col. Thoma arr, to be judge advoc to be deputy jud P. Craig- to be Major G. yer ty quartermaster general, 1 to be quartermaster. artment—Major Samuel T. tant commissary ge 1 Capt. Jno. Subsistence dey ls Willard to be commissary Capt. Henry G. Sharpe to be commissary of subsistence. Medical Bache David L. general, jeut. Col. Dallas be assistant surgeon general, M Hunt depu S20n Maj. William E. Waters to be cep- department—I uty surgeon general, Maj. Justus M. Brown to be deputy sui : ‘apt. Wm. C. Shannon to be Louis W. to be Louis $. lv. Fisher n, Capt. W. H. Cor- Capt. Daniel M. “Appe! Gardner to be surge: busier to be surgeon to be surgeon. Pay departme Glenn, to be ut. Col. Ge ant paymaste neers—Lieutenant colonels to be colonels: John M. Wilson, John W. Barlow, P C. Hains, George L. 5 Charles R. Suter Kit Carson Post's Campfire. Kit Carson Post, No. 2, G. A. R., will kold an open campfire and pound party on Monday ev@hing, 23d Instant, at Grand Army Hall, the donations received to be distributed cn Christmas among the un- employed and needy comrades and the | widows and crphan: of the post. Ad- dresses will be delivered on the occasion by Gen. D. B. Henderson, Representative tram lowa; Col C. P. Lincoln and others A. R. Musical Union, ry NO HOLIDAY RECESS The Resolution Referred to the House Ways and Means Couamittee. SILVER TALK IN THE SENATE a Mr. Vest Wants to Coin the Bul- lion in the Treasury. MR. STEWART’S’ CRITICISM ————— The crowds came through the drizzling rain to the Capitol today, knowing the President's financial message, the Ven- ezuélan question, the Speaker's announce- nt of House committees and the conten- ‘on over a hol combined to in- sure a day cf activ The Senate galleri again were well filled, except the diplomatic gallery, which is seldom occupied by the foreign representatives, notwithstanding the prominence of foreign topics of late. There were many animated conferences among the Senators prior to the opening of the anion being divided over the 1 Awe request al ie} - tion before a rece:s, although the Senate had pi ly agrecd to a resolution to take a recess today. Congratulations From Brazil. A letter from Secretary Olney gave a con- gratulatery cabl from the Brazilian ‘am senate, tra tted through Minister Men- donca of Hrazil, cn President Cleveland's i the Monroe doctrin follows: “The federal of the United States of Brazil sends ng to the Senate of the United of America upon fhe worthy me: dent Cleveland, who so streauously guards the dignity, the sove y and the freedom of the rican nations. Mr. Lodge (\ ecured agreement to a olution requesting the Pr t for in- of the exequaturs of the United vice con- suls at Erzeroum and Harpoot, Turkey. A Coust Defeuse Inquiry. Mr. Proctor (V asking the Secre formation a m re ide: formation as to the withholding ) submitted a resolution ry of War to submit in- to what amount could be profit- led for ccast defenses up to July, The resolution went over. Mr. Vests Financial Resolution. The first response to the President's mes- sage urging financial relief! came in the form of a resolution offered by Mr. Vest (Mo.), “as folloy “Resolved, That the Secretary cf the Treasury is hereby direct- 2, in pursuance of the existing law, v in him full powei . to coin as lly as possibte the bullion in the reasury, purchased under the act of July 14, 18W0, into s' ard silver dollars, a) witn such dollars to redeem, cancel and 1 treasury notes of the United Stat 14, Is, issued in the purchase of id also to redeem the Uni , commonly called gr in s silver do! geld, using whichever ma; and conven: Cockrell Gio that s meet with objection.” In Another Form, Mr. Butler (N. C.) soon brought forward the Ject in ar form by asking im- diate co! fer a_ resolution ting the Sec! of the Tre to pay government rity cf the metals stood at 25 S-10 grains a phd for 412 1-2 grains of silver i to in silver this parity was dis- ed by the the value of gold. . Blatt again objected. Private Pension Bills. The Senate went to the calendar and sed several private pension bills. While proceeding, ewart (Nev.) 2 “Whi ome of the smitted to this Are (Conn) quik Mr payme! money e whe their sioner or are or ior ted, and the bill wa: h.) had the »propriating tem of ¢ ende rk read an w) for ate went inte execu- Mr. Stewart's Criticisia. At 1:80 o'cltck the te decrs were re- opened, and, after the annou ed fb commission Vice Pr mt had mature to the Venezuelan Mr. Stewart took the floor for a sharp criticism of the fF ident’ racial message. He the President's upholding of the e had ener me Dill, said Monroe bu th nly reduced ng hac low level. 1 resoure Ww United a very tes had the any emerge! | adjourned until next Tuesda the a gold ength of a nation that wo a gland had maintained her position dar- ing the V hy placing a fiat ou the Rank ef England. Let th nee announce that the United ions will be paid in ver, a e Will be no further the tr If Lordon wants a ti war, let us meet it. Mr. Dubois Regretted the Financial Message. Mr, Dubols (idaho) said he regretted tt the President had felt calle to the e such a fin the present time. The Pre that he cannct accomplish either a retic ment of the greenbacks or the a ond nly possible r tariff agit re understood, that as had an opportunity lution offered tod: ver bullion in siive 5S nators knew this me. be adopted if brought to a vote, ry should know it. The opp: e would seek to cbst ion to the “tit and pre- : “A to by the ‘impossible to ry man conver was well are. f Mr. Faulkner (\? THE HOUSE, "The House today responded to the Presi- dent’s message by pigeonholing the resolu- tion for a holiday recess and preparing to go to work to provide some means for the relief of the treasury. There was no differ- e@uce of opinion on the surface, at least, that" 1 that Congress should in the emergency to which Mr. Cleveland had called attention remain at its post. The Speaker announced the committees and the decks were cleared for business. The ways and means com- mittee, to which the message was referred, met immediately to organize, and on Mo: day the work of framing a bill will com- mence. The Special Message. As soon the journal had been approved Speaker Reed laid before the House the President's special message. Notwith- standing the fact that all the members had read the document in the newspapers all listened with attention. There was no demonstration of any kind, however, when the reading was concluded. iy The Committees Announced. Speaker Reed immediately referred the message to the committee on ways and means, and then announced the member- ship of the committee of the House. Much more interest was manifested on the flor in the composition of the committees than in the message, as every member was vitally interested in his assignment. ng of the lists had Cannon and Ding- resolutions for the printing of docume ary for the of thei committess, it was immediately ev! dent that the Hous Ss to plunge to the actual business of the session. No Holiday Recess Taken. Mr. Dirgley called up the holiday reces lution, which had been returned with amendment from the Senate, and moved its reference to the committee un ways and means. The motion was agreed to, al- though were senting vole! from mocratic adjour! JURY INSTRUC’ THE D. Some New Points Raised In the Street Extension Cases. Judze Cox this morning instructed the jury as to the form of their finding in ease 453, Ingleside subdivision, the second of the sireet ension cases to be heard in the District t. In the f case heard, 419, Dentiso: nd Leighton’s subdivision of Mt. Pleasant Judge Cox told the jury that in assessing Honetits those as: nents need not neces- be confined to the particular sabaty ion in But to at the S.. Worthing- for the District, the jury that Con- =: t the lands will be bene- fited, ard it would be for the jury to find the amount of the benefits and assess one- half thereof on the d. The benefits should, he said, be confined to each particu- lar subdivision in question; and in asses: ing the benefits the easiest method wou'd be, he thought, to find the area of each lot and then charge aga’nst ch particular Jot or parcel its propurt-crate share of the benefits. Thes tructions the court made applicable to ca: The instructions given in case 419 were yeatel with slght alteration: and the retired to-consider their ver they retired, counsel for the land noted exceptions to the court's in- and Mr. Nathantel Wilson, of the 1 owners, moved that the charged and the c: as he had done in case 419. Ju ruled the motion, Mr. Wilson no} ception. dismissed, Cox ov ing an’ ex- He Gave No Press on the The recent spee the Bering sea qu Communieation ‘te the Venexuefan Question. of Senator Morgan on ion has created some on as to’ the circumstances sir Julian Pauncefote’s view of the “twas presented by the American press. In his speech Mr.¢ Morgan stated that the British aml ddr had communi- cated to the press his arguments on the which, in some respects, were an of the position oceupied by the Senaior. It is but fust te the Eritish rep- resentative that 1t he madé known that he gave no communication to the press on the @ that the entire presentation of sh attitude was taken from the © hook, issued from the foreign Londo: From this official publi- Text made, covering me of the more at points of Sir vd §alisbury. These heambassador a > the foreign offi » Intended as a com- but in due pprehen: ner which § sub, id in no se munication tanding a nung thi to the action of the pr s piece of in- formation. +2 FIRST, AS USUAL. The Star's Extra Edition Caught the Town Last Sight. the advantage of a com plant demons in Washington than it was The Star, by invoking for getting and han- to give Its the President's special hour before the o en conten it in ‘At half-past 5 o'clock the ses of The Star were extra editions by hundre< ly bought by the enter- who know full well the sional financial advantage of “extra. Tstais great inde that it could not be supplied for fully half an hour. This extra cdition gave not only the fu text of the me stanc the st which Atio! 1 was eager of the cit s kind of an extra edition t such an hour, three Umes within a month ome to the front with an ext he “Thus, ar has hition on stirring ev: ents. On the ove on of the spe ay it had a clea ld and show elu that it is in every department live spar and that ft le the D: he new | for it quickly ‘and. intelligently, and ng it before the people without dela attractive form. In this has the éfficient aid of the Associated Press, which forms a most valuable ad- Naval Officers Believe a Court-Mar- tint Will Foilow of the rd proceedings of the court of ned at the Wash- Jington navy yard to investigate the alleg- ng of the*colored members of the gunners submitted rt taday, together with a review the! by the judge advocate general of the navy. The rec According to custom ecret until the orices his a as © followed the pro- of the court are satisfled that a the cee court-martial triak of the i be appointed for white members of the c! who were shown by the evidence adduced to have endeavored to force the colored classmen .to withdraw ,by a systematic course of insult and abuse. t tried to compete with; IS NOT HYSTERICAL No Excitement in Congress Over the President’s Message. NO HOLIDAY RECESS YET DECIDED ON Explanation and True Meaning of the Document. MR. REED’S PROPOSITION Congress is in no way hysterical over President Cleveland's message asking for financial reef before a holiday recess ‘s taken. The Senate treated the message with slight consideration, and there is ap- parently only a small minority sentiment there in favor of delaying holiday adjourn- ment or in any way regarding the Presl- dent's recommendations. It was generally understood before the adjournment resolu- tion was adopted in the executive ses yesterday afternoon that the message, which they had been notified was coming, would ask for finacial leg'slation, and yet t astened to adopt the resolution while awaiting the message. Some of the Sen- ators—conspicuously Chandler—who are anxious to force the organization of the committees before the holidays, opposed the resolution, but they were quickly over- ridden, the younger Senators, under the leadership of Dubois, voting with’the demo- crats for the recess. For the House to Determine. If the Idea of a recess is abandoned It ill be through the action of the House, cn the advice of Mr. Reed. Om the meeting of the House this morning the seritiment was greatly divided on the question. There was le idea that anything could be ac- continued session, and dvanced in favor of y political, it being held the republican -House ought not to place itself in a ps jon which would ad- mit of its being said that they deserted the President in a time of danger for the sake of a Christmas dinner at home. This con- sideration is liable to irfluence the House to abandon the holiday vacation. The general opinion is th if Mr. Cleve- land ilated on popularity of his Venezuela message to give him influence to secure other legislation he desires, he en- tirely mistook the sentiment of Congress. Explanation of the Message. An explanation of the message being sent in suddenly after the usual hour of the adjournment of the Senate, and after the House had actually adjourned, {s that it wes in consideration of the calling off of the preposed meeting of the New York chamber of comerce fer the condemnation of the Venezucla messege. A call had been signed by the requisite number of mem- bers ef the chamber ef commerce for a meeting, the purpose being to condemn the President. Mr. Cleveland was notified that this had been done and the meeting was to be called. A member of the cabinet at once went to New York to prevent the meeting if possible. After conferring with the leading members and president of the chamber of commerce the meeting w called off. There were telephone communi- cations between the Treasury Department end New York, and then followed the mes- sage. It is believed that it was on condi- tion that Congres should be urged at once to take action on finance that the meeting was checked. Its True Meaning. ‘The true meaning of the me ge is in- terpreted to be that the President will mect the situation by another issue of bonds. It is obvious to others, and probably to him, that no such action as he desires can be had by Congress while the Senate is in its present condition, His idea in calling upon Cong instead of acting himself, as heretofore, is believed to be merely to fix the y it is probable that the House argument remaining was purel rspons! ve it is respon they see fit. ee to do as spe the Sehate for which no part sible, to deal with the matter It will probably lie with he pleases in the matte is corcerned. After an mittees, he will confe chairmen, and the polic has already conferred, with most of those men whose advice he general. it is pretty well unde done. 3 nd to take up Spe belief ig that the com: i report substantially the propo- made by Mr. Reed during the last for a popular currency loan. the ques mittee sition Congre as Proposition. reduced the rate of of the bonis, wh now be iscued for the p in ac the Secretary of the y the current so loss nues skall be deficient, he ts required from time to time, in li tion, to issue, and dispose of, at not then r, such an emount tes of i debtedness: ef th 30 and $100, y be nace ing not to exceed apnum, payable sew deemable at the pl ment, in coin, after date, with like qual cxempt.ons | pro January 1, oma their leges and pproved of Ui ted offices as he may the proceed sof for the purp vided in thi ure may be put through the House. 1 Another proposition which the committee and means is expected to report se of the per cent a corres- erense of Customs Duties. istoms duties at the te of 1 on all things now dutiate, and pending duiy on wool and lum the free li: t, the duties at this rate ‘to run nate, but the indication is 11 sition for bonds can ] It Is not altogether c: on the part of the House to cay rece: ‘Lhe committess b the ways and means c to work, and there v for Congress to be in formulating a measure. of the House have decided t ment. An Army Bonrd. The Seeretary of War has app: Gen. Wesley Merritt, Col. Geo. W. assistant qua-termaster gen Col. George M. Randall, a bo’ WwW Bismarck, N. D., for the purpo: a thorough examinatioa of ail ¢ tes for a miliary post in that vicinity, which may ; be offered for donation to the a States. The board will report its findings to the Secretary of War for his acticn, j cation, or to any AT THE WHITE HOUSE) THE TASKS ASSIGNED The President Receives No Calle-s but the Members of the Oabinet. The Personnel of the Venezuelan Commissio® Being Discussed—Army and Navy Officials Active. Although there were many callers at the White House today, the President declined to receive any one outside of his cabinet. Messrs. Olney, Carlisle and Herbert each spent some time with the President. Be- fore he went to the White House, Secretary Olney saw Senator Lodge, Representative McCreary of Kentucky, Minister Romero and Representative Dinsmore of Arkansas. There is every indication that the Pres‘dent will proceed immediately to the selection of the commission to locate the Venezuelan boundary Ine as soon as the act has re- ceived his signature. Men for the Commission. In view of the great importance of the work to be discharged by this commiss‘on, the President will endeavor to secure the services as members of men of the highest character and ability. None of the names he has in mind have been officially mentioned, nor will they be until the President has been notified by the persons selected of their acceptance of the high commission. It is intimated, how- ever, that in view of the fact that the work may in some respects be of a tech- nical nature there may be on the list the name of an army ojficer or a naval officer. May Visi Mndrid. There is also a probability that it may be necessary for the commission to visit Madrid and Tae Hague fn order to obtain access to the ancient. efficial records of the Spanish aid Dutch claims, inherited by Great Britain and Venezuela. The State Department has betn informed by some persons of repute who have made a study of the subject that there is ground for the belief that upon careful scrutiny the claim of Venezuela to the territory in pute on the border will be found to be without solid foundation, and that the com- mission will be obliged to find that Great Britain is in fact really entitled to the possession of the whole tract claimed by her, and perhaps even more territory. Will Not Change Its Course. These simple representations have not, however, shaken the determination of the administration to proceed in the course it has laid down. In its view, if the decision is in favor of Great Britain, there will be a@ practical demonstration of the upright- ness of the motives of cur government in cemanding a settlement of this great ques- tion on the sole basis of adselute aid ex- act justice. Army and Navy Officials Active. Although affairs at the War and Navy Departments show no unusual activity at present, it Is very evident that the officials are fully alive to the importance of being prepared for any emergency that may arise out of the present situation. Steps are being taken quietly for the completion and repain 3f naval vessels, and the equip- Isent of troops, ete, While there is a gen- eral impression that the Venezuela bound- ary dispute will eventually be settled to the satisfaction of the United States with- cut recourse to arms, it is also realized that it is necessary to be prepared to mai tain whatever line of action the progr of events may entail upon the United States, ‘The importarce o. increasing our naval strength is engaging the earnest consider- ation of the Secretary of the Navy and his assistants, and it is said that Congress will be urged to authorize the construction of two additional battle ships in order that the department may at once take advyan- tage of the liberal offers recently made by Cramp & Co. and other ship building firms. The plan proposed is to distribute contracts for battle ships so as to provide for their construction by the Newport News Com- pan. the Union Iron Works and the ps, under the terms o/ the bids re- cently submitted by the firms named. The bids are regarded as extremely advan- t us to the government, and their ac- ceptance weuld serve to add immense}: to the strength of the navy without muc loss of time. a A SECRET TREATY. Rumor of an Alliance With Russia, but It is Not Credited. It has been rumored that the United States has a secret treaty with Russia, un- der the terms of which the czar’s govern- ment pledges its support to the United States in the event of a war with Great Britain. Although officials of the State Department will not discuss the @subject, the report finds no credence in circles usu- ally well informed cn our diplomatic af- fairs, inasmuch as such a treaty would be in direct conflict with the long established policy of the United States against alliances with foreign power Despite this disbelief in the existence of a treaty, there is a strong popular feeling that, in’case of a war of the kind indi- cated, the United States would have the friendly aid and good offices of the Rus- 2 zovernment, if, Indeed, we did not the P sical support of her powerful military establishment. THE SLACK CHILDREN. There Will Be More Legal Battles Fought. tring to the published statement that Mrs. Mary Kemble Sieck would withdraw her centest ever the will of her husband, the late Wm. H. Slack, that she might prosceute the habeas corpus proceedings in- stituted here by her for the recovery of her children, Mr. Geo. E. Hamilton of counsel for her stated to a Star reporter today that ews to him. ndge Hagner granted the injune- ing all proceedings here and respecting the custody of the he said, nothing had been sald by . Slack to her counsel which would in- e them to believe she would withdraw Fer contest over the will. Without saying Mr. Hamilton's tone rather Mrs. Slack would in no way © secure her little girls. Yhursday next counsel for Mra. Slack il ask Jvdge Hagrer to modify the order the court allowig ber access to her 2 ro hours a day, at the home where the children are sent Addie Slack Perrine. Mrs, Slack will ask t that the little ones be given more time with her. — NAVAL EVOL here children, Mr: IONS, North AUantic Squadron Not to Go Beyond Reach, Herbert today stated that he ‘he Secretar had not changed the orders of the North ‘on, and he v antic squad i confer with |Admirat Bunce. the commander of the squadron, ton ative to the pro- jocted cruise, after which the play future will be « own, £ the squadron leaves waters at all, it will not be ack of telegraphic communt- int from which It could te the country. It is regarded us ost certain that the p puged fleet exercises In the Gulf of Paria, OM the coust of Venezuela, will be aban: doued in corsequence of the present state of cur foreign relations. cations are United State: sent be: not speodlly The Committees of the House An- nounced Today. ~ MR, HITT HEAD OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Dingley Leads Ways and Means and Caanon Appropriations. THE OTHER CHAIRMEN, Speaker Reed announced his committees tcday. It has been years since they have been made up before the holiday -recess. The assignments give general satisfaction, and the disposition made of the various candidates for chairmanships is received with universally favorable comment. The list Is as follows: Foreign Affairs, REPUBLICANS. Hitt, Ill., chairman. Taft, Ohio. Draper, Mass. Smith, Mich. Adams, jr., Pa. Heatwole, Minn, Quigg, N.Y. Pearson, N. C. Cousins, Iowa. DEMOCRATS. McCreary, Ky. Dinsmecre, Ark. Price, La. Money, Miss. Tucker, Va. Newlands, Nev. Ways and Means. REPUBLI Dingley, Me., chair- Russell, Conn, man. Doliver, Iowa. Payne, N. Y. Steele, Ind. Dalzell, Pa. Johnson, Hopkins, Ill, Evais, Ky. Grosvenor, Ghio. Tawney, Minn, DEMOCRATS. Crisp, Ga. McMillan, Tenn. Turner, Ga. Tarsney, Mo. Wheeler, Ala. McLaurin, S.C. Rules. REPUBLICANS. Speaker Reed, chair- Henderson, Iowa, man. Daizell, Pa. DEMOCRATS. Crisp, Ga. MeMillin, Tenn. Appropriations. REPUBLICANS. Cannon, IIL, chair- Arnold, R. L man. Hainer, Neb. Bingham, Pa. Blue, Kan. Grout, Vt. Pitney, N. J. Northway, Ohio. Heminway, Ind; Stone, Pa. McCall, Tenn. DEMOCRATS. Robertson, La, Dockery, Mo. Layton, Ohio. Livingston, Ga. Bartletty N. Ye Banking and Currency. REPUBLICANS. Sayers, Tex. Walker, Mass., chair- Fowler, N. J. man. Lefever, N. Y. Brosius, Pa. Spalding, Mich. Johnson, Ind. Calderhead, Kan Van Voorhees, Ohio. Hill, Conn. McCleary, Minn. Cooke, Ti. DEMOCRATS. Cox, Tenn, Black, Ga. Cobb, Mo. Newlands, Nev. Cobb, Ala. Cowen, Md. Coinage, Weights and Measure! REPUBLICAN: Cc. W. Stone, Pa., Hadiey, Ml. chairman. McClure, Ohio. Hartman, Mont. Loudenslager, N. J. Hunter, Ky Brewster, N. Y. DEMOCRATS. Sparkman, Fla Spencer, Miss, Southard, Ohio. Fairchild, N.Y. Cannon, Utah, Allen, Miss. Bankhead, Ala. McRae, Ark. Clerk, Ala. Naval Affairs. REPUBLICANS. Boutelle, Me., chair- Bull, R. I. man. Hanly, Ind. Robinson, Pa. Wilson, N. ¥. Hulick, Ohio. Foss, Ill. Hilborn, Cal. Dayton, W. Va. DEMOCRATS. = Cummings, N. Y. Hall, Mo. Meyer, La. Tate, Ga. Money, Miss. Hart, Pa. Military Affairs. REPUBLICA: Hull, Iowa, chair- Southwick, N. ¥, man. Parker, N. Curtis, N. Y. Bisaop, Mich. Marsh, Ill. Fenton, Chio, Woomer, Pa. Catron, N. M. Griffin, Wis. Tracy, Mo. DEMOCRATS. Tarsney, Mo. Washington, Tenn Tyler, Va. Hart, Pa. McClellan, N. ¥. Lockhart, N. © Pacific Rallronds. REPUBLICANS. chair- Black, N. Y. Arnold, Pa. Johnson, Cal. Hubbard, Mo. Faris, ind. DEMOCRATS. = Harrison, Ala. Kyle, Miss. Patterson, Ten® Bell, Texas. Sulzer, N. Y. Interstate and Foreiga Commeres REPUBLICANS. Hepburn, Iowa,chair- Settle, N. C. man. Aldrich, Ml. Fletcher, Minn. Joy, Me. Sherman, N. ¥. Corliss, Mich, Wanger, Pa. Bennett, N. & Doolittle, Wash. Powers, Vt., man. Hepburn, Towa. Wright, Mass. Watson, Ohio. Boatner, La. DEMOCRATS. Price, La. Rusk, Md. Patterson, Tenn. Etlet, Va. tt, N.Y. Judiciary. REPUBLICA) Henderson, lowa, Strong, Ohlw chairman, Baker, N. H. Ray, N. Y. Connolly, Tl, Broderick, Kan. Burton, Mo. Brown, Tenn, Lewis, Ky. DEMOCEATS. Culberson, Texas. Bailey, Texas, Boatner, La. Terry, Ark. Washington, Tenn. De Armond, M¢ Elections No. 1. REPUBLICAN , chrm. Leonard, Pa, Moody, Mass, Linney, N. C. DEMOCRATS. Turser, V Updegraff, Iowa. Gillet, Mass. Daniel, N.¥., Royse, Ind. Cooke, 1. Dinsmore, Ark. Bartlett, Ga, Elections No. REPUBLICANS, | Johnson, Ind., ch’n. ‘Taylor, Ohio. Strode, Neb. Miller, W. Va Prince, U1. Long, Kan. DEMOCRATS... Kyle, Miss. Harrison, Ala. Maguire, Cal. Eleciions No, REPUBLICANS. Mass., chrm. Walker, Va. Overstreet, Ind, Coding, Ba. DEMOCI ‘eCail, homas, Mich. Jenkins, Wis. Bell, Texas. Armond, Mo. . Rivers und Harbors, . Mass. Reeves, Tl. Yowns, Minn, Dovener. Ww. Ve. lark, Mo. Walker, Va. Reyburn, Ta. Copper, Wis. Burien, Ohio. yx and Canals. HLIC AN Foote, N. XY. ,