Evening Star Newspaper, December 26, 1895, Page 1

= 2 THE: EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY 1 PeanylaninAvenns Con. 1h tet by 110 Ivania Avenue, Cor, The Evening Star Newspaper Company, S, H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building, fhoni Saslia ‘The Evening Stur {s scrved to subscribers fn the elty by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents Per Weg, cr 44 cents per month. Coples at the counter 2 cents cach. Ity mail—answhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepald—5u ceuis per month. Saturday Quintupl > Sheet Star, $1 per year, with Acrelen postage added. $3.00. Entered at the Post Office at Weshington, D. C., as second-class mail matter.) €7 All mall subscriptions must be patd in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Che Even ng Star. No. 18,358. WASHINGTON, D. 0 , THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1895—-TEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. If you want today’s tews today you can find it only in The Star. MR. OLNEY’S CALLERS Sir Julian Pauncefote and Senor Du- puy de Lome, IMPRESSION AS 10 THE FORMER'S VISIR The Latter Talked Over the Situa- tion in Cuba. GOMEZ’S BRILLIANT MARCH Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambas- sador, and Senor Dupuy De Lome, the Spanish milnister, were among Secretary Olney’s official callers today. In view of the prominence of the two countries they represent in current public affairs their visit occasioned general comment, notwith- starding the statement that the calls were of a furely routine character. It frequentiy happens, however, that these apparently trifling functions of diplomatic day serve fer the transaction of business of much importance. Sir Julian was accompanied by Mr. San- Gerson, the British consul general at New York, a brother of Sir. T. H. Sanderson, who vrew the “Sanderson line’ in the British-Guiana boundary dispute, and who addressed the two notes to Dr. Pulido and Dr. Urbaneia of Venezuela, which are claimed by the Venezuelans to have ema- nated from Lord Salisbury. It is said, however, that this relationship did not fig- ure in the call today. Outside of the Venezuelan question there are a number of minor subjects, concerning postal ex- changes, etc., which engage the attention of the State Department and the British authorities. This is the first. time Sir Julian has visited the State Department since the Président sent his Venezuelan message. A strong impression prevails as a result of the visit today that Secretary Olney has officially notified the British representative of the enactment of the law for the crea- tion of the Venezuelan boundary commis- sion. This, cf course, is a matter of such public notoriety that the ambassador al- ready had full cognizance of the facts, but an official notification of the action of this ecownstry would be more likely toe bring out the attitude of Great Britain toward the commission. The Cuban Situation. Senor De Lome, the Spanish minister, came to talk over the Cuban situation with Secretary Olney. He had nothing in the way of recent dispatches to communicate, as he had not heard from Havana today The minister ts firmly of the belief that the muchtalked-of movement of Gomez upon Havana |s nothing more than a raid, the intent being to burn and destroy property, and by throwing the mumerous laborers on the sugar plantations out of work, force them to join the insurgent army. ‘This movement, he says, has already spent its force, and as far as the purpose of secur- ing recruits was concerned, it is likely to Prove a failure, for the negroes in the Ma- tanzas province are of a quiet and peaceable disposition, entirely unlike those in the east, who are from San Domingo. In other official quarters the information received leads to the belief that, without reference to why Gomez had made his-ad- vance, a decisive battle between the Cubans and Spaniards {s imminent, and is likely to be fought today or tomorrow in the stretch of open country between Havana and Ma- tanzas. It is a level plain, without wood or mountain, and is a field such as Gen. Cam- pos has been seeking. As to the possibilities of an attack on Hayana, it is sald General Campos has there 25,000 regulars and 0,000 volunteers, a total of 85, men, well armed and equipped, as against the insurgent force of 12.6% undisciplined men. Besides this tRe city is surrounded on the land side by a cordon of forts, tke those around Wash- ington during the rebellion, while the har- bor is heavily fortitied. Gomez's Brilliant March. The brilliancy of Gomez's march is con- ceded in all quarters. It is known that General Campos’ campalzn contemplated holding the Cubans east of the province of Santa Clara, so that they could not de- vastate the rich sugar districts. With that end in view a cordon of Spanish troops was thrown across the “Trocha,” the narrowest part of the island, and ex- tending about forty miles north and south. But Gomez und Maceo, aveiding direct conflict, made their way by mountain pa es much as Wolfe scaled the Heights of Abraham, passing the Trocha, crossing Santa Clara province, entering Matanzas and now threatening the capital of that province, fifty mile from Havana. — As a military movement this march is said to be a most brilliant oné, bringing cut Go- irez and Maceo as ¢ensiderably more than re denorant negroes they have been pic- ured. PAY DUTT 2§ IN GOLD. Senator Wilxon Thinks That Neces- sary to Maintain a Gold Standard. “If our country is to use the gold stand- ard {t seen:s to me to be plain that we should enact a law that all import duties should be payable in gold,’ said Senator Wilson of Washington to a Star reporter today. “We cannot long keep a barrel full of cider if we let out cider at the spigot end pour in water at the bung, and no more can we keep up the gold reserve when we pay out gold exclusively and take in greenbacks and silver. The nations which insist on the gold standard surely will not Le found objécting to the payment of tari duties in gold. If they exact gold from us nothing in the world is giearer than that we should exact gold from them. “With a ly flow of gold into our treasury the government can easily main- tain the parity of gold and siiver at the present ratio of 1 to 16, even with unlimited coinage of our own silver product. In any event let us at once mahe all tariff duties ble in gold, thereby causing those who ‘e been so insistent their demands for gold to return some portion of it to the natioral treasur: If the great _imporiers of the country are so selicitous for the re- Gemption of all our paper currency in gold, they should have no objection in making Payments on their own imports in gold, Some people will say this would lessen our imports. I sa would be desirable, it would give s hor more employ- ment and at better wages.” ——— Army Officers Must Not Talk. h Several army officers have been personal- ly reminded by SecretaryLamont that it is extremely Impolitie for them to give public expression of their views as to the poss bility of war as a result of the present un- settled state of the Venezuela boundary dispute. Accoriding to the Secretary, ex- pressions by army officers on foreizn af- fairs are not only given undue significance, al to the true interests of » and somewhat embarrasing to the administration. jonary Papers. The Turkish levation has received from Sublime Porte the following telegram: ‘An Armenian ‘priest, belonging to the revolutionary committee, was arrested at M His whole correspondence, with f of the Zeitoun insurgents, was found on him.” th MR. CLEVELAND'S POSITION A Belief That He Will Not Veto a Moderate Tariff Measure. Both That and the Bond Bill Will Pass the House—Difficulty in the Senate. The impression is growing strong™that Mr. Cleveland has intimated to Mr. Reed that he would not veto a financtal and tariff measure if the tariff proposition was not made too radical. It is not pretended that any positive assurances have been given as respects the specific measure re- ported today, but the committee in making up their bill were influenced to moderation by the impression that there was a pro: pect of the bill becoming a law if drawn on moderate lines. The bond proposition is to Mr. Cleveland’s liking, and it is prob- able that If he has indicated compliant disposition in dealing with the matter it was with the idea that the two propositions would be combined in one bill. Both Bilis Will Pass the House. While there is no doubt about both bills passing the House, there are a few re- publicans who are greatly dissatisfied with the bond bill, and there will probably be some republican speeches agaiust it. There appears io be a fair chance that the tariff Lill will get through the Senate. Opinion among Senators-as to tnis differs widely, but in the end all the republicans will prob- ably vote for the bill, and it is likely to receive the support of three populists, and pessibly two or three democrats. It is known that a few of the democrats would like to see the bill passed. It is a ques- tion how far party politics mzy influence them in voting. The Bond Bill Situation. The situation as to the bond bill is differ- ent. It seems almost an impossibility for that measure to go through the Senate. The vote on the Allen silver resolution the other day was more significant from the fact that even the most radical silver men in the two old parties are reluctant to vote for any proposition emanating from a pop- ulist. While looking upon the resolution as cranky, the fact that it purported to be in the interest of silver impelled them to vote for it. This shows how completely sub- servient they are to this question, and it made the vote a stronger test than a more sensible proposition would have afforded. The chances of the vote on the bond bill may be estimated on this. The majority against the bond proposition will probably be larger than that by which the Allen res- oluticn was adopted. Therefore Mr. Cleveland, if the tariff bill reaches him, will have to consider it inde- perdently of the other measure. ———2+____= THE HAZING TRIAL OPENED. Seamen Gunners Charged With Per- secuting Colored Classmen. The court-martial summoned by the Sec- retary of the Navy to try Ramsey V Smith, Edward Murphy, Archibald J. La- mont and Raymond W. Fox, seamen in the navy and members of the gunners’ class at the navy yard, on the charge of hazing John A. Jackson, John Thompson and William Johnson, members of the same class, convened in the court-martial room at the navy yard this afternoon at 1 o'clock. The hazing charged was due, it is claimed, to a desire to rid the class of colored member: The trial is the result of the Investiga- tion recently made by a court of inquiry, over which Commander Washburn May- nard presided. Acting Secretary McAdoo ordered the de- tail of the following ofiicers to compose the court-martial: Captain Purnell F. Har- rington, president; Commander Richard P. Leary, Commander Joshua Bishop, Lieu- tenant Commander Joseph N. Hemphill, utenants Charles Laird, Dennis § Mahan and John Hood, with Ensign Wa: ren J. Terhune, judge advocate. Whe the accused were brought into the court-martial room this afternoon and asked if they had any objection to any member of the céurt no objection was made known, and the court was then sworn in in the usual way. Judge Advocate Terhtine then read to Smith, Murphy, Lamont and Fox the charges and specifications. The charge is “conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline.” The specification under the charge forth that the accused, between | the 14th day of September and the lth day | of November, conspired for the purpose of driving from the gunnery class Seamen John A. Jackson, John Thompson and Wm. Jchnson, by hooting at and JeerIng them, end by singing a derisive song in their pr enc with intent to annoy them, and by other acts of persecution and maltreatment. The specifications further describe in detail various acts of annoyance charged. Adjourned Till Tomorrow. When the accused were called upon to plead to the charge thetr counsel, Mr. Thomas W. Field, arose and a: the court to grant a continuance until Monday next on the ground that he had been un- able to acquaint himself with the details of the case. . = The motion was opposed by Judge Advo- cate Terhune, and at the close of Mr. Ter- hune’s argument the court was cleared for deliberation. When the doors were again opened the president of the court an- nounced that while it was the desire of the court to afford every opportunity for a fair trial to the prisoners, it would be con- trary to law to adjourn until the time Ked for by the counsel for the defen: Tne court would, however, take a recess until tomorrow morning at 10:10 o'clock, and if the counsel was not then ready to proceed he might aguin ask for addit!onal delay, and the request would probably be granted. There must, however, be no re- quest of the sort simply for the ‘sake of de- lay. The arraignment of the prisoners was deferred until the assembling of the court tomorrow morning. The court at once ad- journed. —— FOR THE LAST TIME: No More Closing at Noon the Day Before a Holiday. The time-honored custom of closing the executive departments at noon on the day before national holidays was observed for the 1 time on Christmas eve. Such is the dictum of the President and the mem- bers of his cabinet. The question of clos- ing the departments at noon on the day before Christmas was the subject of dis- sion at a meeting of the cabinet last Tuesday. Seme of the members expressed grave doubts of the legality of the action, and it ¥ lecided while the clerks and employes should be excused at noon the day lefore Christmas, they would be given to understand that the privilege was ex tended for the last time. Consequent! the departments will be run on full time th their entire available force on the day before New Year day just the same as to- day or any other regulation work day. National Guard Con The President has issued commissions to the following named officers of the Nation- al Gnard of the District: Otto onson to be captain of com- pany A, sixth battalion of infantry; George W. Sneden to be inspector of rifle practice, first battalion of in} with the rank of first lieutenant; Frederick G. Stutz to be second lieutenant of company D, third bat- talion of infa y. inxions. ZEITOUN CAPTURED End of the Siege of the Armenian Town. INHABITANTS ESCAPE.10 MCONTAINS ———o Ambassadors Endeavor to Prevent a Massacre. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE ———~s- CONSTANTINOPLE, December 2 report that the town of Zeitoun, held by the insurgent Armenians for some time past, has been captured by the Turkish troops is connrmed. No details, however, have yet been an- nounced. . It is alleged that the inhab‘tants fled to the mountains. LONDON, December 26.—A dispatch to the Times from Constantinople, December 25, says: “As an outcome of the meeting of the ambassadors to concert means to prevent the massacre of the inhabitants of Ze!toun, for which the palace thirsts, and attempts to justify by pubi‘@hing mendac‘ous state- ments of atrocities comm ted by the Zei- tounlis, Baron Calice, the Austrian ambas- sador, went to the porte today and im- parted to the grand vizier the earnest hope of the powers that ro extreme measures would be taken against the Zeitounl's.” The Town of Zeitoun. Zeitoun, alsv spelled Zeitun and Zeithun, is a town twenty-five miles northwest of Marash in the highlands of the Aleppo prov- fice. It has about 20, inhabitants, main- ly Armenian Christians,who have maintain- ed themselves for centuries against Turkish oppression. The soil abcunds in patches of great fertility, but does not produce grain enough to supply the wants of the inhab- itants. Mulberry trees grow numerously and give occupation to the women in feed- ing silk worms. The men are chiefly engag- ed ir smelting and manufacturing the iron supplied by the mcuntains. Zeitoun is rrounded on all sides by In- accessible crags except on the east, where it is bounded by the deep channel of the Pyramus. The language is a rude dialect of Armenia. = ‘The inhabitants are free from Asiatic vices, resembling Europeans in their respect for women. Crime is infrequent. No prisons exist, and certain authorities assert that murder fcr the sake of gain has never been committed in that country, The people have always shewn the greatest Jealousy of for- i and little was known of them until visited by a vhen thelr ccuntry wa ch Protestant clergyman. ‘The government {s patriarenal, being. vest- ed in elders of the people, with some pre- rogatives in the priesthood. All offices are conferred by popular election, the executive power being placed in the hands of the foar princes. There are about twenty villages in the district, and in 1870 it was estimated that they could muster an army of from 7, $.000 men to defend the mountains a: Turkish invasion. Zeitoun is a relic of the Armenian king- dom of Cilicia, founded in the eleventh and destroyed in the fourteenth century. Since that period the native population been gradually assimilating to the Turks. It was not until after the Crimean war that the massacres in the east called especial atten- tion to the existence of Zeitoun and other Christian communities in the east which had some claim to European sympathy. A Former Attack by Turks. An attempt by the Turks to settle Cir- cassians near Zeitoun gave Aziz Pasha an cpportunity to attack the Christians, and atrocities of the most frightful character were committed. Massacres similar to those that have marked the recent troubles in Ar- menia were frequent. The inhabitants defended themselves with the greatest gallantry, twice defeating large Turkish forces in the field, and the struggle was at length terminated by the interfer- ence ofthe French and English govern- ments at Constantinople, and the recail of the pasha. The intervening powers permit- ted the Turks to suppress the Armenian newspaper, then the sole means of com- munication between this isolated district and the rest of the Christian world, and un- til a comparatively late day Zeitoun has been isolated. Defense of Zeitoun. Inteiligence from Zeitoun has been an- xiously awaiting for a long time. It was known that the Turkish troops had ad- vanced in large numbers, with artillery, and reports had come of heavy fighting. The Zeitounlis fought well, but evidently could not hold out against the artillery. The Turkish government reports that Zei- toun is the only disturbed place in Armenia. It has been feared that an unprecedented massacre would follow its capture. IZZET PASHA ARRESTED. The Saltan’s Chict querry Court-Martialed. CONSTANTINOPLE, December Pasha, the chief equerry of the sultan, who was arrested for presenting his -majes- ty with a long report upon the situation of the country, which document Abdul Ham- id refused to read, whercupon Izzet Pasha signed, fs to be tried by court-martial. LONDON, Decemt “j.—The Daily has a minutely detailed let de the Kharput m: a . the writer of which di es that the evidence leaves no doubt that there was a well-understood plan or- dered directly from the Yildiz Palace to plunder and burn all the American bu‘ld- ings and render the further stay of the missionaries impossible. A dispatch to the Tim noph under date of December “Last evening hand bills were profu seattered and thrust into windows rlages and into the pockets of pedestrians announcing the Imminent ceposition of an. The jewelers of Siamboul, fe: @ commotion, closed their shops’ tor ole d S M. Nelidoff, the Russian amhba. had an audience with the sultan today. to Be .—Tazet s from Constanti- y really effective mezs- against the porte. “Izzet Pasha is under arrest at Zer! lerate.”” —_=—---— WILL BE A GREAT OCCASION. Vice President enson and Other Leaders Invited to Philadelphia, PHILADELPHIA, Pa., December Vice President Stevenson has accepted the invitation of the Young Men's Democratic Association of this city to attend its annual dinner on Ja 0 pected to be Harmon, Secretary r Smith, Senators Morgan, Faulkner and Vilas, and Congressmen Erdman and Hart. Mother of Twenty-Five. LAFAYETTE, Ind.,December 24.—Inyesti- gation follow'ng the murder last Sunday of Hester Curtis, an aged woman of this city, develops the rather remarkable fact that she had been the mother of twenty-five chil- dren, including seven pairs of twins. THE PROPOSED BOND BILL COMING TO LIGHT VENEZUELAN May Be an Important Ohange Be‘ore It is Offered, Mr. Hopkins Saggexts an Amendment of Disaf- —Probable Cau fected Republicans. There may be an important change made by the ways and means,committee in its bend bill before the scheme is brought be- fcre the House tomorrow. Considerable dis- satisfaction has arisen among the republi- cans since the text of the bill was made public, the dissenters asserting that it could be used by a hostile administration for the permanent retirement of the greenbacks. In yesterday's committee meeting a similar charge was made by the democrats, that the republicans proposed to secure what they had always opposed and what President Cleveland advocated—retirement of the sreenbacks. A Proposed Amendment. Accordingly, there will be a committee meeting tomorrow morning to conside> an amendment prepared by Mr. Hopkins of Illinois, which follows: “Provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to repeal or modify exist- ing law which guthorizes and directs the reissue of raid fegal tender notes. Mr. Hopkins has made a canvass of the committee, and is confident that the amend- menf will be adopted. Mr. Hopkina’ Explanation. Mr. Hopkins, {1 explanation of his amend- ment, says that under the act of 1875, au- thorizing the issuance of bonds to retire greenbacks, and on the authority of which the President has made his recent bond is- sues, there were retired and cancelled some forty-four millions of greenbacks. ‘Then, in IST7, an amendment to the law was proposed by Congressman Fort of Illinois, which di- rected the Secretary of the Treasury to re- issue the greenbacks, so that they would he kept in ctreulation, and this amendment be- came law. £ Apprehenstor! has arisen among the re- publican dissenters to the bond bill during the past twenty-four hours tha: the pro- posed bond bill would effectually nullify the system by which greenbacks m P circulation, partt istration chose to ern republicans who oppose bond issues on principle have been waging a spirited can- Vass against the bond bill, but the Hopkins amendment will obyjate their principal ob- jections. Several amendments to both the tariff and bond bills had been drawn by re- publicans whose constituents had special Interests at stake or who had individual financial plans which they deemed improve- ments upon the revente bills, but the rule under which the bills wil be debated and Voted upon cuts off the chance for amend- ments on the floor and’destroys the plans of these gentlemen. A Caucas Tonight. ‘The repsblicans who oppose the ways and means bond bill nave arranged for a caucus tonight for the purpose Of organizing the epposition, to the committee measure. Mc Hartman of Montana and-SHagroth of Colorado have been gnost!active in pre- paring for the caucus. “They expect an at- tendance of thirty or forty members of the House, all from the western, middle and scuthera states, as no eastérn republicans have been found who will refuse to vote for the bill. Itis not certain that the ways and means committee will adopt Mr. Hopkins’ amendment, and the extent of the rebel- lion against the bond bill by members from central states largely hinges on the fate of bis propogition. A partial canvass of the republican mem- cf the ways and means committee shows that while there is practical una- nimity among them in desiring the ac- complishment of the object for which M Hopkins’ amendmeut ‘is aimed there is scme doubt concerning the necessity for the amendment, Will Examine the Laws. Mr. Russell (Conn) on a first reading of the amerdment questions whether there any legal necessity for it. Mr- Tawney (Minn.) holds the view that it might pos- sibly te construed that the bond bill by implication #evokes tke direction to the Secretary cf the Treagury in the amend- ment to the act of 1875 to issue the green- backs after they are taken into the treas- ul If further examination of the laws shows that this implication could be drawn by a ccretary Who desired to make it, he thinks the bill sHould be amended. These gentlemen répresent the views held by the committee generally, and they say, as do the other members, that a careful examination of the laws will be made, the question ‘will be thoroughly discussed in the committee tomorrow, when, if the ne- cessity for amendment in this particular is developed, an amendment will be made. oo HOPING FOR PEACE. Attitude’ of Two London Evening Papers. LONDON, December 26.—The Giobe this afterncon, referring to the message which the Prince cf Wales and the Duke of York jointly sent to the New York World, through Sir Francis Knollys, regarding the prospect ef war with America, says this afternoon that the Prince of Wales and Duke of York “did the right thing in right place.” The Pall Mall Gazette remarks: “Their message is intrinsically admirable and brimful of tact. But the real significance in it is the fact that no such step as that h been taken, except after consultation h the premier, and the fact that the Marquis of Salisbury approved of the idea may be regarded as evidence of the spirit with which the government views the crisis. In common with the Prince of Wales end the Duke of York, they ‘earnest- ly trust and cannot but believe the present crisis will be arranged in a manner satis- factory to both countries.’ ” ATTRIBUTED TO ILL-HEALTH. —+ |Suicide of John H. Husted, the Colo- rado Mining Man. DENVER, Col., Decehiber 26.—John H. Husted, a well-known mining man, said to be worth $500,000, committed suicide today at his home in this city by shooting him- self in the head. ‘The suicide is supposed to have been oc- casioned by despondency, due to ill health. —_s—— Gen, Grosvenor's Christmas Gift. Represertative Grosvenor of Ohio re- turned to Washington today. -He apol- cgized to nis celleagues on the ways and means committee for his absence from tie important meeting of that committee yes terday on the ground that he had received as a Christmas present a grandchild. Naval Movements, The cruiser Rarggr, which has just re- turned to Say Frangisto from an extended cruise in Ceftral Americam waters, was put out of comission at the Mare Island navy yerd yesterday jafterhoon, and the cruiser Adams, which/is to take her place on the Pacific station} was put into com- mission #t the same yard on the same day. e+ Licut. John Gibson's Promotion, The President has approved the report of the naval examining board for the promo- tion of Lieut. (junior grade) John Gibson to the full rank of lieutenant. The Facts in Regard to Russia’s Offer of Gold. MAY AFFECT THE NEXT LOAN What is Said About It by Con- gressmen. — CLEVELAND CRITICISED The facts in regard to Russia's offer in 1993 to supply this government with gold with which to meet the emergency existing at that time are gradually coming to light. It can now be stated on unquestionable au- thority that during the panic of three years ago, which resulted in heavy withdrawals of gold for export, the Czar of Russia, through his minister here, Prince Cantacu- zene, formally tendered to this government a loan of $6),000,00) for the term of three years. No specific rate of interest was named, nor were any details as to terms of repayment entered into, the proposition not passing to this stage. It was simphy a gen- erous offer of a nation on particularly friendly terms with ours, and was not coup&d with any hard conditions, such as might have been reasonably expected from @ power cn a less friendly footing with the United States. Mr. Cleveland, efter due de- Liberation, very courteously declined the offer. He recognized the unselfish gen- erosity of the offer, and the very friendly feeling that prompted It, but he was unwill- ing to accept it, fearing that at some future time it might result in entanglements with other European nations, which it always has been the policy of the United States to. avoid. The offer has not since been re- peated. The Next Bond Issue. In the event of another bond issue, how- ever, it possibly may result in the loan being placed with Russian capitalists, and it is probable the President has given some thought to the advisability of proposing terms with them rather than with capital- ists of other European nations, in cuse ail of the bonds are not placed in the United States. At present, however, the matter of a bond Issue is occupying a secondary place with the President, as the more pressing matter of the selection of the members of the Venezuelan boundary comm is consuming practically his entire tim Mr. Morgan's Visit. The rumors that Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan of New York came to Washington early in the week to tender to the President, in case of another bond issue, financial aid from London bankers, are not credited here. It can be stated on excellent authority that if Mr. Mocgan was in Washington he saw neither the President nor any of his cabinet advisers, nor did he hold any communication with them on that or any other subject. Mr. Morgan is not expected in Washington. Discussed by Congressmen. The offer of Russia to furnish the United States with gold was very widely discussed among members vf the House today. With- out going into the details of the story mem- bers generally believed’ it safe to assume it to be true that any amount of gold neces- sary might be had from Russia. The anti- English feeling being strong in the House, much satisfaction was expressed on ac- count of Russla’s friendly attitude. The discussion generally took the turn of antagonism toward any proposition to sell bonds in England when they could be disposed of in Russia for gold. In some quarters it was declared that for Mr. Cleveland to negotiate for the sale of bonds in England, as he did with the famous bord syndicate, would be construed as a change of front on the Venezuelan question. One member of the House, who has been greatiy interested in both the financial and the Venezuelan question, declared his opinion very emphatically that if bonds were issued again through the itothschilds syndicate it might be expected that the ezuelan commission would ve more friendly to the british claims than the Venezuelan message gave reason to antici pate. The feeling against any negotia- tions with the old bond syndicate is very strong in Congress. J. Pierpont Mor- gan’s visit here is therefore still specu- lated on with considerable interest. Mr. Morgan's Proposition, It fs said that there Is to be a bond issue before long, and that there will be no agree- ment as to where the gold is to come from. Mr. Morgan, It is said, proposes an agree ment between the clearing house banks 9¢ New York to regulate interest rates and by that means to prevent the flow of gold from the United States. This Proposition con- templates an issue of bonds, to be sold in this country, to replenish the gold reserve, after which he contends that the banks will be able to keep most of the gold here by marking up interest rates when necessary. CONGRESs, DISTRICT The House committee on the District of Columbia held an informal meeting this morning to enable the members to meet each other and the chairman. By appoint- ment the District Commissioners also ap- peared before the committee, and were in- troduced to the committeemen by Chair- man Babcock. A pleasant half hour was spent in general discussion of the District siness ahead of the committee, and it decided to hold the first regular meet- next Monday morning, at which time the subcommittees will be named and the bills now pending before the committee will be appropriately referred. A petition was received this morning from the Federation of Labor, asking the committee to appoint a hearing to a dele- gation appointed by the Federation to pro- test against the passege of what is known as the bond bill, recommended by the Com- miss:oners. Action will Le taken upon the petition at the meeting next Monday. Mr. Clementson, the clerk of the com- mittee, has arrived and assumed the duties of his offic He is a bright young lawyer, energetic, and is already taking a live! terest in the work before him. National Heat and Mr. Livingston (Ga.) intreduced a bill in the House today to incorporate the Na- tional Gas, Light, Heat and Power Com- pany, with a capital stock of $2,000,000, The incorporators named in the bill are C. B. Hauk, FP. B. Sunds, Park Agnew, Anthony Pollock, Renselaer Stone, C. C. Pryan and J. L. Hastings. The company is authorized by the bill to produce twenty- two candle power gas free from impurities and to sell it for private use at the rate of seventy-five cents per thousand feet, and sixty cents per thousand feet for ci street illumination, and for use in the de- partments. Power Company. e . The Battle Ship Maine. The Navy Department is informed that the tattle ship Maine arrived at Norfolk this morning from New York, and is being coal- ed for her prospective cruise with the North Atlantic fleet. Officials of the Navy De- partment still observe a diplomatic silence in regard to the movements of the fleet, and the probable date of its departure from Hampton Roads. COMMISSION The President Having More Trouble Than Was Anticipated. One Member to Be a Justice of the Supreme Court—The Other Two Selected. The Venezuelan boundary commission was not appo’nted today, and the impression ‘s growing that the President is having more trouble than was anticipated in the selec- tion of the members. The matter will cer- tainly be settied within the next few days, and there will be some disappointment if the appointment of the commissioners shall be deiayed beyond the present week. It is asserted that the question will be settled at tomorrow's meeting of the cabinet. Consid- erabie speculation has been indulged in as to the membership of the commission, and Many distinguished men have been men- toned in that connection. It seems to he accepted that a member of the Supreme Court will be on the commis- sicn, probably as its president, and also that the Pres:denfhad practically selected Chief Justice Fulier for that honor. Inasmuch as Judge Fuller is in a feeble state of health at present, however, it has been found neces- sary to look e:sewhere fer a suitable h for the commission. With respect to the Supreme Court member, the choice is said to Ie between Mr. Justice Brewer and Mr. Justice Brown in the order named. According to a report which has a strong appearance of probability, the President has invited Mr. Edward J. Phelps of Vermont and Mr. Robert Lincoln of Illinois to serve as members of the commission. These two gentlemen have represented the United States at the court of St. James, and stand high in the estimation ef the British author- iues. Any conclusion reached by them in regard to the matter in controversy would undoubtedly have great weight with the british government. The delay in the ofli- cil announcement of their appointment is aa to be due either to the failure to secure eir acceptance to serve or to the Presi- dent’s desire to defer the announcement until all the arrangements for the organiza- tion or the commission have been completed. ——_—_-e AN UNLIKELY STORY. The Report of an chase the General Nerino. A story comes from New Brunswick that the Navy Department ig negotiating for the purchase of the light-draught gunboat General Nerino, now building at the yards of Hugh Ramsay, at Perth Amboy, for the United States of Colombia.” The con- tract for the vessel was made with the New York consul of that government. The vessel is 140 feet long and 17 feet wide,with a mnaximum draught of 3 feet 6 inches. She is designed for service in tHe shallow bays and rivers of Colombia. She is being con- structed at Perth Athboy, and will be sent to Colombia in parts and there put to- gether. The hull will be of three-sixteenths steel, and all vital parts of the ship will be protected with chrome or nickel steel armor. The boat is to have a guaranteed speed of 15 knots per hour. Her armament will consist of three guns. One of them will be located in the hollow mast. The other two will be one forward and the ether aft, both of them Maxtn rapid fire, each capable of shooting 6) shots a minute and able to kill at one mile. A powerul sea search light will be placed on the pilot house. The report that the United States is ne- gotiating for this vessel is ridiculed at the Navy Department. There are no funds available for such purpose, and the Secre- tary of the Navy could not purchase the vessel even if he so desired without the epecific authority of an act of Congress. ——-—--e od CAPITOL TOPICS. Bills Introduced Today. Among the bills introduced today were the following: By Mr. Mahoney (N.Y.)—Granting a New York corporation the right to construct a railroad and passenger bridge or tunnel across Niagara river. It gives the assent of Congress to the construction of a bridge or tunnel which shall meet the approval of the War Department. By Mr. McClellan (N.Y.)—To authorize the location of a branch home for disabled vol- unteers, soldiers ani sailors, in the state of New York; 2lso one providing for the resto- rz tlon to active service of such retired of- ficers as are shown upon examination to be qualified to perform the duties. By Mr. McCormick (N.Y.)—To increase the pay of the life saving service. By Mr. Sulzer (N.¥.)—To authorize and en- courage the.esiablishment of an internation- al permanent exhibition company in New York city. It provides that the Unite States shall make an appropriation of $100,- (00 per year for an exhibit from the gov- ernment departments; that the states of Central and South America be invited to participate, and that all goods imported for exhibition be admitted free of @aty. Listening to the Debate. During the consideration of the tariff pill tule in the House today Senator Peffer, le leader of the populists in the Senate, oceu- pied a seat in the midst of the republican ranks, next to Mr. Payne of New York. Senator Quay and Senator Berry were also rresent. Personal Mention. Senator and Mrs. John M. Thurston are at the Arlington for the session. D. D. iangam and wife are spending the holidays with Mrs. Mangam’s father, Rey. T. De Witt Talmage, at the Arlington. Congressman H. C. Miner and his valet are at the Arlington. Rev. W. C. Wiuslow, D.D,, D.C.L., LL.D., of Boston, the archaeologist and historical writer, with his family, is at the J2bbitt, in attendance upon the meeting of the Ameri- can Historical Society, where he il read a paper on the Plymouth colony. Dr. Winslow is honorary secretary for America of the Egypt exploration fund. Prof. Albert Bashivell Hart of Harvard, and Mr. and Mrs. James Ford Rhodes and Miss Wyman of Boston are at the Arling- ton. Admiral Ramsay has recovered from his recent indisposition and was on duty at the Na Department toda: Lieutenant Commander E. D. Taussig of the Richmond is at the Army and Navy Club for a day or two. Capiain Colon Angus, second in the cfiy on lez Tle is at barton avenue. Lieutenants W. J. Parden and Spencer Cosby, corps of engineers, are in the city on leave of absence. Robert Scott, son of Mr. Frank Hume, home from Yale for the holidays at 1235 Massachusetts avenue. avalry, is Dum- The Old Frigate Lancaster, The old frigate Lancaster, which was supposed to be somewhere in the neighbor- hood of Monteyidco, has just arrived at the Madeira Islands, over two thousand miles from that port. It is inferred that she carried out of her chosen route by ad winds. The Lancaster started from New York with officers and crews for the relief of men on the South Atlantic station whose terms have expired. The vessels on that station are the Newark, Castine and Yan- tic. orse aS Government Receipts. National bank notes received today for re- demption, $354,237. Government receipts— From internal reverue, $749,547; customs, $623,233; miscellaneous, $62,383. Attempt to Pur-_ NOW AT REAL WORK The Revenue Bill is Reported by Chairman Dingley. A ve 1 BE TAKEN TODAY Interesting Discussion on the Adop- tion of the Special Order. DEPRATE ON THE ACT In anticipation of a field day in the House over the passage of the tariff bill agr on by the ways and means committee, great crowds were attracted to the Capitol, and every available inch of space in the public and private galleries, save the sections re- served for the executive and dipiomatic corps were taken, Most of the members who had gone home for the holidays had hurriedly returned, and the attendance on the floor was almost as large as on the opening of the session. In addition, many Senators weye present. Revenue Bill Reported. Immei:ately after the reading of the jour- na!Mr.Dingley,the chairman of the ways and means committee, reported from that com- mittee the revenue bill, which the Speaker forthwith referred to the comm'ttee of the vhole House on the state of the Union. ‘fhe text of the report of the committee on the revenue bill and also the bond bill is published on the third page of today's Star. Mr, Crisp (Ga.), the leader of the minori- ty, explained that the minority Had had no opportumity to prepare and file the views of the minority. The Special Order. Mr, Headerson (lowa), from the committee on rules, then presented the special order under which the House was to operate. It Was ironclad in its character. It provided that immediately after the adoption of the order it would be in order to eall up the revenue bill just presented by Mr., Dingley, and that the debate should run until 5 o'clock, when, without intervening motion, the vote should be taken on the passage of the bill. Mr. Henderson's Explanatio) Mr. Henderson demanded the previous question on the adoption of the order, which was ordered without division, Mr. Henderson then took the floor and ex- plained briefly the urgency which neces- sitated such summary action of the House on such an important measure. The two messages of the President, he said, had produced the highest degree of restlissness in the country. Congress was contronted with a crisis. The business centers of the country were staggering under ¢ ver- ish declarations from the White House, and it was of the highest importance that the House should act promptly. The ways and means committee had prepared. a measure to meet the situation and the urgency of the case, and the interests in volved demanded that action should be had with the least possible delay. Mr. Crixp'’s Remarks. Mr. Crisp called the attention of the House to the effect of the rule under which it was proposed to operate, and usked every member to weigh his responsibility when he voted for it. Hers was a bill, he said, that affected every Interest and all sections of the coun- try, which it was proposed to put through under a rule that deprived the members of a, right to offer amendments. It must be Ken or rejected as a whole. What authority, he asked, was it on the other side, which proposed to pass a measure of such importance under the crack of the party whip without the dotting of an I or the crossing of a T. This rule, he said, would chain the House to the wheel of the charict. He insisted that there was no necess:ty for such a course. This bill was not demanded by any department of the government. There was no necessity tor increased revenue. He protested against the use of the whip and spur for its pas- sege before she opinion of the experis of the Treasury Department could be obtained as to its effect. Mr. Dalzell's Reply. Mr. Daizell (Pa.), a member of the com- mittee on rules, said there was no one who did not know that we face a peculiar exigency. The President and the Secre- tary of the Treasury had both become alarmed and the President had asked the House, notwithstarding, it was opposed to him politically, to come to aid. The treasury was being rapidly depleted, and ince the democracy had come into the control of the executive branch of the government there had been frequent bond issues. The measure at present under con- sideration was not a general tariff meas- ure, but an emergency bill. Referring to Mr. Crisp's criticism of the cracking of the party whip, he said the Wilson bill, with 600 amendments, had been passed throvgh the House with hut two hours’ debate under a rule reported by Mr. Crisp himself. He appealed to the House to rise to the patriotic level neces- sary to meet the emergency and come to the President's ald. Mr. MeMillin's Prediction, Mr. MeMillin (Tenn.), also member of the committee on rules, said the bill was a general tariff bill, effecting every article on the dutiable list, except suger, number- ing no less than 4,000, Replying to Mr. Dalzell, he said that the difference was found in the fact that there had been elaborate hearings before the ys and means committee before the Wilson bill Was passed. But how different in. this czse. The bill had been completed on Christmas day, when the departments were closed and there was no opportunity to consult the treasury officials. He de- clared that there hed been no cpportunity even to read the bill. When Esau, he said, sold his birthright, “he had the excuse of hunger, but this excuse could not be offer- ed in this case, for it was tu be presumed that cvery sendeman here had at least had his Christmas turkey.” He complained of the cracking of the party whip, but said, in conclusion, thet the same. power which had ¢sserted itself after the Fifty- first Congress would again be heard from after this exercise of party power. The Administration Assertions, Mr. Turner (Ga.) called attention to the fact that both the President and the Sec- retary of the Treasury (whom he extolled as the greatest Secretary of the Treasury since the days of /lexander Hamilton) had ress the highest assurance that ample revenue in the treasury. a surplus of $70,000,000 over and above the reserve—certainly a sufficient sum to meet any deficien that might possibly eccur during the n Hoth the President and Secretary of the Treastry had pointed .out the evil in the financial situation and its remedy. Every- bedy unc existing. And what wis to be the response of Congress? Instead of bread, s was to give a legislation was prop to still further bleed and tax the American people. Mr. Henderson's Closing Speech. Mr. Henderson closed the debate in a speech which aroused the republican side to «reat enthusiasm. This was, he sald, a business matter, for a business speech, and should be met In a business way. The re- publicans were not afraid to assume re- sponsibility. Whether the country had a democratic or republican President, wheth« put a