Evening Star Newspaper, January 3, 1896, Page 1

oO THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 701 jvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, spotiior ares Now York Office, 40 Potter Building, Evening Star is served to. in the eueg tar sunrierey ou: eke gee accoeety of 10 cents per weck, cr 44 cents per month. Coples at the counter 2 vents ench. fy mail—anywhere in Untied states or Fanada—postage prevald—so cents creer Quintup!> Sheet Star, $1 per year, with reign postage iitered attthe Post fice at Washington, D. C. as second-class maf! matter.) “E57 Ai) mall subscriptions tot be pald in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Che Even No. 13,365. WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JANEERY 38, 1896—TWELVE PAGES. Spsseecenpemm| Noises —=__SWASHINGTON, DO, FRIDAY, JANUARY 8 180¢—TWELVE Pages, TWO OmNTR | CENTS. If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. PROBABLE QUARTERS|COM'NG 80ND ISSUE|HE WILL BE TRIED | aq stanensen't.'e2.16| NOWUNDERHEADWAY]"# SewaTe SUVER MENITAKEN INTO COURT QUARTERS Offices Venezuelan Commission Nearly Agreed Upon. PRELIMINARY WORK 10 BE DONE “State Department to Be Drawn Upon for Assistance. WORK MUST BE THOROUGH A search is being made for quarters for the Verezuelan commissfon, and it fs prob- able that it will in the end be located in the building at the corner of Pennsylvaaia averue and Madison place, now occupied ‘by the bureau of American republics. A ficor of the building just below that for- merly occupied by the Venezuelan claims commission can be made available for this purpose, if desired. It is not believed that the work of the commission will be sensi- bly delay: d by the fact that Justice Brewer is obliged to finish the term in the Supreme Court before giving it all of bis attention. A vast deal of preparatory work must be dene, which will not require the immediate Perticipation of the justice, and this will easily cccupy all of the time for six <r eight weeks at least. In this line there must be made.a-:careful collection of all of the bibliography on the subject of the disputed boundary, and to prepare this for the consideration of the commisioners a number cf translators must be put to ork to render the old Dutch and Spanish, eas = sme cases French, into modern va Pos, Department to Be Drawn On. It is probable that the State Department itself must be drawn upon heavily in this work, for few persons outside of the de- partment have made a special study of the detailed history of this great case, and per- haps the best-informed persons in the de- Fartment are Assistant Secretary Rockhill and Librarian Allen. Another expert who may be called into the service of the com- mission is Lee Phillips, attached to the Congressional Library,’ who is said to be an authority on the geography of the Ameri- cas, ancient and modern. Almost daily facts are coming to light, in_the shape of ancient letters and reports, throwing light upon the y, all. of which will doubtiess bg igid pefore the commission, if it desires. ‘Of this mutter, it is said, impeaches cas ‘accuracy Of. the celebrated Schomburgk line in important essentials, and thus tends to strengthen. the cause of Venezuela. In one case the documents ap- pear to establish the fact that Schomburgk never really made a survey. He used charts and maps that were ancient.even in his time, and have been since shown to be erroneous, to make a compilation upon which he traced his line. The statement cabled from Romie to the effect that evi- dence had been discovered in the archives of the Vatican tending to establish the title of Venezuela to the disputed tract, before the Dutch cession to Great Britain, has been received here with interest and atten- “tion, for it is well known that the Spanish priests were thoroughly familiar with the Orinoco basin at a very early period in the history of the country, and their reports would have much weight with geographers. ‘The First Meeting. ‘The present expectation is that the first meeting of the Venezuelan boundary com- mission will be held at the State Depart- ment tomorrow, Saturday, All, the mem- bers of the body, with the exception of Commissioner: White, havé sfgnified their ability to be here by that time. The latter will not reach the city before Tuesday, and there is a possibility the first meeting may be deferred until that day, though this is not Hkely. The members have not * yet received. their commissions, and hence it is not positively known who will be the chairman, although the belief is that Jus- tice Brewer, having been the first named, will have that benor. Justice Brewer has heretofore met his fellaw commissioners, and he is anxious that the work which the commission was appointed to perform, be ccmmenced at as early a date as practica- ble. What needs to be determined first by the commission, the justice ‘thinks, is a dis- tinct and definite understanding of just what facts are desired, and the body can then go ahead and prosecute its work in- telligently. He realizes what an effect on the public mind the conclusions reached by the een will have, what their significance will be,.and how they must carry conviction. ‘The investigation, he says, must be a.thorough one or none at 7 Vemeanela Notified. Minister Andrade of Venezuela has noti- fied his government by cable of the ap- pointment of the Venezuelan commission. ‘The case of Venezuela is ready to present at any time, although the Venezuelan au- thorities will take no steps toward offering evidence until the rules governing the com- mission are announced. So far as is known, Minister Andrade will present the Venezue- Tan case, as he has a long acquaintance with the subject, and is, moreover, a fluent advocate in English. The British authorities will not formally recognize the commission, but the British side of the case wil]. probably be secured through Ambassador Bayard at London. a NO LONGER A t_A TERRITORY. @ld Glory Will Soon \ Wear a Star for Utah. The President will tcmorrow issue his Prcclarration in conformity with the act of Congress stating that the people of Utah have complied with all of the requirements of the law providing for the admission of Utah to the Urion, and declaring that the territory has passed out of existence and that Utah is admitted to the family of states. The new state officers will begin the discharge of their functions next Mon- day. The people of Utah are naturally ,Shewing an intense Interest in every step “being made at Washington, and the Pres- ident has been tmportuned to telegraph im- mediately to Salt Lake the first news of the signing of the proclamation, and to Preserve as a valvable historical relic the pen with which he affixes his signature to the document. It fs expected that the preclamation will be issued at noon to- morrow. —2+—_____. THE ALASKAN BOUNDARY. — Conference Between the United States and British Commissioners. Prof. Duffield, superintendent of the coast survey, the American representative of the ~ JointAlaska boundary commission, is expect- @4 to arrive here this evening or tomorrow -+from Buffalo, where he had a consultation with the British representative Wednesday and yesterday, with a view to the prepara- tion of a joint report on the delimitation of the boundary between Alaska and British Columbia. It is understood that they reached a satisfactory agreement, and agreed upon a joint report, coples of which will be submitted to each government. It should be understood that this com- missioz:. had no authority to fix a divis- fonal line. They were simply to prepare a statement of facts as to the results of the bps: surveys made under the auspices the respective governments, together at all other official data that_can he util- ized in reaching an international agree- ~ment on the subject. COMING BOND ISSUE HE WILL BE TRIED One is Expzcted to Be Announced Early Next Week. No Open Developments Today—Con- sidered at Cabinet Meeting— Form of Commitment. It is said at the White House that the presence ir the city last night of Messrs. J. A. Stewart, J. T. Woodward and F. R. Bacon cf New York has no connection with the financial situation. They came in re- sponse to an invitation to attend the cab- inet dinner given ty the President and Mrs. Cleveland last night, which invitation was extended, so it is said, long before there was any talk of another issue of bonds. Mr. Stewart and Mr. Woodward were members of the syndicate which floated the Ixst government loan, and consequently thelr presence here at this juncture was naturally regarded as significant. Mr. Stewart left for New York late last night, and it is understood the other two gentle- men have also returned to New York. No Open Developments Today. There were no open developments today with regard to the proposed bond issue. The matter was undoubtedly considered at the meeting of the cabinet, but with what result has not been disclosed. It is not be- lieved that action in the matter will be de- ferred much longer, and there is a general impression that an announcement will be made next week of the execution of a con- tract with the Morgan syndicate for $100,- 0u0,000. The Form ofCommitment. The form of commitment prepared by the syndicate is an interesting document. It sets forth that J. P. Morgan & Co. propose to form a syndicate to sell to the United States treasury 11,500,000 ounces of gold, receiving in payment therefor 4 per cent bonds of 1925. One-half of the gold—namely, 5,750,000 ounces—is to be sold “‘nrm” (that 18, outr.ght, absolutely ard at once), and the remaining half, or any part of it, is to be supplied at the option of the government, and upon such terms as may be agreed upon. Subscribers to the syndicate must contract to furrish not only the amount of gold that may te allotted to them to furnish under the “firm” sale of one-half of the total smount, but also whatever amount they may be called upon to furnish under the eptional half. Subscribers bind themselves to procure the gold furnished by them from other sources than the United States treas- vry. The right is reserved to scale down commitments, should they in the aggregate exceed one-half of tke total amount of gold that the syndicate ts formed to furnish. A commission of 1 per cent is to be allowed the managers of the syndicate for thelr services. This is all there is in the syndicate con- tract, which, according to trustworthy in- formation, has now been executed by sub- scribers for an amount in the aggregate that is largely in excess of the “firm’’ sale of gold, expressed in dollars. The equiy- alent in dollars of 5,750,000 ounces of gold is $102,250,000. —_—_—_—_——_—_-_2—____—_ NEW COMMITTEE ROOMS. Result of the General Moving in the Senate Yesterday. Most of the Senators today had new com- mittee rooms in consequence of the general moving that took place yesterday. A large number of the committee rooms were also changed, the following having been moved:* Investigate trespassers on Indian lands, from 25 Maltby to 27 and 28 Maltby. Investigate geological survey, from form- erly 27 and 28 Maltby to 44 and 45. District of Columbia, from 19 and 21 Malt- ty to 41 Maltby. Contingert expenses, from north front Ge building to 57 and 58, Maltby build- "framigration, from 11 Terrace to 63 and 65, Maltby building. Failed national banks,formerly 2 Matliby, to 35 and 37 Maltby. Nicaraguan canal ‘and claims, formerly 53 Maltby, removed to room back of document room. Fisheries, formerly west front basement, Capitol, removed to 47 and 49 Maltby. Patents, formerly east front basement, to west front, same. Civil service and retrenchment, formerly Maltby, to 10 and 11 Maltby. « Enrolled bills, formerly back of document rcem, to north front basement. Ccast defenses, formerly 7 Maltby build- Ing, to 7 terrace. International exhibition, formerly 3 Maltby. now 29 and 31 Maltby. Epidemic diseases, formerly 57° and 58 Maltby, to southwest front gallery floor. Additional accommodation Library of Congress, formerly southwest front gallery ficor, removed to back of document room, old building, gallery floor. Besides these changes nearly every Sen- ator changed his private office room. —_<—_e- AMICABLY ADJUSTED. But There Was a Difficulty Between ‘Two Treasury Officials. There was a scene of excitement in Wind- er’s building yesterday afternoon as a result of a personal encounter between Mr. E. P. Speer of Georgia and Mr. B. E. Sampson of Wisconsin, chiefs of divisions in the office of the auditor for the War Department. The cause of the disagreement between the two officials is not disclosed, but it was sufficient- ly grave to cause a resort to blows, in which Mr. Speer came off second best. The two men met at the head of the iron staircase and got into a clirch, which ended by Mr. Speer being thrown down stairs and strik- ing his cheek against the wall. He ws not much hurt, however, but hostilities. ended for the time being. The matter. has not been reported to the Secretary of the Treas- ury as yet, and it is understood has been amicably and hcnorably adjusted through the intervention of mutual friends. SSS ee Cossack Drill at Fort Myer. An exhibition Cossack drill was given at Fort Myer this afternoon by troop A, sixth cavalry, with Capt. Kendall in command. The following program was carried out: | Standing riding; Roman riding over hur- dies; standing, crossed stirrups, girths un- fastened, over the hurdle; breastwork of horses on the ground; showing training of horses; gyinnastics with hurdle; gymnastics wth single horse; using a horse as a hur- die; Roman race. Similar exhibition drills will be given later in the season by the other three troops of the sixth cavalry, stationed at Fort Myer. ‘These drills are under the personal super- vision of Lieut. Short of the sixth cavalr; and will be attended by Gen. Miles an other distinguished persons inside and out- side of the service. + e+______ The Late David Fowble’s Will. An exemplified copy of the will of the late David Fowble of Carroll county, Maryland, dated June 15, 1894, was filed here today. The widow of the “deceased, Ann Lucretia Fowble, and John C. Parker are named as executors, and the wife of the last named is tequeathed one-third of the proceeds of the estate. The widow and heirs-at-law are the other beneficiaries. ———_ The Hazing Court-Martial. The cross-examination of John Thomp- son, one of th8se said to have been hazed, was concluded before the naval court-mar- tial this morning, and Judge Advocate Ter- hune began the re-direct examination, pend- ing which a recess was taken until this afternoon. Dr. Jameson to Appear Before @ Court-martial, MORE POLICE AT JOHANNESBURG £econd Invasion of the ,Transvaal Reported. — PRESIDENT KRUGER’S ACTION PRETORIA, January 3.—A proclamation was issued by President Kruger today as- suring the Uitlanders (foreign residents of the Transvaal) that the government of the republic is willing that they should submit their grievances for immediate considera- tion upon the part of the legislature. In ad- dition, in order to prevent suffering at Jo- hannesburg, the government has removed all duties upon food stuffs. As a matter of precaution against a revo- lutionary outbreak, the goverflment has sworn in 1,000 volunteer police, consisting of people of all the nations represented in the Transvaal. It will be their duty to maintain order at Johannesburg and else- where. It is reported that Dr. Jameson, who was defeated and captured, will be tried by court-martial, and that his followers will be released. The Black Watch Highlanders have been ordered to stop, by force, the advance of a second body of the British Chartered Com- Pany’s troops into the Transvaal. Trouble at Johannesburg Fenred. LONDON, January 3.—Editor Hess of the South Africa Critic says he has a cable dispatch referring to the recent events at Johannesburg, sent since Dr. Jameson’s de- feat, and of such a grave nature that he declines to publish it until confirmed from other sources, Mr. Hess has had a long experience in the Transvaal, and his previous news regarding the present crisis in affairs there has all been accurate. In the course of an inter- view today he was quoted as saying: “If Johannesburg is the same town I krew, tne city has risen, and has either suc- ceeded or failed in an attempt to liberate Dr. Jameson. I am satisfied that all the foreigners there, including the Americans, would help the English. There are practi- cally no Boers at Johannesburg, except the armed burghers, who are parading the streets.” Beyond this Mr. Hess declingd to talk, but it was inferred from his manner that he had word of a rising at Johannesburg. What the Newspapers Say. The Berlin correspondent of the Standard quotes the National Zeitung as follows in commenting upon the action of England in stirring up strife in Armenia, Africa and elsewhere: “This procedure requires to be Put a stop to by Europe, with which the United States w:ll not unwillingly co-oper- ate.” The other German newspapers stern- ly_condemn Dr. Jameson's action. The Times in a special art:cle assumes that the fighting was an accidental skir- mish and that Dr. Jameson’s surrender was entirely voluntary. “It 43 difficult to be- eve,” sayg the Times, “that he could not have mede'a better stand had he wanted to do otherwis» than preserve his men in the character of a police ferce.” The Marau's of Lansdowne, secretary of state gor war, visited the colonial office at 10 o'clock last night. The Daily News Says in an editorial: “It is a serious ques- tion whether the Chartered South African Compary should not be deprived of its charter.” In an interview, Montagu White, consul general of the Transvaal in England, de- elares that the fore:gners in Johannesburg never raised a finger to help Dr. Jameson. The Boers, he said, would treat Dr. Jame- son’s followers with generosity, but Dr. Jamescn himself would rece:ve a fair trial and the punishment his crime merited. BERLIN, January 3—Emperor William had a long conference this morning with the imperial chancellor, Prince Hohenlohe. It 1s supposed that their consultation had reference to the reccnt events in the Transvaal republic, Likens England to a Pickpocket. PARIS, January 3.—Not one of the news- Papers of this city minces words in com- menting upon the invasion of the Transvaal territory by the filibustering expedition un- der Dr. Jameson. In spite of the statement made by the British colonial secretary, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, and the assertions of the governor of Cape Colony, the premier of Cape Colony, and the managing director of the British South Africa Company, the Figaro insists that Dr. Jameson did not act without having received orders to do so from Cecil Rhodes, the premier of Cape Colony, who, in turn, according to the news- paper mentioned, was in communication with England. The Figaro adds: “The English simply wish to do with the mines of South Africa as a pickpocket does with one’s purse, and with the help of a well-organized hustle. The Rappel remarks: “Germany, France and Russia are in accord. What will Eng- land do? Will she dare, with the United States already on her hands, to defy Europe with her insatiable rapacity and untenable claims, and end by arousing a formidable coalition, to which she will be compelled to Baste herself?” e Lunterne expresses the opinion that Great Britain's contention that the foreign Powers have no right to intervene in the Transvaal is nothing more nor less than an application of “Monroeism.” ‘ ate liodee adds the Lanterne, ‘wants 0 capture Delagoa bay, and thu: conquest of Madagascar.” eBay Che Justice says: “Dr. Jameson’s attempt at interes Coral filibustering has inflieted one more defeat on the invadin; the united kingdom.” B vOney OE What a Citizen of Johannesburg Says CHICAGO, January 3.—J. B. Weipberg of Johannesburg, who is at present in this city, says that the invasion of the Trans- vaal was in no sense an effort on: the part of England to annex the celebrated South African gold fields. The people of Johan- nesburg, who united in calling upon Dr. Jameson, would figlit to a man against coming under British rule. “When the Transvaal was unknown’ for its riches in gold and diamonds,” -Mr. Weinberg continued, “the laws concerning the naturalization of newcomers were the same as in the Orange Free State, and very similar to the naturalization laws of the United States. But when the country be- gan to fill up with miners and people inter- ested in the gold and diamond industries, the Boers changed the laws and made it impossible for anyone to become ural- ized. Then a high tariff was placed on everything that the Boers were not likely to usa. Particular enmity was shown to the mining industries. In this way the re- public succeeded in levying fully 90 per cent of the taxes on the new population, which was denied citizenship, in order to prevent the newcomers from making an effort to equalize the burdens. - Mr. Weinberg “that the National Union, to re- move these gross abuses, was organized at Johannesburg. It took in its membership all the more progressive mining men, many of them being Americans and Germans,’ who would bitterly oppose any attempt on the part of England to annex the country. Even the English residents would oppose any such scheme for the country’s subju- gation. In my opinion, the National Union has given up peaceable means for obtain- ing reform, ard is calling Dr. Jameson to help its members overturn the republic. After trying all these five years to secure some concessions from the Boers, the Na- tional Union has, dcubtless, concluded that it will never make any headway until the old government is overturned. That is, it seems to me, all that Dr. Jameson's inva- sion means. He has evidently determined that he will aid the foreign element in up- setting the Boer government, and the next that will be heard will be that this is ac- complished. The movement has been on foot for some time, and the doctor is not the man that would stop at half-way measures whem once started: : MAY AFFECT A APPROPR IATIONS’ Legislation Depending Upon the Revenue Bill. Congress May Be Liberal if It Be- comes a Law, if Not, Economy ‘WAL Prevait. . There are considerations attached to the revenue bill which the House has gent to the Senate not to be confounded with the partisan questions involyed. These relate to the amount of the appropriations to be made by this Congress. The leaders of both parties express a. desire to deal liber- ally with the country. A niggardly policy is not pepular, and it i: sometimes a crime. But, obviously, when receipts are small, expenditures must be small. The govern- ment can no more afford thin can an indi-, vidual to make a large outlay on a limited income. Failure us a Money Producer. The present condition of the treasury ig well understood. Mr. Carlisle's rosy hopes for the future may or may not be realized. ‘There may be concealed somewhere about’ the Wilson tariff law a surprising capacity to raise a surplus revenue. But the fact remains patent to the republicans and to many democrats that up to:this time the law as a money producer is @ failure. The treasury under its operations has been run- ning behind, and pinchings here and there have been severely felt. Unless the law is changed so as to yield larger returns will not this condition of affairg continue? Will not the government be forced to go upon short commons for some time to come? Senator Aldrich pointed out the neces- sities of the case only. a shart time ago. He told The Star that, unless there were larger collections by ‘the’ gqvernment, ex- penditures would have to be eut. Congress at that time was waiting for.Mr. Carlisle's report, with the declared purpese of turn- ing over all of the treasury figures to an expert. Economy was the cry in both houses. The fear existed, that, conditions were not favorable to the. fe of any revenue ‘message at this seasion. The one thing appearing necessary,therefore, was to overhaul all estimates and uge the pruning knife as industriously as le. ‘The House Revenue Bill. The President’s action in’the Wenezuelan case suddenly put everything In a new light and on a new basis. A revenue measure was made possible in one.@ay,, and became an accomplished fact so far.as the House was concerned in another day. This meas- ure adds not less than forty millions per annum to the government's fegeipts, and, if it becomes a law, iid e e running of ev2ry governmenta} depaftment. The harder features of the economy decided up- en will not be necessary. Congress will be able to take a different accoynt ef public works, and provide for them in a way com- mensurate with their merits iand import- ance. The pruning knife will hot need to have so sharp an edge put gn i Early Action Should Be Taken. And herein appears another reason why early action one way or thé other by the Senate on the revenue bill should be taken. The appropriation bills have not as yet been begun by the House committee charged with their preparation. The estimates are at hand, however, and everything is in readiness. The size of these bills must de- pend upon the fate of the revenue bill. If That is not to become a law; if the treasury is. to be required to Icok only to the Wilson law for support, then the republicans. of. the House and Senate will feel obliged to e their figures square with what the Wilson law has actually shown Rs If able to ac- complish, rather than what Mr. Carlisle, in moments of extreme partisan con- fidence, feels justified in ‘predicting for it. On the other hand, the passage of the rev- enue measure by the Senate and Its ap- proval by the President would produce ap- propriations by this Congress in -full ac- cbrdance with what the leaders of both parties at heart desire and think the coun- try entitled to. No Program Arranged. No program in detail, based upon rigid economy, has as yet been-artanged.. Even if found necessary, it will be difficult to ar- range. The country, it is pointed out, has grown up to liberal treatment by such stages as now make such a policy almost imperative. Nearly all big expenditures appear equally meritorious. But business is business. The rule {s {hexorable: Small receipts, small expenditures. ————— THE LYDECKER: FUNREL. Its Pumping Out Has Been Retarded by Heavy Rains. The work of pumping out the’ Lydecker tunnel has been retarded of late by heavy rains, which have reopened the teaks from Rock creek. The leaks have been partially closed and the pumping is again progress- ing satisfactorily. Capt. Gaillaré, who is in charge of the work, expects to have the tunnel clear of water and ready for inspec- tion by the end of next week or the be- ginning of the following wee! Unless there are further setbacks, the “members of the board of expert engineers will be called together again by Gen. Craighill about the 18th or 14th instant-for the pur- pose of inspecting the tuhmel its. entire length of five miles, in order to ascertain its utility as a conduit for water to the Howard University reservoir. —— An- Intruder in the Gallery. ‘There was an intruder in the Jadies‘ gal- lery of the Senate today, whe persisted in remaining in the gallery, although not ac- ecmpaniéd by a lady, and could’ only be gotten out by forcible persugsian of a po- liceman. The man pushed Ris way into the gallery in spite of the faet that there were a couple score of ladies standing in line waiting their turn to get in, and stub- bornly defied the doorkeeper later the sergeant-at-arms, Col. Bright, eontending that he had a right to be there. Finally, a policeman was sent in with igstructions to bring the man out, and be was locked up in the guardhouse. He refused to give his name, and gas finally discharged and taken outside the Capitol grounds, with the admonition that If he attempted to repeat the offense he would be dealt with in a more severe manner. Notice to Subsertbers. Subscribers are earnestly requested to report any irregularity in the de- livery, of The Star and also any fail- ure on the part of the carrier to ring the door tell. A proper service can only be main- tained througb the courtesy of sub- scribers- in reporting shortcomings. PES a a secpy. # PEFFUSEHi.o2e2b8 0084. } GSEEEEGE DAQA_ S905; 2PPERTEGcEESE THE. EVEETIESGEE GETTER. ERTETETE: NOWUNCERHEADWAY|T#E SenaTe siLveR MENITAKEN INTO COURT The Contumacious Witness Cases Finally on Trial, EXTENDED ARRAY OF ABL ABLE LAWYERS The Court Adjourns Until Monday With Little Done, A JURY SECURED TODAY Criminal Court No. 1 was well filled this morning when the case of the United States against Elverton R. Chapman was com- menced before Judge Cole. This is the famous case of a “‘contumacious witness” who refused to testify before the Senate committee in May of 1894, when an effort was made to getiat the bottom of the charges of bribery and speculation on the part of Senators in connection with the big sugar deals. Chapman, who is a broker, refused to answer certain speoific questions that were put to him by the special com- mittee of the Senate. He was indicted by the grand jury, and after many legal de- lays the case finally came up for trial to- day. The defendants in thesé cases are all men of prominence and are plentifully supplied with legal backing. When the case was called this morning Mr. Chapman was rep- resented, in part, by Lawyers Jere M. Wil- son and Nathaniel Wilson. The specific charge against him was “violation of sec- tion 102 of the Revised Statutes of the Uni- ted States.” Mr. Jere M. Wilson waived the reading of the indictment, which is a very long and impressive document, and entered a plea of not guilty. The regular panel of the jury was then called and the first twelve placed Es the box were examined on their “voir ire. Among the interested spectators in the court room were Mr. John W. Macartnev, the well-known Washington broker, and Mr. John Shriver, the Washington corre- spondent of the New York Mail and Ex- press, against whom similar indictments are pending. With Mr. Shriver was Mr. R. B. A. Dorr, the publisher of the New York Mail and Express, who has come on to be present at the trial as an evidence that the paper is back of its correspondent in the matter. Many Lawyers. As showing how much in earnest the paper is, {t 1s only necessary to say that it hag secured the services of Judge Ditten- hoefer, one of the most eminent members of the New son bar, to defend him when his gase comes uj Mr. Nathantel Wilson is the attorney for Mr. H. O. Havemeyer. Judge Shellabarger and ex-Senator. Edmunds have also been | engaged as counsel in these cases, and all will be on hand when thé taking of tesi mony begins next Monday morning. Witi such an array of talent as this, it goes with- gut saying that there will be a. big:legal fight. and many a shot fired ‘before any of the defendants ever lands behind the bars. in case of conviction the penalty is both fine and tmprisonment. The Law Quoted. Section 102 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, under which the case against Broker Chapman is brought, reads as fol- lows: * “Every person who, having been sum- moned as a witness by the authority of either house of Corgress, to give testimony or to produce papérs upon any matter un- der inquiry before either house, or any committee of either house of Congres. willfully makes default, or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry, shall. be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, om nor by a fine of not more than 1,000 nor less than $100, and imprisonment in a common jail for not less than one month nor more than twelve months.” The proceedings in court this morning occupied but a few minutes, the bulk of the time being devoted to the work of se- curing a jury. This did not take long, as the defense took advantage of their right to challenge in but one case. The Jury Chos The jury as finally selected was as fol- lows: John A. Butler, J. L. Bowie, Ed- ward F. Joy, James H. Richards, John E. Crampton, A. S. Taber W. P. Campbell, F. W. Kneesi, Gustav Fluger, Thos. Marin, Chas. Wilson, R. T. Bailey. District Attorney Birney then arose and stated that he had been informed that Mr. Edmunds was unable to be present’ unt.i Monday mornirg, and that the defense de- sired a postponement until then. He inter- posed no objection. Judge Cole asked him if he would make his opening speech to the jury today, but Mr. Birney thought it would be better to postpone it until Mon- day and the court then adjourned. ——_——_—_ DABBLED IN STOCKS. Mr. Ritter’s Operations Led to an As signment. PHILADELPHIA, January 3.—The Solici- tors’ Loan ard Trust Company of this city, of which Richard W. Clay is president, made an assignment today to Col.'T. Dewitt Cuyler, one of the directors. The trouble was caused through the out- side operations of J. R. Ritter, who has charge of the company’s real estate depart- ment. He is said to have floated a series o1 drafts on the Tradesmen’s National Bank of this city for a New York man. Two weeks ago President Clay of the trust company gave the Tradesmen’s Bank a bonu of $150,000-to indemnify it against loss. This bond was given without the knowledge ot the directors, and when the board learnea of it they repudiated the action of their president and in view of the circumstances decided to make an assignment in order to learn the true condition of the company. An examination of the books shows that the assets are all right. ——__ ATTACKED BY FOOTPADS. W. Lewis Fraser of New York Badly Beaten, NEW YORK, January 8.—W. Lewis Fraser, head of the art department of the Century Magazine, is in a precarious condi- tion as a result of an assault made upon hin by footpads as he was going to his apartments from the Players’ Club, of which he is a member, Wednesday morn- ing. He was beaten into insensibility and afterwards taken to a police station, which one he does not know. When he returned to consciousness he explained as well as he could the circumstances of the assault and was taken home. The police have so far made no report on the case. —_——_— Urinh H. Griffith Falls Dead. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., January 3.—Uriah H. Griffith, @ prominent gftizen of the first election district of this county, early this morning fell dead in the store of Beall & Higgins at Laytonsville. Heart failure is supposed to be the cause of death. He was about seventy years of age, and had for many years been an active republican politician. For a number of years he held a position in the custom house at Balti- more, They Cont‘nued Their ‘a wy Tactics in the Finance Com : ittze. A Question of soprigo Play—Delief That There Was an Understand- ing With the Syndicate. The silver men continued their dilatory tactl:s in the Senate finance committee with the resuli that the committee did nothing today, but adjourned until Mon- day, and Mr. Morrill announced in the Sen- ate that he hoped for a report from the committee m Tuesday. This delay from day to day with the promise of action some other time is accomplishing what it ‘s probably designed for, the embarrass- ment of Mr. Cleveland in closing out his bond contract. Th2 situation from the first has been too plain to admit of discussion. Mr. Cleveland is not going to get from ongress the reliet he has asked for. He knew this when he asked it. Question of Political Play. The question is one of political play and is whether the Senate or the President shall first come to a show down. Mr. Cleveland wants the Senate to show their hand, so that he may say that his course was adopted as a consequence of their failure. The Senate design is that Mr. Cleveland shall either await their pleasure or shall disclose his own hand first. Mr. Cleveland has all along intended to issue bonds. The majority of the Senate intend to pass a free silver bill. The question is which shall act first. As long as the Senate committee is deliberating the President is barred from making the plea of adverse action by the Senate as an excuse for independent action himself. It looks as if the Senate might exhaust Mr. Cleveland's patience and drive him to a bond issue while their action is still in debate. This, apparently, is what they want. Underata ding With the Bond Syndi- cate. The belief of the anti-Clevelend men is that the administration has had an under- standing with the bond syndicate since the tirst contract was signed that they should be given another chance to handle bonds. It is thought that the option con- tained in the first contract was continued by verbal understanding after it expired in the written instrument. If this is true the Senators want the-fact disclosed, or, at least, made reasonably clear. The Tariff Bill. It is expected that the finance committee will report the tarfff bill without amend- ment and the policy of the republicans will be to put it through the Senate in that form. see Ses CAPITOL TOPICS. - Following are the im important bills and resolutions introduced in the Senate today: By Mr. Hale; Authorizing the Postmaster General to contract with the Pacific Cable ‘Company for the construction of a tele- graph cable between San Francisco and Honolulu, Hawaii. The United States is to pay the company annually a sum equal to + per cent of the amount expended each year by the compery. The contract is to continue.for twenty years, and the line is to be completed by July 1, 1897. It is also stipulated that the government may come into the ownership of the proposed line by paying the cost price for it, with 5 per cent added. A Service Pension Bill. By Mr. Sherman: To grant service pen- sions to officers and enlisted men who served in the.late war, at the rate per month of one cent for each day servéd. By Mr. Allen: Recognizing the preposed trans-Mississippi exposition to be held at Omaha in 1898, and providing for the erec- tion of a government building~and@- for a ee, exhibit. By Mr. Brice: Extending the duties of the deep water ways commission so as to authorize it to inquire into the feasibility of erecting dams on the outlets of the great lakes, and for the purpose of raising the evel of the lakes. By Mr. Lodge: A resolution inquiring of the Secretary of the Navy the cost of put- ting all monitors not now.in use into suit- able condition for harbor defense. Bond and Tariff Amendment. By Mr. Call—An amendment to the House bond bill instructing the Secretary of the Treasury to advertise for the loan of $100,- v0y,000 in gold in exchange for legal tender treasury notes, payable in gold or silver, at the option of the government. By Mr. Gear—An amendmient to the House tariff bill, laying a duty of $24 per head on horses and mules; cattie, $7.50 per head; sneep and hogs, $1.50 per head, and aiso ancreasing the duty on breadstutts and other farm products. By Mr. Lodge—A resolution, which was sent to the foreign relations committee, that the committee on foreign retations be di- rected to inquire and report to the Senate whetaner the isiands of the St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas in the West Indies can now be purenased trom the Danish govera- ment as provided by the treaty signed at Copenhagen in October, 1867, and whether if these islands are not purchased by the United States, it is probable they will be sold by the Dameh government to some other power. oS ALL DIED OF ALCOHOLISM. The Result of the autopsies on Three Dead Men. There were three dead bodies in the morgue this morning, William Russell (col- cred), James Murphy and an unknown, ac- counts,of whose deaths weré published in yesterday's Star. Coroner Hammett exam- ined the cases and found that the men had died from the effects of alcohol. The body of the colored man was turned over to his family, while the other bodies are still held. It 1s sald that Murphy has friends in Balti- more, but nothing ha&’ been heard from them. The bodies will be heid a reasonable time for identification, and if they are not ey claimed they will be buried in potter’s fie ——— Prices of Peanuts to Drop. Special Dispatch to ‘The, Evening Star. PETERSBURG, Va., “January 3.—The Virginia Peanut Association has gone into liquidation. It was organized nearly two: years ago. The cause of the cullapse is said to have been due to-so much outside opposition and a lack of concert of action among those in the association. There mey be cutting of prices for a while. Over 50,000 postal cards have been mailed to dealers In peanuts throughout. the Uniten States informing them of the liquidation of the association. —.__ A Petition for Preachers. Mr. Shermian presenteda petition of the Colunibus, Ohio, Methodist preachers’ mesting, held December 30, in favor of in- creasing the age of consent in the DistFict of Columbia from sixteen to eighteen years, “‘so bringing the national law up to the standard of the most advanced states which protect ‘he purity not less than the property of our girls.” The petition states that the meczing adopting the above peti- tion represented twenty-five pastors and a membership of 10,000 people. Injunction Sought Against the Poto- mao _ and Power Company. DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS ARRAIGNED Legal Protest Against Placing Poles and Wires in the Streets. TEMPORARY RESTRAINT Upon the petition of Anton Gioetzner, Michael F. O'Donoghue, Clarence F. Nor- ment, Joshua R. Buckelew, Rosalind R. Bagger, Arthur H. Whitlark, Annie A. Thomas and J. Donald Cameron, Chief Justice Bingham today signed an order re- straining the District Commissioners, Os- car T. Crosby, Charles A. Lieb end the Po- tomac Light and Power Company from Permitting or causing to be erected any Poles and the-stringing of wires on the same upon or over any of the following Streets or public highways: 16th street extended, Kenesaw avenue,Kenesaw street, Sherman avenue, Bismarck street, 7th street extended, Lincoln street, 6th street ex- tended, College avenue, Linden street, Elm street, Le Droit avenue, T street and North Capitol street extended. The chief justice made the restraining order returnable Saturday, the Ith instant. In their petition, filed by Attorney James K. Redington, the petitioners state that they own property on the streets and high- ways referred to, and claim that the District Commissioners, without authority of law, have granted a permit to the other defend- ants to occupy said streets and highways for the purpose of erecting poles and string- ing wires thereon for the purpose of electric lighting, power, etc. Violations of the Laws Alicged. The legal existence of the Potumac Light and Power Company is denied, and tt is claimed that Crosby and Lieb have erected within the last ninety days wires over and above High street, Rockville pike and Woodley rosd in direct violation of the acts _ +h cae of July 18, 1888, 1nd" ebruary.” cs it from the Die, trict ‘Commissioners tc to erect poles and strit wires thereon from .the~émtersection of Woodley and Kingle Ford roads upon and... over the streets and maewars above men- tioned to the entrance of Soldiers’ Home. This permit, they further say, was obtain- ed under the assumed name of the Poto- mac Light and Power Company, and was issued, they assert, without legal right or authority. So far, explain the complain- ants, the poles have been erected as far as 6th street and Kenesaw avenue, the pur- Pose being to connect with the Eckington clectric light plant at Eckington. Besides asserting that the proposed e1 cvethead ‘wires is unlayful, the « a ants state that a8 ‘Will greatly and ably damage their , that it be unsightly, dange 0, life, and a public and aelbegpencs melanie: y also say that _ clei intent of eee ae since 1888 has been to prohibit within the District of oe lumbia the erection of any additional ees Gt lageied wires for electric light- electrical purposes, except by re and direct permiss‘on granted by Congress, and that to Cor is reserved the exclusive right to grant such permits. No Objection to Undergrouna Wires. It Is said by some of the interested par- ties there is no opposition to an under- ground electric system and that while they gteatly value electric lighting and power, they will do without it very. willingly if they cannot have such benefits save through overhead poles and wires. “Tt was ae: claimed today by a well-known resident of Columbia Heights that the United —. Electric Light Company fatied- to.scoure permit to construct an underground electrie lighting system in Columbia Heights, and that when District Commissioner Truesdell transferred his interest in the electric light plant to the Potomac Light and Power Company the permit refetred to in the bill of complaint filed today was granted by the District a ———_—__ ORDERED HOSTILITIES TO ‘stor. Negotiations to Follow Regarding the Surrender of Zeltoun. CONSTANTINOPLE, Janusry 3—The ‘Turkish government has ordered the com- mander of the Turkish forces surrounding Zeltoun to suspend hostilities pending the negotiations which the representatives of the powers have entered into in order to bring out the surrender of the Zeitounlis. The ambassadors have given their re- spective consuls at Aleppo full. Whberty of action in regard to the steps which they msy think necessary to take to prevail upon the insurgents to surrender. CHICAGO, January 3—A mass meeting of the friends of Armenia was held last evening. Miss Clura Barton, president of the Red Cross Society, mate’ an address, in which she said $500,00 would relicve the sufferings of Armenia. She expressed her willingness to go with any expedition to that country. —— WANTS $200,000 DAMAGES. Simon Ensign Says He Was Unjustly Imprisoned by Spain. PONTIAC, Mich., January 3.—Simon En- sign of this city, who was cenfined in the Moro Castle at Havana, Cuba, for twenty years, has filed at Washington a ‘claim for $200,000 damages against the Spanish gov- ernment. Ensign was an American citizen em- ployed at railroading. Suspected of sym- pathy with the rebels, and guiltless of crime, he was thrown into prison and kept there twenty years without trial. His two companions died in prison, and it * was only by accident that he escaped. He fled from a Spanish man-of-war to which he was transferred while it was anchored at New Orleans. is seventy-two years of age. a JUSTICE. PECKHAM. He Called on the President and Re- ecived His Commission. Justice Rufus Peckham of the United States Supreme Court called at the White House today, in company with Secretary Lamont,, paid his respects to the Presi- Gent. receivéd his commission, and will take his seat on the bench next Mon- day. ‘Fell in an Epileptic Fit. Emma Molary, fifty years of age, was taken with an eplieptic fit while at the head of the staircase at her home, 1129 7th street northwest, this afternoon. She fell to the bottom of the flight and struck on her skull with terrifi¢ force, sustaining a severe fracture. Surgical assistance was rendered by Drs. McGrath, Peralto and Johnson at the Emergency. Hospital, where the sufferer was taken. rede aes On the Retired List. Capt. Charles H. Greene, seventeenth in- fantry, has been placéd on the retired lst on his own application, under the thirty years’ service clause.