Evening Star Newspaper, January 17, 1896, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. Lith Street, by The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. ‘The Brening Star is served to tm the per wesk cr 46 cents per” wosth, Copies ‘af the Foner oceote gach. saywhere. in the nited States or Canada—postage prepaid—so PGaterday Quintople Sheet Star, $1 per year, with a 3 Che Zoening Star. No. 13,377. WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1896-FOURTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. SOUTH AND WEST|4 THRILLING EXPERIENCE) FQR THE BERMUDAS|°'STRICT IN CONGRESS/SESSION TOMORROW What the Last Ballot for the Demo- cratic Convention Shows. BIG FIGHT ON THE FINANCIAL PLANK The Candidate Regarded as Subor- dinate to the Platform. EFFECT OF THIRD TERM An examination of the last ballot taken in the contest for the democratic national convention shows that the southern and the western nen voted for St. Louis. This meats a stubborn fight when that bedy - meets over the finarcial plank of the plat- form. It likewise marks a change in senti- ment in certain silver circles since last week. A Change of Sentiment. Only a few days ago some of the warm- est friends of silver from the south ex- pressed in private conversation indiffer- ence on the subject of where the conven- tion should be held. They failed to wince when New York even was mentioned. “Let it go to New York,” they said. ‘‘Why not? If the administraticn’s course with regard to the finances is to be indorsed, or even ‘smoothed over,” for campaign purposes, let the work be done where that sort of work is best understood.” But these gen- tlemen seem to have thought better of that Proposition. When the time for action ar- rived they threw their influence with com- mitteemen in favor of a town close to their own bailiwicks, and where silver could hope for more ardent championship than In New York or anywhere in the east. ‘They lost their choice of places, but, nev- ertheless, are content with Chicago. They consider that a stiff fight can be put up there, and they promise that one such shall ‘be. ‘ May Be the Last Silver Battle. ‘The Chicago battle may prove to be the last one fought over silver by the organiza- tiea now known as the democratic party. A compromive is impending, but some o. the oldest and ablest members of the party are anxious about the result. They them- selves are unable at this time to ouiline such a platform as will bring together men now at antipodes on the money ques- tion. How much of the demand for a gold standard will the eastern democrats abate for party harmony? How much of the de- mend for the free coinage of silver will the southern and western democrats abate for party harmony? If the appearance of harmony is effected in the convention, how will the deliverance put forth stand the test of a merciless campaign criticism? And if it is rejected by the people at the polls, and the republicans sweep the coun- try, will not the two .lemocratic factions then, each charging the other with the responsibility for defeat, become perma- nently separated? Will not the work at once begin of trying to form for 1900 that urion of the south and west, which, for years, has been the dream of the silver men? : Candidate Subordinate to Platform. ‘The question of the democracy’s candi- date fs still regarded as subordinate to its platform. The majority of the party’s leaders are extremists on one side or the other. Until the platform is constructed, therefore, the man to stand on it cannot with safety be selected. Ordinarily, Mr. Olmey or Mr. Whitney would not suit Mis- sissippi or Alabama any more than would Mr. Stevenson or Governor Campbell suit New York or Massachusetts. But, extra- ordinarily, things may be changed. Give Mississippi a comforting assurance about silver, and Massachusetts an assurance against the loss of credit by the govern- ment, and one good man almost as well as another will answer the party's ends. Col- onel Morrison is regarded as something of an exception to this rule. In a certain sense he is a platform in himself. He is the father of tariff reform, he has a con- servative record on silver, and as an ex- soldier he stands well with the soldier vote. The adjustment in hisecase would not have to be as nice as in the cases of others. Third Term Effect. If the third term continues to develop it ought to fare as well in Chicago as any- where. Mr. Cleveland has been twice nom- inated there, and twice elected. The town may not be overpartial to him as an in- dividual, but he is fortunate in enjoying the cordial disapprobation of Governor Alt- geld. That ought to help him. ————_+.* THE SHERMAN STATUE. Selection of the Designs and the Site te Be Made Tomorrow. ‘The general committee charged with the erection of an equestrian monument to Sherman held a preliminary meeting at the War Department this morning and con- sidered informally the report of the art committee appointed to consider the artis- tic merits of the designs submitted in com- petition. There are twenty-three designs, of which one will be adopted for the monu- ment, and of which four others will be en- titled to an award of $1,000 each as the next best in order of merit. The report of the art committee will be held in confi- dence until the general committee shall have acted upon it. It was accompanied by a letter from Mr. Bruce Price, its chair- man, in which he spoke of the models on exhibition in the War Department as fol- lows: ““We found a most interesting exhi- bition, and the most artistie competition of the sort we have ever seen. Regarding the models purely as works of art, they do the greatest credit to American designs.” ‘The selection of the designs and the se- lection of a site for the monument will Probably be decided at a meeting of the full committee, to be held in this city to- morrow. The committee consists of Sec- retary Lamont, Gen. Miles and the follow- ing members of the Society ef the Army of the Tennessee: Gen. G. M. Dodge of New York, Gen. J. W. Noble of St. Louis, Col. D. B. Henderson of Iowa, Col. Cornelius Cadie of Cincinnati, Col. J. F. How of St. Louis and Col. Augustus Jacobson of Chi- cago. The last two named will not be able to attend the meeting. They will be repre- sented by Gen. J. A. Williamson of this city. Gen. Dodge says that when the ques- tions of site and designs are decided he will {ssue an official statement announcing the facts to the public. He is not now pre- pared to say when the statement is likely to be issued, ir view of the fact that it is impossible to say in advance how long it will take the committee to reach a conclu- sion on the various questions involved. + —___ A PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE. Legislation Necessary to Extend the Time for Public Land Suits. The President today sent a special mes- sage to the House urging the necessity for immediate legistution to extend the limit of time within w suits can be brought by the government to annul grants of public jands. He called attention to the numerous complications that had arisen between rail- roads as to grants that overlapped, and the necessity for adjustment. The time in h suits can be brought expires March . 1896, and if the time limit were allowed to expire, then a portion ofthe adjustment act would be rendered nugatory. The gov- ernment, the President says in conclusion, should not be grevented from going into the courts and righting wrongs perpe‘rated by its agents. The U. 8 Cruiser Baltimore in a Typhoon e Two Men Were Sacrificed, but the Off the Japan Coast. Ship Fally Proved Her Sea- “~~ Tbe ay going Qualities. The Secretary of the’ Navy ‘today re- cetved an official report by mail from Capt. B. F. Day, commanding the United States cruiser Baltimore,” giving ‘#*-detailed ac- count of the thrilling experiences of that vessel in a typhoon while on the way from Yokohama to Honolulu. The report is dated at Honoluln, whence the Balti- more is said to have sailed on the 10th instant. Although told in the usual formal Manner governing the phraseology of such reports, the story which Capt. Day em- bodies in his communication is of intense interest. Rat Overtaken by a Typhoon. The Baltimore sailed ftom Yokohama on December 3, and on the night of the suc- ceeding day was overtaken by a typhoon about 400 miles off the Japan coast. Four days and a half of perilous experience were lost lying to in the midst of the storm. On the 5th the weather conditions had grown much worse, hatches were bat-. tened down; the ship slowed to steerage way, and all preparations made for heavy weather. The barometer fell steadily dur- ing all the days of the typhdon until: it reached 28.50 on the morning of the 9th. Long tefore this.Capt. Day had concluded that the ship was in the northeast quadrant of a typhoon, but the wind blowing against the Japan current with such great force had created a wicked sea, with a remark- ably steep advancing face, and Capt. Day was apprehensive of serious consequences should he attempt.to keep away and run out, and saw no other safe course than to ride head to it. The ship took many seas on board during the time she was head to the typhoon, some of them heavy, but when running off comparatively little water was shipped. “She would have done much better head to,” says Capt. Day, “had we stopped the engines and ridden to a_ sea ancho:. Ships should be supplied with such an appliance. It would be ex- tremely difficult to improvise one and launch it in the midst of a heavy gale.” Two Men Lost. ‘The damage done was not serious, but the lives of two men were sacrificed. These were Carpenter Isaac Cooper of Philadel- phia, who was killed by being thrown vio- lently to the deck, and Gustav Jessen, act- ing boatswain’s mate, who. was lost over- beard under conditions which made it im- possible to save him. A number of the boats were injured, and some of the deck fittings carried away and railings bent. In conclu- sion, Capt. Day says:,“This ship has been looked upon with suspicion as regards her seagoing qualities, and, for my part, I have never been desirous of testing her. But by her performance irf.the gale, my confidence in her has been fully established, and I con- sider her an excellent sea boat. No ship could have done better. It was the worst weather I have ever experienced at sea, yet the ship went through it without serious damage or danger, and was quite fit to en- counter another at once.” CAPITOL TOPICS. The Senate committee on foreign relations was In session today. The only question before it was the legislative affirmation of the Monroe doctrine, and the discussion proceeded upon the basis of a resolution Senator Davis had prepared under the in- structions of the committee at the meeting held last Satyrday. The terms of the reso- lution are known only to the members of the committee and the prospects now are that if the committee agrees to report it the wording will not be known until it shall be brought into the Senate. It has been found difficult so to phrase the document as to suit the ideas of all or of even a majority of the committee. This fact accounts for the length of time given the subject, and also for the careful mianner tf’ which its text and even its outlines is guarded. ‘The committee adjourned at 1: o'clock, after voting to report the Davis resolution with a few verbal modifications suggested by the committee. It is understood that the resolution will be presented to the Senate on Monday. ‘7 . A After disposing of the Monroe doctrine the committee entered upon a brief discus- sion of ‘the Cuban question, but took no action upon this beyond instructing the subcommittee on this subject to meet next a for a detailed inqujry into the ques- tion. . To Investigate Controller Bowler. Some talk concerning the resolution intro- duced by Mr. Boatner (La,) for an inves- tigation of Controller Bowler’s course in the sugar bounty appropriation occurred in the House committee on judiciary today. The resolution is still in the hands of a subcommittee, of whieh Mr. Ray (N. Y.)"s chairman, and Mr. Boatner desired to have it taken up by the full committee at once. It was concluded to let it lie over until the uext meeting, when the subcommittee probably will report a substitute providing for an inquiry into the Iaw under which the controller claims to act, with a recom. mendation as to whether further legisla- tion 1s needed to define and restrict the controller's duties. The preamble to Mr. Boatner’s resolution reciting the effects of Mr. Bowler’s course will not ‘he adopted, as the committee thinks it has no official knowledge of the statements made. Favor the Pickler Bill. The national committee on legislation of the Grand Army of the Republie, compris- ing the commander-in-chief and some of his staff officers, appeared hefore the House committee on invalid pensions today to recommend pension legislation. They ex- pressed themselves as favoring the Pickler pension bill, with a few amendments. To Extend the Time. Mr. Rusk of Maryland has introduced a bill extending the time for the construc- tion of the Maryland and- Washington reflroad one year—that is, until March 2, 1897. er Wants to Succeed Cameron. Representative John B. Robinson has written a letter to Senator Quay, declaring Himself a candidate for the United States Senate, to succeed Senator Cameron, and recommending that the names of all the candidates for the Senate shall be printed upon the slip to be voted upon at the com- ing primaries in that state. The Homestead Laws. The House committee on public lands to- day decided to report to the House the free home bill proposed by Chairman Lacey of Iowa, which {s practically a revival of the old homestead laws. Under this bill all settlers on Indian lands that are opened"to settlement may acquire title to the lands without paying for them by a residence of five years. If they desire to secure their titles before the expiration of five years they. will be able to do so by paying the rates fixed by the government. The Dupont Case, The Senate committee op privileges and elections held a brief sessicn today to con- sider the Dupont case. The constitution of the state of Delaware was ordered printed’ for the use of the committee, which will meet again on Friday of next wegk. Reported Destination of the British “Flying Squadron.” INFORMATION DENIED BY ADMIRALTY Doubt Expressed Here Regarding the Rumor. CURRENT FOREIGN ‘TOPICS PORTSMOUTH, England, January 17— The flying squadron, consisting of the bat- tle skip Revenge, flagship, Rear Admiral Alfred T. Dale; the battle ship Royal Oak,, the first-clars cruisers Gibraltar and These- us and the second-class cruisers Charybdis and Hermoine, together with six first-class torpedo boat destroyers, assembled at Spit- head at noon today. It is reported that the destination of this squadron, after leaving Bantry bay, Ire- land, will be the Bermudas. The Report is Doubted. It is doubted that Great Britain would send such a powerful fleet into American waters at this time, when their presence in force suflicient to overcome our North Atlantic squadron would almost certainly be regarded as a hostile demonstration, ce1~ tainly not called for as long as diplomacy has rot yet exhausted its resources in the settlement of the differences between the United States and Great Britain. The Bermudas, lying between six and even hundred miles off the coast of the Jnited States, would afford an admirable base of cperations against any point from Cape Cod down to Key West, and while the islands are part of the British empire, the assemblage of a powerful ficet there could snot Le regarded with indifference by the United States government, unless its pres- ence was explained satisfactorily. Possible Change in Attitude. The report that the British flying squad- ron has been ordered to the Bermudas has excited great interest here. Although its accuracy is doubted by many, especially in department circles, no one is able to sp2ak positively on the subject. The feeling at the State Department is that the prospects are too premising for a settlement of ‘he Venezuelan controversy for the British to want to cause irritation by a demonstra- tion of force in this quarter. At the same time it does not appear that the depart- ment has any substantial evidence of ihe amicable disposition of Great Britain, ex- cept so far as the London press may re- flect British sentiment. But in this‘connection it is remarked that during the past two or thre days there have been expressicns from this source less friendly than during the time that Ger- many and Great Britain were frowning at each other. It is not impossible that Lord Salisbury’s attitude toward the Venezulean matter changes from time to time, accord- ing to the changes of the international sit- uation in Europe. It is recognized here that the adjustment of affairs with Ger- many may have restored Salisbury’s orig- inal policy of defiance toward the United States. If it proves true that the British flying squadron Is coming this way, the proba- bility Is that the original plan of the Navy Department to send the North Atlantic squadron to the vicinity of Venezuela for winter practice and evolutions will be car- ried out. M. FLOQUET DYING. He Has Had a Long und Creditable Career. PARIS, January 17.—-M. Floquet, former- ly president of the council of ministers, who has been suffering with congestion of the Ings, is said to be dying. He was bern in 1828, and was at one time editor of the Tcmps, and later of the Siecle. He Was also assistant of the mayor of Paris duting the commune, and has held the of- fice of president of the chamber of depn- ties, minister of the interior and other im- portant posts. GOVERNMEN 'T GRAIN MONOPOLY. German Liberals Will Vote Against ‘ the Proposition, BERLIN, January 17.—The debate on Count von Kanitz’s proposal that the gov- ernment should establish a monopoly for the sale of grain was resumed in the reichstag toray. Herr Radziwill, the polish leader, con- curred in the view of the subject taken by the minister for foreign affairs, Baron Marschall von Bieberstein, and Herr Ben- nigsen declared that the national liberals would vote against the motion, which, he added, was opposed to both the spirit ‘and letter of existing commercial treaties. French Exports and Imports. PARIS, January 17.—According to the official figures, just made public, French imports for 1895 decreased 000,900 francs, and exports increased 310,000,000 francs, compared with 1894. es CAR CLEANERS RUN DOWN. A Distressing Tragedy in the Upper Part of New York. NEW ¥ORK, January 17.—A light,engine ran into a crowd of car cleaners, who were walking the tracks on the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, at 142d street today, killing two women and injuring two other women and a man so badly that they will probably die. This is the list of the dead and injured: Dead—Lizzie Becker, thirty-six years old; Dalia Mahan, thirty-six years old. Injured—Maria Druff, fifty-aix years old, internally injured; Maggie Tracey, thirty- five years old, right leg cut off; Louis Yen- der of 449 West 42d street, both legs broken. At the point where the accident occurred the road runs through a cut, on the west side of which there is a high embankment, and on the east side a high stone wall, on the top of which there is an iron railing. ‘The car cleaners had met at the Mott Haven station of the road, and were on their way to the car yard, at 160th street and Vander- bilt avenue. Yender, Tracey and Druff were employed by the New York Central, the Malian woman by the Wagner Palace Car Company, and the Becker woman by the New York, New Haven and Hartford rail- road. : They had redched 142d street when the Chathara express on the New York, New Haven and Hartford came thundering down and the cleaners stepped aside'to let it pass. The train was a long one, and its noise drowned all others in the ears of the work- people, so at the time a light engine com- ing up the northbound track was unob- served. Just as the express had whisked by the éngine struck them. ‘A chorus of horrible shrieks was the first intimasion the engineer had of the calam- ity. The Becker and Mahan women were ground unger the wheels of the engine, and the others were thrown against the stone walk ee Clemency to Capt. Sumner. The President has remitted the unexpired portion’ of the sentence of six months’ sus- pension, imposed by court-martial in the case of Capt. George W. Sumner for ne- glect of duty in the matter of the docking of the eruiser Colu:abia at Southampton Just after the Kiel celebration. - A Pergonal Inspection of Proposed Railroad Extensions in, the District. Eckington and Belt Lines Must Have Modern Equipment—Sqnate Com- mittee Meeting Today. a : Mr. McMillan, chafrmap, jaecompanied by Mr. Charles Moore, clerk of the Senate committee on the District. of Columbia, took a long drive yesterday afternoon to make a personal inspegtion of proposed railway extensions. The last Congress passed an act to incorporate the Capital Railway Company, which: was authorized to build a road beginning at a point on the District line near the Potomac river, south- east of Sheppard's ferty, thence in a north- erly direction to the south side of the Eastern branch, by transfer ferry to Ist or South Capitol streét,,to N street. Other connections are also provided for, but it is now sought by bill to amend the act authorizing the above route by having the road come into the city by way of the Navy Yard bridge instead of by transfer ferry at South Capitol street. Mr. Mc- Millan particularly desired to see the con- dition of traffic on the Navy Yard bridge, and he found that structure filled vith teams going and coming. The traffic on the bridge was such as to cause him to look upon the request of. the Capital Rail- way Company as impracticable. Must Have Modern- Equipment. Mr. McMillan and other members of the District committee are giving especial at- tention and thought to the street railroad problem, and are now considering the Eck- ington and Belt line systems in view of the extensions that have: been esked by -the men who control these systems. The District Commissioners. gre preparing a map which will show a route that would be approved by them, by which the Belt line could reach the Zoo by an extension of its 11th street branch. This will short- ly be placed before the committee and will receive attention. The committee, how- ever, is about unanimously in favor of making an arrangement with these two Ines of railway by which the latter will be equipped with a modern system of power for running cars, and it is likely that no favor will be accorded the roads of the character of an. extension unless such authority for an extension be ac- companied by an agreement on the part of the roads to equip ita lines with a sat- isfactory motive powefy The under- ground electric system is regarded as the most convenient and thé eommittee favor applying this system to' the Eckington and Belt lines within the city of Washingion. Senate District Committee. There was a meeting of the Senate com- mittee on the District of Columbia at the Capitol today. Senator Harris, who has been confined at his home through the ef- fects of a bad cold for several days, was present. Others present were Messrs. Mc- Millan, chatrmal Gallinger, Hansbrough, Pritchard, Baker, Wetmore, Gibson and Bacon, the absentees being Messrs. Proc- tor, Faulkner, Smith amd Martin. As but a short time has elapsed since bills were assigned to spécial committees the members were not prepgred to make re- port, so that the full committee had noth- ing to act upon. : Change in Tax Penalties. The committee informally discussed a bill introduced by Mr. Call to remit the penal- ties on unpaid taxes in ‘tte District of Co- lumbia, which has been feported on ad- versely by the Commissiohers. Mr. Hans- brough, who has charge’ of this bill, de- sired ta get further information on it from the Commissioners, in order to show the amount of unpaid taxes that would be af- fected by. the measure. THe bill, however, is not at all likely to be fayorably reported by the committee. It provides that in place of the penalties now imposed on unpaid taxes such overdue taxes shall be as- sessed 6 per cent interest.. It is generally thought by members of the committee that if this were done it would extremely difficult to collect taxes, as a ye number of people would be very giad to borrow money, which they might in effect do, by not paying their taxes at’6 per cent in- terest. The committee will meetagain next Fri- day, when it is thought that a large num- ber of bills will be ready.to be placed be- fore them by subcommittees, and much work will probably be done. A Medical Henring. The House District committee will give a hearing next Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock on the bill to regulate the practice of medicine in the District. * Anacostia R. R. Report. The annual report of the Anacostia and Potomac railway for the year .ending De- cember 31 last was submitted tothe House today. The receipts were as follows: Bonds, $44,10 traffic, $45,904.53; old ma- terial, $1,707. bills payable, $126,816.11. ‘The expendituves were: Bills payable, $137,- 22 construction, $10,153.69; equipment, 0; interest, $14,318,17; salary and 460.70; hay, feed and straw, $11,- 87; maint y 16 freight, rent and sundries, $3,695.18; shoeing horses, $1,- 520.39; taxes and interest, $549.79; oll, chim- nies, etc., $125.85. The number of passen- gers cerried during the year was 1,147,352. oe WILL COIN MORE, SILVER. 2 it Will"Be a Portion of the Bullion Now in the Treasury. It is undcrstood that the Secretary of the Treasury contemplates the * cdinage of a portion of the silver bullion in the treasury. At the beginning of the present administration there were in the <reasury 28,894,000 coined silver dol- lars available for the redemptfon of the notes of "#0. Since then there has been scme coinage. The redemption of notes of ‘90 in silver since then has reduced these ecins to $13,563, It fs the intention of the Secretary to coin eneygh of the bullion held against the notes of! *)0 to at least re- store the amount of coined silver dollars to what it was at the beginning of the administration. This will involve the coin- age of Letween $15,000,000 and $16,000,000, and the proftt from the coinage will be added to the free silver in the treasury. The cSinage will be doné in the mints of Philadelpt ia_and New Orléans, most of it probably in Philadelphia. poe ee +, A Furlough Decision. Assistant Secretary, Doe mas made a de- cision in regard to cne of the army regula- tions which is of speeial interest to persons who enlist in. the ai for the purpose of securing appointment as second lieutenants by promotion from the ranks. According to bis decision, the phrase “exclusive of technical service due to furlough or other absence from duty in his own interests” will not apply to leave of absence or fur- lough granted to an enlisted man during the first two years of enhistment not ex- ceeding fifteen days in all, nor to such long- er furlough as is now authorized by para- graph 107 of the regulations, in a case which may be determined by competent authority to be extraordimary, The whole. purpose is to prevent the practice which has become prevalent of late+af granting long leaves or furloughs to.camdidates for commissions in order to allow them time to prepare themselves for examinatton. ‘The action is taken on tlie theory that the ren already have abundant. leisure for study without being granted leave of ab- sence for that purpose. *: The Venezuelan Commission to For- mally Select a Secretary. MR. MALLET-PREVOSTS QUALITIES What Justice Brewer Says of the Work to Be Done. CAN’T PREDICT THE CLOSE Owing to Mr. Justice Brewer's engage- ments on the Supreme bench this week,the Venezuelan boundary commission has uot been able to make much progress since its adjournment last Saturday. Arrangements have been made, however, for a meeting in temporary quarters on the eighth floor of the Sun building on F street tomor- row, and workmen are engaged today in preparing the rooms for that purpose. One of the matters expected to be settled at this meeting is the formal election of Mr. Severo Mallet-Prevost of New York as sec- retary of the commission. The Probable Secretary. Mr. Mallet-Prevost stands high at the ‘New York bar, and has an international practice. Notwithstanding his foreign name, ‘he is a full-fledged citizen of the United States. Most of his early life was spent at Zacatecas, Mex., where his father was the American consul. He is a fine linguist, and {s especially familiar with the Spanish language. This knowledge will stand him in good stead in prosecuting the work of the commission, inasmuch as all the: records of the Venezuelan case are in that language. Mr. Mallet-Prevost gain- ed special distinction as the government counsel in the celebrated case of Peralta- Reavis, involving the title to 1,300,000 acres of land in New Mexico. His fee in that case was $25,000. One of the chapters of the Peralta history treated of the early | archives of Spain, and to those archives the commission must look for important evidence on the boundary dispufe. At the @resent time Mr. P. Mallet-Prevost is associated with Mr. Coudert. a son of the commissioner in the dispute between Italy and Colombia, which is before President Cleveland for arbitration. If Necessary to Visit Venezuela. In case it is found necessary to visit Ven- ezuela tq establish facts not otherwise ob- tainable, ‘the commission will hardly be able to make its report in less than six months’ time. Outside of the voyage to Venezuela; which would consume not less than a month, going and returning, the journey through the wild interiorgpf the country involved in the controversy would be very difficult. With a small flying force of eight lightly equipped colonial police, the journey to the Nruan outpost, marking one end of the line claimed by Great Britain, which was the scene of a recent conflict between the two forces, could not be made in legs than twenty-three days. It is estimated that a complete survey of the disputed territory would require at least five months’ steady work. What Justice Brewer Says. In a recent interview in regard to the Plan of operations of the commisston, Mr: Justice Brewer, its presiding officer, said that they would freely avail themselves of the mass of documentary evidence in the State Department and elsewhere in Wash- ington bearing upon the controversy. “Our main .room,” he said, “will be provided with long tables, upon which maps may be laid, and one side of the wall will be given to racks for the hanging of mapa of Venezuela and British Columbia, according to the dates of issue, and the country in which they were made. Copies of docu- ments, too, bearing upon this case are to be had at the State Department and at the Venezuelan legation. The proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society, of which Sir Robert Schomburgk was a correspond- ing meniber, will be drewn upon for ma- terial, and,.in fact, no reliable source will be neglected in our search for the truth in this matter. Of course, our examination of all these documents and maps is only preliminary to our selection and authenti- cation. While we may take the copies of the documents for this preliminary investi- gation, it would of course not be proper to look upon them as authentic without a final official werification by one or more of our number by an inspection of the. original documents. It is therefore difficult to say how long this work is going to take. Can't Predict the Time. “We have hoped that our labors might be completed in three months, but it is not pessible to make any accurate statement on this subject, for it will probably be necessary for some of our number to visit not only the country of Venezuela, but al- so to examine the dcecuments of convey- ance by the Spanish and Dutch govern- ments at Madrid and The Hague. I do not suppose that {t will be necessary for all of us to visit all three of these countries, but it will certainly be necessary for some of us to see the original documents if those original documents cannot be brought to us. These trips to foreign countries will in themselves probably consume over a month in each instance, and so it is ex- tremefy doubtful whether.we will have completed our work in three months’ time. The international and diplomatic import- ance of our work will preclude the possi- bility, of haste in any direction, and we must therefore not be hurried in any way.” ee ANOTHER BRITISH EXPEDITION Said to Have Left for the Cuyuni River in Venezuela. NEW YORK, Janvary 17.—A special to the World from Caracas, Venezuela, says: Another expedition, with two cannon, is reported to have left Georgetown, British Guiana, for Cuyuni station, on the Guiana frontier. It is said to be commanded by Col. Nicinnis. A cable dispatch from Trin- idad says this second force Is to go to the extreme limit of the English claim, though the colonial office at London denies that any force is going there. ‘The papers continue urging energetic action by the government and the ‘ton- struction of telegraphic lines to the fron- tier. ‘A special meeting of the cabinet has just been’ held to decide upon some vigorous method of punishing the revolutionists. ‘Phe newsparers publish a letter from Gen. Jose Manuel Hernandez, a revolu- tionary chief and a bitter enemy of Crespo, offering to return to Venezuela to take a position in the army, owing to the gravity of the situation. The president arswers in a public letter, thankirg him for the patriotic offer and ace=pting it. A‘ committee is studying methods of put- ting into practice 2 commercial war against England. The government has been asked to re- voke the charter of the La Guayra Break- water Company, an English concern. The rumor that the government is buying war supplies in Germany causes dissatis- faction and much talk. The people say it is unfair to the United States in the pres- ent crisis, and that the orders should be placed with American companies. Santiago Rosa, a political prisoner, ar- rested in the last revolution for furnishing money to the rebels, has peen released. Simon Barcelon, an editor, an American citizen and an enemy of Crespo, is very ill, put reatiests) for his freedom have been re- FORAKER AND Interest That Atiaches to Their Deliver- ances, Yesterday. How Far the Republicans Will Go— The Democrats and Silver. More than ordinary interest attaches to the speech of Senator-elect Foraker made at Cclumbus Wednesday, and also to that made by Mr. Mills in the Senate. The one man touched most significantly on the finan- clal question while the other in a deliver- ance of nearly two hoursiealt exclusively with that question. The one is a represen- tative republican, the other a representative democrat. Each claims to be a bimetallist, and echoes of the views expressed then are likely to be heard all through the coming rational campaign. Private advices received here about the Foraker speech in advance of the full text caused a small sensation. The new Senator was represented as having made an out- and-out free silver speech. “Poor McKin- ley!” was the first exclamation heard. It Was assumed at once that Mr. Foraker had intentionally delivered a fatal thrust to the McKinley boom. But as soon as the real nature of his silver utterances was known the anxiety of.the MeKinley people disap- peared. It was seen that Mr. Foraker, while paying his best respects to silver, had rot ccmmitted either himself or his party at home too far: that, on the contrary, he had remained well within the limits of al- lowatle campaign coquetry, and that no action would lie. Significance of the Speech. But the speech, for all that, Is sincere and instructive. It is accepted as showink how far the republicans may go, and are likely to g0, on the silver question in the attempt to hold their forces together. What Mr. For- aker has said at Columbus Mr. Reed could say from his place in the House, Mr. Allison from his place in the Senate, Gov. Morton from his office at Albany, General Harrison from his quarters at Indianapolis, or Mr. McKinley from his brary at Canton, with- out causing the slightest injury to his presidentia! prospects, or :larm in business circles. It is, in fact, a foreshadowing, in the rough, of what the republican party is likely to say in its national platform. The party is, to the extent described by Mr. For- aker, friendly to an enlarged use of silver, and it can say as much without peril. It has the confidence of the business world, and when it speaks for silver it does so with all the reservations pertaining to a sound system of finance. No Middle Ground for Democracy. But the democrzcy, by reason of its his- tory and present divisions on the subject, cannot successfully occupy this middle ground. Its record has been made in op- position, and consequently it is an extreme record. It has always clamored for a change in existing policiles—which have been republican policies—until now it. can- not copy those policies without surrender- ing its case. That is the basis of the com- plaint of the southern men against Mr. Cleveland. They accuse him of being mere- ly a protege of Mr. Sherman. The Treas- ury Department, they assert, has not had a democratic since the days of James Buchanan. And so it is that when ® democratic leader speeks it is either in P employed by Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Carlisle, or in the old terms of insistence on the free and un- limited coinage of silver. Against the National Banks. Mr. Mills, however, in his latest speech, bas put the case in a new form. He turns from the single gold standard, which for a long time he made the subject of his criti- cism, and directs his attack on the national banks. The question of standards seems to disappear altogether in his complaint that Mr. Cleveland's policy, if longer pur- suedp will saddle the country with a crush- ing burden of interest in behalf of the banks. He asserts that if the democratic party commits itself to that, it will be swept out of existence. He lauds the greenbacks, and seems to contend that conditions would greatly Improve if all the paper money in circulation were of that description. So extreme, indeed, is the ground he takes that the inquiry propounded to him by Senator Gray during the delivery of the speech about flat money is likely to be echoed from many sources, Possible Explanation. What is the. explahation of this speech, delivered on the eve of the.calling of the democratic national convention? Does it foreshadow @ change in the politics of Texas? Is Texas leaning toward populism on the financial question? And wij it be likely to lard in the populist camp if the democratic national platform is written on Cleveland lines? _Mrg. Mills knows his state, and he is a candidate for re-election. For a time he was accused of being a convert to the Cleveland policy, but however that may have been while free silver was the cry, there is no mistaking where he stands now that he thinks the President's policy is lead- ing to the enlargement of the powers and to the perpetuation of the existence of the national banks, The first Senator to shake hands with Mr. Mills yesterday upon the conclusion of his &|speech was Mr. Kyle of South Dakota. + e-_______ TO COUNT A QUORUM. The Rule Offered Last Week Probably Be Amended. ‘The rule for compelling the attendance of @ quorum of members of the House, which was first brought forward by J. Randoiph Tucker of Virginia in the Forty-sixth Con- gress, and which the committee on rules propdsed to add to the Reed quorum-count- ing rule for the use of this Congress, has not yet been adopted by the House, and will probably be amended before it is pass- ed. When the rule was brought before the House last week so much objection to it in its, original form appeared that it was withdrawn for further consideration at the hands of the committee. Under the rule, when the point of no quorum is rais- ed and found to be correct the sergeant- at-arms is to bring in absent members to answer to roll call, and when those voting and those present and declining to vote make @ quorum the question is to be decided by the majority of those voting. The point was raired that this rule would allow a bill to be passed by a vote of less than a majority of the quorum of the House, and this Mr. Catchings and Mr. Bailey showed the Supreme Court had de- clared to be unconstitutional. Accordingly the rule was withdrawn temporarily and will probably be changed by’ the committee before it is again brought forward. The need of some system for compelling the attendance of members is conceded by both parties and this Congress, when the re- publicans have so large a majority that there is little probability that the rule will need to be used is considered a good time to adopt one. If the attempt should be made in a Congress where the two parties are nearly evenly divided it would give rise to a hard fight. —-+e-+-—____ Currency Certificates in Austria. The State Department is informed through the United States’ consul general at Vienna that, owing to the decline in value of the Austrian florin, the consuls in Austria~Hun- gary have all been instructed to furnish cur- rency certificates to invoices, commencing December 11. wim MILLS) TALMAGE TO PREACH Rev. Mr. Allen to Be Paid His Year's Salary and Resiga, AN AMICABLE ARRANGEMENT REACHED There Will Be But Two Pastors for the Present. THE COAST CLEAR a The difficulty in the First Presbyterian © Church has been met in true Alexandrian fashion, and the Gordian knot cut in twain. Rev. Adolos Allen's contract for services up to October 1, 1896, will be fully honored by the church, his salary will be paid him in full for that period and he will resign. This result was reached at a meeting held last evening at the residence of Mr. Ous C. Wright, on Indiana avenue. Dr. Sun- derland and Mr. Allen, as usual, conducted the Thursday cvening prayer m@eting. At the conclusion of the meeting the elders of the church were asked to meet at Mr. Wright's, and, the two co-pastors accom- parying them, the session went thither, and the situation was discussed thoroughly and, it is necdless to say, in an amicable “Tt was the feeling we only of eel only of but of Mr. Allen himoctt, that’ with’ the difficulties besetting the relations of the three pastors, Mr. Allen's future useful- ness was not altogether assuring. It weg clearly seen that there would be disturbing shadows of the past unpleasantness con- Unually appearing along his pathway of service. At the same time his presence as copastor would bar Dr. Talmage from the pulpit of the church on Sunday mornings, notwithstanding the wish of a large part wel the congregation to hear him at that time. To Be Pa’ His Fall Salary. When all phases of the affair had been fully ecnsidered and it was apparent tlat an agreement was reached in effect, a paper was signed with names that make the ac- tion financially responsible to the letter, Promising Mr. Allen his full salary at the rate of $2,000 a year until October 1, 1896, on condition that he tender his resignation at his earliest corvenience. The salary to be paid him will be forthcoming in one sum ahd at the same time that his resig- nation is placed in the hands of the session. Having taken this action the session au- thorized a letter to Rev. B. W. Bittinger, chairman of the committee appointed by the presbytery of Washington last Monday to inquire into the situation in the First Church, asking that committee, if con- venient, to meet with the session at the Pastor's office in the church next Monday evening. When that meeting is held the session will notify the committee formally of the action taken in regard to Mr. Allen and the latter gentleman is likely to be Fresent and assure the committee that the aaa has been arranged satisfactorily to_ im. What action the committee will. take following this notification can only be conjectured. Practically all that is in contention will have been removed. Mr. Allen will have his salary in his pocket and be at Mberty _ to return to his old ‘home in Philadelphia, and there being but two pastors of the church, Dr. Sunderland and Dr. Talmage, it will be left to them to between a occupy the pulpit.- The committee can hardly do otherwise than to report these facts to the presbytery, and there the mat- ter will drop, as all ground for action dis- appears with the agreement made last night between Mr. Allen and the session. Dr. Talmage Likely to Preach. As to what Dr. Talmage will do conjec- ture again is the only resource. He de- clared emphatically last Sunday night that under no circumstances would he occupy the pulpit of the church Sunday mornings. Yet as one of the elders of the First Church said today, Dr. Tslmage today stands under no circumstances that pre- vent his occupying the pulpit when he chooses to do so. All circumstances have been swept away, so far as that goes. It is, of course, expected that Dr. Talmage will preach Sunday-mornings just as was de- sired, the origin of the trouble. That he will refuse to do sc is not expected. Mr. Allen's resignation leaves the church without a clergyman capable, by reason of youth, strength and natural vigor, to per- form all the varied pastoral duties to which Mr. Allen has addressed himself during the time he has been connected with the church. FinanciaNy, the action just taken adds to the burdens of the church. That Dr. Sunderland could assume the strictly pastoral work is not considered. It is rather the expectation that he will sooner or later enter on ag emeritus relation with the church. In that event it is to be ex- pected that a young clergyman will be en- gaged as an assistant pasto1 ———_—_ BURGLARS AND SNEAK THIEVES. Recent Tiefts Reported to the Police v. Some time between 8 o'clock last night and 12:30 this morning burglars entered the house of William M. Jenkins, No. 1006 South Capitol street, so he reported to the police this morning. An entrance was ef- fected by the use of a duplicate key, and the burglars stole from a trunk in a room on the seco2d floor $325 in cash and a “deed for some property in Virginia. Wednesday night burglars visited the shop of Frank Marigold, 13th and Roanoke sirents, and stole a quantity of carpenter’s fools. Thomas G. Scott complains of the theft from his oat house of two sails and a the house of J. E. pillow cese. A sneak thief entered Griswold, No. 812 6th street, Wed See and stole an overcoat and pair of loves. Miss Minnie Bender, 224 4% streejy reports the theft of a coat. E. L. McClelland reports stolen from his office, 1405 F street, $50 in cash. Mary Gordon, 1359 Ohio avenue, reports the larceny of a pair of bracelets. James A. Gibbs complains of the loss of four towels. Benjamin fvry, 1018 9th street, wants the police to find his patent leather shoes, which were stolen from his room. + Personal Mention. Assistant Secretary Curtis of the Treas- cry Department is confined to his house with a severe cold. Gen. Craighill, chief of engineers, returned this morning from New York, where he went to attend thé meeting of the Society of American Engineers, Lieut. Col. P. D. Vroom, Judge Advocate General's Department,.is in the gobty on leave of absence. " Capt. A. H. Bowman, ninth infantry; Lieut. W. E. Almy, fifth cavalry, and Lieut. L. E. Upton, twenty-first infantry, are reg- istered at the War Department. ' Truxton Beale left Paris early in January for an extended tour in southern Russia. Rev. H. L. Baugher, D.D., the president of the general synod of the Lutheran Church, with his wife, is in the city, the guests of Mr and Mrs. L. D. Wine. Walter F. Macnichol has left for New York to join the Clifford Dempsey Company,