Evening Star Newspaper, February 4, 1896, Page 2

tendant anxieties and possibilities for criti- Represei tative Steele of Indiana said that ex-President Harrison had erterape titude would not be changed by the publi- cation of the letter. The delegation would mot go to the convention to present the name of Mr_Harrison,but he would continue their first choice, and if there was a gen- eral demand for his nomination coming from other quarters they would gladly ac- quiesce in it. Representative Northway of Ohio said: “T believe Indiana is for McKinley, and that he will get the vote of that s' a Advantage to Morton. Representative George Southwick of Al- bany, N. Y., said: “Tt think that Gov. Morton will be the principal beneficiary of Mr. Harrison's withdrawal, and I will tell you why. In many respects these two candidates for the St. Louis nomination represented the same sentiment—that of conservatism. The popu- lar strength of Mr. Harrison rested In the well-grounded convictions that during bis administration the people of the United States enjoyed an unprecedented business prosperity, and a firm but dignified and mature policy in foreign affairs. To Mr. Morton, I believe, the business interests of the country will now turn with practical unanimity, recognizing in him the man who above all others combines capacity, judg- ment and experience in diplomatic, legisla- tive and executive matters, which pre- eminently fit him to succeed Mr. Cleve- land. He will be a safe and reliable man, whose administration will be devoted to building up the shattered industries of the country. As Mr. Morton and Mr. Harrison divided this conservative sentiment, I think that Mr. Harrison’s withdrawal means that Mr. Morton will enjoy monopoly of it. Some Senators’ Views. Senator Cullom also expressed the opin- fon that the letter should be taken to mean just what it purports to mean. “Gen. Har- Tison is,” he said, “a man of few word: but he means what he says on all oce: stons.”” ‘The Senator added that he thought the Indiana delegation, with thé ex-President out of the race, would be divided among the other candidates, and that consequently Eis declining to stand for the nomination would have but little effect on the chances of other aspirants. Senator Hansbrough, who is a strong a‘ vocate of the nomination of Sena-or Davi said he thought the withdrawal of Gen. Harrison would benefit the Minnesota can- didate very materially. “He will be nomi- nated,” added Mr. Hansbrough. Speaking of ex-President Harrison's let- er, Senator Davis of Minnesota said: “I ave no doubt that Gen. Harrison means jest what he says. It is characteristic of the man, and it takes him out of the 1ace. I am not surprised at the announcem for I have believed for some time that attitude was as indicated by his letter. Gen. Michener Talks. Gen. L. T. Michener, well known as an old-time friend of Gen. Harrison, and one who had much to do with his nominations, was asked today for an expression concern- ing Gen. Harrison’s letter. He said: “I have no doubt that the decision of Gen. Harrison is a finality. Since he left the White House he hes never had the slightest desire to return to it as President. Of the constant expressions favorable nomination and election have been ing, In the sense that they represent- ed approval of his course while President, and confidence in his ability to restore Prosperity to the country. “I do not know what Indiana will do, but I imagine that all the candidates will’ de- ¥elop strength there, especially Mr. M Kinley and Mr. Allison. The manufactur- ing centers will probably be disposed to sup- port Mr. McKinley, while the other sec- tons, I should think, would be very likely to go to Mr. Allison and Mr. Morton. it seems to me that Mr. Allison would natural- ly have considerable support from the state, not only as a matter of gratitude for the timely and efficient support which Gen. Harrison received from the Allison men in the national convention of 1888, but also because his conceded abilities, and known conservative characteristics and views, would make him particularly satisfactory to those friends of Gen. Harrison who were drawn to him because of his possession of the same qualities. No extremist or repre- sentative of extreme views has ever been elected President of the United States. The censervative and cautious voters of this country hold the balance of power and elect its Presidents. To such people, I believe, the candidacy of Mr. Allison will be par- ticularly agreeable, and I anticipate that many of the old-time friends and support- ers of Gen. Harrison, in various parts of the country, will be found advocating the nomination of Mr. Allison.”” A Possible Contingency. Gen. Michener’s attention was called to that feature of Gen. Harriscn’s letter in which he requested his friends not to place his name before the convention, and Gen. Michener was asked if any possible con- tingency could arise, through a deadlock or otherwise, In the convention by which the friends of Mr. Harrison would feel ab- solved from this request aid, as a final re- sort, bring his name before the convention. In reply he said: = “If it should appear that the nomination of Gen. Harrison would be absolutely essen- tia} to party harmony or party success or to the peace and prosperity of the country, Ihave no doubt that the friends of Gen. Harrison would urge his nomination in the convention, and, if nominated in such cir- cumstances, I do not see how he could de- cline. But such a nomination could not come through organization or manipulation; it can only-come as the natural sequence of conditions existing at the time. Should it so ccme to him, the duty to accept it would Seem to be as apparent as was his duty to take the sword in defense of his country in 18¢2. He has never failed to respond to the call of public duty. At the same time, I have not the slightest doubt that it is his earnest wish that the nomination should go elsewhere.” Mr. Foster Not Surprised. John W. Foster, who succeeded Mr. Blaine as Secretary of State in President Harrison's cabinet, was questioned today in regard to the ex-President’s announcemert that he was not a candidate for renomina- tion. Mr. Foster said that he was not at all surprised at Mr. Harrison's action, in- asmuch as the ex-President had informed him several months ago that he had no de- sire to serve a second term and that he would make a public declaration to that effect as soon as he had a proper oppor- tunity. The recent action of the Indiana state central committee in announcing him as their candidate had furnished the op- portunity sought. There was no question, said Mr. Foster, of Mr. Harrison's sincerity in the matter. He had often said that he had had quite enough of the harassing cares of office. Mr. Foster was asked whether in his opinion Mr. Harrison would accept the nomination if offered to him by practically a unanimous vote of the St. Louis convention, but did not care to dis- cuss such a contingency, as it was one which in his opinion was not likely to arise in view of Mr. Harrison's positive state- ment. Mr. Manley Reticent. AUGUSTA, Me. February 4—Josepn Manley, In conversation with an Assol- ated Fress representative over ex-Prest- dent Harrison’s letter, declining to permit the use of his name as a presidential can- Gidate, said that he could not consistently €liscuss the influence of Mr. Harrison’s ac- tion on the prospects of Hon. Thomas B. Reed. Mr. Manley adroitly avoided all questions having a bearing on the present situation, declaring that it would be neither prudent nor proper for him to say anything about these matters at present. —_——.—__ DISTRICT RELIEVED. Not Obliged to Pay for Prospect Cemetery Land. ‘The Court of Apreals this afternoon, in @n opinion written by Mr. Justice Morris, reversed the judgment of the court below (Judge Bradley), in requiring the District Commissioners, by mandamus, to pay to Prospect Hill Cemetery Company the sum of $51,686, in payment for land condemned and taken in extending North Capitol gtreet. ‘The court holds that the act of August 7, 1804, was a valid repeal of the one of De- cember 21, 1803, and a refusal by to take the land at its adjudicated value—“a withSrawal by Congress from the enter- prise.” holds the court, the Com- Taissioners are not obliged to take the land and pay the amount awarded. HOUSE STILL TALKS Debate on the District Appropria- «tion Bill Continues / CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS ATTACKED Eloquently Defended by Several Friends of the District. AMENDMENTS OFFERED When the House adjourned yesterday afternoon the pending question, in the con- sideration of the District uppropriation bill, was a motion by Mr. Hainer (Neb.) to strike out the appropriation of $9,800 for the support of the National Association for the Relief of Destitute Colored Women and Children. This motion had been debatad at some length, as reported elsewhere in The Star, meeting with vigorous opposi- tion. This afternoon, when the House resumed consideration of the biil, Mr. Grout en- deavored to come to an understanding which would limit the debate. It was agreed to confine further discussion of the pending amendment to twenty minutes. Mr. Grout’s Preposition. Mr. Grout said it would be fatal to try to put this institution under the control of the board of children’s guardians, because it is not contemplated by the law. No one wants to undertake this change except Mr. Hatmer. The president of the board does not want it, and testified to that fact Le- tore the committee on appropriations. Mr. Grout read to the House the testimuny of Mr. Simon Wolf, president of the board, to that effect. Mr. Grout was in favor of striking out the appropriations for the sectarian charities and grant them to the private charities with the restriction that they should be under the supervision of the Commissioners. Mr. Stewart of New Jersey made an elo- quent and impassioned plea for the coiored people’s home. .He said it was estabiished under the auspices of Lincoia, and sure!y, with such patronage, could not be termed sectional in any respect. His remarks were brief, but were heartily applauded. No Sectarian Institutions. Mr. Cannon of Illinois said that as a mat- ter of fact there is no sectarian institution named in the bill. The poor colored waifs of the Colored People’s Home would be turned out by the adoption of Mr. Hainer’s amendment, and so would the white waifs. The government has no hospitals of its own, and it-arranges with these institu- tions to take care of its wards. He said the House was afraid of a shadow in dealing with the subject of charities. Members come around with bated breath and Say: “Oh, don’t disturb this or that charity, or you'll lose this or that vote.” “Oh, for the spirit of God to put a little backbone into this House,” cried Mr. Can- non, passionately. “Don’t be afraid of a shadow, but come up and meet the facts. There are no sectarian institutions in the bill.” Mr. Henderson's Passionate Appeal. Mr. Henderson of Iowa said that up to this Congress he had been. for ten years connected with framing the District bill and had visited every charitable hospital here. * “If I were a Catholic,” said Mr. Hender- son, “which I am not; if I were an A. P. A., which I am not; if the thunders of the Vatican or the terrors of the inquisition, or the voice of any other secret cabal, tried to seal my lips, I would speak out, as I do now.” He then proceeded to discuss the pending amendment, but prefaced his re- marks with a brief review of the organiza- tion of the board of children's guardians. He said that no lawyer, respecting his cer- tificate of practice, could hold that the board of children’s guardians, if given the appropriation designed by the Hainer amendment, could aid the several institu- tions. “Strike, if you will, gentlemen, but strike knowing what you are doing. You are not the United States Congress now; you are Washington's city council and appropri- ating out of the common fund of the gov- ernment and the city for claritable pur- pose.” He said when he sees a little child lying homeless in the gutter and the hand of charity outstretched to help it he does not pause to see whether the good Samari- tan wears a cowl or white robe; whether Christian or infidel, and whether the act is done in the name of the cross or the cres- cent. It is the act itself that appeals to him. Inconsistency Charged. Mr. Hainer then took the floor and ac- cused Mr. Cannon of inconsistency, in view of the latter’s attitude on the Indian ap- propriation bill last Congress, when the subject of Catholic schools for Indian chil- dren was up. Mr. Cannon said the circumstances were entirely different. Mr. Crain of Texas esked why should these separate appropriations be stricken out ff they are necessary, as everybody claims, Mr. Hainer said he favored public charl- ties, but not to delegate them to any brotherhood or sisterhood. Mr. Hainer’s amendment to strike out the appropriation for the Colored People's Home was lost on a vote of 51 ayes to 74 nays. Mr. Hainer next moved to strike out the appropriation of $5,400 for St. Ann's Infart Asylum. This brocght Mr. Bartlett of New York to the floor, who said that just as he supported an Hpisccpal charity the other day, he would support this Reman Catholic charity. What Mr. Powers Wanted. Mr. Powers of Vermont wanted all of the charity appropriations to be paid out of the funds of the District of Columbia. Defended the St. Ann’s Asylum. Mr. Wheeler of Alabama defended St. Ann's Asylum. Mr. Cannon also stood by the appro- priation. “Are the officers of St. Ann's not all Catholics?” asked Mr. Baker. “I don’t know,” replied Mr. Cannon, “and for the purposes of this bill [ don’t care. It is not sectarian for the reason that we have no place of our own to keep the chil- dren in and we must hire this asylum to do it.” Mr. Hainer still contended that {t was a sectarian institution because it was under Catholic auspices. Mr. Crain of Texas, in support of the ap- propriation, paid an eloquent tribute to the Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of Charity in the Catholic Church, and said that the members who now advocated withholding the appropriation did not object to the ministration of those angels of mercy on the battlefields of the civil war. a RETALIATION THREATENED. Kentucky Democratic Senators Will Eject Four Republicans. LOUISVILLE, Ky., February.4.—A spe- cial to the Post from Frankfort, Ky., suys: ‘There was a renewed interest in the ballot- ing for Senator today. Hunter’s speech in the republican caucus last night, followed by the decision of the republican majority in the Werner-Tompkins committee this morning to turn out Mr. Tompkins, has angered democrats. They now threaten to retaliate by ejecting four republican Sen- ators. These say they will attend the joint session aii run the risk of being recog- nized by Lieut. Governor Worthington. The democrats, however, are laying plans to prevent them from getting inside, and there are people here who fear that the preliminaries to Thursday's balloting will be a physical fight. - ’ ‘There were 126 members present and yot- ing today. The ballot resulted: Hunter, @2; Blackburn, 56; scattering, 8. —— EX-COMMISSIONER WEST. A Bill Favorably Reported to Give Him a Pension. The committee on pensions reported fa- vorably today !n the Senate a bill granting a pension of $100 per month to General Joseph R. West, ex-Commissioner of the District of. Columbia. BIDS FOR THE BONDS. — ‘They Will Be Opene@ at Noon Tomor- row by Secretary Carlisle. Arrangements have been perfected for the opening of bids for the purchase of $108,- 000,000 4 per cent bonds under the treasury circular of January 6 The bids will be announced in the office of the Secretary at noon tomorrow In the presence of Secretary Carlisle, Assistant Secretary Curtis and Mr. Huntington, chief of the loan division; the principal bidders or their representatives and the members of the press. Several ex- pert clerks will assist the committee in scneduling the bids. There is no doubt that the loan will be oversubscribed and at rates that will be satisfactory to the officials. There is a large number of bids from all parts of the country, and the prospects are that it will take the entire afternoon to announce them. Several large bids have been re- ceived from New York dealers, the largest of which there is knowledge being that of the Stewart syndicate for a block of $80,- 000,000. There were 238 separate bids for the loan of February 7, 1894, and 304 bids for the loan of November 13, 1894. Those loans were less than helf as large as the Proposed loan. It is expected that there will be four or five times as many bids for the new bonds as were received for the two previous loans combined. Inasmuch as all the bids will be treated as strictly confi- dential until they are publicly opened to- morrow, their amounts and rates are at Present matters of pure confecture. -————_- e+______ THE MAIL BAG REPAIR SHOP. -A Resolution Presented im the Senate to Investigate Alleged Abuses. In the Senate this afternoon Mr. Kyle called up his resolution authorizing the committee on post offices and post roads to conduct an investigation of alleged abuses or frregularities in the mail bag repair shop of the Post Office Department. The resolu- tion was discussed and allowed to go over on the calendar without action. Commenting on the resolution, Mr. Faulk- ner of West Virginia said that he had re- gretted that it had not been modified, so that the investigation might be made by the Post Office Department. He said that the facts could easily be ascertained in that way, and further remarked that when the Present second assistant postmaster gen- eral came into office he had found many things of which to complain to the admin- istration In regard to the mail bag repair shop. He appointed 4 commission to consider the affairs of this repair shop, and it was found among other things that the ladies there employed had been furnished with cheese, crackers and tca at lunch time, and the expense so incurred was paid for from the receipts from the sale of old material of the shop. The accounting officers found that this expenditure was entirely illegal and_ unjustifiable. After some further comment on the reso- lution it was allowed to stand un the cal- endar. NINETY VOTES EXPECTED. Probable Result of the Vote In the House on the Amended Rond Rill. The ways and means committee have answered all suggestions that it might be the intention of Mr. Reed to stifle the de- bate on silver in the House. The prompt report on the bond bill was coupled by an agreement in the committee that there might be about two days’ discussion of the question in the House, so that they could all have a fair chance to express their opintons. ‘s In the committee Mr. Crisp made the mo- tion to concur in the Senate free silver iment, and Messrs. Turner and Tars- ound money’’ demociats, voted with the republicans, showing that the silver democrats intend to meet the issue, and to stand by free coinage. It is estimated that about sixty democrats will vote to concur in the Senate substitute, and that about thirty republicans will join them. + ——______ CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT. Broad Provisions of n Bill Introduced for the Purpose. A bill previding for optional and compul- sory retirement of government employes in the classified service was introduced in the Senate today, by request, by Mr. Davis and referred to the committee on post of- fices and post roads. It provides that from July 1, 1896. there shall be withheld from the salary gf every employe in the classi- fled service 2 per centum or less, to be re- served as 2 “civil service retirement fund.” On and after July 1, 1000, the employes of such service shall be retired at a salary equal to 75 per cent of the highest pay they have received at any time wuile in the civil service. ———— oo QUARANTINED BY MEASLES. Secretary Herbert Compelled to Keep Indoors on That Account. Secretary Herbert is still quarantined on account of the prevalence of measles in his household. and, as a matter of precaution, he remained away from the regular meet- ing of the cabinet today. All the other members were promptly in attendance. The financial situation and the various foreign complicaticns are said to have been the subjects of corsideration. SS ee FLAGS WALF MASTED. The Remains of Henry of Battenberg ut Portsmouth. PORTSMOUTH, February 4.—The British cruiser Blenheim, with the remains of Prince Henry of Battenberg on board, en- tered this-harbor this morning. All the flags on the ships, forts and buildings ashore were half nfasted and guards of henor were drawn up on the decks of the old battle ship Victory, the flagship of Ad- miral Nelson, and*the vessel on which he died, and on board the port guard ship In- flexible, as the Bicnhe:m steamed slowly to one of the government wharfs, where she was moored preparatory to transferring the body to the royal yacht Alberta for con- Yeyance across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. ————— AUTHORIZED TO ACT. The Swiss President May Choose an Arbiter for England and American. BERNE, Switzerland, February 4.—The federal council has authorized the presi- dent of the Swiss republic to accept the proposal tendered by the governments of Great Britain and the United States that, in the event of a disagreement as to the choice of an arbitrator for the Canadian sealers’ claims, the president of Switzer- land shall designate an arbitrator. >.> UHL TO BE APPOINTED. Likely to Be the New Ambassador to Germany. There is the best authority for the state- ment that Assistant Secretary Uhl of the State Department fs to be appointed United States ambassador to Germany. a Taken Suddenly Il. C. W. Schuermann, a well-dressed man, about eighty years of age, became suddenly ill this afternoon at 15th street and New York avenue. The Emergency Hospital ambulance was summoned, and, after re- moval to that institution; an examination ef the patient made. He was unconscious, and up to a late hour this afternoon the nature of the case had not been determined, although it was thought to be paralysis. —_.-__ For an Election Here. Mr. Gallinger introduced in the Senate by request a bill formerly introduced in the House by Mr. Hooker authorizing a special election of citizens of the District of Columbia to determine whether the present municipal government shall con- tinue, ete. > ——__—__e-___ To Increase the Police Force. Mr. Gallinger, for Mr. McMillan, from the committee on the District of Columbia, introduced in the Senate today bills recom- mended by the District Commissioners and previously published in The Evening Star, po peere the heii of the District lumbia and to grade in the District. esc © Naval Movements. The cruiser Alert arrived at Punta Arenas this morning from Panama. The training ship Alliance sailed yesterday from St. Kitts for St. Thomas. te + THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1896-TWELVE PAGES. IN CONGRESS TODAY |G4S SILLS THAT GROW Another Free Coinage Bill From the | °“"™ Senate Finance Committee, A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE TARIFF BILL Mr. Quay’s ‘Effort to Get the Measure Recommitted. —— MATTERS IN. THE HOUSE The Senate resumed work today after a rest of two days from the exciting cul- mination of the silver-bond struggle on Saturday. There was a fairly large at- tendance of Senators, but the galleries had few occupants. The disposal of the silver- bond bill left the calendar without a spe- cial order, and some competition was ex- pected in advancing several pending meas- ures, including the urgent deficiency ap- propriation bill and the Cuban and Monroe doctrine resolutions. ‘Tarif! Bill Substitute. It was 12:30 before the routine was cleared away and Mr. Morrill, chairman of the finance committee, secured recogni- tion to report back the tariff bill. He read in somewhat tremulous voice the original title, and then the new title as reported, “An act to provide for the free coinage of silver,” etc. Mr. Morrill smiled as he added: “I am disposed in presenting this to add the conclusion of official pro- ceedings in Massachusetts, ‘and may God save the commonwealth.’ I was not in favor of the action taken by the com- mittee on finance, but now that the Dill is here I will endeavor to call it up, to- morrow." 3 There had been much confusion through the chamber, but there was a hush as Mr, Morrill proceeded, and a general laugh at his reference to the Massachusetts pro- ceedings. Motion to Recommit. Mr. Quay had remained standing while Mr. Morrill spoke, and at once followed with a motion to recommit the bill and substitute back to the finance committee, with instructions to report the original bill and amendment separately. Mr. Quay made the motion with evident féeling, each word snapping out with emphasis. Mr. Hill called attention to the fact that the motion was irregular during the morn- ing hour, and the presiding officer sustained the point. “Then,” said Mr. Quay, “I ask unani- mous consent that this bill be referred back with instructions.” “I object at this time,” interposed Mr. Hill, and Mr. Quay’s proposition was dis- posed of for the time being. ‘ Pension for Mrs. Gresham. Among the bills favorably reported was that granting a pension of $200 a month to the widow of Gen. Walter Q. Gresham, and $100 a month to the widow of Gen. Thomas Ewing. Mr. Teller gave notice that he would call up tomorrow the Military Academy appro- priation bill, which he reported back. Mr. Allison reported back the pension ap- propriation bill, and said he would ask the Senate to take it up at an early day. Mr. Hoar (Mass.) reported back the bill prohibiting the desecration of the American flag. He said he did this merely to get the subject before the Senate, as he doubted the advisability of such prohibitions and believed it should be left to individual good taste and judgment. Mr. Quny‘s Second Attempt. There was another lull in the routine at 1 o'clock, and Mr. Quay again sought to secure consideration for a resolution re- committing the tariff-finance bill. He offer- ed it in the following written form: “Resolved, That the bill, H. R., 2749 (the tariff bill, reported by the committee on finance, with an amendment, be recommit- ted to that committee with instructions to teport the original bill and the amendment as separate propositions.” Mr. Quay asked immediate consideration for the resolution, but Mr. Hill again ob- jected, and the resolution went over, under the rules, until tomorrow. To Hold Back Appropriation Bilis. When the morning hour 2xpired at 2 o'clock there was a maneuvering to ad- vance various measures. Mr, Hale asked to take up the urgent deficiency Dill. Mr. Call @la.) sought to Fave reports from the committee on foreign relations made the special order. Mr. Dubois wanted to take up the plan of distribution of appropriation bills among the several committees. A vote was finally taken on Mr. Hale's motion to take up the urgent deficiency bill, and it was defeated; 25-44. The vote was con- sidered as a test, showing the disposition to hold back appropriation bills in order to gO on with general legislation. On a second vote the Senate agreed, 49—24, to teke up Mr. Dubois’ resolution for an &mendment of the Senate rules so as to dis- tribute appropriation bills among the com- mittees. This presented an interesting question as to the Senate procedure, although thor- cughly lacking in public interest. Mr. Hale pointed out that it meant the “dismantling” of the appropriation committee. Mr. Har- ris (Tenn.) said the vote-just taken showed that the Senators stood two to one in favor of distributing appropriation bills. Points cf order, motions for executive session and other tactics to carry over the question were made, but without effect. THE HOUSE. There was a large attendance in the House today in anticipation of the opening of the debate on the Senate free coinage substitute for the House bond bill. As soon as the journal had been read and ap- proved Mr. Dingley, chairman of the ways and means committee, reported back the Lill from the committee with the recom- ™mendation that the House non-concur in the Senate substitute and insist on its Dill. Mr. Crisp (Ga.) arose to state that the report was not unanimous. “The minor- ity," said he, “recommends concurrence in the Senate substitute.” Mr. Dingley announced that he would call up the report as soon as the House had disposed of the District of Columbia appropriation bill. Some business was transacted by unanti- mous consent. ° Some Bills Passed. Bills were passed providing for commis- sioners to negotiate with the Shoshone, Arapahoe and Bannock Indians for the sur- render of rights claimed by them to hunt on unoccupied public domain of the United States; to amend section 4 of the act of 1887 for the forfeiture of lands granted in aid of Pacific railroads, so as to provide that in case of forfeited lands purchasers who had pafd a portion of the purchase money before receiving thelr patents should Pay to the government the difference be- tween the amount paid the railroads and the government prices; to extend the juris- diction of circuit court of appeals of the eighth district to certain cases now pending in that court on writs of error from the district court of the Indian territory, and to grant to the St. Louis, Oklahoma and Southern railroad a right of way through the Indian territory. A resolution was adopted, on motion of Mr. Willis (Del.), calling on the Secretary of the Treasui for information as to the pro; of the work on the Wilmington public building. ‘The memorial of the San Francisco cham- ber of commerce in favor of the speedy completion of the Nicaragua canal -was Presented to the House by Mr. Loud (Cal.) ‘The House then went into committee of the whole and resumed consideration of the District of Columbia appropriation bill. The pending question was on the adoption of one of the amendments of Mr. Hainer (Neb.) to strike out an appropriation of $9,- 900 for the National Association for the Re- lef of Destitute Colored Women and Chil- dren. ————+o+___ A Birthday Testimonial. Mr. Charles E. Leves, a vompositor in the composing room of The Evening Star, was this afternoon the recipient of a hand- somely framed picture of the employes of the room, the occasion being his seventieth birthday. z Complain of the Changes for January. Larger Than Ever Before=Sample Letters Concerning the General Topic—An Explanation. On various occagions in years gone by the people of Washington have zeen fit to object.to their gas bills, but there probably was never such #*unanimous protest as has gone up since the ugly yellow slips, the bills for January, have been dropped in the vestibules of the houses of Washing- ton, ~ From all parts of the city have come complaints of overcharge, and there is scarcely a householder in the city who has not “kicked” because his bill for the month was out of all proportion, or, so he claimed, to his accounts for other months. During the past few days a number of these complaints in writing have come to ane Star office. The following are fair sam- ples: To the Editor of The Evening Star: “Far two years past I have been making persistent efforts to save myself from bankruptcy by reducing my gas bills. I have introduced ofl lamps and candles and Welsbach burners. I have reduced nine burners to three. I have turned my lights down and out when they were not needed. We hzve as a family retired early. We have tabooed receptions. But I surrender. .“I am no match for the enterprise of the Washingten Gas Company. hile I have reduced three burners to one, they know a trick worth three of mine, and slip thelr biils up to three’ times the size they were two or three years ago! That is the lesson they give me for trying to economize on gas. Again, I say, I give it up. “But while Congress is expressing its views of the oppressicns of ‘the unspeaka- ble Turk’ of the Besphorus how would it do to lend a hand to the relief of the as-oppressed Armenians of Washington?” NOX. Just the Same. To the Editor of The Evening Star: While this question cf cbcaper gas is up fer consideration I want to put in my pro- test against the presert monopoly, for the reason that I believe that there is no jus- tice done the consumer. Last year during the last helf of December and the first half of January, we had our house full of guests and gas in all the rooms and halis burned till late every night, we expected the gas bill to be large, but this year for the same time very little gas was con- sumed, no company, part of the rooms not cccupied, and we did not expect the bill to be large, but it is, and feeling it to be un- just I Icoked at the old bills and find it gcxactly tke same as last ycar’s and really by comparing the bills of the two past years looks like one set had been made out from the other. (Signed) HOUSEKEEPER. Representative Case. One representative householder said to a Star reporter today: “My own case is but a fair sample of a number that have come under my personal observation. My bill for February was $9.30, which was three or four dollars more than any bill I have ever re- ceived before. So far as I know, there was not the slightest reason for any increase, certainly not over the corresponding month a year ago. I felt that it was an imposition, but I knew there was nothing for me to do but pay the bill. I determined that my next one, however, would more nearly harmonize with my income, and during the month of January we made a persistent attempt to use as little gas us possible. “We never burned it at all, except when absolutely nec: ty, and were carefal al- Ways to extinguish it before leaving the rocm. We keep early hours at our hovse, and do not entertain at all, so you can imagine my surprise when my Dill for the month of January came in. It was $9.90. If that’s the way the business is managed, I might just as well give up aad go into Mquidation. In other years my bills under exactly the same circumstances averaged about four or five dollars. I suppose the Gas company needed the money, though, and so the consumers have to sce the raise. If we could only see by the gas I wouldn’t mind so much.” Were a Line. When a Star reporter visited the gas of- fice at 2 o'clock this afternoon there was a long line of people standing in front of the window where complaints are received. The second man ahead objected because his bill was for $5.50, whereas in the same office, open the same number of hours every evening, his bill had never been more than $2.75, and he asked why. ‘The man next ahead of the reporter ob- Jected because his bill showed an increase of precisely 100 per cent over any bill he had ever received before. The gentlemanly clerk who fills the trying position at that window explained the matter as best he could, but even so did not succeed in satis- fying the kicker. “That's all right,” said the man with the gas Lill. “You may ke able to explain the increase in bills, but will you please tell me why it is that I get a second bili for the month of December when I paid it on the 9th of January and have the receipt in my pocket?” The clerk explained that, too, as best he fede and then it was The Star man’s ‘urn. Company’s Explanation. {Yes, it is true that we have had an un- usually large number of complaints this month. But there is really no ground for them, and if the people understood the situation I think they would have little or no, reason to find fault. They say they have burned no more gas in January than they did before, but they should remember that the January bills were for a period averaging four days longer than the biils for December, which were rendered a month ago. Then, too, the month of Janu- ary includes the shortest days in the year, for as a rule the readings for December were taken about the 2ist of that month. With the new year we opened up a new set of books, and this made necessary a Gelay of a few days in reading the meters for January, and the result was that, as a rule, they were taken about the 25th or 26th of January. In the case you refer to of the man whose bill was $9.90, I find, by referring to the books, that his De- cember bill was for twenty-nine days, while his bill for January covered a period of thirty-three days. “In point of fact, he did economize, for While there was an increase in the amount of gas burned in January, it was not in Proportion to the increased period. He burned just 25 cents’ worth more of gas in January than he did in December. If his bill shows an increase of 60 cents, as he claims, there must have been a mistake somewhere, and the matter will be looked into, as are all complaints of overcharge or of the quality of gas furnished.” —<——___ POSSIBLE SUICIDE. Gus Hyttreh Writes Some Letters and Disappears. This morning about 10 o'clock Mr. F. 8. Weiss of 631 F street northwest, who is an agent for a machinery manufacturiag com- pany, called at police headquarters and told Inspector Hollinberger that Gus Hyt- treh, a stove repairer, at 603.F street, had probably committed suicide. It appeared that Hyttreh, who Is about forty-two years old, lived in rooms at the number mention- ed, where he did his own cooking, the only other occupant of the place being a pet cat. He did a good business and earned a good living, and none of his friends had noticed anything wrong about him, al- though his letters left with Mr. Weiss this morning indicate that his mind is af- fected. In a personal letter to Mr. Weiss he directed that Mr. Weiss take his effects, with the exception of a box, which he dir- ected be tyrned over to the German am- bassador. The other letter was directed to the American Press. These letters, which were delivered in person by the writer, showed that Hyt- treh had an idea that he was being perse- cuted by churches and societies. He said he was going to leave, but did not use the word suicide. Several detectives and reporters visited the house on F street, fully expecting to find the nran’s dead body, but in this they were mistaken. The pet cat was in the room, and this poor animal was ejected be- fore the house was locked up. FINANCE AND TRADE —_—_ 5 __. Covering of Short Contracts Forces Quotations Up. = GRANGER SHARES WERE THE FEATURE Attack on the Price of Missouri _ Pacific. GENERAL MARKET REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, February 4.—London prices were again fractionally depressed this morning, but Iccal confidence in the cor- rectness of the bull post! ‘was not per- ceptibly Influenced . The covering of skort contracts and a resumption of manipulative buying forced values up to the best recent level. The Granger shares were the most active features of the day, at uniform prices of more than one per cent. St. Paul advarced sharply under liberal purchases for both accounts, a reported in- crease of $168,585 in earnings for the fourth week in January assisting the movement. The character of the buying in this property has for several weeks past been superior to that of its neighbors. An assured increase in dividends for the cur- rent half year is the underlying !ncentive to the present movement, and indications point to a more sccurate refiection of im- proving merit. Northwest was bought on private advices of decided improvement in earnings for the last six months. For the half year ending November 30, 1 earnings equivalent to something over 8 per cent on the common stock are reported, as compared with 2% and 7 per cert for the same period during the two preceding years. An important increase in traffic incident to an expansion of the grain movement will attract speculation to the group of stocks engaged principally in this glass of business. Missouri Pacific was sold down 3 per cent during the first half of the session en the revival of receivership rumors. Ofti- cials of the company denied that there was any occasion for the recent attack on the price of the stock, and report a satisfac- tory financial condition and every prospect of improvement in earnings. Some differences of opinion between Messrs. Sage and Gould were urged in ex- planation of the sudden decline, but efforts to confirm this theory were met with em- phatic denials from the gentlemen in ques- tion. A large block of long stock has 1e- cently been sold, presumably for inside ac- count, and knowledze of the fact resulted in a professicn2i attack on.the property. The price recovered sharply later in the day on the covering of short contracts. The reporting of a revised export bounty bill in the German reichstag had a ter- dency to depress the price of American sugar early in the day. The clause restrict- ing manufacture was regarded as being cb- Jectionable to sugar growers, and, conse- qvently, tending to the defeat of the meas- vre. The prospect, coupled with evidences of unusual prosperity, encouraged a liberal buying movement during the afternoon, the price of the stock responding easily to the character of the demand. ‘The bond transaction will be divested of its doubtful features after the opening of the bids tomorrow, and improvement in general speculative conditions are expected to follow. A careful estimate of the prob- able amount of the total subscriptions by local financial institutions would indicate that the bulk of the entire loan will be provided for without assistance from other centers. In order that the transaction may be permanently beneficial a liberal foreign subscription Is hoped for. The Senate committee's action in recom- mending a free silver substitute for the revenue bill passed unnoticed, confidence in the passage of the House bill being un- shaken, notwithstanding the prospects of delay, indicated by today’s action. The t hour's trading, as well as the highest range of values, was recorded dur- ing the last hour of business — FINANCIAL AND COMMERICIAL, The following are the opening, the highest and the lowest and the closing prices of the New Work stock market today, as reported by Corson & Macartney, members New York steck exchange. Correspondents Messrs. Moore & Schley, No. 8) Broadway. an. High. Low. Last. American Sugar........ Spex oa 10634 107% 6 American Sugar, Pid bacco... Den. & K. Grande, Pfd. Dis. & Caitle Feeding. General Electric. & Nashville. Long Island Tractio Metropolitan Traction... Manhattan Elevated. Michigan Central. Missouri Pacine. National Lead Co, - National Lead Co., Pid. U. S. Leather, Prd...... Pacific....2.2 Northern Pacific, Pid’ .. North American. Phila. & Reading. Pullman Pal. Car Wheeling & Wheeling & L. Erle, Western Union Tel. Washington Steck Exchange. Sales—regular call--12 o'clock m,.—Met! ropolitan Rallroad 65, $1,000 at 112%. Capital Traction, 11 at 75; 100 ‘at 7: 75. Washington Gi pe, at Monoty) Electric Light, 2 50 at 5%. Chesa- 4 nt 52; 20 at 52 B. Lanston Monotype, 8. 4s, registered, 107 bid, 8.43, coupon, 108% bid, 1091 ed. US. a, 1025, 113% Bid, 113 asked, w 8. 5, 1904, 111% bid, 112 asked. District of Columbia Bonds.—20-yoar fund 5s, 103 bid. 30-year fund Gs, gold, 106 bid. Water stock 7s, 1901, currency, 109 bid. Water stock 7s, 1903, currency, 112 bid. 3.058,” fu 110 tid. Sis, registered, 2-108, 100 bid. Misceliancous Bonds.—Metropolitan Raflroad 106 bid. Metropolitan Railroad conv. Gs, 112% bi, 113 asked. Belt Railroad 5s, 79 bid, 82 asked: Eckington Raliroad G3, 99% bid, 101 asked. Co- lumbia Ratlroad @s, 112% bid, 113% asked. Wash- ington Gas Cs, series A, 109 bid, 111% asked. Washiogton Gas'Company 6s, series B, 110 bid, Washington Gas Compa: ‘Washington Gas, 50 at 45. it GY. Fire peake and Potomac io. asked. American Security a1 101% bid, 105 asked. Ameri 5s, A. and 0., 101% sked. “Washington Market Com pany oa ite pid. Washington Mar- et Company imp. ‘ashington Market ‘Company ext. 6%, 108 bid. Masonte Hall Associa- flon da, Joe bid. Washington Light Infantry Ist National Bank Stocks.—Bank of Washington, 270 bid. Bank of the epublics 240 bia. Metropolitan, 280 bid, 310 asked. tral, 270 bid. Farmers and Mechanics’, 18) bid, 195’ asked. & 134 id, 140 asked. *, 130, Columbia, 130 bid, 138 asked.* Capital,’116 bid. West 108 asked. ", 100 cola, 98 bid, 100 asked. "Ohio, Safe Deposit and ‘Trust ‘ashington Companies. Deposit and ‘Trust, 129 bid. 125 asked. W and American Loan Trust, 11714 bid, 119 asked. Security and 141 bid. We Posit, 80 bid, 70 aiked. soins id Stocks.—Caplital Traction Company, 7: a-Kod, |, Metropolitan, 95 bid. 100 bid, 76 1. Coli and T 45_asked, Metropolitan, 71 Corcoran, 50 Potomac, 64 bid. Sake. German-American, 10) "bid: National Riggs, % Wi i ‘Telephone 35 010, 60 sabes. | Hai 70 bid. 90% pot and month, TASTE: Mes see Sa 1,492 bushels; stock, 135,775 bushels* ern wheat by satuple, Sims" Merch, Shas” mixed, “f 3 . receipts, 1,817,174 bushels; sales.’ 184.000 bushi white and yellow ‘corn, 3: No. 2 white western, 26 24% —receipts, 956. bushels: re firmer, better ae ‘No, 2, 47 western—receip's, 720 bushel x bushels. Hay steads—choice timothy, " $16.00 asked. “Grain freights steady, more activity in gignmers, wachang~d. r ‘steady. une 3 unchauged. Cheese steady, Grain and Cotton Markets. Furnished by W. B. Hibbs & Co., 1421 F street, members New York stock exchange, set 3S 21% 25 21% 21 10.87 10.40 10.09 10.60 5.80 5.80 595 5.95 5.30 5.30 540 5.40 Low. Close. TAT 7.88 To Tas T9 | ROB 03 8.0T SAY THE INTERVIEWS WERE BOGUS Policemen Required to Answer Be- cause of n Newspap: There is an investigation going on in the Police department because of the publica- tion of alleged interviews with members of the police force concerning congressional action on the appropriation bill. When the alleged interviews were published it was stated that charges would be preferred against some of the officers who were quoted, and it was thought there might be a repetition of the police scandal a few years ago, when several members of the depart- ment got in trouble, and some of them were dismissed. Major Moore said today he thought he would end the matter when he had heard from all the officers who were représented as having been interviewed He had already heard from some of them, and they had denied that there was any truth whatever in the publication referred to, claiming that the interviews were bogus. One man quoted, Major Moore said, was at home sick at the time the article was pub- lished. Several of the alleged interviews, he sald, are yet to be investigated, and if the officers were correctly quoted they will be brought up on charges. es CLOSING ARGUMENT. Concluding the Trial of Ve! Alleged Assailants. In the trial of John Early, Richard Hur- ley and Maurice Davis, the three men charged with assaulting Policeman Vermil- lion the 22d of last September, the night Timothy Dempsey, a companion of the de- fendants, was shot by the policeman, ac- cidentally, claims the officer, tffe closing arguments to the jury were made today by Attorneys A. A. Lipscomb, Joseph Shilling- ton and Chas. H. Turner, on behalf of the defendants, and by Assistant District At- torney Jeffords on behalf of the govern- ment. After the opening argument of Mr. John E. Laskey, who claimed a conviction yes- terday, Judge Cox disposed of the com- plaint made by Mr. Turner against Police- man Kimmell, by remarking that the offl- cer was wrong in interfering while Mr. Turner was talking with Dr. Parker, a gov- ernment witness, after the latter had left the stand. The judge said *hat while the matter should be dropped, he remarked that it must not occur again. . The Arguments. In their arguments, counsel for the de- fendants claimed that the killing of Demp- sey was a cold-blooded murder by Officer Vermillion. They ridiculed the contention of the government that the officer shot while Dempsey was on top of him and the other defendants were kicking and beating him. Had Demsey been so wounded, they asserted, his clothing would have been burned and discolored by the explosion o} the officer's pistol. They claimed, too, that neither Dempsey nor the defendants’ were disorderly, and that the arrest of the for- mer was unwarranted. They also severely arraigned the district attorney's office for fuiling to secure the indictment of Vermil- lion, ‘claiming that Vermillion never thought of charging the defendants with assaulting him until he realized that he d killed Dempsey, and, therefore, sought to save himself by sending the three eye- Witnesses of the murder to the peniten- tlary. Mr. Jeffords closed the arguments in a Gispassionate review of the testimony in the cave, claiming that the defendants, and not Vermillion, were on trial, and that the sole question to be determined was, did the @efendants assault the officer? qo Osea eS DISTRICT GOVERNMENT. Objectionable Shutters. The Commissioners have decided that Jo- seph Mathy, a dealer in the Western Mar- ket, must remove the shutters from cround his stand. This is the case where a dealer opposed the rules of the market master and refused to remove shutters which the market master reported as hetng objection- able. This morning Mr. Mathy and Market Master Buras met at the Commissioners’ office, before Commissioner Ross. Mr. Mathy claimed that he had never been noti- fied the shutters were objectionable, while the market master brought proof 10 show he had personally notified him. The Com- missioners quickly decided the case by re- quiring the dealer to remove the shutters. Charity Schedule. Commissioner Ross, speaking for the beard of Commissioners upon the subject of charities and the appropriations for the support of the same, said: “We believe the schedule as furnished Congress should go through as it ts. It was prepared by us oply after careful investigation and mature consideration.” Favorable Action. The Ccmmissioners have recommended favorable action upon Senate bill 3462, to regulate the business of storage in the Dis- trict of Columbia. Building Permits. Building permits were issued today as follows: J. William Fisher, to erect one frame dwelling, Des Moines street, Bright- weod Park, to cost $1,200; Washington Sefe Deposit Company, alter and repair brick storage building, 914 and 916 Pennsylvania avenue, to cost $7,000. —_—__ The Diocese of Washiagion. Mr. Faulkner reported favorably, from the committee on the District of Columbia, Senate bill 1825, to incorporate the conven- tion of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Washington. oo Pension for Mrs. Gresham. Mr. Palmer favorably reported from the committee on pensions todsy fn the Senate a bill to pension Mrs. Gresham, widow of Secretary of State Gresham, at the rate of $250 per month. ————+e+_____ Mr. Pickler’s Pension Bill. The House committee on invalid pensions has completed the consideration of Repre- sentative Pickler’s general pension bill. It will be introduced again with various amendments and when printed will be at once reported favorably. ———~-e A New Jerscy Judge Falls Dead. TRENTON, N.J., February 4.—Judge Josiah W. Wright, one of the late judges of the Mercer court, dropped dead. at Princeton today while on his junction to Trenton. He was sixty-eight years