Evening Star Newspaper, February 24, 1896, Page 1

- THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Avenne, Cor. 1ith Street, by Pennsylvanis “Evening Star No Company, ‘New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Even! ‘Star is served to subseriners in the Snes cane: ok tae coe eee at 10 cents per week, or 4% cents per mouth, Coples at tho ecunter 2 cents each. matl—anywhere in the United — or Canada—postage prepaid—0 cents P Saturday Quinteple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with reign i added, fiBnteced at the Port Office at Washington, D. C. as second-class mali mat‘er.) (All mall subecriptions must be pald In advance. Rates of advertising ».!+ known on application. No. 13,409. WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1896-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. STREET RAILROADS Cenference Between the Commis- sioners and Senator McMillan. WHAT PRESIDENT NEWBOLD WAS TOLD Rapid Transit and No Experiments Wanted in the District. PLANS FOR EXTENSION eS This is street railway day at the Senate end of the Capitol, as far as the District is concerned. For some time there has been a powerful pressure brought to bear upon the District committee for certain legislation along these lines, and nothing definite was decided until at the recent hearing before the District Commissioners it was fairly well demonstrated that the Public sentiment was opposed to the con- tinuance of the old methods of transporta- tion, and favored the extension of the en- terprising lines already occupying the local field. It has always been Senator McMill- an’s view, it is well known, that new terri- tery should be occupied by existing lines that have given good enough service in the Past to entitle them to such privileges, and since the betterments of the Capital Trac- tion, Metropolitan and Columbia companies have been effected he has strongly favored the granting of extension rights to these roads. Conference With the Commissioners. There was a conference today at the Capitol between Senator McMillan and Commissioners Ross, Powell and Truesdell in regard to the street railway questions tEat have been accumulating. Maj. Pow- ell had with him a lerge map of the Dis- trict, on which were marked the various extensions asked by different companies, and by means of which he explained to the Senator the plan of new constructions favored by the Commissioners. This was gratifying to tha chairman of the com- mittee, who has long desired that the Iceal authorities should decide upon a plan of street railway extensions in order to give the committee the basis for com- prehensive legislation upon the subject. He felt that it was unjust to the citizens tFat they should be continually harassed by rumors of new street car lines being established in localities that were opposed to such improvements or Innovations, and he believes that instead of what might be called “popgun” local legislation for street railway charters there should be as near- ly as possible a consolidation of such measures into as few enactments as pos- sible so as to make them harmonious. What Mr. Newbold Was Told. A year ago or more the Senate passed, at Lis suggestion, a resolution calling upon the Commissioners to present stich a plan, but ne answer was received from tie District b ng, and the consultation of today is the first step that has been had since this line. It is not practically understood that there shall be no extension privileges granted to the Eckington or Belt roads, Lut that these lines shall be compelled to adopt a rapid transit system as speedily as practicable. This of course puts an end to the bills now pending for gton and Belt extensiors. President Newbold, of the two roads, had a brief conference with Senator MeMillan this afternoon, and was emphatically told that the committee could not censent to the 17th strect and M street €xtensions under any circumstances, and adverse to granting any extension rights until the road should Improve its Present s m. No Experiments Wanted. Mr. Newbold said that he had been look- ing into the matter of compressed air motors, and hoped to have them on his lines before "many months. Mr. MeMillan assured him that the committee was not to favor any experimental, and probably impracticable, methods of propul- sion whil2 the city possessed such an ex- cellent demonstration of the value and utility of the underground electric system as that afforded by the successful working of the {th street line. He told Mr. New- bold further that President Phillips of the Metropolitan road had but recently assured. him that the business of the 9th street line had Increased 100 per cent since the installation of the electrical system, and he believed that it would be a better business policy for the Eckington and Belt roads to follow this example and to put in a first- ¢lass electrical equipment than to experl- ment with unknown quantities and extend their lines into urprofitable territories. Other Railrend Officials. Mr. Newboid’s visit followed close upon a call from President Phillips and Attorney Wilson for the Metropolitan line. Mr. Wil- son also represents the Columbia road. It Was In the course of this conversation that Mr. Phillips gave the chairman of the com- mittee the information he quoted to Mr. Newbold, and in addition Mr. McMillan was told that the Columbia company was now considering the question of substituting an underground electric system for its cable line. This would conform to the system now in use on 9th street and soon to be in operation on the other branch of the Metro- politan road, with which the Columbia con- nects. This was very gratifying to the chairman of the committee, who believes that the underground system as developed on the 9th street line leads all of the now known methods of rapid transit. The Commissioners’ Plan. It is understood that the Commissioners, in thelr plan submitted tentatively to Mr. MeMillan today, favor the extension of the Capital Traction Company’s lines into the territory lying south of Pennsylvania venue and west of the State, War and Navy building, which is contested for by the Columbia line. They also regard as Proper, it is said, the desired extension of this same road up 2?d street. They believe, further, that ff franchises ere granted for ear ines cut the Benning and Bladensburg roads they should be in the form of ex- tensions of the Columbia Ine, which, it is thought, has the best claim upon this ter- ritory. There is little disposition felt at Present to favor any material additions to the trackage of the Metrdpol:tan line, and it Is probable that, at this\session, at least, there will be no legislation to this effect. The Anacostia Road. The Anacostia road is a ripe subject for legislation at any time, and there is a dis- Position on the part of the committee to overhaul the affairs of this company in short order, and to either force the present corporation to improve the service mater- fally or to give the territory over to a new and more enterprising concern. The case comes to point in a marked manner just at Present, owing to the complaints that sre being received with great frequency against ie continued use of one-horse cars, which were expressly prohibited by the Commis- sioners some time ago at the suggestion, it is said, of Chairman McMillan. Universal Transfers. The reciprocal transfer question {s also Hable to be speedily solved. The bill row pending providing for universal transfers on all the lines within the District of Co- lumDla 1s not: apt to De passed, but Its main provisions will be secured by amendments to the street railway legislation that may pass the Senate. It is quite probable that for the present this measure will be con- fined to providing for reciprocal transfers Within the city limits. i e FROM ADOLPH SUTRO THE WATER SUPPLY Plain Talk About the Railroad Funding Bill. Fourteen-Fiftcenths of the People | of California Opposed to It. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., February 22. To the Editor of The Evening Stge: You have always been an honorable and independent newspaper man, and it is glorious news to see one newspaper at Washington have the manhood to core out squarely against the foremost criminal and traducer of our age. False statements in hireling newspapers attempt to vrove to Congress that the people of the Pacific coast are in favor of the funding bill. Our people want the government to let the law take Its natural course and foreclose. Fourteen hundred thousand inhabitants of California oppose the funding bill. The other hundred thousand are dependents, bondholders and people otherwise interested in Southern Pacific of Kentucky or persons intimidated by the octopus. ADOLPH SUTRO, Mayor. ————— MICHIGAN FOR McKINLEY. The Favorite Son Game Reacting in His Favor. The report comeg from Michigan on ex- ceptionally good authority that the delega- ticn from that state to the republican na- tional convention will be solid for Mc- Kinley, and that they will probably go there under instructions from the state convention. One of the big republican leaders of that state, who is not committed to the Ohio candidate afid has been under- stood to be favorably disposed toward an- other candidate, communicates the in- formation, after a careful investigation of the situation, that it will be almost im- possible for any one but McKinley to get any one of the delegates. Representative Corliss is working to get his delegates from Detroit for Keed, but the unnounce- ment that he intended to do this was fol- lowed at once by the organization of Mc- Kinley clubs and the inauguration of a very active McKinley movement in the two districts mentioned. The game informant expresses the opin- ion that the favorite son zame has veen so far overplayed that it seems to be re- acting in McKinley's favor in some rec- tions. The situation in Nebraska is point- ted out as an example. It is stated that there might have been a division in the delegation from that state, but that the declaration of Manderson’s candidacy was so obviously a blow aimed at McKinley that it has excited a strong feeling, whi will result in the delegation being in- structed for McKinley. SSS LOSSES OF DISTILLED SPIRITS. A Cireular Issued by the Commin- sioner of Internal Revenuc. The commissioner of internal revenue has issued a circular In regard to excesssive losses of distilled spirits in bonded ware- houses, in which he says: “As the question of excessive leakage de- pends largely on the circumstances under which the loss occurs, no fixed rule can be established in such cases. Any loss which equals or exceeds fifty per cent of the original contents of the cask or package, | will, however, be regarded as excessiv and collectors will, in all such cases, im- mediately collect the tax due on the orig- inal contents of such cask or package, less only the allowance authorized by law. “A smaller loss than that above specified will also be regarded as excesssive where the spirits have remained in warehouse during a comparatively short period of time, or where-the condition of the warehouse, or the cooperage of the packages in the ware- house, is such as indicates a want of proper care on the part of the distiller in prevent- ing unnecessary loss or wantage; or where the loss Is of such extent as will ‘materially affect the tax security afforded by the lien imposed by section 3251, Revised Statutes.” ——_-e+____ WILL STICK TO THE PARTY. What the Secretary of State of Texas Says of His People. With Gov. Culberson of Texas at the Capitol today was Secretary of State AIli- son Mayfield. He is a typical westerner in appearance, and is the youngest man who ever held the position he occupies in Texas. In answer to an inquiry of a Star re- porter as to political affairs in the lone Star state, Mr. Mayfield answered: “We are all for silver.” “What if the national convention does give you a silver man?” “We are all democrats, as well as silver men, and we will support the nominee. Texas is a dead cinch for the nominee, whoever he is. We fuss a littie down our way, but when it comes to sticking to the party we can always be counted on.” es Personal Mention. Edward E. Rice, manager of “Little Christopher,” is at Chamberlin’s. He is ac- companied by W. 8. Jacobs. Henry Tyrrell of Frank Leslie's is at Chamberlin’s. Miss Florence Disston of Philadelphia ts at the Normandie. A delegation of prominent West Vir- ginians at the Normandie consists of Charles E. Wells, O. S. McKinney, James A. Clark and Thomas M. Grand. Miss Teresa Vaughn and Miss Geraldine McCann, the actresses, are at the Arling- ton. Gilbert Coddington, the wealthy New Yorker, is at the Arlington with his valet. George W. Smalley of the London Times is at the Arlington. Howard Carroll and wife of New York are at the Arlington. Miss Helene Mora, the contralto, is at the Riggs House. James Hyde, the theatrical manager, is at_the Riggs House. Dr. Lewis Morris of the navy is at the Ebbitt, from Baltimore. Capt. Chas. S. Smith of the army ts at the Ebbitt. Mrs. Wm. H. Beck, wife of Capt. Beck of the army, and Miss R. Fairley are at the Ebbitt, from the Winnebago Indian agency, of which Capt. Beck has charge. Lieut. L. 8. Upton of the army fs at the Ebbitt. Luella Wagner of Bridgeport, Conn., who is visiting friends in this city, by invitation sang a solo at the Church of the Covenant yesterday. Capt. W. L. Finley, ninth cavalry, ts in the city on militia duty. Capt. H. H. Ketchum, twenty-second in- fantry, is in the city on leave of absence. —— Naval Movements. The cruisers Columbia and Cincinnati have arrived at Hampton Roads. The Bos- ton left Honolulu on the 7th instant for Yokohama. The Concord arrived at Kobe yesterday on her way to San Francisco. The battleship Indiana has passed out of the Virginia capes to sea, with the naval irspection board as passengers, for the purpose of testing her great guns. nr The Texas’ Alterations, Capt. Henry Glass, commanding the bat- tleship Texas, had an interview with As- sistant Secretary McAdoo with regard to the alterations and repairs being made to that vesgel at the Norfolk navy yard. n A Joint Resolution to Complete the Lydecker Tunnel. - DISTRICT 10 PAY HALF THE EXPENSE Unexpended Balance of Appropria- tion to Be Available. ‘OTHER DISTRICT MATTERS Senator McMillan today, from the District committee, introduced in the Senate the joint resclution recently prepared provid- ing for the resumption of work on the aqueduct tunnel and Howard University reservoir. The resolution as it now appears is amended by the insertion of the follow- ing proviso: ‘‘Provided that the sums here- by appropriated shall be subject to all the provisions and restrictions of an act to in- crease the water supply of Washington ity, and for other purpcses, approved July 1882, and of the act approved July 5, 1884, making appropriations for the ex- Penses of the government of the District of Columbia as to its apportionment and set- tlement between the United States and ihe District of Columbia and the refunding thereof.” This places one-half of the burden of paying for the improvement upon the water takers of the District, as will be seen by reference to the report which ac- ecmpanied the joint resolution in its pre- sentation today. The resolution as’ origi- nally drawn made no reference to the di- sion of the cost, placing it all on the nited States. able the $266,746.38 now remaining unex- pended fro:n former appropriations, and further appropriates the sum of $831,287.30 for the cumpletion of the work, of which $683,254 skall be applied to the completion of the tunnel and accessories and $ 013.30 to the completion of the reservoir. It directs that “the work shall be carried or by contract or otherwise, as the Secre- tary of War may deem best for the public interests.” ‘The repcrt reviews the legislation of July 15, 13 and explains the financial provisions of that act as followa: “It was provided that one-half the cest of the said improvement shall be annually computed and charged to a capital account on the hooks of the treasury, and that interest at the rate of 3 per cent per annum thereoa shall be charged tu said account, and that any surplus of water rents over and above the cost of maintaining the works and paying the charges for interest and sink- ing fund for the redemption of outstand- ing bonds tkeretcfore issued for tne ex- tension of the said water works shall be paid into the treasury, credited to the ac- count thus created, until the same be final- ly extinguished. The water rents were to be fixed at such rates as shoul pay the interest charges and the new charges cre- ated. Subsequently it was provided that at the close of the fiscal year 1803, and of each fiscal year thereafter, the treasurer of the United States should apply such portion as may be deemed expedient of any surplus in the District revenues (after pay- ing one-half of the appropriation for the support of the District government) to the extinguishment of the water debt. This legislation marks the change from the system previously in vogue, by which the United States paid the whole cost of the Washington aqueduct, to the system of dividing the exvense between the District and the government. “By virtue of the foregoing legislation,” the report continues, “the reservoir was constructed, and a tunnel was built between the new reservoir and the distributing res- ervoir near Georgetown, but in 1889, us the work was nearing completion, grave defects were found in the tunnel, and work was stopped. The very large outlay thus oc- casioned was, therefore, rendered useless. Meantime, the needs of an increased water supply have become more pressing. It was in answer to this imperative demand that Congress provided for an expert commis- sion to report upon the feasibility of com- pleting the aqueduct tunnel and the other works necessary to obtain the needed { crease in the water supply. This report is now before the Ci res: The committee's report summarizes the findings of the expert engineers, Gen. Craig- hill, maj. Knight and Col. Elliot, and con- cludes: “The question of expense remains to be considered. On this point the com- Mission report that, in thelr judgment, the tunnel can be completed in a first-class manner, with all accessor.es, and ready for operation, for §897,827. The estimates do not include the cost of the link connecting the tunnel with the new reservoir and put- ting that reservoir in order ‘The cost of the entire work Gen. Craighill estimates to be $831,267.30 in excess of the amount ($266,- 746.28) of the unexpended balance already appropriated. Of th.s sum $633,254 is to be appled to the completion of the tunnel and Su CeO to the completion of the reser- voir.” Appended to the report are letters from Gen. Craighill and Commissioners Ross and Powell, previously noted in The Star. The joint resolution was placed on the caleridar, and is now subject to be called up any day in the “morning hour,” or may be taken up by unanimous consent at any time. There is no definite purpose on the part of those in charge of it to call it up immediately, but it is Hable to be passed within a fortnight. The prior joint resolu- tion, which merely made the appropriation for the completion of the tunnel, aggregat- ing, together with the funds now available, less than $900,000, was on recommendation of the committee this morning indefinitely pagtponed. Anacostia Wants Rapid Transit. A letter was received this morning by Chairman McMillan of the Senate District committee from a rumber of citizens of Anacostia, assuring him of their support in any effort made to secure rapid transit for that suburb. They say: “Permit us to invite your attention to the fact that the heavy one-horse cars in use on our local road are uncertain when the track is heavy with mud, sand or snow, or from any cause, and we are, therefore, frequently unabie to reach our places of business on time; and to the further fact that we are compelled to pay two fares to reach any of the departments, except the Interior and Post Office.” The letter ts signed by J. M. Keating, Wm. H. Peck, R. B, Buckley, W. C. Van Hoy, Frank.C. Haines, A. B. Frisbie, J. A. Watson, C. H. Weiss, D. E. Haines, W. T. Anderson, Barnabas Bryan, Henry Johnson and Geo. B. Bury. Pay for Pressmen’s Helpers. Mr. Phillips of Pennsylvania, chairman of the committee on labor, has introduced the following bill in the House: “That the amount paid pressmen’s helpers for day labor in the government printing office shall be at the rate of thirty-five cents per hour for time actually employed. “Sec. 2. That this act shall take effect from and after its passage.” District Day Deferred. . This was District day in the House un- der the rules, but Chairman Babcock con- sented to allow the Infdfan appropriation bill to proceed, with the understanding that’ when that bill Is concluded, this even- ing or tomorrow, as the case may be, Dis- trict business may be Qonsidered. ‘The bills to be calle® up are as follows: For the incorporation of the Protestant Episcopal diocese; authorizing the sale of certain tracts of land to Margaret Shugrue and Caroline Lochboehler; to regulate the It makes immediately avall— business of storage; to authorize reassess- inents for improvements and general taxes, Separation of Church and State. Senator Lodge today presented a reso- lution of the Baptist Young People’s Union of Sajem, Mass., asking that Congress ap- ply the principles of the entire separation of church and state in the matter of ap- propriations for the support of District charities and for the education of the Indians. Want Rapid Transit. Petitions were presented in the Senate today by Senator Gallinger from citizens of the District living along the line of the Pelt and Eckington nes of street railways, asking that those roads be compelled to abandon horse power and to establish a rapid transit system without delay. The National Untversity Bill. Senator Gallinger today had the bill in- corporating the National University of the United States transferred from the Dis- trict committee to the select committee haying that subject specially in charge. A Home for Destitute Women. The bills disposed of at Friday's meeting of the District committee were reported with appropriate recommendations to the Senate today. Senator Call had the bill providing for the establishment of a home for destitute women placed oni the calendar, although the committee had reported ad- versely upon the bill and recommended {ts indefinite postponement. A Guardian for Pensioners, Senator Gallinger today introduced a bill providing for the appointment of a com- mittee er guardian ror pensioners in certain cases in the District. It provides that any judge of the District of Columbia Supreme Court, upon the filing of:a petition alleging that a United States pensioner residing in the District is squandering his pension money in drinking or by viclous habits of life, and after service of a copy of the peti- tion upon the pensioner, may, upon satis- factory evidence, appoint a committee or guardian, and thereafter all payments on account of pensions due to the pensioner shall be made to the guardian, who shall expend the money under the direction of the court. It is further provided that the petition may be filed without making any deposit for costs, and when appointed the guardian shall pay the accrued costs, which shall in no case exceed the marshal’s feces. The bill was reterred to the committee on pensions. Against Garbage Cremutories, Representative Coflin of Maryland pre- sevted in the House today petitions from the South Washington Citizens’ Association protesting against the location of a garbage crematory anywhere wttiy the city ilmits; also asking for a sufhedent appropriation to build an arch over the James Creek gew- er south of the Capital; also protesting against the proposed change of route of the Capital Railroad Comnany that will carry that road across the Anacostia bridge, and insisting upon che origival plan, which con- templated a bridge across the Eastern branch at the foot of South Capitol street. The Racing BAY. : Senator McMillan, from the committee on the District of Columbia, today reported favorably the bill permitting and regulating the organ.ziiion of corparations for horse racing purposes In the District of Colum- bla. The bill permits one or more mectings each year, amd authorizes trotting, running and steeple-chase meetings. It algo per- mts the corporation, the owners of horses or others who are not partic:nants In the rece, to offer cr ccontijute toward purses or stakes, but no ‘soa other thau the owners of horses contesting 'n the race is to have any pécuniary interest In the stake. The time for the meetings is restricted to the per-od from April j to November 40, and none are to he allowed/except betiveen sun- rise and sunset. —— CAPITOL TOPL The Cuban Keselaticns. The House foreign affairs committee ex- pect to dispose of the Cuban resolutions vn Thursday. It is promised that the sub- committee having the matter in charge will be ready to report tothe full commit- tee on thelr meeting that day, and the re- port is expected to be then taken up and disposed of. ‘The probability is that the committee will report a resolution recog- nizing the belligerents. A Protest From the India stoner, ‘The Secretary of the Interfor today trans- m tted to the House, with his approval, a protest from the commissioner of Indian affairs against propose) legislation relative to the removal of the restrictions as to the sale of the allotted Iqndsjof the Puyallup Indians of Washington. I 1s belleved, the commissioner says, that ig the clause ‘con- tained in the pending Ind! appropriation bill should become a law it would result in robbing the Puyallup Indians of their homes and lands,“In bringing them*to pov- erty and making them dependent upon the government. = Nebraska‘s Represeutatives. « The Nebraska delegation has selected Representative Mercer as the Representa~ tive of that state on the republican congres- sional campaign committee. Representative Cowen Resigns. Representative J. K. Cowen, representing the fourth Maryland district in the House, has sent to Speaker Reed his resignation as a member of that body. Mr. Cowen was recently elected to the presidency of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and lis re- tirement from the House will enable him to devote all his time to the duties of that position. Cont: Licenses for Vessels. 5 Senator Pasco, from tke committeé on commerce, today made a favorable report upon the bill requiring second and third- class sea-going vesseis to be licensed, and providing also for the licensing of the Mates of these vessels. A Sugar Duty. i Senator Ceffery today gave notice of an amendment which he proposes to offer to the tariff bill, providing for an ad valorem duty of 50 per cent per annum on all sugars imported, and adding oje-caghth of a cent per pound on all sugars imported from countries paying an expert bounty. The Armeuinn Treubles. Senator Cullom todey prescntod a num- ber of petitions asking Congress to proceed at once to call a conterence of the European powers fer the purpose of securing concert- ed action in rescuing the Armenians from their perilous position, and pledging the support of the United States to any power which wul undertake this work, or, in case European co-operation appears to be im- possible, that our representatives be author- ized to request permission fer this govern- ment “to put an ead to these uumitigated and almost unparalleled horrors.” Laws as to Seamen. Benator Frye today intreduced a Dill amending most of the existing laws relat- ing to American seamen, ————————-o._____. Report on Cripple Greek Mines. The report made by the United States geological survey on the geology and min- ing Industries of the Cripple Creek district, Col., has been published. Five thousand copies of the report haye been authorized Congress, the great ‘tion of which bre for disteioutign by meinbers of the Sen- ate and House of Representatives. _ Promotigns in the Navy. : The retirement of Medical, Director; P, 8. Wales, formerly surgeon ‘general -of the navy, on the 27th instent, will cause the romotion of. Medical Inspector T: N. Pen- arees Surgeon W. G. Farwell, Passed As- sistant Surgeon James D, Gatewood and Assistant “Surgeon Lewig Morris. ALASKA SEAL BILL Report of the House Ways and Means Committee. be > A JOINT COMMISSION AUTHORIZED Failing This All the Seals May Be . Destroyed. CANADA IN THE WAY ———— The report of the ways and means com- mittee on the Alaska seal bill has been presented to the House by Mr. Dingley, and fs as follows: “In order to prevent the extermiation of fur seals, which will soon take place unless prompt measures can be taken to prevent pelagic sealing, this bill authorizes the President to invite Great Britain, Rus- sia and Japan, or any of them, to unite with the United States in the appointment cf a jolt commission to investigate the present condition and habits of the fur-seal herd In the north Pacific ocean and in Bering sea, and the method of slaughtering the same, with the result of such slaughter, and report what further regulations, if any, are necessary for Its preservation, with a view to thelr adoption and enforcement by the countries uniting in creating such commission, “Pending this investigation the Presi- dent is authorized to conclude a modus vivendi with said governments, or any of them, providing for such new or addi- tional regulations as may be deemed ex- Pedient for the preservation of the fur-seal inerd, sald modus vivendi to terminate Jan- uary 1, 1898, May Kill All the Seals. “If, however, the President finds himself unable to secure the co-operation of Great Britain, especially, in securing the modus vivendi authorized by this bill, so as to protect and preserve the Alaskan seal herd for this year's sealing season, then the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to teke each and every fur seul on the Pribilof Islands and to sell the skins of said seals &3 he may elect, and to cover the proceeds into the treasury. “The necessity for this course arises from the fact that the Alaskan fur-seal herd is betng rapidly exterminated by pe- lagic sealing vessels—mainly Canadian— which follow the seal herd as it moves along our Pacific coast in the spring and enter Bering sea at the end of the close season in August, when they are free un- der the ineffectual regulations adopted by the Paris tribunal to use the spear—more deadly than the shotgun—in killing outside of the sixty-mile zone the seals that fre- quent these waters in pursuit of food. As these seals are mainly females that have brought forth their yourg on the Pribilof dslands, the killing of the mother seals re- sults in the starvation of the young upon the land ana the inevitable rapid extine- ton of the fur-seal herd. “The rapidity of the decline of the vyai- uable herd which annually resorts to the Pribilof Islands of Alaska, mainly on ac- count of pelagic scaling, will he seen when it appears that In 1874 this herd numbered about 4,693,000. In 18% the herd had been Teduced to 1,039,000, and at the close of the Season in 185 to about 175,500—44,000 seals, mostly females, having been killed during the last se¢son by pelagic sealers, and abou) 1) pups having died of starvation in Consequence of the killing of the mother seals, The Decline of the Herd. “One year ago it was the estimate of « perts that if all killing of seals had been stopped then it would take five years to restore it to ils former numbers. It is now estimated that if regulations can be secured before the ggxt season opens the herd can be restored In ten years. If, how- ever, the pelagic sealers are permitted to avail themselves of another season's op- portunities for slaughter under the inef- fectual regulations of the Paris tribunal, it is believed by experts that the herd will so hearly exterminated as to make it very difficult to restore it, and that if pelagic sealing continues, within five years not only the Alaskan herd,but also the Rus- sian and Japanese herds, will be well-nigh extinguished. “When it is borne in mind that our gov- ernment received aimost $6,000,000 between 1870 and 18W from the lessees who were given the exclusive privilege of annually Killing 100,000 male seals above one year of age, and in 184), under the leuse, $209,672, but tn 1801 only $16,749, in 1S92 only $23,972, and since 1802 it has received nothing (notwithstanding $550,000 is due) because of a claim of the lessees for a re- duction of rental which awaits determina- tion by the courts, it will be seen that the treasury is being deprived of a very yal- uable source of revenue by the operations of the pelogic sealers. Not only this, but the government expended in 1894 about $450,000 in a vain attempt to prevent the killing of seals in Bering sca by enforcing the inefficient regulations of the Paris tri- bunal. - “Tt will be seen, therefore, that unless Great Britain can be persuaded to unite with this country in so modifying and enlarging the regulations adopted by the Paris tribunal—for Russia and Japan are ready to join us—the Canadian pelagic seal- ers will, within five years. completely ex- terminate not only the Alaskan, but the Russian seal herds, and deprive this com- try of a valuable source of revenue and the world of a great bocn. And inas- much as all these seal skins go to London to be prepared and dyed, giving employ- ment there to nearly 50,000 persons, even Great Britain herself will be deprived of a valuable source of income for her own People. Canada Stands in the Way. “It is believed that it 1s Canada that is standing in the way and holding back Great Britain from co-operating with us in the preservation of the seal herd, and that when Canada sees that we prcpose to take summary measures to end not only the In- humanity that consigns thousands of young seals to slow starvation, but algo the farce by which we are expending large sums of money to police Bering sea practically to aid her pelagic sealers in the work of ex- terminating seals, she will no longer en- deavor to prevent England from uniting with us in efficient measures to save the seal herds to the world. “If, however, we fail in this, as we have failed under present conditions, notwith- standing we have been urging Great Bri- tain for more than a year to unite with us in measures to prererve seal life, then con- siderations of mercy as well as of economy and justice demand that we should stop the further cruel starvation of thousands of seal pups, by taking what seals are left and disposing of their skins, and coverinz into the treasury the proceeds, which would probably reach $5,000,000.’ ——_+-e+__ Secretary Carlisle in New York. Secretary Carlisle has gone to New York for a few days. His visit combines pleasure with business. This evening he will be.en- tertained at dinner by Mr. Baldwin, naval officer of the port of New York. Tomorrow evening a banquet will be given at the Man- hattan Club in his honor, at which he will meet the representative business men of the metropolis. During his stay in New York the Secretary will look into the condi- tion of business at the custom house, the appraisers’ warehouse and the subtreasury. le expects to return to this city Wednesday evening next. THE FRIENDS OF SPAIN Their Energies to Be Oondentrated on the House to Prevent Action. Severance of Diplomatic Relati 1% Threatened if a Deliverance Favor- able to the Insurgents is Ma: Those who oppose action by this govern- ment favorable to Cuba are preparing to concentrate their energies on the House. Tho Senate, they see, is beyond their con- trol; but if they ‘can make an impression on the House which. shall serve either to modify the Senate's deliverance tn some way, or delay action until a late day in the season, they will feel that they have gain- ed a point. Gen. Weyler is calculating on two full months of campaigning before the rainy season begins, and in that time he hopes, {f not checked by outside interfer- ence in Cuba's behalf, to deliver some tell- ing blows against the insurgents. The Spanish Case. The Spanish case is presented in terms like these: Why call upon Spain to abandon the Island? She will not do it. She has de- clared as much twenty times over. All parties and factions at home are united on the proposition to bring the insurgents under. Gen. Campos, even, in disgrace as he is in Madrid, holds that the war must be put down. He insists that it is a war, and that the methods of procedure should be those of humanity and civilization, but he advocates the re-establishment of the Spanish power over the sections of the is- land that are in revolt. Why, the advo- cates of non-action ask, therefore, should the Congress formally urge something cer- tain to be denied? Diplomatic Relations May Be Severed Thelr second question is, can this govern- ment hope to continue diplomatic inter- ccurse with Spain after such a deliverance? If the House ratifies what the Senate seems almost certain to send it, will not Minister de Lome be instructed to immediately ask for his passports and to return home? Then Minister Taylor will return here, and the most strained relations between the two governments will exist. While it Is conced- d that war need not follow, It is yet in- sted that it would be rendered extremely ly. The activity of the friends of Cuba in this country would greatly increase, as would the vigilance of the Spanish sea pa- trol. The liability of collisions growing out of the exercise of the right of search by Spanish commanders would become 80 gtcat, some circumstance, trifling in itself, might set the two countries at any time by the ears. Friends of Cuba Not Afraid of the Result. This is the argument to be used with members of the House against a ratifica- tion of what the Senate is expected to do. The friends of Cuba do not fear the result at all. The House, unless they are very much misinformed, is quite as well dis- posed toward Cuba as is the Senate. The Speaker is a genuine American, and Mr. Hitt, chairman of the foreign affairs com- mittee, hag shown himself in both the Ven- ezuelan and the Bayard matters to be thor- oughly in touch with the awakened spirit of the country on the subject of the coun- try’s alms and aspirations in foreign af- fairs. Why labor with these men and their colleagues on any such lines? Why cov- ertly threaten them with the severance of ain, or even diplomatic relations with ; with possible war? If the ate, which is calculating all contingenci is not to be moved by such threats, why is it expected that the House will be? Sure of the President. The friends of Spain seem to fecl sure of the President, although no word of his is quoted to warrant a positive assertion that he cannot be brought to look with favor on the Cuban cause. The confidence felt is thought to be based only on the strict en- forcement of the neutrality laws on which, from the first, he has ins'sted. That, how- ever, was plainly his duty. The friends of Cuba themselves do not criticise him on that point. They only ask that he assist in such renognition of the insurgents now as will put them on an equality with Spain in the enjoyment of privileges in this country. — MAYBRICK’S CASE. Secretary Olney Han No Information Her Reported Release. Secretary Olney said this morning that he had no information that would enable him to say whether it was true or not, 2s reported, that the British home secretary had decided upon the release of Mrs. May- brick, the American, undergoing Mfe im- prisonment in London for poisoning her husband. LITHOGRAPHERS. STRIKE. A Mow ent in New York Expected to Spread to Other Cities. NEW YORK, February 24—Five hundred lithegraphers struck tcday to enforce the recognition of their organization, the aboli- tion of piece work system and the payment of minimum wages of $13 a week, a work week of forty-four hours, pay for over- time and one apprentice to every five jour- neymen. ‘The sirikcrs were employed hy 100 firms, who do show printing and general litho- graphic work. They are all members of the International Lithographic Artists’ and Engravers’ Insurance and Protective As- sociation, which has branches in all the principal cities of ‘the United States and Canada. The actfon of the New York branch of the association was expected to precipitate strikes forthwith in all the large cities. peas MR. HARTER’S FUNERAL, It Will Be Held at Mansfield, Ohio, Wednesday Afternoon. MANSFIELD, Ohio, February 24.— Funeral services over the remains of M. D. Harter will be held at his late residence on Park avenue west, in this city, at 2 o'clock Wednesday. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. George H. Reen, pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Harter was a member. A num- ber of people well known in political iife are expected to be in attendance at the funeral. SS CHEERING FOR “DR. JIM.” Crowds Gathering at Plymouth to See Him Land. PLYMOUTH, February 24.—Crowds of people gathered at Plymouth Hoe today expecting to be able to witness the land- ing of Dr. Jameson and his officers from the troop ship Victoria, which arrived here at midnight, but it is understood that they will be landed at Portsmouth. The troops, which came ashore from the Victoria, gave three cheers for Dr. Jame- son. Capfain Heeney, the American cttizen, one of Dr. Jameson's officers turned over by the Boers to the British and sent on board the Victoria, was, at his own request, landed at Port Said. ‘The matter has been explamed to Ambassador Bayard. It is claimed that Heeney wou'd now be break- ing stones in Pretoria had he not been shipped away with his companions. ————__ Extensive Fire in South Africa. JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Febru- ary 24—A fire, which broke out this morn- ing, has caused damage amounting to $375,- 000 to dry goods and other stores, ware- houses, ete, A CRY FROM ARMENIA Thrilling Story of the Attack on Marash. ASSAILANTS WHO KNEW NO PITY Husbands Killed Before Their Wives’ Faces. AID FOR THE SUFFERING BOSTON, Mass., February 24.—Following is the translation of a letter from the wife of an Armenian pastor in Marash, ecntral Turkey. It is addressed by her to “Christians in America:” Describing the attack at Marash writer says: “Our merciless assailants on the morning of that fatal day came upon us like wild ‘beasts. In the place of the ‘good morning’ of friendly lips, we heard the shots of guns and revolvers. Their ‘how do you do, this morning,’ was the dread sound of axes breaking in the doors. They battered upen our boxes and closets and took away or destroyed everything we had in the world. A fire could not have made a cleaner sweep. We saved our lives by flee- ing to the house of a Moslem neighbor; but at evening he drove us out into the street, and many were slain in the street by bullet or knife or ax. “Several of our friends were stabbed to death and cut to pieces; some were slain with one blow of the ax upom the head; some had their throats cut, as if they had been sheep in the butcher's hands. My he- loved brother was shot with two bullets through the body and then stabbed in the heart,” continues the writer. “My sister's husband was soldier. “Look at me, you dog!” said the murderer. ‘Here Is your portion,” and with the word he fired a bullet from lils revoiver ito the poor felicw's bre: The viciin fell dead, Lut to this day we have not been able to find his body amid the bur ments of his house. Our homes lo. the dens of witd ts, for the fragments of dead bodies lay everywhere, “My husband had to flee awax me and the children,” she en days we saw nothing of him, and we nearly died of hunger and cold. There were no friends to whose doors I could go and beg my bread. Not a reighbor remained to whom 1 could appeal. Where could 1 get food for my little ones? Where clothing? Where a bed? Bedding to keep them from the cold? I was as one driven crazy. Would to God the sun had never risen on that day! Would that this year, covered with the blood of the innocent ones, had never come into the number of the ye: * “For weeks we lay in the chopped straw of a stable, with neither bed nor bedding. Just at present we are covering our little ones at night with some rags of old carpet. The earth seemed turned into fron that it did not open and swallow us. I can write RO more,” concludes the afflicted woman. “I lift up the hands of my little ones to you, so far away, in an uppeal that you Will send us the speedy deliverance that alone can keep us from perishing utterly. — AN EXCITED MEETING. the ‘zed by @ end leave tat Cleveland Aguins Propos- ed Street Railway Legislation. CHICAGO, February 24.—A special dis- patch from Cleveland, Ohio, 5: There was an exciting and almost incendiary meeting of the Washingion Reform Ciub last evening. The fifty-year street railway franchise was the subject. It was de- rounced as the most “infamous piece of attempted robbery” that ever confronted the people of this state. Thomas Fitzsimmons said if it is passed and any of the Cuyahoga delegation voted for it he would join the crowd to hang the guilty persons to the most couvenient lamp post. He said he meant just what he said and was serious. To lang one of the robbers would be to stop such in- famous work for many years to come, he declared. Ed. Vail sald he would also felp to adorn a lamp post with any leg's- lator who would dare vote for the bill. There were other such speakers, an@ amid great excitement the members shout- ed that they could find a method of dis- posing of any of the Cuyahoga dclegation who dared vote for the extension. The strongest kind of a resolution was then adopted condemning the scheme. The secretary suggested that the Wash- ington Reform Club atone fer the unwise action of the chamber of commerce in blackmailing Andrew Carnegie by making Mr. Andrew Carnegie an honorara member of the club, Mr. Rankin propos in ad- dition to the name of Mr. Carnegie the names of George M. Pullman, John D, Rockefeller and A. C. Frick as honorary members of the club. The motion was put, and Messrs. Carne- gie, Pullman, Frick and Rockefeller were unanimously elected to honorary member- ship. — WILL THERE BE A BOLT? Disbelief in a Departure From th Salvation Army Ranks. CHICAGO, February 24.—Those who at- tended the services of the Salvation Army at the Princess Rink yesterday afternoon expecting to hear any manifestations of interest in the resignation of Commander Ballington Booth and the consequences that might follow went away disappointed, Everything was as serene among the Chris- tian soldiers as though there had never been such a thing as a threatened split in the ranks of the army. “I have heard scarcely any expression of opinion on this subject,” Staff Captain Brown said in reply to a question as to what effect was being exerted upon -the members of the army by Commander Booth's resignation. “It is needless to deny that they are interested, but the fact is that few really know that the commander has resigned. They feel that something of importance has taken place in New York, but their loyalty to the army and their con- fidence that nothing can affect its future usefulness is so great that they are satis- fied to wait until the whole truth comes out. There is no thought of secession from the parent body. You can depend on that. It has been and still is the boast of the Sal- vation Army that it is all under one flag and one head. That spirit has grown stronger and stronger every year since the army was orgenized and will make such @ movement impossible, even ul Com- mander Ballingion® Booth lead an attempt to divide the American army from the other armies. He has already given evidence of his intense loyalty and devotion to the cause, so there is no*use making conjec- tures.” “Brigadier General Fielding is expected back from New York tomorrow, and he will probably bring with him important official information concerning the changes in the army. a Voting at Frankfort. LOUISVILLE, Ky., February 24. cial to the Post from Frankfort, Ky., saya: The roll call showed only ninety-four mem- bers present; necessary to a choice, forty- eight, the smallest attendance of the ses- sion. The twenty-ninth ballot resulted ag follows: Hunter, 45; Blackburn, 43; Care Usle, 3; Willison, 1; Bate, 1; McCreary, 1.