Evening Star Newspaper, February 25, 1896, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED eta SUNDAY, ‘‘T THE BUILDINGS, Ae Bog in eg ab — Eee Suremna tere i Ster is served to W oir br garcony, o t as it cents 3 re the Sang ohcants Say male, enmeaans per month. Saturday Quinte; Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign portage a 5. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., second-class mail matter.) EFAll mail subscriptions must be pald fn advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. No. 13,440. GARBAGE QUESTION The Much-Discussed Affair Up in the Senate. PETIPION FROM SOUTH WASHINGTON Senator Stewart's Resolution for an Incurry. LOCAL LEGISLATION ‘The garbage question was brought up In the Senate ioday in a rather unexpected manner and from a totally unexpected source. During the morning hours Sena- ator Stewart of Nevada presented a num- ber of petitions from citizens of South Washington in regard to garbage and other matters affecting that locality, accompa- nied ‘by a resolution, for which he asked immediate cons‘deration. This resolution was as follows: “Resolved, That the committee on the District of Columbia fs directed to call upon the Commissioners of said District for a full report of their action under the act of March 2, 1895, in the matter of the removal of the garbage cf the cities of Washington and Georgetown, with trans- misston of all papers, and the said commit- tee is further directed to investigate the subject of the disposal of the garbage for large cities, with special regard to the healih and comfort of the people and the location of garbage crematories or reduc- tion plants, and to report what, if any, legislation is necessary.” When the resolution had been read Sen- ator Hill asked what reason there was for such an investigation. Mr. Stewart an- swered that the reasons were set forth at great length in the papers accompanying the resclution, and added that the Com- missioners are very much emberrassed over the girbage question. He believed that an investigation could do no harm, and might be of material aid to the Com- missioners. Senator Harris suggested that the reso- Tution be printed and go over until tomor- Tow, and this was acted upon, and the matter will come up for consideration to- mvrrow unless something intervenes. The Pett The petition accompanying the resolu- tion is signed by E. C. Winter, president; Henry Storey, secretary, of the South Washington Citizens’ Association, and the following named members as executive committee: John B. Trout, Maurice Fitz- erald, John Quinn, James Martin, Bernard onard, James F. Shea and Charles Schafer. The facts contained in the peti- tion are already well known, and are set forth more at length in a document that accompanies the papers, in the nature of a brief, which recites the law and the reguia- tions concerning garbage disposal. It con- tinues: “Until the use of the reduction plant at the foot of South Capitol street, the garbage had all been transported out of the District by land or water. It had been the policy and intention of Congress that the garbage should be collected and removed out of the city and at a distant point disposed of.” The paper then speaks of the various steps taken to secure the garbage disposal plant, recites the facis leading up to the establishment of the former reduction plant at Buzzard’s Point, which, the petitioners state, proved such a nuisance that the citizens were about to take the matter into court, “when the plant providentiaily burned down.” Continuing the record of the case the paper cites the facts of the passage of the appropriation act last year, the opening of bids under the provisions therein contained, and the ac- ceptance of Wartield’s bid at $57,0uv, “‘not- withstanding that there were bids even as Jow as $34,000 from reputable and reponsible bidders.” Points of Opposition. The deeument concludes with a recita- tion of the following points raised by the eltizens: “Crematories and reduction plants are everywhere regarded as per se nuisances and relegated to distant points; the claim that the Erewn crematory, now heing con- structed at the foot of South Capitol street, will be odorless is disproved by the ene at Wilmington, Del., which is tolerated only because it is in a locality given up to varieus uvexious and objectivnable trades. Garbage crematories, irrespective of their character, are repugnant, and their mere presence is destructive of property values; the spirit of congressional legisla- tion, from first to last, is to remove the garbage outside ef the city and thickly populated suburbs; the health regulations clearly prohibit the burning or reduction of garbage withir the city or thickly pop- ulated suburbs; the building regulations require the writien consent of residents and preperty owners; the Commissioners re- quired the consent of occupants and own- ers in adjoining states, but did not require the consent of such within the District, and even ignored their protests; the Com- missioners could not be convinced that the former reduction pliant was a nuisance, although a similar plant has been re- strained by the court, and several hundred citizens subscribed a petition and me- Morial declaring the former plant here to be an odorous nuisance; the desire and de- mand of the press and the public is that the garbage plants be located outside of the city limits, either in Maryland or Vir- ginia, and in approving sites within the city the Commissioners are acting against the will of those whom they are delegated to represent; the crematory at the foot of South Capitol street will be a menace to the new bridge from that point across the Eastern branch, a survey for which has been made by order of Congress; the act of March 2, 18%, the appropriation act, Was passed before Congress had full in- formation upon the subject of the dispusal of garbage; the location of the garbage crematory is within the control of Con- gress, inasmuch as there {s no provision of contract tymg the hands cf Congress, and Congress can pass a law governing the whole subject and providing that such crematories shall. be located outside the city limits.” James Creek Canal. The same signatures were appended to a petition asking that a sufficient sum of money be appropriated to enable the proper authorities to arch over James creek canal. The petitioners state: “This open sewer, by reason of its foul waters and filth, is fatal to the health and creates a frightful mortality in this vicinity. It is character- ized by the health officer and other physi- clans as a deadly plague spot, and Ly its Presence blights a large section of South Washington, driving residents away and destroying the value of property.” They object to the plan recommended ty Maj. Powell to divert the sewerage from the canal, leaving it open as a waterway. ‘They say that this not be effective or economical, and add: “The canal will never be of any considerable value to commerce or business, tnasmuch as it fs too narrow and shallow to allow the passage of any vessel larger or of deeper draft than a sand scow, and there is an abundance of unused water front on the Eastern branch which would answer every demand of the com- merce or business which uses or would use the James creek canal.” South Capitol Street Bridge. There was ¢ third petition from the same eltizens, favoring the paasage of the bill now pending providing for the crection of @ bridge across the Eastern branch at South pitol street and the granting of a charter to a railroad company to use that S DR JAMESON ARRAIGNED|DISTRICT DAY Charged With “Warring on a Friendly State.” Crowds Waiting Outside Bow Street Police Court in London for the Famous Raider. LONDON, February 25.—Dr. Jameson landed at Erith, on the Thames, in a tug from the troop ship Victoria, and took the train for London. There was great excitement at Bow street police court at 3:15, when a number of Dr. Jameson’s friends arrived. This was looked upon as showing that the long-expected in- vader of the Transvaal would soon follow them. Among those present at that time were the Duke of Abercorn, Viscount Chelsea, the Earl of Arlington, Col. Tracey, private secretary to the Marquis of Salis- several colonial officers and officials, Mr. Charles E. Warde, M. P., and many other people of note. The excitement was great, especially as the day wore on, and the effects of refresh. ments upon the crowds became more ap- parent. Patriotic shouting was frequent, ard a lively scene was anticipated when “Dr. Jim” made his appearance before the sitting magistrate. Inside and outside Bow street police court the principal subject dis- cussed was the charge upon which he would be arraigned. Dr. Jameson, after having traversed a cir- cultous route in order to avoid the crowds, arrived at Bow street police court at 6:25 p.m. He was loudly cheered on entering the court room, the entire audience rising and uncovering upon his appearance. Later—Dr. Jameson and fourteen of his fellow paisoners were charged with “war- ring agafst a friendly state.” The case was adjourned for two weeks, the prisoners being admitted to bail in £2,000 each. WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE. Fullerton’s Assertion Regard- ing President Cleveland. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., February 25.—Gen. J. S Fullerton of Washington, D. C., pres- ident of the National Chickamauga Mlli- tary Park Association, who is here listen- ing to the testimony as to where the mon- ument of the ninth Indiana regiment should be placed, says the personal friends of President Cleveland understand full well that he will not be a candidate for a third term. The general says that President Cleveland has communicated this fact to several of his personal friends in Wash- ington and will in a short time announce his determination in a letter. Gen. ——— AN OHIO ENTERPRISE. Proposed Electric Railway From the West to Washington. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, February 25.—T. D. Hoskins appeared before the county com- missioners yesterday afternoon and asked for a franchise eastward over the National pike to the Madison county line for a rail- road, which will be operated wholly by gasoline motor cars, and which will be the first road of the kind in the world. It was practically agreed that the franchise will be granted today. It is the plan of Mr. Hoskins and associates, Mayor P. P. Mast and John Foos, to build the line at ence to Columbus. The projectors are mil- lionaires, have ample capital and their in- tention is to build the read on through to Washington, D. C., over the National road. The motor cars will be manufactured here, and Mr. Hoskins said the firm ex- Pects to have 2,000 men at work on them in a@ few months. —_.—__ HUSBAND AND WIFE SHOT. Tragedy at Madison, W MADISON, Wis., February 25.—A terrible tragedy, resulting in the fatal shooting of Mrs. A. W. Paterson by her husband, and his death by his own hand immediately af- terward, occurred at midnight last night, at their home in this city. A letter, ostensibly written by both par- Double Midnight at tles, was left to the children, saying hus- band and wife had meditated suicide for seme time, and resolved to die together. This declaration, however, is opposed by the fact that when found, the wife, who had retired and was in her nigit robe, had one arm thrown across her face as if to stield it, and a bullet in the arm, while the busband was still fully dressed. ‘Both, with other members of the household, had at- tended revival services being held here by B. Fay Mills during the evening, and had gone to their rooms apparently in the best of spirits. The family came here from Algoaa, Iowa, where Paterson was a merchant, retiring on account of poor health. They came here to educate their children at the State Uni- vers.ty, which Paterson formerly attended. No other motive tham insanity on the part of the husband, or intended suicide on the part of both, can be assigned for the deed. Bailie es FORCED TO SEEK PORT. Experience of the Steamer Maori in a Reeent Hurricane. NEW YORK, February 23.—The British tramp steamer Maori, bound from Balti- more for Rotterdam, put into this port last evening in distress and anchored off quar- antine. Capt. Robinson reports that he sailed from Baltimore February 15, with a full cargo of corn and flour for Rotterdam. On the 18th, in the middle of the gulf stream, the steamer encountered a terrific hurri- cane from the southeast, accompanied by tremendous seas, which nearly engulfed the veesel. Heavy seas broke on board, sweeping everything before them. The forward com- panion ladders were smashed and every- thing movable washed off decks. The ship refused to answer her helm, and, upon ex- amination, the rudder was found broken; and so it was deemed prudent to put about and bear up for repairs. Capt. Robinson stated that the hurricane was the worst he ever encountered. At one time it looked as if the vessel would founder in the tremendous sea, in which the vessel labored for several hours. The chart room and cabin were flooded. One seaman was struck by a wave which broke on board and dashed him against the iron deck house, breaking his knee cap. The Maori may pos- stbly require a survey before resuming her voyage. ——_-——_ RUMORS OF MASSACRES. The Turkish Government Denies the Truth of the Reports. CONSTANTINOPLE, February 25.—Re- ports have been received here saying that fresh massacres have occurred at Malatia and seven other points of Armenia. The Turkish government, when question- ed on tae subject, denied that there was any truth in the stories told of fresh massa- cres, and asserted that they were creations of the imagination of the Armenian agi- tators, —_——— LIEUT. ROSS’ CHARGES. They Have Been Filed Against Capt. Munger at the Treasury. PORT TOWNSEND, Wash., February 25. —Lieut. Ross, formerly of the revenue cut- ter Corwin, has forwarded charges to the Secretary of the Treasury against Capt. Munger of a very serious nature. The charges assert that Munger was drunk dur- | ing most of the time the fleet was in Ber-’ ing sea last season. Some Time Given by the House to Local Measures, THE REASSESSMENT BILL PASSED -_— Also the Billto Regulate. Storage in the District. A GAS INTERROGAtTORY Chairman Babcock secured the floor in the House this afternoon to call up bills reported from the committee on the Dis- trict of Columbia, and présented first the bill to authorize the sale of certain land to Caroline Lochboehler, Margaret Shugrue and Jno. R. Scott, this land now being a portion of the holdings of the United States on the Washington aqueduct. The bill was passed without amendment. The Reassessment Bill. Chairman Babcock then called up the bill |.to authorize reassessments of certain taxes in the District. The bill provides as tol- lows: That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be authorized and directed, in all casca where general taxes or assess- ments for local improvements in the Dis- trict bf Columbia may hereafter be quash- ed, set aside, or declared void by the Su- preme Court of said District, by reason of an imperfect or erroneous description of the lot or parcel of ground against which the same shall have been levied by reason of such tax or assessment not having been authenticated by the proper officer, or of a defective return of service of notice, or for any technical reason other than the right of the public authorities to levy the tax or make the improvement in respect of which the assessment was levied, to reassess ihe lot or parcel of ground in respect of such general taxes or the improvement mention- ed in such defective assessment, with power to collect the same according to exi: laws relating to the collection of a: ments and taxes: Provided, That tn cases where such taxes or assessments shall be quashed or deciared void by said court, for the reasons hereinbefore stated, the r - sessment herein provided for shall be made within ninety days after the judgment or decree of said court quashing or settiag aside such taxes or assessments. The Commissioners’ Report. In reporting upon this bill the Commis- sioners said: “The amount of revenue lost to the Dis- trict for technical grounds through the rul- ings of the courts and the inability of the District authorities to reassess the charg2s so invalidated is so great as to threaten serious embarrassment to tha municipal interests involved. Unless Congress shall interpose the legislation proposed in this bill or some other enactment tagthe same effect, the evil will rot only continue, but will indetinitely expand. The Commissiou- ers prepured and submitted to a former Congress a draft of a bill to provide for the reassessment of taxes and assessmen‘s judicially declared void for such tec’ errors, but that bill as well as anticipz the favorable action of Congress. What- ever hardship or embarrassment the pro- posed legislation might entail on property owners with regard to taxes and assess- ments heretofore judicially declared void, because of the bearing reassessment might have upon interests innocently acquired by owners succeeding to the property subse- quent to such judgments, the Commlission- ers can imagine no reasonable objection in justice or equity to the enactment of the bill herewith transmitted, which is design- ed to provide against future losses, on similar grounds, of assesments and taxes to which the municipality may be justly entitled.” Mr. Abbott’s Amendment. Mr. Abbott of Texas moved to strike out the word “hereafter” in the first portioa cf the bill, claiming that otherwise it would work discriminaiion to some property own- ers who heretofore have had their assess- ments annulled. Mr. Richardson said the committee had held that the objection of Mr. Abbott was not a vahd one, having examined the pleas of ihe ciass of property holders in whose behalf Mr. Abbott sp: ke. Mr. Terry (Ark.) advocated the amend- ment of Mr. Abbott. Mr. Dockery’s Question. At this point a diversion occurred in the proceedings, when Mr. Dockery (Mo.) avail- ed himself of the opportunity presented by the debate to ask Mr. Babcock if it was the purpose of the District committee to re- port, at an early day, a bill to regulate and cheapen gas and electric lighting in the District. Mr. Babcock replied that two hearings had been given on the subject and ancther was set for next Thursday. The committee hoped, ho said, to report at an early date. The Bill Passed Without Amendment. Mr. Babcock opposed the amendment of Mr. Abbott. The amendment was defeat- ed and the reassessment bill passed in the form presented above. To Regulate Storage. ‘The next measure presented was the bill to regulate storage In the District. It pro- vides as follows: That every person, firm, asscciation, or corporation lawfully en- gaged in the business of storing (for hire) goods, wares, merchandise, or personal property of any description shall have a preference lien thereon for the agreed charges for storing the same, and for ail moneys advanced for freight, cartage, la- bor, insurance, and other necessary ex- penses, such lien to include all legal de- mands for like storage and expenses agaiust the owner of said property. Said luen for such unpaid charges, upon at least one year’s storage and for the aforesaid advances in connection therewith, may be enforced by sale at public auction, after thirty days’ notice in writing mailed <o the last known address of the person or persons in whose name or names the said property so in default was stored, and said notice shall also be published for six:| days in a daily newspaper in the District of Columbia. And after deducting all stor- age charges, advatces, and expenses of sale, any balance arising therefrom shall be paid by the bailee to the bailor of such goods, wares, merchandise, or personal property, his assigns or legal representa- tives. Said property may be so sold either in bulk or In separate pieces, articles, pack- ages or parcels, as will in the judgment of the lien holder secure the largest obtain- able price; provided, that if the persog or persons storing said property shall have assigned or transferred the title thereto and have duly recorded said assignment or transfer upon the books of the storage warehouse, the written notice of sale shall also be mailed to said transferee or as- signee. Section 2, That whenever the title or right of possession to any goods, wares, merchandise or personal property on stor- age shall be put in issue by any judicial proceeding, the same shall be delivered upon the order of court after prepayment of the storage charges and cash advances then due, and unless the person, firm, as- sociation or corporation so conducting a storage business shall claim some right, title or interest in said stored ‘property ol “the lk her re au- thorized, he, it or they shall not be made a party to said judicial proceedings. ~ Mr.' Curtis of Ohio caused the committee's report to be read. This lias been published heretofore in The Star. The Bill Pashed. Mr. Curtis said the bill had been prepared by the district atterney, approved by the commissioners. and considered by the Dis- trict Commissioners, Mr. Baker of New Hampshire offered two Amendnients to per- fect the verbiage of the bill, which were accepted by Chairman Babcock. The storage bill was then passed. This concluded the District business be- fore the House. CARTER AND CARLISLE The Former's Ooming Speech to Be as In- tereating as the Latter’s Letter, Similarity of the Tariff Situation in the Senate to the Senatorial © Problem in Kentucky, Mr. Carter’s speech in the Senate tomor- row will possess quite a8 much interest for republicans as that which democrats felt in the recent letter of Mr. Carlisle on the senatorial situation at Frankfort. The one, too, is likely to provoke’as much energetic protest in straightout partisan circles as did the other. The Kentucky Situation. The situation which elicited Mr. Car- Usle’s letter still continues and is easily described. There are sixty-eight demo- cratic members of the Kentucky legisla- ture, and all but about half a dozen are voting for Mr. Blackburn, the caucus nom- inee for Senator. Those who are refusing Mr. Blackburn support justify their action on the ground that, elected as they were as sound money men, they cannot assist in the choice of a free silver candidate for the Senate. Better, they *are aagerting, no Senator at all, or even a sound money re- publican, than tke election of a democrat who would help along the cause of free coinage. Mr. Carlisle was asked to use his in- fluence with the holteiy. It war not as- serted, because it could not be, that if the bolters were brought into line Mr. Black- burn would be elected, but it was contended that a solid democratic frout ought to ve presented in the Interests of the party or- ganization in the state, and, moreover, that it might result in winning over the two populist votes necesary to success. Mr. Carlisle declined to interfere. He would only express the wish for democratic suc- cess on lines of what he asserted the party by its platforms was committed to. But he could not even decline to interfere with- out strengthening the purpese of the sound money democrats, and they are more deter- mined in their opposition to Mr. Blackburn now than they were before. Zhe result, of course, is a very rabid arraignment of Mr. Carlisle by many democrats of prominence, who hold that he should have counseied a solid vote in the Interests of party har- mony. A Similar Senate Situation. The situation in the Senate here is quite as simple as that at Frankfort, and, ex- cept that a measure Js involved instead of a man, 1s very similar to that. The emergency tariff bill has received the approval in cau- cus of every republican tor but four. ‘The contention is that, bein@@ ¢aucus meas- ure, it Is entitled to the full bhean vote of the Senate. That yote he would not pass it; several populistic’ or democratic votes would still be necessary. But, it is urged, the republicans Ought to present a solid front whether these votes are secured or not. Bolting, it is ins.sted, is a very dangerous move with which to begin a pres- idential game. Mr. Carter to Explain, Mr. Carter, Mr. Teller, Mr. Dubois and Mr. Mantle have voted against consideration of the measure, and Mr. Cafter is to explain the attitude of the quartet. His line of argument inay not be new, but if he reiter- ates with uncompromising energy what the extreme free coinage republicans have all along been insisting upon, it will be a point- er of note as respeciing the silver policy to be pursued at St. Louis. Hf protection, and even the proper support of the government, are to be challenged in the interests of free coinage, the republicans of the east have a job on their hands well calculated to test their capacity as harmony makers aud unifiers to the very utmost, Politics Makes Strunge Bedfellows. Meanwhile everything is drifting, and every day presents new proof of the fact that politics makes strange bed fellows. This kicking quartet of republicans block- ing the way of the tariff bill are standing shoulder to shoulder with the solid populist party and the solid democratic party of the Senate. And the government is on short commons. ———— 2 THE GOLD RESERVE. It 1s Now Beyond the Humdred-Million Mark. Today's treasury statement shows the gold reserve to be $123,522,378. Of this amount, $91,687,706 represents the aggre- gate gold paid in to date on account of the 4 per cent loan of 1925, The amount of | bonds fssued, however. 1s only $70,650,050, of which $43,413,650 are in coupons and $27,237,400 registered bonds, the baiance be- ing held on call from the purchasers. The total amount of the deferred gold payments, therefore, 1s only about $20,000,000. Since January 6 last, the date of Secre- tary Carlisle's bond circular, the total w.th- drawals of gold from the treasury amount to $32,413,396, of which $22,980,268, or about 25 per cent of the whole gold receipts, was not exported, but was used, it 1s assumed, in the payment of bonds,- Withdrawals for export still continue, however, and it will not surprise treasury officials if the gold feserve again falls below the legal tender limit of $10,000,000 befote the date fixed for final payments for the néw bonds ~- June 15 next. In view of this alleged prob- ability, it is said to be not improbable that the President will send a special message to Congress reviewing the financial situa- tion and urging legislation for the effectual protection of the government gold balance. ‘Those who predict such a message admit that It 1s not likely to be sent unless it ap- pears that no measures will-be adopted for the relief of the situation, and consequently need not be looked for until Just before ad- journment. ——-e Personal Meatfox. Capt. George F. Chase, third cavalry, is in the city on leave of absehce. Lieut. Douglass Settle, tenth Infantry, is visiting friends in this city. _ At tue annual meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati, held in Baltimore, Md., last Saturday, Mr. Charles Wilson Handy of this city was admitted to membership. He is a, great grandson of Liéut. Col. Levin Handy of revolutionary famé. Dr. McArdle has recovered from his re- cent severe illness, Mr. Harry G. Wilbur, private secretary to Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta Constitution, is spending a few days with his family on Capitol Hill. Mr. C. A. Benscoter, assistant general passenger agent of the Southern Railway Company, whose office ig gt Chattanooga, Tenn., is in Washington, —_—_. Local Cialis, A favorable report was made to the Sen- ate .from the committeé on claims on ‘the bill for the relief of Jahn Shipman, the well-known contractor of-ihis eity. ‘The bill for the relief of John A. Fairfax was today transferred m the Senate from the committee on clatins to the committee on the District of Columbia. THE GREAT OCTOPUS|™W ENT Graphic Story of the Pacific Railroad Frauds. A GANG OF “INCORPORATED PIRATES” What Representative Maguire Has to Say. PACIFIC COAST PROTESTS en el “Yes, I will be pleased to give you a story on the Pacitic railroads,” said Congressman Maguire to a-represeutative of The Star yesterday. “A complete history of the frauds and op- pressions connected with their construction and operation would be very Interesting, but even a summary of them would be too long for the average reader. I know of nothing like the history of the Pacific railroads ex- cept the history of the frauds and oppres- sions of the East India Company, as dis- closed in tiie famous trial of Warren Hast- ings. There is one striking difference be- tween them, however, if the popular reports of the Hastings trial are to be credited. You know, Warren Hastings is credited with having said upon his trial, when admitting a long series of charges against him: ‘My God! gentlemen, considering my opportuni- ties, 1 am surprised at my moderation.’ The manipulators of the Pacific railroads can hardly look back over their careers with any such feeling. They were never guilty of any moderation in availing themselves of their opportunities. They acted like incorporated pirates from the beginning to the end. The Central Pacific. “I had better confine myself to the history of the Centra! Pacific railroad, with which I ém far more familiar than with that of the Union Pacific, but I am not aware of any fraud or oppression committed in connec- tion with either of these companies that was not practiced by the other. Their systems were the same and the results were very similar in both eases. The Central Pacific Railroad Company was organized as a Cali- fernia corporation by Messrs. Huntington, Stanford, Hopkins and Crocker on June J, 186i. Those gentlemen really constituted a partnership at that time and all the time until the organizauon of the Southern Pa- cific Company, in 1885. The Central Pacific Railroad Company and some thirty other corporations organized by these men were 1eally corporauens oly in name, used as mere agencies of the co-partnership. The company, as you know, was authorized by the Pacitic railroad act of 1862 to construct a part of the Pacific railroad system com- mencing at San Jose, Cal, and butiding eastward to meet the Union Pacific railroad, which was being built westward from Omaha. “Bach compz.1y wes to receive a propor- ion of the land and bond subsidy equal to the proportion of the road built by each. The act of 13862 gave to the companies every odd numbered section of government land lying within ten miles on each side of the railroad bétween Omaha, Neb., and San Jose, Cal., ani a further subsidy in the form of United States bonds of from $16,000 to $48,000 per mile, the $16,000 per mile being given for building on level land and $48,000 per mile for mountain building. Practically nothing wes done under the act of 1962. In 1864 Loth companies, be- lieving, no doubt, that they had failed to make the most of their opportunity in 1862, asked Congzess practically to double their jand and bond subsides. The land subsidy was doubled by giving them every odé sec- tion of Jand within twenty miles on each side of the railroad. In addition to this tand grant I should have said the govern- ment gave to the compans a right of way 4u0 feet in widuf from Omaha to San Jose, where the roads were run through govern- ment land, as they were throughout most of the d.stance. “he companies were also given the right to mortgage their roads privately to an amount equal to the origi- nai gov2rnment subsidy, the private mort- gages so authorized to_be the first mort- gages on the roads and prior to the goy- ernment mortgage. This was equivalent to doubling the government subsidy. Some Startling Figures. “Under these ucts the Union Pacific Rail- road Company <eccived about $67,000,000 in money und United States bonds, and the Central Pacific Cumpany about $56,000,000. The two companies tgether received an cmpire of land which in a solid body would be twenty miles in width and eigh- teen hundred miles in length. These sub- sid.es were far beyond the cost of build- ing and equipping the rcads, and at once ineans were dey.sed by “the promoters to divert to themselves all of the assets of the compan.es above the ccst of constructing znd equpping the roads. For this pur- bose th2 directors of ‘the Union Pacific Railroad Company organized the Credit Mobilier Comp.iay, and the d.rectors of the Central Pacific Company, the co partners of whom I have epoken, organized the Con- tract and Finance Company. The history of the Credit Mobiler Company startled the Union when it was disclosed in a congres- sional investigaticn about twenty years ago. The Contract and Finance Company, with a precisely s.milar bistory, has been litue known east of the Kocky mountains. Well, the Contract and Finance Company was incorporated for the purpose of taking contracts for the construction and repa.r of railroads, roiling stock, ete. Every share of its stock was owned by the di- rectors of the Central Pacific Railroad Company. The directors of the railroad company controlling the government sub- -dies and all moneys secured by mortgag- ing the railroad lands, made contracts for construction and repa.r, etc., with the Con- tract and Finance Company, which they own absolutely. Under those contracts they gave themselves fabulous prices for all sugh work, the aggregate of the con- tracts absorbing every dollar that the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad Company had re- ceived from all sources, including every share of its stock, amounting to 368,000,000, par value, most of which was sold in the -market for 75 cents on the dollur. The contracts were all alike. I will give you a sample of them in a few minutes. Fraudulent Contracts. “Were these contracts legal?” asked The Star reporter. “The Pacific railway commission,” con- tinued Mr. Maguire, “appointed by the President ef the United States in 1887 to In- vestigate these mattevs reported to Con- gress, presentirg the testimony which they had taken at the same time, that by these fraudulent contracts made by the directors with theroselves urder the name of the Contract and Finance Company they had fraudulently diverted to themselves assets of the Central Pacific RoIre-~? ¢ x of the market value of more than $62,000,- 000, Every one of those cu. +3 fraudulent, and, equitably, those who re- ceived the berefit of them are liable to a decree compelling them to restore the as- sets to the company for the satisfaction of the debts of the company. On 82 of the report of that commission it is (Continued on Eighth Page.) The Game Played to Keep Mr. Blaine From Being Nominated. The Favorite Sun Movement Was Then Worked—Republican Fears of a Repetition Now. The appearance of the favorite son move- ment in the present national campaign re- calis the fect that just twenty years ago a similar movement developed, and, as many politicians believe, came very near to wrecking the republican party. The strong men were all defeated in convention and a man with only a local reputation was nom- inated. The result was go close a shave at the polls in November that the services of an electoral commission were necessary to determine the result. Blaine in the Lead. When the Cincinnati convention met in 1876 Mr. Blaine had a strong lead for the nomination. ‘The masses of his party were with him. But the managing politicians were against him. The friends of Gen. Grant, particularly, held aloof from him, or else openly opposed him. So, to deprive Mr. Blaine of as much strength as possible on the opening ballots, and thus pave the way for combinations by making the choice difficult, the opposition brought out a num- ber of favorite sons in different parts of the country. Marshall Jewell stood for Connecticut, Gov. Hartranft for Penasyl- vania, Mr. Conkling for New York, and so on. Troublesome for Mr. Blaine. The scheme as planned was well calcu- lated to prove troublesome to Mr. Blaine. It drew away from him support which was anxious to come to him, and which had he been able to command it at the start would hgve sufficed with what he had to nom- inate him. Some of the New Yorkers were ardent Blaine men, and inasmuch as he Was a native of Pennsylvania his managers counted ou many delegates from that state. But in the one path stood Mr. Conkling, ciaiming New York's vote and deuf to all overtures from the Blaine camp, while in the other path stood Gov. Hartranft, with Don Cameron at his side, holding the Penn- sylvanians in check. Neither Mr. Conkling nor Gov. Hartranft was a possibility be- fore the convention, but both were bent on Mr. Blaine’s defeat. The Game Was Won. The game was won, after a stubborn bat- tle. Mr. Blaine, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Morton of Indiana and Mr. Bristow, all serious candidates with substantial followings, went down, and Gov. Hayes was chosen. A good deal of lukewarmness followed. The leaders of the party were all disap- poimted. The campaign plainly showed this. ‘There was no palpable shirking on any- body’s part, but neither did anybody « tain in the canvass the high-water mark of zeal and effectiveness. Too many wounds had been inflicted in convention, and ttey were too slow in healing, to enable auy of the leaders to appear at his best on tne stump. Some Differences Today. There are differences between the eltua- lion of 1876 and the situation of to- day. In the spring of that year the republican party was on the ragged edge. The democracy had swept the coun- try at the Congress elections of 1574, and was united and full of fight. The feeling in republican circies was that the party could afford no pranking or revenges m the work of its national convention, and yet all of the savage scores of ten years were taken there and settled. What Conservative Men Think. The republican party of today is the party of supreme confidence. It does not doubt its ability to win this year with anybody it may decide to put up. It almost riots in glorious expectations. And yet there are conservative men here and there who -hink that another such slaughter of avowed and serious candidates as occurred in 1876 would imperil republican success even unis year. They concede, of course, that it is «vithin the province of any man to aspire to the presidency, but they are rather mis- trustful of the effect on the party of the play of those aspirants who appear to have no other purpose but to keep somebody else out of the nomination, —-e-—_____ ARRANGING THE STARS. How to Accommodate the New One on the Flag for Utah, Secretaries Lamont and Herbert have un- der consideration a rearrangement of the stars in the American flag so as to accom- modate an additional star for Utah, the last state admitted to the Union. The new flag, with forty-five stars, will be the national ensign from July 4 next until the admission of another state necessitates a further change. In the present flag the forty-four stars are arranged tn six rows, the upper and lower rows having eight stars each and the other four rows seven stars each. A short time ago the War Department de- cided to place .the additional star at the end of the fourth row, and orders were given for the manufacture of flags for the army according to that design. Recently, however, a design was suggested in which there were six rows of stars, with eight and seven stars in each row alternately. Secretary Herbert was so favorably im- pressed with this design that he suggesied to Secretary Lament to reconsider tke se- lection of the design adopted by the army, and it will probably be done. 2S BINGHAMTON’S BIG FIRE. Loss of a Quarter of a Million Dollars This Moruing. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., February 25.— Fire broke out in the block occupied by the Binghamton House Furnishing Company early today and spread to the adjoining block, occupied by Babcock & Stowell, hardware dealers. The stocks of both firms were entirely consumed and tho buildings gutted. Loss, $250,000; Insurance unknown at present. —“_— ICR GORGE IN THE PLATTE. Water Backs Up in Great Quantities on the North Bank. SCHUYLER, Neb., February 25.—The ice gorge in the Platte river at this point re- mains unbrcken, and the water, running over a stretch of eight to ten miles of ter- ritory along the north side of the river, con- tinues, and rapidly adds to the damages previously mentioned—cutting away val- uable farming and hay lands, and accre- ticns of sand. The water is eightezn inches higher than heretofore, and if it rises a lit- tle more, the streets of Schuyler will be un- der water. ‘The cold nights a few days since fastened the gorge more securely, which caused the higher water, and there will be no release now until a heavy thaw comes. The B. and M. trestles are in danger. Last night the passenger train was kept on the other s de, the passengers walking in, a dis- tance of a mile and a half. More families have had to abandon their homes. ATLANTA, February 25.—Secretary of the Interior Smith arrived here this morn- ing from Washington. He will spend sev- eral days here, attending to private business Y YEARS AGO/SERVEDTHREE HOURS Miss Flagler Given a Short Jail Sentence. SHE PLEAD GUILTY TODAY Her Confinement and How She Passed the Time. THE KILLING OF GREEN Miss Elizabeth M. Flagler, who shot and killed Er:est Green, a small colored boy, last Auguat, today pleaded gutlty in Crimi- nal Court No. 2 to an indictment charging her with manslaughter, and Judge Cox sentenced her to pay a fine of $300 and to be imprisoned in jail for three hours. The young woman's father, Gen. Daniel W, Flagier, U. S. A., at oncé paid the fine by handing Clerk N. C. Downs ten crisp fiftye dollar bills, and then, accompanied by her father and a female friend, the distinguish- ed prisoner was driven to jail to serve her brief term of imprisonment. The proceedings in court today were the result of a conference yesterday between District Attorney Birney and Miss Flagler's counsel, Messrs. R. Ross Perry and Jere M. Wilson, it being then agreed that she should this morning come into court and plead guilty to the indictment. In order to avoid as much publicity as possible, the matter was kept a secret, Judge Cox directing late yesterday that court should be opened at 9:30 this n.orning, haif an hour before the usual time, when the matter could be dis- posei of. At that hour this morning Judge Cox appeared upon the bench, District Ate torney Birney, newspaper men and the usual court officers being the only other persons present. In a moment Miss Flage ler, accompanied by her father, her friend, Mr. Perry and Mr. Wilson, entered the court room, seating themselves directly jn front of the bench. Mr. Wilson then stated that Miss Flagler was in court and desired to enter a plea of involuntary mansiaughe ter. The Sentence. “It is needless for me to say,“ said Mn Wilson, “that this is one of those unfortue mate accidents and cas2s which, in the pleading of the defendant of guilty of ine voluntary manslaughter, does not call for anything but the Nghtest penalty in the power of the court. Without making any further statement, we submit the matter to your honor, and crave, on the part of the defendant, the minimum penalty. To the indictment she now desires to enter a plea of guilty of involuntary mansieughter.” To Judge Cox’s inquiry, District Attorney Birney merely stated that the plea would be acceptable to him, and then Judge Cox asked if he should at once impose the sen- tence. Mr. Perry and Mr. Wilson nodded an assent, and as Miss Flagler stood up to receive her sentence, Mr. Perry arose and stood beside her. The unfortunate young woman, attired in a smart street costume of dark material, was perfectly composed, ard now and then heid a delicate hottie of salts to her face. Judge Cox made no com- ment whatever, merely saying: “I senteace you to pay a fine of $0, and to be imprig= oned in jail for three hours.” Miss Flagier’s face slightly flushed as she heard her sentence, and then she calme ly seated herself beside her counsel, Taken to Jail. Her father handed Clerk Downs ten oo bills, and, after the clerk had recorded the plea and sentence and merked the fine paid, the party stepped across the corridor to the private room of Marshal Wilson, There they remained until Miss Wiagier's commitment to jail had been made out, when it was handed to Bailiff Thos, F, Cook, who escorted the prisoner to jail, Two carriages were awaiting the party, and in one Miss Flagler and her female friend seated tnemseives, while Bailitt Cook and Gen. Flagler took the other. The jail was quickly reached, Messrs, Perry and Wilson bidding Miss Fiagler adicu at the court hovse, and at the prison the bailiff formally handed his prisoner over to the custody of Warden Leonard, taking the warden’s receipt for his charge. The Shooting. The offense for which Miss Flagler wag today sentenced was the Killing of Ernest Green, @ small colored boy, the morning of the 2d of last August. That morning the little fellow, accompanied by @ number of his friends, started out to play ball in the suburbs. On the way they stopped near the residence of Gen. Flagler, on California, avenue. Some fine fruit trees were on thi place, and boys had been in the habit cs robbing them. Noticing ihe crowd of boys Miss Flagler imagined that they were about to rob the trees, and, to frizhten them off, as she explained afterward, she secured a small revolver and fired, as she has always contended she supposed, in air. She is said to have fired twice, ot the boy, who was said to have been on the teas fell to the ground, shot through the y- The moment she discovered that the boy had been wounded Miss Flagler had him brought Into the house, but he died before a physician could be secured. The young woman at once drove to police healquare ters, where she surrendered herself to Maj. Moore. An inquest was held that evening, the jury declaring, “While we do not believe she (Miss Flagler) did it with murderous intent, yet we believe the sho! were fired carelessly and indifferently, an upon the evidence we cannot hold her.” Miss Flagler was thereupon discharged from arrest, but five days later she was ree quired to give bail in the sum of $16,000 to answer any indictment which might be re= turned against her. The 8ist of last Octo. ber an indictment was returned against ler, enarging her with manslaughter, the penalty for which offense is imprisonment for not more than ten years, and a fine not exceeding $1,000. Convict! Was Probabiec. It Is understood that the entering of @ plea of guilty by Miss Flagler was the ree sult of an intimat.on given by District Ate torney Birney to her counsel that if the case was tried a conviction would, in hig cpinion, svrely follow. In that opinion the ung woman's counsel are sald to have af length concurred. So, it is believed, rath than stand the ordeal of a public trial, with the more than probabillty of a IF and whaps a severer sentence in thal avent’ her counsel advised ber to pl guilty and throw herself upon the mercy the court. It is pointed out by those who believe that Miss Flagler was made ace quainted beforehand with the precise sens tence she would receive, that her fathe handed to the clerk of the court the exact amount of the fine imposed. Drive to the Jall, Miss Flagier’s term of imprisonment ig the District jail neither a long nor @ particularly tedious one. Three hours may or may not seem a very long time, @epende ing upon circumstances, but for Miss Flage ler the circumstances were made as please ant as possible. From the court house the prisoner drove to the jail in a private . She was accompanied by her father and a fem: relative. With the party was a deput from the marshal’s office, in whose custody @ was until formally turned over to the authorities at the It was a cold and windy drive over ir 4 od = and across the i peocnggparnd to u long, dreary-looking structure, where moaniGoemal So npend tutea eee hy oa