Evening Star Newspaper, March 3, 1896, Page 7

THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1896-FOURTEEN PAGES. a Figu RES ABOUT GAS ‘Officials of the Company Before a House Committee. EXPLAINING COST AND PROFITS Continuation of the Hearing on the Dollar Gas Bill. OTHER DISTRICT AFFAIRS eS The House District committee gave a hearing today on the dollar gas bill to the Yepresentatives of the local gas companies. Mr. Henry ©. Winship of the George- town s Company first addressed the “gommittee. He sald his company was ‘ghartered in 1854 and since that there had been no legislation by Congress. The ‘price of gas had been reduced by compe- Ution frem $5 a thousand to $1.50 a thous- and. The company has been merely living from year to year. The cost of gas in 1803 jWas $1.45 a thousand, in 1894 was $1.21, and jim 1805 was $1.24. These were the three best years of the company. Under these ‘donditions the company can not produce (Bnd sell gas for $1. The company has paid Qividends of from 6 to 10 per cent. Exclu- jive of dividends the cost of production thas been $1.1088. The stock has declined Jp price within the last month from 50 to “®. There are only 1,150 customers for gas in Georgetown, and the average cost to ifach customer is only about 9 cents a Right. The average cost of coal in 1805 ‘Was $4 4 ton. ‘The increase in the amount of gas con- umed in three years has been less than ‘Qhe million feet, and these three years pwere the most prosperous in the history [Of the company. HRelations With the Washington Com- pany. “Is it not a fact that the majority of fe stock in your company fs owned by we Washington Gas Light Company?” Mr. Babcock. understand that such ts not the case,” puswered Mr. Winship. “I think that fans: individual stockholders of the Wash- Hinxton Company also own a large Proportion of Georgetown stock.” ‘Practically, then, the Washington Gas ‘ompany controls the stock of the George- lown Company?" asked Mr Babcock. “I cannot say that it does or that 1t does answered Mr. Winship. He said mpetition of the electric light com- has been felt, and that the electric ht companies do not pay taxes. ‘The ‘otomac Company, he said, has its plant across the river and pays no tax to ithe District. although extending its wires into the and doing business there. Mr. Winship spoke very scornfully of the positions to charter new companies. “They cannot make gas for 7 cents, and whe propose it are a lot of imbeciles,”* ‘ail. “I have been a merchant here for wo years, and in that time I have everal hundred proposed new com- panies. They all went the same way. As Soun as they found they couid not make the existing companies come to terms you heard no more from them.” He said he can buy Pennsylvania coal and lay it down in New York as cheap as Washington, this being merely a ques- jon of transportation. “We don’t care if you do charter another company.” said Mr. Winship. “We will ake the risk in competition and the risk of cing killed by competition or by regula- | tion. It makes no difference to the duck down here in the Potomac whether the | Presitent kills him or the pot hunter kills Rim. The duck is dead just the same.” + Secretary Orme's Statement. Orme of the Washington Gas Company then read the financial statement bf the company as follows: Receipts and disbursements for the year 1805 of the Washington Gas Company: le Qunberacd etary DISBURSEMENTS. er 1 aud oitice expenses. Law expenses Tosurane - pipe fiitings and small pipe. RECEIVTS. cash in hand. From Ammoni: tiga Coke eae "Tar r : interest fales of bonds Ee: Mr. Orme was questioned by Chairman Babcock as follows: “Mr. Orme, I have be- “fore me here a statement made by you as en officer of the Washington Gas Light Company, and there are some Items con- nected with it that we would like to have ‘ou explain to the committee. The first tem is cash on hand, January 1, 1895, $58,- 166. You also state, in another memor- amined by Chairman Babcock. rom the United States, 373,418.03, ana United States park lamps, $6,t park lamps are paid for by the United States. and not by the District of Colum- bia, are they?" sceipts for gas from the United States and for park lamps amount to $79,953.54, received from the government. Then you state that ou received from the District of a and for st items making together $123,412.71. ‘That appropriation of $115,018.12 is one that belongs specifically to the jurisdiction of the committee on appropriations, is it not? Mr. Orme—Yes, sir. ‘The Chairman—That does not come within our jurisdiction. Mr. Orme—That is appropriated for in the regular appropriation bill for the District of Columbia. Chairman—Then, under the head of are the follo moniacal Hquor, % 48; services, S50; sale of bonds, $i68,663.75. These is, together with the cash on hand Jan- . 1895 ($58,166.53), make a total of $1,- SSt.s0N.18. The question that the commit- tee would like to understand is in regard to this item of $368,663.75 received from the Bale of bonds. ‘Those Bonds Sold. Mr. Orme—Those bonds were United States 4 per cents and Metropolitan rail- road 6 per cents that had been purchased ‘with cash which the company had had on hand for a number of years. The Chairman—That was an investment of the company, paid for by cash? Mr. Orme—It was paid for with money that we did not want to keep on hand Idle. ‘The Chairman—It was not an issue of the company’s own bonds? Mr. Orme—Oh, no, str. Mr. Abbott—What were the dividends of your company in 1895? Mr. Orme—In 1895 the company paid the usual dividend of 10 per cent. ‘The Chairman—I am just coming to that. Mr. Abbott—Excuse me. | . The Chairman—Here are the items of dis- | bursements. The first item paid out is for | @oal, $111,281.07. | Mr. Orme—No; that was the cost of the } goal that entered into the manufacture of | She gas for that year. Wé always have coal left on hand, and we have’now 18,000 tons on hand. The Chairman—The next item of dis- bursements is for oil, $123,374.38. Mr. Orme—The same explanation can be made for that item. The Chairman—Cumberland coal, $13,264. Mr. Orme—That is the same. The Chairman—Wages and salaries, $156,- 793.75; District of Columbia taxes, $47,- 495.62; District of Columbia inspector of plumbing, $959.30; United States inspector of gas, $759.10; new laboratories, expense, $397.33; water rent, $2,035.37. Then there is the item of general and office expenses, $29,006.20; Is that in addition to the item for wages and salaries? Mr. Orme—Yes, sir. In order to explain that I made a lst of articles from the company’s books, and I will read that if you wish. ‘The Chairman—If you will be kind enough. Mr. Orme—This is the list of certain ar- ticles entering into general and office ex- penses: Uniforms, oil cleths, carpets, type- writers and supplies, stationery: and draw- ing thaterials, glass, salaries, telephone service, printing, blank books, subscrip- tions to magazines and periodicals, horses, carriages, carts and repairs to same, wag- ens and repairs to same, hauling, lubricat- ing oils, rubber goods, fuel, hardwa®e of all kinds, automatic fire alarms, law, print- ing and reporting, court fees, postage, car tickets, ete. The Chalrman—Those are the items of the general expense account? Mr. Orme—Yes, ‘sir; that covers the two Stations and the office. PD rent, 53.34. Here is an item for r¢pairs amounting to $56,059.41; no part of that enters into tho Few construction account, as I under- giand? Mr. Orme—None whatever. The Chairman—Street lamps, $23,130.04; is any part of that for new lamps? Mr. Orme—No; that would come under the head of maintaining the street lamp plant. The Chairman—This is an item of ex- pense connected with street lamps? Mr. Orme—Strictly so. The Chairmar—The next item is dis- tribution, $53,74 Mr. Orme—Tkat fs the distribution de- partment proper. A large part of that amount is made up of wages and salaries. The Chairman—Can you tell me from memory the number of feet of gas you seld last year? Mr. Orme—I think it wes about 904,000,- 000 cuble feet. Cont of Distribution. The Chairman—Mr. Winship in his state- ment referred to the cost of distribution in the Georgetown Gas Light Company, stat- ing that the cost was about 47 cents per thousand. Mr. Orme—Mr. Chairman, will you allow me to say a word in regard to that? The Chairman—Yes. Mr. Orme—That item of distribution is simply the amount that entered our dis- tribution department. It covers the whole field after the gas leaves the holder. The Chairman—Then these items I have Previously read, like taxes and general office expenses, go into the item of dis- tribution? Mr. Orme—Necessarily so. Th: Chairman—The next 34300,000. Abbott—Does not item is divi- that appear as a Mr. Orme—No, sir. Mr. Abbott—It dees not appear as charg- ed twice? Mr. Orme—No, sir, Aiter the items for coal, oil, wages anc distribution, &c., we had to make a number of accounts in order to know exactly Low we are going to stand in the different riments, so as to be able to reduce expenses in any particular possible. is the reason why I your statement Mr. Abbou— asked the quest that the distrib the whole fleld after the gas leaves the holdei Mr. Orme—They are all se’ inct items. The Chairman—Will you please explain to the committee something about this item of $6i),000 for dividends? That I under- stand to be 30 per cent on the stock and to be the usual and customary dividend of the company. Mr. Orme—Oh, no. The company pays asa usual dividend ‘I per cent per ennum. It paid that $600,000 extra on tie 25th of July, 1%, In consequence ef the sale of these bonds that had been owned by the company as an investment for many years, and which they had no use for at the time. The Chairman—Will you please state to ‘ate and dis- the committee what the dividends, regular and customary, were in 189 Mr. Orme—The regular idend was 10 per cent on the par value of the stock. You understand that the par value of a share is There was one dividend of $200,000 and Of $400,000, The Chairman—In 18947 Mr. Orme—A 10 p The Chairman—’ Dividends in 1893. The Chairman—What dividends were paid Mr. Orme—In 1893 we paid 25 per cent. paid a dividend of three dollars a share on the Ist of May, 180%, and we paid a divi- dend of two doilars a share for the re- mainder of the year. > per cent? IN $500,008 = e! ‘ir; that was a matter of rd, but £ think that is the amount. n—The facts were given be- as to that divi- . but We had not the figures before us, lien the fact is that in 1893 you paid 25 per cent, in ISM you paid 10 per cent, and in i885 you paid 26 per cent. Mr. Aliines—Were there any bonds sold in 18! I should have to answer from perhaps there were; I can not say Mr. Milnes—Was there any dition existir abnormal con- in 189% to enable you to pay dividends of 25 per cent? Mr. Orme—If the committee will allow me, [ will say that I think it was in 1883 chat Mr. Melhenny succeeded president of the Wash- Light Company, and during his ion, from that time up to the when he died, there was no aid. The money that has thos two dividends rep- vings of about twelve years. It is undivided earnings? ne—Yes, sir. nes—From 188 to 15 e—From 1883 to 1804, inclusive of ividend. airman—Inclucing the dividend of resent Mr. Mi The 1sv2 and previous year Mr. Grme—It includes the 10 per cent dividends back to 1883, I think. The chairman. The next item is interest ; then follow the items for engine and sto’ $198.53; employes’ relief association, $% and here are sev- eral items included within brackets under the head of extension of works, such as lumber, brick, slating, cement, _ etc., large pipe and bands for con- $1,134.21; iron fittings and small Fs wages, $1,161.87; hauling and freigiit, $70.41; Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Compeny for wharf and mote property, $100,440; abstract of title, $25 meters, new holders east stat etc., New oil tanks, $2,160.72; office » and street mains, $22,- se explain to the committee those different items. Explaining Purchases. Mr. Orme—The first item for lumber, brick, slatIng, cement, etc., was for the erection of a house over the condensers at the west station. The next item is for the ame purpose, large pipe and bends for condensers, $1,134.21. Iron fittings and small pipe were for the same purpose, where it was new work. We were not replacing old material. The hauling and freight and wages entered’ into the new extension of works, because we used our own men at the west station. Then there Is the item of $100,000 to the Chesapeake and Ohio Company for wharf and mole property, and abstract of title to same, $252.75. ‘The chairman—Please explain for what purpose that purchase was made. Mr. Orme—It was purchased for this reason: Part of our works are on that ground, some of the very imporiant build- ings. We had had that proper:y under lease, but the lease was very precarious, the terms being such as to render it un- tenable under certain conditions. So we purchased it as a good business move, be- cause ejectment from it would inean the destruction of machinery and buillings thereon. The chairman—You purchased it as an investment? Mr. Orme—Yes, in order ta preserve the integrity of the plant. The chairman—That was not a part of the-necessary operation of the gas plant for the year 1805. Mr. Orme—It does not enter Into the ex- penses of 1895, and is not included—I mean s regards the price of manufacture. Then the item of $3,052.95 is for the purchase of meters. The chairman—That is in the new ex- tension? Mr. Orme—No, sir; that was for the pur- chase of meters to go into people's houses. The chairman—That is included within the bracketed words “Extension of works?’ Mr. Orme—It would amount to an exten- sion of the plant. Mr. Milnes—I want to ask you about that dividend item of $600,000. You have been enabled to pay 10 per cent dividends annu- ally in addition to the 25 per cent dividend in 1893 or 1894, besides the $100,000 that is a permanent investment of the company; is that so? Mr. Orme—Yes. That was part of the same fund that I spoke of, and ended it—that ac- cumulation. Mr. Milnes—That was part of the accumu- lation for that year? Mr, Orme—Yes, sir. Mr. Milnes—Besides the extra dividend that was paid? Mr. Orme-—Yes, sir. The new holder at the East station, etc., did not cost $65,786.40, be- cavse included in the East station works are new oil tanks costing $2,160. That was brand-new work, part of the plant. The chairman—Are there any other items? Mr. Orme—The street mains are the mains in the streets and avenues in the city. The chairman—Please state whether those are ew extensions or to replace old mains. Mr. Orme—Those are brand new exten- sions, which 1 am careful to erase or charge to profit and loss, so as to get them out of capital. The Chairman—Then if you were to re- place the old pipes on Pennsylvania avenue with new ones that charge would be placed in that account? Mr. Orme—It would go to repairs. For instance, if we replaced a four-inch pipe with a six-inch pipe we would charge the estimated cost of the difference between a four-inch and a six-inch pipe, and that amount would go into the plant. The airman—Such items as coal, wages and salaries, taxes, inspectors of plumbing and inspectors of gas, all these numerous items until you get down to dividends, go into the cost of maintenance and distribu- tion for 1805? Mr. Orme—Yes, sir; and in addition to that we also charge as an expense the lay- ing of new mains or the erection of a new building at the works, making the cost of gas so much for that year. Everything except that $100,000 and $252.75. Mr. Milncs—The laying of the new mains, making a permanent improvement, wou!d hardly be a proper charge in the manufac- ture of gus for that year, would it? Mr. Orme—It should be charged to the distribution of gas, Lecause, as Mr. Win- ship said, a pipe laid in the ground is dead; it is only gcod for gas purposes. The Chairman—Does this balance of {89,- 922.28 mein the cash balance? Mr. Orme—No; it is not exactly the cash balance; it may be represented by cash or by material valued dn cash. The Chairman—You commence the state- ment by showing the amount of cash on hand January 1, 1895. This balance must represent something. Mr. Orme—We can elther show the cash or vaiues for it. At the end of every year we make an inventory, and part of the balance that exists at the end of the year may be material, and part of it may be ey, but It fs not always a cash bal- ome of it is cash and some of it terial. Mr. Milnes—Do you make an Inventory of your whole plant, inclnding pipes and all that e—Yes, sir; we know what we on hind at the «nd of every year. Milnes—Is_ there anything in this statement showing the value of that in- vertory? Mr. Orme—That is our statement. The chairman asked me for a statement show- ink disbursements, reccipts, and cash on hand January 1, 1893. One year is like nother in a large business like this. At the end of each year we make an Inven- tory, ahd then at the end of the follow- ing year make anothe Value of the Plant. Mr. Milnes—What I am trying to get at is, if you can tell us, whether there is anything in this statement to show to the committee the total value of the plant? Mr. Orme—Oh, no, there is nothing in that statement to show the total value of the plant. ‘These are mere items. The Chairman—That would depend largely vpon the price of gas? Mr. Orme—It would very largely, Mr. Chairman—Whether the price of gas 5 cents or $1. Orme—Ye: Curtis—E sh dividend nas been regularly 10 per cent per annum, Mr. Orme—I think T said since 1883. Mr. Curtis—With the exception of 1803 and when you paid, vespectively, 25 and 30 per cent. reased the cap- iial stock of the company, and have you done so by stock dividends?” Mr. Orme—Not by one share. M 'tis—Your capital stock remains the the same. Mr. son—In that connection I wish you ull give the committee the average dividends pald during those twelve years, taking the regular 10 per cent divi- dend annually, and including the 25 and #0 per cent dividends. Of course anybody can make the estimate, but 1 should like to have it stated in this connection. Mr. Orme—I think I had better commence with the year 1884, because I am not cer- tain whether Mr. McIlhenny came in before the dividend of 1883. The chairman—Would {it not be 155 per cent for the twelve years? Mr. Orme—155 per cent including 1884 and 1895. Mr. Richardson—How much {s that upon the’ market value of the stock? Mr. Orme—About one-half. ranges from $40 to $50. Mr. Orme said the last reduction in the ce of gas was made in October, 18x6. The stock Since that time {t has not been touched. If the price is reduced or another company let in, the interest and dividends would have to cease on the $2,000,0) stock of the company. The increased stock has always heen taken by the stockholders as a good investment. 5 uperintendent Leetch closed the hearing with @ statement in opposition to regulating the price of gas at $1. * ae SHORT QUART BOXES. The Market Denlers Wili Make a Move Against the Imposition, The Market Dealers’ Association wiil hol a meeting next Tuesday night, at which matters of fmportance to the deal- ers themselves and the public at large will be brought up for consideration and ac- tion. The efforts of the association in the past toward securing fair and honest deal- ing on the part of produce merchants and hucksters are well known, and have re- sulted in the remedying of many evils, Last year, it will be remembered, the body took active measures against the use of the short quart boxes, whch were in gen- eral use by the street vendors, as well as many regular dealers in berries. These boxes contained a pint and a half and were sold to purchasers who believed they were receiving a full quart. The Evening Star exposed the practice at the time and showed that the commission men along Louisiana avenue who sold berry boxes to hucksters and others in the trade disposed of hundreds of the “short quart” boxes when they had calls for five of the full quarts. The Market Dealers’ Association were un- able to prevent this practice at the time, but at the coming meeting it will probably be decided to call cn the dealers in such boxes and request them to refuse to order any more short quart boxes from the manu- facturers or to sell any more of them. Many of the merchants who sold such boxes last year and previously stated when publicity was made of the custom that they were willing to enter into an agree- ment to handle no more “short quarts,” and the market dealers are going to see if such an agreement cannot be put in force. Ce “Small Fires. About 8 o’clock last night an alarm came from box 217 for fire in a shed at 1428 8th street northwest, owned by J. Ottenberg and occupied by W. Kirkley as a paper warehouse. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but the damage to the stock was considerable. The total damage amounts to about $800. About 10 o'clock last night the explosion of a lamp in the house of Samuel S. Stew- art, No. 436 7th street southwest, caused about $5 damage. The flames were ex- tinguished without turning in an alarm, ADVANCE OF SPRING Battle Royal Between the Giants of Heat and Cold, SCENE OF CONFLICT ON THIS CONTINENT Stress of Weather Marks the Advent of March. CONDITIONS EXPLAINED March impresses itself upon the dweller in the northern half of the United States as a particularly windy and disagreeable month, with strong alternations of wintry and mild weather. This ts due to the break- ing up of the conditions that have prevall- ed since December, and the processes of re- turn to spring and summer. There is in the arctic zone an enormous amount of cold material to be disposed of, covering the northern regions in the form of ice and snow; at the same time the southern zone is becoming Aecidedly warmer in con- sequence of the advance of the sun to the northern side of the equator. The United States is peculiarly the theater of this contest between the glants of cold and heat, and they stagger back and forth over tits territory as one or the other is for the ume being in the strong- t form. ‘The coll waves Iauncn thern- selves from the north und carry the fey chill to the warm sovtnern states; or on the ether hand th2 warm currents of air from the south advance far into the north, and this alternation Causes a rapid varia- tion in the temperaiure and the other weather conditions at stations of the mid- dle latitudes. An examination of the storm tracks for March gives very detinite evidence of the effect of this struggle for supremacy. In- stead of being confined td the neighborhood of the mean tracks, it is found that they spread out over the entire territory of the United States from north to south. The phenomenon of looping southward along the Rocky mountain slope, before recurving northeastward to the Gulf oi St. Lawrence, is most pronounced. Advance of Spring. A pecullarity of continental action is that in summer the interior is warmer than the borders, but in winter the interior is colder than the coasts. The upper lake region and the upper Milssisssipp! valley are especially remarkable for this feature. Between 95 and 10) degrees meridians, and between parallels {0 10.55 degrees, the change In tem- perature is the greatest known in North America; it is coldest in winter there, and also it may become the hottest part of the country in summer; the range of tempera- ture may be from 45 degrees below zero in winter to 105 degraes above zero in summer, a range of 150 degrees. The encroachments of spring upon the winter in North America proceed from the extreme southwest, the Gulf of California and the Colorado river valley, and advance toward the northeast. There is constantly going 0a a vigorous in- terplay between the cold pole in the Red river valley of the nor: and the heat that is working In from the lower Rocky moun- tain plateau and the extreme southwest. This leads to a descriptioa of one of the most characteristic features of the advance of the continent. er the lines of equal normal temperature, that is, the isotherms, are grouped abont the cold pole In quite a symmetrical manner, bending southward in the interior as th ‘om the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. This configuration may be regarded as normal from November to March, inclusive. In summer the formation is somewhat in- verted, the lines bending northward from the coasts toward the interior, though the crest Is now furcher west, in the dry Rocky mountain region. The Gulf of California is the central region of heat, and the crest ex- tends from Yuma, Ariz. northeastward toward the Dakotas. This inversion of the crests of the isotherms in the interior of the continent is necessarily accompanied by a notable change jn the configuration of the areas of equal pressure. The Dead High. When the winter cold 1s established the high pressure belt is very firm in the Rocky Mountain districts, and is shown by a per- sistent high area in that region, which may linger many days, with apparently no active effect upon the weather conditions in the central valleys, and it is therefore called a “dead high.” This western high is generally a well-established feature of the map from November to March. During September and October conditions favorable to the development of this high are improy- ing, and during April and May thelr de- struction is taking place. In the summer this permanent high Is re- placed by a trough of low pressure extend- ing from the Gulf of California, where it is always lowest, along the plateau region to Dakota; at that time a more or less per- manent high is located on the northern Pacific coast, and another is central in the east gulf states. The cause of the for- mation of these different types of highs, as modified by continental action, is one of the most important problems (presented to meteorology for solution, but, unfortunate- ly, our knowledge of the physics of the subject is very imperfect. It may be observed that the magnetic auroral belt runs directly along ‘ne region from which the high advances, whether the discharge be from the ‘vestern or the eastern side of the lake region. The magnetic force seems to be efficient in producing meteorological effects, in pro- portion as it can operate in cold atmos- pheric’corditions, Hence the encroachment of warm air from.,the southern Rocky mountain districts as spring comes on is unfavorable for this kind of action, and it seek3 to transfer its‘seat’to the portions of the interior of the contifent that still re- tain low temperatures, namely, to the Hud- son bay districts; finally, as the summer heat conquers this cold territory, the win- ter high passes away entirely, and the whole arctic region is covered by low press- ures, extending from’ the North Atlantic to the North Pacific o¢ean, and passing di- rectly across the Aretic ocean. Reeord for March. The unsettled wedther of the month of March, especially in thé northeastern por- tions of the United States, with its rapid alternations of warm and cold winds, often reaching considerable violence, is, there- fore, the parting salute of the cold winter that has prevailed tor five months through- out the northern cap, A most impressive feature of this change, as deduced from a close study of the barometers and tempera- ture readings of the weather bureau, is the suddenness with which the struggle is concluded in the northwest, for March of- ten comes in with a very violent action, and this is almost certain to end about the 20th of the month with moderate move- ments of the air. The struggle is prolonged in the east, but is usually about over by the 10th cf April. The following data, ccmpiled from the weather bureau records at this city, cover the period of twenty-five years for the month of March, and should prove of value end interest in anticipating the more im- portant meteorological elements and the range within which such variations may be expected to keep for the coming month: Mean or normal temperature, 41 degrees. ‘Warmest month, 1878, with an average of 49 degrees, Coldest month, 1885, with an average of 84 degrees. uenese temperature, 83 degrees, on 224, 1894, ea7owest temperature, 4 degrees, on 4th, 3. Average date on which last killing frost occurred in spring, April 14. Average precipitation for the month, 4.16 inches. Average number of days with .01 of an inch or more, 12. Greatest monthly precipitation, 8.84 inch- es, in 1891. Least monthly precipitation, 0.98 inch, 1894. Greatest amount of precipitation record- ed in any twenty-four consecutive hours, 2.79 inches, on 9th, 1881. Greatest amount of snowfall recorded in any twenty-four cot secutive hours (record extending to winter of 1884-85 only), 6 inch- es, on 11th, 1888. Average number ¢f clear days, 8; partly cloudy days, 12; cloudy days, 11. 5 The prevailing winds have been from the northwest. The highest velocity of the wind was for- ty-eight miles from the northwest, on 24th, 1578. —- PRESIDENT CLEVELAND'S TRIP. His Departure for New York to At- tend the Mission Meeting. President Cleveland, accompanied by Pri- vate Secretary Thurver, left this morning for New York to attend the meeting of the board of home missions of the Presbyterian Church, to be held this evening at Carnegie Hall, and at which Mr. Cleveland will pre- side and also make an address having ref- erence to the situation In Turkey. The departure of Mr. Cleveland was very quic. and unostentatious. He was driven to the B street entrance of the Penn- sylvania depot in the White House car- riage, reaching there at ten minutes before 11 o'clock. Followed by a valet bearing a valise, President Cleveland and Mr. Thur- ber quickly n cved through the depot to the private car of Third Vice President Pugh of the Pennsylvania ra‘iread, which stood at the end of the track nearest the depot building. Having taken his seat in the car without removing his kat or overcoat, Mr. Cleveland immediately began the pe- rusal of a newspaper, and did not even look up when the train started, which was promptly at 11 o'clock. A few minutes after the arrival of the President at the depot Rev. T. De Witt Talmage, who is to speak at th> Carnegie Hall meeting, passed through the gates and made his way to the Pullman vesti- buled parlor car Aurelia, at the rear of the regular Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York express. After stowing away his valise Rev. Mr. Talmage left the car and spent the time until the train left pacing up and down the platform as though in search of some one. A moment before starting the train back- ed in and the private car in which sat President Cleveland was attached. With the exception ot Mr. Thurber and a colored porter no one occupied the car in addition to the President. No more than half a dozen persons about the depot were aware of the presence there of tha chief executive. Immediately after the adjournment of the meeting this even- ing the return trip is to be made. Returning, the President and party will leave Jersey City at midnight, arriving here early tomorrow morning. This Evening’s Mecting. The exercises in Carnegie Hall tonight will be opened by an organ voluntary by H. E. Parkhurst, and at its*close the Rev. Dr. John Hall, president of the board of home missions, will introduce President Cleve- land, the presiding officer of the evening. Addresses will then be delivered by the - Dr. Sheldon Jackson, superintendent ions for Alaska, and the Rev. Dr. T. DeWitt Talmage of Washington. Rev. Dr. Charles L. Thompson, chairman of the com- mittee of home missions ef the presbytery of New York, will speak on “Offering for Home Missions,” and he will be followed by Booker T. Washington, principal of the ‘Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. The meeting will be dismissed by the Rev. Dr. D. J. Mc- Millan, who will pronounce the benediction after the singing of the hymn “America.” Mr. Worrall, chairman of the committee on arrangements, said: “For a long time there bas been an earnest desire among the people of New York, and, in fact, throughout the lend, for better government. The move- ment has been entirely a non-partisan one, and has already accomplished much gocd. The mass meeting to be held this even- ing has sprung from this movement. Its keynote is patriotic Christianity, and that is the reason why we have printed on each program the American flag, with the motto, ‘Our Land For Christ." Added to that, our home board is largely in debt, and there has been a desire to raise that in- debtedness. We nope to accomplish a great deal at this meeting and raise a large sum of money for the prosecution of the work. I have had already over 10,900 applications for tickets, so, you see, the hail will be well filled. The top gallery will be open to the public.” “AN INSIGNIFICANT ACT.” The Spanish Government So Charac- terizes the Barcelona Incident. The New York Journal this morning contains a special cablegram from the president of the Spanish council of min- isters, in reply to a message of inquiry from Maria Christina, the queen regent of Spain. Translated, it is as follows: “The constitution of Spain provides that the sovercign shall not intervene in politics except through the responsible ministers. “Under the circumstances her majesty, the queen regent, has ordered that I, being the chief of the government, shall make an- swer to the dispatch of the editor of the New York Jcurral. “Nothing has transpired in Madrid against the United States, for those who took part In the demorstrations did not in any manner pass through the doors of the two buildings over which the flag of the United States ficats, nor did they utter other cries than that of ‘Viva Spain!’ “The American consulate in Barcelona is under military guard. “It fs not known from whence the stone which broke a window was thrown—an in- significant act. “Yet it would be impossible to deny that the sentiment of disgust in Spain today is unanimous and exceedingly deep-seated, as indeed it has not been felt since the be- ginning of the century. “It is based on the proposal to recognize the belligerency of a few insurrection- ists, who do not fixedly possess a single foot of the ample territory of the island of Cuba; nor have other communication with the sea than deserted shores, where, during the night, they disembark their con- traband articles; nor dare to attack any town of importance; nor accept formal battle; nor do anything more than fire es- tates and burn small settlements and as- sassinate Spaniard: i “Joined to the disgust which this propo- siticn has excited is that of seeing the truth so notoriously disowned, as was shown in recent debates. “Nothing is easter to prove than that the Spanish army scrupvlously respects the rights of the wounded and of prisoners, and conducts war as humanely as war has ever been conducted in America or Eu- Tope.” . Another Deep Cut. We've reduced the Winter Overcoats and Ulsters “to match the Winter Suits. Just doubled the inter- Men’s Winter O’coats, $5 Z Men’s Warm Ulsters— 00 Men’s Winter O'coats, $8 5 . Men’s Warm Ulsters— m O Lot 4 —nten's Winter Suits, Men's Winter O’coats, Ko) 50 Men’s Warm Ulsters— Suppose you don't need ’em now-—they'll keep ‘til next winter—and you can afford to keep ‘em at these prices. We can't—we're twisting and turning things around now in every conceivable way for room — more room! We've got to have it—and we're buying it at a terribly high premium. lars drop into your pocket. w Great improve- $6.50 But these saved dol- The Winter Pants are in the wrecks. crusbed and crumbled left buy alone paying for Prices are sty the cloth—tot the making and Hundreds of patterns to what's wouldn't trimming. pick frou. The Banishment Sal of Inst season's Spring and Sam- mer Stock isn't “frozen out” by this weather, are too great plain, away Bu The inducements the possibilities too The reductions have carried half aud more than hait—o the prices. KILLED BEYOND QUESTION Alexandria Island Owners Declare Racing in Virginia is Dead. The System of Betting Followed in New York Could Not Be Suc- censfully Adopted. ‘There were rumors abroad yesterday that a race would be arranged for a day in the near future at the St. Asaph track for the purpose of testing the constitutionality of the Maupin act, but they could be traced to no credible source. The proprietors of Alex- ander Island declare that they are of the cpinion that the bill will effectually and per- snanently prevent the profitable continuance of racing in Virginia. “There is nothing in the bill to prevent racing horses,” said one of them this morn- irg, “but the sport without the accompany- ing betting wouid not be possible. In my opinion racing at the island is killed beyond any question.” Some racing men have advanced the propo- sition that racing at the Island and Si Asaph’s could be continued and the Maup law evaded by adopting the system of bet- ting followed in New York, where no money is put up and no blackboards or pool sellers’ Stands are permitted, and no evidences of gambling are in sight. The more conserva- tive of them, however, who have money at stake do not think such a plan would be feasible. Even with their knowledge of and acquaintance with the men who regularly bet on races the bookmakers who followed the system in vogue in New York last season lost thousands of dollars by “bad bets;” that Is, by taking bets without having the money up and then failing to collect them from the losers. They say, consequent! that such a system would be out of the que tion on small tracks across the river, even if the officials could be made to wink at the palpable violation of the law such as the practice would involve. The New System of Book Betting. All sporting men know that the system in New York is as much gambling as the open booking of bets, only it Is not as safe for the men who are taking the bets. The modus operandi is very simple, and can be easily described. Both the bettor and the bookmaker has a small note book. The bettor approaches the bookmaker and says he will bet, for instance, $0 on Kingston. If the odds are 2 to 1, the bookmaker enters in his note book, under the printed head of ““Amoun’ $150; under the head “Odds” he enters to 1;” under the head “Horse” he writes “Kingston,” and under the head ‘‘Name” he enters the name of the bettor. The lat- ter, in his note book, enters the amount of the bet and the name of the horse and the name of the bookmaker with whom he has placed the bet. While this colloguy and writing is going on a young man standing behind the book- maker jots down in a book like a school boy’s copy book in shape, “Kingston, $100 to $0." This man is really the agent of the bookmaker, and the page he writes on is as much a bookmaker's sheet as if it was in the box of a regular bookmaking outfit. Suppose the bookmaker is dubious about the credit of the bettor after the bet is booked. Then this occurs: The bettor and bookmaker separate, and in a few mo- ments a man walks up to the former and says quietly: “If you don’t put up that $50 on Kingston the bet don’t go.” If the bet- tor is really in earnest he hands over the $50; if he is ~ prospective welcher, he de- clines, and the bookmaker, of whom the man who carried the information about putting up the $50 is an agent, scratches” the entry out of his book. This is the sys- tem followed in New York, and it shows how in the eyes of the law guardians what a difference there is In bookmaking be- tween tweedledum and tweedledee. —— George M. Bache’s Will, The will of the late George M. Bache, made at Hallstead, Pa., January 19, 1887, filed here today, appoints the widow of the testator, Harriet Bache, executggi and makes her sole beneficiary. +--. est in our great Improvement Sale. &, ments! Great reductions! They're in four lots. with 7 the Suits. Now it’s a choice of— i Lot Tate, Winter Suits, Saks & Company, Pa. Ave. & 7th St.—“Saks’ Corner. Lot 2_vten’s Winter Suits, Men’s Winter O’coats, Men’s Warm Ulsters— Lot d—oen's Winter Suits, 999999 459099900000 4. 0O9O0006466000406 Seen econo ceneesaeencenecten es entenetendeeatenetontoonderetetieeatetetoaleoaleeatoaheeateeateadocoateetetedfeteatesahe a THE COST OF GaAs, Mr. Landen Sues the Washington Gas Company for $50,000. "the sult of Thomas G. Lansden against the Washington Gas Light Company, in which $50,000 damages are claimed, was on trial today before Judge Cole in Criminal Ccourt No. 1. Mr. Lansden, who was for several years in the employ of the company, claims that in January, 1893, when there was a proepo- siticn before the House of Represcutatiy to reduce the price of gas, he was requ ed by President Mclean to prepare a stat ment for the House commitice. He not appear then, however, but did ap, before the committee in the month of Feb- Tuary, 1894, and testified, when he was no longer in the employ of the company Shortly after that, claims Mr. Lansd-n, the defendant company had an article puly- ished in “The Progressive Age” of New York city, in which he alleges he was charged with falsely testifying, the article being headed, “The Acrobatic Performances of Lansden.”” The article, says Mr. Lans- den, claimed that he testified before the House committee in 1893 that the manufac- ture of gas cost the company 48.38 cents per 1,000 feet in the holder, and 40.09 cents per 1,000 feet for distribution, and that in 184, in his testimony, he placed the respec- tive figures at 32 cents and from 2” to cents. That article, says Mr. Lansden, was not only false, but also maliciously so, ind that it was published at the request of the company to injure him. Mr. Lansden so testified today, and his counsel, Mr. J. J. Darlington and J. Al- theus Johnston, brought out from Mr: Lans- den, who was also at one time a stoc holder (n the company, that the Washin ton Gas Light Company has paid for years 4 regular dividené of 10 per cent on $2,000,- 000, and that it has also paid the following extra dividends: 180, $600,000; 1803, $0 (00, and 1895, $400,000—thirteen-tweatieths of its capital stock in five years in extra dividends. The counsel for the company, Messrs. Webb & Webb, asked the court to direct a verdict for the company and the officers, the latter having also been made defend- ants, contending that the article was net l.belous, that the publication was the re sult of a letter written by General Ma eger Leetch of the company, but that the article was never requested ‘or authorized by Mr. Leetch, the company or its offic Counsel fer Mr. Lansden, of course, posed the motion, and counsel then’ pro- ceeded to argue the matter, the rest of he day being so occupied. ——__—_. A Serious’ Bicyele Accident, Mr. Howard Gray Douglas of the Post Office Department is lying in a serious condition at his home, $44 T street, as a result of a bicycle accident he met with early last week. He is an expert wheelman und was riding along carefully enough, when a couple of dogs ran under his wheel, throw- ing him heavily to fhe ground. He was able to get home, and it was not until the evening of the next day that it was realized how severely he had been injured. A physiclan was summoned, and after an examination he announced that the v fortunate man had suffered a fracture of the skull and that his condition was criti- cal, He is confined in a dark room and kepi absolutely quiet. The chances of his recovery are now excellent, but it will be a good while before he will be fully re- stored to health. Released as a Poor C: let. Gearge Baum, who was convicted in Janu- ary and sentenced to ninety days in jail or to pay a fine of $50 for beating a woman, made application to United States Commis- sioner John H. O’Donnell last week for his release under the poor convict act. An order was issued to the warden of the jail to bring him before the magistrate for a hearing. When Warden Leonard reported that the man had a bad case of the measles, Corrmissioner O'Donnell told the warden if such was the fact he thought the jail was the better place for him. Being reported well yesterday he was brought be- fore the commissioner at his office on Capi- tol Hill, and after a hearing, was released under the poor convict law,