Evening Star Newspaper, March 20, 1896, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th Street, by The Eve: Star News;aper Company Peso penirst maha By New York Office, 49 Potter Buildinz. Eventi wérved to subscribers im the etty by carricra, oa thelt Gen sccount, at 70 cents lye Pre A lm ee im the Cntted States of Canads—postage cents per ney tupla Sheet Star, $1.00 per year; “(antercd’at the Tost Otnes St Washington, D. C., Fil mail_-abecriptioas ast be paid in advarce Giicl of atvertisias tanta known aa" soptication, i 04 Slav, ree: 1-14 WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MAROH 20, 1896-FOURTEEN PAGES. THE ELECTION OF SENATORS Report of the Senate Committees Recom- mending a Oonstitational Amendment. Measons Why It is Thought They Should Be Elected Directly by the People. ‘The Senate committee on privileges and elections held a meeting today for the pur- ose of passing upon Senator Mitchell’s re- port upon the election of Senators by direct vote of the people. The report proved ac- ceptable to a majority of the committee. The committee, says the report, has approached the subject of the pro- Posed change in the method of elect- fmg Senators with a full appreciation of the gravity of the subject and of the importance of the public in- terests involved. The objections that are raised to the proposed change are discuss- ed very fully. The amendment, it is held, does not in the slightest degree trench upon the system upon which our govern- ment is founded. The objection is not ten- able that any preposed change in the mode of electing Senators can be properly re- garded as an attempt to deprive the states, respectively, as states, in their sovereign or political capacity, of their legal representation in the Senate. It pro- po: a change in the mode—only this and nothing more—by which the states respect- ively and the people thereof shall choose thi representatives in the Senate. Why, asks the report, are not the people, the qualified electors of a state, the proper mouthpiece of the state in the election of Senators? And“if entitled to speak, then why not directly and for themselves, and not througn their representatives in state legislatures? One weighty and principal objection to the present system of elect- ‘ng Senators, says the report, is that the power and right of vidual voter are hedged about and mscribed, his will is manacied, bis volition paralyzed; he can- not vote for his choice. It carries with it the implication that the people, the quali- fied voters, are, for scme reason, unfit for the full «© se of the elective franchise: Again, it held that the proposed’ amend- ment Is an enlargement of the right of suffrage on tre part of those entitled to , its exercise under existing laws, and it tends to render impossible the use of im- nce senatorial elcc- le that the induce- ments of a wealthy and unscrupulous as- Pirant for senatorial honors may reach and influence the majority of a small body in the legislature, such a thing would be impossible were the decision left to the Great mass of voters. the present s: is the great consumed in em of elect- length of time the election, and nators ently win the wake vital objection that in the the pres- mn of the t such leg- of its duties, the , is that every con- sight of except the soli- how candidates, if elected, will on of the senatorship. it is argu change proposed; the dema emphatic; pronounced ea 7. as it mous, among the 1, demands the 1 is loud and s it is imperative; s to be, almost unani reat masses of the peo- ion, the re- isparage the Senate its usefulness, its power. If there Is any cause for this tendency in the public mind st should ve removed without delay. The deption of the amendment will remove rejudices now e: ‘ins, which are rapidly coming deeply and dangerously fasten- @1 upon the public mind, will dissipate all @ause, excuse and prtext for unjust criti- ¢isr:, and wil! tend to elevate the char- @cter, advance the dignity and i&crease the usefulness of the Serate. The minority who oppose the proposition- Irobably will file a report later. 2 .—_______ THE GEORGIA GIANTS. mith and Crisp Agree Finally to a Joint Debate. In furtherance of the proposed series of Joint detates between Secretary Smith and 1x-Speaker Crisp, letters crossed between jhe two Georgians yesterday. Secretary &mith wrote Mr. Crisp that he would meet }.im in the financial discussion in order to soniribute sll in his power to prevent the democrats of Georgia from committing themselves to the advocacy of free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1. “It is seven rontks,” wrote the Secre- tary, “until the senatorial election will take place in Georgia. I am not now a cah- didate and I do not and he proposes to divide time with Mr. Crisp in Augusta March 31 and Atlanta April 2. Mr. Crisp also wrote Secretary Smith, saying that it is unusual for a candidate Guring his cantass to ergage in joint dis- cussion with any other than an aspirant for the position he seeks. At the same time he said: “I cannot obtain my consent to entirely decline your courteous offer.” Mr. Crisp will divide time at Augusta and Atlanta with Secretary Smith. Should the Secretary at any time during the canvass become a candidate for the Senate Mr. <risp says he will quite willingly arrange with alm for further joint discussion throughout the state. ——_—_—e-. Tennessee's Centennial. The ~Tennessee representatives in the House called at the War and Navy depart- ments yesterday in furtherance of the cen- tennial celebration to be held in Nashville next June to commemorate the entry of Tennessee into the union of states. They Fave applied for the detail of some regular troops from Cincinnati and St. Louis at the celebration, and of the Marine Band to fur-" ish music, which applications have been taken under consideration by Secretaries Lamont and Herbert. It is the intention of the managers of the demonstration to in- vite the President and all of the members of his cabinet to attend the centennial. Se President Cleveland as a Fireman. According to the action of the recent town meeting at Buzzard’s Bay, Mass., President Cleveland must run his own fire apparatus and protect Gray Gables himself or let it burn down. At a meeting of the voters of the town of Bourne an appropria- tion was voted for the purpose of supplying every residence with a hand extinguisher. Gray Gables, the President’s summer home, and Crows’ Nest, where Joe Jefferson spends the summer months, will be sup- plied with these extinguishers the same as all the rest 6f the cottages. The distribu- tion of the fire extinguishers will begin in a few days, and the fire wardens intend to carry out the vote of the town to the letter. ——_ ++ < A Dismissed Mb iter. The Richmond Baptist ministers’ confer- ence Tuesday formally withdrew the right hand of fellowship from Rev. J. W. Dough- erty, who recently withdrew from the pas- torate of Fulton Baptist Church and formed a@ new church, which he named the Apos- telie Church. This action is understool to be equivalent to a dismissal from the Bap- tist denoinination for heresy. - oo—___ Crawford Goldsby, 9lias Cherokee Bill, was ed Tuesday afternoon in the United States jail yard at Fort Smith, Ark. During the recent snow storm in the prov- ince of Orel, Russia, 130 persons were frozen to death in one night. COMMITTEES APPOINTED. Meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution, The meeting of the Sons of the American Revclution Wednesday evening was one of the most interesting ever held by the soci- ety. The theme of the evening was the “Indian Wars and the Acquisition of the Northwest.” The following committees for 1896-'97 were announced: Executive—-Mr. W, A. DeCaindry, Dr. E. M. Gallaudet, Mr. Bernard R. Green, Mr. John B. Thompson: ‘Ways and means—Gen. J. C. Breckinridge, U. S. A, chairman; Prof. J. R. Eastman, U. S. N.; Mr. W. L. Marsh, Prof. Gilbert Thompson, Mr. Isaac Winston. Building—Mr. Bernard R. Green, chair- man; Mr. Appleton P. Clark, jr., Mr. H. G. Ogden. Library—Mr. A. Howard Clark. chairman; Mr. W. H. Lowdermilk, Mr. F. H. Parsons. Advancement—Gen. D. 8. Stanley, U.S.A., chairman; Rev. Dr. C. W. Baldwin, Mr. C. F. T. Beall, Mr. John Goode, Gen. A. W. Greely, U.; Gen. Bradley T. Johnson, E. Rankin, Col. Felix A. Rev. Dr. J. Reeve, Very Rev. J. H. C. Richards, Mr. John Sevier, Mr. Charles D. Walcott, Rear Admiral John L. Worden, U.S.N.; Mr. Lawrence Washington. Meectings—Mr. William Van Zandt Cox, chairman; Mr. J. F. Earnest, Mr. Everett Hayden, Dr. W. J. Hoffman, Mr. H. P. R. Holt, Capt. Walter Howe, 3. Mr. R. B. Tuley. Eligibility—Mr. W. J. Rhees, chairman; Mr. A. Howard Clark, Dr. C. W. Dennt. son. Acceptability—Mr. John R. Proctor, chair- man; Mr. W. A. DeCaindry, Mr.’ A. K. Parris. - Press—Dr. Walter Hough, chairman; Dr. Marcus Benjamin, Mr. Paul Brockett, Mr. Harry P. Godwin, Mr. Ernest G. Wal Special committee on joint meetings—Mr. Wiliam Van Zandt Cox, chairman; Maj. William H. Webster, Medical Inspector James M. Flint, U. S. N. Recruiting and lookout committee—Dr. Otis T. Mason, chairman; Capt: H. R. An- derson, Dr. Frank Baker, Mr. Paul Beck- with, Dr. Marcus Benjamin, Col. A. G. Brackett, Dr. J. E. Brackett, Dr. Swan M. Burnett, Prof. William D. Cabetl, Mr. Al- bert Carhart, Capt. Constantine Chase, U. Ss. ; Mr. C. H. Campbell, a Commarder F. W. Dickens, U. S. a Dr. B. F. Gibbs, Prof. J. C. Gordo: 5 Mr. F. E. Grice, Mr. W. B. Gurley, Mr. Samuel K. Hall, Mr. C. S. Johnson, Capt. James Bowen Johnson, Dr. Edward 8. Jones, Mr. Harry King, Mr. John B. Lar- ner, Mr. A. P. Leidy, Mr. A. A. Lipscomb, Mr. G. G. Martin, Mr. Zebina Moses, Mr. . G. Ogden, Mr. A. K. Parris, Mr. W. H. Pearce, Mr. J. D.-B. Peters, Maj. H. L. Piper, Dr. H. A. Robins, Mr. Howard Sill, Mr. John B. Thompson, Maj. Gilbert Thompson, Mr. W. Mills Thompson, Mr. Washington Nelson Toler, Mr. D. B. Wain- wright, Mr. William B. Whipple, Mr. John B. Wight, Ensign B. Wright, U. 8. N. es A VESSEL FROM HAVANA. Capt. Sawyer Describes the Condi- tions That Exist in Cuba's Capital. From the Philadelphia Press. Capt. Sawyer of the American schooner J. Manchester Haynes, which arrived at this port yesterday afternoon, direct from Havana, where she has been lying for two months past, gives some interesting ac- counts of the condition of affairs in that capital. He was there when the announce- ment was made of the action of the Senate ef the United States favoring recognition of the belligerency of the Cubans, and says it would be hard to exaggerate the excite- iment that this news caused. Capt. Sawyer says that two or three days before he sailed the commandant of one of the Spanish forts just outs'de of Havana was discovered by Gen. Weyler’s men to be providing the insurgents with provisions and arms from the fort. He was taken prisoner, conveyed to Moro Castle and shot the next day. At Port Cabanas, just a little to the west- ward of Havana, several large filibustering expeditions have landed recently. “It is the easiest thing imaginable to land these expeditions in this section,” said Capt. Sawyer, “and also between Santa Cruz and Havana.” The condition of affairs in Havana is growing worse all the time, the captain says, and thousands of people are starving. While clearing from the custom house Capt. Sawyer ran acress an old American sailor, who had just been released from Moro Castle, after having served a term of three years for assaulting a policeman, and he stated that all the political prisoners that are taken to the jail are immediately shot. This Gen. Weyler denies. Every few days large numbers of insurgents are captured, and a few days before this schooner left the Spanish soldiers succeeded in capturing one of the most daring leaders of the rebel forces. Capt. Sawyer saw the unfortunate man as he was being taken to Moro Castle, shackled hand and foot. The Spaniards jeered him, Capt. Sawyer says, tormented him in every imaginable way, and even pierced him with the ends of their swords. It was reported that he was put to death the next day, before daylight. toe NAVAL OFFICERS’ P' ISHMENT. Order to Secure Greater Uniformity in Case of Conviction. The Secretary of the Navy has issued an order intended to secure greater uniformity in the punishment of officers convicted of offenses against the naval regulations not serious enough to warrant dismissal. It has been found that the punishment has been very unequal in the case of officers convicted of similar offenses, especially where the sentence involves suspension from rank and duty and the retention of the grade number. Promotion in the navy is, from natural causes and by reason of casualties, more rapid at some times than at others, and an officer sentenced to lose numbers during specified periods may suffer a very light punishment in consequence of the fact that but few vacancies occur during that period, while other officers upon whom like sen- tence has been imposed at a time when a larger number of vacancies occur may lose many numbers. It-may even happen that an officer sentenced to loss of numbers dur- ing a short period really suffers a more severe punishment than another convicted of a graver offense and whose sentence covers a longer period. In order to prevent such accidental in- equality in punishment the department sug- gests that courts-martial, in the ease of an officer found gylity of an offense for whith greater punishment is not deemed neces- sary, should, instead of suspension, sen- tence him to be reduced to a certain number of files, or to retain his present number in his grade until he shall have lost a certain number of files therein. This method, if adopted, will have the further advantage, the Secretary believes, of avoiding the evils arising from sentences of suspension from duty, under which an officer, while receiv- ing more or less pay, performs no service and is cut off from the active participation in the duties of his profession. It is, of course, says the order, to be remembered that courts, while they may reduce an offi- cer in his grade, have no power to place him in a lower grade. —___. Dwyer Released on Bail. Daniel F. Dwyer, recently indicted for conspiracy to defraud Judge Lindsay of Texas, by means of a bogus telegram, was released yesterday afternoon cn bail, Thos. A. Céakley becoming his surety in the sum of $500, District Attorney Birney consenting to a reduction of the amount from $1,000. Dwyer was at one time the trainer of John L. Sullivan, and his attorney, Geo. F. Cur- tis, fs confident of establishing an alibi. ——_—_ A Fatal Duel. A dispatch from Buda Pesth says that a duel with sabers bas been fought between Baron Josika and Baron Blebsburg. The latter was mortally wounded. = . SILVERAND MANUFACTURERS A Oonferenca Between Bimetallists and Protectionists. The First Note of Warning to the Republicans Against Adopting a - Single Gold Standard. A conference was had in this city yester- day between the republican silver Senators who voted against the consideration of the House teriff bill in the Senate and a number of manufacturers, principally of Pennsyl- vania, for the purpose of urriving, if pos- sible, at an understanding on which the silver advocates and the protectionists can unite. The conference was preliminary to others which probably will be held, and while it resulted in no joint declaration, those present expressed themselves as satis- fied that the result would be to promote both interests and that an important step had been taken in bringing them nearer together. The meeting resulted from a correspond- ence between Mr. Wm. Wilhelm of Potts- ville and Senators Teller, Dubois, Carter, Mantle, Cannen and Jones of Nevada. Those Senators were all present at the meeting, as were Representatives Hartman of Montana, Allen of Utah and Wilson of Idaho and representatives of the following named manufacturing interests: Carpets, woolens, lumber, silk, yarns, street rail- ways, groceries, worsteds, wire, knit goods, surgical appliances, upholstery, rugs, dyes, buggies and electrical appflances. ‘The conference was organized by choosing Senator Dubois as chairman and Mr. Wil- helm secretary. Brief speeches were made by all the Senators present. They defined their position in such a manner as to make it plain to the manufacturers that there could be no protective tariff legislation either at this session of Congress or at the next without the rehabilitation of silver, and that bimetallism and protection, as re- garded from their standpoint, constituted an indivisible issue before the country. Some of the manufactyrers indorsed this position as being the logic of the country’s necessities and political conditions. Presi- dent Dornan of the Manufacturers’ Club of Philadelphia expressed the opinion that tariff duties could not be made high enough to protect American manufacturers if the country remained on a gold basis. Mr. Jas. Dobson came out unqualifiedly for free coinage by international agreement, if pos- sible; otherwie, by independent action. He believed that independent action would in- duce international action. Free coinage might create temporary disturbances, but it was the quickest way to a permanent re- lief from the ills from which the country is now suffering. Henry A. Frye of Philadelphia said that the sooner that independent action was taken for bimetailism the better It would be. He declared for protection and bimetal- lism. Charles Heber Clark, editor of the Manufacturer of Philadelphia, said he had labored in season and out of season to con vince the manufacturers that protection would only prove efficacious in conjunction with the restoration -of stiver. Richard Campion declared himself in favor of the restoration of silver, but thought that the cause of bimetallism was not advanced by the defeat of the revenue measure. Senators who were interviewed with re- gard to the meeting expressed the opinion that this was the first note of warning to the republican party against the adoption of a single gold standard plank in the St. Louis platform or the nomination of a gold standard man on a straddle plank. Many letters in harmony with the purposes cf the meeting were received from manufacturers throughout the country. DRAWING THE REINS TIGHTER. Proposition That Aliens Cannot Work in This Country. In the House yesterday Representative Corliss of Michigan introduced a bill making it unlawful for aliens residing or retain- ing their’ homes in foreign countries to enter the United States for the purpose of engaging in any mechanical trade or manual labor within the borders thereof while residing or retaining their homes in foreign countries; making it unlawfui to employ aliens so residing or retaining homes in foreizn countries; also making it unlawful for aliens, except subjects of the dominion of Canada and other American countries, to enter the country except at United States custom ports of entry on the Atlantic and Pecific coasts. —_+o._: Neglected Anacostia. To the Editor of The Evening Star: The return, with an adverse report, of Senate bill 2472, requiring the Anacostia and Potomac railroad to improve its facilities for passenger carrying, while discouraging, Was not unexpected to Anacostians who had watched closely the tender consideration given Mr. Griswold by the Commissioners in according him private hearings whereby it was impossible to meet with facts his fancied reasons for not dispensing with his bob-tail, one-horse, no-corductur abomina- tions. W. B. Mcses & Sons are quoted in last night’s Star as favoring modern service, and say: “From what Mr. Griswold says, he is ready to adopt such a system as will give the improvement and much needed service.” Mr. Griswold tells the Commissioners that “he is unable to do any better than run one-horse bob-tail cars.” The present pros- pects for thos: who have invested their all in homes in Anacostia are gloomy enough without having that condition made worse, |- as it is by the action of the Commissioners in fastening indefinitely upon the citizens of Anacostia a railway service that is a dis- grace to the capital of the nation and a re- flection upon those sustaining it. Ana- costia has many needs, but the one most geriously felt at this time is that of influ- ence. A judge or two, supplemented by a few Senators and Representatives in Con- gress, would doubtless Mount Pleasantize and make Anacostia a close second to Chevy Chase and Eckington. HENRY JOHNSON. eee Of Course the Parisians Believe This! From a Letter From a Frenchman Who Visited ‘Washington, “What of the deputies and the senators? As with us, they do a great deal more talking then legislative work. They are more free ard easy, and they are not so reserved. However, this is quite natural in a country where in order to be elected a deputy one has only to be the father of eightcen children, all.of them born in the same district. If the same conditions were imposed on us, we might succeed in mak- ing a successful fight against the increas- ing depopulation of France. What would not one do to become a deputy? It is truc that it is not In the power of every one to become the father of eighteen children. At the same time, it is very unjust that only the’ men should be rewarded for acts of this kind. It is rather on the women that an honorary distinction should be confer- red."—Philadelphia Press. —_—_-+e+_____ ‘Wants an Affidavit. ‘To the Editor of The Evening Star: In regard to the article in The Star of yesterday's date, signed W. J. L., in refer- ence to Mutual District Messenger Com- pany’s charges for service performed, he promises an affidavit. I will be glad to pay the notary’s fee when the affidavit is sent to me. Without an affidavit I do not care to pay attention THE REPORT DISOREDITED. ‘News Regarding the Evacuation of Kassala, The Marquis of Salisbury announced in the British house of lords yesterday after- noon that the British and Italian govern- ments had no news tending to affirm the report of the evacuation of Kassala. The premier addéd that the news was not cred- ited by either government. The first lord of the treasury, Mr. A. J. Balfour, announced in the house of com- mons ‘that favorable reports had been received from Austria, Germany and Italy in regard to the proposed Brifish-Egyptian expedition up the Nile and agreeing to the withdrawal of £500,000 from the Egyptian surplus in order to defray the expenses of the expedition. Mr. Balfour added that. France and Rus- sia kad not replied to Great Britain’s repre- sentations on this subject. Italians “Our Staunch Allies.” There were indications that the gov- ernment was not prepared to accept to the full at least one phrase contained in the statement made in the house of commons Wednesday by Mr. Curzon, the under sec- retary for foreign affairs, to which special significance has been attached. In speaking of the Anglo-Egyptian ad- vance in the upper Nile region, Mr. Curzon alluded to the Italians as “our staunch al- lies.” The words quoted did not appear in the Times’ parliamentary report yesterday, having, it is alleged, been omitted by re- quest of the government, which seemingly is not prepared to accept the sentiment they express at its face value, . Replying to a question on the subject in the house of commons yesterday Mr. Curzon said that no agreement existed for an al- liance between Great Britain and Italy. But, he added, there was nothing to pre- vent their co-operation where their com- mon interests were concerned. Led Blindfolded. In discussing the assumed existence of an entente between Great Britain and the dreibund, the Star, a radical newspaper, sald today: “England has been led blindfold into an alliance, and English honor and the Ar- menians have been sacrificed to a policy which has antagonized Itussia and France. Our foreign policy has taken a disastrous turn. Germany, lately the source of bit- ter insults, assents to our forward move- ment in Egypt.” This is fairly representative of the tone of the radical press of London. France's Opposition, The French minister fer foreign affairs, M. Berthelot, made a spgech in the cham- ber of deputies yesterday, in the course of which he commented unfavorably upon the proposed British expedition to Don- gola, and intimated that France was not inclined to consent to the use of the Egyptian surplus to defray the expenses of the expedition. tS MASONIC TEMPLE BURNED. Considerable Loss af Property at Providence, RB. 1. . A fire which caused the,destruction of the Masonic Temple and considerable other property, entailing a loss of $200,000 more, broke out In the temple, a five-story brick structure, at Providence, R: I, yes- terday. The building, in ‘which the flames originated, with its contents, was burned, and two smaller buildings adjoining were crushed to the ground by falling walls. It is thought the fire started fn the boiler room and swept through the elevator shaft to the floors above. The losses are partly covered by insura’ Among the sufferers are Congdon & Wilbur, wholesale dealers in boots and shoes, and Bosworth Bros., dealers in imported and'domestic woolens, who occupied the lower floors. me The fall of the south wall of the building demolished @ three-story building occupied by J. H. Astle, tin and sheet fron worker, and a three-story building occupied by H. A. Drummond's steam laundry and 3B. Smith & Bro., plumbers. The east wall also fell outward. Fortunately no one was hurt. SS A Cirenlar to Seed Growers. The Secretary of Agriculture, in accord- ance with the mandate of Congress, has prepared a circular letter to be sent imme- diately to all known reputable growers of and dealers in secd throughout the United States, asking them to furnish at reason- able prices to the department ten million packets of garden, field and flower seds, beginning with asparagus and ending with wheat. This number of packets will give to each member and delegate in the House of Representatives and to each United States Senator fifteen thousand packets for distribution among his constituents, after deducting one-third of the whole amour in accordance with law, for distribution by the Secretary of Agriculture. All the sceq must be delivered on or befcre thirty days frem the 17th of March, ———— In a Sensitive Cell. Jackson and Walling, ‘the indicted mur- derers of Pearl Bryan, are in the Newport, Ky., jail. John Bitzer, the jailer, has in- creased the number of his guards, and the police of Newport have been instructed to exercise great vigilance. The prisoners were first put in a sensitive, ceil, absolutely dark, in which were twenty telephone trans- mitters. In_a floor above were stenog- raphers ard other witnesses. So far as hearing any communication between the prisoners is concerned-it was a failure. They evidently discovered that it was a trap, and maintained a perfect silence. eS A Bogus French Count. A bogus French count, calling himself Armende de Reicre, M. De Lignee and other names, was before the police court in Richmond Tuesday, The claimant of French nobility was arrested in the morning about 1 o’cleck, upon a telegram from the New York police, who say he is wanted there for grand larceny, It is thought that he was involved in the Burden Diamond robbery. e0 A Giant Ten Feet and a Half High. Col. Cockerill writes ftom Hong Kong: “Unless I am mistaken, the people of the United States are in a fair way to enjoy an ethnological treat. I met a young American here the other day who Is on the trail of a Chinese giant who ilves in the in- terior, about one hundred miles from Can- ton. This fellow is a peasant, and he has a stature vouched to be ten feet and a half— American feet, mind you. My recollection is that the giant Chang, whom China sent us some years ago, was only a fraction over seven feet.” $ ee Cannot Dock the Indiana. The Navy Department las now abandon- ed hope of getting the Indiana into the Port Royal dry dock before the 2Uth in- stant, when the next spring tide is ex~ pected. The vessel has been lightened as much as possible, and even the water in the spare boiler has been blown off, so that her draft is now 24 feet 1 inch, instead of the 27 feet she draws at her maximum, but there still is not enough water in the dock. ——_o.—___—_. Good Speed of the Olympia. The idea that our naval vessels cannot equal their trial trip records under service conditions is completely) negatived in one case at least, by the rience of the cruiser Olympia, now on the: China sta- tion. Capt. Read has to the Navy. ‘@ trij along the Japanese coast byShis easily under natural draft heavy that the decks ‘were swept clear. He says she would have made 28 knots had the sea been smooth, or] AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA An Attempt to Break Jail Discovered in Time, Rewards Offered for the Fairfax Court House Escaped Prisoners— Other Matters wt Inte: it. It was learned this morning that an unsuccessful attempt to break out was made Thursday night by Ar- rington and Sullivan, the Alexandria men who are confined in the city jail awaiting the action of the grand jury on the charge of attempting to break into the freight house of the Washington Southern railway in this city- about a month ago. They had succeeded in removing several bricks out of the wall, and in another night would probably have made a hole large enough for them to escape through. The prisoners hid the bricks under the bed. The hole was not seen by those entering the room, as it was behind the bed and covered over with a plank. A lady living next door to the jail heard the men at work and reported the matter to the officials. They were removed to the dungeon, where they will be confined in the future. Cireult Court. In the circuit court yesterday, Judge Nicol presiding, Mr. J. K. M. Norton quah- fied as executor of the will of Mrs. Anna B. Norton. Mr. Geo. Hatley Norton re- fused to qualify. The suit of Mrs. Arthur Snowden agt. Richard Windsor was continued for de- fendant until the first Monday in May, when it is set for peremptory t Leave was granted the receivef in the suit of Martin agt. the Columbia Building and Loan Association to amend petition. Mr. George Johnson was admitted to practice ut the bar of this court, after which court adjourned. Have Not Been Captured. Nothing has as yet been heard of Thomas Henry and Harry Poss, the two Alexandria highwaymen who yesterday escaped from the jail at Fairfax Court House, where they were confined, awaiting action on their mo- tion for a new trial. Charles F. O'Ferrell last night offered a reward of $125 each for the capture of the men. A reward of $7: was eso offered for Wheaton, who was in- @icted several days ago for housebreaking, and who escaped with Poss and Henry. Will Not Violaie the Law. Hite Peckham, who is matched to meet Pat Ready on the night of the 31st of March for the heavyweight championship of the District, was in this city yesterday, and with his trainer called on Assistant Com- moon wenlin Avioeney Marbusy fn reference to the anti-glove contest law. Mr. Marbury showed him the new law, stated that he did not propose to get himself in trouble by violating the law. Police Court. Mayor Thompson this morning had only two cases to dispose of, that, of Thomas O'Conerty and William McGraw, charged with trespassing on fhe cars of the South- ern railroad last night. They were fined $2.50 each. James Gordon, a well-dr. young white man, wagarrested by Ser; Smith as a suspicious character. He was ordered to leave the city. Notes. It was reported to Mayor Thompson this morning that there was a case of diph- theria on Commerce street, in the nouse eccupied by Henry Motley. A called meeting of the Relief Hook and Ladder Company will be held tonight at their house, on Price street. Mr. F. L. Lansburg of Falls Church has moved his home to this = The Ycung People’s Union of the Second Presbyterian Church held their regular monthly meeting last night. ————_—_- GIBSON ND SULZER. A Lively Episode During the Debate on the Bayard Censure Resolntiong. In the House late yesterday afternoon the debate on the Bayard censure resoiu- tions was enlivened by a tilt between Mr. Sulzer of New Yorkand Mr. Gibson of Ten- nessee. Mr. Sulzer made some personal remarks about the valor of republicans who assailed Thomas F. Bayard when he was not present to defend himself. He de- voted most of his time to Mr. Gibson, dis playing to the House a circular, which he said was sent out under Mr. Gibson’s frank, describing his qualifications as a candidate, and entitled, “Rally, boys, once again. Send Gibson back to Congress, and the country Is saved.” Mr. Gibson, with flushed and angry face, jumped tg his feet and shouted out that a man who would make such a charge was @ coward. “I did not hear the gentleman's remark,” said Mr. Sulzer, who declined to yteld, “but I suggest that the next time he addresses me he use a trumpet.” Later, however, Mr. Sulzer accepted Mr. Gibson's dis- claimer that the circular referred to had not been sent out under his frank. He had been informed, however. “The statement is an infamous false- hood,” shouted Mr. Gibson, ‘‘and your in- former originated a vile slander, and you are no better than he is.”” “I decline to yield,” said Mr. Sulzer. “Your tactics are those of the coward,” called out Mr. Gibson above the din and confusion. When Mr. Gibson returned home and was asked, “What did you do?” he would reply “We censured Bayard,” said Mr. Sulzer. Proceeding, he declared that the attempt to censure Mr. Bayard was made for the purpose of diverting attention from the currency issue and pushing the tariff ques- tion to the front. When he sat down Mr. Gibson got the floor, and made a brief re- ply, in which he denied that he had franked the circular. In fact, he said, it was still in the hands of the printer. Mr. Sulzer’s copy had been stolen. It was a well-known principle of law that if there were no receivers there would be no thieves. (Laughter.) “If I were governed by the same code of morals,” said he, “which controls the ac- tions of the gentleman from New York, no doubt I would frank the circular when it is issued.” (Laughter.) Mr. Sulzer had, he said, flourished a pic- ture of him before the House. He would, ‘n turn, give a pen picture of Mr. Sulzer. He thereupon read, amid howls of laugh- ter, a description of Mr. Sulzer from the New York World, which remarked on Mr. Sulzer’s resemblance to Henry Clay, and spoke of him as ‘‘Mr. Seidlitz Powder.” “When the gentleman goes home to New York,” Mr. Gibson concluded, “and is asked what he has done, he will reply, ‘I abused Gibson.’’”” (Laughter.) Mr. Sulzer responded in a good-tempered and humorous speech, recalling the fact that he had not written the pen picture quoted, while Mr. Gibson had written and signed the circular. He could not prevent newspaper men from comparing him with other great men (laughter), and he was frank.to say that the correspondent had struck some of his weak points. His ex- cuse for lugging the Gibson circular into the debate had been his realization that it had degenerated into a farce, and he de- sired to participate in the circus, not as a clown, but as a master. He was glad the crack of his whip had made at least one republican jump. The death of Mrs. Morris, sister of Ellen ‘Terry, the well-known actress, is announced. The Cubans in the City of Mexico have been charged with secretly recruiting, but the resident leaders assert that they have not enlisted any men, having plenty of men on the island, and are more in need of money than troops.. 7 and Peckham] CONVENTION DELEGATES. McKinley Makes a Sweep in In- diana, The district conventions held yesterday by the republicans of Indiana for the se- lection of delegates to the yepublican na- tional convention resulted in practically a clean sweep for Willism McKinley. Four districts, the sixth, eighth, tenth and eleventh, ifistructed their delegates to vote for McKinley, or afopted resolutions that were tantamount to instructions. The fifth district defeated the McKinley resolutions by a small margin, but both delegates are understood to be for the Ohio candidate. In the Indianapolis district no resolutions were adopted, but both the dele- gates in addressing the .convention said that they should refiect the sentiment of the voters of the district and cast their votes for McKinley. It is known, however, that the preference of Harry 8S. New of the Indsanapolis Journal, one ofthe delegates, is for Allison. . The other districts passed no resolutions at all, or while indorsing the candidacy of McKinley left their delegates unhamperéd. The delegates selected are believed to foreshadow the election of Enos H. Ne- becker of Covington for member of the na- tional committee, to succeed James N. Hus- ten. Chosen by Brooklyn Republicans. Brooklyn republicans last night held con- ventions throughout Kings county for the purpose of selecting delegates to the na- ticnal republican convention at St. Louis. The following delegates were selected: In the second district, Theodore B. Willis and George H. Roberts, jr. Timothy L. Woodruff and tenbury; in the fourth, Randall W. Harmon and Joseph R. Clarke; in the fifth, Fred- erick W. Wurster and Ernest J. Kolten- lack; in the sixth, Henry C. Saffen and Georgé W. Palmer. The regular local re- bublican administration won out in the second, third, fourth and fifth districts. In New York State. The congressional convention of the sev- «nth New York congressional district was held last night on Staten Island. The anti- Plaft men organized one convention and elected M. H. Healy and Adam Cole dele- gates to the St. Louis convention. The Platt men organized another convention and elected Cornelius Van Cott and Hugh Roberts delegates. Martin Healy said that convention was regular, and that the others would be contestants. The republican convention of- the six- teenth congre: White Plains yesterday. On the first ballot Mayor John G. Peene of Yonkers and ex- Judge William H. Robertson of Kalonah were elocted -delegates. The delegates are said to be for McKinley. They were not instructed. New York County Republicans, The New York republican county com- mittee met last night and formally indorsed the candidacy of Goy. Morton for the presi- dency. The resolution indorsing the goy- ernor was offered by Lloyd Collis, whose father, Gen. Collis, is a contesting delegate St. Louis convention. It was second- ed. S. Gibbs. On a viva voce vote three answered in the negative, and the Piatt n insisted on a roll call to ascer- tain who were against Morton. Some of the members wanted to know if the resolu- tion meant that delegates had no second choice, and the Platt men answered in the affirmative. The roll call being insisted upon, the reso- lution in favor of Gov. Morton carried, but three votes were registered in favor of McKinley. +oo Restrict Immigration in Self-Defense. To the Editor of The Evening Star: At last our national legislators are be- ginning to take cognizance of the real euse of our industrial troubles. From time to time we have been told that they Were due to improper laws on the subject of tariff and money, though very many realized the true situation, but were afraid to grapple with it. The speech of Senator Lodge sounds the keynote. We are now and have been for some years suffering from a plethora of cheap foreign laborers. The immense foreign immigration of this class has produced the sore on the body politic. Treat and cure this by real restric- tion, and all w‘ll be well. Let it run along, and the inevitable result will be a tremen- dous Increase in the army of tramps and vagrants; and in erder to keep up a sem- blance of an American system of living Wages the one-half of the population which is employed will be called upon to support the other half, roaming in idleness over the country or confined in workhouses and kindred institutions. This is the problem which confronts us at this time, and to which both statesmen and workingmen must address themselves. it must take precedence over all others. Of what avail will be strikes and similar efforts to prevent the lowering of wages :f for every striker there are half a dozen ap- plicants ready to take service at much re- duced compensation? We have, in truth, been over-generous, and therefore unjust to ourselves. We point with more or less exultation to the great and rapid increase in our population, but soon we will realize that it ts our gmeat misfortune. Not the number but the char- acter of its people makes a great country. Why; just look at the situation. A few cold days, and up go the most urgent ap- peals for help to keep many persons from starving or freezing. Every avenue of in- dustry is overcrowded, and on every hand we meet men who have been crowded out and are seeking to raise a few pennies to keep soul and body together. Our own peo- ple have been literally run out of their em- ployments. While we, theoretically, are all in favor of high wages, practically we in- dorse the very lowest; and because of the Keen competition the ‘margin of profit has been reduced so low it is next to impossible to pay god wages and keep a business running. The combines have almost driven small dealers out of trade, but it is only a question of time when they, too, if present conditions prevail, will have to go to the wall. There can never be any business re- vival until the inducements are such as to make capital invest in various enterprises, rather than lie all but idle in the banks. We have been trying to do an impossible thing, viz., to keep up wages and at the same time ignore the inexorable law of de- mand and supply. Years ago John Randolph saw the troubles which would beset us in this direc- tion, and he wisely advocated that greater reliance be placed on domestic production for an increase of populaton. This is a live topic, one in which every citizen, native or naturalized, is profoundly interested. Suppose the case were the other way, and millions of our people were flock- ing to some other country, and underbid- ding them in the labor market; does any one doubt the strong arm of the law would fail to intervene? Unless some very radical legislation, much more restrictive than the proposed amendments to the immigration laws, {s adopted, the time is near at hand when we will have to admit +that the American workingmen are no better off than those in the countries from which undesirable immigrants are now pouring into this coun- try. Self-protection is the first law of na- ture. Let us recognize the importance of the present situation, and face it boldly and frankly ere it be too late. ——__ Acts Approved. The President has approved the joint resolution directing the commissioner of labor to correspond with foreign govern- ments for the purpose of agreeing upon a uniform system of enumeration; the act authorizing the auditing of quartermasters’ vouchers belonging to John Finn of St. Louis. The act to authorize the St. Louis and Oklahoma City gic ea to con- struct and operate a lway through the Indian and Oklahoma territories has be- come a law without the President's signa- ture. - FAMOUS Secretary Morton's Visit to George Vander- bilt’s Estate. BILTMORE The Unique Undertaking of the Young New York Millionaire in Experi- mental Forestry and Agriculture. Secretary Morton's week at Biltmore, the North Carolina estate of George W. Van- derbilt, was devoted to a study of the methods in operation there to experiment in forestry, horticulture and agriculture. “There are 95,000 acres in the estate,” said Secretary Morton, “and every inch of it maybe said to be under scientific cultivation, embracing every branch of the vegetable kingdom. Combined with it he has the mcst perfect system of roadways I have ever seen, and you can drive 100 miles over macadamized pavement without going off his estate. As an exhibition of landscape gardening it is without an equal. Frederick Law Olmsted has had charge of that branch of the work, and -the late Richard M. Hunt was the architect of ail the buildings, which, for their several uses, Surpass any that exist on the earth. There are no palaces in Europe that can equal Mr. Vanderbilt's for elegance, comfort and convenience, and, he is gathering there a collection of works of art that would make it famous if it had no other attraction. His stables, his barns, his dairies, his propagating houses, his henneries and other features of his establishment are all on the same grand scale. He has undertaken to furnish the highest possible example of the science of food culture in every one of its branches. He has employed the best men he can find to take charge of his ex- periments, and pays them salaries that are cominensurate with their services. There are Germans and Frenchmen and Italians and Englishmen, as well as Americans, em- ployed. The igners are usually men of high professional reputations, who are at- tached to universities in the old world, and spend their vacations, three, four or six months, on Mr. Vanderbilt's estate looking after their respective departments. While the work has not t been carried far enough to show the results, the possibilities of usefulness offered by Mr. Vanderbilt's enterprise are unlimited. “I consider his work there just as impor- tant to the agricultural interests of this country as the Department of Agriculture at Washington. He employs more men than I have under my charge, and I think he is spcnding more money every year than Congress appropriates for this department, although I do not know his figures. He has nearly 1,009 on his pay roll, and we have about 7, His men are promoted for efli- ciency, according to the most practical civil rules. If a man who is employed at #1_a day to shovel dirt shows that he is capable of something better, his work and his wage rule app! be accomplished, at least, building up an tution that will furnish scientific farmers and teachers for the i struction of the rest of mankind, and I feel like thanking old Commodore Vanderbi for ha i the brains and the benevolence to devote his wealth to afford the public such valu- ble object lessons in art, architectu culture, foresiry, viticulture, da‘ road making and other useful science: ‘The people down there talk about the enermous amount of money that Mr. Van- derbilt is investing to gratify his taste and pride, to provide luxuries for his appetite, and maznificent dispiays to flatter hi ity, but the poor creatures do not com hend the first letter in the alphabet of his ambition. Their vision is not broad enough, their intelligence is not sufficient to érasp a single fragment of the idea he is develop- ing, and while they imagine that it is all duc to selfishness, he is a great benefactor working for them. They talk about the land being worn out down there in North Carolina. It's the people. The land is all right, if brains and encrgy were applied to its cultivation. “It is a grand idea,” said Mr. Morton, “that young Mr. Vanderbilt is trying to carry out. It is unique, and none but a man of his enormous wealth could under- take it. Few Kings have either funds or the good of their people at heart sullicient to. conceive and carry out what Mr. Van- derbilt has successfully demonstrated. I do not know how much money he has spent there, nor how much more he intends to invest, but it is one of the grandest un- dertakings that individual enterp ever attempted, and I understand that it is the owner's intention to leave It as a legacy to the p: when he can no longer enjoy it himself. . God in the Consti To the Editor of The Evening Several days ago I noticed in The Star that the old question of “Ged in the Con- stitution” is again before Congress, and that the committee on the judiciary of the House is hearing arguments for and against the recognition of God in the Con- stitution. But why all this pother on the subject, which has been kept up ever since the foundation of the government? To my mind Ged is recognized in the Constitu- tion in as plain language as can ever be devised by man. When that instrument was closed with the solemn declaration, “Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the of September, in the year of our Lord, man who affixed his signature to it made of this a Christian nation, and in the act of doing so bowed his head in recogni! tion of Him who is the God of nations and the arbiter of our destiny. What more could we ask for? What statement of faith could the framers of the Constitution have made that would not be open to objection in some quarter? They wisely divorced church and state, by ignoring the former in their plan of government; but when they came to close their labors and accept as a whole, by colemn act of si; what had been day by day agrecd upon after heated discussion, they, as their last act, turned their thoughts, in all humility of spirit, to Him who is the ruler of the universe, and wound up the instrument which was to give birth to the grandest nation God’s sun ever shone upon. with a recognition of Him who is the Light of the World and the Morning Star of the Chris- tan’s faith and hope. The declaration, “wane: + ee the year of our Lord, stamps their creation as a piece of Christian workmanship. There is but one God, and that God must be the Lord, who was God incarnated—God exhibited in the flesh. This God the Con- stitution undoubtedly recognizes, for the Constitution as a whole extends from the opening word to the closing signature. J. H. SMITH. fon. ar: _ Death of Dr. Gundlach. The distinguished naturalist, Dr. Juan Guadlach, is dead, at the age of eighty-five years. Dr. Gundlach was a German, but had been fifty-eight years In Cuba. He was de- voted to his studieg of nature in mountains’ ard swamps up to seven years ago, when failing strength limited his activities. He,!s supposed to have died without fortune. All lovers of science Mstened with pleasure to his talented discourse. Some time ago he made a gift of a valuable ccllection of veg- etable, animal and mineral specimens to the Havana institute. -The remains lay in te in Science Hall, Havana, and were buried Monday afternoon. Post Office Receipts. Tbe gross recelpte at the thirty largest post offices in the country last month in- creased $244,742. The total receipts were $2,722,187, against $2,377,445 for February, ca