Evening Star Newspaper, March 23, 1896, Page 1

- | THE EVENING STAR. | —_-_———— PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, ® AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, \ 1101 Pennsylvania Avenne, Cor. 11th Btreet, by Tie Tite adresse Pres - &E ‘New York Office. 49 Potter Building. ~The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the ity by carriers, om their own account, at 10 cents or 44 cents per month. -cetnler 2 conte cach. By wail—ony! ~ United States or Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents er month. Saturday Quinttple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fereign postage x 3.00. (Entered at the Post Otfice at Washington, D. C., as -class mail matter.) ©All mail subseriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. A DISTRICT DAY . _ Some Attention Given by the House to Local Legislation. ~ BILLS DISCUSSED =AND = PASSED There Was Not Much Opposition to the Measures. OTHER LOCAL BILLS It was District day in the House today, and there was the usual small attendance of members at the beginning of the session. It has tecome customary of late for the great mess of the members of the House to stay away on District day, seizing that op- Portunity to attend to other business or pleasure. This custom has often in the past been found to operate to the great disadvantage of the capital of the United States, be- cause the enemies of the national capital never stay away on that day. They may absent themselves upoa other occasions, but they will show up on District day. The Powers, the Talberts, the De Armonds ana “the rest of them turn out in unanimous force. The result is, the little handful of workers on the District committee who put in their time faithfully and arduously in committee, preparing the necessary legis- lation for the national capital, often find themselves deserted by their colleagues when the lines of baltle are drawn in the House, and confronted by an «unbroken rank of opposition superior in number for the oce: mn, but which would he in a yitl- ful minority if there were a fair attend- ance of the House. Sales of Real Estate. When Cha!rman Babcock secured the fioor today he called up the bill providing “that in the District of Columbia no bill of salz, conditicral sale, mortgage, deed trust or any conveyance, in whole or m part, of personal property or chattels, - Where the property has not been delivered, through or by which title {s claimed to, or_ @ lien or claim is retained or created in svch personal property or chattels, shall be gcod or valid against a subsequent inno- cent purchaser for value and without no- tice, unless such bill of sale, conditional sale, mortgage, deed of trust or other writ- ing has been duly delivered for record in the office of the recorder of deeds in said District prior to the sale to such mnocent purchaser; and all such instruments shall take effect and be valid from the time when svch instrument shall have been delivered € to the recorder for record, and the re- ecrder shall ncte on each instrument afore- said the day and hour of delivery of the same to him to be recorded.” ‘The effect of the bill, as explained by the report, “is to protect persons in their lien upon chsttels who hold in good faith and for a valuable consideration a bill of sale, Iortgage, deed of trust, or any conveyance ef personal property where the possession thereof dees not pass to the Hen holder, ard especially to protect subsequent Inno- cent purchasers for value and without no- tice. When possession of property is re- teired by the vendor in conditional sales there is afforded opportunity for fraudu- lent przctice.” ‘The bill was passed without debate. To Relieve Mr. Linskey. Mr. Babcock then called up the bill to re- Neve James Linskey from the operations of ~:the law prohibiting alien ownership of land . in the District. Mr. Linskey has been a resident of Washington for nearly thirty years, and a property holder since 1859, having purchased his house in good faith ard unconscious of the existence of the alien law. In 1891 he made application fcr citizenship. Mr. Hopkins of Illinois raised the point against Mr. Linskey that his was not a good case for congressional action, because he lived in this country for many years, and enjoyed the benefits of citizenship without trying to avail himself of the op- portunity of becoming a citizen. Mr. Hulick defended the bill, and after some further explanation the Dill was passed. — Standard Dry Measures. The next bill was to define the standard shape and size for dry measures in use In the District of Columbia. Its provisions have already been published in The Star. Mr. Henderson of Iowa asked for an explanation of the bill. “There is at present no law in the Dis- trict of Columbia by which the shape and size of dry measures are regulated or de- fined,” said Mr. Curtis of Towa. “The measures conform to no standard, and frauds are of daily occurrence in the mar- kets, amounting in the aggregate to a large sui The proposed law is for the pro- tection of buyers against the sharp prac- tices of dishonest dealers.”” Mr. Baker moved an amendment pro- viding that a bushel of potatoes shall * weigh sixty pounds instead of fifty-six, ex- plaining that at present dealers buy pota- toes at sixty pounds to the bushel and sell at fifty-six. The amendment was adopted and the bill was then passed. Weights id Measures Bill Passed. ‘The next bill was to amend section 9 of the law relating to weights and measures so as to provide that no person shall use for buying or selling, or for weighing freight or express matter, any weights, measures, scales or other instruments un- less the same shall have been examined and approved by the sealer or assistant _sealer of weights and measures. The fact ard the date of such examination and approval and the period for which such examination and approval shall hold good shall be certified to with the seal of the sealer of weights and measures. Such certificates shall be attached in a conspicu- ous place to the weights, measures, scales or other instruments so examined and ap- proved, and such certificate shall be valid orly for such time as the Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall provide in the schedule of fees hereinafter provided for: Provided, that nothing herein con- tained shall prevent at any time tne ex- amination and condemnation of any weights, measures, scales or other instru- ments that may be found defective. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall prescribe the amount of tolerance to be allowed by the sealer of weights and measures, and all weights, measures and balances that do not conform to the stand- ards for weights and measures in this “ act provided for within the limit of toler- arce so allowed may be seized by the sealer of weights and measures, and when 80 sel shall be destroyed by ‘him, and a record of the same shall be duly entered on the books of his office. Failure to com- ply with the provisions of this section, or the use of any weights, measures, scales or other instruments described in this sec- tion, before the payment of the fees fixed by the said Commissioners for examina- tfors, shall render the person so failing or using lable to a fine of not more than $20 and costs of prosecution for each of- fense, to be recovered in the Police Court of the District of Columbia, and the said court may make a further sentence that the offender be imprisoned in the District jail for any period not, exceeding six ~ months until the payment of such fine and + “ir: Babcock stated io the House that this Rill is designed to cure some of the defects Che Fo A I UA eI a | J hd I i I oT EE AS lS I RR I a I I eS ah NN I cl a No. 13,433 found to have arisen under the operations of the law regulating weights and meas- ures. ‘The bill was passed without amendment. It has already passed the Senate and will now go to the President for his signature. Mrs. Winter's Ground. Mr. Babcock then called up the bill to re- lieve Kate Winter of the operations of the act authorizing the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company to condemn her property in square 739. The act was passed in 1891, but the company has not condemned the property and a cloud thereby rests on the title. The bill was passed without amend- ment. This bill also has passed the Senate. With this Mr. Babcock yielded the floor and District day came to a close. NATIONAL MUSEUM BUILDING The Proposed Enlargement Favorably Be- ported On. Senator Morrill’s Views of the Present Facilities and Ultimate Needs and Improvements. Senator Morrill today presented a report from the committee on public buildings and grourds on the bill already placed on the calendar, with the favorable recommenda- tion of the committee, providing for the erection of an additional fire-proof build- ‘ng for the National Museum. Extensive quotations are made from the annual re- port of Prof. Langley, showing the growth of the collection of specimens and curios far beyond the capacity of the two large buildings and the various storage sheds around them. June 30, 1894, there were 3,275,531 specimens in the museum, and the same date in 1895 there were 3,406,920. After indicating how much more effectively the groups might be displayed, the report continues: “The building devcted especially to the museum was erected after the centennial exposition fh Philadelphia, as a temporary accommodat'on for the coilections given to the United States by the foreign govern- ments and private exhibitors represented on that occasion. It is the cheapest public building of a permanent character ever erected, having cost only $2.25 a square foot of floor space available for exhibition. The museum buildings in Central Park, New York, have cost from $30 to $0 a square foot. The building in Washington has served a good purpose, but is deficient in one of the most important particulars, it has no cellar whatever, and very little pro- visions for workshops and laboratories. In consequence of this, it has been necessary to use all kinds of devices for storing ma- terial which carnot be exhibited in the halls, In the bases under the exhibition cases, in small recesses, so ingeniously con- structed that their presence is not sus- pected. Necessary Makeshifts. “Another disagreeable result is that much noisy werk has tc be done in the museum halls, in spaces shut off from the public by screens, and that when preparations for exhibition or packing are going on not enly ace portions of the collections closed to the public, but there is a constant and unpleasant noise of hammers. “A temporary relief was secured some years ago by placing the great herbarium, one of the most important collections of American plants in the world, in the cus- tody of the Agricultural Department, but lest year the Secretary of Agriculture fcund himself unable to longer give these collections house room, and since the build- ing in which they were kept is not fire- Froof, and their destruction would be an incalculable Icss to science, there was nothing to do but te receive this, and up to the present time a considerable portion of the collection still remains in danger of destruction by fire, at the Department of Agriculture. ‘All the collectiors at the geological sur- vey are stored in this building, and a con- siderable number of the scientific experts employed by the survey have office rogm and accommodatiors to enable them to study in the museum building.” The report describes the crowded condi- tion of the storage rooms of the Smith- sonian, end calls attention to the presence in the basement of a great collection of fish Preserved in alcohol, which is a constant menace to the safety of the building. Men- tion is also made of the necessity of using old wooden sheds for storage purposes, and it is specially noted that those adjoining the armory building, filled with valuable ccllections, are rotting away and cannot be replaced because there is nowhere to put the specimens in the interim. Senator Morrill’s Views. Senator Morrill recently said to a Star re- porter that he recognized very distinctly the fact that the present National Museum building was not an artistie or archi- tectural success. It fs utilitarian in its con- ception and design, although, as experience has proved, a lack of a cellar has been a sericus drawback. He added that he would prefer, of course, in providing additional accommodations for the museum building, to secure an appropriation large enough to erect a structure that would be more in conformity with the idea embodied in the Smithsonian building, but, he went on, the chances for liberal appropriations at’ this time are so meager and the necessities of the present situation are so pressing that the best plan seemed to be to provide for a moderately cheap building on the west, balancing the present museum building, and somewhat similar in design, but higher and with a besement. Ultimate Plan. 3 “The magnificent Smithsonian building,” ke continued, “‘will always be the center of attraction in that park. Its front on the north will ccntinue to be the main front and point of Interest. The southern side of the building will be the back. I have in mind that at some future day there will be erected between these two wings, the pres- ent museum building on the east and the ore proposed by this bill on the west, a cenhecting structure of handsome desi that will afford a splendid hall for exhibi- tion purposes. “It dces not seem right that the wonder- fut collections now stored away in nooks ard corners and rotting sheds should be kept from the public view and from the use of students and tclentists. A comparative- ly small appropriation that can easily be trade at this session will give us a building tkat will enable the museum authorities to place practically all of these now hidden specimens on exhibition.”” —_—_—___-2-—____ A NAVAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER. Gossip as to Those Who May Be . Selected for the Position. There is gossip in naval circles in regard to the detail of a naval intelligence officer in place of Lieut. Singer, who will join the monitor Terror on April 15 as executive efficer. Capt. Mahan is mentioned for the vacancy, but it is understood he does not fancy the place. Lieut. Kimball, who has been attached to the office in a subordinate capacity for about a year, is said to have a good chance of getting the assignment. There is some of the se- lection of a professor of math as chief intelligence officer, in order to make the assignment more permanent than is possible in the case of @ line officer. There are two officers said to be fied for the place, Prof. the ordnance t charge of electric WASHINGTON, D. C.. MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1896-TWELVE PAGES. at TWO CENTS. MORE ABOUT CUBA|T° 8E !NVESTIGATED| TREASURY FINANCES Senator Mills’ Joint Resolution for a Free Government. THE UNITED STATES TG TAKE POSSESSION That is, If Spain Refuses to Give the Is'and Independence. MATTERS IN THE HOUSE es Senator Blackburn's return to the Senate today after the exciting and fruitless sena- torial contest before the Kentucky legisla- ture was signalized by an unusual demon- stration by his colleagues. On the Sena- tor’s desk was the most mammoth and elaborate floral des'gn ever brought to the Senate, rising twelve feet from the floor ard overhanging the desks of Senator Wal- thall and Vest on either side. The main de- sign represented the coat-of-arms of Ken- tucky, with two huge dolls clasping hands as the central figures, around which were worked the state motto: “United we stand, divided we fall.” Above this was a large herseshoe of la France and perle roses, while telow and around were great sheaves of oak leaves and lily of the valley. The whole was topped with widespreading branches of American beauty roses. The tribute came from Mr. Blackburn's sena- torial associates. Several other large de- signs were from personal friends. Am Abandoned Military Reservation. In presenting petitions from Edward Ev- erett Hale, Julia Ward Howe, the faculties of the Yale and Williams colleges and many distinguished public men and scientists, Mr. Gallinger of New Hampshire spoke in ad- vocacy ot the philanthropic plan of remov- ing consumptives to the Rocky Mountain region and granting the abandoned Fort Stanton military reservation, New Mexico, for the uses of the project. Mr. Gallinger showed the heavy, mortality from pul- monary diseases, and urged that the gov- ernment might well e that attention to saving human life that it gave through the bureau of animal industry to overcom- ing pleuro-pneumonia in cattle. Mr. Blackburn entered the chamber short- ly after the session opened, and was warm- ly greeted by his associates. A resolution offered by Mr. Lodge was adopted, empowering the committee on civil service to investigate and report cn the administration of the civil service law at the government printing office. The Cuban Resolutions, When Mr. Sherman brought forward the Cuban resolutions there was animated de- bate as to securing a final vote. Mr. Cullom, in charge of the legislative appropriation bill, safd he could not give way for-an indefinite extension of the Cuban debate to the exclusion of appro- Priation bills. Mr. Sherman responded that the commit- tee desired a vote, and he thought it re- markable, with the war preceeding in Cuba, that the question could not be speed- ily acted or Mr. Platt (Conn.) said the trouble with the resolutions was that three on the conference comn ee had thrown aside the Senate resolutions, and had ac- cepted the House resolutions. “And, I veature to say,” proceeded Mr. Platt, “that not five Senators approve the House resolutions now befere us.” The Senator suggested to Mr. and his associates that they re their agreement to the House re: which Senators did not want, and present something more acceptable. “If we had any assurance,” said Mr. Sher- man, “that the Senate would accept and dis- pose of the subject in another form, then we would be quite willing to accept the sug- gestion.” Mr. Platt went on to say that he could speak only for himself, yet it must be ap- parent that Senators did not wish to adopt resolutions which were contradictory in their terms. “I suggest to the chairman of the committee,” said Mr. Hoar, rising and addressing Mr. Sherman, “that he ask the unanimous consent of the Senate to a dis- agreement to the conference report, thus sending the subject back to the conference committee.’ 2 “But why not vote?” insisted Mr. Sher- man. Mr. Hoar said the whole subject could be dealt with in two minutes if Mr. Sherman would ask unanimous consent to recommit the resolutions. Will Move to Recommit. “Then,” sald Mr. Sherman, decisively, “I will make the motion to test the question.” This colloquy proceeded out of order, as Mr. Palmer of Illinois had the floor for a speech againet the Cuban resolutions, and irsisted on going on. He yielded, however, to allow Mr. Sher- man to give the following formal notice: “I now give notice that in order to ex- pedite action on this subject, and in order to dispose of the question, I will move to re- commit the pending resolutions to the con- ference committee.” As Mr. Palmer had the floor, Mr. Sherman could not secure immediate action on his motion. Cisneros’ Proclamation. Mr. Palmer urged that there was no ne- cessity of unoffensive and contradictory terms of the resoiutions. They embraced a needless threat of intervention, which, if executed meant intervention by war. The Senator spoke of the unorganized condi- tion of the insurgents. This brought cut protests from Mr. Morgan and Mr. Call. The former read the proclamation of Cis- neros, president of the insurgents, together with a letter from Crosby S. Noyes of the Washing‘on Star, giving assurances of the authenticity of the document. Mr. Morgan said he approved every word of <hat sylen- did appeal of Cisneros. + Mr. Mill” Joint Resclution. Mr. Mills offered a joint resolution direct- ing the President to ask Spain to grant local self-government to Cuba, and, in the case of refusal by Spain to take possession of Cuba, using the military and naval forces, if necessary, and hold it until the Cuban people organize self-government. Mr. Mills said he would speak on the resolution to- morrow. The resolution is as follows: Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That the. President of the United States is hereby directed to request the government of Spain to authorize the people of Cuba subject to the sovereignty of Spain to institute such lecal government as they may wish, and invest it with such powers as they may think necessary to secure to the people of Cuba the right of life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness. Section 2. In case Spain shall refuse to grant to the inhabitants of Cuba the right- ful power of local self-government, the President “of the United States is hereby directed to take possession of the Island of Cuba with the military and naval forces of the United Statés, and hold the same until the peopie of Cuba can organize a govern- nent deriving its just powers from the con- sent of the governed, and arm and equip such military forces as may be necessary to protect them from invasion. ‘The Resolution to Recommit. Mr. George (Miss.) spoke in opposition to the resolutions. At 2 o’clock there was a lull In the speeches, whereupon Mr. Sher- man sought to secure e@ vote on his resolu- ton to recommit the resolutions to the con- ference committee. He submitted the fol- lowing, in writing: “Resolved, That the Senate'insist upon {ts (Continued on Second Page.) news today you can find dt only in The Star. The Application of the Civil Servic: Law in the Government Printing Office, Senator Lodge’s Resolution Adopted After Explanaticns:by Himacit and Senator Hit. * Senator Lodge’s resolution directing an investigation to be made-into the recent ap- plication of the civil sérvice law to the government printing office passed the Sen- ate this morning. It directs the committee on civil service and retrenchment to inves- tigate this subject with especial reference to the omission from the classified list of employes of the thirty-five men and women who were not given plbces under the civil service rules on the ground that they were temporarily employed at the time the Pres- ident’s order went into, effect. When the resolution was laid before the Senate this mcrning Senator Call asked Mr. Lodge, who introduced {t, what were the grounds for its presentation. Mr. Lodge responded by explaining that some time ago the Senate passed a resolution of in- quiry asking the civil service commission for certain facts in this connection, and an answer was received giving the entire cor- respondence that had passed between the commission and the public printer. These papers were laid before the committee on civil’ service, which has since examined them thoroughly and kas from time to time heard informal testimony regarding the method of applying the clvil gervice law to the printing effice. The committee recently voted unanimovely, he went on, for the in- troduction of a resolution which would give it authority to investigate the matter fully. He was not present at the meeting, but was thoroughly informed of the circum- stances and had introduced the resolution in the absence of the chairman, Senator Pritchard. Senator Hill said that when the resolution came up before he had objected to its Im- mediate consideration, but had since ex- amined it carefully, and had now no ob- jdection to it in {ts present form. He had discovered that it did not propose to create an investigating committee in the usual sense of that term. He was at liberty to an- nounce, he said, that the public printer is entireiy willing, and, in fact, desirous, that such an investigation should be made into the circumstances of the case. Senator Cull said he hoped the resolution woull be adopted. He had found it yery difficult, he said, owing to the peculiar manner in which the primting office is con- ducted, to find employment for some very worthy people in that establishment. _ There was no further debate on the reso- lution, and it was adopted without a a! vision. It is probable that nothing will be done actively in the matter until Senator Pritchard returns to the city. He is now in North Carolina attending to political matters, and it is uncertain when he will reach Washington. $e __ SENATOR BLACKBURN BACK. His Desk Wan Loaded Down With Floral Offerings Today. Senator Blackburn returned to the city from Kentucky Saturday night, and was in his seat in the Benate ,today for the first time this session.His return was heralded for more than half an hour be- fore the Senate convened'by the entry of a huge ‘loral plece borne Vy two stout men, who carefully placed {t upon Mr. Rlack- burn’s desk, which ig the second one in the second row on. the democratic ‘side, counting from the centkal aisle, and is therefore one of the micst conspicuous desks in the Senate. it became muci more conspicuous than ever when surmounted by the largest arrangement of flowers that was ever taken into the Senate chamber. This was the token of regard presented to Mr. Blackburn by his democratic col- leagues in the Senate. It was in the form cf a huge shield, hear'ng a representation of the coat of arms of the state. of Ken- tucky, with the moito, “United we stand, divided we fall,” encircling two human ures clasping hands. These figures were ‘presented by doll babies of swarthy mplexion snd long, tiowing black hair, dressed in black silk coats and trousers of the genuine Keniucky blue jeans. The shield was composed of white carnations and the stars in the blue field of immor- ‘the » how- t telles above were worked in chenille. most striking feature of the affai ever, was a bunch of twenty-four perf American beauty roses, each one cf hug: dimensicns. These stood in a glass jar behind the shield, and bent gracefully over the shicld and crowned a herseshoe of white immortelles that was fastened at the top of the shield. The whole was sup- ported on a broad base made of beautiful red roses and orchids, After this was put in place on the Sen- ator's desk there came from other sources two smaller floral offerings, one of them being a large wreath of laurel, tied with a bew of purple ribbon, set off with a large bunch of violets. The other was a great bunch of pink roses. ‘The Senators who entered the chamber early made facetious comments on the appearance of Mr. Blackburn’s desk and all were on tip-toe in expectation of his ap- pearance. He caine into the chamber from the cloak room at about 12:20 o'clock, and vas immediately surrounded by his friends «nd for half an hour held a veritable re- ception on the floor of the Senate. Repub- licas, democrats and populists crowded to shake hands with him. Party lines were broken on all sides and he appeared to be receiving the hearty congratulations of his colleagues on both sides of the chamber. The Sonator had all of the semblance of a man who has just defeated all of his ene- mies and had been tr:umphantly re-elected after a bitter fight. There was no appear- ance of one who had merely succeeded in preventing the eleetion of anybody else while being unable to secure his own re- turn to the Senate. After about half an hour he directed that the floral decorations should be removed, and the Senators who sit in the rear of his desk were greatiy re- lieved, for as long as the shield and its waving roses were in plice they were en- Urely €clipsed from the view of the Vice President. . THE URUAN INCIDENT. It is in a Fair State of Honorable Settlement. “As a result of the exercise of the gocd offices of the United States, the so-called Uruan incident is in a state of settle- ment on a basis Soneiahio alike to Great Britain and Venezuela, gnd it is éxpected that the latter governmbnt will soon pay the indemnity of $5,000 clhimed by the Brit- ish government because gf the arrest of an English constable on thetright bank of the Cvyunt river in the fall of 1804. Although there is row not much doubt as tg the ulti- mate payment of this claim, the matter cannot properly be regarded as closed until that financial formality has been observed. Its séttlement will have no bearing on the mere {mportant question of the divisional line between British Guiana and Venezuela, it having been specially agreed by the gov- ernments concerned, as @ basis of negotia- tion, that“the consideration of this claim would in no_ wise affect the question of the title to the territory in’ which thé arrest was made. - This: ding between the two countries, which was brought about by the yas esere Cage com-+ paratively easy o' iplomat! justment, and deprived it: altogether ‘of its original importance as affecting ‘the reigtive juris- dictional rights of the two gevernments to the territory where the alleged outrage oc- curred. How to Relieve the Stringency in the Western Money Market. EFFECT OF THE RECENT BOND SALES What It is Hoped in Regard to the Gold Reserve. ~- NATIONAL BANK CIRCULATION An in portant step to relieve the growing stringency in the money market in the west has been decided upon at he Treasury Department. Reports from western banks have indicated that rates for money were climbing upward, and that the banks, in some cases, were paying 7 and 8 per cent for loans between themselves. Radical ac- tion is not contemplated at present, in or- der tv ease the money market, but the western banks will be allowed to hold a little larger per centage in money of the bonds which they intrust to the treagury to secure public deposits than they hayg here- tefore been allowed. These deposits, at the close of last week, were $15,021,688, ex- elusive of the special deposits on account of the recent bond sale. The par value of the bonds held is probably about $16,000,000, and there is no intention at present to per- mit a suffictent increase in deposits to re- quire an increase in bonds. The policy was adopted about a year ago of calling in 10 per cent of these deposits with the banks, in order to contract the redundant circula- tion, and this 10 per cent will now be re- stored The money is not in any case transfgrred from the treasury to the banks, but !s covered into the banks by internal revenue collectors and other public officers for the convenience of the service, and the change of policy simply contemplates the accumulation of these funds to a slightly larger amount before they are called ito the treasury. Effects of the Recent Bond Sales.” The reply to the resolution of Senator Hill, calling for all the facts and figures regard- ing the receat bond sale, has been prac- tically completed at the Treasury Depart- ment, and will probably be sent to the Sen- ate this week. The letter of Secretary Car- Usle will not, it is understood, discuss the economic aspects of the bond issue, but the treasury officials belleve that the naked figures presented will of themselves consti- tute a powerful argument in favor of the decision of the President and Secretary Car- lisle to ‘ssue a popular loan for the pro- tection of the gold reserve. The effect of the new loan thus far, in removing the re- dundancy of circulation and raising interest rates in New York and the country, with the result of arresting gold exports and ‘main- taining a favorable rate of foreign ex- change, is causing great satisfaction at the Treasury Department. The net imports of gold during February were $0,375,389, more than twice the net imports during February, 1895, under the operation of the contract with the Morgan syndicate. The only fea- ture of the reply to Senator Hill which might be construed unfavorably to the re- sults of the popular loan is the statement of withdrawals of gold from the treasury during the past two and a half months. The aggregate of these withdrawals, from Janu- ary 6, when Secretary Carlisle's circular In- viting bids became public, to the close o: business on March 19, was 9§0,! 7. These withdrawals have been carefully an- alyzed at the Treasury Department,” with the help of Assistant Treasurer Jordan of New York, and it appears that $10,065,173 have been for export and $1,437,017 have been in gold bars for the use of jewelers. This leaves $20,473,327 withdrawn in gold coin for other purposes than export, pre- sumably to make payments for the bonds. The Gold Reserve. The total proceeds of the bonds up to the close of last week were $103,601,108, of which $93,104,800 has been paid in on ac- count of principal, $10,360,477 on account of premium and $135,831 for accrued interest. ‘The total proceeds, when all installmenis have been paid, will be about $111,250,000, so that about $7,500,000 remains to be paid into the treasury. The deposits made national banks were originally $30,346,45: Lut they have been reduced by the transfer of funds to the amount of $10,931,438 to the treasury, until the net amount now held is $19,402,017. The proportion of this amount, which is in gold, $6,333,747, has been cai ried for some time as a part of the gold re- serve, but the remainder, $13,068,270, is held by the banks in currency, and appears in the treasury statements as a part of the usual deposit accounts. The official reserve, which 1.0w stands at about $128,000,000, will rise to about $135,000,000, if losses continue small and all remaining installments are paid in gold obtained from outside the treasury. Hardly so favorable a result as this is looked for by trcasury officials, but it is hoped that, owing to the contraction of the volume of currency. and the demand for money, the reserve may be kept intact for several weeks in the neighborhood of $130,000,000. The call made a week ago upon the national banks holding deposits for about one-fifth of the special deposits on account of the bond issue will be re- peated from week to week, unless the money market becomes dangerously strin- gent. The Secretary of the Treasury has some degree of control, while these $19,- 2,017 in deposits remain outside the treasury, over the volume of circulation and the rates of interest. National Bank Note Circulatio The national bank note circulation has not yet disclosed fully the effects of the new bond issue, but it is claimed at the treasury that there are indications that it will rise by the end of April to about $225,- 900,000, representing an Increase of about $13,000,000 over the figures before the call was issued for bids for the new bonds. The orders for currency during January were $10,370,750, during February, $5,553,- 000, and during the first three weeks of March, $1,500,000. These orders of more than $17,000,000 have only been partly filled, but the circulation has already risen above $228,000,000, as compared with $213,000,000 on January 31. It requires some time to complete the printing of the notes and thus far only $, 6) of the new bonds have been deposited during February and $2,247,900 during the first half of March. No notes are issued until the bonds are received, while in some cases the bonds are received several weeks before the nots cen be printed. Many banks ordered new rotes before the bonds were allotted and failed to obtain bonds in the allotment. It was feared that some of these banks would cancel their orders for new circula- tion, but most of them appear to have been purchasing bonds in the open market, and have written to Controller Eckels that they will, within a short time, deposit the bonds to cover the notes which they have or- dered. The net increase in circulation will not quite equal the new orders, because of the retirement of notes for which lawful money has been deposited with the United States treasurer. Gold Coinage. The coinage of gold will not be greatly in- creased by the proceeds of the bond sale, as most of the gold paid for the bonds, even that, returned from Europe, has been in United States gold eoin. -The government now holds gold coin against all outstanding gold certificates, and nearly an even $100,- 000,000 im co'n besides. This is exclusive of about $28,500,000 in gold bullion, which might be coined if it were desirable. It is the yres- ent policy of the treasury to carry a certain amount of bullion to meet export cemands ' in preference to coin. Hardly any coinage would be required, be therefore, if !t were not for the frequent detivery of bullion at the mints and assay offices fresh from the mines. The execution of coinage is required to take the place of this bullion and keep intact the fund ef coin in the treasury. The mint at Philadelphia d!d active work in the coinage of gold last year, but is now en- gaged upon the coinage of standard rilver dollars for the purpose of redzeming Srer- man notes. This coinage is being executed at the rate of about $1,500,000 per month. This is not a heavy burden upon the Phil- adelphia mint, and gold coinage will be re- sumed if the proportion of builion in the hands of the government is ‘materially in- creased. The present large supply of co!n, with an adequate suppiy of gold bullion, puts the treasury in a more favorable posi- tion to meet demands of all kinds and to maintain the gold reserve and the intezrity of outstanding gold certificates than it has been for a long time. ORDERED TO VACATE Secretary Smith Confronts the Paltimore and Ohio. A Public Square to Be Cleared of Tracks and Reclaimed Park for the People. ‘The long fight waged by Col. John M. Wilson, superintendent of public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia, against the Baltimore and Ohio railroad for porsesssion of square 201, has been trans- ferred to the Interior Department. The railroad company has for many years occupied this piece of ground w!th its tracks to the annoyance and hazard of citizens living In the northeastern part of the city, and all efforts to reclatm the ground have proved ineffectual. The square is bounded by G and H streets, Delaware avenue and ist street northeast, and em- braces 30,000 square feet of ground. There are six tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio road on this square or reservation and four switches. Being at a point where there is constant traffic along H street, that locali- ty has been regarded as a dangerous point for many years. The incessant passing of trains, notwithstand:ng the usual precau- tions taken to warn and protect passengers, is a continual menace to life and limb, and has led to many accidents and the loss of a number of lives. The Northeast Washington Association has long endeavored to abate what citizens of that section regard as a nuisance, but without success. While the matter was in the hands of Col. Wilson a few weeks ago it was almost accidentally called to his at- tention that there was an old law which gave the Secretary of the Interior authori- ty In the premises. The Iowa Circle Case. A question had arisen in regard to the unlawful stretching of wires across Iowa irele, and upon Col. Wilson’s request Sec- retary Lamont asked the Attorney General for an opinion in regard to the matter. At- tcrney General Harmon in his reply cited the old statute which gave the Secretary of the Interior power to remove. trespassers from government reservations and grounds. The wires were removed, and a precedent established, under which it is now proposed to secure possession of square 201. The Law as It Stands. The law relied on is section 1818 of the Revised Statutes, which became operative June 30, 1864, and is as follows: “The Secretary of the Interior is directed to prevent the improper appropriation or occupation of any of the public streets, avenues, squares or reservations in the city of Washington, belonging to the United States, and to reclaim the same if unlaw- fully appropriated; and particularly to pre- vent the erection of any permanent build- ing upcn any property reserved to or for the use of the United States, unless plainly authorized by act of Congress, and to re- port to Congress at the commencement of each session his proceedings in the prem- ises, toxether with a fuil statement of all such property and how, and by what au- thority, the same is occupied or claimed. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to interfere with the temporary and proper occupation of any portion of such preperty by lawful authority, for the legitimate pur- poses of the United States.” An Order to Vacate. Secretary Sinith two weeks ago referred the matter to Chief Clerk Womack, and directed ‘him to ascertain the facts and the law. Today the Secretary decided to give the railroad company notice to vacate. AS Secretary Smith has the reputation of a man of determination, and the situation centers on him as its master, there is little doubt of the issue of the’ matter. The Northeast Washirgton Citizens’ Associa- tion asks that the square be improved and ‘beautified, which Col. Wilson says shall be done when Secretary Smith ousts the rail- road tracks. —_-. —_ THE CZAR’S CORONATION. Gen. McCook and Capt. Scriven Will Represent the United States. The United States army will be represcnt- ed at the coronation of the Czar of Russia by Major Gen. A. McD. McCook, retired, and Capt. Gcorge P. Scriven, signal corps, military attache of the United States em- bassy at Rome. Orders to that effect have been issued by the Secretary of War. It so happens that there is no military at- tache at the St. Petersburg legation at present. Gen. McCook is a retired officer, and under ordinary circumstances he could only attend the ceremonies as a private cit:zen. His special designation as a rep- resentative of the United States army, hewever, will give him an official standing and insure him much greater vonsideration by the Russian officials than he otherwise could expect. When designated=he was in Rome, but it is understood he is now in Paris. —_—___+___—_ REED DELEGATES ELECTED. The “Jambo” District in Texas Cap- tured for the Speaker. Representative Cockrell of Texas today received a telegram from a republican con- stituent in bis district saying that the dis- trict, the thirteenth, known as the “Jumbo’ district, had elected Reed delegates on Sat- urdsy. Resolutions instructing the dele- gates for McKinley were voted down. The sender of the telegram requested Judge Cockrell to convey his congratulations to the Speaker. —— BY THE PEOPLE. The Vote an to Election of Senators Reported Favorably. The House committee on elections of Pres- ident and Vice President today reported favorably the bill introduced by Mr. Corliss of Michigan, providing for the election of Senators by a direct vote of the people. Some amendments of minor importance were adopted. Physicians Wanted. The civil service commission has an- nounced that the list of eligible candidates for the offices of physicians in the Indian service is entirely exhausted. The last vacancy is at the Grand River Boarding School at the Standing Rock agency, in North Dakota. This is a $900 per annum Office, and there is no one available for the appointment. Civil service for these places will be held in various cities oe different dates, from March 30 to DEAD IN THE MINE Fourteen Men Killed by a Qas Explosion. MOTLATED BEYOND © RECCGNITICN Nearly All the Bodies Have Been Found. —_——- DISASTER AT DU BOIS, PA DUBOIS, Pa., March 23.—A terrific ex- Plos‘on of gas occurred at the Berwind- White shaft, in the eastern limits of this city teday, and fourteen miners were killed. The mine is a new one, which the com- pany has been opening up, and working crews in shifts to push the headings out in various directions for big work later on. Eighteen men went on at 7 o'clock this morning, fourteen going into the north heading and tcur into the south heading. At about 10 o'clock the four men were sensible of a shock, and a few minutes later the mine boss came to them and told them something had happened, and that they should get out as soon as they could. When the party, then consisting of five, reached the foot of the shaft they were nearly overcome by gas, and were hur- riedly taken up in the cage. Ass‘stance was immediately summoned, and practical miners from the Bell Lewis and Yates Company mines volunteered their services. As the work of rescue proceeded it was found that the shock in the north heading was so terrific that some of the bodies Were mutilated almost beyond recognition. Nearly all of the bodies had been found at 1 p.m., but up to that time they had only been brought to the foot of the shaft, where they were collected preparatory to being hois'ed to the surface. Later.—Fifteen dead bodies have so far been recovered. It is not believed there are over three more, if any, still in the mine. The first to bodies found were badly muti- lated, but the balance had evidently been suffccated by the foul gas. The names of the Cead recovered are: George Harvey, married, no children. Henry Harvey, married, two children. Harry Smith, married, two children. Jan.es Graham, sr., married, large family. James Graham. jr., single. Lindsay H. Bradley, married. John Monroe, married, two children. Woes Postlethv.aite, married, three chil- ren. oo Postlethwaite, merried, large fam- iy. Andrew Nowak, married,“and the follow- vel are still in the mine and supposed > be lead: David Bell, married. Reuben Noble, married. George Ainsiey, married. —_s SIGNED THE RAINES BILL. Gev. Morton Upholds Its Co tionality. ALBANY, N. ¥., March 23.—Governor Morton signed the Raines high license bill today. . Governor Morton filed with his signa- ture a long memorandum in which he re- views the excise situation at the present time and the manner in which it will be benefited by the new law. He upholds the cerstitutionality of the bill and makes no euggestion as to supplemental legislation, as was expected. In closing he says: “It hi been suggested that the bill in some of its features, especially in some of its administrative details, should be amended. Experience will probably eug- gest other amendments.” —+—_ ROASTED IN MIDAIR. itae Horrible Death of Painters on a Church Spire. KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 23.—A spe- cial to the Times from Guthrie, Okla., says: News of a most remarkable occurrence has been received here from Beaver coun- ty. At the little post office town of Grand the Baptist congregation is building a handsome church surmounted by a spire seventy-five feet high. James Ford and Harry Somers, painters, were employed to oil and paint the spire. Saturday, while they were giving the finishing touches to the top of the spire, a thunder storm came up, accompanied by fierce flashes of light- ning. After a terrific clap of thunder a blinding flash of lightning struck the spire, knocking away the painters’ scaf- folding, splitting the spire and leaving Somers and Ford on the roof dead. The clothing of the two men was ignited by the flash and for ten minutes the bodies were seen burning and smoking in midair, Rain finally extinguished the flamcs and three hours later the remains of the painters were brought down, charred and incin- erated and almost unrecognizable. ——— THOMAS HUGHES DEAD. He Wrote “Tom Brown's School Days at Rugby LONDON, Marck 23.—Thomas Hughes, Q. C., author of “Tom Brown's School Days at Rugby,” “Tom Lrown at Oxford,” &c., and founder of the British settlement of Rug; Tern., is dead, at the age of seventy-three years. LONDON, March 23.—Lady Burton,widow of Sir Richard Burton, the English ex- plorer, is dead. KANSAS CITY, Mo., March 23.—Mrs. Louisa M. Giddings, widow of ex-Gov. March Giddings, is dead here of pneu- monia. Her husband was governor of New Mexico during Presiljent Grant's adminis- tration. Mrs. Giddings was born seven! seven years ego in Michigan. The remains will be taken to Kalamazoo for interme: ATCHISON, Kan., March 23.—Samucl Dickson, Atchison's oldest settler and one of the first directors of the Atchison, To- peka and Santa Fe railroad, is dead here, aged ecighty-two years. He came to Mis- souri from Virginia in 1840. ST. PAUL, Minn., March 23.—Mrs. Jen- nie R. Kimball of Philadelphia, the well- known opera company manager, died this morning in a private car at the union depot in this city. — Receivers for Vermont Central R. R. BOSTON, March 23.—The suit in equity brought by the Grand Trunk railroad against the Central Vermont railroad for $615,712 for traffic balances, which have ac- crued in the’ past four months, has result- e@ in the appointment of two receivers for the Central Vermont railroad. sso eee New Dall} for Atianta. CHICAGO, March 23.—It is rumored in Atlanta that a new morning paper is to be started, and that it will be backed by a syndicate of wealthy manufacturers. Wm. Venable is mentioned as the prime mover. It will be an independent democratic news- paper, and will advocate a protective tariff. The office will be in the Hotel Granite building, this apoperty being included tn Venable's “Bubscription of $1(0,000 to the capital stock, and estimated as being worth $40,000.