Evening Star Newspaper, April 14, 1896, Page 1

' THE EVENING STAR. t =_++___ ED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, pat venus, Evening Star Company, = 8. H. Srp tees New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ening Star is served to subscribers im the ‘The Br. carrie! thelr own account, at 10 cents oe wee or 44 cents Tau Coplen a the unter cents cach. watl—or in the United States or Canada—postage a—80 cents PSSatorday Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fereign postage 00. (Butered at the Fort Oris at Washinston, D. C., as second-class mail matter. ‘All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rate of advertising made Known on application. Che Eve ng Star. AN OFFER TO SPAIN It is Claimed That It Was Sent Last Friday, Tf CANNOT HAVE REACHED MADRID Good Offices of This Country Ten- dered.” e PROJECTED CUBAN REFORMS LONDON, April 14—A dispatch from Madrd to the Pall Mall Gazette, published this afternoon, says: : ; “Senor Canovas Del Castillo, the Spanish Fremier, is ill and cannot te interviewed. His relatives, however, confirm the exist- erce of a communique from President Cleveland. But, in the present state of public feeling, it will be impossible for the government to accept his offer. Matters are very complicated, and, while the gov- ernment will do everything in its power to avoid a quarrel with the United States, it will prefer to fight rather than lose Cuba through foreign pressure. The coming cortes will grant Cuba every reasonable franchise to be enjoyed under the Spanish flag.” Drafting 2 Note to Spain. Notwithstanding positive denials, the statement is reiterated that the President has decided to offer to mediate the differ- ences between Spain and Cuba, and that overtures have actually been opened to that end. Not only is the statement re- peated, but it is done with circumstantiali- ty of detail. According to the stury as now told, Sec- retary Olney prepared a dispatch on this subject to Minister Taylor at Madrid last Tuesday, and submitted the draft to the President the next day. The President dis- cussed the matter thoroughly with the Set- retary of State, and made a number of pencil memoranda on the manuscript. Thursday a smooth copy of the note as revised was laid before the President. Again he deemed it advisable to modify the language in several particulars. Although the alterations were few and brief, they necessitated making an entirely new copy. The Note Sent Friday. According to the story, this was drawn up last Friday, signed by the Secretary of State and put in the foreign mail bag which left the State Department that after- noon for New York: The mail package is saiz to have left the department in ample time to catch the mail steamer leaving New York Saturday morning. Provided this is all true and the dis- Patch was not recalled after it reached New York, Secretary Olney's alleged in- structiens to Minister Taylor offering medi- ation, are now well on their way acr the ocean to their destination at Madri It is said that they substantially tender the “good offices” of the United States to bring about a peaceful settlement of the differ- ences between the Spanish government and the Cuban insurgents. Little Credence in the London Report. It would therefore eppear that Secretary Olmey’s alleged dispatch has not yet had time to reach the Spanish capital. At any rate little credence is placed in the report published in the Pall Mall Gazette that Senor Castillo, the Spanish premier, has re- ceived a communication from! President Cleveland. The denial at the State Depart- ment of the existence of such. a communi- cation is therefore not so significant as would otherwise have been the case. Reforms {tn Cuba. It is surmised that the matter fs entering into Spanish politics, and is perhaps being, therefore, more or less distorted to serve party purposes. The intimation of a pur- pose on the part of the Spanish government to grant a large measure of local autonomy to the Cubans confirms an understanding that has obtained here to the effect that the abuses of which the Cubans complain, and which have served as the basis for the present rebellion, will be largely abated by the Spanish government just as soon as this can be done without the appearance of com- pulsion, against which Spanish pride revolts, and It is perhaps a knowledge of this fact that has operated to shape the present at- titude of our administration. ——e+_____ FOR ARIZONA’S STATEHOOD. The House Committee on Territories Reports Favorably. At a special meeting of the House com- mittee cn territories today the Arizona stdtehood bill was ordered reported favor- ably te the House. The vote stood five for and two against. Those in the affirmative were: Republicans, Scranton, Perkins, Le- fever; democrats, Turner and Cooper of Texas. Those against were: Republicans, Hadley and Low. Mr. Avery was paired with Mr. Knox and Mr. Harris was paired with Mr. Harrison. Mr. Owens of Ken- tucky, @emocrat, was present, but did not vote. The special meeting of the commit- tee, he said, had been called for the pur- pose of hearing read the report on the New Mexico statehood bill. It was not proper that the Arizona measure should be taken vp without warning, and while members who opposed it were absent. His request that the matter go over until the next regular meeting was refused, however, and he absented himself from the room while the vote was being taken. 2 SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR. Seeretary Mortou’s Suggestion Re- ceives Indorsement. Senater Proctor, chairman of the com- mittee on agriculture, was today authorized by that committee to make a favorable re- port on a bill to provide for a director-in- chief of the scientific bureaus of the Agri- cultural Department. The question has been before the committee for some time, and the propriety of the change has been Srged by almest all the agricultural col- the country. The bureau, which Platea WAAer the charge of the Proposed director, fmtiucs the weather bureau, the bureau of animal mnacsttv and about fifteen divisions of the departni nent engaged in technical and scientific investi- gation. It Is the understanding in the com- Mittee that the bill will not be pressed for consideration at the present session. — + —__ TURKEY GIVES ASSURANCE. Rev. Mr. Knapp Will Be Delivered to United States Consul. CONSTANTINOPLE, Aprit 14.—The thor- ough ventilation which the action of the sultan toward the Protestant and Catholic missionaries in Asia Minor has received through*the Associated Press has had decidedly beneficial effect. The United States charge & Mr. John W. Rid- je, has ived a written gssurance from ie "padese! it that the Rev. ee ee aes missionary Fecently expelled from Bitlis, will be de- to the United States consul at It is understood that ths sultan has act- ed upon the advice of the Russian am- Dassador. No. 13,452. WASHINGTON, D. O., TUESDAY, “SAPRIL 14, 1896-FOURTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. DISTRICT IN CONGRESS/THE DI) PONT CASE Bill for the Bast Washington Heights Rail- road Reported Favorably. A Commission to Decide Upon Plans for School Buildings—Other - Local Measures. Senator Gallinger today reported favor- ably from the District committee the bill incorporating the East Washington Heights Traction Railway Company, recently ap- proved in committee. The measure is con- siderably amended from fts original form, and fixes the route to be followed on these lines: Beginning at the south building line of East Capitol street on 8th street east, thence south on &th street to Pennsylvania avenue, thence easterly on Pennsylvania avenue to a point to be fixed by the Com- missioners north of the Pennsylvania ave- nue bridge, thence across the Eastern branch on a bridge or trestle to be built by the company in accordance with plans to Ue approved by the Secretary of War, thence on Pennrylvaria avenue extended to Branch avenue, thence along Branch ave- nue to Bowen road, or Albany street, thence along and wholly outside of the driveway on the Bowen road to a point to be fixed by the Commissioners at or near Garfield; also beginning at elther Bliss ave- hue, or 34th street, at the District iine, thence along either of those thoroughfares to the Bowen road.- It is provided that if the raflway is op- erated by overhead wires, the corporation shall furnish and maintain such lights along its line as the Commissioners may direct, without cost to the District; “but no overhead wires shall be constructed or used west of the Anacostia or Hastern branch of the Potomac river.” It is fur- ther provided that the company shall run its cars by the underground electric sys- tem on that portion of its routes situated west of the river, and the overhead con- struction may be used on the remaining portions of the routes. Steam power shall ot be used. The fare on the line shall not exceed five cents, and six tickets shall be sold for a quarter. The new company and the Capital Traction and Metropolitan com- panies are required to issue free transfers, whereby a passenger on the new road may have a free continuous ride over the lines of either of the other companies, and vice Versa. It is stipulated that unless the line of the railway be completed, with cars: running regularly for the accommedation of pas- sengers, within eighteen months from the Passage of the act, the charter shall be null and void. Provis'on is made that fall- ure to comply with any of the provisions of the act shall render the corporation lable to a fine of $25 a day for each day of such failure or neglect, to be recovered by the Commissioners, tn the nathe of the District of Columbia, in any court of competent Jurisdiction. i= Plans for School Buildings. Senator M>Millan is out of town for a few days and yesterday afternoon in his absence Senator Perkins presented to the Senate, for him, two amendments to the District appropriation bill. One relates to the preparation of plans for new buildings in the District, and 1s made immediately applicable to the buliding to be erected for the Western High School, for which $100,- 000 1s appropriated, and other new school houses. The bill as it passed the House provides that the plans shall be prepared by the inspector of buildings, and ap- Proved by the Commissioners and the ar- chite: of the Capitol. Mr. McMillan’s amendment strikes out thia provision, and inserts this paragraph in its.stead: “Said buildings and all other buildings provided for in this act shall be erected according to a design and plans to be approved by a commission, consisting of the architect of the Capitol and ihe Commissioners of the District of Columbia and the supervis- ing architect of the treasury. That sai: commission shall invite pfopesals for de- signs and plans, with estimate of cost, for said builjing, by advertising at least twice during two consecutive weeks in at least one of the local newspapers of general circulation published in each of the cities of Washington. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authors ized to accept the design and plans which may be recommended by the said com- mission as the best offer withia the limit of the cost of construction herein named and to pay five per centum on the cost of said building, and to ersploy the architect whose design and plans are accepted to prepare such drawings of the buildings as may be wanted from time to time. The de- sign and plan paid for, as herein provided, shall become the property of the District of Columbia.” The amendment also adds: “That the Commissioners of the District of Colum- bla are authorized to announce by public advertisement that they will receive bids for the sale to the District of Columbia of entire squares within the county suit- able for the future location of school Fouses, such squares to be suitable for the combined purposes of school houses and recreation grounds, and report to Congress at its next session.” For Street Improvements. The other amendment is as follows: “For paving with sheet asphalt 18th street extended and Cincinnati street from the intersection of 18th street with Colum- bia road to the east entrance of the bridge crossing Rock creek near the Zoological Park, and for perfecting the approach to the Zoo’ Park from Cincinnati street, $10,000; for improving and protecting Con- necticut avenue extended beyond Rock creek, $10,000; for -continuing the macad- amizing of the road extending from the Broad Branca road to Chevy Chase Circle, $5,000." A Railway Hearing. A subcommittee of the House District committee will give a hearing tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock on the Anacostia railway bill and on the bill to amend the Capital Railway Company. Widows of Capitol Policemen, Senator Harris today offered an amend- ment to the sundry civil bill appropriating $600 to pay Mrs. Nannie Watkins, widow of the late lieutenant of the Capitol police; also $650 to pay Mrs. Mary C. Stone and Mrs. Hattie Newsom, widows of late mem- bers of the Capitol police force. For a Sunday Law. — Senator Vilas today presented a petition of the Winnebago Christian Endeavor Union of Wisconsin, consisting of forty-six societies, with almost 1,500 members, ask- ing Congress to enact a Sunday rest law Yer the District, to enact a law raising the “age of-scusent” fi the District and the territories tO tign.<oQ years, to enact a law pee interstate Gambling by tele- graph, and to defeat all proposition= to pro- mote race track gambling in the Distnct of Columbia. Mrs. McFall’s Pension. Senator Gorman today introduced a bill granting an increese of pension’ to $40 a month to Mrs. Lou Gobright McFalls, widow of Capt. Thaddeus B. McFalls. Columbian Subway Company. Senator Gorman today introduced a Dill to incorperate the Columbian Subway Com- | ag) trop beget aha introdyced the Hous by Mr Ra PES He —_-e+__ Nominated Justice of the Peace. The President today nominated John H. O'Donnell of the District of Columbia to be justice of the peace in the District of Columbia. Mr. Chandler Supports His Claim to a Legal Election. A> -PORNTED- ANALOGY PRESENTED The House Tatks About the Clerks to Senators. FORTIFICATIONS BILL UP Se — That venerable figure of the Senate, Mr. Morrill of Vermont, reached the ripe age of eighty-six years today, and the event was réferred to ini the opening prayer .of the chaplain, Rev. Dr. Milbyrn, who spoke of the white-haired Senator as hale in body, cléar, sound and vigorous in intellect, es- teemed by his brother Senators, by his state and by the whole country, and en- joying the fruits of a long and honorable service in both houses of Congress. At the eonclusion of the prayer Mr. Morrill re- ceived congratulations from many of his associates. As a mark of respect to Mr. Morrill the Senate directed that the chaplain’s prayer be inserted in the Record. Shortly after the session opened Mr. Morrill gave an added evidence of his vigor by announcing that on Thursday next he would speak on the necessity cf additional quarters for the National Museum. Mr. Squire (Wash.) was then recognized for a speech on the need of coast defenses. Mr. Chandler Supports DuPont. At the close of Mr. Squire’s speech, Mr. Chandler (N. H.) took the floor in support of the DuPont claim. He said this was the first case in the history of the government that a goverror claimed the right to vote for a Senator. Mr. Chandler arraigned Gov. Waison of Delaware as Pooh Bah Watson, a night- mare, an incutus, a usurper, a terror, an cld man of the sea, who thrust himsclf into the legislature and clung to it. Mr. Hill (N.Y.) interrupted frequendy to reint out that while Gov. Watson coniin- ued to vote no republican state senator had made the point that the governor kad no right to voice. Mr. Chandler presented a aevel analogy to the DuPont case, as follows: A Novel Analogy. Can the Vice President of the United States become President upon the happen- Ing of a vacancy; take the oath of office as Pregident and perform his duties at,the Executive Mansion; keep watch uf the pro- ceedings of the Senate, end, Anding an im- portant House bill about to ve defeated by a tie vote, come frem the Executive Man- sion to the Senate chamoer, crowd from his seat the President pro tempore, and preside himeelf, dectare the vote a tie, give his casting vote in the allirmative, securing the vassage of the bill, and then return te the Executive Mansion and sign the bill and make it a law?” Mr. Chandler passed to Senators slips containing this question, and invited a re- ply to it. e Mr. Gray (Del.) responded: “If the Vice President becomes President, thermhe cegses to be Vice Presicent end ceases to be pre- siding cfficer of the Senate. He cannot be Vice President to himself.” Mr. Chandler asked if President Arthur could have continued to act as President. At this’ point a lively colloquy’ occurred on taking up the resolution for a Senate inquiry into recent bond issues. The Bond Resolution. Mr. Peffer called attention to a unani- mous agreement that his bond resolution should be taken up at 2:15 today. Mr. Chandler desired to go on, and Mr. Gray said he wished to follow. Mr. Cullom also pointed out that appropriation bills were pressing. Mr. Stewart of Nevada protested against sidetracking the bond investigation. “It is more important to know whether it is to be the policy to go on issuing bonds without limit than ft is to pass appropriation bills,”” declared Mr. Stewart. “If all this money is to be raised by bonds, then you must get rid of it some way by appropriations.” Mr. Stewart said he would ask before long how much money was on hand to meet these appropriations. He added that if there was any disposition to crowd out this bond investigation, then he would object now, even to the discourtesy of the Senator on the floor, Mr. Chandler. Mr. Peffer said he was willing to wait un- til Mr. Chandler finished his speech, but Mr. Gray objected to’an arrangement on this basis unless he was included. Mr. Morrill's Point of Order. * Mr. Morrill thereupon made a point of order that the Du Pont case was a question of the highest privilege, and that a Sena- tor speaking on it could not be taken off the floor. The Vice President promptly sustained the point of order. . Mr. Wolcott (Col.) intervened with the suggestion that Serators had given unani- mous cchsent to take up the bond resolu- tion at 2:15, and a unanimous agreement was not open to a point of order. " Compromise Effected. ., Mr. Mitchell proposed as a compromise that the bond resolution come up im- mediately after Mr. Chandler and Mr. Gray closed their speeches. Mr. Peffer assented, and unanimous consent to this effect was given. THE HOUSE. In the House today Mr. Bingham (Pa.) Presented the conference report on the leg- iglative, executive and judicial appropria- tion bill, Mr. Bingham explained, with reference to the paragraphs to abolish the fee system in the case of marshals, attorneys and United States commissioners, that the whole ques- tion had been referred to_a joint committee of the judiciary committees of the two houses, who were to consult with the At- tcrney General and report to the conference ccmmittee. The Senate, he said, had addéd $229,000 to the bill, of which $59,000 had been disp of by the House agreeing - to $39,000, ‘the Senate yielding the balance. About $189,000 still remained in dispute; of that amount $67,000 was for the increase of the salary list of the Senate employes. He had witnessed, he said, many disputes be- tween the House and Senate with regard ‘to the salaries to be paid employes of the Senate, and he never had seen but one re- sult—the surrender of the House. The Senate had always maintained that its con- trol of its own organization should be ab- solute and unembarrassed. What the Record Showed. “Eke Fecord showed that the average cost of employes :9 each member of the House was $989, while that of each member of the Senate was $4,483. Justice tc the House, he said, required that these facts shouid. be made notoridus. So far as the House was cencerned, economy and care was exercised. As to whether extravagance existed at the other end of the Capitol it would ndt be in peed tate ive nies to eae He felt, he said in conclusion, that if the House--cuife: continued the struggle against the increase of the Senate force in the end they would be defeated. Mr. Dockéry (Mo.) followed in the same line: He thought it but fair that the House should understand that the Senate had in- com- mittees and had also insisted on the increase said that such of the comp & of clerks from $1,200 ‘te $1,500. Mr. Hartman's Proposition. Mr. Richardson’ (Tenh.) asked if the con- ferees proposed to yiela this increase to the Senate. Mr. not say, wherespom-Mr.: Hartman (Mont.) caused a scattering #f applause by stating that he proposed to @ffer a resolution to in- struct the confei or that: point with an amendment for an- nual -clerks’ for fapmbers. Mr. Cannon, chairman of the appropriations committee, Fesolution would not be germane. If mémbefs desired pay for their their. indi clerks during the yaeations, he said it must either be Sour dependent legislation or by appro he money from the contingent fund House. lures of the House ir. Hartsfan, however, insisted upon his motion to*instruct the conferees to.add an amendment rating $432,- (0 for annual e members. The motion wag rwed out. “Phe report was then adopted, and further ¢onference agreed to. Messrs. Birgham (P&.), Dockery. (Mo.) and McCall (Tenn.) were ‘appointed’ eon- férees. "4 The Fértifications Bi The House then went imto committee of the whole and took up the consideration of the fortifications appropriation bill. Mr. Hainer (Neb.), -in charge of the bill, ex- plained its. provisions. The estimates amounted to $8,645,183, of which $5,842,337 was carried by the bill It also authorized the Secretary of War to make contracts in- velving a further-sum of $5,542,276, making a total authorized expenditure in the bill of $11,384,613, In the course of his remarks Mr. Hainer dwelt on the necessity, with .our present and prospective foreign complications, for an adequate system of coast defenses. Mr. Bartlett (Nr. ¥.), in support of the bill, called attention, to the helpless and de- fenselesa condition ‘of our seacoast cities. Today we were a fifth-rate naval power. We were building a navy, and, in his opin- fon, the construction of coast defenses should go hand-in-hand with the strength- ening of the navy. We are today abso- lutely at the mercy of any power whose navy was superior to ours. RECEIVED: THE GOODS Roberts Was AleoVonsigted and Sentenoed Today. The Robbery at the Eckingtom Com- pany’s Office-Eeruest BD Made by Defendants. Wm. J. Roberts, alias Gets, the young man jointly indicted with Monroe D. Sheuk, alias Gouding, for ithe rctbery of the office of the Soldiers’ Home and Eckingten Rail- way Company, last Febrvary, testified in his own defense yesterday. He emphatical- ly denied being ccnnected with Shenk in the robbery; alsy wontradictimg Grace Gooding when she claimed that he was cognizant of the robbery, and that he re- ceived his ehare of the spoils... Roberte also denied receiving any of the stolen car tick- ets and burning them. He. explained that whife he was awere of Shenk’g going out disguised and armed the night of the rob- bery, he believed that. he went out oniy to win a wager by imposing his disguise upon a friend. Upon the conclustor of the evidence for the government ecuny for Roberta un- successfully endeavor to induce Judge Cole..ta..direct an sopra both on the charge of housebreaking and larceny, and alwo an the charge of receiving the stulen property. They argued tha: Roberts was not gulity of housebreaking, because he Was not with Shen¥; that he could not ve guilty of larceny because street car tickets cannot be the subject of Jarceny, and that 42 Roberts was gullty.of robbing the rail- way. office he could not be guilty of re- ceiving the stolen- property. Government €ontentions. District Attorney, Bifney contended that one who aids in or promotes the commis- sion of housebreaking is as guilty as the actual principal, although he may be ab- sent from the scene.: Mr. Birney -also in- sisted that street car‘tickets are property, and, therefore, the subject of larceny, and he contended that ong can both be guilty of aiding In the commission of housebreak- ing and also of receiving the stolen prop- erty. aut Judge Cole sustained the contentions of Mr. Birney, counsel fer the defendant not- ing exceptions to the court’s rulings, and Mr. Hazleton and Mr. Tucker briefly ar- gved the case before the jury, insisting that Shenk, in pleading gailty, hed cleared up the whole matter, and had demonstrated that _he alone was: guilty. They also pointed out the fact that Grace Gooding, alias Stickler, the woinan in the case, yes- terday- pleaded guilty to receiving the stolen property, sentenee being suspended during her. good: bthawior. Shenk and the woman, the defendant's counsel claimed, were the only guilty parties, and they hoped by implicatthg’ Roberts. to obtain greater leniency for thémeelves. . District -Attorney-:Birney as briefly ad- dressed the jury, remarking that the-whole case resolved itself irtto this—the word of Roberts against. taé uncontradicted testi- mony of-every. one of-the main witnesses for the government; = The Séitences. ‘The jury retired at:11:40, after a short charge bythe court,'and at 1:05 returned with a verdict of gyilfy of receiving stolen property, but not gufity of housebreaking and larceny. The: fry also recommended Roberts to the metcy ef:the court. Counsel for the max gnnaunced that they would not appeal the anse, and at District Attorney Birney’s stigggstion Judge Cole at once sentenced both Bokerts and Shenk. Roberts he sentencedyt@ @ year and a day in ‘the Albany peniges at hard labor, to take effect from; i In séntencing Sheti¢ Judge Cole told him that it was: a case ‘ ig for the extreme Penalty, ten years #m the Albany peniten- tlary at hard labeg:but, in view of the fact that he had newer been convicted of crime before, he waud’mmke the sentence eight years, to take effect pon’ his arrival there. a +0 MRL AL eee CLAIMS. —s McKinley Peoplé“@pke *Exceptio: Them—What omning Say: Some of ‘the pro-McKimey people take exceptions to the fable of delegates pre- pared by Mr. Aldricit of Illinois. It is sald that the claim of two delegates in Virginia for Reed is rot correct, that but two have been eleoted in that state, anc that both those McKinley men: Thes> two are J. S. Brows! and D. F. Bailey. Mr, Browning, whp/grrived-in” Washing- ton today, is quot saylngi) = “Mr, Bailey ¢ f are tor McKinley firat, last and ‘The sentiment in the ninth district overwhejmingly for ‘convention met re- ‘on horseback and wet tl 80 af to, head off any attempt to give the delegates to any- one but McKinley.’” —_—+o+__ E Government* Heecipts. National_ bank’ notes received today for redemption, $372/453, oh ae recelpts— From internal - reve: $289,605; customs, $200,440; misceRaneous, $17,856. swam rivers to: replied that he could’ ¥to yleld to the Senate | ‘Hearing on the Subject of Under- ground Conduite. COMMISSIONERS ETPRESS THEIR: VIEWS Messrs. Ross. and Powell Both Questioned Freely. MR. CROSBY AS AN EXPERT The. House District committee today took up the subject of underground conduits. In this subject are involved the questions of franchises for new clectric.itght and new telephone companies and the owner- ship of Wires and conduits by the city. It is -a broad field, but the committee hopes to thoroughly traverse it before the session ends. - At today’s hearing the District Commis- sioners were present to give their views upon the plan proposei by them for a gen- eral subway system. This project has been heretofore fully described in The Star. Commissioner Ross’ Remarks, Commissioner Ross said that in the opin- icn of the Commissioners there is no more important question: before the c mmittee than this one of underground wires. He reviewed the history of legislation upon this subject, and the status of the law at present relating to underground wires. “There are dangerous overhead electric light wires in this city today,” said Mr. Ross, “and yet the authority to require them to be put under ground is question- able.” In addition to this fact there are numer- ous applications from new telephone com- panies for the use of the streets. The Comnfissioners desire to take some action that will give the people reduced tele- phone rates, but they ure confronted by the objection of the tearing up of the streets by the new companies. At this juncture the Commissioners have prepared the general subway bill as a method of solving the difficulty. The main feature of this plan is that in time the whole system {s to become the property of the city and provide for every wire. “How will that affect existing subways?” asked Chairman beock. “It is the purpose to take them in,” re- plied Mr. Ross. Further questioning, however, elicited the fact that there is no provision requiring the existing companies to come into a general system of conduits, and this led to the re- mark by Chairman Babcock that there will bea duplication of conduits. “Yes, there may be at first,” said Mr. Ross. “What effect upon this bill would the granting of new electric light or tele- phone charters have?" asked Mr. Richard- son, “It would certainly complicate matters,” replied Mr. Ross. “This matter of under- ground wires has been pending since 180, and every year’s delay in settling it adds to the embarrassment. ‘There are many ugly. questions arising from time to time, and. we sometimes have to go into court with them.” In the course of the hearing the question of gas was touched upon, and Mr. Ross said the Commissioners favor the dollar gas bill, and hope it will pass. He said the Commissioners have been trying for several Congresses to get such a bill enacted into law. . Commissioner Powell's Views: Commissioner Powell then addressed the committee. Every time the Commissioners have had to consider the question of con- @uits and gas mains they had come to the conclusion that such trenches should be- long to the city and be rented to the users. The pending bill comes nearest to munic- ipal ownership than any other presented. Chairman Babcock asked Mr. Powell if the passage of either one of the telephone or electric light bills would not operate to Prevent the necessity of passing the sub- way bill. Mr. Powell replied that such was the case, but added that the Commissioners had ‘reported tne Potomac Electric Light bill so that in cese the subway bill fails to pass the other may be used as @ substitute. The Potomac Electric Light bill provides for a modified system of subways for gen- eral use. Mr. Powell made it clear that the Commis- sioners expect either the subway bill to be reported or a bill admitting a rival corpora- tion to relieve the existing monopoly of the use of wires for electric lights or telephones. Mr. Powell said the passage of the sub- way bill would not necessarily mean the building of separate conduits, but that some of the existing ones might be enlarged. It was estimated that $539,000 would provide a system of conduits necessary to do the present business of the city. The city would not furnish a cent, but the contractor would build and own them during the time specified in the bill. ‘If the city had the money it would be best to build the conduits outright and rent them to the companies desiring to use them. “I belteve in municipal ownership right from the start,” said Mr. Powell, “but we cannot get it.” “Why not?” asked Mr. Richardson. “Because Congress has not seen fit to allow us,” said Mr. Powell. Mr. Hulick suggested that as a result of this policy the corporate monopoliés in the city had been reaping the benefit and asked if it were not time to change the policy. Mr. Powell assented to this and added that the pending proposition was in line with that idea. Mr. Crosby as an Expert. Mr. Crosby of the Potomac Electric Light ‘Company was introduced to the committee as an expert on conduits. He doubted the advisability of pressing the general con- duit scheme as at present outlined. He saw numerous difficilties in the way of granting one corporation the right to con- trol the general subway for a period of thirty years He said it 1s possible for a new company to come in and lay trenches beside the existing conduits, making there- by no more disturbance than the present occupants will make if they attempt neces- Sary extensions. ———-_o-—___ SIX SMALL GUNBOATS. Contracts ‘for Their Construction Given to Four Different Firms. Contracts for the construction of six small gunboats, authorized by the last Con- gress, were given to four different ship- building firms. The difference in the prog- ress of the work on the vessels is shown in the fact that while no payment has yet been made on gunboat No. 18%, awarded to John H. Dialogue of Wilmington, the third payments have been made on account of the construction of boats No. 11 and 12, building by the Bath fron works. The Crescent Shipbuilding Company of Eliza- thport, N. J., has received the second payment on boat No. 10, and the Union tron works of San Francisco has recetved first payments on gunboats 14 and 15, Prof. Newcomb’s Trip Abroad. Prof. Simon Newcomb of:the Nautical Al- manac office left here yesterday for New York, where he embarked ‘today for Lon- ‘ton. He goes abroad as the representative of the State Department at the interna- tional conference for the indexing of scien- tific publications, which will meet in Lon- don this summer. While abroad he will consult Pagar the ere. sees in regard adoption form star. constants, in the interests of nautical | President Rankin Writes in Relation to the He States Its Relations to the Govera- ment and Claims It is Not Denominational, The Vice President today laid before the Senate a letter from Rev. J. E. Renkin, president of Howard University, in rela- tion to the appropriations for that institu- tion, He says: “In 1880 the United States Senate originated an appropriation for our suppcrt, amounting to $10,000, with the un- derstanding that we should no more charge tuition in our academic departments. We have kept our part of this agreement. This appropriation has been gradually in- creased as our necessities inereased, and last year $8,000 more was given, on condition thta we no longer charge tuition in our law department. This made an aggregate of about $31,000, and this sum we asked for the coming year. It has be-n strenuously urged in the House of Representatives that we gre a sectarian or denominational institution. It is a Protestant institution, although we wel- come Catholics to our walls, and some are always here. In the discussion it was claimed that the president, while supported by the government funds, devoted himseif largely to the theological department and that he ts dean of it. This is not the case. “He is ex-officio president of all the de- partments. As a matter of fuct, he has not attended a single meeting of the theo- logical faculty within the last two years, and his enly class in that department has been one in Shakespeare, meeting once a week. The other reason given for with- diawing our support is that we are a pri- vate institution. When the government virtually said ‘Surrender that tuition charge’ she made this university her agent #8 much as when she charters a steamer. This is recognized in her requiring us to settle our accouts with the United States officials. “Just at the close of the discussion in the Heuse aspers‘ons from an irresponsible scurce were attempted tu be thrown upon the present administration of the. univer- sity. This paper, presented by Mr. Living- ston of Georgia, had already been pre- sented to the toerd of trustees and laid upon the table unanimously without de-| bate. “The president’s house alluied to was built by the trustees from the sale of un- productive lands, and is a part of the sulary. It cost $00 more than the sum fixed by the trustees. The chapel is a memorial to the president's only brether, and was erectel by benevolent funds, a daughter of the late Mr. Luke P. Poland giving the first $5,000, it being called after her deceused husband. “The Senate has always shown itself the warm friend of this uriversity. From it originated our first help. Our charter was secured by a distinguished vice president, Who died under this roof, and at whose chrequies the present writer officiated. Among our distinguished patrons have been such men as Senators Eaton of Con- necticut, Edmunds of Vermont and Evarts of New York. If you take away our help we have no denominaticn to which we can appeal. We have no constituency. We shall be obliged to charge ihese hundreds of young men and women, for whose sup- port we now personaly contribute and seek contributions abroad, a tuition fee. Of course, it- will cripple ‘us if it does not destroy us. We do not believe you will do this upcn any such pleas as have been presented.” —_—___-e+—____ THE VENEZUELAN .COMMISSION. Reading of Reports From the Indi- videal Members Fills the Time. The Veresuelan commission met today after a ten days’ recess with all of the members present at the beginning, save Mr. Gilman, and he came in time to at- tend the -afternoon session. The session was consutmed again tn the reading of re- ports from the individual members upon the progtess they afe’ making with the particular matters of investigation intrust- ed to them. The Venernelah Case. Mr. Scruggs, the consul for the Venez- uelan government, has submitted about forty maps and charts, which ere receiv- ing consideraiion. Also he has presented a few translations of documerts included in the mass of eviderce prepared at Cara- cas and transmitted to the commission through Minister Andrade. There is much more of tais matter now in the hands of the translators, and it is expected that at least two weeks’ time will be consumed in the work of preparing it for the use of the commission. This matter is said to be very acceptable just now, promising, as it does, to considerably abridge the work of making transcripts of original docu- ments. ing all certified copies of these records, the evidence is of the highest or- der, legally, and is calculated to prove val- uable aiso as affording a means of check- ing errors in the translations and excerpts as set out in the British blue book de- voted to the presentation of the British case. A British Supplement. It zppears that the Venezuelan govern- ment has been engaged in the preparation of this evidence for several years, and to that end has had agents at work on orig- inal documents and records in London, Madrid, The Hague and in the Vatican.The result of its presentation will be to ‘arge- ly reduce the work before the commission. Word has come from London to the effect that the British government is preparing a supplement to the blue bock, containing translations of documents generally refer- red to in the first volume, which is ex- pected to reach Washington very soon, but saving the presentation of the blue book (and even this came indirectly), the British government has so far failed to. follow the example set by Venezuela and submit a formal case to the commission and to ac- cept the invitation to be represented by counsel. —__—___-2+______ NICARAGUA AND HAWAIL No Vote on the Canal, but the Cable Subsidy Indorsed. The Nicaragua canal and the Hawaiian cable question were considered by the House committee on commerce today, but no votes were taken on any of the bills. It was decided to dispose finally of the question of reporting a canal bill to the House one week from next Fridey. In the meantime the hearings may be continued and probably government engineers will be called to give their views. Gen. Wager Swayne, who represents the Pacific Cable Company of New Jersey, of which Col. Spalding of the Hawaiian Islands is the president, made a statement to the committee in the interest.of that comfpany. A resolution was adopted by a vote of 10 to 4 expressing the sense of the committee -to be that the government should aid by a subsidy the construction of ® Pacific cable. - Neither of the Bd rival baocbogganed —- are competing government patronage ‘were named in the resojution and no terms were suggested. 2 ——_-e+_____ Ordered to This City. . First Lieut. Chester Harding, corps of engineers, has been relieved from further duty under Major Thomas H. Handbury at §t. Louis, Mo., and ordered to this city for duty in the office of the chief of engineers, “(THE -SUBWAY BILL|HOWARD UNIVERSITY/CUBAN ELECTIONS Senor Quesada Describes Sunday's Proceedings as a Faroe, CANDIDATES CHOSEN BY SPAIN Gomez Preparing for a Vigorous Wet Season Campaign. RECRUITING FRAUDS Senor Gonzalo de Quesada, the represent- ative in Washington of the Cuban republic, returned ycsterday from New York, where he went Saturday to attend the sixth an- nual banquet of the Delta Chi Fraternity, of which he is a member. Senor Quesada answered the toast “Free Cuba,” and his remarks created such enth mm that the banquet became in reality a Cuban celebra- tion, duri.g which Quesada was lifted on the shoullers of his friends and carrie@ around and around the banqueting*hall. A Star reporter called on him this morn. ing at the Raleigh to learn something about the elections that were held in Cuba Sunday last, and any general information he might have on the subject in which so many Americans are interested. “The elections resulted, as I told you they would last week, in a farce,” said Senor Quesada. “A very light ballot was cast and only the conservatives voted. The candidates already selected by the Spanish government were chosen, and it was altogether a puppet show.” Senor Quesada here called atiention to a caricature in the Madrid paper called “Don Quixote,” showing Canovas arranging his mannikins for the occasion. “The same conditions governed the-elec- tions in Spain,” he continued. “The gov- ernment had everything cut and dried be- forehand. In Cuba out of thirty deputies to the Spanish cortes but four natives of the island were elected, and all their interests are in Spain, and they are the worst ene- m‘es of Cuba’s Hberties on earth—tories of the worst kind. The other twenty-six are even worse. In order to disabuse your mind of any idea that I may be overstating the case, I would like to quote Spanish views on the same subject. Views of a Spanish Paper. “El Dia of Madrid, in its issue of March 28, says, referring to a friend of the min- ister of the ‘colonies, who could not ob- tain a seat in the certes from. Spain, but who was made a car idate in Cuba, as follows: ‘So we see thai the minister of the colonies believes that on account of his position he has the right to impose upon the clectors of Cuba the candidates that he chvoses, although nobody knows them in the Great Antilles or has ever heard them spoken sbout. It is thus that the government holds that elections can be held in Cuba. It would be just as well to appoint the deputies by royal decree. The veting booths are, indeed, useless.’ "” “Further on,” said Senor Quesada, “El Dia says, “The world will think that we haye sent 120,00 men to Cuba, so thut the candidates drowned here in the River Ebro may be able to triumph in any district whatever surrounded by the revolution.’ “In looking over the lists of the newly elected Cuban deputies we find this con- firmed,” continued Senor Quesada. “For instance, from the province of Matanzas, the arch enemy of Cuba, Romero Kobledo, who has always opposed everything look- ing to the amelioration of the island and who has fought every movement toward reform, was chosen to a seat in the Spanish cortes. He is a fit specimen of all the oth- ers. 7 “There are some, like Gasset and Gellego, who for no other reason than because they arc» Spanish fewspaper correspondents whom the government wants to have on its side, are given seats in the Spanish cortes. I do not wonder that the indignation of the people in Spain over the way the elections have been conducted both at home and in the coloniés-18 sd great as to make a revo- lution in Spain probable. And yet,” ejacu- lated Senor Quesada, “there are people who think that the Island of Cuba could be worse governed by the Cubans themselv Cubans Organizing a New Army. Speaking of the conditions in Cuba, Senor Quesada saidg“I see the Spanish cable vic- tories in Cuba continue, but we also con- tinue to receive gratifying information from authoritative sources that our cause is progressing steadily and favorably. Gen. Gomez is organizing a new army of inva- sion by means of the thousands of rifles and cartridges which have been lately landed in the island. He is being ably as- sisted in this by Gen. Calixto Garcia of Hawkins fame, the boat that was lost, and which we now know was scuttled by agents of the Spanish government, and also by Gen. Francisco Carrillo, who was tried and acqvitted of the charge of fill- bustering -at Wilmington. “The vanguard of this new army is now coming west, fully equipped for an aggres- sive campaign during the summer, when the unacclimated Spauish troops will be confronted not’ only by vigorous Cubans, but by the yellow fever as well. The na- tive Cuban can fight as well in the wet season as in the dry. It is a mistake to think that our operations will be discontin- ued on account of the wet weath: We will only redouble our efforts, and you may expect to see great results very soon. “The work of establishing the civil gov- ernment and preparing the people for the establishment of the Cuban republic steadi- ly goes on, and recently in the state of the east, known as Oriente, Carlos Manuel des Cespedes, well known to the American col. ony in Paris, has been installed as gov- ernor, and in the state of Las Vegas Dr. Domingo Mendez Capote, formerly a pro- fessor in the University of Havana and @ celebrated Cuban lawyer, has received a similar appointment. The character of such men sufficiently disproves the asser- tion that the best people of Cuba are not enj in the fight for freedom, and equally denies the claim that anarchy will independence. The Cuban republic e no fear of dissenters when it will ished over all the island, as it soon Those Alleged Recruiting Officers. In conclusion, Senor Quesada said he de- sired to again warn the public against the individuals who were representing them- selves as recruiting agents for the Cuban army. “These men are all frauds,” said he, with vigorous emphasis. “I am sometimes in- clined to think, from the persistency with which they continue their misrepresenta- tions, that they are agents of the Spanish government and are employed for the pur- pose of getting us into trouble with the United States government. There is no eae ong ing on in thts ag _ ing 01 a i Culthe “representatives of Cuba in thé United States receive scores of offers every week from men, young and old, who proffer their services in behalf of Cuba, and are willing to pay their expenses to the island and support themselves while there, but we decline them all. So please make it as ajrong as possible, and say that the men who @re represen’ themselves as agents to recruit soldiers for Cuba are frauds, pure and simple.” —— Cardinal Satolli Returning. ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 14.—After a weck's stay here, Cardinal Satolli, the apostolic delegate, and his secretary left for Wash- ington. The cardinal was much pleased = the plan of his entertainment while re.