Evening Star Newspaper, April 15, 1896, Page 1

THE EVENING § suey PALLY exoner “UNDAY, AT THE STAR SUILDINGS, ree egy tee do Noo Gor. 11th oo Oo a 0 | 5 The Brae, See eoaeee Ce P naar Building. ‘The Rvewing Star le served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on thelr own account, at 10 cents ron Mew Tork Oflen, iaouth. at od States ap Canada pos'age prepald— me t Sar, $1 er, with toring Quinteple, Sucet far, $1 per yea it Washington, D. C., a vml-clase mail matter EF Ail mail subscriptions must be paid tn advance. Rates of advertiving made known on application. A SUBWAY BILL The Question to Be Centidered bya Subcommittee. TELEPHONE © HEARING ANOTHER Promises of Cheap Service Made by New Companies. SS SS OTHER LOCAL MATTERS The House District committee today au- thorized Chairman Babcock to appoint a subcommittee of five, of which he shall be chairman, to take into consideration the question of a general system of subways for this city and to report to the full com- mittee the result of their deliberations. ‘This action was taken with a view to ad- vising some plan which will settle the question of overhead wires in Washington and relleve electric Nght and telephone monopolies by authorizing competing lines to lay wires and do busiress, Prior to the executive session at which this action was taken. a hearing was given to the representatives of the Stand- ard Telephone Company, at which some alluring propositions for a cheap telephone Service and a subway system were made to the committee. Gen. James S. Clarkson of Iowa, president of the Standard Tele- phone Company, and Gen. James Mc- Naught, general counsel of the company, made the offers. Gen. Clarkson proposed if the committee would grant his company a charter to fur- nish telephones in this city to private resi- dences at $36 a year, and to business houses at $18 a year. He proposed to go into a general subway pian with che city government to build a suuway under the direction of ihe District Commissioners, place it entirely under their control and to Tecelve in compensation rents for the use of the wires by rival ele:tric light and tele- Phone companies. which would amount to six per cent of the investment. All rents over six per cent would be turned Into a sinking fund for fhe city, which the city could eventually use to purchase the plant. Gen. Clarkson said his company has se- cured a charter in Philadelphia, and that the Pennsylvania railroad, after critical ex- amination, indorsed the telephone to the Philaielphia city council as being superior in effictency and economy. Gen. James McNaught said the Standard company owns about 200 patents on tele- phone appliances; that the system in use, is the only one that car be used on tele- graph wires and is applicable to railroad Enes, long distance system and local serv- ice. It is the intention of the company to construct long distance lines and reduce the rates for long distatce service about one-half of the existing rate. A long dis- tance telephone would be put in each house in the city. Gen. McNaught thought that the subway in Washington should be absolutely con- trolled by the city, but if that is not deem- e1 advisable by Congress his company would furnish the money to build the sub- way and allow the Commissioners to dic- tate the terms of occupaiicn. He would be willing to submit his telephone to a test by a committee, confident that it would Proye superior to others. Mr. A. W. Fletcher addressed the com- mittee in behalf of House bill 7576, which is the bill for a general subway system to be controlled by a private corporation and rent charged for the use of the ducts be the various companies. Protest Against the Eckington R. R. John M. Rankin has written to the Sen- ate District committee protesting against the use of 7th street east by the proposed extension of the ‘Eckington wallway. Rebate om Sidewalks. * Senator Martin has proposed an amend- ment to the District appropriation Dill which has an important bearing upon the laying of sidewalks in this city. The ptop- osition is to reimburse all property owners who have kad improved walks laid at their own expense. It not infrequently happens that the owners of lots will have the old brick walks replaced by those of more “ medern materials, in advance of the con- tract work ordered by the Commissioners, and there has never been any provision for rebate, as this kind of ‘work has always been considered to be done at the risk of the property owner and for his particular kenefii. The work being dene by private contract there fievér any official super- vison éver lf, and the general standards of excellence adopted by the District gov- erpment are not applied. Senator Martin's amendment reads thus: “One-half of the amount paid by persons who have had artificial stone or grano- lithic pavements made in front of their premises, equal in all respects to that of the District contractors, by other mechan- ics than the contractors for the District, —> repaid be such persons, provided 5 not exc con rice un- der the Dena intract price un- Printing the Postage Stamps. Senator Wolcott today, from the commit- tee on post offices and post roads, reported faverably the amendment to the sundry civil bill propesed by Senator Hawley, di- recting the printing of the postage stamps *y¥ contract with private firms after open ompetition, instead of bye the Bureau of engraving and printing in this city. Pipes for Commercial Purposcs. Mr. Mercer of Nebraska had introduced @ bill in the House authorizing the Com- missioners to lay pipes for commercial purposes under the surface of any un- paved street of the city, and to make reg- ulations for the work. Reassessment Bill Amendments. The House today agreed to the Senate amendments to the reassessment bill. A Civil Service Hearing. It is probable that the question of di- rectly applying the civil service to the mu- nicipal offices of the District, which was apparently settled in the regative at the last meeting of the District committee Fri- day, will be reopened by that committee within a short time. It is expected that hearings will be granted on the bill now pending inside of a fortnight. The com- mittee on civil service of the board of trade, the local civil service league and the Civie Center will be invited to send rep- resentatives to such a meeting, and it may be that some of the members of the com- mittee who are now antagonistic to the Propogition will be persuaded to chang> thelr views when the particular reasons for the passage of this bill are set forth. Sociological Science. Mr. Wilson of New York has introduced @ bill in the House to establish “The So- ciological Ingtitution.” ——-2-+—_ —____ Fourth-Class Postmasters. ‘Twenty-seven fourth-class postmasiers were appointed today. Of these twenty- five were to fill vacancies caused by resig- a and one each by removal and ———_r—_____ Government Receipts. _ National bank notes received today for redemption, $529,908. Government receipts <From internal revenue, £318,957; customs, e £vening Star. No. 13,453. i WASHINGTON, D. C0. WEDNESDAY}, APRIL 15, 1896—TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. THE A. P. A. Tt May Put Up a Presidential Oandidate of Its Own. Failing to Secure Recognition Kither at St. Louis or Chicago This is * Said to Be Their Plan. The prominence lately given the Ameri- can Protective Association has brought that organization under real fire for the first time since its inception. The contests of the order have heretofore been local, but now it has branched out into national politics. Thus, both its friends and enemies say, it has put itself up as a target and |: must stand the consequences; be killed or come out victorious. With the membership it claims to have, and the fidelity which every man is alleged to feel for its prin- ciples, the order, its friends think, ought to Prove formidable in the coming campaign, but those who are opposed to it ask the question if it can stand against public sen- timent when the question is fairly put to the people of the country? Its friends say it can, and its enemies say it cannot. Its friends say that nothing but patriotic sen- timents inspire it, while its opponents aver that the Sentiments are all right, but the principle of a secret order is antagonistic to a free country and a free government. Thus the fight is proceeding, and will, it is asserted, make its way to the national con- ventions of the two old parties, there to be decided in one way or angther. What Will Be Done About lit If the published statements of Judge Stevens, the head of the advisory board of the A. P. A., are true, then if McKinley is nominated the order will oppose him and the republican party, no matter what the declarations in the platform. The order will next make a fight in the national democratic convention. It will ask for recognition and for the nomination of a man not antagonistic to its principles and tenets. Will this recognition be given? The question appears to be answered by the fact that all the prominent democrats whb have spoken so far have denounced the order. Senator Daniel and ex-Gov. Russell declared their purpose at the Jeffersonian celebration at Charlottesville the other day to fight the A. P. A. in the convention at Chicazo, and both of them are expected to be at the convention, Other democrats who talk privately announce the same in- tention. The prospect then, it is said, is that both parties will directly or indirectly declare against the A. P. A. ‘Talk of a New Party. In the event of both being against the order, it is the intention of the A. P. A. leaders, it is said, to launch a new party. One of them, and a man high in its councils, has told a Star reporter so. The leaders, it is sald, have determined that the time has come for a fight. The order feels that it is strong enough not to be offended by any party, and will not consent to be walked over. Provided the order launches a new party, who could be secured to head the ticket? The inference would be that Representative Linton would be the man. He swears by the A. P. A., and the order stands by him. The advisory board has recommended him as a suitable candidate for the republican nomi- nation, and he is in earnest in seeking the nomination. Would he accept the nomina- tion from a new party? Those who know him say he believes so fully in the principles of the order that he would stand by what- ever action it would take. As one of the tenets of the order is independent political action, he could have no scruples, it is said, in leaving the republican party. His own views are not known, but this fs the way the politicians figure the matter out. EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY. Pardon: d Commutations by the President—One District Case. ‘The President has pardoned Samuel Ro- Tex, sentenced in Tennessee to two years for breaking into a post office, because he is in the last stage of consumption; Tas- kell A. Smith, sentenced in Wiscorisin to one year’s imprisonment for embezzling letters, and Jane Ward, sentenced in In- dian territory to one year's imprisonment for removing mortgaged property. In. this last case the President says: “In my opii- fon, there should have been an avoidance of sentencing this old woman‘to imprison- ment upon the facts as presented upon the trial At any rate, I am glad to grant a pardon in @ case so barren as this of evi- dence of criminal intent.” 2 In the cose of Wm. Sizemore, sentenced in the Indian territory to one year in the penitentiary for smuggling liquor into the territory, the President has commuted the sentence to six months. In the case of George A. Ball, convicted in the District of Columbia of embezzle- ment, and sentenced April 13, 1895, to two years and six months’ imprisonment in Albany penitentiary, the President has commuted the sentence to one year's actual imoricc ose The judge who se ‘Seea him and the district attorney Tog prosecuted this convict recommended clemency in his case. “I am reliably in- formed,” says the President, “that his his- tory and life up to the time of the commis- sion of the crime for which he is now im- prisoned demonstrate that he is not a criminal by nature or disposition. His for- mer-good character and the distress of his wife and children and-the other favorable representations made in his behalf satisty me that the ends of justice wijl be sub- served by the commutation of his sentence which I have determined on.” ——_—_—_+o+____ THE QUARANTINE RAISED. ‘fhe Cleveland Children Have Recov- ered From the Measles. The Cleveland children have recovered from the measies and the quarantine at Woodley has been raised. The President usually visits his family every afternoon, but has not yet taken up his abode with them. He and Mr. Thurber still make their home at the White House. In view of the approach of warm weather it is probable that the President will soon join his fam- fly at Woodley and sperd only his work- ing hours in the White House. The entire family will move to their cottage at Buz- zard’s Bay soon after Congress adjourns, an event likely to occur about the middle of May. ——_—__-e. Personal Me: am. Col. W. L. Chdmbers of Alabama, one of the Samoan land commissioners, is on a visit to the city. Secretary Lamont has gone to Bingham- ton, N. ¥,, to attend the funéral of Mr. Chas. Davis. Chief Engineer J. 8. Ogden of the navy is at the Bancroft. Capt. Charles F. Williams of the marine corps, stationed at League Island, is in the city on leave. F. C. Prindle of the New am, Civil Engineer York navy yard is at the Shoreh: ————__-e+___.. Army Orders. On his own application Artificer James Moore, battery M, fourth artillery, Wash- ington barracks, has been placed on the retired list of the army. ‘teutenant Franklin O. Jo! third cavalry, has been ordered mye ining board at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for examination for promotion, . Captain W. H. C. Bowen, fifth infantry, has been granted leave of absence for three PARTY! FIGHT TO BE BITTER Bradley and McKinley Factions in the Louisville Convention. FES? VOTE ON TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN Ex.Congressman Bland Bodmed at Sedalia, Mo. SENATOR TILLMAN ATDENVER ee Special Digpatch to The Evening Star. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 15.—One of the most bitter contests ever waged In @ po- litical convention in Kentucky will be in- augurated here this afternoon at 2 o'clock, when the republican convention meets to send delegates to the national convention. Yesterday six county contested district con- ventions were ‘held in the state, and the returns show that Governor Bradley got decidedly the better of the fight. He won in the second, fourth, tenth and eleventh, while McKinley carried the day in the third and ninth. The Bradley forces are well organized for the fight today. The order went out from the Kentucky chieftain early last week to contest every delegation that could possibly he contested, In order to weaken the forces of the Mc- Kinley men in temporary organization. The whole matter now rests on the se- lection of a temperary chairman. Bradley has-six of the eleven members of the com- mittee on credentials, but if the McKinley beople can effect the temporary organiza- tion, it will give them two more, which will put them one in the majority. There are about 150 uninstructed dele- gates, and if they vote solidly for McKin- Jey, the Ohican will get the temporary or- ganization. ‘The convention will be called to order by Chairman John W. Yerkes, who will an- nounce the nomination of the committee for temporaray chairman, Judge T. Z. Morrow, a brother-in-law of Gov. Bradley. The McKinley men will likely oppose him with Judge Geo. Denny, who is now con- testing the seat of Representative Owens in the House of Representatives. One noticeable feature is the absence of many prominent men and politicians from the city who have never missed a state convention of their party for years. Gov. Bradley has captured the state cen- tral committee again, there being only two cut-and-out anti-Bradley men on {t—Geo. Leibreth of the sixth district and K. J. Hampton of the tenth. The convention will not likely get down to werk until tomorrow, as the committee on credentials will have a large amount of work to do. The convention in the tenth district yes- terday indorsed the election contest of H. T. Hopkins. Anti-Bradley Men at Work. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 15.—The gath- erirg at the Auditorium this afternoon is expected to furnish abundant entertain- ment for the 1,500 or more republicans from all parts of the state who will be upon the floor of the convention. ‘The influx of delegates frota the country districts began in earnest this morning. So many district conventions were heli in various parts of the state yesterday that many of the leaders and delegates were busy with their home fences up to the last moment. Dr. W. G. Hunter, the most active anti-Bradley leader, got in this morning from Bowling Green, where he yesterday succeeded in having two Mc- Kinley delegates sent to St. Louis from the third district. He and Mayor Todd and their followers were busy ali morning Preparing for the fight they are to make on the floor of the convention when-the. state central committee announces the Bradley slate for temporary organization. MISSOURI DEMOCRATS. The Convention Will Be the Largest Ever Held in the State. SEDALIA, Mo., April 15.—Delegates to the democratic state co1vention to nomi- nate thirty-fcur delegates to Chicago were aatir early this morning. It is the largest state party convention held in the history of Missouri. The last of the 535 delegates arrived this morning, and added to the gen- eral enthusiasm prevalent. Before the convention convened the dif- ferent congressional district delegations met in caucus and eelected two delegates and two siternates each to the national convention. These were later passed upon by the corvention. As fully 95 per cent of all delegates sent to the state convention were instructed for “free silver” at 16 to 1, practically no opposition was made to cau- cus selection. _ S Believers in Richard Bland for president- fal candidate were quietly pushing the boom of their cand{date, and the two con- tending factions from Kspgas City, about sll of whom are for free silver, but divided for and against Gov. Stone, were working earnestly for some amicable settlement of their muddle. The convention will be called to order ia Woods’ Opera House at ncon by Charles C. Moffitt, RR Re of the demccratis state committee. Fully 3,000 delegated and visit- ors were present and the greatest enthusi- asm prevailed. Chairman Maffitt rapped the convention to order at 12:30. After divine invocation by Rev. J. 8. Meyer, ex-Congressman Hatch Was announced as temporary chairman. ‘When Mr, Hatch stepped forward he was given an ovation. The mention of Mr. Bland’s name as “‘one of the most valuable and faithful of democrats” brought forth a ficod of cheers. He begged the leaders to nd by the doctrines of the democracy laid down by its founder, and proposed that the Chicago convention would follow the lead taken by the Pertle Springs con- vention and adopt an unequivocal silver platform. : Mayor Hastings delegates. STATE CHAIRMAN KURTZ. It is Said That He Will Be Elected im Ohio. COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 15—The repub- licay state central committee, at 3 p.m., will re-elect Charles Kurtz chairman. He has thirteen votes, and the opposition is the McKinley interest, led by Kenney, candi- date for secretary of state; they say Mc- Kinley, as a candidate for President, ought té.be consulted. The Kurts-Bushnell-For- aker people say McKinley has not been nominated yet. His friends want Maj. Dick for,ghairman, but Bushnell men say he as 50" r ought to lead the party, and not the candidate for secretary of state. TILLMAN WELL RECEIVED. followed, welcoming the The Senator Arouses Colorado Demo- erate’ Enthusiasm. DENVER, Col., April 15.—The presence of United States Senator Tillman in Den- ver has aroused enthusiasm among Colo- rado democrats. The state convention, which met this forenoon, consists of 48) delegates. No cyt-and-dried program had been arranged, but 2 eeeieta thet anti- administration delegates wil) sent to Chicago. The men. slated for selection Charles 8. Thomas and Thomas J. O’Don- nell, Denver; Adair Wilson of Durango was tendered a rece} nm last evening at the Brown Palace el. A large crowd greeted the Senator, who, after being pre- seated with a pitchi ™made from gold and silver taken from the mines of Colo- rado by E. R. Holdenjin behalf of the Till- man Club, made a $hort address, which was received with aj use. Mr. Tillman then shook hands th several thousand people. The convention was called to order at 11:30 o'clock by Olney Newell, secretary of the state central committee. Mr. Newell read a message froaé Chairman Arbuckle, regretting his absence, and saying that he was in sympathy with those democrats who were fighting for the restoration of silver, and concluding: “Manhood und self-respect | are more to me.than any federal office.” J. R. McAliney of Pueblo was unanimous- ly chosen temporary chairman. Mr. Mc- Aliney addressed the convention briefly, as- serting that a majority of Colorado believed the free coinage of silver to be the para- mount issue before the country, and ex- pressing the belief that the national demo- cratic convention would declare for it with- out reference to the co-operation of other countries. The stre: of the silver men in the convention was shown by the en- thusiasm with which this remark was re- ceived. The convention, after appointing commit- tees, adjourned until 2 o'clock. NEW JERSEY ‘REPUBLICANS. Preparing for the}, State Convention Tom TRENTON, N. J., are nearly complete: the republican state city tomorrow to elt large and two deleg@tes each from the eight congressional ricts in the state to the national conveftion at St. Louis. The delegates-at-larg@ who are slated are Senator Wm. J. Sewell of iden, Garret. A. Hobart of Passaicl Chairman Franklin Murphy of Newark ahd ex-Representative John Kean of Elizabeth. It is expected that the convention will instruct for Mc- Kinley. il 15.—Preparations for the holding of convention in this t four delegates-at- —__~.+__ RETURNED FROM GEORGIA ; : Secretary Smith Agaip at His Office in the Interior = What He Says About His Recent Debate With Ex-Speaker Crisp— The Senatorial Contest. —_+—. 7 Secretary Smith returned last night from Georgia, where he and Judge Crisp have been engaged in the now famous joint de- bate on sound money. The Secretary was at his office in the Interior Department to- day, looking well and hearty, his complexion a little ruddier than when he left Wash- ington a few weeks ago. The debate is closed for the present, although the program, as agreed on, was not carried through to the end. Four points where meetings were to be held, Waycross, Rome, Lexington and Griffin, remain to be visited. Judge Crisp’s health was the cause of declaring the de- bate off for the present. Mr. Smith sald to- day that he never felt better in his iife, and that when he.again arranged a debate he should try and”Sectre an agreement that when his adversary\céuld not speak he should himself be ps to keep the appointment, and net it the people. Whether the debate will resumed or not the Secretary could not say. It all depends on Judge Crisp’s health. ., To a Star reporter the Secretary said: “I simply enjoyed self every .moment. Georgia is a perfect picture at this time of the year. Tha trees are in full fullage and the gardens are all up. Everybody is busy, and the prospects are that there will be a prosperous seagon. I live in north Georgia, and have never until now realized so fully the eplendid country there is in the southern part of the state. Immigra- tion from the north and :west Is pouring in there steadily, and with good results. That whole section could be cut up into twenty- five-acre farms and each would give a family a good living. Middle Georg! the home of the peach, and-north Georgia, the home of the grape, are both ‘looking for- ward ani making digtinet business pro- gress. We were treated royally wherever we went, and I must say I love my home state mcre than I ever did. “As to the political situation I can only say that there 's a hard fight going on for sound mouey. I believe the delegates will be about evenly divided. No attempt to poeee the unit rule in convention could jucceed, for those counties on which the party depends would least endure it. The effect of the debate on the—senatorial question has been, I think, somewhat against Judge Crisp. As I was not a can- didate and it was distinctly understood that I should not be a candidate, no ad- vantage could be derived by me in that re- spect. One immediate result of the debate has been to stir up « number of candi- dates against Judge Crisp. “I can foretell nothing as to the prospect in the national convention. I would say unhesitatingly that the nomination and elec- tion by either party of a scund money man on a platform declaring briefly and clearly that the dollar of thig country should con- sist of 25.8 grains of gold and that no legislation should be undertaken to 2gpre- ciate this dollar would incvezse business values in the United Staies 25 per cent at once.” ; + AN APPALLING PROBABILITY. The List of American Colonels May: Be- Vastly Increased. The ranks of the American colonels may soon be greatly, swelled. If their brethren in the national titular classes, the “Judges,” are not to be completely overshadowed, some of their friends should at once pro- pose legislation similar to that which was suggested in the Senate today by Mr. Allen of Nebraska, himself a veteran of the late war without a title. The matter came up on the report of a bil by. Senator Sewell, for which he asked Immediate consideration, This bill, as re- ported, is as follows: ‘That all officers of the regular army of the, United States, ac- tive or retired, who served in the volunteer forces during the late war may, at the dis- @etion of the President, receive a brevet in the regular army equal to the highest rank held or the highest brevet received in the sald volunteer forces, and be commis- sloned accordingly as of the date of such brevet. Provided, That ‘they have not al- ready received a brevet of equal or higher grade in the regular army.” Mr. Allen objected to taking up the bill unless the men who ‘served in the ranks were included. Gen. Sewell urged that this could not well be done, whereat Mr. Alien asked if every man in’the army might not be brevetted to be a colonel if the Presi- dent chose. } : Mr. Sewell sarcastically replied that Con- gress could make evé#y;man a major gen- eral, but that the prixciple was not a good one. ‘This nettled ‘Mr. ‘mto objecting to the consideration o: bil, ‘and a little later he sent to ti the following amendment: : “Provided, That all honorably discharged nori-commissioned g and enlisted men of the United States who for the GEN. LEE AND CUBA Effect of His Recent Appointment as _ Consul General. HIS OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTIGATION The President's Feeling on the Mat- ter the Important Point. MR. BLOUNT’S FATE RECALLED The suggestion comes ma Virginia quarter that the appoinffhent of General Fitzhugh Lee as consul general at Havana may have no other meaning but a desire on the President's part to bestow on his friend an office with a larger salary at- taclred than the one he has been holding. General Lee has a large family, but no for- tune, and the matter of salary is important with him. Only such a consideration, it is thought, would have induced him to agree to exchange a residence in one of the most attractive sections of. Virginia for one in Havana. z His Opportunity for Thorough Inves- tigation. Still, discussion of the other view of the appointment continues, and some questions are coming up. What will be General Lee's oppertunities as consul general at Havana for studying the Cuban situation? What are likely to be his surroundings? What the sourcés of his information?” Will the fact that he himself is an educated soldier insure the larger and unbiased view? General Lee's reception will, of course, be cordial, The fact that he is a distinguished soldier will of itself commend him to Gen- eral Weyler, who may be expected to ex- tend every courtesy within his power. And the minor Spanish officials, both military and civil, will copy the commander-in- chief. In this way General Lee, it is to be seen, will have exhibited to him the agree- able and the convincing side of the whole Spanish outfit. But how will that facili- tate the gathering of full and accurate in- formation by him concerning the insur- gents? Conceding that he is willing to ride abroad for that, and docs so, is he likely to return with more information than the enterprising newspaper correspondents who have already explored the field? It is hard- ly to be expected that even if he succeeds in reaching every insurgent camp he will be able to form more than a general opin- jon of things. The President's Attitude. But the most important point at last is thought tu relate to the President's own at- titude in the premises. Is he friendly to Cuba? Would he be glad upon the receipt of information that would thoroughly sat- isfy him as to the number and power of the insurgerts to grant them belligerent rights, or appeal to Spain In the interests of their independence? Is he even, at this time, genuinely impartial? cy Lee, be- fore starting for his post, will of course be informed fully as to all this. He must be, or else he will lack cne incentive to thor- ough work. The Case of Mr. Blount. This, it is recalled, was the rock on which Mr. Blount was wrecked in the Hawaiian business. The President was not friendly to the Hawalian republic, and sent Mr. Blount to Honolulu to prepare a case which would justify an attempt to undo the Dole government. When Mr. Blount arrived on the scene he shut Lis eyes and closed h's ears to everything of a nature friendly to the government, but opened them wide to everything of the contrary rature. The re- sult was he fell into the hands of fakirs and slanderers, and tumbled into the very pit he was digging for President Dole. He was quite undone himself, and Mr. Cleve- land, his chief, had to retire ingloriously from the field. An Important Job on Hand. General Lee has had experience both in civil and militery life. He comes of very fine stock, and he has wuia his name well. If he is going to Cuba in the double ca- pacity of consul general and confidential adviser to the President about the state of the revolt on the island he has an impor- tant job on hand. It will test his judgment as it has never been tested before. He will be surrounded from the outset by powerful Spanish influences, and he will have every- thing presented to him in the strongest of Spanish colors. He may find it profitable to meditate on the fate of the ill-starred Blount. Je ——__-e-______ THE WHITFORD SEIZURE. Protest of the Master and Crew Re- ceived at the State Department. The protest of the master and crew of the American schooner George W. Whitford of New York against the action of the Co jombian officials in selzing the 0€%el on the igh seag, hes been received at the State Department, and the United States minis- ter to Colombia will be called upon to in- vestigate the seizure and report upon it to the department.-It is gathered from the papers that the seizure was made for an alleged violation of the Colombian customs regulations in landing goods outside of a legal port of entry, and the justification for the seizure will doubtless turn on the points whether or not the goods were prop- erly landed, and whether or not the pur- suit made by the Colombian revenue vessel was “hot” in the sense recognized by inter- national law as warranting the capture outside of the three-mile limit of a vessel | offending against the customs regulations of a port. S —_—_——__-o.______. EXPERIENCE WITH A WOOD ROOF. W. ©. Dodge Telis How the Patent Office Fire Defled Water. Senator Cockrell is receiving daily many expressions of gratitude from citizens of the District for his efforts t@ stop the con- struction of a wooden roof on the city post office building. This morning’s mail brought a letter from Mr. W. C. Dodge, saying: “I wus exceedingly glad to see your resolution and my own of topping out a with a com! It eared the samo thing is addi- bureau of engraving and print- * 2 EO _____ THE NEW YORK DEMOCRACY Points of Difference Between the Admin- “istration and Senater Hill a Candidate fer Governor Discussed—The Folger Precedent Brought Up. Senator Hill has returned from his visit home, but declines to discuss any of the rumors which have grown out of the trip. They are numerous, and some are circum- stantial. The feature common to them all refers to an uneasiness which Mr. Hill is reported to feel both about the personnel of the New York delegation to the Chicago convention anc that of the state ticket to be nominated by the democracy next fall. But if the Senator is uneasy on either score it does not appear from anything he is say- ing or doing in Waskington. The Administration’s Wish. Gossip has it that Mr. Hill and the admin- istration, operating through Mr. ‘Whitney and Col. Lamont, are already crossing swords over the question of what New York should de at Chicago. As the story goes, the administration wants its financial Policy indorsed in toto, and a presidential candidate nominated who will give it the heartiest advocacy during the campaign. Mr. Whitney is said, notwithstanding his assertion of bimetallic views, to be willing to help forward this program, and, of ccurse, Col. Lamont is. Secretary Carlisle is believed to be the administration's choice for the presidential nomination. Mr. Hill's Opinion. Mr. Hill, it ts stated, wants the state del- egation to go to Chicago wearing no badge at all, but at liberty to work for the best interests of the party as the actual situa- tion may then be dirclosed. He is an adyo- cate of sound money, and has no concep- tion of a situation when New York's in- fluence could be thrown on any other side of the money question. His personal pref- erence for the party’s nomination is Col. Morrison, but he is not described as a Morrison boomer, ror so committed at all as to be willing to antagonize everybody else in the Morrison interests. It is ex- Pected that he will go at the head of the delegation, and his friends justify his con. tention that it should not be ticketed as a chattel of tle administration. As to State Affairs. So far as state affairs are concerned, well-informed New Yorkers do not expect to see Col. Lamont show any great streggth in the race for the gubérnatorial nomination. It is not known that he has entered the race, or intends doing so; but if he should appear in it his administration connection, it is insisted, would handicap him. Those who take this view point out that the principal desire of the democracy now is to keep state and national affairs entirely separate. The party has the Raines bill for a local issue, and feels great confidence in being able to win on that. But in national affairs there is no such confidence. Divistong and discouragements are found, as elsewhere, and an uphill task presents itself. The Folger Precedent. But above all this is ‘that Folger prece- dent, likely, it is thought, to influence New York politics for all time. Col. Lamont stands closer to Mr. Cleveland than Judge Folger did to Mr. Arthur. It is doubted, indeed, if any max erjoys Mr. Cleveland's interest and affection to the same extend that Col. Lamont does. The younger man has been the elder’s friend and companion and adviser from the beginning of his na- tional life, and Mr. Cleveland's partiality for him has been repeatedly manifested. But could he make him the party’s candi- Cate for governor of New York as matters stand? It is coubted in New York circles. Mr. Cleveland is not as strong at home as Col. nt. The latter, it is said, running for the gubernatorial nomination would carry weight as Mr. Cleveland's friend and personal choice, and, it is predicted, would feel the ame heavy hand that was laid on Judge Folger—that of protest against the interference of the national administration in local affairs. ——__e—______ CUBAN CORRESPONDENCE. That Which Took Place During the Former War. The President today transmitted to Con- grees, without comment, the correspond- ence called for by the Senate at the in- stance of Senator Hoar relative to the attempt at mediation made by the United States government during the course of the preceding rebellion in Cuba. The cor- 1efpondence covers the period from Novem- ber 5, 1875, to August, 187@, and comprises about 460 typewritten pages. A great part of it has already been made public, gcme of it in Wharton's Digest of Interna- tional Law and some tn torrespondence formerly supplicd to the Senate in confi- dence,~but afterward made public. The leading feature is the letter of Secretary Fish to United States Minister Caleb Cush- ing at Madrid in 1875 setting out at great length the evils of the situation as it then existed in Cuba, and suggesting many radi- cal reforms that the Spanish government should put into operation in Cuba to cor- rect these abuces. Copies of this note were submitted to all of the courts of Europe, apparently to pave the way for the intervention that was hinted at in case Spain failed to profit by the suggestions of Mr. Fish, but the concluding chapters of the correspondence show, as is well known now, that the effort to intervene came to naught, and that the recognition of the belligerency of the insurgents was with- held by our government. ARRANGING A PROGRAM. House Committtee om Rules Deciding om Mensures t The House committee on rules have been tryirig to arrange a program _for the rest of the session which will enable them to wind up all the business for an adjourn- ment on the lith or the 18th of May. They conferred over the matter yesterday and last evening and may get together again to- the elections committee have reported on or can report in time, are ¢o be disposed if [ ii i : f THE DU PONT CASE An Attempt to Fix a Date to Vote Failed. ; SENATOR GRATS OPPOMIION sPEica An Attack on Gen. Franklin in the “the House. ALLEGATIONS BY MR. BLUE In the Senate today Mr. Sewell (N. J.) Teported from the committee on military affairs, and asked immediate considera for a bill authorizing the President to give brevets in the regular army without pay to oMcers who served in the volunteer forces. Mr. Sewell explained that it applied to about forty volunteer major generals, and was designed to give to them an honor which they could hand down to their off- erring. Mr. Allen (Neb.) wanted’ the measure broadened to include honorary brevets to ron-commissioned officers and privates.and failing in this, @bjected to the bill, and it went over. A bill was passed appropriating $17." 0 for acquiring burial grounds at Fort Meigs ~ and Put-in-Bay Island, Ohio, and the inter- ment therein of the remains of goldiers afd sailors of the war of 1812. The Du Pont Case. Mr. Gray (Del.) was then recognized in opposition to the claim of Mr. Du Pont for @ seat in the Senate. Mr. Allison asked how soon a final de- termination of the Du Pont case would be reached. Some undersianding should be reached as to the business of the Senate. He also added that the resolution for an in- quiry into recent bond issues must «ive Way to appropriation bills. This brought on a general discussion.” Mr. Peffer insisted that the bond resolution could not be cut off. Mr. Pettigrew wanted to go on with the oy lan bill, and Mr. Hale with the naval Mr. Mitchell, chairman of the committce on privileges and elections, said he hoped to secure action on the Du Pont case afier pending special orders and a number of speeches had been disposed of. Mr. Gorman’s Proposition. This brought Mr. Gorman to his feet with a proposition to vote on the Du Pont cese at @ fixed time, next Wednesday. at 3 p.m. He sald it was a waste of time to have this and other measures sandwiched in betweea appropriation bills. He asked Mr. Mitchell, in charge of the bill, if ne Would agree to a vote next Wednesday. The latter declined to tix a date, in view of the notices given him of speeches. “Do L understand that the chairman ob- Jects io the propogition to fix a time for @ vote?” asked Mr. Gorman. “After pending measures are out of the way we may see our way clear to fixink a Umg, but net row,” responded Mr. Mitchell ‘r. Gorman remarked that this meant the Du Pont vote would be put off until af- ter June 1. Mr. Stewart (Nev.) inquired what had Le- coine of the proposed bond inqui “That must be considered,” said he. “It ought not to take any time. It may pass without epposition. Certainly if the present policy of selling bonds continues it will be neces- sary to mak> large appropriations—very large—in order to get enough money dis- tributed theough the country to carry on business.” Mr. Gray’s Speech. ‘The discussion was cut off at this point by a call for the regular order, and Nir. Gray preceeded with his speech on the iu Pont case. Mr. Gray expressed high per- sonal regard for Mr. Du Pont, who had the confidence and respect of the people of Delaware. But in this case, Mr. Gray pro- ceeded, the claim set up by Mr. Du Pont was in contravention of the Delaware con- stitution, and the Senator regarded it ss a duty to oppose the admission of Mr. Du Pont. Tke right of Speaker Watson to vote in the Delaware legislature, while acting as governor, was argued by Mr. Gray, who said the law was overwhelming in support of this right, and in vindication of Mr. Watson against the aspersions at.d assaults mede upon him. Mr. Gray asserted that the Senate of the United States had no right to invade the state of Delaware and rewrite its consti- tution. It would amount to such an in- vasion if it wa* declared that Mr. Wat- son was the governor of Delaware when the state constitution declared that he merely exercised the office of governor pending an election. This temporary offi cer exercising the office vas not the a tual parent, but he exercised the functions, of a parent. THE HOUSE. At the opening of the session of the House teday Mr. Bell (Tex.) called up report of elections committee No. 3 ori + case of Moorman egt. Latimer, from third district of South Carolina, which unanimously in favor of the sitting mem- ber, and it was adcpted without division. A bill was paseed granting a pension of $30 per month to French W. Thornhill of Spring Valley, Minn. Scldiers’ Home Managers. After the transaction of ‘some other minor business,.Mr. Hull (iowa), chairman of the committee on military affairs, called up from that committee the resolution for the appointment of William B. Franklin of Connecticut, Thomas J. Henderson @f Jiii- nois, George L. Beall of Maine and George W. Steele of Indiana as members of the — of managers of the aational soldiers’ Gen. Franklin and Mr. Steele were 10 succeed themselves; Gen. Heirierson to succeed Gen. J. C. Black and Mr. Beall to succeed Francis Fessenden. Charges Against Gen. Frankii: As soon as the resolution was called up Mr, Blue (Kans.), who has on several occ: sions severely criticised Gen. Franklin, prepared for the fray. He wanted thice hours to discuss the resclution. He said he held in his hand @ourishing a lot of pa- ag Dnccelnay igen Biue openeg his attack. said, was ven~ worth howe from the “drurken and brutal .