Evening Star Newspaper, July 18, 1896, Page 1

SSS THE EVENING STAR PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THB STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Penzaylvania Avence, Gor. 13th Strest, br The Evening Star Newspaper Company, 8. H. KAUFFMANN, Pres't. Kew York Oifon, 4) Potter Building. 5 is sewed to st 2 vee on ibete oe accou at Copies at the sy wall—eoywhere in the United States or Cazada—postage prepald—50 cents ity by carr per week, or 44 cents ecunter 2 conts cach. 10 ceot per month. Saturdas Quinte ple Sheet foreign postage idded. $3.00. ar, $1 per sear, with (Evtered at the Post Oitice at Washington. D. 0. | as-fecond-class mil matter.) TAN mail subscriptions must be Rates of advertising made known NOT EMBARRASSED -_—— 1d tn advance. eatin, The Treasury Well Equipped for the Demand for Currency. -—_— NEW ONE DOLLAR SILVER CERTIFICATES Small Notes Required for the Move- ment of the Crops. WILL HELP GOLD RESERVE ‘The new silver certificates which are issu- ing from the bureau of engraving and print- ing will find their way Into circulation In the movement of the crops this summer and autumn. The treasury {s well equipped for the demand for currency which always arises at this season, and includes in ite equipment a lacge supply of the new cer- tificates of the denomination of one dollar. ‘They will be paid out as soon as a small supply of the old designs still on hand is got rid of. It ts expected that some of them will be in circulation within a week or two. ‘The plate for the denomination of five dol- lars has been completed, and some of those certificates may be ready within a month or two. The two-dollar certificates are less advanced, and the old designs will continue to be used for several months. There is a tendency at the Treasury Department to adcpt new designs for all forms of paper money as fast as the old plates wear out. It has been the practice heretofore to pre- pare new plates of the old design, but a change Is contemplated in this policy which will make it harder than ever for counter- feiters to keep up with the current designs and put notes in circulation which will not attract attention. No new designs have y#t been prepared for anything but the small silver certificates, but others are like- ly to come in the near future, for the Sher- man notes and the United States legal ten- der notes. Treasurer Not Embarrassed. ‘The United States treasurer has not been embarrassed for lack of a sufficient supply of small currency since the new wing was added to the bureau of engraving and print- ing about four years ago. The nearest ap- proach to such an embarrassment was in the summer of 1892, when the low state of the gold reserve and the treasury balance made the margin small upon which trans- actions were carried on. The demand for currency for moving the crops is simply the exchange of one form of money for another, t any net loss to the treasury, but li so much money in motion in the hands of the express companies, and in the redemption division of the treasury, that a margin of several million dollars is required outside the ordinary working balance of the department. There fs no trouble on that score at the present time, for the cash belance of the treasury fs $262,50,205, or $165.000,000 exclusive of the net gold reserve. ‘The treasury is well equippei with each denomination and gort of paper currency— much better equipped than at any time for the past half dogen years. Tne United States notes In the treasury are about g o), the Sherman treasury notes are “0 and the margin of free silver is 136,643. This margin of free silve> is t upon which silver certificates may be tssued » treasury was driven into narrow guurters in the summer of 1308 by the issue of standard silver dollars in the redemption of Sherman notes, until the whole amourt left in the treasury was less than the number of the silver certifi- cates outstanding. This jon was rem- etied in a few days by ccvering into the silver fund all the standard dollars received in the current cash. Secreary Carlisle then proceeded to separai@the silver coined under the Bland and Sherman laws, in order to keep the amount held under the Bland law equal to the certificates out- standing, and to have a separate fund for redemption under the Sherman law. It was this situation which led to the renewal of the colnage of silver dollars under the Shermen law, and which has been urged as the justification for increasing the coin- age to $,000,000 per month during the next few months. No Demand for Small Notes Yet. ‘There has been substantially no demand for small notes as yet in exchange for large notes and gold coin. It is somewhat ezrly for the actual crop movement to be- gin, although previous years have shown 4 considerable demand for currency in June and July, in anticipation of the demand expected later by the banks from their customers. The demand for exchange was small during I8@4 and 1895, because the New York banks were suppiled with an accumulation of small notes, whicn they were able to issue to thelr correspondents without communication with the govern- The accumulation of currency Is re- &% somewhat less at the present and may cause a demand upon the treasury before the summer is over. An active demand for small notes would aid Secretary Carlisie in maintaining the gold Feserve. Secretary Foster was able through this demand to build up the reserve in Is#z from $110,444,891 on July 31 to $11,006,119 on October 31. Special facilities were then offered to banks and private persons who were willing to pay gold for small notes. Secretary Carlisle extended similar facili- ties last year and has kept open this year the offer then made. This offer involved the payment of express charges by the government on gold offered anywhere for transfer to the treasury and the payment 0. the express charges on the not2s sent in exchange. e-______ Personal Mention. Aadjt. Gen. Ruggles will leave here tomor- row for a ten days’ visit to Milwaukee, on private business. Mr. Justice Hagner of the District Su- Preme Court left the city yesterday after- noor: for Cangndaigua, N. ¥. He will re- turn Monday evening and hold court Tues- day morning. - Carroll Downs, assistant clerk of the Supreme Court of the District of Colum- bia, left today for a month's sojourn at Asbury Park. Later, with his wife an® young son, he will visit the other watering places along the Jersey coast. Maj. L. P. Williams of the clerk's office, Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, Jeft this afternoon for Hamilton, Va. He will remain away for a fortnight, spending the vacation with his wife and family. Naval Constructor F. T. Bowles of the New York navy yard is on a visit to this city. He is at the Cosmos Club. Mr. James P. Lavin, a young lawyer of Savannah, Ga., has been admitted to the bar In the District of Columbia. Pm —— HH. oo of Chattanoog rilliant lawyer of Tennessee, is a guest at the Ebbitt House. -< His Inspection Trip Postponed. Secretary Herbert has postponed his de- parture on the Dolphin on 4 tour of in- -ction of the northern and eastern naval stations until Monday, the 27th instant. His original intention was to leave today, — my ep of offictal bus- ness has compel @ change of plans, The Dolphin, which is now at Newport, will come to this city next week. -e- = Government Receipts, National bank notes roceived today for redemption, $358,876. Government receipts —From internal revenue, §4Ty,528; toms, $871,748; miscellaneous, was om |A CHANCE FOR PROMOTION \ gpprouching Civil Service Examination fcr Government Employes. It w It Be Open to Those Holding Positions Below the Grade of Clerk or Copyist. ‘ The civil service commission will exam- ine appilcants occupying subordinate places in the departments below the grade of clerk or copyist to test their fitness for pro- motion on July 28, 29 and , commencing at 9 a.m., and the examination may be taken on either of these days, in order that the departments may not be embarrassed by the absence of this class of cmployes. ‘The heads of departments are expe:ted to designate on which of the three days each applicant is to be examined. All applicants will be required to take the clerk-copyist examination. The examination ts not com- pulsory, but no person occupying a subordi- nate position can be promoted to clerk or copyist or an equivalent grade except upon examination and certitication by the com- mission. Only those employes will be ex- amined who file the necessary application. Appiication blanks will be furnished to the appointment division of each department, where they can be obtained by those de- siring to be examined. The subjests of the examination are orthography, penmanship, copying, letter writing and arithmetic. Six and one-half hours are allowed for the completion of the work. Those Who Are Eligible. The examination will be held at the rooms of the civil service commission at the sour and dates named above. No verson will be allowed to take the examination who dees not file his application on or before July The examination is open to all classified employes of the departm=nts in the District of Columbia who occupy posi- ticne the entrance examination for which is below the grade of clerk-copyist. The list of employes who are eligible includes watchmen, messengers, assistant messen- gers, engineers, firemen, elevator con tors, carpenters, electricians, iocksmiths end all other skilled laborers of whatever designation: also all persons who are des- ignated as laborers or workmen, but who are regularly assigned to work of the same grade as that performed by «lassified «m- pleyes will be eligible to this exammation upon filing applications. Plans to Be Followed. The rames of those who obtain an aver- age of 70 per cent or more will be entered upon a register of cligibles for their re- spective departments, and In case a depart- ment requests it, a separate register of eligibles will be kept for such bureaus or offices as are d-signated. When a depart- ment desires to make a promotion requisi- tion will be made upon the civil service commission, and the highest three names on the appropriate register will be certified fer promotion in the same manvrer as for original entrance into the service. Com- petitors whose averages fall helow 70 per cent will not be éigible to promotion. Ap- plicants who hyve spectal qualifications, such as stenogrephy, typewriting, book- keeping, law or the qua'ifications required for fourth assistant examiner in the patent office, may indicate this fact in their appli- cations and they will be examined in the supplementary subjects in which they claim proficiency. = Where to File Applications. Applications shculd be filed as follows: State Department, R. B. Mosher, secretary civil service promotion board; Treasury De- partment, A. T. Huntington, secretary civil service promotion board; War Department, J. T. Dillon, secretary civil service promo- tion board; Department of Justice, Wm. J. Hughes, secretary of civil service promo- tion board; Post Office Department, J. H. Robinson, appoirtment clerk; Navy De- partment, B. F. Peters, secretary civil serv ice promotion board; Interior Departme John W. Holcombe, chief appointment di vision; Department of Agriculture, C. G. Bennett, chief appointment division; de- partment cf labor, S. C. Dunham, secretary civil service promotion board; United States civil service commission, John T. Doyle, secretary -fvil service promotion board: United States commission of fish and fish- erte: W. deC. Ravenel, secretary civil service promotion board; interstate com- merce commission, Walter E. Burleigh, sec- retary civil service promotion board; Smith- sonian Institution, G. Brown Goode, assist- ant secretary. Boards of Examination. The following civil service promotion boards have been designated for the dif- ferent departments: State Department—E. I. Renick, chair- man; R. B. Mosher, secretary; J. Taylor, member. Treasury Department—L. Carlisle, chair- man; A. T. Huntington, secretary; 3. Nes- bitt, member. War Department—John Tweedale, chair- man; J. T. Dillon, secretary; J. Saegar, member. Department of Justice—Charles C. Bin- hey, chairman; Wm. J. Hughes, secretary; David D. Caldwell, member. vy Department—B. Micou, chairman: B. F. Peters, secretai Darius A. Green, member. Department of Agriculture—No board yet designated. Department of Labor—G. W. W. Hanger, chairman; 8S. C. Dunham, secretary; C. H. Verrell, member. U. 8. civil service commission—F. M. Kig- gins, chairman; John T. Doyle, secretary; E. D. Bailey, member. U. 8. fish commission—H. M. Smith, chairman; W. deC. Ravenel, secretary; I. 8. Dunlap, member. Interstate commerce commission—Martin S. Decker, chairman; Walter E. Burleigh, secretary; Jesse M. Smith, member. For the Smithsonian Institution no board has been yet designated, and the same holds good in the cases of the Post Office and Interfor Departments. i PASSING AWAY. Ex-Senator Jones and Ex-Gov. An- thony Probably on Their Deathhed DUBUQUE, Iowa, July 18—Ex-Senator George W. Jones is sinking gradually, and his death cannot be far off. Most of the time he fs in a comatose condition, but ral- Hes at intervals, when his mind seems to be as clear as ever. TOPEKA, Kan., July 18.—Ex-Gov. George Anthony of Ottawa is prostrated at a hotel here with kidney disease. Physicians ex- press little hope for his recovery. He is seventy-one years old. He was governor of Kansas from January, 1877, to 1879. —— ee Stripping the Colombia. PESCADORADO, Cal., July 18.—There is no apparent change in the position of the Pacific Mail steamer Colombia. No steam can be generated from ber bollers, cs everything below is a-wash. A steam schooner is furnishing the power to holst what ts movable from below her hold with two scows. They are taking off her spars, chains, ropes, donkey engines, dynamos and, in fact, everything movable. General Manager Schwerin of the Pacific Mall re- turned to San Francisco satisfied that there is no salvation for the Colombia. ——— New Haven Yachts. NEW HAVDN, Conn., July 18.—Fourteen boats of the New Haven Yacht Club left the harbor tbis noon in the club annual cruise. The first stopping place is to be Larchmont. WASHINGTON, D. 0, SATURDAY, WELLS AND NO WATER > Mystery of the Supply for Fort Myer Disclosed. . + SUBCONTRACTCR'S INGENIOUS SCHEME A Stream Diverted Into a Terra Cotta Pipe. MONEY HAS BEEN ———o PAID Within the past few days an investiga- tion has been made which has resulted in unearthing one of the most remarkable at- tempts to defraud the national govern- ment that has never come to light. It is all in connection with the plan to supply the post at Fort Myer with an abundant and satisfactory water system. Not long ago it was thought that the problem had been solved, and that here- after the fort would have all the clear, pure water that was needed from a never- failing well. Today the War Department officials are up against the fact that the well in which some of them placed such reliance is as a dry bone, or as a cam- paign orator after a long speech on a hot day. What is more, there never was any water in the well, or, at least, had it not been for the ingenuity of the human mind there never would have been. Some years ago, when the need of a bet- ter water supply for Fort Myer became very evident, Congress appropriated $100,000 for the purpose, the plan being to tap the aqueduct at the Chain bridge and conduct the water thence across the river. The scheme met with some opposition, and there were those who thought that all the water needed ought to be obtained on the premises, and that the nature of the ground was such that there should be no difficulty in finding an abundant supply underground. A Proposition Accepted. As will be remembered by the readers of The Star, several propositions were made, all looking to the same end. Among these one was adopted as the most feasible. It was an offer from reputable parties to dig a well which would furnish at least 50,000 gallons of pure water every twenty-four hours. The contract price was $8,000,which meant a saving of $92,000 to the govern- ment, and it was accepted, with the un- derstanding that if the flow was less than the stipulated amount, or if the quality Was not satisfactory, not a cent was to be paid. The site for the first well was selected by Quartermaster General Batchelder. It was near a little stream, and very convenient to the post. The original understanding was that a cempary was to be organized to do the work, and ex-Representative Maish, the ecunsel for the company, was to be its president, but for some reason the com- pany did not materialize and the contract Was finally made, in 18%, with Colonel Maish himself as the chief party to it. Werk was at once started and the well was-sunk. It was not long, however, be- fore the hole had gone down far enougn to reach a stratum of granite, beyond which there was no use in seeking for water. The well was thereupon aban- doned. An effort was made to see Gen. Batchelder, it is said, but the general was busy, and the chief clerk of the office told the contractors that if they would dig an- other well a short distance above the first site ft would be perfectly satisfactory. The Second Well Dug. The actnal work of digging was sublet to a professional well digger from Penn- sylvania, who agreed to secure the desired amount of the proper quality for one-half the sum named in the original contract. He was to pay all the expenses of the work, and if the water was not forthcom- ing neither was his money. A second well was dug and the subcontractor claim- ed to have found water at a much shorter distance from the surface of the earth than any one had supposed was possible. Some of the water was submitted to a chemist of the Department of Agriculture, who is an expert in the analysis of aqua pura, and his report was to the effect that the water was of the very highest quality and far superior to the city water. This was in the summer of 1894. The water was to have been tested once a month during June, July and August, but before the sec- ond test was made the subcontractor re- ported one day that the well had been filled up, presumably by some malicious person, with scrap tron, and it was his opin- fon that a cannon ball had been dropped down the hole. General Batchelder was not satisfied with the second well, anyhow, and declined to accept it, even if it coul@ be reclaimed. He himself named a third site. and the work on that was carried out last summer. Again it was not long before the subcon- tractor reported that he had found water in plenty. The quartermaster general was still suspicious, however, but the claim was made that if 50,000 gallons of water was obtainable every day, and it could stand the chemical test,-it made no difference from what depth it came. The water stood the test all right, and the chemist reported it to be of superior quality. But the flow was only 48,000 gal- lons a day with the assistance of an eight- horse power pump. The subcontractor in- sisted that in a week or two, time to goa litle deeper and Increase the diameter of the hole, it would be all right, and he cculd secure the extra 2,000 gallons. Payment After the Third Well. At the end of the apvointed time a twelve-hour test showed that water was flowing at the rate of 60,000 gallo: or an excess of 10,000 over the required amount. The matter was left to Assistant Secretary of War Doe when claim was made upon the department for the money, and he recommended that the sum be paid over, nctwithstanding the fact that the quarter- master general was still not satisfied, and insisted that the water could not possibly be there. Last November the $8,000 was paid and the well was turned over to the quartermaster general's office for use. Up to recently, however, no attempt was made to supply the water from the well to the post. Some weeks ago Gen. Batchelder sent to St. Louis for some expert well dig- gers to come on and investigate the whole matter, and an effort was made to locate the second well. For some time this was fruitless until Col. Maish came to their assistance and the site was iound. The well has been filled and grown over with underbrush. For some reason, possibly to satisfy his own curiosity, Gen. Batchelder ordered an excavation. This was a few days ago, and the workmen had gone only some six feet when they came upon a four- inch terra cotta pipe leading into the well. It was followed along for some distance, and led to a point In the stream itself. About a hundred feet from the mouth of the well, down stream and around a bend, hidden away in a clump of bushes, was a small dam, insufficient, howov to turn half or two-thirds of the water into the pipes and so, with a slight downward drop, on into the well itself. The Mystery Solved. The mystery was solved. The water that was pumped from the well was not diverted for any purpose, and the result was that whenever the pump was set to work 50,000 gallons a day ran back into the little stream, down to the dam, back to the well, down a wooden trough, which had been constructed so that rot a drop of the precious fluid should be lost into the stream. Like Tennyscn’s brook, it could g9 on forever, or at least so long as the govern- ment chose to keep the pump running. Of course, if any of the water had been car- ried off up to the fort to be used for drink- ing or bathing purposes, the supply in the stream would scon have given out. A further investigation has since been made, which shows that the third well was supplied with water from the stream in Practically the same manner. ‘The first pipe line was not sufficient to furnish 30,- 600 gallons a day, but when a. three-inch terra cotta pipe was. laid alongside of the first the volume was readily increased to 60,000 gallons, In point of fact, while the matter has been kept as quiet os possible, it is said that there was actually no water in any of the three wells. Looking for the Subcontractor. To say that the War Department officials are nettled about the affair is to put it mild- ly. Gen. Doe ir said to be out of town. Gen. Batchelder is understood to have a good deal of the “I-told-you-so” alr about him. It was the very audacity of the scheme that resulted in its success, and up to the pres- ent time no one has been able even to guess when the pipes could have been laid, with- out the work being seen by some one. It Was a most ingenious method, and yet it depended largely on luck to go through, for the moment the water was pumped away for actual use the whole thing would have been discovered. It is understood that the matter has been laid before the Department of Justice, and that efforts have been made to locate the Smooth subcontractor. As soon as he had received his money he returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and letters received from him by a friend in this city stated that he was preparing to leave for South America, where he had made contracts for digging other wells. So far as can be learned, not the slightest blame attaches to Col. Maish and his associates, and it is generally ad- mitted that they have lost more than the government by the fraud. What Col. Maish Says. In conversation with a Star reporter to- day Colonel Maish said: “I am very sorry that the story is to be made public just now, for I had hoped that it would rot be generally known about until the authorities had succeeded in tind- ing the man who has done us so nicely. When the time of settlement came we gave the subcontractor somewhat more than the amount agreed upon, for we felt scrry for him for the delays and draw- backs he had met with, It was a most re- markable game, and IT am surprised that any sane man would have the audacity to play it. knowing that sooner or later it would all be found out. The most remark- able feature is that it was not found out sooner. “We intend to do exactly what is right in this matter. We have asked for per- mission to carry out the eriginal contract, and, although the time has really expired, it would seem to me no more than fair that we should be given the opportunity. If not, we shall refund every cent that we took in for the work, and will be heavy losers by the whole operation. “A humorous side to the affair? Yes, I suppose there is. It is funny to think of a well running on for ever, like a per- petual motion machine, and yet in reality not furnishing a drop of water that might not have been taken up in a bucket from the stream near by. Yet, I think you are in a better position than I am to see the humorous side of the situation."” POLITICAL HEABQUARTERS National Demooratic Commitee Will Not Be Located for Some Time. “The location of the headquarters of the national democratic committee has not yet been selected,” said Senator Jcnes of Ar- kansas, the chairman of the committee, to a Star reporter today. “Furthermore, the final decision will not be made for some time. The matter is still open and under discussion. The desirability of locating the committee headquarters at Washington has been talked about, but beyond a gen- eral consideration no action has been taken.” Senator Jones left Washington this af- ternoon at 3:40 for his home in Arkansas. He will attend to some private business matters, and will return to Washington in about ten days. It is quite likely that he will visit Candidate Bryan before coming back. One of the busy men at democratic headquarters is Mr. Lawrence Gardner, who works night and day at this season. An addition to being secretary of the con. gressional campaign committee, he is also secretary of the National Association of Democratic Clubs, and from this time on until the close of the campaign the business of the latter organization wiil occupy much of his attention. Mr. Gardner expects to enroll upwards of 5,000 campaign clubs and regular clubs in his organization be- tween now and election day. Applications From New York. “I am receiving a great many communi- cations from New York city,” said Mr. Gardner today, “containing applications for enrollment of democratic clubs in the na- tional organization. I got a letter this morning from the Russian-American Dem- ocratie Union of New York, with a mem- bership of 12,000, stating that they fully indorsed the Chicago regular democratic ticket and platform, and askirg a place among the democratic clubs. In today’s mall I have also recelyed a number of ap- plications from smaller bodies for enroll- ment. The Bryan Free Silver League of New York city starts with a membership of 100. “Here is a letter from the anti-Tammany democracy af New York, asking for all kinds of literature relating to the silver question and pledging the young democracy of New York to earnestly support both the platform and the nominee of the party. These are but indications of the awaken- ing interest of the people in the east, as well as the west, to the financial issues of the day, as outlined by the democratic platform. The National Association of Democratic Clubs was organized in 18%, and the pres- ent personnel is as follows: Chauncey F. Black, president, York, Pa.; William L. Wilson, chairman executive committee, West Virginia; Chas. J. Camda, treasurer, New York; Lawrence Gartiner, secretary, Washington, D. C.; Benton McMillin, Ten- nessee; R. G. Monroe, New York; H. W. Rusk, Maryland; A. T. Ankeny, Minne- sota; Jefferson M. Levy, Virginia; John C. Black, Illinois; Henry Watterson, Ken- tucky; Tom L. Johnson, Ohio; Geo. H. Lambert, New Jersey; M. B. Logan, Wash- ington; Don M. Dickinson, Michigan; J. S. Carr, North Carolina; W. A. Clarke, Mon- tana; O’Brien Moore, Texas; C. C. Rich- ards, Utah; Lynde Harrison, Connecticut. Chairman Babcoek Here. Chairman Babcock of the republican con- gressional committee returned to the city last night and resumed his desk at com- mittee headquarters this morning. Vice Chairman Apsley has gone to his home to be absent a few weeks. Mr. Babcock has been in conference with Maj. McKinley and Mr. Mark Hanna upon matters connected with the campaign work, and has now come back to settle down to a hard season of work. The correspondence of the com- mittee is increasing in volume with every mail, and this campaign promises to be one of the most active as well as one of the most important that ye congressional committee has ever been engaged upon. What May Be} Done. It is reported that the democratic na- tional committee has decitied, in the event of Washington being sclegted as the head- qvarters for the coming campaign, to lo- cate the committee in the first and second flocrs of the Wormley Hotei property, cor- ner 15th and H streets northwest. The first floor of the building communicates with the quarters of the congressional com- mittee rooms on 15th street, and would furnish easy access between the two po- Ltical headquarters, CHAIRMAN JONES ———— He Has Yet Given No Thought tothe Executive Committee. SATISFIED WITH THE WORK AT CHICAGO What He Says of the Proposed Gold Democratic Nominee. WOULD BE A POLITICAL MULE + There was a lively time in populistic cir- cles yesterday, both here and in St. Louis. The story that Chairman Jones of the demo- cratic national committee was in New York seeking an interview with Senator Hill was the cause of it. The story was without foundation, but all the same it was tele- graphed far and wide, and it created a great stir. The populists were much disturbed. It seemed an amazing thing for Mr. Jones to be turning to the gold men for a dicker on the very eve of the populist national convention. If that was to be the game the populists wanted to know it. There was a fusillade of telegrams, and the whole thing was disposed of. The populists dis- covered that Mr. Jones had not been seek- ing Mr. Hill, was not seeking him, and would not seek him; that Mr. Jones’ mission to New York was of a personal and not a political nature. Mr. Jones leaves the city tonight for a visit home. He will probably go by the way of St. Louis, and stop there for a day or two. He 1s being urged to do so. Presumably his opinion is desired by those hoping to secure an indorsement of Bryan and Sewall by the silver men next week. No Thought of the Committee. In conversation with a representative of The Star last night, Mr. Jones said that he had given po thought as yet to the selec- tion of the democratic executive commit- tee, nor was he prepared to say that the list would be ready for yublication by the time of hiv return from Arkansas. “It is an important matter and requires time. I feel that we have made no mistake so far, and we should be particular not to make any if we can avoid it.” As to a Gold Democratic Nominee. As to the proposed nomination of a presi- dential candidate by the gold democrats, Mr. Jones sald the question was of no in- terest whatever to the silver men. “The Inovement, if it finally takes shape, will amount to nothing. It will be foredoomed to failure. No man of real consequence or ability would accept such a nomination, and nobody else could hope to give the movement any standing. Such a nominee would be a political mule—without pride of ancestry ur hope of posterity. No; we are not concerned about that. Our ticket and our flag are up, and we expect them to re- ceive the support of every man who is op- posed to fixing the single gold standard as a permanency on this country.” Satisfied With the Work at Chicago. Asked as to hcw the work done at Chi- cago appeared after a week's reflection, Mr. Jones said: “For my own part I am very much pleas- ed with it. I think we have done the right thing, and in the right way. The New York newspapers misrepresented the con- vention. It was a splendid body of men, who knew what they wanted and how to get It. And they did get it. The New York- ers came out there under the impression that they would find it easy to have their Way—that they would be dealing with a lot of children. When they found they were wrong about that, they whipped around and described vs as a body of revolutionists whom nobody could reason with. They were wrong in both estimates. I feel con- fident we are going to win, and by a large majorit Mr. Jones is in excellefft health and ready for his part of the work. He will return here from Arkansas. AMERICAN HORSES. There is Said to Be a Good Market for Them in Ireland. According to Mr. M. T. Brice, United States vice consul at Belfast, there is a good market in Ireland for American horses. “For several months past my at- tention has been attracted,” he says, “to the large influx of horses for this market from the United States and Canada, the majority coming from the latter countr: The stock Is usually bought up with avid- ity and fair prices received. “They usually arrive via Liverpool or Glasgow in consignments of from twenty to sixty head by steamer from New York or Montreal, principally by the latter route. After arriving in Belfast, they are turned over to a horse bazaar to be sold by auc- tion. The auction is well advertised sev- eral days in advarce of the sale, and the bidders, consisting of country and town folk, are quite numerous. ‘At a recent sale at the Messrs. Robson's Royal Victoria horse bazaar there were of- fered twenty-three horses, consisting of matched pairs, broughams, trappers, cobs and ponies and two trotters. The lot was consigned to Messrs. Robson by a Chicago firm, and arrived per steamship Pomera- rian at Glasgow from Montreal, and thence direct to Belfast. The attendance was exceptionally large and bidding brisk, although no unusual prices were offered. The entire consignment, with one excep- tion, was sold. “The consensus of opinion was that the trotters brought good prices. “Bay, ight brown or chestnut geldings of from five to seven years and about six- teen hands can usually find purchasers in this market at good prices, for the above are favorite colors among local buyers. Marking is also essential, and unless an animal is gifted with a pair of white feet or lacks patches or spots on his body, his chances for a good price are poor. “I learn from the Messrs, Robson that the entire cost for transportation, feeding and care for each animal from Chicago to Belfast 1s $37.” ee Mr. Curtis Has Nothing to Say. Assistent Secretary Curtis has returned to the city from a short visit to New York city on business relating to the govern- ment finances. He told a Star reporter today that he had nothing to say one y or the other on the financial or the polit cal situation. The Minneapolis’ Cruise. The Secretary of the Navy received a telegram today from Admiral Selfridge, commanding the European squadron, say- ing that the flagship Minreapolis has sailed from Copenhagen for Christiana on her way to Southampton. a Report of the Banks’ Condition. The controller of the currency has called for a report of the condition of all national banks at the close of business Tuesday, July 14. 5 ———— Bank Suspended. The controller has received notice of the suspension of the First National Bank of Minot, North Dakota. The capital of the bank is $50,000. “TWO CENTS. SATISFIED WITH * HANNA B»publicans Th'n He Displayed Good Judg- ment in Selecting His Assistants. 1} Accept the Democratic C lenge—Probable Stumping Tour for McKinley. Chairman Hanna continues to receive the praises of the republicans. The satisfac- tion in the party over the executive com- mittee he has selected is very great, and the judgmeni he has shown in the matter is regarded as one more evidence of his fit- ness for the place he occupies. Accepts the Democratic Challenge. An examination of the list shows that Mr. Hanna accepts the democratic chal- lenge for battle in the middle states. Mr. Manley is the only eastern man taken. The others are fiom the states likely to be in warmest contest, or from adjoining states, and therefore prepared to give well-in- furmed personal attention to the work be- fore them. Cyrus Leland will keep an eye on Kansas, W. L. Durkin on Indiana and Charles Dawes on Hiinols. In the north- west Henry ©. Payne of Wisconsin, a man of wide acquaintance and equally wide ex- perience, ought to be of very great assist- ance to his party. Quay as Vice Chairman. Mr. Quay is second on the committee, and may be ranked as vice chairman. It ts a sign of harmony in the party that this ap- pointment met with no protest from Penn- sylvania. The anti-Quay men approved of it heartily. They conceded that in a fight so important the best generals should be | put in commission. Whether Mr. Quay’s work will be done from New York or Chi- cago has not been settled. In the opinion of some, he would be placed at most ad- Vantage in New York headquarters. He knows that whole eastern field, from his expericnce in 1888. Besides, he would be of service in helping to manage Mr. Platt and his people. He knows them also, and has their confidence. This arrangement would give Mr. Hanna full time at Chicago—a fied which he knows well. Cleveland is not so far away, and from his perch at home he has studied that whole section. He is in thorough touch w:th the large business interests of Ohio. Indiana and Iinois, and inasmuch as these interests are promising to take a lively in- terest in the campaign, it might be the live- Mer for the presence of Mr. Hanna. One Name to Be Added. There ts one name to be added to the committee list, and this may, in the end, be that of a New York man. New York is faction-rent, and this makes it dangerous for Mr. Hanna to go there for a confiden- tial adviser. But the state is so important that if a local leader could be taken with- ovt causing serious offense to the other faction It would be well. A Stumping Tour for McKinley. The dispatches state that Mr. Hanna is at present inclined to favor a stumping tour for Mr. McKinley, believing that a visit of the candidate through the west would be of valve. That is the opinion of prom- inent republicens who express themselves here in Washington. It is based upon the fact that he fs a tip-top campaigner, speak- ing with fine effect before a popular au dience. He has don€ some notable things in that Ine for others, and why not now for himself? The speeches ke has been making at Canton since his nomination are much admired. They are thought to pos- sess both substance and good form, and be quite up to the level of the best. His presence, tco, is good, and people like 10 get a look, if possible, at a presidential candidate. It is thought to be altogether likely, indeed, that, after the ball is set rolling and interest gets high, Mr. Me- Kinley will go out into Mr. Bryan's own country and shake the young man up right where he lives. ——— DEVASTATED BY FIRE. Great Destruction by the Flames at Malvern, Ark, LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 18—The town of Malvern, Ark., at the junction of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern and the Hot Springs railways,’ was almost en- tirely wiped out by fire at an early hour this morning. Malvern is a little city of about 6,000 in- habitants, the business portion of the place being clustered around the railroad station. All this section was destroyed, only three business houses remaining. The total loss is variously estimated at from $211,000) to $400,000, only a small portion of which ts covered by Insurance. ‘The burned bu ings include the railroad depot, two hot the bank and all the principal business houses of the place. The fire 18 without doubt tie result of a plot to destroy the town. The blaze broke out at about midnight in three different places, and as there was no apparatus the fire burned itself out. Four men are under arrest charged with sta the fire, and the people of the town are in such a state of excitement that there 5 strong probability that the incen will be summarily dealt with. — OMAHA TRIP POSTPON Not Go Until Neat Week. LINCOLN, Neb., July 18—It was near the middle of the forenoon today when W. J. Bryan, the democratic nominee, arose from his bed. He rested well last night. It was the most comfortable sleep, he sail, he had had since he was selected to lead the fight for free silver and the democratic party. A large number of friends and neighbors called during the day. It was the intention of Mr. Bryan to go over to Omaha today, but the drizzling rain which began last night continued today, and he will not go till Monday or Tuesday. It is his intention to remein here until the first week in August, when he wiil zo to New York to be officially notified tiat he has been nominated. Meantime, he will work upon his letter of acceptance. After the notification Mr. and Mrs. Bryan will go with Mr. and Mrs. Sewall and spend a week with them at the Sewall summer home in Maine. Mr. Bryan Wi > —_—_— TO BE HELD MONDAY. Funeral of the Late William E. BOSTON, July Gov. William E. ussell will take place from Shepherd Memorial Church, Cambridge, Monday afternoon, at 4 o'clock. This was decided upon by the family after a con- sultation today. The services will be ex- tremely simple, and no opportunity for the public to view the body will be given. Rev. Dr. Alexander McKenzie, pastor of the church, who is an intimate friend of the family, will officiate. ST. JOHN, N. B., uly 18—The body of ex-Gov. Russell of Massachusetts, which arrived here last night, was taken forward by the train which left here at 6:30 o'clock this morning. At the station, in spite of the early hour,were quite a large number of people, among them being Rev. J. B. Green, by whose courtesy the use of the Unitarian Church was offered for the body to rest in during its brief stay here. Mr. Derby, the United States consul, was also present to see that the arrangements for the trans- portation of the body were complete. The train will proceed via Vanceboro, Bangor and Portland, reaching Boston about 9 o'clock this evening. THE STAR BY MAIL. Persons leaving the city for any period can have The Star mailed to them to any address in the United States or Canada, by ordering it at this office, in person or by letter, or posial card. Terms: 13 cents per week; 25 cents for two weeks, or 50 cents per month. Invariably in ad- vance Subscribers changing their address from one Post-office to another should give the last address |s well as the new one. FIGHTING IN CUBA eS - Cannonading and Musketry Firing Heard at San Cristobal. DISCUSSING MACEO'S REPORTED DEATE Views of the Spanish Consul Gen- eral at New York. i NEARLY 40,000 MO. ROOPS HAVANA, July 18.—Passengers from San Cristobal who reached report having beard heavy cannon and musketry firing all yesterday. It city today pro ceeded, apparently, from north of the mountains. It is believed that an engar ment was then in progress letween F tes’ command and insurgents unde The latter was most recently having passed the Los Pinos farm in the province of Pinar del Rio. An insurgent spy has been rep captures the troops operating im tue district Minas. He was carrying a message from the Prefect Emilio Vigoa to Maceo Protected by Quintino Ban Jose Miro succeeded in landing an exp 1 im the district of San Diego. The band of Juan Bruno, constituting the rear guard of the insurgent Zayas, has at- tacked the trocha in the province del With the intention in order to facilitat ine by Maceo. plund of Cabesas, in of Pina creating the p ed and partially he an Hilaro de was also att were bul din « founded twelve houses the: persons ai do and Rafael stree Thur when the police were searching the place for muni ticns of war, e been formally accused of conspiracy. Joxe Maceo’s Report W YORK, July 1s. Death, r Don Ar- turo Baldasane y Topeto, the consul ge eral for Spain in this city, during an in- terview with a representative of the Ase clated Press, was asked for inform regarding the reported death of J Senor Baldasano said that he } cial information regarcing the mat that it was probable, as the revel r said to be rent by dissension. In of his views, he said that Information hail been received from several Cuban whites who recently joined the re that the Were obliged to serve as iWates under Diack jeaders; that it had caused om feeling among the whites, and tha th blacks would not give them commands, #= the blacks and their descendan, the brunt of the war. Spanish Outlook. When asked as to the outlook for Sp in Cuba Senor Baldasano said that excellent; that the rebellion ha be- lieve reached its maximum strength: that the bels were in two main commands that the one in Pinar del Rio. tonio Maceo, was hemmed i cha and cannot escape. The rebeis easicrn part of central and eastern Cuba, under Gomez, and the othe were not, he declared, advancing to the relief of Antonio Maceo, but were reported falling back on eastern Cuba, where discontent Was reported in the 4 that the presenc ary to maint and uphold the authority of « Regarding the discontent rebels, Senor Baldasano said bh and whites were surren horses and arms, and that wu ders of General Weyler tley on parole and released. Reinforcements From Regarding the August and inforcements for Cuba, he gave the ing det There are line In Each will orgar peditior compantes of th One captain, 4 subz!terns 1 corporals trumpe cach nas 10) battalic shooters will contribute anized like the Canary Islands have two the Balerie Islands three They will cont thelr ompanies men from islands will be de alr to supply v ath and wow The pre consist total, G09 consist of 6 trumpeters 1 borne it was he under by the 4 w in lise ALIXTO C among the that many arcia wer alions © two in- will give porals, mak A small ¢ hment of cs sent. It will be under the lieutenant colonel, two majors, a captain 4 two Neutenants. There will ov nt of arti vumbering f whom 1 he royal a n_batte from the ar pry will be be command of a alry will rious The of a ma ants. ng ine consist of whom ‘5 a miners. Three hundred rent of milltary telecrapher 4 from the regiment of railway will be commanded by a lieutenan and @ sub majors, 17 captair alt The total strength of the September expeditions Infantry all ranks, ranks, arulle: gieers, 1,619; total, 4 gist and 20 ell the infantry will en bark. Early in September the other de tachments will follow. The regulars enumerated above will y two full batta = of unteers, consisting cf 4,000 me the la organizel b the Bishop of Oviege: a Asturias. he two regiments will be sup a popular subscription and main- that province. The men will ssing from the po) In December 20,000 reinforcements will he forwarded to Cuba, All will be the armed cruisers of the Sp Atlantic company. If necessary the num. ber will be made up to 100,000 men. The volunteering of civilans in Spain is re- ceiving the active aid of the bishops and clergy. —— OVERAWED BY THE LDIERY. Cleveland Today. CLEVELAND, Ohio, July !8.--Mayor Mc Kisson this mcrning ordered the Cleveland Grays, the ersck militia comp: of the city, to the Brown hoisting works, whe a riot has been almost of de for some time past. Ii militia are now guarding they will be reinforced b the w all the police in th Tae mayor sta from now on order will be p if it was necessary for the mili fire. q The non-union men were >: the works at noon without serio and their sympathiz everawed Ly the bi a and pelice on Juiy The police charged on men as they marched out, and took sev. of them into custody.