Evening Star Newspaper, December 3, 1896, Page 2

2 : LATE NEWS BY WIRE|FoRGE Hearing of Cases by the Bering Sea Commission. CONSIDERING THE SCHOONER CAROLINE Testimony Regarding the Seizure of the Onward. TREATMENT AT SITKA VICTORIA, B..C.,. December 3.—The pre- Mminaries having been well settled, the Bering sea claims commission got down to business yesterday, when the actual trial of the claims began with the case of the schooner Caroline. Mr. Peters, senior counsel for the British, opened by reading the pleadings set forth in the claim already filed. The pleadings state that the schooner is a British vessel, registered at Victoria; that she sailed hence May 20, 1886, to Bering sea. The schooner was selzed August 1 in Bering sea by the United States revenue steamer Corwin, towed. to Ounalaska, and con- demned by the United States district court at Sitka, on a charge of violating the mu- nicipal laws of the United States relating to seal fishing; that she was detained. un- der such condemnation until after Decem- ber, 1886, when her return was offered. but refused on the ground that the vessel had been practically wrecked in the mean- time. By reason of the loss arising out of this illegal seizure $30,000 is asked and in- terest at 7 per cent per annum. Mr. Peters said for the meantime he would not deal with personal claims. He then proceeded to read the reply of the United States, claiming that the vessel was at the time of the seizure wholly or in part owned by United States citizens, and that in any case the damages claimed were ex- cessive. The British answer to this was that th: Paris tribunal had already decided as to the finding “of fact that the vessel was British, and that all the present commis- sion had to do was to decide the amount of compensation to be paid. Mr. Peters remarked that with regard to the issue raised by the United States, that the ves- sel was in whole or in part owned by cit- izens of the United States, he did not at present intend to deal with It, for the onus to show otherwise lay on the United States counsel. The British claim was that the schooner was of British registration at the time of the seizure, and that was already admitte: Mr. Peters then laid before the comm. sion the diplomatic correspondence relating to the claim, and quoted from official doc- uments evidence as to the seizure given on Penalt of the United States court in Alas- a. , Mr. Dickinson, for the United States, ob- jected that it was not necessary to show that, for the Paris tribunal nad already decided that if the Caroline was a Britisn vessel she was illegally seized. {[f the vessel was proved to be British, then the question of compensation was ail that re- mained to be setiled. Mr. Peters replied that he considered the evidence he had quoted had a direct bear- ing on the matter of compensa‘ion, and that it was quite proper for him to show by the evidence accepted by the United States courts how the vessel had been con- demned. Justice Putnam asked if Mr. Peters d‘d not think he was opening rather a wite door by quoting what was recorded in the previous trial for determining what was now before the present commission. Mr. Peters in reply maintained that really the case now in hand was a part of the same action. Justice Putnam to this remarked tha- of course the evidence to he submitted to a xreat extent depended on the counsel for the respective governments, but it remain- ed with the commissioners to say whether it was admissible or not. Mr. Peters proceeded and quoted at length from the diplomacic correspondence and handed in the official government book as evidence. Before going on with the Caroline ca he requested leave to examine the witness in the Onward claim, a man who lived on the west coast, being obliged to leave for home tonight. The request was granted, and John Mar- gotich was placed in the box. He had been mate on the Onward when she was seized in Bering sea by the United States cutter on August 2, 1886. The schooner was towed to Ounalaska, and the crew kept aboard for ten days, though allowed on shore on leave of four at a time. They were then transferred to an American schooner, San Diego, which was also under seizure, and taken to Sitka. The men were allowed to bring blankets from the vessel, but had no bed, and there were eight men in one room, which was only ten feet Square. They were confined in this room one month and then tried at Sitka, the judge addressmg them as robbers. | The Indians of the crew came outside to the window saying they had nothing to eat, and the witness gave them all the money he had, some $15. Captain Hansen of the ‘Thornton, Captain Ogilvie of the Caroline and Harry Norman were among those in jail at Sitka, with him. One morning Cap- ain Ogilvie got away and he never saw him again. (Captain Ogilvie, it will be re- membered, was afterward found dead in the woods.) Being subjected to rigid cross-examina- tion by Mr. Dickinson, the men admifted they were allowed to walk about Sitka one day before being trieé. The room they were confined in was ‘he jury room at the court beuse, but. though the door was not locked, there was a guard over them. Cap- tain Ogilvie, when he got away, had not teen stopped by the guard. Wm. Munsie was the nex: witness. Much of his testimony consisted in details as to amounts paid out for fiiting out and paying the crew. The commission then adjourned. eee ge eae MARYLAND GOOD TEMPLARS. Election of Officers Held at Frederick Th Mor Special Dispatch to The Evening Sta: FREDERICK, Md., December 3.—The dual Grand: Lodge,Good Templars of Mary- land, resumed ics session in this city this morning. The condition of the juvenile de- partments of the iodge was reported by the grand superintendent, Miss Nettie M. Par- lette of Balitmore. Eighteen temples are at work, with 7#9 members, having ex- pended $47.98, and a balance of $11.18. Forest Oak Temple received the state banner for most effective work. The salary of that official was made $% for each temple In good standing at the end of the year. D. H. Mann vigorously advocated what he termed a propagation fund. Dele- gates and prominent Good Templars sub- seribed $252.50, conditioned on the institu- tion of ten new lodges during the year, the fund to employ a state lecturer. On’ the same conditions $25 were raised for the im- provement of the juvenile branch. The election of officers resulted: Grand chief templar, Howard O. Emmons; grand counsellor, Charles W. Crawford; grand vice templar, Miss P. Pearl Winstead; grand superintendent of juvenile templars, Miss N. M. Parlette; grand secretary,Lewis D. Russell, grand treasurer, Thomas E. Watkins; grand chaplain, Rev. T. Freeman Dixon; grand assistant secretary, Walter H. Merriman; grand marshal, J. H. Uhlig; grand deputy marshal, Mrs. Annie Russell grand guard, A. L. Jones; grand sentinal, W. L. Brandenberg; grand messenger, #. Ehler; past grand chief templar, Re John W. Steelé; representatives to Inter- national Supreme Lodge in Zurich, Switzer- land, next June, James H. Gaither, J. Con- rad Uhlig; alternates, Wm. Silverwood and Warren Lincoln. gees SUFFERINGS OF LIGHT KEEPERS. Driven on Uninhabited Islands by Ice Floes. BAYFIELD, Wis., December 3.—John Ed- ay and John D. McMartin, light keepers at Raspberry Island light, started from the Island, fourteen miles away, for Bayfield Saturday In a sail boat and were driven aground by wind and ice floes. After spending four days on the lake and unin. habited islands they have arrived on the main shore, fifteen miles away. Mr. Eddy had both hands and feet frozen and Mc- Martin's ears were frozen. They subsisted on flour and water baked in a wash basin on one of the tslands in a fishing shanty. Trial of W. H.Beteman and Arthur Bowen Today. Basiness Men Tell of Advertising Con- tracts Presented for Payment— Story of the Arrests. ‘ William H. Bateman, alias William H. Wesc, and Arthur A. Bowen, the men ar- rested Tuesday charged with attempting to utter a forged paper with intent to swindle Redford W. Walker & Son, real estate Gealers, to the extent of $10, were giveu a hearing this afternoon before Judge Miller in the Police Court. Both men were faultlessly attired. They were repre.ented by Attorney Joseph Shilling- ton. Assistant District Attorney Mul- lowney appeared for the government, and an array cf well-known local business men were in court as witnesses for the prosecu- tion. Mr. Redford W. Walker of the firm of Walker & Son, 1006 F street, was the first to take the stand. Mr. Walker testified practically as reported in The Star yester- day, saying in effect that Wese, or B: man, visited his office Tuesday and pre- sented a paper calling for $10 in payment for advertising in the Merchants and Man- ufecturers’ Business Directory. Mr. Walk- er unhesitatingly declared the signature on the paper tc be a forgery, and his son de- parted with the paper to examine the sig- nature with a magnifying glass. Bateman stated that he would accompany the younger Mr. Walker. Instead of doing so he hastened away. Mr. Walker and a clerk followed in pursuit, and Bateman was over- taken at 10th and D streets. “I told rim to return to the office with ine,” sald Mr. Walker, “but he replied that he bad an important business engagement ard could net go back unt!l later. The man sald that the matter could be ali 1ix- ed up satisfactorily. We detained hun ur- il the arrival of detectives.” Mr. Walker went on to say that a year ago he was swindled out of $5 in a similar marrer as the one referred to. He made &@ memorandum at the time and had an understarding with his son and his clerk that uncer no circumstances would the firm subs : for or advertise In any oy . ‘Therefore, when the paper was presented Tuesday he was in a posi- tion to at e declare it a forgery. “I was incensed,” continued Mr. Walker, “to think that after once swindling me to the extent of 25 they considered me so soft that they thought they could get $10 this time.” William M. Lanning, a clerk in the em- ploy of Mr. Walker, testified to following Bateman and overtaking him on E street. Bateman, be said, was joined by Bowen. When witness accosted Bateman, Bowen immediately walked off down Pennsvlva- ria avenue. Other Witnesses, Mr. Robert O. Holtzman stated that Bateman visited his office at 10th and F streets Monday morning. He presented a ceatract calling for $15. Mr. Holtzman had no recollection of signing the paper. “Was it your signature?” inquired At- torney Shillington. I do not think so, but it looks so much lke it that I did not like to deny it. I therefore told Mr. Ridenour, one of my employes, to pay the man $i5. After re- ceiving the money he attempted to take the contract from Mr. Ridenour. The latter, however, tore off the signature before handing it over Mr. James A. Watson, a patent attorney of F street, testified that Bateman visited his office’ Monday and presented a contract. ‘* “That looks like my signature,’ I told him,” said Mr. Watson, * ‘but T never signed that paper. and I will not pay you the money.’ ” The man left. say- ing he would investigate the case by ex- amining the canvasser who turned in the order. Had he signed any such paper, said the witness, it would have been “Wat! son and Watson,” not “J. A. Watson. Mr. Wm. J. Middlecroft, representing the Washington Hydraulic Press Brick Com- pany, stated that Bateman presented a contract to him, and as the signature to the paper looked like his signature, he paid over the money without protest. Mr. Boyd Testifies. Mr. George A. Boyd, proprietor of Boyd's Directory, declared with much emphasis that the Washington portion of the M chants and Manufacturers’ Business Direc- tery 1s “a royal rank robbery” from his local clty directory. ‘Why, your honor,” continued Mr. Boyd, “it coniains the name of my brother-in-law, Charles H. Watson, who has been dead for fourteen years. “We are not here to comment on the merits of directories,” said Attorney Shil- lirgton. “We claim the Merchants’ Direc- tory to be the best mercantile directory in the United States and to be more devoid of errors than the one published by Mr. Boyd.” “You won't find another copy of that Merchants’ Directory in this city,” sald Mr. Boyd. “How about your Philadelphia direc- tory?” inquired Attorney Shillington. “Isn't it Inaccurate and rotten and has not it been repudiated by every business man of Philadelphia? “No more so than my Washington di- rectory,” Was the reply, “and you buy a copy every year.” Mr. Boyd explained that he purposely prints the names of certain parties, who are deceased, each year for the express purpose of detecting “steals” from the di- rectory. He mentionea such a name. The proceedings were assuming a some- what exciting aspect, and Mr. Boyd was directed to step aside. Detective Weedon testified as to the ar- rest of Batemar and Bowen, the search of their room at the Raleigh and the finding of directory sheets. “This proceeding was nothin; high-handed piece of detective insolence,” said Attorney Shillington, id I think, your honor, that some one should explain to the detectives where their duties ter- minate.” Detective Horne described the arrest of Bowen and statements made by him, all of which has heretofore been publisied. At this point the government rested its case. The Defense. For the defense, Attorney Shillington contended that no evidence had been pre- sented on which Bowen could be held. In the case of Bateman, continued the attor- ney, testimony must be presented sufficient to show that the contract or order pre- sented to Mr. Walker was a forgery. Every indication, it was argued, was that the sigiature was genuine. “In view of the circumstances,” said Mr. Shillington, “I think the court should dis- charge Bateman as well as Bowen.” Bowen, one of the defendants, was mak- ing a statement, explaining his connection with the affair, when The Star's report elcsed. short of a SHARKEY GIVEN THE PURSE. Fitzsimmons Men Talk of Enjoining Payment. SAN FRANCISCO, December 3.—-A: certi- fled check for the amount of the purse was given to Sharkey by Referee Wyatt E. Earp for the fight last night. Some of Fitzsimmons’ backers talk of enjoining the bank from paying the check, but it is not believed such action, if taken, would cause the bank to withhold payment to Sharkey. It is claimed as the check was certified the bank has no option but to pay Its kold- er. It is also declared that the decision of the referee is final, and no appeal to the courts is probable. i Physicians and newspaper men who par- ticipated in or witnessed the examination of Sharkey, after he was carried from the ring, say he was visibly wounded below the kelt. Doctors say his condition is serious, but not dangerous, and have ordered him to remain i nbed at least two or three days, stating that exercise, or any inovement might aggravate his injuries. Sharkey was seen in bed at this hotel this morning. He was resting easily, though suffering some pain and inconvenience. Witnesses of the fight declared this morn- ing that a foul blow was undoubtedly de- livered, but many believe it was accidental. —— ATTACKED A CONGRESSMAN. Accused by an Angry Father of Aid- ing an Elopement. CINCINNATI, Ohio, December 3.—A Times-Star special from Lexington, Ky., says that Wm. Emmel of Bell county made an attempt to kill Congressman D. G. Col- scn. Emmel was pursuing an eloping daughter, and finding her seate1 by Colson, accused him of aiding the elopement and made his attack. He was prevented from doing harm. THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1896—14 PAGES. RY CHARGE D/ SMALLPOX AND SUGAR - | Under the Same Roof at Regla, Near the City of Havana. WAREHOUSES USED AS HOSPITALS Deplorable Sanitary Conditions in the Spanish Lines. ————— WITH A NATIVE TALK e Senor Perez Vento, for a long time a citi- zen of Havana, passed through Washington yesterday, on his way from New Orleans to Philadelphia. Senor Vento left Havana about ten days ago. He conversed with a representative of The Star during his brief stop in Washington, declining, however, to talk of the military aspect of affairs in Cuba or the prospects for the Cuban cause, explaining that he did not care to discuss the politics of the island. He was quite willing, however, to talk of the sanitary conditions, which he regarded,in a very serious manner. “Gen. Losado, the Spanish sanitary in- spector, in his report of November 15, said Senor Vento, “said there were 17,000 sick Spanish soldiers in the Island of Cuba, and, from what I saw before my departure, I believe it would be safe to estimate the umber now at 20,000. The mortality is frightful, especially among the young sol- Giers fresh from Spain. The most recent reports showed that an average of forty- seven dead were taken out of the hospitals daily, and that the great majority of the fatalities were among men from twenty to thirty-three years old. In the hospital at Artemisa there were reported to be 700 sick and wounded when I departed. The chief diseases from which the Spaniards iffer now are yellow fever and virulent smallpox. Before I left Col. Rotger had been for three weeks employed in bringing the sick and wounded Spanish soldiers from the trocha into Havaca. They were brought to the city in carts, traveling in trains, and the patients would come two or three hundred at a time. The steamer Triton, which runs from the north coast of Pinar del Rio to Havana, also brings to the city from three to four hundred sick or wounded on each trip.” Overerowding and Lack of Treatment “Are these sufferers well cared for?” in- quired the reporter. é “Not at all,” arswered Senor Vento. Such has been the influx of the sick and Wounded into Havana that all of the hos- pitals were long zgo filled, the orphan asy- lums and convents were also crowded and finally the large sugar warehouses at Regla across the hay from Havana were taken for the use of yellow fever and smalipox pa- tients. ‘These warehouses occupy a space of about seven blocks and the rooms are very large ones. A great deal of sugar is stored in these warehouses, yet shipments of it are being regularly made to this and to other countries. “Oh, yes, the patients and the sugar are under the same roof, and whenever sugar ts removed for shipment the place it occu- pied is immediately used for cots for addi- tional patients, as the warehouses are crowded. All the patients in the hospitals are very badly attended and medical care is iu the hands of military surgeons, who rush through their work fearful of taking the infection themselves. The recent tele- grams announcing the outbreak of typhoid fever among the Spanish soldiers at Las Palacios Hospital in Pinar del Rio do not surprise me, and I would not be astonished to see the same thing happen in Havana and other places, because the sanitary con- ditions at the hospitals grow worse every day, and even those in Regla are getting overcrowded. Danger of Infection. “Would it b2 possivle for yellow fever and smallpox to be conveyed froin the hos- pitals at Regla in the sugar shipped from the warehouses this used?” asked the re- perter. “I am not a physician,” am not familiar enough with the subject of germs and their transmission to give you a reply, but I tmagine that such ship- ments would be a menace to the health of any pert they reached and periaps a cause of Infection of any vessel that carried them. They were speaking before my de- parture of using the Irijoa Theater In Ha- vana for another hospital.” Discontent of Spanish Soldiers. “Would you mind stating how the Span- ish soldiers in Havana feel over their life and duties in the island?” | “Well,” said Senor Vento, after some hesitation, “it would hardly be natural for men far away from their homes and their families and subject to dangerous <i eases, that are often deadly, and most f queatly so in the case of the unacclimated, to feel very enthusiastic o { tion. The fact is, the Spanish soldiers in Havana are very discontented, and the families of many of them In Spain, I know, have been raising sums sufficient to buy the discharge of sons and brothers who are new serving in the‘army in Cuba. I am informed that in Spain itseif the fear of the conscription now going on is driving hundreds of people out of the country I have seen Bl Piaz, the Madrid new paper of the date of November 15, which contains a report from Calicia stating that boatioads of families, including able- bodied men, are flying from the conscrip- tion and leaving the country. The paper says tiat many farms are abandoned and houses are closed and that horrible misery threatens the region of Galicia. “These people have heard the reports of the hard tims suffered by their soldiers who have been sent to Cuba, and are rat- urally opposed to having a lke experience if they can by any means avoid it. I can imagine no lot worse than that of a young Spaniard in Cuba, There may not be so much danger to him from the bullets of the insurgents in Havana, but he is con- stantly exposed to the greater dangers of the pestilential diseases that are so fre- quent in the island.” ° ‘THE WITMER ESTATE. he replied, “and Committee of the Unfortunate Gentle- man Take Legal Action. Daniel W. Doub and Albert T. Coumbe, as the committee of the person and estate of Calvin Witmer, today filed a bill in equity against Marie Witmer, Mr. Wit- mer’s wife, and Dantel P. Morgan and the latter's wife, Susannah, asking the court to declare null and void the conveyance August 3, 1806, by Mr. Witmer to Morgan and his wife and the conveyance the same day by Mr. and Mrs. Morgan to Mrs. Wit- mer of about an acre of land in “Resurvey on Peter’s Mill Seat,” and the west half of lot 10, square 119. ‘The complainants also ask that Mrs. Witmer be restrained from disposing of the property. The complainants recite the fact that Mr. Witmer, a well-known local gsrocerman, was recentiy declared by marshal’s jury to have been of unsound mind since the 4th of last July. They say that the convey- ances were made without real pecuniary ccnsideration, and they claim also that Mr. Witmer was mentally incapable of disposing of the property at the time. They are represented by Attorney Jere M. Wil- scn. ee URUGUAY’S .OUTBREAK. The Revolution Not Unexpected in South American Circiex Here. Meager reports have been received here thus far as to the outbreak in Uruguay, culminatirg in a serious battle. The revo- lution was not unexpected in South Amer- iean circles in Washington, as the president and congrexs of Uruguay have been openly charged for several months past with ex- tensive irregularities, similar to some ex- tent to the canal scandal in the French chamter. Mail reports received here from Mor.tevideo, the Uruguayan capital, give these charges of official corruption with circt mstantial detail, and the press of the capital is full of charges of “jobs,” “‘com- missions,” “‘margins,"" and misappropria- tion of public funds running up to the mil- lions. Some of these statements, taken from the Monteviaeo press, show the ex- tent of public feeling leading up to the revolution. ‘With such scandals current at the Uru- guayan capital, the revolution is regarded as a natural sequel to the feeling against the executive and chambers. Uruguay has no diplomatic representative at Washing- ton. PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION Suspending Operations of an Act to Relieve German Veasels of Tonnage Dues. te Action Taken du Sproot That American eln Are iiied Corresponding Privilege M German Ports. The President “trax issued a proclamation suspending after January next the opera- tions of the act whigh relieves German ves- sels entering United States ports from the payment of tonnage’ dues and other. ship- ping charges. This action was taken upon proof that American vessels are denied corresponding privileges in German ports. The shipping charges under our laws are based on a sliding scale. The President's action will doubtless arouse widespread in- terest in shipping circles. The following is the text of the proclama- tion: Whereas, by ® proclamation of the Presi- dent of the United- States, dated January 26, 1888, upon proof then appearing satis- factory that no tonnage or lighthouse dues or any equivalent tax or taxes whatever Were imposed upon American vessels en- tering the ports of the empire of Germany, either by the impérial government or by the governments of the German maritime states, and that vessels belonging to the United States of America and their cargoes were no? required in German ports to pay any fee or due of any kind or nature, or any import due higher or other than was payable ty German vessels or their cargoes in the United States, the President did thereLy declare and ‘proclaim, from and after the date of his said proclamation of January 26, 1888, the suspension of the col- lectlon of the whole of the duty of 6 cents per ton, not to exceed 30 cents per ton per annum, imposed upon yessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the ports of the empire of Germany by section 11 of the act of Congress approved June Issa entitied “An act to abolish certain fees for official serviced to American yes- sels and to amend the laws relating to ship- p:ng comnitssioners, seamen and owners of vessels and for other purposes And whereas the President did further de- clare and proclaim in his proclamation of nuary 26, 1888, that tne said suspension should continue so:long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States. and their cargoes should be continued in the sald ports of the empire of Germany and no longer; And whereas it now appears upon satis- factory proof that tunnage or lighthouse dues or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto are In fact imposed upon American vessels and their cargoes entered in German ports higher and other than those imposed upon German vessels or their cargoes entered in perts of the United States, so that said proclamation cf January 26, I8k%, in its operation and effect contravenes the mean- ing and intent of said section 11 of the act of Congress approved June 10, 1586. Now, therefore, I, Grover . Cleveland, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the aforesaid section 11 of the act aforesaid, as Well as in pursuance of the terms of said proclamation itself, do hereby revoke my said proclamation of January 26, 1888, suspending the collection of the whole of the duty of 6 cents per ton, not to exceed 30 cents per ton per annum which is imposed by the aforesaid section of said act) upon vessels entered in the perts of the United States from any of the perts of the German empire; this revoca. tion of said proclamation to take effect on and after the 2d day of January, 1507. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the tity Of Washington this 34 day of December, in the year of our Lord Sos, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-first. --GROVER CLEVELAND. By the Preside RICHARD OLNEY, Secretary of State. Effect of the Proclamation. The effect of the proclamation is to re- Impose upon the vessels entering from Ger- many the same tonnage dues that are im- posed on vesselventaring the: United States from Great Britain, France, Italy; Spain and other maritime nations trEurope and Asia. During the past year, at {lie request of the Treasury Department, the State De- partment has made a full investigation in- to the charges imposed upon Amertzan ves- sels in German ports, and tne fact has been eloped. that while the imperial govern- ment does not impose taxes on shipping, yet the governments of the Germah- mari- me states have for years imposed taxes equivalent to those from which German vessels were exempted in this countr: Thus there has been no reciprocity what- ever in the arrangement, which the Presi- dent accordingly, as provided by law, ter- minated today by his proclamation. MANAGER BOAS' STATEMENT. Why the Duties Were Suspendca— Surprised at the Preside: Action. NEW YORK, December 3.—In regard to the dispatch received this morning from Washington, stating that the President had issued a proclamation suspending the creration of the act, after January next, which relleves German vessels from pa: ment of tonnage dues, Mr. Boas, the man- ager of the Hamburg-American line, in an interv! said that he had heard yester- day that such action was being taken. The news greatly surprised him, and he was utterly unable to account for the Presi- dent's step, as he knew of no reason for it, and had never heard that Germany was exacting a tonnage tax from American vessels, i was stated in the dispatch. ‘The suspension of tonnage dues, that has existed on German vessels, of course, only applied when they arrived from a German port. Dues have always been exacted when the vessel arrived from other than a Ger- man port. ee MR. CHAPMAN'S CASE, Mr. Birney Will Give Time for Habeas Corpus Proceedings. Speaking to a Star reporter this after- noon, District Attorney Birney said that he will give Mr. Elverton R. Chapman, whose conviction as a contumacious wit. ness before the Senate sugar trust investi- gating committee the United States Su- preme Court affirmed Monday last, reason- able time in which to apply for a writ of habeas corpus. Mr. Birney stated that while he has no personal knowledge in the matter, he has been led to believe that Mr. Chapman wifl surrender himself here ma few days, possibly tomorrow, when he will apply to one of the justices of the Supreme Court for the allowance of the wri if Mr. Chapman does so in a reasonable time, and the ‘writ ‘fs issued, Mr. Birney will await thédectiion of the Supreme Court before proceeding to try the remain. ing indicted. men, 2 Messrs. Macartney, Havemeyer, Segrles, Seymour, Edwards and Shriver." In the Chapritth cabe, explained Mr, Bir- ney, the Suprerie Court decided that in all criminal cases tried in the District. of Columbia the Court 6f Appeals ts the court of last ‘resort, tand'€hat, too, whether a federal (that is,9constitutional) question is or is not involved. But, said Mr. Birney, it is claimed that:tNat decision does not preclude the Stiprers# Court from «onsid- ering such a @uest¥on on habeas corpus proceedings. Hehce,he expects Mr. Chap- man to test the coHstitutionality of the statute under Which! he was convicted by such proceedings. Mr. Birney Welievés, howevdr, that the Supreme Court Will tyfuse to interfere even in habeas corpus provéédings, and he there- fore expects to try the remaining cases at an early day. “He ‘Believes that he will secure convictions in all of them. THE WORKINGMEN'S CLUB. This Institution Will Open for the Seaxon Tomorrow Night. Club, 2105 Pennsylvania aveaue northwest, will take place tomorrow evening, Decem- ‘ber 4, at 8 o'clock, : Addresses, music, re- freshments, &c., form the program. ‘lhe door of the club is open to :ll on that evening, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance.’ Government Receipts. National bank notes received today for redemption, $448,285. Government receipts From internal revenue, $657,940; customs, $450,348; miscellaneous, $159,320. EXTENDING CHARITY Cold Snap Brings Suffering to the Poor. WORK. OF THE ORGANIZATIONS Board of Trade Will Take Action on: Commissioners’ Plan. es LAST YEAR’S WORK The present cold snap which fell upon Washington last Sunday and has continued without intermission ever since, has, as might be expected, brought added hard- ship upon the poor of the city, and al) tne regular organizatiors for the relief of suf- fering among the indigent have been flood- ed with applications for assistance. The majority of requests for aid have been for fuel. Weather such as Washing- ton has known for the last four or fi days means bitter distress to those who are out of employment, to widows and or- phans, and to all who are unable to pro- vide themselves with coal and wood to keep their houses warm. In some cases the Associated Charities, the Central Union Mission and other charity organizations have been called upon to supply the actual necessities of lite, and up to the present they have been able to answer all appeals that have been made to them. The bitter weather has meant a great deal to the homeless, and the result has been that the accommodations at the Cen- tral Union Mission and at the municipal lodging house have been taxed to the ut- most, ard every bed has been occupied by one or two men, who must otherwise have spent the night walking the streets or beg- ging assistance from the charitably in- clined. Washington is known the country over as one of the most charitable cities in the United States. It is doubtful if there is another city where such ample provision is made for the cold and hun- sry. A man who was for years a tramp, who has lived in box cars, mission houses and police stations, and who knows the life of the hobo from 12 o'clock to 12 o'clock, said to a Star reporter this morn- ing that among the gentlemen of the road Washington is famous as a “good thing.” The reason for this is not hard to find. Washington, especially in the northwest section of the clly, has a considerable pop- ulation of people of me who are char- itably disposed and cannot find It in their hearts to turn away a hungry man from their doors. In many houses the servants are directed never to refuse assistance to an applicant who claims to be the possessor of an empty stomach. Whether this is or not a wise charity is a matter for experts to determine, but certain it is that there is no other city of its size in the United States where the necdy ciasses are so well taken care of, outside even of the regular organizations of relief. Associated Charities. Agent Wilson of the Associated Charities said to a Star reporter this morning that the present and unexpected cold wave had vrought about a marked increase in the number of applicants for relief who had called at his office. “We are in about the same condition to- day that we were in the carly part of Janu- ary last winter. We have been overrun with people who really deserved immediate assistance, people who would suffer the t pangs of cold and hunger if such stance were not rendered. Up to the nt time we have followed our cus- tomary methods of turning over ali appil- canis to the regular channels of relief, for it is the duiy of the Associaied Charities not $o much to relieve as to see that relief 1s given. It is true that we have had a number of emergency cases, where our ors have found every evidence of des- te want. To have refused immediate stance Would have meant an unneces- y increase of suffering, and so far we pply all these cases amount of fuel and ccea- ynally of food, to tide them over for the time being. fhe ieiter from the District Commis- sioners to the ident of the board of trade, suggesting the appointinent of a permanent board in this city, having for its object the amelioration of the condition of the poor, meets with the heartiest ap- proval of the Associated Chariues, and we are only too anxious that sucn a’ proposi- tion be put into immediate effect. I take it that for this year at least such a comimit- tee, if it is appointed, would serve about the same purpose as did the emergency re- lief committee of last year. The methods of that committee proved most satisfac- tery, and, in my opinion, worked well to- word putting a stop to the evil of duplica- tion. With a number of charity crganiza- ticns in the field the danger of overdving the thing and encouraging chronic men- dicancy is a serious one. Last year the money secured by the relicf committee was not turned ever to the Associated Charities, but was held subject to order, and in this way it was possible for our visitors to give relief! in many by furnishing ‘the needy with orders on grocers or coal deai- ers, the bills being paid by the committee.” Lust Winter. A statement prepared by Mr. Wilson, and submitted to the District Commissioners, gives an excellent idea of the workings of ! the system last winter. The statemeat is | as follows: “During the winter of 1893-94 the central relief committee received contributions and supplies to the amount of $50,000. “During the winter of 1894-95 the central relief committee received contributions of money and supplies to the amount of $27,- 000, which, when added to the congressional appropriation of $10,000 for the poor, made the handsome sum of $: I “We do not say for the aid of the poor, for it is believed that much of it was used by persons who had no right to usk for aid, because it is known that persons left em- ployment and stopped work in order to take advantage of the money and pro- visions that were being distributed to any one who might call for them. “During the winter of 18: gency relief committee $2,600, and the police department expended about $4,500, making a total of less than $7,000, which, added to the total expendi ture of the Associated Charities, makes a grand total amount of $1 which enumerates the whole expei for the poor from November 1, 1805, to No- vember 1, 1896, by the public agencies. “This is but per cent of the amount expended in "93 and "$4, and but 34.4 per cent of the amount disbursed in "94 and "g5. As a fitting addenda to this stateme we assert that we have heard no one say that the poor of Washington were not as well cared for during last winter as in previous years.” Preventing Duplication. Mr. B. T. Janney, one of the directors of the Associated Charities, said today that one of the best results following the pres- ent methods of the organization was seon in the reduced number of applications re- ceived from “‘shysters” or professional beg- gars. They realized that a record of their cases is made and that their opportunities of going from one organization to another and receiving assistance from each are ma- terially lessened. In his opinion the num- ber of impositions upon the charitably in- clined has been reduced to a minimum. The arrangement between the £mer- gency Hospital and the Associated Char- ities, whereby the latter is to inquire inio and report upon the merits of all applica- tions for relief from the former, has gone into effect, and Superintendent Wilson this morning received the first list of naimes from the hospital. There were altogether twenty-one names on the list. Many of these are on the records of the Associated Charities, and in all these Mr. Wiison was able to report at once whether the person should properly be regarded as a charity patient. Mr. Wilson said that even in the cases of those with whom he was not fa- miliar he did not think the visitors of the Associated Charities would unearth many impostors. The very fact that applicants at the Emergency Hospital know that their cases are to be inquired into would doubt- less serve to keep away a great many who are not properly entitled to free medical attendance. Various Missions. ‘The cold weather has brought hundreds | essence nines easeistnilsnrev=assnlssinbairnrtidinssosaeniansyenuaaninmionaisinta | ney, bankers. of applications for assistance to the Central Union Mission. Last night every ved in the establishment was filled, and the dormitor- tes were crowded to the utmost extent. Mcre than one hundred and fifty homeless men were cared for, and while this num- ber crowded the rooms beyond the point of comfort Superintendent McMichael had not the heart to turn away any poor and hungry man. In conversation with a Star reporter today. he said: “The mission is not trying to do as much charitable relief Work ag it did a few years ago. It has been charged against the mission, I know, that we have given assistance to many who did not deserve it, and that the existence of the mission has served to attract an undesir- able element to this city. This charge is without foundation, as I ain sure any one will Fealize who investigates our methods. We demand pay from every man whom we assist, If not in money then in labor. When an comes to us for a meal or a night's lodging we show him to the woodpile, and tell him how much he must chop or saw before he can-have relief at our hands. If he is a professional hobo the sight of the woodplile gives him a cold chill, and he gives us the go-by afterward. In the case of the deserving poor, by that I mea: men who are willing to work, but who are un- able to fird employment, the wood yard is an unqualified success. They would rather work for what they get than take it like a beggar and feel that just so much of thelr self-respect is gone. We have had an un- usual number of applications for assistance, corsidering the fact that this is early in December, but so far we have been able to get along pretty well.” Board of Trade. Mr. S. W. Woodward, the president of the board of trade, said to a Star reporter this morning: “It is hoped that the Suggestion from the Commissioners to the board of trade for the appointment of a committee to aid in the alleviation of suffering ihis winter wil result in the formation >of a perm= ment society for the improvement of the Conuition oF the poor oi ue vucy of waou- ington, The letter of the Commissioners will be presented to the board of directors of the board of trade this afternoon, and, I doubt not, will receive favorable cun- sideration. “Socleties such as I have referred to are now thought to be an indispensable part of organized charity, and very properly cover such work or topics as tenement house reform, which would mean in our city the building of better houses in al- leys, and the doing away with houses which are at present in insanitary condition establishment of better methods in dealing with the dependent classes and lifting them up to a position of indep2adence, “The effort of organized charity is to bring about co-operation of with private charitable tnstitutions and agencies, to the end that duplication of relief may be checked and relief given to the worthy. As Alexander Johnson, se retary of the board of state charities of the state of Indiana, says, in his paper on ‘The Co-cperation of Public with Private Charitable Agencies,’ before the interna- tional congress in 1893: ‘A charity organiza- tion does not agree to do relief work, but does agree to see it done; so that ff cne re- lief agency fails, it can and will secure another.’ “In dealing with applicants ‘or charity, today public consciences by throwing an alms to them, or sending a check to the relief committe. The truest charity is to assist by counsel and advise those who need assistance Until such time as they may again become self- supportin; —— WIFE LOCATED. Mr. B. F. Holmes Lived im Norwalk, Con Mr. B. F. Holmes of Norwalk, Conn., died in the Sibley Memorial Hospiial Mon- day, and his remains are at J. R. ¥ righs's undertaking establishment, awaiting di- rections from his wife. Mr. Holmes had been here several weeks, and about the A8th of last month he called at the Young Men’s Christian Association and asked Sec- retary Mutler to direct him to a hospital. He was suffering from asthma and wanted treatment. Mr. Mutler went with him to the Emergency Hospital, some medicine. He would not ve kept there, because this hospital is not intended for such purposes. ‘Then he decided to go to the Sibley Memorial, and before xcing he turned over to Mr. Mutler for safe keep- ing $200 in cash and about 700 in bonds He declined to give any information con- cerning his identity further than his name, for he said he did not want tis family to know he was sick. After his death an identification card relative, Lewis Holmes, lived in Dutchess county, N. Y., and he was located in the town of Patterson. From him Inspector Hollinberger learned that the dead man’s wife lived in Norwalk. This morning a telegram was sent to Chief Bradley cf the Norwalk police force and a ceply received this afternoon said he had found Mrs. Holmes, and that she would commu: with the authorities here. > -— PURE Foo. Several Dealer: of the Law. stance proven to be not what is required by law, Willis Johnston, a grocer, of 72) 7th street, was fined $5 in the Police Court this afternoon by Judge Miller. The prose- cution was brought under the pure food law, and District Chemist John D. Hird appeared as complaining witness. “If a stop is not put to this practice. remarked Prosecuting Attorney Muliown “we may some day find out that plain -lir is handed out when we ask for pumpkin e. Mr. Johnston explained that he pur- chased the substance as cream of tartar from a wholesale house with which he has been dealing for twelve years past. “The business men of this city,” said the judge, “I am sure do not intend to practice fraud. In my opinion they buy their goods in good faith, but they should protect themselves by demanding a guarantee from the wholesalers. I have explained the law several times now and hereafter shall ex- pect the dealers to obey it. A fine of $5 is imposed. J. T. D. Pyles, a grocer of 3d street and Maryland avenue northeast, was before the court on the sam> charge. He stated that the substance was sold at one of his branch stores and without his knowledge. He was also fined $. A similar amount was paid by Thomas M. Wehrly, a druggist of 237 H street northeast, for selling a precipitate of sulphur that was not of the strength asked for by the customer. Baltimore Markets. BALTIMORE, December 3.—Flour firm, unchang- ed—recelpts, 28,377 barr is, 168 sales, 350. ‘barr ’ month, 80% asked; Fel + SOTGANTA, : Ste | No. 2 red, S44 asked receipts, $0448 bushels: ports, none; stoc 3,274 bush bushels— eae - seas grade, S84a92%. Corn steady —spot, 28%a29: BStya2s%; Jenuary, 2st February, 28%: steamer mixed, —recelpts, exports, 300 stock, sales, 66,000 it by samp! i bushels els; exports, G89 bushels." Hye ea: Western, 45 sales 104 bushels; "exports, none; stock, 13 Hay firm—chol-e thnothy, $13.50a$14. Grain freights rather more ive—steam to Liverpool per bushel, 34.a%%,d. February: Cork for orders per quarter, 353d. Ibe: tember; 3s. 34d. January. Sagar steady. un. changed. “Butter and cays firm, unchanged. Cheese steady, unchanged. Whisky unchanged. — Government Bonds, Quotations reported by Corson & Macart- 2 per cents, registered... 4 per cents, coupon of 1907. 4 per cents, registered of 190 4 per cents, cou 4 per cents, coupon of 1904. registered of 1904. r cents of 1897. ency 6 per cenis of 1898. Curren:y 6 per ceuts of 1599. > Grain and Cotton Markets. Furnished by W. B. Hibbs & Co., 1421 F street, members New York stock exchange, correspondents Messrs. Ladenburg, mann & Co., New Yor! April. too many people are content to case ‘heir | where he got! found among his effects showed that a | For selling as cream of tartar a sub- | G | 2| “| bid, 5415 asked. Metropolitan, 109 bi Thal: | |FINANCE AND: TRADE Speculative Circles Awaiting Advioes From Washington. EFFECT OF THE RETALIATORY MEASURE Grangers Depressed by the Storms in the West. ————— ee GENERAL MARKET REPORTS ——_ + Special Dispatch to ‘The Evening Star. ‘EW YORK, December 3.—The failure to dislodge long stocks in any considerable quantities this morning discouraged the ag- gressiveness of the pessimistic element and resulted in a moderate recovery 1n values after the first hour. London's early priges were fractionally lower and the volume of foreign business dwindled to insignificant Proportions. ‘The room is short of the more active issues and finds little encouragement in a market which advances as much on purchases of one thousand shares as it de- clines on sales of double that amount Pending definite advices from Wa ton no noteworthy changes in the p ing speculative conditions are likel! street, or such part of it as is not preju- diced by commitments in the steck marr ket, is almost unanimously of the opin on that Congress will do nothing to retard a business revival. There may, however, be occasional lapses in this policy of ccnser- vatism and professional attacks on values are to be expected during such periods. ‘The retaliatory proclamation against many was variously construed as a specu- lative factor, fears of strained commercia relations with that country being partially offset by the routine character of the ac- tion. The market hesitated noticeably at the time of the announcement and may reflect the real significance of the document later on, It is not likely, however, that the ao- tion, being divested of surprising features, will result in any serious diplomatic con- trovers Railroad earnings reported during day were, in the main, anfavorable. St. Paul's report for the fourth week in No- vember reflects a decrease of $151,504, mak- ing the total decrease for the mouti $678,107, The steady decreases’ since July 1 for the system 1} the total 6 to date up to $1,130 Rock Tsiand ports a decrease of $19,138 for of November, hut shows a gain of $108, since January 1. The storms in the west, coupled with these reports, invited renewed selling of the Granger sha’ but the movement was limited to fractional declines only. Manhattan was active under an improved nand for both accounts. The clique ntified with previous rallies in this prop- erty were again active in {is support to- The much-talked-of improvement in fllc service and equipment can only be mplished by liberal expenditures of ney, and the source from which th= stm necessary is to come is not disclosed by any of the company’s recent bal sheets. The @efinite announcement of the bulld- ing of a large independent sugar refinery had a depressing influence in the stock of | the American Company. At the decline, | however, a good demand was éncountored and a sharp recovery ensued. Whatever | market action develops ax the result of the \ | re the month de | Gensian incident mentioned above, this property is likely to be most liberally in- fluenced. Advicés from the west announce’, the probability of the adoption cf a pro’ able agreement looking to more n onious action among the independent dis- | tillers and the new Spirits Compa The | Stock of the latter company was I | the announcement 1 pool. Money loaned freely at 13 and foreign exchange w mer under a better demand. . WINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL per cent, ewhat The following are the opening,the highest ‘and the lowest and the closing prices of the | New York stock market today, a3 ~eported | by Corson & Macartney, members New | York stock exchange. ‘Correspondents, | Messrs. Moore & Schley. No. 80 Broadway. Open. High. Low. Close. American Spirits... 1B By 14 | American Sugar Us 116 American Sugar, Pfd_ 04 104 | American Tobacco. i6y American Cotton Oil | Atchison... = | Baltimore & Onio. | Bay State Gas. Canada Southern.. ! Canada Pacific... Chesapeake & Onic ©. CC. & St. Louls Den. & Kio Grande, Pra. | Erie... General “Eieciric iMinois Central Laclide Gas. | Lake Shore S55 | Lousville & Nashville Me:ropolttan Trac | manhattan Elevated | Michigan Central. Missouri Paciti National Lead G National Lead Co., Pfd. New Jersey Central... New York Centra! Northern Pacitic. Northern Pacitic, North American. Ont. & Wester: Pacific Mail. Phila. & Read Pullman ¥. ©. Southern Ky., Pf Phila. Traction. Texas Pacific. ‘denn. Coal and iron Union Pacific... U.S. Leather pa Wabash, Pfd.... Wheeling & I. Erie. Wheeling& L. Erie,Pid. Western Union Tel. Silver... o'clock m.—Capital Trac- cetrie Light. 10 at SG; 6 at ) at 6%; 20 at Hk; 30 at 6%, 1iMy bid. laneons Teonds. yt, asted. 100 bid and A.. 100 iid. rust 5s, F and Trost Sa, A. and O.. 100 bid. Washington Market © Ist Gs, 108 bid. Washington Market iS Imp. Gs, TON bd Washington Market Company ext. tis, 10S. bid. Masonic Hall Association Ss, 10% bi ank Stocks. Bank of Washinzi« se Hi He 40 bid. B vid. “Farmers and Mv tes’, 175 bid, 190 asked. Seco 1 ms", 118 Wid, 130 axked. mibla, 118 wid. Capital, 113 Wid. “West End, Wid, “111 asked. aders’, 05 bid, 105 asked, “Lincoln, 191 bid, 108 ‘Onto, 96 asked. Compantes.--National Safe asked. Wastrington Lean r asked. American Seouct I. 142 asked. Capttal Traction Comp and Trust, 119 b and ‘Trust, 135 Railroad” Stocks, | 50 bid. Gas and Electric Light Btocks. bid, 46 asked. Georgetown Gas, . "U.S. Electric Light, 87 bid, 0 asked, Insurance Stocks.—Firemen’s, 33 ‘bid. 34 bid, 43 asked. Metropolitan, 66 bid. 50 bid. Potomac, @5 bid. Arlington. German-American, 150 bid. National Caton, 9 iid, 14 axked, Columbia, 11% Wid, 14 asked. | Riges: 7% bid. 7% asked. People's, 5 9 asked. Commercial, 4% Title Insurance Stocks.” Real asked. Columbia Title, & bid, ington Title, 644 asked.” District relephone Stocks. Pennsylvania, esapenke and Potomac. SS bh = 15 jer Tdnotyne, bid, 81 asked, fanmtone wlonetsps. Bly bid, 7 asked. ' Washington Market, 10 bid. Great Fi 120 bid, 1 mboat, 100 Mra. Sarah E. Mink Dead. WATERTOWN, N. Y., December 3.—Mrs. Sarah E. Mink, national president of the Women's Auxiliary of the G. A. R., died at her home in this city today, aged fifty-niw years.