Evening Star Newspaper, January 5, 1897, Page 1

o— ——$<$<$<<————————————_——_— —¥————— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Peszsylvania Avenue, Cor. Te St, by The Even’ag Star Ne t Company. 8. H. KaverMaNe’ Prest Tew ‘York Ofce, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers In the city by carriers, on thelr own account, at 10 cents er week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the Sounter 2 cents each. ‘By mall—a re in United Stat@ or Canada—fostage prepald—60 cents ath. Saturday Quintante Sheet Star, $1 per year, with The Ene ny Star. Inge added. $3.1 Lett’ tae Test Ogice at Washingtoa, D. C., red at the Post Cres ) mail matter. = fons must be paid in advance. made known on application. GEN. WALKER DEAD The Well-Known Political Economist Stricken With Apoplexy. DIED AT HIS HOME IN BOSTON President of the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology. ——————— THIS DISTINGUISHEDSERVICES = BOSTOD anuary 5.—Gen. Francis A. Walker, president cf the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology, and widely known as a political economist and litterateur, was stricken with apoplexy at his home in this city early this morning and died soon after- ward Gen. Walker's Career. Francis Amasa Walker was born in Bos- ton July 2. 1840. He graduated at Amherst in 186, and began the study of law under Charles Devens and George F. Hoar in Worcester. He joined the 15th Massachu- setts Volunteers, commanded by Col. Dev- ers, on August 1, 1S61, as sergeant major istant adjutant general of Couch’s division with the rank of jor and was promoted cclonel on the aif of the 2d Army Corps December 2, hereafter he continued with that corps adjutant general, serving successfully on the staffs of General Gouverneur K. War- ren and Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, and was wounded at Chancellorsville May He captured at Ream'’s Sta- tion August it. Walker was confined in Libby prison, quence of which his health was im- 1 so that he resigned on January 12, Tae brevet of brigadier general of volunteers was conferred on him March 13, 1865. He taught Latin and Greek at Williston Seminary during 1865-7, and then was as- sistant editor of the Springfield Republi- ean. In Service in Washington. In 1869 he became chief of the bureau of Statistics In the Treasury Department, and in 187 he held the office of superin- tendent of the ninth census. During 187 he was commissioner of Indian affairs. He was called to the professorship of po- litical economy and history in the Sheffield tentifie school of Yale College in 1878, and that chair until 1881, when he was elected to the presidency of the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology. Meanwhile, from May till November, 1876, he was f of the bureau of awards at the world’s fair in Philadelphia, and during he was superintendent of while on leave of ab- He held the lectureship arvard in 188% residing in New Haven he was a nber of the city and state boards of education, and on his removal to Boston called on to serve similerly in that The degree of A. M. was conferred on him by Amherst in 186% and by Yale in 1873; that of Ph. D. by Amherst in 5 and that of LL. D. by Amherst and Yale in ISSI, by Harvard in 1883, by Columbia in_ISSv, and by St. Andrew’s, Scotland, in 1888. He was United States commissioner to the international monetary conference in Paris in 1878, and was elected in 178 to the National Academy of Sciences. He was pri nt of the American Statistical So- ciety and of the American Economic Asso- jon, and was an honorary fellow of the Royal Statistical Society of London. His writings include annual reports as superintendent of the ninth census, as com- missioner of Indian affairs, as superintend- ent of the tenth census, and as president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- > DEEP REGRET EXPRESSED. A Prominent Figure in Washington Scientific Circles. Gen. Francis A. Walker was in Washing- ton Thursday, in attendance upon the American Statistical Association, one of the eldest sctentific bodies in the country. He remained in Washington during the ses- siors of the convention and renewed many of his old acquaintances in this city. Gen. Walker was as well known in scienzific and literary circles of Washington as he was in Boston, probably, and had a great many warm friends and admirers at the capital. He was chief of the bureau of statistics of the Treasury Department prior to 1870, and, of course, his services in connection with the management of the ninth and are well known to all peo- nt with public affairs. itol the news of Gen. Walker's death was received with profound regret. He was known personally to many repr sentatives and senators. He had :nany friends in both branches of Congress, nd his sudden and entirely unexpected death came as a blow to them all. Representative Walker of Massachusetts, who is a distant kinsman of Gen. Walker, Was much moved by the sad Intelligence. “He was one of the warmest-hearted men that ever live ald Representative Wal- ker, “and one of the best of friends.” Mr. Walker paid a high tribute to the qualities of the distinguished statistician, his death would be a distinct loss country. Senator Hoar of Massachusetts was also ened by the news. Senator d law with him, and their re- ve always been of the most inti- ndliness. Senator Hoar expressed profound sorrow. I had the utmost confidence in him,” aid he, “so much so that when President Arthur was making up the tariff commis- sh I urged the appointment of Gen. Walker as the New England member of the commission. Althovgh Gen. Walker was well kaown as a free-trader, I had h ccnfidence In his fatriess and in his *s perfectly willing to have w England upen the com- nator Hoar considered Gen. Walker the best authority in the courtry upon eco- nomic science. Mr. ¢ of (Cerroll D. Wright, the commissioner labor, was also a personal friend of n. Walker's. When the news of his th was conveyed to him he expressed ne most sincere regret. His relations with en. Walker had always been of the most gratifying nature, and he paid a high tribute to Gen. Walker's management of the ninth and tenth censuses. Mr. Wright has in his possession a letter which ne prizes highly, being a communication from Ger. Walker to him, tmade a great many years ago, when Mr. Wright was starting out upen his career as a statistician, urg- s him to be above all things fair and un- MMased by any consideration except the de- fire to prepare statistics that would tell the ‘Wruth regardless of all els~ ——_e TREASURER’S SUICIDE. BANK Christian r, Jr, of Pittsburg = Himself. G, Pa.. January 5.—Christian treasurer of the Nation’s Bank for Savings, committed suicide some time last night. His body was discovered this morning hanging from the rafters in the PITTSRU Schauer, jr., president of the bank says his accounts are straight, the auditing committee having Just compieted the audit for the past year. hauer has not been in good ® year and was'very morose. for It this was the cause of the saicidee eee | How Recognition Has Been Accomplished among the rolls deposited tn this depart- closet of the Allegheny gymnasium. | No. 13,680. ; WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1897—TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS. MR. HALE’S MEMORANDUM Former Editor of The Times Ac- * cused of Libel. BENCH WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST by This Government Heretofore. A Voluminous Document Submitted te the Senate Today by the Senator From Maine. District Commissioner Truesdell the Aggrieved Person. Senator Hale today presented to the Sen- ate a “memorandum con the method of rec- ognition of foreign governments and for- eign states by the government of the United States from 1789 to 1897,” which, notwith- standing the document makes no such claim, unquestionably is intended to bear upon the question of the recognition of Cuba. Assuming that the recognition of the Spanish American republics by the United States and England may be taken as typical, the conclusions reached are: 1. Definitive independence cannot be held to be established, and recognition is conse- quently not legitimate so long as a sub- stantial struggle is being maintained by the formerly sovereign state for the recov- ery of its authority; and that, 2. A mere pretension on the part of the formerly sovereign state, or a struggle so inadequate as to offer no reasonable ground for supposing that success may ultimately be obtained, is not enough to keep alive the rights of the state, and to prevent for- eign countries from falling under an obli- gation to recognize as a state the commu- nity claiming to have become one. The memorandum takes up seriatim the various acts of recognition by this govern- ment, beginning with the recognition of the independence of the French republic in 1798, when President Washington received M. Genet, who had been duly accredited as minister after the proclamation of the re- public by the convention of 1792. He calls attention to the fact that, in order that this government might be prompt in recog- nition of the various changes in the French form of governmen: at this critical period the President supplied the American minis- ter to Paris with a blank form for that purpose. Coming down to the close of the Franco- German war in 1870, when the new republic was proclaimed by Gambetta, it is repre- sented that Mr. Washburne, our minister at Paris, was authorized by telegraph from the Secretary of State to give recognition, the President tendering his congratulations. The document is quite voluminous. It concludes with a note from Mr. An- drew H. Allen, chief of the bureau of rolls and library of the State Department, by whom the memorandum was compiled, who says the facts narrated have been gather- ed in an examination of the records of the department to follow along the lines indi- cated by J. Q. Adams and W. E. Hall. Re- ferring to Secretary Frelinghuysen’s recog- nition of the flag of the Congo state Mr. Allen says: “It does not appear to have been addressed to the state, but is in the nature of a proclamation. No rule has been found requiring that the diplomatic agent of the recognizing power should, to complete recognition, be received officially or formally by the state recognized. “No law of Congress exercising a power of recegnition by Congress has been found WHAT THE CHARGE IS Charles G. Conn, late the proprietor of the Washington Times, was yesterday in- dicted on a charge of criminally lbeling District Commissioner George Truesdell. The indictment, returned late yesterday af- ternoon, was withheld from publication until today, but a bench warrant for Conn’s arrest was immediately issued. The indictment recites the fact that upon the day the alleged libel was published (December 2, 1896,) Commissioner Trues- deil had occupied his office for two and a half years, and that by virtue of his in- cumbency of the said office, it was his duty to use and exercise certain possessed pow- ers, authorities, faculties and abilities sole- ly in the public interest, as well as to rec- ommend and endeavor to procure suitable and reasonable appropriations of money by Congress to be used and expended for pub- lic purposes in the District. Aiso, that it was the duty of said Commissioner Trues- dell to procure and endeavor to procure the expenditure of said appropriations in ac- cordance with law, and, in the exercise cf an honest discretion, in the best interests of the public. Then the indictment goes on to say that one Charles G. Conn, well knowing the premises and being a person of evil and wicked mind and of a most malicious dis- position, and wickedly, maliciously and un- lawfully contriving and intending as much as in him lay to oppress, aggrieve, vilify and defame the said George Truesdell and te injure his good name, fame and reputa- tion, and cause him to be removed from the office aforesaid and to prevent his reap- pointment, did, of his (Conn’s) great na- tred, malice and ill-will toward the said Truesdell, on the 2d of December, 1896, wickedly, maliciously and unlawfully write and publish and cause and procure to be written and published in a certain news- paper called the Evening Times, printed, issued and circulated here, a certain false, scandalous, malicious and defamatory libel of and concerning the said George Trues- dell, containing ‘therein, among other things, the false, scandalous, malicious, defamatory and libelous words and matter following, that is to say: The Alleged Libel. “Mr. Truesdell” (meaning thereby the said George Truesdell) has been by far the most unsatisfactory and the most cordially disliked of any of the civil Commissioners of the District. He has worked his office end authority purely for his personal ben- efit, and has made no bones about it (mean- ing thereby that he, the said George Trues- dell, during his said incumbency of said office, had shamelessly, flagrantly, notor- jously and corruptly used the power ani authority, faculties and abilities so pos- sessed by him, the said George Truesdell, as such incumbent of said office, solely for the advancement of the personal ends and pecuniary interests of him, the said George Truesdell, and to the prejudice of the pub- lic interest, which it was the duty of him, the said George Truesdell, as the incumbent of the office aforesaid, to solely regard, ad- vance and promote), and which sald cer- tain false, scandalous, malicious and de- famatory libel contained therein, among other things, the other dnd further false, scandalous, malicious, defamatory and libelous words and matters following, that ig to say: “He is interested in property in the ex- treme northeast and northwest” (meaning thereby that he, the said George Truesdell, was the owner in whole or in part of real estate in the District of Columbia situ- ated and lying in, and contiguous to the northeastern and northwestern sections of the city of Washington, in said District) “and has sought to divert public money to those places instead of spending it upon more populous sections” (meaning thereby that he, the said George Truesdell, be- cause of such his ownership of the real estate aforesaid, had corruptly used the said power and authority and the said faculties and abilities possessed by him, the said George Truesdell, as tke incum- bent of the office aforesaid, in an endeavor to procure appropriations of money by the Congress of the said United States to be expended in public improvements at and near the real estate so owned by him, the said George Truesdell, as aforesaid, in dero- gation and to the prejudice of the public interest which he, the said George Trues- dell, well knew required that the endeavors of him, the said George Truesdell, in the premises should have been addressed to the obtaining of such appropriations to be expended elsewhere; and further meaning thereby that he, the said George Truesdell, because of such his ownership of the real estate aforesaid, had corruptly used the said power and authority and the said faculties and abilities by him, the said George Truesdell, as the incumbent of the office aforesaid, to secure improper- ly the expenditure at and near the said real estate so owned by him, the said George Truesdell, of portions of the public money appropriated by the Congress of the said United States for the purpose of public improvements in the said District, which he the said George Truesdell knew should have been expended elsewhere, to the end that the real estate aforesaid, of him, the said George Truesdell, might*be especially benefited and its value increased thereby); and which said certain false, scandalous, malicious and defamatory libel coatained ment notwithstanding the statement of Wharton (digest international law) and re- Peated by historians and others that ‘Prs- ident Jackson on March 3, 1837, signed a resclution of Congress for the recognition of the independence of Texas.’ “The act providing for the civil and dip- lomatic expenses of the government ap- proved on that day contained an item ‘for the outfit and salary of a diplomatic agent to be sent to the republic of Texas when- ever the President of the United States may receive satisfactory evidence that Tex- as is an independent power and shall deem it expedient to appoint such minister.’ It may have been an act of recognition when this government, on October 19, 1870, di- rected Mr. Armstrong, our consul at Rome, who had received an exequatur from the papal states, to apply for a new one from the king, upon the decree of the same date uniting the Roman provinces, but it hardly appears so. No deviation of method from the rules indicated has been found. The republican government of Spain, for in- stance, in 1878, was recogni: new credentials to General Sickles at id, which he presented only to the president of the republic. The latest recognition by this government was that of the newly estab- shed government of the Greater Republic of Central America, the President having received Mr. Rodriguez, its representative, December 24, 1896.”” ee THE FIGHT ON PRITCHARD. Senator Butler Has Gone to North Carolinn to Hold the Populists. Senator Butler and all the other populist leaders who can be arrayed with him are making a more desperate fight than ever on Senator Pritchard in North Carolina. Tke election will not take place for sev- eral weeks, but that doesn’t prevent the liveliest kind cf a scrimmage. Pritchard and the republican workers are on the field, and Butler and the populists will be there. Senator Mutler has gone to North Carolina. It is already charged that the popu'ist leaders are trying to get all the populist members in one boarding house in Raleigh, so that they can be worked on more easily. The best information here is that the populists fear the election of Pritchard, despite their fight. They pretend to think that his use of federal patronage will pull him throvgh. Senator Butler is every day devoting himself to either directly or in- directly attacking this part of the Pritch- ard campaign. He and his friends eharge that Pritchard has been given unlimited authority to deal out federal positions to secure his re-election. With this as a text they are holding up awful stcries to the populists and aro now reading out of the Party all populists inclined to vote for the republican senator. Dark hints of selling out, and the terrible consequences of this, are being thrown out. is said to be going right ahead, keeping out of the newspapers as much as possible. He is mingling with the now on. the [aes and Is said to find a friendly feel- ing. following, that is to say: “He (meaning thereby the said George Truesdell) has used his office (meaning thereby his said office of Commissioner of said ict) wholly for his oper] te it gains, and he wit! not be (meaning thereby that the sald George Truesdell had, during his said incumbency of said office of Commissioner of the District of Columbia, corruptly used the said pow- er and authority, faculties and abilities ——__-+e+_____ Presidential Nominations. The President sent the following nomina- tions to the Senate: Zs State—Leonard C. H. Schlemm of New York, consul for the United States at Cape Hatien, Haiti. Postmasters—Gilbert S. Benham, Ham- den, Conn.; Winfred A. Torrey, South Braintree, Mass.; Watson 8. Menefee, Un- ion Springs, Ala.; Thos. R. Jacoway, Fort Payne, Ala.; John F. Crampton, Globe, Arizona territory; Bedford F. Hamilton, Wynne, Ark.; John C. Jones, Titusville, Fia.; R. O. Cresep, Lakeland, Fla; Dixon, West Point, ett epidg M. ell, Silver City, Idaho; Charles Montpelier, Idaho; Chas. W. Merrilies, Winnetka, Ill.; Henry W. Booth, Sheffield, li; Edward W. Wilcox, Rocky Mount, N’ C.; A, L. Fairchild, Gainesville, Tex.; L. Waite, Omro, Wis.; Winfield 8. Mercer, Lee, Wynnewood, I. T.; Geo. F. Colcord, Sutherland, Iowa; Alva Humes- ton, Humeston, Iowa; George A. Crane, Dexter, lowa, Navy—Joseph Fyffe of Massachusetts, to paymaster in the navy. proper use by him, the said dell, of the said power and authority, fac- Possessed Trues- y | ulties and abilities by him, the said George pprusedell, 4 a8 the seourihent of Truesdell, had veen pointed to hold said office) to the ecpee scandal, infi and disgrace of him, the said George , and against the form of emporio: — case made and Ernment of the-sald Gnivea Statens oO Mr. Conn Net Here. be an assistant —_a ‘Today’s Cabinet Meeting. 3 What Assistant Sopretary of the Treasury Wike Learned af Their Methods. He Talks to a Star Reporter of His Reeent Trip to Florida. Assistant Secretary Wike resumed his of- ficial duties at the Treasury Department this morning, after a two weeks’ visit to Florida, during which time he made a quiet investigation of the methods employed by Cuban fillbusters. His principal business was at Jacksonville, Key West and Tampa, although he also made visits to smaller ports. Sympathy With the Insurgents. In an informal talk with a Star reporter about his trip teday Mr. Wike said that outside of a number of leading cigar man- ufacturers in - Tamp& the sentiment thrcughout Florida, both American and na- tive Cuban, was almost entirely with the insurgents. On account of this sentiment the government officers find it very difficult to make much headway in their efforts for the suppressign of filibustering expedi- ticns. The inhabitants not only purposely mislead the officers, but in many cases give material aid to the filibusters: in their work. Mr. Wike said he believed that the officers were doing their best under these adverse circumstances to uphold the law, but not, he admitted, with much success. He said he had an interview with the owner of the Dayntless, who complained of his treatment :by government officers. He found fault particularly with the of- ficial conduct of his brother, who is the collector of customs at Jacksonville. His vessel, he said, often’ had been detained and subjected to. search, unwarranted by law, and he asked that instructions he given the officials to cease what he termed their “unwarranted interference” with him and his vessel. Mr. Wike replied to him that his actions with respect to the law had not been of a character to inspire con- fidence as to his future intentions, and that he saw nothing in the conduct of the officials to warrant cefsure—at least, not for over-zealousness. Impossible to Deliver Goods. According to Mr. Wike's observations it is impossible under existing conditions to ship arms and ammunition to the insur- gents without a violatfon of the neutrality laws, for the reason th it is impossible to deliver the goods to the 4msurgents with- out carrying men to, thé island for that purpese, and.such @ course th his opinion would be contrary to the.jaw against mili- tary expeditions. Mr. Wike said that it was almost impossible for the filibusters to transfer their cargoes to the insur- gents at any point on the coast, and even if they made a landing without discovery by the Spanish blockading fleet it would be necessary to send the arms aud ammu- nition to the insurgents overland. This could not be done without men, and while it was lawful to ship and ammuni- tion, it was,not lawful t. take man for the purpose of delivering them into the hands of the insurgent, Mr. Wike said he was merely expressing’ his opinion on this subject. His visit to Florida was semi- official in character and he said he did not expect to make any report to the depart- ment. He stoof® ready, however, to give any information in his possession to the federal authorities in this city in case they desired it. —___+-e+—_____ THE UTAH SENATORSHIP. A Lively Fight for the Position Ex- pected in the Legislature Next Week. The Utah legislature, which has a sena- torial contest on its. hands like many of the others now in session, will meet next Monday, and the most interesting business before it will be the election of a United States serator to succeed Senator Brown. Of the sixty-three members of the legis- lature fifty-nine are silver democrats. ‘dhe others are republicans. Among Utah men in the city it is stated that the fight: for the senatorehip is spir- ited. The candidates are ex-Hepresenta- tive J. L. Rawlins, well known in Wash- ington; Judge O. W. Powers, formerly a ™member of the supreme coprt before the territory was admitted? to statehood, and chairman of the democratic state commit- tee for four years; H. P. Henderson, the democratic law partref of Senator Brown; Moses Tha<cher, fermerly a Mormon apostle, but now bitterly fought by the lormons. These are e#nnounced candi- dates. Others who are mentioned in case theré should be a deadlock are A. W. Mc- Cune and R. C. Chambers. Senator Brown has absolutely no chance of re-election, and the fight is between the men named, with Judge Powers, Thatcher and Henderson in the lead. Mr. Rawlins, it is said, would have been certain of elec- tion had he not announced last summer that he would not @ candidate. Mr. Henderson is a strong man, but is suspect- ed of not being as strong for the white metal as the people of the state desire. He recently issued a statement declaring him- self for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1, independent of any other nation. Mr. ‘Thatcher is developing strength, despite the, Mormon opposition, but some of the Utah men here believe that the race finally iies between Judge Powers and Mr. Rawlins, both substantial men and popular in the state. Senctor Brown, it will be remembered, refused to bolt the republican party, as did his colleague, Senator Cannon, and made an uphill fight for McKinley and the repub- lican ticket. For that reason he stands no chance of re-election: Oo HANGED AT THE SAME TIME. Double Execution. at Norfolk This ding. NORFOLK, Va.,. January. 5.—William Downing and Charles Willams expiated their crimes om the same scaffold this morning betweemn: Cen 8 and 9 o'clock in the yaré of the city jail. It was one of the most successful hangings eyer known in the south. ~ . The drop was ‘by an unknown hand through a panel. ing and Wil- ams fell together at ong it of the rope. They were allowed to ty about twenty minutes, and when cut. @ coroner's jury rendered a i ver of their death, About one huni witnessed the bi > comprising the sheriff and his deputies and assistants, aeveral members of the police f the concerned in the case, officers . counties and & few newspaper men, 4..- % ~ 8, last April, inken quarrel aboard a schooner in bor, split open les Beks. Down- the head of his friend, fired at a man, bu! ing at. 2 his mark and fatally shot Emma For Out-of-Town Readers. ~The Saturday Evening Star ts pr MR. CONN INDICTED|CU84N FitiBusTERS/QFFICERS TO RETIRE Major General Ruger Will Cross the Age Line in April. MANY CHANGES IN ARMY AND NAVY Three Flag Officers Will Be Lost This Year. OTHER RETIREMENTS Many important changes will occur in the personnel of the army and navy during the precent year. -Several appointments in the higher grades will devolve upcn President Cleveland, but the large majority will not beccme necessary until after his retire- ment from office. These changes will ail result from the operation of the laws which compel the retirement of officers of the army who have reached the age of sixty-four years, and of officers of the navy who have reached the age of sixty- two years. During the present year many officers who have served their country with distinction will be affected by these statutes. Retiring Department Commanders. In the army two department command- ers will be placed on the retired list, Maj. Gen. T. H. Ruger, the second ranking offi- cer of the army, commanding the Depart- ment of the East, with headquarters at New York, who will retire April 2, and Brigedier Gen. Frank Wheaton, command- ing the Department of the Colorado, who will reach the retiring age, May.8. Major General Wesley Merritt, commanding the Depzrtrent of the Missouri, will undoubt- edly succeed Gen. Ruger in command of the Department of the East, but in case he so elects, he will continue in his pres- ent command, and some one else will be selected as Gen. Ruger’s successor. The vacancy in thé grade of major general caused by Gen. Ruger’s retirement, would naturally fall to Gen. Jno. R. Brooke, com- manding the Department of Dakota, or to Gen. Wheaton, as the senior brigadier gen- erals, but their own early retirement may result in the selection of one of the yourger brigadier generals having longer to serve. The two retirements mentioned will vacate two important commands and will result in promotions all through the line. Commissary Changes. An earlier retirement than either of these, however, is that of Brig. Gen. M. R. Morgan, commissary general of subsist- ence, which occurs on the 18th of the pres- ent monta. Col. T. C. Sullivan of the sub- sistence department, and Gen. Morgan's principal assistant, is next in line of pro- motion, but he may not get the coveted commission, for the reason that he will himstif retire for age in November next, and the policy of the administration is ad- verse to short terms in bureau offices. His most formidable competitors for the com- missary generalship are Col. W. H. Bell, chief corimissary of the Department of the Colorado, and Lieut. Cols. 8. T. Cushing, W. A. Elderkin and W. H. Nash. Col. Cushing is on duty in this city, Col. Elder- kin in Chicago and Col. Nash at Vancouver barracks. Gen. Craighil to Retire. Another important staff vacancy in near prospect is that of chief of engineers. Brig. Gen. W. P. Craighill, the incumbent, will retire July 1. Col..H. M. Robert, formerly Engineer Commissioner of the District, and now stationed at New York city, and Col. John M. Wilson, in charge of public build- ings and grounds, are next in line of pro- motion, in the order named. For some un- explained reason, the impression is general in the engineer corps that the appointment will go to Col. Wilson. There would be no doubt whatever on that score if the ap- pointment devolved upon the present ad- ministration. Brig. Gen. G. D. Ruggles, adjutant gen- eral, will retire on account of age Septem- ber 11 next, ind the three officers next in rank in that department are Col. 0. D. Greene, stationed at San Francisco; Col. Samuel Breck, on duty at army headquar- ters, and Col. H. C. Corbin, stationed at New York. Col. Breck and Col. Corbin each have strong friends in the next ad- ministration, but Col. Greene's seniority and record will stand him in good stead. Naval Changes. The navy will lose three flag officers by retirement during the year—Rear Admiral Ino. G. Walker, president of the light house board, who will retire March 20; Rear Ad- miral Francis M-Ramsay,chief of the bureau of navigation, who will retire April 5, and Rear A@miral George Brown, the present ranking officer of the navy, now command- ing the navy yard at Norfolk, who will re- tire June 19 next. These retirements will make important changes in the navy, and considerable speculation is already afloat in connection therewith. The Seniority Rule. The consequent promctions being regu- lated by lew according to seniority, are known, but the question of assignments to the offices to be vacated is mere guess work and of no present value, because these arrangements will be made by a Sec- =o oe Nery as sor unnamed. ‘ommodores J. N. liller, Montgome: Sicard and E. O. Matthews will Decors rear admirals, and other promotions will follow in regular order. Commodore R. L. Phythian, superinten- dent of the naval observatory, will retire in July next, and Commodore R. R. Wal- lace will follow suit in November. Other officers who will retire during the present year are Medical Directors H. M. Wells and T. N. Penrose, Pay Director Caspai Schenck, Chief Engineers W. W. Dungan, 8. L. P. Ayres and Robert Potts, Chaplain J. K. Lewis, Naval Constructor F. L, Fer- nald, Z. L. Tanner, Commander J. C. Mo- rong and Prof. Simon Newcomb of th ‘Nautical office. er —+ eS THE PACIFIC RAILWAY DEBT. ¢ Resolutions of Instructions Introduc- ed in the California Legislature. SACRAMENTO, Cal. January 5.—In the assembly Mr. Belshaw has introduced a resolution instructing California’s delega- tion in Congress to_work agalust all Pacific railroad refunding bills, and in leu thereof to favor legislation providing for the fore- closure and sale of the roads upon condition that the government shall bid in the roads and operate them as a national enterprise for the benefit of the people. Mr. Caminetti offered a substitute, oppos- all extensions of Pacific roads’ debts, | senators and representatives to ionorable means to defeat the DISTRICT IN CONGRESS Bill in Regard to Expert Testimony in the Local Courts, andler Proposes to Reduce Government Clerks’ Salaries 10 Per Cent for Three Years. A bill to regulate expert testimony in the courts of the District of Columbia was in- troduced in the Senate today by Mr. Mor- rill, This bill provides that in all cases where expert tesiimony is necessary in the courts it shall be the duty of the trial judge, subject to review by the appellate court, to decide whether the skill of any person testifying as an expert is sufficieut to entitle him to be considered as such. In “cases involving the sanity of any person the court is to name a commission of three medical officers, skilled in the trea:ment of mental disorders, one to be chosen upon nemination of the government, one upon nomination of the defendant, and ane io be selected by the court. Ford's Theater Disaster. The committee on the Ford’s Theater disaster has completed its hearings on tes- timony for the government in the cases that were thrown out of the House bill, and which have come before the commission for a second hearing. The commission will hold a meeting tomorrow morning in Sena- tor Harris’ room at the Capitol, and will probably arrange to hear any additional tesiimony that claimants may desire to submit. A report from the commission may be expected within two or three weeks, in time, it is hoped, to have Con- gress take favorable action on any case that may be found upon re-examination to be thoroughly worthy. Wires for the Inaugural Committee. Mr. McMillan introduced a joint resolu- tion in the Senate today authorizing the Commissioners of the District.of Columbia to grant permits for the stringing of tem- porary overhead wires for use of the in- augural committee, these wires to be taken down within ten days after March 4. The Appropriation Bill. The subcommittee on appropriations hav- ing charge of the District appropriation bill will resume its sessions some time this week, the date, however, not having yet been fixed. Chairman Grout has returned to the city, Mr. Dockery is expected back tonight or tomorrow, and the other mem- bers will be on hand within a day or two. The committee will then proceed rapidly with the work of formulating the District appropriation bill. Among the members of the appropria- tions committee there seems to be a dispo- sition to treat the District bill with the same consideration that will be accorded other measures providing for the main- tenance of the government. While it is expected that the estimates, as submitted by the Commissioners, will be cut, it is not thought that the District will be al- lowed to suffer to any serious extent. It is said among the members of the appropria- tions committee that the depleted condition of the treasury must be borne in mind in the preparation of all appropriation bills, and that the District will have to take its place with the rest in this respect. It is not anticipated, however, that the propor- tion of the reduction in the District bill will be greater than in any other appro- priation bill. Fees for Health Office Records. The Commissioners’ bill providing that a small fee be charged all persons desiring transcripts from the records of the health office of the District was introduced in the Senate today by Mr. McMillan. To Reduce Government Salaries. Senator Chandler gave notice in the Sen- ate today of an amendment to the legisla- tive appropriation bill which will cause consternation among employes of the gov- ernment. This amendment provides that the salaries of all government employes be reduced 10 per cent after June 30, 1897, and that this reduction continue until three years have expired. The object of the bill is simply to permit the government to se- cure its labor during times of depression at a cheaper rate than prevailed when the country was prosperous. Another Retirement Bill. Chairrean Brosius of the House commit- tee on reform in the civil service introduced in the House late this afternoon a bill to provide for retiring clerks in the govern- ment service. Tiis bill will be taken up by the committee at its meeting next Friday, and considered with the Tawney bill, now pending. : The bill provides that, beginning with next July, there shall be deducted from the salary of each clerk in the ciassified service of the government 2 per cent monthly, the same to be deposited to the credit of a fund, to be known as the civil service re- tirement fund. This fund is to be invested by the Secretary of the Treasury in inter- est-bearing United States bonds, the bonds to be sold whenever necessary to provide cash. After the 1st of July, 1901, clerks may be retired at the rate of 7% per cent of the highest pay received at any time by them during their service. Those who shall be eligible for retirement are employes who have served twenty years and are mentally or physically disabled. They can be retired voluntarily or compuisorily. Every person who has reached the age of sixty years and has been employed for thirty years may be retired on their own application. Every person who has reached the age of seventy years and has served for thirty-five years shall be retired compulsorily. Applications for retirement shall be made to the civil service commission, and the commission is authorized to appoint a board, consisting of five employes at an aggregate salary of $7,400 a year, payable out of the retirement fund, to take charge of the business of retiring clerks. The bill provides that.any person who is discharged from the government service, or who dies before becoming eligible, shall have the amount of their contributions to the fund repaid. ——__. e+ ____ DR. PANCOAST DEAD. The Distinguished Philadelphia Sur- geon Passes Away. PHILADELPHIA, January 5.—Dr. Wm. H. Panccast, the distinguished physician and surgeon, died at his home, in this city, last night, aged sixty-four years. J Prof. Pancoast graduated from the Jef- ferson Medical College in 1856. After ob- If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. TWO LEGISLATURES Excitement Among the Delaware Lawmakers. a THE PARTIES ORGANIZE SEPARATELY a Governor Watson Recognizes the Democratic Body. WHAT MR. ADDICKS > SAYS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. DOV Del., January 5.—It looks as if J. Edward Addicks has fulfilled his prom- ise to give the people of Delaware a “rump” legislature. After being refused admission into the house of representatives in the reguiar assembly that convened at 11 o'clock this morning, the union republican contestants from Kent and Sussex counties went to the parlors of the Hotel Richard- son and organized another honse, with Dr. Thos. C. Moore of Kent county in the chair. The republicans of the senate, after four- teen hours’ hard fighting, broke away from the democrats at 11:30 this morning, and organized a second senate, with Fisher Pierce, a Higgins republican, and his col- league, James Alrichs, who is also a Hig- gins republican, refused to join the Ad- dicks senate, and went with the democrats. When the senate was organized it seated J. Frank Allee, the union republican con- testant from Kent. The democrats went to work and organ- ized their senate by electing Hezekiah Harringten speaker and by seating Robert Meredith, souator from Kent county. The regular house of representatives now con- sists of twenty-ore members, twenty demo- crats and one republican. The latter is a Higgins republican, who refused to join the Acdicks movement. The regular senate, however, will corsist only of five demo- crats. The house of the rump legislature ccnsists of fifteen members and the senate of three. Two of the hold-over senators were porticipants in the famous fight be- tween Addicks and Higgins. The springing of the rump legislature had a tendency to renew the excitement that prevailed last night, and now the rumor of the militia being called is again aficat. The sttuation borders on a crisis, and rioting ts expected at any mome: Governor Watson 1 issue a proclame- tion this afternoon recognizing the demo- cratic body. The ‘attitude of the union republicans is defiant. They declare that they offered the democrats a reasonable proposition by which the dispute could be settled, and that as they have disregarded it they pro- pose to give the democrats a good hard figat this winter. The union republicans’ contestants for seats in the house stalked into the hall and demanded their seats. The democrats had organized by electing Emory B. Rig- gin in the chair. The unton republicans were told that they were not wanted, and they walked out. There was no attempt at disorder. The whole thing was as harmonious as if done by clock work. In an interview J. Ed- ward Addicks said to The Star correspon- dent: “Weill, it looks like a fight, and # looks like the defeat of a democrat for the seat in the Senate. My friends are in earnest and have enly reached this con- clcsion after careful consideration. We ap- pretend the unjust treatment at the hands of the democrats of the house, and that is the rezson we made no attempt to force our recognition. We decided that discre- tion wis the better part of valor, and rather than see violence we concluded to meet and organize ourselves.” The democratic members of the sen- ate took charge of the chamber late last night and barricaded themselves inside. The republicans vainly tried to gain entrance. When they had agreed on their organization the democrats opened the dcors, with Hezekiah Harrington in the Speaker's chair. This was the signal for the republicans to spring their own legislature. Addicks had neld out to the democrats that if they seated Allee, the union repub- lican senator from Kenz, the house contest would be dropped. It is not known just what the Addicks legislature will do beyond the election of Mr. Addicks as senator. The gemocrats are having a bitter fight among themselves on the senatorship ques- tion. and it now looks as if James L. Wol- coti, ex-chanceilor, or some one he will name, will capture the prize. Gov. Watson recognized the democratic legislature at noon, when Secretary of State Whitman presented the senate with the governor's message. It is reported that there will be considerable trouble over the office of state trgasurer. The present treasurer is a union republican. There will be a caucus in a few days, and an attempt will be made to remove Adkins, the present treasurer. Adkins says he will not go out and will recognize only the Addicks legis- lature. The democrats say that Adkins must get out, even if they have to resort to force. — COUNTERFEITERS SENTENCED. George Sands and Mrs. Knapp Sen- tenced to Prison. TRENTON, N. J., January 5.—George Sands, alias Dr. Clark, and Mrs. May Knapp, who were recently convicted in the United States district court of passing sti- ver counterfeit dollars in Hoboken, were sentenced this morning by Judge Kirkpat- rick. Sands was given seven years in the New Jersey state prison, and Mrs. Knapp was sentenced to the Essex county peni- tentiary for a period of four years. Sands had previously written a letter to Judge Kirkpatrick, asserting his inno- cence, and stating that he had never been convicted before. He was confronted, however, with a certified copy of the rec- ord of his conviction and imprisonment in St. Louls on a similar charge of counter- feiting. When sentence was imposed Sands said it was very hard. Mrs. Knapp took her sentence calmly, and made @ bow to the court when it was announced. William Lott, the Newark letter carrier who recently pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzling letters, was given a sentence of one year in the coun-y penitentiary. Judge Kirkpatrick said that this was the minimum sentence. — VICTORIA MAY ABDICATE. Prominence Given to the Rumor ip London. LONDON, January 5.—The Westminster Gazette this afternoon gives prominence tc a report that Queen Victoria has decided tc reign in > Fagen in favor of the Prince ot Ws ————_ Senator Allison Leaves Dubuque.