Evening Star Newspaper, January 22, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. —— PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Peoseyivan's Avenne, Cor. 11th 8, by Ss ae ner Tru ree Kew York Ofce, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. les at the counter 2 ceats each. By mail—anywhere im the United States or Canada—postage prepald—60 cents th. saturday Quint ny $1 per year, with foreign postage a = Gntered atthe Fost eat ‘Washington, D. C., as second-class mail rater. €7 All mail subscriptions inst be paid in advance, Rates of advertising nade Knows on application. No. 13,695. WASHINGTON, D. ©. FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1897-FOURTEEN PAGES. FAMINE IN LNDIA|D!STRICT IN CONGRESS IMPOSTORS AT WORK! Taking Steps to Prevent Spread of the Plague. COLLISION OFF THE ENGLISH COAST Expedition Sent Out by the Royal Niger Company. CECIL RHODES RETURNS (opyrighted, 1807, by the Associated Press.) JHYLUM, Junjaub, January 22.—A spe- 1 correspondent of the Associated Press, who {s visiting the famine-stricken dis- tricts of India, accompanying the official mission engaged in the same work, has ar- rived here. An exhaustive inspection was made of the vast relief work known as the Jhylum canal, about which no less than 40,000 coolies are congregated. Of this number 12,000 persons, either infirm, aged or blind, are classed as non-workers. As the correspondent arrived here the coolies were just quitting work, and the scene recalled the spectacle of the great criental Mela. The preponderance of wo- men and children was noticeable. After visiting the tents, the officials of the mission traversed the bazaar market, a long, double line of mat huts thatched with grass. The market was filled with srain dealers, and heaps of wheat, barley, maize and millet were piled on the ground in front of the huts. Prices, it was remark- ed, had fallen slightly since the recent rains, which have caused a slight change for the better in the stricken districts; but, In spite of this, the prices asked for graiu were terribly high, the cheapest kind being double the normal price. The regular traders are furnished with huts free of charge, and from one hut tea, stewed goats’ flesh and other such luxuries Were dispensed to the customers, such as minor officials of the government, &c., who were rich enough to indulge in them. Hospital tents have been erected here for the care of the sick; but up to the present there has been no necessity to use them. The officials of the mission next made an inspection of the coolfe quarters, consisting of long rows of mat huts thirty feet apart. They are ranged on both sides of a broad. street, and are kept scrupulously Each hut is built to accommodate fifty persons, who are constantly under the supervision of-different: officiate. Visiting the Relief Works. The canal works were then visited, and a marvelous scene was witnessed. About 28,- 000 men and women were busily at work. Some were digging and others were carry- ing away the excavated earth in baskets upon their heads. The workers were a healthy, vigorous. cheerful lot of people, many of them singing as they progressed With the tasks allotted to them, and now and then glancing at their children, who Were playing about in the vicinity, ap- parently quite as healthy and strong as their parents. At the registering department the visiting officials had another interesting experience. Four clerks, seated on a high bamboo plat- form, were giving the new arrivals in search of relief work the slips of paper qualifying them for employment on the works. On these slips were inscribed the names, .caste, description and amount of wages to be paid to the workers, who were in turn told off to the different sections cf the canal. The greatest order and discipline pre- vailed on all sides, and there was a chee: fulness and regularity about the whole proceedings which reflected credit upon all concerned. Finally the mission officials visited the huts set apart for helpless non-workers. There again was evidence of good work upon the part of the government officials. The same extreme cleanliness prevaiied in and about the huts and every medical! care possible was bestowed upon those needing attention. Many babies have been born at the canal works, and the mothers of these infants are maintained free of charge, receive extra pay while they are incapacitated from do- ing hard work, and are given an additional sum of money for the maintenance of ‘heir babies. Deserted babies, or babies whose mothers are unable to suckle them, are fed on condensed milk by the medical staff. STOPPING PILGRIM TRAFFIC. Steps Taken to Prevent the Spread of the Plague. CALCUTTA, India, January 22.—The gov- ernment has ordered the stoppage on Feb ruary 2 of all pilgrim traffic from Bombay and Karachi, on account of the plague. There are now over 1,750,000 persons em- ployed on the relief works, and about 170,- «wo are receiving gratuitous relief. The principal increese in the number of persons relieved is in Bengal and on the northwest coast. The cost of the relief work is nearing two lakhs of rupees daily. The exodus from Karachi continues. There have been 543 cases of the plague there and 495 deaths. LONDON, January 2%—In the house of commons today Lord George Hamilton, sec- retary of state for India, made a long statement on the subject of the measures taken by the Indian government to cope with the plague. Experts. he admitted, predicted some : creese of the plague fn the winter, but the government was hopeful that the measures adopted were beginning to make-a@ real impression upon the plegue. and that its decline may henceforth be noted. AGAINST THE EMIR OF NUPE. Expedition Sent by the Royal Niger Company. BRASS, Guinea Coast, January 22—News has just been received here that the expe- dition sent by the Royal Niger Company against the Emir of Nupe, from Lokoja, feund the Foulah army dispersed and in flight when it arrived at Kabba. The ex- edition consisted of 500 Haussa troops, six Maxim rapid-fire guns, twenty-six mounted European officers and 200 carriers. It was headed by the governor, Sir George Goldie, and was accompanied by the Moyal Niger Company's flotilla of armored stern- wheel steamers. ‘The quarrel between the powerful Emir of Nupe and the Niger company is an old one, and arose from the emir raiding the company’s territory for slaves. The Foulah force at Kabba was estimated to amount to 20,000 foot and 2,000 cavalry, ONE SUNK WITH HER CREW. fon of Steamers Near Ifra- combe, England. LONDON, January 22.—The British steam- er Salisbury, from Port Reath to Newport, has been in collision with an unknown steamer about four miles from lifracombe, Devonshire. 3 ‘The latter is supposed to have si @ crew of about twenty men. uence Ceetl Rhodes Returns to England. PLYMOUTH, England, January 22.—Col. Cecil Rhodes, formerly premier of Cap: Colony, arrived here today from South Africa. He has returned to in ender tc be seeent ah: the pastininentace investigation which ts to be C as made into the Con Many Local Measures to Be Reported Favor- ably to the Senate. Among Them the Bill to Extend the Time for the Eckington Ratlway te Give Rapid Transit. The Senate committee on the District of Columbia met this morning and ordered favorable reports on a number of bills. There were present Messrs. McMillan, chairman; Gallinger, Proctor, Baker, Wet- more, Faulkner, Martin and Bacon. Potomac Park. Senate bill 3307, declaring the Potomac flats a public park, was ordered to be re- ported favorably by Mr. Wetmore, with an amendment making the name of the park “Potomac,” instead of “Riverside,” in ac- cordance with a recommendation of the Commissioners. House bill 4279, to cure the title to cer- tain real estate in the District of Columbia, was favorably considered, and will be re- ported to the Senate by Mr. Faulkner. ‘This bill cures a technical cloud on the title of property located at the eorner of lth and I streets southeast, and owned by George W. Watson, an ex-Union soldier, who lately resigned his position as chief clerk of the navy yard, on account of ill- neces brought on as the effect of wounds received in the army. The cloud to the title of the property, which has been the home of Mr. Watson for over a quarter of a century, dates back over seventy-five years. Eastern Branch Bridge. A favorable report was also ordered on House bill $910, to authorize a survey for construction of a bridge across the Eastern branch of the Potomac river in line with Massachusetts avenue extended, eastward. Mr. McMillan will report the measure. Mr. McMillan will also make a favorable report from the committee on House bill 9704 to authorize the Washington and Glen Echo Railroad Company to obtain a right of way and construct tracks into the District of Columbia 600 feet. The Tax Sale Bill. House bill 8499, in relation to tax sales in the District of Columbia, was also favor- ably considered, and will be reported to the Senate by Mr. McMillan. This bill pro- vices for the sale of property over two years in arrears of taxes under conditions which will protect the interests of the Dis- trict toa much greater extent than now is the-case. This bill has been approved by the Commissioners, and was framed upon recommendation of the collector of taxes. To Extéad thé Tinte. The committee alxo instructed the chair- man, Mr. McMillan, to make a favorable report cn a bill to amend the charters of the Eckington and Soldiers’ Home and Belt railway companies, extending the time in which thoré companies are to introduce rapid transit on their lines. The form in which this measure will be reported is yet to be decided cn by Mr. McMillan, but the matter will prolably be placed before the Senate by him on Monday. Morse Liquor Bill. Messrs. Bacon and McMillan were named as additional members of the subcommittee to consider the Morse liquor bill, the other members of the subcommittee being M2ssrs. Proctor and Faulkner. There will be no more hearings on this bill, and the sub- committee will probably report it to the Senate in » few days with amendments that will not affect its general purpose. To Accept the Von Essen Bequest. The committee decided to have Senate bill 2986, reported favorably on May 9, 1896, by Mr. Gallinger, recommitted te the com- mittee for further consideration, This bill is to authorize the Commissioners of the District of Columiba to accept the bequest of the late Peter Von-Essen for the use of the public white schools of that portion of the District known as Georgetown. This action was taken upon statements made by the heirs of the late Peter Von Essen, who claim the estate to be disposed of by the bill, and which now amounts to about $12,000." The bequest was made at a time when there was no public fund with which to maintain the school system of George- town, and the conditions having changed the heirs claim that the money involved and now held in bank should be returned to (nem. New Printing Office Site. The House committee on public buildings and grounds spent an -hour today in ex- ecutive session considering the question of a site for a new government printing office. No conclusion was reached and the committee decided to visit a number of the- proposed sites this afternoon. Justices’ Court. Mr. Woodman of Illinols has introduced a bill in the House (H.R. 10,093) providing that every case before a justice of the peace in the District of Columbia for the collection of debt shall be commenced by summons, in which the justice shall specify @ certain place, day and hour, which shall be between the hours of 8 o'clock in the morning and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, for the trial, not less than five nor more than fifteen days from the date of such sum- mons, at which time and place the defend- ant Is to appear. Every summons shall be served at least three days before the time of trial mentioned therein by reading the same to the defendant. The Age of Consent. ‘The House committee on judiciary today considered the bill raising the age of con- sent in the District. It was recommitted to a subcommittee consisting of Messrs. Broderick, Brown and Bajley, who will give it further consideration. To Restriet Vivisection. Senator Gallinger today submitted to the Senate letters from various distinguished men throughout the country in favor of the bill for restricting vivisecticn in the District of Columbia. Among the signers of these letters were Bishop George F. Seymour of Illinois, Martin L. D'Voge of the University of Michigan, George Gates, president of the lowa College; W. P. John- son of Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa, and 8. Burnham of the Hamilton Theological Seminary cf Hamilton,-N. Y. District Appropriations. The subcommittee of the House commit- tee on appropriations, having charge of the District appropriation bill, today took up the item of appropriations relating to the board of children’s guardians. In this connection Mr. and Mrs. Sturgess came ‘before the subcommitiee to lodge a com- pisint against the board. They said that a child which had been indentured to them by the board had subsequently been Kidraped by an agent of the board. This matter, which is now in the courts, and {s familiar to readers of The Star, was de- tailed to the committee and some time was spent in hearing it. Pollution of the Potomac. A joint resolution was introduced in the Senate tcday by the District of Columbia committee providing for the estadlishment of a commissior to investigate the sources of contamination of the Potomac river and to report what legiziation is necessary to remove and prevent pollution ofthe water. The resolution proposes that the commis- sion shall consist of an officer of the engi- neer corps of the army, an officer of the marine hospital service ang the health offi- of the District. An appropriation” o} $1,000 tm made out of the treasery Yor fe. purpose of carrying out the resolution. Chairman Wright Warns House- keepers Against the Frauds, CHARGING FEES FOR EXAMINING ROOMS ee Steady Progress in the Preparations for the Inauguration. ———— VIEWING STAND PRIVILEGES —_—_.____ Col. L. P. Wright was very indignant this morning when The Star reporter en- tered the public comfort committee room at heaquarters. “I want The, Evening Star,” he said, “‘to warn housekeepers and others against a set of impostors who are going around Washington representing themselves as in- spectors from the public comfort commit- tee, and charging fees for examining ac- ccmmodations and the pretended registra- tion of them. Several reports have reached me of this sort of thing, and the parties engaged in the fraud seem to have been particularly active on Capitol Hill. 1 hope that any person who receives a visit from any one representing themselves as an agent of our committee and who demands pay for his service will call in the police and have the party arrested for obtaining, or attempting to obtain, money under false pretenses. I will attend to the prosecution of such people, you may rest assured. “There is no necessity,” continued Col. Wright, “for any one who has accommoda- tions to offer during the inauguration to pay a single cent for the registration or in- spection of their rooms or other accommo- dations. We record everything here free of charge, and when inquiries from prospec- tive visitors are received we seek to secure what the inqutrers want as soon as possi- ble. I'd like to catch and make an example of the fellows who are robbing people in the way I have described.” The report of Col. Wright tceday showed accommodations registered for jL peo- ple; places where meals alone could be served to 10,065 people, and 273 windows and 14 balconies whence unobstructed views of the inaugural may be obtained: 1,256 horses have been registered for hire on inauguration day, and stabling accom- modations have been secured for horses have already been assigned ricus staffs, and stables secured for 140 Horses that will be brought here by partici- pants in the parade. Designs for Street Decorations. The committee on street decorations, of which Vice Chairman Louis D. Wine is chairman, will hold a meeting tonight and definitely decide upon the design to be followed in the adornment of the viewing stards. A report, including the recom- mer.dations on the subject, will be submit- ted to the executive committee tomorrow night. The Unconditional Republican Club of Albany will have 150 men in line, with a band of twenty-five pieces. The ‘uniform will be black clothes, high silk hats, tan gloves, patent leather shoes, and canes will be carried. The club will sleep in its special cars. The Stamina Republican League of Cin- cinrati states, through its officers, that it intends being the best and most clegantly uniformed club that takes part in the parade. The uniform will consist of black overcoats, suits and silk hats: canes will be carried. The league will arrive March 4, in the morning, over the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. The Union Republican Club of-the twen- ty-fifth ward of Philadelphia will march In conjunction with the Union Republican Club of the eighteenth ward. There will be 200 men in line altogether, attired in light- colored mackintoshes with velvet collars, high silk hats and dark trousers. A band will head the marchers. The clubs will be quartered at the Howard House. High Prices for Hal Criticism is freely indulged in by the rep- resentatives of organizations coming to the inauguration about high prices asked for the rent of halls and similar places during the lMmited inauguration period. Many halls, for instance, that usually rent for from $10: to $30 a day are being held for irauguration visitors, it is asserted, at fig- ures four or five times larger. Those who are actively interested in making the inau- guration celebration a success deplore very much the fact that there is any cause of complaint, because, they say, the visitors to the inauguration leave a great deal of money in the city, anyhow, and it -will do Washington a great deal of permanent in- Jury if there is any disposition shown on the part of its people to be extortionate in any respect. Chairman Henry A. Willard of the parks and reservations committee will receive offers for the privilege of erecting viewing staids on the reservation south of Penn. sylvania avenue directly east of 9th street and in front of the Botanical Gardens, for which proposals v-ere not received in the regular bidding which closed yesterday. Good Prices for Privileges. Bids were opened yesterday by the com- mittec on parks and reservations for the privileg> of erecting reviewing stands along the line of the parade. The highest Proposals received were as follows: Lafay- ette Square, S$. M. Chase, $2) Penn- sylvania avenue and i (th street, C. Thomas & Son, $551; Pennsylvania avenue, west of 13th street, north side, C. Thomas & Son, 351; Pennsylvania avenue, west of 9th street, south side, A. J. Barker & Co., $73; Pennsylvania avenue, west of 7th street, south side, A. J. Barker & Co., $200; Penn- sylvania avenue, west of 7th street, north side, $400; Pennsylvania avenue, east of 7th street, north side, $100. No one offered to pay anything for the privilege of erecting stands on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue, east of 9th street, or along the front of the Botanical Gardens. The total amount offered for the privileges, which reached $4,532.55, is nearly fifteen hundred dollars more than the sums received for the same privileges eight years ago. The committee on parks and reservations will present its conclusions on the subject of these bids at the executive committee meeting tomorrow night. At the same time a report will be made recommending the adoption of a design for the reviewing stand to be erected in front of the Presi- dent's house. Proposals for Inaugural Music. The executive committee of the commit- tee on music will meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock for the purpose of opening the proposals for furnishing band and or- chestral music for the inauguration ball and the succeeding ccncerts. The full com- mittee will hold a meeting at 1 o'clock to consider the subject of awarding the con- tract, so that a report on this important matter may be made to the executive com- mittee tomorrow night. 3; Indians in Line. The proposition made by the executive committee’ of the committee on civic )organizations to get the government to’ bring representatives of various trites of Indians to Washiigton Participate in the inaugural parade, and to also have in line representatives of the In- dian students now at the Ca: and. to |. and authorized Chairman Bell and Chair- man Warner of the*¢tvic, committee to make all the necessary arrangements with Secretary Francis regarding the proposed feature. The probabilities are*very strong that the Indians wil] be in line as desired, because Secretary Francis is favorably in- clined to the project. Stands for Treasury Clerks. An official circular has been-sent to the heads of the various bureaus in the Treas- ury Department, announcing that stands will be erected at the north, south and east fronts of the treasury puilding, upon which Treasury Department; employes ‘can secure seats, with a purpose pf viewing the inaugural parade. The seatg.on the north front and on the east front stands will be sold at fifty and thirty-five cents each, and on the south front stand at one dollar and seventy-five cents, respectively. The cir- cular states that the stands wil not be covered, ard treasury clerks are almost a unit that they would myeh’ prefer that they pay higher prices fot seats than those noted, if they could be agsured protection from the weather, which experience has taught them to be pretty gnpleasant on-in- auguration day. . OVERHEAD ‘WIRES United States Company to Rights of the : Be Tested, Comminstoners File a Test Case in the Courts — What ds) Com- plained of. ; —_ ‘The question of the right “of the United States Electric Lighting Company to erect or maintain overhead electric iighting wires on and over sireets and favenues of the city, where the company hiés built under- ground conduits, and has Bad a reasonable time in which to place theréin such wires, was carried in court this afternoon by the District Commissioners for.judicial deter- mination. : In a bill in equity, filed by the Commis- sicners this afternoon agaifist the United States Blectric Lighting Company, they allege that the company has no such right, and pray that ‘the company: be restrained ard enjoined from maintainihg. two ad ticnal overhead electric: Hghting wires on the north side of C street between 6th and 7th, and that a mandatory Jnjunction be issued requiring the company to take the wires down and remove the supporting poles and wires. The bill of complaint recites that the District Commissioners are charged by act of Congress of June 1, 1878, with the care of the streets and alleys of the city, and required to keep them freé and unobstruct- ed. The act of Congress of July 18, 188k, is aiso referred to, as preventing the Com- missioners from permitting. or authorizing the erection or maintaining, after Septem- Wer 15, 1888, of any additiopal telegraph, telephone,- electric lighting or other wires on or over’any of the streets or avenues of the city. Then the bill sets forth that the com- pany, without license or permission of the Commissioners, and in violation of the said act of 1888, did string or cauge to be strung, and is now maintaining, , & additional overhead electric Wifes on fe north side of C street between Gth and 7th, and across the sidewalk to connect with two new and private electric wires on thé building at the southwest corner of 6th street and Louisiana avenue. f The 31st of last month, the Commission- ers state, they ordered the company to re- move sald wires within two days of the order was s2nt to the pres the company, ard on the 4th inst. he ac- knowledged its receipt, but declined to re- move the complained-of wires, although he did not, it is charged, justify their exist- ence under any permit; merely contending that the wires in questisn are not addi- tional ones, but are new wires of an im- prove. character, put in place of original wires which had become deteriorated. The Commissioners state further that the company owns a subsurface conduit buil: along the north side of & street between 6th and fth, and charge that within a rea- sonable time after said conduit was built it became and was the duty of the com- pany to place their oveshead wires within it. Therefore, more thafi a reasonable time having elapsed, as they agsert, the Com- missioners charge that the sald overhead wires are illegal and unaufhorized, and be- ing, as they further assert, without reme- ay and powerless elsewhere, they pray that the relief asked by them may be granted. It is understood that the suit instituted by them this afternoon is Intended to be a test case, and they hope to be able to s cure a final and complete determination by the courts of the questions raised in to- day's proceedings. ADVERTISING CALENDARS. NO Col. Bright Taking Them Out of the Senate Committee Rooms. If any United States senator has voted for laws for the regulations of the north wing of the Capitol, expecting to escape their enforcement, he has awakened to a realization that he was déluded. The fol- lowing law was enacted some years ago: “It Js forbidden to offer or expose any article for sale; to display any sign, plac- ard or other form of advertisement; to solicit fares, alms, subscriptions or con- tributions.” eve This law applies to the Capitol building, and lately Sergeant-at-arms. Bright has been busily engaged in enforcing it, in view of the introduction of a mass of calendars for the year 1897 that have been received and displayed in committee rooms throughout the building. These calendars are usually four-fifths advertisement and one-fifth calendar. Employes of the build- ing were given instructions some days ago to capture every calendar. hearing an ad- vertisement, and in their rounds during the past few days they have gathered up be- tween. fifty and 100 of these articles daily. Senators who have been sent calendars ;by business men whom they number among their constituents and. have hung }them in their committee ms, have missed their property, g they in- dignantly inquired the cause, they have been referred to the jaw for which they are responsible. If they want. calendars advertising private firms in their commit- tee rooms they have the. privilege of amending the law. In to have calendars minus advertisements the Senate has ordered a large quantity .of those use- ful articles printed. Only twa, exceptions are made by Col. Bright to the rule that advertisements shall not layed in the building of whith he the care. These exceptions are timé and city directories. A Lottery Grier. The Pest Office Department has issued a lottery order against the Mutual Investment Company at. innati and Louisville. The followi: officers: Dr. A. P. Taylo Norton, vice president are named as its , president; F. H. T: B, Hoover, sec- retary; J.-M. Graves, r;, William J. Hoover, general An order was. recently issued against the ¢ompany, des- ignating Its headquarters at Lexington. The morning hour in was con- sumed toflay” by various! business which athe. oft a }to the electric it from be- bing called up‘tr ie Senate; This delay in the meeranele sy of an- swered irpcse of its. ~ even better than its have TWO CENTS. PACIFIC RAILROADS/4 Important Action Taken at the Cabi- net Meeting Today. ATTORNEY GENERAL $ PLAN APPROVED A Strong Syndicate Said to Be Back of the Proposition. MILLIONS TO BE PAID Important action was taken at today’s rreeting of the cabinet looking to the ad- justment of the claims of the goveriment against the bonded Pacific railroad com- panies. It is the result of Attorney Gen- eral Harmon’s recent conferences with the reorganization syndicate and the railroad directors. The Attorney General spent two days in New York on this business, ard the deal that has been under discussion -ever since the defeat of the funding bill in the House was closed, subject only to the approval of the President. The Attorney General! returned to this city last evening, and his action in the matter received the irdorsement of the President and cabinet, it is sald, at today’s meeting. It ts un- derstood that an official announcement on the subject will be mede late this after- nocn. Plan of Reorganization. Although not cfficially admitted, it is un- derstood that the plan of reorganization agreed upon includes tic acceptance by the government of the offer of veor- ganization committee to pay 3° (°4),000 above all prior liens. The syndicate behind this committee is one of the strongest ever formed in Wall street, and includes nearly Levery prominent financier interested in rail- read property. The plan of reorganization is based gen- erally upor the recommendations containe: in the last annual report of the Attorney General to Congress on the subject as in- dorsed by the President in his annual mes- ““The following paragraphs from the At- torney General's report gives the attitude of the administration in this matter: Administration’s Attitade. “The report of Mr. George Hoadly, spe- cial counsel for the United States, shows that there is no substantial change in the state of the litigation about the Union Pacific. railway and its branches. “I have grave doubts as to the ability of the government to preserve the present si'- uation much longer. I am advised that an atterrpt will be made to enforce the gov- ernnent’s appearance in the foreclosur case with a view of giving a compleie tle to the purchaser at the foreclosure sale. While I-believe the position hereto- fore taken and still maintained for the government is the true one, namely, that its appearance can not be compeiled, it must be confessed, that. the contention of sing counsel ix at least debatable, that while the government can not be Sued with a view {e=Reccvery against it, it may properly be maGé a party to a suit in équity brought by the tiolaers of bonds issued by iis express consent upon property upon which ii has itself reserved a Hen. “As the only object of steadfastly keep- ing ‘the government out of the cases thus far kas been to secure some favorabic solution of the difficult problem presented by its ownership of a subordinate security upon property whose value is generally be- lieved to be insufficient to pay in full any but the first-mortage liens, 1 think thai, unless the pending funding bill be passea and accepted, the government shouid en- deavor to secure terms for its appearance In court in the way of an assurance of such a bid on the property in case of judi- cial sale as will secure to it a fair realiza~ tion of the value of its lien. If this be not done and the government should be com- pelled to sue to protect its own interests cr required to appear and set up its claim in the pending cases, the benefit of the position so long maintained may be largely lost.” > Sg es THE PACIFIC CABLE. A Hearing. Before the House Com- mittee on Commerce. James A. Scrymser and Edmund L. Bay- liss were before the House committee on interstate and foreign commerce today in the interest of the Pacific Cable Compa:y of New York. They both argued upon the merits of the Scrymser bili over the Spald- ing bill of the New Jersey company. Mr. Serymser stated that his company would want eighteen months after the passage of the bill to complete the cable to Hawaii and one year more to complete it to Japan, He stated that in case of war with England cable cummunication with Europe would be cut. Mr. Patterson of Tennesseg said that it had been charged that the Scrymser com- pany was in sympathy with or had con- nection with England and English inter- ests. Mr. Scrymser said that of course his company would expect to do English bus- iness, and Mr. Patterson said that there should be inserted in the bill a provision that the cable-company should not come under British influence. Mr. Scrymser re- ferred to the statement that Japan wanted no other cable connection as ridiculous. He said the assertion of Mr. Swayne before the committee to that effect was absurd. He also said that China and Japan tele- graph lines were Zependent upon and con- trolled by the Russian lines. The Spalding company, he said, would build to Hawaii and stop. His line to Japan would save the people of that country more than a million dollars in tolls, and it was ridiculous to say that the Japanese wanted no-cable. ‘The Japanese,” he said, “are flocking into Hawaii now. This country is going to have a contest with the Japanese or some other power to control Hawaii. It is neces- sary 10 have a cable line there as soon as possibie.” Mr. Scrymser did not like the idea of leav. ing the matter of contract with the Post- master General. “The present Postmaster General will not have time to act, and we don’t know’ who the next Postmaster Gen- eral is or what he will do.”’ One of the mémbers of the committee turned to Mr. Sherman of New York, who is a member of the House interstate and foreign commerce commitiee, and asked titm if he could not be depended upon to do the right thing. This little reference to Mr. Sherman as a possible Postmaster Gen- eral caused quite a titter at his end of the room. The discussion among members of the committee developed that there is yet a wide difference of opinion on the subject of the cable. ——_—__—__-e-______ BANKS STANDING TOGETHER, Refusing to Pay Deposits Except Sixty-Day Notices. DES MOINES, lowa, January 22.-No more faflures seem likely ta occur here. /"Phe banks received more than a million and are all standing together. Each bauk has from $100,000 to $300,000 piled on the MAN WANTED An Important Question in Regard to Givil Service Appointments, A Lady Certified, but She is Rejected by the War Depart- ment. The War Department has raised an im- portant question in regard to appointments in the executive departments under civil service rules. Briefly stated, the depart- ment holds that the department or bureau making requisition for a clerk, messenger or other employe has the right to determine for itself the “kind” of Person that ts re- quired for the services to be rendered. The question arose in connection with a va- cancy in the bureau of military information of the War Department. This bureau is part of the adjutant general's office. Geb. Rug- gles, the head of the office, held that a man was needed to perform the required servicex, and, accepting his judgment on that point, the Secretary of War made requisition upon the civil service commission for a male” clerk, at the same time indicating the character of the services required. This was in October last. As a result, the civil service commission gave public notice of a special examination to fill the vacancy. Unusually high qualifications were required. The applicants must be competent to trans- late into English technical military works in French, German, Spanish and Italian, to do typewriting in all of these languages, to do proof reading and prepare manu-_ scripts for the press, to be familiar with modern literary methods, with the class!- fication of books, cataloguing and index- ing, preparation of binding, ete., and also to be versed in the use of the English lan- guage and literary composition. Only two applicants presented themselves, aman and a woman. The man failed. The woman passed with a high percentage, and in the ordinary course of events she was regularly certified to the War Department for appointment. The War Department authorities posi- tively declined to accept her, however, on the broad ground that they were entitled to a “male” clerk. It is explained at the department that the personality of the lady certified has nothing to do with the case. Her rejection was based solely on the ground that the department, and not the civil service commission, was the judge of what was wanted, and, the department having asked for a “maie” clerk, it was the duty of the commission to honor its requisition in that regard. The question of the general merits of men and women as clerks was not involved in the matter. The department held that a man was need- ed for this pacticular position, and that i Sanemant on that point must be accepted final. The commission this contention. evidently concurred At any rate it did in not press the matter, and has recently given notice of another examination for the pur- pose of filling the clerkship in question. The unfortunate victim of this contro- is Miss Maud Stalnecker of this city, y of unusual culture and attainmen: as 1s clearly indicated by her highly s cessful examination. Her friends claim that she has not been fairly dealt with, apd it_is possible the case may be brought to the attention of Congress. It remains to be seen whether the commission will be abie to secure a man possessing the re- quired qualifications for the office for the salary fixed by law, viz., $1, o FROM LAKE TO SEABOARD. Report of the New Line is Confirmed at Chicago. CHICAGO, January 22.—Acting Preside: Monsarrat of the Columbus, Hocking ley and Toledo railroad confirms the re- port as to a railroad deal, the consum- mation of which means a new line from ihe Great Lakes to the Aulantic Seaboard at Norfolk, Va... by which the product of the Lake Superior iron mines and of the grain fields of the nofthwest will find a new outlet to the ocean. The roacs to form the new line with the Columbus, Hocking Valley ani Toledo are the Wisconsin Certral, Flint and Pere Mar- quette and Norfolk and Western. Exten- sive terminal facilities at Chicago are said to have been arranged for the use of. the lines. oe ee THE OREGON LEGISLATURE. Mitchell Men Claim to Control Situatio: SALEM, Oreg., January 22.—The deadlock of the house has been transferred to the senate. The Mitchell men in that body will make a fight for the recognition of the house, organized yesterday. in the event the senate will not recognize them, they claim that since they have created a ¢ facto house they can now proceed to vote for United States senator and their nominee will be seated. If the senate should not recognize the Benson house the situation would only be that ‘the senate and hous= were not working in harmony. Notwith- standing this, they claim the Mitchell men in the senate can enter a joint convention with members of the Benson house and vote for United States senator. —e DELAWARE DEMOCRAT’S DEATH. the Ex-Representative Martin, Recently a Cundidate for the Senate. SEAFORD, Del., January 22.—Ex-Repre- sentative Edward L. Martin died at his residence near here at 5 o'clock this morn- ing. His health had been poor for a year. He was about sixty-five years old and a prominent democrat. During the recent contest at Dover he was a leading candidate for United States senator. sees Perso: Mention. Mr. William E. Annin, the well-known Washingtun correspondent, went over to New York yesterday to attend the annual reunion of the Princeton alumni. He was one of the speakers at the banquet last evening. Maj. Gen. A. McD. McCook, retired, is on a visit to this city. He is at the Ebbitt. Lieut. Wm. H. Bean, 2d Cavalry, is at ihe Shoreham on leave of absence. Lieut. F. R. Beatty of the Naval Acad- emy is in the city. The national superintendent of legislation and enforcement of law of the W. C. T. L., Mrs. M. D. Ellis of Connecticut, is in the city, having, it is understood, come here to assist the District of Columbia W. C. T. U. in securing the passage of bills now before Congress in which the members of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union gen- erally cre interested. T. W. Stanland of South Carolina, several times a member of the state legislacure and ore of the most successful business } If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. IN OPEN SENATE Lively Discussion on the Pending General Arbitration Treaty. MR. HOAR SPEAKS OF PUBLIC PRESSURE ea NE Mr. Sherman Denies Any Agree- ment With Secretary Olney. Spates MATTERS IN THE HOUSE ee ei Mr. Gallinger (N.H.) was remembered with a huge cluster of roses, in the Senate today, in recognition of his recent re-elec- tion to the Senate. Mr. Cameron (Pa.) presented the « tials of his successor, Boies Penrose. ed for the term beginning March 4 next. A number of letters, some favorable and others unfavorable to the Anglo-American peace treaty, were presented Mr. Cul lom. by The Cuban Ques At this point Mr. Turple (Ind.) sur the Senate win a very caustic statement as to the Cuban situation, He said he would, on Monday next, call up the pend- ing Cameron resolution for the indcpend- ence of Cuba, for the purpose of making some remarks. About three weeks ago, he proceeded, there appeared a formal utt: ance from the Secretary of State in the newspapers relative to the Cuban resolu- 202, At that time there was no re fore the Senate. Under such circ the Secretary's utterance was obiter tum of the most rude, most swift, most voluntary character. [t recalled the Schoo! of antiquity who called a whole au- to tremble with a threat of future <ispleasure. But the Senate might have passed that by. Today, however, continued air. Turpie, a publication appeared tn the newspapers—who had apparently the messengers between the State m™ and Congress, and messen, the senator did not disparage fei between the Secretary of State and the new premier (Mr. Sherman), by which there was to be no further action on Cuba dur- ing the present administration. ‘Allow me to say,” proceeded Mr. Tur- ie, “that f regard such a course ax a vio- tion of the comity existing between the legislative and executive branches of the government. It has been done only before, when Mr. Canning—" Mr. Sherman's Disayvowal. bee the ef that a compact had been entered into Mr. Sherman arose at this moment while Mr. Turpie’s reference to the Canning in- cident was unfinished, and said: “If the nator refers to a publication today, I will say there is not the slightest warrant for the statement made. I have not had a word with Mr. Olney on that subject, and there has been no mention of agreemeat or understanding.” r. Turpie said he was glad to accep this disavowal. But he felt the Senate should do something to dissipate such re- ports. ‘Whatever tbe difference may be as to indepencence of Cuba,” concluded Mr. Turpie, “I think every senator here favors the independence of the Senate ‘The New Peace Treaty. This incident had hardly been concluded when it was followed by a genuine sensa> tion in the form of a discussion of the new Anglo-American peace treaty, notwith- standing the rule of referring to treaties only in executive session. It brought out statements from } ther- man, Mr. Cullom. Mr. Lodge and Mr. Gray, members of the committee on foreign re- lations, and from many other senacors. Mr. Hoar precipitated the discussion, In presenting a petition from a chamber of commerce favoring the speedy ratification of the treaty, the Massachusetts sc ator added some obrervations on the publi pressure on the Senate. A great many prominent men and organizations were tel- egraphing and writing to him urging im mediate action on the treaty. suppose there is no man in this body proceeded Mr. Hoar, “who does not hail a one of the great events of the century the concluston of this treaty strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two KEn- glish speaking nations as well as the friendship between the United States an the whole world, and doing away with the barbarities of war.” But it should not be fergotten, continued Mr. Hoar, that. the treaty was not an accomplished fact until the Senate had examined and passed upon Not Yet Acted Upon. The Senate had not yet acted, and, in his judgment, it was very poor diplomacy to have these heated utterances directed to senators, telling them they should act at once. What if it should turn out that there was some unintended advantage to England or disadvantage to the United States in the treaty which both parties would correct? In that case, when Mr Olney suggested a change, was it wise to arin Lord Salisbury with the reply that the American public had expressed its opinion favorable to the treaty as it was While no man is more desirous than my- self to see the era of peace on earth and good will toward men,” added Mr. Hoar, “yet i wish to enter my protest against meddling with the serious duty of sena tors, either by sermons or professors’ | tures. By this time the galleries had filled, sena- tors had come in from the cloak rooms and there was intent interest in the dis- cussion. Mr. Sherman's Statemen: Mr. Sherman “followed Mr. Hoar, and there was added interest in his statement in view of his early entry to the head of the State Department and his present po- sition as chairman of the committee on for- eign relations “No one is more ready than myself,” he said, “to congratulate the country on the great achievement of con- cluding this treaty of arbitration. The time has come when the nations of the world should turn their attention to the settlement of differences by peaceful meth- ods instead of a resort to war. At the same time Mr. Sherman said the treaty was one involving such grave con- siderations that it should have the most careful, mature and dispassionate consid- eration. That was the present purpose of the committee on foreign relations, and the members of that committee were about to take up the treaty and consider it, article by article, with the test care. It would not be proper, said Mr. Sherman, for him to say what the result would be, even if he knew. But it was certain that the committee would proceed with all speed compatible with the interests involved. There was no purpose to postpone or delay action Mr. Allison’s Questions. “About how long has the consideration of the subject proceeded between the Sec- retary of State and Lord Salisbury?” in- quired Mr. Allison (iowa). “Certainly for a year, if not longer,” an- swered Mr. Sherman.