Evening Star Newspaper, January 22, 1897, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 2201 Pennsylvania — Cor. abs by he Evening Star Ne 7; 5. H. UFFMANN Pret Now York Office, 49 Potter Building. The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on thelr own account. at 10 cents week, or 44 cents per month. jen at the Pounter # cents each. ‘By mail any! im the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—60 cen! Der moath. Saturda: ntuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with whan ‘ndied. $3.00. foreign postage ¢ Wasktngton, Te C. ae second-class mail matter.) (Entered at the Post Office ‘All mail subscriptions must be paid In advance. Rates of edvertising made Enown 0a application. F pening Star. Pages 11-14, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1897—FOURTEEN PAGES. Warning! These broken lots of furniture and the sbort lengths in carpets are moving at @ Itvely rate. One floor will soon be cleared ready for stock taking. When these odd Jote are gone- this mones-losing sale ends. Are you getting your share of these bar- |e| nis? Parlor and Bed Room Sultes— Sideboards Hall Racks - Fancy Chatrs— Rockers— Carpets Rugs Below Factory Cost and on Credit! We have enjoyed a season of great bust- ness that’s why we can sell these broken lots at a loss—and still look pleasant about it. We make and lay all carpet FREE— don’t even charge for the two or three yards that are wasted in matching figures. EROCAN’S MAMMOTH CREDIT HOUSE, 817-819-821-823 Seventh street n.w., Bet. H and I sts. ee ec eee ee ee ereceeeeereeesee cece ee eee eee ee ee ee Ja2i-Sid Great Reduction In Hair. 1,000 Switcnes, $3.5, formerly $7.00. Switches, 2.60, formerly 5.00. Switches, 60, formerly 10.50. Geax Seitches, £90. formerly $.00- ray Switches, 4.50, forraerly 6.50. First-class attendants in Hairdressing, Shan.poo ete. = ‘Try our “Chrlette’ for retaining curl S. HELLER’S, 720 7th Street N.W. Punch, It intend entertain you to tog the winter yon White will require Punch? & Red. White’ and Let * 50c. - Halon Mine€ fe Kat /4™ ST-FHONE 998, ry ¢ ja21-201 OP SS SPE PIP POO PPS POO OF CLOSING OUT “FURS LE PRICE. nC - ise Gablarwttes, full ripples... eo Motte wastes, 2G Neck Hons 0-00 Neck Boas with tails 10.00, $12.00, $13.50 Coats MARTIN WOLF, ja2l a S23 llth st. ow. B265994 145904 90629104480048 Electric Power —is cheaper, safer and more easily * managed than steam. It requires no engineer. Printing offices, machine shops and factories should investigate. Gind to answer questions. U. S. Electric Lighting Co., 213 14th st. aw. "Phone 77. Jal6-204 Something New for the New Year. No More Toothache YOUR TEETH KEPT IN PERFECT CONDITION can and ter Fe, #9 PER YEAR. all and let os give you full rticulars. GOOD WORK Fi 7? BE THE ONLY THING. PAINLESS EXTRACTIN CTs. ARTIFICIAL TEETH. CROWN AND BRIDGE WORK AT LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES. The Evans Dentai Parlors, _Btimas 1309 F 8T. N.W. Carriage-Riding Folks, Attention. grand chance to secure a fine Lap Robe or Horse Blanket ‘ ou at this 25 off w. Fine Plush well aw Fi is presented je prevailing Just oth and Fur Robes, Square and Shaped jorse Blankets are included! Lutz & Co., 497 Pa. Ave. Se Go to Siccardi’s FCR BARGAINS IN HUMAN HAIR. We bave jist received a large assortment of Italion and Preven Tortolve Shell Combe and Pins, to the latest desig: k ever displayed in Waabington, We are also selling a lot of All Long Human Hair Ewitebes at great bargains $3. Switches reduced to $1.50. ut Switches reduced to $2.50. 00 Switches reduced to 00. Gray and White Hair reduced in same proportion. Mme. Siccardi, Privai?, 12th st. meat to Palais Royal. vate coms for hairdressing. sbampoolag and dyeing $a2-20d Buying fin | i Fuel | sidered first, tts quality—second, the cost. Goke ts a Clean ‘fuel -g mm “gives out a great deal of heat lights quickly, and ‘costs very little. Don't you" thing’ you sbould burn Coke? 40 bu. Coke tuncrusnes) $2.90. 40 bu. Coke (crustet) $3.70, ‘Washington Gaslight Co., H 413 Tenth St. N. W. Or WM. J. ZEH, 020 20th st. ‘Phone 476. NOBLE IN ITS AIMS Successful Oareer of the Maryland Game and Fish Protective Association. Some of the Excetlent Results Attain- ed Since the Organization Was Started Two Years Ago. The second annual meeting of the Mary- land Game and Fish Protective Associa- tion was held at the Carrollton Hotel in Baltimore last night, with Judge E. Giraud Wright, the president, in the chair. The election ef officers resulted in the choice of George Dobbin Penniman as president in place of Judge Wright, who declined re- election; ex-Representative Chas. E. Coffin, Prince Georg2's county, vice president, and the folowing executlye committee: Ex- Mayor F. C. Latrobe, James Scott, L. M. Levering, M. Gillet Gill, Dr. G. W. Massa- more, M. H. Ould, Col. Wm. H. Love, R. H. Gilbert, C. 8. Schermerhorn, A. F. Dre- sel, Richard F. Kimball, Wm. H. Fisher, E. C. Eichelberger, Dr. Thomas H. Davy and F. C. Kirkwood. Dr. Geo. W. Massamore, who was reap- pointed secretary and treasurer, read his report, showing what a great success the association had made in its two years of existence. An interesting part of the re- port was as fellows: “This association does not want to pro- hibit. It wants to restrict and regulate the killing of game and the catching of fish to a proper limit by proper means and at proper seasons, and it insists upon the enforcement of the laws so that all citizens will have equal rights. “When this association had an act pass- ed creating a state game warden the prob- lem was solved. Mr. J. Olney Norris, the warden, by his energetic methods has an organization of 135 deputies, and never be- fore have the game and fish laws been so rigidly enforced and generally observed. Since the organization last June there have been seventy-five arresis zor violations of the laws. Convictions followed in nearly ae cant Wm J. Keen of the state duck police made more arrests on the ee hanna flats than the whole force had. made for years. Mr. Norris supplied able counse! to be In attendance at prosecutions. This Was necessary on account of the many amendments to the laws, and besides it would have imposed a great deal of extra upon the state's prosecuting attor- hoe particularty for Harford county, where so many prosectticns tooe place at a dis- c mr the county seat. tant is the consensus of opinion of the ex- ecutive committee that the game laws should be as nearly uniform. as possible, and that the fish laws in tide-water oe tricts ought to he amended to regulate c ie size of meshes for all kinds Of nets and to regulate the size of rock, bass and perch taken, making 1t compulsory that all fish under the lawfal size een in nets sl ut back inta the water. shothe ducking laws need remodeling, or an entirely new law would be better, made so plain and simple, without granting spe- cial privileges to any class, 0 that the law can be interpreted by any one. This, we believe, can be done by conference of all parties interested-in convention some time before the meeting of the general assembly next January. This will bring about good will and harmony among the boxshooters, bushwhackers and shore-shooters. A law of this kind will benefit all elements, whether they gun for pleasure or for mar- ket, and especially the latter class. “Another very important matter Is a uni- form state iaw for the protection of the world-renowned diamond-back _ terrapin. This luxury, once so plentiful, is fast be- coming extinct, and it ts imperative that the diamond-back terrapins be properly protected in order that they have a chance to recuperate. “The speedy conviction of James H. But- ler for poisoning 3,000. English pheasants and several hundred fowls of Bowley’s Quarter Ducking Club was one of the most important things accomplished last year. Another important scheme that was suc- cessfully carried out was the transfer of the bass from the Chesapeake and Ohio canal to the Potomac’ fiver and the de- struction of all carp caught; 12,500 bass, 5,000 white perch and many thousands of small fish were put into the river. “The Blue Ridge, Woodmont and Hagers- town Rod and Gun Clubs are auxillary members of our association, which has 201 individual members and six auxiliary clubs, representing 120 members. After the reading was completed ad- dresses were made by Judge Wright, Mr. J. Olney Norris, the game warden of the state of Maryland; President Penniman, J. C. Bentley of Sandy Spring, Mr. Ru- dolph Kauffmann and Dr. Walter S. Har- Lan of this city, and Mr. Willlam H. Arm- strong of Hagerstown. On Mr. Arm- strong’s motion a committee of five was appointed to ascertain the feasibility, and if that is established the cost of erecting a fishway ai Great Falls in the Potomac, so that shad, herring and other food fish may be enabled to reach the waters of the river above the falls. Mr. Kauffmann spoke of the great interests that have been inspired in Washington and among anglers general- ly by the good work of the Maryland asso- elation, and announced that a similar or- ganization would shortly be formed in this city. It was decided to appoint a commit- tee of five to attend to general legislative affairs, a part of which duty will be to sce that the West Virginia legislature adopts the law already enacted by the legislatures of Virginia and Maryland, and which be- comes operative when passed by West Vir-, ginia that provides for the protection of the Potomac river bass during the spawn- ing season, and forbids its being taken at any time except by a hook and line other than a trot or outline. The essociation expressed its thanks for ‘ance rendered by the anglers of ton, and especially the generous help afforded by United States Fish Com- missioner Brice in the work of seining the canal, which was successfully projected and carried on largely through Dr. Massa- more’s efforts, and there was great pleas- ure evinced at the announcement con- tained in a letter from Washington, in which the writer informed Dr. Massamore that Commissioner Brice would hereafter annually save the bass remaining in the Chesapeake and Ohio canal when the wa- ter was drawn off. _——_—_—_ HARRIS STATES HIS POSITION. How He Will Vote on Leading Issucs When a Senator. State Senator and ex-Representative W. A. Harris, whom the populists of the state legislature have agreed upon for United States senator, was deluged with congratu- lations as he sat at his desk in the state senate at Topeka, Kan., yesterday. In answer to an inquiry, he stated the posi- tion he proposed to take, as a member of the United States Senate, on several im- portant issues now before the country. He sald: “I want to see the government, according to the law of 1962, take possession of the Pacific ratlroads. This is a matter of jus- tice to the people, and would prove a val- bie object lesson in transportation af- fairs. I want to see the income tax made a permanent feature of government policy, whether it be by amendments to the Con- stitution or by some other method. “I want to see silver restored to its for- mer position as a full money metal, with- out limitations. I will co-operate with every effort to bring this about by interna- tional agreement, but I am not in favor of making our action dependert upon stch an agreement. “I am in favor of tariff legislation, which, in conjunction with the income tax and internal revenues and other duties, will provide ample revenue for all purposes of the government.” RETROCESSION DISCUSSED A Oorrespondent Argues That It Was Unoonstitutional. No Authority Found for the Return of Land From the District to Virginia. To the Editor of The Evening Star: In your article on ‘The Ten Miles Square” in issue of the 19th, you say “the answer of the Attorney General to the resolution of inquiry of the Senate must be a disappointment, as Mr. Harmon says,” &c., &c., “which throws no new light upon the question.” I respectfully suggest that you do not read between the lines. The Attorney General says: “The answer to the question, ‘What legislation 1s necessary again to secure to the govern- ment exclusive jurisdiction over the whole or a part of the retroceded territory?’ 1s, I think, indicated in the Constitution (see article 1, sec. 8, par. 17); it is the cession of the territory by the ‘state and an ac- ceptance thereof by Congress. Inasmuch as this inquiry here apparently assumes the validity of the act of retrocession (since otherwise no legislation for the purpose therein mentioned would be necessary), I deem it proper to siate that my response thereto is not intended as an expression of opinion upon that point.” In other words, the Attorney General says that as the Senate by this resqlution has essumed the validity of the act of retrocession, he (out of courtesy) does not contradict the Senate or take issue with it, but he nevertheless does say, “The an- Swer to the question is indicated in the Constitution of the United States in the sion of the territory by the state and acceptance thereof by Congress.” It 1s thus clear that the Attorney General does not “assume the validity of the act of retrocession,” but means to say that no legislation whatever is needed from Con- §ress upon the subject, meaning that the land belongs to and 1s in the District of Columbia as much as it ever was. And this it is not difficult to see. The Consti- stution (article 1, sec. 8, par. 17) says: ‘The Congress shall have power to exercise ex- clusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of government of the United States, &c., and Congress shall have power (par. 18) to make all law which shall be necessary and proper for carrving into execution the foregoing pow- ers,” &e. This authority and these powers were given to Congress by the states in their adoption of the Constitution, and the states being a party must be a party to any change of these powers or of this authority; or to the receding of “such dis- trict” or any part thereof to the states which ceded their jurisdiction. The Con- stitution thus gave Congress, first, “power to accept” Jurisdiction for the United States over such district which may. be- come the seat of government of the United States, but this “power to accept’ was a special power giveri to Congress, which ex- hausted itself when it was performed, {.e., when Congress accepted the cession by its act of July 16, 1790, which says, “And the district so defined, limited and located shail be deemed the district accepted by this act for the permanent seat of the government of the United States.” Hence, so far as that authority existed, it expired on perform- ance of the act of acceptance. Second Congress was given the right “to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatso- ever over such district.” Here is another Power given, but this power is continuous So long as the necessity for its exercise exists—it Is in perpetuo; also it is exclu. sive, and as it is exclusive it is an author. ity which cannot be delegated. We all remember the discussio: the act of Congress of tempting to delegate po overnment then created with Y and legislature, and how the Sourteeren that it could not do so, and that the gov. emment then created was merely a muni- ecrpoi soverelgnpe ation with no attributes of ane Say that Virginia now vers In any part of what was eve District of Columbia is to say that « rae gation of a power to a subordinate to do a particular thing can be extended by the subordinate to do other things, and is alse ‘o Say that Congress could, and by the act iesetrocession of 1846, did, delegate to Virginia the power to legislate over ter. ritory over which the Conetitution gave Congress the exclusive right to legislate Further, Congress “is authorized” to mhie all laws necessary for carrying Into execu, tion the foregoing “powers;” but to make laws which restrict _or repudiate these foregoing powers” Congress has no au. thority whatever. The “several states” and “we, the people,” are the parties to this contract—this Constitution—Congress Is only their agent, and until this sovercign authorizes Congress to cede away the Dis- trict of Columbia, or any part of it, or dele- gate the power and jurisdiction of United States over this District or any bart of it, all acts of Congress on that subject are simply void. In a report to the Uuited States Senate Senator Southard once said: “The District was the creation of the Union for its own purposes—and the District of Columbia has been recognized in all legislation as the seat of government of the United States.” This does not mean one corner of it, nor two corners of it, not five or six miles square, nor five or six square miles of it, but all of it, Le, “Such district as may by cession of particular states and acceptance of Congress become the seat of government.” The whole Dis- trict became qualified as, and to be the seat of government of the United States, and being once qualified to be such, only the sovereign power could change it or any part of it. In speaking of grants of land made by citizens to the general government for Washington city, the Supreme Court in Van Ness vs. U. S., 4 Peters, said: “These grants are made for the foundation of a federal city, and the public faith was neces- sarily pledged when the grants were ac- cepted to found such city. The city was designed to last in perpetuity, capitola im- mobile saxum.” How much more strongly this language applies to the “District” itself in which such a city was to be built and defended, and to provide and protect which these constitutional provisions for its perpetu- ity were erected, must be apparent to all. Strictly, the District is a creature of dif- ferent parentage—four parties—viz.: The two states which ceded their respective parts, the states which by the Constitu- tion authorized the contract and its ac- ceptance; and Congress (representing the United States as a government), which executed the power of accepting the grant and “exercises exclusive legislation” over it; and neither of these parties, or no two of them, can alter or repudiate the condi- tions established, mutually accepted and acted upon by them all. The power “to ex- ercise exclusive legislation” could not give Congress the right to divest itself at will of this “exclusive” power to the people of “such District,” would terminate its power to exclusive legislation. nm of the legality of February, 1871, at- exercises lawful that “exercise Neither can it divest the “states” and “‘We the people of the United States” of their rights in and juris- diction over “such district” -dedicated by them to and for a specific purpose. For Congress to cede away the whole or any part of it is to legislate away the “subject matter” in which gnd over which Congress has only right “to exercise exclusive legis- lation,” and it has no power to violate the spirit of its instructions given to it by ceding, relinquishing, wasting or destroying “this trust estate” committed to {ts care by the states and people. In law it takes the same power to destroy as to create. Acts inconsistent with a power, bind not, they are ultra vires. In the case of Phil- lips vi Payne (Virginia tax collect- cr), 93 U. 8, the issue of the illegality of the retrocession, as it 1s celled, was tried be raised some years ago, but the .Su- Court held that a taxpayer could not raise that issue, that the Virginia goyérn- ment, there in operation, was a government de facto, whether it was-de jure or not was not material to a taxpayer; he got its pro- tection and should pay his taxes. When, however, this issue is properly presented to the Supreme Court there,can be but one re- sult, which will be as clearly indicated in the reply of the Attorney General to the reply of the Attorney’ meral to the Senate. “ G. W. COOPER. SCIENCE IN THE CABINET Suggestion Looking Toward a Department of Sciences. Assistant Secretary Dgbngy Advocates @ Consolidatiog. of Many i Bureaus. — Assistant Secretary Dabney of the Agri- cultural Department, in a recent interview, revives an old suggestion that tie scientific bureaus of.the government should be consolidated as ‘far as possible, with a view to economy and greater efficiency. Many of them, it is claimed, overlap in their work. There are now, Mr. Dabney says, twenty-eight such bureaus, for which $8,000,000 are appropriated annually, and there are 5,000 employes enrolled in them. Secretary ‘Dabney say: “Scattered as they now are through all the departments, operated under very indefinite laws and supervised by different secretaries, usually not scientific men and always overrun with other work, ‘there is ample opportunity for confusion and duplication of work and consequent loss of time. and energy. The government has, for example, three separ- ate and distinct agencies for measuring the land of the country, connected with two different. departments; four separate hydrographic. offices for’ sounding the waters of bavs, rivers, lakes, etc., in four different departments; and ‘five separate chemical laboratories in thé city of Wash- ington alone. The statistics of the natural resources and products of the country are collected by eight different agencies con- nected with six different departments and bureaus, not counting the census, which usually goes over the whole field again. The pending proposal to consolidate all the statistical bureaus and establish a per- manent census, which shall do, in a sys- tematic way through ten years, the work hitherto doné in a haphazard way at in- tervals, is In line with this plan. Dr. Dabney, on being asked for a remedy, replied: “What is needed is a general co- ordination of the sctentific work of the gov- ernment, and the only way to accomplish this is by first bringing all of these bureans together under one executive head. When this has been done the reorganization would take place naturally and easily, without injury to any of the good work now going on. The first thing is for Con- gress to decide upon a general program, and, as »pportunity offers, transfer the different bureaus and surveys to some one of the departments. Certainly no railroad, manufacturing company, or other indus- trial.concern could afford to conduct its af- fairs in the haphazard maner that the gov- ernment conducts {ts scientific work. All great commercial associations have learned the value of thorough organization and systematized work. The development of the resources of the country and the pro- motion of its industries are purely mat- ters of business. The success of this work .concerns every farmer, miner, manufac- turer, merchant, banker, railroad compan etc., In the country, and they are all inter- ested, therefore, in having it efficiently and economically done.” >— THE BRUSSELS EXPOSITION. How the Science Section Will Be Or- ganized: The section devoted to science at the Brussels International exposition, 1 will be Grganized in a unique and interesting manner. hibits of ..yarious. countries being distin- guished by deccrations in their national colors. The collection will be given a place of honor in the right wing of the largest of the permanent exposition buildings, and no charge will be made for space. The section is divided into seven classes, in- cluding mathematics and-astronomy, phy! ics, chemistry, geology and geography, bi- ology, anthropology and bibliography. Ac- cording to the plan pursued in all the sec- tions, money prizes will be awarded to the exhibitors solving certain problems drawn up in a list of “‘desiderata and questions. The desiderata call for a thesis and an ex- hibit illustrating the same, showing some absolute advance or discovery. For ex- ample, under bibliography, a prize of 1,000 frances ($20) is offered for a selection of 1,000 to 1,500 books, catalogued, to serve as a model for a popular library In any spec- ified region, as suggested by the model li- brary exkibited at the world’s fair by the American Library Association. The ‘“ques- tions de concours” call rather for improve- ments on some existing method or ma- chine. For example, to present a mechan- ism permitting one to place weights on the pans of a delicately adjusted balance with- out opening the case in which it is placed— prize, 0 francs. The prizes vary from 1,200 to 200 francs, a total amount of 300,- 000 francs, to be distributed between the fourteen sections into which the exposition is divided. The usual awards and medals will be given in addition. PORTER RECOMMENDED. GEN. Prominent New York - Republicans Backing Him for the Cabinet. The New York Press says: There is good reason to believe that if the empire state is to be represented at all in the McKinley cabinet, Gen. Horace Porier will receive the appointment. He kas heen recommend- ed by prominent repyblicans, including Cornelius N. Bliss, to whom 2 cabinet place was offered, and it is understood that either the War or Navy Department would be acceptable to him. While Edward Lauterbach was in Can- ton extolling the political virtues of J. Sloat Fassett, an envoy was on his way there to-urge Gen. Porter's selection from New York. Letters and telegrams have been pouring in upon Maj. McKinley dur- ing the last few days, resommending the man who is to bé grand marshal of the in- auguration parade for cabinet honcrs. A defegation eS Oo ee eague Club, ic an Fe Pens ct “wilt start for Can- ton probably tonight to impress Gen. For- ter’s qualifications upon the major. riction of Immigration. The Brickiayers” Masons’ Interna- tional Union, at Worcester, Mass., yester- day discussed the need of restricting immi- gration, and it was voted that every union in the country should petition its repre- sentative in Congress to secure more re- strictive laws. This sentiment. was also favored by the Canadian ilelegates. —— New York’s. Railway Terminal. The Grand Central rajlway station in| New York isto be practigally rebuilt at a cost of $500,000. Plans for the reconstruc- tion are almost complete, and work will be begun’ as” soon “as~possible, The cramped quarters have forced many important offi- cials to seek rooms in adjoining office buildings. Two new stories yill be added to the present structure to, give room for all such offices. At pi it, each of the three roads whose terminus Central station has its own and ticket offi caused. A col “ticket office for all three . “The | ting rooms will also ithe three be- ing consolidated.) It will be international, the ex-| DOLLAR GAS IN NEW YORK A Popular Ory That is Raised in the Metropolis, Seven Companies Now Supply the Demand for Iluminant md Fuel, From the Engineering Record. It appears very probable that during the Present winter the gas companies of New York city will be called upon to supply gas at $1 per thousand feet, or prove to the satisfaction of the public that such a thing is not a commercial possibility. No one familiar with the subject will attempt to maintair. that a city of the size and lo- cation of New York could not profitably be supplied with illuminating gas of good quality at the price named. Indeed, were the franchise for supplying the entire city with gas to be granted to a company now, we have no doubt that an abundance of capital would be ready to undertake the work at even a lower figure. It Is clear that the seven companies sup- plying New York city at the present time, which includes the operating of twelve separate gas plants, cannot meet the de- mand for dollar gas with the same ease that a single company with one or two large plants could. Had it not been for the folly of allowing one company after an- other to enter the field, New York might have had dollar gas years ago. In the gas industry competition may be “the life of trade,” but !t does not bring cheap gas to the consumer; and of late years the re- lief has come only through legislative en- actment. We have no doubt that some officials of the New York gas companies would give us dollar gas tomorrow if the decision rested entirely with them. They appre- clate the fact that such a reduction would greatly increase the consumption of gas for fuel purposes; that it would meet the demand for a cheap fuel gas, and that the mora: effect of a voluntary reduction in price would be very great. No more effective obstacle could be placed in the way of prospecting fuel gas companies. At presei.t our gas supply, us furnished by the different companies, ranges from about 22 to about 30 candle-power. The average is about 26 candles; but if allow- ance is made for the larger quantity of the lower candle-power gas consumed, the average would be not far from 25 candles. The bulk of this gas is water gas, while the rest is coal gas. The average heating power of this supply is about 700 heat units per cubic foot, and it is not probable that any fuel gas company selling gas for 40 to 50 cents per thousand would fur- nish a gas having more than 350 heat units per foot. It is evident, therefore, that a company selling an illuminating gas equal to our present supply for $1 per thousand would give the consumer as inuch for his money as unother company selling fuel gas only at one-half that price. To this mUust-be added the great advantage of hav- ing one gas supply both for heating and lightirg purposes. The plea is being urgea that our local legislative body should be given power to “govern the gas companies,” with “au- thority to subpoena witnesses, examine the books and regulate the conduct of the gas companies.” It would be difficult to imag- ine 4 movement more unfortunate both for the eonsumers and the companies than the one suggested, and-no better proof of this Is necessary than the recent granting of a frawchise .o a fuel“ gas company, a grant which most of those who voted for it now look upon as ill-advised. A permenently constituted commission of qualified persons is a much better body to deal with all questions of this character, not only here, but throughout the state. It is impossible to see why such a com- missicn, which works well in Massachu- setts, should not prove equally satisfac- tory in New York. This demand for cheaper gas is a popu- lar cry and is being urged in many com- munities throughout the land. In some of our cities the mistake has been made of granting rights to a competing com- pany in distriets already served with the almost inevitable result that the two com- panies combine sooner or later, and the needless duplication of generating plant and service mains has to be paid for, in the last analysis, by the consumers of the product. The furnishing of illuminating gas should be treated fairly as a business enterprise in which investors are war- ranted In anticipating a fair earning from their capital, and any community now served by a gas company should be ready, in calling for gas at a dollar a thousand feet, to’contract that no competing com- pany shall be allowed to lay mains for similar service for a period of ten years at least. Such an agreem2nt we are con- fident would be in no wise contrary to Public policy, while it would afford an as- surance to investors in the securities of such companies that their interests are considered and their investments are rea- sonably secur ———_—__+-e-__ RECENT BENIN MASSACRE. Details of the Awfal Tragedy in Went Africa. The London Evening News publishes a Cispatch from Lagos, capital of the British West African colony of that name, giving details of the massacre of the British expe- dition, consisting of nine officers, under Ccnsul General J. R. Phillips, by the in- habitants of Benin City early during the present month. The party was unarmed and was pro- ceeding to Benin City, in order to make a request for a conference with King Ob- bah in regard to increasing the trading facilities with that part of Africa, the king having previously consented that the ex- pedition should visit his capital. The nine officers went unarmed in order to impress the king with the peaceful character of their mission, and over 200 native carriers were taken with the party, in order to propel the canoes and carry presents in- tended for the king. - Five miles from Benin City the officers suddenly came upon a narrow defile, which was filled with the dead carriers, who were fearfully mutilated. Almost immediately afterward the offi- cers and their servants were surrounded and attacked by hundreds of savages arm- ed with guns, cutlasses, spears and clubs, and in a few minutes all the members of the party excepting Bolsragon and Locke were killed. ———_+e+_____ Acts Approved. The President has approved the joint resolution to permit the occupation of ‘streets in the District of Columbia by rail- roads during the inaugural ceremonies; the acts for the relief of Lucinda Rickards and Arminda White, and the acts granting pensions to Frances E. Helfenstein, Maria Gibbons, Augustus G. Carey, Ransom C. Hazelip, Sarah A. White, Margaret J. Young, Emeline Filgate, Lydia Chapman and Ira Harris. The following acts have become laws without the President’s sig- nature: The act approving certain acts of the legislature of New Mexico; the act authorizing the issue of certain bonds by the territory of New Mexico; the acts for the relief of Hiram P. Panley, H. A. Worth, M. R. W. Grebe and Stratton H. Benscoter, and the acts granting pensions to Helen M. Mallery, Lucy A. Allen, Wm. H. Nesbit, Rryon Cotton, A. R. Ladd, George V. Barnard, Mary L. Bacon, Sarah Weedon Jones, Mary Prince, Nancy B. Prince, Catherine Darragh, Catherine - enheim, Charlotte A. Welton and Isaac ‘Whetsel. f ee! - ———————————— THE HAIR OF ‘HE HEAD, TO BE AN ORNA- Mnent ta. the wees, mhowd. Feceive painstaking care, and if its color is faded Hall's Hair Re- newer should be applied, Qrinfers’ Ink (the fittle schoo" master of advertising), srps: JE is claimed for fe Washingfon Stor, and proBabfp trutStulfp cfaim:?, {Bat no offer netospaper im Be counfre goers info so fargz @ vercenfage of aff the Gouses tiffin a radius of fmwenfp mifes from te office of pufification. RAPID TRANSIT EXPERIMENTS Official Report on the New York Trials of New Motors. From 1896 Report N. ¥. State R. R. Commissioners. The underground trolley system of elec- tric propulsion for street surface roads has now had a year's trial on the Lenox ave- nue line of the Metropolitan Street Rail- way Company in New York city, and al- though not quite as satisfactory or econom- ical as the overhead trolley, is regarded as preferable tc the cable in so many re- Spects that its use is to be extended to other longitudinal routes of this company. In view of this fact it is safe to predict that there will be no more cable construc- tion in New York city. Some very satisfactory experiments have been made recently with compressed air as a motive power. Three Hardy com- as air cars, manufactured at Rome, N. ¥., have beer in operation on the 125th street line of the 3d Avenue Railroad Com- pany since August 1, 186. The cars are Tun acroes 125th street from the Fort Lee ferry to the East river, a distance of a little over two miles. They are charged every three round trips, thus giving them @ run of about thirteen miles. The hea’ lest grade is about 8 per cent, near 4th av-.ue. The compressor plant Is located at the car barn. An 80-HP. engine compress- es the air into a battery of storage tubes at 2,000 pounds pressure, and the air is carricd through a pipe to a point in the barn where the car is charged, about two minutes being required for the operation. Two cars are constantly in service. Tne third stands at the barn ready to take the place of a car requiring to be recharged. Each car holds 52 cubic feet of air under a pressure of 2,000 pounds. The working air pressure as applied to the motor aver- ages about 130 pounds. During the Decem- ber snow storms the cable cars were block- ed on the 125th street line while the air cars had no difficulty in making time when not interfered with by the other cars. Accurate Conclusions Impossible. It is claimed by the inventor of this sys- tem that the cost of operaticn per car mile will be less than the overhead trolley sys- tem. The limited operation on 125th street, however, does not furnish sufficient data for accurate conclusions. The Hoadley compressed air system ts be- ing experimented with by the Metropolitan Street Railway Company on its Lenox ave- nue lne between 110th and 146th streets with apparent success. The chief differ- ence between these two compressed air sys- tems is in the method of applying the pow- er. The Hardy motor has cylinders and piston acting directly upon the axle as in the case of a steam locomotive. In the Hoadley motor the power is applied by gearing. The Manhattan Hlevated Rallroad Com- pany intends making experiments with the Hardy motor. The motor company is now duilding an engine at Rome about the size of the steam engines at present in use on the elevated railway. It will be operated on the 6th avenue line, between Rector street and Sath street, the compressor plant being located at Rector street. The engine will be constructed to carry sufficient air to operate a train of five cars thirteen miles without recharging. It is expected that the engine will be ready for service some time in February. A Third-Rail Plan. The elevated railway company has also been trying electricity on its 34th street branch, from 3d avenue to the 34th street ferry. The motor was built upon the trucks of a dummy engine. A third rail, which conducts the current from the power hous to the motor, has been placed on insulated chairs fastened to the guard timbers outside the track rail and standing about ten inch- es above the track rails. The connection is made by two steel shoes which reach from the lower side of the motor and clasp the charge rail. When more electricity is pro- duced than is used by the motors it is stored in accumuiators located at the ferry end of the route. This motor has been suc- cessfully working since October 5. The average power, including heat and light for the cars, is 45 amperes; voltage, 450. No difficulty in operation was experienced during snow sterms, and mechanically the motor has done all the work required of it. Regarding its economical efficiency, the line is tco short and the traffic too limited to admit of comparisons that would be of much value. ————_ ++ SOUTHERN COAST DEFENSE. Sixteen States Represented im the Tampa Conference. The South Atlantic and gulf states coast and harbor defense and improvement con- vention assembled at Tampa, Fla., Wednes- day morning, sixteen states being repre- sented. Alabama sent 10 delegates, Flor- ida 53, Georgia, 3, Indiana 6, Iowa 1, Ken- tucky 1, Louisiana 4, Massachusetts 2, Minnesota 2, Nebraska 2, New York 4, North Carolina 3, North Dakota 1, Ohio 3, Pennsylvania 4, South Carolina 2. Lieut. General J. M. Schofield, Capt. Ed- ward Davis and Capt. T. W. Woodruff represented the army, and the navy was present in the officers of the cruiser Ra- leigh. The meeting was called to order by President Fessenden of the Tampa board of trade. E. R. Gunby moved that as several trains bearing important delegations were delayed and would not arrive until 2 o'clock, the convention adjourn until 3 in the afternoor. Col. Frye of the Massachu- setts delegation seconded the motion, which was carried, and the convention adjourned immediately upon assembling. Governor Bloxham, on behaif of Florida, delivered an address of welcome. Mayor ‘Gillett then delivered a welcome address for the ctiy. Permanent organization was effected. Yesterday the entire delegation went down the bay to the entrance of the harbor. Sued for $100,000 for Libel. Suit has been commenced by Chas. A. Schweizer, a harness maker, against the San Francisco Call to recover damages in the sum of $100,000 for alleged libel. The article upon which the suit is based was a sensational story to the effect that Schwei- zer had hired John Barker, since deceased, to assassinate Solomon Lehman, upon whose life Schweizer held an insurance pol- icy for $5,000 as security for money loaned. The grand jury investigated the charges and arrived at the conclusion that they were the result of a conspiracy to black- mail Schweizer. The attempts were made to assassinate Lehman, and a charge of shot dred from ambush wounded his daugh- ter, who wis riding with him at the time. ———_++ Locomotive Firemen Meet. A union meeting of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, embracing New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, was called to order at Cleveland yesterday with First Vice Grand Master Harrahan of Peoria in the chair. The meet- ing is held behind closed doors. —__—_—+o+_____ All Propeller Blades Gone. ‘The German tank steamer Willkommen, from Bremerhaven January 4 for New York, which was taken to Fayal, Azores, in tow of the British steamship Memnon, was picked up by the Memnon about 750 miles from there with all the biades of her propeller gone. NICARAGUA CANAL BILL Senator Morgan Wants a Time Fixed for a Vote on the Measure, Considerable Opposit' Developed— Mr. A Credentials as Se: ator From Delaware Prescnted. After The Star's report of Senate proceed- ings closed yesterday afternoon, Mr. Mor- gan asked consent to an agreement for a! final vote at 4 p.m. today, but Mr. Turpie objected. Objection was made also to an 3 for a vote on Monday or Tues- jay. Then,” said Mr. Morgan, decisively, “my only alternative is to ask the Senate to sit out the bill.” This presented the unexpected prospect of a test of endurance, with possible long night sessions. Mr. Morgan did not state when he would ask the Senate to “sit out” ' the bill. Mr. Peffer (Kan.) spoke briefly in oppos!- tion to the bill. Mr. Vilas (Wis.) urged Mr. Morgan not to adopt any unusual course to advance the bill to a vote. There should be no snap judgment. Mr. Morgan, replying to Mr. Vilas, si the latter could name the da: a vote any time next week. Mr. Vilas said there was no reason why the opponents of the bill should be com- pelled to name the day and hour for a vote on penalty of being denied the usual cour- tesy of discussion. Mr. Hoar pointed out that the end of th session was only six weeks off, many propriation bills were to be acted on, and it was hardly reasonable for a dozen sena- tors to take a day each to oppose this bill. Mr. Vilas said months had been given to the tariff bill in the last Congress. “That was not only a thousand bills ta one, but a thousand fills,” responded Mr. Hoar. ¢ Mr. Hill recalled the length of time given, to the bill for the repeal of the Sherman law. Mr. Addicks’ Credential At this point the matter was laid aside temporarily, as Mr. Chandler, rising to a privileged question, presented election cre- dentials, stating that on January 2) Joha Edward Addicks was elected a United States senator from Delaware to fill the ex- isting vacancy. “From what source did you get tha asked Mr. Gray (Del.). “Frankly, I will say it was handed to me by Mr. Addicks,” answered Mr. Chandler, “who feels that he is entitled to be sworn in as the colleague of the Delaware sena- tor (Gray).” Mr. Chandler said, however, that as he had already introduced a petition relative to the seating of Mr. DuPont in this va- cancy he would not ask for immediate ac- tion on the credentials just presented. Returning to the Nicaragua canal bill, Mr. Morgan said the opposition to fixing a time for a vote was a filibustering move, and he would not consent to any delay. Mr. Stewart (Nev.) favored holding the Senate in session until a vote was forced, and spoke of the military and strategia importance of the canal. This brought on an amusing colloquy be- tween Mr. Stewart and Mr. Vilas as to the result following the repeal of the Sherman act. Mr, Morgen finally called for the “regu- lar orfer “If, then, we are to be cut off from fair debate,” said Mr. Vilas, “I will be obliged to move that when the Senate adjourn it be until Monday next.” This was clearly a move for time, and opened a short parliamentary struggle. On a rell call the yeas were 13, nays 26, six less than a quorum, and the Sen: was at a standstill. “Under the circumstances I will move an adjournment,” said Mr. Morgan, reluctant- ly, and thereupon, at , the Senate ad- jJourned. —_+ e+ _____ THOUSANDS PERISHED. Result of the Recent Earth the Perst Galt. A dispatch from Teheran, capital of Per sia, says that 2,500 persons perished as a pe- sult of the earthquake which occured on Kisham Island January 11. Kisham Island is the largest in the Persian gulf and is situated about fifteen miles from its ¢n- trance. Its population is estimated at 5,000, ° mostly Arabs. A special dispatch from Bombay says that three severe earthquake shocks have occurred there. ees Improved Order Heptaso; At the regular meeting of Columbia Con- clave, No. 11, I. O. H., held at Costello's Hall, 604 G street northwest, on Monday evening, the following officers were in- stalled for the ensuing year by Deputy Supreme Archon E. Ottenheimer of Balti+ more, Md., namely: Past archon, Peter J. Meehan; archon, Wm. D. Rummell; pro- vost, John Hogan; prelate, P. J. O'Day; secretary, Jno. 8. Tomlinson; financier, Wm. H. Knotts; treasurer, Wm. H. Hodges; inspector, Gustavus Jones; warder, E. H. Brown; sentinel, Wm. Pirie; trustees, Geo. M. Thomas, J. H. Mitchell, T. B. Baker; to Supreme Conclave, Jno. alternate, Geo. M. Thomas; te D.C. A. F. B. 8., P. J. mke fi representative Meehan. M. G. Cohen, supreme archon; W. H. Gile land, member of supreme executive com- mittee, both of Pittsburg, Pa.; Jno. W,_ Cruett, supreme organizer; M. F. Tho district deputy supreme archon, both of Baltimore, and J. H. Primrose, deputy su- preme organizer, of Smyrna, Del., were present and gave glowing accounts of the progress of the order. At the close of the ceremonies the large attendance of members repaired to Os- born & Hoban’s, where a bounteous repast was enjoyed, for which the members are under obligations to the committee on en- tertainment, namely: Smith Thompson, George M. Thomas and Wm. H. Hodges. Supreme District Deputy J. H. Primrose will organize the third lodge of Heptasopha in Washington next Friday evening at Op- penheimer’s Hall, on 9th etreet. Already over a hundred persons have signified their intention of joining the new body. _—_———__ Lecture on Sacred Art. 4 Miss Dora Duty Jones, the well-known lecturer on sacred art of this city, was given a generous reception In Baltimore Saturday evening. She has been in that city for some days as the guest of Mrs. David L. Bartlett, and her lecture Satur- her second appearance before an covlaece: of Baltimore society ladies, her first having been a week ago at the Arun- dell Club. Her lecture Saturday was de- livered to an audience numbering 300 la- dies, and had for its subject the Holy Mother, as portrayed by the great masters of painting. Her lectures are illusirated by stereopticon views. SS ae Installation of Royal Crescents. Crescent Lodge, No. 6, The Royal Cres- cent, has installed the following officers for the ensuing year: President, 8. A. Groff; vice president, R. O. Melton; secretary, Joseph Harper; financial secretary, J. F. Kilgore; marshal, M. Byrnes; te, Pat- rick Donovan; sentry, Wm. W. Watson; guard, J. A. Smith; trustees, 8. A. Groff, R. O. Melton and M. Byrnes. ae More Pay for Postmen. ‘The New York senate has passed a lution calling upon Congress to the pay of letter carrfers. reso- increase