Evening Star Newspaper, February 2, 1897, Page 2

Fire in the State Building at Harris- burg, Pa. WIRES BLAMED ELECTRIC LIGHT ———e Many Valuable Destroyed. Records Were ———— MEMBERS MOVING OUT HARRISBURG, Pa. February 2—Fire broke out at 1 o'clock in the serate wing of the state capitol, and at 1:3 o'clock the building seems department is unabie to control the flames. ‘The fire originated In the rooms of Lieu- tenant Governor Walter Lyon over the senate chamber. It is supposed to have been started by an electric ght wire. The fire burned for several minutes before It State Capitol, Harrisburg, Pa. was discovered. It had made such head- way that but little could be saved in the costly apartments of the lieutenant gov- ernor or across the hall in the rooms cf Superintendent of Public Instruction Schaf- fer, who was alone in his office when the fire was discovered. He did all he could to check the fire, but it was not in his pow- er., All he saved were the appropriation books. Thousands of dollars’ worth of rec- to be doomed, as the fire | ‘LATE NEWS BY WIRE|AMONG THE POORIFOR BIME The ‘Police Fund Has Been "Praotioally Exhausted. Contributions Received for the Gen- eral Funds — Suffering Continues Among the Classes in Wai ‘The police poor fund is about exhausted, which lends point to the charity concert next Friday afternoon at the National Theater. The arrangements for the affair, under the general direction of Mrs. Tom C. Noyes, are well advanced, and the tick- ets are selling rapidly. Reserved seats have been placed at $1, and the tickets of this class sold are exchangeable at the theater for coupons. ‘The general admission tickets*at 50 cents have been placed in the hands of the po- lice. who are disposing of them today. |The boxes have been nearly all sold at geod prices, the box holders so far being as foilows: Mrs. Hearst, Mrs. Westing- house, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Hibbs. ‘The program is in an advanced state of preparation. Prof. Fanciulli and the Ma- rine Band, with their usual liberality, have volunteered. Mr. Will Haley and his band will form an important part of the pro- gram. The octet from Primrose and West's minstrels have offered their ser- vices, and will be given a prominent place on the program. Miss Grace Hamilton Jones, the rising young pianist, will render a solo on that instrument. Mr. Perry Turpin and Mrs. Tom Noyes will be among the vocal soloists, while Mr. Hoover, Mr. Morsell, Mr. Kaiser and Mr. Mosher, forming the Gridiron quartet, will participate, it is thought. A violin solo and possibly one or two features from the theatrical companies in the city this week also be on the program. Feeding the Poor. There is very little left in the police poor fund, and scores of persons who applied to the police today for relief were refused. Although there were not quite so many callers upon the police today, the number was large enough to indicate that there is still a great amount of suffering. Last night at the first police station there w: a caller.who asked that he be sent to the workhouse. This poor man had been with- out food for more than twenty-four hours. “I'm hungry,” he said, “and I know if I am sent to the workhouse I'll be fed.” His story was that he had been unable to get employment, and he had walked here all the way frcem Lynchburg, Va. Police- man Tayman, who heard his story, wouid not lock him in a cell as a prisoner, but took him in the lodging house, where he was given a bath, supper and put to bed. Today the officer told him he could look for work and do the best he could to keep out of the workhouse. ords were lost. : ‘The flames had eaten their way through the senate roof before the fire department arrived. Part of the roof tumbled in be- fore the water was started. Then the streams were so small that the fire laugned at the play and burned on. Scon the great dome was a mass of flames. This burned like shavings. The fire quickly communi- ested to the house side and is now—at 1:35 —eating its way along the roof. There seems to be no possible way of saving the building. The house was in session when the fire was discovered and it quickly adjourned. The members saw the probabilities of the fire spreading and they began to save their belongings. The smoke soon drove them from the tuikting and little was gotten out. The officers in the department buildings adjoining the capitol are preparing to move. ‘The dome has just fallen. Before it fell atriotic citizen crawled through the of flames and hauled down the flag. He was loudly cheered. _ Several men were slightly injured by fall- ing timbe: Flames in the House. 2 p. m.—The entire interior of the house is in fla The water power is still very weak and effort Is now being made to confine the flames to the legisiative halls. The building stands between those used by Adjutant General Stewart and Sec- retary of Internal Affairs Latta. These of- ficials are removing their valuable papers and furniture While t to remove their desks from the house Representative G. W. Rhoads of Northumberland and J. W. Doagy of Dau- phin had narrow escapes. Just as they were leaving the chamber a portion of the roof fell in. They were sligitly injured. Loss $1,000,000. ) p.m.—The fire will be confined to the capitol building. The entnre structure is now in flames in the interior. The roofs have fallen in, and soon the great pillars at the main entrance will fall. The walls are now cracking and crumbling. The loss is placed at $1,000,000; insurance, $400,000, The loss to valuable records is great. They can never be replaced. The Pennsylvania tol. ‘The state capitol at Harrisburg was an old-fashioned brick building of colonial style. The pertico of the main building contained high columns running up al- most to the roof of the building. Two wings were built to the old building, one side being the senate and the other side the house. Back of the main building were the committee rooms of the capitol. The main building contained a dome of old fashioned design and picturesque in its nature. The building was two stories high besides a basement. The building had been repaired at considerable expense re- cently in the way of fitting up the interior. The buildings are located in the midst of a beautiful park of more than fifteen acres | on a rise of ground. They ure plain brick edit The capitol building proper is 18 feet long by SO feet wide r Ionic portico in front, sur. 4 command lome is a spacious rotunda. T ding was begun in 1819 and occunied for the first time January 28, 1822. There is a smaller building of similar design cn each also brary of capitol bu the main stru ‘oted ernmental uses. ate Ii » volumes is contained in the PRESENTATIVES. British Members of the Venezuelan Arbitration Commission. LONDON, February 2—Baron Herschel, EN . and Justice Richard Henn Collins, . of the high court of justice, ted as the British members of the Venezuelan arbitration commission. > BAYARD’S DINNER. Some Distinguished Englishmen Who Not Be There. LONDON, February 2—Mr. Joseph Cham- berlain, the secretary of state for the col- onies, has been obliged to decline an invi- tation to be present at the dinner which the United States ambaseador, Mr. Thomas F. Payerd, will give tomorrow at his pri- vate sence in honor of the Prince of Wales. The inability of Mr. Chamberlain and others to be present is due to the fact that they have to attend the speaker's din- ner the same day. Mr. Bayard says that the affair will be purely private and per- sonal 2nd that he cannot give a Ist of the guests until after the event. In addition to the Marquis of Salisbury, Secretary Carter and Mrs. Carter, Lieuten- ant Commander W. S. Cowles, the United Btates naval attache, and Mra. Cowles, Mrs. Thomas B. Ferguson, the United In the sixth precinct Inst night the offi- cers found another sad case of destitution. There was a family, consisting of father, mother and four children. The father is paralyzed, and there was no food or fuel in the house. Although the charity fund was about exhausted, the police managed to do something toward giving the family relief. Today's contributions to the police fund were exceedingly small, the amount of cash received being only $3. This was re- ceived from children living at 1111 M street northwest. Mrs. Stmon Wolf contributed a bundle of clothing, and bundles of clothing were received from two unknown persons. The free dinner at the National Hotel, given to the poor by Col. Staples, was weil patronized today. Yesterday the police lieutenants distributed 150 tickets for this dinner, and the amount of Irish stew pre- pared for it was enough to feed many families. At the dining room on the 6th street side of the hotel today at 11 o'clock there was a crowd of hungry men standing in the rain, and when the doors were opened the rush was so great that a bij pane of stained glass was taken out. Por! and beans with bread were enjoyed by many more than were fed yesterday. In some instances the holders of tickets brought buckets and were permitted to take home their large allowances of pork and beans. In the crowd of hungry ones were many able-bodied men, and most of them were poorly clad, only a few of them enjoying the wa-mth of overcoats. In the government printing office a col- lection is being taken up which promises to greatly increase the poor fund. This list is being circulated because of a suggestion made by Public Printer Benedict. Generous Offer. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, which is a@ prominent charitable organization, has Gone a great amount of charity work this winter in a quiet way. Private subscrip- ; tions are made to this scciety, and its fund will be increased during the months of February and March because of the gener- | cus offer of Thos. E. Waggaman. His art gallery at No. 3300 O street is to be open on Thursdays during the two months, from 11 a.m. till 4 p.m., and the proceeds will be turned over to the seciety. For Central Relief Committee. Heretofore acknowledged. Dollar fund. Office chief . Dep: Agriculture, additional 2° 500 Weather bureau, Department of Agriculture » 4000 Office auditor for the Post Office Department,Treasury Department 88 80 Quartermaster general's office....... 46 00 Clerks in Smithsonian Institution. 25 35 Hydrographic office, Navy Depart- ment 19 50 | U.S. pension agency. bw Officers and clerks, U. 8. Marine Corps, headquarters and barracks 18 00 Division of forestry, Department of Agriculture . 550 Isadore Saks 25 00 R. & B. 25 00 Double L. 200 U. S. botanic garden. 13 05 Grand_ total +: $3,541 62 For the Associated Charities The Star has received the following: Heretofore acknowledged. $107.00 Mrs. N.C. B zi 5.00 Ry 5.00 tT. H 1.00 Total. $118.00 For dollar-fund, central relief committee —C 3. A. Shallenberger, Mrs. G. A. llenberger, Miss Georgia B. Shallen- er, Miss Amanda Vawter, Mrs. E. H. Redington, J. S., Helen, Cash, \ A., T. H. ——— Per: al Mention. Maj. P. F Hamey of the medical de- pertment is in the city on leave of absence. The leave of abvence granted Major Jos. M. Kelley, 10th Cavalry, has been extended three months. Dr. F. R. Hagner has returned from the Jchns Hopkins Hospital, where he has been for a year. i Lieut. Col. Charles A. Wikoff, 19th In- fantry, is in the city on leave of absence. Capt. John A. Johnston, 8th Cavairy, has reported to Gen. Porter for duty in connec- tien with the inauguration of the next President. - ——___+-e._. The Watson-Black Contest. The House committee on elections today discussed the Georgia contested election case of Watson agt. Black, but came to no decision. The committee will meet again Friday. ——_e—___ A Farmer's Bloody Crime. TACOMA, Wash., February 2—A. W. Linderstrom, a farmer living on Anderson's Island, came home late last night, and in a fit of anger took down a gun and blew out the brains of his five-year-old son. He then placed the muzzie of the gun to his head ond blew out his own brains. See Resentenced to Death. States ambassador to Sweden and Norway will att All the other guests will be English. TURKEY'S REIGN OF TERROR. Description of the State of Affairs. MARSEILLES, February 2—Tewfik Pasha, until recently Turkish minister for foreign affairs, has arrived here. He states that a reign of terror prevails among the entourage of the sultan. He is fearful as to the fate of his family, whom he was com- opie, under the protection of the foreign » unde: e embassies. = Tewhk Pa: SANTE FE, N. M., February 2.—Frank and Antonio Borrego. Sariano Alarid and Patriclo Valencia, the four conspirators who murdered ex-Sheriff Frank Chavez,an@ whose conviction was recently affirmed by the United States Supreme Court, have been resentenced to be hanged February 23. The Saturday Star By Mail One Year One Dollar. THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY: 2, 1897-12 PAGES: Mr. Ohandler’s Resolution Introduced in the Senate. SOME PENSION. BILLS PRESENTED The Diplomatic Appropriation Bill in the House. CIVIL SERVICE’ DISCUSSED ge ‘In the Senate today the bill was passed reimbursing ex-Assistant Treasurer Ellis H. Roberts of New York city for an office loss of $800. Mr. Roach (N. D.) presented: the creden- tials of his colleague, Mr. Hansbrough, for another term. The House bill to allow the bottling of distilled spirits in bond was Teported fa- vorably from the finance committee. Among the bills presented was one by Mr. Mills (Texas) to increase the pensions of the survivors of the war of 1812 to #30 per month. Mr. Mills stated that there were but twelve survivors, ranging in age from one hundred and four years down. Another bill, by Mr. Lindsay (Ky.), pro- posed a pension for Cassius M. Clay of 100 per month. Keirasclution by Mr. Lodge (Mass) was agreed to, requesting the Secretary of State for information as to the killing of a son of M. F. Lopez, an American citizen, by the Spanish forces at Sagua la Grande, Cuba. A Bimetallic Resolution. Mr. Chandler (N. H.) presented the fol- lowing resolution: “That it is the sense of the Senate that the United States should not permanently acquiesce in the single gold standard, and that the efforts of the government in all its branches should be steadily directed to secure and maintain the use of silver as well as gold as stand- ard money, with the free coinage of both, under a system of bimetallism to be es- tablished through international agreement with such safeguards of legislation as will insure the parity of value of the two metals at a fixed ratio, furnish a sufficient volume of metallic money and give immunity to the world of trade from violent fluctuations of exchange.” Mr. Chandler said he would call up the resolution in a day or so, for the purpose of making a few remarks in striking contrast to those recently made by the gold mono- metallist from Wisconsin (Vilas) and the silver monometallist from South Dakota (Pettigrew), who had joined hands in vot- ing against the bill for an international monetary conference. The bill was passed pensioning the sur- viving members cof Gray’s Battalion of Arkansas Volunteers. Mr. Lodge called up the conference report on the immigration bill, and sought to se- cure its adoption. To this, however, ob- jection was made by Mr. Gibson (Md.), who made a point of order against the report ag a whole. THE HOUSE. TFALLISM| The House, immediately upon convening today, went into committee of the whole and resumed the consideration of the diplo- matic and consular apropriation bill. Mr. Pearson (N. C.) offered an amendment to increase the salaries of the consuls in class IV (the $2,500 ciass) to $2,033 each and to abolish entirely the salaries of class VII. There are thirty-one consulates in class IV —Buenos Ayres, Reichenburg, Brussels, Chefoo, St. Thomas, Lyons, Marseille: Annaberg, Aix la Chapelle, Bremen, Stutt- gart, Chemnitz, Hamburg, Mayence, Pla- neu, Athens, Birmingham, Dundee, . Edi: burgh, Nottingham, Sheffield, Southampa st Tunstall, Victoria, Huddersfield, Swans Paso del Norte, Cienfuegos, Santiago : Cuba, Smyrna and Jerusalem. The Civil Service Order. = He proposed that the compensation of the consuls in class 8 ($1,000 class) be pro- vided for by fees. Mr. Pearson said the salaries for class 4 were inadequate, but he frankly admitted that the adoption of his amendment would accomplish another purpose. It would, he said, take these thirty-one consulates out of the scope of the recent order of the President and en- able the incoming President to supersede these “free trade, free silver consuls with republicans and protectionists.” Mr. Hitt, the chairman of the foreign af- fairs committee, called attention very sig- nificantly to the fact that the order prom- ulgated by Mr. Cleveland was after all sim- ply an order, and might be resciaded or modified. In fact, he expressed the opin- {en that in the readjustment which would come from stripping these consuls of their fees some modification would be made, and he said he would favor a modification. He said he thought the question could be safe- ly left to the wisdom of the incoming ad- ministration. Mr. McCreery (Ky.) taunted the republi- cans with whining at the prospect of losing this patronage. He spoke of the gradual extension of the “merit system” and dep- recated this “weeping, wailing and gnash- ing of teeth. “Do you favor the civil service law?” ask- ed Mr. Steele (Ind.) “I did not vote for it,” replied Mr. Mc- Creery, “but I think I might vote for a law which I do not disapprove of as much as I do of the present law.” A Point of Order Sustained. Mr. McCreery made the point of order that the amendment changed existing law. Mr. Payne (N. Y.), who was In the chair, finally sustained the point of order. Provision for the consulate at Horgen, Switzerland ($2,000), was stricken out on motion of Mr. Hitt, who explained that the business of that consulate could be con- ducted from Zurich, which was only eight miles away. Mr. Pearson renewed a portion of his former #mendment to strike out the sal- aries of the thirteen consuls in class VII, who receive $1,000 each. Mr. Pearson said that most of these consuls were foreigners. He declared no American could go abroad and live on the pittance of $1,000 per year. No country, he said, was so parsimonious as the United States in the pay of con- sular salaries. The minimum salary patd by France was $2,500. If these consulates were not pro- vided for, he said, these officers would become consular or commercial agents and be paid by fees. At three points, Ghent, Stettin and Christiania, this would be ad- vantageous to the officers. A FEMALE COXEY. She Says She is Going to the Capitol to Demand Legislation, Mrs. Virgmia N. Lount, who figured in @ sereational Police Court case here two years ago, and who was quite prominent in the last campaign, was a caller at po- lice headquarters this morning, where she had a long conversation with the detec- tives. She sald she was going to invade the Capitol Friday morning as “queen of the populists” and a “friend of the pris- orers of poverty.” She said she raised $300 during the Coxey ecrmy visit, and now she is going Coxey ong better when she reeches the Capitol. She will go to the Serate, she says, and there demand that an appropriation be made for the poor. “Ard,” she said, “there will be no ‘keep off the grass’ with me, but it will be real nice if I’m arrested. My agent will dress as Uncle Sam and I'll appear as Liberty. In my white suit and white kid boots, don’t you think I'll look cute?” Her idea in calling upon the officers, she said, was to get police protection, and she went away under the belief that she would get it. MR. WOLCOTT SEES FAURE. ‘The Colorade Senator Confers With the French President. © PARIS, February 2.—Senator Edward 0. Wolcott of Colorado, who is visiting Europe in the interests of bimetallism, had a short interview with President Faure Sunday. Since then he has seen ¥* Loubet,. ident of the senate, and Magnin, director of the Bank of France. Senator Wolcott e expects to see M. Melire, the rr, to- day, and will start for evening or We PRESIDENT, ROBERTS’ SUCCESSOR. a No Oppeost: to Frank Thomson > ~Kpown to Exist. PHILADELPHIA, February 2.—The va- cancy i the nagement’ of the Pean- sylvanig railroad, caused the death of PresMient ‘George B. Roberts, will be filled tomerrow’ at a special meeting of the board @f @fréctors of the company. It is un < it but one name will be presented® at Meeting, that of Vice Presiden® Frgpk Thomson, and he will be given thé mous vote of the board. Whether thy jotions that will follow the election fr. Thomson will be made at the meet! ‘has not been definitely settled, but hey-are, Second Vice Presi- dent JoW P..Green, is expected to become first vice eee Third Vice President Charles E. Pugh second vice president and General Manager 8. M. Prevost, third vice president.’ Jt is believed that General Mas- ter of Transportation Hutchinsom will be Promoted to the office of general manager. It is understood that one other change will be made ‘in the management. Presi- dent Roberts was also chairman of what is known as.the executive-eommittee of the board of directors, which was one of the most important and resporsible subdi- visions of the Management. To enable the new presidént to apply himself more close- ly to the operation and development of the system, it is regarded by some of the di- rectors as advisable that he should be re- Meved of the duties of chairman of this committee, and if this opinion prevails, A. J. Cassatt will be tendered the office. - — SOLDIERS’ HOME MANAGEMENT. Representative, Warner of Mlinots Examines Witnesses at Leavenworth. LEAVENWORTH, Kan., February 2— Representative Warner of Illinois, member of the congressional committee investigat- ing Governor A. J. Smith’s management of the soldiers’ home here, has arrived in Leavenworth and is hearing testimony, both corroborative and in rebuttal, to that given before the committee in Washington recently by Miers Powell, who charged Governof Smith with drunkenness, with treating the inmates harshly and with compelling them to take the Keeley cure. Mr. Warner has examined several wit- nesses. Veteran Louis Heilich, in a meas- ure, corroborated the testimony given by Powell. Governor Smith caused several attendants from the hospital to be ex- amined as to, the ill-treatment alleged by Powell when he was an inmate of that part of the home. They all testified that Powell had been well treated. Several other witnesses were examined. There was some testimony corroborative of that given by Powell, but in the main the evi- dence was favorable to Governor Smith. ae “SIX COMPANIES” THE DISSOLVED. A Famous Chinese Organization Goes _Out of Existence. SAN FRANCISCO, February 2.—With the Chinese New Year the Six Companies, the most powerful, richest and most far-reack- ing Chinese organization in América, goes out of existence. For a year and a half, ever since the four provincial organiza- tions—Ning .Yung, Kong Chow, Hop Wo and Shu Hing—composing the Ze Yup Fed- eration—withdrew their active support and formed the Four Companies organization, the Six Companies has been practically in liquidatiqn, Er years it was the banker, counselor, and diplomatic agent of every Chinaman in America while he lived, the AdministPator 6f his estate after his death. Its sources of ‘revenue were varied, and the sums-of money it handled were aston- ishing. dt was the arbiter of differences and quarrels, :dusiness and personal, be- tween the Chinese throughout the country, and the agency through which the police and evenjthe Slate Department dealt with the people. 9. Not a firecracker was heard, not a bomb explodedtin Chinatown all day or night. There was not) even a Chinese arrested. It was the quietest New Year the oldest member of the police foree ever saw. Strange ‘to way, there was not the usual crowds:.of citizen sightseers, which may have beén aacounted for partly..by the threatentsg ommather,, and partly, by the general understanding ‘that there would be lacking the-noisy feature of thd Chinese new years = ¢ G —— SPAIN’S 'PROUBLES AP HOME. Martial Law in iadrid Because of Strikes and Bread Riots. MADRID, February 2—Serlous strikes and bread riots have occurred here. There have been manifestations before the town ball. Windows have been broken, and many arrests have been made. The munic- ipal authorities have resigned, owing to their inability to suppress the disturbances, and martial law has been proclaimed. seen Drowned While Fording. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, February 2.—A special from Ventura, Cal. states that Hugh MeMillen, agent for the Western Transit Compmy at Chicago, had been on a visit to his ranch in the Ojai valley, where Mrs. McMillen is spending the win- ter. He was driving to Santa Paula, where he intended to take the train for Chicago. Santa Paula creek has a quicksand bed, and recent rains had made fording the stream dangerous. The carriage was overturned in the middie of the stream, and though the driver escaped, he was unable to render any assistance to Mr. McMillen. The body was recovered. —— Countess Cowley Divorced. LONDON, February 2.—Countess Cow- ley was today granted a decree of divorce from her husband, Earl Cowley, in the di- vorce division of the high court of justice, on the grounds of desertion and adultery. So A Jealous Lover's Crime. APOLLO, Pa., February 2.—Last even- ing James Shelhammer, son cf a well-to-do farmer, shot and killed Grace Clark, an attractive and popular young lady, and then turned the pistol on himself, inflicting a fatal wound. The tragedy took place in the sitting room of the Clark residence, and as the couple-were alone the cause will probably never be known. Jealousy, however, is be- lieved to have been at the bottom of it. Shelhammer was a suitor for Miss Clark’s hand, but lately she treated him with marked coldness. The young lady was sev- enteen years of age and Shelhammer two years older. > ‘To Open the Mills. WARWICK, R. L., February 2.—The ma- chinery of the recently established War- wick woolen mills has been nearly all set. up and work will be begun some 4ime this month, Manyxof the operatives who have been out,of work in Greenwich, Fall River and other places will be given employment. te ape & Hith School Burned. MENOMINEE, Wis, February 2—The Menominee high school and Stout Manual ‘Training Bchopl was destroyed by fire this morning'&t 4 8‘clock. Loss on high school, $30,000; iBsuratice, $12,000; on Stout Manual ‘TrainingSchéot, $100,000; insurance, $40,- 000. Cange of"fire unknown. mies ee ea Ras. Rates to the Fight. SAN ¥ (SCO, Cal, February 2.— Col. C. Bs Crotker, first vice president of the Southern’ Pacific Company, was asked if his cox would oppose making a reasonab) tion In rates to the Cor- bett-Fi M7 contest. Without hesi- tation h if that he was in favor of making @ raté that would induce the larg- est crowd pqsstblé ‘to go, but the attitude of eastern connections of the Southern Pa- cific and other facts had to be considered. re ———___ The Willard Estate. Judge Hagner today fixed the bond of Mr. Joseph E.- Willard, administrator of his father, the late Joseph C. Willard, at 360,- 000.. The bend Was first fixed, through an ‘innévertence,* at "$50. ms s. The Morse Liquor Ra.” Hi the Senate:‘this“ afternoon Mr. -Morrill called up. the Dill :to- prohibit the sale of. in the-Capitol. Mr. Hill-was prompt-.| liquor ly on his feet,,and. asked when that bill had been reported: Morrill replied that it had been re to the Senate on the 28th of January. Mr. Miljs asked what objection could be raised to the consideration the but, on the objection of Mr. the ‘was passed over. DISTRICT MONEY The Appropriation Bill Discussed in the House. ‘ DIFFERENT. ITEMS ARE EXPLAINED The Electric Lighting Controversy Brought Up. A SHARP COLLOQUY The District of Columbia appropriation bill came up in the House for consideration late this afternoon, Mr. Grout of Vermont being in charge of the measure. The first reading of the bill was dispensed with, and Mr. Grout proceeded to give a summary of the amounts appropriated by the bill. Mr. Grout said that the total amount recommended to be appropriated for th general expenses of the District of Colum- bia for the fiscal year 1898 in the bill 1s, exclusive of the water department, $5,642,- 856.93, of which sum the general govern- ment is required to pay $2,505,428.46, that being one-half of the whole, exclusive of the amount ($16,000) recommended for ex- penses under the highway act. The first named sum is $2,852,930.45 less than the estimates. The amount appropriated for the general expenses of the District of Co- lumbia for the current fiscal year 1897 is $5,706,825.08, or $63,968.13 more than is rec- ommended in this bill for 1598. The Water Estimate. Referring to the water estimates, Mr. Grout said that Congress would fail in its duty to the city if it did not, at some date in the near future, make provision for an extension of the water service of the city. Mr. Grout explained the principle features of the bill to the House, and in referring to the public schools said he thought the future needs of the District, with reference to industrial training would be met by the ppropriation for the Inaustrial Home ‘hool and would furthermore relieve the government from the necessity of con- tributing to certain sectarlan industrial schools. With reference to charities, Mr. Grout said, the committee had appropriated a lump sum of the same amount appropriat- ed last year and placed under the control of the District Commissioners. Mr. Morse of Massachusetts called atten- tion to the ilmiting provision of the last appropriation bill relating to charities, and asked if that provision applied to the pres- ent appropriation. Mr. Grout said he thought it should ap- ply. Mr. Grout said he was free to confess that there might be some allusion to that limitation in the present bill, and he would not oppose an amendment to that effect. Mr. Pitney said it was the intention of the committee on appropriations to permit competition in electric lighting. He said it was no new thing for the Commissioners to advertise for electric light proposals. They had been doing it for years, mviting competition to relieve the people of the city. Other appropriation bills had spe- cifically required the Commissivaers to ad- vertise. In answer to a question from Mr. Baker, Mr. Pitney said tlat one reason why the Cemmissioners did not accept proposals from one company was because that com- pany did not submit any proposals. That company subsequently went before the Commissioners and the courts and protested against the acceptance of the other com- pany's proposals. Mr. Pitney charged that the old company used its monopoly of the electric light fran- chise without enterprise and without meet- ing the demands of the city and the people. He said the rew company should at least be allowed to get within striking distance of the monopoly. Debate on the Charities Item. Mr. Blue of Kansas said there was no necessity for re-enacting this charities lim- itation upon the present bill. No good law- yer, he said, would hold that it would be necessary. Mr. Ray (N. Y.) maintained that the mere fact of the committee objecting to in- serting the provision of last year showed that some of them felt that the limitation was an open question to be settled by the courts. Mr. Grout read the limitation which was put in last year’s bill and declared that it had all of the permanency of law. He thought, however, that it might be well to refer to that law by an amendment to the pending bill at the present time. Mr. Johnson of California asked why the amvunt appropriated for schools was cut down. Mr. Grout said the amount was not cut down; the appropriation was greater than last year. The estimates of the Commis- sioners were cut down, it is true. The committee, however, was of the opinion that the schools had been provided for very literally. Electric Light Matter Brought Up. Mr. Pitney of New Jersey, a member of the committee that prepared the bill, then teok the floor to explain it. In the course of his remarks he referred to the contest now pending over the electric lighting franchise. He defended the Commission- ers for their action in reference to the Po- tcmac company’s extension of conduits, and said that instead of being condemned, they should be highly commended for doing their duty, carrying out the provision of law and fulfilling the evident intent of Con- gress, In the course ‘of his remarks Mr. Pitney said the representatives of the United States Electric Light Company appeared befcre ihe commitiee two weeks ago and claimed that ine Commissioners had no right to make the company take down its overhead wires. A Sharp Colloquy. Mr. Pitney said that all the cry against digging up the sacred asphalt pavements was intended to blind Congress to the real issue. Moreover, he said, the pavements would have to be opened for the extension of the service, whichever company should get the contract, therefore there would be no unnecessary construction of conduits. Mr. Pitney said he was not an especial defender of the Commissioners, but he had seen them attacked and villified for doing their duty and carrying out the plain man- dates of the law. = Mr. Baker asked Mr. Pitney if the Secre- tary of War was interested in the Potomac company. Mr. Pitney said he did not know, and then he added, with marked emphasis and shaking his finger vigorously at Mr. Baker: “I am not a stockholder in the Potomac company, and so far as I am concerned, I have no personal interest in this matter.” ———-e-+______ e A Reported Drowning. Today a report was made to the police of the fourth precinct that a man had fallen through the ice at the bathing beach and was drowned. As soon as the report was received Harbormaster Sutton was notified, and his men went with their grappling irons and dragged the river for the body. When the men had dragged the basin some time without success they ceased operations because of the rough weather. Harbormaster Sutton -was un- able to Jearn-who had made the report, and he suspects jt was made by some one who wanted to perpetuate a joke on his men. He is desirous of communicating with the man who claims to have seen thé acci- dent. Unless something more definite is learned the river will not be dragged to- morrow. - eee ee Marriage Licenses. ‘Marriage lcénses have been ssued to:the following: White—Gales P. .T. Williams and Fannie E. Stryker; Geo. ‘M. Lash, jr., of this city and Susie Warder of Alexandria, Va. Colored—Jas. Johnson and Jennie Smith; Henry Walton and Maria Roane; Wm. H. Beverly and Hattie Brooks; Lewis E. Jones and Robinson; Wm, M. Sullivan and THE VAN RISWICK WILL FINANCE AND TRADE Profits Are Realized and Prices Suffer hat a OPERATORS 70 CONTINUE CAUTIOUS Memory of Testator Said by Witnesses to Have Been Defective. Additional Testimony Presented— Judge McComas Again Overralcs Questions—Progress Being Made. Upward Movement Expected Be- fore Very Long. More progress was made in the trial of the contest over the will of the late Mrs. Mary Van Riswick yesterday than on any Previous day of the trial, perhaps, four witnesses being examined on behalf of Mrs. Martina Carr, the daughter of Mrs. Van Riswick, who charges that the will was procured through the undue influence of Mr. Wilton J. Lembert, Mrs. Van Ris- wick’s grandson. Two of these witnesses were examined after The Staz’s report of the case closed yesterday. ‘They v.cre John Crager, Mrs. Van Riswick’s overseer at her country place, ee. and Edmond Mallet, jr. They t as to Mrs. Van Riswick’s defective memory, and by Mr. Crager Messrs. R. Roes Perry and A. S. Worthington, counsel for Mrs. Carr, coffe ed to show that her nephew had approach- ed him with a view of deterring him from testifying. Mr. Lambert's counsel, Messrs. Jere M. Wilson, Wm. F. Mattingly and Henry E. Davis, while not, of course, admitting that the witness could so testify, roted an ob- jection to the offer, and after some argu- ments in the absence of the jury, Judge McComas sustained the objection, Mrs. Carr’s attorneys excepting to the court's ruling. Mr. Mallett testified that he had business relations with Mrs. Van Riswick, but claimed that because of her defective memory he preferred to transact business with Mrs. Carr. More About Her Memory. When the trial was resumed this morn- ing Mrs, Carr’s attorneys called Plumber William Cook as a witness. He stated that he had done much work for Mrs. Van Ris- wick, and had found it difficult to trans- act business with her during the last three or four years of her life because of her defective memory. She would wander away from _ the subject under discussion, and would have to be reminded of what they were discussing. It also seemed difficult for her to clearly understand matters, and frequently during the last year or two of her life he had to leave her without being able to transact business with her. In the spring of 1894 she informed him that there- after he was to respect all orders of Wil- ton Lambert as her own, and thereafter the bills of witness were questioned and curtailed. From the fall of 1895 she ap- peared to be incapable of attending to business of importance. Counsel for Mrs. Carr then offered to prove by Mr. Cook what they had offered to prove by Mr. Crager, and again the offer was overruled by Judge McComas. Farther Testimony. Miss Goodwin, a professional nurse, tes- tified to being in attendance upon Mrs. Van Riswick during the last days of her life. She was irritable and vacillating. Mrs. Carr’s colored coachman, said Mrs. Van Riswick was very superstitious, and would never allow him to meet a funeral procession when driving her about. Katie C. Steiner, Mrs. Carr's housemaid during part of 1885 and 1896, also testified io Wilton Lambert's Sunday visits to his grandmother. GENERAL MARKET REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, February 2.—The stock market has again demonstrated its ina- bility to absorb the offerings attracted by any advance exceeding fractional limits, Profit taking on last week's purchases was continued today at the expense of prices. Underlying conditions are not discourag- ing, but the protracted reign of profes- sionalism is, decidedly. The occasional demand from commission houses is easily supplied or prices are ad- vanced to prohibitive Hmits on transac- tions of a few thousand shares“onty. There are no signs of general liquidation, how- ever, and the scarcity of stocks is the strongest argument in favor of an «dvanc- ing market. if any real demand arises, and the belief is general that ft will arise at no distant day, stocks can only be had by advancing prices in proportion to the eagerness of the desire to acquire possession. Pending this outburst of financial confi- dence, room operators will continue to operate in both accounts for fractional profits. The main situation barely adjusts itself to the flattering predictions of the far-sighted before special facts applicable to one property or a group of properties are arrayed in opposition to the general argu- ment. Last week the troubles of the bituminous coal roads exerted a demoralizing influence on the general list. The scarcity of the floating supply of stocks prevented mate- rial depression in prices, but the volume of business was reduced to a minimum. Subsequently Lackawanna’s statement for the year 1896 was given out, and sus- tained the theory that the best-managed Properties in -the country were failing to earn dividends up to the established rate. Today New York, New Haven and Hart- ford attracts attention by a decline of 12 per cent from yesterday's prices. This ac- tion on the part of the stock was accom- panied by rumors of reduced dividends and a probable issue of stock. The action of the directors on the divi- dend question can only be surmised at this time, but that earning have fallen off ma- terially no one seriously doubts. The experiments with trolley lines for suburban traffic and the buying In of sev- eral such properties is said to have added to the company’s floating debt, now inated at something approximating $9,(n Rumors, entitled to some consideration, foreshadow a probable 6 per cent basis for the stock with the natural attendant result as to the market value of the stock. The decline in price is the strongest evi- dence of the rehability of the current ex- planation of the decline. The pending investigation of trusts and their habilities under existing law has al- ready begun to find adverse reflection in the market price of the securities likely to be concerned. American tobacco and sugar have both been sold of late on the vros- pects of adverse findings by the investigat- ing committee. - The latter property will be confronzed later on with specific duties, and an attack on its present diff: tial on refined im- ported sugars. Th: anger shares, Bur- lington in particular, were sold down frac- tionally under realizing sales and some professional aperations ig’ ‘tle short ac- count. The various Northern Pacific curities ¥ielded to selling for both acc in the absence of significant support don was scarcely a factor, the we: in mining shares at that center discou - ing extensive trading in the international market. ee TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT. A Misunderstanding im the Banking and Currency Committee. During the discussion of Mr. Walker's bill in the banking and currency commit- tee, Mr. Eckels while criticising a para- graph was interrupted by Mr. Cox of ‘len- nessee, who was stopped by the chairman, Mr. Walker of Massachusetts, who said that it was in violation of a rule adopted by the committee and that Mr. Kckels should make a full statement before being cross-examined. Mr. Cox endeavored to continue, when the chairman ruled him out of order and directed the sterographer not to take down his remarks. Mr. Cox, rising, said that unless he was allowed to make a state- ment he would leave the room. As Mr. Walker persisted in his determination, Mr. Cox retired. Later Mr. Cox reappeared, and after some explanations peace was restored. See ees DISTRICT IN CONGRESS. Damages for the Lady of the Lake. ‘The House yesterday passed the Senate pee eet FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL, ‘The following are the opening, the highest and the lowest and the closing prices of the New York stock market today, as reported by Corson & Macartney, members New York stock exchange. Correspondents, Messrs. Moore & Schley, No. 80 Broadway. : 4 en. High. Low. Close. bill to pay Geo. H. Plant of this city $5,- | sno, Spite. eg = me a 216.85 for damages caused to the steamer | American Spirita, pla... 81° sg!” sr” oF Lady of the Lake by a collision with the | American Sagar. IT ONT 116% 116K United States steamer Gettysburg in the | American Sugar, pfd. spies MOB By 0B Potomac river several years ago. American Tobacco...) 74” 14 ‘ Rhode Island Avenue Extension. Senator Blackburn has given notice of an amendment he proposes to offer to the District appropriation bill, appropriating $50,000 “to pay for land condemned in the highway act,” approved March 3, 1893, for the extension of Rhode Island avenue from 2d to 3d streets northwest. The Graceland Cemetery Mill. CMa St Paul, pra. Mr. McMillan has made a favorable re- } Chicago, RL. & Pacific port to the Senate of a bill to amend an | Consolidated Gas. Del., Lack. & W. Delaware & Hudson. Den. Eri act to prohibit interments of bodies in Graceland cemetery, in the District of Co- lumbia. As previously stated in The Star, this bill gives the board of directors of Graceland cemetery power to incumber the property with a mortgage to provide funds for removing the bodies from the cemetery, = Three Bills Favored. G. N. Luccock, president, and Howard Wilbur Ennis, secretary, representing the Presbyterian Ministers’ Association, have sent to Congress a petition in favor of the passage of bills for prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in the Capitol building and grounds, to raise the age of protection for girls in the District of Columbia to elghteen years, and in favor of an anti- gambling law. The Inauguration Resolution. In the House late this afternoon the reso- lution, coming over from the Senate, pro- viding for the extension of electric light wires for the inauguration ceremonies, was taken from the table by the Speaker for action. Mr. Richardson suggested that the reso- lution should be referred to the commit- tee on District of Columbia, and that was done. Michigan Central. Missouri Pacific ew York Centra. jorthern Pacific, Northern Pacific, p Ont. & Western Union Pacite. U.S. Leather, —_—_<——_ os _____ ‘The Coronett-Swanson Contest. The Coronett-Swanson contested election District of Columbia Bonds, —20- fund Ss, 108 case, the last of the Virginia cases, will| oid. S-year fund Gs, gold Th id Weed be called up in the House for considera- | 7 1901 =? Water stock 7s, 1908, tion tomorrow. . ae. Se ——_e—__ Declared Guilty. A jury in the Police Court late this noon returned’ a verdict of guilty, with a recommendation of mercy, in the case of William Hoare, charged with permitting gambling on his ‘@ pool room at 1230 Pennsylvania avenue. Gevernment Bonds. Quotations reported by Corson & Macart- ney, bankers. nies. National Sate ‘ashington Loan and y, SB 168 bid, 106 asked. —Washington Gas, Pn iene Potoman ty bid, thera #5 ta oa Washington Title, 6 asked. ‘Title, 10 ‘Tulephone Stocks. asked. Giese ad Potmman bhi 6) anerdy Ant: san © did. O% asked. American bese scscareesyel Gaeeh Shenae eETY