Evening Star Newspaper, February 18, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR, pesca eats PUBLISHED D*1LY EXCEPT SUNDAY, aT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania ee Cor, 11th 8t, by The Evening Star We Company, 8. a. KAUFEMA NY Proe't, Rew York Offce, 49 Potter Building. im the city by carticrs, oo thelr own aceoual at 10 cents cents per month. les at the cents each. By matl—anywhere tn the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—60 cents per month. Saturday Quintaple Sheet Star, $1 pez year, with foreign patage added. $5.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C.. es second-class mafl matter.) © All mail subscriptions must be paid fn advance. Rates of advertising nade Known on application. No. 13,718. WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1897~TWELVE PAGES, FOR AND AGAINST Friends ack Pies of Mr. Davis Have Their Say. HEARING BEFORE A SUBCOMMIPTEE ge Mr. Norris Attacks His Personal as Well as His Political Record. ——— HIS CAMPAIGN SPEECHES The subcommittee of the Senate commit- tee on the judiciary, to which has been re- ferred the nomination of Henry E. Davis to be United States attorney for the Dis- trict of Columbia, held a meeting today. This subcommittee consists of Senators Hoar and Hill, both of whom are strongly in favor of Mr. Davis’ confirmation, so that no doubt ts expressed regarding their report to the full committee, which may not be made until Saturday, and possibly not u Monday morning. Mr. B. H. Warner y the first witness before the committee this morning. Mr. yarner told the members of the committee that he had heard Mr. Davis’ speeches on many occasions, and regarded them mere- ly as scholarly discusstons of the Issues of the campaign. He remarked that the language used by Mr. Davis In regard to © and people in general in no wise 1 in severity with the language he had beard through reading the Congres- sienel Record, and according io the news- papers had frequentiy been used on the floor of the Senate by senators referring to ether members of that body. Mr. Warner said he heard the discus- sion between Mr. Dayle and Mr. Hutchins in their debate in Convention Hall, and he had detected nothing in the language used on that occasion that was not per- fectly proper. Mr. Asa Stabler of Sandy Spring. Ma.. appeared before the committee and testi- fied that he had heer present when Mr. Davis spoke to an audience at Sandy pring. He said that in that audience vere many ladies of the most refined fam- ihes of Montgomery county, and that there was nothing in the speech that had any- thing harsh about it. Mr. Norrix for the Opposition. Mr. James L. Norrts appered before the subcommittee and submitted the case of the opposition to Mr. Davis in writing. Mr. Norris laid before the committ2s @ full nt in writing of the reasons ad- vanced why Mr. Davis should not he con- as district attorney for the District In the letter transmitting exhibits it was stated: “e respectfulir submit to the honorable icfary cormmittee of the United States Senate whether the nomination of Mr. fienry E. Davis to be attorney for the Dis- triet_of Columbia should be contirmed by ate, with the following information ne fitness of said Mr. Davis for said ‘st allegation or conat had refer- especially to Mr. Davts’ course in the ntial campatgn, end was as follows: his desertion from the political party with which he professed to have been all his life affiliated, and the repeated in- stances of his ‘offensive partisanship’ dur- ing the last presidential campaign, nis per- sonal and indiscriminate abuse of the dem- ccratic party from whicn he bolted, wide- cast, through the publication in the daily press during the campaign, only a few specimens of which are herein submitted.” Quotations are then made from a number of reports of speeches and statements by Mr. Davis. In one report Mr. Davis fs quoted uduiging in a tirade of epithet against Bryan and the free silver support- ers, In which ft ts safd he used the expres- sions “revelutionists” and “dis- honest repeatedly. He is quoted further as referring to the regular democratic or- ganization as a revolutionary organization and as speaking of the democratic platform adopted at Chicago as Involving dishonor and the attempt to repeal the eighth com- mandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” He is quoted as attacking Gorman politically, and a large number of newspaper quota. tions from his speeches and utterances are given. Then followed counts or allegations con- cern’ Mr. Davis’ personal and profes- sional character and his financial standing. The character of Mr. Davis’ clientele $s brought forward as a third reason for re- jecting his nomination, it being alleged that he has acted as attorney in many of the s of the Liquor Dealers’ Association. Norris also submitted the names ef & number of lawyers and business men, asking that they be called to answer ques- tions which Mr. Norris suggested, to bring out matters concerning Mr. Davis’ profes- sional standing and personal character. A? the toxttuoay tha. t= bemg given be- fore the subcommittee Is being reported by @ stenographer, and a printed copy of the same will probably be placed in the hands of all the members of the full committee on the Judiciary, so that when they meet they Will be as fully informed of the facts on which the subcommittee bases its report ae is the subcommittee itself. + + ADMIRAL BUNCE’S SQUADRON. AN the Ships Behaved in able Manner, Notwithstanding the fact that Admiral Bunce's feet had to face a regular Hat- teras hurricane going from Hampton Roads to Charleston, weather that even the biggest liners do not care to face, the damage sustained aboard the fleet, aside from the unfortunate loss of Mfe of the sailors swept overboard, was trifling. Act- ing Secretary McAdoo said today that so far as the reports received by him from the admiral show the only loss sustained which will involve the expenditure of any money by the Navy Depertment was on account of one whaleboat belonging to the Maine, which was lost in the attempt to save the men washed overboard. The reports from the captains of the ships show that without exception they behaved as well as could be expected in the heavy seas, and, although the opportunity for comparison of the different types of vessels afforded by the cruise has started anew the old academic discussion of the relative merits of super- structure and clear deck monitors, the reports are still inconclusive on this point. ee Executive Clemency. ‘The President has commuted to five years’ actual tmprisonment the eight years’ sen- tence imposed, March 11, 1896, upon J. E. Crandall, formerly president of the First tonal Bank of Johnston City, Tenn., for ‘aking false entries in the bank books. A pardon has been granted (to restore citizen- ship) to W. H. Gtbbs, sentenced in Missis- sippi to three years’ imprisonment and fine for embezzlement of post office funds. Ap- plications for pardon were denied in the cases of A. H. Hafley. convicted in Illt- nois of counterfeiting; Washington J. Am- stein, convicted in Wisconsin of embezzling letters; W. T. Morrison, convicted in Mis- staatppi of forgery; G. W. Maddox, con- ed in Georgia of counterfeiting; John Bowman, convicted in Virginia of il- ‘al selling of spirits. + ‘The Bermuda Sailed. The Treasury Department announces that the suspected filibuster Bermuda was al lowed yesterday to clear from Philadelphia on making the required oath as to her des- Unation and intentions, Admir- INTERESTING PARTNERSHIPS|SPANISH ADVANCING Speculation as to the Future of Prominent The Latest Firm Named—What Jadge Gresham Would Have Done Had He Lived. Speculation has for some weeks been busy with the future of the more prominent democrats soon to lay down office. It sends all of the big lawyers. back to practice, and forms some interesting partnerships. Only a short time since a rumor was cur- rent that after the 4th of March a shingle would be nafled up in New York and Bos- ton bearing the names of Cleveland, Olney and Carlisle, with Mr. Olney in charge of the Boston office, and Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Carlisle looking after business in New York and Washington. Present rumor changes this, and substitutes the name of Mr. Uhl, the ambassador to Germany, for that of Mr. Carlisle. Mr. Uhl is a rich man, a friend of Don M. Dickinson, and is regarded as a good lawyer. However this may be, there ts a story, excellently vouched for, which shows that Mr. Uhl had a very flattering offer at one time to help form what would have been a notable partnership. As first assistant to Judge Gresham in the State Department he attracted the attention of his chief, and was soon invited into the closest confi- dence. The two men, indeed, became fast friends. One day when they were together, and after disposing of some difficult business, Judge Gresham, addressing his friend, said: “Uhl, you see it stated in the newspapers that I am booked for the first vacancy on the Supreme bench; that there was some such conditon when I left the circuit bench to take t place. That is sheer nonsense. I neither expect nor desire any such ap- pointment. I do not want to return io the bench, but intend when I leave here to go back to Chicago and open a law office, and I would be glad to have you join me.” Mr. Uhi felt highly complimented, and so expressed himself to Judge Gresham. Not unlikely, too, had matters gone on as then forecast he would have accepted the offer. Judge Gresham at the time was in excel- lent health, and was looking forward with pleasure to a career ag a practitioner at the bar. But not long afterward he died, and then death carried off Ambassador Runyon, and Mr. Uhl was transferred from the State Department to Berlin. There are other friends of Judge Gresh- am who teil of his desire to get to work at the bar. Some of his friends believe, in- deed, that he made a mistake in accepiing his first judicial appointment. It removed him from the active field of politics, for which he had a strong liking, and gave his career a turn unexpected to his friends and not altogether congenial to himself. Had he remained at the bar and in politics his friends are convinced that he would have achieved a reputation second to that of no man in his state. But when the offer of the district judgeship came to him he Was poor, and his condition at the time de- termined his choice. ————_+o+___ GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL. Some Items in the Measure That Are of Local Interest. The general deficiency appropriation bill was reported to the House today, carry- ing a total of $8,438.93 Among the local items in the bill were the following: For the following additional clerks in the office of the United States treasurer, to employed in redeeming national currency from March 1 to June 30, 1897: Four clerks of class 1, five clerks at the rate of $900 per annum each. Fer expenses of heating the United States National Museum, $1,997.65. For deputy Coroner Glazetrcok for thirty-eight days’ service, $190. For miscellaneous expenses, ceroner’s office, $127.38. For special repairs to market houses, $199. To supply a de- ficiency in eppropriation for the parking commission, $5,000. To pay Andrew Gleeson amount sustained under old contract, $927.68. To pay wholly from the revenues of the District certain accounts under the highway act, $179.50. The fire department gets several small de- ficiency appropriations, together with $2,- $80.20 to support the Mt. Pleasant Engine Company from March 1 to June ¥0, 1897, For payment of certain judgments against tHe District, $959.75. For collection of gar- bage for the current year, $844. To pay Thos. W. Smith for rent of vault, $1,200. For witness fees for Police Court, $3,731. For defending District suits in Court of Claims, $2,000. It 1s provided that the payment for cer- tain lots taken in the improvement of the Potomce flats shall be made whully from the revenues of the United States. For the expenses of the board of medical supervisors, $300. For the payment of certain deficiencies in the District militia, $10,870.49. For transportation of convicts, $10,769.74. For fuel for the public schools, $6,000. For repairs to school buildings damaged by cyclone, $4,543.24. There are many emall items in the bili ranging from a few dollars upward, ihe total appropriations for the District agere- gating $54,455.44. Other items in the bill are as follows: Repairs to Deaf and Dumb Asylum, $765; repairs to Insane Asylum, $1,200; repairs and improvements to the District Jail, $16,500, To enable the granting of thirty days’ annual leave to the employes of the Bov- ernment printing office for the current year, $12,000. ————_-e________ Personal Mention. Justice Brown of the Supreme Court will deliver an address on Chief Justice Mar- shall at Cornell University Washington's birthday, and ex-President White will Pre- sent to the college of law the portraits of the chief justice and five other distinguish- ed jurists. Mr. Frank M. Boteler has accepted the Position of staff photographer of the New York World, and will go in a few days to reside in New York. Lieut. Commander G. Blockinger of the navy is in the city on leave of absence. Capt. W. L. Pitcher of the 8th Infantry, at Fort Russell, Wyo., is in the city on leave of absence. Mr. Charles Loeffler, the President’s mes- senger, who has had a severe spell of ill- ness, has recovered sufficiently to be at his Post today. Dr. and Mrs. Bryant of New York are the guests of the President and Mrs. Cleve- jand at the White House. Mr. Lyman C. Gage, the incoming Secre- tary of the Treasury, and Mrs. Gage ar- rived at Virginia Hot Springs yesterday, where they will make a brief sojourn be- fore coming on to Washington. Lieutenant Karl Rohrer of the Katahdin is at 1217 K street, on leave of absence. Lieutenant John Downes, U.8.N., retired, 1s on a visit to this city. Mr. J. Elfreth Watkins, curator of tech- nological collections in the U. 8. National Museum, left the city today to take part in the quarter century exercises of Bte- vens Institute of Technolo; He will respond to the toast “Rath ‘8 and St:am- boats of the United States,” at the banquet at the Waldorf Hotel tonight. —_—_—_<_-.— Smallpox at a Navy Yard. ‘The Navy Department fs informed that there is a case of smallpox at the navy yard, Pensacola, Fla. In order to guard against a spread of the contagion the de- partment has authorized the iture of $600 for the construction of a hospital building outside the - ‘for. the treatment of the case and any others that may develop, >——— General Weyler’s Plan to Crush Gomez and Garcia. HOPES 10 SURROUND THEIR FORCES nsurgent Commanders Reported to Be in Retreat. NOTES OF THE CUBAN WAR (Copyrighted, 1807, by the Associated Press.) HAVANA, via Key West, Fla., February 18.—If the official reports are correct the insurgent army, under General Maximo Gomez, has been divided into small corps and Gomez himself is in full retreat before the continued adv: ¢ of Captain General Weyler. Dispatches from Ciego de Avila say that the insurgent commander-in-chief, with 4,000 men, has reorossed the military line in the province of Puerto Principe, ex- tending from Jucaro to Moron, and that he is going eastward through Puerto Prin- eipe and in the direction of the capital of that province, also called Puerto Prin- cipe. General Calixto Garcia (Gomez's second in command) was reported four days ago to be in the vicinity of Puerto Principe, and retreating toward the same point as Gomez. Captain General Weyler arrived yesier- day at Sancti Spiritus, the most important town in the eastern part of the provi of Santa Clara, near the boun Puerto Principe and in the territory where the insurgent headquarters were recently located, and as he has heen abla to reach that place, apparently without any serious molestation upon the part of the insur- gents, the report that Gomez js retyeat- ing would appear to be borne out hy facts. Gen. Weyler's Plain. ‘The statements fron: the Spanish head- qvarters are even more explicit. It 1s an- nounced that the insurgents have r t- ed to the mountains and to the woods be- fore the Spanish advance and that from Sancti Spiritus Captain General Weyler will push forward his cclumns to Moron, Clego le Avila and Jucaro, thus seemingly sweeping across the island with a large force and driving the enemy hefore him toward the eastern part of the island. In Santiago de Cuba, it is known, strong col- umrs of Spanish troops hav> been gath- ered, and it is believed that the plan is to actempt to catch Gomez and Calixto Gar- cia between the armies advancing under Weyler and the Spanish columns in San- ticgo de Cuba. In any case the most in- teresting stage of the campaign seems to have veen reached. The supporters of the Spanish cause hope that General Weyler will succeed in bring- ing about a decisive action hefore the rains put an end to military operations for the sez scn. On the other hand, the frie surgents assert that Gomez may ed to thwart the plans of Gener and that, if it is true that the armies Fave reireated from the province of Santa Clara into the province of Puerto Principe, they have done so for a purpose and in crder to still further carry out the policy of exhausting the § rds. Hewever, it cannot be denied that Gen- eral Weyler now occupies a most adv: tageous position fiom which to conduct operaticns against the insurgents. From Sanet! Spiritus a short line of railroad communicates with the port of Tunas, the rorthern coast, and by this means can have conveyed to him al} the reinf. ments, supplies, ammunition, ete. which he reeds, and it also gives him a conyen- lent highway over which he can send his sick and wounded to the rear. Advices from Santa Clara, under date of February 11, said that a force of over a thousand insurgents was camped at 7 Gil, twelve miles from that city, under the command of Gens. Mayia Rodriguez and Chuco Montagudo, apparently intend ing to continue their march toward the Vuelta district in the same province. In Pinar del Rio. A dispatch from Congolacion Delsur, prov- ince of Pinar del Rio, still further confirms the statements made in these dispatches that Pinar del Rio is far from being paci- fled, as the captain general claims. Numer- ous bands of insurgents are sald to be hid- den in thick, dark woods of that part of the country and on Monday last the insurge.ts dynamited and derailed an exploring train from Pinar del Rio between Los Paiacios and Paso real, blowing up a culvel de- stroying the engine and capsizing an armor- Plated car, killing two soldiers of the es- cort, wounding eight others and serious] injuring the engineer and fireman. The line is still interrupted and passengers bound from Pinar del Rio to this city have to be transferred to trains in waiting at the point where the explosion occurred. Otherwise trains to and from this city are running as usual. Pinar del Rio reports that a small expedi- tion from the Elsie, which landed at ‘La Mulata several days ago, was led by Map- uel Maria Coronado, a correspondent of El Liberal of Madrid and by the editor of Lu Discussion. It is further stated that Colla- zo landed a band of insurgents, dressed like Spanish guerrillas. The schooner Mercedes was captured on February 11, it is now announced, in the river Canambo. She had on board thirty- three tons of coal, owned by Smith & Co. of Trinidad. Four of her crew escaped in. to the burned canefields of that district. The insurgents have attacked Vega Alta, and succeeded in burning twenty houses on the outskirts of that town. The military commander of Artimisa, Senor Hidalgo, after Feconnoitering the Las Canas district, reports that families can resume cultivation there under the terms of Weyler’s first edict, but not as living inside a fortified zone. Acc rding to the terms of the captain general's second edict over sixty families of that district were compelled to abandon their homes, buruing all the houses, including some handsome dwellings and a large starch factory, and reducing them to a state of the greatest poverty. At Candelaria, Pinar del Rio, there is a great scarcity of vegetables, étc., as the insurgents will not permit the country peo- ple to send such supplies into the place. A dispatch from Jaruco says that Emilio Nunez has landed near there. Depreciation im Paper Money. The bank-bills question is producing se- rious differences among the proprietors of the exchange houses and the government officials. Many of them have returned their licenses to the government and intend to close their business. The whole matter has caused great ex- citement among the people, particularly in the case of the poorer classes, as the stores of all descriptions have, in consequence of the forced silver bill currency, raised the price of all kinds of merchandise 40 per cent. This is making the people here des- perate, and has added greatly to the bur- dens they have been bearing for a long time past. Mitk and beef are scarce, all kinds of provisions are very dear, the butchers have just raised their prices = other 5 per cent, and grocers and others have ‘followed their example. To make matters worse, no lottery ticket sellers are to be seen on the streets, which deprives the government of a fruitful source of revenue and compels it to adopt other measures to raise the funds neces- sary to continue the campaign against the insurgents. “ The statement that everybody ts tired of the war has so frequently been made that of the in- be tr on it igalmost useless to repeat it. But recent developments have intensified this feeling considerably, and there is evidence of this on all sides. The feeling of depression can- not be dissipated by changes in the features of the campaign. Everybody seems to be anxious for the war to end, one way or the other, and among business men, merchants and their employes generally this sentiment is the most strongly expressed. CHARGED WITH FILIBUSTERING. Testimony Regarding’ the Carge of the Lauradna. PHILADELPHIA, February 18. —The trial of John D. Hart, ebarged with fitting out a filibustering expedition in violation of the United States neutrality law, in con- neetton with the steamer Iaurada, which, it fs alleged, salled for Cuba early in Au- gust, 1896, with arms and ammunition for the insurgents, was continued in the Unit- ed States district this morning. Hubert S. Heath, a seaman on the Lau- rada, said he was hired by Mr. Hart to go on the vessel. He had seen men and boxes placed on the Laurada when that steamer was off Barnegat. The witness detailed at length how the boxes had been unpacked and rifles and cartridges taken from them. The balance of his testimony war devoted to the trip to Cuba and the transfer of the arms, ammu- nition and men to the Dauntless when off Navassa Island. On ecross-examination. Heath said that he had been receiving $15 a week since his re- turn from Port Antonio in September. This money had been paid him by the Pinkerton detective agency in this city. Tomaso Estrada Palma, representative of the Cuban government in this country, was called to the stand. He testified that he was acquainted with Col. Nunez and Gen. Roloff. Chief Officer James H. Rand of the Lau- rada corroborated the evidence of Heath. Departure of the Bermudn. PHILADELPHIA, February 18. —The steamship Bermuda, which has gained world-wide celebrity because of its Cuban filibustering expeditions, passed out from the Delaware breakwater early this morn- ing and steamed seaward, ostensibly for the Bermudas, The Bermuda, which had been detained by the colleetor of customs under orders from the Secretary of the Treasury, was released sterday after- noon, after affidavits setting forth that sho will not violate the neutrality laws be- tween this port and the Bermudas had been filed by Capt. Murphy and John D. Hart Quickly following this action, however, an attachment was issued against the ves- sel by the United States district court on a claim by a New York firm for adi made The deputy marshal who Be of attachment locked the steamer to ed the wharf, and warned-Capt. Murphy and the crew not to attempt to meve her. Shortly before midnight the claim was satisfied and the Bermuda started down the Delaware river. She was followed by a tug with several men on board, believed to be detectives employed by the Spanish consul. The latter is mvineed that the Bermuda intends to engage im fillbusiering, notwithstanding the affidavits to the con- trary tiled with Secretary Read. , It Is reported that Gen. Roloff, the Cuban insurgent chief, whose hall was forfeited in Baltimore yesterday, 1s @ passenger on the Bermuda. UNLIKELY TO BLOCKADE PIRAE Germany's Pri al Hnx Been Vetoed by eat Britain. February 18.—It js learned that bropora! of Germany to blockade the Piracus, the port of Athens, in order to put a check upon the warlike ardor of Greece, was vetoed by Great Britain, and there is little prospect of its beng adopted. This, with other fnformation, tends to strengthen the belief Usat the great pow- ers are not seriously opposing Greece. ROME, February 18.—A ‘special dispatch received from Larissa, Greece, says that a BERLID the thousand Macedonians have crossed the frontler and joined the Greek forces, CANEA, February 18—Owing to the anomalous situation, the Greek consul here, on the representations of the forelgn ad- mirals, has removed the Greek flag from the consulate. ATHENS, February 18.—M. minister for foreign affairs, has replied to the last communication from the repre- sentatives of the powers, saying It is im- kouzes, the possible for Greece to recall her torpedo Hotilla so long as the excitement continues in Crete. PARIS, February 18—A dispatch re- ceived here from Athens says that King George 1s to take command in person of the northern army, adding that he ts re- ported to have sai he preferred to die in battle than to be an exiled king, which, according to the dispatch, would be his fate in the event that he did ngt take the lead in the present crisis se KA WANTS REPRESENTATION, Industrial Interests Demand a Dele- gate in Congress, SAN FRANCISCO, Ci 1, February 18.— L. G. Kauffman, a director of tne Business Men’s Association of Juneau, Alaska, {s in the city as the represeytative of that or- ganization to urge the, chamber of com- merce to memorialize Corfgress to grant Alaska one representative in the legisla- tive body. Mr. Kauffman says the commercial and mining interests of the great northern ter- ritery are suffering from the lack of rep- resentation in Congress, He has visited Seattle, Tacoma and Portland, snd_ the commercial bodies of these cities have adopted resolutions urging Congress to pass the bill now before it giving Alaska a representativ which bift has been fa- vorably reported py the committee on ter- ritories. % The officers of the San Francisco cham- ber of commerce have given Mr. Kauffman a memorial, which will be forwarded to Washington at once. The chamber v supplement this action at its uext regular meeting. —_— = REPRESENTATIVES oF COMMERCE Annual Meeting of the National ‘Transportation Association, ‘HICAGO, February 1&—Representatives of great commercial organizations gathered at the board of trade té@ay tp attend ‘the annual meeting of the National Transporta- tion Association. About twemty-five dele- gates were present, promfhent shippers and business men from all parts @f the coun- try, and representing “a mémbership of about 20,000. The miééting, which was held behind closed doors, w@s called to order by President Frank Barry of Mil- waukee, who delivered Mis & 1 address. He was followed by Géérge T. Stone, sec- retary of the Chicago beard of trade. Vice President E. L, Régers'of Philadel- phia also made a short addréss, and va- rious papers of interest were read by Je- rome Carty of Philad , R. 8. Lang, Frank A. Scott of tha @leveland chamber of commerce; Chairman IgléBart of the Chicago freight bureau; L. Whitelaw of 8t. Louis, representing. the National Paint, Oil and Varnish Association; Colonel Reg- ers of thé Minneapolis clamber cf com- merce, and Denison B. Smith, secretary of the Toledo produce exchange. The meeting adjourned late this after- noon. a New Minister to Athens. Special Dispatctsto The H¥ening Star. PARKERSBURG; W. Va., February 18— George A. Floding of Huatingten received a letter, from “Maj. “MeKinley yesterday ae suring him of. peel as minis! Land consul PR rises ‘Roumania rand Servia. Maj. MeKinley and Mr, jod- ing served together during late war, Seren My ee the appoint- ment of Mr. Floding tothe post at Athens. IN SENATE AND HOUSE a eS The Upper Body Spends Much Time in Executive Session. ——__+ ARBITRATION TREATY HOTCONSTDERED > Nominations That Have Been De- layed Taken Up. MATTERS IN THE HOUSE Only frve senators were present when the session of the Senate cpened toda: but the galleries were crowded with ladi here to attend the mothers’ congress. House joint resolution was passed admit- ting free of duty needlework imported for exhibition purposes by the New York Asso- clation of Sewing Schools Mr. Vilas (Wis.) secured the passage of the Senate bill “to extend the use of the mai! service.” It provides for using a pat- ent postal card and envelope, with coupons attached. The Postmaster General is au- thorized to suspend this system if it proves unsatisfactory on a test. An Executive Sexsion. After the open session had proceeded twen minutes Mr. Sherman moved an executive session, having given previous notice that he would seek to secure final action on the arbitration treaty. Mr. Quay (Pa.) wanted to go on with the bill for a commission to look into labor prob- lems, but said that as the executive ses- sion was likely to bring definite results he would not antagonize Mr. Sherman's mo- tion. Thereupon, at 1: , the Senate Went into executive Soon after the Senate went into execu- Ulve session there was a contest as to whether the arbitration treaty should be considerec or nominations taken up. There was a yea and nay vote on the proposition, in which those who desired to consider nominations were victorious. Many sen- ators who favor the treaty voted to take up the nominations, because they wished to have the confirmations of persons in whom tkey were interested made. The Vot> was significant in skewing that a ma- jority of the Senate do not believe a vote can be reached on the treaty. The nomination of Charles F. Amidon to istrict judge in the North Dakota dis- was taken up, and Senator Hans- ough of that state took the floor in op- position. Wm. H. Munger has been confirmed as judge for the district of Nebraska. 7 HOUSE. At the opening of the session of the House teday Mr. Cannon, chairman of the appropriations committee, presented the general deficiency appropriation bill. He Zave notice that he would call it up tomor- row in the hope of passing it before the close of the week. The conference reports on the Dills to pension the widow of Major General Stoneman and Major General Julius H. Stahl, fixing the rate in the for- mer bill at $50 and the latter at $75, were adopted. The consideration of the Hopkins-Ken- dall contested election case from the tenth wtucky district, which was entered upon to adjournment, was then Royce (Ind.), one of the p committee who signed the minority report, took the floor in support of the contestant’s claim. During Mr. Royce’s speech a joint reso- lution was adopted appropriating $5,000 to defray the expenses of the inaugural cer- emonies at the Capitol. Mr. Dinsmore (Ark.) spoke in support of the majority report. Mr. Linney, the other member of the comniittee who signed the minority report, made a characteristic speech in behalf of Mr. Hopkin He criticised the majority report which was written by Judge Daniels. The mem- bers crowded about to listen to his keen and witty sallies and he was greeted with round after round of applause. In con- clusion, he made a glowing plea for right- cous decisions in election cases, saying that every right verdict constituted an addi- tional prop under and placed an additional sentinel over our political liberties. —<—<—<—<—___ =. HANNA AND THE SENATE. Ohio Men Cannot See How Bushnell Can Refuse to Appoint Him. The friends of Mr. Hanna in Congress say that they do not see how Governor Bushnell can hold out against the appoint- ment of Mr. Hanna to the Senate. They regard the declaration of George B. Cox, the Foraker leader in Cincinnati, in favor of Mr. Hanna, as a very strong card in his favor. One of the Ohio representatives said to- day that this course on the part of Mr. Cox took the backbone out of the anti- Hanna movement, and that if Gov. Bush- nell had any political judgment he would not refuse to appoint Mr. Hanna. He said that Mr. Hanna's friends had no information as to the governor's intentions, except that gossip continues to reiteraie that he will appoint some one else. The sentiment of the republicans of Ohio is represented as being overwhelmingly in favor of Mr. Hanna's appointment. The action of the Marietta Club, a Bush- nell organization, in changing its name to the M. A. Hanna Club is pointed to as an indication of the popularity of the na- tional chairman in the state, and of the loss of strength likely to be involved upon the Bushnell-Foraker faction by a failure to appoint Mr. Hanna. ——_-e-—_______ Terrible Progress of the Plague. BOMBAY, February 18—Since the out- break of the plague 6,853 cases have been reported in this city and 5,443 deaths have been recorded. In Bombay presidency 9,911 cases and 8,006 deaths from the plague have occurred. ——— Died in a Laundry. WILKESBARRE, Pa., February 18— “Gus” Mendelssohn, who is said to have been a drummer from New York city, died in this city in a Chinese laundry this morn- ing. Death is believed to have resulted from the effects of opium, which he had smoked in the laundry. The coroner is in- vestigating the case. ——.__ ‘Women Supported the High Hat Bill. DENVER, Col., February 18.—The house, by a vote of 32 to 15, has passed the high hat bill. Three women representatives vot- ed for the bill, and their action created ‘$01 applause. The bill provides for a penalty of $10 for the first offense of wear- ing a high hat in a theater, and as high as $50 in aggravated cases. The measure wa: discussed at a recent meeting of the. Wo- man's Club, when it was decided as a body not to oppose its adoption. ——.—_. Execution of a Chinaman. SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Ca! TWO CENTS. — TO SUCCEED MAJ. POWELL Capt. Wm. M. Black to Be Appointed Engi- neer Commissioner, The Order Will Not Be Issued U Action is Taken on Mr. Sa Nom! ition, It has been practically settled that Capt. William M. Black, corps of engineers, shall succeed Major Charles F. Powell, corps of engineers, in the office of Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia. The actual change will not occur, however, until the Senate shall have acted on the nomination of Mr. F. P. B. Sands as Com- missioner of the District to succeed Mr. Ross, whose term has expired. The authorities anticipzie the confirma- tion of Mr. Sands, an -h2 idea is to have the new Engineer Commissioner installed in office at the same time that he qualifies. But for this desire, the change In the En- gineer Commissionership would take effect at once. The decision to relieve Maj. Powell involves no reflection upon the ad- ministration of that officer, who has, in fact, held the office longer than any of his predecessors. ‘The detail is usually for four years, and Maj Powell has already exceeded that limit by over six months. A change in the office has been under consideration by the President and Secretary Lamont for many weeks past, but up to the present time ne selection had been made ~ Under the organic law the appointment is restricted to the corps of engineers of the army. The detail is made by the Pres- ident, and is not subject to the action of the Senate. Ip the present Instance, as al- ready indicated, the detall of Maj. Powell's successor will not be made until Commis- sioner Ross’ successor shall be ready to enter upon the discharge of the duties of the office. Capt. Black's Career. Capt. Black, who has been selected for this assignment, is regarded as one of the brightest young officers in the Engineers Corps. He Is a native of Pennsylvania and was graduated from the West Point Mili- tary Academy, No. 1 in the class of 1n77. He was appointed second Meutenant of engineers in June of that year and has served in that department ever since, reach- ing his present grade of captain in Decem- ber, 1886 He is now on duty at the War Depart- ment as assistant to the chief of engineers, a position he has held since June, 18¥: having been ordered here at the instance of General Wm. P. Craighill shortly after his appointment as chief of engineers. Previous to his transfer to Washin: Captain Black was on duty at the gineer School of Application, Willet’s Point, N. Y., and prior to that he was as- sociated with General Craighill in import- aut engireering works on the Kanawha river. During his service he has been actively identified with the improvement of the water supply system of the District, and had a leading part in the preparation and execution of the plans for the defense of the national capital. He is considered a master of detail and an excellent executive officer, ton n= > ——______ THE BROOKLYN INQUIRY. Capt. Sargent and Inspector Locke the Principal Witnensen. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., February 18.—The naval court of inquiry before which testi- mony is being heard concerning the recent accident to the cruiser Brooklyn 1¢sumed its session this morning. Capt. Sargent, Cramp’s expert ship- master; Pilot Walls, who took the ship down the river, and Thomas G. Locke, in- spector of dredging at Schooner Ledge, Were the principal witnesses examined. Each witness testified that It was custom- ary to open the range slightly in passing the ledge, in order -to obtain better wate: Inspector Locke said that he had been blasting*on Mlinois Rock, -lose to Schooner Ledge, during the past fai He recalied that one of the dredges ‘ost a spud, a por- tion of which was never recevered. This Was about thirty feet long, of white oak, about sixteen inches square. "t sank about 150 feet northwest of Schooner Ledge. Capt. Sargent was of the opirion that the ship struck a loose bowlder. Pilot Walls confirmed Lieut. McCrea’s testimony of yesterday. He eaid he had been a pilot for twelve rs and had never had an accident in that iime. sitar Sees MISSOURI SILVER MEN. An Effort to Draw Them Populist Fo! KANSAS CITY, Mo., February 18.—J. B. Clarkson of Carthage, chairman of the state executive committee of the national silver party, which in Missouri is composed largely of bolting republicans, has called a meeting of the committee, to be held in this city February 22. Chairman Roselle of the populist state organization has issued a call for a meet- ing in this city on the same date of the National Reform Press Association, or at least that element of the association that has bolted from Vandervoort leadership. It is intimated that a strong effort will be made to bring the national silvér party’s strength into the populist fold. a ees FOR A SOUTHERN CRUISE. It is Surmised That Mr. Cleveland Will Accompany Mr. Benedict. GREENWICH, Conn., February 1§.—E. C. Benedict's steam yacht Oneida is being prepared for a cruise in southern waters. Because of the fact that the order is that everything must be in readiness by March 4 it is surmised that President Cleveland will be Mr. Benedict's guest on the pro- jected cruise The Oneida will be dry- docked in New York tomorrow. ees Preferred Her Church to $25,000. ST, JOSEPH, Mo., February 18.—Rather than sever her connection with the Catholic Convent of the Saered Heart in this city, in which she is a rovice, Miss Carrie Jewell will relinquish her right to $25,000 left her by her uncle, Frederick Taylor, the New York banker, who died a few days ago. The Taylor estate is valued at $200,000, and the deceased made the bequest conditional on Miss Jewell renouncing Catkolicism. When seen at the convent Miss Jewell said: “I have chosen to become, a nun, and any sum of money would not tempt me to alter my hopes and my faith.”” —_——__ Stepped in Front of a Tra’ TOWANDA, Pa., February 18—The Lehigh Valley Black Diamund express, north bound, struck and killed Samuel Spencer, aged seventy-five years, and his son, 8. B. Spencer, aged fifty, at Wyalus- ing, near here, last night. The men were walking on the track, and in getting cut of the way of an approaching freight train stepped in front of the express. —_———_ Acensed Himnelf of Murder. SACRAMENTO, Cal., February 18—E. B, Kent, a man who about a week ago walked into the sheriff's office and surrendered himself, saying that he thought he had committed a murder in Indiana a few years ago, will be taken‘back to the scene of his crime to stand trial.» Kent, who is evident- ly demented, says the murder of Noah King was committed on the night of No- vember 5, 1894, on a farm three miles west of Centerton. Both men were intoxicated. u If you want today’s news today you can find it only in The Star. —_—— THE DISTRICT BILL —-— i The Appropriation Measure May Fail to Be Acted On. ELECTRIC LIGHT Feeling of Hostility on the Part of Many Senators. - THE PROBABLE —— FIGHT ONE CAUSE RESULT There is a possibility that the Distri Columbla appropriation bill will not passed during the present session of © gress, but that it will be left to the next Congress to provide appropriations for the District at its special session. Such « course would require the bill to come up as a new measure and be acted on again by the House before tt could be considered by the Senate, for It would be entirely new legislation. This possibility is brought about by ihe fact that there are a number of items in the appropriation bill as reported to the Senate by the committee on appropriations which will call for considerable cont versy, and on which the conferees on tl part of the Senate will insist, despite ol Jections that may be made by the confer- ees on the part of the House. As shown in The Star yesterday afternoon, the Senate committee on appropriations increased ihe amount ellowed in the bill as tt passed the House by about a million and a quarter The appropriations recommended by the Senate committee are largely of a charac- ter that is regarded as urgent by the mem- bers of that committee, and there ts little disposition to give in to the House in any wholesale manner. The attitude of the Senate committee on the subject of electric lighting in the Di trict of Columbia is also stirring up a good deal of feeling, which will be an element in the disposition of the appropriation bill Members of the Senate have but little in- clination to give in to the House of Rep sentatives should the conferees that body desire to strike out the provisions of the bill as reported to the Senate, which will not permit the Potomac Electric Powe Company to do any lighting of the st of Washington during the next fiscal year The chief champion of the electric company in the Senate ts Mr. Hill, whose term in the Senate expires on the 4th of March. He will not be there in the extra session, which may be called upon to dir- pose of a District appropriation bill, and it is regarded as likely that he would adept of be dilatory tactics in order to prevent the measure going through the present Con- gress. The lively fight that has gone on between the two electric light companies, and ex- pecially between the Senate commitice on appropriations against the Potomac Eilcc tric Power Company, fs still progressing Senators on the appropriations committee were informed this morning that the Po- tomac company had kept men xt work all night in order to push to completion their seven miles of underground conduit before the District appropriation bill could decom! a daw. The provision in that bill which prevents any further tearing up of the Streots of this city until Congress has de- termined upon a general subway plan Is in effect a reiteration of the provisions of the Cockrell resolution, which was so vigor- ously fought over in the Senate. As soon as the District appropriation bill becomes a law the Potomac company will be obliged to suspend its work of laying conduits, pro- vided the clause regarding ihe laying con- duits In the District is retained in the bill. For this reason many friends of ihe Pctomac company would not object to see- ing the measure defeated. A good many of the senators are iv censed over the fact that the Potom Company appears to be making excessiv efforts to get its conduits down sinc character of the appropriation bill a’ ing their power to lay conduits has be known, and, if anything, it has stiffene them tn their determination to carry th point. Suggestions that they will feated In the House of Repres only serve to further strengthen their de- termination to pass the legislation included in the District bill. The senators of the appropriations coni- mittee were informed this morning that the Potomac company worked its force all last night about Judiciary Square, and was actively diggirg trenches for conduiis around Lafayette Square ths morning. ——e+—__ AMERICAN BICYCLES. Threatened With Destructive Piracy in Germany. American bicycles are threatened with destructive piracy in Germany, and Untied States Consul General de Kay, who re- ports the fact to the State Department. has gone immediately to work in the effort to checkmate the movement. He says certain persons in Berlin have undertaken to copy- right the trademarks of as many American bicycles as are yet unprotected by the Ger- man law. This they are enabled to do through the fact that the law does not in- quire whether the applicant has the right to a trademark, only demanding originaliiy in Germany, and there is no redress for ihe owners of foreign trademarks so pirated. The German patentee can thus prevent the sale of goods by the foreign manufacturer unless the latter makes terms with him. To head off this movement, as far as poxsi- ble, the consul general has induced a responsible German importer of American bicycles and notions to anticipate the would-be pirates by taking out trademark patents in his own name for all American bicycles. of which he has knowledge with the exception of three, which have already protected themselves. This agent hae agreed to charge the companies thus pro- tected only the $18 costs in each case. — Ha Ww Not Enter the Cabinct. CLEVELAND, Ohio, February 18.—It is definitely settled that M. A. Hanua will not go into McKinley's cabinet. Hanna an- nounced this morning that he has deter- mined to remain in Ohio. He will contest in the legislature next winter for the full term in the United States Senate. In fact, Hanna’s supporters have already crgan- ized his campaign. The hope that Gov- error Bushnell may appoint Hanna to fill the unexpired term of Senator Sherman has practically been abandoned. ae Ocean Steamships Arrived. - - LONDON, February 18.—Arrived—ddaho, New York. ~ BREMEN, Febrnary 18.—Arrived—Aller, ‘New York, via Southampton. GLASGOW, February 18.—Arrived-— thagenian, Philadelphia. ROTTERDAM, February ‘Werkendam, New York. —— Bryan to Address a Legislature. TOPEKA, Kan., February 18—W. J. Bry- an having been invited to address the Kan- sas legislature in joint session, has notitied the two houses that he will be pleased io speak tomorrow. Committees have been appointed to receive the distinguished vis- itor. Care 18.—Arrived~ Se Senator Kenmey’s Recovery. DOVER, Del., February 18.—United States Senator Kenney, who ts fll with the grip at his home in this city, is recovering. He was able to sit up today, and is now cous sidered out of danger.