Evening Star Newspaper, April 6, 1897, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR. PURLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, ‘Y101 Pennsylvania Averus, Cor. 1th &t, by The Evening Star N per Company, 8. H. ScAUFYMANW. Pree't. Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building. icra ‘The Evening Star is served te subscribers in the ity by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. at the counter nts each. By matl—anywhere in the Tnited States or Canada—postage prepald—S0 cents mererany Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with Saturda; aims le re . foreign postage added, $3.00. Part 2. Che Fyening Sta Pages 11-14. (Entered at th» Fost Office at Washingtor, D. C., as secomf-cluss mail matter.) £7Ail mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. WASHINGTON, D. ©. TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1897-FOURTEEN PAGES. THE SOUTH'S PROBLEM Industrial Status of the Negro Popula- tion. Booker T. Washington's Address at the Fifteenth Street Church— Future of the Race. ‘The Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church, Rev. F. J. Grimke, D. D., pastor, was crowded last evening to hear Prof. Booker 'T. Washington, president of the Tuskegee, Institute, deliver a lecture on “The in Hand.” Dr. Grimke presided. The speaker was introduced by Prof. H. M. Brown of the Colored High School in some appropriate remarks. In the cours Ala. © of his remarks Mr. Wash- ington said: “The problem in the south is a simple one if we stick to the right principles. As bad as slavery was, it nt the southern white man into busi- < contact with the negro for 20) years. If a southern white man wanted to build he consulted a negro about the and building of that house. If wanted a suit of clothes made he con- a negro tailor about the making of e cloth: the business contact during y left the negro at the close of the hotse house nning th ave war in possession of all the skilled labor of the south—but the great problem that is mcre and more pressing upon us each year is: Can the negro hold on to those skilled occupations that were purchased for him at the expense of 300 years of avery? Can we hold our own against the incoming foreign skilled laborers and unions that are beginning to spread the south? We can not unless frem Hampton and Tuskegee and other in- stititions wi nm send out a _ constant am of young men and women with not “i hands, but with highly culti- hearts, who can lead our their industrial life. It is along that Tuskecee is working. ask what has this to do with the er life—the moral and religious side? nswer, much. Show me a race that ts = on the outer edges of the industrial living on the skimmed milk of and I will show you a race that be all that it destres in morals and . In the elevation of a race, as well as of an individual, it is necessary that we threw as wuch responsibility on race itself as possibie. He tra threugh skil another value of industrial the south. In the present it means much to the self- mes at tien fon of my hood, of our students to give them a ince as we do at Tuskegee to work out, on our farms, in our shops ani race the independenc: as they do, rtments, the greater portion that is if ee we have property oi, including 1,800 acres buildings, twenty-six 4 There are S00 students, twenty-two different states eighty-one instructors. If I add our hers, with their families, we have a ecleny of about 1,100. This institution ts largely the result of the effort of these students at self-help. Our students work yut the greater portion of the cost of their ix industries, but they y the $50 a year in ad- which is the cost of the tuition. By effort we are compelled to raise sh each year on the outside. If states SS per cent of our are on the plantations, but the there fs not a discouraging one ep in mind the-idea of self-help. om these plantations works an y enough to support, educate himself. Our people on these s do not need, neither do they that charity be scattered among them, do need to have educated men women sent among them, who can h them habits of thrift, economy, bet- ing ely ‘In the § people problem ter methods of agriculture, how to take the money that now goes into whisky, snuff and cheap jewelry and put it into the purchasing of land and the building of decent dwelling and school houses. “Eight years ago one of our graduates begar work on one of these plantations where the people were in debt, mortgaging their crops. with a school taught in a log cabin, lasting but three months. Now, in this Same community, I can show you men out of debt, owning their own farms, a school lasting seven months and a com- revolution in the religious, industrial jucational Ife of the community. ame from the outside, but his teacher to show them how problem as between the races work itself out. Trade, commerce, 1s he north and south together, will fast and will bring the white man and lack man in the south together rever there is estrangement. is the value of industrial slavery the negro was tied man through the bill of sale. © negro must tle himself to an through the bonds of com- by the cultivation in every he good will hbor. at has $5,000 to lend ouble in finding friends and his white neigh . The hat ‘tures the best will always find ¢ those brick. When t farm to be found in every white man will respect a negro is the largest tax- pund in county, white will not t very long to his having that vote honesily parts of the country there vital and practical con- To's educated brain for earning a living. ng to do at Tuskegee nts is to give them so n and skill that they can so con- ¢s of nature, water, horse pow- and electricity that they do the work, just as the Take this view of indus- You can see at once that ‘~ something to teach the ation. m be » work, it teaches him rather how » work as in ante-bellum da: it him hew to lift labor up out of irudgery into that which {s glori- lignified and beautiful. we must give attention ning or go to the wall en now In many parts of the industries that mean, as it 2%] that are’ gradually slip- Especially 1s this true of ting. nursing, contracting, wood 2 iron work. Shall shut our to these important facts or shall we issue and prepare ourselves to e rest of the world? have had too much of <1 man must cither k or follow a pro- men must more e farms, into the trades, aw mills, factories, must apply their quer the forces of nature. must bring our education down to we are very emotional. 1 more of our time prepar- in heaven than on earth. We to talk about living in the white man- We are sions in the upper world and at the same time living In a one-room cabin here. We like to preach about golden slippers and long white robes in the other world and go barefooted and nearly naked in this world. We like to sing about living on milk and honey in the next world and eat corn bread and peas here. I believe that living right here !n this world ts the best preparation for a happy home in heaven. “We should never grow discouraged. In due time every right now enjoyed by other citizens will be ours. I think the most sen- sible colored people in this country have settled down to these things—that just in proportion as we secure intelligence and property and learn to practice morality and Feligion all of the rights now enjoyed by other citizens will be ours.” CENTRAL LABOR UNION|MARYLAND IN CONGRESS Nineteen Organizations Represented at an The Local Club Holds an Enthusiastic Mass Important Meeting. i Meeting. Matters of Much Interest Considered | Portraits Presented by Col. J. Frank and Reports Received on Supplee of Baltimore—What His Many Subjects. State Has Accomplished. The meeting last evening of the Central Labor Union was largely attended, dele- gates being present from nineteen or- ganizations. President Milford Spohn oc- cupied the chair, with Mr. J. J. Crowley as secretary. The most important business transacted was the consideration of a com- munication from the Building Trades Coun- cil requesting the Central Labor Union to indorse the action of that body in placing Mr. Stilson Hutchins on the unfair list. The grievance of the council was referred to a committee, which was directed to call on Mr. Hutchins relative to the matter, and also to fully investigate the grievances of the several organizations. Delegate Keener, chairman of the legis- lative committee, reported that the com- mittee had communicated with Senator Wellington and Representative Mudd rela- tive to labor legislation during the present session of Congress, particularly the bill to legalize trade union labels, which was submitted to the Central Labor Union and indorsed by that body some months ago. Mr. Keener also reported that the protest of the United Labor League of western Pennsylvania against the appointment of J. G. A. Leishman and W. S. Shallenberger as minister to Switzerland and second as- sistant postmaster general, respectivel. which was referred to the legislative com- mittee, had been considered, and the com- mittee having ascertained that the officials were members of an organization antagon- istic to the American Federation of Labor, no action was taken in the matter. Delegate Gompers of the committee ap- pointed te call on several local dealers,who were reported as handling hats manufac- tured by unfair firms, reported that with one exception none of the parties com- Piained of as handling the unfair goods. Meeting to Form a Federal Unton. Delegate Lannts of the general commit- tee on organization reported that all ar- rangements had been made for a meeting, which will be held next Sunday at 2:30 pm., for the purpose of organizing a fed- eral labor union, under charter from the American Federation of Labor, and which will affiliate with the Central Labor Unton. Delegate Weber of the committee to whom was referred the grievance of the coopers against the Imperial Milling Com- pany of Duluth, Minn., reported that the product of the mill was not sold to any An enthusiastic mass meeting under the auspices of the Maryland Republican Club was held last evening in Grand Army Hall, Pennsylvania avenue near 15th street northwest. A large number of ladies were also present. The meeting was called to order by Pres- ident Arthur Stabler, who occupied the chair, with Mr. Charles H. Kremer as sec- retary. Seated on the platform beside the pre- siding officer were Vice Presidents Joseph ‘Brainor and Dr. W. L. Robins, Secretary Charles -H. Kremer, Corresponding Secre- tery J. W. Pearson, Financial Secretary- Treasurer R. J. Beall and others. While waiting for the arrival of Sena- tor Wellington, who, however, failed to come, as he was expected to do, Dr. Ar- neld of Washington entertained the au- dience with a recitation. Following this, President Stabler made a short address, in which he said that the special object the meeting was to present to the clul the portraits of the six representatives In the House from Maryland. Upon motion the following was adopted by an unanimous vote: “Resolved, That we, the Maryland Republican Club, lo- cated in Washington, indorse the actions of W. W. Johnson, police commissioner of Baltimore, in standing up for the rights and the principles of the republican party and turning men off the police force who have been heretofore driving respectable citizens from the polls.” It had been arranged that the portralis would be presented by Senator Wellington and received by Col. J. Fraak Supplee of the 4th Maryland Regiment, who is promi- nently mentioned in connection with the republican nomination for the mayoralty of Baltimore next fall; but on account of the absence of Senator Wellington the pro- gram was changed, and the presentation was made by Col. Supplee, who in part spoke as follows: “Upon me has been conferred the di: tinguished honor of presenting to the Mary- land Republican Club these handsome pho- tographs of the first solid republican dele- gation from Maryland. If any one had the temerity to essay the task of prophecy five years ago, and foretold that in this year of our Lord 1897 our state should have a republican governor, United States senator and six members of Congress, he would have found incredulity his only response and derision his reward. Were we to seck for the reasons for this greatest revolu- tion in the history of modern politics they can be found, tirst, in the revolt of the peo- ple against the unspeakable rule of the democratic bosses, who prostituted the af- fairs of state into a scramble for spoils and the gratification of personal ambitions, and, second, in the growth of republican prin- ciples in a commonwealth hitherto unwill- ing to even examine or inquire into the tenets of our party. Race prejudice and the remnants of sectionalism were the stock in trade of those who kept our state enthralled in political bondage for pur- poses of personal plunder. But when the search light of intelligent discussion was turned upon the platform of the national republican party it was found that its dec- larations for the gold standard, reasonable Protection and respect to law and the de- cisions of the courts were in accord with true Americanism, and found an echoing response in the hearts of all patriotic Mary- landers. “The border states were the bulwark of the Union in the dark days of 1861, and it was due to the springing valor of the men who enlisted early in the war in the Union army from these states that the line of de- fense was the Potomac and not the Sus- quehanna, and that the smoking ruins of Richmond were not duplicated by those of fair Washington and beautiful Baltimore. In 1885 Benjamin Harrison, the apostle of protectiop was elected by the votes of the men of tm _.-der states, who formed a extent in this city. Delegate Lannis of the special commit- tee appointed to investigate a report that the proprietor of a laundry had discharged an employe because he had demanded the union rate of wages, reported having seen the proprietor relative to the matter and that he informed the committee that the employe was objectionable because he had advised others employed in the laundry to organize and demand better wages and a shorter work day. There being no for- mal grievance against the firm the com- mitte2 was discharged from further con- sideration of the subject. Attempt to Combine the Bakers. Delegate Weber of the Bakers and Con- fectioners’ Union reported that they were making an effort to combine all the bakers of the city in one organization. He also stated that the prospects were favorable for an increase of membership of confec- tioners employed in concerns which have been non-union for years. Under the call of unions, Delegate Cross of Columbia Typographical Union reported the action taken at the meeting Sunday relative to the boycott imposed upon Mr. Hutchins’ paper by the Building Trades’ Council, which was fully reported in The Star of last evening. ‘The delegate from the Tailors’ Union re- ported a gratifying increase in member- ship, and Delegate Willis reported that the Cigarmakers’ Union had indorsed the ac- tion of the Central Labor Union in placing one of the city theaters on the unfair list. Delegate Hobson of the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators submitted a bill, which provides that a maximum rate of wages shall be paid to all employes on pub- lie works. The bill was indorsed and re- ferred to the legislative committee of the Central Labor Union, which was directed to submit it to the proper committee of Congress. The Eight-Hour Law. It was ordered that the president of the Central Labor Unton and the chairman of the legislative committee communicate with the executive council of the American Federation of Labor relative to labor legis- lation, and also with the advisory board, which will convene in this city within a few days, to consider some plan for the furtherance of the elght-hour movement. The proposition that a mats meeting in the interest of the eight-hour movement be held under the auspices of the Central La- bor Union during the time of the session of the advisory board was favorably con- sidered. The matter was referred to the ccmmittee on organization, which will ar- bulwark to w ‘and the flood of free trade that threaten. * to engulf the land. “In 1896 Delaware, Maryland, West Vir- ginia, Tennessee and Kentucky formed a sclid wall of sound money advocates to prevent the army of free silver advocates from destroying the commercial life and honor of the nation. Placing patriotism above party, deserting the standards under which they had trained for a lifetime, the best men of both parties united in behalf of common honesty and respect for law and placed the gallant son of Ohio in the White House and elected a House of Rep- resentatives to support his administration. “Maryland was democratic for thirty years and yet had never been honored by the elevation of any of her sons to the cabinet. Our state has been in the republ!- can column less than two years and we have in the person of Postmaster General James A. Gary a cabinet minister of whom not only our state, but the nation, is proud. Already our state, for so many years deem- ea of minor importance in the galaxy of the great states of the Union, has received na- tional recognition and proudly takes her place among the progressive states of the Union. We were for many years destitute of a leader who could direct us in the bat- tle for supremacy, and we have often sighed that the mantle of Henry Winter Davis might fall upon some one in our ranks. 13 there any one in this presence who will deny that in the person of Senator Geo. L. Wellirgton we have found the chosen cap- tain who is competent in every way to lead ool ee ane republican forces in the great struggle to hold the fruits of our v: Seen OR victories “It is not the part of prudence to linger in the streets of Jericho while the patile beckons us afar and the unconquered prom- ised land les beyond. Still we may felici- tate ourselves that such distinguished dem- gcratic authority as State Senator Bruce has asserted that both in city and state the republican party has given good govern- ment. To continue the triumph of republi- canism we must not arrogate to ourselves that ours is a partisan victory, for without the ald of the independents and sound mon- ey democrats we would still be journeying through the barren wastes of the wilderness with the Jordan uncrossed. To induce these allies to remain an integral part of our army we must labor to corvince them that we are a party of principles and not ex- pediency, an organization battling not for offices, but for good government. Impor- tant and necessary as is the increase of revenue and the protection of American industries, {t must not be overlooked that the essential plank of our platform, the one that carried us to victory, was the pledge to salve the currency question and give e nation rest from finan urbane: ee agitation. og = “These pictures will ever, I believe, cherished ‘by this club ea & token oF the appreciation of our congressional delega- tion of the efforts of this organization to keep alive the spirit of true republicanism. This club, while proud of their adopted city, which has been termed the best governed city in the world, will never permit their love to cool or their loyalty to abate for the commonwealth which was the first to grant civil and religious liberty in America, and they are proud tonight that they are Mary- landers as well as republicans.” «The Beebe Quartet sang a new version of ‘Maryland, My Maryland,” and also a song dedicated to Illinois in honor of the fact that the latter, like Marylard, had a solid republican delegation in Congress— en the Barnes Illinois there are ‘wenty-two.representatives, and Mary- ogy alx. = . William B. Baker, representative in the House from the second district of Mary- range the necessary details. Organizer Weber reported that condi- ticns were favorable for an organization of blacksmiths, and he was directed to pro- ceed to organize a union of that craft. The following were admitted as delegates from Operative Plasterers’ Union, No. 6.814: F. W. Goulding, W. C. Charles, M. J. O'Day, W. Dee and W. Cranford. Dele- gates from the newly organized Mineral Water and Beer Drivers’ Protective Unian, No. 6,867, were also admitted, as follows: William ‘Robert, James Smith, William Keane, C. G. Kidwell and R. I. Jacobs. ———— PNEUMATIC POSTAL TUBES. A Plant to Be Installed in New York City. ‘The Post Office Department has closed a ccntract for a system of pneumatic tubes in New York city from station H on 424 street to the main office, down town, and frcm there southward to the Produce Ex- change station. The contract price is $150,000 a year, and the term ts four years. The plant is to be in operation by Septem- ber. If successful it will be extended to include the whole city, and be placed in operation in other cities. The tubes are to be seven inches in di- ameter and have a capacity for 600 let- ters in each carrier. The time for a car- rier trip is to be forty seconds if necessary. ‘The ordinary time will be seven minutes from 42d street to the main office. It will be possible for carriers to stop at in- termediate stations, where mails may be assorted and added to the carrier. —_—_<__o___—__ Melto: Health Giving Way. Disquieting reports come to the State Department from Havana as to the condi- tion of Ona Melton, one of the Competi- tor prisoners, now in Cabana fortress, under condemnation to death, but with sentence suspended and a retrial ordered. Melton has been in jail over ten months, and his health has given way,until it is feared that further confineme: fatal. The dopants age ag Sots newed its efforts to have the released. of his fellow prisoners, Laborde, Gildea, Barnett and Leavitt, and his ition 98 | land, made @ short address, in which he @ newspaper correspondent non-com- | expressed his gratification at being at the batant urged in his favor. meeting. He referred to the growth of the republican party in Maryland and said he if you want anything, try an ad. in-The |-believed that having reached the promised | Star. If anybody has what you | lard, it would stay there. as one whom the republicans of Maryland delighted to honor, a man-in the audience interrupted him by semarking: ‘‘He'will be the next senator from Maryland. Mr. Baker replied, “I don’t know about that, but I will say that you could not get a bet- ter senator than Mr. Gaty.” Mr. Baker related a number of stories to show that the people of Maryland have had enough of democratic representation in the upper house of Congress, and would elect a republican legislature which would choose a republican successor to Senator Gorman. Mr. Baker was followed by Dr. Isaac A. Barber, the representative in the House from the first district of Maryland, who congratulated the members of the club on the work they had accomplished, and wish- ed them success in the mission they had set out to accomplish. Mr. F. C. Workman of Baltimore, who also made some remarks, Created great en- thusiasm by predicting that Col. Supplee would be the next mayor of Baltimore. After a song by the Beebe Quartet, Mr. William A. Meloy of Prince George’s county, Maryland, spoke briefly. Letters regretting their inability to at- tend the meeting were read from Governor Lowndes of Maryland, Senator Hanna, and messages from the Maryland delegation in the House of Representatives. Messrs Bar- ber, Baker, Booze, McIntire, Mudd and McDonald. ——_—— MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Insues in Michigan amd Ohio Were Almost Exclusively Local, State and municipal elections were held yesterday in Michigan and municipal elec- tions in Ohio. The issues involved were al- most exclusively local. Returns from throughout Michigan last night indicated the re-election of Judge Charles D. Long, republican, as justice of the supreme court, and the defeat of Geo. L. Yaple, fusion candidate. Long's plural- ity is about 20,000. Charles D. Lawton and Wm. J. Cocker, republican candidates for regents of the University of Michigan, are also elected. Detroit Democratic. William C. Maybury, democrat, was elect- ed mayor of Detroit by about 1,000 plurality over Capt. Albert E. Stewart, republican. Judge John Miner, demoeratic candidate for police justice, was defeated by Judge Albert F. Sellers, republican. Maybury’s election is locked upon as a decided defeat for Governor Pingree, who practically named Captain Stewart asi his successor as mayor after the courts had overruled the gcvernor’s contention that he could hold both the offices of govefnar and mayor. At Lansing Davis, republican, was elect- ed mayor by 21 majority, a loss of 80 from 1896. The Gemocrats gain three aldermen and a clerk. The republican state ticket has a plurality of 119 there. At Niles F. W. Richter, democrat, is re- elected mayor. The republicans elect clerk, treasurer and one alde ma. The demo- crats elect three aldermen. Yaple has a big majority in that city for supreme court justice. At Manistee, Smurthwalte, democrat, is elected mayor. The counejl will be republi- can. Manistee county wemt democratic on the state ticket. Muskegon elects A. F. Temple, republi- can, mayor, by 248; Eyke, democrat, treasurer, and Sternberg, ;republican, jus- tice, by 275. The city wag republican last fall by 700. | At Menominee the republicans elect the maycr, four of seven aldermien and five of seven supervisors. The democrats elect treasurer and justice. At Sault Ste. Marie the republicans elect mayor, treasurer, police justice and three aldermen. The democrats elect one alder- man and make gains of over 300 votes. At Battle Creek the democrats elect Dr. Metcalf mayor by 509 majority and carry the city ticket. Yaple has 400 majority. Last fall McKinley carried the city by 235 majority. At Petoskey the republicans elect M. F. Quaintenance mayor and most of the city offices. The net republican loss is 100 since November. At St. Joseph the democratic city ticket, with the eaception of the treasurer, is elected by 37 plurality. The state republi- can ticket leads by 300. Democrats Win at Cincinnati. The election in Cincinnati was for mayor and other city officers and members of the board of legislation. The republican ticket was headed by Levi C. Goodale for mayor, and the democratic ticket by Gustav Tafel. "Tafel is elected by a plurality of 7,320. The city gave McKinley a plurality of about 20,000 last November, and Caldwell, republican, for mayor three years ago, got a plurality of 6,755. The democratic ticket this year had three republicans on it. These were the candi- dates for city auditor, treasurer and cor- poration counsel, but under the recently enacted Dana law it could not be called a fusion or independent ticket. This ticket is victorious throughout, the lowest plurality being for one of the republicans, E.-O. Eshelby, for city treasurer, who received orly 809 plurality, and against whom a fight was made on account of the construc- tion of new water works and for cther local reasons. ‘There was a total vote of over 65,000 as compared with 78,000 last November, an unusually large vote for a local or spring election. The issue was on George B. Cox, who has been recognized as a boss in city and county politics for years and a con- trolling factor in state politics. The ticket headed by Goodale was named by Cox and the issue was made against It as a Cox ticket. The democratic gains are made in the republican wards. Throughout Ohio. Canton went democratic, Mayor Rice for re-election carrying it by over four hun- dred votes. The remainder of the ticket is divided, the democrats winning most ef the offices. The republicans elect the city mar- shal, street commissioners and market master. The vote was lighter than last fall, but nearly up to the average spring vote. At Columbus Samuel L. Black, democrat, is elected mayor over Emmett Tompkins, republican, by 487 plurality. The total vote 3 24,607, about 5,000 less ‘than the registra- tion. - 5 At Zanesville th> entire city ticket is elected by about 500. Democrats will con- trol every branch of the city government except the water works and. cemetery boards. At Akron Young, democrat, is elected mayor. At Ironton Enoch F. Tyler, republican, is elected mayor by a plurality of over Al- bert M. Collett, democrat. The republican clty ticket is elected by greatly decreased majorities. The normal republican majori- ty there is 700. At Springfield the democrats elected John M. Good mayor by about 600 majority. The remainder of the republican ticket is elected. as At Hamilton Bosch, democrat, is chosen mayor by a majority of over 1,000. The en- tire democratic. city ticket is elected. At Dayton the democrats elected water works:-trustees by: 3,000 "plurality. The re- publicans elect infirmary Girectors, council and school hoard. - . At Logan, republican ticket elected, ex- cept one minor office. At Jackson, republicans made a clean sweep of the city ticket. ° At Circleville, democrats elected entire city and towrship ticket. At Millersville, democrats made a clean Sweep of the city 2 s At eroy, a@ de tic mayor was elected @ small ity. Republicans carried shesrest of ‘ticket. At elected their en- tire wy “‘targe rities. ticket elected by P At Alliance, led every- thing, except two minor i democrats elocted * except one minor officer, Biers At St.Mary's, democrats eldeted entire’ city and township ticket. - See a At Warren, TWO SPEECHES MADE Senators Elkins and Lindsay Addressed the Senate at Length. ‘The Former Discussed American Ship- ping and the Later Advocated a Bankruptcy Law. After the disposal of the Cuban question in the Senate yesterday, the day was given to speeches, Mr. Elkins of West Virginia speaking for two hours on the development of the American merchant marine, and Mr. Lindsay of Kentucky advocating the pas- sage of the bankruptcy bill, known as the Torrey bill, now before the Senate. Laie in the day a joint resolution by Mr. Bate of Tennessee was agreed to, directing the sur- geon general of the marine hospital service to aid the Mississippi river flood sufferers by the distribution of tents, blankets, food and medicine under the epidemic fund of 1893, and to purchase further supplies un- der the present epidemic fund for similar distribution. When Mr. Elkins closed a joint resolution was offered by Mr. Bate (Tenn.), and agreed to, for the relief of the flood sufferers alcng the Mississippi river. It provides that the President shall direct the surgeon general of the marine hospital service to distribute tents, blankets, food and medi- cines remaining under the epidemic fund of 1803, and to purchase additional tents, blankets, food and supplies out of the present epidemic fund. The resolution went through without question, Mr. Elkins on American Shipping. Mr. Elkins, in support of his proposition for discriminating duties in favor of Ameri- can vessels, said: “Under a proper policy of encouragement to American shipping, the United States, with its 8,000 miles of seacoasts, its navig- able rivers and lake coast, fine harbors, variety of climate, productive capacity, rapidly increasing populatiorg its position on the globe—Asia on one side with 600,- 000,000 and Europe on the other side with 400,000,000 of people—should be the leading commercial and maritime power of the world. “This would be the proud position of the United States today had protection to American interests on the sea granted by the founders of the government in the early legislation of Congress been con- tinued. No nation has ever been truly great or an important factor in the affairs of the world unless it has been great on the sea. The United States cannot reach its full growth and measure of progress until its shipping and commerce is relative- ly equal to its industries on land. “The United States pays $300,000 every day, or nearly $3 per capita per annum, to foreign shipowners for carrying what Its people sell and buy. This enormous sum, or most of it, should be saved to the peo- ple and the country, and would be under a proper policy of aid to shipping.” He reviewed at length the causes which brought about the decline in American shipping, principally due, he contended, to the lack of protection, yet being forced to compete with protected and subsidized for- eign shipping. He censured the course of the United States in yielding to British per- suasions, and said that in 1828 the “free freighting act” was the “final act of ruin- ous reciprocity.” In 1825 Daniel Webster said, after a time of protection and dis- criminating duties: ‘We have a commerce which leaves no sea unexplored; navies which take no law from superior force.” The 10 per cent discriminating duty pro- posed by his bill, the senator said, should be applied to goods admitted free, as well as to goods upon which duties are now paid. If we had abandoned the policy of excluding foreign built ships from our coastwise trade seventy years ago, he said, that trade would now be in a condition as deplorable as our foreign shipping. He argued that it might be well to extend our coastwise trade relations with states and countries of North and South America under reciprocal regulations. Mr. Elkins declared that there was no fear of retaliation under his bill. England could not hurt by discriminating against our ships. She could not place a duty on the food products she bought of us. Our ships would carry millions from other countries. When we levy duties of 40 and 50 per cent on foreign goods England and other countries do not retaliate. Mr. Lindsay on Bankruptcy. Senator Lindsay made an elaborate speech in advocacy of the Torrey bankruptcy Dill. In the course of his speech he sald: “IT have caused the laws of other coun- tries to be examined and find that all the leading nations of our race have, and have had for many years upon their statute books laws on the subject of bankruptcy. “The fact that these great nations have found it desirable in conducting business and in the promotion of enterprise to have such a law for the mutual protection of debtors and creditors, constitutes a prece- dent of persuasive force to the members of this body. During the past ten years there has been an agitation in behalf of a new law, which has been educational in character. It has not been the purpose of thcse conducting this agitation to secure the enactment of a particular law, except so far as it should be comprehensive of the rights of all honest people; they have not gone about the work with the secrecy which attends the promotion of selfish ends, but have sought the greatest pub- licity for the consideration of the sub- jects. “The product of these years of agita- tion has been the Torrey bankruptcy bill, @ measure which has been more generally considered and universally indorsed throughcut the country than any preced- ing measure of like characier, and which has been considered and discussed by Con- gress each session since 1889. “The bill does not in any way interfere with the occupations now, or which may be hereafter, allowed to debtors by the t2ws of the several states. This measure is the most thoroughly analyzed piece of proposed legislation I have ever examined. Every corceivable contingency seems to have been thought out and carefully pro- vided for. It is my judgment that, if en- acted, it will be a conspicuous example of natured legislation, and remain for all time as an example of how laws should be pre- pared before being placed upon the statute books.”” After an exhaustive analysis of the measure, Mr. Lindsay continued: “I have considered the status of laborers, and find thet they are interested in the stability of credits, the maintenance of which gives continuity to their employ- ment, and there is nothing in their status repugnant to a complete bankruptcy law. “I have considered the surroundings and natural inclinations of country merchants, and find that under such a law they will enjoy a more settled credit than under con- flicting state laws. “I have considered the financial interests of those who produce raw material both from the fields and the mines, and find that they are interested in the maintenance of credit, which enables them to garner and harvest, dig and market their products. They, too, are interested in a complete bankruptcy law. “I have considered the subject frorn the standpoint of the jobber and manufacturer ard find that they, too, are interested both in maintaining and extending credit, and that the passage of this bill will give sta- bility to their affairs and result in enlarg- ing the volume of their transactions. “In view of all the facts, it is for us to consider whether, at the dictation of a few great establishments, we shall further pestpone making the constitutional right to a bankruptcy law available to the peo- \ple, or proceed upon the theory of the greatest good to the greatest number, and ‘pass the bill recommended by the commit- “A bankruptcy law should be on statute books. The THE RAILROAD FIGHT Troubles Between the Seaboard Air Line and the Southern. Interstate Commerce Commission to Inquire Into Them at Savanash —Other Work Laid Out. ‘The long-pending troubles between the Seaboard Air Line and the Southern Rail- way Company in reference to the running of the trains of the former company over the tracks of the latter between Atlanta and the junction of the Southern and Louisville and Nashville tracks at Mont- gomery, Ala., the action of the Southern preventing the Seaboard from having & through route between Washington and New Orleans, will come up for investiga- tion before the interstate commerce com- mission during its southern trip, which be- gan Saturday night. The calendar of cases which will be heard by the commission is a long one and will claim the attention of the members during the whole of the next three weeks or lorger. Their first session was held at Savar- nah yesterday, when they took up sev- eral cases of the Savannah Freight and Transportation Association, which allege unjust discrimination in rates on cotton and various kinds of freight, also in pas- sei ger rates, against the Louisville and Neshville aud connecting lines, the Florida Central and Peninsular and connecting lines, and the lines of the Plant system and counections. At the conclusion of the hearing of those cases the commission will hear testimony and argument involving the refusal of the Central railroad of Georgia and At- lanta and West Point roads, both under the control of the Southern, to haul passengers for the Seaboard Air Line, and which pre- vents the Seaboard from enjoying the bene- fits of through traffic arrangements be: tween this city and New Orleans. It Is further claimed, but of this the commis- sion will take no cognizance, that if the Seaboard can get a through line even from Portsmouth, Vi to New Orleans, it can make an arrangement with the Southern Pacific for rucning its cars through to San Francisco. Other cases to come up at Savannah will be those of Holmes & Co. of Hawkinsvil Ga,, relative to barrel rates to Hawkirs ville, and the matter of charges on export and domestic transportation by the Mis- scuri Pacific and other lines at Savannah. At Jacksonville there is to be tried a case involving the long and short haul clause of the interstate commerce law, which in this instance applies to rates charged on vege- tables carried from Hamp‘on, Fla, to New York and other northeastern cities. Following this will be the hearing on April 12. of two cases at New Ovleans rela- tive to freight rates to and from Biloxi, Miss., and on the 13th four cases on rates on domestic and export traffic by some of the lines centering in that city. At Austin, Texas, on April 16 there will be taken up various cases of the railroad commission of Kansas and the Business Men's League of St. Louis, to be followed en April 19 by those of the Cattle Raisers’ Association of Texas, to be heard at Fort Worth. April 20. the commission expects to be in Dallas, where it will hear some cases sent to it by the Dallas freight bureau. April 23 the commission will, at Memphis, investigate the cotton rates in force on the Kansas City, Mempnis and Birmingham railroad; at Nashville, on the 26th, it will hear the complaints of Phil- lips, Bafley & Co. of Nashville, and Db. K. Spillers & Co. of Gallatin against several lines, and at Louisville, Ky., on the 27th, it will investigate two cases brought _be- fore it by the railroad commission of Ken- tucky. ——— THE FOREST RESERVATIONS. Copies of the Correspondence Sent to the Senate. In compliance with a resolution of in- quiry the Secretary of the Interior sent to the Senate yesterday copies of the cor- respondence on file in his office bearing upon the executive order of February 22, es- tablishing a number of forest reservations in the western states. The most important document of the series Is a letter from Secretary Francis to President Cleveland, dated February 6, recommending the creation of these reser- vations. From this letter It appears that the reservations were selected and the boundaries established upon the recom- mendation of the National Academy of Science, which had investigated the ques- tion through a subcommittee, composed largely of college professors, at the instance of Secretary Smith. Secretary Francis’ letter shows that he warmly approved the selections made, covering 21,379,840 acres, and that he sug- gests the icsuance of the proclamation on Washington's birthday. He said that the area of the reservations then proposed would exceed that of all those already established by about 4,000,000 acres, but that “as our public forests are being rapidly denuded and the loss result- ing therefrom is incalculable,” he did not think this apparently large area should militate in any degree against the recom- mendation of the commission. There is another letter from Secretary Francis to Senator Allison recommending legislation permitting mining and prospect- ing on all forest reservations. — — THE SUPREME COURT. Decisions in Important Cases Handed Down Yesterday. In the Supreme Court yesterday Justice Shiras delivered the opinion of the court in the case of the city of St. Louis agt. the Western Union Telegraph Company. The cases involved the right of the city to tax telegraph poles in the streets at the rate of $5 per annum each, and it was de- cided for the second time by this court. The decision of the court below, the cir- cuit court of the eastern district of Mis- sourl, which was in favor of the telegraph company, was affirmed on the ground that the questions raised by the city are not presented by the record. The court did not, therefore, go into the merits of the tax law at all. The court refused to grant the motion to dismiss in the case of N. S. Swenson agt. Russell Sage, assignee of the Hastings and Dakota Railway Company, and enter- ed an order continuing it, and permitting the United States to intervene to the ex- tent of taking proofs by deposition. In the case of I. R. Parson agt. the state of Missouri, appealed from the decision of the Missouri state court of appeals, the lower court was sustained. ‘The court decided that the Cunard steam- ship Umbria alone was at fault in the col- lision between that vessel and the French liner Iberia, ten miles off Sandy Hook, sev- eral years ago, and must pay the damages resulting therefrom. The court granted the motion of the so- iY | THE CUBAN REPUBLIC President Cisneros Addresses a Letter to President McKinley. ‘The Scope of the Civil Government in the Island Deseribed Detail. A letter addressed to President McKin- ley by President Cisneros of the Cuban republic, under date of March 4, 1897, has been made public. After congratulating President McKinley upon his elevation to be the chief executive of “the greatest, freest and most progressive mation the sun of heaven ever shone upon,” the writer asks him to extend early consider- ation to the Cuban question. After reciting the inevitable failure of Spain to over- come the revolutionists, President Cisneros recites some conditions in the island, which seem to effectually disprove Gen. Weyler's cleime of its pacification. This part of the letter is as follows: “The civil branch of the government is well established, and its workings are oan becoming more thoughtful end com- ete. “The entire province of -Bantiago, with the exception of several large towns, i eutirely under our control. In more than 200 cities, towns and villages Spain has not a svldier, and has apparently relin- quished all claims to that territory. She no longer has civil representatives in most of the districts, while there is not one town in the entire province but has its prefects, or assistant prefects, appointed by the republic of Cuba. “Stain collects today but one-eighth of the enuual taxes in Puerto Principe, Ban- ta Clara and Bantlago provinces she did two years ago, while the taxes levied and collected by this government have in the three provinces amounted to more than $380,000. “These taxcs are not collected by ald of the military. The levy is fixed by our secretary of the treasury with the counsel of the secretary of the interior, and the civil officers in the various prefects col- lect the same in the regular way. We have established throughout the island a sys- tem of matis. An important feature of the civil government has been the issuing of books and the establishing of schools. In varicus sections of Santiago and Puerto Principe school houses have been erected and rative teachers appointed. “The army in the field under the com- mand of my brave and true friend, Gen- eral in Chief Maximo Gomez, is conducting a@ war of energy and mercy The rules of government and the dictation of human- ity direct it. “The struggle may go on for years, and Cuba may continue to fight the battle against fcarful odds alone, but so long as there is a God to give us courage we will irg to the banner of right and freedom, and never falter until the victory is won. oe GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. Additional Changes Made by the New Pablic Printer. In addition to the changes in the govern- ment printing office announced in The Star, made by Public Printer Palmer, F. A. Snyder, bookkeeper, has been reduced from $2,000 to $1,500 per annum; F. B. Wil- liams, assistant bookkeeper, had $285 per annum taken from his salary, and Albert Baker, private secretary, was reduced from $2,000 to $1,800, James Teale, cashier, upon request of Mr. Palmer, resigned, and yesterday E. P. Pumphr nt fore- man of the bindery, was requested to re- sign. It is said Mr. Pumphrey will fight to retain his place. A. L. Wood of Penn- sylvania is said to be slated to succeed Mr. Pumphrey. P. J. Byrne of New York has been appointed to succeed Assistant Fore- man Callahan, deceased, and J. W. An- drews has been appointed stenographer, at a salary of $1,800 per annum. — MICROSCOPISTS WANTED. Civil Service Examination in the Use of the Instrument. The civil service commission announces that it will hold an examination April 26 for the grade of assistant microscopist, bureau of animal industry, Department of Agriculture. The examination will consist of the first grade basis with the addition of simple practical questions on the use of the microscope. Only persons who have had experience with the microscope will be elixible. Any persons who are ell and who have al- ready taken the first grade basis or the by corre- clerk-copyist examination, ma; spondence with the commiss' to take the additional practical without repeating the basis examinatio: Heretofore the position of assistant mi- croscopist has been filled by certification but de the ires from the clerk-copyist register, Depariment of Agriculture now that a practical test be given, persons who desire to becom this position will have to comply with this requirement. The examination will be held in the following cities: South Omaha, Chicago, Ill; Buffalo, ) ; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Indianapolis, Ind.; Boston, Mass.; Milwaukee, Wis., and Cleveland, Ohio, +e+ * WHERE TO GET 3 Secretary Bliss to Give Out What There is in His Department. Secretary Bliss has issued an order pro- hibiting all subordinate officers from giv- ing information to the public about office matters, and confining the promulgation of such matters of public interest as it may be desirable to publish to the Sec- retary’s office. Similar orders have been issued by pre- vious administrations, but always have lapsed into inocuous desuetude, as it has been found impossible, as well as inex- pedient, to secure strict conformity to such requirements. —— Woman's Health Association. A bill has been intrcduced in the Senate by Mr. Platt of New York for the incor- poration of the Woman's National Health Protective Association. The object of the association is to enforce sanitary laws. ‘The incorporators are Mathilde F. Wendt, Mary FE. Trautman, Esther Hermann, Mary A. Newton, Cecilia Fendler, Sarah Baum, Anna L. Holt, Frances Stiebel, Margaret J. Herbert, Jane M. Fiske, Emily L. Wake- man, Mary Philips, Charlotte Errani, M. Louise Thomas, Helene 8. Bell, Theresa Barcalow, Jennie M. Lozier, Clara M. Wil- ams, Genie H. Rosenfeld and Eliza J, Sparks. ee Post Office Exhibit at Nashville. ‘The exhibit which the Post Office De- partment will make at the Nashville ex- position is nearly all boxed up and ready for shipment to its destination. The ex- hibit will be in charge of J. B. Brownlow, a special agent of the Gepartment. Curator Stanley I. Slack, who has charge of the Be rity gi