Evening Star Newspaper, April 9, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 101 iv The = Avenue, Cor. lth St, by venin r Now r Company, 5. H. KAUFFMAN eres Tew York Office, 49 Potter Fuilding. ar Is served to subseribers in the riers, on their own account. at 10 cents 44 cents per mou Copies at the ch. By mail—anywhere in anada—postage prepaid—50 cents mont turday Quintuple led. Sheet Star, §1 per year, with ad $3.00. » at Washington, D. C., ) aust be paid in advance. known on applicatio Che ver No. 13,761. WASHINGTON, D. ©. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1897-SIXTEEN PAGES. “TWO CENTS. SUDDENLY CUT OFF ~_ Wire Communication With Green- ville, Miss., Lost. SERIOUS PROSPECT AT NEW ORLEANS The River is Above the Previous High Water Mark. IN THE LEVEE TRUSTING JACKSON, Miss., April 9.—This city lost all telegraphic communication with Green- ville during last night. The wires run over the Georgia Pacific road to Winona, and from there to New Orleans via Jackson and to Memphis. These wires have so far stood the flood, and their loss at this time is thought to be significant. It is reported that rain storms visited the Delta last night. Unul communication is established the flooted district cannot be heard from defi- nitely. The following telegram has been just received by the Associated Press from Greenwood, Mis The Yazoo river fell 2% inches at this place during the past twelve hours. Re- ports from Tallahatchie and Coldwater rivers show gradual fall, and Mttle fear is entertained that the Tallahatchie and La Fiore counties wili suffer materially from the flood Two-thirds of the water from Flower lake break are going through Coahao county into the Sunflower river, and that section of the country is completely inun- dated, and great loss of property will in- evitabl iy result from the greatest flood that passed through that section. The rn railroad track is nearly all sub- merged through both Sunflower and Wash- ington counties. ains have been suspended from Itta- bena to Greenville, and all communica- tion by telegraph with that place Is cut off. RELIEF OF SUFFERERS. The Machinery for Distributing Aid w in Working Order. - machinery provided by the War De- partment for the relief of the sufferers from the Mississippi river floods ts now in ing order, and Secretary Alger said that by tomorrow morning the de- artment would be in position to cover the »oded district with its force of today entire fi cers detailed to this service have tarted for the west. Before lew m they received orders as- ions of the ignal corps, is ew Orleans and to different sec: Major Cra: ed proc to } with Major G. M. Derby, the engi- icer in charge of that section, and to proceed to Red River landings, the condition and needs of proceeds. His orders are ults of his investigation ary Alger, who will u: with similar reports from a basis for the distribu- relief stores. Charles H. Clarke of the ord- partment is ordered to Vicksburg, consult with Mejor J. H. Willard, on engineer, after which he will eed to Red River landings on a igation. He, Itke his brother ngaged in this duty, is instructed confer with all of the local relief mittees on his route. st Lieutenant A. S. Rowan, 19th In- ry, goes to Memphis to confer there h Captain Fitch of the Engineer Corps. Thence he starts on a tour of the Missis- river between Helena, Ark., and Miss. anger, inspector general, also Memphis, but after talking over the conditions there with Captain Fitch he 1 take as his route the river from Memi- 3 to Helena. Captain Martin, assistant quartermaster, Will go first to Vicksburg and hear from Major Willard, the engineer officer sta- tioned there. His section of the river will extend from Vicksburg to Greenville. Second Lieutenant H. M. Whitney, 4th Artil takes section No. 6 of the Tiver from Cairo up. He will first report to Cap- tain Fitch at Memphis. All of the boats of the light hovse es- tablishment on the Mississippi have been’ turned over to the War Department for co-operation in relief work. So have the boats of the Mississippi river commission, and Secretary Alger says that if these are hot sufficient he will charter as many more of the river craft as may be neces- sary. COMPARED WITH OTHER FLOODS. An Interesting Statement Issued by Chief Moore. ief Moore of the weather bureau this ng issued the following bulletin: lowing is a resume of the present flood ions In the lower Missiselppi, and the look as far as can be determined by puriscn with previous floods. The main of water is now between Mempnis velum: issippi and the basins of the ower St. Francis, White anJ rivers, which have been flood: king of the levees of the M r from these basins must Mi ippi above Vic and unless the levees on the of the river between the mouth of the Arkansas and Vicksburg break, must pass tter point to the lower river. flood of 1800, the last great flood ing this, and which this so far, in King of the levees and regions closely resembles, the river began - at Vicksburg from the water re- from the crevasses on April 1, and feet at the rate of about one-tenth fay until April This, not- the ct that the great cre- ‘an Grove in northeast Louis- Vicksburg allowed an immense volume of water to flow through the gulf withor assing Vicksburg. This floo above The €as@ Arkansas and greatly strengthened since that flood, and gion. entire levee system of south- Louisiana has been especially during the past few wee @ volume of water between Cairo aan Views burg in the present flood, ag showfi by the gauge readings, is greater than thet of any previously recorded. ‘The river at Vicksburg began to rise from the water returning through the Yazoo on April 6. and was then 49.2 feet on the gauge, which was nth higher than the hichest nt reached in the flood of 1890. It has en seven-tenths in five days, being to- day 4 If the levees on the Louisiana side above Vicksburg hold It will, judging from the pervious flood, contiaue rising one the next —— a at least, and Teach @ stage not t two that of 1890. eee Heavy rains have fallen during the past twenty-four hours in the basins of the Cumberland, Tennessee and lower and light rains in the basins of che Missour!, Arkansas und Red. The Obie, Red, Cumberiand and upper Arkansas rivers “have risen. The Missis- cippt has as from St Paul to Daven- a E vuis, ari from Arkansas ity to the mouth. ‘The following repo™.s have been received today from the I'-partment of Agriculture weather bureau officials in charge of river @aricts: ‘%*. Louis, Mo.—River at St. Louis will rise to about 29 feet by Saturday night or Sunday morning. Slow rise in the Mis- souri and slight fall in upper Mississippi. Cairo, Ill.—River on a stand at 48.8 feet. Heavy rains have increased the quantity of seep water to such an extent that the lower end of the graded streets are in some cases covered from sidewalk to sidewalk. The sidewalks on the graded stree*s are in many places under water. Memphis, Tenn.—Situation practically un- changed. The river has fallen one-tenth of a foot at this place, and two-tenths at He- lena. Weather cloudy and cold south of here. The Sunflower river out of its banks and rising at a rapid rate. Vicksburg, Miss.—No material change in the river situation since yesterday. River here rising fast; high winds last night. No new crevasses reported, but much appre- bension in regard to the levees below. Communication by Yazoo end Mississippi Valley railroad nerth suspended. New Orieans, La —High winds and heavy rains of yesterday caused local wave wash over levees, also disclosed several weak spots that were at once repaired. River rose to 18.2 feet last evening under influ- ence of wind and rain, down to 17.8 feet this morning; slight rise at Natchez and Bayou Sara, stationary at Donaldsunviue this morning. Greatest vigilance continues ail along the levee lines. EMBEZZLEMENT CHARGED Warrants Issued for Chicago Savings Bank Officials. Complaint Made by Depositors—Anx- iety Over University of Illinois Endowment Funds. CHICAGO, April 9.—Warrants for the ar- rest of Charles W. Spalding, president; A. D. Averill, vice president, and C. E. Churchill, cashier, of the defunct Globe Savings Bank, have been sworn out by Frank E. Stone of the firm of Stone & Francis, depositcrs in the institution. Mr. Stone went before Justice W. T. Hall and a complaint charging the offi- cers of the bank with embezzlement was drawn up. Three warrants were at once issued, and will be served some time today. Since the failure of the bank Spalding has teen prostrated. Friends say he is under medical care in the city. At the Pluza Hotel, where he lives, it was said last night he had not been there for twenty- four hours or more. The complaint was similar to the one on which E. S. Dreyer was arrested at the instance of Frank E. Kennedy, one of the depositors in the former bank. Sunday afternoon a meeting of depositors of the Globe Savings Bank will be held. Mr. Stone and other depositors have sent a notice to the depositors to attend the meeting, when action will be taken to form an organization to investigate and probe the failure of the bank and take such other action as will protect their interests in the premises. Illinois University Funds. Acting on the suggestion of the trustees of the University of Illinois, Director Le- man of the Globe Savings Bank, which clesed its doors Monday, has begun a suit for injunction in the circuit court to re- strain President Spalding from taking any- thing out of the vaults of the Globe Sav- ings Bank, or the vaults of the Globe Safe- ty Deposit Company, which were used by the bank. This action is said to have been taken because it is not known where the bends belonging to the endowment fund, valued at $400,000, are being kept. Mr. Leman, in speaking of the suit, said he did not know what was in the vault boxes, but he wanted to be on the safe side, and for that reason he secured the in- junction to prevent Mr. Spalding from hav- ing access to them. It is said that in the veults of the safety deposit company Spalding was supposed to keep the bonds belonging to the endowment fund. Not Greatly Surprised. NASHUA, N. H., April 9.—The news that warrants have been issued for the arrest of President Charles W. Spalding, Cashier Cc. E. Churchill and Vice Presideat A. D. Averill of the defunct Globe Savings Bank of Chicago, the stock of which is largely owned in this state, was no great surprise to the Nashua stockholders. While no open charges of criminal con- dvet have been made here, there have heen many complaints of mismanagement on the part of the bank officials, and when, about two weeks ago, a request that the stock- holders contribute an assessment of 50 per cent was made, a committee of two was appointed to look into the bank's affairs. Among the holders of stock in New Hampshire are the Nashua Savings Bank, Wilton Savings Bank, Milford Savings Bank, New Hampshire Banking Company, two banks at Keene, and several private individuals. The banks, however, are rot as heavily involved as are the individual investors. ——— ANTIPODEAN BALL PLAYERS. Arrival of the Australian Club at San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, April 9.—The Aus- tralian base ball players, who are starting out on @ tour of the world, have arrived in this city on the steamer Monowai. They will spend a few days in sight-seeing be- fore practicing for their opening game, which will be with the Olympics a week from Sunday at Central Park. The nerv athletes who have come thousands of miles to ascertain how the base ball players of Australia compare with those of this coun- try and to learn points if deficient are thir- teen in number. The team has several sub- stitutes, so they may play cricket as well as base ball. The players are: Frank Laver, captain, pitcher and first base; Charles Kemp, a “southpaw” twirler; Jas. McKay, pitcher and catcher; R. E. Ewers, pitcher and catcher; Sydney Smith, first base and change catcher; Walter Ingleton, second base; Peter A. MeAllister, third base: Hairy Irwin, shortstop; Alfred 8. Carter, left fielder; A. E. Wiseman, center fielder; Harry Stuky, right fielder; J. L. Wallace, catcher; Charles Over, all-around man. R. E. Ewers ts the champion all-around athlete of Australia. OPE: ee ‘G THE GRANT CASKET. A Task Which May Require Three Days’ Work. — NEW YORK, April 9.—The work of open- ing the steel casket containing the remains of the late Gen. U. S. Grant has begun today. The <uter case which incloses the casket is fastered by 150 bolts, the heads of which are nearly one inch in diameter. ‘Bhe-heads must be drilled through and Pounded down before the case can be opened. It was estimated by the men in charge that the work would take three days to perform, but one of the workmen experienced in that line of work said that he thought that by putting In a lot of over- time the werk might be concluded by to- morrow night. Whenever the cases may be removed, the public will not be given an opportunity to view the removal of the casket. That will be done under cover of night, and at an hour which will not be made public. oe Arrived on the Havel. NEW YORK, April 9.—Among the pas- sengers who arrived this morning on the steamer Havel from Bremen and South- ampton were E. 8. Baring-Gould, Baroness von Bulow Wendheusen and Bologsi Kiral- fy. The Havel also brought seventy-four cabin passengers of the ‘D steamer Ke isia suse, from Bremen for New York, which was obliged to return to Plymouth with rudder damaged, GOSSIP ON OFFICES|MR. SIMPSON'S THREATIIN THE ART GALLERY Positions That Will Be Given to Col- ored Men. CHARGES AGAINST HILL AND BUCK Bellamy Storer May Be an Assist- ant Secretary of State. WHAT MR. WATSON WANTS A few days ago President McKinley told a white man who has been an applicant for register of the treasury that the prob- ability was that he would give this place to one of the colored applicants. The white man has been for many years a friend of the President and was presenting his case when the President told him the cbief executive would be delighted to make other provision for him, but thought he would give this position to a cclored man. He stated that when once a position was given the colored republicans they after- ward concluded that the office should be theirs for all time. He thought that to give the treasury place to a colored man would be as good a way to recognize the race as any other. The President gave no intimation as to who he had decided upon, if anybody, but it known that the can- didates are hot on the trail of the place, and a decision may be reached next week. This place and a great many others which are being hotly pressed for will give the President something to constantly think about until they are disposed cf. No word has been received at the White House from the presidential party, and nothing is known as to the time for their return ex- cept the intention two days ago to get back Saturday afternoon. The colored politicians who have heard of the President's remark as to the posi- tion of register of the treasury fecl conti- dent that the recordership of deeds of the District will also go to a colored man. This will animate the fight among the colored applicants. There is a total of nineteen ap- plicants for the treasury ce, but not over a third of the number are colored men. The leading colored applicants are J. C, Napier of Tennessee, ex-Representa- tive Cheatham of North rolina, B. K. Bruce of Mississippi and young Arnett of Georgia, a son of Bishop Arnett. There is an impression, whether well founded or not is uncertain, that North Carolina will get the treasury place or the recordership. The state, however, wovld hardly be given both places. If Cheatham should get the treasury job, John C. Dancy, the North Carolina man for recorder of deeds, would be left. This would be the reverse if Dancy should be successful. It is believed that the consulships which have for years gone to the colored race will be given out in the same way this time. Charges Against Hill and Buck. The Senate is said to be holding up the appointment of H. A. Cook as marshal for the northern district of Mississippi because of charges that National Commi:teeman Hill of that state has been dispensing his indorsement of candidities for a considera- tion. The Senate proposes to investigate these charges. Hill and his friends vehe- mently declare that the charges are trump- ed up by disappointed politicians Hill re- fused to indorse for places. Hill has been recognized by the adnunistration so far as the dispenser of Mississippi patronage. There is something of the same situation in the case of Col. KE. A. Buck, the Georgia man who landed the Japan mission, al- tl ough he is not charged with disposing of his influence. A Georgian is said to be making wild charges against Col. Buck in the hope that he may be offered a position of some kind to let up. Nobody believes that the Senate will be long confirming Col. Buck. Fight for a Post Office. The term of the democratic postmaster at Jackson, Tenn., expired yesterday, and ex-Representative McCall is anxious to have the piace filled. It is the largest city in his district, and the place ts a good one. Mr. McCall has recommended H. ©. Wors- ham, who fs also said to have the indorse- ent of Commissioner of Pensions Evans. The republican state committee has in- dorsed W. M. Moss, and the consequence Is that there is a fight on hand. National Committeeman Brownlow had given his in- dersement to Worsham, but recen‘ly pull- ed out, refusing tb have anything further to do with the fight. Something Else Will Do. Thomas Needles, the Illinois man who had Senator Mason back of him for com- mesioner of Indian affairs, has decided to try for something else, since notice has been served upon him that the Indian com- missionership is going elsewhere. Mr. Needles is said to want to get on the Dawes commission now. The Indian af- fairs place is said to be promised to W. A. Jenes of Wisconsin, the candidate of Rep- resentative Babcock. There is a story that President McKinley wanted to give the place to Mr. Needles, but Secretary Bliss made an issue of the matter, and said he thought Wisconsin ought to have the place. Bellamy Storer’s Case. There has been a well-grounded supposi- tion that the position of assistant secretary of state has been left this long without a nomiation to give the friends of Bellamy Storer a chance to patch up peace between himself and Senator Foraker. The story is revived by a@ fresh prediction that Mr. Storer will receive the nomination. ‘The re- sult of the Cincinnati election is said to have made Mr. Storer of more Importar:ce to Senator Foraker and the Ohio people generally than was thought. It 1; found that the assistance of Mr. Storer wil be needed in Cincinnati politics here- after. To a good many people it is known that the bitterness between Senator Forsker and Mr. Storer is personal. There is nothing political in it. It 1s further known that Senator Foraker more quickly forgives a political opponent than a personal enemy. Well-posted Ohio politicians say that in the last few months Senator Foraker has made friends with many old political ene- mies, and has earnestly said, “Let by-gones be by-gones.” It is now surmised that the senator has concluded to withdraw his op- pesition to Mr. Storer. This, however, is dcubted by men who have knowledge of the Ohio situation, but these same men ad- mit that there 1s no telling what may hap- pen. What Mr. Watson Wants. It has been frequently predicted that when President McKinley begins to give his Ohio friends some good places he will not forget ex-Representative D. K. Watson. The mission to China has been most fre- qvently picked out for Mr. Watson. As a matter of fact, the President is willing to give one of the good foreign places to Mr. Watson, but the latter is said not to know ex: ‘what he wants. He decides on one thing one day and the next c his mind. When he has about concluded that he would iike to go abroad an old ambi- ticn to go to the bench is revived, and he is in doubt as to what to do. ntly ‘he ae goer ccme to ene conclusion that woul become a federal judge. There is a story today that President Kinley has premised give the consul te ta. Benjamin Schuster, a commercial traveler of New York, formerly a merchant at El Paso, Tex. This is the story that one of the applicants for the position has been told, and he is. preparing to pack up his baggage and return to his home, Me- Bikins to | It Is Not Believed That It Will Go Very Far, Speaker Reed May Appoint the Elec- * tions Committee and Decide the Contested Cases. The fight of Jerry Simpson to compel Speaker Reed to appoint committees of the House ‘will probably not go very far. Mr. Simpson's threat to compel the pres- ence of a quorum when the House mee:s causes. the session of. the House tomor- row to be looked forward to with some interest. It is probable that he will carry out bis threat then, but it is doubtful whether he will keep. it up from day to day. It will- probably be impossible to get @ quorum tomorrow, .and, therefore, th2 most that can be done will be to adjourn until the next day. The effect of the ob- Jecticn will be to prevent the three-day adjournment, and if persisted in would compel the House to meet each day or else to keep a quorum present at each meeting so as to secure a three-day ad- journment. fs The democrats, however, are not gener- ally in fayor of trying to force the ap- poirtment of committées, and it is not be- lieved that Mr. Simpson himself really wants legiglation to be taken up seriously. The Speaker Controls the Matter. Speaker Reed has the matter in his own hands. It may be difficult for him to se- cure the attendance of a quorum at a time when it is generally understood that noth- ing is to be done, but if he ts compelled to do so he can probably get a quorum, and will know how to use it to the great an- noyance and disadvantage of the minority. There are a large number of contested election cases.. The consideration of these cases constitutes a question of the highest privilege. If the minority are pestiferous and insist on the House doing business while waiting for the Senate to act on the tariff, Mr. Reed may. gratify them by ap- pointing the committees on elections and disposing of the contes's for seats in the House. This course would result in the immediate unseating of a number of the members of the minority, and the cases could be handled very-specdily. May Unseat Masy Members. Ordinarily these contests would drag along through the entire, Congress, some of the cases not being @tsposed of until near the close. Meanwhile the contestees would enjoy the privilege of membership in the House. If, however, the majority are forced to it, they may be able to dispose of all the cases during the extra session, cut- ting cff several democrats early in their congressional career. At @ time when there is a measure of importance to the country, which the majority are anxious to get through @s speedily ag possible, it is desir- able that a partisan struggle of this sort should be avoided, but if Speaker Reed is driven to it he can find sufficient to keep the House employed. eee DEMANDS OF THE WEST. erect, They Are Not Alnrming the Senate Finance Committee. The agitation over the demands by the western senators that Wool, lumber, lead ore and other products ef their section be more highly protected than ts contemplated by the House tariff bill is not greatly alarming the républicans of the Senate finance committee. This agitation was ex- pected,and it is regarded as largely bluster. The situation in the Senate is, of course, one difficult to deal with. The republicans do not command a majority of the Senate and they have got to so frame the bill as to secure the support or acquiescence from the opposition necessary to make up their deficiency. They thoroughly understand this, and it is expected that they will yield to a cer- tain extent to the démahds of the western republican senators. After they have given all that they think. they properly can they will depend upon caugué'authority to com- pel republicans to treat the bill es a party measure. Republican senators from the west who refused tojdegert their party on account of the silver question, and are therefore not in touch with the silver re- publicans and are dependent upon their party for support, cannot well afford to break with their party on the tariff. When thelr reasonable demands have been com- plied with they will have to obey the com- mand of the caucus they will be in danger of being discredited and having no Place to stand. 5 ‘That they should make a demonstration is to be expected, but it‘is not believed that they will refuse to act ‘with their party in the effort to secure tariff legislation. More than any other men: in the party, they are interested in making thé tariff legislation a success. The bill may¢ not be passed as speedily as desirablé, but its framers have no doubt of its fina] passage. SSeS PREFERENCE TO! UNION VETERANS. That Policy Being Pursued in All the Departurents. The policy of giving ex-Union soldiers preference in appointments and promotions in the government d&partments and in their reinstatement, whenever ft can be shown that their disnifssal was not for cause other than political is being pursued by all the heads of departments. This policy, .as shown. ia THe Star yesterday, has been closely followed by the Secretary of Agriculture. It:is guiding the Post- master General and r offictats in his office to such an extent that wherever it Is found that an esssdldier has been ‘de- moted” because of..hisyrepublican politics he is promptly promoted ‘to the place he formerly held. It hag been found that clerks in’ post offites fo letter carriers have especially been YR of political in- fluence, and many geokiférs' occupying these places who have “demoted” have been restored to t! former salaries. This policy hag been not only in the government: inthis city, but will be ‘serviee carried out in all the ,post offices of the country, s —— NATIONAL PARK OCOSTODIANS. — Assignments Made'for Phetr Care and Preteetion. The Secretary of. War today, at the re- quest of Secretary Bliss, made the usual four-year assignments‘ for the Yellowstone, Yosemite and other Satiowal parks. Capt. George 8. Andergpn-of the 6th Cavalry, who, with Troops Drqnd I, -has for four years been In charge of Yellowstone Na- tional Park, is relleved pf that duty and or- dered to Fort Robinsog, Neb. ,Lieut. Col. 8S. M. B. Young of the 4th Cavalry, who, with D has been in oF the Youruite Parke goes to the aloe. stone Park to take charge. Capt. G. H. G. Gale of-the 4th Calvg Tr a B, been "reli roads comprising the Joint Traffic Asso- ciation calling for tabulated statements of the east-bound shipment of grain and grain products from Chicago to the Atlan- tle seaboard. Although the time fixed for making such reports by the terms of the circular expires tomorrow, it will prob- ably be the end of the month before all are in. No disposition has been shown by any of the railroads not to forward re- ports. The investigation contemplated by the circular is based upon complaints made from time to time of rate cutting carried on by rebates, drawbacks, etc. The tabulated statements called for by the commission require the railroads to give a detailed account, with names and dates, of each shipment from January 1 to March 13, from which the commission believe that any ‘rrezularities, rebates, etc., can be easily traced. As’ the law promises immunity to such as confess violations, it is not believed there will be any disp si- tion to conceal the facts where violaiions have occurred. The reports, however, can be made the basis of prosecutions when they lead to detections rot acknowledged. After all the reports are In a hearing will be given by the commission, probably at Chicago the latter part of May or early in une. THE ARCHITECT'S OFFICE International Postal Congress to Be | Held There. AN AUGUST ASSEMBLAG Sessions to Be Secret and Discus- sions in French. FITTING UP THE BUILDING The Post Office Department has leased the old Corcoran Art Gallery building for an indefinite period of time to accommodate the international postal congress, which is to assemble on the first Wednesday in May, the 5th of that month. For a time it was intended to hold the congress in the new public library building, but the aversion in Congress to the use of that building for other than library purposes prevented. It is expected that the congress will be in session six or eight weeks. The entire building will be furnished and fitted ex- pressly for the convenience of the congress. ‘Fhe main hall on the second floor will be equipped with seats and desks for the dele- gates, and at the north end will be placed a large platform and desks for the conveni- ence of the president and the secretaries. Hanging about the chamber, which will be | beautifully decorated, will be elaborate coats of arms of each of the nations repre- sented. The union embraces the whole world, ex- cepting the Chinese empire, Corea and the Orange Free State. These latter countries are expected to join the union during thi congress, and will be represented by dei gates. Each nation can send as many dele- gates as it desires to, but will have but one vote. Secretary Gage May Take It Out of the Classified Service. Even if This is Done There W i. Be an Examination as to Fitness of Applicants. Secretary Gage is seriously considering the advisability of having the office cf su- pervising architect of the treasury taken cut of the classified civil service, where it Was placed with thousands of other offices during the last months of the Cleveland administration. He has an idea that the duties of the office are too technical and tco important to be circumscribed by the ordinary rules for competitive examina- tions prescribed by the civil service com- mission, and it is a question with him whether the membership of that body ts competent to prepare a series of questions to properly develop exactly the qualities essential to the administration of that pe- cvliar office. He has not the slightest de- sire to have the appointment made amen- able to political influences, but he thinks that the person selected for it should pos- Sess certain technical abilities impossible of ascertainment by laymen under the regulation processes, His plan contemplates having the can- didates for the office examined b: Delegates to Be Chosen. The United States has usually sent two delegates. On this occasion, however, it is likely that more than that number will be designated. The delegates to the last convention were Capt. N. M. Brooks, superintendent of for- eign mails, and Mr. Charles Potter of Phil- adelphia, a personal friend of ex-Postmas- ter General Wanainaker. Postmaster Gen- eral Gary has framed the order appointing delegates to the coming convention, and it is understood that Capt. Brooks will be one oz them, but the other selections are not yet determined. The smaller rooms on the first and second floors of the gallery build- ing will be used for the general offices and ‘ a com- committee rooms for the congress, and one | Mission consisting of the three leading of the larger rooms will be devoted to the | @Fchitects of the country in any manner exhibition of postal appliances which may | they consider best calculated to demon- be brought to the attention of the congress | Strate the fitness of each for the peculiar by inventors and contractors from ali | duties of the office in question. parts of the world. jThe matter has not assumed tangible With Closed Doors. tauealy cotanome a ee The convention will be held with closed | the Treasury and the civil service com- doors, and the procecdings will be in the jon. Senators Platt, Quay, Penrose, Proctor and others have advocated the re- moval of the office from the jurisdiction of the civil service commission, but it is not likely that they will be entirely satis- fied if Secretary Gage's plan is adopted and the supervising architect placed on a sull higher plane of efficiency. French language, according to the usual custom. The first topic of importance to be considered will be that of transit rat by intermediary countries on mails r cetved from other countries. It ts likely that the result will be a gen- erat reduction of these rates, a circum- stance wnich would he disadvantageous to the United States, as we carry vast quan- tities of European mail across the entire breadth of the country to go to oriental countries, whereas most of the mail sent by the United States to other countries traveis but short distances through inte mediary countries. There will probably be but seven or eight sessions of the full con- THE GUNBOAT NASHVILLE. Good Speed Made at a Trial Ran Yesterday. Naval Constructor Woodward, at the Newport News ship bui ding works, has telegraphed Chief Constructor Hichborn that the gunboat Nashville yesterday mad. gress. The princlal work Is done in the }a trial run at an average speed of Ia committees, of wnich there are usually | knots. Thi four. They meet in their rooms and take Se Peay ‘but the depart ment experts believe she can do even bet- ter on her official trial. Just’ when this will take place is not yet known, as the trial board is so busy in getting up the data of the trials already run, and its time in the near future is far disposed of in running off other trials, that it has not been able to set the date for the trial of the Nashville. The latter vessel is by con- tract a fourteen-knot boat, being of deeper draft and more speed by one knot than the other gunboats built at Newport News. She is one of the last premium boats, and at the speed she made yesterday she would have earned a bonus of nearly $20,000. up one subject after another uniil they have transacted a considerable amount of wcrk, when they report to the president of the congress that they are ready to sub- mit the result of their deliberations, and the congress is assembled to consider the full report of that committee, and final action is taken. Social Features. The social feature of the congress usually includes a banquet by the sovereign of the country in which the congress meets, and by the mayor in the city where its ses- sions are held. Here, undoubtedly, Presi- dent McKinley will entertain the congress at the White House, and a number of ex- cursions will be made not only to places of historical interest, but for the purpose of studying various features of the postal system of this country and the various methods, devices and appliances in use. The appropriation for the congress has not yet been made. The item occurs in the sundry civil bill. Nevertheless the gallery building has been leased and the short interval of time befure the Sth of May will be used to the very best purpcse in providing all the necessary arrang ments, the department being able to do this by means uf special funds at its com- mand. The usual cost of one of these conventions is about $250,000. Congress has allowed $100,000 for this occasion. ‘The delegates defray all their hotel bills and other personal and necessary expenses. It is a matter of fact that the original postal unicn was suggested in the course of official business by Mr. John A. Kasson of lowa when he was first assistant post- master general during the Lincoln admin- istration in 1562. Montgomery Blair, upon Mr. Casson’s suggestion, framed a letter suggesting an international postal union, and setting forth, under fourteen heads, the various subjects to be considered by a congress, embracing all the leading nations of the earth, which he sent to Secfetary Seward, then at the head of the State Department. This letter was transmitted to all the leading nations of Europe and South ‘America, and resulted in the now famous international congress, held in Paris in 1863, and from which resulted the inter- national postal union, or, as it is now called, the universal postal union. ee NO NAVAL VESSEL AVAILABLE. —.-+_. DECLINED ASSISTANCE. The People of the Submerged Red River District. The people of the submerged district of the Red River of the North have declined the government aid voted them by Con- gress on Wednesday. When the flood came in the Red river a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of property was destroyed at Fargo, N. D., and fifty miles of fertile territory were inundated. An appeal was made to Congress through the mayor of Fargo, and $50,000 for the Red River of the North was added to the appropriation of $150,000 for the Mississippi flood sufferers, After the passage of the resolution Rep- resentative Johnson of North Dakota went to the War Department and placed Secre- tary Alger, under whose direction the fund was to be distributed, in communication with the relief committee of Fargo. But yesterday the prospects along the Red River of the North were brighter, and this morning Representative Johnson of North Dakota received the following telegram from the mayor of Fargo: “Have declined aid from Congress. Water receding fest. Damage not as great as expected.” ——__e—_____ COL. BELLS "PLACE. A Man Picked Out to Have His Former Position, There were no definite rumors around the pension office today with regard to the Probable selection of a successor to Col. Bell, who was last week removed from t%e position of second deputy commissioner. It is said that an appointment has been agreed upon, and that it will be made about the 15th of the month. The under- standing is that a western senator has re- ceived a promise from President McKinley that his candidate shall have that place. It is believed that an Ohio man is the for- tunate choice of the President. Endeavoring to Find a Boat to Send Relief to India. In execution of the act of Congress au- thorizing the Secretary of the Navy to transport contributions for the relief of the suffering poor of India, Secretary Long has taken steps immediately to procure a ship or steamer from the merchant ma- rine. No navel vessel is available for this purpose, so thé choice will be made from American merchant ships, a number of which have been offered to the department at reasonable rates. The naval pay officer at New York has been instructed to ob- tain, in the manner usual in seeking pro- posals for supplies to be purchased in the open market, bids for furnishing such a ship, subject to the approval of the com- mxndant of the New York navy yard. Inasmuch as the cargo for the vessel to be employed is not yet collected in port, it cannot be stated where the employment of the vessel will begin. As it may be unde- sirable to ship grain in bulk, bidders will state bagging ————_-2-______ OLD SOLDIERS PUT BACK. Summary Dismissals im the General Land Office. John E. Wright, chief of the mineral division in the general land office, has been removed, and Captain Henry G. Potter of Ohio reinstated in his place. Captain Pot- ter was a Union soldier and was removed during the last administration. Mr. Wright was a Wisconsin man and a warm, personal friend of ex-Commissioner Lam- oreaux, who appointed him in 1893. William C. Braley, chief of the accounts division, was reduced to the $1,000 grade, and Captain George Redway of California, also like Captain Potter, an old soldier, was appointed to succeed him. ul ‘asked to thelr rates for 8. Black of Georgia, who held the “a salicited from the of protege of Hoke Smith, was ited owners of both | # who steam and sailing vesscia. ~ t him into the department in 1803. sora Staak om es cae asters “Want” advertisements in The Star pay because they bring answers. FIGHTING IN TURKEY Bands of Armed Grecks a Crossed the Frontier, SULTAN'S ARMY READY 10 ADVANCE Hostilities Going On Since Early This Morning. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR ELASSONA, Macedonia, April Bands of Greek brigands have e1 The Turkish troops have with them, and th ing since 5 o'clock this morning At the Turkish headquarters this news 1s looked upon as being of the gravest de- scription, In view of the excitement here. Edhem Pasha has sent orders to have everything in readiness for an advance cf the Turkish army in force. It is not known yet whether Greek troops were among the bands that have entered Turkish territory. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. been engaged fight has been proceed- They Are Being Steadily Pressed Throughout Turkey. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 9—The war preparations throughout the Turkish em- pire continue to be steadily pressed, al- though there is not much change in the eastern situation. A very pessimistle feel- ing prevails here at the failure of the powers’ attempts to coer Greece. The blockade of the Piraeus seems as far off as ever and the war party is bringing pres- sure to bear upon the government, with the result that the porte has dispatched cir- culars to the representatives abroad, s: ting forth Turkey's growing impatience at the prolingation of the eri which Is pressing heavily upon an already embar- d exchequer. prevails here that the powers are losing their hold cver the course of events and that the so-called concert of the powers is a failure. A new darger has ar culation in Constanti inces of a pamphlet r tian atrocit en through the c 2 the pre citing alleged Chris- on Mussuimans in Crete and elsewhere. This is so inflaming the Turks against the Greeks that the G n min- ister has drawn the attention of pore to the matter. The government has pr ised to take the measures necessary prevent outbreaks upon the part of populare. LARISSA, April 9.—In spite of official intelligence received here yesterday, ing that the powers have tle the Cretan question by the island, there is no ation of war preparations. Troops are being forwarded daily to th A the advaz are being The transport ar- rangements are admirable, the troops are full of enthusiasm and they are spicndidly equipped. It is rumored here that three bands of cach numbcring about GO men, appeared at different points in Ma it is believed that these bands may force an outbreak of hostilitle The Greek trading steamer Thessalie, after landing passengers at Valo on Wed- nesday, was sent urgently to the Isle of with an important dispatch to meet the eastern Greek squadron, CHICAGO, April 9.—Lady Henry Somer: set has cabled Miss Frances Willard, pre: dent of the W. C. T. U., asking that $1,500 be spent for white rivobn nurses in Crete, as the need there is urgent, and enough money has been sent tn to support the Ar- menian orphans for three years. In the exigency Miss Willard cabied consent, feel- ing that it is all one cause of suffering Christians slain by Moslem swords and the hideousness of the situation is incalculably magnified bec glish bullets are help- ing on the slaughter of the Christians. aE ies GERMANY'S PROTEST. It is in the Same Lines as That Pre- sented to Mr. Gresham. The State Department cortinucs to deny the reports that the German government has submitted a protest against the tariff bill, but whether it has been received or not, it is known definitely that such a pro- test has ocen forwarded by the German ambassador, Baron von Thiclman, acting on cable instructions from Berlin. These instructions were received early this week and the ambassador promptly submitted the protest. The protest follows the general lines of that of August 28, 1894, presented by Baron Saurma, the then German ambassador, to Secretary Gresham, respecting discriminat- ing sugar duties in the Wiison bill. The essential ground of protest is that in Au- gust, IS¥1, Secretary of State Foster and German charge d'affaires, Mr. von entered into an agrcement at Sara- . Y., providing that importations of American pork into Germany should not be hindered or discriminated against and that importations of German sugar into the United States should not be discriminated against. The protest declares that the pro- posed discriminatory duty on sugar would be opposed to that agreement and that in such case Germany would consider the agreement void throughout and would act accordingly. Several of the other foreign representa- tives to the United States have submitted representations respecting the tariff bill, but none of them was quite so strong in protest as that of German: ——_—___-e- - —__ CHINESE LABORERS, The Namber to Come to the Nashville Expositt to Be Limited. Secretary Gage and the immigration offi- cers of the Treasury Department are per- plexed as to the best course to pursue in the matter of the immigration of about 2,000 Chinese laborers for work in connec- tion with the Chinese exhibit at the Nash- ville centennial exposition. They are brought here by the exhibitors for the ereo- tion of native buildings and other work in connection with exhibits from the celestial kingdom. Their importation is tacitly au- thorized by the act of Congress providing for the admission of exhibits from foreign tries, which permits the landing of the ibe ary to the pro