Evening Star Newspaper, May 21, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. ——- at 1101 Pennsy! Avenue, the Fay See Yew York Office, 49 Potter Building, The Star Is served to sabseribers in the elty by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents fer week, or 44 cents per mouth. Coples at the counter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Cunada—postage prepa: cents ta Pjaturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Wash'ingtoa, D. C., as second-class mall’ matter.) T7-All wail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Che Lve ng Slat. | No. 13,797, WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1897—-SIXTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. > | JHE STAR BY MATL Persons leaving the city for any _ Period can have The Star mailed t them to any address in the United States or Canada, by ordering it at this office, in person or by letter, Terms: 13 cents per weck; 25 cents for two weeks, or 50 cents per month. Invariably in advance. Sub- scribers changing their address from one Post-office to another should sive the Iast address as well as the Tew one. NOT SATISFACTORY How Eckington Citizens Regard the - Trial of the Air Motor. VIEWS PRESENTED 70 COMMISSIONERS Two Committees Sign the Writ- ten Statement. THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED er A joint report from two committees of the North Capitol and Eckington Citizens’ Association, expressive of the views of the members in respect of the motive power to be employed on the Eckington and Sol- diers’ Home and Belt Line railways, re- spectively, has just been submitted to the District Commissioners. The report reviews the legislation regard- ing the roads, and continues: “In accordance with the provisions of law, the Eckington and Soldiers’ Home Railway Company has had one compressed air moter on trial since early in March last. “The tests which thus far have been made, as to the mechanical ability of the air motors, judged by the car on trial, to certainly and satisfactorily meet the de- mands that will be made upon them under all the ordinary and varying conditions to which they will be subjected in regular service, have been of an indefinite and un- satisfactory character. Not One Round Trip. “It is claimed for these cars that they will run a distance of from ten to sixteen miles on one charge of air, yet it is a well- known fact that during the experiment which has been made in this city the car on trial has not made one round trip over what is considered to be any one section of either company’s line, or attempted to make two-successive trips over even the short and most favorable section cf road on which it has been run. “It has been repeatedly declared by the Management of these companies that, if adopted, it will be the purpose to run these cars from Brookland through, with- out transfer, to the Pennsylvania raliroad depot, but, presumably, to avoid the reavier grades on Louisiana avenue and 4th street, leading out te Broolgand, the exper- imental car has been run only between the power house in Eckington and 15th and G Streets, making usually three trips a day, morning, afternoon and night, with an oc- casional trip at noon, and hours tnterven- ing between each trip, during whien time the car has been under process of re- charging. On one occasion only is it known to have been run over any other section of the line, and this was from 85th and @ streets, by way of New Jersey avenue and G street, over the North Capitol street track to New York avenue, and thence to the power house. “In order that the capacity of this car should be more definitely determined, the Commissioners should require it to be run from the power house in Eckington to Brookland, from Brookland to the Penn- sylvania railroad station and return to the Power house, making one round trip over that section of line, the act of June 10, 1806 contemplating the use of the air motors on all the lines of said companies within the District of Columbia, and not merely within the city limits. Such a trial would subject the car to grade and distance test, which thus far has not been made. What Should Be Done. “A further test should be made by run- ning the car from the power house to the end of the route at 15th and D streets wortheast and return to the place of start- Ing, which would also be a grade and dis- tance test over this section of road. Such fests should be required to be made during the busy hours of the day, and not under Cover of darkness. “Reverting to the trial which has been mace, on the return trip from 15th street the car has on a number of occasions dis- Played so much weakness in ascending the whort grade between Quincy and R streets @s to bring forth from those on board ex- pressions of doubt as to its ability to reach the top of the grade or to surmount the 4th street grade leading to Brookland, and @n one occasion at least it is known to have been stranded on the grade entering Eckington, necessitating its being pushed up the hill by the trolley car. “In explanation of the short runs, weak- ness displayed and frequent charging re- quired, it is claimed by the officers of the road that because of the imperfect and temporary compressing plant now in use at the Eckington power house it is impos- sible to charge the car quickly and to its full capacity, but with a first-class com- pressor this difficulty would be overcome, the car be enabled to make longer and ore frequent runs and to take without ifticulty any and all grades on the route. “at the Lenox avenue power house of the tropolitan line in New York city, on ‘nh jine this same car was thoroughly ed before it was brought here, a first- of air, yet, with this advantage, it is stated on the authority of a reliable air motor expert, this car, fully charged, M put toa < @@ to the length of miles it could run one charging, could not exceed the limit of four and a half miles, round trip, Without being helped into the power house. An Explanation. “In explanation of the cause of the stranding of the car on the grade between cy and R streets,it was officially stated by the reeeiver of the Eckington road that it was due to his having been experiment- ing at the time with cold air. ~ “It ig further stated on the authority of this same air motor expert that an air mo- tor equipped with cylinders 6 by 14 inches, Which is understood to be the size of the cylinders of this car, will consume 308 cubic feet of heated air, or 661 cubic feet of cold alr per car mile. If, therefore, this car, fully charged, could run, when tested in New York, but four and a half miles with heated air, It is unreasonable to sup- pose that an attempt would be made, as claimed, to run it from the power house in Eckington to 15th and G streets-and back agein, a round-trip distance of about four Triles, with cold alr, requiring more than a le the consumption of heated air. ‘or the purpose of heating the air in passing it from the tubes to the cylinders, exch car of the pattern on trial carries in ail seasons a pot of fire underneath the ficor in the center of the car. This fire emits into the car a lamp-wick odor at all es, disagreeable to inhale and quite fre- quently offensive to the passengers. This would be especially disagreeable during the cold weather, when the windows and doors of the car are closed. “A smokestack trom this firepot runs up on the inside of the car through the roof, which throws so much heat into the car as to retke sitting anywhere near it very dis- agreeable in warm weather. “More or less smoke is also thrown off from this fire, which at times makes its way through the crevices in the floor into the car, and is blown in through the open windows, to the additional discomfort of the passengers. Cloud of Dust. : “When the streets are dry moving at even a moderate rate seems to create a cloud of drawn into the car through windows and openings reat discomfort of ali whose throats and lungs are especially sensitive. This is true with respect to sec- tions of the road paved between, the rails with asphalt as well as the sectiéns paved with cobblestones. This dust annoyance has been so marked as to give rise to the belief that it is due to the structural fea- tures of the car and not simply to its rapid movement, as claimed. “When moving rapidly, the oscillation and vibration of the car, due to its great weight and the working of the machinery underneath, make riding on it rough and disagreeable, so much so that many ladies have complained of its being so painful to them, especially when obliged to stand, that they have abandcned its use. “The liability of the air tubes to explode under such an enormous pressure, when the cars are in charge of unskilled opera- tors, is a matter of such great importance as to call for the serious consideration of the Commissioners, and in connection with this feature of the system attention is in- vited to the inclosed clippings from. The Evening Star of this city of May 15 instant. “A government inspector of steam boilers who made an examination of these cars is authority for the statement that the tubes which they carry need inspection more so than any steam boiler, and that in his judgment it would be a criminal outrage to permit such an explosive force to be run upon the streets of any city without the most rigid and frequent governmental inspection. Enter a Protest. “In conclusion we beg leave to state that while a majority of the members of the as- sociation we represent are not opposed to the adoption of 2 compressed air system simply because it is compressed air, and do not wish to be placed in that attitude, we desire to respectfully protest against any approval by the Commissioners of the air motor system which we claim the forego= Ing statements demonstrate not to be ‘in all respects a proper and satisfactory mo- tive power for the speedy and convenient propulsion of street cars,’ and ask that the Commissioners, after a careful and thor- ough investigation of the matter in all its phases, unequivocally condemn the system on or before the Ist day of July next, un- less in the meantime said companies shall by the further tests herein suggested, dis- prove the foregoing statements, to the end that said companies may understand at once that they must comply with the al- ternative provision of law by equipping their lines with the underground electric system. “We ask further that if, in the judgment of the Commissioners, it is necessary that we be accorded a hearing on the matter before the board before a determination is reached.” This report is signed by W. G. Hender- son, W. J. Hughes, W. J. Fowler, Jay F. Bancroft and I. B. Linton, executive com- mittee, and A. R. Serven, T. P. Kane, T. T. Moore, J. H. Lane, J. F. Cain, railroad committee. : — . WILL FOUND IN AN URN Sensational Feature in the Contest Over Jacob Davis’ Estate. Document is Alleged to Have Been Hid in the Urn Containing His Wife's Ashes, SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., May 21.—A will declared to be a forgery and discovered in the urn containing the ashes of the tes- tator’s dead wife is one of the sensational features that will be presented ir the con- test over the estate of the lat Jacob Z. Davis,the San Francisco millionaire, philan- thropist and patron of arts and sciences. Davis was born in Philadelphia and was aman of hobbies. Not the least of these was a desire to collect the remains of his relatives in the old Dunkard churchyard at Germantown, Philadelphia, where he expended over $10,000 in erecting white marble headstones over their graves. He also caused to be built an addition to the old church, and it was during a visit to Philadelphia to attend to the completion of. the structure that he died in October last at the Continental Hotel. Mr. Davis was at one time head of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, an active member of the Academy of Sciences and took a deep interest in the state mining bureau. During his life he not only gave them a great deal of money, but made them pres- ents of statuary and rare minerals. On the night of his death, it is stated, Davis sent for John Senderling, a relative, and requested him to write at his dictation what he intended to be his will. Sender- ling had nearly completed the document when Davis suddenly declared that his pulse had stopped beating. A few min- utes later he died. This uncompleted document Senderling submitted to the American Trust Company and to a lawyer in Philadelphia. He was advised that while there was no signature to the paper such documents have been construed by courts to be wills, and he ac- cordingly filed it with the trust company. About three weeks after Davis’ death, and after Alex. Boyd, his partner, and E. B. Mastick, his life-long friend and attorney, had searched high and low for a will with- cout avail, the document now before the probate court making Lizzie Muir and Mrs. Belle Curtis the sole legatees of the dead millionaire mysteriously appeared. It is alleged to have been found in the urn containing his wife's ashes. The docu- ment was filed for probate, and is now be- ing contested by Catherine Stead and Jo- seph Wilson, a niece and nephew, respec- tively, who set up that the paper is a forgery, is not the last will of Davis, or, if it is the will, was made at a time when he was of a weak mind and under undue in- fluence. — BIG GAMBLING SCHEME. Objects of the Syndicate With Which Jesse Grant is Connected. SAN FRANCISCO, May 21.—It has leak- ed out here that the concesston obtained by Jesse Grant and his associates from the Mexican government for lands surrounding the famous hot springs of Tia Juana,across the boundary line, covers also a privilege for running a lottery and gambling devices. It is said that Grant does not intend to enter the business, but that eastern people @re prepared to take control of this feature of the concession, while Grant attends to the colonization and development of the mineral waters. = The identity of the eastern people ig not known, but it has been learned that the Dwyers are figuring on the purchase of the Rierson and San Antonio ranches, some miles below Tia Juana, to be used for rais- ing racing stock. A local real estate man, who is handling the matter for Grant and his associates, is authority for the state- —.___ Senator Morrill’s Condition. Senator Morrill of Vermont has been con- fined to his homeduring the past few days developed int by a severe cold, which has bronchitis, but his cordition has greatly improved, and Dr. , his 5 Fi 4 gz SHER i Bees AT THE WHITE HOUSE The President Arranges Details of His Nashville Trip. GAURDMEN'S COMMISSIONS SIGNED The ‘Reorganization of the District Militia. MANY PROMINENT CALLERS The route which President McKinley and the members of the cabinet will take on ffieir trip to Nashville has been decided upon. It will be over the Southern railway. The route will take in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Danville, Greensboro’, Salis- bury, Asheville, Knoxville and Chattanoo- ga. At each of these cities there is a de- sire to see the President, and crowds will greet him everywhere on the journey. Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee will be traversed in the journey. Ex-Representative Farquhar of New York saw the President today about his application for commissioner of navigation. The President hes no idea of hurrying this appointment. He also intends, it is said, to hold the appointment of commissioner of immigration until Congress finishes with the tariff bill. After the San Domingo Consulate. George E. Wibecan, jr., a colored politi- cian of Brooklyn, was introduced to the President today by Sénator Platt as a can- dicate for the consulate at San Domingo. Senator Cullom was with several Illinois visitors. Dorsey Patton of Chicago was one of the number. He is an applicant for’ @ good consular position, and would pre- fer the Hong Kong consulate. Mr. Patton is president of the Cook County Republican Marching Club. When consulships are taken up Mr. Patton will probably be pro- vided for. The fight over the Louisville, Ky., col- ‘lectorship is still proceeding. Senator De- boe stands by C. E. Sapp and Representa- tive Evans has now indorsed Clas. D. Gates, an original McKinley man and well known in business circles in Louisville. John Vinton Dahigren of New York, who is being pushed for a prominent South American mission, had his claims pressed today by friends who called on the Presi- dent. Senator Spooner was at the White House with State Senator and Mrs. De Vos an@ State Senator and Mrs. Greer of Mil- waukee. Senator Carter was at the White House with several Montana visitors, among them Col. Sam Gordon of Miles City. Guardsmen’s Commissions Signed. The Président today signed the following commitsions of cfficers of the District mill- tia: Winthrcp Alexander, colonel, Ist Regi- ment; Gilbert Thompson, major, 2d Separ- ate Battalion; Otto G. Simonson, major, 5th Battalion of Infantry; John S. Tomlin- ‘zon, captain, Company A, 2d Separate Bat- talion; Frank W. Holt, captain, Company B, 2d Separate Battalion; James E. Hos- ford, captain, Company B, 4th Separate Battalion of Infantry; Wm. E. Harvey, captain, Company C, 2d Separate Battalion; Wilbur Clark Stewart, first lieutenant, Company B, 2d Separate Battalion; George V. Chandler, first lleutenant, Company C, 2d Separate Battalion; Howard Beall, first Heutenant, Company D, ist Separate Bat- talion; Andrew O. Hutterly, second lieuten- art, Company A, 2d Separate Battalion; Wm. Marshall, second lieutenant, Company D, 1st Separate Battalion; Michael V. Tier- ney, major and chief of ordrance; Wm. C. McIntire, major and quartermaster; Edwin H. Neumeyer, major and commissary gen- eral; Chas. Henry Ourand, major and in- spector general; Frank L. Graham, first lieutenant and adjutant, 2d Separate Bat- talion; Richard D. Simms, first lieutegant ‘and adjutant, 5th Separate Battalion; Louis G. Freeman, first Meutenant and quartermaster, 2d Seperate Battalion; Glendie B. Young, first lieutenant and i: spector of rifle practice, 2d Separate Bat- talion; George A. Drury, first lieutenant and surgeon, 2d Separate Battalion. ——_-e+—__—_. MAIL BAG REPAIR SHOP. Report on Its Methods Submitted to the Department. Second Assistant Postmaster General Shallenberger has received the report of the committee that has been investigating the methods ueed in the mail bag repair shop. The report will not be made public, but it is understood that its recommenda- tions of changes in the method of doing work in the repair shop are such as have been considered by the department from time to time. In the report no effort is made to fix any responsibility for any lack of efficiency in the conduct of the shop. The report will shortly be carefully con- sidered by Mr. Shallenberger for the pur- pose of reorganizing the repair shop so as to increase its efficiency and to secure greater economy in its work. At present all the mail bags used by the Post Office Department throughout the United States are sent to this city to be repaired. One of the questions that will be considered is whether greater economy could not be at- tained by having branch repair shops in afferent parts of the country, so as to save the expense of transporting mail bags long distances in order to have them repaired. ——_——_—_—-e-—___ WILL QUALIFY NEXT WEEK. ‘t Secretary Vanderlip Will jot Take Charge at Once. Mr. Vanderlip, who was confirmed yes- terday as assistant secretary of the treas- -ury, will not qualify in that office until the end of next week. Mr. Wike, whom he suc- ceeds, will continué in office until relieved, when he will go back to Illinois to resume his law practice. Secretary Gage will not appoint a private secretary to succeed Mr. Vanderlip- until after the adjournment of Congress, and Mr. Vanderlip will continue to act in that capacity even after his as- sumption of the duties of assistant secre- tary. The reason for this is that Mr. Van- derlip is in touch with congressmen having business with the Secretary, and will be able to relieve the latter of many of the burdens of his office by continuing to serve in his present tial capacity while the Congress is still in session. —-2+—____—_ Personal Mention, Lieut. T. W. Muir is in the city, on wait- ing orders. Lieut. B. T. Walling has reported at the Navy Department for temporary duty in Ansin PROGRAM FOR THE TARIFF Republican Senators Will Hold a Confer- ence Monday. An Effort Will Be Made to Reconcile Differences of Opinion: Regard- ing the Pending Bill. The. republican senators will hold a cau- cus Monday after the adjournment of the Senate to consider various questions in connection with the tariff bill. The first effort will be to devise plans to expedite the consideration of the bill, and there will also be an attempt to reconcile differences of opinion as to the merits of some fea- tures of the bill. Some of the schedules are objectionable to many of the senators, and the suggestion has been made that it is advisable to settle such differences in caucus rather than in the open Senate. The pfincipal object of the caucus, how- ever, is to agree upon a plan for the limita- tion of the time for debate, and under the present rules it is recognized that this can be done only by mutual consent. What the tariff leaders will first attempt is to secure an agreement among republican senators to restrain any desiré they may have for general speeches, and thus throw the responsibility for whatever delay that may occur upon the opposition. far as agreed upon the to have Senator Aldrich make hig wrte, ment on Monday or Tuesday of next week and to follow this by immediately taking up the schedules ~and making no. other set Speeches on the republtean side of the chamber. If this plan could be indorsed by a caucus it would, of course, be mate. tially strengthened. “This agreement may "be difteult to obtain without some amenn. ments of the bill, but the advocates of the caucus plan believe these changes may be Secured in caucus and the work expe- There are now indications that the de- bate may not be 4o greatly prolonged as at first seemed probable. The democrats, populists and silver republicans all aver that they will consume no unnecessary time with speeches. ‘[h2 deniocrats profess to be especially anxious that there should be no delay. ————__+e+____ GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. Taking Steps to Adopt.a [niform Sys- tem, A representative of each of the executive departments has been appointed a member of a general committeé to “consider the matter of the publication in the news- Papers of public notices and the rendering of accounts for such service; with a view of improving existing methods, and of adepting a uniform system for all of the departments.” The committee is compose as follows: Theo. F. Swayze, chief clerk of the Treas- ury Department; Cécil Clay, chief clerk of the Department of Justice; B. -W. Taylor, chief clerk of the Post Office*Department; B. F. Pattern, chief clerk of the Navy De- partment; M. L. Croxall of the Navy De- partment, T. B. Nolan of the War Depart- ment, W. B. Acker of the Interior Depart- ment, F. A. Branagan of the Btate De- partment and F.’L. Evans of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. A conference of thé committee was held at the Treasury Department yesterday af- ternoon. Mr, Swayze was chosen chair- man, and a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs. George Simmons’ of the Treasury Department, Nolan of the War Depart- ment and Clay of the Department of Jus- tice, was appointed to examine the laws relating to the subject of government ad. vertisement, in order to ‘supply the com- mittee with certain information necessary to the prosecution of the work on hand. The discussion disclosed a lack of uni- formity in the advertising methods of the different departments, and steps will be taken for the adoption of a uniform sys- tem for all. Ze OOO GONE TO QLD POINT. Departure of the, Postal Congre: Delegates on a Pleasure Trip. About one hundred-and thirty of the del- egates, and ladies accompanying delegates, to the Universal Postal Congress left this city for Baltimore on the 3:10 train this afternoon on their way to Old Point Com- fort. First Assistant Postmaster General Perry S. Heath, chairman of the commit- tee on arrangements for the entertainment of the delegates, accompantes the party, as did the second and third assistants. At Baltimore they will be taken on board a steamer, specially engaged for the occa- sion. ‘hey will remain a day or two at Old Point Comfort. Everything has been done that Is possible to make the excursion an especially enjcyable one for the dele- gates and their ladies. Owing to pressing engagements the Postmaster General was not able to accompany the party. ———~e.______ LIGHTING THE PARKS, Secretary Alger’s Probable Reply to the Senate Inquiry. Although Secretary Alger has not yet responded to the Senate resolution of in- quiry respecting the contract for lighting the parks of the District, it is pretty well understood what he will say in general terms. Secretary Alger will day that the Depart- ment has decided to agcept the bid of the Potomac company for the proposed service at the rate of $91.25 per light per annum, in preference to the bid of the United States company? at the rate of $10 per light per annum, because of the statute prohibiting the laying of any additional conduits in the streets, avenues, parks, etc., of the Dis- trict. This provision of law was construed at the War Department as*Mmiting the electric lighting of the parks to the Po- tomac company, whose condults are al- ready laid>~ of, this view the bids did not enter No. con- for lighting the parks cal year is contained appropriation bill now execution of a cont: company is held up F ensuing fis- the “sundry -civil conf with ‘the Px eed ot aétion on that = SR Ee OS oa ae ay GONE TO MONTICELLO. 4 Party of About Sixty ‘Members of A party of about sixf¥ members of both houses of Congress left Washington this morning fora day’s_ outing at Monticello, the old home of Thomas Jefferson. The CUBA WAS DISCUSSED The Principal Topic at Today's Cab- » inet Meeting, GUESSING AT THE PRESIDENTS PLAN Delay in Signing the Relief Reso- lution. NO ASSURANCE TO SPAIN —__>+—_—_. Cuba was under discussion by the cabinet today, but what phase of the question was hard to learn. It is pretty well understood among cabinets members what the Presi- dent's position is, but they guard his plans well and have little to say. All the bits of information obtainable around the White House, however, point to one thing—action within a short time favorable to Cuba. How soon this action will be taken will depend on circumstances. It is predicted by @ man close to the President that the final card will be turned and played in two weeks. And then he said: “The President will do more for Cuba than Congress has ever contemplated.” This means nothing more nor less than the independence of Cuba. All straws leading from the Presi- dent point to this, but the plan he will pur- sue is kept in the dark. His friends believe this plan will be approved, and that it will result in independence for the islands with- out war between the United States and Spain. May Hint to Spain. ‘The suggestion is being spread that with- in a short time the President will have a hint conveyed to Spain that the Cubans be allowed to buy their independence. Spain in- timates now that this will be rejected wit! scorn. ‘fhe insurgents also say they woul] reject it. They would not, however, have to speak. Upon Spain rejecting the sug- gesticn, the President would send a mes- Sage to Congress recognizing the independ- ence of the islands. What would follow is a basis for a long story. Whatever the President does. will be backed by Congress. The Senate has already committed itself to Positive and pronounced action. The House is held back only by promises of leaders that the President means to do what is right by Cuba. It is felt by the President that no action will be taken by the House until he is ready to act. This was probably discussed by the cabinet today. No Assurance Given Spain. There 18 no question of the falsity of a report that the Duke of Tetuan has been officially informed that President McKin- ley and his cabinet will not do anything that will in the least affect Spanish sov- ereignty in Cuba. Spain has received no information of what the President will do, but it will get this information, and if Minister De Lome -is. the t he is said to be he will give his country a tip of what it may expect. A republican representative from a west- ern state visited the President today and told him of the sympathy in the west for the insurgents. The President, it is said, assured the representative that he (the President) sympathizes as deeply with the insurgents as any man. s Hitch in the Relief-Resolution. The resolution appropriating $50,000 for the relief of suffering Americans in Cuba wae signed yesterday by Speaker Reed, but owing to the absence of the Vice President and President Pro Tem. Frye of the Senate it could not receive the signature of either of them on behalf of the Senate. As the Senate has adjourned until Monday, it can- not he signed before that date. President McKinley expected to have the pleasure of signing the resolution today, but will sign it as soon as it reaches aim Monday. Gen, Lee Authorized to Draw. The Secretary of State has directed Con- sul General Lee at Havana to draw for immediate purchase of supplies and med- icinee for the relief of American citizens and transportation of such as are without means and desire to return to the United States, not to exceed $10,000. He is also instructed to furnish United States consuls in Cuba at his discretion funds for this Purpose. United States Consul Brice at Matanzas has been instructed by the Sec- retary of State to apply to Consul General Lee tor funds with which to relieve Amer- ican citizens there. Cuba’s Friends in the House. There is talk this afternoon among some republican members of the House of. Rep- resentatives of the advisability of calling @ caucus of republicans in the House to determine upon a course of action which might produce «legislation favorable to Cuba. The discussion of the subject is confined to friends of Cuba on the repub- lican side, who would like to do something for Cuba, but who would not venture to assert their position without the consent of the party adopted in caucus. The move- ment has not taken definite shape. but those who are recommending the caucus for this purpose are said to be meeting with encouragement. REGARDED AS SIGNIFICANT, The Views on Cuba Expressed by Representatives Grosvenor and Hitt. There were some utterances in the House Cuban debate yesterday which are believ- ed by those well posted to have more than ordinary import. This is particularly the case in the remarks of Representative Grosyenor of Ohio. During his speech Mr. Grosvenor stated that in its own time the republican party would not only vote for belligerent rights, but for the independence of Cuba. Those who know the close relations between President McKinley and Gen. Grosvenor will see the probability that the President's own views ure reflected in this statement. Gen. Grosvenor conferred with the Presi- dent several times this week, and the cpinion was then expressed that he would reflect the views of the administration to |a large extent. His remarks portend what fall along has been foreshadowed in The Star—that the President has a plan almost matured for the independence of Cuba, and that it is only a question of time when this plan will be offered to Congress.: The speech of Gen. Grosvenor was ‘no less important than that of Representa- tive Hitt, whose remarks, as stated in Brestdent is om ¢ he voted against the resolution with the krowledge that that President's plans for the freedom of the islands is soon to be announced. He has several times conferred — the President, and knows the latter's views. SECRETARY OLNEY’S ATTITUDE. It is Indicated in the Reply of the Spanish Minister. The reply of Senor Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister, to the offer made by Secretary Olney of mediation made on be- half of this government contains the fol- lowing language, indicative of the attitude of the last administration: “The government of bis majesty appre- clates to its full value the noble frankness with which that of the United States has informed it of the very definite opinion it has formed in regard to the legal impossi- bility of granting recognition of belliger- ency to the Cuban insurgents. “Indeed, those who are now fighting in Cuba against the integrity of the Spanish fatherland possess no qualifications en- titling them to the respect or even to the consideration of the other countries. They de not, as your excellency expresses it, possess any civil government, established and organized, with a known seat and ad- ministration of defined territory, and they have not succeeded in permanently occupy- ing any town, much less any city, large or our excellency Geclares, in the 1o%e to am now replying, with a great legal acumen and spontaneously, that it is impossible for the Cuban insurgents to perform the functions of a regular govern- ment within its own frontiers, and muca less to exercise the rights ard fulfill the obligations that are incumbent upon all the members of the family of nations. maha a their systematic campaign of destruction against ail the ind istries of the island, and the means by which ‘hey are worked, would, of itself, be sufticient to Keep thern witnout the pale of the uni- aay, receguized rules of internaticnal jaw. “His majesty’s government has read with no less gratification the explicit and spontaneous declaraticn to the effect tnat the government of the United States sceks no advantage in connection with tne Cuban question, its only wish being that the ine- luctable and- lawful sovereignty of Spain be maintained and even strength ued, through the submission of the rebels, which, as your excellency states in your note, 1s of paramount necessity io the Spanish government for the maintenance of its authority and honor. ——_—-e-_—____ Another Indian School Building. The Secretary of the Interior has author- ized a contract for-an additional scivol building at the Mount Pleasant Indian school in Michigan, to cost $40,0iW). rSUCCESSOR TO EARLE Belief That Representative McLaurin’s Chances Are the Best. Contest is Likely to Revive the Old Factional Fight in the South Carolina Democracy. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. COLUMBIA, 8. C., May 21.—The death of Senator Earle will reopen the bitter strug- gle of last year for the senatorship. Sen- ator Earle’s election last year was thought to be the beginning of an era of harmony in the democratic ranks of this state, but the fight now promises to be renewed, with all the bitterness of the days when Senator ‘Tillman was the center of the fighting in the state. Gov. Ellerbe will have the appointment of a man to succeed Senator Earle. The legislature does not meet until next Jan- uary, when a successor will be elected. In the meantime the state democratic execu- tive committee will no doubt order a pri- mary election to decide upon the demo- cratic nominee. Whcever receives a ma- jority of votes in the election will be elected in January by the iegislature,which is morally bound to respect the vote of the democrats in the state. Ex-Gov. John Gary Evans, who was de- feated by Senator Earle iast year, is al- most certain to be in the race. Gov. El- lerbe might take a shy at the prize him- self, but it is believed that the man who will loom up most prominently will be Representative McLaurin. He was be- sought last year to enter the race, and was promised the same influence which landed Judge Earle in the Senate. While origi- nally a leader of the Tillman faction, he is new recognized as standing between the factions, the same position assumed by Judge Earle. The conditions in South Car- olina are not such as to permit the election of an extremist like Evans or some other man of the anti-Tillman wing of the dem- ocracy. The man who succeeds must have @ conservative record. Senator Tillman will undoubtedly take a hand in the fight. Last year he was engaged in the national campaign, and was unable to do as much for Evans, whom he wanted elected, as he wiil be able to do this year for the man he decides upon. He is on friendly relations with Representative McLaurin, but has never given his support to that gentleman. if the anti-Tillmanites put up a man it may be Judge Brawley, formerly in the House of Representatives, and now on the federal bench, having been appointed by President Cleveland. This position will be @ handicap for him, however. His name has already been proposed as a successor to Senator Tillman when his term expires. If Gov. Ellerbe appoints Representative McLaurin until the legislature meets, that means that McLaurin will have the sup- port of the state administration back of are when the race is made before the peo- ple. It is not believed that ex-Senator Butler, now practicing law in Washington, D. C., will again enter politics. Ex-Representa- tive Hemphill, also living in Washington, is talked of. ‘He belongs to the anti-Till- man wing of the democracy, but has net been actively identified with the Lita of the state for several years. pees ———_ MODIFIED THE ORDER. Fee Agreements to Be Partially Ex- amined by the’ Pension Bureau. Modified the order he issued a week ago dcing away with any examination by the Office of fee agreements of attorneys. In an order issued today the commissioner makes it the duty of the record division LABBY CALLED DOWN Statements Regarding Cecil Rhode Denounced as Maliciously False, TRANSVAAL RAID INVESTIGATION Rutherford Harris Asks the Editor of Truth for His Proofs. SCENE WAS DRAMATIO —___.—__ LONDON, May 21.—There was a dra- matic scene today in the committee room off Westminster Hall. The parliamentary committee inquiring into the usvaal raid held another session, and, in the course of the examination of Rutherford Harris, the former secretary of the Brit- ish Chartered South Africa Company at Capetown, by Henry Labouchere, the wit- ness was asked whether he had ever heard of a syndicate organized for the purpose of dealing in the securities of the charte: company. Mr. Harris replied: “I am glad you put that questioa. I have given you a long time to prove the charges you made against me.” Then, turning to the chair- man, Mr. Harris read an extract from Mr. Labeuchere’s speech in the house of com- mons on May S§, 18%, and an extract trom Truth of Mey 5, 1896. The extract from Truth was as follows: “The main object of the raid was to an- nex the rich mining districts of the Trans- vaal to Rhodesia. It is obvious that the first news of the raid would cause a fall in shares. 1 2m prepared to prove that a syndicate was formed just priv: to the raid, including leading director (Mr. Ha ris was a director of the company, as well as lis secretary at Capetown) in and one of the chief officials of the British Char- tered South Africa Company, for the pur- pcse of snaking large bear sales. The seed having thus been sown for securing @ profit by the immediate fall and an ulti< mate profit by the buying, when e raid was successful and a rich slice of the Transvaal had been added to the charter land, steps were taken to carry out the conspiracy. Tenor of the Cryptograms. “The tenor of the ‘crytograms” shows that there was a divergence of opinion be- tween the Rhodeses (Cecil Rhodes and his brother, Col. Francis Rhodes) and Alfred Beit, representatives among the reform- rs, and that those not connected with the gang were responsible for the failure of the scheme. These telegrams are damning alike to the chartered company and to Mr. Rhodes. It is clear that the raid was plan- ned by Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Beit, the secretary of the Chartered South Africa Company. The telegram from Hammond (Jchn Hayes Hammond, the American en- gireer,) to Rhodes, saying: ‘Cannot arrange respective interests without Beit, shows that the aim was purely for a stock ex- change deai. These miscreants, therefore, planning a raid which must have led to the death of many, and which was based on robbery, were actually already disput- ing in regard to their respective shares of the plunder.” Truth- then compared Ceci] Rhodes to Jabez Balfour, “the first statesman to ap- ply to imperial politics the methods of the shady company promot. and concluded as follow: lad Cecil Rhodes remained as premier of Cape Colony, I am convinced that as soon as ii suited his purposes he would have turned on us (the British gov ernment) and would have sought to cut the chaia which binds us to South Africa.” After concluding reading, Mr. Harris turned to the chairman and begged him to call vpen Mr. Labourchere to Justify his statements, “which,” Mr. Harris added, “are absolutely and maliciously false and untrue.” Labouchere to Call Witnesses. There was a moment's silence, during which the members of the committee look- ed curiously at Mr. Labouchere. Then the latter said in a subdued voice: “In order to give proof, I shall have to call a number of stock brokers before the committee.” The secretary of state for the colonies, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, thereupon sharp- ly remarked: “I think it important that you should do so.”” Replying to Sir Richard Webster, the at- torney general, Mr. Harris reiterated that Mr. Labouchere’s statement was untrue from beginning to end. The witness next read an abstract from the Gaulols, written last week and signed by Mr. Labouchere, making similar charges to those contained in the article in Truth. . Mr. Labouchere said he was prepared to prove the charges. The committee room Was then cleared, in order to allow the committee to discuss the matter. When the session was resumed the chair- man announced that the committee con- demned Mr. Labouchere for commenting on the raid while the inquiry was proceeding, took notice of Mr. Harris’ dental and ad- ded that it rested with Mr. Labouchere to take such steps as he thought fit to meet the denial. Mr. Harris’ Honor at Stake. Lord Robert Cecil, counsel for Mr. Har- ris, then asked leave to speak. He said: “Mr. Harris feels that his honor and repu- tation are at stake. He has now shown that one member of the committee is actu- ated by a violently hostile feeling toward him. So long as Mr. Labouchere is a mem- ber of the committee it is impossible for Mr. Harris to safely commit his honor and reputation to the committee.” This remark was greeted with calls of “order.” A moment later Mr. Harris refused to be further examined by Mr. Labouchereé unless the Jatter withdrew his charges. On motion of Sir William Vernon Har- court the committee room was again clear- On resuming business the chairman said he thought Mr. Harris’ position in the dis- pute must be wholly satisfactory to him, and the matter was then dropped. —_———_ TROOPERS COMING HOME. Detachment of Regulars Attract Much Attention on Their March. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. BELAIR, Md., May 21.—With colors fiy- ing and the mounted band playing, the 6th Cavalry and Battery E, Ist Artillery, U. 8. A., on march from New York to Washing- ton, made a triumphal passage through Belair this morning. The event was a gala occasion for the local population, and the greatest show on earth never drew forth such a contingent of pretty girls as waved adieu with flutter- ing kerchiefs to the soldier boys from Fort Myer and the Washington barracks. Col. Sumner was compelled to doff his hat repeatedly from the entrance j