Evening Star Newspaper, November 22, 1897, Page 11

— THE EVENING STAR. ee PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Fennsylvania Aveaue, “or. llth St. by i Ni Company, The Bening Sy RRP coePAY Few York Ofice, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers 19 the city by carriers. on their own at 10 cents per week. o- 44 certs per mor opies at the counter 2 cents each. By mail-anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—30 cents per menth. Saturday Qcirtuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreizn pestaze added. $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington. D. C.. as second-cla. s mall matter. {7 All mail subscriptions must be pald tn advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. Part 2. Che ay ening Star. Pages 11-14. WASHINGTON, D. C.. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22 SEC’Y ALGER'SREPORT Made Up of Synopses and Com- ments. GRADE OF LEUTENANT GENERAL ae He Recommends That It Be Re- vived. MORE MILITARY CADETS a SS ‘The annual report of the Secretary of War, made public today, differs from the usual run of such documents in that it is made up of synopses of the reports of com- ‘manding officers and heads of bureaus pre- pared by themselves with brief comments on each by Secretary Alger. The material features of these reports have been al- ready published in The Star from time to time. In commenting on General Miies’ report the Secretary says: “It is earnestly urged that his recom- mendation cencerning two additional regi- ments of artillery be favorably considered. We are erecting great seacoast batteries, without men to man them. works should, as soon as mpleted, be manned by a sufficient force to care for and preserve them, and to be- come familiar with the handling of the guns, the manipulation of which requires experienced services, to be ready at all times to operate them. The Alaska Reservation. “Within the past year, as is of course well known, the great territory of Alaska has opened up a new problem. It ts probable that with another year a very large num- ber of people may be gathered there, esti- mated by many conservative men as high as 100,000, and I urgently suggest that some adequate measures be adopted by which a military force can be sent to that territory, if need be, to guard persons ss reservation, with headquar- the Island of St. Michael, was created under orders of the 20th ultimo. The creating of further military reserva- tions, i amand of prudent officers, ion, may best solve the for transportation and ukon and its tributaries nd authority is asked ide one. nd also the inducements fer de- I recomment that the pay of the enlisted men serving there be increased, with the hope that extra compensation will be an inducement for a very high grade of men to enlist in that particular service. Grade of Lieutenant General. “I recommend the revival of the grade of Tieutenant general. All the great nations of the world give their officers much higher rank than does the United States, and few, even of the smaller ones, have their com- mandingz al below the grade of lieu- tenant seneral. “It is found upon a full investigation that the military attaches to the different em- bassies and foreign courts have much higher rank than those from the United States, which places us at a great disadvan- tage in cases ef ceremony. The cost of liv- ing is greatly increased at those stations. It seems to me to be unjust to our officers. 1 therefore recommend that the military attaches to the different be given the rank and pay, w! of colonel, and that the attaches at legations be given the rank and pay of licutenant colonel while serving, or at least the rank and pay of majo: e Military Academy, the “The Military Academy at West Point can accommodate more students, and if provision is made for two additional resi- ments of artillery, as recommended, the iy absorb more cf its graduates. » superintendent recommends — legisla- state, to be ndm- would give ninety nt. It is desira- ble that there should be no surplus grad- vates, and I recommend as an alternative that the Pri ent be authorized to appoint ten ts-at-large each year. This would be an excess of thirty cadets over the number now authorized.” After quoting the report of the judge ad- : to pro- vide a preper ordinary crim- inal jurisdiction in military reservations, to amend f the the apprehension of desert in the report of the judge eral, and it is hoped that recommendations may action at the coming pn of Congress.”’ Referring to the report of the commis- sary general of subsistence, the Secretary re- ward for ly stat his receive favorable “It gives me pleasure work of distribution to commend the f relief to the sui- ferers from the overflow of the Mississippi river, the Red River of the N Of the $20 ommissary general reports a b sining in the treasury. space is devoted to the con- f the questions included in the report of the chief of engineers. Secretary Alger in part: “The time seems to have arrived when an increase in the number of officers and en listed men of the corps of engineers is dispensable. The immense work intrust- 3 1 overtaxing, and it is be- of money in secur- thorough work by con- in fulfillment of their contracts would be effected by detailing a young offi- cer to remain on each work under con- struction or improvement to see that day all material as purchased, both in and quantity, and according to ications, is furnished. invite attention to the remarks ‘of the chief « engineers on the subject of sea coast defenses, in which he gives the prog- ress of the work on gun and mortar bat- teries and emplacements. Sea coast de- fenses are being rapidly constructed, and they should be completed at the earliest possible date. I cannot emphasize this too strongly, and therefore urge that the full amount of the estimate be appropriated. Estimates Too Large. “The estimates for river and harbor im- provements submitted by the chief of en- gineers have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of law. They great- ly exceed former estimates, and, while I hesitate to express an opinion in matters so fully within the knowledge of members of Congress, I cannot re- fruin from stating the result of my observations since my connection with the department. It is true that I have not had an opportunity to make a personal in- spection of many of the works in question, yet with the exception of waterways and harbors where there is a large traffic, or where immediate improvement is impera- tively needed, I am convinced that the es- timates are largely in excess of what they should be at a time when the demands upon the treasury are as great as now. It is therefore recommended that the amount to be appropriated be largely reduced below the tes. estima’ “Special attention is invited to the fact that there are now continuous contracts outstanding that will require an expendi ture of over $17,000,000 during the fiscal year ending June 39, 1809; of over $14,000,- 000 durin; 1900; $5,700,000 during the fiscal year en ing June 30, 1901; $796,000 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902, and $345,000 dur- ing the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. “The practical comp'etion of the deev- water channel through the great lakes marks the beginning of a new era, and its benefits to the future commerce of the great aorthwest, and, indeed, the whole country, can be realized to scme extent by the marvelous Gevelonment of the com ‘e through the lakes in recent years. of securing the right of way fer the ship canal conrecting Lakes Union and Washington with Puget sound free oi cost to the government is in progress. It ught to be desirable and f rtant increase in the size of the locks and depth of channel in the canal suffi- cient to accommcdate commerce and ves- sels of the United States navy should be made, and the Secretary of the Navy nas accordingly been requested to furrish in- form: would be recuired to afford accommoda- tion to the v he navy. I cannot d_the construction ashington is a large er with excellent bank ngton'’s Water Supply. the chief of engineers the Washington water supply In his report speaks of sing necessities ington with an increased supp!y of water is a for the corsidet matter ii justice to the citizens of the capital, much longer delayed. the work will be pert, and it is recommended t be The estimates for found in my annual re- at favora- Ele action be taken by Congress during its present ssion. Secretary Alger's comment is exceeding- ly brief. “An increased water ty for the city of Washington.” he an urgent ity, as stated by the chief of engi- Hall ef Records. The Secretary refers to the following re- marks of the quartermaster general in regard to a hall of records: “Attention is again called to the neces- sity of a suitable fire-proof building to ecntain the records of all the executive cepartments. The congested conditions of ce for storage of valuable papers it V for , early red at the second gre but no legislation resulted. It is earnes hoped t will give further corsideration to important matter at its comirg se: “The jocation of this buiid importance. and should be within cony t access to all the executive depart- irents.”” The Secretary comments as follows: “The departments are crowded with files of official papers to the detriment of the working force and the serious inconven- ience of the publie business. Costly publi: buildings erected for office purposes should not be used for storage. The files not in current use should be stored elsewhere. A hall of records becomes. more .and,.more necessary each year. I fully concur with the views of the adjutant. general and quartermaster general upon this subject.” The expenditures for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1897, were $4,250,137; the appro- priations for the fiscal year ending June 49, 1898, were $62,832,417, and the estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, are $96,258, 46. Health of the Army. On other subjects the Secretary says: “The statistics relating to the health of the army are interesting. The general im- pression that white troops excel colored troops in point of health is shown to be contrary to the facts. ‘ : “The surgeon general recommends a _re- turn to the former practice of providing public quarters for a stated num)er of mar- ried men in each organization. This on ac- count of the unsanitary condition of their present quarters at many posts. While there is force in his suggestion, the enli: ment of married men is discountenanced because of the frequent liability to change of station, and to build quarters as recom- mended would add largely to the expense, i indirectly encourage that which is not red by the military authorities. “The legislation to relieve paymasters nd other officers from amounts disallowed by the auditor under a recent decision of the controller relative to travel over c tain roads known as ‘50 per cent railroads’ is earnestly recommended. ‘To the remarks of the paymaster gen- eral as to deficiencies in appropriations and the reasons for the increase in his esti- mates I,ask careful and favorable consid- eration. To his criticism of the present system of payments and his views as to clerks to paymasters, I invite attention. “The report of the War Records office at- fords the gratifying intelligence that with the close of the present fiscal year the en- tire series of records relating directly to battles and campaigns will have been print- ed and distributed. It is recommended that authority be granted to distribute the incomplete sets of the work, of which there are about 60,000 volumes now stored in the department, occupying &pace much needed for other purposes. “The work of carding the rolls of the revolutionary war and the war of 1812 has devolved much additional labor upon the record and pension office, as has also the compilation of the records of the revolu- Uerary war, under the provisions of the act of August 16, 1894. It is gratifying to be able to state that notwithstanding this labor the current work of the office has been fully kept up, thus attesting the ex- cellence of the system observed in that office. Military Balloons. “The chief signal officer, in continuance of experimental work with military balloons, asks an appropriation of $10,000 for the purpose. This is an object which needs in- vestigation, and as the amount asked for is not large, I commend it, as also the es- timate of $20,000 for cable systems for the harbors of New York, Boston and San Francisco. E “I cannot too strongly urge that the amount of the estimates of the chiefs of ordnance should be appropriated. The pro- viding of adequate seacoast defenses, while expensive now, will cease as soon as the requirements ere fulfilled, and I believe it will be a wise economy to push forward that great work to the fullest extent. “Col. Buffington and Capt. Crozier, the inventors of the disappearing gun carriage adopted by the ordnance department, have gererously donated their invention to the government, and they should receive espe- c:al commendation for their patriotism, generosity and zeal. Regarding battlefield memorials the Sec- retary says: “These battlefields, marked and to be marked, as they have been, and. will he, are an object lesson of patriotism, wherein heroic deeds are enshrined for the contem- plation of the youth of the country. The monuments bear a brief historical legend, compiled without praise and without cen- sure. Like an official seal, they import ab- solute verity. “The work is progressing. At Antietam it is almost finished, and no further appro- priation is needed. At Gettysburg and Chickamauga the magnitude of the work is commensurate with the importance of the battles commemorated. At Shiloh the. work is not yet beyond the commencement stage. 5 “When the statues of Gens. Sherman, Sheridan and Logan, for which Congress has made provision, shall have been com- pleted, it will give to the city of Washing-" ton statues of seven or more distinguished generals of the late war, besides those of Admirals Dupont anc Farragut, distin- guished officers of the navy. As yet no provision has been made for the erection of 1897_FOURTEEN PAGES. statue to Gen. Grant, and I renew the recommendation of my predecessor that Congress make provision for the erection of a suitabie statue or memorial to that iliustrious officer. “The recommendation of Col. Bingham that an annual appropriation of $150 be made for the purpose of cleaning and pre- serving the public monuments in this city is commended to favorable consideration.” —-e_______ LIZZIE MACNICHOL MARRIED. Popular Contralto Weds Mr. Reitz, an Orchestra Leader. Lizzie Macnichol, the popular contralto prima donna of the Castle Square Opera Compary, was secretly married in Balti- more last Thursday to Charles Lewis Reitz, a prominent young business man of that city. Their engagement had been announced me time ago, but the wedding was not expected to take place before April of next year. In addition to his mercantile interests Mr. Reitz, who is a thorough musician, een connected with the Gariand ra of Baltimore, and served with it the capacity of musical director. fle ceremony was performed at the par- senage of Rev. Dr. Howard Downs, a prominent Methodist divine, in the presence ‘of the bride’s sisters only. Miss Macnichol was bern and reared in Washington, and made her first appearance cn the stage in the Grand Opera House here as Lazarillo, in the opera ‘“Maritana,” with Hinrichs’ Grand Opera Company. She remained with that organization until Whitney took out “Rob Roy,” two years ago. and secured her for the leading role. She retired at the end of the first sea- son’s engagement, and has since ben iden- tified with the Castie Square Company, with whom she is still under contract. +o+ NORTH CAROLINA POLITICS Populists Watching Outcome of Democratic State Committee Meeting. Latter Party All Torn Up Again on Race Question—The Struggle for Office. Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. RALEIGH, N. C., November 20, 1897. The populists are awaiting with interest the meeting of the democratic state com- mittee, which is to be held here November 30. The utmost effort of the populists will be put forth to try to keep their party the balance of power in the state. One of them said today that North Carolina is now their only strongheld. They have lost and are yet losing ground steadily in other states. They are making a despairing struggle here. Senator Butler is grasping at siraws, and does not know where to turn. Such fs the comment of both repub- licans and democrats. With the exception of Gov. Russell, the senator has not a friend in either party, and his own party is divided aga‘nst him. Such is a perfectly frank epitome of the populist situation here. Old Leaders Thrown Aside. The democrats realize that so far as they are concerned a new deal is an absolute necessity. The old leaders are in the lum- ber yard. Of them all, ex-Gov. Jarvis alore is saying anything. He is making pleas for party unity, and renews his as- sertion that white supremacy is and must be the sole and supreme issue. ; it is the negro question which has kept the matter of protection in the background this state, where it is naturally stronger than in any other state south of Mason and Dixon's line. But for this negro ques- tion the republican party would gain a wing of whites, particularly Two years ago it seemed that this question was to be relegated, but now it is higher and stronger than since 1876. Religious Papers Take a Hand. Even the religious papers are going into politics, more or less mildly, and one of them, the organ of the Baptists, the most numerous denomination in the state, cries out: “If Abraham Lincoln could have seen the recent negro state mass meeting in Raleigh, whose idea of their citizenship was avowedly measured by the number ot offices they could get, he would have made a@ new proclamation of deliverance; he would have delivered the only state in the world in which tnere is a majority us waite men that is ruled by the votes of colored men—North Carolina!” And yet it is idle to attempt denial that the negroes were promised during the last campaign ro end of offices. But at the negro convention, held for the express purpose of protesting against such break- ing of promises and of demanding offices, it was stated that the negroes had re- ceived as reward in official salaries only $1.06 for each vote cast. It is very doubt- ful if so queer and so exact a financial calcvsation was ever before made in the whee history of American politics. Vote for Men, Not Parties. Some of the negroes swore at the meet- ing they would in future vote for men and not for part:es, but one of their number, a vener@ble old man, said: “You say one thing at night and do another in the morn- ing.” It was a center shot. The North Carolina ‘negro is peculiarly wedded to the republican party. For thirty-two years his preachers and his woman kind have declared to him: “There is only one party— the republican.” An aged negro sald to me: “It don’t somehow seem just right to vote for anybody exceptin’ ‘publicans. 1 did last fall vote for some populist , but it was "cause de ’publicans said do so. Populist Committee Meeting. ‘The date for the populist state committee meeting Is not set. No call is out. for it and none will be made, if the Butler men can prevent it, until next spring. The democratic committee meeting is of inter- est to the party, because something may be said to widen the breach between its two factions. Only one thing can heal this breach and that is—silence. Some of the committeemen thought the call unwise, but a majcrity desired a meeting. The minor- ity say they hope there will be no action taken; that the sole thifg done will be talking and that In a mild way. ‘hose democrats who voted against Bryan are not. to be bullied. They are as earnest as-the Bryan men in the desire to regain control of the state. Their sole desire is to see state politics made paramount. —_>—_— COURT HAD NO JURISDICTION. Decision in Case of Maj. Couper at Atlanta, Ga. > Major J. M. Couper lost his contest im the United States court for the place of assistant postmaster at Atlante,from which he was removed. Judges Newman and Pardee decided that court of equity has no right to interfere fn questions of the kind. They stated “tLat such questions should be decided by the civil service commission at Washing- ton. ‘This means that the injunction which Major Couper was seeking in crder to re- main in office will not be granted. He It matters little what it is that you want —whether a situation or : “want” ad. in The person who can fill your née@ & servant—a AN ANCIENT. CAPITAL Washington Site the Headquarters of an Indian Nation, RELICS OF TRIBE AT SMITHSONIAN Weapons, Implements aed Utensils in W. Hallett Phillips’: Gollection. A RARE AGGREGATION A collection which is of great value from an archaeological standpoint, as well as one of local interest, has lately been secured by the Smithsonian Institution. It is known as the W. Hallett Phillips collection, and was made by the gentleman of that name, who was the victim of a drowning accident some time ago. The collection is one of the largest of relics of aboriginal man ever gotten tegether by any one col- lector, and is one of which any museum or institution would be proud. It has been carefully arranged ard tabulated, and will soon be placed on exhibition in the hall of the Smithsonian Institution, where it will Goubtless prove of great attraction: to students of anthropology and visitors in general. Besides being of such great in- terest, it is an unusually large collection, comprising altogether about 20,000 speci- mens. According to the students of anthropol- ogy, Washington is not the first capital which has been located on ‘this site. Hun- dreds of yéars ago the locality was the head ‘of the nation of the aboriginal tribes. It is their weapons, implements, tools and cooking utensils which are comprised in this collection, and which are of great his- torical value, showing the difference be- tween the resources of the aboriginal tribes and those of the inhabitants of the capital at present. Algonquin Capital. Washington was undoubtedly, from its position on the Potomac, the center of location of the noted Algonquin tribe which occupied this section when it was explored by Captain John Smith and long previous to that time. The tribe which was located here was composed chiefly of the Powha- tans, ruled over by that chieftain by whom Captain Smith was captured, and but for whose daughter, Pocahontas, he :would undoubtedly have been put to death. The capital of the powerful Algonquin tribe was composed of many villages, grouped together. One of these was on the present site of Anacostia, and it is from the name of the tribe located there that the place received its name. It was known as Nacotchant, or Nacoctank, from which the name Anacostia was evolved. A battle was fought with these people by the English, and they were driven to the hills. Evidences of this tribe are present all about and around Washington. Relics and antiquities have at different times been collected by those interested in these sub- jects, and they now fill many of the mu- seums in tkis country and are shown-in those of cthers, while, as is natural, the National Muscum and Smithsonian Inst!- tution have received thélr share. It is thought that the present collection, for which Mr. Phillips spent: more than twenty years of time and trauble, is the most complete ever obtaiged by any mu- seum. ’ Prof. W. H. Holmes, head@ curator of the department of anthropolegy of the mu- seum, in his treatise om: the aboriginal tribes of this section, described, to some ex- tent, the material embraeed im the collec- tion, and has given illustrations of the different specimens. Living in Washirgton, as:he did, Mr. Phil- lips had ample opportunity: afforded him to make his collection. The. location of the various Indian villages around, and prob- ably on this site, is told by Prof. Mooney of the bureau of ethnology, ina paper on the aborigines of the lower Potomac. Caot. John Smith speaks of several of them. Location of the “Tribes. Toags, which appears on Smith’s map as Tauxenent, was at or near Mount Vernon, seventeen miles below Washington, on the Virginia side of the Potomae river. Moy- aones appears, from the same map, to have been directly opposite, on the Maryland side, just below the mouth of the Piscata- way, while Nacotchtant, or Nacochiank, was on the same side, just below the East- ern branch ard within thé present limits of the District. On either side of Nacochtank was a smaller settlement, marked but not named on the map, the three forming a continuous line of fields and cabins along the east bank of the Eastern branch, from its entrance into the District to some dis- tance below Giesboro’ point. On the Virginia side, directly across the Long bridge, opposite Washington, was an- other small settlement, called Namerough- quena, and between it and’ Tauxenent (Mount’ Verncn) were two.others, known respectively as Assaomeck (about Alexan- dria) and Namassingakent (below Alexan- dria). Several other small -€ettlements are indicated or the map, on the Maryland side, about the mouth of the Piscataway, but none are marked on either side of the river above Washington, although arch- aeologic researches tend to show the for- mer existence of a considerable settlement about two miles above Georgetown and within the present limits of the District. Nacochtank, which was the residence of a chief and contained eighty warriors, was the principal settlement within or adjoin- ing the District. The Jesuits, who came out later with Lord Baltimore, latinized the name as Anacostan, whenee we get Ana- costia, the modern name of the Eastern branch at Washington, and of the post office at Uniontown, on its southeast bank, and perhaps also Analostan, the name of the island opposite Georgetown. The natives were of the great Algonquian stock, and spoke the language of the Pow- hatan confederacy, which occupied tide water Virginia from *the waters of Albe- marle sound to the Potomac, and probabiy also the basin of the Patuxent. Scope of Researches. Mr. Phillips pursued his investigations and researches all about thisisection, down the Potomac, the Patuxent: river‘as well, and along the Chesapeake. Up as far as Little Falls he worked, onf the Eastern. branch as far as Benning,:and in and around Anacostia, where many of his spec- imens were secured. Out .teward ‘Ben- ing also many were collected: About three miles north of the city, near Con- necticut avenue extended, and in many other parts of the District, he worked. When Mr. Phillips met with hig untimely death the collection went. to Mr. .Thomas Lee, his intimate friend, who had the op- tion of disposing of it as he might see fit. ithsenian The result is that the’Smit has now this it collecti in- teresting from its local tions. The polectin, which is being — a few days for final arrangement before being Placed in the cases made wor the speci- mens, was shown to a-Star repoter. Mr. Phillips was a most key parate, whole as greatly Contents quartz and quartzite. Of one aye more than in all tht: them was made was located near Gettys- burg, Pa. There are scapstone utensils in the col- lection, made from material which un- acubtedly comes from the soapstone quarry eut on Connecticut avenue extended. This was greatly used, it has been found, by the aboriginal tribes living in the District. The chisels and tools which were used in mak- ing these, fashioning them out of the soft soapy substances, are likewise shown in the ccllection There are. pieces of pottery also —cf the crudest description. It takes not a very fervent imagination to bring up the scenes attending the orgy preceding the intended killing of Capt. John Smith, and it is not difficult to supply the utensils used by the copper-colored aborigines, with the pieces of pottery exhibited, and tabulated with painstaking care by Mr. Phillips. While it is a matter of conjecture or no whether the pottery was identical or not there is no deubt but that the kind used was of the same character. Soath Sea Objects. Besides the objects in the collection, which bave just been mentioned, and which, of course, form the chief part, there is an exhibit of objects from the South Sea Islands, some of which were presented by the Queen of Tahiti. In this are some fine examples of bark cloth and garment made from the cloth. There is also ma‘ ting and other coverings. The material mace by beating the crude bark of the tree with heavy wocden majiets. Clubs and other weapons, used in war and in the chase, are shown, with objects used in fishing, immense hooks ef rade design, fetiches, pestles and mortars and other objects. The exhibit from Mexico is pf general in- terest, containing, as it does, a number of strange shape and design, whose purpose is unknown to the residents of this country. Taken as a whole the collection is of the utmost importance, and is regarded as a splendid acquisiti THE NAVAL MILITIA Commander Dickins Makes a Report That Will Provoke Comment. Favors Establishment of Armortes and the Withdrawal of the Vessels. Commander F. W. Dickins, assistant chief of the naval bureau of navigation, has made a report to the Secretary of the Navy in regard to the naval militia, which Will undoubtedly provoke considerable dis- cussion among officers of the navy, as well as those of the militia. “Naval vessels,” he says, “have been loaned to the diflerent states having naval militia organizations, with the intention that these vessels would be sufficient for the nautical or ship-life training of these organizations, but the custom has gradual- ly obtained of diverting, in addition, the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron for this purpose during the summer months, especially in July and August, which months, for obvious reasons, seem to suit the naval militia the best. The natur- al consequence has been that the training of the officers and men of our national vessels and the fleet maneuvers have been seriously interfered: with, just at a time when they should be engaged in those drills off our coast, as at that season the best weather for maneuvering is to be ex- pected. “This suggests the question, which is the better policy for our country, the train- ing of naval militia, which is, in fact, the navy of a state, or the training of our national naval force? The policy hereto- fore pursued, if carried to a conclusion, as the state navies increase in numbers, would practically make the state navies dominant, and the naticnal navy would be- ccme a disorganized force. This suggests the question, Would the services of the state navies be of enough value in time of war to warrant a continuance of such a policy? “I think that it is generally conceded that they would be part of the interior lines of defense, practically the coast line, in ether words, coast defenders, and as such would, I think, in actual warfare be more in connection with the military than with the naval forces. If one were sure such would be the case, it becomes evident that all of their training should be in the direc- tion of their conducting operations on the coast as scouts, signal men, boat men, im- provising torpedoes, making torpedo at- tacks in small boats or tugs, laying sub- marine mines and general nautical work along shore, including inlets, rivers, etc. “Such being the case, it would appear, I think, that the men selected for this work should be obtained, as far as possi- ble, from ‘longshoremen, tug and small coasting steamer captains and mates, arti- sans and firemen, yachtsmen, masters, mates and seamen from our coasting trad- ers, fishermen and others. Substitute Armory for Vessel. “I do not think that I am wrong when I state that the vessels assigned to the different states have been practically more ‘or less used as a sort of club house for the naval militiamen, they much preferring to go on board our regular cruisers for some of their training. Therefore, I would Suggest that their training be confined to such work along the coast as I have in- dicated. I would also recommend that each State maintaining naval militia battalions erect an armory on the shore, where boats and equipments of all kinds be kept, and the building be made sufficiently large for needed drills, which could be made use of the entire year. This method has already been adopted at Newport and Bristol, R. I, and without knowing the comparative pro- ficiency of the naval militia organizations for this year. I cannot doubt that those at Newport and Bristol are as proficient as those having vessels assigned to them, Consequently, after each organi- zation is provided with an armory I would withdraw the vessels assigned to them as unnecessary. “Furthermore, I am constrained to ad- mit that in my opinion the naval militia in time of war would, as such, have no Place, and would not exist on our na- tional vessels. They would be like infantry without legs. Such of them as would be on our national vessels would be in an individ- ual capacity, and enlisted for general ser- vice, as the other members of the crew ‘would be, the force of the naval militia being correspondingly reduced. I even pre- dict that most of the officers themselves of the naval militia, particularly those who happen to be graduates of the Naval Acad- emy, and I believe nearly all of them are such graduates, would desert the organi- ization and apply for commissions in the regular service, as naturally their inclina- tion would be to go where greater oppor- tunities would bé’ offered to take all risks end gain all consequent rewards, as ex- pressed in the words death, capture, glory or promotion. Commissions in the Naval Militia. “Apropos to giving commissions to offi- cers in the naval militia, I think steps officers, it might prove to be an embarrass- ment. “In conclusion, the department knows that the functions of the bureau of nav gation, as expressed in the United Stat naval regulations, have no jurisdiction o the naval militia, but it is charged with the movements of the vessels commission and the personnel of the service, and is, therefore, anxious that the vessels of our squadron shall be free to be presented to the department for any duty required of them in general service work; but should the department adopt the policy of our ves- sels being diverted, as heretofore, to assist in the training of the naval militia, it sim- ply becomes the duty of this bureau to do its utmost under the department to make @ success of such a policy.” CHESS AND ITS PLAYERS The third game in the match for the chees championship of the District between F. B. Walker and Patrick O'Farrell was ‘won by the latter. On his sixteenth turn to play Mr. Walker touched one of his adver- sary’s pawrs, though he intended to take another pawn. Under the rules he was compelled to take the pawn touched, and lost a piece thereby. The game proceeded quite vigorously thereafter, and on his thirty-fifth move the captain sacrificed a Piece to stop the advance of his adver- "Ss pawns. Mr. Walker thereafter had a charce to draw the game, but played to wir. The captain found the only win- ning lire of play. The fourth game was begun Tuesday night and adjourned after fc had been made, at which time Mr. V had knight and four pawns against bi nen | and three pawns on the captain's side. The captain believes he can draw the game. The present score is Waiker, 2; O'Far- rell, 1. The score of "the — ond game given below. White's game would have been improved by play- ing P-QB3 at move nineteen and R-Kt# at move twenty-five. Black's fortieth move was bad, and his following move worse, but it is doubtful if he could have saved the game, as had he played 40R-B3, KtxB would have won the bishop. Opening—French Defense. Black. ker. P.O'Farrell. RQ K-Kt? Resigns. i> tournament of the champions Ciub did not begin last shington aturday as there were two or three ms who were undecided as to whether or not they will enter. There seems to be a misunderstanding as to the schedule. Persons are not required to play on Saturday evenings, but can have th games scheduled for any night of the weel except Sunday. It is believed there are some members of the Capital Bicycle Club who are likely to enter. At present the following have entered: Patrick O'Farrell, E. A. Tibbetts, F. W. Tucker, J. P. bell, Allen Prender, Alfred E, Crofts Harris, W. B. Mundelle, W. E. Thomas, Joseph’ Firebaugh and J. W. Hodges. There are two or three others who are consider- ing the matter. The tournament will begin this evening. In the checker tournament at the Wash- ington Club the standing of the players is as follows: Mundelle.. Pedal Mr. W. B. Mundelle, player of the District, has received a chai- lenge from the champion of Baltimore io champion checker come to that city and try conclusions. promptly accepted the defi. He The chess players of the Capital Bicycle Club are getting into practice for the win- ter’s tournament. Those who have taken the greatest interest in the game this fall are Bunnemeyer, Pelouze, Kahr, Barrick and Usina. The club will probably hold a one-night tournament to enliven things, and will follow that with the regular winter tournament, the details of which have not yet been arranged. The club has pleasant quarters, g90d tabies and men, and there is no reason why chess should not be as prominent a game among its members as whist. Mr. Pillsbury, the chess champion of the United States, is making excellent scores against the checker experts of the country. Messrs. Janowsky and Walbrodt are piay- ing a match at Berlin, the latest score be- ing, Walorodt, 2; Janowsky, 2; drawn, 2. ——— THE BERMUDA LILY. Conditions Under Which It is Grown to Be Carefully Studicd. Prof. Galloway, chief of the divisioa of vegetable pathology and physiology of the Department of Agriculture, is shortly go- ing to Bermuda to study there the Ber- muda lily. The people of the United States pay annually $2,000,000 for Bermuda lilies, and it is thought that this amount of mon- ey may be saved by the introduction of that plant into this country. Prof. Gallo- way has been very hard at work lately, and the visit will be something of a recrea- tion as well as one of duty. He is one of the foremost scientists in his line in the world. The Bermuda liiy, like every other plant, when grown continually on one soil be- comes unhealthy. Plant food becomes ex- hausted. Field after field of the lilies in Bermuda have been destroyed, having con- tracted disease on account of the weakness of the soil. The people there, who make considerable revenue from growing ¢hem, are becoming greatly worried over the situation. While in that country Prof. Galloway will have ample opportunity to study the corditions under which the lilies are grown, so that they can be introduced in this coun- try. He will study the atmospheric condi- tions, temperature, moisture and other conditions thoroughly, and will bring back samples of the soil. It will be found ex- actly under what conditions the lily is best grown there, and the growth will be started here under similar conditions in the same plant zone. In his annual report Secretary Wilson recommended the sending of educated men to foreign countries, so that he could ob- tain information regarding the useful and beautiful things of those countries and couid raise them here. This is one of the first applications of the desire expressed in his report. Prof. Galloway will remain in Bermuda several weeks. While he is absent his place will be filled by Prof. Smith, assistant chief of the division. latter was lately offered a thousand dol- lars more salary by the Geneva, N. Y., ex- Becretary Wilson was desirdus of Keeping Secret o ina him, and had bis salary raised so that he could remain. Ke SES Cars Collide im Baltimore. Theodore R. Merrick, a motorman in the If you want to buy, sell or exchange anything, lease property or rent rooms, want a situation or want help, it will pay you to announce the fact in the advertising columns of The Star. They are closely studied by more than three times as. many people as read any other paper. ITS PREY IN SIGHT Tammany Preparing to Reap Fruits of Its Recent Victory. JUICY CONTRACTS IN CONTEMPLATION Pickings of the Tweed Regime Not Comparable to the Present. eet We CROKER ANDSHEEHAN AGREE Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. NEW YORK, November 21, 1897. Already the dispesition of Tammany Hall to combine private gain with public plunder is apparent. The biggest thing in sight is the rapid transit project. This, it may be said, is a scheme which hss always been in- dorsed by the people of the ci Struct proposition whenever give! to express opinion upon it. The rapid twansit commission has been at work several years collecting statistics anc gathering data, but up to the present time, although over a third of a million dollars bas been expended, not a shovel- ful of dirt has been turned, not a pound of iron nor a stick of timber has been or- dered, not a contract has been signed. The wasting of a third of a million dol- lars of the public money in a city of the second-class without the accomplishment of resulis would undoubtedly bring about a crange in administration, even though it aid not cause a public scandal or ublic rivt. But here hundreds of thousands of dollars dissipated by public officials attract little or ro attention. The Tammany men are all in favor of the construction of the underground read—the asit commission’s pet scheme. It is appareatly too big and too juicy a plum to be overlooked. It will involve the ex- f, penditure of, perhaps, $50,000,000 and bring the city perilously near the limit to which it can be bonded for public improvements. T. Heavily Bonded. For it should be remembered that Brook- lyn and most of the Staten Island and Queens county towns bring to the greater city municipalities already settled with debis practically up to the constitutional limit. So the buréen for the payment of the bonds for the rapid t sit scheme fall upon Manhattan Island alone. red with the old $13,000,000 city hall i steal of “Bo: Tweed, this newest and latest scheme, it is said, will be as an 1s%-volt are light compared with the rudest tallow dip ever fashioned by a housewife. John C. Sheehan is out with an inter- view announcing that the contracting firm which he represents will make bids for the new underground railroad. The nificance of this statement is apparent. yor Gleason of Long Island City un- thed gigentic frauds in city work in which John C. Sicekan is interested, and to this cause is due the bitter feud exist- ing to this Cay between Mayor Gleason and the “bos of Tammany Hall. Be- des the underground railroad, there are cast river bridges to build, there are school houses to construct, there are strects to pave, there are sewers to dig, there are parks to lay out, and it is safe to say that by hock or by crook Tammany Hall men will get the contracts. in this metropolitan sea the teeming with municipal shark: occasional fin or two can ° surface. It will be a sorry Greater New York when the opportunity comes for a partition of a body politic among them. Croker Not Taken Seriously. Richard Croker’s announcement to the effect that he does not deem it wise to ex- 1 the jurisdiction of Tammany Hall Brooklyn or Long Island City or ten Island is rot taken eriously. He declared that the existing organiza- tions in Brooklyn and the other have performed their work wi weil during past ars, and he can see no reason for arranging for the merging of these bodies in Tammany Ii This announcement, in all probab y was highly pleasing to the Messrs. MeLaughiin and York, the demccratic leaders at the eastern end of the big bridge. Ever since election they nave lived in morial terror, fearing that the Tammany tiger would take advantage of the situation to swallow them up. However, it is an open ques whether this promise of Croker to the Brooklyn democrats “home rm not a mere technicclity. For already a call gone forth for a conference of Tam- y Hall and the allied organizations for the purpose of “cutting ‘the pie.” The exccutive commitiees of Tammany Hall, the Kings County Democracy, the ens County Democracy and the Rich- mor County Democracy will, at meetings to ve “held early in December, make up their lists of recommendation,’ co-operat- ing together on the matter of appoint- ments, as well as in the personne! of the candidates to be named in accordance with the views of Mayor-elect Van ck. This movement is said to have originated with the district leaders of Tammany Hall, and it is understood to have met with the ready sanction of Mayor-elect Van Wyck. on account of the opportunity it would sive him of sattsfying the demands of the crganization without conflicting with allies of Tammany in the adjoining boroughs. Van Wyck Has the Patronage. Irasinuch as the distributfon of the of- fices will naturally remain in the hands of Mayor Van Wyck, who is a Tammany Hall man, it is difficult to see how this plan can be carried into execution with- out building up Tammany Hall and the democrstic organization on Manhattan Is- land—an organization which reaily controls city conventions. For instance, the demo- crats of Long Island City attempted to hold a conference the other evening to pian for the future. The meeting broke up in a row, but the dispute was finally settled by an agreement to appoint a com- mittee to interview John C. Sheehan to determine who Tammany Hall would rather have as a .eader of the democratic party in Queens county. So far as Nick Muller, the czar of Staten Island, is concerned, he is really pledged to Tammany Hall. Were Brooklyn more populous than the old city of New York, it would be impossible for the Brooklyn democrats under existing conditions to defeat Tammany Hall, owing to the fact that Tammany is thoroughly organized, while the Brooklynites are disorganized and decentralized. At critical moments the local “bosses” im Quenns county towns and the borough of the Bronx and on Staten Island could be relied