Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1897, Page 1

—— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Fennsylvania Avenue, Cor. llth 8t., by i N Oo: The Bening Sse ATTEN Soerey New York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ccunter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Cenada—postage prepaid—50 cents Fer month Saterday Quintuple Skeet Etar, $1 per year, with foreign portage added, $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. 0, a3 nec nd-claas matl matter.) ©All mail sutecriptions must be paid fn advance. Rates of advertising made koown on application. — Che £Zvening Star. No. 13,967. WASHINGTON, D. ©., MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1897—EIGHTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS THE MESSAGE President McKinley's Oficial Communication to Cone:ress. + CUBAN QUESTION TREATED a Belligerency and Intervention Are Both Discussed. + NO ACTION NOW ADVISED Prompt Ratification of Hawaiian Annexation is Urged. —-<- CURRENCY RECOMMENDATION The President today sent the following message to Congress: THE MESSAGE. To the Senate and House of Represent- atives: It gives me pleasure to extend greeting to the Fifty-fifth Congress, assembled in regular session at the seat of Governraent, of whose Senators and Repre- been associated in the Their meeting itions, justifying sin- cere congratt and calling grateful acknowledgment to a Providence which has so signaily ith many ntatives I have legislative under felicitous ser occurs jation for our beneficent blessed and prospered us as a nation. Peace and good will with all nations of the earth continue unbroken. A matter of genuine satisfaction Is the growing feeling of fraternal regard and unification cf all sections of our country, the incompleteness of which has too long Gvlayed realization of the highest blessings ef the Union. The spirit of patriotism is universal and is ever increasing in fervor. ne public questions which now most en- gross us are lifted far above either parti- sanship, prejudice or former sectional dif- ferences. They affect every part of our common country alike and permit of no division on ancient lines. Questions of foreign policy, of revenue, the soundness of the currency, the inviolability of national obligations. the improvement of the public service, appeal to the Individual conscience of every earnest citizen to whatever party he belongs or in whatever section of the country he may reside. THE CURRENCY QUESTION. ‘The extra session of this Congress which closed during July last enacted important legislation, and wiile its full effect has not yet been realized, what it has already ac- complished assures us of its Umeliness and wisdom. To test its permanent value fur- ther time will be required, and the people, s d with its operation and resuits thus far, are in no mind to withhold from it a fair trial. Tariff legislation having been settled by the extra session of Congress, the question next pressing for consideration is that of the currenc The work of putting our finances upon a difficult as it ay seem, will ar easier when we recall the financial ations of the Government since 1866. On the thirtieth day of June of that year had outstanding demand liabilities in sum of $728.S65,447.41. On the first of liabilities had been re- to $445.880,495.85. Of our interest- bearing obligations, the figures are even nore striking. On July 1, 1866, the prin- 1 of the interest-bearing deot of the nent was $2, 208. On the first day of July, 1893, this sum had been reduced to & 7,100, or an aggregate reduction 24,108. The interest-bearing debt United States the first day of December, 1807, was $847, 0). The Gov- ernment money now oustanding (December 1) consists of $346,681,016 of United States notes, $17,793,280 of Treasury notes issued by authority of the law of 3S0, $554, of silver certificates, and $61,280, standard silver dollars. With the great resources of the Govern- nt and with the honorable exampie of past before us, we ought not to hesi- tate to enter upon a currency revision wnich will make our demand obligations less m onerous to the Government and relieve our fin al laws from ambiguity and doubt. The brief review of what was accom- ished from the close of the war to 18%, akes unressonable and groundless any ast either of our financial ability or Iness; while the situation from 18 to 7 must admonish Congress of the imme- elate necessity of so legislating as to make the return of the cenditions then prevailing impossible Th are edy for the any plans proposed as a rem- evil Before we can find the true remedy we must appreciate the real evil. Ic is pot that our currency of every kind is not geod, fer every dollar of it ts good; good fbeeause the Government's pledge is out to keep it so, and that pledge will not be broken. However, the guaranty of our purpose to keep the pledge wil! be best shown by advancing toward its fulfill- ment. Evil of the Present System. ‘The evil of the present system {ts found in. the great cost to the Government of mainteffing tne parity of our different forms of meney, that fs, keeping all of them at par with gold. We surely can not be longer heediess of the burden this tm- peses upon the people, even under fairly Erosperoug conditions, while the past four years have demonstrated that it is not only an expensive charge upon the Government, but a dangerous menace to the National credit. It is manifest that we must devise some (Continued on Seventh Page.) AUTONOMY SUPPORT It is Very Shadowy in the Island of Cuba. FORCING MEN 10 TAKE OFFICE Reformists Do Not Believe in the Sagasta Pian. THINK INDEPENDENCE NEAR Peres ein (Copsright. 1897 Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. HAVANA, Cuba, December 2, 1897. Captain General Blanco was able to begin the other half of his task first. This was to make a showing of Cuban support for autonomy. Unlike with the Spanish ele- ment, he had the name of a party with which to make a beginning. In the political history of Cuba the autonomista party has been a respectable organization. The shell remains. The kernel is gone. The name does not conjure the autonomists who joined the insurgents back from the field. A few men of fair talents who were identi- fied with the original movement halted when the choice was revolution. They r mained autonomists in theory, and heid their peace under the shadow of Weyler displeasure. They called themselves lead- ers, yet they were without followers. Forcing Cubans to Take Office. This was the condition which confronted General Blanco when he took control a month ago, with instructions from S2gasta to select Cubans for the posts of civi! gov- ernment. He summoned the autonomist leaders before him and invited their aid. The captain general's first shock was in discovering the unwillingness of most of them te take office, a rare spectacle in any cour They shunned a share in the re. spensibility of restoring peace in Cuba, un- der the e¢lonial policy of which they had heen advocates. Its nature was too well known to them. Official pressure, which amounted to government coercion, finally induced some of them to take nold. Senor Bruzon, a distinguished lawyer, vecame 1 gcvernor of the province of Havana. It is said he had his choice between that and exile to Africa. The government put it a little differently, saying Spain did not ta loyal subject would refuse when they were needed. Autono- ere named as governors of other nd also as alcaldes or mayors in mists. province: some of the cities. The first step in Spain's autonomistic program was not taken with the unani- mous support of those who went by the name. Though only the semblance of, a political organization, the autonomists split the shadow of themselves and divided into radicals and conservatives. It 1s some- thing like the fractional division of a frac- ifon. Marquis Montaro, who is recovering from a severe illness, became the head of the conservatives. Years ago Mr. Mon- taro had influence with his people. That influence ceased the day he came out in favor of the reforms of Canovas and got his title. If any of {t had remained, his action ir signing the testimonial to Weyler on “the butcher's” departure would have destroyed what was left. Blanco seems to have had political instinct of the right sort in knowing whom not to select for carry- ing out the policy of the Sagasta minis- try. The division among the autonomists is not in itself important. The “reform- istos,”” who in former years had advocated liberal reforms without distinctive home rule, fill in the breach, and by upholding the new order get their share of the pat- rcnage. Their felicitations to Sagasta and Moret on having given Cuba a govern- ment by Cubans and for Cubans are sin- a cere, for the reformists expect to be part of that governmert. While none of the leaders who ha been placed in positions by Blanco hav been in the field, most of them have re tives and friends that are out in the brush. How far their persuasion may go with these to lay down arms cannot be deter- mmed at once. It does not yet give prom- ise of results. Some of these au- tonomist leaders will exert themselves only on the surface One of the best known of them is credited with saying: “I hold ofti- cial position because I must, but it is only while Cuba is drifting to her destiny.” He no longer belleves that the destiny of Cu- ba is to be even nominally a colony of Spain with a large measure of home rule. If a single insurgent leader who was for- merly an autonomist could be induced to yield his arms and support Spain's pres- ent policy it would have greater«weight than the combined influence of the group of autonomists who have not smelt pow- der. That is, It would have weight if an insurgent leader who took such a course could be credited with patriotism instead of with Spanish gold, and ff he could reach Havana without being shot or hung by his fellow insurgents. Though much is heard in the states about bribing the in- surgent leaders into quitting, little atten- tion is paid to it here. Results Not Encouraging. General Blanco’s plan of conciliating or persuading the men who have been in re- vglt against Spain's authority to quit for a consideration must be measured by re- sults. So far these are not encouraging. General Pando wes to carry out the plans. He took the field ostensibly for military operations, in reality to arrange terms with the rebels to whom overtures had been made. After a week in the field the surrender of the Cuervo brothers with 100 of their followers and the promise that 200 more would come in was reported. A reputable eye witness of that “surrender,” an American, gave me an account of it. He counted just twenty-five men in all and he heard of no others who were expected. When the event was first reported the in- surgents sought to discount it by saying that the Cuervo brothers had never oper- ated with them.- This was untrue. xhe force of the surrender of the Cuervos was weakened, ‘however, by the fact that Gen- eral Gomez had ordered them to report for court-martial for some breach of discipline in a raid on Guines. * General Pando has since been to other parts of the island and {s continuing his military operations. The telegraph may carry occasional tidings of his succesdex and here and there the yielding of a Cabe- cilla, or chief of a small band, may be re- ported, but until Gomes and Calixto Garcia give the word there will be no end to the insurrection as such. Picking it apart piecemeal by persuasion or otherwise seems a fruitless method. The results secured are not lasting. Treachery has caused some bands to be broken up. General Castillo, OPENING OF CONGRESS. who was in command of the Insurgents in Havana province, was undoubtedly he- trayed to his death a few weeks ago. Other officers have fallen in the same way, yet there is always some one to take their place. Reported Surrenders Deceptive. The reported surrenders are also decep- tive. The insurgents are taking advantage of the invitations of Gen. Blanco to resume their allegiance by having their sick for whom they are unable to care give them- selves up. The same thing was done under Weyler, who also issued proclamations of this kind. Moreover, the presentados, or persons who give themseives up, do not al- ways stay presented. Often the men go out in the field again, though these men are not numerous enough to make a serious dif- ference on either In going throug the official reports 1 have been abie to find no change trom the Weyler regime. ‘the presentados are still chiefly made up of wo- men and children, or of men “sin armas’— without arms. They are worthless as an index of pacification or acceptance of au- tonomy. The insurgents so regard them. Ther reply to Blanco’s overtures was to burn the cane fields within sight of Ha- vana. This has been stopped under orders from headquarters since New York parties opened negotiations for grinding the sugar cane on the payment of a fixed sum. It might be thought that the Sagasta ministry and Gen. Blanco could depend on the people they have let out of prison or permitted to return to Cuba from the penal settlements of Africa to heartily uphold the policy of autonomy. But amnesty is a bending reed on which to lean. ‘The reed may not break, yet it will never be sate to trust. Most cf the “indultados,” or par- doned suspecis, are treasuring the memory of a great wrong, and many of them, ioo, ef great suffering. They do not seem to look upon their release as giving the gov- ernment a claim on them. Instead tney | want restitution. A group was pointed out to me this morning, all of whose members were just back from Africa. A chance in- troduction to one of them later gave me an opportunity to ask his purposes. 1 nad as- side. sumed that he would support the new poli You are mistaken,” he said, “two ye ago 1 was an autonomist. bor tuat 1 have had twenty months’ imprisonment. Weyler was responsible for it, but Weyler was Spain. He may be Spain again. W should we taik of autonomy when we 4 so near independence?” Others are asking the s ever, re me question. L do not think, how- that many of those who ha been d will take e field with the insur- gents. The majority of them are likely to remain passive. Mr. jondi, the lawyer who defended Sanguilly, and who was sven thereafter thrown into Jail, is among those who have been freed. 1t is announced that he will resume the practice of his protes- sion. I am told he is advising the accept- ance of autonomy ‘or a Ume at ieast. ‘These are tne conditions as they appear today. What progress is made by Captain General Blanco w.ll be recounted in the future as it may develop. In the meantime, while waiting to give autonomy a fair chance, a long wait is not necessary to judge the results of the promised policy of succoring the starving people. No con- flicting or antagonistic elements have to be harmonized in order to give relief. That is a matter of good administration and prompt measures to meet an emergency which con- cerns human lives. Both are lacking. The palpable evidences that the decrees and orders for the benefit of the reconcentra- does exist except on paper, are not yet ap- parent. They are still dying of hunger and diseases due to neglect. Sad Condition in Pinar del Rio. A Spanish-born tobacco merchant, who is a naturalized American citizen, gave me today his own experience in parts of Pinar el Rio. He found the concentradoes dying in worse surroundings, if that could be pos- sible, than during the last few months. The authorities had done nothing to carry out the humane intention of General Blanco’s revocat on decree. They Lad no means with which to do anything, they said. Within his own observation had come an instance of bloated and diseased cattle killed and the meat eaten to satisfy the ravenous hunger of the pacificos. In the villages, where the water supply is from the run- ning streams, it has been polluted by the soldiers washing their wounds and through similar causes. Nothing was done to warn the people or to give them protection against disease. In Consolacion and neigh- boring places smallpox has broken out for the third time within a year. “I would not pass another week in Pinar del Rio for $10,000," said this tobacco merchant in tell- ing his experiences. The same man told me how his own ef- fort to take advantage of the revocation order and help some of the pacificoes had been foiled. This was at Alequisa, in the province of Havana. He had proposed to take a few families, put them on a tobacco farm near the village where the insurgents have not interfered with the crop, build huts and provide food until they could earn something. The local commandante re- fused permission for the pacificoes to leave unless the tobacco merchant would put up Mttle forts for the soldiers, who, he insisted, would have to be detailed to protect the pacificoes. This meapt that it would cost more to get the crop in than it would bring in the market, and this merchant was thwarted in his effort to help the starving people. I have heard of other instances in which the commandantes defeat the execu- tion of: General Bianco's revocation decree. They do net epenly defy it, but they have no trouble in keeping it from being carried CHARLES M. PEPPER. out. PROPOSED ARMOR FACTORY Bids Asked for ina Circular by the Secre- tary of the Navy. Land, Buildings and Machinery as a Whole Plant to Be Inclad- ed by Bidders. Secretary Long today issued a circular in- viting proposals to be opéned at the Navy Department, January 20, 1898, for the con- struction of a govefnment armor factory, including ths land, buiid@mgs and machi- nery as a whole plaft. Proposals will also be received at the same time for furnish- ing separately the land or buildings or the whole or any part of the machinery em- braced in the propdsed plant. What It Will Include. The proposed arMor factory includes the fellowing: 140 to 160 acres of land with good foundations, goyd drainage, good water supply, and facillties for railroad connections, and erected thereon ten one- story steel buildings with sloping roofs and brick filling between columns, as follows: One, 404 feet long by 153 feet casting pit 2v to 17 feet wide and 324 feet long; one, 83 feet long by 131 to 171 feet wide, with foundations for heavy forge Fress; one, 605 feet long by 140 feet wide, with foundations fer heavy bending press: one, $30 feet long by 131 feet wide, with foundations for heavy machine tools; one, 5 fect long by 131 feet wide, with special ballasted ficor; one, 241 feet long by 96 feet wide, with foundations for noilers and pits fer stack conn iS; one, 200 Teet long Ly 96 feet wide, with foundations for electric generators; one, 127 feet long by 52 feet wide, with special floor for joco- motives; and four brick structures, in- cluding one office building $8 feet long by 4 feet wide; two laborator‘e h T#) feet square, connected by a passage; and two by 25 feet wide. ch 100 feet lon: man tilting basic open-hearth | furnace generate gas producers and hydraulic appliances compicie; two melting cupolas, fitted with blowers, ladles and other foundry appli- two core ovens; elght open-hearth | éand four casting pit tadic | with rege! tors and hydr: | three heating furnace: : | tempering, fired along the sides; sixteen re- generative car-bettom cementing furnaci with hydraulic appliance hardening sp upparatus, ' and pressure pumps, and two circular tanks | thirty fect diameter by fifteen feet deep. | Wel mall and twelve large heating fu naces, lifting doors; One electric charging machine, and twelve | cast steel open-htarth charging bo’ One | hydraulic forge press, 14,000 gross tons | pressure, and one hydraulic bending press, 7,500 gross tons pressure. Two 160-ton and two 75-ton electric overhead traveling cranes, with special hydraulic lifts; one 160-ton, one. 100-ton, five 75-ton, one 5-ton, one 20-ton and ne 5-ton electric overhead traveling cranes. One special portable grinder. Two hdavy universal boring, drill- ; ing and milling riachines; three heavy open side planers; two heavy pit planers; one heavy cutting-off planer; two heavy post planers; two heavy’ platen planers; four heavy ‘universal drilling machines; two heavy radial drills; two heavy circular planers; two emery grinders; three trepan- ning tools; eighteen lathes of varying sizes; sixteen water-tabe ‘boilers of 250 horse- power each; ten shtiths’ forges; four steam hammers, 3,500 to 500 pounds weight; three sets of electric multtpglar generators; about twenty-five electric: motors; about 30,000 feet of standard-gauge railroad track and 5,000 feet af narroweguage track; five loco- motives; about 100 ears of different styles, and a complete lathing outfit. Dependent Spon Congre: The circular concludes as follows: “The department presumes that, should an appropriation be’ made by Congress for the erection of this plant, successful bid- | extended their sympathy. ders will be require@ to enter into contract and give satisfactory bond in a penal sum, either fixed by Congré€ss or to be fixed by the department, ‘for thé performance there- of within the time/ specified in their pro- Posals. $ H “The bidders will distinctly understand that no such apprgpriation has yet been made, and that not“only is the usual right reserved by the department to reject any or all bids, but that_under the statute au- thorizing this adv ment, the depart- ment will report to Congress the receipt of all bids made, and it tts further acticn. “The time in whigh the work can be de- livered or complet ust be stated in the bid, and, in considéring the bids, weight will be given to thig:s) ent, and, also, to any statement whjch lers thake as to the security which they furnish for the faithful performance any contract awarded to then.” , DEMAND FOR SMALL BILLS, Secretary Gage wards It as a Sign of Improving Conditio: Secretary Gage is pleased with what he says is an “unprecedénted” demand for small bills and, subsidiary coins. He con- siders it as the most convincing argumert |yet that ‘conditions are more prosperous | than in years: He also thinks it undoubted evidence that the people are in better shape for the coming holidays and intend to buy more freely than for years. At the office of the treasurer it is said the demand for small bills and sub- sidiary silver has’ never been equaled at An inereased de- mand at this seasor and ys anticipated, ly made by the and, but this year axed to the ut- much abused than in for it preparations sury to meet the de preparations will Le mcst. Even the old ilver dollar is fi former years, from all sections. The wart to hear the ttle of silver in their pockets and feel the coin there, is what the tr urer is told. The Gemand for the new silver doliar does not come from the south and southwest purticulurly, but from the larger cities of the country. In the south and southwest the silver dollar is used to a large extent than the small bill: while in the east the bills take the place of the dollar. People want and ask for new silver coir, and the banks are consequently asking for it. Experts say this is vidence of a cheerful feeling and happy frame of mind. The demand is being supplied from the niints and subtreasuries. In the east the Philadelp’ mint supplies to the sub- treasuries the greater amount of subsidiary silver coin they need, while the mints in the other sections of the country do the for their respeectiy ctions. isury officials say that if the demand for minor money can be relied on as hav- people irs any signifi it portends a Christmas trade fer the merchants more general happiness id good fe than has been apprehended. TO RETURN TO CANTON, The President With Mrs, McKinley to Leave Tonight. President McKinley will leave the city to- night at 7:20 o'clock for Canton, and wiil not return for several days. He will be ac- companied by Mrs. McKinley, Miss Barber and several intimate friends. They will go in a special car and will reach Canton to- morrow morning. The President returned here early yester- day morning. He was met at the depot by several members of the cabinet and Secre- tary Forter. He received news trequently curing the day of the condition of his mother. A special wire was arranged be- tween the White House and Canton, so that there would be uninterrupted communica- tion. Yesterday afternoon the President made a few slight alterations in the proof sh of the message, and the corrected copy went back to the government 7 fice ready to be turned o h Several members of the c the President during the day. he President spent this morning in his office arranging all the maiters nec ary to be delayed until his return. The : ers included Representative Dingley, Sei tor Aldrich, Senator Hanna and Seer Alger. All'of them inquired anx:ou to the condition of the dying mother iy as and It was 1:05 o'clock when the committee from Congress waited upon the Pri and informed him that Congr s session and ready to receive any communi- ation he might have to make. Briefly the President expressed the hope that the com- ing session would be fruitful of good re- sults for the people of the country, and sald he would at once communicate’ with the law-making body. The committee had just entered the two carriagé nd started on their return to the Capitol, when As- sistant Secretary Pruden left the White House with the first annual message of the President. Mr. Pruden’s carriage followed the carriages of the congressmen. a ee GRIGGS ACCEPTS. Gov. He Will Be Nominated for Attorney General. Governor Griggs of New Jersey has ac- cepted the President's offer of the office of Attorney General, to succeed Mr. McKen- na. Governor Griggs will be nominated for the position after Mr. McKenna’s nomina- tion to the Supreme bench has been con- firmed. The new Attorney General, how- ever, will not enter upon his duties until some time in January. The New Jersey corstitution fails to make provision for a leutenant governor, and the successor to the governorship would be the president of the state senate, who is limited in the as- sumption of the office to the time when the legislature 1s in actual session, which will not occur until January 1. Should Gov- ernor Grigg relinquish his place now, there ecnsequently could be no head to the state government during the period of time be- tween now and January 1, and the gov- ernor is unwilling to leave matters in such a state. It is thought that it will be near the mid- dle of January before Governor Griggs will assume the duties of the office. ———————_o+—_____ NO LONGER NEEDED. Rule for Sessions Every Third Day Repealed. At a meeting of the committee on rules of the House of Representatives prior to the opening of the session today the rule for sessions of the House every third day was vacated. This rule was adopted at the extra session in order to restrict the business of the House to the tariff bill and a few other important subjects. It met with violent resistefice and caused fre- quent disorder when efforts were made to adjourn for three days. Hereafter there will be daily sessons, beginning at noon. ‘The general program of business was not fixed, as considerable doubt exists as to when the appropriation bills, which have the right of way, will be ready. —___-e-___—_ Government Receipts. Government receipts from customs to- day, $850,822; internal revenue, $1,002,074; miscellaneous, $50,206. a TROUBLE FOR HAYTI, City of Port au Prince on Brink of a Revolution, INCENDIARY Report That Government Has Of feredto Settle With Germany. TROOPS IN _ BARRACK KINGSTON, Jamaica, vices received here today from Port au Prince show that serious trouble is immi- nent in Hayti. The stre: e capital are placarded with th the Goy- ernment,” and the troops have been ordered into barracks. Haiti Rendy BERLIN, December 6. Frankfort Zeitung from W says th- republic of Hayti is ready to pay Germany the indemnity demanded for the alleged illegal arrest and imprisonment of Herr Emil Lueders, a German subject, who Was subsequently released and enabled return to this country by the inter: of the United States minister at Prince, William F. Powell, Lueders’ release from prison in order 20 avoid trouble of a more serious nature, which appeared to be brewing on account of the alleged arbitrary behavior of the German minister to Hayti, Count Schwerin, Will Employ Sharp Measures. The semi-official Post says: “Should Hayti refuse the German de- mands (for an indemnity on account of the alleged illegal arrest and imprisonment of Herr Lucders, a German subject, at Port au Prince), sharp measures will follow. We shall first borbard the coast forts, and, if they are persistent, we shall bombard the city and the government buildings. December patch to the shington today to ession Port au who secured —_——__ JAPAN INTERESTED IN KLONDIKE. Prospect of Large Immigration of Orientals Next Spring. SEATTLE, Wash., December 6—Captain W. Thompson of the Kagashima Maru, one of the Nippon Yusen Kaishi’s vessels, sail- ing between Seattle and Japan, in conjunc- tion with the Great Northern railway, which has just arrived here, reports great interest. in Yokohama, Kobe and other oriental cities regarding the Klondike. He ys next spring will witness the coming of from 5,000 to 10,000 persons from these places, bound for the Yukon. Captain Thompson said: “American news- Papers, particularly tho: Pacitic coast, are much Japan, because of whi published on the sought after in they contain re garding the Klondike. On leaving Yoko- hama one ef the richest Japanese mer- chants s2id: ‘Learn all you can about Alaska and the Klondike. Get me all the newspapers and deta you can concerning the country. He is one of the wealth men of that great city, whose attention has been directed to the country.” Captain Thompson the officers of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha’s branch steam- ship line operating between Yokohama and Bombay report a shortage in the Indian cotton crop. * it seems to me,” th ain observ bound to force better for American cotton.” FATAL FIRE IN A HOTEL. One Man Killed and Five Injured in Milwaukee Today. MILWAUKEE, Wis., December Fire broke out in the Lake Hou a four-story structure at Lake and Ferry streets, this Teorning. Six people were asleep in the hostelry at that time. One life was lost and five persons were injured in their en- deavor to escape. Chas. Patterson, a dock laborer, lost his life, being overcome by following were injured in jumping from the building: August Henshman, jaw broken: David Baker, head cut; Thomas O'Brien, leg sprained and head bruised; Robert Potter, head cut; Frank Meiland, hands and ic sprained. ‘The pecuniary joss i M _ HARESsT, Attack Hebrews — P Make Many Arrests, BUCHAREST, December 6.—An anti-He- brew riot was started here yesterday by a mob of Roumanian students. The disturb- ance was caused by the circulation of a ru- mor that a Roumanian had been murdered by a mob of Hebrews. Many excesses were committed during the disturbance, which were finally quelled by the police, who made a hunared arrest ee ROSS’ RESIGNATION. RIOTS AT BU ROUMANIA, Students tee MR. Desired to Retire, but Was Prevaile: on to Remain. Two wéeks ago Commissioner Ross sent his resignation to the President, alleging ill health as the sole cause of this action. He took this step impulsively, without con- sultation or conference with any one. As scon as they learned the fact two or three of his friends set to work to ascertain if the threatened loss to the community Was unavoidable. It was quickly discov- ered that the President was anxious to retain Mr. Ross as Commisisoner, if the condition of the latter's health would per- mit, and the President readily withheld the resignation frem the files and gave full opportunity for and enccuragement to the effcrt to secure its withdrawal. It was also learned that one of the contributory causes of Mr. Ross’ il) health was nervous worry, due to friction with his colleagues ad to a misunderstanding of their real sentiments concerning him. A full and frank interchange of views between the Commissioners was brought about, and firally the atmosphere was cleared and many misunderstandings removed. Mr. Ress last week wrote to the President “in- dicating his willingness to conform to the President’s wishes in the matter of retain- ing the commissionership, stated to one of his colleagues that he had withdrawn his resignation, and went away for a brief trip of recuperation, which had been strongly urged upon him. Naturally it was the desire of those sincerely interested im the retention of Mr. Ross as Commis- sioner and concerned in the same connec- tion in the welfare of the District that no publicity should be given to the fact of the tender of the resignation while it was still pending, and they deplore the exploit- ing even at this date of past differences and misunderstandings between the Com- missioners. ———__e-—___ Bridge Plan Approved. The Secretary of War has approved the map of location and plans of a permanent and a temporary bridge to be constructed by the commissioner of street improve- ments, twenty-third and twenty-fourth wards, New York city, over the Bronx river, at Westchester avenue, in said city, said permanent bridge to replace the pres- ent one at that place, and the temporary bridge to be used while the present bridge is being removed and the permanent one constructed. Advertising is not an expense. It is a business investment. If you want to invest your money profitably you will therefore put your advertisements in such a paper as The Evening Star, that 1s read regularly and thoroughly by everybody worth reaching. The Star is the recognized household and family journal of the National Capital, and has no rival as an advertising med- ium. Puacamns ost | Senate and House Again in Session. ee ... GROWDS GOTO THE CAPITOL - Elaborate Floral Tributes From Ads miring Friends, a READING THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ee Swearing in a Number of New Representatives. eee ES IN BOTH BRANCHES - Congress opened today amid a confus' of sounds and with a confusion of ojnion! The hall of the House of Representatives Was a tumult of confusion for an hour be fore the Speaker's gavel fell. The gatleries of both houses were crowded at an ¢arly hour and people in the corridors were pressing for admission. Simultaneously at both ends of the Capi- tol Speaker Reed in the House and Vice President Hobart in the Senate dropped their gavels and called to order the re spective bodies over which they preside The ceremonies attending the opening of a Congress, though comparatively of @ routine character and usually devoid of dramatic incident, except as it marks the formal promulgation of the policies of the administration 2s outlined in the Pyest- dent’s annual mes: is a spertacle which in some r rial ever. tional capital. spects is regarded as the great- of the uM rat the na- Washiagvon attenda. High and low, rich and poor, white E foreign ambassadors an} street gamin,-banker and beggar, cabinet oflicer and department messenger Jom in witnes! ing the starting of the lumbering, intr machinery of legislation. day lead to Capitol the structure which surmounts !t with its clas- sic outlines and broad spreading ome Today the weather was propitious. sun shone brilliantly from a cloudless sky making a glorious bright December day, with a tinge of frost in the air to invigorate the lungs and a breeze just strong cnough to keep the stars and stripes snapping from the flagstat The marble of the Capitol gleamed like al ter. Long before hour for the assembling the wending their way to t The the crowds began America acrepolis. As a sort repr the so- of quasi-official function, the ntatives of the foreign governments, alled leacers and everybody who is Ready for Business, arybody in Warhington goes thither on this day. The elegant equipages of the notables, many of them emblazoned with coats-of-arms, with liveried footmen on the bexes, and drawn by prancing horses with silver-mounted trappings and jingling chains, added tone to the occasion as they dashed up the broad, sweeping avenue. At the Capitol the crowds swarmed into the corridors at an early hour and choked the mar®le steps as they ascended to the gal- leries from which they were to view the show. As is usual on such occasions, the reserved galleries were carefully guarded cn both the House and Senate sides, admis- sien being only by card, and the public had great difficulty. in wedging itself into the limited space set aside for it. THE SENATE. Shortly after 11 o'clock every seat in Senate gelleries open to the public filled, and from cach door line of persons eager to gain the chamber and waiting for earlier and more fortunate ones t in order that they might places. The diplomatic gallery had half dozen occupants, among them being Min- ister Wu Ting-fang of by one of the attaches of the