Evening Star Newspaper, December 10, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. aS PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 31G1 Fenzeylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th St., by The Bregg SF ASTD CoPmy Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building. The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the eity by esrriers, on their own account, at 10 ccats per week, or 44 cents per montk. jes at the ccunter 2 cents each. By matl—anywhere in the United States or Cenada—postage prepaid—80 cents t month. Fisaterday Guintuple Sheet Btar, 61 per sear, with reign postage added. $3.00. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., @s_secend-clise mail matter.) 7 All mall subscriptions must be patd fn advance. Rates of advertising made Known on application. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10 1897-SIXTEEN PAGES NTS. TWO CE COMMITTEE WORK Chairman Babcock Calls His Asscei- ates Together for Monday. WON'T TALK ON DISTRICT MATTERS The Postponing of the Kansas Pacific Sale. — IGNS CHAIRMANSHIP =sQeese REs Representative Babcock of Wi chairman of the House committee on the District ef Columbia, has arrived in the Mr. Babcock immediately called a meeting of the committee for next Monday morning. The meeting will be devoted to perfecting an organization of the commit- tee and appointing the subcommittees. “I really have nothing to say about Dis- trict legislation,” said Mr. Babcock to a Star reporter this afternoon. “I have just arrived and have not even seen any of the bills which were introduced at the extra session and referred to this committee. ‘The bilis have not been presented to us yet, but will reach us as soon as we organize. “I anticipate, however, a very busy sea- sen for the commi Of course it is well known that there many questions of importance which will come before the Dis- trict committee, and I think i all the ize that a great deal of work em. The committee will get ess Next week and will keep grind until our matters are ‘onsin, stponing the Kansas Pacific Sale. Representative Powers of Vermont, chairman of the House committee on Pa- cifie railways, said today that there was noi likely to be any strong opposition to the move towar the sale of ihe Kan: Pacific - The subject will be taken up Lefore the House committee at its 1 ng, a postponement resol :- tion having been doty Mr Fi ing of that the postponement can do iitule or no harm, and ts therefore disposed to acquiesce ip it. Gives Up Hix Chairmanship. Representative Johnson of Indiana today tendered his resignation as chairman of election committee No. 2 of the House. Mr. Johnson's health was impaired some time a hough he is again vigorous he s not wish to break himself down »y the rduous work of tie election hearing. will devote his atte ency committee, hac ton to the banking and of which he is a mem- ber. Royce of Indiana probably will succeed him on the elects commitiee. © Anti-Scalping Bill. con mittee on interstate and foreign commerce has set Fri Decem- ber 17, at 10 o'clock for a hearing on the arti-scalping bill. For a long ti there has been consii- looking to a prohibition of cut-rate tickets by railroad rokers, and it has led to the presen- tation of an immense number of petitions to Congress culling for legislation on tne subject. It was taken up at today’s meet- ing of the commerce committee, and it w ided to press the anti-scalping bill intro- duced at the extra session by Hepresenta- tive Sherman of New York, and all parties interested have been notified to appear on the date designated. The Sherman bill makes unlawful tne sale, barter or other transfer of any kind of railway ticket by any persons not snow- ing certificates of authority from the com- mon carrier over whose road the transpor- tation ts sold, except as between properly authorized agents of transportation com- panies and as to the resale of a transpor- tation ticket purchased in good faith for personal use to another who will person- ally use it in a journey. Foreign Affairs Committee. Chairman Hitt and his associates on the House committee on foreign affairs made a@ call of courtesy on Secretary Sherman today. Several foreign questions were tcuched upon in a general way, but the call was mainly social. Senate Committee Changes. A number of Senate committee changes are shortly to be made as a result of the death of Senator Harris of Tennessee and Senator George of Mississippi. The demo cratic caucus committee is considering this qvestion and have held one meeting, but etker conference 1 be ne ry before ompleted. Senator Harris r of the committees of private trict of Columbia, public rantine, finance, several ‘of whic immigrat the m my nt assignments in the nator ( le com- 2 agricul educa- labor, judiciary sportation reutes to the beard, woman suffrage, and was chairman of the committee to in- vestigate the condition of the Potomac river front at Washington. Amending the Civil Service Law. The House committee on civil service met today and outlined the work before it. Four subcommittees were appointed. Messrs. Brostus, Sprague, Alexander, Dockery and Robertson will have charge of all matters relating to the amendment of the civil service law and rules. This is the most important part of the work, as there are many measures now pending looking to alterations in the law. The subcommittee on a retirement fund and the creation of a retrenchment com- mission to reorganize the executive depart- ments consists of Messrs. Tawney, Landis and Maxwell. The other two subcommittees are Messrs. Pearson, Alexander and Barlow, on repeal ef the civil service Jaw and rules, and Pitney, Nortway and Pierce on neous matters. will be a determined effort me change in the existing law. rman Brosius is opposed to Congress any steps until the President takes » action, if there are any needed re- forms, but there are other members of the to committee who do not agree with this policy. = ++ TO BE H .D TUESDAY. Call Issued for aucus of Demo- ernts. Richardson of Tennessee, n of the democratic caucus, has is- call for a caucus of democrats, to be held in the hall of the House next Tues- cay, December 14, at 7:30 p.m. The cau- us will consider the questions of policy to be pursued by the democrats in regard to Cuba, Hawaii and the finances. ST a Col. Hay Victort LONDON, December 10. United States ambassador, Col. John Hay, and Mrs. Hay, will dine with Queen Victoria at Windsor this evering, and will sleep to- night at the castle. ——— Steamship Arrivals. At London, Mississippi, from New York. At Naples, Werra, from New York. At Glasgow, Anchoria, from New York. Representative ctairma eved TRAIN ROBBERS Express Guards Prevent Hold-Up on the Southern Pacific. The Lender of the Bandits Killed and Another Believed to Have Been Wounded, DENVER, Cel., December 10.—A special from E o, Tex., says: Meager par- ticulars were received in this city late last nignt from San Simon, a small sta- tion just east of Willcox, Ariz. on the Southern Pacific, of a train hold-up. Train No. 20, Surset Limited,” had just left Stein's Pass, N. M., near the Arizona line, when the engineer noticed a danger signal in frcnt and immediately applied the airbrakes. No socner was the train brought to a stop than five men stepped out from their hiding places near the track, all heavily «rmed. One covered the engineer and fireman with his Winchester, while the others gave their attention to the train proper, more especially to the express car. firing their guns in the air and otherwise frightening the passengers. At this point the guards in the express car took a hand in the fusiilade. ‘Thirty or forty shots are said to have been fired by both side: One Wells-Fargo guard, Jennings by name, succeeded in killing Robber Cullen, who was nearest to the car, and who was evidently the leader, for as soo s the other robbers noticed his body ng on the ground they lost -ourage and made a break for their hors: another bullet Jennings’ Win- r evidently s he was out of rarge his comrades. money olen, and none were hurt. — WAGNER SIGNS THE RELEASE. Consummation of the Deal for Trade With Hunton. Special Dispatch to Th Evening ar. BALTIMORE, December 10.—It was con- fidently expected in this city that the Washington magnates would consider tne exchange of Senators Demont, slcGann and MeJames for Orioles Doyle, Reitz and Amole too great a chance to let slip, and so it proved. The transfer was practically effected last night, when President Wagner notified President Young that he had ac- cepted Hanlon’s terms. Wagner wired Hanlon this morning what he had done, and Hanlon had a merry “ha ka” on the Washington magnate for ex- ceeding his prerogatives in the matter and giving away his anxicty to close nego} tions ° Hanlon considers it his business as the party to whom a proposition had been le to notify President Young of its ac- cep and no notification is binding under league laws until he does the noti- fying. The conference at the Eutaw House proved a mere formality. At 1:30 o'clock a paper was ed by each president; the one releasing to Washington the three Orioles involved, and the other releasing to Baltimore McJames, DeMontreville and McGann. There was no money consideration on either side. President Hanlon will imme- diately give notice of the transaction to President Young. Manager Brown joined President Wagner in Philadelphia yesterday, and, after de- liberation, the two decided to come to Han- lon’s terms. They reached Baltimore at 5 o'clock, and were waiting in the Eu- taw House lobby when Mr. Hanlon came in. Hanlon, Brown and Wagner held a three-cornered conference, which, judging from the gestures of Hanlon and Wagner, was of an earnest nature. This lasted fifteen minutes, when Secre- tary Bormann arrived. The releases were immediately drawn up and signed, after having been carefully perused by each mag- nate. Brown and Wagner left Camden station fcr Washington at 2:40 o'clock. They ex- pressed themselves as delighted with their side of the deal. as JUDGE ASA TENNEY DEAD. Appointed to United States District Bench by McKinley. NEW YORK, December 10.—Judge Asa W. Tenney of the United States district court died at his home in Brooklyn today. He had been suffering from an attack of acute indigestion brought on by overwork. Judge Tenney was born in Dalton, N. H., and was graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege in the class of ‘59. In 1872 President Grant appointed him United States district attorney for the eastern division of York. Presidents Hayes and Garfield reappointed him to that position. In Sep- tember last he was appointed by President McKinley United States district judge, suc- ceeding Judge C. L. Benedict. — WANTS THE FORT MAINTAINED. Gov. McCord of Arizona’ Protests Abandonment of Whipple. PHOENIX, Ariz., December 10.—Gov. Me- Cord has telegraphed the Secretary of War protesting against the abandonment of Fort Whipple, suggested in the last report to the War Department. “Whipple is now the only military post in northern Arizona, and is essential,” the governor declared, “to the protection of half of the territery’s expanse, a district constantly caposed to deeds of outlawry and embracing reservations of thousands of Indians, against whose occasional turb- ulence nothing but military force is ever effective. Even now there is 4 serfous and perhaps dangerous irritation’ among the Navajos with or without cause. The Na- tional Guard is of slight strength in nortn- ern Arizona, and the abolishment of the fort would be an error and a costly one for the government, and 1 urge that tn2 suggestion be withdrawn.” aes ROASTED A SMOKESTACK. Boilermaker Parcell Has Thrilling Experience on a Steamer. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., December 10.— Michael Purcell, a boiler maker, was mak- ing some repairs inside the smokestack of the steamer Wellington at the Folsom street wharf, when ‘six fires were started below him. He was strapped on a chair suspended from the top of the stack about fcrty feet from the dampers below. It was impossible to go up, and to go down without assistance meant being roasted alive on the hot dampers. Dense volumes of hot smoke began roll- ing up the stack, while Purcell loudly shouted for help. The heat increased every moment, until the boiler maker’s cloth- ing caught fire. He beat on the iron with all his power and shouted for fully ten minutes before his helper on the outside, Martin Philpot, realized his plight and rescued him, just as the rope supporting him was catching fire. Purcell lies at his home in a critical condition, FOILED | MOORE GETS BAD FALL —S Plucky Philadelphian Has to Drop Out of the Race. RIVIERRE A POSSIBLE WINNER Two Men Ahead of Him in Danger of Collapse. SCORE AT MADISON SQUARE ——_-——— W YORK, December 10.—When, early morning, enthusiasts over the six- ’ bicycle race reached Madison Square n today they found only sixteen of the thirty-six men who started on the rec- ord breaking task on Monday last. The second serious accident of the contest had removed Moore from the track. The wheel of the plucky Philadelphian, while he was in fifth place, at 8 a.m., slipped on a turn and he fell over the handlebars. His tire became loosened and wedged in the fork. He struck his head violently against one of the uprights of the rail and lay un- conscious beside the passing riders. If he had not been so dazed Moore would probably have been able to save himself from falling. At first it was thought that Moore was dead. An ambulance surgeon put the fears of the spectators at rest, and it was found that his injuries s a bad cut on the head and a strain to the cord on the right side of the neck. He was put to bed and any further part in the race. He had rid- 148 fell. * Moore's Plucky Return. :15 a.m. Moore, however, with and face half hidden by court plaster, went on the track and pluckily tried to continue the journey. Slowly and painfully he wobbled around the track a couple of times and then dismounted. He is appar- ently in a state of semi-consclousness. Ithough Miler had a lead of 6S miles at 9:15 am., it was anybody's race. Both Miller and Rice, the Wilkesbarre boy, who as followed so closely on his heels, Show- ed painful evidences of the frightful pace they had tained since Monday. Mil- ler's trainers feared for some time today that their as giving way. The sleep which would put him right is an ssibility, for the pursuing Rice would cut down his lead. Rice, too, he sed by the fear of Rivierre and urged the hopes of overhawing Miler, dare not sleep. On this account the trainers of the two leaders in the race announce that th vill take no more sleep until the ot the ra Rivierre’s Chances Of the first three men, Riv by far the best conditioned, a miles when he his od. re looked da wager of $169 to $95 that he will beat Rice found no takers. Teddy Hale fs perts s: among the men, who, ex- He tain to last to the end. this own record of last ompleted his 100th hour toda: s eyes are in bad shape, and s better his trainers say that he will have to quit. Pierce, who is suffering from his wrench- ed arm, followed closely on Hale’s heels. Gannon, Beacom and Enterman plodded away gamely and looked in excellent con- dition. the The same Will probably finish in about sitions they have now. Kinz vlaims to b very strong, and he expects to go up several pegs. Gray and Johnson are down at the end, and they will proba- bly remain there The colored man is a source of annoyance to the other riders, as he is continually in their way because of his slow riding. Why he is kept in ery, as he apparently has no chance of making the required 1,350 mules in order to get some of the stakes. Miller, who left the track at 9:3 ) a.m. re- turned at mD. 1 Miller was off the track from 12:50 until 20 Rice is beginning to show the effects of the terrible strain, and his handlers are having a hard time to keep him on the track. It is sald that his trainers hav been giving him stimulants all day. Last year Rice hecame crazy before the end of the race, and it is feared that his mind is going again. His hallucination last year 7 that somebody was throwing tacks at him. The Hourly Scores, The score at 9:15 a.m. was: Miller, 1,693 miles 1 lap; Rice, 1,625.1; » 1,599.8; Schinner, 1,557; Waller, Moore, 1,489.3; Hale, Pierce, Julius, 1,230.4 Jchneon, 902.5, it previou: 1 record for 105 hours § miles, made by Hale. a.m. the 3. Rice, 1,489.3 ; Golden, annon, 1 926 best previous record for 107 hours 1,471 miles, made by Hz score at 1 p.m. Miller, Rice, 1,674; Rivierre, 1,659; Schin- neer, 1,6 Hale 1,550; Waller, 1,541 Pierce, 1 .6; Moor 5.4; Elkes, 1,402 1,388.1; Enterman, 1,2 Gannon, Kinz, 1 Julius, 1,261 com, 1,019.6: Gray, 988; Johnson, 62 The best previous record for 109 was 1,504 miles, made by Hale. pe AEs LUETGERT SHEDS TEARS. Overcome With Emotion at Questions From His Little Boy. CHICAGO, December 10.—For the first time since his inearceration Adolph L. Luet- gert, the wealthy sausage maker, who 1s now on trial for the second time for the murder of his wife, gave way to his emo- tions last evening and wept. When court adjourned the prisoner lingered to talk with his children, Louis and Elmer, who had been brought to the court room. Little El- mer was standing on a table, his arms clasped about his father’s neck, when he said: “Papa, why don’t you come home any more? You promised to come a long while ago, but you just stay in this old Place and never come, as you said you would.” “I will come, child,” answered the man, turning away to hide the suspicion of mots- ture in his eyes, but his voice was un- Steady, and he was struggling to control himself, when Louis kissed him good-bye. “I want you to come now, papa,” per- sisted little Elmer. “Why don’t you come now?” “I car’t, child,” was the answer; and then putting the boy down he turned’ away, as though trying to get out of the room before his emotions overcame him. But the tears were not to be restrained, and his cheeks were wet before he could step across the door leading to the jail passage, while his huge frame shook with emotion as he walk- ed away. ee For the Conscience Fund. The Treasury Department has received $5 from the collector of customs at Philadel- phia to be deposited in the conscience fund. The sum was sent to the collector .y a man who said that much was due on un- paid customs. JAPANESE MINISTER HERE OPENING THE BIDS | TO WiIDEN AQuepucT BRIDGE He Has Returned From a Visit to His Na tive Land. He Contradicts Reports Regarding Opposition to Hawatian Annexation, Mr. Toru Hoshi, the Japanese minister to the United States, arrived here late this afternoon from a short visit to Japan. He was interviewed in Chicago on his way east from San Franeisco, and took occa- sion to deny the statements attributed to kim in San Francisco to the effect that Japan was bitterly opposed to the annex- jon of Hawaii, and that trouble might follow the ratification of the treaty by the Senate. “Japan,” he said, “has no disposition to st the annexatfon of Hawaii to th> United States, but at the same time it witl not withdraw its protest against the plan, for reasons that are perfectly plain and reasonable. My country has certain rights in Hawai! which it is anxious to maintain, and will stand firmly in tae maintenance of its rights and privileges acquired under the treaty with the Hawaiian government. “That there is a controversy between the two countries because of the proposition of annexation there fs no denying, but I hope to be able to bring about a peaceable solu- tinon through the medium of negotiation, and have no doubt of the result. It is the Lope of my country that we shall be able in the event of annexation of Hawali to the United States to enforce our deman¢ for indemnity for the violation of trea y rights in the expuision of Japanese immi- grants from the islands and their exclu- sion from the rights acquired under our treaty. We could not do otherwise than see that such demands are complied with and I know the United States is not wil ing to do anything that would work hard- ship and wrong to the subjects of a friend- ly_ nation. “Some thing: gard to th have been printed in re- which are not at all truthful, and, while I do not think there is a desire on the part of any one to stir up bad feeling between the two countries, the publication of false reporis is calculated to work injury;6r atleast tend to give a fals impression. Thefe is not the slight danger of a cia#h between Japan and the United rights will § mand “Tam hurrying my journey to W: ton in order to lose no time i our side of the se to the Se St e that he under n of Japan theroughly ist’ annexation I most emph that we will insist upon w deem to be our rights L stoutly m and, Knowing this country as I do, J ay no difficulty whatever in securing 1 hope nothing will be put in the an amicable adjustment of the af- nd, in fact, I apprehend nothing of The United State I am sure, nds what Japan's rights in this and will freely and willingly tes, but we will maintain our th the feeling that this country > just and grant our honorable di ut Ww Star reporter whg visited the Jap- © legation this afternoon was told that offi there hail no. knowledge of th i of another protest by Jap: st Hawaii, as reporied from Tacoma. +e a TO POSTPONE ‘THE SALE. Steps Taken in the Kansas Pacific Railway Matter. Attorney General McKenna already has taken steps looking to the postponement of the sale of the Kansas Pacific road. As on as he received a copy of yesterday's Senate resolution, he telegraphed its sub- stance to special counsel, ex-Gov. Hoadiey, at New York, with a request that he pre- pare at once a motion asking for a post- ponement for sixty days, or until about February 15. The Attorney Generai also telegraphed the President a synopsis ot the resolution. Up to noon teday Mr. McKenna had heard nothing of the reported decision of the re- organization committee, as stated by a New York newspaper, to offer the government & guarantee Lid of $6,303,000, the amount of the principal of the government's claim, nor would the Attorney General say, in speaking of the matter today, what would be done in case such an offer was made be- fore the moticn for a postponement was tiled. There is no onable doubt th this offer, if it had been made prior to the doption of the Senate resolution, would have been accepted. « It may be, it fs said, that the Pres would tonsider himself bound, in courte to the Senate, to ask for a* postponement irrespective of any offer that right now he made or, as seems probable, he might scertain the Views of tie leaders in Con- gress upon the acceptance of a bid of should it be made, and act a2- ccrdingly. The Attorney General today expressed no doubt that a postponement would be granted by the court upon the showing the government would be able to make. In adgition to the very potent reason that the Senate, represeniing the people of the whole country, had requested this ac- tion, there was ancther, he said, of little less importance. Other responsible par- ties outside of the reorganization commit- tee were just now taking an interest in the ansas Pacific road with a view, no doubt, of becoming bidders if their investigations warranted such a step. Who these parties were the Attorney General was not at lib- erty to state, but all things considered, he thougat the reasons for a postponement were ample. In the meantime the prepara- ticns for preseating the question to the court, should the reorganization committce who are understood to be the owners of a large share of the first mortgage bonds object to the delay, will be proceeded with. Ex-Gov. Hoadley was requested by the Attorney General to confer with the com- mittee today on this point and report to bim any conclusions reached. ———__e-_____ CANNOT RETURN HERE. A Chinese Merchant Who Wants to Go Home. A singular Chinese case as come to the attention of the Treasury Department. A former member of the Chinese firm of Hong Chung & Co., merehants of New York, now desires to visit ‘China and later return to this country. As a merchant he was not required to register under the act of 1893, but, meeting with bysiness re- verses, he is now compelled to perform manual labor. Under the regulations made pursuant to the provisions of our treaty with China, providing for the departure and return of Chinese laborers, certificates of registration must be furnished in each instance. The matter was referred to the solicitor of the treasury, who holds that the Chinaman has no right to return, should he leave the country. Another question invgyed in the case, but which has not ye} n passed upon, is whether the Chinaman is legally in this country. ——_-e.____. Personal Mention, Col. Bingham, assistant secretary of ag- riculture, left night for Ohio and Michigan. He will address the Farmers’ Club at Lansing, ‘and the State Grange at Columbus. = James H. Eckels, controller of the cur- rency, left today for the west. He is to make an address in St. Louls Monday be- fore a large commercial organization, on the currency, . Proposals for Finishing City Post Office Interior. A LARGE CROWD OF CONTRACTORS ———— Architect Taylor Tells What is to Be Done. WORK TO BE PUSHED —— Bids were opened at 2 o'clock this after- noon, in the office ef the supervising archi- tect of the treasury, for the interior finish and final touches of the new city post office. The operation attracted a large number of contractors and their repre- sentatives, and much interest was mani- fested. The contractors crowded around the d of the supervising architect while the bi were being read. The magnitude of the work is seen from the amount of the bids. They give some idea of what is to be done Inside the building. The following were the bidders and their bids: D. S. Hess & Co., New York, Henry Shenk, E Miles & Bradt, Atlanta, 75; Jonathan c k & Sons Chicago, $415,000; Richardson Burgess, Washington, William H. Elli E. F. Goebel, Cni- cago, Wm. Miller & , Pitts burg, Leach & Son, c - Chu , But- Cox, St. Mockabee “& D2 6. $398, on, WD. C., S1G4464; Washington, D.C. Dc. ccompa tof the bidders fixed time in which to com, The contract will be ie Hood, next few days amine all ss & C ders, are doing post of- fice and court k. ‘They nine floors. this work completed by Feb- n Of Interior Arrange: a Star report y Supe ing Architect Taylor talked as follows regard- ing the work to be don he uct of Congres tion of the buildin should be eight storie assigned the building to the general Post Offic authorizing ded the t it 3 act bove the first story Department. T a a snment of rool » ete has ore been planned to accommodate the of that department, and according to the revision of the plan the Postmaster G *The elevato as recommend- neral. ses for access to the uppe 2 near the en- trances on the 11th and J2th street frouts. The main entrance is on the Pennsylvan nt, and tk » entrances on C street pd entire by the city post citice patch of mail. “The general plan of the interior of the building is that of a series of offices around an interior court. The entire centr: tion above the second story is an 0; 5 light court 100 by 209 fect in dimensions. roofed over with orname i and covered with gla: s which is a clere story of moderate height furnished with movable tie The office rooms are all well through windows toward the four f: with additional light from the interior open lighted eades, certile. The design of the cortile is of Remanesque architecture and in harmony with the exterior, artistically enriched and relieved and creating an Imposing as well s impressive tout ensemble. The speciti- ations and drawings detail the same of steel furring, iron lathing and finish of plaster. “The floors of the corridors are to be of marble mosaic tile, of neat design, especial- ly at the stair halls and in front of the e a The corridors, stair halls and stairs » to have taarble wainscot generally five t in height. The stairs and eleva-or are to be of iron, black finish, with ornamental wrought iron railings and marble treads and platforms. The floors of the offices are to be of maple, and the decors, windows, door trim, ete., to be of white oak polished. Plaster architraves of the corridors are enriched, while the work in the offices is plain. he fifth story to be the executive floor and occupied by the Postmaster Gen- eral and his assistants, with their imme- diate clerks, is to be finished more elabo- rately than any other, as the dignity of the heads of the various departments would Suggest. “The inner walls will be of terra cotta four by six inches thick and the inner roof surfaces are to be furred with steel wire lath and plastered with asbestos, thus rendering the structure absolutely fire-proof.” Work to Be Pushed. Mr. Taylor added that it is his intention to push the Work as rapidly as possible, and to have the building completed within another year. If he can have it ready for occupancy in less than a year he will do so. It was not until some time in August that Postmaster General Gary decided upon the plans as to the interior arrange- ments. Since that time the plans and specifications had to be made in the of- fice of the supervising architect and bids advertised for. Mr. Taylor compliments his temporary predecessor, Executive Officer Kemper, on the speed made in the matter. + SCHEDULING THE BIDS. Work in the Office of the Second As- sistant Postmaster General. The entire clerical force of the second assistant postmaster general Is engaged in scheduling the bids recently opened for mail routes in those states west of the Mississippi, excepting Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa. The department has until Feb- ruary 1 to make the awards, and is pushing matters to comply with the law. As is generally known the country is di- vided into four sections, and one section is taken up every four years and contracts awarded for carrying the mail there. This year as stated the section west of the Mississippi is being considered. There was a total of 214,000 bids received. 2 There has been some adverse comment on the part of certain politicians of the method adopted by the department in awarding contracts for this work. The contention is made that competition for carrying the mail should be limited to the state and only local bidders permitted to compete. Such a plan is regarded by the post of- fice officials as not feasible. It would create discord and provides no means of protection against local combinations. —__-e+_____ Confer: Regarding Cuba. ‘Vice Consul General Springer of Havana is in Washington on leave of absence. and has had a conference with oe man as to the conditions of the of Cuba when he lett, “2 War Department Officials and the Commis- sioners Disagree, The Former Declare That the Pro- posed Changes Are of Question- able Feasibility, The officials of the War Department and the Disirict Commissioners do not agree entirely on the question of the advisability of the use of the Aqueduct bridge across the Potomas at Georgetown by street railways. The Secretary of War has just sent a re- port on the subject to the Senate committee en the District of Columbia. It was made in response to a request for an opinion on the Senate bill authorizing the widening ot the superstructure of the bridge and the laying of a single track along the east side of it for street rail , the cost to be paid by either or both of the electric companies now operating at the south end of the bridge. In 3 last, Lieut. Col. C. J. Allen, the er officer in charge of the Potomac river improvements, to whom the matter was referred, reported that he regarded it as imp able to widen the bridge, as contemplated in the bill. Gen. Wils ief of engine in forwarding this report, also expressed the opinion that it was mad- pstructure; but at calied attention to the fact that the custody of the bridge is with the Commissioners of the District of Co- lumbia and not with the War Department. able to widen the sv he same thine retary Alger indorsed the report as pws: “I am of the opinion, however, for the convenience of the traveling ic who desire to go to Fort Myer and ngton in great numbers, some provision should be made for crossing the bridge im written in May trict Commission- ubject at the re- District committee. pred the laying of a The committee r eport to the Secretary of War > Di © reported on the st_of the Senate Commissioners fa track on the bridge. ferred this f y sent » Distri a communica- t committee in- viting attention to a revised report of the chief of engineers and that of Col. Allen, id, that an examination and i in repairing the substruc- of the bridge in recent years prov that the pr 1 widening of the bridge for the placing of car tracks thereon is of qui able feasibi ty and cannot be reec- ommended, and suggesting that the d bility of reconstructing the whole bridge ure and the advisability of using the bridge for stre . tions whi missionet ‘h mainly ¢ neern the Com- of tae Dis rict of Columbia. ee AD BEEN EXCUSED. ‘Treasury Clerks LADIES H uspended for Leav- ing the Building Earty. There has been an endle: comment among Treasury suspension by Assistant Secreta: lip of two lady cler who were missing from their de: about twenty minutes before closing and who had gone to their homes. we found a few days ago tii These among nine lady clerks in the tracing division of the architect’s office who had asked for an increase of pay. Mr. Vanderlip suspended the two ladies after inquiring from the head of the bureau whether they had been excused by him. Since that time a report was made to Mr. Vanderlip that the two clerks had been ex- cused by a superior officer, although not by the one who had the authority to excuse them. It was represented to Mr. Vander- lip that they had acted as they thought right and considered their excuse a legiti- mate one. They had also finished their work, it was said. After hearing the tacts, the young ladies were restored to work, but the etfect of Mr. Vanderlip’s action has been felt throughout the Treasury, aid, in making clerks more careful in get- ng leaves of absence from the proper offi- cials, ._——o+____ LX-PRESIDENT CLEVELAND. He is Expected to Pass Washington Today. It is expected that ex-President Cle lard will arrive in this city at about 3:30 o'clock this afternoon. He will come on the Pullman hunting car Davy Crockett, and is on his way to Georgetown, S. C. Capt. Robley D. Evans will join Mr. Cleve- land here, and together they will proceed to their destination via the Atlantic Coast Line. It is not expected that the ex-Pres dent will remain in Washington more than fifteen minutes, as he desires to get to the ducking shores of the south as quickly as possible. ——_—____-e~ SAW SECRETARY Through SHER) AN. Native Hawaiians Call at the State Department. The native Hawaiians wao have been in Washington for the past few days, oppos- ing the annexation of the Islands, cailed at the State Department today, and were ad- mitted to an interview with Secretary Sherman. There were four in the party, Mr. Jas. Kaulia, president of the vaiian Patriotic League; Jos. Heleluhe, K. C. K., secretary and agent of ex-Queen Lihuokalani, and commissioner of the leaguc; Mr. David Kalanokalina, president of the Hawaiian Association, Hu! Kalai- aina, and William Auld, secretary and commissioner of the Hawaiian Association. The visitors were shown into the diplo- matic room, where Secretary Sherman met them. The interview lasted only a few minutes, and the Secretary was presented with a memorial, represented to be in be- half of 20,000 native Hawalians, protesting agairst annexation, or at least soliciting a secret plebiscite of the Hawatian popula- tion before such a course was determined upcn by the government of the United States. Secretary Sherman treated his visitors with courtesy, and, without making any promises, said he would lay the petition be- fore the Senate, which body now has the annexation treaty before it. Accordingly, he submitted the document to Senator Hoar, a member of the Senate committee on foreign relations, who yesterday intro- duced a petition in the Senate similar in terms to that received by Secretary Sher- man today. Hawaiian natives called upon several sen- ators at the Capito! today to urge their views. They have attempted no canvass of the Senate, but have received considera- ble encouragement. They claim to be making headway con- stantly and some of them even express the opinion that if a vote on a resolution of an- nexation is postponed for any length of time, even that can be defeated. The op- ponents of the treaty expect it will go over until after the holidays. Senator Davis, chairman of the commit- tee on foreign relations, declines to djvulge his plans, but his friends in the Senate say that he will be governed in his action largely by-circumstances and that he ¢x- pects to get the treaty up within the next ten days. He now has no purpose of aban- doning the plan of considering the treaty as such, and he is understood to still be very hopeful of securing the two-thirds vote nec- essary to secure annexation. ——— A Fraud Order Issued. The Post Office Department has tasued a fraud order against the German Supply Company of Poplar Mountain, N. C., for alleged swindling practiced by obtaining money for jewelry never furnished, The Evening Star is the only, afternoon paper in Washingtow that receives the dispatches of the Associated Press, It is therefore the only one in whiclr the reader can find the complete news of the world, directly trans- mitted by telegraph, up to the moment of going to press. OO ——E——— THE CIVIL SERVICE eee ee Again the Object of Attack in the House, MR. JOHNSON AGAIN DEFENDS Tt ———_-+-—_ — Office Public Trusts and Not Pos litical Possessions. BILL DEBATED eT PENSION At the opening of the of the House of Representatives today it was agreed that when the House adjourn today it be to meet cn Monday. On motion of Mr. Fors (Ill.), Saturday, December 18, was set apart for paying tribute to the memory of the late Representative E. D. Cooke of Illinois. The House then resumed the considera= tion of the pension appropriation bill,which Was debated yesterday. session Mr. Brown (Ohio) attacked the celvil service law because it protected some of the pension examining boards appointed under the last administration. He styled it an “abomination” and was lustily ap- plauded by mony of his colleagues, He said the fers of his district regarded this law as inimical to their interests, and he favored ite repeal or ra modifica= tion. red that the Presidertt edd tha the civil Al of the people, ss of his diae Mr. Sperry (Conn.) Wants to Hear, trict had denounced it, The last republican state convention of Ohio had lared against the law, and on that platform he stood. If di: y to the law were y, then he to the the 5 B the Hous us consent, agreed to close te on the bill at Mr. Bromwell (Ohio) oncurred with much said by his eague, Mr. Brown, but he insisted that true civ vice reform was e@ cardinal principle of republicanism. He believed, he said, that Grover Cleveland had done more to dis- credit the true spirit of civil service re- form than all the agencies combined, and he thought Mr. McKinley could be telied upon to bring it back to its proper chan- nel. Mr. Maxwell (Neb.) subm marks in favor of Mberal was followed by Mr. Grosvenor (Ohio), who said that, while his colleagues froza Ohio scemed to differ on the civil service ques- tion, he thought they were practicaily of i some re- ensions, and Mr. of New Laughs. one mind. So far as he was concerned, he had enlisted for the war ainst the law, His friend, Mr. Bromwell, reminded him of Daniel's York Never, a candidate for office, who, when forced to define his position’ on the temperance question, told the prohibiticnists ‘nat he favered the theory of a pron:bition law and the liberal element that he wes op- pesed to its enforcement. In discussing the pension question, Mr. Grosvenor said, if he could, he would abolish the persion examining boards and much of the expense of admir ration in and substitute a general ed. z" In reply to Mr. Nortor "s criticism yester- day, Mr. Grosvenor reviewed the records of the two parties cn the pension legisla~ tion of Congress, showing that in the ag- gregate 1,204 republican votes Were cast in Congress for general pension legislation and but two against, while 412 democratic votes had teen in favor of such legislation and 816 votes in opposition. Mr. Sullivan (Miss.), in support of an ar- gument against the payment of pensions to those who were wealthy and did not need them, quoted at length from an article re- cently written by Gen. H. V. Boynton, whose testimony against abuses in the present system, he said, was entitled to re- spectful consideration by the other side. Mr. Johnson (Ind.) spoke in defense of civil service reform, which he said was be- ing attacked on this floor by members from the President's own state, reiterated his Jee Cannon in an Explaining Mood. tement of the other day that civil ser. wager rath Rien My principle of Bune of stave He referred to the declara~ Tepublican conventions an&