Evening Star Newspaper, December 14, 1897, Page 2

2 a a@ vote with which he was better satisfie Then Messrs. Capnon (Ill) and Bingham (@Pa.). who had voted against the law, re- iterated their adherance to the original purpose and scope of the law, but their A Pennsylvania Congressman Emerg- ing From the Cloak Room. epposition to its broad extension by ex- ecutive orders. Tke latter explained that the law was passed under suspension of the rules, practically without debate, and never contemplated an extensicn by +x- ecutive orders that would cover $7,000 gov- ernment employes. There was much appiause and laughter during this series of statements, and Mr. Deckery (Mo.) suggested that the members of the other side to save time have leave to file their apologies for voting for the law. Mr. Barrett, continuing, insisted that the Jaw was a republican measure, passed by republican votes, and that the party was irrevocably committed to the policy of civil service reform. -The republicans of Massachusetts, he said. believed in leaving he law and its administration to the re- Joe Cannon Paces the Aisle. publican power in the White Ho Mr. Moody (Mass.) said he on the civil a ng and he did not propose to give a nent In advance. Grosvenor commended this state- All he asked was that the House msider the and reful judgment. he states- hip that doesn’t do its own thinking,” said he, “the statesmanship that only re- spects what others say is the statesman- ship the parrot displays in the course of his morning ablutions.” _(Laughter.) Taxation or Retrenchment. Mr. Dockery (Mo.) discussed the amaz- ing growth of the expenditures of the government during the recent years. The ordinary expenses of the government ex- clusive of the public debt for the last eight years exceeded those of the preced- ing eight years by $1,000,000,000 in round numbers. In view of this fact there were only two wa! he said. to bring the re- pts and expenses together. Either taxa- tion must be increased or the expenses must be curtailed. If the expenses were to be reduced Congress alone couid not accomplish much without the ald of the Hepburn (fowa) in Excited ‘Debate. executive branch of the government. spite the President's appeals in his onomy, the executive branch nment had submitted to Con- for appropriations of $27,- appropriations for of the committee rose and Mr 9 addressing the chair ker, as is well known the es of the mother of the te of the nation are to take our, and, therefore, conform- ction of the Senate and as a our sympathy and respect for nt, 1 move that the House do was unanimo. House adjow ly carried and at 1 until tomor- 1:45 the row. ent being taken until tomorrow out of respect to President who is teday in attendance upon ul of his mother. The motion to adjourn was made by Mr. ar (Mass.). “All senators,” said he, “are magistrate of the nation. ttendance upon the funeral Out of respect to him, and on of our sympathy for him iction, I move that the Senate do ond the introduction of bills and resolutions was transacted. Among the bills introduced was one by Mr. Kyle (S. D.) to change the immigra- tion laws of the United States. He gave notice that at the proper time he would offer the bill as a substitute for that which fs now pending before only one feature,” bitl differ materia before the Senate. My bill provides t all immigrants shall have their test of edu- cation made by the United States consuls at the peints nearest to their homes. It is @ sertous hardship for these people to cross the ocean with the prospect staring them in the face of failing in the test at the port of a foreign country. This feeling of stage fright doubtless so seriously affects many of them that they are unable to do them- selves justice in reading the prescribed sec- tions of the Constitution of the United States. The measure I have offered is to remedy wiat I regard as a defect in the measure now under consideration in the Senat ~ At 12:15 p.m. the Senate adjourned. PREPARING PLANS Patriotic Women Gather to Help the Great University Project. COMMITTEES CONSIDERING SUBJECTS Business Meetings to Follow That Promise Important Developments. SOME OF THOSE PRESENT There was a notable gathering of repre- sentative American women today in the banquet hall of the Hotel Raleigh, and the object which brought them together was well calculated to inspire just such patriotic zeal as they evinced. The oc- casion was the meeting ofthe executive board of the George Washington memorial committee, the purpose of which is to arouse interest in the proposed National University in this city, which the immortal Washington suggested, and for the estab- lishment of which he bequeathed a legacy of $25,000 by his will. The ladies composing the committee have Planned to raise $250,000 to erect a me- morial to Gen. Washington in the shape ot a building te be devoted to the offices of the administration cf the university. The sessions today were private, but there were many interesting reports made from coi- mittees and suggestions received from members present. Several plans were pre- sented. One was to secure $25,000 in time to lay the corner stone of the proposed building in December, 1899. It was also suggested that February 22, Washington's birthday, be made a day of national offering to the fund, and that the children of the public schools throughout the country should be invited to contribut 1 cent each to the fund. iu All these plang and others presented were referred to the committee on plans which Was sppointed to consider and report upon them Thursday. Committees were aiso ap- peinted on nominations and_ certificates. These bodies will also report Thursday. Prominent People Present. Among those present at the meeting were the chairman, Mrs. Ellen A. Richardson, Boston; vice chairman, Mrs. Calvin S. Brice, Ohio; Mrs. Wm. T. Carter, Pennsyl- vania; Mrs. H. H. Adams, Connecticut; Mrs. W. A. Roebling, New Jersey; Mrs. Clara R. Anthony, Massachusetts; Mrs. I. S. Boyd, Georgia; Mi: ‘harlotte F. Dailey, Rhode Island; Mrs. William Reed, Mary- land; Mrs. Hope S. Chamberlain, North Carolina; Mrs. L. D. M. Sweat, Maine; Mrs. . K. McNeil, South Carolina; Mrs. Alice B. Castieman, Louisville, Social Movemenis of Delegates. ‘The social entertainment of the visiting Gelegates will be marked by many pri affairs, while they will have g pleasant iound of sightseeirg. There, will be an irformal reception at the Raleigh tonight, a drive around Washington, including vis- its to Congressional Library, the Smuith- senian and the proposed site of the Na tiona! University, originally designated b: George Washington, will be taken tomor- row afternoon; Thursday afternoon will be devoted to an excursion to Mt. Vernon, and there will be a banquet Taursday night at the Raleigh. The meeting of the committee-at-large will take place tomorrow morning, when the aims of the meeting will be set forth and a history of the movement be given. =e DOVER CASTLE BURNED. Historie Fort Compictely Gutted by Flames Today. DOVER, England, December 14.—Dover Castle, as this dispatch ts sent, is on fire. The officers’ quarters have already been gutted, and the main block is involved. The whole garrison is fighting the flames. The powder magazine is threatened. The eastern portion of Dover Castle has Leen completely gutted and the flames have spread to the western portion. Efforis are being made to save articles of historic and artistic value, which ahe numerous in that Part of the castle. There is lttle doubt that most of the fortress is doomed. The fire was quenched at 4 p.m. a ALLEGED ILLEGAL TRACKS. Secretary Bliss Sends a Communica- tion to Congre: A communication was received at the House today from the Secretary of the In- terior stating that he had submitted to the Attorney General affidavits from citizens of Washington alleging the illegal occu- pancy of New York avenue between 5th and 7th streets northwest by the tracks of the Eckington and Soldiers ‘Home railway; also the alleged illegal occupancy by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad of a tract of land between Delaware avenue, H street, G street and Ist street northeast. He had recommended the Attorney General to take action against the corporations if the facts should warrant. ee Why Statesmen Distrust Newspapers, From the Atlanta Constitution. Few congressmen will admit in private that they are statesmen. But the news- papers ace not so cautious. Perhaps that is the re: congressmen describe the newspape! untrustworthy. If so, it is a very good reason. ——+-2—___. To Be Examined by a Board. Gen. Wilson, chief of engineers, has ap- pointed a board of engineer officers, con- sisting of Lieut. Col. Charles J. Allen, Capt. G. W. Goethals and Capt. David DuB. Gail- rd, to examine and report upon a me- device presented by Messrs. Henry W. McCorry and O. G. McCall, designed to perform the duties of dredging boats. The main feature of the device is a system of automatic gates operated by the action of the tides. Its merits will be tested by the board at the tidal reservoir, near the Long bridge. _——e—_____ INJUNCTION ASKED FOR. Regular Army and Navy Union Pro- ceeds Against New Body. Suit was today instituted in the Supreme Court of the District by Attorney Tracy L. Jeffords, representing the “Regular Army and Navy Union of the United States of America, to enjoin a new organ- ization from operating under the name of the old one. The bili recites that the original organization is composed of about 10,0) members, representing every state 1 territory in the Union. It was incor- perated under the laws of Ohio about ten years ago, and among its members are a number of senaiors and congressmen. a The Christmas Tree. Messrs. Rudolph, West & Co., the-hard- ware dealers of 1004 F street and 522 10th street, are prepared for Christmas. Many of the mechanical devices, they handle have a holiday use. In keeping with the season they have displayed in their window a tastefully dressed Christmas tree, just as the modern Santa Claus would leave it. Be- sides all the fancy decorations, miniature sas jets and gas lamp posts take the piace vf the old and dangerous wax candles. A Substantial iron fence surrounds all. The tree holder deserves special attention, as it is one in which water is kept, which keeps the tree fresh and green and prevents its catching fire. The display is not only amusing for the children, but ft will give brs parents some ideas about tree decora- tion. poe ae Secretary Gage’s Currency Bill. Secretary Gage will appear before the House committee on banking’ snd Gifténcy Thursday and submit to them, in the form recommenda: of a general bill, his tions. re- cently made to Ae BIDAG ar—res THE EVENING ATTEMPT ON WEYLER'S LIFE Supposed Anarchist Found With His Hands and Feet Tied. Rumor in Madrid That the Cuban Re- formists Will Demand Trial of Former Captain. MADRID, December 14.—A supposed an- archist, disguised as a woman, was recent- ly found with hands and fee tied, in a ditch near Saragossa. The man traveled on the same train as General Weyler, and it is be-. lieved he intended to kill the general, but owing to his failure to do so other anarch- ists pinioned him and left him to his fate. The minister of marine, Admiral Bernejo, is paying urgegt attention to the improve- ment of the Spanish navy. ~ It is announced that General Azcarraga, the late premier, and former minister of war, is to retire definitely from politics, The managing committee of the con- Servatives has decided to dissolve, that party, dividing between Senors Sylvela and Robeledo. - General Weyler received the leaders of the conservatives and several generals yesterday. The newspapers here say tht the Cuban reformists, at the reopening of the Cortes will demand the trial of Gen- eral Weyler. a Major Armes’ Application. Major George A. Armes, U.S.A., retired, has made formal application to the War Department for the brevet of Meutenant colonel for specially meritorious services curing the Indian campaign of Republican river many years ago. —_-e-—____—_ ALEXANDER McDONALD DEAD. Prominent Virginia Editor and Once Minister to Persia. LYNCHBURG, Va., December 14.—Alex- ander McDonald, ex-minister to Persta, died here this afterncon. His death had been expected for several days. He was born in Lynchburg about seventy years ago and had lived here nearly all his life. He was connected with the Lynchburg Virginian from 1850 until 1893, and as ed- itor of the paper was well known to politi- cians throughout the old dominion. In 1891 he was elected to represent the Lynchburg district in the Virginia senate and was a member‘of that body when ap- pointed minister to ersia. He visited Eu- 1cpe on several occasions as United States commissioner. He was sent to the Vienna exposition, and some years later to the Paris exposition. —— Books and Busine From the Chicago Times-Herald, J ice is done to Librarian Spofford of Washington in the telegraphic announce- ment that large amounts of unpaid money erders have been found by his successor in ‘fice. By all competent judges the short- in the Congressional Library accounts believed to be the natural result of ing business affairs in the hands of a F. r. This opinion was fully confirmed to the general public when Librarian Spof- ford paid all claims in full. It is easily seen that library work falls into two depart- ments, one of hooks, the other of finance, ach demanding ability of the first ciass. No man should be expected to fill all the demands of both. The country at large is to be congratulated in having in the Con- ssioral Library a scholar of Librarian Spofford’s international reputation anda- man of affairs and letters equally as well known, Librarian Young. — ++e—___. A Wise Young Woman. From tke Chicago Times-Herald. A Wisconsin young woman who was the proud possessor of a title has just discarded the handle to her name and married a poor ycuth who would consider {it a great in- ecnvenience to have the title in the house. Could anything better {illustrate the con- trariness of the sex? If that young woman had not had a title and had had a little m.oney the poor American boy would have stood no show whatever. She would have been pricing the goods in the foreign mar- ket, and would have looked upon the home product with scorn. However, the story furnishes an idea of some value. If we can only arrange to provide our girls with titles before marriage we may be able to keep them on this side of the Atlantic. The Heathen Chinee is Peculiar. From the Louisville Times. “Gee Joe” speaks some English, and his remarks are always accompanied by a bland, childlike smile, such as Bret Harte mentions in his poem about Chinese free labor. One day the Chinaman was talking about religion. “Are you a Christian, Gee Joe?” asked a lady, curiously. “Oh, yes; I go churchee; I one very good man. I real Melican man.” “And where do you go?” asked the lady, who was charmed to find that the influ- ences of religion and civilization had con- verted the heathen. “Oh,” remarked Joe, “I go Warren Me- morial Churchee now. I Presbyterian, but when I was in other town I Baptis’. I go churchee where do me most good. Gee Joe real Melican man.” And the airy manner in which he dis- coursed ot the practical side of his relli- gion, which was evidently for revenue only, cast a pall over the good. woman, and she now questions whether it pays to convert such heathen or not. Se To Fight a Musical Duel. San Francisco Dispatch to the Chicago ‘Tribune. There is to be a duel in this town. In- stead of swords and pistols, there will be batons and horsehair bows. The seconds will be second violins and bass viols and scunding brass, and the green sward, where the duelists meet, a theater or con- cert hall, all because two musicians have fallen out. Frank Kuba, a Bohemian violinist, quite prominent in musical circles, wants to meet in combat Fritz Scheel, the conductor of fashionable symphony concerts, and settl their troubles by personal combat. Kuba, in his challenge to Scheel, which is addressed to the president of the Orphe- us Musical Club, says: “I challenge Scheel to carry out a musical duel between me and herself, which shall be arranged on some afternoon as a matinee, and to ac- complish a certain program, each to lead about four or so of his own compositions under his own baton and under the auspi- ces of the club."" Kuba admits that swords would suit him better as weapons, ——__—__-o+—____ A Cure for Dizziness in Elevators. From the New York Teitune. Now that the elevator has become such an important instrument In connection with our civilized life, and so many thousands. ere using it every day, and as a goodly proportion of this number are troubled with a sense of dizziness whenever they attempt its use, allow me to bring to the attention of your readers a remedy which is as efficacious as it is simple of applica- tion. Believing the cause of this sensation of dizziness to rest with the circulatory and not with the nervous system, the writer some years ago tried the effect of simply inhaling a breath just before the elevator started (either up or down), and holding his breath for a few seconds, till the ele- vator got well under way; and to his great pleasure no dizziness occurred. The explanation is very simple. The maintenance of the inflated condition of the lungs renders tense the system of blood vessels throughout the whole body, thus preventing the extra fullness of the blood vessels of the brain which otherwise occurs when the sudden movement is downward, and vice versa, that of vacuity of the blood vessels of the cranial cavity when the sudden movement is in the up- ward direction. oo The London Times referring to rumors that the British government contemplates inpating countervailing duties on bqunty- fed sugar, asserts it is anticipated that a European conference may be held ere long to discuss the possibility of abolishing the bounty system. SAH wn wat ro STAR, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1897-16 PAGES. AFTER: :MORE LANDS Territorial Acquisition, BERATING 85: MONROE DOCTRINE Scheme - to. €olonize Argentina and.Seize It. thrown into frequent company with a Prominent German official who is known to be am intimate friend of the emperor, and one of the most prominent men at the court of Herlin. As I am going to quote him, I cannot give his name, but what he told me was, to me at least, such startling news that it would be worth discussion if it came from one much less important. Even how true it is I have not been able to discover, but if such a state of affairs exists curely many who have taken @ greater interest in trans-equatorial affairs will be able to confirm or deny his state- ments. At any rate, I can assure you that the men talking is so close to the ambi- tious young emperor as to practically echo imperial ideas on all public questions. And in this matter he openly praised the lead which the emperor had taken. He sald: “You Americans are a wonderful people You have had a wonderful success—too wonderful. The day will come when you will have your reverses, You have grown strong too quickly. You are too confident. No one but an overconfident nation would put forth such a foolish international prop- gsition as your accursed (verfluchtiger) Monroe doctrine. You have frightened the English with it, but that was because Eng- land is so friendless and helpless. You will not find us so easy to back down. I asked what he was going to do to make us try. Build; = 5 A STARTLING PROGRAM ——_.—____ Written-for The Evening Star. Certain leaders in the German empire are itching .to lay hands upon the Monroe doc- trine. This disquiet inGerman over our for- eign policy has been brewing ever since the violent outbursts of the German official press over the Venezuelan affair. It has for a basic cause certain well defined im- Perial plans long since matured in connec- tion with the policy to be pursued in the new world. And even if I had not received an outline of them from one very near to the German throne and which I intend in this to make public, it would be easy to dis- cover many recent incidents throwing light upon these plans as well as upon the sen- siliveness of leading Germans upon the whole subject of our position in regard to the foreign affairs of all American gov- ernments. Father of the Colonial Policy. Even recently Prince Bismarck, in an interview, at first denied, but since fully confirmed, took occasion to berate the Mon- Toe doctrine suundly, as wholly untenable and one which Germany would be always compelled to disallow. Although the old chancellor is out of touch with the present government at Berlin, he has no greater hope than to see it continue the plans which he made for the world-wide exten- sion of imperial Germany. He is the father of the colonial policy of the empire, and it is the one of his plans to which his rebellious imperial pupil has steadfastly ad- hered. However much they may disagree upon other points, upon this the young emperor and the old premier are in accord. It was fear that his plans were not being sedulously followed which led to the im- portant Friederichsruhe disclosures of last year, when the Bismarckian organ pubiish- ed letters and secret treaties showing how the old man had carefully maintained, in spite of the triple alliance, a secret pledged agreement of neutrality with Russia, which as long as it existed prevented the consum- mation of the present Franco-Russian al- liance. When this alliance was an estab- lished fact and it was felt all over Europe that Germany-had- lost prestige in conse- quence, the old man of blood and iron did not hesitate to let the world know that such a loss. would have been impossible had his policy been adhered to. He took pains at the same time to roundly abuse the then administration of foreign affairs at Berlin for forgetting the splendid imperial policy which had been so successfully sét on foot under the old etnperor. No doubt his publi- cation of these facts did d. Not only has the present emperor been doing eyery- thing in his power to’ keep up a great show of an understanding with Russia, but he has, on every oceasien, assured his people that the efforts of the government for the extension of German colonies would never cease. x Plans Brewing in Berlin. And he tells the truth. There aré brewing ivr‘Berlin’ plans. for ¢onquest and annexation which if widely known would “astonish ‘fifto turmoil the whole world.-and naturaily these plans find in the “Monroe doctrine a serious stumbling block. If only the young emperor and his fol- lowing tad a free hand the world would see much more sensational developments than the threatening of small govern- ments like Haiti or the occupation of un- defended Chinese ports. But there is a large opposition in the reichstag to the emperor's worid politics (welt politic) as they are called. But this opposition ts mostly agrarian and must in time be over- ridden by commercial interests always In favor of colonial expansion. The wonder- ful growth of German commerce within recent years will make the commercial power dominant over the agriculturists. Added to this the present actual hardships of over population wil! continually present an element in favor of colonial growth. I fully believe that when the time is ripe for the emperor to make a play for rule of the colonies he has in view he will find united Germany at his back, in fact will find this outside diversion a means of solidifying Gisunited factions at home. Germany Wants Territory. Germany feels greatly the need of ad- ditional territory over which to distribute her constantly- increasing population, and at the same <ime to hold them as sona of the fatherland. The emperor said last summer to some Americans at Hamburg, that his great admiration for America (the United States) was swallowed up in his grief, that so many thousand of the best men of Germany, being crowded out at home, had gone there and given up their aliegiance to himself. ‘The fatherland has reed of them,’ ‘he said, “and cannot efford to lose such bone and sinew merely for lack of ground space at home. We taust have colonics, we w!!i have colonies where they can go to make their fortunes and yet be still ready when called upon to stand for the rights of the empire.” I happened to know that in saying this he was giving expression to what is his dear- est scheme. He talks of, dreams of and thinks of nothing else but the building of world-wide empire. And he is not half so apt to upset the peace of Europe as the peace of’the world in the furtherance of these plans. So far Germany has not been very suc- cessful with her colonial ventures. Her African possessions are annually the dump- ing ground of thousands of emigrants, but owing to climatic conditions and the hostile natives, these never seem to thrive and are constantly returning home or leaving to be- come citizens of more favored provinces. This last is a great grief to latter-day cm- pire builders. Looking into the far future, they see a need for every possible man and will do all in thetr power to retain his al- legiance. But this f* not to speak of the general schemé of territorial aggression which the rulets of Germany have mapped out. It only concerns those with which the Monroe doctrine will have to deal and one of them in particular; which seems to be a matter of currént ebmment in Germany, but: with whici I believe citizens of this ceuntry are but, littke acquainted. Need fot a Darger Navy. The’ action ofthe Germans toward Haiti dees not probably look to territorial ag- gression, at léast not immediately. But nothing would better coincide with imperial plans than to Have stich an excellent: conl- ing station in“Haitf' as England has in Jamaica. To'optain these statfons as*rap- idly as possible’to meet the demands of the constantly increasing navy is one of the primary steps in the-keneral scheme. The recently submitted plans of the present government show..4, proposed increase in the German navy such as has never been casried out in the history of modern ship building. And these immense squadrons are not to be bullt for the protection of the shores of the fatherland. The constant ar- gument urged to support the emperor's naval schemes is based upon the need for territorial expansipn. And this, the argu- we A obtained without ‘ips, Germany more rampantly mad on this subject, than are the other Up Argentina. “To have the finest colony in South America, Argentine,” was the confident reply. “We have been making our prep- arations there for years. You have no idea how many good German emigrants we have sent there, more than a hundred thousand in the last few years, and they are still going. What is more, they are not giving ip their citizenship, as they do when they go to you, those unpatriotic ones. These all know why they are going, and what they are expected to do. Many are in the employ of the government, on secret allow- ances, and they are looking after the growth cf German sentiment. Why, I am so filled with the scheme that when my fifteen-year-old boy is grown I am going to send him out there, although perhaps by that time he will not even have to as- sist in making preparations; the work may be done. It is a splendid country. I was down there on a tour of investigation five years ago, and all it needs is gocd govern- ment to make it one of the finest colonies on earth. German commerce already has done its work. We are in the closest kind of communication with all of the great business men of the republic, and when the time comes they are really the men who settle matters. Preparing to Meet the Monroe Doc- trine. “We must have more territory and we are not going to the trouble to get any more which 1s uninhabitable. This time We will know what we are about. We have been making our plans carefully for years and do you suppose we are going to have them all overthrown by you merely be- cause you are a few thousand miles nearer than we. Next thing we of the old coun- try know you will be claiming a right to interfere between England and a possibly rebellious Australia merely becat you are nearer to the island than the English. We wili not make our play until we have made every preparation you may be sure we will be prepared to meet your ridiculous Monroe doctrine and any strength it may bring forth. We have measured your possible strength well. We have no Canada to be fearful of. We have nothing you can attack near at home. There with your wonderful resources we admit that you are almost invulnerable. But if we should with or without the con- sent of its people conclude to seize the Argentine” Republic what would yeu do about it? You would either have to fight us there or at home. We certainly would not come to you to settle a quarrel with which you, we contend, have nothing at all to do. Are you or will you ever be prepared to carry war into a far away ene- my’s country? “The one difficulty for us are those mis- erable agrarians and socialists at home, who continually hinder the emperor's weld- politic. Had it not been for them we would have been a great colonial power already. And in regard to this South American af- fair no one knows when the proper mo- ment may come for us to step in. Th South American governments are so certain that one who has interests at stake must be always prepared. We keep always two or three men-of-war in the harber at Buenos Ayres to be ready at any moment to land troops. So that even now we are ready, although not so pre- pared as we should like to be. And what are you going to do about it?” Investigation Without Result, All of this was such revelation to me that it took my breath av.ay, and I was not able to furnish elther answering argu- ments or answering threats. His earnest- ness was such that it made’a great impres- sion on me, almost as much as my aston- ishment that such things could go on un- der our very ndses at home and we know nothing of them. I had noticed the very marked and unusual soreness in all official Germany over the Monroe doctrine. Here is, perhaps, the key to the situation. Cer- tainly I was not dreaming, and certainly the man who was talking is in a position to know all of the plans of German lead- ers. I have tried to make some investigation to see what could be learned of the actual exient of this German propaganda in the Argentine, but with little success. There are no actual figures available which show anything except the undoubted great growth of German commerce, but those figures are the same almost everywhere. There is admittedly a large number of Ger- man population in the Argentine, but this is also true of almost every other Ameri- can country. The Argentine minister here oificially says that he knows nothing about it, and privately that he does not believe a word of it. But his private belief proves nothing. We have as available facts, first, the intense sensitiveness of the German government to every proposal of the Mon- roe doctrine, although, so far, there are no German interests to be affected thereby. We have, next, word directly from the center of the men who rule the German empire that they intend to seize one of the largest countries of South America. We have indisputable evidence of a determina- tion of this kind as regards territorial ex- pansion generally in the present conduct of German affairs. On the other hand, we have the private belief of the Argentine minister. We have confidence in our own strength and the coifidence of right. And we have incredu- lity that any such monstrous scheme of land grabbing could be seriously contem- plated this late in the history of affairs, even with the prevalent mad reign of im- perialism in Europe. Who can justly weigh the matter tn the balances? It is only easy in lookirg forward to predict that the next promulgation of the famous policy which is practically cur whole for- eign code will be read = Sones ets n. She so evidently wishes to hear it. Jeno! DIPLOMATICUS. —____-2-______—_ Senator Peffer Made a Little Fortune. From the Louisville Courier Journal. It is said that Peffer made money in the Senate. He lived in a very frugal style. For the term his salary was $30,000; he re- ceived $2,100 mileage and $750 on stationery account. His wife or daughter was his private secretary, for which he received during the term $7,200. Another member of the family was borne on the pay-roll of the Senate, and as $1,000 per annum is a moderate salary for a Senate employe, let it go at that—$6,000. Thus the Peffer fam- ily received from 1891 to 1897 the sum of $46,050, Add to this the amount the sena- tor received for contributions to newspa- pers and you have a snug little fortune. It is not to his discredit that he saved his money. It is to his credit, on the other hand, that he looked on senatorial life as a serious business and not as a continuous junket. He was never seen about the ticker that recorded the stock prices on the Wall street exchange. He attended no swell ms. He was not known in laces haunted by the diplomatic corps. If Re went to the seashore it was to restore his health, not for a good time. All his life he had labored. He was a farmer, and so painstaking, you may be sure that when he shucked an ear of corn he left not one silk a tt European governments, The whole | duty. He studied law in the camp, was ad- Sentioent is alive t6 nothing but Vipectale mitted to the bar In 1865, and for a long ism, as this land-grabbipg fever is called, | time practiced his profession and edited two But in that few of them have plans looking | ews=papers the while. The greatest calam- in our direction, we hear 1 from tl i ; upon.the subject of the Motiroe ae not have the ceaseless ee <i ‘ lo 4 .. Intellectually it is a step down German protests ite eerie ‘trom Jim Lane.or John 4. Ingalls to interests at x ‘iiliam. Peffer, but there were many wis UNBi a tors than Peffer-in the Fifty- Mohoed. second, Fifty-third and: Con- Recently, in diplomatic duty, I was | gresses. thoroughly and. fl ra sake FINANCE AND TRADE Stock Market Was Irregular With Optimistic Sentiment, COAL SHARES IN GOOD DEMAND Consolidated Gas Broke 3 Per Cent—Sugar Recovered. GENERAL MARKET REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. NEW YORK, December 14.—The course of prices in today’s stock market was de- cidedly irregular, but prevailing sentiment is unmistakably optimistic. London cables reflected gains varying from \% to ‘2 per cent, but the trading at that center was about evenly ‘divided between the two ac- counts, St. Paul was sold during the early trading, and the Northern Pacific issues brought on the increase of $162,000 in earn- ings of the first week in the month. This increase was a trifle larger than re- able estimates, but locally there were evi- dences of moderate realizing on the publi- cation of the facts. The coal shares were in better demand than the general list, as the result of more gratifying returns from the trade. A large skort interest in certain members of this group aided the effort to advance prices. A decline of 3 per cent in Consolidated Gas had a tendency to unsettle prices in all departments, but the selling was largely of a professional nature. There is a growing skepticism on the part of the room as to the value of gas proper- ties at the present level, but owing to the substantial character of the buying prices are substantial in spite of sentiment. Southern railroad preferred will in all likelihood declare a dividend of 1 per cent in the near future, and recent purchases have consequently been of an exceptionally good character. There is no concerted ef- fort to force an advance, however, and for this reason the stock will likely re- flect conditions having a general applica- tion. The market is narrow in a sense, but commission houses are identified with a greater percentage of the business than is usual in times of disinterestedness on the part of the pubiic. The holiday trade and the customary semi-annual interest: dis- bursements_are likely to afford sufficient incentive to steadiness if not to actual im- of funds demanding re- There will be money available s of purity bargains from now on, and in the sence of some unfore- seen development, ch as legi: prises, the declines from the pre: are more likely to provide a foundation for improvement than to encourage material depri i Today's market reflected this view to a considerable degree, the buying at the af- ternoon decline being rather superior to the selling. Sugar recovered 1 per cent of a loss sustained during the weak morning period and less active issues added frac- tionally to their low level. Selling for a turn was noticeable at times, but there is no organizaticn on the part of that in- terest. Dullness is the one factor uow op- erating against a fuller reflection of gen- eral conditions. —+ FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The following are the opening, the high- est and tne lowest and the closing prices of the New York stock market today, as re- ported by Corson & Macartney, members New York stock exchange. Correspondents, Messrs. Moore & Schley, No. & Broadway. American Spirits.. American Spirits, American Sugar. American Sugar, Canada Pacific Chesapeake & . & St. Loui cago, B. & Q. Chicagoa Northwest Chicago Gas. CM. & St. ‘ C M.& St. Paul, Chicago, R.1. & Pacifi Chicago, St. Paul, M.&0 Consolidated G Del. Lack & W . Uhnois Centrat Lake Shore Louisville @ N Metropolitan Tractiot Manhattan Elevated. Michigan Central Missouri Pacitic. National Lead Co... National Leua Co.. pr New Jersey Centr: New York Centrat. 4 Wabash, pfd. Western Union sliver... Washington Stock Exchange. Sales—regular call—12 o'clock m.—West E: tional Bank, 10 at 194, 1v at Lod, 5 at 104. States Electric Light, 10 at Carriage, 100 at 54 cents, 100 a Na- United Gun cents, 100 at 55 cents, 100 at 54 enthaler Lino- type, 5 at 142%, 10 at 14214. Lanston Monotype, 5 nt 19%, 2 at do. After call—National Sate De- pratt, Tiwet. 30 at 305. ight, 10 xt 101, 10 at 102. “Disirict ‘of Columbia Bonds.—20-year Fund 100 bid. 30-year Fund. gold 6s, 110 W Stock currency 7s, 1901, 111 bid. Water Stock 1903, 111 bid. Fund. currency 3.65s, United States Electrie Sa, r asi oiitan I. btedness, A, 125 bid, {30 asked. Metropolitan %. Certificate Indebtedness, B, 112% bid. Belt 5 a Ht. I. 6s, 90 bid. Washington o., on Gas Co., ser. B, 113 Vid. United States Electric Light Deben: 102 bid. Chesapeake and Potomac Tele- phone 5s,’ 10) bid. American Security avd Trust Ss, F. abd A., 100 bid. American Security and Trust Ss, A. and O., 100 bid. Washington Market Co. Ist 6s, 110 Md.” Washington Market Co. imp. Gs, 110 bid. Washington Market Co. exten. 6s, 110 bid. Masonic Hall Association 5s, 107 bid. Washingto Light Infantry Ist @2, 90 bid, 200 sk asked. National Bank Stocks.--Bank of Washington, 275 Md, 300 asked. Metropolitan, 300 bid, 315 asked. Central, 200 bid. Farmers and Mechanies*, 180 id. Second, 140 bid. Citizens’, 125 bid. Colum- 130 bid. Capital, 120 bid: West End, 104 bid, 106 asked. ‘fraders’, 97 bid. Lincoln, 108 bid, 110 asked. Safe Deposit snd Trost Companies. Safe Deposit and Trost, 120 askel. Loan and Trust, 120 tid, 125 asked. Security and Trust, 146 bid, 150 asked. Railroad Stocks.—Capital ‘Traction Company, 62% bid, 64 asked. Metropolitan, 119% bid. Colnimbia, 68 asked. nd Electric Light Stocks.—Washington Gas, bid, 47 asked. Georgetown Gas, 40 bid. United States Electric Light, 9 bid, 100 ‘asked. Tusurance Stocks.—Firemen’s, 30 bid. Franklin, . Metropclitan, 65 vid. Corcora Potomac, 64 bid. Ari German-American, bid. 8 People’ bias 6 asked” Lincoln, OM a 8 ae |, 4 Md, 4% asked. Insurance Stocks.—Keal Estate tle bid, 100 asked. Columbia Title. ante bid. Lo) Ww Title, Stocks.. peake and Potomac. exports 34,253 els. Hay quiet and steady. iy, $12.90 asked. Grain freights fairly active and easy — steam to Liverpool pec bushel, 4d. December: Cork for orders per quarter, &s.¢d. January, is.6d. Peb- Tuary. Sugar strong, unchanged. Hutter quiet, nnchanged. | Eggs and cheese steady, nachangod. Whisky unchanged. > Grain, Provisions ad Cotton Markets Furnished by W. B. Hibbs & Co., bankers and brokers, 1427 F st., members New Yor® stock exchange, correspondents Messra Ladenburg, Thalmann & Co., New York. GRAIN, . Mich. Lew. Clone. Pork~ Mav... rd—May. Ribs—May Month, a Quotations reported by Corson & Macart- rey, bankers. 2 per cents, registered... 4 per cents, conpon of ioe . Tegistered of 19: a of 5 , cents of 1898 Currency 6 per cents of 1809 + POWER OF A METHODIST BISHOP. Eighteen Men Who Have Spiritual Rule Over Many Millions. From the Church Economist. The Methodist Church is one of the most highly organized, or rather is the most highly organized, of all the Protestant de- nominations. But without going into mi- nute detail we may say briefly that the board of bishops Is the highest order in the Methodist system. It consists of twenty- one persons who are elected by the general conference to fill vacancies by death or deposition—a bishop cannot resign. It is within the power of the general conference to enlarge this number if, in its opinion, the needs of the church require. The new bishop is ordained with elaborate ceremon- tes, and, Methodists claim, with true apos- tolic succession through the Wesl Of these twenty-one hteen have supreme and wellnigh arbitrary jurisdiction hodism, and two of these are practically retired, thus reducing the active force to sixt How this su- jon shapes itself into routine may be indicated to show the extent and character ot this authority. There are in the Meth- odist church 124 confe: 18 of whica are in this country, while 21 are distribu through India, China, South Ame! ico and rope. ‘These confere: be called stand division of Methodism. They always subdivided into two or more s, and represent from 300 or more “charges” or chure of these conferences holds an an: sion at which a bishop must pre s associated with him in authority on such occasions what is known as the “cabinet,” a body composed of the bishop presiding elders of the confe : > sald, ts confer- ecutive of ea d is himself a person E ch confe tion with his cabinet, ppoints and announces the pastorates for the coming year, and from this decisioa there ds no appeal. A Methodist minister must either take his ignment or disobey orders and practically quit the m Only very few exceptional reasons jus such disobedience in the eves of his Te ministers church. Thus, theoret t, these twenty one bishops have tr arb! the locaticn and work of the ters of the Methodist Church—a power which cannot find a parallel outside of the Roman Catholic Church, if indeed it be equaled there. It will be observed that the Methodist bishops are not confined to a dio They much at home. These residences are fixed range for the visitation of the conferences, taking pains to observe the itinerant prin- ciple so that, roughly speaking, each bishop visits the whole church in from twelve to fifteen years. The bishop, however, has an episcopal residence, though he may not be much at home. Tihese residences are fixed by the general conference, and the choice is then made by the bishops themselves in the order of their seniority. Thus it hap- pens that a bishop often officially resides at a great di nee from the scene of the work h which ‘he is most prominently identified. Bishop Vincent's home, for ex- ample, is at Kansas City, though he is commonly associated with Chautauqua in- terests. In addition to these varied and important tasks within the bounds of our country, two or more of the twenty-one bishops are chosen to visit the foreign conferences. These mea should be carefully distinguish- ed from what are known as missionary bishops, the only Methodist bishop cor- sponding to the Anglican bishop—that is, with a well-defined and permanent diocese, and who therefore corresponds pretty close- ly to a presiding elder, though he has pre- siding elders under him. These visiting bishops travel throughout the world and are effective everywhere. It will be seen from this cursory sketcn that the group of Methodist bishops are vested with more power than any body of ecclesiastics in the Protestant Churc Bishop Fallows of the Reformed Episcopal Church once remarked: “A Methodist bishop has more power in his little finger than I have in my whole body.” It only remains to be said that this group of men exercise their enormous powers with rare wisdom, moderation and fidelity. —-—+e<+—____—_ Not His Day for Being Whipped. From Harper's Magazine. Little Johnny was eight years old, thero- fore he could look back to several Christ- mas holidays with a IMvely remembrance of what they were like, and what had taken place on those festal occasions. One of Johnny's ideas (not original with Johnny by any means, as many a parent can testify) was that it is a boy’s mission to make as much noise as possible in the world, and, in spite of frequent admonish- ing and more or less frequent whippings, he perseveringly carried out the idea on all occasions, except when he was asleep. Johnny was fulfilling his mission wit more vigor and enthusiasm than usual on Christmas morning, but nobody paid any attention to him except his aunt Jane, who was visiting Johnny's parents during the holidays, and she finally grew tired of the noise, and said: “Johnny, it is very naughty to keep up such a din and racket all the time, and if you don’t stop it I shall have to speak to your mother about it.” “Huh! Wot good’ll that do?” scornfully demanded Johnny. “Why, she will whip you if y stop,” threatened the young man’s aunt. “Guess not?” retorted Johnny, with an air of triumph. “Chris’mas ain't my day fer gittin’ whipped. I allers git whipped the day before Chris’mas and the day af- ter, but I never do on Chris'mas.” —+o+—____ Mliteracy of Spain. From the London Schcolmaster. As Spain is backward in statistics as in everything else, the latest educational re- ports attainable are those of 1889, in which the percentage of adults unable to read or write is fixed at 71.5, the highest rate of illiteracy in Europe except, perhaps, in Portugal and the Italian islands. The an- nual increase of population is from one- third to one-half of 1 per cent, against 11.65 in England. With a soil, 80 per cent of which is productive, and mineral wealth surpassing that of almost any other European country, her mineral resources f great au- ence the de hop, in upon, and the public opinion of the ma don't tt.