Evening Star Newspaper, December 15, 1897, Page 1

[ THE EVENING STAR. pe PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th St, by The Bren. Sor AERP coe Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served to sulscribers In the eity by carriers. on their own account, at 10 cents per week. or a4 cents per month. les at the counter 2 cents ench. By m.all—anywhere in the United States or Cenada—postage prepald—S0 ecats + month. ‘satcrday —— — tar, $1 per year, with joreizn portage added, . (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., as _xeccnd-clase nuatl matter.) 7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance, Rates of advertising made known on application. x Che Fvening Star. No. 13,975 WASHINGTON, D. © CIVIL PENSION LIST Animated Attack on Secretary Gage in the House. THE RETENTION OF INCOMPETENTS A Vigorous Criticisrh by Represen- tative Moody of Massachusetts. ——— BRIEF BUT WARM DEBATE SS A brief but animated discussion occurred in the House this afternoon over the propo- sition which has been advaiced by Secre- tary Gage to reduce the salaries of clerks in the department whose competency is impaired by age and to retain them on the pay rolis instead of dropping them. Mr. Moody of Massachusetts, opened the debate by declaring that Secretary Gage’s proposition was the first step in the di- rection of the establish of a civil pen- sion list. Mr. Moody said this proposition shovid be met by Congress at the very threshold. If it be true that we have a merit blishes a civil pension American people stand ready by a ; of 100 to 1 to wipe it from the beoks. He did not, however, be! tered » the civil service law fous to be any would retain in’ the public s< who are unable to Perform thei opposition from the As a friend of the merit 2 venture the statement that if this proposition was in d upon the policy of the administration in the Department the w st enemy of t system would not be Gen. Gros- venor, but would be Secretary Gage. Mr. Quizg's Question. Mr. Quisg of New York asked if it would not be infinitely brutal for the advocates ef the merit system to throw an employe cut of office in his old age after a fetime spent in the public service, and at 2 time of life he could not get employment els nd in this view of the case, if a civil pension list is not a logical con- elusion Moody replied he did not think it would be brutal to turn a man out when he can no longer perform his duties, espe- when My when he had received for years a salary d& that which he could have ined in any other employment. Johnson of Indian of the St advocates in th of the; system, 7 eggestion the leads to a civil} pension Johnson genuine ad of dreamed o jon lis’ “Don't you knov of North Carolina, sked Mr. Pearson t the chairman of vil serv- na bill to establish a pen- ice has dr sion fund? Mr. Johnson said the statement was in- correct. bill was pending somewhere in the committees ‘to deduct a sum monthly from the salaries of clerks to form a by t fund, but he was even opposed to the principle of this pian, and he believed it would never pass Congress. Intended to Cripple the Law. Mr. Johnson said this talk about a per- sien fund was a bug-a-boo conjured up to draw attention from the real object of those who aim to cripple or repeal the civil service law. At this poiat Mr. Bingham called atten- tion to the fact that debate on the civil service was out of order at this point, as an agreement had been reacted that the debate should be postponed until the con- sideration of the vill was concluded, and the discussion ended. ——_——- oe —____ AT NAVY YARDs. LABOR Amendments tu Regulations Made by the Secretary. The Secretary of the Navy has made an important amendment to the existing regu- lations for the employment of labor at navy yards. The rules have for years provided that after registration the names of appli- cants shall be carried on the eligible list for one year, and if not appointed during that time the names shall be dropped from the register. The Secretary's new order. per- mits these men to make application daring the last month of the year for retention on the eligible list without loss of numbers, the effect being to carry indefinitely the names of those who have been certified for appointment without prejudice to their standing. =e Personal Mention. Lieutenant Commander P. Garst of the Terror is at 2027 Columbia road on leave of absence. Lieutenant W. B. Whittlesey has report- ed at the Navy Department for examina- tion for promotion. Capt. B. K. Roberts. 5th Infantry, is at the Shoreham on leave. Col. J. G. C. Lee of the Quartermaster’s Qepartment is at the Ebbitt. Lieutenant J. H. Rohrbacker registered at the Navy Department today. He Is at the Army and Navy Club. Passed Assistant Surgeon F. . Wilber of the Naval Hospital, Norfolk, Va., is here on a leave of absence. - Assistant Paymaster T. 8S. O'Leary of the Nashville is at 2009 F street. Captain Henry L. Howison is here on leave of absence. Mr. Davis, assistant secretary of the in- terior, has accepted the invitation to ad- dress the Rhode Island Business Men's As- sociation at its annual banquet at Provi- dence, January 1. The resignation of Cadet Aaron H. Ru- dolph fourth class, United States Military ‘Academy, has been accepted by the Secre- tary of War. ‘apt. D. L. Brainard, commissary of sub- sistence, has been relieved from duty in New York city and ordered to New Orleans. Mr. H. B. F. Macfarland has been elected @ member of the correspondents’ press committee at the Capitol, vice L. A. Cool- de. Meeaslen Butler of North Carolina has moved from the house he has occupied for several years at 1711 Q street to the Cairo. Dr. S. L. Johnson has returned from | Cleveland, Ohio. pete Populists to Hold a Caucus. The populists have decided to hold a cau- @us tomorrow night to cutline their policies on pending questions. They will probably oppose the’ retirement of the greenbacks, the extension of further privileges to na- tional banks, the annexation of Hawaii, and faver the recognition of Cuban inde- pendence and the repeal of the civil service law. ——— Proposed Copyright Law Amendment. Senator Perkins today introduced an amendment of the copyright laws requiring the publishers of books to send six copies of each beok fublished by them to the Ii- brarian of Congress, four of these volumes ta be deposited in different cities of the country, one to go to the free public i- brary of Chicago, one to the public library of Denver, one to the free public brary of San Francisco and one to the Howard Memorial Library of New Orleans. AT THE WHITE. HOUSE/DIVIDING THE SPACE Return of the President and Members of the Cabinet. Few Callers Will Be Received Owing to the Necessity of Considering Important Business, President and Mrs. McKinley and the members of the party that went from here to Canton to attend the funeral of the President's mother, returned to the city this morning at 11 o'clock, having left Can- ton last night on a special train. Several ef the friends of the President accom- panied him to Washington. Among these were Whitelaw Reid ard Editor Kohlsaat of Chicago. The President looks worn out from the long vigil at the bedside of his mother, but he wert to his ofiice within a few min- utes after entering the White House. On his desk he found an accumulation of im- pertant mattcrs. He will devote most of the day to going cver these. The President will receive few callers the remainder of this week. It will be sary for him to have some time to attend to important affairs demand- ing consideration. It is thougat that a few nucminations will made before the Senate adjourss Satur These will be of per- sons agreed upou a good while ago. rule hes made i Anether new ance among the printed regulatio! White House. It is as follows spection of rooms other than the East room will be allowed, excepting upon ten authority of the secretary to the Presi- dent or the cfficer in charge of public build- ings and grounds.” For years there has been an unwritten rule about the inspection of the blue, gi and red rooms. When these rooms not in use by members of the W family they were open in: members of the fam and others in offi When there has been blame heretofore at failure to admut visitors it has fallen upon th officials. The new crder will change this, as Mr. Porter's au- thority will have to be produced before the ushers will open the roo: CARGO WORTH A MILLION. Barkentine Bering Brings Valuable Specimens for Smithsonian. SAN FRANCISCO, December 15.—One million dollars is the estimated value of the cargo of the Russian barkentine Bering, which arrived in port yesterday. The cargo represents the major portion of the busi- ness done by the sian Seal and Fur Company during the season just closed. By far the most tmportant item shown on the manifest is the consignment of seal skins. Of tnese there are 7,000. There are several hundred bear skins, all of the finest quality, and a large number of skins of ai- most all the animals found in the arctic regions. The Bering has also on board the fine collection of natural history specimens made by Prof. Steinecher, while he was acting as a member of the international sealing commission. These are consigned to the Smithsonian Institution and to the British Royal Museum. Capt. Gronberg of the Bering says that over three nundred miles of the trans-Si- berian railway are now completed inland from Viadivostock, which port, he declares, can be kept open the entire year by the newly constructed ice breakers. ae BELT BR. R. BONDHOLDERS. Meeting Called to Determine Future Procedure. There will be a meeting tomorrow morn- ing of the bondholders of the Belt Railway Company to consider the best course to pursue in the present emergency. It is not known, of course, what action the bond- holders will take, but it is thought the court will be asked to direct that the road be carried on in the future at an expendi- ture’ that will be at least within the re- ceipts. < If as the receiver states the present schedule is too expensive, then it will be claimed that a reduction should be made in the expenses so as to prevent an over- lapping of the receipts. It is probable that the court will be asked to direct the recelver to operate the road on this basis, and in case he should not be willing to do so, then, it is said, the bond- holders will undertake to do it. It is further said that if those whom the receiver represents should agree not to prolong or continue the present tigation by taking an appeal that the bondholders would be willing to run the road until other arrangements could be made. Saas THE MAINE REACHES KEY WEST. Significance of the Presence of a Fleet in the Gulf. The battle ship Maine arrived at Key West this morning, where she will await the other vessels of the North Atlantic squadron, now fitting out at New York. The squadron will sail south in a few days for exercises and evoluticns in the Gulf of Mexico, with headquarters at Key West. The occasion will be significant as the first time that a fleet of United States warships has been in the gulf since the outbreak ot the Cuban insurrection. ————— INTERESTING FIGURES. Statistics Showing Work of the Civil Service Commission. The Vice President today laid before the Senate a communication from the civil service commission sent in response to a Senate resolution in regard to applicants who have been examined by the commis- sion during the past seven years. From July 1, 1890, to June 30, 1891, the commission examined 212,051 applicants, of whom 125,713 passed, 31,538 were ap- pointed to places, eligible sts during that time containing the names of 115,497 ap- plicants. During the year 1896-97, 24,163 persons passed the examinations, and 3,308 were given places, or about one of every eight persons passing were so provided. In 18695-96 about one of every four who passed were given places. In 1890-91 nearly half of those who passed secured appointments, while in 1891-92 one-third of the number passing were so provided for. poe ae CURRENCY REFORM. A Compromise Me: ire Now Seems to Be Probable. The House committee on banking and currency held an animated session today. It had been planned to report to the House at once a bill embodying the President's financial recommendations,and Mr. Broslus, from a subcommittee, made a favorable recommendation on this course of pro- cedure. It was sharply opposed, however, by Messrs. Johnson of Indiana, Mitcheil of New York and Newlands of Nevada. It was evident the committee could not agree. A compromise was made by witch the bill covering the President's recommendations and the bill of Secretary Gage and that of the Indianapolis “monetary commission shall be taken up at the first meeting after the holidays. It was agreed also that afer hearing Secretary Gage tomorrow the com- mittee would adjourn until the second Wed- nesday in January. Rooms Vacated by the Congressional Library. A JOINT COMMITEE CONFERENCE Secretary Long's Recommendations on Naval Affairs. SUBCOMMITTEES SELECTED A joint meeting of the committees on public buildings and grounds of the House and Senate was held this morning to con- sider the disposition of the rooms in the Cupitol vacated by the Congressional Li- brary. The various plans which have been proposed were discussed. It was decided to appoint a subcommittee of three members from each committee to report a bill. It is understood that the probable dispo- sition will be an equal division of the space between the House and Senate, to be used for committee rooms. The idea of a joint restaurant was met with the objection of the Senators. The addition of committee rooms will enable an extension of the quarters of the House restaurant. At a subsequent meeting of the House committee on public buildings and grounds the following subcommittees were ap- pointed: No. 1—Messrs. Mercer, Hicks, Bankhead— General legislation, District of Columbia and states of Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Ala na. No. Tessrs. Hilborn, Bartholdt, Bur- leigh, Broussard, Brantley—States of Cali- fornia, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Maine, Utah, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Te: , Wyoming, Georgia and territories of Arizona and New Messrs. Gillet, Weymouth, How. kinner, Little—States of New York, y Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, achusetts, Connecticut, Delaware. Oo. 4—M White, Howell, Dorr, Bankhead, Skinner—States of linois, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky. No. 5—Mess! Hicks, Bartholdt, Bur- leigh, Little, Broussard—States of Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Min- nesota, lowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana und territory of Oklahoma. Dry Dock Plans Discussed. The Senate committee on naval affairs today d ed informally the plans of the Navy Department for the increase of the number and the improvement of the exist- ing dry docks on the lines of the bill re- cently introduced by Senator Hale, but tcok no action beyond authorizing Senator Hale to confer with the House naval com- mitte2 with the view of securing joint ac- tion of the two houses on any line of ac- tion that might be decided upon. ‘here Was a general expression of opinion favor- able to the increase of the country’s dock- ing facilities. The present indication is that legislation in this direction will be attempted on the naval appropriation bill. ‘The committee also discussed at some length the qucstion of armor plate, and decided to invite Secretary Long to appear before the committee at any early date and explain the status of the department's ef- forts to secure lower prices on the manu- facture of plate. Pay of Naval Officers. Secretary of the Navy Long has recom- mended to the House committee on naval affairs that section 1571 of the Revised Stat- utes be amended so as to remedy what the cepartmient regards as an injustice in checking the pay of naval officers when de- tached from sea duty. He urges an amend- ment providing that the fact that an officer is sent temporarily to a hospital on snore or to temporary duty on shore as a mem- ber of a court or board, or otherwise, shall not be regarded as a detachment from sea service unless so specified in the order. Subcommittees Chairmen, Chairman Boutelle of the House commit- tee on naval affairs has appointed the fol- lowing chairmen of subcommittees: Appropriations for the naval establish- ment, Boutelle of Maine; organization rank and pay, Foss of Illinois; ordnance and navy yards, Hilborn of California; con- structicn, repair and steain engincering, Boutclle of Maine; navigation, equipment, supplies and miscellaneous, Bull of Rhode Island; Naval Academy and Marine Corps, Bull of Rhode Island; private bills, Dayton of West Virginia. io STEADY INCREASE OF EXPORTS. Statistics Showing a Large Trade Bal- ance for the United States. Export and import figures at the Treas- ury -Departnent for the eleven months «nding with November are of exceeding interest as showing the steady increase of exports. For thg eleven months ending Ncvember, 1896, the total exports of mer- chandise from this country were $883,651,- 315. Fer the same period this year the to- tal is $¥74,612,8¥5, showing the enormous in- crease of $85,901,435 for this year. The im- ports for the eleven months of this year were $91,001,000, showing trade balances in favor of the United States of $233,521,- 2 ____. TO AID NICARAGUAN CANAL. Suggestion Regarding Pacific Roads Fund by Portland Merchants. PORTLAND, Oreg., December 15.—The Pcrtland chamber of commerce has adopted a resolution asking Congress to appropriate the proceeds of the Pacific bond-aided rail- reeds for the purpose of building the Nica- rzguan canal. —_+——__ MAJ. BUTTERWORTH GOING SOUTH. Commissioner of Patents Has Par- tially Recovered His Health. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. CLEVELAND, Ohio, December 15.—Maj. Benjamin Butterworth, commissioner of patents, accompanied by Mrs. Butterworth, expects to leave for Brownsville, Ga., this afternoon. Mr. Butterworth was stricken With pneumonia in Senator Hanna's office November 6, and has been confined to his room in the Hollenden Hotel ever since. For a week or more his life hung in the baiance. He has so far recovered that he is able tc be about the hotel. Last even- ing, for the first time, he came down to the office, where he remaired for a short time. —_o—_— Favors the Proposed Street. H. S. Matthews has written the Senate ecmmittee on the District of Columbia favoring the openirg of a street through’ square 205, bounded by 14th, 15th, T and U streets northwest. $$ ______ Government Receipts. Government receipts from internal reve- nue today, $846,681; customs, $586,957; mis- ceflaneous, $296,071. —_—_—__- e+ _ Major McIntyre Resigns. ‘The resignation of Wm. C. McIntyre, af major and quartermaster general of the District National Guard, has been received at the War Department, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 SEEKING Legislation Desired in Regard to the Money Orders, Litigation Which May Stop Their Is- sue— Alleged Infringement — Post Office Department Dissatisfied. Owing to troublesome litigation ever since the present form of postal money order was adopted and the general unsatisfactory system in point of reliability in the audit- ing of accounts of postmasters, the Post Office Department will shortly urge special legislation by Congress to change the form as well as simplify it, the Postmaster Gen- eral being given authority to adopt a form, as was the practice prior to 1994. The present form was adopted hy the Dockery commission in 1804, which had experts to examine the subject and report a plan. Shortly after the recommendations of the experts became a law the depart- Inent was brought into litigation for al- leged infringement of the Berry patent, not directly, but indirectly, the contractors being enjoined. The lower courts In New York decided in favor of the contractor, holding the United States form not an infringment of the Berry patent. The case was appeal- ed, and, both sides having been heard, the decision is now pending. If this decision is adverse to the con- tractor it means that the United States cannot use any more money orders of the current form. Such a decision would be most embarrassing, both to the de- partment and the country at large, and its effect wouid be felt in all lines of trade. It is to be prepared for just such a con- tingency that the department is working to get another form adopted. The Infringement Suit. The suit is brought to enjoin the United States contractors from further printing the postal orders, and asks for an account- ing. Should the decision be unfavorable to the contractors, the printing of the orders will immediately cezse. But fhe other feature—the one which asks for an accounting—is the serious part, both for the contractor and the department, and complicates matters not a little. ‘The con- tractors are printing these money orders under the direction of the Post Office De- partment, whicn is carrying out an act of Congress. And the question immediately suggests itself: “Can the contractor be sued, being the agent of the United States?” That question, however, is not worrying the department as much as the possibility of being enjoined from using money orders without an opportunity to meet the condi- tion. ‘The patent which the United States pos- tal order is alieged to infringe is used by the express compantes to transmit money. It differs in some material respects from the United States orders, although the principal of both is practically the same. In the express orders no “advice” is used, while in the United States postal orders the ‘advice’ is a requisite part of the sys- tem. The “advice” is attached to the orig- inal order and detached when made out. It is sent to the paying postmaster notify- ing ‘him of the transactiqn, and by dupli- cate serial numbers prevénting mistakes— that is, mistakes of names, for it is a com- mon occurrence for m es in amounts to occur owing to the egrelessness or ig- norance of the postmaster, The Postal Order. The postal order is an {figeniously con- trived affair, with a margin upon which is printed amounts varying from one cent to one hundred dollars, Similar figures are printed on the opposite side, the coupon side, which goes to the auditor of the Post Office Department, Unless the postmaster is dextrous in cutting out the exact amount a mistake is made, which necessitates a deal of investigation. If he is careful, however, and cuts the exact amount, the register; that is, the printing, being perfect, no mistake can oc- cur, and the department has a complete check upon postmasters. But, as stated above, mistakes are common, and a re- porter of The Star this afternoon found they averaged 900 a day. There was no doubt a crying necessity for a simpler method, and it was acknowledged that drawings were being prepared to simplify the form and put it beyond the suspicion of infringement. An official of the department stated to a reporter of The Star this afternoon that the Possibility of an adverse opinion by the courts was not by any means the only thing which prompted the department in urging a change. For four years the present form had been tried and found deficient. The department looked with disfavor upon it, anc the people and the banks especially fo4,d fault with it. Money orders, he said, should be popular with the business public. They should combine simplicity and ac- curacy with compactness of form. If Con- gress authorizes the change, such a form will be adopted. ———_-e+_______ WILL FIGHT U. P. PLANS. Representatives of a Branch Line Claim Vested Rights. SIOUX CITY, Iowa, December 15.—John C. Coombs, general ccunsel, and F. G. Chamberlain, representing the Sioux City Credits Commutation Company, are in Washington to make a fight against the eepsummation of the Union Pacific Com- Pany’s plans, The commutation company 1s interested in the Pacific short line, running from Sioux City to O'Neil, Neb., at which point it wants a connection with the Union Pa- cific. It is claimed the terms of the Unton Pacific sale were not in accord with the criginal charter of the road, article 15, of wtich provided that any Iowa, Minnesota or Dakota road desiring a connection with the Union Pacifie should be given it. —————— CAPTAIN AND FIVE MEN DROWNED. —— Schooner Susan P, Thurlew Wrecked beth. PORTLAND, Me.,; December 15.—The schooner Susan P. Tharlow,’ bound from Hillsboro, N. B., tor New York, with a cargo of plaster rock, -went“to pieces on Cushing Island, about three miles from this city, at 6 o'clock last might, and the cap- tain and five members of the crew were lost. One sailor managed to reach land, and eariy this moraing-he Informed the in- habitants of the wreck. The bodies of the captain and one sailor were recovered this forefioon.* The Thurlow was built in Harrington, Mé., and hails from New York. = PROF. KING TO GO T6 SIAM. — Prominent Michiga® Edecator and Politician Slate@ for Minister. CHICAGO, December “15.—A special trom Charlotte, Mich., says: Prof. King of Olivet College will be the next United States min- ister to Siam, Senator Burrows says that the President will send in his name as-eoon a3_he returns to Waghington. Prof. King is on2 of the most prominent republicans in this part of the state and is a well-known educator, GREECE STILL ASKS DELAY. Turkey Refuses to Grant Extension ; 4 of Treaty Settlement. CONSTANTINOPLE, December 15.—The Greek government hes requested a month’s fying the freaty of peace with Turkey. ni ie ce re The members of ‘le diplomatic corps are at request. much. and the ‘Turkish dec! that it fs unwer- and unaccep' 2 CHANGE IN FORM/IN A BRIEF SESSION Meeting of the House District Com- mittee. NAMING OF SUBCOMMITTEES Mr. Odell Wants Information From Capital Traction Co. SIZE OF THE CONDUITS The House District committee held a brief meeting this morning, at which Chairman Babcock announced the subcommittees se- lected to make preliminary reports upon It was legislation to the full committee. G. M. Curtis. decided to hold the next meeting of the following the as- sembling of Congress after the holiday re- committee Wednesday cess. The following assignments were made upon subcommittees: Judiciary—Jenkins, Richardson, King. Shannon, ‘Ways and means—Curtis, Odell, Jenkins, Meyer, Cowherd. Education, labor and charities—Shannon, White, Sprague, Cowherd, Peters. Street railways, son, Lattimer, King. Steam railways—Harmer, Babcock, Mudd, Meyer, Lattimer. : Incorporations—Mudd, Odell, White, Peters. Representative Odell of New York, who is a member of the subcommittee on street railways, has requested Chairman Babcock to call upon the Commissioners for in- formation as to the authority by which the Capital Traction Company is tearing up the streets in the installation of its new motive power. Mr. Odell also proposes to inquire into the matter of the size of the electric con- duits that are being laid by the railroad Mr. Odell is engaged in street railway and electrical enterprises in New company. York and is familiar with the subject. “It seems to me from a cursory exami- Representative Peters. nation,” said Mr. Odell today, “that those conduits are large enough to be subways for distributing power. I don’t know what the intention of the company ts, but if the company is putting down an electric subway as a branch of its railway busi- ness we ought to know it.” ————__ e+______ MERCHANTS ASK RETALIATION. British Columbia Board of Trade Against Closing Dyea. VICTORIA, B. C., December 15.—The fol- lowing telegram has been sent to the do- minion government by the British Colum- bia board of trade: “Whereas the chambers of commerce of San Francisco, Portland, Tacoma and Se- attle have combined to force their govern- ment to clese Dyea as a subport of entry; “Resolved, That the dominion govern- ment be asked to make representations at Washington protesting against such clos- ing of Dyea, and in the event of the ne- gotiations proving unsuccessful the board of trade strongly urges upon the dominion government to close the custom house to Tagish lake and prevent the importation of goods or outfits via Lynn canal sources.” —— MORE GOLD DISCOVERIES. Rich Finds Near Dyea and Another Opposite Dawson City. PORT TOWNSEND, Wash., December 15. Charles G. Warren of this place, a re- turning passenger on the steamer Al Ki, reports the discovery of rich placer dig- gings near Dyea. He says there has been a stampede from Dyea to the placers which are ninety-cix miles above the town, and that the discoveries caused great excite- mcnt there. - News was also brought down on the Al Ki of a uate eres, on Deadwood creek, seven miles from Dawson City, on thi posite side of the Yukon. ss moe —__»>_—_—__ MR. BAXTER’S NARROW ESCAPE. Nearly Drowned by His Buggy Up- setting in Anacostia Branch. | Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. HYATTSVILLE, Md., December 15,— Leighton Baxter, who lives about one mile east of Hyattsville, narrowly drowning this morning while crossing the Anacostia branch near Hyattsville. Owing to the heavy rain of yesterday the stream was wollen, and the horse which Mr. Baxter 1897-SIXTEEN PAGES, If you want to buy, sell or exchange anything, lease property or rent rooms, want a situation or want help, it will pay you to announce the fact in the advertising columns of The Star. They are closely studied by more than three times af many people as read any other paper. Sprague, streets and avenues— Babcock, Harmer, Curtis, Odell, Richard- Shannon, SECRETARY GAGE’S PLAN He Will Submit His Financial Bill To- morrow, Result of Solicitor O°Connell’s Visit to the Capitol—Views of Banking md Currency Committee. Secretary Gage will not submit his finan- cial bill to Congress until tomorrow. It was his intention to do this today and to appear personally to present the merits of the measure. The bill to be submitted is already pre- pared, but Secretary Gage is going over it carefully today. He will be prepared to- morrow to fully present the advisability of its passage. Secretary Gage talked today with a num- ber of congressmen on the subject of the bill. His determination to appear and to submit one general financial bill instead of a number of separate bills brought out many expressions of satisfaction. it had the effect of clearing up a situa- tion which was becoming strained, and fave promise of an early report to Con- gress cn financial bills. The understanding was reached as a result of a visit to the Capitol of the solicitor of the treasury, Mr. O'Connell, _ representi Mr. Gage. He alke of the republican leaders, and it is understood was advised by Mr. Dingley and others that it would be desirable to embrace currency subjects in one general bill. Later the sc tor met Chairman Walker and other members of the committee on banking and currency, and a general conference was held as to What should be done. It was well known that Mr. Gage preferred to let the subject 0 over until after the holiday rec The committee urged, however, that it desired to take the Gage bill and also that submit- ted by the monetary conference under con- sideration during the holidays in order to be in a position to report progress when the House reconvened after the recess. It was decided, therefore, that Mr. Gage should submit his measure tomorrow and appear in person to explain and argue its Merits, and answer questions from the committee. It was also made clear that the Secretary would cover all his proposals in one general bill instead of cutting the subject up. ,This arrangement gave general satisfac- tion, and having accomplished this much the members of the committee canvassed the course they would take as to making an immediate report to the House on cur- rency questions. it was decided that the first thing to be dcne was to report a bill embodying the three features recommended by the Presi- dent, viz. a reduction of the tax on cir- culation to one-half of one per cent; the issuance of circulation up to the par value of bonds deposited, and the establishment of small banks in rural communities. While these will be embodied in the Gage plan, yet, as they were specially ad- vised in the President’s message, it was felt to be advisable to give the House the opportunity of acting on them at once, without waiting for the report on the Gage bill. For these reasons the full com- mittee will be asked to report on the Pres- ident’s plans at once, The draft of a bill has been prepared by Mr. Brosius of Pennsylvania, and this was given to the solicitor of the treasury, who is to return it in time for action by the committee, with such suggestions as the treasury authorities may wish to make. As to the comprehensive Gage bill, this and the monetary conference bill will be considered with care during the holidays, and as a result of the better feeling creat- ed members of the banking and currency commiitee say there is no further doubt that action will be reported to the House soon after the holidays. COLUMBIAN UNIVERSITY. Proposed Changes in Government Favored by President Whitma: At a meeting of the corporation of the Columbian University last June a form of a bill supplemental to the act of February 9, 1821, incorporating the Columbian Col- lege was adopted. The president of the university, Dr. Whitman, and a member of the board, Mr. Charles W. Needham, were appointed a committee to present the matter to Congress and ask that the bill decided upon be passed. This bill was in- troduced in the Senate by Mr. Frye last July and is now before the Senate commit- tee on the District of Columbia. Dr. Whitman and Mr. Needham have written Mr. McMillan, chairman of the Senate District committee, in part, as fol- lcws: “The provisions of the bill are to vest the controi in a single board of trustees, to change the term of office of trustees, and to sect forth in the charter, in express terms, what has always been the fact, that the university is under the control of th> Baptist denomination. “The first and second amendments will, it is believed by the board, secure more active and efficient services on the part of the members of the board for the reason that their office will be dependent some- what upon their service and influence as trustees, whereas now they are elected for life without express power in the corpora- tion to remove any trustee for any cause. The third amendment will enable the uni- versity to secure endowments and con- tributions for its support and maintenance which are now withheld because prosp*>- tive donors are in doubt as to what per- manent body is responsible for the conduct and maintenance of the institution. It is not the purpose to make the teaching or work of the institution denominational, but only to cast upon a body of Christian people the duty and obligation of support- ing the university.” —————-_e+____ NO TRUTH IN IT. Sensational Story That Gen. Gomes Has Deposed “President” Capote. “That is supremely ridiculous,” said Senor Gonzalo de Quesada, the Cuban charge d’affaires, when his attention was called this morning to a dispatch from Havana in a New York paper, stating that Gen. Gomez had deposed “Gen.” Capote from the presidency of the Cuban repub- lic. “There is a Gen. Capoli in the Cuban aimy, and there is Dr. Domingo Mendez Capote, who is the vice president of the republic. He was one of the members of the assembly, was elected its president; was on the committee that drew the new ccnstitution, and, although spoken of as a candidate for the presidency of the re- public, was not voted for for that position, but was elected vice president, Bentolome Maso being elected president. “Two months tefore the election Gen. Gcmez openly exp his support of Gen. Maso for the presidency, but took no part in the election. He -was then and has been since, in command of the forces in Los Villas, hundreds of miles from the" capital. The only thing that is true in the dispatch is the assertion that President ‘Maso was one of the last to lay down arms in the ten-years’ war and that it is utterly impossible to approach him with any terms short of independence. —_—___-o-+—____ Opposed te Tracks on B Street. — Edward W. Byrn of 31 B street northwest has written Senator McMillan, chairman of the Senate committee on the District of protesting agairst an extension of the tracks of the Capital Trac- 1st street, as proposed in a bill lately t as a introduced in Congress. SPOT WHEAT SCARCE aeons Cash Price in Advance of the Futura Options. PROSPECT OF CORNER IN CHICAGO Armour and Leiter on Opposite Sides of Market. CARGOES PILING UP THERE ey CHICAGO, December 15.—William TT. Baker, president of tne board of trade, says, with reference to the unusual condi- tions in wheat: “Cash wheat ts at a premium over future delivery here and in all parts of the world, because more of it has been sold than can be delivered. Wheat is scarce all over the werld. Not enough was grown last year to supply the demand. America now has the opportunity to make Its own price for wheat. It has in the past been con- sidered by many to be a blessing for us to supply the world with cheap wheat, even though our own farmers hardly could make oth ends meet on the cost of production. Now, perhaps, in view of the prosperity which has come to this nation from higher prices, there will be less sympath’ those operating to depress grain v , low the values normally adjusted by de mand and supply. Wanted by Consumers, “In the past, unlimited quantities of wheat have been sold on the market and resold with no demand for Its delivery. Now, however, the wheat is wanted 80 badly by consumers that contracts calling for delivery can stand for no ‘wind’ wheat. We shall probably see the same tight con- ditions in May wheat, when May comes, as we now see in December wheat. “I think that this country already has exported much of the wheat which {t will soon need for its own consumption, and that the full scarcity fs not by any means yet appreciated,” The Tribune says today: There are just seventeen days left to make or unmake the December wheat deal. The chan fireworks and old-time corner pri searcely so bright as they were son ago. r is learning somethin, the po: ities of ‘7h re market and about the : . 00) bush- Such a movement is simply p! and represents a part of the energetic by Armour and Weare. of an abnormal Duluth Movement, aggregating 3 1s, are arriving. Leiter Importing Wheat. The bulk of this has been contract wheat brought down for the special benefit of the market made by Mr. Leiter, It has been variously disposed of. Part of it gone into the public elevators and part into pri- vate houses. Armour knows just how much contract wheat is here. Leiter would give a snug sum for €: t information as to how much of the Chicago stock has come here to fill short sales to him and how much is here io be dumped out on De- cember advances, such a8 Uhose of last Friday and last Monday. The chance of pyrotechnics is in the speculative market fer December wheat. The real battle is in the cash property. i as been holding a large assortment ras, tive nd has been playing brought the deal up from July to September and from & ber to December, but only recent been pushing prices to a point to Wheat from all directions. Prospect of a Corner. During the last few days the trade gen- erally has been working around to a the ory, something like this: Armour ard Leiter have crossed weapons and recognized their respective points of advantage and strength. Lelter will han- bring die the December deal as carefully as possible and realize just as much profit by sales as the market will stand. He will then take gomne cash wheat on deliv- ery, but practically | the cash situation to Armour. He can go over to May with better prospects than he went over into September or over into December. Armour will then be left with Chicago in control of the cash situation and with foreign demand and domestic requirements as a result of millers selling their stocks on the high Chicago premiums. This would furnish a basis for advancing prices and give Armour an opportunity for mer- chandising wheat on a scale which was not thought possible at the beginning of the crop year. + —— FARMER FARRA MURDERED. A Missing Negro Employe is Suspected of the Crime. WILMINGTON, Del., December 15.—Geo. D. Farra, aged fifty-five years, who for the past two years has had charge of Mrs. Nel« lie R. Bradfcrd’s farm near the junction of the Hares Corner and Newcastle roads, just outside the southern city limits, wag brutally murdered during the night in the kitchen of his residence. An unsuccessful attempt was also made to burn the hovse. Robbery was the object, as the victim’s pocket book, containing about $5, and which was in Mr. Farra’s possession last night, could not be found this morning. A negro named Charles Thorn, who had been working for Mr. Farra about two weeks, was with him in the kitchen last ve n Mr. Farra’s children retired. Seeding missing, and is suspected of having committed the murder. The au- thorities in Delaware and adjoining states have been notified to keep a close lookout for Thorn. Mr. Farra’s skull was crushed, pre- sumably by a four-pound iron weight,wnich was found cloge to the body. The victim was for years a liveryman in this city, and was well known throughout Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland. - —. + ITALY’S COURSE PACIFIC. Will Settle Haitian Dispute by Useal Diplomacy. ROME, December 15.—It was semi-ofi- cially announced here today that the Ital- ian government has never thought of send- ing ironclads to Haiti. It is further ex- plained that the negotiations regarding the small differences between Italy and Haiti are following the ordinary course. SSE Last NOR FALLS ON BISHOP WALDEN. He Will Represent American Metho- @ist Church im Europe.