Evening Star Newspaper, December 20, 1897, Page 1

THE EVENING STAR. EVENINGS PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Pennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th 8t., by ing Star N Com: ™ Brenig Sore a BN, Pres.) Sew York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star i served to subscribers In the eity by cerriers on their own account. at 10 ecnts per week. or a4 cents per month. jes at the ¢cunter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United States or Cenada—postage prepaid—50 cents per month. seaterday Quiatupie, Sheet fear. $1 per year, with foretzn postage added, . (Entered at the Post Office at Washington. D. C.. paid fn advance. as_seccnd-clasa matl matter.) 7 All mali sutacriptions must be Rates of advertising made known on application No. 13,979, WASHINGTON, D. C. MONDAY, DEGEMBER 20, 1897—SIXTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. The regular permanent family, circulation of The Evening Star. is more than double that of any, other paper in Washington, whether published in the morn- ing or in the afternoon. As a medium for unobjec- tionable advertisements it there- fore stands unequaled and une approachable WAS WEARY OF LIFE Frank Matthews, Aged 19 Years, Rashly Commits Suicide. —--+ TAKES LAUDANUM AND CARBOLIC ACID —— Believed to Have Been Disap- pointed in Love. REMOVED TO MORGUE —— BODY Frank Matthews, nineteen years oid, driver of a milk wagon for W. R. Selec- man, whose dairy is at No. 608 7th street southwest, cotamitted suicide this morning by taking a dose of carbolie acid and lau- n. He was said to be under the in of liquor at the time. While the use for his act is not known, some of his friends have an idea that he was jilted by his sweetheart, and that he pre- ferred death to living without her. When found in his room at No. t# 7th sireet, opposite the dairy, the young man was un- and died before Dr. Hazen, tne an summoned, could reach him. news, Whose parents live near Ce airfax county, Va., had work- ed for Mr. Selecman for about two years. He had always been sieady in his habits, and work proved more than acceptable to his employer. Yesterday he was in his usual good spirits and gave no evidence that he had aught to worry him. After putting nis horse a y last night he dre: ed and went out. He returned to his room about the usual hour, and persons who saw » then seemed to be a little de- his morning he got up at 3 for Mr. Seleeman as lt was about 8 o'clock when he returned from his milk route and put away his horse. Mr. Seleeman did not see him, but the colored hostler, John Harris, did see him. and said “iie was pretty well filled up with whis Instead of waiting about the dairy until breakfasi was ready Matthews went across the st to his room. This he had fre- one, after taking a nap before and nothing was thought of it ng, however, he informed the coi that he was tired of working, Was going to quit Before gc ored man i said h im g over and pack my valise,” he said to Harris, “and i'm going home.” His Last Conversation. > were the last words he spoke, so far 4 nown, for he left Harris and went « the street to his room, and was not seen again until he was found in an un condition. When Mat- thews t colored man that he was geing to pack up and go home he evidently for he had the kets at the time. the breakfast belief that he had gone st aroused in time, and is nephew over to call went over to the room and found the door locked. The young man could hear heavy breath- ing from the room inside, and, being unable to arouse the sleeper, he returned to his uncle and teld of the circumstances. Harry Thompson and Elmer Gantts then went over to ascertain, and they found Mat- thews in bed with his clothing on. He dil not respond to their calls, nor could thoy arouse him in any way and Dr. Hazen Was sent for. In the meantime Mrs. Petignat, who oc- cupies the house, went up to the room to learn what had caused the commotion. Reaching bis bedsid > put her hand on his head and remarked: “He's dead. The Tell-Tale Ring. Then, taking hold of his hand, she noticed a wide gold ring on his finger, which caused her to add to her other re- mark: “And I'll bet this ring is the cause of it.’ Dr. Hazen of doing s reached the room a few minutes later, and when he pronounced that life extinct the police removed the body to the morgue. On the little washstand near the bed were iwo vials, which told the story of bow the man had ended his life. On one of the vials was a label marked “Lauda- hum,” with the skull and cross bones and “Poison’’ imprinted to indicate the danger- ous ities of the contents. This label indicated that the poison had been bought at Shaw & Ift's drug store, on Connec- ticut avenue. The earbolic acid he had Lought at Thomas K. Shaw's drug store on 7th street northwest. Mrs. Petignat keeps a cigar and statlon- ery store on the lower floor of the building, and she knew Matthews because he had Leen one of her patrons and had called her “old woman.” He frequently stopped in the store to get a cigar, she sald to a Star reporter, and he often laughed and joked with ber. “I frequently spoke to him about his lady friends,” ‘she said, “and asked him ff he was soon to ba married. His answer wes: ‘I'm not ready yet. Inquest Unnecessary. As soon as the police had removed the body to the morgue the room was locked and no search was made for any letters the unfertunate man may have written. There was nothing found in the pockets of hs clothes to show any cause for his rash act. Coroner Carr found an inquest un- necessary, and gave a certificate of death. His body was turned over to his relatives, @ brother and sister, who live here, and they will have it sent to the home of their perents in Virginia. — LIEUT. STEVENS’ DEFENSE. He Presents Evidence to Disprove Charges Against Him. Lieut. Thomas L. Stevens of the navy was before the naval examining board at the n yard today and presented a mass of evidence to disprove the allegations made against his moral character, which, if true, will prevent his promotion to the rank of lieutenant commander, to which he fs eligi- ble by virtue of his number in the list of lieutenants. Lieut. Stevens has been exam- ined before for promotion above his present grcde, but without success. It was alleged that his habits were not what they should ¢ first board reported him morally but professionally deficient, and a subsequent board reported that while pro- sionally qualified, he was morally defi- cient. He has been on probation for some time, and the examination begun today will decide whether he shall receive the coveted promotion, or whether his name shall be arcpped from the rolls of the navy. He is a son of Admiral Stevens, and has many friends in and out of the service. ———— +e-— FUNERAL OF AL HONSE DAUDET. Emile Zola Hooted by a Mob While En Route. PAKIS, December 20.—The funeral of Al- phonse Daudet, who died suddenly on ‘Thursday evening last, took place today and was largely attended. Emtle Zola, who attended the funeral, wa: hooted while en route to the late residence of M. Daudet and to church, where the ser- vices were held, owing to his support of the efforts made by the friends of Alfred Dreyfus to bring about a reopening of his ease. Preparing for the Klondike Relief Expedi- tion. Secretary Alger Talks to Norway— Large Quantities of Condensed Food to Be Used. Secretary Alger today cabled to William A. Kjeilmann, the chief government rein- deer herdsman, who is now in Alten, Nor- Way, away up on the Tih degree of north latitude, to infcrm the War Department immediately how soon 6v0 reindeer can be secured and shipped to this country. These animals are wanteg for draft purposes in getting supplies to the miners in the Klon- dike region. It is believed that they must be transferred at New York to the rail- reads, and in that manner carried across the continent and again by sea from the Pacifte coast up to Dyea, or such other point as may be selected as the base of operations by the relief expeditions. Secretary Alger has determined, after advising with the medical oilicers ‘of the War Department and persons who have haa much experience in arctic regions, to make large use of condensed food prepara- tions. This will be necessary in order to reduce to the smallest possible weight and Volume the goods io be transported over ‘ficult mountain passes of Ala: Not only will the meats taken be in t Most concentrated form, but particular ef. forts are making to secure some”such con- densed preparation cf vegetables, such as potatees and onion It is known that such preparations are to be had in the mar- ket, but just in what quantity is not known; so Secretary Alger has begun an inquiry to ascertain the amount of such stores available for purchase by the. gov- ernment, and the prices demanded for State Department has already un- aken to request of the Canadian gov- ernment permission to pass these stores through Canadian territory free of duty, the British embassy being called upon to facilitate the negotiations. It is not an- ed that any objection will be made nting the request, nor to the accom- quest that will he made for per- for our soldiers to pass over Ca- nadian territory as guards for the expedi- tions, although an order of the privy coun- cil will be required for the suspension of duties. The President, Saturday afternoon signed the joint resolutions passed by Congress for the relief of the miners in the Yukon river country and changing the appropria- tion for the government building and dis- play at the Omah: »., exposition. DUNHAM AT CIRCLE Ci ry. Department of Labor is Reassured About the Expe 2 slight anxiety which ha the department of labor over not rec ‘iving any message from Expert Dunham of the department, who was sent to Alaska to investigate the situaticn there, has been dispelled. The last letter received from Mr. Dunham was September 5, just after he had crossed the Chilkoot pass. He has been heard from now, indirectly, under date of October 15. Commissioner Wright of the department of labor said today that a letter dated Dawson City, October 15, has given an interview with Mr. Dunham, who had then left for Circle City. The reason why no message has been received from him is, therefore, explained, as it would take a long time to reach Circle City. The com- missioner, however, expects to receive a letter some time this week. The reference in the letter published in the Canadian paper from Mr. Dunham was as follows: “Samuel C. Dunham, statistical expert of the United States department of labor, hav- ing made such inquiries as he cared to make in and about Pawson, sailed on the Bella for Circle City. He will winter in and near Circle City, and intends to make a careful Investigation of the Alaskan dig- gings and of the opportunities for miners in the vast gold-bearing district.” In an interview Mr. Dunham stated that the Klondike is exceedingly rich and will afford a good field for capital for years and years to come. In his opinion the poor man should not be encouraged to go there. No man should think of going who cannot take with him at least a ton of food and at least $1,000 in cash, and who cannot lose a year of his labor, his ton of food and his thousand in cash without wrecking his family or imperiling his life scheme. Neither should the weak man be encour- aged to go there. Only the strong, healthy ran, capable of enduring the utmost hard- ships and the severest toll, is adapted to the Klondike. For the prospector who is strong and has the degree of independence sug- gested, the region affords excellent oppor- tunities, and for capital, Mr. Dunham states, that he knows of no place that holds out better chances. a WORK OF THE STAMP DIVISION. That for the Present Quarter the ‘Largest in Its History. As an evidence that tne era of pros- perity has set in, it may be mentioned that the work of the stamp division, Post Office Department, has increased in such a degree that the employes of that divis- ion are working overtime dally to bring the quarter's work up to date. The increase is very large; in fact, the work for the fourth, quarter of 1897 is the largest in the history of the office. This is significant, as this division, handling as it does requisitions from all post offices for stamps, envelopes, &c., for sale to the public, has its finger on the public pulse and immeéiately detects an increase in the volume of business throughout tho country. The condition is encouraging, if it is hard on the clerks of the always overworked stamp division. HIS PLEA IS SELF-DEFENSE. John Anderson on Trial for Mutiny and Murder, NORFOLK,Va., December 20.—The United States court this morning took up the case of John Anderson, accused of the mur- der of Mate Saunders of the scgponer Olive Pecker. Counsel for the accused, in pre- senting his outline of defense to the jury, said he would show that Anderson was sub- ject to unheard-of and unparalleled cruel- ties, and that Anderson's deeds were com- mitted in self-defense to save his own life. Ss Personal Mention. Lieut. J. H. Russell, United St. tes Ma- rine Corps, son of the late Admiral Russell, U. S. N., has recently been the guest of Mrs. J. C. Kennedy, 1630 Rhode Island ave- nue. 5 F. H. Broden, an attorney of St. Louls, Mo., is in the city, combining business with pleasure. He is a guest of his uncle, Capt. J. E. Hart of Capitol Hill Dr. J. Herbert Ford, a graduate of the academic and medical departments, re- pectively, of the Columbian University, has been granted temporary leave from his duties in the medical school of the univer- sity, to accept the position of surgeon on the steamer Nordland of the Red Star Mune. He sailed from New York Wednesday. Mr. Joseph Hall has left for his home, New York, where he will spend the Christ- mas holidays. Mr. Robert M. Miller has returned home for the hoNdays. Rev. Mr. La Fetra of Chile, who, with his family, Was recently visiting Dr. and Mrs. S. D. La Fetra of this city, have gone to California to visit relatives in that state. inet at WANT 600REINDEER|A BROKEN PROMISE ——_-____ Collapse of Spanish Aid to the Recon- centradoes, THE SUFFERING STILL VERY GREAT Assistance Might Have Come From the United States. BLANCO RESPONSIBLE eS (Copyrighted, 1897, by Charles M. Pepper.) Special Correspondence of The Evening Star. HAVANA, December 15, 1897. The first chapter in Spain's colonial pol- icy is ended. This week marks the collapse of the aid that was to be given the recon- centradoes. It is complete. In some places the urgent pleas of the local authorities have resulted in permission to distribute rations a few days longer if the rations can be had, but this is not general. The appropriation of silver money, which 1s at a discount of 20 per cent, has been sent out to the provinces. Should more of it go astray some of the reconcentradoes may see a sil- ver dollar. When that is gone they must shift for themselves without expecting food from the government. If cats are still quoted at the figure the Boston sugar planter gave, the poor people around ‘Trin- idad can lay in a supply ef three cats against the future, or if beef were to be had they might get three pounds of the Poorest quality. Beef, however, is un- known in many parts of the island. All the reconcentradoes might expect to buy would be bread or flour, rice and salt pork. If it had the means and the will the gov- ernment might find the way to distribute food so there would be enough to supply every community with the means of sus- taining life. Without a general plan of ution a food famine in some locali- ties was inevitable. End of the Scheme of Relief. Whe end of the scheme of relief from the government, shadowy though it was, will not come with the crushing weight of sur- prise to the country people who were in need of succor. They had received so lit- Ue evidence of a new system being in oper- ation that {ts collapse will not add ma- terially to their woes. They will suffer from the withdrawal of the irregular tem that was previously followed. Wretch- ed and inadequate as it was by this means me fool reached them. But the under- standing is that this m, so far as the government is concerned, is to be dis- continued entirely. Relief committees and municipal authorities must depend on pri- vate charity for the rations if they se- cure any to distribute. The preparation bas been ample enough for the new order. For example, Candelaria in the province of Pinar del Rio, had eight days given to making the lists of its reconcentradoes, during which time the distribution of food was stop,ed. The lists having been made the rations are to be stopped for good, but the ceisus taken may be of some future value, filed away in the archives of the pelace. Candelaria is one of the villages that has had attained a sad fame, second only to that of Guines. Its native and con- centrated population of 7,000 has been cut down to less than half. It was from the cemetery of Candelaria since the ad- vent of the present administration that the famished dogs were driven when they were snatching the half-buried bodies from the graves. The village needs something more than autonomy. Question of Responsibility, A question may be asked as to the re- sponsibility for the failure to accept the succor that might have been had, not fron: the United States government, but from the people there. The explanation stares me as I write. It is the official telegram, nearly a fortnight old, of Captain Geueral Blanco, ying there was no need of forcign help to provide for the wants of the island or its inhabitants. When the final reckoning comes fur the blunders and worse, which may be given as the cause of Spain's loss ef Cuba, Minister de Lome will be free from a share in one of the greatest of them. Had not the captain general vetoed the minister's plan of accepting relief from without the conditions would have been bettered. From this source something would have been done toward filling the economic gap caused by the lack of effi- cient labor. A few ship loads of provisions from the United States—fiour, rice, corn- meal, grits, salt pork, jerked beef—would have met the cmergency. It would not have hurt autonomy, might even have helped that policy. While food from the United States would be useful for months to come, succor from that quarter will not now establish antonomy any more than it will quell the insurrection. The effect would simply be to help Cuba. Fault With Gen. Blanco. If the breakdown of the promised re- lief of the distressed people, who are still claimed as her subjects, causes distrust of Spain’s ability or good faith in carrying out the system of colonial self-government the fault is with her own viceroy, the cap- tain general of the island. The plain truth is that the hopeful change in the policy of Spain toward Cuba, which impresse President McKinley as a*reason why the United States should not intervene upon humanitarian grounds, has not brought re- sults. Instead, the humane impulses of the American people, which prompted relief from their own abundant resources, have been thwarted that Spanish pride may be spared humiliation. The rejestion of the proffer was cruel to the wretched popula- tion of Cuba. It may prove more cruel to Spain herself, for it justifies harsh judg- ments. Painful in Its Monotony. This matter of relief becomes painful in its obtrusive’ monotony. I had deferred scme further investigations into the eco- nemic prospects in the country and re- turned to Havana to watch the merging of the political elements which are to be the mainstay of the Madrid cabinet in carrying autonomy into effect. That the other sub- ject developed a fresh importance is my apology for giving a little space to it. The political movement has advanced far enough to be a definite, if not a deter- minate, factor. After many conferences the representatives of the autonomists and the reformistos have reached a basis of union. They have been strenuously exhort- ed to it from Medrid by the Sagasta min- istry. In the fusion the autonomists get the name, the honor and the assurance that their historic principles have triumphed. The reformistos get the offices and the prac- tical execution, or administration, of the cclonial government. The autonomists have the semMance of an organization in most of the towns of the island. ‘Their commit- tees have been reorganized. The strength of the reformistos lay in Havana and a few other places. They were not what would be called a numerous political party, but they were influential through their con- nections in Spain. The balancing of Cuban and Spanish elements in carrying out au- tonomy is of high importance to the cab- gosta has’ shown abflity in bringing the fusion from the realms of speculation to the solid ground of fact. The organization is perfected for the course which is to be taken when the official decree implanting autonomy is received. The leaders have been placed. What is now needed is for them to go out among both Cubans and Spaniards and find followers. — * The Conservative Party. The position of the conservative party will be formally determined at its conven- tion next Monday. Most of the delegates have been chosen. They are guarded in their utterances, but they apparently feel they have a mission, and that mission is to preserve Spanish sovereignty. Whether they can do it under the forms of autono- my is the problem. They have heretofore resolved the problem in the negative. The Marquis de Apezteguia, the president of the party, thinks he has wrought a miracle, and that the conservatives can be brought to something more than a mere acqui- escence in autonomy. He hopes for a posi- tive declaration of support. The issue is awaited with interest. The mass of con- servatives show little abatement of their ostility, though it does not teke the shape of open opposition. Among the Spanish commercial classes the feeling toward the government is more tolerant. They are more inclined to recognize autonomy as a tentative political condition which it is use- less for them to oppose. They will give no Oirect support. Their faith in the ultimate failure of the system is unshaken, but they are willing that the government shall go ahead with the experiment. If this feeling spreads the ultra Spaniards may be kept within bounds. The violence of feeling on the part of many of them fs extreme. They hope to make a demonstration which will be re-echoed in Spain and will cause the overthrow of the Sagasta min- istry. That would mean Weyler in power again. If they displace Apezteguia from the presidency of the party they will be fatisfied, and that is what they are threat- ening to do. This would be a forcible repu- diation of autonomy. It would be the more forcible because the conservatives will be the only party which has held a representative convention. The autono- mistos had a meeting of their central junta or committee und the various local juntas ratified its action in indorsing and ac- cepting the colonial policy of the liberal government of Spain. The central junta of the reformistos also formally indorsed the autonomy. It did not have branch committees enowgh to be of importance. Though some of the European newspapers complacently say the fusion of autonomists and reformistos establishes autonomy and ends the insurrection, the intransigentes propose to show otherwise. They do not need to show that the insurrection is not ended. As to colonial government, some significance must be given to the action of the Havana delegates to the conservative party convention. They will be the most numerous body in it. These Havana dele- gates have met and anathematized auton- omy. No Thought of Intervention, This discussion of internal politics is going on with hardly a thought of the United States. The certainty that there will be no immediate intervention has left all parties*free to determine their own af- fairs. The. resolutions before the House foreign affairs committee are dis- cussed with a fair understanding of com mittee practice. A reported interview with Speaker Ree@‘is republished and com- mended. He 1s quoted as paying that since Spain has changed her policy and 1s now acting toward Cuba with benignity the United States has no. decent excuse for interference.” Spain's “beriignity” in opera- tion would appeal to the Speaker's sense of humor. The country people who a its victims have dull intellects. They a too hungry to look upon the humorous sid of benignity. Another Instance of benignity in. opera- tion has just’come to my notice. A few days ago while at.Guines I was told they were expecting the surtender of an im portant local chief of the insurgents whi was known as “Pitarre."’ Don Tomas Feb- ler Garcla, the autonomist alcalde, was a friend of the insurgent chief's family, and had arranged for him to present h!mselt at a farm near by and receive amnesty as @ presentodo. Pitarre presented himself. A squad of Spanish soldiers were there tc receive him. They killed Pitarre and car- ried the body into town and exhibited ii to General Parrodo, The alcaide of Guine~ will not try to persuade other insurgents to surrender. CHARLES M. PEPPER. es IT ALL FIXED UP HAVE Opponents of Senator Hanna Have Held Their Caucus, Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. CLEVELAND, Ohio, December °0.—Sen- eter Hanna ts expected here tomorrow. 1: is stated at his office that the senator will take a rest and endeavor to enjoy mosi thoroughly the holiday season. It is fur- ther stated at the office of Mr. Hanna th: he is losing no sleep over the senatorial question, and expects to win in a walk. Senator Burk and Representatives Bram- ley and Mason, the antil-Hanna member: of the Cuyahoga county delegation, who went to Columbus on Friday, returned heme. They succeeded, after much hard work and numerous conferences with the gcvernor and Chas. Kurtz, in hiring Co- lvmbus lodgings. The legislators admitted that they had talked to Kurtz. There was an important conference of enti-Hanna republicans and democrats in Columbus last week. One of the Cleveland conferees says that a plan was worked cut which will result in the defeat of Senator Hanna and the election of a re- publican who will oppose the recommenda- tions of the President on the subject of financial legislation. He further avers that all the democrats in the Ohio legisla- ture, with three exceptions, have promised to vote for an anti-Hanfia repmblican. The platform also contemplates defeating every candidate for a minor office on the Hanna slate and dividing the affices between the antis and democrats. Politicians here regard the story as ex- travagant. There was a conference held, however, with a view of planning the de- feat of Senator Hanna. Prints Antj-Hanna News. Special Dispatch to The Evening Ster. COLUMBUS, Ohio, December 20.—The Commercial-Tribune of Cincinnati, a lead- ing republican organ in the state, has opened its news columns freely to anti- Hanna senetorial news, and the fact is taken generally to mean that it regards his defeat as very probable. This morning its correspondence from this city contains the statemént positively made that the three republican represen- tatives who came here Saturday, Mason and Bramley cf Cleveland and Jones of Canton, pledged themselves to Kurtz to vote against Hanna. This is no doubt based upon inforfffation from Mr. Kurtz. ——— CONVICTED OF PATRICIDE. Isom Lawson, a Fourteen-Year-Old : Lad, Geta Life Sentence, Special Dispatch to:The Rvening Star. LOPISVILLE, Ky., December 20.—At Barbourville, this morning, Isom Lawson was convicted of the brutal murder of his father, the Rev. Irion Lawson, a popular Baptist preacher, and sentenced to the penitentiary for life. The case has attract- ed widespread attention, as the lad is only fourteen, and killed hie father because the parent saw fit to correct the youth for ‘some misdeed. TO TAKE WEI-HAI-WEI|ARRIVED AT PORT LIMON British Far Eastera Squadron Or- dered to Rendezvous There. OFFSET T0 RUSSIA AT PORT ARTHUR ae Latter Incident Has Stirred All Europe to Action. oes POSITION OF JAPAN LONDON, December 20.—An unconfirmed report is current here that part of the Brit- ish far eastern squadron will be stationed Wei-Hai-Wei this winter. If true, this indicates that Great Britain is working in harmony with Japan. The latter power still occupies Wei-Hai-Wei, pending pay- ment of the Chinese war indemnity. The evering newspapers are much dis- turbed over the situation. “What do we get?” Is the burden of their complaint, and they all insist upon the necessity for im- mediate action. The Globe says: “Russia and Germany now have the two most important stri tegical positions in northern China, and Great Britain, whose commercial inter there are ten times greater, must be con- tent with the crumbs from the St. Peters- burg and Berlin tables.” America’s Probable Attitude. The Pall Mall Gazette echoes the Stand- ard’s inquiry as te America’s attitude and says: : “Of course, the partition of the coast which is bound to come, will not be con- fined to Russia and Germany. Every naval state in the world is actively concerned in the disturbance of the equilibrium in the far east, itein, France and Japan United tes cannot ntity to be ignored. The with these seizures is st and is fatal to our k that we shall not 2 as the Japanese will most joyfully back any scheme to re- dress the bitter humiliation they have suf- at the hands of Russia.” Advices received here from Paris show nee is awaiting Great Britain’s uction. If Great Britain follows the lead ef Russia and Germany, and occupies a sea port, France will forthwith follow Suit. not worthy of our futur é may rm be without s) As Viewed in France. BERLIN, December 20.—The Paris cor- respondent of the Cologne Gazette tele- graphs that paper that he learns on re- liable authority that the Russian occupa- tion of Port Arthur was connected with the visit there of the British war ship Daphne a week ago, when in spite of the protests of the Chinese the Daphne enter- ed the inner harbor, allegedly to ascertain whether there were Russian ships there. China complained of the incident to the representatives of the powers at Pekin, The British far eastern squadron is said to be at Talicmoan, and, according to the correspondent quoted, is shortly expected at Port Arthur. The Cologne Gazette regards the occupa- tion as merely a continuance of the co- operation of Germany with Russia in E: ern Asia. Russia's Attitude. Explained. ST. PETERSBURG, December 20.—The Novosti declares the occupation of Port Arthur has nothing political behind it, be a matter of indifference to who are not planning seizures ninese territory as to which point the Russian squadron chooses for its winter station,” —— LIFE SAVER: N PERIL. Anxiety Felt at Lubec, Me., Over Non- Return of Crew. LUBEC, Me., December 20.—Great anx- icty Is felt here over the failure of the re- turn of the captain and crew at the life- saving station, who left here yesterday afternoon to go to the relief of an unknown schooner, which parted her chains in West Quoddy bay and was driven to sea with signals of distress flying. A fierce gale broke with freezing weather yesterday morning. The schooner weather- ed wind and sea for several hours, but voth chains parted and she was driven to sea. Later she was sighted about eight miles from shore flying signals of dis- tress. At 2 p.m. Captain Myers and the life- saving crew, comprising six men, started to go to the assistance of the vessel. At 49 o'clock this morning neither vessel nor life-saving crew had been heard from. The only hope for the safety of the latter is that they reached the vessel or landed in Grand Manan, The gale did not abate during the night. a COTTON MILLS CUT WAGES. Announcement of a Reduction of 10 Per Cent at Suncock. SUNCOOK, N.H., December 20.—Notices have been posted at the China, Pembroke and Webster cotton mills here announcing a reduction of the wages of the operatives of about 10 per cent on January 1. The cut- down will affect the superintendents and overseers, and, in fact, all of the employes of the three corporatiens, including nearly 1,500 operatives. The monthly pay roil amounts to about $27,000. The three mills are engaged in the manufacture of print cloth. It is probable that the cut-down will be accepted. Col. David L. Jewell, superintendent of the China mills, says the reasons for the reduction are the same as those which caused the cut at the Fall River mills and the Amoskeag corporation at Manchester. NEW YORK, December 20.—The weavers at the German looms in the William Strange Company's mills in Paterson, N. J., are on strike. Albert Strange, manager of the mills, said today that his company had been paying higher wages to the wea- vers working the German looms than the other manufacturers, and as it could not continue to do so and compete successfully with rival manufacturers, wages had been reduced, and the men struck. —>.—_—_ WEYLER IS IRRECONCILABLE. Will Devote Himself to Vindication of His Conduct in Cuba. MADRID, December 20.—The Nacional prints in its issue today a double-leaded leading editcrial article under the caption “Weylcr,” to the effect that the personal mission in life of Gen. Weyler at the pres- ent moment is to defend the army and his ccmmand in Cuba against the “insults’ alleged to have been contained in Presi- dent McKinley's recent message to Con- gress, and that he will energetically pro- test to the minister for war (Gen. Correa) and to the queen regent against these ‘in- Advices Received From the Nicaragua Canal Commission, The Torpedo Flotilla at St. Augus —The Raleigh Leaves Smyrna—The Carter Court-Martial. The Navy Department is informed that the gunbeat Newport, with the Nicaragua canal surveying party on board, arrived at Port Limon yesterday. Word was also re- -ceived of the departure of the cruiser Ra- leigh from Smyrna yesterday for Port Said on her way to China. The gunboat Ma- clias, on her way from China to New York, arrived at Colombo, Ceylon, yesterday. The gunboat Petrel, recently relieved from duty in Bering sea, has arrived at Hong Kong. The torpedo flotilla, consisting of the Du Pent, Ericsson, Cushing and Porter, has arrived at St. Augustine on its practice cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. The Carter Court-Martial. Lieut, Col. John W. Clous, assistant judge advocate general, who has been detailed to duty as judge advocate of the court-martial appointed to meet at Savannah, Ga., early next month for the trial of Capt. O. M. Carter, Corps of Engineers, had a confer- ence with ‘ger at the War De- partment today in regard to the case, with spec-al reference to the formulation of the charges against the accused. Col. Clous is judge advocate general of the Department of Columbia, with headquarters at Denver. While here he will make his home at the Army and Navy Club. Naval Orders, Commander E. H. C. Leutze tached from duty in the ninth light house strict and ordered to command the Alert, relieving Commander B. S. Richards, who will remain in the hospital at Mare Island for treatment. Commander G. C. Reiter has been ordered to duty as inspector of the thirteenth light house district at Poriland, Ore., relieving Commander J. P. Merrell, who is ordered to the War College, Newport. Licutenant Commander C. C. Allibone has Por been detached from the navy yard, smouth, N. H., and ordered to be in- sector of the ninth light house district. The unexpired leave of Lieut. W. B. Whittelsey, inspector of ordnance, Bridge- port, Conn., has been revoked. & Paymaster G. H. Read has been detached from the New York navy yard and ondered to settle accounts. Medical Inspector J. B. Parker has been detached from navy yard, Portsmouth, and crdered to be a member of the medical examination board, Washington, D. C. The unexpired leave of Ensign T. A. Traat has been revoked, and he is ordered 1 Inspecior J. G. Ayers has been crdered to the Portsmouth navy yard. Ensign G. L. P. Stone has been detached from the Puritan and ordered to the New ork. Chief Engineer H. Webster has been or- dered to duty in the bureau team engi- neering. t i By The unexpired leave of Ensign G. C. Day has been revoked, and he ts ordered to the branch hydro} hic Lit Sieve ‘Ontes grap office, Cleveland, The unexpired leave of Civil Engineer F. C. Prindle has been revoked, and he is or- dered to the New York navy yard. Personal Notes, Second Lieut. D. 8. Stanley, jr, 224 In- fantry, is at the Soldiers’ Home, awaiting crders. Maj. W. B. Adams, corps of enginecrs, is here for duty with the light house boand. He is at the Ebbitt. First Lieut. E. S. Benton, 1st Artillery, is at the Ebbitt, on leave. Capt. J. C. Ayres is at the Army and Navy Club. Maj. Frank Phipps of the ordnance de- partment is here in attendance on the meeting of tne board of ordnance and for- tifications. He is stopping at the Grafton. Maj. Williams W. Gray, surgeon, is granted three months’ leave. Second Lieut. Melville S. Jarvis, 4th In- fantry, is granted two months’ leave. | bnsisn FA. Frank is at the Ebbitt, on ea usign G. C. Davison is visiting friends , on a leave of absence. ——— INTRUDERS TO BE ARRESTED. het Instructions to Indian Agents in the Wichitn Country. Instructions have been sent to the Indian agents in the Wichita country to arrest all “boomers” who trespass upon the lands not yet opened to settlement. This is the result of information received by the Indian of- fice that a band of land boomers is camp- ing on the line of the Wichita country pre- paring to enter the country. Copies of circulars have been received, which are re- garded by the officials as a land scheme designed to defraud. It offers for mem- bers protection and gives for its object the settlement of valuable lands in the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache Indian reserva- tions. The movement is said to be insti- gated by Capt. Hews, an old prospector, who has declared his intention of organ- izing a band 10,000 strcng to enter the country. To obtain a membership in the crganization a fee of $5 is exacted, and the department believes the promoters have no other idea in this move than to defraud those who become members. There is an agreement for the settlement ot the lands of the Kiowas now pending in Congress, but the department does not look for a favorable action. : ———_e-—____ INTERIOR DEPARTMENT CHANGES. Announcement of Appointme instatements and Resign: The following official changes have been made in the Interior Department: Patent office—Appointment—Richard 8. CG. Hutchinson of Tennessee, copyist, 3720. Pension _office.—Reinstatement—Patrick Curtin of the District of Columbia, messen- ger boy, $400. Resignation—Wyatt E. ‘Thompson of Georgia, copyist, $900. Railroad office.—Resignation—Charles A. Calhoun of Georgia, clerk, $1,400. Miscellaneous: Appointments—Lester Per- ry and David Martin of Kansas, appraisers of the Fort Wallace abandoned military reservation in Karsas, $4 per diem. Commissioner to the Chippewa and Chris- tion Indians in Kansas, C. A. Smart of Ot- tawa, Kan., vice Howel Jones of Topeka, Kan., declined, $10 per day. ———-e. INSANE MAN KILLS HIMSELF. Sutcide of a Gambler in St. Joseph, Mo., Jail. CHICAGO, December 20.—John Hogan, a patient at the Cook county insane asylum, at Dunning, and a brother of the widely- known sporting man, Malachi Hogan, com- mitted suicide last night in a peculiar man- ner. He eluded the vigilance of the guards and, going to the bath room, picked up a dust pan and drew the ragged end of it across his throat, completely severing the windpipe and veins of his throat. ST. JOSEPH, Mo., December 20.—Jack McCune, a gambler, who killed Wm. A. Albin on the morning of August 6, commit- ted suicide in the county jail today by tak- ing morphine. McCune had frequently said he‘would never be tried for the crime, and his case was to be called soon. ——$—$—$—$<—<—______ THE PENSION OFFICE ee Commissioner Evans’ Plan to Improve the Service, FORCED TO KEEP INCOMPETENT CLERKS Hampered by the Commissioners and Congressional Importunity, EXEMPTION OF EXAMINERS The Senate committee on civil service and retrenchment resumed its investigations into the operation of the civil service this morning. Commissioner Evans of the pen- sion office appeared before the committee and was questioned tn detail regarding the work of his force of 1,800 employes in rela- tion to the civil service law. Ther> were present Senator Pritchard, chairman of the committee; Senator Lodge, Civil Service Commissioner Procte: . Mr. G. R. Wales of the civil service commission, and ex-Representative Baker of New Hampshire, who was present in behalf of the Anti-Civil Service League. The extmi- nation of Mr. Evans was opened by Mr. Lodge, who asked the commissioner how he looked upon the civil service law as applied to the clerks under him. Mr. Lodge: “Do you think it would be a gcod thing to abolish the law so far it applies to clerks?” Mr. Evan No, sir. I don't think it would be a good thing to limit the law. I was a civil service reformer, so called, but it is a good deal like free trade to me. It don’t work out. The best men I have in my bureau are the men who came in through what is called the ‘spoils system.’ These men have no one behind them. They do their duty and never appeal to the civil service and expect to hold their positions by doing their duty in the bureau.” Medical Eaamining Boa: Mr. Lodge questioned the commissioner in regard to the organization of medical boards of the pension bureau. “I suppose you have complaints that I have been violating the civil service law. 1 hear it so stated. I have not. In com- ing into the pension bureau I found that soldiers complained against the bureau, being dissatisfied with the pension boards that had examined them. In some of these cases 1 have appointed a second pension board.” Mr. Evans continued to explain that by giving the soldiers an opportunity to go before a board composed of medical men in whom they had confidence the soidiers were satistied with heir examination, otherwise they would apply for re-exam- ination, which involved additional cxpense to the government. He had not «iscontin- ued any boards, but had merely appointed additional boards, so that the soldicrs could go before men in whom they had conti dence. These boards had been covered into the service without examination. The men appointed to these boards were generally army surgeons accustomed to making am- putations on the fied, and they would not go befcre the civil service commission for examination because they would be brought into competilion with young men just out of college an’ up to date in new medical terms. The consequence is, the filling of these places by examination would deprive the bureau of the services of these surgeons with long experience and special knowledge. In reply to a question by Senator Pritch- ard, Mr. Evans said that about 150 medical boards had been affected by his ord appoint them as explained. That w: of a whole number of 1,300 or 1,400 b ; These boards appointed without examina- tion were not in the classified service, so that there was a tack of uniformity in such boards, the old ones being classified, and re- movals could be m: from them only through charges being preferred. Mr. Lodge—“Would it not be beiter to have every medicai board examined an pointed anew, to have them All under uniform system? Mr. Evans. t would. The system is wrong; wrong from the start.” rks That Could Be Dropped. Mr. Lodge—“Are there many clerks who could be dropped from the rolls of the pension office without impairing the eiiciens cy of the service?” Mr. Evans. here are quite a number that could be dropped without impairing the efficiency at all. Mr. Lodge—“Why are they not dropped?” Mr. Evans—“I have dropped some of them, Lut I always get into trouble over tt, and now I could not well drop anybody without court-martial, as thes will appeal to the civil service commission and bring them down ou me.” Mr. Lodge—“The civil service, I take it, does not interfere in cases in which clerks are dropped from inefficiency.” Mr. Evans—‘“‘No, I don’t think they do, Nevertheless, the clerks complain to the commission and they correspond to know why it was done. But I contend that a head of a bureau, if he attends to his bus- iness, should know who the most efficient clerks are. When I became commissioner of pensions I undertook to reorganize my bureau, to get more work out of the force. The records will show I have adjudicated, 30 per cent more claims than were adjudi- cated during each of the last three years. As we get further from the War the claims are harder tc adjudicate. I believe the re- sults of my efforts have proven to be along the right line.” Mr. Lodge: “It has been stated lately that in & great many of the departments in Washington there is a considerabi number of clerks who are practically use- less; that they have become inefficient ard remain in office drawing the pay they bave received for years, but really doing no work. Are there any cases of that kind in your bureau?” Mr. Evens: “I have such cases in my bureau. The appropriations committee made inquiries in tha: line, and I submit- ted a proposition that if they allow the commissioner to reduce his force he could drop 100 cierks without interfering with its efficiency, if he could do it untram- melled and uninfluenced. Mr. Lodge: “Unintluenced by whom?” Mr. Evans: “Senators, representatives, the civil service commission and others. Mr. Lodge—“If you submit to the civil service commission that a clerk has been dropped for inefficiency, could you have in- terference from them?” Mr. Evans—“They would not interfere, but senators and representatives will com- plain to the civil service commission that a clerk has been dropped, and then the commission write letteers to know why it was dohe. I am absolutely opposed to pre- ferring charges against a man in a way to hurt him in the future. If he is in my bureav and of no account I want him dropped, with the mere statement that his services are no longer required, but, how- ever inefficient he may be he claims he is one of the best clerks in the bureau and brings senators and representatives to me to prove it.” Infucnce From the Hill. Mr. Lodge—“If senators and representa- tives would not interfere at all could you not reduce your force and retain the same efficiency’ Mr. Evans—“I have agreed to reduce it 100 clerks.” a Mr. Lodge—“Do inefficient clerks have much influence?” Mr. Evans—“Inefficient clerks have the most influence. They are engaged in get- ting influence. I am already getting letters in anticipation of the reduction of June 30 next.” > ‘Mr. Lodge—“Suppose all clerks were ap-