Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1898, Page 1

—_—__SS—————--—-_—_—_——={===== Che Fvening Star. THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Fennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th St, by i Cor The Deng Sop ATEN Coe Kew York Ofice, 49 Potter Building. The Evening Star is served to cubscribers tn the etty by carrion, on thelr ywn account, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. jes at the counter 2 cents each. By mafl—anywhere in the United States or Censda—postage prepaid—60 ccnts per month. Satcrday Quintuple Sheet Star. $1 per year, with foreign postage added, $3.00. (Entered a” the Post Office at Washington. D. C., secend-clana mail matter.) ©7 All wall subscriptions must be pald in advance. Rates o! fen. No. 13,990. WASHINGTON, D. ©. SATURDAY, FANUAHY 1, 1898-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. TWO CENTS. Advertising is not an expense. It is a business investment. If you want to invest your money profitably you will therefore put your advertisements in such a paper as The Evening Star, that is read regularly and thoroughly by everybody worth reaching. The Sta: is the recognized household and family journal of the National Capital, and has no rival as an advertising med- ium. TEST COMES TONIGHT Hanna's Strength Will Be Developed at Party Caucus. FACTIONAL FEELING RUNS HIGH Bushnell Will Probably Be Choice of Opposition. —__.____ DEADLOCK EXPECTED = - LONG Ohio, January 1.—The party | officers of the legislature, t Monday, are held to- mplications of the enator there is ne members of Congre ‘There are es for » house. Spenker. sentative Boxwell the Hanna Representative Mason the both being republi- 1 will no doubt receive the re- an Caucus nomination, and at the re- caucus next V an ed without Boxwell and Ha is and republicans, s. Three of nna, but nS are opposition claim n members are pl here are three rep against Hanna, an: Hanna's managers: to a workin led. by tonight, as the anti-Ha wiil draw the li all fe : nit tions s nem in € next likely be demorali: re the legislature is organize Monday a] ion and dis- will ry of governor the secret: definite cead- he balloting for United t ies are claiming > working 1ard, ng running high, nbine on Bushnell. ely vote for Rep- . republican, for speaker, McKisson i short terms Bushnell pin the on Hanna repub and they we surpassed those the feelitg be- s is more bi betweer nd several ssion of both of the Offices. y the anti-fanna nd the democrats in the legis- agreed on their combine tickets in ion to the Hanna tickets. The re- t the speaker the clerk nd the democrats get tre ser- arms and the ker pro tem., all minor place: equally divided. presentative Masoa for Gerrish for chief clerk r Boxwell and Join R. and ator Burke, whe is a veland, and oposing ndidate for presideit pro democra all other stands eighteen demo- cans and one fusion- with the -epub- ernor Jones S are countng on preliminary to theshow- tight have attracted in un- to the city. >— f the Opponerts of Senator Hanna. : 1.-Gov. Bu no longer conceals the fac that hi ng with the democras& and th D “ns who are trying to prevent the election of Senator Hanna. He nference held for thé’ pur- th Charles L. Kurz, Al- Col. Ike Hill of Wash- Griffin Toled¢ an of to deliver their y Senator Yalen- declares he wi for United led that Mayor R. E. eland should be voted nna republicans and the ¢ short term and Gov. Bushnell nz term. The republican mem- le or the of the legislature that are still hold- out 3 st Hanna are Senator Burke Representatives Mason, Bran Jones, Rutan, Bossow and Monnell, Senator Sheprard of Preble is still doubt- ful. Tais leaves Senator Hanna short one vote of a constitutional majority, even though all the fusion republicans in Cin- cnnati should vote for him. It ts not probable that they will all vote for him All interest now centers in the orga tion caucuses, which will be held this even- which the strength of the anti- na republican organization will be de- ‘The Ha 1 in th n to the senator. > ing Drea . January 1.—W. r of this city has gone to electric transmission tric road over the y will be generated ‘ansmitted twenty miles to it is to be used. At the age system will be used. in working order, in about three montha, it is suppesed that Chilcoot Pass will lose all of its terrors. to erect an es MR. FITZGERALD INDORSED, 'Frisco Labor Union Takes Action on His Renomination. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., January 1.—The Building Trades Council has indorsed the action of Labor Commissioner E. L. Fitz- gerald in urging at Washington, D. C., on their behalf the annexation of the Hawati- an Islands, advocating the eight-hour labor law, supporting the anti-immigration bill and striving to have a clause inserted in the specifications for the new post office in this city requiring that all the stone be @ressed in San Francisco. NEW CUBAN MINISTRY Announced by Senor Sagasta at Cabinet Meeting Last Night. Probability ‘That'2 Court-Martial Will Resalt Over the Weyler Memorial. . MADRID, January 1—At a meeting of the cabinet last evening Senor Sagasta, the premier, read a telegram from Marshal Bianco, the captain generl of Cuba, giving the names of the Cuban ministry, as fol- lows: President of the cabinet, Senor Jose Ma- ria Galvez. Minister of finance, Senor Rafael Mon- tore, Marquis of Montoro. Minister of the interior, Senor Antonio ovin. Minister of education, Senor Francisco ayas. Minister of commerce, Senor Lavreano Rodriguez. Minister of posts aad telegraphs, Eduar- do Dolz. | The cabinet approved of the nominations. The premier also read i Captain General Blanco, in which the lat- ter de uthorization to repeal the order prohibiting the exportation of manu- factured tobacco. Gen. Correa, the minister of war, made a report on the memorial which Gen. Wey- ler, the former captain general of Cuba, recently presented to the queen regent on the subject of President McKinley's mes- sege to Congress. Gen. Weyler, in this re- pert, denied having sent copies of his pro- test to the newspapers, and the minister fer war also read a royal edict directing the supreme court-martial to prosecute those who communicated the text of the pretest to the press. The airector of the Nacional s: a personal friend of Gen. Weyler, he had access to the general's study, where he took a rough draft of the protest, copie his notes and suppl to the press, ard he adds that Gen. Weyler is innoc of distributing the matter to the ne paper. ‘The government, however, is convinced that Gen. Weyler is guilty of naving com- mitted = meanors, and is in- clined to rigorous manner. $s that 2s New Hearty apt nt MeKinley. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., January 1. —The following tel nt to Presi- dent McKinley from thi ‘ the President, Washington, D. C “The chamber of commerce of Colorado Springs send you-best wishes for a happy New Year and congratulations on the pre perity that promises increasingly to your administration. Cripple Creek, i unty, has added more than twelve S mil- lions of dollars to the worl utput of gold during 1897, an increase of 40 per cent over the previous year. Colorado's gold production for the past year is nearly twenty-two millions, being one-third of the total gold production of the United States, 46 for each man in the done her shure toward prosperity of the na- the new “ar with hope a sum equ state. increasing th e tion and enter: and confidence >— ¢ KNOWS WHERE MRS. LUETGERT Is. Boston Man Wanis $15,000 to Tell Her Whereabouts. CHICAGO, Jam 1.—Fifteen thousand dollars is the modest sum for which John F. Schofigld of Boston offers to divulge the hiding place of the missing Mrs. Louise Luetgert, who, he declares, is alive and in good health. Friends of Adolph Luetgert have been notified that within twenty-four hours after the payment of the cash the wife of the sausage maker accused of her murder will be on the way to Chicago. He intimates that she is working in a small town in Pennsylvania as a domestic. Scant faith is placed in Mr. Schofield’s claims by the attorneys for the defense. ar ES PULLMAN’S LIFE INSURANCE. Pak Car Maguate’s Sons Will Re- ceive #18,000 Each. CHICAGO, January 1.—The twin sons of the late George M. Pullman will come into possession of $18,000 each as the result of their interests in life insurance policies car- ried by their fath These policies are now being adjusted and the amounts the sons will receive will be in addition to the $2,000 a year stipends left them by their father’s will. The other two children of Mr. Pullman— Mrs. Florence Pullman-Lowden and Mrs. Harriet Pullman-Carolan, the latter of Cal- ifornia—also receive in the neighborhood of $15,000 each by the policies. The widow of the magnate derives about $25,000 from the polic and the sisters and brothers of Mr. Pullman also are remembered. —— FRENCH BARK LOMBARD LOST. Five of the Crew and the Captain Were Drowned. MARSEILLES, January 1.—The French bark Lombard, Captain Dane, which left Mobile, Ala., November 9, for Cette, de- partment of Hereault, sank yesterday oven- ing while entering the port. Five of her crew, Including the captain, were drowned. Eight others were saved. —>—_—— CHARGED WITH WIFE MURDER. Anthony McGowan, a Wealthy Ran- kin, Pa., Citizen Under Arrest. PITTSBURG, Pa., January 1.—Mrs. Sarah McGowan was shot and killed at her home in Rankin, Pa., near here last night, and her husband, Anthony McGowan, one of the wealthiest residents of the town, is in jail, charged with her murder. No one was present when the woman was shot, and the motive for the deed fs not known. After the murder McGowan was found locked in a bed room, apparently asleep. He denied all knowledge of the crime, but was arrested and sent to jail. a FIRE AT CAIRO, ILL. Hotel and Business Block Swept Away This Morning. ST. LOUIS, Mo., January 1.—A speciel to the Post Dispatch from Cairo, Ill, says: The new year was ushered in by a fire that was one of the most disastrous ex- perienced here for years, and but for the efforts of the firemen would have destroy- ed much more property than it did. Shortly after midnight flames broke out of the European Hotel, on the Ohio levee, and the building was soon fn ruins. The flames communicated to the City National building adjoining and gutted it. For a time it seemed that the whole block would be destroyed, but the fire was kept within the two buildings mentioned. The total loss, which cannot be given now, will amount to many thousands of dollars, apd is fully covered by insurance. eee Prof. A. M. Bell Married. NEW YORK, January 1.—Prof. Alex- ander Melville Bell,.-the distinguished Scotch sclentiat, and father of 4. Graham itor of tel ont hee Pg anibley of ‘Toronto, were, ae ried at the Park Avesue Hote! here today, “ ? WEICH WILL’ WIN? THE OLDEST INHABITANTS Association Observes Its Time-Honored New Year Day Custom. Annual Meeting Held and Departed Associates: Remembered—Sympathy for President McKinley. The Oldest Inhabitants’ Association of the District today followed its time-honored custom of meeting on the first day of the year. President John Marbury, jr., pre sided, and quite a number of members were another present, despite time-honored of ¢ the fact that custom of the as: Hing upon the Pre: ates, could not be foi ause of the recent bereavement cf pf executive. in opening the meeting President Mar- bui fter extending the compliments of the day to the members, referred in feel- ing terms to President MeKinley’s be- reavement, expressing the regret of his associates at not being able to pay their respects to him and also extending to him the since} ympathy of the asso- ciation. In this connection Mr. J. Ma on Cutts offered a resolution, which was unani- mously adopted, to the effect that “the association tenders its most earnest _sym- pathies to the President of ti United States in the great recent afflic kas elicited from the hom 1 hearts of the American people, vering the sacred name and influence of mother, the deep condolence; and while regretting that, because of that bereavement, we have been unable on this day to extend to him in person our New Year greetings, we beg to express our esteemed regard and our appreciation of his pure, just and patriotic statesmanship in administering the chief executive office of our country.” Remember the Dead. President’ Marbury announced the death of the following members during the year just passed, and epoke appropriately of each: William Bradley, Patrick A. Byrne, 8. W. K. Handy and Robert Ball. The recording and corresponding secre- tarfes and Mr. Cut-s were appointed a com- mittee to prepare an accurate list of the active and henorary members of the asso- ciation, and also a list of the deceased members. ‘Treasurer Joseph Prather submitted his annual report, showing the receipts during the yecr have amounted to $230.64, and the expenditures to $168.98, leaving a balance of $74.71. During 1807 twenty-five new mem- bers were elected, making 115 in all. ‘The report was adopted, and then Mr. Prather invited the members of the association to attend the celebration of his golden wed- ding anniversary the first of next month, at inis residence, 1310 Vermont avenue, from 8 to 10 p.m. ‘The invitation accepted with an expression of the assoclation’s con- gratulations, and the proper committee was directed to secure and present to him a gold-headed cane, that being a standing rule of the association. Capt. Bassett’s Picture. Mr. Ragan, on behalf of the widow of Captain Isaac Bassett, presented to the association a photograph of Captain Bassett and also a copy of the memorial address delivered by the Rev. Dr. Byron Sunderland, explaining that Mrs. Bassett a few days before her death asked that the presentation be made. After expelling a member who was some time ago convicted of indecent assault, the corresponding and recording secretaries and Mr. Eichhorn were appointed a com- mittee to arrange for the celebration of Washington’s birthday, after which the as- sociation adjourned. Members Present. Among those present at today’s meeting were Andrew Barbour, P. F. Bacon, W. Beron, J. T. Bolseau, F. W. Brandenburg, n which J. W. Clarke, J. D. Cathell, J. Connor, WwW. D. Crampsey, J. M. Cutts, C. Dickson, R. Eichhorn, W. Fow- ler, Daniel Genau, W. J. Green, J. T. Hayne, Dr. J. T. Howard, J. Hum- phrey, W. C. Johnson, W. W. Kirby, T H. Langley, B. F. Larcombe, T. F. Ma- gutire, J. Marbury, jr., F. L. Moore, 9. E. Mullan, T. V. Noonan, 8S. F. D. Ourand, Joseph Prather, Thomas Oliver, A. H. Ragan, Dr. J. R. Reily. B. W. Reiss, Bus: rod Robinson, Jas. H. Richards, J. Veil meyer, W. B. Williams, J. A. Wineberger, B. C. Wright. GOV. GRIGGS’ NOMINATION, It Will Follow Immediately Judge McKenna’s Confirmation. It will probably be about the 20th of Jan- uary before Gov. Griggs of New Jersey en- ters upon his duty as a member of the cabinet. The understanding now is that Gov. Griggs will be nominated immediately upon the confirmation of Attorney General McKenna as a member of the Supreme Court. This confirmation will have to be followed by the confirmation of the nom- {nation of Gov. Griggs, and it 1s‘not thought that it will be earlier than the 20th of Jan- uary before the New Jersey man takes his place in the Department of Justice. The Prasident has decided upon a number of nominations, which will go to the Sen- ate next week. In addition to the new Tames to be sent in there will be about seven or eight hundred names of persons appointed during the recess of Congress, Six-sevenths of these are postmasters in various parts of the country. It is not thought the new list of nominations will be large. BURGLARS GET $700 Post Office at Hyattsville Broken Open and Robbed. SECOND TIME WITHIN A YEAR Two Suspicious Characters Noticed* About the Railroad Station. ONLY CLUE TO ROBBERS Sas Sees Special Dispatch to The Evening HYATTSVILLE, Md., 1.—The post office at this place was entered by burglars at an early hour this morning. ‘The safe was blown open and looted of $700 in currency and stamps. There 1s no clue to the robbers, but it 4s believed that 4t was planned and exequted «by professional crooks. : A ‘The post office is in the grocery store of George ‘Tise, who is postmaster. The sto is tmmediately opposite the railroad sta- nn the center of a thickly popu- tion of the villa morning, shortly before 7 This Moses Smith, a clerk, whose duty it is to open up the building, discovered that four o'clock, part of the Upon attempt- panes of glass in the uppe show window were broken. ling to unlock the front door he found that it was barred fro1m the inside. He immediately went for Postmaster Tise, and after some delay an entrance was e fected from the rear of the building. Tise’s private office was in great conf. mn. The massive safe was a wreck, and on the floor w scattered books and papers, which the robbers had thrown aside. Safe Was Dynamited. The safe door lay on the opposite side of the room, imbedded partly in the side of the wall and partly in the floor. A small round hole, about one-third of an inch in diameter, had been bored in the solid cast- the combination handle. There xcepting scattered stamps, left in the office. Some 3300 belonging to Mr. Tise and u wards of $400 post office méney was gon: The burglars left behind them two chisels and a brace and bit, and on the top of the safe a partly emp! ridges, which th the show ¢ fed box of 32-caliber cart- had taken from one of ses. rs made their*exit from a rear ‘They went across the al to the watch box near the Baltimore afid Ohio railroad crossing, broke open the door and there, it is supposed, assorted their plunder, as numerous receipts and itportant papers belonging to Mrs. ‘Tise were found upon the floor of the room, ay It is supposed that the+tobbery was ef- fected between o’élogk this morning and daybreak. Severai iadies and gentle- men returning from #, New Year party passed the post office shortly after 1 o'clock, and at that time there was noth- ing of, a suspicious nature around the building. May Be a Glue. Henry Clarke, a colored man in. the employ of Dr. “Charles A. Wells, furnishes information which may lead to the tracing of the burglars. Clarite states that at $ o'clock last night; wh{lei;passing by the station, he saw two men standing near the rear door of the*depot. Two hours later Clarke returned,*and the men were suill loitering around the doorway. Clarke is urable to give-a desorigtion of the men further than that one was tall and slender and wore dark clothes and the other short and stout. 5 ‘This is the second time the post office at Hyattsville has been robbed within a year. Last May an entrance was effected anda number of stamps takérZ but no attempt was made to rob the, safe. Considerable excitement prevails héte fever last night's robbery, and much sympathy is felt for Postmaster Tise. » Mr. Tise was appoifted postmastér in May, 1897, the contest ‘forthe office having elicited great interest tn the community, —>—— CLAIMS FOR BaOK PAY. Auditor Brown Opposed Special Cases, Judge Brown, auditor for the War De- partment, has issued a circular against favoritism in the matter of the settlement of claims for back pay and bounty. ‘The steady increase in the’ number of claims for back pay and bounty," he sald, “and the consequent delay in their settlement, has produced a great pressure to have such claims made ‘special.’ “A compliance wit) quests made for clat: settled out of thé to Making mumerous re- be taken up. and f their reception would work great- to a large and worthy, class of. clafi ‘who haye no in- fluence of. themselves, {nttuential friends to solicit favorsiin thir-behalf. “It is believed; that a ‘proper regard for the rights of all parties, claims of the character mentioned to be examined and disposed of in the order of their filing in this office—exceptions being made only when the party fn interest is im indigent cir- Seman and actually suffering for pe- aii—the facts justifying the excep- ertified tion belt the Rea aecte eeees eeaeae No claim be made sperial upon. per-- WAYS OF CLAIM AGENTS General Methods of Some torneys. Dishonest At- Applicants for Pensions Who Are In- ly Involved in At- tempts to Defraud. In The Star yesterday, an extended ac- count was given of some pension attorneys who had been discovered in attempts to defraud the government, together with a synopsis of th methods and the final disposition of the case against them. It was only a few of the hundreds 6f cases which fill the files in the division devoted to the detection of crime in the pension office. That other frauds exist no one doubts and the record each day brings to light one or more cases of attorneys who have been caught at iliegal practices. But all these are but a fraction—a very smait percentage of the frauds that are daily being practiced by pension attorneys. There are only 150 examiners to look after the 50,000 attorneys, and as a promi- nent official of the pension office said: “How can they be expected to ferret out all the fraud that exists? The capacity of a man is limited. He n do only a certain work, and as I think it over 1 not believe twice the number could out all the frauds. No, as long attorneys exist, there will be A reporter of The Star who looked into the subject of frauds practiced by pension learned in a general way the False affidavits to comrade’s abilities form the grea part of the deceit practiced, that is, ‘its of men who do not ist. Then sifying affidavits are also much used. s simply “Get the claim allowed.’ ion attorney is familiar with every ling to the goal of allowance, and many of them are most skilful in the prep- aration of affidavits. It is a comparatively sy matter for an attorney to so twist an avit as to deceive both the office and aimant. Investigation by the depar t has demonstrated that claimants pay little attention to affidavits. They sim- ply tell the attorney the facts, and the lat- ter, if he is not stricly honest and con- scientious, distorts the facts to suit him- self. The claimant thereupon signs it, con- scious of having told the truth himself in the matter, and not worrying himself over the diction of his attorney, who has Leen paid to get the claim allowed. Then the department Icoks with suspicion upon medical examining boards. Cases have occurred where doctors made a f s of a case, either with a ce- nt or due to Ignorance. Not long mmissioner very forcibly regarding medical boards, d put himself on record as op- posed to a civil service law which protected those examiners who were fortunate enough to live in communities where plenty of work brought their salary up to the limit of protection by the civil service law. He argued that a soldier seeking a pension was entitled to as good an mination in one section of the country as another. — e——— LOOKS LIKE MR. CLEVELAND. Appearance of the Ex-President’s Double Causes a False Report. A few weeks ago a man was seen to walk down F street whose resemblance was so close to that of ex-President Cleveland that rumors gained currency that the ex-Presi- dent was here walking about, taking in the sights. A New York paper mentioned the supposed fact that Mr. Cleveland had been surveying F street in a democratic way he had never been known to adopt while he dwelt in the White House. The fact was that ex-President Cleveland turned out to be Col. French, in charge of the files of the House of Representatives. The resemblance between Col. French and the ex-President is marked, thowgh the former walks with a light step and is not so heavy as Mr. Cleveland. This fact gave rise to the comment in the New York pa- per referring to Mr. Cleveland’s visit in effect that the ex-President looked in_bet- ter physical’ condition than he had enjoyed for years, and walked in a way to suggest that he was growing younger instead of older,. o THE OREGON GOING TO CHINA, - Will Probably Replace the Cruiser Olympia, It is probable that the unarmored cruiser Olympia will shortly be replaced as flag- ship of the Chinese squadron by the battle ship Oregon, now undergoing final repairs at Puget sound. The Olympia has been on the Chinese station for about two years, and is said to require considerable over- hauling of her boilers and miachinery. Her relief by the larger and more powerful warship would have no more significance than a natural desire to show a first-class battle ship of the United States navy in waters never before visited by one. In strengthening her naval forces in China ne United eaten rela only be fol- lowing the example o! ie European pow- ers, and it is not at all improbable Mhat an emergency may arise which will ren- der the services of a strong naval force ex- tremely desirable and advantageous to the large commercial interests of the United States in that Be ley of the globe. ae on Daley at care Department change recently lered in the command of the Asiatic fleet NO NEW YEAR RECEPTION Quiet Day Passed at the Mansion, Exeouti The President and Mrs. McKinley Drove Out—Only a Few Fric: Seen—Similar Occasions Recalled. President McKinley accompanied Mra. McKinley on her morning drive today. The President and Mrs. McKinley were the only occupants of the landau. Misses Bar- ber and Durcan, who usually accompany Mrs. Kinley on her morning drives, went out soon afterward to pay an informal visit to friends. They preferred walking to rid- ing, however, enjoying the crisp morning air. The wind was blowing at a strong velocity when the President and his wife left for a short tour through the city. The President received only a few inti- mate personal friends during the day. He aid not go to his office, remaining in the private apartments of the house. “Vice President Hobart and Secretary Biiss called at the White House shortly after the Pres- ident had gone out. They simply desired to make an informal call. Compared with New Year a year ago, the White House } resented a lonesome appear- ance. The custom of holding a reception Was suspended, as heretofore stated, be- cause of fe death of the President's moth- er. The failure to give the New Year re- ception recalls to old employes of the White House other New Years on which there meal no receptions at the Executive Man- sion. During the administration of President Grant, the first wife of Secretary Belknap ot the War Department died shortly before the holidays. On this account President Grant suspended the New Year reception and a number of other social functions during the winter. A tragic occurrence at the White House on a New Year day, when the building was crowded with people and long lines were standing as far down as Pennsylvania ave- nue, was the sudden death of Mr. Allen, the Hawaiian minister. President Arthur immediately suspended the reception, and the immense throng inside and outside the building went away as quickly as possible. The death of Mrs. Harrison at the White House in the last year of the administra- tion of President Harrison caused the latter to suspend the New Year reception of 1883, as well as all dinners and receptions. ——__—__-e--____ NOT OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED. The Report That Americans Were Ex- pelled From Clipperton Island. The story of the dispossession of a party of Americans from Clipperton Island by a Mexican warship, as reported by an in- coming steamer at San Francisco, has as yet had no official confirmation. All that is known at the Mexican legation here is that vague rumors have been afloat for some time past that the British had taken possession of the island, and, with a view to asserting the sovereignty of Mexico over it, a warship was sent there to main- tain the claim of that government. The Department of State has nothing at all on the subject, but is not disturbed over the news. The law permits an Amer- ican citizen to locate upon any guano island, such as Clipperton, solely for the purpose of taking off the guano, but it must be affirmatively shown that the island is not part of the territory of another na- tion at the time of location. So that, in the case of Clipperton Isiand, it is simply a question as to the prior right of Mexico to title, and the impression here is that ker title is as good as was that of Brazil to the Island of Trinidad, which sought by the British for a cable station. It is recalled here that in two cases the United States government relinquished islands iying in the Bay of Honduras to Mexico under similar circumstances to presented in this case upon proof of Mexican title. -e- AT KEY WEST. News of the Arrival of the Torpedo Flotilla. A telegram wes received at the Navy De- partment this morning saying that the torpedo flotilla arrived at Key West last evening, having made the trip from Miaii by the inside route. The torpedo boat Wins- low, which was commissioned at Norfolk yesterday, will join the flotilla in a few weeks. The monitor Amphitrite has sailed from Charleston for Port Royal, for use in tne training of gun captains. oe HAS PRACTICALLY RETIRED, Gen. Bell Gives Up Active Service in the Arn Gen. Bell, commissar ence, has practically se d his active cen- nection with the arm; He will retire on account of age on the 28th instant, and has been granted leave of absence uniil the ith instant. It is Ais purpose to return to hington a few days before the date of vement, in order to close up b sin the War Department. During bsence Col. S. B. Cushing, his princi: a ant, will act as commissary general of subsistence. neral of subsist- LIEUT. PRESTON IN CHARGE, Will Undertake to Get Supplies Into the Kiondike Region. The War Department has placed Lieu- tenant Guy H. Preston, 9th Cavalry, in charge of the army pack trains that are to undertake to get supplies into the Klon- dike region. Lieutenant Preston has been in Washington for some time. His princi- pal assistant will be Lieutenant James Ryan, 10th Cavairy, who gathered up the pack trains at Forts Washakie and Robin- son. The animals already at Vancouver under organization are to be reinforced by about seventy-five more, all selected mules from the Rocky mountain country and used to extreme rigors of climate. It has been definitely decided not to burden the expedition with wagons, as has been sug- gested. AN OLD SOLDIER’S COMPLAIN iT. The Civil Service Commission Ar- raigned on Startling Charges. The commissioner of pensions very often receives letters not referring to his depart- ment; in fact, it ts estimated that his per- sonal mail which has no bearing upon pen- sion business aggregates upward of 200 let- ters a day. The following is a sample of the letters he receives: SAN FRANCISCO, Decr. 8th, 1897. H, Clay Evans, Commissioner of Pensions Gentleman. [ appeal to you, if you can to help an Oli Soldier. I want to prefer charges of Fraud, Trickery, and Falsehood against the United States Civil Service Commission, of having prevented me for the last two years, and of still preventing me, from applying for empiqyment, under the Government, of using Official Docu- ments for the purpose of defrauding and tricking an Old Soldier, of Sending me a three page written letter enclosed in an Official Envelope marked as printed mat- ter. I am not posted\as to the Red Tape Route, I Should take to do this, therefore I respectfully ask you gentleman or any of the Old Soldiers in your Bureau to inform these charges I have eight of their Documents to Support them. I have ten to this H-o-n-o-r-a-b-l-e Commission to and But they give me no Satisfaction. If you will please answer is as as convenient you will oblige your fellow-citizen in Peace, _—_— “AFTER FOOD, WHAT?” The Question Being Asked Thronghs out Rural Cuba. PROPOSED AMERICAN INTERVENTION A Visit to The Stricken tricts. Dise CHANGES MADE IN MONTHS (Copyright, 1898, by Charles M. Pepper.) PROVINCE OF MATANZAS, Cuba, December 29, 189) Rural Cuba aids In answering a question which was being asked when I left Havane the other day. Possibly the folks in the United States were asking the same ques tion. It is simply, “After food, what next?” If the American people had to ine tervene to succor the starving after Spain's confident assurance of her own ability to do it, how long before they will have to Intervene to establish peace in Cuba? I write in ignorance of what has been done to meet the President's call, though with the impression that it must meet with some response. The response can never be fully adequate, because no ad- equate means of succor can be devised from without. But General Lee and the consuls can distribute a vast amount of food with the certainty that it will reach the suffers ing., The agencies in their control can be extended, as they will be, if the contribu- tions keep up. And of this matter of con- tributions it may be said briefly that the emergency is not one to be settled by spas- modic action. Relief can come steadily for months. and there will not be too much of it. In the country the meaning of the Presl« dent's Christmas proclamation ts perceived at once. The country people have not been able to eat autonomy. The new colonial system has been neither food, medicine nor clothing to them. In Havana the officials at the palace hav- ing settled the designs for the government stationery and approved the letter heads for autonomy, rest in the consciousness that one portion of their task is completed. The cabinet in entering on its labors can find no fault with the statfonery with which it is supplied. The designs of the letter heads are tasteful, according to the Spanish idea, and symbolical. Out in the country they think less of symbols and more of substance. Autonomy not being substance to them, they show no curiosity about its works. Vague rumors of relief from Amer+ ica have a live interest, though the rumors: are yet indefinite and do not satisfy the cravings of the stomach. To many of the country people almost as litUle is known of America as is of Africa. One woman who was huddled in a “bohio” in the midst of her ragged children told me she thought the Americans must be a good people, be- cause when the Spanish soldiers killed her husband she had heard them curse “los Americanos,” but that was all she knew. Others in the towns where consulates are located know more. They know that thelr few neighbors who were fortunate enough to lay claim to American citizenship have been receiving aid, doled out in small quantities, yet systematically and enough of it to keep the aided ones from yielding to starvation, If the relief ever gets the headway it should get the American con- suls in Cuba will have a hard time of it in fulfilling their official duties. Less Desolate Than in May. The eastern part of Havana province and Matanzas itself do not present as desolate appearance in some ways as they did last May. Fewer charred cane fields are seen and there is less evidenct of destruction. Equally true is it that there are no signs of restoration. I saw two mills which were actually grinding cane, but none of the ruined milis had been rebuilt. With one exception the cane growing in the fields showed clearly the lack of cultivi tion. While the country looks more habit- able than it did months ago, fewer inhabl- tants are to be seen. An immense loneliness is over it all. The wild vines are growing in profusion over the framework of the palm huts that were left standing, but the vines are their only thatching. Lacking tenats, they need no roofs. The concen- tration settlements at Campo Florida, Juneco, Mocho Cidra and other points along the railway are not half peopled. ” are no longer annoyed by the reconcen- tradoes lining up at the stations and mak- ing pitiful appeals for aid. The groups of beggars are now small and they are not importunate. In the town of Matanzas—it once had people sufficient to be a city—the recon- centradoes are numerous enough for their succor to be a grave problem, but they no longer suffer from overcrowding. Cascoro hill, the hill of sorrows, has many vacant “bohios.” Some of these are large, for in’ the beginning of the concentration they sheltered fifteen or twenty persons each, The lime kilns and caves have all been va- cated. Most of thelr inmates changed quarters for the graveyard. I saw Cascoro hill at a time when on its slopes was prob- ably gathered more human wretchedness than could be found in any one spot else- where in the world. Now the quantity of misery has been reduced by merciful death, The quality of the wretchedness is the same. A brave attempt has been made by some of the pacificoes to surround their huts with little patches of gardens, though the rocks mock their efforts. The women and children who are able still listlessly plait the palm leaves into hats, which, when a market can be found, bring them a few pennies. But this is their only em- ployment. The morning scene tells the whole story of the survivors. It is when they drag themselves to the well, where they wait in turn for their pails and gourds to be filled. Many are barely equal to the tesk of carrying the vessels back to their huts.” Destitation in the Towns. I write of these people because, since so many of the reconcentradoes are dead, it might be inferred that not enough re mein to justify further efforts at relief by the United States, But even if the survivors were not numerous, an clement of the Cuban population will ere long require help unless peace is restored and agriculture and trade are given a Umping™ start. This class is made up :