Evening Star Newspaper, January 4, 1898, Page 1

PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Fennsylvania Avenue, Cor. 11th 8t., by The Evening Star Ne Company 5. H. CaurrMaNnn, Pree’t. ie ited Kew York Office, 49 Potter Building. ‘The Evening Star ts served to subscribers In the ity by carriers. on their own account, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. les at the ceunter 2 cents each. By mail—anywhere in the United Status or Cenada—postage prepald—50 cents per month. Saterday Ce aeseaad $1 per year, with eizn poatage added, $3. Wegener the Bost Gace at Washincton. D. ©. as _seccnd-clase mafl matter.) oa ail subecriptions must be paid In advance. Rates of dvertising made Known on application. BOTH SIDES ACTIVE Sharp Sparring for Advantage Goes on at Columbus. SENATOR BURKE NOW ON THE SCENE “Combine” Fails to Agree on an Opposition Candidate. —— BUSHNELL IS DERIDED a oe COLUMBL to th the th Ohio, January 4.—Previous ling of the legislature today, conferences on both sides on vial contest. The Hanna men i to have secured pledges from Rep- resentatives Griffin of Union and Joyce of Guerne who voted for Mason yesterday for speaker, but with these doubtful acce: assem were sions they were still short two votes of enough ot While Mr. Hanna's friends are workin: n republi county committees, clubs and other organizations at the home of the doubtful republican members hav been enlistet, and many delegations of visiting statesmen are arriving. one of the first be Busbneil of ‘The m the nefiel combined oppos home of Governor na is still uncertain as to their candidates. Some democrats object to Governor Bush- Mayor McKisson, or Mr. Kurtz, or her republican that has yet been sug- While the opposition has informal- ly announced for senator, there has been no on on that se- lection. combine om to Hanna to defeat Har claimed enough senatorial candidate to elect. “Pheir all thetr prese: not y one trouble forces ir Hanna, but to them to upon their man for senator. Manna Wants Two Votes. The work today was devoted by “the ‘to hold their forces together and page them for the senatorial c or the organi: legislature. been devoted votes. Senator burke frem Chicago i ndance of the 1 with the the repu er, equipmen pipe line, rs of sev Governor Bush to their protes responded in a Call on Senator Hanna. eld delega Senator Har n afterward call- ther joined in ting delegations y to protest against s who are combin- $s to Gefeat Hanna. and ned at nocn till tomor- much unfin: 1 business. Goes not intend to rounce nding committees till after the orial caucuses are held temorrow e erred places will apportioning the com- own what republicans nt "republican senator- > at neon took a recess till 2:30 nouncing any of its com- tor Burke secured all he i -rkships and other patronag mocrats. He in con- jemoerats Guring the noon houses showed DP ssible was b = showin the ainst Han r nouse against him, ik short of enough votes ¢ 4 election. During the noc xecess the 1 jollificatic n gs oft » continued. enator’s Fight. 8 teh to The Evening Star. < nuary 4.—This cit r Hanna, is pre- to come to his rescue. Judge Ste- issued a call for an of the citizens of the ce ts." In council meeting last ack created a sensa- announcement, “When we have head of the ci govern- to watch the public purse Iman } ion by the tors ut the nt it is tim k was directed at ngs of Mayor Me- republicans have @ score of towns on the reserve to action on the of Governor Min leading aguinst Mr. Hann he business men of Cleveland will run @ big excursion to Columbus in the in- terest of Mr but purposely the ration of Political sion, and there n reserve tod: is tur- Bushnell's Office Decorated. Special Disyetch to The Evening Star. COLUM dews fer lithograph land adhe of Governor £ ism pict = to th: The offices of ail ures of ex-President Cleve- outside of the nes. the other anti-Hanna republicz the state capitol were simi- larly de d. It is supposed the work Was done republicans who cppose the Sovernor’s course in opposing the election of Senator Har Post Office Thieves Caught. The post office officials believe that the post office thieves who have been robbing the post offices in North Carolina have been apprehended. Chief Inspector Hamlet has sent several deputies to the scene of the robbery and expresses the hope that the thieves have been caught. Che Lven g Star. No. 13,992, WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, JANUABY 4, 1898—FOURTEEN PAGES, TWO CENTS. Advertising is not an ex It is a business investment. you want to invest P ese’ money pense. If 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 Star is the recognized household and family journal of the National Capital, and has no rival as an advertising med- ium. G He Contributes Liberally Again to the Uni- versity of Ohicago, A Number of Important Announce- ments Made at the Ai Convo- cation by President Harper. CHICAGO, Jaruary 4.—Several important ennovneements were made by President Harper at th> twenty-first convocation of the University of Chicage at the Audi- torium last evening. One was the gift of $2,000 by John D. Rockefeller to enable the university to swell its income for the year beginning July 1, 1898, to $720,000, the sum needed to carry out {is work as planned. Another important announcement was that a college of commerce and politics would be inaugurated, under the auspices of the university, to teach practical bust- ness and politics, to include debts of rail- roads, finance, insurance, manufacturing, trade, diplomatic service and journaiism. The affiliation of Rush Medical College, one of the ploneer medical institutions of the west, with the university was also announced, the conditions being that the trustees should not include members of the faculty, but should be business men, having no financial interest in the income of the college; that the debt of $17,000 should be paid and the qualifications for admittance should be gradually advanced, until in 12 they should include a fres! mun ard sophomore term in a standar university. President Harper strongly recommended a coilege for teachers in the public schools in connection with the university, but lo- cated at some central point, which would enabie teachers to acquire a college edu- cation while pursuing their work. He pointed out that but 10 per cent of the teachers in the Chicago schools were co! lege educated, and, as their tenure of office Was secure, it was of great importance to the public that they have the highest pos- sible education. The president also an- rounced the addition of Lieut. Palmer, S. A., to the faculty and contemplated mation of military companies, adding drill would be entirely optional with the stusents. President Harper, before concluding his annourcements, made the startling state- ment that of the five deaths which have occured in five years at the university three are directiy traceable to starvation. These deaths, the pr Tent said, were due to insufficient nutrition, that in turn being the result of the poor 1 supplied in the district surreunding the university. In conclusion, the president argued for the addition to the universit a commons, in which the students be supplied with nutritious food and lodgings —— WELLINGTON OUT FOR McComas. Now Believed That the Judge Has Walkover. Special Dispatch to The BALTIMORE, January 4.—Senator Wel- lington came out unreservediy today in favor of Judge Lovis E. McComas to suc- ceed Mr. Gorman in the United States nate. He told The Star correspondent that public cpinion appeared to 1 strongly in favor of Judge McComas, and his election was so urgently demanded by tke indcpendent demccrats who supporte 1 the republican ticket that ne (Wellington) had determined to use all his influence to further it. nator Wellington's action is believed to insnre the election of McComas beyond a doubt. The Senator will not go to An- napolis tonight, but may go later if his pre is needed to afd in McComas’ election. It is now believed that Mr. Ashley M. Gould will be chosen speaker without any difficulty at the republican caucus tonight. ——— & DAVIS’ GREAT HIT. ening Star. so. WEBST! Assistant Secretary of Interior Capti- vates New England Audience, Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. PROVIDENCE, R. L, January 4.—The of Webster Davis, assistant’ secre- of interior, at Rhode Island Associa- tion banquet New Year night is still the talk of the town. No speaker who has vaded the conservative regions o1 gland has been met with greater enthusiasm than the Missouri orator, who Jast night held spell-bound 150 gentle- men and ladies representing the best ele- ment of Rhode Island folk. For two hours continuous outburst otf eloquent depiction of elements of best cit- izenship and collateral affairs was listened to with keenest interest, and a pin could have been heard to drop in all that period, save when keen shafts of wit. and sar- casm and warning brought cut round after reund of applaus It was notable as the most enthusia reception ever given to a w in this state, if not all this s. le wry of brilliant scr that ve sland banquets names Dyer, Senator Al- y Solicitor Colwell, Represen ro, Who Were among other s united to pay tribute eak- to the guest of ary Davis has been fairly with social invitations here, but has had to decline them. Yesterday after- noon he was the guest of a leading Provi- dence n jal dinner. He returns to Washingion today. —_+—_—_. FOR ARMOR PLATE PLANT. Virginia Legislatare Offers Land at sport Navy Yard. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. : RICHMOND, Va., January 4.—Mr. Charles T. Bland yesterday morning introduced a bill in the house and had it placed on the calendar for immediate action authorizing the United States government to purchase certain lands on the southern branch of the Elizabeth river contiguous to the Gos- port navy yard, for the purpose of estab- lishing a wet dock and other naval im- provements. Three hundred acres is the amount cited in the bill, which shall be exempt from ate taxation only as long as the same is used by the United States government. This bill was introduced with a view of having located at Portsmouth the proposed armor plate plant and other naval facili- ties not now enjoyed by the United States government, and which, according to the view of the patron of the bill, there is no better place than Portsmouth for the loca- tion of such improvements. ed FOUND IN WASTE BASKET. Famous Checks in the Stubbs Inv: tigation at Richmond. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. RICHMOND, Va., January 4.—The manner in which the now famous Womack checks, which figured so prominently in the Stubbs investigation were obtained by the invés- tigating committee was cleared up before the grand jury here yesterday. ‘They were left in an office of the book store of of West, Johnston & Co., formerly occupied by Womack. They were picked up from a waste basket and given by Mr. West to Mr. Greer Baughman, who gave them to the committee. over and over again. Starting life as a slave, and receiving a fair education, he be- gan on his own hook as a follower of the IFT FROM ROCKEFELLER|GAVF UP HIS PENSION Effect of Proposed Publication of Lists. ———— 10 THE - COMMISSIONER =a ae LETTERS Illegal Practices of Some Claim Agents. INGENIOUS SWINDLING ————— Since the agitation in favor of the pub- lication of the list of all pensioners began the pension office has received a number of letters from pensioners requesting the can- cellation of their pensions. One letter re- ceived this morning from a pensioner in Michigan inclosed his pension certificate and stated his desire to have the same canceled, as he was not entitled to a nension._ He added he would try and pay back all the pension money he had drawn since 1895, when the pension was granted. Practices of a Pooh Bah. Here is a case of a pension agent, who Was @ perfect Pooh Bah, having not only acted as an attorney, but as professional witness, an all-around forger, claimant for pension and impersonator of a special ex- aminer. He was unearthed by the special examiners of the bureau, arrested upon their information, tried, convicted and sen- tenced to twenty-eight years in the pent- tenilary. He was convicted upon every count and sentenced accordingly. As a claimant he was believed to be an impostor, asa witness he was shown to be a perjurer, as a subagent he repeategly violated the criminal statutes and as an alleged special examiner he swindled his clients. While rot well educated, he was a man with great inventive faculties, who originated two schemes to detraud the government and his clients. The first worked as follo Hav- ing gained ession of the mail of his various clients he would-arrange it properly in a basket and go from house to house, demanding, and receiving, various sums of money from his dupes. His prices ranged from 40 cents to $1.64 a letter, cash on de- livery. Just why he demanded such prices is not known, and the department has been wondering ever since the case was brought to its attention whether a large-sized letter called for the maximum fee, or whether, on the supposition that the best goods came in the smallest packages, he exacted the largest fee for the si t letter. Each letter so delivered constituted a violation of the law. His other me was not so immediately profitable to him, but was far more danger- ous to the government. It was based upon a list of colored soldiers, which he carried with him, and was worked as follow Adaline Roe would inform Mr. Lewis that her Jate husband, Richard Roe, was a soldier, but she did not know when or . He would then produce his list, find a Richard Roe, calmly inform the sor- rowing widow that that was the man, fill out her declaration and then hustle around to get or manufacture the evidence neces- ary to prove the claim. In the manufacture of the evidence in such cases he repeatedly forged the signia- ture of 2 reputable notary public. As a with to material facts or to the identity of the claimant he appeared in the greater portion of the claims filed through his instrumentality, and to gain his ends would testify to having been a neighbor to one man in & period of years after the close of the war, while in another case he would testify to having lived neigh- bor to anot nin Tenne: Arkansas what state Was necessary, during ame period, and in so doing committed perjury over and over again. His own claim was based on the loss of the sight of an eye alleged to have been lost in the line of service, but a woman-in New Orleans claimed pension for pension of the widow of the Clem Lewis who served in the Sist U. Cc. Infantry, and proved the said Lewis died in 1876. As an impersonator of a special examiner the man was both an artistic and financial success. He wore a uniform embellished by many badges and glittering trinkets, and gave it out that he was appointed and paid by the man in the White House to take care of the widows and orphans of soldiers and see that they all got their pensions. But the glory alone did not satisfy him. He had both figuratively, but a single eye to his own interest, and hence made a practice of collecting various, sums from his dupes, not for himself, he ‘would say, but to pay the expenses of sending the papers on to Washington. Such were the remarkable practices of this v tile agent. Some men worked one scheme, and some worked others, but this one worked them all. Claimants Made to Order. A short time ago the pension office brought to light a manufactory In one of the southern states where claimants for pensions were made fresh every hour. There was no trouble in proving the cases against him, and now he is thinking, at his leisure, for he has nine years of it now, over the business he did. His methods are best illustrated by citing a particular case in which he figured and in which he fixed up in every sense of the word every paper filed. When this claim reached the bureau it met and was con- solidated with the claim of the living sol- dier, and as it was manifest that the man’s ient could not be the widow of a living man, and as one of the claims was necs- sarily of a fraudulent character, an inves- tigation was ordered. When the examiner called on the attorney to locate his client he duly produced a woman who with rare talent play her little part and fully con- vinced the examiner that she was the sol- dier’s sorrowing widow. The examiner then proceeded to the home of the living pensioner, who proved beyon! a shadow ot a doubt that he was the soldier who performed the service. In fact, he had but little d:fficulty in doing so, because so closely did his appearance simulate a great ape that his officers regarded him as a swfheient proof of the Darwinian theory. And he was universally known among his ccmrades as “Monkey.” Then this man desired to see that alleged wife of his, and went with the examiner to confront’ her. But she had vanished, and it was only af- ter two years that she was located again and tried and convicted. Such were the methods of this daring at- torney. Forgery, perjury, impersonation and false certification played their parts races; then his history became obscure for awhile, until 1891, when he appeared as a an, and shortly after as a pension It is clear, according to the rec- ords, that he selected the record of a sol- dier to fit any claimant that he might have, and when he had a record without a claim- ant, he would manufacture the claimant. And strange contradictions are shown by the evidence filed by him taken in connec- tion with the record evidence as to the age and date of enlistment and discharge of thes genuine soldiers. There were several of hi @er™s in which to make them good the sol- dier must have married at the tender age of twelve; one where the soldier must have béen a father when he was only eight years old, and one where the widow claim- ant had ample opportunity of attending the funeral of the soldier's widow. Only this attorney could be expected to explain such violations of the laws of na- ture and he failed to do so when arraigned for trial. Once on file the completion of a claim was an easy task for this attorney. As a general rule he used only two wit. nesses, who signed by mark in attempting to prove each essential fact. The faithful = friends of early youth who participated in the marriage festivities would be on hand when the fruits of the marfiage first saw the light of day and whenethe spirit of the soldier took its filght th were there to say good-bye. Even then faithful to the last they would watch over the sorrowing widow and see to it that she kept the sol- cnt memory green by remaining his relict. ; Out of about 250 claims filed, less than thirty were allowed, and they wete all fur- ther in and some of them were dropped from the rolls. The attorney's wife was found to be drawing a penston by im- personating the deceased widow of a sol- dier killed in the service. A Bogus Examining Surgeon. An interesting and funny case of an im- poster, representing himself to be a mem- ber of-a board of exambfring gurzeons of the fension bureau, located | im northeastern Pennsylvania, has recetitily been reported by one of the real examining surgeons. A claimant who lived on @ farm about twen- ty miles from town waa ordered to appear before the bourd for examination under his application for increase. He started bright and early, taking the first'train in, and im- mediately proceeding to the United States Hotel, in which the surgeons met. Arriv- ing there about 6:45 He asked the clerk whether the board of surgeons ‘met there, and being informed that they did and in what particular room thé meeting would be held, took a chair and’sat down by the door for thzee long weary hours before any of the surgeons appeared, with a full de- termination not to be geld-bricked by any of the city sharks. At 9:45 the secretary of the board arrived and entered the room, and.a few minutes afterward another person’ walked through the hotel and, as if by acefdent, stumbled across the feet of the old pensioner. Apol- ogizing for his carelessness, the man went into the room in which the board held its meetings, and coming out tmmediately af- terward took his seat at the table in the hotel office. Motioning the pensioner to come to him, the latter Oliéyed, and as he approached the desk the man-asked his name, what regiment and company he served in, the number of his pension cer- tificate, and how much he was getting, and then instructed the pensioner to hold out his tongue: He said: “That will do: you will pass. That amounts to fifty cents.” The pensioner promptly paid the fee and the man departed. The pensfoner suspect- ing from the mannerism of the alleged ex- amining surgeon that something was wrong, asked the hotel clerk which of the surgeons it was, and was adyised that it was not a surgeon, but “an eld bum. He thereupon started post haste down the street, caught up with the impostor and ked for the return of the 50 cents, which je latter said he would gladly do, request- ing him to wait until he went into for the purpose, as he , of visi sick child. The pensione#® waited sev: hours at the door, and never saw his friend again until after the arrest of the impostor by the federal authorities,* An Intermittent System @ppoxed. The commissioner of pensions is opposed to the proposition which has been ad- vanced from time to time haying in view an intermittent pension lst, whereby pen- sioners under engagement by fhe govern- ment in clerical positions ‘were not to re- ceive pensions while so engaged. In an interview with a'reporter of The Bier this morning Commissioner Evans said: ' 2 “T-do not thik ft would be fair to cut off the pension of any soldier suffering from a disability because he happened to be in the service of Uncle Sam. Hé nen@ers a quid pro quo, and because hé ig maimed and drawing a pension for his disability there is no good reason why he should not at the ome time be drawing a salary for duties performed. His disability shuts him out of many other pursuits in which he may have made very much more money.” FOUND DEAD IN HIS ROOM Doorkeeper of Ladies’ Gallery at the Capitol Expires Suddenly, Major Joseph Frye Wilson, who has been dcorkeeper of the ladies’ gallery of the House of Representatives for a number of years, was found dead in his room at No. 607 6th street northwest this morn- ing. Coroner Carr called at the house later in the day and gave a certificate of death from apoplexy. The deceased was about fifty-five years old, and was a@ bullet-scarred veteran of the late war. Recently he had complained of feeling slightly ill, but -he was out of the house yesterday, and seemed no worse than he had for several days, Lest night he returned to his room early, This morn- ing a colored woman who ealled to get his veek’s wash failed to receive a response when she knocked on thé door, and she opened the door and entered the room. Major Wilson's dead,”’she exclaimed as she rushed downstairs to’ inform the land- lady of her discovery. The" major had evidently dropped dead while getung ready to go to the Capitol. He was partly dressed, and had fauen on the floor. His body wai:still warm, and it was evident that he had been dead only a short time. The d ased formerly }ived at Peoria, Ill., and his relatives réside in the west. One brother, it is stated, is a prominent physician, while, another is a ticket agent in a Chicago railroad office. Maj. Wilson -was prominent in Masonic and Grand Army circleg here and was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legt His brother in ‘Chicago has been notiffed of ‘his death, and ‘it Is likely that the body will be taken to the former home of the deceased for interment. Badly Disabled in War, Joseph Frye Wilson ‘had been a door- keeper of the House of Representatives for about fifteen years, having been originally given a place at the Capitol through the influence of Representative; Springer. He was badly disabled as the résult of wounds received in battle in the civil war. Most of his lower jaw had been shot off, and he was generally known about the Capitol as “Shot-away” Wilson. Hé enlfeted in the Union army from the state of Hlinois. Al- though a democrat, Representative Hitt always befriended him and? saw that changes in che control of the House did not interfere with him in the retegtion of his place. DIRECTOR SMIEp’S FRIP. He Will Make a Voyage Among the West Indian $ainads. Mr. Jos. Smith, director of the bureau of American republics, 1s g@bout ‘to make a voyage through some of fhe West Indian is- lands, for the recuperation’ of his ,heaith. Mr. Smith ig at present ‘In’Florida, where he was ordered by his physician during his convalescence from a long ilIness. Inci- dentally during his trip he will stop at Ha- vana, but it is declared positively at the State Department that he is not charged with any mission by the United States gov- ernment, nor is he expected to make any in- vestigation or report touching Cuban af- fairs. Secretary Alger's. There was no special cl dition of Secretary less fever than tsual, fever, and that is considered a favorable sygptom. ——_-e-—__. ‘Whereabouts $f Warships. The cruiser Montgomery, which 1s look- ing after fillbusters along the Florida coast, arrived at Port Tampa this morning. The monitor Amphitrite has arrived at Port Royal -for target practice with the gunnery class, ° ‘ondition, inge in the con- today. He had DEATH IN THE RUINS City Hall at London, Ontario, Collapses With Direful Results. TWENTY-FIVE KILLED OUTRIGHT Many More Persons Seriously In- jured in the Awful Wreck. — CELEBRATING AN ELECTION LONDO: Ont., January 4.—The Union Jack today floats at half-mast over the city hall,but it is not needed toremind thecitizens of the horror of last night. The city hall presents the appearance of a wreck, and the streets in front of it are crowded with the curious and sorrowing citizens. The list of dead numbers twenty-five, but it is much to be feared that it is not yet complete. Many of the injured are not ex- pected to recover, and others will be con- fined to their beds days, weeks and some for months. The list of injured can never be made complete, in so far as the minor sufferers are conceraed, as many are able to be about, though suffering brulses, aches and pains as a result of their terrible fall. Wonder So Many Escaped. As one looks at the ruins today the won- der is that there were so many escapes among the 300 persons who made the fear- ful drop. It was nothing short of miracu- lous that so many are alive today. Fear prevails that the gallery of the hall, which is just above that portion of the wall which fave way, may also fall, but there is no one in the building, ropes have been stretched along the street to prevent the passing of pedestrians and the iron doors of the Arcade, which is a public thorough- fare, have been barred. The inquest will be begun this afternoon, but it is not likely that any evidence will be taken until after the funerals of the victims. No new victims have been found in the city hall ruins today. The following is a revised list of the dead and the more seri- ously injured: Dead. Benjamin J. Nash, carriage maker, York street; John Turner, carriage maker, Rich- mond street; John Burridge, shoemaker, King street; Frank Robinson, plasterer, Horton street; Crawford Beckett, con- tractor, Wellington street, Exeter; Edward Luxton, farmer, Exeter; W. H. Dell, baker, London West; R. S. Leigh, plumber, Rich- mcnd street Abrakam Phillips, flour deal- er, King street; Benjamin Jacques, painte Great York street; Stephen Williams, 12 berer, Waterloo street; W. C. Smith, ga dcner, London township; L. W. Burke, in- surance agent, King street; John Fellow: Deppers Corner; James Harris, moide Dundas street; Wilson Carruthers, farme: Westminster township; W. J. Borlend: wood worker, Tecumseh avenu Noble Carruthers, son of Noble Carruthers of Grigg House; Fred. Heaman, son of W. Heaman, York street; W. E. Talbot, younz- son of/W. Talbot, Hamilton road; Oswald Bruce, son of W. Bruce, shoemaker, Wart cliffe road, Allen Towe, son of E. Tow rneliffe road, Lon- Herman Hilbert, peddier, Lon- James McLean, young Son of James McLean, Clarence sircet. Total, 25. Injured. Fred H. Fry, arm broke berg, leg broken; Frankie ternal Injuries; William Gibson, East Lon- don, arm broken and crushed; Thomas Hogg, jr., head badly cut; James Cutler, ‘n- ternal injuries and arm’ broken, may ‘die; William Durnion, leg broken; Moses Min- crs, head badly cut and both legs crushed Alderman Charles Taylor, back injured Charles Garrett, bad internal injuries; Al- bert Joyce, chest crushed; William Stone, internal injuries; Edward Marshall, right arm broken and head cut; William Coxl, teamster, bad internal injuries; Joseph Mur- y, head cut and internal injury; J. C. Me- Naughton, leg broken; John Bartlett, le; bruised and back hurt; D. Sweeney, arm and ribs broken; William Eliwood, chest hurt; Charles Kidner, leg broken and b: hurt; Maurice Baldwin, contractor, leg and arm ‘broken; Alderman Neil Cooper, badly cut about head; Jonn Dromgole, seriously injured; Fred Ward, both legs injured and head cut; James Sus: aged fourteen years, spine injured: am Baker, leg broken; Sidney Glendenning, leg broken; — Schofield, badly injured; James Dean, bad cut face, legs injured; —— Johnston, chest crushed; Moses Mines, Hill both legs crushed” and arm_ broken; Joyce, Louis Stein- Freeland, bei chest crushed in; Michael Morkin, arm bad- ly fracture: son of James Mattinson, arm . Barrett, face cut und internal How the Accident Occurrea. During the celebration over the result of an election at the city hall in London, Ontario, last night the floor collapsed, earrying down with it almost the entire as- semblage. At the close of the polls, a crowd gath- ered in the city hall, where it has been the custom for years past for the success- ful cadidates to address the electors. The building was crowded to the very doors, probably 2,000 people being jammed in its narrow space. There was a lull in the proceedings, the audience called sev- eral of the newly elected aldermen at once, and there was some delay in securing a speaker to address them. Alderman Car- rothers joined the mayor in an effort to secure quiet. In response to numerous calls R. M. Toothe was pushed forward to the plat- form on which the speakers stood. As he reached it there was an ominous cracking, and the raised platform on which the Mayor and newly elected aldermen were seated seemed to pitch forward to the floor. There was a sagging of timbers, and the next moment 150 people were precipitated 20 feet to the next floor below. A beam run- ning twenty feet along the center of the hall had given way. A large safe stood in one corner of the hall, and a huge steam coll, weighing half a ton, came crashing down on the heads of the victims. A Wild Panic. Following the crash there was a wiid rush for the doors. At the south door, where the majority of the crowd had en- tered, there was a terrible panic. Those in front were thrown down by the oncoming rush, shrieking and fighting for the door and safety. Only one-half of the rear door, a space of probably three feet, was opened, and in the mad rush no one thought to open the door in its entirety, and 500 people strug- gled through the narrow space, the strong bearing down the weaker. Within a moment after the floor had fallen in there were not more than three persons in the hall on that portion of the floor which had not fallen. Several men lowered ropes and endeavor- ed to haul the wounded out of the pit. From under the massed weight of the broken beams came many cries’ for help. The windows on the ground floor were broken in, and the living and dead were tenderly passed to the waiting ambulance. An Old Building. A glance at the wreck fter the catas- trophe disclosed the fact that a whole sec- tion of the floor had dropped, the joists having been as neatly cut off as though the work had been done with a saw. - The building was an old one, having been erected in the early fifties, and of late years additional stories had been pleced em the old walls. SUPPLIES FOR THE CUBANS The State Department Appoints a New York Committee, Clara Barton Will Probably Visit Havana and Advise Gen. Lec— More Contributio: Received, The State Department has appointed a committee of citizens, consisting of Stephen E. Barton, Charles Scheiren and Louis Klopsch, to receive at New York all sub- scriptions of money and supplies for the sufferers in Cuba, and to ship them to Con- sul General Lee at Havana for distribution. Mr. Barton is vice president of the Red Cross Society, Mr. Scheiren is ex-mayor of Brooklyn and Mr. Klopsch is editor of the Christian Herald. It is suggested by the Secretary of State that all supplies for the Cuban sufferers be sent to this committee, which will attend to their shipment to Consul General Lee at Havana. The Ward Line of steamers will take stich supplies to Cuba free of charge. Miss Barton May Visit Havana, It is probable that Miss Clara Barton, president of the Red Cross Society, will visit Havana for the purpose of conferring with Gen. Lee as to the best method of se- curing a prompt distribution of the supplies. Gen. Lee will have personal charge of the disbursement of the relief fund, as well as general direction of the issue of supplies. He will be assisted by consular officers of the United States and agents of the Red Cross accustomed to fieid relief work. Ow- ing to her feeble health Miss Barton will rot be asked to do any active work, but will simply be called on for advice and sugges- tions: She has had several consultations with Assistant Secretary Adee of the State Department in regard to relief work in Cuba, and has promised to co-operate with the officials of the department in charge of the matter. Blankets and Flour. A cable message has been received from Consul General Lee suggesting that blank- ets and flour be added to the list of articles previously suggested by him, as particu- larly needed by the people in distre: Additional contributions to the * Cuban relief fund were received at the State De- partment teday. One of $100 was forward- ed by the Concord Evening Monitor as the centribution of four citizens of Concord, N. H. Mr. W. F. Works of this city sent a one dollar bill to the fund. Evening 5: Evening Star Co. r Fund. 202 $100,00° 1.00 50.00 R. W. Farrelly. 1.00 A friend. 100.00 Cash M. M. St. John’: W. M Ga Cash 1.0 Theo. J. Mayer. 100.00 Vermont Avenue Baptist Church. 20.00 Total. POLLUTION OF THE POTOMAC, Mr, Hepburn’s Bill Expected to Re- ceive Early Consideration. A bill, which was introduced in the House before the holidays by Mr. Hepburn of Towa, and noted in The Star at the time, is expected to receive early attention by the committee on interstate and foreign commerce. The bill provides “that the supervising rgeon general of the marine hospital ser- vice, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, be directed to investigate the sources of contamination of rivers and other natural sources of water supply, where the sanitary condition of the people of more than one state or territory or the District of Columbia is affected or threat- ened to be affected by such pollution, and to report upon what action is necessary to remove or prevent such pollution: Pro- vided, That the first investigation shall re- late to the Potomac river Inasmuch as every member has to drink the Potomac of the House water, it is thought that general interest will ‘be at- tracted to the bill. ee Personal Mention. Dr. Samuel Westray Battle of Asheville, N. C., passed assistant surgeon in the United States navy, is at the Ebbitt, with his litle daughter, whom he intends plac- ing in an educational institution in this city. Dr. Charles Warren Stoddard has re- turned from Atlantic City, entirely recov- ered from his recent indisposition. Mr. Baxter Burkitt, who b turned from a w sister, Mrs. F, D. Hospital, Mr. $ recently re- . is visiting his ih street. stern tri; Keeier L. Toms of Fr who has been the guest of Mrs. Giles, 14th street, has urned to his home to enter upon’ his college studic Mr. Jacob J. Gahl of Westminster, Md., ng friends at 1134 19th street. ajor Gen. Wm. P. Carlin, retired, is at the Ebbitt House for a few da He spent 5 sat the War Deparument io- jor L. W. Crampton of the medical ae- partrent is at 2102 O street on leave of bia: William H. Grimshaw, $8; ten years’ Peter O'Donnoghue, $3; Michael B. ton, 16th in niry, 18 ence. att. Notes of the Army. The following transfers have been made in the 4th Cavalry: Capt. J. H. Dorst, from Troop M to Troop D; Capt. W. E. Wilder, frem Troop D to Troop M. Maj. James W. Pope, quartermaster, has Leen granted leave of absence for montas. Lieut. D. C. Howard, assistant surgeon, has been relieved from duty at Fort Custer, Mont., and ordered to duty at Fort Crook, Neb. Lieut. E. B. Babbitt, ordnance depart- ment, will visit Forts Winfield Scoit and Baker, Cal., to inspect disappearing gun carriages. Lieut. A. W. Chase, 2d Artillery, has been relieved from further duty as a student at the Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va. Leaves of absence have been granted as follows: Lieut. Col. P. D. Vroom, inspector genéral, for two months; Lieut. B. Pritchard, jr., 9th Cavalry, one month’s ex- tension; Lieut. M. J. Lenihan, 24 Ipfantry, for one month, on account of sickness; Lieut. A. W. Chase, 2d Artillery, for six months, ————_-e-____ Local Patents. Patents were granted to the following residents of the District cf Golumbia today: Carrie S. Hamilton, Terra Cotta, D. C., securer for doors or windows; John C. Mc- Gowan, assignor to O. G. McCall, sewer; James F. Shephord, detonating toy; A. T. Welch, process of and apparatus for gener- ating gas; J. D. Thompson, waste chute for apartment houses; Ira Brashears, fire extinguisher; Chas. E. Foster, assignor to Trojan Car Coupler, Troy, N. Y., vesti- bule car; J. B. Kendall, ball bearing. —_-2-___ Local Pensions. Pensiors have been grented to the fol- lowing residents of the District of Colum- four Doyle, $17; William Dorsey, $8 to $12. _ TO BE DISCUSSED Board of Trade to Meet Thursday Evening. THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY Committee’s Earnest Argum-nt Against a Growing Evil. ARREARS IN TAXATION The Washington board of trade will hol@ the first of its January meetings at Build- ers’ Exchange Hall Thursday evening next at Two topics will be discussed? “Taxation and Assessment” and “Sewer- age.” and as every resicent of the District of Columbia is more or less interested in both subjects a large attendance of the membership is expected, Discussion of taxation and assessment will be based upon the report of the com- mittee of the board having those matters in charge, the report being presented by dson, chairman of the com- In that report the committ its’ attention Mr. John Joy mittee. that says has been directed to nt law providing for sale of property for arrearages of a Under the law of March 1%, 1svo, which is now in force, when property has been advertised for sal for non-payment of taxes, it cannot be again advertised for the same tax for the same year. When a purchaser, therefore, other than the Dis- trict, receives a certificate of sale by the joners it is for the tax of one although many years of ar- rears of t PS may be due. At the expira- tion of two years trom the date of sale, the Commissioners, on demand of holder of tax-sale certificat issue a deed for the property, The Decisions, The report then continues: “Under the law and the inter tation Su- placed upon it by the decisions of the preme Court of th: Brewer District, in the John H. against the taxes for faxes may be exacted ‘er as may bi ue for the year for which’the property was sold, Under this decision of the Supreme Court of the District, 4 deed of property made in pursuance of of arrears of taxes for several any given ye asses the property ins volved to the purchaser at such sale, and discharge the taxes remaining duc prior to the year for which the sale was made, so far as the District is concerned. ‘This does, and has caused, large losses to the government of accrued taxes. There seems to be no question but what this defect should be remedied by Congress. A hill for the purpose i by the cole lector of taxes, the assessor and the attor- ney for the District. This committee strong- ly urges the board of trade to recommen@ this to the favorable consideration of Cone gress. “The board of a: of Congress, essors, created by act approved August HM, 18%, have continued to discharge their resp bie duties in a comprefensive manner and with sound judgment. The people of the District are to be congratulated upon the excellent results ained. It is certain that the board will in future approach still nearer a through equaliza and otherwise a true assessment. Half and Half Practice. “The attention of the board of trade {s called to another matter which seems to the committee of scrious importance. Un- der the organic act passed for the permas nent form of government Yor the District of Columbia, approved June 1M, 1878, in making provisto the expenses of the municipal government, it was directed that, ich Co s shall Congress shall ap« propriate 50 per cent thereof, and the re- mainirg fifty per centum of such approved estimate shall be levied and sed upon the taxable prope privileges in said other than property of the the District of Co- Congress at that time to meet the necessary expenses of the government of the District of Co- lembia, was the result of several years of patient and careful investigation of the relation of the District to. the eral ernment, and as to the just proportion which should be borne by » of the District, and by phe gen- overnment. An eastuination of the in Congress, when this provision of the law was under consideration, shows clearly it was considered an equitable ; iment. the daie of the enact- ment of the organic law until the appro- ade for the fiseal year . all appropriations for current expenses, obligations, improvements and needs of whatever char- acter, were made in accordance with the provisions of the 1aw quoted, viz.: Fifty per centum from the treasury of tie United States and fifty per centum collected from taxes, licenses, &c., paid by the people of the District of Columbia. At the date last ramed there was approj riated $3,000), whole ly from the Distr evenues, for the es. tablishment of the public bathing beach. This was the first ihe provisions of th: priations.: Sinc thus appropria departure made from law in making appro-. then more or less has been . amounting in the aggre- eventeen items, . in the opinion of the comm ac ap- propriated in accordance with the law of It has added a charge upon the peo- ple of the District of Columbia that is not warranted by the letter and spirit of the law or of justice. Should such appropria~ tions continue to increase as they did last year, and as contemplated by the highway act, it must be apparent that the provisions of the law for the expenses to be borne equally by the national government and by the people of the District. will become practically ignored. In the opinion of the committee, the District Commissioners, or private citizens, should not propose or as- sent to Congress to make such appropria- tions, and thereby depart from the law and the equities involved. There are no im- provements nor needs, however desirable and important to the District, that should be secured by consenting to an appropria- tion made wholly out of the revenues of the District. Street extension under the high- way_act, or otherwise, had better never be althorized than to provide the whole of the expense necessary therefor out of the revenues of the District. Should Be Made Clear. “The comimitice is satisfied that had Con- gress, since 1801, becn as well informed as to the merits of the equal division of ex- penses between the national and local gov- ernment, as Congress wes informed on that question in 1875. the departure in making appropriations and paying any of the mu- nicipal expenses wholly from the revenues of the District of Columbia would never have been authorized. We do not believe that members of Congress desire or wish, knowingly, to do the people of the District of Columbia the least injustice. We be iieve that they do not desire that the citi- zens of the District shall pay more than their fair lewful share of the expenses, and that in acting as they have, however much we feel they were in error, they be- leved thet they were only properly forming their duties. Congress having absolute jurisdiction over the District in all matters relating to government, the peos