Evening Star Newspaper, February 21, 1898, Page 11

THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenus, Cor, 11th &t.,, by ing Star N Te EE RerrNeae E e Few York Office, 49 Potter Building, ‘The Brentng Star fe served to subscribers in the eity by carriers, oo their own acount, at 10 cents per week. or 2. inter 2 cents each. ‘ited States or postage prepald—60 cents Paturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 with turday Quin ar, $1 per year, foreign poatage added, $3.00. Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., as second-cla. s mail matter.) ‘7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. ny Slav. Pages 11-14. The regular permanent family » circulation of The Evening Star in Washington is more than double that of any other paper, whether published in the morn- ing or in the afternoon. As a medium for unobjec- tionable advertisements it theres fore stands unequaled and un- approachable. ye WORK OF THE DIVERS Reports of Capt. Sigsbee to the Navy Department. ed CONDITION OF THE WRECKED SHIP Sobral Not Naval Attache of the Spanish Legation. es FORCE IN COAST GARRISON ——— rs ‘apt. Sigsbee of the wrecked ship Meine was heerd from late Saturday night, but the telegram was not delivered az the Navy Department until yesterday morning. It read as follows: “Only most experienced wrecking divers can do effective work on the Maine. In the Upper works I can vse service divers. Did some work today, but with little success. Will do better tomorrow. Parts of the Maine, especially the superstructure and cernections, are one confused mass of metal.” Another trief telegram from Capt. Sigs- bee says: “Bache, the ccast survey steamer, has arrived at Havana, bringing on beard all of the diving apparatus sent from the squadron.” No Newspaper Divers at Work. Capt. Sigsbee sent two telegrams to the Navy Department yesterday on the subject of interviews with him. The first merely said: “I have consistently refrained from expressing any opinion on the Maine dis- e Later in the day ke wired: “No newspaper divers have been used on wreck of the Maine. One man engaged by Me Was subsequently bought up by a news- Paper. Declined his services. Subsequently, en his being unconditionally released, I might have used him in charge of an offi- cer in recovering bodies, but decided not to do so. Any inierviews with me, if Printed, are untrue.” The Navy Deparimen: last night received the following telegram from Capt. Sigsbee: “Following is the condition of our wound- ed in Havana hospitals: “Apprentice Kuebler, slight improvement; Condition still grave. “Holzer, same. “Allen, slight stave. “Heffron, Shea, Mattison, favorabie. “Loftus, convalescent. ‘Cahill, improved, but grave. “Mack, Waters and Webber, favorable.” The report on the same subject from Capt. Forsyth at Key West says: “Maine survivors all in good condition this morning. Surgeon reports wounded doing well.” Tre Navy Department is making every effort to hasten the beginning of the work of recovery of goods, and perhaps the rats- ing of tne hull by expert divers. To that end, Capt. Lemly, the judge advocate gen- eral of the department, was at work yes- terday in his office. with representatives of wrecking companies, trying to draw up contracts for the immediate prosecution of tne work. He has been at the task now two days, and it has not been an easy one to dispose of. Secretary Long yesterday referred with satisfaction to the dispatch stating that the ccurt of inquiry would assembie at Ha- Vana today. Sebrals Criticism. When Mr. Long’s attention was cailed to reports that he had taken official cogniz- ance of Capt. Sobral’s criticisms of the American navy, the Secretary said that he had called the subject to the attention of the State Department, with a view to hav- img an inquiry made by that branch. ‘The Particular expression to which the Secre- ry had directed the attention of the State epartment was the following, attributed to Capt. Sobral: “It was the result of an explosion inside the shiv, which took place in one of the forward magezines. The fact of the mat- ter is that the discipline and the watch ob- ee on the ship were very lax. This, as ne English newspaper the other day de- ciared, is the case on American warships generally. This sort of thing has occurred vious cccasions on American war improvement; condition attention to those other features of Capt. Sobral's alleged interview in which he re- fers to the possibilities of war and to the information he had gaired while naval at- tache of the Spanish legation. As @ whole, Mr. Long did not treat the Sokral matter as profoundly serious. Assist- ant Secretary Day would not discuss the Sobral matter. It is understood, however, that the State Department does not attach deep significarce to the reported remarks of Sebral, owing to his mincr position. At the same ume, it is felt that he should not be making such remarks as are attributed to him. As Secretary Long has called official atiention to them, the department will doubtless take steps to learn whether the interview was accurate. Attache. es as naval attache ‘ashington were officially terminated by Spain about four weeks ago. Senor Du Ecse, charge d'affaires of the Spanish lega- tion, has made the following statement of the matter: “As regaris this reported interview, 1 ing about it beyond what I have seen in the papers. I should imagine Mr. Sobral far too prudent to say anything cal- cuiated to offend brothers in arms. At the same time, I should state that on the 24th of January lest Capt. Sobral ceased to be a member of this legation, according to royal decree, which gazetted as his successor L:cut. Ramon Carraza y Reguera.” Owing to the royal decree relieving Capt. Scbral, it is said he at present occupies the pesition merely of a private citizen. He is @: present In New York, meeting his old naval friends on the Viscaya, but his offi- cial status as Spain's naval attache to the lez. om is said to have terminated when the decree was gazetted last month. Mr. Du Bosc expressed entire satisfaction with the plans by which the divers were operating on the Maine, and said there was ne justification for telk about friction. Per- fect harmony existed, he said, and on both sides, so far as he could see, there was every disposition to give the amplest facil- ities for investigation. Mr. Du Bosc feels that the assembling of the court of inquiry at Havana today is quite desirabie, owing to the rapid rate at which the hull of the Maine is sinking in the soft bottom of the harbor. The following telegram has been received by cretary Long from New York: “When I arrived at New York I heard of the Maine disast2r. We feel very deep s€rrow and send our condolences for the dead and their families. EULATE, “Captain Spanish cruiser Vizcaya.” On the Coast Defenses. Referring to Gen. Miles’ recent order to Gen. Merritt, commanding th> Department of the East, to immediately detail men and Officers to all coast defense points where’! modern guns are mounted, it is said at the War Department that it was-nothing mora than following out the plan of the War De- partment, formulated several years zg, when the present system of coast defense was inaugurated. Th: order calls for at lecst twenty men and the necessary offi- cers to take charge of such coast defense emplacements as have been compl:ted and turn over to the War Department. These defense points are planned and = by the Enginzer Corps and the gune fur- nished by the ordnance department. As soon as completed they are turned over to the department and men are at once de- tailed to care for the expensive works and ordnance. It is said that a detail of twenty men, so far from being an effective fighting force, is barely sufficient to prop- erly care for the property. There have be2n a number of these coast defensc works completed recently and the order de- tailing men to care for them is merely a routine matter. In addition to detailing the men, a special board is now in s2ssion in Washington preparing plans for perma- nent quarters at the various new rests, and work will be begun on these a3 soon as practicable. The men who are stationed at thes: new points will be drilled on the use of the gurs and will form the nucleus of a permanent heavy artillery ferce which will be aug- ment2a from time to time. It is for this service that the War Department has ask- ed of Congress two additional regiments and the officials express great hope that this request will be spe2dily complie] with, as there are at present not enougn men to effectively man th> many new works which, in the development of the modern coast defense system, are being rapidly completed and turned over to th2 Cepart- ment. MINES IN HAVANA HARBOR. Effective System of Explosives There, Despite Unprotected Appearance. The New York Herald’s correspondent wires from Hivana: I have learned from the highest authority that, no matter what may have beer the cause of the terrible catastrophe to the Maine, the harhor of Havana is, and has been for a long time, filled with subm-arire mines and torpedoes. While this fact has been suspected, but a few army and navy officers have any defin- ite idea of tne location or number of these mines. Before the present insurrection broke out, visitors to the fortifications, now closed to all excepting the army, were informed that a most effective system of mines kad been planted, and that they could be exploded by means of electric connections from stations on the shore. At the outbreak of the war the greatest secrecy was imposed upon those having these mines under their supervision, and thelr presence was forgotten by the public im general. When it was rumored that a United States war vessel would be sta- tioned in the harbor the attention of one of Gen. Weyler’s aids-de-camp was called to the fact that all of the large shore bat- teries guarding the entrance to the harbor couid only be directed against an enemy in the open sea, and that if a warship suc- ceeded in running past the forts and en- tering the harbor the entire city would be at its mercy. Harbor Appareatly Unprotected. The officer replied that the engineers in- trusted with the most recent fortification of the harbor had fully considered this ques- ticn and had arranged that if a vessel ever did enter the harbor she could be blown up at once. This 2xplains the seemingly un- protected condition of the bay and harbor. 1 am satisfied that my information is cor- rect. All information about these mines was 80 carefully guarded that Lieut. Jenkins, the ill-fated intellig>nce officer of the Maine, was really uncertain as to their presence, and so expressed himself to several friends in Havana. ; Ther> 1s no disposition here to jump at ccnclusions, and even those wno holl the opinion that the Maine was blo’ mine do not believe the authori party in the most remote way to the dia- belical act. They do believe, however, that if their worst fears prove irue it will be found to be the work of a fanatical Wey- lJerite, who had two purposes in view: First, to strike a blow at the United S sec- ord, to embarrass Gen. Blanco. Many of thos? who formerly held the secrets of the submarine mines were strong partisans of Weyler, Organized Recent Disturbances. They were the ones who recently organ- ized the disturbances in Havana against the present government and who are now se- cretly circulating small transparent cards upon which is printed the portrait of Wey- ler and when held to the light show the picture of Don Carlos. They are not only traitors to their king, but bent upon any kind of mischief that will overthrow the existing government and restore Weyler to power. Of course there are all sorts of rumors in Havana about what § would do in case of war with the United States, all based upon the vaporings of rabid Weyler- ism. One is that Mexico would be a will- ing ally of Spain so far as to permit the landing in that country of a Spanish army to invade the United States. Many of the lower class Mexicans in this city are avowed enemies of the United States and openly boast of their country’s sympathy for the Spanish cause. Another wild scheme has been put in pamphlet form and ex- tensively circulated. It draws a vivid pic- ture of the Spanish army in the interior of Cuba resisting every assault by the United States forces. It admits that the Spanish navy might be destroyed, but con- tends that a Spanish army could hold the island indefinitely. Just what the insur- gents would be doing ali this time is no related. MAGAZINE NOT THE CAUSE. Naval Officer Believes Forward One in Intact. A dispatch from Havane yesterday said: Lieutenant Commander Barnett of the sur- vey boat Bache said to a correspondent of the Associated Press today: ‘‘You want the fac I can tell you there are ninety-five chances out of a hundred that the investi- gatio. will show that the forward magazine of the Maine did not blow up first, if it ex- ploded at all, and that it was not the cause of the terrific consequences that followed. The condition of the wreck when first studied and a later careful scrutiny make this an almost absolute certainty.” Chaplain Chidwick of the Maine has re- Mla ee — of money, with ette other perso: from the bodies taken from the wreck in ore case the initials can be seen on the coat lining and may serve to dentify the body of the wearer. but the harbor water is so filthy that the marks are nearly illegible. Chaplain Chidwick is one of the hardest Worked men. Upon him has devolved some of the most repulsive duties of the situa- tion. It is apparent that efficient work is tot possible with the divers and_ apparatus at hand. The arrival of experts from the United States is anxiously awaited. Father Power arrived yesterday from ‘Tampa “and immediately visited the Mane’s wounded in the hospital. SPANISH WANT OUR CIPHER. - Reasons They Wanted to Send Divers Into the Maine. Another dispatch from Havana says: Although the Spanish authorities are anx- ious to take part in any investigation of the Maine in order to clear themselves of all blame in the matter, it has just been learned of another important reason why they were anxious to send their own divers into the Maine. In Capt. Sigstee’s cabin are several copies cf the Navy Department's signal code and secret cipher, with the key to both. It is obvious that at this time they would be of great value to the Spanish authorities. If they fell into their hands it would necessitate an entire change both by the Nay en ae cabled you, and which at the time's : . ai a ed to be a trivial matter. — LETTER FROM A SURVIVOR, George L. Catlin of Paterson, N. J., has. received a letter, dated Key West, Fia., Feb- ruary 17, from his cousin, Albertus W. Cat- lin, who was lieutenant of marines on the battle ship Maine. In the course of the letter Lieutenant Catlin said: “There are many alive who saw that ex- plosion who are Mt sufferirg from any physical injury, and yet they wish that they were dead. That scene must forever oc- cupy the mind to the exclusion of evcry- thing else. “I had just gone to my state room, with the intention to answer your Iast intercst- ing and welcome letter. * * * Had I not mislaid my pen somewhere I would have been in the act of writing to you when the explosion occurred. As it was, F was look- ing leisurely for the pen and enjoying my cigar whea I heard an explosion that only perceptibly shook the ship. I rushed out in my shirt sleeves to see what was the matter. “Then came the second—the terrific one that destroyed our ship and hurled to eter- ‘any of our brave sailors. I was near Captain Sigsbee, and heard the sentry, one of my men, tell him, ‘I have to inform you, sir, that the shin has been blown up and fs sinking.’ “We were thon in utter darkness, or, at it appeared so to me. I groped to tehway, and by scme mysterious Fewer, I shall never know how, found my- Self on the deck. Capt. Sigsbee had reach- and was giving orders to flood ves. At the command of Capt. Sigsbee, I ordered ocr boats lowere4. and set about endeavoring to rescue our unfor- tunate comrades, wrose heartrenting cries cume frem all directions. “The ship had by this time caught fire end was in a blaze. This aided us in our fearch. Meanwhile, the fixed ammunition kept continually exploding. On crdinary cccesions the explosion ef one of these pieces would create a great commotion, but after the expleston that wrecked the ship they were scarcely noticed. The ship had begun to go down by tke bow and we ex- pected momentarily to sec her pitch and go .nder the waves. Had she done this there is little possibility that any one would have escaped, for the suction of such a ship weuld certainly have drawn most of the boats Cown, and there would have been no hope for the poor swimmer. “Notwithstanding this danger, which was greeter than the chance that the ship would blow up, though I have not seen it referred to when the terrors of that awful scene have been described, the men did not fersake a single comrade while they had any chance of saving or finding him. The ‘ipline was remarkable. ‘Of course, we all have our opinion re- garding the cause of the accident, but you will not expect me to express my opinion now. You are familiar with our orders, and need no explanation.” OFFENDED AT GEN. LEE. Consuls Want Grenter Share of the Relief Fund. Another Havana dispatch says: Some friction. it is reported, has occurred be- tween Consul General Lee and the other United States consuls in the island over the distribution of food and supplies sent from the United States for the reconcentrados. The complaint {s made that, though food and money have been coming for several weeks, nothing has been distributed out- side Havana province. Consul Barker of Sagua La Grande and Consul Brice of Matanzas, who came here to learn the par- ticulars of the Maine explosion, left, it is said, without calling on the consul gen- eral. The reason given was that they felt they had not been treated fairly by the consul general. Each expected aid for his district from the American supplies, but received none. The statement is made that it is their intention to appeal directly to the American State Department and to ask that food be consigned to them in- stead of to the Havana consulate, ‘The incident has caused some comment among Americans here, who regret it. Consul Brice says he is sick at the sights forced on him during the last two years. He has reported the facts of the case to Washington and bélieves his district en- titled to share immediately in the ald of- fered. Consul Barker says that a few days ago he found a man dead of want in the market place of Sagua La Grande. The n-ayor took up a collection, appealing to all classes, but so great is the general im- poverishment that it ylelded only $2:50. Both consuls says this distress must grow daily and that death will keep pace with it vniess relief is afforded. Consul General Lee, when these matters were brought to his attention, replied that tLere was not the slightest intention to neglect the reconcentrados in the eastern provinces, but he pointed out that Havana, being the largest city, was consequently more in need of succor. He asserted that he had written the consuls that everything possible would be done for sufferers in their localities as econ as supplies are available, but the relief thus far has been nowhere rear commensurate with the necessity. He has deputed much of the work of distribu- tion to Miss Clara Barton, who has the con- fidence of all parties, and who is almost constantly at work in conjunction with the special agent of the consul general. WRECK OF THE DEMALOGOS. It Was Blown Up in New York Har- bor June 4, 1820. Commander Frank Hanford, who re- cently returned to his home at Scottsville, Monroe county, N. Y., from a two-years’ cruise in the Pacific on the Alert, says that the Maine is not the first United Btates warship destroyed by an explosion in time of peace. He said that June 4, 1829, the Demalogos, otherwise known as the Fulton the Second, was glown up in New York harbor, and twenty-four per- sons. were killed and nineteen were wound- ed. Among the dead were Lieut. Breckin- ridge and a woman who had gone aboard. The cause of the explosion was never known. Some suspected that it was the work of a gunner’s mate who had- been flogged that day for seme breach of dis- cipline. Others believed that it was due to carelessness in leaving kegs of pow- der uncovered. There were two and one- half barrels of pcwder on board, and it was supposed that it was this that ex- The Demalogos was the first steam war vessel ever built. It was designed to be used in the war of 1812, but the war was over before the vessel was completed. lt was in use as a receiving ship when de- stroyed. ACTIVITY AT FORT SHERIDAN. Report That the Fourth Infantry is Under Marching Orders. A dispatch from Chicago’yesterday says: Fort Sheridan, where the 4th Infantry ana the ist Cavalry are stationed, has been in a state of activity ajnce Friday morning. Soldiers have been polishing their weapons, arranging mess kits, grooming horses and preparing generally to march at a moment’s retice. 3 Two days after the destruction of the Maine, Col. Hall, in command of the’ sta- tion, receivea a telegram which caused him to stir up the fort. He ordered that gen- eral preparations for a possible immediate summons be made. Rifles and carbines were taken out of their racks and cleaned and polished. Every man of the 700 soldiers at the fort busied himself managing his army belongings. Z Each man has been supplied with ammu- nition sufficient for 100 rounds of shots. Yesterday final preparations in compliance with the orders were completed, and those stationéd at the fort are in readiness for orders of any character. All the men are anxious for an order to march, and they are awaiting with impatience the result of only from the standpoint Woman Suffragists of Annual Convefition. LEADERS ARGUE FOR THE FRANCHISE | Resolution in Memoty of Miss Frances E.. Willard. SENATOR MASON’ "SS TRIBUTE After a week of most sti¢cessful work, notwithstanding the fact tHat there were several interruptions, the cofvention of the National American Woman Suffrage “Asso- ciation was adjourned Saturday. The death of Miss Willard and the fact that Miss Su- san B. Anthony was sufferihg from a se- vere cold, and therefore not at her best, were among the chief things to pro- duce a depressing effect. | ; All of the sessions were igteresting, not f the delegates themselves, but from that fof the many visitors who attended at night, and listened attentively to the papers an@ addresses by the representative women of the United States. P¥obably the most attractive session of the whole convention wads the closing one. In addition to several addresses by women, a rumber of members of Congress also con- tributed speeches. Among these were Sen- ater Mason of Illinois, Sepator Teller of Colorado, Representative Shafroth of the same State and Senator Cannon. Tribute to Miss Willard. Senator Mason occupied a seat in the au- ditorium, and but few knew of his pres- e1ce there. In fact, the officers of the as- sociation were unaware that he was in the audience until the regular proceedings con- cluded. He arose then and declared that Frances Willard was not dead. “She lives in the hearts of all good wo- men,” he declared, “and her cause for wo- man suffrage has one vote in the Senate of the United States.” ‘ Miss Anthony, who was, presiding, ap- plauded the sentiment, saying she was glad to know that the senator avas on the right side of the cause. Senator Teller, who was on the stage, wasyealled upon by Miss Anthony. Miss Antheny splaced her hand on his shoulder and gsked the audi- eice to look at him, stati fat, in her opinion, he looked a thou: times grand- er than a woman who had not voted for woman suffrage. He said, in part: “Women heretofore have ‘had no object for the study of politics, but #f they had the right to vote they would study those questions and settle them aecording to the rght. They are not as pertiman as the nen, because they have more. confidence than the men, and will not support disso- lute men for office bezause they happened to be on the party ticket.” Representative Shafroth of Calorado was of the opinion that the experience of his state with woman suffrege:should demon- strate to any one that it was not only right, but entirely practicable. He stated that woman was bound to make a success in politics because she was, independent ard had no political allegiance, Strongest Argument. Senator Cannon of Utah gaid the strong- est argument Mm favor of woman suffrage is that the woman voter would not be bound by partisanship. Men have to dis- cuss whet is right, he declared; they have to go down the street and look at the mat- ter through the bottom of a glass. Woman stays at home instead, rocks the cradle and God tells her what is proper. Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby of Washington read a paper on “The History of Our Work With Congress.” Mrs. Arthur A. B. Co- nine, @ member of the Colorado house, spoke of some results of equal suffrage in Colorado. ~ Miss Estelle Reel of Wyoming spoke on equal suffrage in her state.. Mrs. Martha, Hughes Cannon spoke of the’ sittation in Utah. She is a state senator in Utah. She dzclared that within her state women are not downtrodden and oppressed, but are equal to men, “ Resolation Adopted. A resolution on the death of Miss Willard was offered by Rev. Anna Shaw. It was to the effect that ‘the death of Miss Frances Willard has remov2d from the world one of the great forces that make for righteous- ness; an unequaled educator of conserva- tive men and women’ to a helief in equal rights; the friend, guid2, and inmspirer of thousands; a great heart, always ready to feel for sorrow and suffering; a great brain, fertile in wise and far-reaching plans to make the world better; a4 great soul, evar following the light and drawing others after it, with a power as sure and certain as gravitation. We grieve, not for her, but for ourselves; and we tender, our sympathy to those most near and deur to her in this time of th2ir and our affliction.” In her closing address Miss-Anthony said in the last thirty years she had been ab- sent from but two conventions ‘of the or- ganization. During the period of woman suffrage conventions before the war she was absent from but one. The present, she declared, was the most successful protract- ed convention ever held by the association. Their efforts had seen-fuil fraitioa in four states in the Union. Miss’ Anthony was forced to stop on account of indisposition, and the address was conclud:d by Rev. Anna Shaw. « 4 Votes of thanks to all persons and con- cerns which have contributed fo the wel- fare of the association were passed. The people of Washington were thank24 for their hospitality, and the »ress was par- ticularly commended. ‘The Youngest Represphiative. Miss Bessie Murray of thé Iowa delega- tion was the youngest representative. She is the youngest county president in the United States in the Suffrage Assocla- tion, being not yet of age. @hie was elect- ed to her place last fall at:the state con- vention in Des Moines, where she made a brilliant address on thetrecerd of the work accomplished in herjcounty. Pre- vicus to that she had ma@e ‘smother ad- dress which attracted widespread atten- tion at her home, Winterset, Iowa, at the formation of the county association there. This was on the topic, “Dass the Unmar- ried Woman Need the Ballst?’. This .was regarded as one of the begt in that line by member of-the asso- Miss Murray is not only a ce in suffrage work, but is in of a_number of other movements, and @ newspaper girl, special corresponde: papers. ten past stalked the stage of the Columbia Theater Thursday evening. There were those in the audience whose minds went back fifty years, when Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s face was young and fresh, nearly ten years before “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was written, and when Susan B. Anthony was yet unaware of what the future held. for her; a time when the names of William Lioyd Garrison, Henry Ward Beecher and Wendell Phillips were names to conjure with, and the world was laughing at the claims of a “shrieking sisterhood,” who wanted to vote and “mix with men.” Like a spirjt out of this past came Isa- bella Beecher Hooker Thursday night. Feeble of step, aged of face, with snow- write hair, arrayed as she has worn it for sixty years or more, with voice low and worn with the active work of fifty or more yerrs in the cause of women, she came be- fcre the convention to speak possibly for the last time in public. Mrs. Hooker's words were full of the olden charm, and she tried to speak with the old-time vigor; but the fire of youth had burned too low, and the greater part of the audience only saw a gentle, white-haired little woman in black silk ard priceless old lace. Her voice they heard infrequently. The exertion was almost too much for the frail body, and when at the end of her remarks Miss Anthony asked her to read a little poem of Whittier’s Mrs. Hooker leaned heavily against Miss Anthony's shoulder. The latter slipped her arm around Mrs. Hooker's waist, and, thus supported, she read with almost super- human strength. At the end she again pressed against Miss Anthony for an in- stant, then, turning, pressed her lips to Miss Anthony's cheek, and sank, literally exhausted,.into her chair. The scene was most pathetic and touch- ing, and round after round of applause rang out over the bit of involuntary sen- timent, for, quick as a flash, Miss Anthony returned the kiss. Following Mrs. Hooker, Miss Anthony made one of the most impassioned speeches of the week. To those who complained that they could not hear Mrs. Hooker, she said, vehemently: “It is enough that you can leok at Isa- bella Beecher Hooker. To see her is benediction. Cleaning the Streets. To the Editor of The Fvening Star: A proposition is before the Senate, in the form of an amendment offered by Senator Elkins, to abolish the contract system, so far as it applies to sweeping and cleaning the streets of Washington, after the expira- tion of the present contracts for doing that work. Superintendent Stutler of the street cleaning department, not long since, made a lucid and comprehensive statement touch- ing the subject, which was approved by the District Commissioners, giving the approx- imate cost of doing the work by municipal authority as compared with that of doing it under the contract system. The figures given show that the city would not only be a large financial gainer by doing the work, but it could give employment to an in- creased number of laborers, at better wages than are now paid, and with more satisfac- tory results, because the workmen would be under the immediate control of the su- Ferintendent, and therefore responsibie to him for any neglect of duty. If his state- ment is correct, and I have seen or heard of no successful attempt to contradict it, why should there be any opposition to the amendment in question? Certainly the es- sencé of {the proposition, viz., cleaner streets, ability to employ more men at bet- ter wages and at a total cost not to exceed that. now paid for unsatisfactory results, ought to find favor with all classes of citi-. zens. And yet I understand that a de- termined effort is being made to defeat it. For one, and I believe my sentiments are voiced by thousands of taxpayers of the capital city, I say give the proposition of Senator Elkins a fair trial, and then, if it shall prove a failure it can easily be aban- doned. To my mind it is ridiculous absurd- ity to contend that any kind of work can be done as well and cheaper by contract than it can by day labor, outside of the contract system. If one person can per- form specified work for a certain sum, wHat is to prevent a city or corporation from doing the same thing, price of labor and quality of materials entering into the caoulations? When the contractor formu- lates his bids, he knows that unless he is the lowest bidder he will lose the job, and hence, too, frequently, after the contract has been secured, his zeal to do good work by no means equals that used to secure it. To bring any expectant profits, wages are cut, poor materials are used and the work slighted in every possible manner. And right here is the vital point of difference between contract work and that done by eity or government. The former is per- formed with an eye on accruing profits, while the latter is, or should be, prosecuted with no pecuniary gain in view, and no object other than the accomplishment of the best results for the money expended. I can appreciate the objective point that stimulated the fight against Senator Elkins’ amer.dment, on the part of contractors be- Cause, if it becomes law, all District work may eventually be done outside of the con- tract system, but I cannot, for the life of me, comprehend the motive that actuates opposition on the part of any member of our national legislature; and will not be- Heve, until forced to, that any considerable number of them will refuse to record their votes in favor of so fair and equitable a provosition.. TAXPAYER. February 16, 1808. ——— For St. Ann’s Infant Asyl The Burnt Cork Club, probably cne of the best exponents of the variety and specialty show in this vicinity, will give an enter- tainment for the benefit of the summer home of St. Ann’s Infant Asylum, under the auspices of St. Joseph's Union, this evening. The club will put on one of its best programs, and the worthy object for which the affair is to be given should draw an audience of generous proportions. The committee of arrangements for the enter- tainment consists of Mesdames T. J. and Thomas Gorman, E. P. Kelcher, Blanche W. Hall, J. Esputa Daly, M. E. Ails, Mary Gillen, J. Gowans and rden; Misses Mary Helen McCarthy, Laura M. Graves, Anna Doyle, J. A. Cary, Mary Hessler, Sarah H. Maher, Mary J. Moore, Phyllis Lynch, Cecilia Dougherty, Mae Gorman, Bessie Keleher, Hannah Gibson, Florence McCarthy and Nellie and Alicia McDonald; Mersrs Joypeb Adkins, T. J. Gorman, Geo. Houlehan, Charles R. Newman, T. A. Dovgherty, T. D. Keleher, J. Stanton, Mat- thew Murphy, William F. and Eugene Mc- Carthy, M. B. Elbert, Joseph L. and 8. J. Durcan, C. Sauter, Dr. Charles K. Koones, Glbert Gannon, B. J. Lynch, J. Gowans, M. A. Grittin, John T. and Thomas Connor. ——— Harmony Ledge of Pythinns. Harmony Lodge, No. 21, Knights of Py- thias, held its regular meeting Thursday right, with a large attendance of members and visitors. The third rank was confer- red upon Dr. Henry A. Donaldson. Under ‘the good of the order an unusually good program was rendered. Mr. Herbert W. Lewis, superintendent of charities of the District of Columbia, delivered his lecture on “The, American Buffalo” and sketches personel experiences on the western pi cas Freak H. Horsford, P. C., delivered @ lecture on “Fraternity;” solos were ren- dered by James H. Cathell and Henry A. Ww. John W. ipson, supreme outer guard; Woolman Gibson, P. C., of Superior, No. | 27, and many ‘The . Protest Made by Citizens Against the Rosslyn Charter. A DELEGATION GOES T0 RICHMOND Flag to Be Raised Tomorrow Over Washington's Tomb. GENERAL AND PERSONAL SS Evening Star Bureaa, 529 King street. (Bell Telephone 106.) ALEXANDRIA, Va.. February 21, 1898. A large delegation of the citizens of Alex- a:dria city ard county went to Richmond today te appear before Gov. Tyler and enter vigorous protest against the charter of the town of Rosslyn recently passed by the Virginia legislature, and which now awaits the governor's eignature, an account of which was published in Saturday's Star. This charter hes caused quite a sensation in this city, as its provisions are such as were never before granted to a corporation and are believed by good citizens to be ex- tremely dangerous. The charter names Randolph Birch, now a justice of the peace, as mayor of the new town for a term of four years. The charter,it is said,also provides that justices, sheriffs and constables of Alexandria shall not have the right to exercise their author- ity within the corporate limits of the new tcwn, and the circuit and county courts are prohibited from interfering in the matter of liquor licenses. It also provides, it is said, that no indictment can be found in the courts of Alexandria county for offenses within the limits of the new corporation. This Is said to have been rushed through both branches of the legislature under a suspension of rules, and, it is stated, with- cut being read. Under a charter of this Find, citizens declare, Rosslyn would be a regular bedlam, where there would be a reign of lawlessness and terror. While it is said that the general laws of the state would apply to this town it is also said that there would be no suitable officer within the corporation to carry them out. A large portion of the land within the pro- Posed corporation is owned by the Rosslyn Development Company, of which Mr. Park-! Agnew is president, and Mr. M. B. Harlow, Secretary and treasurer, and these gentle- men staté that the charter was granted without consultation with their company. It is not thought that Governor Tyler will approve the bill after its damaging pro- visions are pointed out to him. Mr. Lipscomb’s Position, Mr. Andrew A. Lipscomb, a Washington attorney, who resides in Alexandria county, and who is named as one of the council- men under the new Rosslyn charter, when seen by a reporter for The Star today said: “My name must have been inadvertently used, with emphasis on the inadvertently, in this connerction,.as I am not at all in sympathy with the movement. Rosslyn, Proper, has about forty inhabitants and as I live a miie and one-half from the town, I do not care to become a part of the cor- poration. I regard the whole movement as an infringement on the rights of Judge Jameg M. Love of the county court.” Mr. Love, it will be remembered, defeated Mr. L. C. Bailey at the recent election in the legislature to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Chichester. Mr. Lipscomb was of the opinion that Governor Tyler could most assuredly veto the charter as being one very dangerous to the community. To Float “Old Glory.” Washington's birthday will be celebrated at Mount Vernon tomorrow by raising “Old Glory” for the first time over the tomb of the father of his country. The ceremonies will be under the auspices of Mount Ver- non Council, Daughters of America, as- sisted by the Junior Order of United Amer- ican Mechanics. The various lodges tak- ing part will go by the noon train to Mount Vernon and the ceremony will begin short- ly after their arrival. The program is an elaborate one, as fol- lows: Doxology, “Old Hundred;” prayer, Rev. J. W. Wells; hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee; opening address, Mrs. Amy C. Weech; presentation of flag, Rev. J. E. Thacker; acceptance of flag. Rev. J. E. Dodge, superintendent of Mount Vernon recitation, “The Star-Spangied Banner,’ Capt. J. V. Davis; song, “Columbia; au- dress, J: W. Alexander, past state coun eillor of the Jr. O. U. A. M. of Vermont; recitation, “Our Flag,” Master Noble L Viers; address, Mrs. E. J. Palmer; address, Rev. C. E. Ball; hymn, “My Country, 'Tis of Thee;” benediction, Rev. J. W. Wells. On the return to Alexandria a_ banquet will be served at Odd Fellows’ Hall. In- vited guests from Washington, Baltimore and elsewhere are expected. No More Trading Stamps. The offices of the Trading Stamp Com- pany have been vacated, and, it is said, will be removed to Baltimore. There have been many complaints of people holding the requisite number of stamps who say they were unable for some reason to obtain the promised premiums. To Be Tried Wednesday. The two Bright boys, who were arrested in this city by L eut. Smith and Policeman Atkinson several weeks since, on suspicion of stealing 500 pounds of brass from the Southern Railway Company, and were sub- sequentiy indicted by the grand jury of Fairfax county, will be placed on trial at Fairfax Court House Wednesday. Churches Yesterday. Many people were kept from the various churches by the threatening weather of yesterday. At Christ Church Rev. C. E. Grammar, D.D., of the Virginia Theologi- cal Seminary preached in the Rev. A. D. Melvin, D. D., night at the Methodist Prostestant Church. Mr. Smith of the Theological Seminary eonducted the service at the railroad read- ing rcoms. . Brevities. O’Kane Courcil, Catholic Benevolent Uuion, held a largely attended meeting yesterday afternoon. Miss Mary P. Berkeley is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Berkeley on Prince street. The children of the Alexandria Kinder- tobert Hamilton, charged with attempting to wreck the “F. F. Church ttle in St. Mary's for the gallant dead of the ilfated bat Maine. leship pane ona Fleming Gives Bail. George B. Fleming has furnished bail in five winters a resident tled policy of the government. ever been the custom to grant homes to off their feet by the panic. the enjey is constantly dis riminating against producers in favor of the non-producing class. Just now there is a hue and cry against pensions. residence on the bleak, raw prairies, condition never heretofore exacted. ENVELOPES STOLEN. ions Taken From Rooms of cam Campaign Committee. Detectives Baur and Parham Saturday arrested James Verser and Robert N. Mills on a charge of having stolen $6.00) werth of envelopes from the rooms of the republican corgressional campaign mittee in the Globe building, on Pen venla avenue. There were 6,000,000 opes taken, it is charged, and sold to junk dealers. The amount realized for them, the detectives say, was about $00. The case was set for a hearing today in the Police Court, but on account of the ab- sence of a material witness was postponed by Prosecutor Mullowny until Friday next, About two weeks ago Chairman Babcock of the congressional committee visited In- spector Mattingly and made complaint of the wholesale theft of the frank cnvelopes. The alleged theft had been committed be- tween May and October, he said, although he did not then know to just what extent the alleged systematic thefts had been car= ried on. Detectives Parham and Baur werg assigned to the case, which resulted in the arrests stated. The officers learned that be- tween seventy and eighty wagon loads of com- syl- the envelopes had been taken away, and that they had sold for about $3 a load. The investigation developed that. Mills had been janitor of the building during May and Juse, but had not been employed there later. Verser, it appears, was a triend of Mills, and ke says he received the money for three loads of the envelopes. Mills, he Says, told him the envelopes had been given to him. He had every reason to believe that Mills’ statement was “true, and never for an instant did he imagine he was doing arything wrong. Mills’ claim to the officers was that the envelopes had been given to him. He de- nied, however, that there were as many loads sold as the police alleged. During the investigation this afternoon the detectiv learned that the envelopes had been dt posed of at a number of junk shops. Both men say they had slept in the committee reoms some time ago. Mills says he is @ doctor, and Verser gave his occupation that of a clerk. They were locked up on charge of grand lare The loss was discovered several weeks ago, when the public printer asked C man Babcock for some of the en the time the stock in the governm: ing office was short. cami THE WALTERS GALLER Baltimere Collection the rr. The Walters Galleries, Baltimore, are open for the benefit of the poor all the Wednesdays of February, March and April, all the Saturdays of April, Easter Monday, and Tuesday, February 22. Tickets can be procured at Harris & Shafer’s, 1113 Penn- sylvania avenue. The collection of Chinese porcelain and wonderful Japanese lacquers is matchless. This room has received an addition since last year. Henry Walters has recenily se- cured and placed in a case containing simi- lar objects an immense ivory tusk, curlous- ly carved by a native African of the cast- ern coast. The tusk is about four feet long and probably four inches thick. The principal interest centers in the main galiery. Millet, Rousseau, Corot, Gerome, Meissonier, Alma-Tadema, Millais and a hundred other great artists are represented in the priceless adornment of its walls. The range of subjects is wide. The main gallery has also received an ad- dition to its treasures. In the center, sur- rounded by a divan, is the statue of the goddess Aegea. It was found early tn the present century buried among the ruins of the Roman Campagna. In 1850 it was bought by the artist Fortuny, and, after passing through many hands, it has lately been purchased by Henry Walters. The statue Is thirty-two inches high and of solid silver. It is a fine exa Art Open to tion. Scattered over Mr. and open to public inspection for the benefit of charity on the days mentioned, are myriads Walters’ house, of objects of art, the beauty of which baffies description. Mosaics, curios, jewels, statuary, paintings and drawings are ex- hibited in exquisite profusion. The Peach Bloom Vase, “The Head tn Wax,” attributed sometimes to Raphael, and the ivory statuettes of Psyche and Phryne, inanimate embodiments of youth- ful beauty, are famous in the world of art. >—— Free Homesteads. To the Editor of The Evening Stai Will Tae Star kindly permit an old citl- zen of Washington, but now these past of Oklahoma, to say a few words on the subject of free homes. The subject is not a new one. On the contrary, free homesteads began with the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock and, until recently, has been the set- it hes those who earned them by five years’ pa- tient residence on the frontier. Here in the Cherokee Outlet are thou. sands of veteran soldiers who were swept It should bring to those who now the beneficial results of their pa- triotism to make them pay $2.50 an acre tor homes which, with painful energy, they Diushn of shame have carved out of the prairie. Indeed, it cannot probably be appreciated by the luxuriousiy rich of this great coun- ow deep and n the feeling 1s among the western farmers that the government the The farmers know that ions are paid to a million souls and go thence to the steres and shopkeepers. They also know that J. Pierpont Morgan profited to the extent of a cool ten mil- i ns from the United States treasury, and it went into his pocket, perhaps to & European safety deposit vault. Every patient farmer of the Outlet has a mortgage on his farm drawing 4 per cent interest, placed there by Uncle Sam. This, coupled with five years’ — is There is food for thought in the fore- going. God willing, one statesman may not Pass it by. JERE JOHNSON. Kildare, O. T. juary 29, German Club Reception. _ “Der Deutsch-Amerikanische Club” was