Evening Star Newspaper, February 23, 1898, Page 1

— THE EVENING STAR ] PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 3101 Fennsyivania Avenue, Cer. 12th St. by The Evening Star New: UFFM Spite net t Company 8. H. IN, Pres’t. ¥ by ctrrfers, on thefr own accouut, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ccenter 2 certs each. By mail—anywhere In the United States «r Canada—postage prepald—A0 cents Fer mouth. Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with foreign postage added. $3. (Entered at the Po.t Cffice at Washington. D. C.. as second-class ma’l matter.) €> All maff subscriptions mast be patd in advance. Rates of advertising made known of ication OFFICIAL NEWS A Lack of Tt at Both State and Navy Departments. A REMINDER OF THE DISASTER The Water-Stained Medical Journal of the Maine. NO ORDERS FOR THE TERROR ees An Important Extract From a Pri- vate Letter. SS BELIEF OF MAINE'S OFFICERS , eee ea ‘There was a Specting the M and N. official ne disaster in both St ack of news re- te no telegrar-= and Tone having beer. Gispatcned. A reminaer of the disaster, however, reached the } Department in the shape of a ed and brine-flavered pack ate wedical journal of the Maine. T) ment came throigh Consul General Lec mail pouch to the State L nt, in stead of through the nfails him nd surge’ refere officials the package er four from its ap- and it still bears evidence of that havin; nd by : of medicine pt for futu nec Th was under ¥ pearance fact, besi ssity n unpleas: hh oder. The blue mark lines ruled on the per by the government printing offi are nearly faded out, but the the Journal in the metall navy is ¢ and di: there is not in the book bearing upo the disas but it is a tribute to th methodical habit of Sur verger, the Maine's medical! offic e record brought up to the las! wreck of t moment before e ship, the last entry being the February 15. While there is on cir of expectancy still among the naval officers whenever there is the least suggestion of 1 from Ha- Vana, it appears that the departm has ttled pre! There ts ell down into its old rou- o Jonger much disposition tine. exhibited to theorize as to the cause of the disaster. Probably this is from 1 of evidence to base theory upon, cr be- cause the ingenuity of the experts in de- Wsing hypotheses has been exhausted. No Orders for the Terror. orders have yet gone out to the big ccuble-turreted monitor Terror, so the sit- ation as to her remains as it did yester- . when Secretary Long stated that she Was being held for orders at Norfolk. In regard to the statement coming from Key West that naval officers there had been warned by Admiral Sicard, at the in- stance of the Navy Department, not to dis- cuss the Maine disaster publicly or with the newspaper men, it is said by naval officers that this is orly the usual course, for the regulations especially prohibit such ciseussions as calculated to affect improp- erly the conclusion of the inquiry, and also perhaps to cause interposition of obstacles to the investigation. It is probable that like instructions have been given to the few naval officers who remain with Captain Sigsbee at Havana, engaged in paying the last sad rites to the bodies cf the victims. Reported Warning to Americans, ul General Lee may have, in the of friendly talk in Havana, with ans, have expressed the view that are at present other places more de- sirable as resorts for persons who have no particular business there than Havana. Th> State Department, however, has not been advised that he has, elther offi- Ny or semi-officially, delivered himself { any expression on the subject. he Spanish legation also discredits r2- ports that Gen. has given any such warning. Mr. Du the charge d’af- faires, said today that suck complete q and harmony existed today at Havana that it was manifestly out of the question that | ar warning had be2n given. It artment that no mes- = been conveyed to the owners of an vessels at New Orleans or els Lee Bose, in Cuban perts at this time. Movements of the Warships. © hattle ship Texas and gunboat Nash- leave .Galveston, Texas, today for West. where they will rejoin the other Admiral Sicard’s squadron No orders for this movement nt by the Navy Department, and {t “t that it is In accordance wit given several weeks ago by v : two ships were directed to remain at from the Ith to the 231 f nt, a the Mardi Gras celebr and return to Key W. 'S was before the Maine disas the prese: movement is said nificance on the r>- The © ships will now their part in the squadron evol according to the original program, un- less detached. The Nashville has been connection with the determi- end another vessel to Havana ssent excitement has ¢ between the Nashville and No cetermination, however, been reached on that point. Rendezvous at Key West. uulianeous with th> departure today of the Texas and Nashville from Galveston for Key West, the Marblehead will leave New Orleans and the Detroit will leave Mobile fer Key West. are also a part of the this month, before the Maine disaster. The Navy Department had received no notifica- tion of the actual sailing of tha four ships up to noon, but this is expected to come during the day in view of the definite or- ders for their sailing on the 23d. The Me ery is also due at Key West, hav- ing left San Domingo for K:y West on the 16¢ © result will be to bring together again large number of vessels under Ad- ard at Key West and the imme- > Vieinitys These will b> the New York, now at Tortugas; Indiana, Massachusetts, exas, lowa, Marblehead, Detreit, Nash- vile, Mentgomery, Eriesson and Cushing. The torpede boats Porter and Dupont are in dry dock at Mobile, and are not expected to be ready to go to Key West for several s. The Brookiyn is also cruising in the West Indies, at present on the way from St. Thomas to Santa Cruz. Admiral Sicard's 1 Health Continues ‘The noon mail breyght to Secretary Lor # letter froin Admirat Sicard at Key W It contains the bad news that the admir: ot yet recevered his health, and he s that he will be unah'e to go to sea with the squadren. He will remain on shcre at his hotel in Key West, and retain command of the squadron from that place s it remains in harbor there, re- hing it only when it becomes neces- for the vessels to go to as ron. It will be remembered that th d suffered an attack of malarial nd had secured leave of absence of two weeks from the departinent just before explosion on the Maine. He got as far Tampa, but returned immediately to his command, which for only one day he had left in the hands of Capt. Sampson. Showid al sau: edmir the squadron be obliged to go to 2 With the admiral il! at Key West, and the se- sor ofite s fleet, Capt. Sampson, en- gaged in the investigation at Havana, prob- ably the command of the squadron would fevolve upon Capt. Taylor, now command- battt garded Massachusetts, as one of the brightesi in naval service, ork at the Savy Department Few understand the amoun! ef work that has be st upon the offi ¢ Department dur! and olume of work. } » degree ¢ On the con trary, it is augmented, and on top of t a mount of emergenc the 4 The offi- Ss several ecure news, to for necessary orders for the exten- s Hef, und to w contracts for t the wrecking of the Maine. Long today stated pub- | licly that p rd h ciation of t 3 rendered by the offiecr ticularly of the burea yuipment and the ofice of the judge 5 The Right A Arm Goce teicgram from Key West received arnounced the sailing of the Me an wrecking tug Right Arm from West ng. without do vessel is now in Havana, and brough he reinforcements in the last eve so vi to Capt. Sig ter of profe: 1 divers that he has rgently requesied. With this arce, it is believed that the work ef rece ering boc from the wrecked forward portion of the Maine will be greatiy facil- itated. At the Spanish Legation. Ai the Spanish legation affairs have re- sumed their normal aspect. Sener Du Bose has received no reports of any character } concerning the Maine cr the progress be- ing made by the Spanish authorities at Havana in inv igating the occurr a. When the Spanish ‘nquiry is completed the report will doubt! be sent to Madrid and is not likely to come to the Spanish authorities here. Mr. Du Bosc continues to speak of the satisfactory relations which exist between the American and Spanish authorities at Havana concerning the work cr the wreck and the investigation of its cause It is not known here how far the American court will avail fself of the evi- | dence of Spanish officers or the Spanish inquiry will include the evidence of Amer- ican officers, but all the indications reach- ing the officials here are that there will be such co-operation as will be helpful to the two branches of inquiry, and as the courts nay desire. Mr. Du Bose has received no word as to the reported capture of the Dauntless with a filibustering expedition, which is said to have got away from a point between Miami and Palm Ecach, Fla., recently. A capture of this importance would doubtless be speedily reported to the Spanish author- ities here, and in the absence of advices little credit is given to the repor.. ‘apt. Sobral cid noi come to the Spanish egation last night, as has been stated. He has been expected for some days, how- ever, and probably will be here today, al- though his visit is said to be without sig- | Lificance, as the incident with which his heme was cecently connected is considered closed. THE OFFICERS’ BELSEF. ment in a Private Letter From Havana. ‘The following is an extract from a private letter received ln this city today from Ha- vana: “If you were here on the ground, you would know no more than in Washington. Briefly stated, the captain and his officers are discreetly reticent, but it ts well known to a few of us, coming direct, that they have never enteriained for 2 moment that it was an accident. It was a diabolical act of the Spaniards—hardiy the government direct, but government otficials, who alone could have accomplished it. The super- structure=that part out of water—indicates at every point that it cannot be attribuicd Announce [to ace ‘this | have from the chief en- j sincer. Spanish like, Dupuy Ike, the Wish peopie are bubbling over with ex- me evidences and expressigns @! sorr at heart they are rejoicing. with @ rare ex- eption. At —— the officers met and opemed namp: on it, as th » and truth here, and alt ov I think When the naval comni mines the vessel, {t will be demonstrated beyond a Bhadow of t the Maine was biown a, doube by the wreck of the Maine. There were present Miss Long, Mrs. Clover, Mrs. Hich- born, Mrs. ¥an Reypen, Mrs. Lemly and Miss Benham. Mrs. Stewart, the treasurer, was absent, having been unexpectedly call- ed to New Yerk, but Paymaster General Stewart reported in her behalf that she had already received in contributions $245, which had been deposited to the credit of the Battle Ship Maine Relief Association in Riggs National Bank. The newspapers of the city were requested to state that all persons desiring to contrtbute :o this fund should communicate with Mrs. Stewart, at 1315 New Hampshire avenue. A form of r, inviting contributions, was sub- mitted and approved, and copies urdered to be sent to all navy yards and stations and all vessels of the navy. It ts as follows: “A meeting of the wives of chiefs of bureaus of the United States Navy Depart- ment was heid February 21, 1898, at the of Mrs. Long, the wife of the Sec- ig foward the collection of subserin- for the immediate needs of the satiors lost in the disaster t9 It was resolved th tegk tions famities ct the battie ship Maine. d men on the United States naval tions tion y be sent je Ship Maine mn Stewart » Wasi © of the led through Mrs, i > propriety © ance to swell the fund fort » victims’ families. vised that not e relief Phe sag- considered by ize ladies at , being appre a com- to Pro- of week. un interest 2 the folicwing to The in getting up letter from the outlines ss ol our batile ship M heart with sorrow, and y for the faithful men who sacri- rlives. But what will be done for l orphans? Cannet the pro- e.on tender thei a benc< ry manager will lend a every professional offer a his or her servi If you will give your aid und see thet the proceeds of such a benc ‘lt are turned ever to the United States authe s for immediate distribution I will devote my every energy to getting the peo- ple torether and effering my humble serv- ices. Aire tion has been taken in this line. ax Bert Riddle has volunteered to manage the affair. It is proposed to have the benefit Friday afternoon of next week. REGARDS IT AS GRAVE. A New angland Congressinan's View of the Situat’ A prominent New England congressman, had an whe has within the last few hou: extended corference with Secretary Long and other officials of the Navy Department, tatked to 2 Star reporter today after he had made a visit to the White House. He is snough to Secretary Long to have in th g presentative, “that the situation is grave. 1 de not mean to imply that the government is expecting to be forced into a conflict with n from developments in the harbor of Havana, but I do mean that every prepara- tion is being made for a conflict. This prep- ation is a precaution, because there is a feeling that something !s going to turn up. The Navy Department {s making more preparation than the officials admit. Our war veseels in rerhote plices are being call- ed closer home, so that they can be quickly placed. The fcur monitors are being made ready, and there is a great deal of activity under the surface. “TI am tn position to say also that opinior. at the Navy Department is again undergo- ing a change. Th> accident theory of many of the influential officials of that depart- ment has been knocked out and has been replaced by the belief that a torpedo caus- ed the wrecking of th> Maine. These offi- cials do not believe that the Spanish gov- ernment caused the explosion ef the tor- pedo, but they do believe tiat the officials at Havana allow2d the Maine to be placed over a mine without giving the officers warning that it was there, and that this mine was sprung in some way. Tbis is where the responsibility of the Spanish government will come in. It is now com- ing forcibly .o the minis of navy officials that the Spanish authorities hav> never disclaimed the existence of a mine in the harbor, or the fact that the Maine was not stationed near a destructive portion of this mine. 1t begins to look as if the first :x- plesion was caused by the torpedo and the second by the explosion of one of the magazines. If this was true the internal explosion probably shattered most of th> evidence of an external explosi “I want to repeat that I do nox think the administration is makiag ready for war ler the belief that it is sure to come, but ft is taking svery cautious step neces- sary to be ready. I know, that the Navy Department has made a cymparison of the strength of the navies of the two countries, and is satisfied of our. ability to whip. Spain.” To Relieve the Injured. Dr. J. B. Hubbell and five or six others connected with the Red Cross left Wash- ington this morning for Havana, in re- sponse to an urgent call from Miss Barton, who is looking after the injured marines of the battle ship Maine. ——— DENOUNCED BY MR. MAHANY. Recent Social Functions in New York City. Representative Mahany (N. Y.) made a sensational speech in the House late this afternoon, denouncing as an outrage the “high revels held by the so-called social leaders” of New York while the nation was mourning the loss of two hundred and sixty of the brave sailors of the-Maine, and hey continue te pick up arms, legs, heads and other paris of the bodies of these poor victims. ‘To me it is sacrilegious, a desecration, te allow the Spaniards to bury: these poor fellows’ remains. 1 saw last eventug @ bill of fare of that date, on which as written among the special dishes, ‘pollo (chicken) a ia Maine.”"” FOR THE FAMILIES OF THE LOST. Mexsures Proposed to Contribute to Thelr Retie A meeting of the wives of the chiefs of These movements | bureaus of the Navy Department was held orders given early | at the office of the Secretary of the Navy at 10:50 o'clock ‘this morning for the pur- pose of devising means for the relief of the families of the sailors who lest their lives . contrasted the lack of sympathy displayed there with the condition which prevailed in London when the Camperdown was sunk by the Victoria. Yet, he said, these same peoplé in the last campaign: prated of national honor, They. were the drones’ of society, he declared, ‘and he should, he, said, do all in his power to. free the: skirts STRIKERS WERE UGLY Sees as They Intimidatet! Those Who Would ‘Not Join Them. CARRIED CLUBS “AND ARMS Testimony of the Defense at the Martin Trial. JURY TO TAKE A BATH WILKESBARRE, Pa, February 23— Three weeks ago today ihe jury in the trial of Sheriff M: in and his deputies com- menced to cecupy t comfortable and «mped quarters in U.e court house. To- day, at the cpen.ng of court, Judge Wood- rd annouiced to the men that they could at any time take a bath at a bath re every one else would be ex- ‘s Was cheering news to the w nanan, the first witness, testi- * he ran. for the brush when some ied to capture him. Two shots ut ie managed to escape. réck, Who worked at Cran- 4 that on September 3, seven fatal shooting, a crowd of ers told the workmen there they must quit or they would be hurt. He and others went home. the day before the shoot- ing they tried again to work, but were stopped on the road and told they would be kiNed if they went to the workings. He went home. Ludwig Laube Testifies. Ludwig Laube of Cranberry stated that he te go home when ordered to do so by the strikers, and in consequence he in the back with a stone bY & Sirikcy and Dadiy hurt. Witness said he was so afraid of the strikers that he car- ried a revolver for the first time in his life. Rebert Hillhouse testified that he had stones shaken in lis fgce and wes sworn at Ven ‘he tried to pess through the ranks of the sirikers, but &.friend among the strik- ers finally got him through. Lawrence Ermold, a ‘fifteen-year-old boy, said he was following hie father through a crowd of strikers, when he was struck and kicked severely. He. was finally rescued by his father and two-strikers, John Fortchok and Joe Cozlak. He had numerous oruises. Robert Depew of Cranberry saw a lot of strikers cutting the limbs of trees to use as clubs. They pursued him, but he ¢ capel and went te work. The next day they caught him on the way to work and made him go back home under threat of it jury. Saw Armed Strikers. John Shavelio saw armed strikers at West Hazleton on September 8, two days before the shooting. ac The sheriff told them to go home and they did so quietly. z Mrs. Anna Krecht of West Hazleton told her hushand to run into the bush when the marching strikers came in sight. She saw the men armed with clubs and heard two shots fired. Emr Rutgen of Cranberry, saw the strikers scatter among the miners when they reached Cranberry to get the men to join them, but thé men all ran into the bush and ascaped. Herman Rutgen, a fifteen-year-old boy, was pursued into the bush and a shot was fired at him. Mrs. Emma Staje of Cranberry saw the strikers pulling Gustav Check along with them. They had hold of his arms, drag- ging him and one kept threatening him with a big club. Wilnemina Hoffman of Cranberry saw John Krecht, a boy, fleeing to the bushes and saw a striker flre twice at him. Krecht escaped into the bush. He left home s0 suddenly to avoid the strikers that he did not have time to put on his shoes. —_»>——_ YEAR IN PRISON FOR ZOLA, Paris Journalist Found Guilty by n 3 Jury Today. PARIS, February 28—Emile Zola was today found guilty by the jury and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and to pay a fine of 3,000°francs. pe 33 es WILL VETO ROSSLYN BILL. No Longer Any Doubt About Governor Tyler’a Intention. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. RICHMOND, Va., February 23.—There is no longer any doubt that Gov. Tyler will veto the bill to incorporate Rosslyn. He himself discovered the remarkable pro- vigions of the bill clothing the proposed mayor with unlimited and exclusive pow- ers to muke ‘a wide-open gambling town, and would probably have returned the bill with his veto if no fight had been made against it. 5 —— NEW RIVER COAL COMBINE. Company of Eastern Capitalists Will Control the Output. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. CUMBERLAND, Md., February 23.—A company has been organized by eastern capitalists to control the coal trade in the New River district,.in West Virginia. There are more than thirty coal mines in- ion and the capital be in the neighbor- .NEW YORK, ‘ner: Ea, Cha Havre February and was due here on Sunday, had not be sighted up to J1 o'clock. this forenggn. ‘No anxiety is felt, however, for her safety, as she is a stanch vessel, and the heayy, westerly gales which are known to: ha s cevaiiing on the Atlantic would haye delayed her. The Allen liner Peruvian, f , Which passed in Sandy Hook at @&m., Was as much overdue as the Frenehi steamer. THREE OF aes CREW. SAVED. Taken From Wreckage on Which They Had Floated, PROVINCETON, Mass,, February 23.— The tug Mercury, Capt, Evans, has arriv- ed here bringing news that three men of AGAINST A REFERENDUM House District Committee on Form of ‘Lo- cal Government. Proposed Election by People Killed— Rallway Taxes—Traction Company Extension Authorized. The House District committee today voted to lay on the table the bill authorizing an election to be held in Washington to de- termine whether a change in the present form of government is desired by the resi- dents. ‘This action kills the bill. Regulate Street Railway Taxes. ‘The committee favorably reported Mr. Odell’s bill to reguiate taxes upon street railways in the District. The bill provides: “That every street railroad company op- erated within the District of Columbia shall arnually pay a franchise tax to the tax collector of the District five-eighths of cne per centum of the entire gross earn- ings of such company. There shall be lev- ied and collected, in addition to such fran- chise tax, upon all of the real estate of sald companies, a tax in the same manner and to the same extent as upon all other real estate in the District of Columbia. ‘The following named companies, the Cap- ital Traction Company, the Metropolitan Railroad Company and the Columbia Rail- way Company, sl.all each pay, in addition to the franchise tax, an annual tax of four Per centam on their entire gross earnings. All other of such companfes within the District shall pay an annual tax of two per centum upon their g: earnings, in addi- tion to sald franchise tax.” All laws now in force in the District with reference to the collection of taxes, the creation of liens therefor, and the time and mode of making assessments and collec- tions, are made applicable to the subjects of this act, except in so far as the provis- fons herein may be incompatible there- with; and all laws, parts of laws or pro- visions in any charter of any of said com- panies to the contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby re- pealed. This Jaw shal] take effect from and after the ist ay of July, 1898, at which date the neW rate of taxation herein provided shall begin, and Congress may repeal, alter or jamend this act, Traction Railway Extensions. The committee also decided to report a bill, to be drawn by the chairman, author- izing the Capital Traction Company to make certain extensions of its routes. The line on 14th street is to be extended. two squares northward. The question of rail- way facilities in Mt. Pleasant, west of 14th street, is to remain undecided for the pres- ent. The extension on F street and G street, west of 17th street, is to be au- thorized. The Senate's proposition to omit F street and run the line past the Cor- coran Art Gallery was overruled in com- mittee. The extension on Pennsylvania avenue southeast to the Hastern branch must be completed within a year. The loopg.around the Capital Traction Company's property at the several termini were authorized. The committee also decided to favorably report the bill authorizing the Capital Rail- vay Com: to use overhead tro!ley on Yard bridge. The amendments the Commissioners are to be Navy the suggested by incorporated in the bill. Hearing Regarding Sunday Rest. There wii] be a hearing befure a subcom- mittee of the District committee Friday at 10 o'clock on the Sunday rest law. Work on Public Buildings. Mr. Kyle today introduced in tke Senate a bill introduced in the House January 27 by Mr. Gardner to limit the hours of labor on public buiidings of or done for the United States in any territory or the District of Columbia. Amending the District Bill. Amendments to the District of Columb appropriation bill were laid before the Se ate today as follows: By Mr. Stewart—Appropriating $50,000 for a foundation for a bridge across Rock Creek on the line of Connecticut avenue. By Mr. Cockrell—Appr6priating $242,850 as award of condemnation for the extension of 16th street through Denison & Leign- ton’s subdivision of Mt. Pleasant. —_—_——-o+___ SECRETARY ALGER’S RETURN. ne Locked Over His Mail at the War Department. Secretary Alger returned from Fort Monroe this morning and spent a few min- utes at the War Department looking over his personal mail. He is still weak from his protracted illness following a severe attack of the grip, but is in a fair way to quick recovery. His face has a good color, his eyes are bright and his steps are springy, and, what is more, he says he feels as well as he looks. He spent ten days at the Chamberlin at Fort Monroe, and the change of air and scene has un- doubtedly been of great benefit to him. His companions were Mrs. Alger, Miss Al- ger and Surgeon Wood of the army. They returned to the city with him on the steamer which left Norfolk last evening. During Secretary Alger’s visit to the War Departmert this morning all the bureau officers and many of the clerks and other employes took occasion to call upon him with congratulaticns upon his recovery. To a Star reporter Gen. Alger said he was not yet prepared to relieve Assistant Secretary Meiklejohn ef active supervision of the affairs of the department, but hoped to be able to do so in a short time. He would visit the department for an hour cr so every day and gradually resume the official routine, which was interruped when he was stricken down several weeks ago. Except in the unexpected event of a re-' lapse, the Secretary of War will spend the balance of his season of convalescence in this city. He has been advised to restrain his desire to take up the reins of office until he fs better fitted physically to do so, and to that end he will be relieved of all official: responsibilities that he will consent to surrender to his subordinates until he is completely restored to health. He-is in good hands and will undoubtedly be him- self again in a short time. Secretary Sherman at His Désk. Secretary Sherman resumed his official duties at the State Department this morn- ing, after an absence of about a week, due to a severe cold. Although still somewhat feeble, he is steadily gaining in health and strength, and expects to be entirely re- covered in a few days. He went to the department about 9 o’clock and remained there throughout the day, attending to all business brought to his attention. —_—_—_-2+____— “ Personal Mention. Lieut. R. G. Hill, 20th Infantry, is at 1445 } Massachusetts avenue on sick leave of ab- ; Lieut. Charles G. Dwyer, 3d Infantry, ts -port of the capiure by he Spaniards of the Commissioners Add to the Items in Appro- priation Bill. New School Buildings and Addition Fire Engines—Amendme: to the Pension Law. The District appropriation bill, as amend- ed by the District Commissioners after passing the House of Representatives and forwarded to the Senate appropriations committee, contains many items which were stricken out in the House, and many of the amounts allowed by the House will be materially increased, if the Senate ap- Proves of the recommendations of the Com- missioners. For resumifg the work of completing the tunnel between the distributing reservoir and the Howard University reservoir, and for other work connected therewith, the sum of $383,453 is asked, also authority to use an unexpended balance under the act of July 15, 1882, making a total sum for the purposes of $650,000. For the protection of the inlet to the conduit at Great Sum of 85,000 ts asked. eee ¢ followirg amounts are asked for un- der the head of public schools: For one cight-room building and site, third division, scutheast, $45,500; for one manual training school building and site, for first eight di- Visions, $150,000; the same amount for a like purpose for the ninth, tenth and elev- enth divisions, and for a four-room building 0a Grant road, $12,000. The Fire Department. Under the fire department the Commis- sicrers ask for three new engines at $1,200 each, and four new hose carriages at SX) each. For a house, lot and furniture for an ergine company in the section between ISth and 20th and E and F streets the sum of $20,000 is asked; $30,000 fcr one between 1th and 12th and B and C streets southwest $22,000 for cne for northern Georgetown; $5,000 for a truck house between 6th and 10th and B and D streets southwest, and $25,000 for one between M and O and 33a 2 n strects. For two new trucks, $7,000. tne Commissioners also recommend that | the law relating to the pensioning of mem- bers of the fire department be so amended us to prov ide a pension of $100 a month for the chief engineer, should he become Inca- pacitated from age or from injury o1 is- ease contracted in the line of duty; $73 a month for as: ant chief engineers; $00 for foremen, $55 for privates, and $50 for engineers, firemen and hostlers. Survey and Map. The sum of $8,000 is asked for with which to make accurate topographical survey ana map of Georgetown, and plats, field notes and surveys of the territory east and south of the Eastern branch and in and near Takoma Park. The Commissioners recommend an appro- priatién of°$12,300 for the free pubile ii- brary, $4,300 of which is for compensatio: of librarian and assistants and $8,000 for rent, fitting up of rooms, books and con- tingent expenses, all to be immediately available. The Commissioners are much interested in the library, and will make a personal appeal for the appropriation. Under the heaith office the Commis- sioners ask for the sum of $25,000 for the enforcement of the act of March 3, 18% to prevent the spread of contagious di eases, to remain available until used. The also ask for $5,000 for maintaining in- fecting service, and $1,000 for the abate- ment of nuisances, the costs of abate- ments to be credited to the fund and then to be deemed a continuous appropriation. For the extension of the fire alarm and patrol telegraph system the sum of $20,(KK) is asked. Most of the other increased appropria- ticns are such as would make the bill of the same proportion as the estimates sub- mitted by the Commissioners made it, and they have heretofore been published in Tie Star. wes FAILURE OF AUTONOMY. Consul General Lee's Important Report. A very important fact, with a possibility of a significant bearing upon startling events since, is that the letter from Consul General Lee which announced to the State Department th2 failure of autonomy in Cuba, was dated December 13, and there- fore has been a long time in_the hands of the department. Gen. Lee, aftr giving his opinion that autonomy has proven a fail- ure, discusses in this letter the condition of the island. The anncuncement of the fail- ure of autonomy is very positiva and is corroborated by letters of later date from all the American consuls in Cuba, each de- claring that autonomy is a failure. it is probable that the Spanish autuorities were aware of the announcement having been made by Gen. Lee, if not at the time of its writing, at least soon after, since De Lome would naturally be informed by the State Department of the condition of affairs reported. It is regarded as quite within the bounds of possibility that the extraordinary action of De Lome. resuit- ing in his retirement, and later the terrible disaster to the Maine, may have resulted Girectly or indirectly from a k: edge of Spaniards that Spain was near the end of her hopes. Knowledge of an intention en the part of the President to send a mes- sage to Cengress conveying the Lee letter, and himself announcing the failure of au- tonomy, might have had a very disturbing effect upon the temper of Spain. The correspondence bearing on this qu2s- tion has been called for by the Senate and the clerks of the State Department are ncw preparing it for transmission. Th> resolution calling for it permits the Presi- dent to withhold it if he thinks proper to do so, and the Impression now prevuils, ia view of the present critical state of the re- lations betwen the United States and Spain, that the President will conciude to withhold this correspondence from the pub- Nec for the present. The reports alleged to have been roceived by the ate Depart- ment from the consular officers in Cuba showing the complete failure of the plan of autonomy are said to corroborate in ail essentis! particulars the comprehensive Statzments on that subject contained in recent letters published in The Star from Mr.Charles M. Pepper. SEES Reported Cuptare of the Dauntless. The Treasury Department has received no informaticn tending to ccrfirm the re- Dauntless, the most “noted of the Tuban 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 Star is the recognized household and family journal of the National Capital, and_ has no rival as an advertising Thed- ium. Oficials at Havana Anxious About the Maine Investigetion. COMMUNICATING WITH MADRID Results so Far Indicate That It Was Not Accident. GROWING DANGER OF A RUPTORE Commercial Classes Hope for Peaceful Intervention. PROGRESS OF THE INQUIRY ane From Staff! February 23, via Key West, into the Maine disaster pro- The lefinite lines. results atement that the probabilities that it was an acci Gent seem te ecrease with the progress of he investigatior The most interse anxiety is shown by the Spanish off here, who are in co stant communication with Madrid. They realize that the relations with the United States were never so much in danger of rupture as now. ‘This is general feet- irg The commerciai here are hopeful of American intervention on peaceful lipe but what they basr their hopes on is un- known. The insurgents continue to win minor military successes. The autonomists ave restless, and sore of the leaders seem on the point of breaking away Arm: m the gov- show ernment. we to Heers anti-American sentiment. They that 4 PEPPER. READY. ar an class apparently the onl look for ar early LUGS GETTING is. Great Activity About Merritt-Chap- man Wrecking Station. NEW YORK, February 2%—There was unusual activity about the Merritt-Chap- tran wrec stution at § ng pleton, 8. 1. toda tores were being taken aboard of the big wrecking tug I. J. Merritt and the barge Haggerty. Both are going to Ha- vana to aid in raising the Maine. The Merritt is the biggest wrecking tug in this country. It is ¢ that the vessels will get under way late this afternoon. The Staten Island wreckers will be in charge of Capt. Frederick R. Sharp, an ex- pert diver, and it is likely that Capt. Win- field S. Tooker will also go along. Capt. Chitienden, an expert diver, and the man who has charge of blowing up all wrecks that cannot be saved, may possibly go to Havana. The Monarch, which will be used in the wrecking operations, is said to have a lift- ing capacity of 250 tons, and it is confi- dently believed that with this craft the Maine's turrets and the twe big guns at- tached to it, with a combined weight of 16 tons, can be lifted from the waters of Ha- vana harbor. The Monarch will be severa days in reaching Havana. VIZCAYA MAY SAIL TODAY. Spanish Cruiser's Fing at Again Today. Halt- NEW YORK, Fel The of the Spanish cruiser Vizeaya was res early today, and if this werk can be fin- is ir time she may sail for Havana this evening. The cruiser’s flag is at half-mast again today, in aor of the memory of the Maine's dead Later in the day Lieut. Ristori of the Vizcaya came asaore and said the vessel uid not sail today or tomorrow, but might remata here thre? er four days, Licut. Wood, one of Admiral Bunce’s aids, called upon ¢ conveyed to him the a Bulate today and wuirai’s thanks f the Spanish cruiser’s observance of Wash- irgton’s birthday. TEXAS AND NASHVILLE SAIL. Latter, It is Sal Will Reptace the GALVESTON, Tex., February battie ship Texas and gunboat Nashville sailed from Galveston this afternoon. The Texas goes to rejoin Admiral Sicard’s fleet, and the Nushville to Key West for orde! It has been reported that the Nashville would be sent to Havana to replace the Maine, but if Captain Maynard has any such orders he has given no hint of it here. : The big ten-inch gun, the first of the crdnance for the Galveston ‘ations, is coming through the state today ond will reach Galveston tonignt. HAS ISSUED NO ORDERS. <3 Gen. Roe of New York National Guard Denies Komors. ALBANY, N. Y., February 22.--“I he not issued any orders or directions 16 1 organizations of the National Guard in the Givision which I command Roe today, referring to the state: he informed ihe adjutants of regiments, battalions and companies to have their or- ganizations in readinces for service if the occasion should require it, “Any stetement te that effect ix abvolutcly falee. I have