Evening Star Newspaper, March 3, 1898, Page 1

THE EVENING &sTAR. gambler ate the PUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY. AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 31C1 Fenrsyivania Avenue, Cor. 11th St, by te eek screaane ey Kew York Oficy 49 Potter Buildinz. ‘The Evening Star is served to subscribers in the exty by cerriers, on thelr own accouut, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. Copies at the ectnter 2 certs each. By mail—anywhere in the United States «r Canada—postage prepaid—50 cents per month. Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year, with fcretgn postage added. $3.00. (Entered at the Po.t Office at Washington, D. C.. As second-class ma’l matter.) > All mail subseriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on applicstior Che Fue qg Star. oe 14,042. “WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1898-TWELVE PAGES. TWO CENTS Advertising is not an expense. It is a business investment. If you want to invest your profitably you will aides bor 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. INSTAN 4 Domestic Quarrel Among Colored People Ends Fatally. MRS. CLARA SLATER THE VICTIM Her Husband and Brother-in-Law Charged With Murder. STATEMENTS OF THE ACCUSED Chester's court, between 13th and 14th and V and W streets northwest, was the scene of a fatal shooting about noon to- day, Mrs. Clara Slater, colored, being in- stantly killed. The bullet penetrated her heart and she fell dead while trying to leave the house. Isaac Kenner, a colored expressman, husband of the dead woman's sister-in-law, is charged with the respon- sibility for the shooting. Kenner was locked up at the eighth precinct station a few minutes after the shooting occurred, and Benjamin Slater, husband of the dead woman, was locked up later in the day, having gone to the office of Attorney Thos. L. Jones and made known his intention to surrender himself as a witness against Kenner. While the evidence procured by the police immediately after the shooting indicates to their minds that Kenner will have to answer for the crime, the exact ereumstances of the shooting may not be known until the coroner's inquest tomor- row. Mrs. Mamie Kenner, wife of the ex- Pressman, is under arrest as a wiiness and her story places the responsibility for the woman’s death on her own husband. H brother, who surrendered at his attorney office, was turned over to Lieutenant Ken- ny. He, too, blames Kenner for the fatal affair. Fell Dead at the Door. It was a few minutes before 12 o'clock when the repcrt of a pistol shot fired in the house was followed by the appearance on the front doorstep of Mrs. Slater. As soon as she reached the door she fell on the step. There was considerable excitement in the court following the shooting, and when the woman, with a fatal wound in her heart, had been dragged in the house Kenner ran for a phy: n. Dr. Bucking- ham responded, but the woman wa Jy dead. Policeman Boswell was soon upon the scene, and he arrested Kenner, who had made no effort to escape. Kenner took the officer to the house of his aunt, Mrs. Nel- son, who lives opposite the house in which the shooting had occurred, and showed him where he had hidden the pistol—a “Red Jacket’—in the safe, when ne was iaken to the elghth precinct station and locked up Lieut. Kenney detailed Policeman Jonn D. Sutton to make a full investigation of the affair. This officer and others were soon in pursuit of Slater, who had fled to the of- fice of his attorney. In the meanwhile Policeman Sutton went to the house and errested Mrs. Kenner as a witness. Kenner’s Version of the Affair. When Kenner reached the police station he was very much excited, but he told his version of the affair in a straightforward way. He said nothing of his alleged cruel treatment to his wife, but blamed her brother, Benjamin Slater, for the fatai deed. To a Star reporter he said he and his wife were having some words because he had objected to her going out in service. He said he told his wife that he wanted to say nothing to her. “She said she was going out to help me elong,” he said, “and I told her she ought to have told me about it.” Then it was, he said, that Slater inter- fered and asked: “Why don’t you all quit your fussirg?’ Kenner said that the quarrel then ended for a while, and he went in the kitchen, where he had something to eat. When he kad finished he asked his wife if she were ready to go out. Kenner stated that quarrel, and that he smecked his wife. Slater then said: “If you smack your wife again I'll kill you.” He then pointed the Pistol at Kenner, so the latter says, and this renewed the his (Slater's) wife was standing between them. “My wife tried to take the pistol from him,” said Kenner. “This was after he had fired the shot at me. He afterward gave my wife the pistol, and I got it and teok it over to my aunt's. The pistol was Slater's, and he brought it to the house with him.” Mra, Kenner's Story of the Shooting. When Mrs. Kenner reached the station she told an entirely different story. She told stories of cruel treatment on the part of her husband, and said that his numer- ous women friends caused the trouble be- tween them. “When he was going with other women,” she said, “he {ll-treated me, but when he was sober and had no one but me, he was Rood.” The trouble which ended in the shooting, she said, started last night, because she re- fused to tell him before company where she had been working. About midnight, she sald, he put ker out of the house, and she went to her brother's for protection. ‘The latter was not at home, but she loft a message for him. It was this message that brought him to the house today. After her husband had threatened to kill her and put her out of the house h3 struck her, and then her brother took her part. A Struggle for the Pistol. He got his pistol that he had kept in the kitchen and soon the men were struggling for possession of the weapon. It was dur- ing this struggl: that the weapon was dis- charged. This morning, she sald, she bought something for her three children to eat and her husband ate it. When she objected to this he threatened to break her neck, and said: “There are other women in service besides you.” In this statement she thought he had refer- ence to other women with whom he was on friendly terms. Her husband, she said, wrote a letter to some woman, but all she could see of the letter was “Mrs. A. C.” Slater Corroborates Mrs. Kenner. Slater, when turned over to Lieut. Kenny, told substantially the same story as that told by Mrs. Kenner. He has been sep- arated from his wife for a year, but he had visited her at Kenner’s house almost every day. He admitted that the revolver was his, and said he had kept it at his sister's (Mrs. Kenner's) house. This morning's quarrel convinced him that Kenner and his wife were going to separate and he got tue revolver to take with him. When he saw his sister being struck by Kenner he went between them. Kenner siol and during the struggle the weapon was discharged. At the time it was discharged he says Kenner’s finger was on the trigger and his (Slater's) hand was on th> barrel. Kenner admitted having written the let- ter mentioned by his wife, but said he had no idea of sending it; that he only wrote ft to iease his wife. Both Men Charged With Murder. In view of tha statements made by the several parties to the affair, Lieut. Kenny directed that both men be charged with murder. Mrs. Kenner was held as a wit- ness. It is likely that Coroner Carr will have the body sent to the morgue, where the inquest in all probability will be held tomorrow. Slater, who is twenty-seven years old, says he is employed as elevator the Hotel Raleigh. The three years old. THE PRESENT SITUATION It Has Not Materially Changed Since the Disaster to the Maine. Peace Desired, Yet War Preparations Going On—Accident Theory Prac- tieally Abandoned. Men who ate not carried away by their emvticns cr influenced by any material in- terests that might be affected by the fluc- tvations of the market find nothing in the situation with relation to the Maine disas- ter to excite the war spirit one day and to restore the calm of peace the next day. The war days and the peace days are light- ed by exactly the same known facts. Ac- cording to the best of authority there is as yet no official information showing con- clusively that the destruction of the Maine was the result of foul play, nor has there been received a line or a word of informa- tion to modify the serious aspect of the situation. If the excitement fs greater en one day, or if on another 4 there is a sudden calm, neither condition of mind is reflect- ed from any additiona formaifon th» ad- ministration has on the subject. It either results from the difficulty of the mind’s sustaining one impression for a long time without change, or is the result of the al- ternate influence of th> “Lulls” and the “bears” of public sentiment o: of current rumor. What little development of fact s been to throw tign: on the sub- Ject has be>n steadily ale:z the same line. It is true now that the adminis it is also true that prep are being made. It is & > administrati lge of the pi ations for war ved to be true n has today no bettor is of war or peace ago. upon two unknown n the report of the board the course of that report has been received. Spain after The opinion of Mr. Long or of Mr. Hanna, on the one side, or of some prominent jingo on the other, while it may infiuence public sentiment for the day, has no effect upon the real situation. A Serious Situation Presented. As the case was stated very clearly to- dey, a very serious situation was presented when the Maine was destroyed in Havana harbor. At the time of the explosion the gssumption of an accident was stronger than it has been at any time since. Elimi- nating all the sensational storles that have been circulated, and considering only offi- orts and evidences which are uni- accepted, the indications are strong that the explosion was not from an internal source. There ts the best author- ity for the statement that no official re- ports nor unofficial information have been received by the departments to strengthen the theory of accident. The progress of minor developments to ;seredit the accident theory has been con- tent and steady, though no conclusive evidence has been presented, except, per- heps, to the board of inquiry. There has been no evidence of any sort at any time sirce the disaster to strengthen the accl- dent theory, and that theory has grad- vally weakened until the statement 1s warranted that it has been practically ebandcned. If éhe board has taken e' dence indicative of an accidental explo- sion, that is as much a secret of the board as is the nature of other testimony that has been taken. There has been little de- veloped in the past few days to render the situaticn more serious; nothing to render it less so. . The Administration’s Attitude. The efforts made by the administration to counteract the influence of Secretary Long’s expression of opinion are regarded as indicating that the administration does not deem it safe or wise to commit the 24- ministration so fa~ in the effort to calm public sentiment. As anxious as is the President to guard against popular excitement, it is fully understood that the situation does not war- rant such an expression of confidence as would entirely dispel the public apprehen- sion. The situation is declared to be graver, rather than otherw! yet not such xs to render hostilities inevitable or to desiroy the hope of a satisfactory settlement of the whole question. The administration will in- duige this hope until it is no longer tenable. The belief is generaliy entertained that the destruction of the Maine will be determined by the board to have been by en explosion from the outside. What will be the result of such a report must be determined by the nature of the evidence cited in support of the report and the action of Spain when the report is presented. The situation appears to be neither more peaceful nor mcre threatening than it has been since the belief has gained ground that the explosion could not have been an accident. —___—_-e+______ ASSIGNING THE WORK. Its Distribution to the Three A: mt Secretaries. Secretary Gage has issued an order as- signing the work of the three assistant secretaries and directing that hereafter a!l communications other than those pertain- ing to appointments, removals and changes in compensation, and which by law must go to the Secretary for signature cr con- sideration, will be attended to by the as- sistant secretaries. To Assistant Secretary Spaulding is as- signed the general direction and supervision of all matters relating to the public bus- iness assigned to the following bureaus, offices and divisions: The bureau of immi- gration, the office of the coast and geodetic survey, the bureau of navigation, the office of the life-saving service, the office of supervising inspector general steamboat in- spection service, the office of the light house board, the office of the supervising surgeon general marine hospital service, the office of the supervising architect, the miscella- neous division and the office of the chief clerk and superintendent. To Assistant Secretary Howell is assigned the general direction and supervision of all matters pertaining to the customs service and all matters relating to the public bus- iness assigned to the following bureau and divisions: The bureau of statistics, the di- vision of customs, the division of revenue cutter service, the division of ep2cial agents and the division of stationery, printing and blanks. To Assistant Secretary Vanderlip is as- signed the general direction and supervision of all matters relating to the public bus- iness assigned to the following bureau, of- fice and divisions: The office of the director of the mint, the bureau of engraving and printing, the secret service division, the di- vision of public moneys, the division of Joans and currency, the division of book- keeping and warrants, and the division of mail and files. ——————-_r—________ NEW YORK CUSTOMS HOUSE. Proposed Reducilons ~ Will $25,000 a Year. The Treasury Department is preparing to cut down the cost of running the big custorrs house in New York. By recent in- structions of Secratary Gage the collector and special agents at New York made an investigation as to what could be done In a reduction of force and salaries. A report has been made, and ft has been decid2d that by dropping a number of employes and reducing the salaries of others the gov- ernment can easily save $25,000 a y2ar. The details of the changes to eee atary Gees does not believe in ‘im- rel kd i: pairing the braneh of the conclusion Save LONG AND BOUTELLE They Held a Long Conference This Morning. NOWORDFROM THE COURT OF INQUIRY President Dole’s Big Check for the Relief Fund. THE JAPANESE VICTIMS nd Secretary Long spent a good part of the morning. in close communication with Chairman Boutelle of the House naval committee. H2 denied himself to all other callers and from time to time sent for the various bureau chiefs of the department, a pretty clear indication that Mr. Boutelle was being supplied with such information as the department could furnish as to tne immediate needs of the naval service. No Advices From Court of Inquiry. Up to a late hour no word had come to the department from the court of inquiry at Key West. It is said that the court is under no obligation to inform the d2part- ment as to when it has concluded this branch of the inquiry, that it may do so as a matter of courtesy; nor is it necessary for it to seek permission from the depart- ment to return to Havana. The orders un- der which the court is operating carry sufficient authority for a change of base at any moment. If the progress of the in- qviry at Havana depends upon the work of the wreckers, as seems to be the case, for nothing cf substantial importance can b> achieved until the heavy debris is removed frem the wreck, considerable delay must occur. To tow the large derricks, never good sea-going boats, th: great distance between Boston, New York and Havana, is never speedy and is seldom a safe un- dertaking. As a matter of fact. the der- rick Chief, at Norfolk, is now storm-bound just inside of the Chesap2ake capes, al- though it was fully expected that by this time she would be far below Hatteras. This makes it improbable that the derrick can reach Havana harbor and get at work nvuch before tha middle of next week. As for the big derrick Monarch, which is re- quired to raise the turrets and extremely heavy weights from the hull, the date for her sailing has not be2n set, although the department has inquired of the contract- ors on that point. The only dispatch bearing on the Maine er received at the Navy Department as one from Captain Forsythe at Key West, as follows: “Bache arrived. Brought one body un- identified, and Paul Leoftus, private, ma- rine, Jeremiah Shea, coal ' passer; John ordinary seaman, and Thomas ordinary seaman, wounded, from Tortugas. The wounded will be sent to the Army Hospital. The funeral of the body has started for the cemetery.” Secretary Long's Denial. A report was in circulation today thai the Secretary of the Navy had received a preliminary report from the Maine court of inquiry showing that the loss of the ship was due to an external explosion. Secre- tary Long gave an emphatic denlal to the report, saying that he has received no re- ports of any kind whatever from the court of inquiry. Some private letters are coming to Wash- ington from officers in Havana, but, while they all have something to say touching the Maine explosion, it cannot be seen that the statements are based upon any recent and generally unknown developments. A most substantial evidence of sympathy for the survivors of the Maine and the families of the victims came to hand at the Navy Department today, in the shape of a check of $500 from President Dole of Hawai. The money was turned into the Maine relief fund. Japan's Interest in the Disaster. The following statement was posted on the press desk at the State Department today: “It is understood that there were seven Japanese subjects on board the United States battle ship Maine at the time that she was lost. Their names were I. Su- gisaki, O. Ishida, 8S. Chinji, M. Oye, U. Kitagata, T. Nagamine and K. Suzuki. ‘There was a disposition in some quarters to attach considerable significance to this statement, but, so far as could be learned from official sources, the information was given at the request of the Japanese lega- uon, for the purpose of enabling the lega- tion to notify friends and relatives of the nine Japanese who were on the Maine. Soon after the disaster the Navy Depart- ment sent the Japanese legation an unoffi- cial list of the Japanese on board the Maine at the time of the disaster. The peculiar character of Japanese names caused some confusion in identification, particularly as to the two who were saved. Some of the Japanese consuls asked for more specific information, initials, etc., and this led to the legation's inquiry of the State Department and the preparation of the list made out today. There are a num- ber of Japanese in the American navy, serving as stewards, mess attendants, etc. They go from ship to ship, and their rela- tives frequently lose track of them. It was stated at the legation that the purpose of the inquiry was to establish just who were on board the Maine, and to distin- guish between the lost and saved. In other quarters the question was raised as to the right of Japan to participate in any indemnity which might be claimed, if the disaster proved to be of external origin. Officials ¢iffered in their view of this. It was claimed by some that the wearing of the United States uniform took away from the Japarese subject his at- tributes as a citizen of Japan. Moreover, it was pointed out, the loss occurred while these men were in the service of the Unit- ed States. On the other hand, it was con- tended that Japan had always jealously guarded her citizens abroad, and that in this instance she might occupy the same ground as the United States in seeking such redress as might be appropriate to the case as finally established. In this con. nection it was recalled that Japan's rela- tions to the Philippines was somewhat analagous to our relations to Cuba. While this line of comment was set on foot by the inquiries of the legation to the State Department, both of these branches gave arsurances that at the present time the inquiry related only to identification. The President Saying Nothing. President McKinley is saying nothing to callers these days on the subject of the Probable outcome of the ‘Maine disaster inquiry. Nearly every day republican mem- bers of Congress drop in to assure the President that his course so far has their approval and that they will support him in the future. Democratic senators and rep- resentatives who occasionally drop in as- sure the President that they represent states ready to stand by the nation’s honor. The President ackpowledges all of these remarks in the most pleasant words or smiles, but he says little, nothing which indicates his probable action. The President received no callers today who talked at length on the situation, and everything at the White House indicates that there will be no devel its of any kind until after the report of the court of inquiry. not become a subject of diplomatic ex- change, further than fm ‘the presentation of condolences, the facilitation of the work, of salvage, and Mr. Du Bosc's statement that no mines exist in Havana harbor. In its larger phases the question has not en- tered the domain of diplomacy. Mr. Du Bosc has received information bringing the record of the alleged filfbuster Dauntless up to date, and it is understond he pre- sented a complete memorandum on that subject, with a view to having the vess2l libeled. While the information is said to establish the recent expeditionary character of the Dauntless trips, a question is raised as to the actual success of the expedition which, it has been claimed by Cuban lead- ers, landed near Matanzas. Eyidences are submitted that the expedition proper failed to effect a landing, but that Gen. Agra- monte, a Cuban leader, -got ashore in a small boat and is now wandering in the in- terior without having made a junction with the insurgents. AVAILABLE COAL SUPPLY. The Mining Compantes Send Assur- ances to the Navy Department. The coal mining companies throughout the country, especially those near the seaboard, have been prompt in their offers to the Navy Department to furnish this requisite for sea warfare in the event of trouble with Spain. At the same time the department has not been inactive in the matter, but has taken steps to ascertain the probable supply and its location, &c., available in the case of an emergency. This branch of the naval supply comes under the bureau of equipment, and, aside from the steps above noted, the officials will not admit that anything unusual has been done. Capt. Bradford, the chief of the bureau, did say, however, today that ro extraordinary contracts for coal had been entered into as a result of the excite- ment over the Maine disaster nor any greater amount purchased than was usual for the navy on a peace footing. Two new battle ships, the Kearsarge and Kentucky, the largest ever built for the United States navy, will be completed and turned over to the government in ten months if finished according to the terms of contract. They are now under construc- tion by the Newport News Shipbuilding Compary, and are to be launched on the 24th instant. On the first of February the mrcnthly statement issued by the bureau of construction showed them to be finished to the extent of 55 per cent, a little more than half, and the easiest half, at that, said an official of the bureau today. The company would have to work hard and disregard the eight hour a day rule, he continued, in order to complete them in contract time. fhe fact that the ships are no nearer completion than stated is probably respon- sible for the statement that the Secretary of the Navy had asked that work on them be hurried, for so far as could be ascer- tained today no official of the department knew anything of such orders. The two vessels are to be each of 11,500 tons dis- placement. It is said at the Navy Department that no request has been made upon the New- port News Shipbuilding Company to hi ten the launch of the battle ships Kear- sarge and Kentucky. All that the depart- ment has done in the matter is to author- ize a delay of ten days in the execution of the contract for dredging at the Norfolk navy yard, in order that the contractor might employ his plant to clear away th: silt that has accumulated in front of the jaunching ways upon which the two biz battle ships now Ife. The contractor will get at this work Mareh 14, and must finish by the 24th. It is said at the department that no useful purpose would be served by hastening tha launching of the battle ships, as a large part of the*work of fitting out a ship is more speedily pePformed while she is on the ways than when she is afloat. ——————-e———___ FOR DISTRESSED CUBANS. Noltce of Relief Supplies From New York. The State Department has had notice from the Cuban central relief committee in New York that there were shipped 100,- 000 pounds of relief supplies, March 1, from New York to Santiago; 75,000 pounds on the 2d to Havana, and today, 100,000 pounds to Matanzas and a like number of pounds to Sagua. In these shipments are 500,000 grains of quinine, consigned to each of the ports except Havana, Chairman Barton of the central Cuban re- lief committee at New York advises the State Department that “donations are com- ing forward in great abundance, not only in money, but more partic#larly in the form of provisions, from all directions. The Ore- gon committee promfges ten car loads and possibly twenty; Omaha, Minneapolis and ether western committees offering ship- ments by the car load. We had today upon pier of the Munson line nearly 100 tons ready for their steamer sailing Friday, which they had kindly effered to take to Matanzas and Sagua.”” THE MAINE RELIEF FUND. Shipped It Now Amounts to Over $3,000 and is Daily Growing. ‘ The battle ship Maine relief fund, of which Mrs. Secretary Long is at the head, amounts today to $3,113.16. Contributions not previously reported have been received from Mrs. Rosalie 8. Bates, officers and marines, marine bar- racks, League Island, Pa.; Mrs. We® 8. Schley, officers and crew United States steamer Richmond, Mrs, F. M. Ramsay, officers and men of the Washington navy yard, employes construction and repair de- partment, League Island navy yard; Naval Home, Philadelphia; Mrs, W. T. Cox, W. R. A. Hall, Mrs. W. W. Gilipatrick, ladies employed in the Navy Department, coast survey steamer Blake, Lieutenant C, D. Galloway, Mrs. M. €. Audenreid, president of the Hawaiian republic, officers and em- ployes of the Portsmouth navy yard. The contribution of President Dole was $00, and was reveived through Mr. Francis M. Hatch, minister from Hawati. A con- tribution was also received today from Anna M. Marcotte,amounting to $151, repre- senting the entire proceeds of a concert given by a number of visitors at the Casino, St. Augustine, Fla, s <2 Naval Orders. Lieut. J. T. Smith “hes Been detached from the New York nayy yard and order- ed to the Enterprise, © The sick leave granted Chief Engineer W. B. Dunning has been! revoked, and he is placed on waiting ofders. The acceptance of the resignation of Ensign B. H. Osborn has been recalled, and he is ordered to rejoin the Montgomery at Key West at once. ~ istant eer G. E. Burd has peste onery ‘to emporary duty at The unexpired leave of Commander B. 8. Ricnards has been revoked, and he is ordered to duty at the Néw York navy ard. *Pieut, J. E. J hes detached || pee the Essex and ‘eran nte® two months’ leave. ae. WORK IN COMMITTEE Bills’Relating to Orphans’ Court and Filing Wills. LOCAL SENTIMENT 18 DESIRED Arguments for the Proposed De- partment of Commerce. RELIEFOFTHE YUKON MINERS The subcommittee on judiciary of the House District committee today considered House bill 8345, relating to the Orphans’ Court, and 8. 1910, relating to the filing of wills. It was decided before acting upon the measures to call the attention of the local judiciary to them. A copy of a letter was sent by Judge Jenkins, chairman of the subcommittee, to the chief justice of the Court of Appeals, and of the District Supreme Court, as fol- lows: “The subcommittee on the judiciary of the District of Columbia have had under consideration H. R. 8345 ana 8, 1910, afid have heard a committee from the Ber As- sociation of the District of Columbia in reference to them. H. R. 8345 has received very warm indorsement from the gentle- men referred to, while nothing in particu- lar has been said in regard to 8. 1910. “The committee thought it advisable to submit copies of the bills to the court over which you have the honor to preside, and would respectfully ask that the same re- ceive consideration, and that the commit- tee may be permitted to hear from you in regard to them. Anything that you say will be treated as official, and will go into any report that may be made concerning these bills.”” Proposed Department of Commerce. The Senate committee on commerce to- day listened to arguments on behalf of the national business league and the nu- tcnal board of trade in the interest of the establishment of a new department cf the government to be called the depart- ment of commerce and industries, to be presided over by a cabinet officer. The league was represented in the hear- ing by its president, Ferdinand W. Peck, and Its general counsel, John W. Ela, both of Chicago, and the board of trade by ex- Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Chas. P. Hamlin, Alden Spear and Colonel E. H. Haskell of Boston, and F. B. Thurber of New York. Messrs. Thurber, Haskell, Spear and Hamlin all made speeches in support of the movement, and Mr. Ela read a statement of the work done by the busi- ness league in this interest, submitting letters, resolutions, ete., in support of the movement from 98 different organizations of business in 26 different states, and peti- ticns and letters frem 443 prominent manu- facturers and business men in 33 states, asking for the establishment of the de- partment. ‘rhe arguments were generally made along the lines that the United States is the only country of impertance which has not a department corresponding to the on> pro- pesed, and that the pational industries and commerce could never have the supervision their importance demands without having separate sup2rvision. Mr. Ela said, in reply to a question, that it would not be satisfactory to place this work in charge of a bureau officer of the Agricultural Department, for the reason tkat the department was already doing all that could well be expected of it. Relief Expedition Given Up. The Senate committee on military affairs today decided to recommend the passage of a joint resolution authorizing the aban- donment of the government expedition for the relief of the miners in the Klondike region, which was authorized last De- cembgr. ‘The resolution provides for the sale of both the reindeer and the supplies purchased for the expedition. There was a@ suggestion that the reindeer brought here from Norway could be utilized by the Interior Department, but the committee took the view that the animals should be sold in preference to holding them for any department of the government. Against Demas’ Nomination. The Senate committee on commerce to- day decided, by a unanimous vote, to re- port adversely the nomination of Henry Demas to be naval officer at New Orleons. There were many charges against De- mas reflecting upon his general character, but the one which seemed to influence the committee most was a charge that while a state senator he had been in the emi- ploy of the Louisiana lottery, in which ca- pacity he was alleged to have received $250 per month. Employers’ Liability. Representative Gillette of Massachusetts appeared before the House committee on labor today to explain his employers’ Habil- ity bill. He said he thovght the measure should be corsidered by the judiclary com- mittee on account of the legal technicalities invelved, and indicated he had reached the conclusion the bill had too broad a scope, regulating, as it does, the liabilities of em- plcyers, except farmers, in all the states and territories. He conceded it might prove too sweeping in its jurisdiction and sug- gested it might be particularly applicable to the District of Columbia. Point Lookout. The Senate committee on military affairs today passed favorably upon an amend- ment to the sundry civil appropriation bill providing an appropriation of $35,000 for the purchase of Point Lookout with the view to incorporating it in the Chickamau- ga and Chattanooga National Park. —_—___—___-e.___ ATTEMPT AT CONSIDERATION, Senator Allison Tried to Have the District Bill Taken U; In the Senate this afternoon Mr. Allison attempted to have immediate considera- tion of the District of Columbia appropria- tion bill, which was reported by him yes- terday afternoon. Mr. Jones wanted to continue his argument on the bankruptcy bill, and Mr. Ailison said he would en- deavor to get the District bill before the Senate later in the day. — 2 ___ Appointed Paymasters’ Clerks. W. L. Pfeiffer and H. C. Jordan have been appointed naval paymasters’ clerks to assist in the settlement of atco.nts of ves- tment of revol on ‘West naval station. SAGASTA PREPARES FOR WAR Madrid Globo Gives Assurance of Spain's Precautions. Imparcial Quotes a “High Personage” Who Advocates Sending War- ships to New York. MADRID, March 3.—The public is much exercised over the report of the presence of a squadron of United States warships at Heng Kong, as it is presumed the vessels intend to threaten Manilla, the capital of the Philippine Islanas, in the event of war between the United States and Spain. The Imparcial, in an article headed “To Manilla, to New York,” quoted an un- named high personage, who scouts the idea of an imminent rupture, and says: “The presence of the warships at Hong Kong is only Washington's policy, with the view of cortenzing the jingoc: The “high personage” is said to have added: “But America has not so many Warships as to warrant such bold action. 1f the Yankees go to the Philippines, the Spaniards will go to New York.” The Globo remarks: ‘The government i alive to the critical situation, and is si- lently preparing for the worst. But it is too diplomatic to disclose the procedure by which it is preparing for emergencie: In conclusion, the Globo says: “Fortu- nately, the tranquil preparations of the government are the best assurance that it will _be ready when the occasion requires {t. The public, seeing the coolness of Senor Sagasta, should comprehend that he means acts and not words. However lim- ited the public’s confidence in the premier, they, like ourselves, havé confidence that better days will dawn promptiy.” — > —— COURT STILL AT KEY WEST. Burial of Unidentified Sailor—Wound- ed From Dry Tortugas. KEY WEST, Fia., March 3.—Lieutenant Marix, the judge advocate of the United States naval court of inquiry into the loss of the baitle ship Maine, which concluded its sessions here yesterday, said today that he did not know when the court would leave Key West. An unidentified body from the Maine wreck was brought here this morning on board the coast survey steamer Bache. One gun division from the United States cruiser Marblehead; under command of Lieutenant Anderson, received the remains. Commander McCalla superintended all the arrangements. Only a small number of people gathered at the dock. A hearse was in waiting, but it proved to be tco small for the coffin, which was then taken to the city cemetery covered with the stars and stripes, in a plain wagon. The body was buried in the cemetery with the honors usually accorded to a dead sailor. The survivors of the Maine were among those present at the interment. There Were no der.onstrations. Lupkin, Waters, Shea and Heffron, the wounded men of the Maine, were brought here from the Tortugas, on board the Bache today, and were taken to the bar- racks. They are all doing well. The five additional survivors, who were left at the Tortugas by the Bache, are also making progress toward recovery. eee se BOCHDER’S NERVE FAILED. Suspicious Story of a Man Regarding a Dead Woman. CLEVELAND, Ohio, March 3.—A man named Frank Bochder rushed up to Lieu- tenant Schmunk and Patrolman Gill, who were standing on the corner of Superior and Seneca streets today, and in breathless exeltement said he had just made an at- tempt to commit suicide at the Lake Shore House. He was but half dressed and was trem- bling violently. He added that his nerve finally deserted him, and he gave up the attempt. Bochder said that he and a wo- man, whom he called Mrs. Stabe, had agreed to die together. She took carbolic acid and he took morphine. They retired after having turned on the gas. Then he said his nerve failed him and he fied. The officers went to the Lake Shore House and found the woman dead. Bochder was lccked up. + —_ BURNS’ RE-ELECTION DOUBTFUL. Batiersen Has Turned Against the English Labor Leader. LONDON, March 3.—The London county ocuncil elections are proceeding quietly to- day. The voting 1s brisk, and all kinds of equipages have been brought into play frem the coach to the donkey cart. A turn of the tide against John Burns, the labor leader, is reported to haye occurred in the Battersea district, and even the lvberal Westminster Gazette says his re- election is doubtful. The outgoing council consisted of sixty moderates and fifty-eight progressives, otherwise conservatives and liberals, Soo Ses TROUBLE ON HER FI iT TRIP. Maria Richmers Towed Into Halifax With Broken Shaft. HALIFAX, N. 8. March 3.—The steam- ship Maria Richmers in ker maiden voyage from Bremen February 10 for Baltimore, with 160 steerage passengers and a general cargo, was towed into this port today by the steamer Alpha with a tail end shaft broken. The Maria Richmers is a craft of 4,480 grcss tons. The Alpha is owned in Amster- dom, and is bound from Baltimore for Baltic ports, via Queenstown. ——— a REASONS FOR DISMISSAL. Senator Jones’ Resolution of In- quiry of the Public Printer. Senator Jones ‘today called up in the Senate his resolution, introduced yesterday afterncon, calling upon the public printer for names of 2,466 democrats and 512 1e- publicans alleged by him to have heen employed in the government printing office on April 1, 1897, the lists of names to be made up alphabetically by divisions, sep- arate lists to be made of the men and women employed in the different divisions; also the names ani politics of all persons who resigned or were dismissed or dropped from the rolls of the office from April 1, -_ WAITING OUR REPORT Spanish Do Not Anticipate Early Action by Naval Court. —— + IN THIS THEY MAY BE DECEIVED —— Work of That Body is Practically Finished Now. ——__—. ITS PROBABLE FINDING oe (Copyright, 1808, by Chas. M. Pepper) Special Cablegram From Staff Correspondent. HAVANA, March 2, via Key West, Fla, March 3.—The status of the Maine inquiry is such as to justify the expectation of @ reasonably early report from the naval court of inquiry. Nothing has been uncov- ered by the divers this week which con- flicts with what th previously discovered. The court had the idea that this might happen, and did not want to formulate conclusions which might be modified by subsequent evidence. This expectation hav- ing been shown fruitless, the court can go forward with its report. The Givers, how- ever, may continue their investigations in the extreme forward part of the vessel, but there is nothing to be learned there, As the raising of the entire hull is a doubt- ful proposition, the examination of it ale ready made probably discloses all that may ever be known of the way the exter- nal explosion effected it. The exoneration of Capt. Sigsbee from the remotest responsibility for the wreck of the Maine will necessarily be the first article in the court's report. That will carry with it a declaration of the improb- ability of an accident that might havé been prevented. The improbability of an accident from any mysterious cause will also appear. After that comes the evi- dence of an explosion by design and the responsibility for it must be fixed. The Spanish government will be able to learn nothing from its own divers to con- trovert what the divers from the Navy Department have found. All it can do is to claim that an explosion from external sources has not been proven. What the United States is to do about it may be known in Washington, Spanish Waiting on Our Report. All we know in Havana is that the Span- ish authorities are waiting for the first step to be taken by the United States, but they are not in fear of early action. The Havana populace finds satisfaction in the presence here of the Vizcaya, and eagerly awaits the coming of other Spanish war- ships. The government itself is puzzled by these demons:rations. While everybody's mind fs still intent on the Maine disaster the people of Cuba continue to die of starvation. I wonder if President McKinley has influence enough to get some of the food contributed by the American people out into the country among those for whom it was meant? Nothing has yet gone into the interior, though large supplies are warehoused in Havana. Consuls who have been waiting two months for promised relief, instead of food receive explanations that the sys- tem of distribution has not yet been per= fected. Trains are running to the interior, but food does not get beyond Havana. In the neighboring towns the demoralization attending the interior affairs of Cuba con- tinues. Blanco was never more powerless to accomplish results. It is only a ques- tion of days when Gomez will be heard from again rejecting the latest proposition of the autonomist cabinet. That proposi- tion was in substance that Gomez and the insurgents should control the Cuban gov- ernment under Spanish supervision. Govin and Dolz of the autonomist cabinet have undertaken to open negotiations. Position of Gomez. Gomez wiil receive no Spanish commis- sion that does not come to arrange terms of independence. When his answer is re- ceived the last pretense of autonomy will be gone. Dolz and Govin know in advance that their mission will fail. The feeling of desperation among higher Spanish offi- cials does not lessen. Many of them do not disguise their hope that the Maine inel- dent will bring about a rupture which will enable Spain to let go of Cuba with honor.” It is certain that the naval court has been able to find nothing which will quiet the American people or induce them to let the wrecking of the Maine pass into his- tory as an inexplicable visitation of Divine Providence. The government here dis- courages as far as possible this reckless feeling among its own servants. The ef- fort is kept up to make people here be- lieve that the administration at Washing- ton thinks the explosion was due to accl- dent. News of what goes on in Congress is suppressed. All we have had this week is that the Senate passed Gallinger'’s reso- lution, but no hint is given as to what ine formation Galiinger’s resolution called for, CHARLES M. PEPPER, i THUNDER STORM AT HAVANA, Divers’ Work interrupted—Senator Proctor'’s Movements. HAVANA, March 3.—The operations of the divers this morning were interrupted by a heavy thunder storm. The indications are, however, that the weather will clear later in the day. Senator Proctor may leave Havana on Saturday for home, though the time of his departure 1s not decided. He mcy remain here until Wednesday, and in that case will probably take a trip into the province of Pinar Dei Rio, with Superintendent El- well of the Red Cross Society, unless the stormy weather changes the program. The senator's departure for the United States United States light house tender Mangrove and the naval court of inquiry into the loss of the battle ship Maine are pected here today.