Evening Star Newspaper, May 23, 1898, Page 2

2 THE EVENING STAR, MONDAY, MAY 23, 1898-12 PAGES. TO COLLECT REVENUE The Government's Intentions as to the Philippines. ge REGULATIONS NOW BEING MADE Will Follow Spanish Customs Laws Formerly in Force. GENERAL MERRITI°S DUTY the United States government 1s to take possession of the Philippine time at lea 1 today that the tariff under the dire Howell, are a scnedule of the ft at Manila and other = some is shown fact discove the treasury, See’ be levied rts in the Phil ipation of the y occupation of the i by the ary and av forces of s the Treasury D the forn t gulations and a heme of cu: tems tariffs, which will be collected | the military authorities and turned into th tre i of the a t contribution. That the Pr ie authority to collect the Phili es under existir litions is ter of doubt. It was several ing the last war with Mex- and the authority of the government in the premises was sustained by decisions of the United States § me Court. court in a tere and o all of the u: nia by the L the President, under the commander-in-chief of the had a right to exercise the belligerent right of a conqueror and to impose cuties on im- ¥ ntribution ‘This nether at the sufficient to cause it to be regarded by other rations as part of our territo! i a ywact of th it im fact jer our Constitution and laws. aid the court, “a foreign coun- laws of the United remain try within the States.” reven Will Feliow Spanish Customs Laws. rates now be the Ti y Department lew the Spanish customs law ly in force th the Phihp)p will cle until re these customs laws pro but the mption is that the rome government realized last year vpproximately $9,000,000, the actual amou Jouble that amount. Ti assume control of the rev enues as soon as the principal seaports are in our possession, and will coninue to cox hem at least until Congress takes a in the or until peace n declared between the two coun- eu Fared will and it is thought the ce te coun being pre- al Merritt, s will be ex- that this ive whe ry once nen’ gress will have ¢ permanent tart laws for the isle hese laws will be such to develop the isla: and to make contentment Piness for the people. At the present tume hu such laws can be as the admit: ™ { ON NEEDED REVENUE A Speech on the General Features of the Bill. Resumption of Discussion im the Sen- ate This Afternoon—District Day in the House. At the opening of today's session of the Senate a communication was received from Secretary of War Alger, together with @ draft of a bill providing for a gradual in- crease in the number of officers of the Corps of Engineers. The bill provides that the Corps of Engineers of the army shall consist hereafter of one chief of engineers, with raik of brigadier general; seven col- onels, fourteen heutenant colonels, twenty- eight majors, thirty-five captains, thirty first lieutenants, twelve second lieutenants and the battalion of engineers. All promo- tions shall be made by seniority. The com- munication and bill were referred to the military affairs committee. After t transaction of som3 routine business Mr. Allison called up the war rev- enue measure. He announced that when the Senate ad- journed Friday the pending qu upon th> amendment offered by Enery (La.) removing the proposed cor- poration tax from certain classes of cor- porations, which were such in name onl: He added that the reading of the bill had ompleted ached first nd that an a for the conve to consider the amendm-nt excise taxes on persons, firm: 1 corporations. That amend- Mr. Allison thought, cught to be posed of before the remaining parts of the ill were taken up. Mr. Chilton (Tex.) delivered an extended d carefully written speech upon the gen- eral features of the war revenue bill. He ought it would be a mistake to appro- priate an amount greater than $25,000,000 a month for war purposes. THE HOUSE. reem=nz had ienc2 of the The House of Repr today pessed the Senate bill providing for the payment of volunteers from their enroll- ment, and authorizing the Secretary «f War to pay troops embarking for Mantia one month in advance. entatives A bill authorizing the constructicn of a railway bridge across the Missouri river Quindaro, Kan., by the Kansas City, ortheastern and Gulf Railway Compa: Was passed. The House then disposed of a number of ures affecting the District of Colum- NO WS GIVEN OUT. No Admission of the Oregon's Pres- ence at Key West. Department gave out no in- today concerning the where- abcuts of the American and Spanish fleets in Cuban water: © report was current that the batile ship Oregon arrive West today, but if the Navy Depa Was so informed The Na formation there was no ox Jf Admiral Cervera’s tualy left Santiago de Cuba, it to be somewhere in the vicin- though one report has ‘t is bound for Plerce, Martin- Who would admit it. fleet h: igue, Commodore S 's fleet is now believed near Santiago on the lookout for the feet. Admiral Sampson’s power- iron ught to be near enough to Commodor nley to rend2r him im- mediate of necessity. Altoget s has about sixty ships of all cl. ing in Cuban Waters on the lockout for the clusive Spaniards, and it will be almost impossible for them to remain in that vicinity much longer without detection. As to their cap- ture or defeat, that is another question. Some naval officials are of opinion that the Spanish admiral having accomplished his purpose of effecting a landing in Cuba, istration has outiined no policy for pe ent possession. The President has fuli iff contribuis Pre fi of in a this bo. th which is easy to follow now doubt generel lent ‘was established nd leaves no Merritt will receive these regu- seon us he is in full possession of the islands. ———_+2+______ ORDERS TO THE MONTEREY. The Big Coast Defense Vessel to Go to Manila. As predicted in The Si Monterey has been ordered fr ciseo to Manila to reinforce ey’s fore Hier ad m to that fleet, te gether with the dispatch of thousands of troops to Manila, is ample evidence that tl administration has assumed a strong policy eon the Philippine question and is dete: mined t» t no chance of dispossessioa until such time as the United States itself has arranged for the disposition of the ts! ands. The Monterey is probably the most formidable monitor in the world; yet combines with the enormous offensive and moniter type a She has s of coal, and though more might be stored on her decks, it is doubtful whether she could at the uc most carry more than enough coal wo take the monitor n Fran- Aamiral Dew- ke te Honolulu, one-third of the way to the Philippines. It is probable that the Monterey wi in convoy, and after ex- austing the coz t she will take on in Honolulu she must either be towed about mw miles on her trip or perform the di- ficult operation of coal! SPAL at » + "Ss RESERVE FLEET. Will Maneuver at Cadiz Till Destina- tion is Settled. « MADRID. May According to current Feport here, the Spanish reserve fleet will Maneuver in Cadiz waters until its desti- nation is decided upon. it is rumored that the Spanish authorities will quietly 1 away to a more southern or eastern chme where there is less dan- ger of a meeting with a fleet of the United States of sufficient speed or power to do him In case he is deter- fight he will undoubtedly accommodated within the next few days, ee ARMY ORDERS. any damage. Geo. P. Seriven, Signal Corps, has d in charge of the signal de- ts at Fort McPherson and at At- Janta, G: Lieut. Col. H. C. Hasbrouck, 4th Artil- nas been assigned to the command of Fort Monroe and of the artll- ool at t bost. Lieut. P. E. Marquart, 2d Infantry, has n assigned to duty at Hejgna, Mont., in nnection with the mustering into the United States service of Montana volun- teer: Capt. A. G. Hammond, 8th Cavalry, has been relieved from duty at the miiita school at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and authorized to accept the commission of licutenant colonel of the Ist Connecticut Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Henry Lippencott, Capts. W. ©. Owen and E. R. Morris and Lieut. Hen- ry Page of the medical department have been assigned to duty with the expedition to the Philippine Islands. Lieut. R. J. Burt, 25th Infantry, has been appointed aid-de-camp to Brig. Gen. A. S. Burt. Lieut. W. F. Clark, 24 Cavalry, now at Topeka, Ken., has been ordered to join his regime: Lieut. Thos. H. Slavens, 4th Cavalry, has been authorized to accept the commission of major in the 3d Missouri Volunteers. The following-named officers have been honorably mustered out of the service: Capt. Chas. A. Howard, Ist South Dakota Volunteers; Capt. E. J. Kensell, Ist Penn- syl¥ania Volunteers: Assistant Surgeon W. F. Rely, Sth Pennsylvania Volunteers; Lieut. E. J. Wesver, 6th Ilfinois Volun- teers; Assistant Surgeon G. b. Ramsey, ist New York Volunteers; Capt. W. H. Straut, 12th Pernsylvania Volunteers; Lieuts. B. B. Cannon and H. W. Cham- berlin, 12th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Propose to fortity “Queen of Spain's chair.” on the summit of a mountain over- looking Gibraltar, and that they also in- tend to erect fortifications upon Europa point, at Ul rn en ce of Algeciras bay in ibra aA¢ Bays the colonia: that the im ports of Cub: ved here from Mavan: government * »etation of food are to be duty > SPANISH BARK CAPTURED, British Steamer Roath Fired on at San Jun ight, 1808, by Asse xs.) OMAS, Danish West Indies, May 2 Steamer Aldeborough, Cap- . Which arrived at Porto Rico om Mothil, Scotland, reached n Juan de Porto Rico yes- ports that an Amer- ser captured a Spanish bark six s nerth of San Juan on Saturday morn- terday m fean er ing last. The ure of the vessel was ob- served from San Juan. The prize towed north. The Sj sh cruiser Isabel 11, while at San Juar. de Porto Rico, fired on the Brit- steamer Roath, from Barry on April 2 ich arrived at Porto Rico after the bom. bardment. It is alleged that the Spanish ship fired on the Roath, which was loaded with coal, with th> intention of crippling her and thereby preventing her departure. Tne officers of the Isabel Il, however, claim the firing was the result of an acci- ent. . Mr. Freeman Halstzad, the newspaper espondent who has heen sentenced to ine years" imprisonment for taking photo- phs of the fortifications of San Juan de to Rico, has been conveyed to a convict “amp to endergo his sentance. Lieut. H. 8S. Whipple, 7th Cavalry, has been authorized to accept the commission of lieutenant colonel of the 2d Kentucky Volunteers. +. Was Dented. The applications by¥Heineman Kiein and H. P. Pillsbury in the case of Elizabeth K, Riley against the Anacostia and Potomac River Railroad Company, for the removal of Henry A. Griswold as one of the receiv- ers of the road, were denied without preju- dice today by Judge Cox, in Equity Court Has Not Paid. Jokn M. Doyle has not paid alimony to his wife, Mary V. Doyle, in her suit against him for divorce, as ordered by Judge Cox on March 30 last. In Equity Court No. 1 today it was directed by Judge Cox that defendant be given until the 26th instant to show cause why he should not be at- tached and punished. SS Closed to Travel. Beginning today the Pennsylvania ave- rue bridge over Rock creek will be closed to travel for four or five da; in order to permit certain repairs to be made thereon. oe Must Remove Poles. The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company was today directed by the Dts- trict Commisioners to remove within forty- eight hours the peles erected by the com- pany on Chapin street, recently. The company was also directed to replace the sidewalk in geod condition. ‘ A DISTRICT DAY/REACH ii F’ BiG CAMP} THE HIGHWAY ACT The House Gives Time to Local Distriot Voliitesgs Legislation. MANY MEASURES TAKEN UP/ALL WELL ay ROLL CALL|SUBSIITOTE FUR THE HOUSE BILL The Extension of Building Regula- tions Act Passed. WHARF PROPERTY CONTROL When Chairman Babcock obtained the floor this afternoon under the rules setting apart this day for the consideration of business reported from the District com- mittee, he called up House bill 10106. This bill provides that the Commissioners of the District of Columbia be authorized to establish building lines on streets or parts of streets less than ninety feet wide in the District of Columbia, upon the pre- sentation to them of a plat of the street or a portion of the street upon which such ac- tion is desired, showing the lots and the names of the record owners thereof, and accompanied by a petition of the owners of one-half of the real estate shown on the plat requesting that building lines be es- tablished, or when the Commissioners shall certify that public health, comfort or con- venience requires that such building lines be established. ‘The bill provides regulations for the as- certainment of dumages to real estate by the changes in the building lines. The bill was passed without debate. Unused Railway Tracks. Mr. Babcock then called up Senate bill 914. This bill as amended by the House committee provides that hereafter when- ever the track or tracks or any part there- of of any street railway company in the District of Columbia shall not have been regularly operated for railway purposes u a schedule approved by the Com- missioners for a period of three months, the Commissioners, in their discretion, may thereupon notify such company to remove the unused tracks and to piace the street in good condition; and if such company ail neglect or refuse to remove the iracks and place the street in good condi- tion within sixty days after such notice, the directors of the company shall be deem- ed guilty ef a misdemeanor and shall be Hable to a fine of $10 for each and every day during which the tracks are permitted to remain upon the street oer streets or said roadway shail remain out of repair, which fine shall be reepvered in the Police Court of the District, in the name of the District, as other fines and penalties are how recovered in that ccurt. On and after one year from the passage of this act it shall be unlawful for any street railway company, operating its sys- tem or parts of its system over nes owned and operated by another street railway company in the city of Washington, to ontinue such operation or to enter into re- ciprocal trackage relations with any other company, as provided for under existing law, unless its motive power for the pro- pulsion of its cars shall be the same as that of the company whose tracks are used or to be used. For every violation of this act the company violating it shall be sub- Ject to a fine of $19, to be collected and applied in the same manrer as is provided by existing laws in respect of other lines in the District cf Columbia. All street railway companies within the District of Columbia, now operating their systems or parts of their systems in the city of Washington by use of the tracks of one or more of such companies, under a reciprocal trackage agreement, as provided for under existing law, which shall be com- pelled by reason of the age of this act to discontinue the use of the tracks of an- other company, shall issue free transfers to their patrons from one system to the other at such junctions of their respective lines as may be provided for by the Commission- € The bill was passed in the form above. Control of Wharf Property. The next measure considered was House bill 10294, vesting in the Commissioners the control of wharf property and public spaces | within the District which are the control of the superint. buildings and grounds. twent by not under ndent of public The bill comprises © printed pages, and was drawn the Commissioners. King of Utah, House bill 10: in explanation of t, quoted the letter of Com- ss, which says, in part: he laws governing the control of wharf property in the District of Columbia are 'scmewhat obscure, so that it is unc+rtain whether the control of such prope vested in the chief of engineers of the ed Stats army or in the Commissior. the Disirict of Columbia. As a mati fact, it is claimed by both, and the Com- missioners are and have ‘been for some years in receipt of rentals for wharf prop- erty leased by them from time to tim: At the same time, the validity of their action is so uncertain that they hav: not been able in all casas to collect the rentals eruing under such leases, It seems quite al, therefore, that the laws gov:rn- ing the matter should be made positive aud rr r. Cannon of Illinois raised obj:ction to ali the revenues from wharf rentals going into the treasury to the credit of the Dis- trict. He thought some of the revenues should go to the credit of ths United States treasury. At Mr. Cannon's sugsextion Mr King offere1 an amendment providing ihat the proceeds of rentals ‘rom wharf prcp- erty shall be divided between the Uniled States and the District. The amendment was adopted. It was also provided that no lease of property shall run longer than tea years. ; Opening the Botanical Gardens. Mr. Babcock offered an amendment pro- viding that the Botanical Gardens shall be open to the public like ‘other parxs, and that the fence around the gardens shall be removed within six months. Mr. McMillin advocated the amendment and went further. He would like to have the botanical buildings moved to the Agri- cultural Department grounds. : Mr. Suizer of New York opposed the re- moval of the fence. He said “many horses, cows. and animals, roaming around the streets, would get into the grounds and de- stroy the shrubbery.” Mr. Babcock asked Mr. Sulzer how many cows he had seen roaming around the streets. Mr. Sulzer had not seen any cows, but Was afraid they might begin to roam some time. ‘The amendment carried on a viva voce vote, but Mr. Sulzer raised the point of no quorum, and a cult of the House was made. ———— SHELLED THE FORTS, General Blanco Reports American Bombardment of Nuevitas. MADRID, May 2210 a.m—An official ¢ispatech from Captain General Blanco says somd American warships shelled the forts guarding the water approach to Nuevitas, province of Puerto Principe, Thursday night. Senor Leon y Castillo, the Spanish am- bassador to France, who was recently of- fered the portfolio of minister for foreign affairs, had a long conference today with the premier, Senor Sagasta. Absolute ret- icence is observed as to the matters dis- cussed. —— Indicted by the Grand Jury. ‘The grand jury today handed into Judge Cole six indictments, as follows: Clarence Byrd, arson: William Green, housebreaking; Henry Coleman, assault with intent to kill; John Allen, second offense petit larceny; James Berry, housebreaking; Frank Brown, housebreaking. The charges against Walter Webster and Bovert Curry for embezzlement were ig- nored. ——_-—_— Late Prof. Hasen’s Will. The will of the late Rev.: Allen Hazen a Hartland, Vt., was filed here for probate to- day by Miss Mary 8. Hazen, his daughter. His property 1s left to Henry Allen Hazen of this city, Mrs. Frances A. H. Gates of Sholapur, Western India, and Mary 8. Hazen of Hartland, Vt., the latter of whom 1s appointed executrix without bond, - Sree. Start on a:Four-Mile March to Chickamauga Park. INCIDENTS OF THE TRIP Special From a Staff Correspondent. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., May 23.~The Ist Regiment, District of Columbia Volunteers, reached here shortly after 2 o'clock this morning. The trains were held until about 9 o'clock. They were then moved to a point about four miles from Chickamauga Park, and held for an hour. They then started en a four-mile march, to the point where the camp is to,be pitched. At roll call this morning not a single man reported sick. It has been a subject of great pleasure to Col. Harries that the men have been greeted with such great cordiality all along the route. The District of Columbia boys have been highly complimented on their good behavior. A better disciplined set of men has not passed along this route say those who have seen them. At daybreak the men were ordered out for roll call, and then given a run for about twenty minutes to supple them up. It is eapected that there will be several changes in the non-commissioned officers when the camp is reached. The weather is fine here teday, and the men are in fine fettle for the march. The wagon trains will meet the regiment to carry the baggage at once to Camp Thomas. There have been no casualties since the boys left home. ‘ Receive an Ovation En Route. KNOXVULLE, Tenn., May 22.—The three sections of the train which left Washing- ton Saturday night with District troops have reached this point without any trouble on the line. We are about two hours behind the schedule time. The first section carries Col. Harries and the regi- mental staff znd the officers and men of the first battalion. From the time the train left Washing- ton until midnight the boys were given a great ovation as each station was passed. At several of the stations fireworks were used. The boys were very tired after their hard day's work packing up at Camp Alger, and many of them went to sleep shortly after the train started. The officers soon foliowed the example set by the men. On the first section there were no inci- dents of importante during the night. One of the privates, Moses Osterheimer, had an epileptic fit. He was attended by Sur- seon Weaver. Osterheimer will receive his discharge as soom as Chattanooga is reached and will be sent home. The train reached Roanoke shortly after noon, when the men were given breakfast, consisting of canned beans, hard tack and coffee. The ctlicers took breakfast in thie restaurant at the depot. Bath in the River. Mr. W. B. Bevill, superintendent of the train bearing the troops, stopped near Mari, Va., for forty minutes and all hands had a bath in Holston river. Col. Harries joined thé men, but was unfortu- nate encugh to cut his'foct on the ragged edge of a rock. It was not serious, how- ever. The boys have been very comfortable and happy en route. The train has been in charge of Mr. Lockwood, passenger agent of the Norfolk and Western, and he has Gone everything possible for the comfort of the men. All along the route the boys have re- ceived enthusiastic greetings from ihe people who had gathered at the stations to see the train go by. At East Radford a lot of coffee was taken on for the men. When the train reached Bristol it was stopped for dinner. ‘he men were served corn beef and coffee. At Bristol the second secticn, which left Washington one hour behind the first, caught up. Col. Harries has been presented with a rumber of bunches of flowers along the route. BECKHAM. BRITISH STEAMER SEIZED Naval Officers Thought She Was Trying to Run Blockade. KEY WEST, Fla., May 23.—The British steamer Ardanmpor, Captain Dana, came into port this morning in charge of an en- sign from the auxiliary gunboat Osceola, by which vessel the Ardanmpor was seized, yesterday, off Carysfort light, because she was acting in a suspicious manner and Was supposed to be trying to enter Havana harbor. She was here several weeks ago with a cargo of cattle for Havana, having been turned back by the blockade fleet. The Ardanmpor, which is chartered by James E. Ward & Co. (The New York and Cuba Mail Steamship Company), then pro- ceeding to New York, unloaded her cattle and cleared for Nashua and Mexican ports, including Vera Cruz. She stopped at Nashua on her wap south and when cap- tured yesterday was far out of her course if bound for Vera Cruz. Sailed From Guanta. The British steamer Ardanmpor sailed from Guanta, Venezuela, on April 22, bound for Havana with a cargo of 873 head of cattle. She was tutned back by the blockade fleet, put into Key West and reached New York on May 4. She reported that when off Matanzas on April 27, at 8:30 p.m., she was”boaftied by the United States cruiser Cincinnat! and was warned that she must not,,entet: any Cuban port. She only lost eighteenfead of cattle on the voyage and het cargo was sold here. The Ardanmpor has been in the cattle trade between Guanta and Havana for the past six months. She belongs to the Ardan line of steamers, régistet$ 1,338 tons and is chartered by James B. Ward & Co., New York. ar KEY WEST, Fid!, BAAS p.m— The British steamer mhor, captured by the Osceola, was released this after- ncon by order of Coémmodor: Remey. —— 6b First ys for Manila. SAN FRANCISC Cal., May 23.—Cali- fornia said good-bye to~her Ist Regiment of Volunteers today as they marched gaily forth from the Presidio to start on their long journey to Manila. The men left camp at 8 a.m. and marched to the Pacific Mail dock, where the big steamer City of Peking lay ready for them. By noon the soldiers were all on board, and before night everything will te in readiness for their departure. The farewell demonstration by the peo- ple of San Francisco will long be re- membered by the soldiers of the ist Regi- ment. ic In ‘Equity Court No. 1.Judge Cox today granted a divorce to Sore ae from Mary uestion of the custody of thir minor child, aren T. B. Best, was resertéa, Arrive at Chatta-| Report of the Senate District Com- EE TEES SIS EE ER PROCS IE RUE STS Ss USIP SBN LEST SALERRO TTR Stee UC Te SO cr CERO OR re TaN i ote nc Otte mittee. Inadequacy of Former Acts Set Forth. THE PLAN PROPOSED oe A meeting of the subcommittee of the Serate committee on the District of Co- lumbia, to which was referred House Dill 10209, to repeal an act of Congress ap- proved March 2, 1893, providing a perma- nent system of highways in that part of the District of Columbia lying outside of cities, held a meeting at 2 o'clock this after- nocn ‘and decided upon a report on the Heuse bill. At the last mecting of the Sen- ate committee on the District of Columbia this subcommittee was authorized to report the House bill when it was satisfied with all its details. The subcommittee decided today to report the House bill to the Sen- ate, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. This substitute bill was pub- lished in The Siar t Friday, and today the subcommittee formally adopted it. The Committee's Report. The report of the committee to accom- Pary the substitute bill follows: “On December 13, 1791, President Wash- ington submitted to Congress a plan for a federal city between Rock creek on the west and the Anacostia or Eastern branch of the Potomae river on the east, and from the Potomac to what was known as Bound- ary street and is now known as Florida venue. For those days the plan so esiab- lished wes far more in advance of probable needs than is the present plan that includes the entire District of Columbia. From 1791 to 1888 no legislation was enacted with a view to extend the city of Wash- ington. “The transformation of Washington from a village to a city was brought about by the war of the rebellion; and about the year 1865 the city began to leap over the boundary established by President Wash- ington three-quarters of a century before. Between 1865 and 1888 each land owner beyond the boundary subdivided his lands as seemed best to himself. The tendency was to invest the city on the north with a network of straggling villages, having ir- regular and narrow streets and often hav- ing no alleys whatever. So far had this evil progressed by 1888 that Congress pass- ed the following law: The Act of 1888. ““Be it enacted, etc., That the Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia be and they are hereby authorized and directed to make and publish such general orders as may be necessary to regulate the platting and subdividing of all lands and grounds in the District of Columbia; and no such plat of subdivision made in pursuance of such orders shall be admitted to record in the office of the surveyor of said District without an order to that effect indorsed thereon by the Commissioners of said Dis- trict. “ ‘Sec. 2. That all spaces on any duly re- corded plat of land thereon designated as streets, avenues or alleys shall thereupon become public ways, provided they are made in conformity with the provisions of section 1 of this act, and as such be under the protection of the laws and ordinances in force applicable to public roads out of said city. “Sec 3. That if by the extension of any of the present streets or avenues opening of any public way, it be essary to traverse any grounds now used 4s a cemetery or place of burial, the Com- missioners are hereby empowered to se- cure a right of way through the same by supulation with the proprietors thereof. 7 ‘Sec. 4. That the orders of the Commis- sioners made pursuant to this act shall have the force and effect of law thirty days subsequent to the day of publics- tion; and all laws and provisions of laws inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. “Sec. 5. No future subdivision of land in’the District of Columbia, without the limits of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, shail be recorded in the sur- veyor's office of the said District. un de in conformity with the general the city of Washington.” ‘The act of August 1888, brought some relief, but was inadequate in two particu- lars: First, the question as to whether or not a subdivision was “in conformity with the general plan of the city of Washing- ten’ was largely a matter of judgment on the part of the Commissioners; and the board of Commissioners 1s a body that changes from time to time. Mereover, there is no settled plan of the c or Washington in so tur as concerns the width of streets, the laying out of ulleys and other particulars. Again, the courts decided that under the conformity jaw it was not lawful to divert any street from a straight line, so that neither the natural beauties nor the engincering problems of a broken country could be accoamnodate:l. Sull, furtier, in the absence of accurate maps, lateral streets laid out in one sub- division were found not to fit coricsponding streets in other subdivisions waen inter- vening subdivisions were laid out “The second and perhaps the most seri- ous difficulty, however, was altogether be- yond the reach of the law of 1888. When the outlying sections were laid out in con- formity with the general plan of the city of Washington there were left between the city and these conforming subdivisions the frregular and ill-fitting subdivisions that called into existence the law of 1888. In- adequate to meet future requirements, the law of 1888 could not touch then existing evils. The Act of 1893. “To meet the exigencies of the situation, Congress passed the act of March 2, 1893, ‘to provide a permanent system of high- ways in that part of the District of Colum- bia lying outside of cities." The objects of this law were two: “First, to provide for extending the streets and avenues of the city of Washing- ton through the irregular and misfit subdi- visions immediately north of the city; and “Second, to provide accurate maps where- by the requirements of the law of 1888 could be carried out in such a way as to preserve the natural beauties and to take advantage of the engineering features of the land. Such maps had become a necessi- ty in order to -provide for the sewer and water system, the opening of street railway routes, etc. Also, such maps would be a convenience to persons wishing to subdivide their lands in advance of the necessities of the District in the matter of streets. “The Senate provided that the expenst of extending the streets through the existing subdivisions adverted to was to be borne by the property benefited, by the District and by the United States, in equal propor- tions. That is to say, one-third of the amount awarded as damages was to be assessed on the land benefited, and the re- mainder was to be provided for as are other expenses of the District of Columbia. The House of Representatives, however, amend- ed the bill so ‘as to provide that the one- half expense of opening the streets should be borne by the property benefited, and that the other half should be charged to the revenues of the District of Columbia, and in that shape the bill finally became law. “Under the provisions of this law the Commissioners of the District of Colum- Lia began the preparation of plans to ex- tend the streets and avenues of the city of Washington, and in due time condemna- tion proceedings were begun to acquire the lands necessary to extend the streets and avenues through the so-called misiit subdivisions. The law was taken into the courts, and its essential features were sustained by the Supreme Court of the United States. No provision having been made for the payments of the awards other than by appropriations by Congress from tire to time, it was found that Con. Se hee Moreover, ee that feature of the bill which placed the whole burden of payment on theme eee ed of ince. = pe lands under condemnation available as the basis of loans amounts of property were sacrificed to these holding deeds of trust upon them, while on other lands it was found tg be impossible to renew such deeds; and thus a burden onerous in the extreme was placed upen the property owners, whose lands were involved. Hence arose an overwh -Im- ing desire to have the act modified or re- pealed. A bill for modified plans for what is known as the first section of the high- way plans was prepared; but as this bill contemplated an issue of $4,000,100) of bonds, it was manifestly impossible to se- c.re favorable action upon it. Therefore it remained only to repeal those sections of the highway law which related to the misfit subdivisions. Substitute for the House Bill. “The House of Representatives has gone even further than this, by passing a bill to repeal the entire act, and to leave ex- tensions to be made under the law of 1888. This committee being opposed to going back to a law which was so manifestly adequate, now repcrts a substitute to the House bill, by which substitute the maps of the unsubdivided lands are retained, while at the same time complete relief is srautcd to those persons whose lands are under the bans of the condemnation proceedings. “In reporting this bill the committ not in_the least changed its attitude toward the question of the extreme desirability of extending the main streets and ay-nues of the misfit subdivisions, but as conyineed that this necessity is so apparent that Con- gress will from year to year make appro- priations to exte of the city to meet those rues that shail be Jaid out in the now un- bdivided lands. This manner of proceed- ing will involve delay and larger ultimate expense, but such delay is unavoidable, while the increased expense will be offset in part, at least, by the increase in valus tions brought about by the growth of the bepulation and the consequent appreciation in the value of the lands m the District.” as DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL, The Oleomargarine Laws of Pennsy vanin and New Hampshire. The United States Supreme Court today Gecided convictions under th> oleomarga- r:ne laws of Pennsylvania and New Hamp- shire to be invalid, thus holding U Lnconstitutional. Justice Peckham announced the opinion of the court in these cases. There three of the eases from the state of 7 sylvania and one from New Hampshire Pennsylvania George Schallonnerger, E. Paul and J. Otis Pani were pre in the state courts on the charge of ing the state law prohibiting the tion of oleomargarine in the s' trial court hold the law to be invali the fed>ral Constitution on the ground that it infringed the provision in regard to in- terstate commerce. The state suprem> court reversed this decision, holding the law to be constitutional. The opinion rendered by Justice Peckham reverses the state supreme court and sus- tains the trial court, holding the convi tions to be invalid under the law, because the law is in contravention of the federal Constitution. Justic:s Harlan and Gray dissented in this case, as they did in the New Hamp- shire case. In this latter case the same question was involved, the law of this state being practically the sam as that of Penn- sylvania. In the New Hampshire case the law provides that when the oleomargarine is colored pink there shall be no prohibi- u Justice Peckham said this was a mere evasion, and reversed the decision of the state supreme court, which had been in sup- port of the law. In this case there was but cne prosecution, and this was directed against Clarence? E. Collins. + e- To Be Reconsider: The bill to amend the law relating to the pensions of policemen and firemen, which has ben reported to the House, will be 1e- considered by the committee. Lieut. Hollin- berger and Sergt. McTaggart of the metro- police called on members of the District committee today to urg> ob- jections against the bill in its prescat term. preferred the present law new bill. ‘he latter, they k2ld, pro- that a policeman can not be pension- ed until he has been in the service twenty \though he might be disabl-d while periormaace of his duty after ten or fiftecn years’ service. They also called at- tention to the fact that under the new bill a fir2man’s pension would be only $16.66 a month. —_—___--___ Reports of a Fight Denied. The rumors of a great naval battle cur- rent yesterday were disposed of by ti Navy Department in the following offictal bulletin: “No truth in the published state- ment concerning an engagement off St. Nicholas Mole, Hayti, in which twelve ships were sunk.” —__--2+____ ‘The First Corps Organized. The Ist Army Corps has becn completely organized at Chickamauga. It comprises three divisions of three brigades, which, with three regiments in each brigade, make twenty-seven regiments in the Ist Corss. laws Permit for Blasting. The police authorities were today direct- ed by the District Commissioners to issue a permit to George Killeen to blast at two points on the Canal road, about 100 yards nerth of the junction of the public and Caral roads, and about half a mile below the Chain bridge. The permit is to be sub- ject to such restrictions and requirements to insure the safety of the public as the major and superintendent of police may deem necessary. ee oy Resignation and Appointments. The District Cotramissioners today ac- cepted the resignation of Parker Morton, as an additional private on the police force, and appointed Z. H. Goldsmith, Thomas Curtin and Wm. H. Flood as additional privates for three years, for duty at the fish ponds in the monument grounds. ——_ Tagboat Goodwin Sinks. NEW YORK, May 23.—The tugboat W. E. Goodwin, sank in the North river today, at the White Star Line pier, foot of West 10th street. Two men cn the tug at the time were asleep in their bunks. One of them, Hiram Taylor, the engineer, was drowned. Jeremiah Lynch, the cook, was rescued. He is now in the hospital suffer- ing from the shock. The Goodwin was owned by R. J. Bar- rett, who was alse her captain. She was valued at $15,000 and was insured. ———— A Guest at the White House, Col. Myron T. Herrick of Cleveland, Ohio, is a guest at the White House, and accom- panied the President in a walk through the White House grounds today. Government Bonds. Quotations reported by Corson & Macart- ney, bankers. sir ne mai ewe 4 per cents, coupon of 1907. 108% «11 4 per cents, registered of 1907, 108, 108 4 per cents, cou) of 1925. .» I 122 4 per cents, tered of 1925. 121 122 5 per cents, coupor of 1904. » lee li 5 per cents, registered of 1904...... 110%, 111 Currency 6 per cents of 1899. 103 —_——_— Baltimore Markets. BALTIMO) 28.—Flour firm—west per Taso; ie, extra, ¢4.00085.25- ds fam- 85a$6.35; winter wheat patent, $6.50a$6.S5; 7547. do., wheat 3 sales, 18,000 busbels— southern, wheat by scimple. TaDe Sig: aie on southern wl sample, 5 grade, 13iniou. Cora dul’ and lower-spot and Tonth, Soas0i;, Sane, SSA; July, “Boasts; steamer mixed. —reeelpts, 270,067 ex 51,420 5 stock,” 844,081 3: sales, 4,000. bush. ‘white and yellow FINANCE AND TRADE Stocks Opened Strong, But Later Relapsed Into Dullness. SOME DEMAND FOR THE GRANGERS Uncertainty as to Cuban War Con tinues to Depress Prices. --- GENERAL MARKIE cae oe REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star, NEW YORK, May 23.--Steady the London market and a general feeling of confidence of that center inspired a firm opening in the local markets this morning. The advance was a trifle too substantial to hold in the face of a deer demand, and fractional concessions w recorded under cover of pronounced du The declines were not mate the result of cautious tradinj from the general ex meeting of the American and §| The strain of const men’ prices in ed ting Ptoa nish fleets, nt waiting for develop- tempts a few of the more nervous to take profits from time to time The political speculatoss were given ex- cellent support, Metropelitan Traction in particular being advanced for a sharp gain. Manhattan was held in chi to some ex- tent by the delay in arriving at a decision relative to the franchises offered by the rapid transit commiss'on, and elevated lines continue ject of much Ciscussion from point of ultimate consolidation. American Tobacco and Sugar move about doubtfully, but tix very reason for ying upon the pro t of favorabie de- alties in ihe but the to be ¢ the sts velopments in these very near future, Pullman Palace Car stock was active for n investm nt property upon the pros- pect of a favorable Supreme Court decision yhich would materially add to the cash as- of the company. The failure to have erdict rendered resulted in some selling culative stock, but the demand was ably better than usual at such Granger shares were strong, Rock Istand in particular. The next dividend on the property named expected to be part- ly cash and partly scrip, or some stock lege issued as a reward of patience to stockholders who have withstood the fean disbursements of the panic periods. Taa tire grain-carrying group must profit ly by any si evidence of good fortune on the part of neighbor. The merket may hold well around its present . but until some authentic y development in the Cuban war coni hand no material increase in the volume of business may be expe In all f indications of @ stror prices later on, but the disposition in many to 5 railroads and the larger industrial tions are funds. FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. The following are the opening, the high- est and the lowest and the closing prices of the New York stock market today, as re- ported by Corson & Macartney, members New York stock exchange. Correspondents, Messrs. Van Emburgh & Atterbury, No. 2 Wall st. Open. Migh. Low. Close American Spirite.. Wey 12 1 American Spirits,pfd... 2143 314 American Sugar... 2. 1863 American Sugar, pfd.. ‘oba Atchison Baltimore Ray State Gas, Cena OM. sbsuce CM. & St. Paul, ptd. Chicago, R.1, & Pavifie Chie St. P., M. & 0 Consolidated Gas, Del. Lack & W . Delaware & Kud 46) 103 Mhnois Centrat Lake Saure. Louisviiie & ay 1554, 105 Michigan Central. Missoun Pacitic. . Nationa! Lead Co. - Nationa! Leau Co.. pra. New Jersey Contrai New York Centra: acide Mau. Phila. & keading. Puliman P. C. Co. duuthern Ky.. fa. Palla Traction ... Texas Paine. - nie Tene. Cou @ iron. By Union Pacite Bie Union Pacific, pra. 55% Wabash, pid. Western Union i sliver. Brookiyn it. ‘Transit 42 Chig. & G Western... “ Wasbington Stock Exchange. Sales—regular call—12_ o'clock Washingio ll at 47%. UL 8. ectric Ligt thaler Linotype, at 144u matic 2; 10 at 144%; 10 at 149% Carriage, 100 at 47 cents. After call Mergent ler Linotype, 20 at 145; 10 at 14 749 145. 3.658, funding, |) 114 asked. District reney. 112) Miscellancous “Konds.—Metropclitan Ral 118 bid. Metropolitan Railroad conv. 6s, 120 Metropolitan Railroad certificates of tnd-btedness, A. 117 bid. Metropol: Raihoad certiticates indebtedness, B, 1 Columbia Railre 118 bid. Belt bid. E Railroad Gs, 9? bid. series A, 112 bid. series B. 113 bid. U imp. 100 bid. Chesapea’ ot 5x, lod bid. “American Security and Tra and A., 100 bid. American Securit: A. and’ O., 100 bid. W: curs f Columbia Bonds, h bid. Railroad Ss, shington Ist 6s, 110 bid. Ws imp. 6s 110 bid. Washington Market ext. Ga, 110 Masonic Hall Association bid. Washington Light Infantry Ist 6s, 90 National Rank Stocks.—Bank of Washington, bid. Metropolitan, 38 bid. Central, 140" bid. Farmers and Mechanics’, 18) bid. Second, 142 bid. Citizens’, 140 bid. Columbia, 131 bid. i 121 bid. "West End, 101 bid, 104 a 100 bid. Lincoln, 112 bid, 118 aske Safe “Deposit ‘and Trust Compa Safe Deposit and Treat, 114% bid. Loan and Trust, 126 bid. 130 asked. Security and Trust, Deposit, 59 bid. Insurance Stocks. 150 ‘bid. Washington Sa: iremen's, 30 bid. Franklin, 38 bid. Metropelitan. 70 td.’ Corcoran, 5% bid. Potomac, 55 bid. Arlington, 115 bid. “German- American, 185 bid. Nat‘onal Union, 9 bid. Co- lumbia, 30 bid. Riggs, 7 bid. 7% asked. Peopl 5 bid, 6 asked. Lincoln, 9 bid, 9% asked. Com- mercial, 4 bid. ‘Title “Insurance Stecks.—Rteal Estate Title, 75 bid. Columbia Title, 4% bid, 5% asked. Washing- ton Title, 2 bid. District Title, 2 bid. Railroad Stocks —Capital Traction, 72% bid, 744 asked. Metropolitan, x119% bid, 120% asked. Co- lumbla, 75 Wid, 78 asked. Bekington, & bid. Gas and Electric Light Sto-ks.—Washington Gas, 47% bid, 47% ‘George*own Gas. 45 bid. U 8. 98% asked ‘Tele Stocks, eske and Potomac, 43 bid. Avani: 38 bid, 45 exked. Miscellaneous Stocks. —'’Mergenthaler Linotype, 144% bid, 145 asked. Lanston Monotype, 15% bid, 16% asked. American Graphopbore, 141, hid, 15 ed. American Graphophgne preferred, x14's bid. 5% asked. Pneumatic Gun Carriage, .37 bid. 43 asked. Great Falls Ice, 115 bid, 125 asked. Wash- ingfon Market. 10 bid. xEx diy. | Grain, Provisions and Cotton Marketa Furnished by W. B. Hibbs & Co., bankers and brokers, 1427 F st., members New York stock exchange, correspondents - Messrs. Ladenburg, ns Co., New York. is so ih: Et z pre soi fous ey ata’ f2e6u: ie ry 3! rs tt rai enna