Evening Star Newspaper, December 8, 1898, Page 1

‘THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISH! 2D DA » EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Ave., Cor. 11tn St., by The Evening Star Newspaper Company. 8.H. KAUFFMANN, Pres’t. pexiabs New York Office, 49 Potter Building. » seri ep account, a Copies nswhere In prepaid -50 ts per month. Sheet Star, $1 per year, witt $3.08. ¢ Office at Washington. D. C. d-class mail matter.) mall READY TO BE SIGNED Seo oa All Points of Peace Treaty Now Fully Settled. ONLY THE ENGROSSING REMAINS Spain Refuses to Cede Coaling Station in Carolines. FRANCE MAY MAKE TROUBLE ee Che Fvening Star. No 14,283, WASHINGTON, D. ©, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 1898-FOURTEEN PAGES —e! TWO CENTS, PUBLIC PLAY GROUNDS Children of the City Fail to Take Advantage of Them. Not Intended for Base Ball, but for Croquet, Tennis, Cricket and Kindred Games, It appears from several publications of lat: that it is not generally known that the city of Washington is already pretty well provided in the matter of public play grounds for children. Col. Bingham, the engineer officer in charge of public build- ings and grounds, referred to the subject ee in a recent report to the chief of engineers > is fi and showed that the children of the city PARIS, December §—The treaty is fin-| aq not take full advantage of their privi- The ards have declined tor). of the United at the begin- t most of the request eS which wen « of the session. tion in e a coaling s ds to the United he points on which remains to engross will be in It only That we can agree. d sign tre » or three day eri the joint co: frame of mind. to be done commissioners nee today in a nerv- They evidently eve that a possibility e: even at this late hour, that there might rup of apprehension based aniards en- had his f was temper the S| commissioners of Spain t, having failed , they a r or not th lement of peace > con- S result in a se & of a tre which Spain coloni carriage of the ns would le their political home no worse, if not in a bet- than igned the treaty. anxious not to give etext to break off the e, So far as the diplomacy can Maine Question Revived. rid p ed to revive cite pub! ed States on rs are > Main disp and e: o nee made to this subject ac- refere in lent MeKinley’s message to Con- &ress. report that or Montero of the Spenish commission, sioned denunciation of Pres- of are or Rios only one in at Troabie With Diplon th of the bonds, and it is that the repu- result of t tion imposed h the dup, gove n- 2 pledge ment wi for the payment be Protest From Madrid. MADRID, December 8.—The Imparcial today says the Spanish government yester- day decided to telegraph to Senor Montero oft sh peace com- instructing him to again President McKinley's refer- ion at Part $s recent message to ial says there is American commis- use or of conqueror resigned ate Presi- WILLARD A. S¥ LECTED To Be Director hibit at P f Transportation Ex- ris Ex on, CHICAGO, Dec Wilard A. Smith of Chicago ha: named for th n of director of lepartment of ort nd civil engineering of the United mmi. t Paris ex- sition by Commission neral Peck. Mr. h will once ‘sume the duties of s office and will preceed with the organi- s exhibits. His assistant, who will an eastern man, will be chosen within a few days. ent over which Mr. Smith preside wil! one of the most itm- nt ones. In the showing of automo- ile carriages Americans are making a special effort to surpass all other coun- u The exhibits of bicycles will » de very extensive. a TWENTY-FIVE SAILORS DROWNED. Capt. Lee and Part of Crew of Lon- donian Lost. December 8&.—A dispatch re- the office of the Furness Line amship Company today from Baltimore nnounced that Capt. Le? and twenty-four of the crew of the steamer Londonian were lost and that forty-five survivors were rescued by the British steamer Vedamore. Besidas Capt. Lee. the lost include the first and second. officers and the first and 1 engineers. Among the saved twenty-two cattle- including the forem: BOSTON ved @ n of the crew, including the &nd fourth officers and the second and fourth engineers. —— STAY ORDER IN PICQUART CASE. Latest Development Growing Out of the Dreyfus Affair. _ PARIS, December 8.—The court of cassa- tion this afternoon ordered a stay of pro- ceedings in the Picquart court-martial. Several of the newspape-s here assert that before issuing this order the court « cassation examined the secret documents the Dreyfus case. SS ‘Stewart on Newlands’ Pledges. Senator Stewart of Nevada declared yes- terday that Representative Newlands could not be a candidate for his seat in the Unit- ed States Senats without violating his Dledges. leges for playing on the public reservations open to them. Authorizat by Congress. “By act of Congress approved August 30, 18),"" says Col. Bingham, “the officer in charge of public grounds was authoriz>d to set aside a portion of the public grounds for a children’s playground, under regula- tions to be prescribed by him. The south- ern portion of the Monument Park was at once set aside for th purp , but no reg- ulauons Wer? prescribed, as there were no ™ as of carrying them out, no watchman or policeman having been authorized, and the service of the one watchman on duty at the monument being neeued there to protect the structure from acts of vandal- m. Just comp! jaints were received that the lawns Were boing destroyed, injure and that the children’s piayground w overrun by vicious and improper persons. v olfice has been reque d to lake i n to relieve the piay. nds of such acters, E =n 1 to call on the District police for assistance. To protect the improved grounds as f. I to prevent s rious annoy- njoying the beauty of the y ground was transferred in the autumu of 15¥3 to the site between B treet and main drive no of the nument. plot of ground covers an about eight acres, and is occupied » time by men or boys playing bail. act of Congress, approved } the oflicer in charge and groun¢ ipse for a child arch 2, of public build- as directed to autho! e 1 portion of the grounds within the Executive Mansion cribed by him was given through the public that children applying would be uthorized to play lawn tennis, icket and kindred games. The on quirements were that the children shou. recommended by any reputabls citizen, nd would agree to exercise the common rules of courtesy which would govern them in a private’ park. Only Two Requests for Permits. “But two requests were received last r this privilege. Both were promptly granted, but in neither instance was ad- vantage taken of the permit. “Several applications from young men to foot ball and base ball in the reserva- pl tion were received, but it was not believed that it was ir ed under the law that b wns of the ellipse or other parks uid be used for these purposes, t was ar al year the re ipated that during the last ervation at the intersi and Virginia avenues, which of about two acres, and s turned over in the summer of > as a playground for children, enced tn, water introduced and slanted. Unfortunately, no funds 1 for this purpose. grounds should be set aside s of the city for the use of , not to be monopol by grown ns or half-grown youths, nor to b for games prohibited under the po- > regulations of the District. Howard University Park, either highly improved or present condition, could well be selected for this purpose, and many of the smaller reservations throughout the city, which have not been highly improved, could be aside for playing lawn tenni; croquet and kindred games.” +e FOR THE CANAL. Senate Refused to Adjourn and ‘Took Up the Morgan Bill. The Senate took an action this afternoon which Is regarded as extremely favorable to the Nicaragua canal bill by the friends of that measure. In order to prevent Sena- ter Morgan from putting h nal bill on the calendar as unfinished | s, Se tor Pettigrew moved that the Senate journ. Earlier in the day a motion had been adopted that when the Senate should VICTORY The adjourn it should be until Monday. Th! motion caused a tug of war ween the nds and enemies of the c bill. * understanding was very general that every one who wished to defeat consic tion of the bill would vote favorably on ttigrew's proposition. he result w wever, that the motion to adjourn was defeated by 42 to 13. 3 Morgan then placed his bill before the Sen- é aking it the ur busines: inished won at the very inning of pill as extremely encouraging. ———+-9-<—_____— or MR. DINGLEY. Canadian Members of the Joint Com- mission Entertained at Capitol. Representative Dingley entertained at luncheon today the Canadian members of the high jc commission. The visitors embled in the ways and means commit- room, and were !ntroduced to notables of the House, after which they were es- corted to the diplomatic gallery and wit- nessed the proceedings of the House in sion, Mr. Dingley pointing out the cele tie Luncheon was served at 1 o'clock in the Hotse restaurant. Those present at table vere Lord Herschel, Sir Wilfrid Laurter, Sir Richard Cartwright, Sir James Winter, Mr. John Charleton, Sir Louis Davies, Sec- Pope, Secretary O'Hara, Represen- e Dingley, Speaker Reed, Lady Davies, Charleton, M Cartwright, Lady Miss Dingley, Mr. Hooe and Mr. ri- tati Mrs. La = —-+ @ 4 RESTRICTING THE PRESIDENT. Senator Vests Resolution on the Ap- pointment of Commissioners, Senator Vest today followed up the de- bate in executive session of yesterday con- cerning the appointment of senators and members of the House to positions on presi- dential commissions by the introduction of a bill prohibiting the practice of making such appointments. The bill is very brief, and is as follows: “That no person while holding a judicial or legislative office un- der the United States shall be appointed by the President commissioner or agent of the government, nor of any department or bureau thereof.” 2 ————— Will of Samuel B. Beyer. ‘The will of the late Samuel B. Beyer, dat- ed May 16 last, and naming his wife, Sarah A. Beyer, executrix, was this aftrnoon fil- ed for probate. With the exception of be- quests of $200 to Agnes V. Bagnam, a daughter; $200 to Anhie E. Butt, a daugh- ter. and $200 to James V. Beyer, a son, th> entire estate of the deceased is left to his wife for life. In the event of her demise, it is to revert to his children in stipulated portions. LOCAL MEASURES|FOR CUBA'S GARRISONITRUST FUNDS SPENT Construction of the New City Post Office to Be Investigated, WHAT SENATOR VEST SAYS ABOUT IT The House District Committee to Meet Tomorrow. TBE HEIGHT OF BUILDING A thorough investigation of the manner in which the new City post office in this city has been constructed is provided for in a joint resolution introduced in the Seri- ate today by Mr. Vest, and referred to the committee to audit and control the contin- gent expenses of the Senate. This resolution provides “That the joint committee cn public buildings and grounds be directed to inquire and report upon the following matter: “First—What has been the cause of the delay in constructing the city post office building in the city of Washington, author- ized to be constructed by Congress seven years ago. - “Second—Whether defective or improper materials have been used in erecting said building, and, if so, upon whom the re- sponsibility rests for using such material: Phird—Whether said building or ar part thereof has been negligently or d fectively constructed, and, if so, by whose negligence or failure in duty. “Fourth—W her there has been extr. agance and waste of the public money the erection of id building, and, if so, who is re vonsible therefor. fth—What has been the cost of t site and building, and whether i expense must be incurred in the of said building or any part of the “Sixth—What system of construction has been adopted in erecting said building, and whether the defects, if any, are caused by same. the methods of the supervising architect's bureau of the Treasury Department in erecting public buildings, and, if so, what legislation is to correct ch methods, and to render said bureau more efficient.” What Senator Vest Says. A Star reporter saw Senator Vest today, and, speaking of his resolution for an in- vestigation into the manner in which the city post office was constructed, he sald: “I acted largely on representations I have seen in The Star, together with my own observation. I haye cut from The Siar from time to time articles relating to the manner ich the building has been constructed, en an investigation is begun I pro- pose putting these In the hands of the com- mittee making it. I have been greatly di appointed with the new city post office, and I am sorry to see that it is a good deal of a botch. I think the former superintendent of the building should be called before the committee making the investigation, put on his oath and be required to tell what he Knows about these matters.” To Regulate the Height of Buildings. Chairman Babcock will push at this ses- sion a bill introduced yesterday by reque: of the Commissioners, to regulate the height of buildings in the District of Columbia. The bill is practically the same as that in- troduced in the Senate by Mr. McMillan. ‘To Grade the Adams Mill Rona Mr. Jenkins of Wisconsin has introduced @ bill in the House appropriating $5,000 out of any money not oth @ appropriated in the public treasury, for grading and regulating the Adams Mill road, in the Dis- trict of Columbia, from the Columbia road to Kansas avenue: Provided, That the land necessary for widening the same to a width of ninety feet, in conformity with the amended plans for highway extension, be donated. ‘The bill was referred to the committee on the District of Columbia. House Distriet Commiitee. The District of Columbia committee of the House has been called to meet tomor- row morning at 10 o'clock. Chairman Bab- cock hopes to secure action upon severa bills and get them upon the calendars of the House for District day, next Monday. City and Suburban Railway. Mr. Otey today introduced a bill in the House to amend the charter of the City and Suburban Railway Company so as to repeal the authority for tracks on Sth street to Louisiana avenue and 6th streets, and re- quiring the company to lay tracks from 6th and G streets northwest south on Gth street to Louisiana avenue, Metropolitan Railroad Extension. Mr, Otey of Virginia today introduced a bill in the House authorizing and requiring the Metropolitan Railroad Company to ex- tend its tracks in Southeast Washington over the following route: Beginning at the intersection of North Carolina avenue and lith street southeast, by double track south on llth street to E street, then by single track south on 11th street to within five feet of the Anacostia company’s tracks, then east on G street to 12th, north on 12th to E street, west on E street to 11th street. Free transfers shal be exchanged between the Metropolitan, Anacostia and Capital railway companies. District Committee Mecting Postpon- ed. On account of the Senate adjourning to- day until Monday there will be no meeting of the Senate committee on the District of Columbia tomorrow morning. It was pro- posed to have a meeting of this committee, but great difficulty is always found in si curing a quorum on days when the Senate is not in session, The Rock Creek Railway. Mr. Pettigrew introduced a bill in the Senate this afternoon providing that so much of the act entitled “an act relative to Rock Creek Railway Company of the Dis- trict of Columbia,” approved March 1, 1895, authorizing said company, by a vote of the own2rs of a majority of its capital stock, to contract with any street railway com- pany gwning or operating a connecting or intersecting line, for the joint management, lease or purchase of such connecting or in- tersecting line or lines, and to operate th> same in connection with its original line, &c., be repealed. ee NO VERDICT IN THE CODY TRIAL. Jury Said to Stand Eight to Four for Conviction, ALBANY, N. Y¥., Decemb:r 8—The jury in the case of Mrs. Margaret B. Cody, after being out since 4 o'clock yesterday after- noon, came into the county court today and asked for an explanation of the penal code in relation to blackmail. After this was read to them they again retired. Mrs. Cody has been on trial for cight days on indictments for blackmail found against her in April last, the indictments alleging that she wrote blackmailing letters to George Gould and Miss Helen Gould con- cerning the suit of Mrs. Angell to establish dow2r rights to Jay Gould’s estate. It is understood that the jury stands eight for conviction and four for acquittal, Departure of the Roumania With Troops for Havana, Erection of a Large Military Dock— Labor to Be Given the Natives—Es- tablishment of Camps. The steamer Roumania sailed today from Savannah, Ga., carrying the entire 1st Reg- iment of North Carolina, with their trans- portation and part of the transportation of the 2d Indiana, to serve as part of the garrison of Havana. The 2d Illinois Regi- ment is loading today at Savannah for the seme destination. The quartermaster’s department is mak- ing most satisfactory progress in the prepa- ration of docks, railroads and camp sites in the neighborhood of Havana for the re- ception of the troops. Acting upon Colonel Hecker’s recommendation, work is now be- ing prosecuted with the greatest rapidity on what fs destined to be one of the largest military docks in Cuba. This is located at Triscornia, to the eastward and just across the bay from Havana. The Proposed Dock. The dock will be 400 feet long, which, it Is calculated, will give five fathoms of water alongside for the berthing of ships. Two of the largest transports can thus lie at the docks simultaneously and discharge their cargoes with rapidity. The outer end of the dock for the length of 100 feet will be clear. Beginning at that point and run- ning shoreward in the center of the dock will be a large warehouse, to which ace can be had from a steamer on either There will be a double line of railway on the dock This will turn southeast- ward to strike the united lines of rai.road at Guanabacoa, and will enable the stores to be landed about five miles from Havana at a point where they can be readily placed on the exi iiroad system and carried to almost rt of the province or the city. Attention has been paid in the selection of Triscornia to the feasibility of establish- ing other camps to the eastward of vana, and it will be easy to find suit grades for the construction of such auxil- fary railroad connections as may be re- quired, de. Labor for Cubans. The quartermaster generak has given in- structions that no labor is to be employed in these government works save that of the Cubans wherever it {e possible to do so, so that the expectation Is that employment will be afforded to a number of the Cuban soldiers, if they care to disband and go to work. It stimated that the building of the doek will occupy sixty days. The Navy artment was informed by a cablegram from Capt. Chadwick of the arrival of the New York at Havana last evening. It is said at the department that date has been set for the return of the New York, and it 1s probable that she will be placed completely at the disposal of Ad- miral Sampson, who will return on her to the United States, with the other evacua- tion commissioners. EXCITEMENT AT SANTIAGO Cubans Wrought Up Over Events of Yester- day's Celebration. Capt. Jaan Castillo Taken to Jalil by Order of Colonel Beacom. SANTIAGO DE CUBA, December 8.—The Cubans here are greatly excited over yes- terday’s proceedings, resulting from the commemoration of the death of Antonio Maceo, particularly at the fact that bullets reached the camp of the 5th Immunes, which proves that the shots were not fired by the Cubans who fired volleys in the air from the public square here. It now seems that the bullets which struck tents of the immunes came from a different party of In- surgents, near the trocha, who were clso celebrating. Regarding the action of the three drunk- en Cubans who entered the Spanish b and smashed chandellers and furniture, the Cubans say they deeply deplore the out- rage, and do not think it fair to look upou it as a race act. The San Carlos Club in- tends to hold a meeting and (9 tenler an apology to the Spanish Clab. The police aré blamed for not making any arrests. Col. Beacom, the American acting mil- itary commander here, accompanied by the chief of police, personally sted Juan Castillo this morning. He Cuban army, and was the man who i two negro companions inty the club. tillo, who is well conneeted, objected to 50 captain in the d his ——_e_ OBSERVE THE ECLIPSE. To yal Observatory Superintendent Wants an Appropriation. There will be a total eclipse of the sun in May, 1900, and the superintendent of the Naval Observatory wants an appropriation from Congress of $5,000 in order that it may be properly observed by scientists. “The eclipse,” Capt. Davis:says, “Is visi- ble at Washington only-as a partial eclipse. The path of total eelipse passes through New Orleans, La.; Mobile, Ala.; Raleigh, N. C., and Norfolk, Va. 1t would be neces- sary to select observing: stations at several points on this line, to which stations prop- erly equipped parties fronfthis ®bservatory would be assigned.” Foreign parties will be iff this ‘country to observe the eclipse, and the supérintendent of the observatory is affxious® that this country may not be behiadhand in such work. ~—— 0 GEN. GARCIA’S FLLNBSS, Fears Expressed That It M@y Result in Pneumosta, General Garcia of the Citban "army, who has been confined to his'+hote¥ for some @ays, is announced to be quite seriously ill. It is impossible to say What his case may develop, but there are som€ feats of pneu- monia. This delays his business with the War Department and males it/impossible to fix the date of his departure from Wash- ington. Instead of leavingjas w&@s thought, in a few days, it is quite possible that he may be delayed for some weeks. -———_+ 0+ Personal Mention. Mr. W. G. Sickel, mayor of Trenton, N. J., 1s at the Chamberlin. ; Carl Eisenminger, for ,mawy years with the Chr. Heurich Brewing Company, has gone to Wilmington, Del.; where he will en- gage in brewing. % Gen. N. M. Curtis of Ogdensburg is in the city for a few days and iy stopping at 1807 H street northwest." — An Increase of Salary. Mr. Alexander today introduced a bill in the House increasing the salary of the chief justice of the Court of Claims to 96,500 and of the asseeiats justices ‘to $6,000. Serious Condition Confronting Span- ish Government in Cuba. UNABLE 0 MEET OBLIGATIONS Instance of Spanish Officers’ Greed in Paying Off Troops. CLASHES WITH CUBANS oo HAVANA, Cuba, December 7 (via Key West, December 8).—Serious problems con- front the last days of Spain’s sovereignty in Cuba. One of the most delicate and most difficult of solution is the question of return bonds given by civil officials and em- ployes upon ceasing to hold office. Many of these are cash bonds, furnished years ago, the refunding of which now becomes imperative. All such moneys having been appointed and spent, the government is un- able to meet these Obligations or to fulfill the guarantees, The settlement of the arrears of pay due the mobilized and all the irregular trooy offered a brilliant opportunity for master; financlering on the part of the military in- tendant. With money in hand for a full settlement of all pay due to the troops the quartermaster general devised an ingenu- ous plan. Paying the men off in notes pay: able in Madrid, he offered, through trusted agents, to discount such notes at 20 c per cent for sh. As prac ly ever one of the irregular and mobilized troop: will remain on the island, the men eagerly embraced this opportunity to get their notes cashed and a handsome profit there- fore accrued to the astute originator of the scheme. Bank Sells Its Mortgages. On munictpal property here the first mortgages held by the Spanish bank amount to §6,000,000. Propositions for the acquisition of these mortgages have been made by London, New York and Berlin bankers. Although the mortgaged prop- erty represents a most solid investment, the Spanish bank appears ready to transfer the title to the foreign corporations through a lack of confidence in the stability of the future government. Several disturbances d here y terday afternoon betw: a number of paniards and Cubans, but luckily there was no serious consequence. At 5 0’ k in the afternoon eral Cuban officers, who were walking down Obispo stre asked each other in tones rather loude: than necessary when the Spaniards were to finally leave Cuba, and commer what they termed the latter's want shame in parading the streets attired in their uniforms. A coupie of Spanish offi- cers, who chanced to pass, overheard the conve ion of the Cubans and one of the Spaniards approached and slapped the face of a member of the Cuban party. Several blows were then exchanged, but the fight- ers were soon arrested and taken to the military governor's palace, where they were subsequently discnarged, Cut the Cuban's Hat to Pieces. A repetition of this incident occurred in the evening, when a Spanish officer in Cen- tral Park tore a 1anama hat off a Cuban's head and cut it into pieces with his sword. The offender was arrested, and General Arolas, fearing further trouble, distributed a force of soldiers in the park and its vicin- ity. No other disturban pecurred, how- ever. The statue of Isabel la Catolica, which stands in the middle of Central Park in this city, was found this morning holding a valise in one hand and a steamer rug in the other. An immense placard was slung across the back of the statue with the words ‘Bon voyage’’ inscribed on it. = WAR CONTRACTS. Senator Vest's Proposed Investigation of Charges of Corruption, Senator Vest today introduced in the Sen- ate a resolution providing for the appoint- ment of a joint commission to investigate the charges of corruption in the conduct of the war with Spein. The preamble to the resolution recites that “charges have been made in the public press over the signa- tures of responsible parties that improper and corrupt means have been used to s cure contracts from the government for the purchase of vessels for the navy and for the furnishing of clothing and other neces- sary articles for the army of the United States during the war with Spain at ex- c ¢ and exorbitant rates.” 5 The resolution calls for the appointment of three senators and five members of the House, and imposes upon them the duty of “inquiring as to the truth of all such charges and make report by bill or othe These senators are to be appointed by President of the Senate and the members of the House by the Speaker of the House. ———__ + DENIED BY SENATOR MORRILL. Incorrectly Reported in Regard to Resigning and the Peace Treaty. The attention of Senator Morrill was to- day called to a report that he had intended resigning his seat in the Senate, but had changed his minu because of the pressure brought to bear upon him by his friends who wished him to remain in Congress in order that he might antagonize the annexa- tion of the Philipp.nes. ‘There is no truth in that report,”’ replied Mr. Morrill, “either in regard to an inten- tion to resign, or my attitude on the treaty. I have not announced what my attitude on the treaty will be.” BLOCKED BY THE STORM. Trains in and Out of Buffalo Greatly Delayed. BUFFALO, N. Y., December 8.—Contin- ued high winds are causing serious delay to railway traffic today, the snow drifting as fast as the railway companies can re- move it. The Western New York and Pennsylvania railway train which should have left here at 10:20 o'clock last night has not departed. The New York Central train due to leave here at 11:40 o'clock last night did not leave until 4 o'clock this morning. Their train due to leave at 7:40 a.m. had not left at 9 o'clock, but another train for the east was started at 9:30 a.m. ‘Trains from the west are from two to four hours late. A number of crains have been abandoned. No attempt is made to move freight trains. “Mails from New York arrived about two hours late. Railroad officials hope the warm sun of this morning will prevent the heavy snow drifts. Three trolley lines in South Buffalo which were completely tied up yesterday after- noon are being operated today. Suburban trolleys were badly handicapped. No cars have been run on the Kenmore line since Sunday evening. e = = Lumber-Laden Schooner Ashore. SOUTH NORWALK, Conn., December 8. -A large lumber-laden three-masted schooner is ashore on Dry Reef (Cockenoes Island), off the entrance to Westport har- bor. Her name cannct be made out. A tugboat is trying to pull her into deep wa- ter, without apparent effect. CONGRESS HEIGHTS’ APPEAL Chairmen McMillan and Babcock Urged to Retain Their Positions, Resolutions Taken to the Capitol by One Hundred Pupils From the New School House. Senator McMillan, chairman of the Sen- ate committee on the District of Columbia, was given an unexpected reception this trorning, shortly after 11 o'clock. About that time 100 pupils of the new Congres Heights School called on him at his com- mittee room to thank him for his efforts which resulted in securing for Congress Heights a fine public school building. After Principal Lowe had informed Mr. McMillan of the object of the children’s visit one of the little girls presented the senator with a handsome basket of flowers. The children were also accompanied by Misses Mathis and Erb, teachers in the new sc hool build- ing. Senator McMillan was also presented wiih a copy of resolutions adopted at a meeting of the Congr Citizens’ Associa- tion last evening. resolutions eu gize the work of S McMillan and Representative Babcock as chairmen of the Senate and House District committees re- spectively. Their retention in their present positions is strongly favored. Senator Mc- Millan is petitione k the President not to consider his name as the successor of ex-Ambassador H and Representa- tive Babeock is urged “to withdraw his name from the senatorial race in Wisconsin and remain chairman of the House District committee.” After calling on Mr. McMillan the cl dren went to the room of the House trict committee, where they saw the chair- man, Representative Babcock, and pres ed him with a basket of flowers and a copy of the same resolutions. SSS POSTPONED FOR Foreign Relations Committee to Take Up Hawaiian Bill Next Wednesday. The Senate committee on foreign re tions held a meeting today to consider the bill reported by the Hawa A WEEK sion for the government of the Hawaiian Is- lands. The bill was considered only in a very general way, smmittee decid to postpone the 1 work upon it for week. This decision was reached because the full report of the commission had not been printed. At the meeting next Wed- the measure will be taken up sec- tion by section and the whole matter will be very carefully considered with the view of presenting it in perfect shape as pos- sible to the Senate. Senators Cullom and More: members of the commission a bers of the committee, were p: day’s meeting and explained m seneral features of the bill. loped at today’s meeting. he committee authorized a favorable re- port on the joint resolution for the exten- nm of the Mexican boundary treaty for a year. This was in accordance with quest contained in the President's m NO PROTEST FROM PBNGLAND. n, who are also mem- t at to- of the No opposition Denial of a Rer t Concerning Sir Julian Pauncefote. An authoritative denial is given to the story published yesterday that the British ambassador had lodged a pro- test with Secretary Hay against the Jeopardizing of England’s interests in the Nicaragua canal under the Clay- ton-Bulwer treaty. It {s pointed ow by those in authority that not only has Sir Julian Pauncefote not visited the State De- partment on any such errand, but that no steps have been taken by this government which could be construed as changing its attitude toward the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. It is further said that civilized count are not given in the present day to boldly ignoring treaty responsibilities, but in case a change of status is desired that mutual discussion first paves the way for such a ep. No move of the sort has been made either party to the treaty, and the whol tter stands just as it did before the transmission of the President’s message to Congress. ——_——__+0+________ INDIAN CONTRACT SCHOO! A Petition for the Reopening of the Question. Considerable interest has been c congressional circles by the in a petition by Representative Me! Maryland from Cardinal Gibbons Catholic Church, asking for a.reopening of the question of Indian contract schools. It is well known, of course, that the rec policy of Congress has been opposed to tarian government-aided schools. The cardinal’s petition, in behalf of hin lf and other Catholic archbishops of th: of nt United States, reviews the history of Cath- olic Indian schools at length, and pleads .n behalf of their continuance. The petition concludes as follow “Wherefore we most respectfully petition the Congress of the United States to reo) the question of the contract school s; em and to go over again with deliberation and care the whole subject of Indian education, so that in some way to be determined by the Congress both the government :chco system and the contract school system may be considered upon their merits, and U schools that have been operated under these systems may be investigated, the routine manner of the executive partment, but by a committee of © in order that what is at fault in the agement may be denounced and ¥ cellent therein may be shown by p1'yic port and not kept as a secret of siate con- cealed in the files of any depa*iment or of- fice. J. CARD. GIBBONS, “Archbishop of Baltimore. The petition was presented to the com- mittee on Indian affairs while that commit tee was tn session, beginning work on the Indian appropriation bill, in which appro- priations for Indian schools are carri Mr. Gorman presented to the Se: day a similar petition. Late Naval Orders. Assistant Naval Constructors F. B. Zahm and I. Spear have been promoted to the grade of naval constructor. Lieut. W. E. Wirt has been detached from the Dolphin and ordered home. R. C, Holcombe has been appointed assist- ant surgeon with the relative rank of en- sign. Assistant Surgeon J. R. Whiting has been detached from the Naval Hospital, New York, and ordéred to the Chicago. Assistant Surgeon R. K. Smith has been ordered to the Naval Hospital, New York. Assistant Paymaster H. P. Ash has been ordered to the Mayflower, relieving Passed Assistant Paymaster W. L. Wilson, who is placed on waiting orders. Naval Constructor R. P. Hobson has been detached from the New York and ordered to the Asiatic station for any in connec- tion with raising and repait vessels cap- tured from the Spaniards. Lieut. W. L. Beers has been detached from the naval station, Port Royal, 8. C., and ordered home. Passed Assistant Engineer J. L. Gow has been ordered to Philadelphia for examina- tion for promotion. Lieut. W. H. Willard and Lieut. (junior grade) L. F. Smith have been honorably discharged. e to- camps were unable to anticipate the outset of the war the plan was that division hospitals were to accommodate no more than found that their size was entirely inade- quate.” the witness stated: the medical officers, the line officers of the army, that they should not incur reproach for insanitary conditions at camp a= The sole measure of wv: te an advertiser the number of read- ers and probable customers a cement will reach. Judged by mdard, The Even- ar stands pre-eminent. No other paper, published anywhere, has so large a percentage of tts circulation among the home families meas circles of the city where printed. In no other Washington paper, there- fore, is an advertisement worth half so much to a rtiner. THE MEDICAL CORPS Surgeon General Sternberg Tells of Its Work in the Field. CONDITION AT OUTSET OF THE WAR Division and Regimental Hospitals Explained at Length. IN a SPECTIONS Sa CAMP Sternberg was the first Ss to appear before the war inquiry commission this morning. Dr. Conner led the examination. Surgeon General Stern- berg said he commenced his p: for the troops as soon as he was aware of the critical condition of things. With re- gard to the condition of his department, he stated that it was equipped only for an army of 25.000 men when war broke out. n Year to year Congress had cut down estimates, following the policy of econ- Continuing, he said he medical e of the army had been cut down in spite of my protest and that of every general officer of th s00n as there “parations ar army.” was a prospect of war, he said, he began preparations, though not going to any additional expen He had dels of chests prepared and equipment developed. I suggested to Secretary Alger the pro- ty king purchases for this ser advance of actual ne I was told tha ‘the policy to w witness i when war was his department ted chief surgeons and others brigade surgeons uy his r jon. but there was ni 5 pply the need. None of t volunteer appointments were made examination. Was it or was it not necessary mitract sic:ans be employed “It was necessary.” How many were there?” At time there were ab: They were ointed on the strength of profes- sional an mher orsemer “How did they t the requireme Contract Surgeons Did Well. Remarkably well. They were generally thorough!y posted medical men, with larg experience in gencral practice. They were n thirty and forty years of age, aad rally were well recommended and pro- sionally indorsed.”” Witness said he was ignorant in advance that the camps were to be made y« nent. He conceded that it was a mistake not to have taken more contract surgeons from among those who had served in the civil war. They would have be val- able. “Under the law was it posstil into the retired officers army ‘It was not.” “How many medical men accompanied ary forces under Gen. Shaf- » thirty-six regular surgeons, mty cont surgeons and the full com- ment with each of the volunteer regi- ments. “Of these how many were aken up with admiristrative work, and how many were available fe active service? “There w chief surgeon division, who was charged wit strative work, and at the obliged, on emery Ps, to ret nd immediate aid.” Do you know of any instances where the recommendations the chief surgeons were not ca “No, sit Were regimental surgeons capable or efficient “Good, bad and indifferen esponded the surgeon general don’t recollect, r, any being dismissed as incompe- the medical boards in the states he was questioned if they were satisfactory varied, Some were and some were The Division Hospita He sald the division hospitals were estz lished the result of t expert- s during the sons for as il war. Thi ting the regimental and div hos- tals were mun} ef was the ider- ation that inconvenience would result from the ne to leave regimenta! hospitals and surgeons behind in ¢ the regiments were moved away, and the greater danger of infe ases of typhoid and contagious 4 ases if confined in mi: a hospitals 1 of one. It made work asier where th wer one di- vision h al instead of tn ne regt- mental pl The division he als were intermedi: in char r between the gen- e and regimental. If troops were ved to be likely to be ill a Kt ey wer to the ger hospit ways In charge of reg- se latter were ) rs of the army, not the ular med offic volunteer arm. here or not a corps of med in- re was ni told of the inspection of sanitary conditions at Camp Alger by Lieut. ¢ Smart and of the camps in Porto Ric Col. Greenleaf. Then he catled the ap- pointment of a sanitary commission made up of medical men from the regular army. This was the commission to which Dr. s eare of Philadelphia belonged, and it was instructed to look into and report upon the insanit condition of camp: “Was this Inspection of the camps m: before the storm broke, or, I should sa before the epidemics existed?” “Inspections were made early so far as some camps were concerned, but not so far as Camp Thomas is in question.” Isolation of Fever Cases. ‘Was It prior to the epidemics and during che period of. scattered cases that effort was made to isolate fever cases from regi- mental hospitals?” “The great trouble was that in many camps, ana Camp Thomas especially, there as a failure to make proper diagnoses. Men were kept in hospitals suffering from typhoid very evidently, but stated to be sick with malaria and other minor troubles by the regimental surgeons. Typhoid and malaria were too often confounded. There is no doubt that the sickness increased so rapidly that the men in charge at the it. At 2%) men, but it was quickly Questioned .as to sanitary precautions, “We impressed upon “It has been reported that at Camp Thomas it was practically impossible to get quicklime for disinfecting purposes. Do you know anything of it?” “No, sir. I don't think any application was made to me that was not allowed at once. I think every application for quick- lime or other disinfectants was promptly approved by me. The general instructions to my corps authorized the general and free purchase of disinfectants,” “Were you, prior to the inspection by Secretary Alger, Quartermaster General Ludington and yourself, officially informed of the sanitary—I should say insanitary— condition of Camp Thomas?” “I don’t think so. I can't say positively,