Evening Star Newspaper, January 19, 1900, Page 1

—— THE EVENING STAR. ee ge = PUBLISHED DAILY, EXCEPT SUNDAY Temporary Business Office, 110% Pennsylvania Avena: The Evening Star Newspaper Company. S. HL KAUFMANN, Pres’t New York Office: 126 Tribuse Building. Chicago Office: Boyce Buildiag. London Office: Trafalgar Bulldings, Trafalgar Square. prelates sy ‘The Eventog Star Is served to subscribers in the elty by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week. or 44 cents per month. Copies at the counter, 2 cents ‘By mall—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postage prepaid—60 cents per month. Saturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 per year; with foreign postage added. $3.08. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington. D. C.. as secoud-class mail matter. TF All mail subscriptions must be pald in advance. ; i Che Lvening Star. No, 14,631. WASHINGTON, D. ©. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1900—-FOURTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS REVERSE FOR BOERS Twenty Men and an Officer Killed Near Acton Homes. FIFTEEN WERE TAKEN’ PRISONERS Scouting Party of British in Cape Colony Missing. CALL FOR MORE TROOPS +. LONDON, January 19—General Buller has telegraphed the office from Spear- man’s Camp, under date of last evening, as follows: “Lord Dundonald, with a body of mount- ed troops, came into action this afternoon with a force of Boers west of Acton Hom After a fight, he occupied several kopj which he fs still holding. Field Cornet Hellbium and twenty Boers were killed and fifteen prisoners taken. Two British sol- Giers killed and two wounded.” The war office has made public dispatches from Field Marshal Lord Roberts, dated today, recording the scouting movements in Cape Colony, including the ambushing of the Australians, when two of the latter were killed and fourteen reported missing. He adds “A Boer deserter stated that the enemy suffered severely in attacking French's ad- need post January 15. Seventy Boers are stil ui ‘counted for. It was rumored on the stock exchange this morning that after eighteen hours’ General Balle smith had been rel arren had been killed. Noth- able. howe ten E to rumor, and it no appreci- ect on stocks EVE OF BIG BATTL Stirring Eve pected Soon Vicinity of Ladysmith. LONDON. January 19, m the front appe ssion that events in Natal © quick! zh hardly as tongues pens of the ru- mongers. There is nothing up to the present to support the story that the re- Mef of Ladysmith is an act but it is lear »mplished fact, ed on excellent authority that is now regarded at the war confidence, and that the beléaguered tow red practically relieved, aithough re is no < underrate danger and diffic eral Bul As suggi s . General Warren wa of Acton Home: of his force red an import- hat place, during on the ne Free own co’ ass. westw of January reatening with their m with Gen. French's dis- Gen. Sir Geo. Stewart White. f his trocps, He visited Coles i while ng of the proc ding, with such rnounced on good au- ai sixteen rs and thirty-si were killed Advices from Cape assistant elagoa Bay. the Imperial Yeo- before that force h considerable de- rienced colonials ac- fron ¢ of ex; ted with Bo. CABINET MEETING TODAY. to Arrange Program for Next Meeting of Parliament. —A cabinet meeting y for the purpose of arrang- ©H4RR/SM/TH ing the legislative program for the coming session of parliament and to outline the queen’s speech. CALL FOR MORE TROOPS. | Orders Insued to Mobilize Eighth Divi- sion British Army. LONDO) January 19.—Formal orders have been issued to mobilize the 8th Di- vision of the British army. Methuen Direcis an Attack. MODDER RIVER, Cape Colony, Thurs- day, January 18.—Gen. Methuen, who is in rebust health, personally directed another strong reconnoissance yesterday. ‘The Highlanders succeeded in driving the Boers from the Brush river bank by long-range volle; The Boer fire was ineffective. BOER TRENCHES SHELLED. Burghers Did Not Reply to Fire of Naval Guns. SPEARMAN’S CAMP, Natal, Thursday, January 18, 8:25 p.m.—The Boer trenches have been persistently shelled by the naval guns all day long. Small parties of Boers Lieut. Gen. Sir Charles Warren. were seen at intervals, and a large force, from the direction of Ladysmith, was seen trekking toward the northwestward British position. A balloon did good service in ob- serving that Lyttleton’s force made a demonstration in the directionof the Brake- fontein Kopjes, four miles north of the British position, under cover of a heavy artillery fire, to which the Boers did not respond. On the left Gen. Warren's troops remained in possession of two prominent kopjes. behind Spion Kop. There was some Boer sni put it was ineffective. s evacuated Prieska January 1h and returned northward a ross the river. ENMITY TOWARD ENGLAND. Shown in a Debate in the German Reichstag Today. BERLIN, January 19—In the reichstag today the debate on Herr Moeller’s joint in- tion of the government regarding ‘izure of German steamers by Britisir ips was opened. Herr Moeller said vigorous expression must be given to the indignation felt at the fact that the subsi- dized line te which the vessels belonged had observed the strictest neutrality, and expressed the opinion that the matter should furnish the opportunity of defining the rights of mail steamers. The unloading of the Bundesrath, he added could have been effected within a few The delay showed want of considera- for international courtesy, and it 1d be made incumbent upon the British Is to announce whether and to what extent their views in regard to the rights of mail steamers had been changed. The action. the speaker continued, appeared ar- and it was Germany's duty to de- rity for her ships in the future from, ritime nations. Germany was so neutral that even her arms factories had been prohibited from supplying the belliger- ents. The present case afforded a rare spectacle of the unity of all parties. | at Britain had not alw intained the neutrality marking Germany’s present attitude, and men should take care not to draw on themsely the hatred of the ci da world. This statement was greeted with loud cheers. HAMBURG, January 19.—A dispatch re- ceived here from Durban, Natal, says the Bundesrath’s cargo has been redelivered to her agents and will be reloaded. The steamer expects to sail for Delagoa bay Monday. ESTIMATE OF BL LER’S FORCES. British Genéral Makes Significant Re- mark Reg: ing White Flag. A London dispatch of last night says: Gen. Buller’s forces engaged in the flank- ing operation across the Tugela are some 13,000 or 14,004 bayonets, 1,200 horses and forty guns. The disposition of his other 15,000 or 20,000 men is not known, although the assumption is that the whole army will be in action when the hour for combined movement arrives. Three weeks ago Gen. Buller had 30.000 men. Considerable reinforcements have since reached him, giving him probably 4) men and eighty guns, all told. Estimates of how many men and guns the Boers have to oppose him are mere | guesswork. In not replying to Gen. Lyttle- | ton’s shells they are using the tactics that | proved so successful in the battles of Ma- gersfontein and Colenso, lying low in their | trenches and thus hoping to conceal their | precise position until the infantry advance. The Daily Chronicle's military expert sees a curious analogy between Gen. Buller’s | situation now and the eve of Magersfon- | tein. Now, as then, the Boers are making stand, with their backs to investing lines within a few miles. As Lord Methuen, after crossing Modder river, had to attack the Spyfontein and Magersfontein hills, so Gen. Buller, after passing the Tugela, faces invisible intrenchments in a rough country One correspondent mentions Gen. Buller's wheeled transport of 5,000 vehicles, which connects him with the raflroad, about thir- ty miles to the rear. Among these vehicles are thir traction engines, which draw from ten to fifteen wagons each. Buller’s Address to His Men. Gen. Buller has Issued a spirited appeal and instruction to the forces, beginning: Page.) (Continued on Sec WOULD SEE IT ———_+- Montana Chaplain Repeats Clark’s Promise. PROFFER OF A MEMBER'S SUPPORT Testimony Before the Senate Elec- tions Committee. “LANDING THE FISH” > The Senate committee on privileges and elections today resumed its investigation of the charges of bribery made against Senator Clark of Montana in connection with his election to the United States Sen- ate. Mr. Wm. F. Rector was again on the stand at the beginning of the day’s session. He said that all he did in securing rooms was reported to the higher authorities, and volunteered in this connection the state- ment that “in the case of every man pur- chased it was necessary to report to Mr. Clark.” He had not made such reports himself, being “only a private’ and not on such terms of familiarity with the “big guns” as to justify his approaching them. He repeated the statement made in his examination in chief, that apartments in the Warren Hotel had been refused be- cause there was no underground passage from that building to the legislative hall, contending that Mr. Clark's managers de- sired such a passage. Once when Senator Faulkner check the witness in his voluntary testi- mony he replied, “1 want to get out the whole truth; I am not interested in sup- pressing part of it, as you are.” Mr. Faulkner brought out the fact that prior to coming to Washington Mr. Rector had been engaged as an expert on the books of the Henn Mercantile Company as a stockholder. “Isn't Mr. Daly connected with that com- 2” asked Mr. Faulkner. I don't know,” the witness replied. “1 was only after the cashier and book- keeper.” Mr. Rector testified as to Mr. Davidson's bringing money over from Butte and leav- ing it in his charge for Mr. Steele, he being then employed by Davidson. “I don't re- member the times when he brought it,” he ypewriter and I looked at it. both awful glad to see it, as the typewriter had not been paid for four months and I hadn't a cent.’ Did you not know that Davidson then had money in bank?" Mr, Faulkner asked. indeed,” was the reply. “There were lots of others that didn’t know it.” Davidson had, he said, left the mon with him for Steele in an open envelope. tried to and he and the typewriter had looked at it after Mr. Davidson had left. Money had been thus brought to the room by David- son and left for Steele on three different occasions just before the meeting of the legislature. Landing the Fish. Rector said he did not know what brought in by Davidson at any only know,” he said, “that we accumulaftéd a draw full of He did not know what was done He did know, however, that Mr. nt out to “get” a member of the legislature who was to have $5,000, and that after returning he had said that he had had a hard trip, but that “ft was all right.” In another i had “‘landed his Mr. with it. Powell Black had been s stance Black had said he fish inside of an hour.” The witne: aid that if there wi in- censistencies in his testimony it was be- cause counsel had “frightened him He afterward id this ret ‘kK was “on the tide and not under oath When Mr. Faulkner pressed to know what part of the testimony was under oath and what was not, Rector replied: “I am just watching you to wink the other eye When you want to suppress anything.” This remark brought out a reproof by Chairman Chandler and a side remark by Senator Hoar that “The making of jokes was the prerogative of the chairman.” The witness said he had not told any one hat if he was not paid money by the Clark people he would testify as he had done, or that Mr. Henn of Butte was ) dollars. Chaplain Warren Call Mr. Rector was excused at 11:35 and Rev. B. H. Warren, who was chaplain of the Montana house of representatives in the last session, was called. Mr. Warren related the details of two conversations he had had with Senator Clark while the legislature was in session and just previous to the election of Mr. He said he had been a supporter of to pay him + . Clark; that he had heard the reports t he was using corrupt means to secure election, and that he had called upon him for the purpose of satisfying himself. “I asked the senator,” said the witne: “what the prospects of election were. Mr. Clark replied that they were all right. ‘I will be elected,” Clark said. He spoke as- suredly, but said he did not want the ele uon until he could get a majority of the democrats. He could, he said, with the as- sistance of the republicans, be elected at any time, but he did not want the election that way. Mr. Clark added that the mem- bers were coming to him at the rate of one or two a day. I then asked if he expected the republican vote. He replied that he did, and I asked him if he was sure of all of them, to which he replied that there might be one or two defecttons, adding, “That is all arranged for.’ 1 then told him that I heard a democratic member (giving the name of a member of the house) say he would support you for a consideration. “How much does he want? Mr, Clark asked. ““About $10,000, I think,’ I replied. Mr. Clark studied a moment and said, ‘I can't do anything like that myself, but 1 will have it fixed.” He did not, however, ¢ who would fix i r. Warren said he had scen Mr. Clark the next morning in the lobby of the hotel and Mr. Cl. had asked him where ‘his man” was. He had replied that he had cen the member, when Mr. Clark “Tell him I want his vote today.” ting, Mr. Clark had expressed him- self as weary of the proceeding and said it must come to a conclusion. plaining further, Mr. Warren sald he had not seen the member in accordance with this request, but that before he went ee Clark he had heard the member jokingly that he would vote for that gentleman for $10,000, RAILROADS FOR HONOLULU. to Plany Already Perfected for Building 310 Miles of Track. SAN FRANCISCO, January 19.—L. P. Matthews of Cleveland, Ohio, representing an eastern syndicate which proposes to censtruct electric railways in Honolulu, is on his way home He says that $5,000,000 may be expended, and added: “In the near future more than a million dollars’ worth of ties and lumber will be shipped from Puget Sound points to Ha- wall for the prbgcted roads. Plans al- ready perfected cil for the construction of seme 310 miles of electric lines. Most of the roads will b¢ in and around Honolulu and elsewhere on Oahu Island. _Ferry boats will be run between the termini of these roads and the various island: The President Favors Free Trade With Porto Rico. MEETING OF THE GABINET TODA California Presents an Invitation to Visit the Coast. VICE PRESIDENTIAL TALK — eee Secretary Root stated at the cabinet meeting today that he had ordered a stay of six months in the foreclosure of mort- gage and similar obligations in Porto Rico. While a period of six months is named, the orcer will remain in effect only until Con- gress has decided the future of the island and the President has signed the bill. This is the third stay order issued, and it is hoped by the administration that it will be the last, but there is felt to be every justification for it in the deplorable condi- tion of affairs in the little island. The President is unqualified fn his view that ihe island should be admitted to practically full relations of evel kind with the United States. Th particularly his view as to trade relations. c Open Market for Porto Rico. He believes that there should be the same ty of trade as between states and ter- ritories of the United States, thus giving Porto Rican products an epen market. As to civil government, he believes that the form should be territorial, with just such changes as conditions in the island make necessary. It may he stated that he has the friendliest feeling fer the island and its people. The President and cabinct approved the action cf Gen. Wood in suspending Mora, the Cuban who stood in the relation of prosecuting attorney, and who failed to ecute perpetrators of customs frauds in Havana. Respite for Homer Bird. On the recommendation of the Attorney General, the President today granted a re- spite of five weeks to Homer Bird, the for- mer Louisianian, who is under sentence of death at Sitka, Alaska, for the murder of mining companions. Mrs. Bird has talked with the Attorney General, and he wants time to investigate the facts. The respite will be telegraphed to Seattle and hurried to Sitka by steamer, as the sentence of the court was for execution on February 9. The respite is until March 16. Invited to ‘Frisco. Representative Julius Kahn of San Fran- cisco, accompanied by the other members of the California delegation in Congress, called on the President this morning and presented him a unique invitation from the Bohemians of America, a fraternal organi- zation with headquarters at San Francisco. The invitation is on a solid silver card, six by four Inches, and asks the President to attend a banquet at San Francisco on the 2%th instant, the occasion being the birth- day of President McKinley. The Bohemians of America hold a banquet annually on the birthday anniversary of the President in office, no matter what his politics. The President said he would not be able to ac- cept. President McKinley will be fifty-seven years old on the 29th, having been born at Os es, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 29, Senator Platt Calls. Senator Platt was one of the President's visitors today, others being Senators Clark, Cullom, Hale and Beveridge. Senator Platt Gid not dis polities with the President and, of course, said nothing about the vice presidential gossip so plentiful now. It is certain that the senator is not greatly wor- ried by the mention of a western man for econd place on the republican ticket. ‘They've got to have something to talk about,” he says. The senator is still loyal to Lieutenant Governor Woodruff. He has made just one reservation. That is that Mr. Woodruff hall € a united delegation from New York. He says that he will support the man who can get a solid delegation from New York. It is claimed that no man can do that but Mr. Woodruff, who is backed by a harmonious party organization. The senator also gives notice that independents and others who make a fight for a partial delegation will have him to encounter, as he will tolerate no man who hasn't his en- tire state back of him. New York repub- cans are also warned that their only hope is in uniting on one man; that the national convention will not take a man who cannot ommand the full strength of his state. Eg ogee an LABOR LEADER RELEASED Had Been Punished for Addressing Non- Union Men. The Department of Justice has received a telegram announcing that Circuit Judge Amos M. Thayer, sitting at Topeka, Kan., has released John P. Reese, a labor leader, on habeas corpus proceedings. The case is one of great interest in labor circles throughout the ccuntry. Reese was one of the leading coal miners engaged in che coal mine strike in Mis- sourl, Kansas and Indian territory. Dis- trict Judge John A. Williams, in proceed- ings brought before him at T@peka, granted an injunction forbidding the striking miners from using any means to deter non-union miners from going to work. Reese made a speech at Yale, Kan., in November last to fa party of non-union men, apd was so ef- fective in what he said that all of them refused to go to work. Reese was arrested and taken before Judge Williams on the charge of contempt of caurt in disregarding the portion of the injuretion forbidding the “use of any means” to,induge men not to work. Reese was sentenced on November 20, 1899, to three month in jail and to pay a fine of $100. ; Throughout the country labor organiza- tions quickly took the titer up, denounced the action of Judge Wi S AS an outrage on justice and liberty, and petitioned the Department of Justice, for @ pardon for Reese. The petition was pending when the telegram arrived announcing the release on habeas corpus. GV. TAYLOR HAS AN INNING. Beginning of Hearing for His Side in Election Contést. FRANKFORT, Ky., January 19.—This af- ternoon the hearing of ‘testimony on be- half of Gov. Taylor-and {Ideut. Gov. Mar- shall will begin under $he plan of pro- cedure. Four days weré allowed for the contestants’ testimony, In thaf time less than 50 out of 350 summoned could be heard. The contestees have a much larger num- ber of witnesses here, fram all over the state, and they have but fivedays in which to present their t ony. are grave fears of {rouble when it\is found that many of the witn t possibly -be heard. : ae = FIXED! AT THE WHITE HOUSE|A . PARDON ' DENIED Joseph Wilkins and Howard Butler Must Serve Their Sentences. ATTORNEY GENERAL GRIGGS’ OPINION He Quotes From the Records of the Internal Revenue Bureau. es THE STAR SUBSTANTIATED President McKinley has denied the appli- cation of Joseph Wilkins and Howard But- ler for pardon. The men, as well known, were convinced of a flagrant violation of the oleomargarine laws, and sentenced in the United States district court at Phila- delphia, March 17, 1898, the former to im- prisonment for six months and to pay a fine of $1,500 and costs, and the latter imprison- ment to four months and to pay a fine of $500 and costs. After exhausting all legal efforts to secure immunity for punishment the men were committed in November last to Moyamensing prison, Philadelphia, to serve out their sentences. Immediate meas- ures were taken by the powerful influences which are exerted by those engaged in the manufacture of and traffic in oleomargarine to secure a pardon for the men, and several attorneys, including Messrs. Jeremiah M. Wilson and Henry E. Davis of this ci were engaged to submit arguments in be- half of a favorable consideration of an appeal for executive clemency. The Even- ing Star upon learning of this movement published articles describing the persistent manner in which the oleomargarine laws had been violated by Wilkins and a storm of protest arose all over the country from agriculturists and dairymen against the granting of a pardon to the offenders. The Evening Star Substantiated. Attorney General Griggs took the matter under advisement, and his ‘decision in the case, upon which the President based his action, will be found to substantiate every word The Evening Star has pub- lished regarding the manner in which Wil- kins had been for years permitted to con- tinue his violations of the oleomargarine Jaws by paying money into the office of the internal revenue in the shape of compro- mises. The Attorney General's decision in full as follow: “The petitioners, Joseph Wilkins and Howard Butler, were convicted of fraudu- lently removing labels from packages con- taining oleomargarine, in violation of the act of August 2, 1886, and were sentenced on March 17, 1898, as to Wilkins, to im- prisonment for six months and to pay a fine of $1,500 and costs, and, as to Butler, to imprisonment for four months and to pay a fine of $500 and cc ‘The judgment of the district court_was subsequently affirmed in tht Circuit Court of Appeals, to whieh it was taken by the defendants, and an application subsequent- ly made to the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari was denied. Thereupon, in November last, the petitioners were com- mitted to serve their sentences of imprison- ment. Grounds for the Application. “The grounds of the application for a pardon as to Joseph Wilkins are that he has a wife and child, and that each of the prisoners is of good reputation and stand- ing, and has never been convicted of any other crime. They request, in view of the humiliation and disgrace already suffered by them, as well as of the heavy fines tm- posed, and in view of their good reputation and standing in the community, and of the fact that no revenue has been lost to the government, that that portion of the sen- tence providing for imprisonment be re- mitted. Internal Revenue Records. “The records of the office of internal revenue show that Wilkins has been a per- sistent violator of the oleomargarine laws, and that prior to the present prosecution he has escaped punishment by means of money payments in compromise. The rec- ords show that on December 14, 1893, Wil- kins filed a proposition to pay $2,100 and costs in compromise of all liabilities, civil and criminal, incurred in the first district of Ailinois, for selling oleomargarine as butter, and by violating various sections of the law relating to wholesale dealers in oleomar- garine. This offer was accepted December 26, 1893. “April 4, 1895, less than a year and a half after the last settlement, Wilkins again filed an offer of compromise, agree- ing to pay $2,000 in settlement of ‘his Ha- bihties for alleged frauds under the oleo- margarine law committed in connection With a firm in West Virginia. This offer was also accepted. The Reform School Case. A year later, April 2, 1896, Wilkins was indicted with another in the District of Columbia for selling unstamped oleomar- garine. On June 20, 1896, he offered to pay $1,000 in compromise, but this being re- jected, the case went to trial and the ac- cused was acquitted. There are three sep- arate indictments against him pending now in the District of Columbia for selling oleo- margarine in unstamped packages. These indictments were found January 4, 189° “The offense of which the petitioners are now convicted was committed December 20, 1896, two after the verdict of ac- quittal in the trial in the District of Co- lumbia. The petitioners were discovered by a@ revente agent in the act of scraping off the stamps, marks and brands from pack- ages of oleomargarine. In connection with the present case, an offer to pay $8,000 and costs in compro- was made, but rejected February 23, and thereupon the case went to trial with the result above stated. Wilkins Self-Convicted. “It is obvious that the business in which Wilkins was engaged must have been one of great profit, otherwise he .could not have afforded to make the very large pay- ments in compromise which he did made or offered to make. That he was aware of the fraudulent and dishonorable nature of the business in which he was persistently en- gaged appears from his own statement made in a letter addressed to the commis- sicner of internal revenue, October 31, 1893, from which I quote the following: ‘Having a thorough knowledge of the butterine business, and knowing the pos- sibilities of that business, if worked in certain directions and ways, I determined to try it, having the desire to make large gains quick. * * * After I found that some of my goods had been seized in Cin- cinnati, I settled up my business as quick- ly as possible, and did not ship any more. T came to you voluntarily, not being able to hold it any longer, and I sincerely trust you will deal with me as leniently as the law will allow you, promising you faith- fully that no such thing as this will ever occur again with me, and if I am allowed to make a request, I ask that I be al- lowed to settle without having the western houses know anything of my doings, be- cause I know it was very dishonorable in me to do as I have done, and if I am al- lowed to go along in life without the pub- lic knowing of my misdeeds, then I feel sure that I can make a new start in some way that is entirely honorable. I realize full well that I could have in some way kept away from the hands of the law, but to do this would mean the staying away from home and relatives, and above all the constant strain on my mind, and with the sense that I had done a great wrong, I could not stand it. Trusting that you will allow me to settle immediately which s THE FORTUNE BRINGER. Frequent and constant advertising brought me all I own.—A. T. Stewart. will allow me to drift balck into the nels of straight, Jegitimate business on, I remain.’ i Emboldened by Compromises. ‘Notwithstanding that the authoritie: were induced to sete with him upon “his promise of abstention in the future from similar violations of the law, it appears that he straightaway resumed his opera- tions, undoubtedly taking urage from the success with which he had compromised the first offenses in which he had been d covered. “It is absolutely clear that for such a persistent violator of the law something more than a@ money penalty was es: tial. The sentence of imprisonment imposed in this case was peremptorily required py the circumstances. Nor can I say that the sentence was anything but moderate. It is less than the average sentence imposed upon persistent violators-of the intern revenue laws relating to the distillation of spirits, and much less than the ordinar sentences imposed for violation of the laws against the use of the mails for fraudulent purpos Public Should Be Protected. “Not only ts the dignity of the law to be upheld against such persistent violations, but the public is entitled to be protected by the salutary influence of stern punishment against fraud and deception such as were practiced in this case, by means of which the petitioners were enabled to impose upon innocent purchasers as genuine butter a counterfeit article which, if sold for what it really was, would have brought very much less in the open market. “I do not think that the sentences snould be interfered with.” —— EATHING FOR BA‘ E SHIPS. Change of Opinion in the Naval Board of Construction. Secretary Long now has before him the decision of an interesting question raised by the naval board of construction relative to the sheathing of the big battle ships about to be built. ‘the board is divided on this subject, four members opposing the sheathing and the chief constructor, Ad- miral Hichborn, standing alone in its favor. This indicates considerable change in the opinion of the board within a very short time, for just before the last session of ‘ongress convened, and while the plans for the new construction to be asked for were in process of formation, the same members of the board strongly recommended to Con- gress that the ships should be sheathed. So strong were the arguments adduced, such as the tremendous increase of the efficiency of the sheathed ship as’ compared with the unsheathed vessel, that Congress was convinced, and although the sheathing involved a considerable additional that was unanimously authoriz plans for the ships were practic plete save in details, and it that all that was delaying the vertisements was the necessity of legi tion enabling armor to be secured,+ the board had a change of heart As already stated, the majority now seeks to get rid of the sheathing, but inasmuch as the appropriation act positively requires such sheathing, the consent of Congress must be had to make a change, even if Secretary Long sees fit to adopt the ma- jority vier Tt seems probable th matter wijl come up for final deci fore the naval committees of Congre: which will hear expert testimony upon it. 0 EXTENDED SIX MONTHS. More Time Given to Mortgagers in Porto Rico. Secretary Root issued an order today ex- tending the time for the foreclosure of mortgages on property in Porto Rico for six months, on condition, however, that such extension shall not apply if contrary to legislation enacted by Congress in the interval. The time for the payment of mortgages under the previous orders of the War Department expired today, and the ex- tension authorized by the Secretary of War today was based upon the hope that in the meantime conditions in Porto Rico would so improve that the owners of the property in question would be able to take up the old mortgages or sell the property for good prices. S = action is the result of conferences with residents of Porto Rico representing all the material interests of the island, and is intended merely to tide over present financial straits until Con- gress shall have had an opportunity to leg- is! in the matter of the government of the island of Porto Rico, particularly with reference to the tariff relations between the island and the United States. +e «—— IT WAS MINERAL WATER. Mr. Crafts Thought the President Was Drinking Champagne. Some time ago Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, who figures as a “reformer” about the Cap- itol, made a charge in a speech delivered in Boston, in effect that during the last hours of the Fifty-sixth Congress the Pres- ident and cabinet, while in the President's room at the Capitol, were served with quantities of champagne for thelr refresh- ment while the President was waiting to sign bills passed shortly before adjourn- ment. This report was circulated, but only recently reached A. D. Gaston, who for s 1 years has been in charge of the President's room, and who stood watch at the door of that room during the entire time the President occupied it on March 4. Mr. Gaston recently met Mr. Crafts in the Senate lobby, and, taking him to task for his reckless statement, asked him on what he had based it. Rev. “I saw bottles carried to that room on that day,” replied Mr. Craf: “Perh: you did,” replied the door- keeper. “but if your eyes were good you must have plainly seen the label and known that the bottles contained mineral water. I directed an attendant to bring some min- eral water to the room for the President and his cabinet.” He told Mr. Crafts that he had slandered the President, and should be branded as a libeler. _———— BURGLARS GET $15,000. Proceeds of Robbing the Bank at El- letsville, Ind. BLOOMINGTON, Ind., January 19—The Bank of Elletsville, ten miles north of here, was dynamited and robbed today. It is re- ported that $1.500 was stolen. The robbers pried. the windows with crowbars, used nitroglycerine on the safe and escaped on a handear. ——— BASE BALL PLAYER’S TRIPLE CRIME Martin Bergen Kills Wife, Children and Then Himself. WORCESTER, Mass., January 19.—Mar- tin Bergen, a member of the Boston base ball team, shot and killed his wife and two children and then himself at his home in North Brookfield today. ——_+«<-—__ Soldiers’ Deaths in Cuba. Gen. Wood, at Havana, informed the War Department today of the deaths of Dominick Welch, E, 5th Infantry, on the 16th instant, at Santiago, from a gunshot wound, self-inflicted, and of William E. Warner, I, 2d Infantry, on the 17th in- stant, at Sagua la Grande, from a knife wound, inflicted by a Cuban. Whether the deaths were due to accident or design Gen. Wood did not state. ns Cuban Pos: Receipts. According to a statement made by the War Department today the total of postal receipts for the Island of Cuba for the five months ended November 30, 1899, as audited, was $81,115. By months the re- ceipts.were: July, $15,000; August, $15,000; September, $16,000; October, $17,000; Ni vember, $18,115. 'UTAH POSTMASTERS Investigation Into the Charges of Polygamy. lean GROSVENOR MAKES DENIAL Methods of Handling Letters in the Post Office. eens LENTZ INSISTS es MR. The House committee on post offices post roads today resumed investigation of the charges of polygamy made against two federal officials, Postmaster John C. Gra- ham of Provo City, Utah, and Postmaster Orrin Smith of Logan, Utah. The commit- tee is acting under a ylution of the House, introduced by Representative Lentz of Ohio. Representative Grosvenor of Ohio was Present and Chairman Loud read to h'm the statement made at the last meeting by Mr. Lentz, to the effect that Mr. G had said to him: “You don’t suppose we were fools enough to let gras® grow under our feet? We had men look into this as soon as uu made your cha a Gen. Grosvenor's Testimony. Mr. Grosvenor said that December 15 last na train with Mr. Lentz, and Mr. Lentz had called his attention to a state- ment in a paper that this investigation be pushed and would show that the President knew of the charge these officials “I would as soon have expected that a conversation with my wife would be re- peated that this conversation would be brought up in this way. “I said the investigation would fail; t there was nothing in it. I took the immediately to ascertain what was in it after making the denial. I made that de- nial without full knowledge of the facts, but with full assurance that the charges could not be true, knowing William Mckin- ley as I do. “I told Mr. Lentz that they may search as much as they please; they won't lind a scrap of evidence. I never used the words ‘we didn't let the grass grow under our feet. pme Deninix Made. He i he never said a wort to the President, never went to the Post ‘ilice De- partment. He wrote to United Sta marshal of Utah, whe had been the refere in the appointment of these mer we mar- shal, Mr. Miller, appeared in Wa<hington about that time, ard he said there was no such ev! Mr. G of removing against the officials > pal rear the Post Offi run incidentally mentior the Pre upen a subsequent . and the jent had said that of course he would not ve appointed polygamists to office. Did Not Use the Language. Mr. Grosvenor denied having used language which Mr. Lentz attributed him. “I certainly would not have gone to the biiterest enemy the President has io make such a statemeat.” “Did you use the phrase S grow unser our feet’ n Loud. “I did not, nor language which could be tortured into such an expression,” an- swered Mr, Grosvenor. ou did not address any executive offi- - of the government about the c ‘0, because I felt sure that the be no such charges on file here there might have been some derelict in Utah, and wrote there to find out ‘didn’t let * asked Ch rr ce Postmaster eneral Smith. Postmaster General Smith app+ fore the committee. He said he h: further knowledge ef the case than was | contained in his letter of a few days ago. That letter, addressed to Chairman Loud, w as follows: ‘On looking intc the papers as to the postmastership at Logan, Utah, I find the! facts to be follow: ‘Orson Smith was appointed postm ovember 19, 1897, upon the recomm tion of the referees in the usual way was nothing in the papers to indicate he was a polygamist or that any Such legation had been made respecting him, not a word to raise that question in connection with the appointment. He was confirmed y the Senate January 20, 1808. ‘After his appointment there 2 letter from the F Mr. ng date November and addr to the President, ch was sent to the Post ( fice Department and there received Novem- ber 30. There is nothing to indicate that any atiention was attracted to it. The ap- pointment had been mz and as thou- sands of papers come in, it was filed away, ; rently without examina is | ther paper in he case indica j tion until December . y the nomination was in the to the Provo City case, the facts are, s I stated to you, that there is no paper | in the department of any date making an allegation of polygamy inst the incum- | bent, but that when it became a matter of j public report some time ago I wrote to the | marshal of the territory asking him for any { formation in his possession, and he re- | plied that a charge had been’ made in the court, and the postmaster had been ver for trial, which was soon to take We decided that we ought not to convict in advance of trial, and reserved action until the judicial determination Rev. Clemenson's Letter. Postmaster General Smith produced a letter which had been r ved at the Post Office Department from Rev. Mr. Clemen- out Orson Smith. This letter e Nov@mber 30, 1807, and Orson Smith, who had been appointed November 19. was confirmed by the Senate January s as folio ‘Personal to the Presi “Logan, Cache Co., Utah, Ne “President William McKinley: “Kind Sir: I take the liberty of again addressing you on the subject of th postmastership. I see by the dis that an appointment has been mad that Orson Smith is the appointee. With- out desiring in any way to seem even to wish to meddle with the proper functions of the Post Office Department, I yet am of the conviction that this appointment would not have been made had the department known that Mr. Smith, a high ecclesiastic of the Mormon Church, is living in open violation of the laws of the United States and the constitution of this state. “At the present hour his second and third wives(?) are nursing young babies, and by both precept and example Mr. Smith en- 1897. courages the practice of polygamy as the highest ecclesiastic the Mormon Church this county. neborely, Mr. President, it would be more consistent, more in keeping with decency and national honor, to have given the pointment to Michael Boyle, an old soldier, than to give it to a rebel against our laws and-an enemy to our Christian civilization. “I write you thus frankly and earnes' not because I have any personal ill-will toward Mr. Smith, but because I am a Christian missionary under the Presbyterian Church, and it is my duty to do what I can to solve this vexed question of Mormonisra. What is most needed at present in Utah is not the appointment of Mormons who are law-breakers, to federal positions, but the encouragemexit cf non-Mormons to come