Evening Star Newspaper, February 27, 1900, Page 1

——SS— THE EVENING STAR. PUBLISHED DAILY, EXCEPT SUNDAY femporary Business Office, 1199 Penasylvanis Avenue. The cane Star Newspaper Company. s. KAUPFMANN, Pres’t. New York Office: 126 Tribune Building Chicago Office: Boyce Bullding. London Office: Trafalgar Bulldiags, Trafalgar Square. The Eveniog Star is served to subscribers tn the city by carriers, cu thelr own account, at 10 cents Der week, or 44 cents per month. ies at the counter, 2 cents each. By mafl—anywhere in the United States or Canada—postuge prepald—6u cents ber month. Satusiav Quintusle Sheet Star. $1 per year; with foreign p: stage added. $3. (Entered at the Post Oitice at Washington. D. ©.. as second-class maf] matter.) TF All mal! subseriptio: Rates of @ made known on applt = ‘aust be paid in advance. | NO, Che Lvening — SSeS ~ Sos Star. 14,664. WASHINGTON, D. Oe TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1900-—FOURTEEN PAGES. CENTS. TWO CRONE CAPTURED Boer Leader Capitlates to Roberts SURRENDER — UNCONDITIONAL —_-+—_——_—. He Only Had About 4,000 Men Left. All England is Rejoicing Over the Victory Today. PRISONERS GO TOCAPE 'IOWN LONDON, February 27, 5:02 p.m.—The following dfs- war office has received the pate “PAARDEBERG. Morning —From dally from Lord Roberts: 11 O'clock Tuesday information furnished © department neral Cronje s to me by the intelliger t that Ge ne appare! becoming more depressed and the disee of the and the troops neng the le “rs were rapidly in- < feeling was doubtless ac- uted by the disappointment caused wh reinforcements which tried tor al Cronje were defeated by our troops 2%. I resolved, bring re to bear on the Closed in on the Boers. s were the enemys laag his position, and at how- ap from De Aar. measures a by keeping and move- ptive At 3 am. today a was made by the an regiment some engineers, supported by the Ist Gordon Highlanders and 2d Shropshires, resulting in our gain- ing a po some 600 yards nearer the ene- my and within about elghty yards of his trenches, w’ selves and maintained their positions till morning, a gallant deed worthy of our comrades, and which, I am glad nded by comparatively mg advance and ere our men intrenched them- Crenje Cries Enough. “This clinched matters, for at Gaylight today a letter signed by General Cronje, In + he stated that he surren- @ered unconditionally, was brought to our @utposts under a flag of truce.” “In my reply I told General Cronje he apparent General Cronje. must present himself at my camp. and that his forces must come out of their laager after laying down their arms. By 7 am. I received General Cronje and dispatched a telegram to you announcing the fact. In the course of conversation he asked for kind treatment at our hands, and also that Riis wife, grandson, private secretary, ad- Jutant and servants might accompany him wherever he might be sent. I reassured him and told him his request would be omplied with. I informed him that a gen- eral officer would be sent with him to Cape Town to insure his being treated with Proper respect en route. He will start this afternoon under charge of Major General Prettyman, who will hand him over to the general commanding at Cape Town. Get About 4,000 Prisoners. “The prisoners, who number about 4,000, will be formed into commandos under our own officers. They will also leave here to- @ay; reaching the Modder river tomorrow, when they will be railed to Cape Town in detachments.” The above dispatch was read in both the house of lords and the house of com- mons today. The reference to the Cana- dians evoked immense and prolonged cheer- ing. Mr. A. J. Balfour, the government leader in the house of commons, said he had no Information relative to the Boer guns. Officers and Artillery Captured. Twenty-nine Transvaal officers were cap- tured and eighteen Free State officers were made prisoners. ‘The guns captured from the Transvaal forces were three seventy-five-centimeter- Krupps, one four-pounder and one Maxim gun. From the Free Staters were captured one seventy-five-centimeter Krupp, nine one- pounders and one Maxim gun. NOTED OFFICE! CAPTURED. s Majors Albrecht and Vondewitz Among Those Who Surrendered. LONDON, February 27.—The officers cap- tured Roberts besides Gen. Piet Cronje include the following well-known commanders: Chief Commandant M. J. We verans, a member of the volksraad; Cornet Frus, M the famous German artiller Major Vondewitz, the distinguished German by Gen. ‘ied > Al- ‘man; a Scandinavian; plendid the officer, responsible for most of the engineering works of the Boers since commencement of the war. HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED. London Was Outwardly Calm Over General Roberts’ Victory. ‘DON, February ‘27.—“Majuba aveng- “Cronje reat Britis These are the expressions being shouted all over London today, yet there are few outward signs of the natural joy that Lord Roberts’ dispatch has caused. The capitulation of Gen. had been looked upon tainty for a week past, and now that It has by anticipation. The magnitude of the success of “Little Bobs” ts almost overlooked in the fact that it synchronized with the anniversary of Majuba Hill and wiped out a dishonor of nineteen years’ standing. While the after- noon papers all comment upon this happy coincident they do not forget the splendid of the enemy. The St. James Gazette says: “The splendid courage of the Boers has not been able to withstand any longer the bombardment which few modern soldiers cculd have withstood for so many hours as they have The influence of the sur- upon the situation at Bady- Le ed, surrenders,” victory.’ really Cronje as almost a cer- come enthusiasm finds itself discounted bravery ays. render not only smith, but on the whole conduct of the will be immense. “If the news of the relfef of Ladysmith eacl Sngland, and it is quite pos- sible this may be the case, the cup of na- full.” Comments of the Globe. der the heading of “Majuba “We shall not jump at that the war is over, but t a victory has been gained which brings end well in sight. Gen. Cronje no doubt eded in delaying Lord Roberts’ en- trance into Bloemfontein, but the delay is all he has been able to accomplish.” ‘The Westminster Gazette, which fs in- clined to be pro-Boer, says: ‘“Admiration for the desperate valor of Gen. Cronje is mingled with anger at the necessity im- posed upon us of purchasing victory at this cost. Let us remember Paardeberg, if we like, but forget Majuba and have done with the whole train of misleading associations and mischievous ideas which gathered around that unhappy memory.” Speculation 1s rife as to how soon Lord Roberts will be able to press on to Bloem- fontein, bug before he enters the capital of the Free State he will undoubtedly have to overcome a powerful force and take strong entrenchments. The news of Gen. Cronje received with unbounded Windsor. The queen graphed her cong erts and the troops. ReJoicing in the Provinces. There Was a much more outward display of rejoicing in the provinces than In Lon- don. The Glasgow and Liverpool stock ex- changes were greatly excited. The mem- bers sang “God Save the Queen’’ repeated- ly and cheered or “Little Bobs.” Flag: were liberally displayed on the municipal and public buildings in all the large towns. Windsor was very jubilant at the news, which the queen disseminated t!mmediately after it reached her, and the inhabitants seized the occasion of her majesty driving through the town on her way to take a train for a visit to the wounded South Afri- can soldiers at the Netley Hospital to give vent to their delight. The queen, who was looking remarkably well, showed evident signs of deep satis- faction, smiling continually and bowing in response to the congratulatory cheers greeting her on all sides. Her majesty took quantities of flowers to distribute to the wounded. All the garrison towns and naval ports received the news with the liveliest satis- faction, soldiers and sailors vying with each other in displays of delight. tional happiness would be "s surrender was atisfaction at immediately tele- tulations to Lord Rob- NEARLY 4,000 OF THE BOERS. General Roberts Sends a Cosrected Estimate of Prisoners. LONDON, February 27, 6:25 p.m.—It ts now announced that Lord Roberts has no- tified the war office that the number of Boer prisoners approximates 4,000, of which about 1,150 are citizens of the Orange Free State. The remainder are citizens of the Transvaal. Casualties on Sanday, February 18. LONDON, February 27.—The war office has {ssued a st of 721 non-commissioned officers and men wounded in the fighting at February 18, includ- ing sixty-three Canadians and 273 High- Paardeberg Sunday, landers. NEWS UNEXPECTED IN PARIS. Newspapers Pay High Tributes to the Valor of Cronje. PARIS, February 27.—The news of the surrender of General Cronje made a consid- erable impression in Paris, especially as, al- though the press dispatches represented the Boer commander's position as hopeless, Lord Roberts himself had been so unex- pectedly reticent during the last few days that he misled people here into the belief that Cronje’s situation was less critical than it really was. ‘The newspapers of this city pay the high- est tribute to General Cronje’s valor, and express the opinion that his surrender ts ‘They add that it will only make fhe resistance of the Boer nation all the more desperate. Several newspapers, however, urge that Great Brit- ain qoceut mediation now that she has se- PO! pong ant ertant victory and stop fur- far from ending the war. ther compelled the 1 MR. CANNON SPEAKS Earnestly Urges the Porto Rican Tariff Bill, BAILEY CLOSES FOR THE OPPOSITION Senator Depew's Remarks in the Senate Cheered. CASE TAKEN UP QUAY The last day of the general debace on the Porto Ki tariff bill opened in the House today with a twenty-minute speech by Mr. Carmack (Tean.), in opposition to the bill. The alternative presented by the bill, he said, was the abandonment of our priceless principles or of our new possessions. The country had been dazzled with the gorgeous picture of empire, yet at the very thres- hold of the new departure, he said, gentle- men on the other side had been appalled lest the trade which they had looked at with covetous eyes would bring ruin and destruc- tion to American labor. Therefore the new pe ions were to become colonies and be turned over to carpet bagger adventurers He said that Mr. Grosvenor the other day had displayed dense ignorance when he had declared that this was the battle of 1860 over again. He read from the republican piaiform of 1860 to show that it set up the contention maintained by the demo- crais now—that the Constitution was su- preme in the territorie nd extended over every foot of ground over which the United States had jurisdiction. “That was the doctrine of the republican party and Abraham Lincoln,” said he, “and stand bere to defend the theory that very and_ politic: potism cannot be imposed within the diction of our coun- try; that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are the inalienable rights of all within our jurisdiction.” Quoting Chairman, Payne. Mr. Clayton (Ala.), who followed Mr. Carmack, created much amusement and en- thusiasm by reading a letter @ritten by Chairman Payne to W. H. Curtis of Pal- myra, N. Y., January 24, 1900, in which he advocated free trade with Porto Rico on the ground that it would give relief to the stricken island. The letter also contained the following reference to the Philippine “Under the treaty: the Philippine Islands are to have free trade with Spain for ten ears. We could not extend these tariff to the Philippine Isiands even if we sked that this letter and an extract fi . Payne's speech in support of the bill be printed in parallel columns in the ord. ne smilingly . and expre. would be no objection. Mr. Kleberg (Texas) and (Tenn.) also opposed the bill. “Brood of Trust clared that the 1 to Washingto aders of the rep assented to the re- the hope that there Mr. Pearce brood of dd had an par- latter had flocl The trusts to turn their upon Porto Rico. He ked if the peo) that island were not entitled to as much y as the Itan of Sulu, who w with all the Philippine ts Mr. DeArmond (Mo.) posed to set aside the Constitution not for the purpose of doing something philan- thropic, but in the interests of the partial or complete enslavement of a helpless peo- ple. “This change of front had been brought ebout by the influence of ihe agents of mighty corporations.” He argued that nothing could be done out- side of the Constitution. There was always one supreme test from the beginning of the republic until the last sad hour of its ex- istence, {f that should come, and that test was the Constitution. He said the administration had deter- ined blindly and greedily to hold the Phili s for what could be made out of matters little about Porto Rico. Ricans were to be crucified In that the cross might be raised in Philippines. We could withdraw from archipelago and leave 10,000,000 of 1 people to work out their own sal- It Porto order th sald he, “that is what we ought to do (democratic applause). But if they are neld they must held under mstitution. The inhabitants must be ican citizens, black, brown and yel- and ultimately be represented upon floor with more representation than all New England.” He thought the time was coming when there would be a revul- sion in the republican party, when the re- publicans wiio now had the backbone to op- pose the present program would be hailed as the jors of their party. Mr. Cannon Speaks Earnestly. Mr. Cannon (Ill.) followed Mr, DeAr- mond. He spoke with much earnestness. He was old enough, he said, to judge time by events and he had grown to distrust those who came, when great public crises arose, talking of the unconstitutionality of measures to meet them. He remembered when a President with a whole party be- hind him asserted that there was no power under the Constitution to coerce a sover- eign state when those states were already in arms prepared to shoot the life out of what was left of the Union. The Consti- tution, he said, was the buckler of those who attempted to embarrass the govern- ment during the war. It was the shield of Valandingham and Voorhees. Mr. Cannon said he for one belleved the Constitution was made for the people and not the people and the country for the Con- stitution. (Applause.) Never thank God, said he, had there been a day, or hour, during the administration of Jefferson, Jackson, Polk, Lincoln or McKinley when in a crisis a way had not been found to meet it. When he heard the gentleman from Missouri an- nounce the doctrine that we should forsake the Filipinos in their helpless condition, he had wondered why that gentleman ‘had not voted against the $20,000,000 appropria- tion to pay Spain for these islands. “He did vote against it.’ interposed Mr. Wheeler (Ky.). “Yhen he is one of the thirty-four con- sistents,” replied Mr. Cannon. “What about the rest of you? If 1 held the views you do I'd quit.” Continuing, Mr. Cannon said he believed we could do what Jefferson did when he signed the act which was an exact copy of the Spooner bill, fal power over the Louisiana territory in him until the insurrection was put down. “What is the administration's policy?’ asked Mr. Norton (Ohio). “I'll tell you,” responded Mr. Cannon. “As to Porto Rico, do the only thing that can bring relief to the island—pass this bill. As to the Philippines, continue to do so as we are doing—put down the insurrection and restore law and order.” (Applause). coe for keeping the Philippines,” he con- Con: for us. that issue. Pr (Renewed applause.) to build the Nicaragua canal. was ridiculous. until the hall now before the Senate, to vest the executive, legislativeand judic- . “under the treaty and under the ution, subject to the legislation of the cewmtry that owns them and work out good resuits for them and good results I'll risk the people's. verdict pn , Mr. Cannon took as an fllus- tration the possibility that we might have to buy a strip of territory through which Immediately the cry would be raised that we could not do it because these revolutionists would immediately become full-fledged citizens. It “No,” said Mr. Cannon, raising his voice ang, “the fathers of our country in building the Constitution did not build a trap.” (Great’ applause.) Not Dictated by Trusts. Turning directly to the bill, Mr. Cannon scouted the cry that had been raised that the trusts had dictated tt. He charged that both the tobacco andi sugar stored in Porto Rico was already owned by the sugar and tobacco trusts. They Rad put forward some natives as stool pig@ons to beg for free trade, so that, while, the democrats cried out against the trusts, they would be voting for them. Their vette would be the voice of Jacob, but their hahd would be the hand of Esau. (Applause.): “Do these walking delegates that are here from Porto Rico get any of the proceeds of this bill? Yes, they get one one-mil- lionth of it. Do ‘their American friends that are bowing them around get any of it? Thank God, no, not a cent (laughter), but it goes to Porto Rico, goes for local gov- ernment, goes for roads, lgoes for school houses, and when this bil passes, for the ‘next two years, $2,200,000 a year will come by this kind of taxation, and every cent will go back to the Porto Ricans. That is the republican proposition.” Mr. Ridgely (Kan.): ‘Could not the same plea be made to raise revenue for any state or territory within the boundaries of the nation Mr. Cannon: “Oh, there is not the same ssity. The republican party deals with facts and conditions. If it is an elephant that comes in the road it meets the ele- phant. If it is a mouse that comes in the road it meets the mouse. If my friend would meet either mouse or elephant he would say, ‘My God, I cannot do anything, snot a glacier.” (Laughter and se on the republican. side.) “Now, I want to be fair. In my judg- ment, my democratic friends are not really at heart opposed to this bill I wilt teil you what they are hoodooing about. (Laughter) They see that if this humane and proper measure is passed and goes into eftect, it will tell all the country and all the world that the American Congress,with its American civilization, with its ‘law and Constitution, bas the power to be prac tical, and they say, ‘We will take nothing, when we go out with the bogie man and with Bryan and Sulzer or Bryan and some- body else, we will take nothing when we &o out and undertake to- scare the people. “When we talk of the eighty tribes of bar- barians, of the Sulu sultan with his wives, of the Neg-ttes and the Malay races and that they will never in 500 years come up to be competent for the same kind of gov- ernment that we have, and it will cost money, and that it is wicked, and from the ndpoint of policy we cannot keep them, and, therefore, we are going to throw them away, although we pledged to keep them, although we paid $20,000,600 in the bargain: let_us throw them away, because it is not safe. The Constitution jumps over there on @ thousand legs and you cannot deal with them."" ‘The sing-song, inimitable manner in which Mr. Cannon droned this out convulsed the House and set the members into an uproar of laughter and applause. When Mr. Cannon concluded he received an immense demonstration, and it was some time before order could be restored. It was then arranged that the remaining three hours of the general debate should be divided equally between the two sides and to be used by Mr. Bailey (Texas) and Mr. Dolliver iowa), who were to.clos r ener close for their Mr. Bailey Closes for Democrats. Mr. Bailey spoke first. As he arose his political associates gave him a round of ap- plause. Preliminary to launching upon bis argument Mr. Bailey, adverting to Mr. Can- non’s speech, said that only“pne portion of it called for serious reply—the accusation against the democratic side for voting the 000,000 to Spain. Mr. Bailey said that hat vote committed the democrats to noth- ing as to the future policy toward the Phil- ippines. They voted the money to discharge n obligation of the government incurred vithout their consent. urning to the bill, Mr. Balley declared that there was involved in it a question of law and @ question of morals. THE SENATE. Previous announcement that Mr. Depew (CN. Y.) would address the Senate today drew a large attendance of senators and a notable assemblage of spectators in the gale leries. Aside from the eulogy’ he pronounced upon the late Vice President Hobart, this was Mr, Depew's first formal speech in the Senate, and particular interest was manifested in {t. Senators on both sides of the chamber gave him close attention. Mr. Turley (Tenn.) was entitled to the floor at the conclusion of routine business to conclude his speech on the Quay case; but he yielded to Mr. Depew, saying that if time allowed he would finish his speech after the New York senator had concluded; if not he would go on tomorrow. Mr. Depew addressed himself to the res- olutions offered on the Philippine question, particularly to that proposed by Mr. Bever- idge (Ind.), declaratory of a policy of the Bnited States toward the Philippine Is- lands, His remarks will be found in an- other column. As Mr. in Depew concluded his peroration, hich he pictured commerce and civili- ion proceeding hand in hand, the galler- ies were swept with hearty applause. The demonstration called out not only an admonition from the chair, but a sharp pro- test from Mr. Bacon (Ga.), He said that during the past year there had been a marked departure from the rule requiring that there should be no demonstration of approval or disapproval. He thought the public ought to be informed that a repeti- tion of such demonstration would result not merely in an admonition from the chair, but an enforcement of the rule. Mr. Turley on the Quay Case. Mr. Turley (Tenn.) then resumed his speech, hegun yesterday, on the case re- lating to the seating of Mr. Quay of Penn- sylvania. Before he had been speaking a minute he was interrupted by Mr. Penrose (Pa.) at the point where Mr, Turley was maintain- ing that the framers ofthe Constitution in- tended that the legislature and not the governor should name the senators, except in certain circumstances presented clearly by the Constitution. Mr. Penrose inquired if it were not the intention of the framers of the Constitu- tion that the Senate at all times should be full, so that in view of such Important mat- ters as the “force” bill, an impeachment trial or some similar case coming before the Senate, any one of which might hinge upon one vote, every state would be fully represented. Mr. Turley replied that that was the in- tention of the framers of the Constitution, but it would not necess: follow that the Senate at all times could Be kept full. Mr. Turley, in @ colfoquy.. with Mr. Spooner, called attention to the fact that another objection to an apppintment being made by a governor was.that the governor did not always represent the people, as did the legislature. i Movements of Naval Vessels. The Navy Department has been informed of the following naval movements: The Monongahela has arrived at ‘Thomas. The Prairie has sailed from Southshields for Rouen. The Wilmington has.arrived at Buenos sailed frpmSan Juan for ‘The Caesar has Port Royal. The Buffalo will be empjoyed in training landsmen and will be€ommissioned about April 1. : : Stin tm the a fasty. J. C, Monoghan has resigned as consul at Chemnitz, Germany, and’ his brother, H. P. Monoghan of Rhode Island, has been ap- pointed in his place. -Mr, J. C. Monoghan was formerly a di rat, Spent many years abroad, and in his study of the tarift abroad became an enthusiastic republican. St. AT THE WHITE HOUSE President Now Favors a Small Tariff for Porto Rican Goods. INFORMAL CABINET DISCUSSION Cannot Set a Precedent for Action as to the Philippines. CHINA AND THE OPEN —__+—__- DOOR President McKinley is favorable to the passage of a bill providing for a small tariff on Porto Rican goods coming to this country. He will sign and indorge, if it passes Congress, the proposed measure fix- ing the tariff at 15 per cent of the Dingley tariff. and limiting the operation of the measure to two years. In fact. there are many strong assertions today that the President himself brought about this com- promise—first, for the reason that he wants to see his party united, and, next, for the reason that he is perfectly willing to take his share of the responsibility for the pas- sage of such legislation. He wants it un— derstood. however, that every dollar of the money collected must be spent in Porto Rico. ‘The Président has not been forced to such a position, because it is too weii known that had he insisted on absolute free (rade he would have been able to defeat the bill outright. He could have done so this way. and in addition possessed the vete power to accomplish {ts defeat. In the cabinet session today there was considerable talk of the Porto Rican bill and its possible political effects. It is sald that several of the cabinet officers who lave been out of the city had something to say in the nature of observations. ‘Th talked about public sentiment. There w not any formal discussion of the subie The President is not worrying ‘himself about any feature of the situation, and therefore asks for no suggestions from his cabinet. He does not fear the political con- sequences of the passage by Congress of a bill imposing duties on the products of Porto Rico. He believes, with other leaders of his party, that the repubiicans will be able to explain to the people of the country any matter now causing adverse criticism. The President this morning talked with Representatives Bromwell of Ohio and Crumpacker of Indiana, both of whom have been opposing the passage of the bill. On leaving the White House Mr. Bromwell said that he believed the amended bill will pass and will be satisfactory to the people and the republican party. Mr. Crumpacker, it is understood, has not changed his views, and will vote against the bill on the ground that it is unconstitutional. He that it will be the means of hurting the party in the fall elections. The opinion is cautiously expressed by a good authority that the entire cabinet be- licves in putting a temporary tariff on Porto Rican goods, but it may be positively stated that the question was never brought up for formal action in the cabinet room. When the President wrote his message advocating free trade with the island the cabinet agreed with him. New light has since changed their opinions, just as the opinions of many other prominent men have been changed. The change in the attitude of the republl- cans, or of thousands of them, is due to the possession of the Philippfhes. To admit Porto Rican goods to this country free of charge would mean, ft ts pointed out today, that Congress would have to take the sam: course as to the Philippines. Almost ev republican who has talked with the Pre: dent opposes free trade with the Philip- pines, and the policy of the party as to that island is determined now unless the Su- preme Court ultimately decides that Con- gress has no power to impose varying im- post duties. Talking of the Open Door. But the most serious question of all that has yet arisen is that free trade with the Philippines might lead to international complications of grave character. Secretary Hay has just concluded with the nations of Europe an agreement that the policy trade in China shall be open and free briefgthat the United States shall have same right to commerce in the British French or Russian spheres in China those countries themselves. y: as Would Europe agree to maintain an open door in China for the United States while this country had free trade with the Philippines? Would Russia be content to have her goods pay heavily in duties in the Philippines and those of the United States go into the islands free? Then comes the question asked by leading administration republi- cans today, if this country is to have the door kept open for her in China can she shut her own door in the Philippines to the other nations? The territory Germany owns in China is just as much her own a8 that owned by the United States in the Philippines. Secretary Hay is giving this matter serious thought. The next question thé leaders have given profound study to is whether free trade can be maintained with the Philippines without dangerously injuring the protective tariff system which the republicans espouse. The sugar, tobacco and other agricultural pro- ducts of the Philippines would be so large as to almost destroy the same industries in this country if admitted to the ports of the United States free. One leading republican of the administra- tion has been so bold as to say that if the anticipated troubles over the Philippines should become realties he would favor re~ Mnquishing their possession by this country. It is declafed today that there is no un- friendly feeling as to Porto Rico. If the republicans hold the reins of power another four years they will admit the goods of the island free, but they cannot afford to set a precedent for the Philippines, and will not do so. It is further hoped that by the time the question of a tariff for the Philippones is discussed by Congress the Supreme Court will have decided whether Congress has the power to levy varying impost duties. If the republicans are sustained in their conten- tions the Philippines will have a tariff sys- tem of their own, suitable to their needs and interests, as well as the interests of this country. If the Supreme Court holds contrary to the republican position there will have te be a mammoth rearrangement of policies and politics as to the Philip- pines. This is the view of many prominent republicans today. The May Elections in Cuba. General Ludlow, military governor of Ha- vana, called at the White House this morn- ing to pay his respects to the President before leaving for New York tonight or tomorrow. General Ludlow will leave on Saturday for Havana. “Phe affairs of the island are in a wait- ing condition just now,” he said. “The first general municipal election will take place in May, and we are all awaiting the out- come of the maiden attempt with a good deal of interest. All the cities in the island are to elect mayors and councils at that time. Politics is already humming in Ha- vana, and I see a local paper announces that there are twelve candidates for mayor. ‘This is a lively beginning. All the city of- ficers appointed by me in January, 1899, and since then will be succeeded by the officers elected by the Cuban people. _In other words, we must hold hands off after the newly elected officiais are installed. “What the general politics of the island will be is still a problem. The annexation- ists will form one, I am told, but they will probably conduct a still-hunt campaign for a while. The faction will also form a party or attach themselves to some of the parties which declare for this. ‘This faction is gaining strength every day. For my part, I hope they will succeed. The people at large on the island want inde- pendence, and it is the majority that ought to rule. The prospects are that the condi- tions of the island will continually im- prove.” : Seeretary Porter Going South. Mr. John Addison Porter, secretary to the President, will leave Washington row night for Camden, 8. C., where he will spend a short vacation. He will be accom- panied by Mrs. Porter and children. In addition to his official duties Secretary Porter had charge of the arduous work of the social season. The secretary's health has greatly improved since his breakdown of last year, and his friends are giad to see him take a short vacation now to avoid any return of ill health. Portraits of Hix Predecexxo: Secretary Porter has just had completed, at great expense to himself, a valuable col- lection of crayon portrait Photographs of his predecessors at the White Hov These Portraits were worked up in crayon from photogravhs secured by Secreiary Porter from ail quarters and in all kinds of ways. The enlarged crayons will be hung in Sec- retary Porter's office, ard in the years to come will be increased by the faces of fu- ture secretaries. The present collection is a historic one, embracing such men as John Hay, Gen. Horace Porter, Gen. Fred. Grant and John G. Nicolay. There are twenty- five secretaries in the gallery made by Sec- retary Porter. Prior to President Buchanan there was no provision of law for a sétre- tary to the President. ‘The private and con- Nidential secretaries up to that time were paid out of the pockets of the chief execu tives. Beginning with Buchanan, Congress made an appropriation for a private secr This was continued until a few yea #0, when the title v-as changed to ore- ary to the President.” Secretary Porter s the first official to hold that office. President's Interest in Longfe! B.,H. Warner and Dr. Alexander Mackay Smith have obtained from the President a promise to attend the Longfcliow exercises at the National Theater ow Friday, March 16. President McKinley has written a iet- ter expressing his deep interest in the ef- fcrts to erect a monument to Henry W. Longfellow, and hoping that a magnificent statue will be the result. The exe: es will be public and the many new features will be of great interest. Today's Nominations. The following nominations were sent to the Senate by the President today: State—Henry B. Miller of Oregon, to be consul of the United States at Chungking, China. War—Daniel Van Voorhis of Ohio, to be second Heutenant of cavalry, United States army Navy—Daniel W. Blake of Mississippi, to be a second Heutenant in the United States marine corps. tomor- INCREASING WATSON'S FLEET. Some of the Larger Vessels Probably Be Ordered Home. The further increase, by the acquisition of three more Spanish gunboats, of Ad- miral Watson's val force in the Philip- pin as reported by the admiral yestet cay, will, it is believed, make it possible for the Navy Department at an early day to recall some of the larger vessels now in the Philippines. Admiral Watson's acqui- sitions are larger vessels than the mosquito fleet bought in upon the Spanish evacua- tion of the island. The General Alava is a vessel of 532 tons, and, being fitted for the transportation of troops, will be valuable in changing the garrisons among the vari- ous islands. The Quiros and the Villalobos are gunboats of 347 tons displacement, large enough to make the round trip between Hong Kong and Manila. There is, there- fore, no longer any need for armored ves- sels in the Philippines, for these little gun- beats are really more effective for the sup- pression of illicit communication between the islands, which may be expected to mark the expiring stages of the Tagal opposition to the complete assertion of American soy- ereignty. The battle ship Oregon and the monitors Monterey and Monadnock, being without any protective sheathing, rapidly foul and deteriorate in the warm waters of the China sea, and as their personnel 1s very much needed at home to man some of the new ships which must be commissioned, it is probable that they will soon be ordered heme. wi ns NEW TELEPHONE FRANCHISE. Subcommittee at Work on Details of the Bill. The subcommitiee on telephones of the House District committee is perfecting a Dill to grant a telephone franchise to a rival company to the present corporation operating in this city, The salient features of the new bill will be a requirement of a $100,000 bond to carry out the provisions of the franchise within a stipulated time, and @ clause that if the new company ever disposes of its franchise the purchasing company shall be bound to observe the requirements of the charter zs to rates and character of service. The subcommittee has not definitely de- cided to whom the franchise shall be grant- ed, but it 1s said that the consensus of opinion of prominent citizens who have con- ferred with the subcommittee is in favor of the Washington Telephone Company, the corporation which proposes to work in ‘con- junction with the telephcne exchanges in Baltimore, Pittsburg and other cities. To Legalize the Boycott. Mr. Ridgely has introduced a bill in-the House (H, R. 8917) providing that no agree- ment, combination or contract by or be- tween two or more persons to do, or pro- cure to be done, or not to do, or procure not to be done, any act in contemplation or furtherance of any trade dispute be- tween employers and employes in the Dis- trict of Columbia or in any territory of the United States, or who may be engaged in trade or commerce between any terri- tory and another, or between any territory or territories and any state or states, or the District of Columbia, or with foreign nations, or between the District of Colum- bia and any state or states, or foreign na- tions, shall be deemed crimina!, nor shall those engaged therein be indictable oroth- erwise punishable for the crime of conspir- acy, if such act committed by one person would not be punishable as a crime, nor shall such agreement, combination or con- tract be considered as in restraint of trade or commerce, nor shall any restraining order or injunction be issued with relation thereto. Nothing in this act shall exempt from punishment, otherwise than as herein excepted, any persons guilty of conspiracy, for which punishment is now provided by any act of Congress, but such act of Con- gress shall, as to the agreements, combina- tions and contracts hereinbefore referred to, be construed as if this act were there- in contained. ——___— +6. ‘WOULD NOT AFFECT SOVEREIGNTY. Prince Poniatowski or Any 0: May Buy Basilan Island. If Prince Poniatowski or any other indi- vidual has secured possession of Basilan Island. in the Philippine group, as reported ina press dispatch, the acquisition must have been made in a purely personal ca- pacity, and of course does not affect in any way the scvereignty now existing over the island. Any person may, of course, pur- chase the real estate of Basilan, or any other Philippine island, but the sovereignty of the United States would in no wise be affected by the transfer. It is said at the State Department that no concessions have been granted to any one in the Philippines, so that if there had been any change of ownership as to Basilan Island the pur- cheser stands merely in the capacity of a private land owner. A BUSINESS AXIOM From Printer’s tek. 1 Money spent in contin ous advertising in the-daily press draws interest that is compounded daily. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM Resumption of Investigation Senate Committee. by TESTIMONY FOR AND AGAINST Methods Highly Praised by Lead- ing Educators. See 5 THE POINTS I CRITICISM - A public hearing on the subject « system of education in the public scho of this city was h this morning at 3 o'clock by the subcommittee of th District committee in charge of the sation being made under the resolution Senator Stewart, who presided. There w a large attendance. Senator McMi chairman of the Senate District commi was present. Superint people 4 ystem of the District testimony, the lirge committee rov crowde ma ot hy pres ladies. M ama M. Gitlet, formerly a r in the schools here, was questioned on the system of teaching. She had not been a teacher here for four years. She declared that the system of t« in the schools was a faflure, as shi know any good penman who had come the public schools of this city in late rom She thought the lower grades wr ranged to prepare the scholars for the clar- sical course of the High School thought, in view of the cent of the pupils go to the high s there should be a preparation of pur the lower grade for practical business 1/ She said the teachers felt that If they 4 not follow strictly the Tules of the superin- tendent they would hazard their positions. She declared that there was no sym between the superintendent and tea: The Trustees at Fa Mr. M. F. O'Donohue, chairman of the school committee of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association, spoke at some length. He said the real trouble with the nis was in the board of trustees. He thought there should be a paid board of trustees, who should be specialists in educational fork and not selected from among promi- fact that oj nent citizens who have no such special knowledge. He said that was the plan in San Francisco. it was taking the place generally throughout the country of the method of eelecting such be by elec- tion. He thought that there was net enough attention given to reading, writing, spelling and arithm were not given suffici t he éid not think any of them should be paid less than §75 a month. They should have enough money to travel in the summer and fit themselves for their work by contact with the world. The teachers should have secure positions, not be appointed from ritoy Mr. Powell remarked that they are ap- pointed permanently, and that their y+ ppointments are merely nomin "Do away with that word ‘nom! said Mr. Don ‘Nominal’ means fear. We want no fear on the part of the teacher. They should be appointed nently and should not be remov by the act of some independent Praises the Methods. Mr. Theodore L. Deland spoke commend- ingly of the methods of teaching. He ex- hibited examples of penmanship of his nine- year-old child, and said he wax pleased with her progr He said he was an ex- aminer in the Treasury Department, and he had examined many who had been pa- pils in the high schools and had never known them to fail. Senator Stewart said those the wit referred to probably had not been ta under the present system. Mr. Deland there waa little difference when th to school. Mr. Andrew B. Duvall said he children in the schovls and wanted t the committee his experience. He indicated that what he had to say was compliment+ ary. Senator Stewart sald he wanted those te speak who had criticism to make, and es- pecially teachers, as it had been Said that teachers were afraid to say anything A “Friendly Criticism.” Mr. W. A. Croffut read a paper he prepared in order, he said, that he mi give his “friendly criticism” as briefiy possible. e Thinks the System the Best. Miss Ida Dixon of Baltimore gave the re- sult of Washington teachers’ instruction with Washington methods in Baltimore. She said that she and others as a commit- tee, of which President Gilman of Johns Hopkins University was a member, had ex- amined all the public school systems of the country and had decided that the system In this city was the very best. Having decid- ed to adopt this system in a private school in Baltimore they engaged Washington teachers to put it in effect, and she com- mended in the highest terms the system and the results they had had in Baltimore from it. . Commends the System. as Mrs. Anna E. Murray, formerly a teacher in the public schools of this city, commended the system as prac- ticed here. She said the best system was that which grounded the boy thoroughiy in his knowledge. Miss Murray said there should be more school houses in order to do away with half-day schools. The pay of teachers in the lower schools should be increased. Senator Stewart, referring to the high school, said he did not think the public hed anything to do with a collegiate education, and he was not in favor of appropriati for such education. The elements alone were, in his opinion, contemplated in 2 pub- lic school education. Dr. Gilbert's View. Dr. C. B. Gilbert approved the recom- menfations of Dr. Croffut and spoke of the great number of teachers who break down, He objected to the physical examination made in the schools to @ limited extent now. Favorable Views of Educators. Henry F. Blount, who was at the head of the National Educational Association when the last convention was held in this-clty, found at that time that the educators at- tending that convention regarded the schools of this city as among the four or five best school systems in the country. Of all things needed in this city, he said, were more school buildings to accommodate the lower grades. Opposes Much Study at Home. Mrs. Amos G. Draper commended the school system of this city as now organized. She said she had been taught the mi cation table under the old system and as result of that had to run up the table & order to make a calculation, while her bop, educated under the present gee