Evening Star Newspaper, April 26, 1900, Page 2

2 THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1900-16 PAGES. DECISION REVERSED Court of Appeals Passes Upon Street Extension Case. ACT HELD 0 BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL Order Confirming the Eleventh Street Award Withheld. ——_ = OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION sion of the lower court In the . H. Davidson, Albert A. Wilson and John B. Larner, trustees, appellants, against the District of Columbia, in the matter of the extension of S street, 24 street and Decatur has been ri Versed by the Court of Appe The opin- ton written by Mr. Justice Morri The trustees named appealed from an order that ment upon lands for s accruing from opening ch } m was confirmed alleged bene adjoining was contended t the r which the proceeding: uneonstitutional, and that a notice given the appellants in rest of ements Upon their property was not sufficient. Court of Ap: s that there w the act of Conzre ad was toy be that sum 4 paid as ¢ of damage he owners. e Sd they 1 benefit this return of th al and verdict of the jury ce eptember 1: last. tered an order of contirmation 1 ing that the verdict, award and should star . unless rary be shown on or before October 4 last. i" The appellants came in and filed excep- to the confirmation of the award and f the jury. The grounds of ob- were that the statute did not wat any a gairst the “Kal > that thi AS unconstitution- smuch 3 adequate ty the 1; that the statute which essment was made provided for condemnations only, of assessments; that the act of ¥). taken in connection with the of the Revised Ss under 2 proceedings were is incon- nd ineay of enforcement as to ments for ber > that the descrip- tion of the property sought to be ehar; th the defective. @, unjust request ineled. the Revi elating to the District of ¢ umbia. erruled. ward wled, 2 th Exceptions Ov The except to and fin re over! firmed couse without com- Affecting Benefits. 2 laid down in the d, according to the Court of Appe t the value of the special benefit to the adjacent property from the public tm- Provement. and not the cost of the im- Provement or any part of such cost as su is the limitation of assessment upea the property. The Court of App » takes ihe . inasmuch e st the property of t was made without notice to them and with- ¥ on their part to be heard . Such as they were entitled due process Court of Appeal t determine. hing in the siatute to justify ordinary personal no- p anyt iS in the cir- cumstances y warrant it, ac- cording f Appeals. Summ urt of Appeals says: “From sa it follow: in our opini was error in the order or fon of the award y in this casi and that award anc law. The will, th them revers and the c: MN be rem: d to the r vurt of the District of Columb fons to vacate . and its ngs there- ording t with this opinion. leventh The Street Award Tustic er, in Equity Court dex late yesterday ernoon to over- rule exceptions filed by pr own= ers firm the award m: by the Jury °r of the extension of 1th Btree the promulgation was with- re! vorarily, in view of the d “Is in the > of and today Attorne withdraw his assessment for su and the constitutionality fons ft is averred that Con- sting t one-half of th r in d of the lar upon adjueent property with » feet from etther side « 2 proposed Street, undertook to d the hands of the jury and compel unjust assessments, there- by, it is charged, Indirect attempting to take private pr rty without compe: tion or consideration, whic the petitioners submit, is in direct’ violation of both the letter and spirit of the Constitution: fur- ther, ‘That the award made !s contrary to the evidence submitted, and that the mere con- demning of the land for the street and taking of title by the government will, in the absence of actually making the street, confer no benefits whatever upon other Property The act involved {s a special one requiring the whole cost to be paid from District funds. Therefore, the question as to the Fight of Congress to fx benefits in advance is said to be of much interest. Brought to Attention of Commission- ers. Mr. A. B. Duvall, the attorney for the District, today invited the attention of the Commissioners to the decision rendered by the Court of Appeals yesterday afternoon fm the case of Charlies H. Davidson and ethers, appellants, against the District, a case which arose under the act of Congress approved March 3, 1899, providing for the extension of S, 22d, Decatur, Ifth and llth streets and New Hampshire avenue. He stated that the case was brought before the Court of Appeals on an appeal from an order of the District Court, wherein the lower court confirmed an assessment made by the jury upon the property of the ap- pellants for alleged benefits accruing from the extension and the opening of certain of the streets mentioned in the act. The Commissioners were informed by Mr. rall that the Court of Appeals in the decided yesterday held to be unconsti- tutional that provision of the law providing that of the amound found due and awarded as damages for and in respect of the land condemned for the opening of said streets not less than one-half thereof shall be as- sessed by the jury against the pieces and parcels of ground situate and lying on each side of the extension of said streets, and also on all or any adjacent pieces or parcels of land which will be benefited by the open- ing of said streets. :The appellate tribunal, Mr. Duvall further stated, held that Congress cannot and could not arbitrarily fix the amount of benefits to be assessed against adjacent land, and that when it did. in thé act referred to, fix the amount of damages to be assessed as benefits at not less than one-half, it ex- ceeded its constitutional authorit: Ansessments Uncollectible. It is understood the Commissioners have been advised that the effect of the Court of Appeals decision yesterday will be to render uncollectible all assessments made under the act above mentioned and all others containing the objectionable provis- on, and to postpone further proceedings in such 3 until cither the United States Court reverses the Court of Ap- als or Congress amends the existing laws so changing the provisicn as to make it conform to the ruling of the court. It is also understood the Commissioners have directed Mr. Duvall to note an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. It is be- lieved, how that meantime they will invite the attention of Congress to the court’s decision, and probably recommend the prompt passage of an amendatory act. * was another ground on which the als 1 its decision against ality of the act, which was bsence from it of any provision, for sroviding notice of the proposed conde: i ings to parties interested. The nothing in the omission of ordinary vas there anything in of the case to warrant cir the its omis BAY STATE REPUBLICANS MEET IN CONVENTION TO SELECT DELEGATES. Platform Indorses the Administration and Demands Good Government for Possessions. Our New BOSTON, April 26—The republicans of Massachusetts today elected delegates and alternates to the national republican con- vention in Philadelphia. Of the 1,834 lel gates entitled to seats there were 1,25t present. Congressman F. H. Gillett, the pern mt chairman of the convention, de- livered a long addr: The platform, which was presented by Attorney General Knowlton, was adopted unanimously. atform of 1N96 Indorsed. olution affirm adherence to the of the St. Louis convention of congratulated the country “upon rejection of free silver coinage and the sment of the gold standard.” pledge the republican party ‘to such amendments to the banking support laws as will provide a flexible and suffi- cient medium of exchange, to the end that capital may in fair returns; that Amer- ican commerce m: be enlarged, and t labor may be assured of steady emplo and of the largest possible trade. 's of our expanding » to nd comm of the suppressed the legis! yy Congress if the the pow tructive abe resulting evils and jurisdiction of the state As to New Possessions. As to the inhabitants of the islands ac- od by the treaty of Paris, the resolu- say: ‘© greater trust than the uplifting and educating of these defenseless people been imposed upon the United States. eves it to be the solemn duty of the nation to ute this trust, with all the sit involves, by retaining the by providing for their ade- government upon the principles of : and humanity.” The resolutions further declare that the Interests of an expanding commerce im- peratively demand the construction of an ishtmian canal and the laying of a Pacific cable, and that Congress should offer by appropriate legislation such reasonable p tection and encouragement to American shipping as shall revive, build up and strengthen our merchant marine, expresses “hearty and unqualified indorsement of the administration of President McKinley” and has ‘The republican party be high and nomination of Secretary of the John D. Long for Vice President. delegates-at-large were chosen by a ation, as follows: Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Nahant, Samuel W. Me- Call of Winchester, Wm. B. Plunkett of Adams and Walt dof New Bed- ford. The Col. George R. Jewett of Rose of Lowell, Dr. Samuel of Be Henry P. Field of Northampton. ciuded the busine ston and This con- 3 of the convention. Cong Dolliver of Jowa made a brief si and the convention ad: journea. —_+<-+ _—_ TO BOYCOTT DEWEY RECEPTION. Chicago Union Machinists Will Take No Part in it. CHICAGO, April 26. ‘The long-talked-of boycott of the Dewey celebration by organized labor took form today. The executive committee of district S$ of the International Association of Ma- chinists issued an edict today declaring the promoters of the celebration antagonistic to union labor and ordering members of the union to take no part in It. —_+2+—__ MEAT FOR . OTIS MEN. Two Trainloads Shipped From Chi- cngo Last Night. CHICAGO, April 26.—Two special trains left Chicago last night on the Santa Fe raflroad hauling thirty-eight Armour re- frigerator cars which carricd 1,000,000 of tinned and crated bacon con- J to the American soldiers in the Phil- s. The meat was prepared under federal government inspection and by a formula furnished by Dr. Salmon, chief of the bureau of animal industry at Washing- s shipment constitutes forty-five days’ rations for the entire army of the Philip- pines. The meat will be shipped from San Franciscu about Ma ASKS FOR A SHORTER CREED. Presbytery at Lima, Ohio, Petitions the General Assembly. LIMA, Ohio, April ‘The Lima presby- tery, at a special meeting, decided unant- mously to ask the general mbly to adopt a short comprehensive creed, stating the belief and the teachings of the Presby- terlan Church. The presbytery embraces thirty-three churches and is the first in this synod to take such action. —_+~+<+—___ Officials Not Apprehensive. The officials of the Indian bureau do not attach any importance to reports of an in- surrectionary spirit among the Sioux of North Dakota. They say no reports of im- pending trouble have come from there, and none are anticipated. The Indians, they vay, have no just cause for complaint, as every treaty stipulation has been complied with. It is discretionary with the government to give to the Indians money obtained from the sale of hides, and it is sald at the de- partment that a slight disagreement which came up in regard to this question about four months since was satisfactorily settled. It is not known here whether or not the In- dians have recently been obtaining money from the sale of hides. COLONIAL DAMES MEET NUMBER OF VICE PRESIDENTS OF NATIONAL SOCIETY INCREASED. Thorough Study of the Colonial His- tory Recommended—A Reception This Afternoon. The meeting of the Colonial Dames today at the morning session was chiefly devoted to routine work. There were two exceptions, however, and two resolutions were passed which are of importance to the societies. One was to increase the number of vice presidents to three instead of two. The other was to strongly recommend to all the societies the importance of colonial studies and research in their own societies and among the schools and to in every way encourage the historical work of the co- lonial period—in fact, to get at the begin- ning of things, as one of the ladies re- marked. A large reception will be given by Mrs. Richardson of the Washington society to the Council of Colonial Dames this after- noon. Several dinners in honor of these ladies will also be given tonight. Dinners were also given last evening. Those Entitled to Participate. After the sessions yesterday were con- cluded the press committee, which consists of Mrs. Rosa Wright Smith, Mrs. J. Y. ‘Taylor and Miss Virginia Miller, gave out such portidns of the proceedings as it was pelieved the public might be interested in. According to this report the delegates en- titled to participation in the meeting were as follow: Pennsylyania—Mrs. William Bacon Ste- vens, Mrs. A. J. Cassatt, Miss Rodney, Mrs. Horace Berch, Mrs. Thomas Roberts. Al- ternates, Mrs. Charles C. Harrison, Mrs. James PD. Minor, Mrs. Richard Ashhurst, Richard Peters, jr., Mrs. Arthur V. a yland—Mrs. Charles Marshall, M Albert L. Sioussat, Mrs. Willlam B. Wil- son, Mrs. Iredel Iglehart, Mrs. Henry W. Rogers. Alternates, Miss Evelyn McCand- lish, Mrs. William Reynolds, Mrs. John R. Tait, Mrs. Columbus O'Donnell, Miss Clem- entine Smith. New Jersey—Mrs. Thomas J. Craven, Mrs. Alex Jamieson, Mrs. B. Howell Campbell, Miss Katharine Green, Mrs. Hughes Oli- pkant. Alternates, Miss Nixon, Miss Quin- by, Mrs. Andrew Sinnickson, Mrs. I. Lowrie Bell, Miss Lathrop. Delaware—Mrs. C. L. Mellvaine, Mrs. Charles R. Miller, Mrs. J. Ernest Smith, Miss Susan Spottswood, Miss Ridgely. Al- ternates, Mrs. Peter T. Wright, Mrs. Eu- es Dupont, Miss Alice Hay, Mrs. James A. Dr: District ¢f Columbia—Mrs. Richey, Miss Woodbury, Mrs. Cropper, Mrs. Fendall, Julia Strong. Alternates, Mrs. Janin, Belle Johnston, Mrs. Addison, Mrs. Mrs. Gor é Irs. Herbert A. Clairborne, Mrs. Reginald Gilham, Mrs. Richard S. Thomas, Mr Jam F. Maupin, Mrs. John Ser- ant Wi Alternates, Mrs. Matthew and Harrison, } ries Washington man, Mrs. D. Thomes, Mrs. William T. Robins m_G. Roelker, Mrs. Joseph beock, Miss Su- Nathaniel Ba- Metcalf, Mrs. G. A. Rhode Island Mrs. A. Livingston Bridgman, Mrs. Albert a Miner, Alternates, n. Mrs. J. Harris Buffor Willi Mason, E George S. Hale, Mrs. rah H, Crocker, Mrs Waldo Lincoln. Al- P. Blake, a Ernst. . Samuel Verplanck, Mrs. Mrs. Oliver Livingston am Robinson, Mrs. Dan- Mrs. Henry R. ternate: Jones, Mrs. Wil jel Manning. Alternates, Mrs. Edward Mitchell, Mrs. W. B. Beekman, Mrs. Jas. Belden. uth Carolina—Mrs. Henry E. Young, Mrs. Ernest H. Pringle Mrs. Charles Boyle, Mrs. Catherine P. Ravenel, Miss Adele P- Van Der Horst. Alternates, Mrs. Francis G. Dupont, Mrs. Edward G. Jones, Mrs. Hugh L. Thompson, Miss Sarah Barnwell Eliott, Mrs. Edward Seldner. Connecticut—Miss Davenport, Mrs. Sam- uel Colt, Mrs. Franklin B, Dayton, Miss Mariana Townsend, Mrs. James E. Thatch- er. Alternate: Toleott, Miss Dr: den, Miss Isab ldridge, Mrs. Frank C. Porte Georgia—Mrs. Joseph J. Wilder, Mrs. J. . Mrs. A. R. Lawton, Mrs. 1. Y. ss Clare de Graffenreld. Alter- nates, Mrs. Samuel Spencer, Mrs. Abner W. Calhoun, Mrs. Billups Phinizy, Mrs. John L. Kilgour. ew Hampshire—Mrs. Arthur EF. Clark Mrs. Truman P. Woodbury, Mrs. N. White, Mrs. Henry B. Robeson, Mrs. Jo- seph B. Walker. Alternates, Mrs. William E. Chandler, Mrs. John Smythe Fogg, Mrs. Frank W. Rollins, Mrs. John R. Brooke, Mrs. Robert T. Bradford, orth Carolina—Mrs. George W. .Kidder, Mrs. Gaston Mears, Mrs. Emma Maffitt, Mrs. Theodore Davidson, Mrs. Caroline G. Meares. Alternates, Mrs. James Sprunt, Mrs. Clayton Giles, Mrs. Edwin Parker, Mrs. P. M. Wilson, Mrs. Hillard. Spent Thousands for Relief. The portions of the report of Miss Annie Hollingsworth Wharton, the historian, that the censors permitted to become known showed that a sum in excess of 360,000 had been expended in hospital ships, surgical outfits, he il kitchens and relief of fam- rs during the war with that many a idiers had ssistance from individual dames cletle nnounc » Miss Blizz showrd the Tous © the report of the th Byrd Nicholas of national soclety to ndition. city. be in a pr SE URE UNLAWFUL, Decision Affecting Custody of Goods in Constable’ Hands. In the case of Hip, Chong Lung & Co. agt. S. B. Callahan, constable, tried in Cir- cuit Court No. 1, before Chief Justice Bing- bam and a jury, a verdict for the plaintiffs, awarding them the custody of certain goods selzed by the constable and $200 damages in addition, has been reported. Constable Cal- lahan seized the goods of the firm upon a of attachme is: against Hip ng Lung. It was held that the seizure Was not in accordance with the garnishment and was unlawful. Attorneys Thompson and Laskey appeared for the plaintiffs. ae FRANK E. BUNDY INDICTED. Ex-City Chamberiain of Elmira Charged With Grand Larceny. ELMIRA, Bundy, ex-city feated candidate yor on the demo- eratic ticket in the spring charter election, has been indicted for grand larceny In the first degree, and embezzlement and falsi- fying the city book: Bundy'’s bail has amberlain ms and the de- been increased from $10,000 ‘to $20,000. It is now thought that the report of the ex ountants ex- amining his books will show a shortage ot about $100,000. —»+~++—___ lin Laxt Lecture of Season. The last lecture of the season, under, the auspices of the National Geographic 'So- ciety, will be given tonight, when Dr. H. C. Frankenfleld of the weather bureau lec- tures in the Columbian University on the “Floods of the Mississippi." Dr. Franken- fleld has made a special Investigation, and hence is able to speak with authority on the subject. He will deseribe the principal floods of the past century and explain what means are now adopted to protect the surrounding country from a sudden rise. The lecture will begin at Entered of Record. A certificate of incorporation of the Fire Destroying Company of Washington, D.C., was today placed on record. The incorpo- rators are J. M. Davis, W. W. Herron and J. 8. Waring. The International Press News Assocta- Uon today placed on record a certificate of increase of capital stock from $5,000 to $10,000. A bill of sale was placed on record this afternoon by which Albert BE. Acker sells his interest in the drug firm of Acker & Affeck, 1429 Pennsylvania avenue, to Philip J. _Affeck, jr. the consideration bel: >. Prof. A. K. Spence, professor of Greek and French at Fisk University, is dead SCOTT CASE DEBATED Mr. Pettus Attacks Claim of the West Virginia Senator. DEFENDED BY TURLEY AND CHANDLER House Resumes Discussion of the Postal Bill. SPECIAL MAIL, FACILITIES A resolution intkoduced by Mr. Perkins (Cal.) calling on the Secretary of the Treas- ury to send to the Senate the imports by months and the rates of duty under the re- ciprocal agreement that went Into effect in 1898 was adopted. 5 Mr. Bettus (Ala.) then addressed the Sen- ate in opposition to the resolution declaring that Nathan B. Scott Is entitled to his seat as a senator from West Virginia, Mr. Pet- tus presented the minority report of the committee oa privileges and elections in the Scott case, being the only member of the committee who declined to’sign the ma- jority report. In opening his discussion Mr. Pettus referred to a statement of Mr. Chandler in the Quay case to the effect that the votes of some senators were cast against Mr. Mantle in.1803 because he was a silver man, and the votes of others, in re- taliation, were cast: against Mr. Corbett two years ago because he was a gold stan- dard advocate. He hoped the statement was not true, but if it were, those senators were unfit to act as judges in such a case and unworthy to hold seats in the Senate. “I desire,” ‘said he, “to speak to senators who can decide fairly, upon their own judg- ment and not upon caprice and whim.” He begged senators, therefore, to lay aside any personal considerations in this case, and decide it upon its merits as a proposition af Mr. Pettus then entered upon an argu- ment in support of his position that Mr. Scott was not entitled to his seat, following closely the lines of his report. After having been interrupted by Mr. Mc- Comas to correct a statement of fact. Mr. Pettus refused with some heat to permit an interruption by Mr. Spooner (Wis.), who desired to ask a question. T shall not yield for debate of this ques- tion,” said the Alabama senator. “It is not fair and it is not just for a senator to interrupt an argument for the purpose of seeing whether he can debate the question better than the man on the floor.” I think,” said Mr. Spooner, have been courteous in the sen: assumed a it would ator to have 7 nena I desired simply to ask a 01 ‘Oh, no,” returned Mr. Pettus, “it would not be; I have heard the senator debate positions after asking a question. I took a necessary precaution. I do not approve of this practice of interruptingsarguments. I believe that a senator has a right to in terrupt another to obtain information or to correct misstatements as the senator from Maryland interrupted me, but this way of just bulging into the middle of an argument is excessively bad manners even if it doves so often occur in the United States Senate.” (Laughter). Mr. Pettus denounced the work in the legislature. Later he pointed out that at one point of the proceedings Mr. Scott needed just née more vote. “There are some very mart people in West Virginia,” sald he, “and they went immediately to the bar- gain counte Further along Mr. Pettus sharply criti- cised the action of the governor of West Virginia in entering into the case in the interest of Mr. Scott. “How about Alabama?” inquired Mr. El- Kins of West Virginia facetiousiy. “I'm not discussing Alabama now,” re- plied Mr. Pettus. “But the senator’s ple- ture is in_this thing, too. Don't get im- patient. FH get 40 you after awhile.” (Laughter.) | z Mr. Pettus maint@ined that the case had not heen fairly investigated by the privi- leges and elections committee. “Senators,” said he, “until you belong to that deba' ed class described by the sen- ator from New Hampshire (Chandler) who vote on cases of this kind from whim's caprice you must vote on the law and the evidence.” Adverting to Mr. Chandler's statement, he said: “I never sald it, and God forbid that I should ever have cause to say it.” In conclusion, Mr. Pettus entered a motion that the report and resolutions in the case of Mr. Scott be referred to the committee on privileges and elections with instruc- tions thoroughly to investigate the case. In Favor of Scott. Mr. Turley (Tenn.) followed with an argu- ment in support of Mr. Scott's right to re- tain his seat. As a member of thé commit- tee on privileges and elections he had in- vestigated thoroughly the case and planted himself squarely on the majority report of. the committee. He maintained that Mr. Pettus’ argument, in effect that-the Senate had authority to inquire into the member- ship of the legislature, was not sound, as there would not be a single transaction of that legis’ature which, if the doctrine of the Senator from Alabama was correct, could not be entered into by the Senate. This would be subversive of many of the cherished principles of the democratic party, and he appealed to all senators to stand by the report of the committee. Mr. Chandler, chairman of the committee on privileges and elections, followed with a statement of the facts in the Scott case. He presented an exp'anation of the agree- ment ‘entered into by the republicans and the democratic leaders in_ the legislature and in the state of West Virginia, and de- clared it was perfectly valid, perfectly hon- est and perfectly fair. THE HOUSE. yithout preliminary business the House today resumed consideration of the post office appropriation Dill, Mr. Tawney (Minn) moved to increase the salaries of 479 railway postal clerks, class 5 A, from $1,300 to $1,409. Mr. Loud, chairman of the post office committee, opposed the amendmeat. He had read a postal card, received today, say- ing that the writer had received a letter from %4r. Tawney urging all railway postal clerks at once to write or wire their repre- sentativ in Congr to vote to substitute the Tawney reclassiflcation bill for the pro- vision in the bill. hope,” said Mr. Loud, “that I will net be forced to go into. this whole proposition. Dhis is only part of the Scheme, and I trust the gentleman from Minnesota wit not force me to disclose here the form of ébncertdd attack which is being made on Congress.ls ; . ‘The amendment was adopted, S3 to 32. TWo hours,were devoted to debate of the ovisions afereprizting $171,288 for spe- Vl mail facilites from New York to At- janta and Ngw. OFleans, and $25,000 from Kansas City, 310. 0 Newton, Kan, These appropriationg fox,’ special mall facllitles have been aftatked, annually. + ‘Mr. Little (\rk.) Gpened the debate in op- position to them, yeiterating the old argu- ments. He declarap that they were relics of the most ;Vicioy system of legislation ahat ever ingaded Congress. Mr. Tnueryfood {fita.) favored the appro- priation for‘ jputhern mail subsidy, ‘the! | ich, he said, WAS necessary to keep up ee commbgicatt{n with the south. The particular tryin wich carried the mail to the south f New York, he sald, would not be run,Were, the appropriation with- drawn, All, the ‘ppards of trade in the south, he claim; had petitioned for a continuance of tie appropriation. Mr. Williams (Miss.) vigorously opposed the appropriation. It was of no benefit to the people of the south, he said. It went into the pockets of a syndicate, which re- sided partly in New York, partly in Great Britain and partly in Germany. He de- nominated it a “Job,” part of the scheme in which the pneumatic tube advocates were Interested. The people who supported one, he said, as a rule would support the other. All these “jobs,” he declared, should be defeated. s Will of Benjamin Harris Contested. Robert Harris, son of the testator, this afternoon filed a caveat to the will of Ben- Jamin Harris, deceased. The usual grounds are alleged. —— One man was blown alomst to atoms and six men injured by an explosion of blasting pomsee and dynainite at Larimer, Pa. ‘uesday night. . RURAL FREE DELIVERY A TEST RECENTLY MADE IN CAR- ROLL COUNTY, MD. Results Shown to Be Favorable to the Extension of the System. The practical value of rural free delivery is set forth in a report just made by First Assistant Postmaster General Heath. It is a summary, in concise form, of the experi- ment—the first one of its kind—made in Car- roll county, Maryland. It covers a period of three months, and shows conclusively the benefits of the service. In his letter to the Postmaster General Mr. Heath says the results achieved are far beyond the expectations of the most enthu- siastic advocates of rural free delivery, and the results will go far to allay the fear that a general introduction of the service might prove a tax upon the postal revenues too burdensome. to be thought of, which was the reason ‘assigned by two former heads of the Post Office Department in declining to disburse the appropriation provided for an experiment of rural free delivery. It also confirms the opinion expressed by the office early In the present administration that a judicious extension of rural free delivery, carrying with it all other postal facilities, would prove of incalculable benefit to the agricultural classes without becoming a burden upon the postal revenues. Making the Tes It was deemed expedient to make the test in a strictly farming community presenting many of the topographical and other physi- cal conditions and obstacles likely to be en- countered in a general introduction of the service. Carroll county, Maryland, pos- sessed all of these qualifications. To carry out the plan it became necessary to discon- tinue sixty-three of the ninety-four fourth- class post offices in the county, thirty-three star routes and two messenger services, and the substitution therefor of a rural free de- livery service by four postal wagons and twenty-six rural letter carriers. As was ex- pected, the innovation met with consider- able opposition, especially from the ex- postmasters, and with the aid of relatives and personal friends they showed In some quarters a strong but temporary opposi- tion to the service. After the service had been {n operation for forty days the sentiment changed and opposition almost entirely disappeared. This was manifested by the appointment of a committee which called upon the Post- master General February 2 to express their hearty approval of the new system and to protest against a return to the old. The service being finally established, the de- partment proceeded to collect Statistics. ‘The postal wagons serve an average of 858 patrons each, and the rural carriers an average of 408 patrons each. Mail is de- livered to boxes or at points 176 yards distant from farm residences. Heretofore farmers were obliged to travel 2 8-100 miles to the nearest country post office every time they received or dispatched mail. Under the old system the farmers got their mail when it was convenient for them to go for it. Rural free delivery has changed all this, and mail is brought regularly to the farmer regardless of the elements or bad roads. Large Increase of Mail. Perhaps the most important feature of the report is the showing made in the large in- crease of mail handled under the new sys- tem. February over January showed an increase of 37,524 pleces handled. March over January an increase of 64,159 pieces. The statement which is made by months and compares the work of the new system with that of the old is most encouraging, and shows that over 50 per cent of the i crease is in newspapers and circulars, in- dicating a largely increased circulation of newspapers among ahe farmers. The great- est portion of the increase is credited to daily newspapers. It was ascertained that the lar y increased number of circulars and postal cards i$ sent out by country merchants. The system also showed excel- lent results in the registration of letters, issuance of money orders and the number of stamps sold. The report also demon- strates that under rural free delivery there ts a largely increased amount of revenues recetved, and that the system is practically self-sustaining. In conclusion the report says: As the experiment progresses and the service Improves the postal revenues will increase to such an extent that at the close of the first year the balance sheet will show a snug profit to the government. Such a prediction may safely be made for a rural delivery service that has, under adverse circumstances and unfavorable conditions, Increased The quantity of mail handled 40.6 per cent. The number of cent. The number of money orders issued 40 per cent. The postal revenues 23.5 per cent. The fourfold object of the “Carroll coun- ty’’ experiment set forth in the beginning of this report has been attained, for the results demonstrate conclusively () That the rural free delivery service within the territory covered by the experi- ment has successfully supplanted the old system, embracing fourth-class post offices and star routes. (2) It has proved an effective agency for the extension of the registry and money order systems, (3) It has increased the postal revenues of the county. . (4) Its net cost Is insignificant. The experiment was under the personal supervision of Mr. A. W. Machen, superin- tendent of the free delivery service. ——_2+____ THE CLARK CASE. letters registered 57 per It Will Probably Come Up Next Mon- day. The expectation is that the Clark case will be called up in the Senate on Monday. Every one except Clark himself is in the dark as to what course will be followed by the defense. It fs even a matter of some doubt whether Clark has made up his mind what he will do. While many senators have expected that he would re- sign and still think he may, the fact that he has delayed so long dislocates their calculations. If there fs any senator on the floor who is going to champion Clark’s case he has not yet announced himself, and the assumption is that there will be no resistance of the resolution declaring the seat vacant. When the matter is call- ed up for action the committee will answer any questions that may be asked, but no debate is contemplated, unless some cham- pion of Clark’s appears to contest the re- port of the committee. As far as members of the Senate generally know, there will be nothing to interfere with an imme- diate vote when the resolution is laid be- fore the Senate, unless Clark resigns meanwhile. Clark contemplates a visit to Europe, and some of his friends want him to gi to Montana first to lay out plans for an- other contest there. ————— TO BE A FREIGHT TRANSPORT. The Missouri Condemned for Use as a Hospital Ship. The hospital ship Missouri, which was fitted out at New York about a year ago for use in the transportation of sick and wounded soldiers from the Philippines to San Francisco, has been condemned for that purpose and has been turned over to the quartermaster’s department for use as an ordinary freight transport on the Pacitic coast. ‘The vessel is now at San Francisco, and the work of removirg her hospital appa- Tatus and fixing her up as a freight steamer will be done-there under the supervision of the depot quartermaster. The Missouri was purchased by the government from the Atlantic Transport line during the Spanish war and did good service in bringing home sick and wounded soldiers from Cuba and Porto Rico. Since then she has made the trip from New York to Manila and then to San Francisco. She accomplished that voyage without any serious mishaps, not- withstanding the constant friction between the navigating officers and Major Arthur, the medical officer in charge, but on her arrival at San Francisco it was found that she required such extensive repairs and alterations before she could return to Ma- uila for another load of invalids that it was deemed advisable to abandon the pro- ject and rely instead upon the regular transports for the conveyafice home of the sick and wounded in the Philippines in all cases where such removal was cousidered necessary. - THE QUEEN LEAVES DUBLIN. Starts for England With Her Re! tives at Noon Today. DUBLIN, April 26.—Queen Victoria and the Princesses Christian dnd Henry of Bat- tenberg left the vice regal lodge at noon and drove to Kingsbridge station, on their way to Kingstown and England. Large crowds at every point of vantage gave her majesty a loyal farewell. The train started for Kingstown at 12:30 amidst the heartiest demonstrations. Enor- mous numbers of the people had preceded the queen to Kingstown and occupied the piers and other places from which the royal yacht Victoria and Albert was visible. A memorable demonstration occurred as her majesty, attended by a brilliant suite, boarded the yacht, which steamed seaward at 1:15 p.m. amid the firing of the royal salute by the fleet and hearty and pro- longed cheering from the throngs lining the waterside. —__++<__ STEEL PLANT SHUTS DOWN. Between 300 and 400 Men Thrown Out of Employment. COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 26.—The local plant of the National Steel Company has been closed under orders from the general offices, the reason assigned being to make extensive repairs. Between 300 and 400 men are thrown out of work. Two weeks is given as the duration of the shutdown. The local officials deny that the shutdown is due to the condition of the markets. ——_+ + —__ CABINET MEMBERS IN BOSTON. They Will Speak at the Manufactarers® Banquet. BOSTON, April 26—The federal express from Washington, which arrived here this morning, brought Secretary of the Trea’ ury Gage, Secretary of War Root and Sec: retary of the Navy Long, who are to speak at the manufacturers’ banquet here to- night. PROPOSED WORLD'S FAIR DELEGATION IN THE CITY SEEKING AN APPROPRIATION. Distinguished Citizens in the Party— Hearing to Be Given Before Special Committee. The big delegation from the Louisiana purchase states and from the city of St. Louis, whose mission in “Washington is to urge the passage of the bill introduced by Mr. Lane in the House and Senator Cockrell in the Senate, authorizing an appropriation of $5,000,000 for a world’s fair in St. Louis in 1903, arrived this after- noon over the B. and O. road. The dele- gation is to have a hearing before the House special committee on the Louisiana purchase fair at 10 o'clock tomorrow morn- ing. It is probable they will also have a hearing Saturday before the Senate com- mittee on expositions. The delegation which arrived this after- noon was made up as follows: Gov. D. W. Jones of Arkansas, Lieut. Gov. E. A. Gil- bert of Nebraska. Attorney General Camp- bell of Colorado, T. P. Rixey, labor comm: sioner, of Missouri: J. D. Slonecker, repre- senting Goy. Stanley, of Kansas; ex-Gov. R. B. Hubbard of Texas: D. D. Lee Cklahoma City, Okla.,_ representing Barnes of Oklahoma; Hugh McIntosh Nebraska; John Perry of Kansas C Judge T. C. Humphrey of Fort Smith, Ark. . P. Ransey of Columbus, Ohio: Seere- tary of the Interior D. R. Francis and the following prominent citizens of St. Louis: William H. Thompson, C. F. Joy, J. G. Parther, C. H. Huttig, ex-Mayor C. P. Walbridge, O. L. Whitelaw, Geo. T. Cram, ex-Lieut. Gov. J. D. O'Meara, W. H. Wood- ward, Nathan Frank, D. M. Houzer, E. S. Orr, Seth W. Cobb, C. H. Spencer and Ja: Cox. The following additional delegates will arrive tomorrow in time for the hearing before the House committee: John R. G. Pitkin of New Orleans, president of the Trans-Mississippi Congress; ex-Governor Bradford Prince of New Mexico, F. P. Hol- land of Dallas, Texas.; Governor Leslie Shaw of Iowa, and from St. Louis T. H. McKittrick, Breckenridge Jones, James L. Blair, D. 8. Holmes, Murray Carleton and John Schroers. Governor as Chairman. The distinguished delegation went to the Gordon Hotel, which will be their head- quartera. Governor Francis, who is the chairman of the world's fair executive com- mittee, and who will make the opening ad- dress before the House special committee at the hearing tomorrow, outlined the pur- pose of the delegation as follows: “We are here to make an issue. We want action upon the St. Louis world's fair bill at this session of Congress. If it is an af- firmative action we will commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Louisiana purchase by a world’s fair in St. Louis that will surpass anything of the kind heretofore held in America or in Europe. If Congress does not desire to contribute its just share toward the proper celebration of this great event in American history, we wish to know it before Congress adjourns. The delega- tion which will appear before the House special committee tomorrow to urge the $5,000,000 appropriation for the fair will be composed of distinguished representa- tlves from_every state in the Louisiana territory. The whole west is enthusiastic in its support of the proposed exposition. I have just returned from the meeting of the trans-Mississippi congress at Houston, Texas, and was not only gratified but sur- prised at the deep interest manifested by that representative body in the world’s fair movement. That congress was made up of 400 delegates from cll the states west of the Mississippi river. Enthusiastically Indorsed. “When the resolution indorsing the bill which provides for federal aid for the fair was presented to the congress delegates from every state west of the Mississippi made strong speeches in its support, and it was unantmously adopted by a rising vote amid great enthusiasm. “The congress, not content with the mere passage of the resolution approving the project, appointed a delegation to come on to Washington to represent the congress at the hearing before the special committee of the House, and John R. G. Pitkin, the pres- ident of the Trans-Mississipp! congress, was made the chairman of this committee. “As far as the city of St. Louis is con- cerned, I can say that its citizens are en- thusiastic for the fair, and the city can be absolutely relied upon to fulfill its promise to raise $10,000,000 for the fair providing Congress does its share. Nearly $5,000,000 of this amount has already been raised by popular subscription, and the remaining $5,000,000 will be raised by the issue of city bonds to that amount. It is for Congress to say, therefore, whether or-not the cen- tennial anniversary of the Louisiana pur- chase shall be celebrated in a manner be- fitting its importance.” nn Body Found Floating in River. The body of a man, as yet unknown, was found floating in the Eastern branch at 3 o'clock this afternoon, at a point near the foot of South Capitol street. ee Baltimore Markets. Corn con ot BALI April 26.—Flour quiet, unchanged; West dull? apot and Rprtl, riaTi: Mag Thies 3 a 71%; May, 71%; July, pee Steamer No. 2 red, Boao receipts, 18.901 bushels: southern wheat 6827534; do. on grade, 67%a71%;. and April, 454454: May, 45%: July, asked: steamer mixed, 44140444; recetpts, 230, bushels; exports, 145,714 bus! 5 and yellow corn, 47 asked. Onts casy; No. 2 white, 80a30%; No. 2 mixed, 27%25' dull; No. 2 , S4; No. 2 western, 57a58. Hay weak; No. 1 timotl $17.50. Gratin freights: =, stenm to Liv , per bushel, 434d. iy: for orders, er quarter, 3s. Tigd. May, 3s. Tied. June. Sugar, cheese and butter unchanged. Eggs, 12%c. Government Bonds, 3 ri EEL Hn EH ; eae, FINANCE AND TRADE Better Tone to the Stock Market Today. GOOD SHOWING OF EARNINGS Present Strength Not Regarded as a Permanent Advance. GENERAL MARKET REPORTS Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. vy YORK, April were again above the London prices local closing parity and encouraged a further rally in the active list, the ort interest covering liberally. American Sugar was forced up sharply under the influence of several mysterious conferences between representatives of the American company and the independent refineries. The latter Interests denied the rumors relating to a settlement of the e war, but the American company offi- clals refused to discuss the subject. The advance yesterday was put down to the covering of a line of 5040) shares of short stock, and a considerab'e volume of today’s buying was credited to purchas against previous sales. There is something more than a covering movement in prog- ress, however, and the popular view is that sugar is being used to revive the entire list. Railroads showed more snap than at any time for several days, and sentiment was again more confident as to their future. The day's reports of earnings were unani- mously in favor of values, liberal increases being reported from all sections. Atchison reports a net Increase of $527,465 for the month of March and Nashville and South- ern report for the third week of April Sains of $48,525 and $36,881, respectively. Earnings on the Pacific properties are all good and this group has lost few friends during the recent declina The buying been good anu fully capable of holding out against professional raids. Pennsylvania railroad was bought in round amounts and in all the neighboring investment shares the demand was de ly better than at any time during the A. The recovery in prices today must not be taken as an indication of any sustained movement, however, the breadth of the market not being equal to such a task. The decline has by and the idea that the steel stocks would force a col the entire market has been set asic lies are quite as certain as declin tion of things, and the best x is that ultimate results will be most profitable In the long account. Gold exports are to be counted in as im- Portant hostile factors and the growing Prominence of politics will operate to the same end. There will be frequent periods of discouragement, but unless the depress- ing party can get earnings reversed, money rates high and a panic among the tin-box owners the declines will be brief as to dura- tion, however liberal they may be in amount, ——_-_—__. FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. New York Stock Market. Furnished by W. B. Hibbs & Co., bankers and brokers, 1419 F st., members New York stock exchange, correspondents Messrs. La- denburg, Thalmann & Co., New York. American Cotton Of ALS. Wire... Hi, HY Am. Steel € Wire pea 791] qos American Sugar. 12° sis3 American Tobacco. 1085 Atchiso! 2% ‘Atchison, pfa 713% Baltimore&Ohio.... i Baltimore & Onto, pf Si BrooklynRavid Transit. rthwestern... Caicago Gas. C., M.and St. Paui Colorado Fuel and iron Consolidated Gas... Con. Tobacco. Con. Tobacco, pra Delaware & Hudson Federal Steel... Federal Steel. pfa.— N. Y.Ontario & Western Northern Pacific Northern Pacific, pf Pacitic Mai... Penusylvania &. it. Phila.& Reading, ist pfd Southern Pacific. Southern Railway. Southern Kailwa; 8134 Washington Stock Exchange. Saloa—rogular call. 13 o'clock | m.— Washingt Toan and ust, 4 at 160. Capital Traction, 1 3 104, 2) at 103%, 100 at 103% Bt 103%, 100 at 103%, 100 at 1S, 20 at 1%, 2 at 1GT6, 20 ab 103%. 100 at 104. "City and Suburban Railroad, 23 at 2s, 10 at 28, 25 at 2s, at 23,25 at 28. Mere = Linotype, 5 at 1¥2,5 at 102, 4 at 191%, 0 at 19144, 10 at 19144, 10 at IM, 6 at 191%, 1 at IM1ty. Lanston Monotype, at 13%, 100 at 13%, So at 14. After call—Cupital Traction, 20 at 108%, 20 at 103%; District of Columbla Bonds.—@s, 1902, 80-year 3.658, 1924, funding, 120 bid. funding, 104 bid. ‘Miscellaneous Bonds.—Capital ‘Traction 4a, 107! Did, 107% asked. Metropolitan Railroad 5x, 121 bi 12244 asked. Metropolitan Railroad cert. indebt., A, 110 bid. Metropolitan Raflroad cert. indebt., By 110 bid. Columbia Railroad 6s, 126 bid, 124 asked. Columbia Ratiread 2d mort. Sx, 111% bid, 112% aske ed. Washington Gas Series A, Gs, 116 bid. Wash- ington Gas serles B, 6s, 116 bid. U. S. Electric Ligh: deb. tmp. Gs, 105 bid, 110 asked. U. S. Bleo- tric Light cert. indebt., Gs, 105 bid, 110 asked. Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone be, 104 bid, Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone con, 5s, 1004 Md, 106 asked. American Security and Trust 4s, 100 bid. ington Market Ist Gs. 112 bid. Waeh- ington Market top. 6s, 112 bid. Washington Mar ket extn. 6s, 112 bid. Masonic Hall Associntion 58, 108 bid.” Agnerican Graphophone deb. 5s, 10) bid. National Bank Stocke.—Dank of Washington, 868 Did, 400 asked. Metropolitan, 600 bid. Central, 199 bid. Farmers and Mechantes’, 210 bid. Second, 160 bid. Citizens’. 160 bid. Columbia, 160 bid. Capital, 150 bid, 160 asked. West End. 119 wid. Traders’, 125 bid, 135 asked. Lincoln, 118 bid, 125 asked. Safe Deposit and Trast Compantes.—National Sate Deposit and Trust, x180 bid, 135 asked. Washing- ton Loan and Trust, x159% bid, 162 asked. Ameri+ can Security and Trust, 19% bid. Insurance Stocks.—Firemen’s, 30 bid. Franklin, tan, 80 bid. Corcoran, 2 bid. 40 bid. Met Potomac, 75 bid. Arlington, 160 bid. Germai American, 215, bid. National Union, 12 bid. 124 asked. Columbia, x12% bid, 12% asked. Riggs, Did. People's, Gig bid. Gy asked. Commercial, 4 bid, 4% asked. Golontal, 111 bid. Title Insurance Stocks. —Real Estate Title, 80 bid, 85 anked. Columbia Title, 4% bid, 5 asked. Wash! ington Title, 8% bid. District Title, 3% bid. Railroad Stocks.—Capital Traction, 1 oI 103% asked. Capital Traction scrip, 107 bid, 107 asked. City and Saburban, 27 bid, 28 asked. Gas Stocks. Washington Gas, x54 bid, 4% ask- ed. Georgetown Gas, 55 bid. Tele] Stocks.—Chesapeake and Potomac, x61 bid. Ivania, 36 bid. ergenthaler —‘Linoty Miscellancous — Stocks.. 19145 bid, 191% asked. Lanston Monotrpe, 18% bi 14 |, 12% ask- American Graj , 12 bid, 12% ed. American Graphophone preferred, 12% bid, 13! asked. Pneumatic Gun Ca: -, 20 bid, 22 nal Washington Market, 13 bid. ‘Ni and Washing- ton Steamboat, 140 bid. x Ex. dividend. Grain, Provisions and Cotton Markets. Low. Close. oT a Low. Close. 1270 12.70 1255 12.85 72 12 TB Ta 702 7.05 TG TOT Low. Ciose. 2.29 9.39 9.26 (8.34 B15 9.22 813 B18