Evening Star Newspaper, January 30, 1902, Page 1

frre eT THE EVENING STAR Pennsylvanis Avenue, The Evening Star Newspaper Company. &, H. KAUPPMANY, Pres't. New York Office: 126 Tribune Building. ctgcago Office: Boyoo Building, The Evening Star ts served to subscribers in the city by carriers, on thelr own account, at 10 cents Der week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at the counter, 2 cents each. Rv mallanywbere in the 8. or Canada—postage prepaid—5ocen| montb. a SS Quintante: Ge ‘$1 per year; with ore! stage added, $3. (Entered at the Post Office at Washington, D. C., ‘a8 second-class mail matter.) subscriptions must be paid in advance. vertising made known on applica Che Fv No. 15,266 WASHINGTON, D. © THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 1902-SIXTEEN PAGES. TWO CENTS. CUTTING WAR TAXES Action of the Ways and Means Committee. —_>—__—_. BLOW TO RECIPROCITY WITH CUBA No Prospect of Tariff Conces- sions. THE CHAIRMAN’SSTATEMENT — The republican leaders of the House to- @ay handed the Cubans a stone as answer to their appeal for bread. That was the effect—and it may be said the intention— of the decision of the committee on ways and means to cease further consideration | of Cuban reciprocity and to immediately report a bill repealing all the war taxe amounting to $77,000,000. With this great reduction of the revenues | of the government made, it will be argued | hereafter against Cuban reciprocity, and | against all other propositions for reciproc- ty that it is not advisable to further re- e revenues from oms dues. Speaker Henderson's Suggestion. | The high protectionists of the ways and | means committee were quick to follow | Speaker Henderson's recent suggestion to Teduce the war taxes instead of in any way touching the tariff. Mr. Dalzell and Mr. Grosvenor who, with the Speaker. form the majority of the committee on rules, which dictates the leg! ve policy of the House, are also members of the com- | mittee on ways and means, and since the Speaker c out flat-footed for war tax reduction against tariff amandment they have been firm opponents of the pro- posed Cuban concessions. The high protectionists have intrenched themselves in what they now impregnable position. They have taken a great mass of testimony in behalf of the home sugar industry, which they wi ferward in support of their refs duce the tariff on Cuban product Wili also urge the ne y of maintaining | the customs revenues and will insist that if a policy of reduction is entered upon the administration and the Senate will have to take the responsibility. Waiting for Pressure. It is conceded on all sides that they have piumped themselves solidly down a dogged determination to sit it out and wait for that budge them. “administration pressure” to Whether they can be budged is very | Gcubtful. Public pressure is strong against | them: great protectionist newspapers like | ew York Tribune, the Philadelphia | the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Lr Jeean have come out urgently for | Cuban reciprocity. Thus far, however, the contention of the beet refiners has’ un- doubtedly prevailed with the committee. Right to Negotiate Reciprocity Treat- ies. Following closely upon today’s action an- | other step was taken in the direction of | further “tying up” the reciprocity, advo- cates. Mr. Tawney of Minnesota intro- duced a resolution, directing the committee | on ways and means to consider and inves- tigate the right of the President and the Senate to negotiate irrespective of the House treaties which change tariff rates. As is well known, some senators hold that the Senate can negotiate reciprocity trea- ties and that it is not necessary to comply with the provisions of the Dingley act re- quiring such treaties to be submitted to the House. Action of the Committee. The ways and means committee today | adopted the following resolution: “That the chairman be instructed to pre- pare a bill repealing all the remaining war revenue taxes (except the tax upon mixed flour),-viz., the additional taxes imposed by the act of June 13, 1898, enutled ‘An act to | provide ways and means to meet war ex- | Penditures, and for other purposes,’ and | the act of March 2, 1901, amendatory there- of; the said repeal to take effect July 1, | 1902, except as to section 50, which shail | take effect January 1, 1908, and that he re- | port the same to this committee at an | early date.” The exception is the tax on mixed flour. | Chairman Payne's Statement. Chairman Payne made the following | statement of the committee's action: | “The republican members of the commit- | tee on ways and means have been consid- | ering informally the question of war reve- | nue reduction for some little time and have been delaying action to receive a report | from the commissioner of internal revenue, showing the exact amount derived from war taxes for the first six months of the fiscal year ending the 3lst of last month. | This report was only recently obtained and shows that the reduction under the act of | March 2 last for the six months amounted | to $20,063,000, confirming the estimate of | the committee when that bill was passed of $40,000,000 per annum. | “The report also showed that the collec- tions under this act, as amended six months’ period were a trifle . which would indicate a revenue of 000,000 per year. It will be remembered that the collections under this law for the revious fiscal year were $107,646,000, eing an increase of two millions over the previous year. The annual increase, as compared with previous years, would make the revenue for the present fiscal year about $10,000,000, less the $40,000,000 of re- duction, or 369,000,000, leaving the net reve- nue from this act for the present year about $60,000,000. “The treasury has now an available cash balance of something over $174,000,000. It is not Mkely that this will be increased materially during the present fiscal year, as the treasury is buying bonds at a rate that will use up the surplus to accumu- late between this and the end of the fiscal year, June 30 next. The Secretary of the Treasury's report estimated a surplus for this year of $100,000,000, and subsequent results seem to contirm this estimate. Reduction of $77,000,000. “The committee therefore thought it was entirely safe to repeal the remainder of the war revenue taxes, amounting to $78,000,- 000, and the tax on tea of $9,000,000, in the aggregate $77,000.40, at this time. This will still leave a surplus estimated upon this year’s receipts and expense of twenty- two or three million dollars for the year, while we will start upon the next fiscal year with $174,000,000 available cash in the treasury. The committee deem it wise to rv $34,- “We can provide a rebate on the tobacco tax and guard against any fraud upon the Fevenue for the reason that the internal revenue department has this trade under sider an | - | other branches. for this | i bill will be presented to the House as soon as it can be prepared. Keeping Promises. “It will be seen that we have kept far ahead of our promises in repealing these war taxes. We promised when the bill was passed that the taxes should be repealed as soon as the war ard the expenses grow- ing out of the war should cease. While a portion of the expense is going on yet, be- cause of the wonderful prosperity of the country and the great increase of revenue from other sources we are able to wipe out the entire war taxes.” An amendment was offered by Mr. New- lands to except from the repeal the tax on petroleum and sugar refiners, and by Mr. Richardson to repeal the customs duties on trust-made goods. Both were defeated by party votes. Mr. Newlands’ amendinent also provided for a tax of one-tenth of 1 per cent on the gross receipts of all corpo- * rations whose annual receipts exceed $10,- 000,090. Z Sp@#ial Taxes Affected. The repeal will affect the remaining spe- cial taxes imposed by the war, viz.: On bankers, brokers, grain dealers, pawn- brokers, custom house brokers, theaters, museums, circuses, etc., billiard rooms and bowling alleys, playing cards and dealers in and manufacturers of tobacco. The reduc- tion on fermented liquor will amount to 60 | cents per barrel; that on tobacco and snuff will be 3 cents, bringing the rate back to 6 sents per pound, as before the war. The rate on cigars and cigarettes was changed last year, but the further change now made will bring the rates back to those existing prior to the war. ‘The repeal un- der schedule A of the law will include the tax on bonds, debentures, etc.; certificates of stock, sales or agreements, stock trans- actions, inland and foreign bills of ex- change, bills of lading, indemnifying bonds, of profits, brokers’ contracts, ise entries, warehouse entries, tickets. The repeal under schedule B will include x of 1 cent per pint bottle on wine cents on bottles over a pint. The so come off. Other reduc- he excise taxes on persons ed in refining petroleum 1 tax of banks and bank- n parlor and sleeping car and firm: and suga iS, etc. The rate on beer, now $1.€0 per barrel, will be brought down to % The present tea duty is 10 cents per pound, and this will be repealed. ee THE TREATY-MAKING POWER. | Resolution Introduced in the House by Mr. Tawney. In view of the contention set up by Sen- ator Cullom in the Senate yesterday that reciprocity treaties affecting the revenues could be negotiated without congressional action, Mr. Tawney of Minnesota today in- troduced in the House the following res- olution: “Whereas it is seriously ‘claimed that under the treaty-making power of the gov- ernment, and without any action whatever on the part of the House of Representa- tives or by Congress, reciprocal trade agreements may be negotiated with for- eign governments that will of their own force operate tc supplant, change, increase, | or entirely abrogate duties on Imports col- lected under laws enacted by Congress and approved by the executive for the purpose of raising revenue to maintain the govern- ; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the committee on ways and means be directed to fully investigate the question of whether or not the Pres!- dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and independent of any ac- tion on the part of the House of Repre- sentatives, can negotiate treaties with for- elgn governments by which duties levied under an act of Congress for the purpose of raising revenue are modified or re- pealed, and report the result of such ‘inves- tigation to the House.” $0 ______. CHINESE EXCLUSION Representatives of Labor Appear Be- fore Foreign Affairs Committee, The hearings on Chinese exclusion were | continued today before the House commit- tee on foreign affairs. H. H. Fuller, in be- half of the Brotherhood of Railroad Em- ployes, spoke in favor of strict exclusion. He said the objection to the Chinese, from the labor standpoint, was that they come {ito competition with American workmen, the Chinese having such habits of cheap living that they work for wages which re- spectable American workmen could not | afford to take. Andrew Furusuth of the Seamens’ Union, San Francisco, gave the extent of Chinese labor on the Pacifie coast, showing that they practically monopolized the labor field in the salmon canning industry and were competing with American labor in cigar making, tailoring, laboring and many He said the Chinese worker in these cases accepted wages so much lower than the white man that the former secured the work. Mr. Furusuth said the labor organiza- tions would not be satisfied with any bill which did not protect American workmen from Chinese coming from the Philippines as well as from China. Maxwell Evarts of New York continued his statement begun several days ago against the pending bill. He criticised its features in detail and said the measure showed that it was not drawn by an ex- perienced lawyer. He pointed out that the requirement of new registry certificates ‘hin six months would give $40,000 in fees x months to the government officials suing the certificates. * or REPUBLICAN CAUCUS. A Question of Southern Representation to Be Brought Up. A caucus of republicans in the House to discuss the proposed legislation affecting southern election methods will be held next Monday night. The introduction of a bill in the House yesterday by the southern re- publicans for a new federal election law has moved to action the advocates of the other plan to handle the southern franchise abuses. The apathy which has recently marked the campaign so bravely commenced among House republicans for the reduction of southern representation gave way to effort today. Representative Crumpacker.of Indiana, who has been securing signatures to a ps tition for a repyblican caucus on the sub- ject, presented his petition to Chairman Cannon of the House caucus today, assert- ing that he had a majority sufficient to warrant the call. Mr. Cannon allowed that he did and di- rected a call to be issued summoning {the caucus to meet Monday night. It is pro- posed to discuss all the pending plans for dealing with the abuses of the franchise in the south, Mr. Moody's, Mr. Crumpacker’s and the bill of the southern republicans. ——$— ar CONFERENCE OF GENERALS. Eight Will Meet at Army Headquar- ters Tomorrow. The army board appointed to consider the question of military posts and camps will meet at headquarters of the army, pursu- ant to adjournment, tomorrow morning, with a view of finally considering the im- portant questions before it. Major General BY WOMAN’S AID Daring Escape From Jail of Two Condemned Murderers. HEY INTERESTED THE WARDEN’S WIEE She is Supposed to Have Joined the Fugitives. OF CAPTURE — PITTSBURG, Pa., January 30.—Edward and John Biddle, awaiting execution in the county jail for the murder of Grocer Thos. D. Kahney of Mount Washington, over- powered the guards at 4 o'clock this morn- ing and escaped. Both prisaners had been provided with saws, with which they cut the bars in their cells, an@ were ready at any moment to make an opening sufficiently large to pass through. The prisoners occupied adjoining cells on the second range. They had evi- dently been preparing for escape for some time, and had assistance from the outside, as both were armed with revolvers. Shortly before 4 o'clock one of the Bid- dies. called to James McGeary, who had charge of the outside gates, and asked for some cramp medicine {n 9 berry, his brother was dangerously sick. McGeary hastened to the cecil with the medicine, when John Biddle sprang through the opening in the cell, and, seizing the guard around the waist, hurled him over the railing to the stone floor beneath, a distance of sixteen feet. Edward Biddle joined his brother imme- diately, and both, with drawn revolvers, hurried to the first floor, where they met Guard Reynolds and shot him. There were but three men on duty, and the third was on one of the upper ranges. He was ordered down at the point of the revolvers, and the three guards were put in the dungeon. How They Left the Prison. The keys were taken from Keeper Mc- Geary, and the two desperate prisoners had a clear field. The only persons who witnessed the escape were prisoners, who could not interfere or give an alarm. The Biddles went to the ward room, where the guards keep their clothing, and each put on a_new suit. They then unlocked the outside gates and passed out into Ross street. The escape was not discovered until the daylight guards came on duty, at 6 o'clock. They were informed by prisoners where the night guards had been put, and they were soon released from the dungeon and sent to_the Homeopathic Hospital For several months preceding the Kah- ney murder daring burglaries were; of al- most nightly occurrence. The police seemed powerless to prevent them, and nervous citizens retired at night in fear and trem- bling. On the morning of April 12 last Mrs. Kahney was awakened by burglars, and called to her husband, a cripple, who was sleeping in an adjoining room with one of the children. As he entered the door of his wife’s room he was shot dead. The burglars then fied A few hours later Detective Patrick Fit: gerald and two officers surprised the Bid- dle brothers at their home on Fulton street, but before they were captured Fitzgerald was killed and Edward Biddle, who shot him, was dangerously wounded. Walter Dorman, another of the gang, and two wo- men, Jessie Bodine and Jennie Seebers, were also arrested. Dorman turned state’s evidence, and the two Biddles were con- victed of Kahney’s murder and sentenced to be hanged, John on the 14th of this month and Edward on the 16th, but three days before the date set for John’s execu- tion they were respited until February 25, and 27 by Gov. Stone, so that their cases eould go before the pardon board at its coming meeting. Dorman is still in jail awaiting sentence. The women were re- leased. The entire detective force is at work on the case, but up to 10 o’clock there was no clue as to the direction the murderers had taken.” HOPES A Woman in It. The escape of the Biddles has been ex- plained. Warden Peter K. Soffel has au- thorized its publication. It is the allega- tion that his wife is responsible for the fur- nishing of the revolver and saws to the Biddles which enabled them to escape. In her infatuation for the handsome des- perado, Edward Biddle, it is alleged that she has left her husband and her four chil- dren, and, it is supposed, ts to meet the escaped convicts at a place agreed upon. The story of the matter is brief. Mrs. Soffel was the only person admitted to the jail since last Sunday. Yesterday after- noon she visited them during the warden’s absence. The Warden’s Suspicions. Last evening she retired at 9 o'clock. She told her husband that she was going to visit a sister at McDonald, and that she would retire early, so that she could get an early start. Warden Soffel was about tue jail until after 12 o'clock. He retired to his room, which is separate from Mrs. Soffel’s, shortly before 1 o'clock. When he awoke this morning he asked for Mrs. Soffel and was informed that she was absent. Later, when the details of the escape became known, he telephoned to Mc- Donald and was informed that Mrs. Soffel ‘was not there. Warden Soffel immediately made a frank confession of His suspicions. ' Sawed the Cell Bars. The ruse of the Biddles was a clever one and was carried out with great success. They sawed out the bars of their ceiis, John cutting out three in his. Edward, be- ing the larger man, found it necessary to cut out four. Nothing suspicious was noticed in the ac- tions of the two prisoners, nor was anything: wrong discovered when the day guards went off duty yesterday afternoon. The mur- derers evidently sawed the bars during the night, using what appears to have been soap to deaden the noise and to reduce friction. The escape is as unparalleled as is their record for crime throughout this vicinity. The police all over the country are search- ing for the fugitives. While it is not thought they have gone far, the shrewdness of the two criminals is such that the police have a hard problem to solve in their re- capture. ‘The two guards injured will probably re- cover. The bullet wound sustained by Reynolds is not regarded as dangerous. The physicians have been unable to ascer. tain as yet the full extent of McGeary’s wounds. His head is badly contused, but there are no signs that his skull was frac- tured by his sixteen-foot fall. Search for the Warden's Wife. District Attorney John C. Haymaker had a conference with Warden Soffel at noon and the warden told him of his suspicions concerning Mrs. Soffel. ‘The warden has made inquiries at the homes of all his wife’s relatives and he has been unable to find any trace of her. terest in the Biddles quently furnished theifi with’ dainties out- side their usuab ire. The county commissienérs met this after- noon and offered_@ reward of $5,000 for the ! recapture of the murderers. A meeting of the prison board to inves=i- gate their escape’ will be held at 3 o'clock this afternoon. a eee A BILL FOR TRANSFER CERTAIN: INSTETUTIONS ro BE PUT UNDER SECRETARY OF INTERIOR. i Dr. Sowers’ Criticism ef the Methods ef the Board of Charities. Senator McMillan has intro@u¢eed i- the Senate a bill providing that such supervi- sion over the Governnient Hospital for the Insane, Freedmen’s Hospital and Asylum and the Washington Hospital for Foundlings as may have been conferred upon the board of charities of the District of Columbia un- der the provisions of the act of Congress of June 6, 1906, be transferred to the Secretary of the Interior, who shall have~ exclusive supervision over the institutions named and the disbursement of all appgopriations therefor subject to the laws of Congress. The bill authorizes the Commissioners to enter into contract- with the Secretary of the Interior for the care at a reasonable rate per capita of all persons from the Dis- trict of Columbia treated in Freedmen’s Hospital and the Washington Hospital for Foundlings, and hereafter no portion of the expense of these institutions shail be paid from the revenues of the District of Co- lumbia except as specially provided. This bill will be referred to the Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia for their opinion and recommendations. The Foundling Hospital. Since the Washington Hospital for Foun- dlings has been under the supervision of the board of charities 18) foundlings have been provjded with iomes. In but two cases has it been found necessary to recover the children after their adoption. The hospital has a summer hospital near Bethesda, Md., eight miles from this city on a high and healthy site. There the children are taken in May and kept until late in the fall. The value of the hospital property in the city and country is about $140,000, the annual cost of operation being apout $7,500. For many years Congress has appropriated $6,- 000 te aid in the ntenance of the hos- pital. 4 Dr. Sowers’ Statenient. Referring to the board of charities, Dr. Z. T. Sowers, president of the Hospital, for Foundlings, says: “The board is under the impression that under the act providing for its creation the duty devolves upon {it of recommending to Congress a discontinuante of aid to all in- stitutions, charitable or eleemosynary in the District of Columbia, which own their own plants. By what pFocess'of reasoning, however, they have determined this to be the intention Of Congress in providing for such a board I amnot: prepared to state. To carry into effect their views in the mat- ter they propose to,recommené a yearly re- duction of moneys apptopriated for them by Congress until a certain time after which appropriations by Congress for their support shall cease. . “As regards the Washington Hospital. for Foundlings, they propose fo recommend but $5,000 for the next fiscal yea. Should Congress concur in their conclusions and appropriate but that sum of money it will be disastrous to this institution and will in all probability be an entering wedge to a discontinuance. of a very laudable charity untess from now unknown sources acces- sions are made to the hospital fund. * * * Considering the views gf the board of chariities in this matter, I have to suggest that {t would be better for the interests of the hospital that it be placed under the ex- clusive control of the Secretary of the In- terior, as in the Government Hospital for the Insane, and that the money appropri- ated for the institution be expended under your direction.” A similar bill was introduced in the House today by Mr. Babcock. THE CASE OF CADET JACOBS. Secretary Long Recommends That His Sentence Be Conmuted. Secretary Long has acted on the’ case of Naval Cadet Walter F. Jacobs, a member of the fourth class at the Naval Academy, ‘who was recently convicted by court-mar- tial of an irregularity in -his studies and sentenced to be dropped from tue academy. In view of certain extenuating circum- stances, Secretary Long has recommended that the sentence be commuted so as to pro- vide that Cadet Jacobs be put back one year at the Naval Academy and placed in the fourth class at the beginning of the next term. As the case fitvolves the ques- tion of dismissal it requires the action of the President, who will undoubtedly be in- fluenced by the recommendation of the Sec- retary of the Navy. ie MUST WORK FOR THE STATE. Governor General Wood's Order Re- warding Convicts in Cuba. Gen. Wood, military governor of Cuba, has issued an order difecting that all con- victs sentenced by judges or tribunals of the Island of Cuba shail labor for the ben- efit of the state. Wardens of all penal in- stitutions are authorized to compel all able-bodied convicts undér fifty-five years of age and in good healt to labor in such public works as may, bé deeméd proper, either within or without such penal institu- tions, except when the sentencing judge or tribunal, taking into cbnvideration the age or,health of the convict, orders that he serve his sentence laboring within the in- stitution. ‘ No convict shall be employed in works outside of penal institutl for the benefit of or under contract with: private individ- uals or corporations, ngrin public works executed under contraet with any branch of the government. RADICAL REF IN SPAIN. ——s Conditions Attribute: the Influence of this ry BOSTON, January 30. spirit of unrest, heightened by contatt* with’ the United tion, was reported by Mrs. Alice Gordon Gulick, director of the Inter#&tional Insti- tute for Girls in Spain;at the’annual meet- ing of the institution -hefd hefé today. For the advancement of 1 interests, Mrs. Gulick said, the of public in- struction is pl yadi¢al*refprms. At the present time mi 3B, Span: children-are by the institute, teachers cannot be The War Department 4s informed that the transport Sheridan ed at Manila on the 26th instant with the ist Squadron of the lith Cavalry ‘the Ist ali of he gith ae ee ‘it if said she fre- AT THE WHITE HOUSE Beet Sugar President. THEIR PROPOSITION AS TO CUBA of Indian Lands. SOME OF TODAY’S CALLERS President Roosevelt is hearing almost as much trouble about Cuban sugar, beet su- gar, Louisiana sugar and Hawaiian sugar as the members of the ways and means committee of the House. Nearly every day he talks with somebody about these things, always learning something that he thinks will be of use to him in passing upon the question that is being so earnestly consid- ered by statesmen of each political party. The President today had an interview with H. G. Leavitt of Leavitt, Neb., repre- senting the beet sugar industry of that state, and Col. James D. Hill, representing the sugar planters of Louisiana. The two men made a long statement to the Presi- dent about the position of the domestic su- gar interests. Mr. Leavitt was a school- mate of President Roosevelt, and spoke to the President with great earnestness. He declared that the beet sugar people and the American planters were not opposed to giving aid to Cuba in any way that does not injure the domestic industries. They wanted that aid, however, to reach Cuban planters and not accrue to the benefit of the sugar trust. They favored a return of duties to the Cuban government for distri- bution to the planters. Mr. Leavitt told the President that the beet sugar people had made a proposition they would like to see Congress accept. It was that a committee of experts examine the books of both the beet sugar people and the Cuban sugar people to ascertain the exact business conditions of each. The beet sugar people would guarantee to open every book in their possession and with- hold nothing. They wanted fair play and wanted the country to see their financial condition. The President answered that he was giv- ing consideration to all the facts and fig- ures presented to him. He assured his callers, it is said, that he would favor any plan that would aid Cuba with a minimum -of injury to the beet sugar industry and the sugar planters. If such a plan could be devised he would be glad. Leasing of Indian Lands. Representative Morrell of Pennsylvania introduced to the President L. P. Primeau, who has come to Washington as a delegate from the Sioux Indians of the Standing Rock agency to protest against the leas- ing of the surplus lands of that agency for grazing purposes. Mr. Primeau is a member of the tribe and claims to voice its sentiments. He will present his side of the case to Secretary Hitchcock. One of the grounds of opposition is that the leas- ing of the lands for five years will tie them up so as to prevent getting them in sev- eralty. Another is that the price to be paid is too small, and still another is that the placing of many cattlemen and cowboys near the Indians. will have a disturbing ef- fect on their domestic affairs. Some Florida Matters. Senators Mallory and Taliaferro of Flor- ida presented Frank Adams, a prominent citizen of Jasper, Fla. Mr. Adams is a probable candidate for United States sena- tor to succeed Mr. Mallory, whose term will expire in March of next year. Richard R. McMahon, former deputy con- troller of the treasury, talked with the President about the nomination of Maj. Ea- mund Weeks as surveyor general of Florida to succeed R. L. Scorlet. Maj. Weeks’ nomination is hung up in the Ser ate because of charges made against him by Mr. Scorlet and others. Among these charges is one that Maj. Weeks killed a man during the civil war. Mr. McMahon showed the President a copy of the verdict of the court-martial fully exonerating Maj. Weeks. Mr. McMahon declared that the charges were all spite work, and that Maj. Weeks’ standing was best shown by the number of important offices he had held. He was at one time lieutenant governor of Florida and United States marshal of that state under President Harrison. The Pres- ident is represented as being satisfied with the nomination. A New York Invitation. Col. C. H. Luscomb, Col. H. H. Treadwell and Major David Wilson, a committee from New York, extended the President an in- vitation to attend the annual military tour- nament at Madison Square Garden the last week in March. The President attended the last tournament. He would like to go again, but does not think he will be able to do so. Sixt Carl Kapff, an attorney of New York, talked with the President this morn- ing about the selection of a commissioner of immigration at New York to succeed Thomas Fitchie. A number of New York men_have recently offered suggestions to the President as to this office, but the chief executive is considering the matter with more than ordinary care. He is casting about for just the right man for this diffi- cult position and will make no change un- til he secures that man, Senators Quay and Penrose made some recommendations to the President affecting Pennsylvania people. Among these were that General Milholland be nominated for another term as pension agent at Philadel- phia and that Francis Rawle of Philadel- phia be named as a visitor to the Naval Academy. 5 Presidential Nominations. The President today sent the following nominations to the Senate: John Albus, jr., surveyor of customs at St. Joseph, Mo.; Alvah Eastman, receiver of public moneys at St. Cloud, Minn.; Charles R. A. Scobey, agent for the Indians of the Fort Peck agency, Mont. It is stated that President Roosevelt has declined to renominate Penrose A. Mc- Clain collector of internal revenue at Phil- adelphia. If the two Pennsylvania senators talked on this matter with the President they did not care to make that fact public. Some Southern Matters, A Virginia delegation saw the President today to ask him to give another four-year term to Brown Allen, the marshal of the western district of the state. The Presi- dent said that he did not intend to take ac- tion in this case for several days, probably weeks. He did not givé’any promise. S. Y. Gilliam, who is treasurer of Din- Men Talk to the More Opposition to the Leasing inspectors of steam vessels, in session in this city, were received by the President. Elliett Woods to Be Nominated. It is regarded by congressmen as settled that the President will nominate Elliott Woods as supervising architect of the Cap- itol_to succeed the late Mr. Clark. The President has taken no action, but is sup- posed to have settled the dispute about the Position. Gov. Taft and Secretary Root are guests of the President at lunch this afternoon, and will talk with the chief executive about conditions in the Philippines. <0 -__ LABOR BODIES LOCK HORNS. Dispute Over Marine Ba: Taken Before House Committee. The controversy between the Federation of Labor and the Knights of Labor over the United States Marine Band was brought to a head this morning before the House committee on labor. The committee had under consideration Mr. Bartholdt's joint resolution which provides “that here- after no enlisted man in the service of the United States, the army and navy, re- spectively, whether a non-commissioned officer, musician, or private, shall be de- tailed, ordered, or permitted to leave his Post to engage in any pursuit, business, or performance in civil life for emolument, hire, or otherwise, when the same shall in- terfere with the customary employment and regular engagement of local civilians in their respective arts, trades, or profes- sions.”” Mr. Bartholdt explained to the committee that he had introduced the resolution to meet a local difficulty in St. Louis, and that he had intended to except the Marine Band from its jurisdiction on account of the excellence of that organization, but, he continued, since the matter had developed into a controversy between two great labor organizations he would not make the ex- ception. Mr. Andrew Lipscomb, who represented clans’ Protective Union, No. 161, of this y, which organization is affiliated with the Federation of Labor, spoke before the ccmmittee in advocacy of the resolution. Mr. Lipscomb went into detail as to the organization of the band, and declared that its members frequently exceeded the number authorized, and that some of its members played instruments not required by the government regulations. Herman J. Schulteis, representing the Knights of Labor, declared that the whole proceeding against the Marine Band was instigated by the Federation of Labor be- cause the band belonged to the Knights of Labor. Mr. Schulteis said that to be just the resolution should include what are known as “sundown” doctors and lawyers. . B. Martin, also representing the Knights of Labor, also spoke against the resolution. ‘The committee took no action in the mat- ter. $02 -____—__ SCHLEY AND THE TEMPLARS. Parade in His Honor Given Up Be- cause of the Weather. LOUISVILLE, Ky., January 30.—Admiral Schley was today the guest'of the Louis- ville Knights Templar. At 10 o'clock, in company with a commit- tee of the knights, the’ admiral started for a drive over the ice-covered streets of the city, and shortly afterward addressed the students of the Civic High School, where he was given an ‘enthusiastic greeting. At 11 o'clock Admiral and Mrs. Schley were entertained at breakfast by Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Jefferson at their residenc. A visit was then paid to the tobacco brakes. At 10:30 o’clock the admiral rode in state to the Masohic Widows’ anf Orphans’ Home. A parade which had been planned was abandoned owing to the severity of the weather. At the Masonic Home the admi- ral spoke to the children, who manifested their pleasure and enthusiasm by prolonged cheers. Later Admiral Schley visited the Industrial School of Reform and was heart- ily received. Tonight a ball and il be gi by the Knights Templar and Admiral and Mrs. Schley will be the guests of honor. ——__+-2- MARYLAND'S STATE HOUSE. Plan of Large Addition Proposed to the General Assembly. Special Dispstch to The Evening Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md., January 30.—Senator Jones of Montgomery county today intro- duced bills in the general assembly to pro- vide for the erection of an addition to the state house to contain a new hall for the house of delegates and a new senate cham- ber. The annex will be in a style to con- form to the present state house, which was erected about the middle of the eighteenth century. The present senate chamber, in which Washington resigned his commission -to Congress in 1783, will be restored as it was at that date and will be used as a sort of museum. The sum necessary to carry on the work will be provided by an issue of. $500,000 in 3% per cent state bonds. It is understood that the bills will pass and the work begun as soon as the general as- sembly adjourns, April 1. Senator Wilson of Prince George's county has introduced a bill to take the custody of the court house at Marlboro’ from «ue county commissioners and place it in the hands of Judge Merrick of the circuit court. ——~++>——__ HAS NOT BEEN RANSOMED. Miss Stone Not at Liberty U leased by Her Captors. Unless Miss Stone’s captors have aban- doned her, despairing of being able to safe- ly surrender her to the agents who have been trying to ransom her, she is not yet at liberty. It is quite certain that the ran- som money has not been paid down, and that the agents referred to have complete- ly lost touch with the brigands, who have been frightened off by the appearance of Turkish soldiery in their neighborhood. The efforts to secure the woman's release will not be abandoned, but it is feared that they must be renewed in another direction, the present line having been broken. The State Department is disposed to at- tribute the failure of the negotiations look- ing to the release of Miss Stone to the pub- Mication of the negotiations while they were in progress. The recent arrangements for her release have completely miscarried, a body of Turkish troops having appeared near the scene of the arranged-for surren- der and caused the captors to seek cover. A Report From Sofia. LONDON, January 30.—The Sofia corre- spondent of the Times, wiring under date of January 29, says: “Tt is reported that Miss Stone and Mad- ame Tsilka were liberated this morning on ‘Turkish territory. ——___-«__ DUE TO ICY RAILs. Pittsburg Trolley The rate for advertising “Rooms for Rent,” “Rooms and Board,” “Boarding,” “Wanted—Help,” “Wanted —Situations,” is one cent“ a word,—15 cents mini- mum.charge. see] PERSONAL TAX BILL Comm‘ssioners Approve Measure In troduced by Senator McMillan. NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS SUSGESTED Provis'on for Exemptions of Gross Earnings of Savings Banks. THE REPORT SUBMITTED The District Commissioners today trans- mitted to Senator James McMillan, the chairman of the Senate District committee, a favorable report on the personal prop- erty tax bill which was introduced by him in the upper house of Congress the 13th in- stant. The Commissioners recommend a number of amendments increasing the scope of the law, the original draft of which was made by Mr. Hopewell H. Dar- neille, the District assessor, upon the re- quest of Senator McMillan and the direc tion of the Commissioners. The Commissioners’ Report. ‘The report read: ‘The Commissioners of the District of ek, tion Columbia herewith return Senate bill “To regulate the assessment and coll of personal taxes in the District of Co! bia,’ with certain amendments, which tend to enlarge the scope of the bill and in- crease the number of subjects-matter to be taxed. “While many expressions of disapproval of any personal tax have been made by citizens of the District whose views are entitled to respect, after much study of the subject the Commissioners cannot avoid the conclusion that the enactment of a reasonable personal tax law, to take the place of the one recently declared in- valid by the courts of the District, can hardly be avoided. To provide the means for the erection of a District building, for the payment of the District's share of the expense in the abolition of steam railroad crossings, for water filtration and sewage disposal plants, and for other projected improvements, a loan from the public, oF an advance from the federal government, will be required, involving the payment of annual’ interest and a gradual annual repayment of the principal. For these im- portant ptrposes more than the amount of revenue usually heretofore required must be raised, and there seems to be no mode more availatile or equitable than that of subjecting all tangible property to proper and fair taxation. Views of Land Owners. “Some land owners have advanced the view that taxation confined wholly to real estate invites investment in personal estate to the detriment of real estate values. In- asmuch as personal property shares in the protection and security afforded by the municipal government there seems to be no valid reason why it should not bear ite par- tion of the expense of maintaining that gov- ernment. “The principal objection to a personal tax system would arise fram the inquisitorial feature of it which has obtained undef the laws of many jurisdictions. This bill has been framed with a view to avoid such, offensive provisions, and is Intended to ap- ply only to property easily seen and ap- praised without recourse to an unneces- sary espionage upon the citizens’ private business affairs. The Commissioners would deprecate the inclusion in this bill of more drastic measures. “The enactment of the proposed law as amended would tend to more equitably ap- portion the burden of taxation and ena’ the Commissioners, when the needs of the District would not demand all the revenues possible under the existing rate of taxa- tion, to reduce the rate on real estate 80 as to make the revenues correspond with the actual necessities of the District.” The Suggested Amendments. The amendments to the pending bill, which the Commissioners mention in their report, are those, it is stated, that Senator McMillan has expressed himself as favor- ing and which would probably be insisted upon by Congress. The first of the amend- ments provides for the addition of the words “all tangible personal property” in the clause specifying that which shall be taxed under the measure. ‘The second amendment adds this provi- sion to the bill: “All tangible personal property at a fair cash value, over and above the $500 exempt by this act, includ- ing gold, silver, plated and chinaware, jewels, watches, pianos, musical instru- ments, tools, implements, horses and other animals, carriages, wagons and other ve- hicles, less the amount offset by reason of any debt due for the same, shall pay to the collector of taxes of the District of Colum- bia an amount equal to $10 per thousand dollars on the value thereof.” Exempts Gross Earnings. A third amendment exempts savings banks from the form of tax on their gross earnings, as applied to other banking insti- tutions, and provides: “Savings banks pay- ing interest to their depositors shall make returns as herein provided for banks and bankers, and shall pay to the collector of taxes of the District of Columbia a sum equal to one and cne-half per centum of their gross earnings, less the amount of interest paid to depositors.” One of the proposed amendments ex- empts building associations from taxation on their earnings. The last amendment re ed. exempts personal property not Bet for sale and not over the value of Ih ince. Special Dispatch to The Evening Star. PORTSMOUTH, Va., January 30—The preparation of the squadron of greeting for Prince Henry’s arrival is being rushed at elose surveillance and can and will take an account of the stock in the dealers’ hands on the ist day of July next. But this will be impossible as to teas, which come in at customs house, and of which the gov- it save as they are Young, commanding the d of Cal~ ifornia, and Brig. Gen. , command~ ing the department of Columbia, have just An investigation disclosed the fact that she had taken all of her best clothes with her: The warden’s overcoat is also missing. It ig reported that the Biddles took a train at the 4th avenue station of the Panhandle