Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, March 26, 1898, Page 6

The Hevald--Review, By E. Kiley. GRAND RAPIDS - MINNESOTA, What we need now is a war barom- eter. The stock ticker is no good. It looks a good deal as if China would get into trouble, no matter what she does. The Kaiser's papers talk freely about American impudence. Hah! Is there @ worm in that, too? With $50,000,000 within reach Presi- dent McKinley will no doubt be able to keep the Spanish wolf from his door. In this great and glorious us land of the free you always have to pay for the drinks in order to get a whack at the free lunch. Pity the St. Louis man who says he sat three days just outside the gates of heaven, and then was compelled to return home again. It is alleged that the new leader of the Marine Band is as great a con- ductor as Sousa. That's a good story for the marines. A Chicago paper says there is need of reform in the marriage laws. It judiciously refrains from saying any- thing about the divorce laws. “Let’s pen up the jackasses awhile in the back lot,” remarked the Rev. Sam Jones, as he gracefully retired from the race for governor of Georgia. Secretary Alger’s reply to Secretary Long’s announcement that Spain’s “re- sponsibility in the Maine disaster had been eliminated” was an example of cutting a long story short. The Spanish consul at Key West is rather an honest fellow. He did not half-mast the Spanish flag, because he knew that he was not grieving, and he could not be certain that other Span- jards were mourning. A Roumanian manufacturer has con- structed a piano that can be heard six miles. There are pianos in nearly every apartment house in Chicago that can be heard seventy-two miles and they are used only by beginners. The people of Philadelphia may be excused if they drink a little beer. Rev, E. A. Rawden states openly that the city water is positively unfit to drink, or even bathe in. He lays it all to the professional politicians, and beseeches the people to rise up and smite them. There are those whe cannot drink beer and nobody wants to bathe in it. A lot of so-called society women at Madison, Wis., are making a great fuss because the one hundred young ladies who took part in the program of the re- cent athletic carnival wore bloomers that stopped at the knee. Nothing cre- ates so great a sensation in Madison as a pretty girl in a short dress. And, strange to say, those who do the kick- ing are slim sisters who wouldn’t “wear short skirts for anything.” The men don’t mind seeing them. Pupils are conducted through many “ologies”’ and introduced to many “isms,” but they are not well grounded in the three or four primary matters of an English education, A boy or girl who has learned to read and write and spell, with a knowledge of arith- metic and geography, is better pre- pared for a university education than a boy or girl who has been dragged through an endless array of the so- called higher studies in the common schools. The attention which the athletic committee of Harvard’s board of over- seers is now paying to the matter of reforming college athletes so as to bring them back to a simpler and less objectionable form should result in cor- recting some of these abuses. College sports have their legitimate value and it should be the aim of the college au- thorities to rescue them if possible from the plane of the professional ath- letic exhibition, where quibbling and money-making are the most prominent features, and place them where they will serve a useful purpose in the all- around development of college young men and women. Students of the wheat market are in- fluenced by some rather startling sta- tistics from the northwestern grain markets. Two years ago that district had on hand 24,000,000 of contract wheat. A year ago there was 13,000,- 000. Today there is less than 5,000,000, of which but 1,000,000 is contract wheat. It is stated that there is not enough wheat in sight to supply the mills and meet the demand for seed. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the most of this wheat is owned by Leiter with Armour bid- ding for what little comes into the market. The prospects are for fancy prices before the new crop is har- vested. No material American interests are threatened by the dismemberment of that empire. It is a question of terri- torial extension vitally concerning the jand-grabbing European powers, but not directly affecting the welfare of this continent and far from calling for re- straining action on the part of Uncle Sam. When this government shall have taken steps to effectually guard American interests already established in Cuba, a matter of minor importance as affecting the larger phase of the sit- uation, it will have done all that is gecessary in the premises. PITH OF THE NEWS EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK IN A CONDENSED FORM. A General Resume of the Most Im- portant News of the Week From All Parts of the Globe, Boiled Down Con- venient Form for Rapid Perusal By Busy People. and Arranged in Washington. . The senate has passed a bill author- izing the construction at Canton, 8S. D., of an insane asylum for Indians at a cost not to exceed $75,000. The senate committee on commerce has authorized a favorable report on Senator Frye’s proposed amendment to the sundry civil appropriation bill providing for the construction of five new revenue cutters, The subcommittee of the house com- mittee or civil service reform has de- cided by a unanimous vote to report udversely the Evans bill taking a large number of places out of the classified re. The action has been generally expected and it is probable that some of the leaders of the anti civil service ferces will now confe~ as to the ad- visability of taking action to bring the matter directly before the hcuse. Crimes ond Criminal. At English, Ind., Emile Devan tried to kill himself and his four children by administering laudanum. All are in a precarious state. After aping from the Missouri penitentiary, James Bevely w D- tured before he had gone three miles. He is wanted in Kansas when his present term is over. Frederick J. Blair, said to be a son of President A. G. Blair of the W. & L. E. railroad of Toledo, Ohio, was ar- rested in New York charged with pass- ing worthless checks. At San Francisco, Andrew Schuller, a financial broker, shot his wife ana killed himself in his office. Mrs. Sctul- ler was taken to the receiving hospital. She will probabiy die. House Committee on Election No. 3 has agreed, by a strict party vote, to make a report in favor of seating ex- Representative Josiah Patterson, who contested the seat of Mr. Carmack from the Tenth Tennessee district. The Nebraska supreme court has granted rehearing to ex-State ‘Treas- urer Bartley, convicted of embezzle. ment and sentenced to twenty years in the penitent Argument was set down for Ap 15. Personal. Dr. Trumbull W. Cleveland was in- dicted for malpractice at New York. Mrs. A. P. Platt, sister of Secreta ot V Alger, died at Norwich, Conn. Her home was at Detroit, Mich. Hon. C. L. Davidson, of the Iowa railway commission, and one of the most prominent men in Northwestern Iowa, died suddenly of apoplexy at Hull, Iowa. James 8. Fowler, the t grain dealer: in the West, died at St. Mar, Hospital, Milwau- it f He retired from several yet ago. An official of the Union Pacific de- nies the truth of the report that Pres- ident Burt is to become the president of the Oregon Short Line and that the two offices will be merged into one April 1. Mildred Man of Webster City, Iowa, who, after spending a fortune on musical education, left a beautif home to marry Melvin A. Man, of the Salvation Army, has sued for a di- vorce after months of matried life. W. F. White, passenger traffic man- ager of the Atchison, Topeka & San Fe railway, is dead, aged forty-seven. He has been with the Santa Fe in different capacities for twenty-five ye He came to Chicago from ‘lo- peka nine years ago. Announcement is made at New York of the marriage, at Athens, Greece. of formerly one of Arthur Sherburne Hardy, United States minister to Persia, to Miss Grace Aspinwall Bowen of Brooklyn, N. Y. Miss Bowen is the daughter of the late Henry C. Bowen of Brooklyn. Accidental Happenings. Fire did $7,000 damage to the stock- yards of Omaha. ‘The Victer mills at Troy, Y., were destroyed by fire. The loss is $400,000, The miners who were imprisoned by the flood at the collieries at Muirkirk, Ayrshire, Scotland, have been rescued. A boiler explosion in the flouring mills at Lehigh, 1. T., badly wrecked the property and killed the only man ig the building. Mrs. John Moe, aged thirty-five, of Glenwood, Wis., died from a burn caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp which she accidentally dropped. James Brennan, a miner, fell from the first level to the bottom of the Newport mine, at Ironwood, Mich., a distance of 600 feet. He leaves a fain- ily. The steamer Noyo brought several of the crew of the steamer Whitelaw, destroyed by fire at Skaguay. Among he sengers was E. J. Robinson, who came from Fort Wrangel. His feet were so frozen that it was found on his arrival to be necessary to 2m- putate them. Sporting Notes. Parson Davies has arranged a twen- ty-round bout between Tommy Tracey and Kid McPartland, to take place at Cleveland, April 11. H. A. Brady has made an offer to Eddie Bald to go on the stage next winter. Brady has a play, with a bi- cycle, which needs a bicycle racer in the leading role. Eddie Currie, who is to meet Ben Jordan at the National Sporting club, London, on April 4, has arrived in that city. George Barrett, the well known Eng- lish jockey, died Feb. 25. He has not ridden since 1896. He began riding in 1887, and won many classic races on famous horses. A half-mile track at Juneau is among the latest Alaskan probabilities. ‘I. D. Draw, a well known mining man, who has struck it rich in that country, is said to be the backer of the enter- prise, Foreign. e Sir Henry Bessemer is dead in (Lon. lon. Aubrey Beardsley, the artist, is dead in London. The strikers have resumed work and bh have been reopened at Bom- ay. Count de Castellane has challenged for the coup de France (French cup) and will build a yacht for the purpose of contesting for that trophy. The only Ameriean presented at the Princess of Wales’ second drawing room was Miss Louise Grace, daughter yor Grace of New York city. The St. James Gazette, London, says it is understood that Lord George Hamilton, now secretary of state for will succeed the earl of Aber- sS governor-general of Canada. rike that has broken out in at iron mine at Somorrostro, fifteen miles northwest of Bilbao, Spain, has led to serious disturbances, The rioters stoned the police, who fired upon the crowd, killing three. Troops have been summoned. The Journal of Commerce of Rio Janeiro says the treasury deficit for 1896 was $2,575,000. The political situation has improved, but an out- break of yellow fever began last week. Thus far it is of a mild type, though there have been twelve deaths daily since the appearance of the disease. Sir Richard Quain, Bart., physician extraordinary to her majesty, presi- dent of the general medical council and editor of the Dictionary of Medi- cine, is dead. He was born Oct. 30, 1816, and was a fellow ef several learned societies and the author of nu- inerous medical and scientific works. : Otherwise. Spanish-American sailors are de- serting in order to avoid fighting Spain. The steamer Noyo has left Seattle for Copper river, Alaska, with 200 pas- sengers and a large amount of freight. The cause of the delay in issuing the Chinese loan has been removed by the committee of the German boerse granting it official quotation. The Fourth National Bank of Phil- adelphia has $330,000 in gold engaged for import. This makes the total of the present engagements by all im- Lorters $21,825,000. Gov. Russell of North Carolina re- ceived a message from President Mc- Kinley asking how many troops the state could furnish in case of hostili- ties. The reply of the governor gave 245,000 as the number. The call for the Indiana State Pro- hibition convention, May 24-5, has the apportionment of delegates based on the combined vote in the last presiden- tial election for Levering and for Bently. ‘he Third National Bank of St. Louis been approved as a reserve agent for the National Gern an-Ameri- can Bank of St. Paul; also the Flour City National Bank of Minneapolis for the First National Bank of Pierre, S. b. Eve hing is astir and bustle at the nayy yard at Vallejo, Cal. Hundreds of workmen are being added to the usual force to rush the work of pre- paring the Charleston, Philadelphia, Hartford, Pensocola and Adams for service. ticles of incorporation of the Amer- 1 Thread company, with an author- ized stock capital of $12,000,000, were filed with the secretary of state at ‘Trenton, N. J. The incorporators are: Peter Lowe, Charles N. King and Er- nest F. Charles, all of Jersey City. Ceunsel for Edna Wallace Hopper said that papers had been prepared at New York in an action against De Wolf Hopper for divorce. Counsel de- clined to say on what grounds the act- ion would be based, but intimated (that it would not be the statutory ground. The resignation of eight trustees of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, of which the Rey. Dr. John Hall is pastor, were accepted by the church, recently. The resignations were from John Sloane, J. J. McCook, E. Francis Hyde, James R. Jessup, Henry L. Smith, Malcolm Graham, H, B. Barnes and Alexander Macom. Dr, William H. Maxwell, borough superintendent of schools in Brook- lyn, was elected superintendent of | ools of New York by the board of education, which received through its snecial committee oficial notification of the refusal of President Andrew 8. Draper of the University of Illinois, to accept the place. The Bank of Abbeyville, Ga., has assigned. Presideut J. J. Mehazan was absent at the time of the assign- ment, and the cashier, H. T. Latham, left on a train for Savannah immedi- ately after the assignment. Max E. ‘Lund was appointed assignee. The safe has not been opened, and it is uid the wrong combination has been given. The examination of the business ot Rapid City, S. D., land office, with a view to removing it to deadwood, will not be done for some time. Land Commissioner Hermann has received Q letter from Special Agent Green, who was detailed to perferm the work, ying that he will not be able to reach Rapid City for at least three weeks. It is probable, therefore, that nothing will be done in the matter for a month at the earliest. Land Commissioner Hermann has written a letter to Superintendent of Logging Rosa, in charge of the cutting of dead and down timber on the In- dian reservations, cautioning him against allowing any laxity in the prosecution of that work. Although Hermann will not admit that there has been any falling off in the amount of work performed, it is estimated that the late reports do not show up so well as those rendered for the first month or two after operations were begun. ‘The veterans of the civil war living in Oakland, Cal, have decided to offer the services of a full company to the government in the event of war with Spain. A company of 100 has been or- ganized. A Lost Opportunity. Harry—She said she wasn’t perfect. Jack—H’m! What did you say to that? Harry—I didn’t say anything until 1 saw her frowning, and that rattled me, so I could only ejaculate, “There lare otkers.”—Up-to-Date. NOT AN ACCIDENT AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SETS ALL DOUBTS ASIDE. Capt, Sigsbee Receives Secret In- stiucticns That He Will Be Re- turned to Active Duty—If the Dis- aster Had Been the Result of an Accident It Wou!td Mean a Court Mertial for Capt. Sigsbee—The Report on Its Way to Washing- ton. St. Paul, March 22—The New York Herald’s special cable to the Pioneer Press from Havana says: The first announcement on authority that the Maine was destroyed by ex- ternal explosion and that the court of inquiry so finds, has been received here. It comes in the form of secret instructions from Washington to Capt. Sigsbee that he is to be returned to active dut This announcement sets all doubt aside, for the reason that any other finding than destruction by means of force externally applied would mean a court martial for Capt. Sigsbee. Indeed, I can state upon full authority that a verdict declaring the destruction of the Maine to be the re- sult of unavoidable accident would be followed by an immediate request from Capt. Sigsbee for court martial. By this means only could he hope to purge himself of blame. Any such ac- tion will now be unnecessary on his part as the finding of the court of in quiry will place him right in the ey: of the world, and his return to duty will be the admin ution’s way of showing this, The announcement that Capt. Sigsbee has been appraised of this good news comes to me from one Whose name can not be used, but whose word cannot be doubted and whose source of informatiop is the same as Captain Sigsbee's. Too Many Warships In the Vicinity of Cuba, Washington, March 18.—The main development in the Spanish situation yesterday was in connection with the definite representations submitted by the Spanish government to the state department concerning the assembling of a large fleet of American warships at Key West, the war preparations and the influence which these mighv have on the approaching elections in Cuba. Those representations were exactly in line with the semi-otticial utterances given in these dispatches and accredited to a high official con- versation with the views of the Span- ish cabinet. While these representa- tions cannot properly be regarded as a protest against the attitude and acts of the United States government they may unquestionably be set down as a remonstrauce calculated to have an effect in European court circles. Not, however, being a technical pro- test the statement has not called forth any official rejoinder cn the part of the state department, for it is lack- ing in tangible accusations, being rather an argumenati ‘© presentation of alleged Spanish grie S na from yesterday afternoon. She goes to relieve the Montgomery as a home for the officers engaged in super- ing the wrecking operations in Ha- Hay; vana harbor. It is stated that the Montgomery is not withdrawn owing to any suggestion from Spanish sources that her Presence Is Not Desired. It was the announced intention of Secretgry Long when the cruiser was sent to Havana to keep her there only so long as the Fern should be engaged in the work of distributing relief among the sufferers in Eastern Cuba. This task having been performed and owing to the return of the court of inquiry from Havana, there being fewer persons to accommodate, the Fern, which is better equipped than the Montgomery to to assist in the wrecking operations, is returned to her position. Up to the close of office hours the navy department, though it knew of- ficially that the court of inquiry had come over to Key West from Ha- vana, was not informed as to the find- ings er plans of the court. It is said that the object of the navy depart- ment in purchasing such crafts as the late Ogden Goelet’s yacht Mayfiower is to provide as quickly as possible a number of picket boats of good speed and seagoing ability to act as scouts, and also to aid our ironclads and more expensive vessels in opera- tions against torpedo boats. A large number of private yachts have been offered to the department, and other acquisitions of the same type as the Mayflower may be expected. The fleet at Key West will be aug: mented within the next day or two by the arrival of the gunboat Annapolis, the torpedo boat Foote and the naval tugs Leyden and Samoset, while the gunboat Helena is now on her way from the European station under or- ders to report at Key West. The Helena has reported her arrival at Funchal on her way to join the fleet. '’hese and the other vessels previous- ly ordered to that point constitute The Largest Assemblage of war vessels made since the demon- stration following the Virginius affair, and, considering effectiveness ana armament, it is the strongest assem- blage of ships for other than naval re- view purposes, since the war. The fleet now at Key West and Tortugas is as follows: Cruisers New York. Detroit, Marblehead; battleships Massachusetts, Indiana. Iowa, Texas; gunboat Nashville, dispatch boat Fern and torpedo boats Dupont, Cushing, Porter, Winslow and Ericeson. To these will soon be added the five ves- sels now en route there. In addition to these the Montgormery is at Ha- vana and is practically a part of the fleet; the gunboats Wilmington and Cushing and cruiser Cincinnati are at Barbardoes, the Newport at Colon, with the Puritan, Newark, Amphitrite and other ships of the North Atlantie , squadron at points further northward. Secretary Alger has mace requisi- tions on the president for two large allotments from the appropriation of $50,000,000 for the national defense. One is for $5,000,000 for the use of the engineer department of the army in pletion of certain fortifications e Atlantic and gulf coasts now , and the other is for $2,- 225,000 for the use of the ordnance de- partment of the army in the acquire- ment of arms and ammunition, Pretty much all of thie money is needed to acts alveady made by the vent, parle WORTHY OF WEYLER. along the coast The Be ed Mines in Ha- arbor, New York. March 19. — The New York Journal prints a statement writ- ten by Honore I’. Laine, the newspa- per correspondent recently arrested and searched by Spanish officials in Cabanas priscn, Havana. and later ex- pelled from the nd. ‘This is the opening of Laine’s statement: On Jan. 24 at 10 o'clock at night I met in the Cafe Inglaterra, the headquarters of the reporters in Havana, Francisca Diaz, a reporter of the rabid Spanish paper La Union Constitutional, with whom I frequently ex- changed news. On asking him if he had any- thing to give me, he took from his pocket a letter and handed it to me, saying: “Weyler wrote this letter to Santos Guz- man, who sent to Nove, the editor of the Union Constitutional, for him to read and write an article on the acceptance by Weyler of the candidacy of deputy to the cortez for Havana. I took this copy, which you can have.” ‘The following is the alleged letter referred to eee: los Ana- hed Per- sonal and Politi Pri events T have changed my views about the at- titude which our political party in Cuba ought to assume. If I have thought before that it was more dignified for us to abstain from the electoral contest, I believe now that it is a patrictic duty for us to go to the polls. Our success cannot be doubted, nor that with a programme of defense of the national honor we will have side by side with us all these lukewarm politicians who, thougth Spaniards by heart, are deceived by the inside combina- tions of Moret and Sagasta, and take as scientific solutions of our colonial problems what are honorable humiliations of our coun- try before the United States “Write on your flag, the flag of Spain, ‘De- fense of national honor,’ and I offer you my name as your candidate. After having com- a ring two years 200,000 Spanish he- roes in Cuba in the title, I shall be more proud of that of deputy from’ Havana at the cortez of Spain. “By the way, I have read these days that the Americans are pondering about sending one of their warships to that city. During my command in Cuba they did not even dare to dream about it. They knew the terrible pun- ishment that awaited them. I had Havana harbor well prepared for such an emergency. I rap finished the work that Martinez Campos carelessly abandoned. If the insult is made I hope that there will be a Spa hand to punish it as terribly as it dese; Your affectionate friend and servant. “—Valeriano Weyier. Madrid, Jan. 8, 1898." CAUSE SUSP! UNSE. Near Approach of The Delivery of The Courts Renart. Washington, March 20.—An air of suspense was noticeable in the navy department, due to the approach of the time for the delivery of the report of the court of inquiry. It is not known just when the document will come to Washington, and, of course, in view of the reports of the determination of outside parties to obtain po it before the department rec repert, the officials, if they know, not say how the papers are to be brought to Washington. All that is known definitely is that the president has sugges‘ed that the report be made as soon as possible, and in conse- quence it is expected to reach this city in the course of two or three days. The cabinet talked over the matter and the time stated was the general opinion of the members when they had heard all that Secretary Long had to report on the subject. There an impression that Lieut. Marix will bring the document, though it is with- in Admiral Sicard’s power to choose any oftice>. A cabinet officer expressed the belief that the report will require careful consideration on the part of the pres- ident and his cabinet before being given to the public, which would seem to postpone publication to some time about the middle of the week, although nothing is certain on that point. Beyond the Amazonas, her sister ship Abreuall and the Mayfiower, no purchases of ships have been made by the navy department. A number of fleet steam yachts owned in the Unit- ed States are being offered to the de- partment, and it is probable that some of these Will He Purchased. The navy department is convinced that the Spanish government has not ac- quired possession of the Varese, the Italian armored cruiser. It would not, however, be a matter of deep concern if the report were true. The depart- ment itself had the vessel in mind as a possible acquisition, but abandoned the idea upon learning that she coulda not be made ready for service in less than three or four months, which prac- tically put her out of consideration an emergency purchase. Some idea of the activity prevailing in naval circles is given by the statement that the pay roll of the construction department, only one of several departments, in thé Mare Island navy yard for March was $80,000. This great expenditure per month, it is said, was not equalled during the late war. Recruiting is go- ing on apace at all stations for the army and navy. The Michigan, at Erie, Pa., has enlisted fifty-five men so far, and good reports come from all quarters, The Marblehead is at Tampa. The little Bancroft, on her way across the ocean, reported by cable on her arrival at Horta, Fayal. She seems to be making about as good time larger consort, the Helena, ‘Th oset arrived at Key West, as did the Montgomery, while the Detroit sailed from that port for Tortugas. The Machias has arrived at Boston, where she will have slight repairs made, The ordnance Bureau of the war depart- inert has awarded contracts for a large number of steel armor piercing and deck-piercing projectiles for the coast fortification guns. ‘There were several bidders, but instead of giving the contract to one concern the bureau divided the contract so that supplies will be coming from several quarters ‘at the same time. ITS WAY. Nayal Officer Starts for Washington With Tt. St. Paul, March 22.—The New York Herald’s special cable to the Pioneer Press from Tampa, Fla., says: will Capt. A. 8. Barker, U.S. N., started for Washington on the 7 o’clock train. . He bears the court of inquiry finding in the Maine disaster, and travels as plain Mr Barker. While on the Oli- vette coming over he depesited cipher documents in the safe. Mr. Palmer, a volunteer offi in the navy, also goes to Washington with important docu- ments. These were also deposited in the safe of the Olivette on the way over. Yate Washington, March — President McKinley did not attend church yes- terday morning as is his custom, but instead spent two hours and more in conference with several members ot the cabinet. Assistant Secretary Day called about 10:30 o'clock and_ re- mained until nearly 1. Secretary Long and Secretary Bliss were the other members present. They remained less than an hour. Commander Clever, in company with Mr. Flint, who has been acting for the government in the nego- tiations for the purchase of ships, also called and were shown into the presi- dent’s private office. ‘The members of the cabinet on leaving the White House said that there was no special significance in the meeting. The re- port of the Maine court of inquiry had not been received, nor was it definitely known when it would reach here. It s expected, however, early in the present week, and as soon as received it would be handed at once to the pre dent, and when it had been read and considered by the president it would be made public, Secretary Long, in speak- ing of ‘the report, said that while fully realizing importance, the country, in his opinion, would willingly accord to the president a day or two if neces- sary for its consideration. 'The indica- tions scem to be that the report Will Re Masie Public by the middle of the present week. The presence of C RK. Flint at the conference natura inference that the president advisers. were discussing the question of ac- quiring additional i Mr. Flint, whose commer are largely with South Ame g be- lieved, in a measure, at least, to rep- resent Chile and Argentine it publie in any negotiations which are under way for the disposition of their war vessels. A reporter asked Mr. he could say whether or not the Unit- ed States had secured pic sion cf the Chilean ship O'Tf and the Argen- tina ship San Marvune, but he declined to make any statement as to that par- ticular feature of the subject. When sressed for some information in re- gard to the matter he replied: ‘Both Chile and the Argentine Republic have the warmest friendship and admiration for the pnited State: nd her institu- tions. Neither country is anxious to sell their ships to th government, basing this indisposition on the belief that we have an excellent navy of our own. ‘They want these vessels themselves. If the time should come, however, when it was apparent that the United States needed these vessels they would Gladly Part With ‘Them to us.” The attention of Mr. Flint was called to the published report that the United States would purchase the Bra- zilian torpedo gunboat Tuby, but this, he said, would not be done so far as he was aware, as there were no negotia- tions under way to that effect. Aside from the meeting of several members of the cabinet at the White house there were no incidents of im- portance during the d Judge A ant Secretary Adee, Chief Clerk Michael and other officials were at the department, but this has-been quite common during the month, Also at the war and navy departments a nuin- ber of the chiefs of bureaus were at their desks for several hours, mainly for the purpose of disposing of the business which recently has accumu- lated so rapidly, ‘The most interesting topic of the day was based on the dis- patches from Hav indicating a prospective conference between Gen. Pando and Generals Garcia, Gomez and others of the insurgent army for the purpose of submitting to the latter a formal offer of autonomy. The ba of autonomy outlined in the dis pate ‘hes apparently found no credence with the officials of the Spanish lega- tion. They stated their disbelief that a conference on the proposed lines was probable, and added that they had no information on the subject. Minister Bernabe expressed the opinion that the report from Havana was unfounded, as he said the basis upon which it was proposed to grant autonomy was absurd. FRANCE DFNIES. But There Are Other Parties Still Willing to Allege. Paris, March 22. The semi-official statement has been issued saying that there is no connection between the de- mands of the French government in China and the Chinese loan. The French demands reached Peking at the beginning of the month and the negotiations were immediately trans- ferred to where they are pro- ceeding. The French charge that there is no occasion to threaten or menace China with the forcible seiz- ure of the coaling station. It is of- fi ly denied that France demands a Frenchman as a director of the Chi- nese postoftice. NOVELIST ‘TER DIVORCE Frances Hodgsen Burnett Ix the One That Would Re Free. Washington, March 22—Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett, the well known noy- elist, instituted suit for divorcee from her husband, Dr. Swan M. Burnett. ‘The papers in the case are withdrawn from publication. The grounds on which the decree is asked as under- stood is desertion, abandonment and failure to support. The last named, however, is only technical, as Mrs. Burnett is believed to have an inde- pendent fortune. Would Accept 5 Per Cent. New Bedford, Mass., March 22.—The ninth week of the struggle between capital and labor in this city finds th situation practically unchanged, e& cept that the operatives have coneeded that they might be willing to go back to work under a reduction of 5 per cent instead of 10. Raifx Tora Up. Cork, March 22.—On the Cork, Ban- don & South coast railway. where a sivike is in progress, the line patrol discovered that the rails had been torn up at the approach to a viaduct sey- enty feet high, a few miles from Cork. The patrol was just able to stop the express. 5 i