Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, December 17, 1898, Page 7

} ! Coram ta M’KINLEY TO CONGRESS SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE. Incidents Leading up to the War re, With Spain one Briefly Reviewed —The Declaration of War and the Preparations, Naval and Military, for the Great Conflict, are Touch- ed Upon—Then Comes a Review of the Stirring Events of the War and the Triumph of American Arms—Promise of the Early Con- clusion of a Treaty of Peace— Importance of Nicaraguan Cancel —Gratifying Treasury Conditions. “ident McKin- se, submitted 3 about is. Following is a ynopsis—including some direct ex- pts of the more important features — of the messagi To the Senate and House of Represen- tatives: “Notwithstanding the added burdens rendered ne y by the war, our people rejoice in a very satisfactory and steadily sing degree of prosperity, evidenced the largest volume of business ever Manufacture has been pro- ricultural pursuits have yield- abor in all fields of rded;#revenue le} umount estimated by i of the government have been y administered and its credit need to the first rank; while its cur- has been maintained at the worid’s tandard. Military service under mmon flag and for a righteous cause strengthened the national spirit and d to cement more closely than ever rnal bonds betwcen every section country.” 1 reviewing the controversy which led up to the war with Spain, tne president takes up the thread of narrative where it minated in h last annual message. concluded: “It was honestly due to friendly relations with Spain that she should be given a reasonable chance to alize her expectations of reform to h she had become irrevocably com- me evident, however, that the plans were barren of good re- | No tangible relief was afforded the | centrados, among whom the rate of tality frightfully increased; the prof- ed expedient of zones of ‘cultivation d illusory; and it was apparent that hing save the physical exhaustion of Spain or the Cubans and the practical of the island of Cuba could result | then in progress. itical juncture the destruction tleship “Maine” occurred. Con- h nt says: Ss a str evidence of the poise indy good sense distinuguishing our haracter, that this unlooked-for ng upon a generous people, al- eply touched by preceding events did not move them to an in- desperate resolve to tolerate no the existence of a condition of dan- ger and disorder at our doors that made ie ch a deed, by whomsoever ght. suming the war narrative, the presi- dent directs attention to the measures, in- cluding the ),000,000 appropriation for r onal defense, taken to place the coun- on a war footing, and adds: “‘It is ient to say that the outbreak of war, when it did come, found our nation not unprepared to meet the conflict.” Referer is made to the apprehension of coming strife by the Continental pow- e voiced in the address to the president through their ambassadors and envoys, and to the president's reply thereto. Still animated, ver, by tha hope of a peaceful ‘solution of the difficulty, and obeying the dictates of duty, the president = ed no eort to bring about a speedy iding of the Cuban struggle. Negotia- s with the Madrid government proved i so far practical results were concerned, and when the president pre- sented the question to congress, saying: “In the name of humanity, in the name of civi tion, in behalf of endangered Ameri n interests,. which give us the right and duty to speak, and to act, the war in Cuba must stop.” e Declaration of War. it of this statement of the case adoption of the memorable joint lution by congress, declaring the pur- pose of the United States to intervene be- tween the Spanish and Cubans. Follow- wiftly upon the enactment of the res- olution came the severance of diplomatic lations between the two countries, the 2 of a_ blockade of Cuban ling for volunteers and the ation of the existence of a ar. All other governments were immediately notified of the existence of war, and each proclaimed neutralit “It is not among the cidents of the strug, tions of neutrality charged by 1, oft and difficult circumstances. The president reviews at length the work of preparation for war, referring particularly to the enlistment of the vol- unteers; to the material increase of the in both men and ships and to the utionary measures taken for the ere impartially under most delicate the aggregate number of mines placed We in the principal harbors, from Maine to California Referring to “the d fficult end important | characte of the work performed by the Ps l corps, the president says: Phis service was invaluable to the ex- ecutive in directing the operations of the army and navy. With a total force of over 1,200, the loss was by disease, in camp and field, officers and men included, only five. As to the authorized loan of $200,000,000, h was taken entirely by small bid- the president says: his was a most encouraging and sig- ant result, showing the vast resources of tl people to uphold their couni Taking up chronologically t ar, the president reyiews them The first encounter was the sh atanzas, on April 27. followed & an engagement which was bs d to mark a memorable epoch in varfare.” This was Commo- e ey’s wonderful victory at Ma- nila, on May 1. “The effect of this remark- able victory,” says the president, “upon the spirit of our people and upon the fortunes of the war, was instant. A pres- tige of invincibility thereby attached to our arms. which continued throughourthe struggle.” The president says that “only relue- tance to cause needless loss of life and | property prevented the early storming | and capture of the city (Manila), and therewith the absolute military occupan- cy of the whole Philippines group.” Following the memorable trip of the battleship Oregon from San Francisco to Key West and the bombardment of San Juan and the forts of Santiago, to which special reference is made, the president ays: “The next act in the war thrilled not alone the hearts of our countrymen, but the world by its exceptional herolsm, On the night of June 3 Lieut. Hobson, aided byyseven volunteers, blocked the outlet fom Santiago harbor by sinking the col- lier Merrimac in the channel, under a fierce fire from the shore batteries, escap- img with their lives as by a miracle, but falling into the hands of the i grrgene It is a most gratifying incident of the war ‘that the bravery of this little band of heroes was cordially appreciated by the Spanish_admiral.”’ The Santiago Campaign. The campaign of Santiago, resulting in the investment and the capture of that city, is referred to as a brilliant achieve- ment. A brief review is then presented of the decisive naval combat of the war on July 3, resulting in the complete de- struction of Admiral Cervera’s fleet. .Con- cerning it the president says: “Where all so conspicuously distin- guished themselves, from the commanders to the gunners and the unnamed heroes in the boiler rooms, each and all contrib- uting toward the achievement of this as- tounding victory, for which neither an- cient nor modern history affords a par- allel. in the completeness of the event and the marvelous disproportion of casualties, it would be invidious to single out any one for special honor.” In this connection the president says: “Nor can we be unmindful of the achiev- ments of our builders, mechanics, and artisans for their part in the construction of our war ships.”” As to the success gained by the arms of .ae United States in Cuba, the presi- dent says that the earnest and lasting gratitude of the nation is unsparingiy uu ‘Nor should we alone remember the gal- lanury of the living; the dead claim our tears, our losses by battle and disease must cloud any exultation at the result and teach us the awful cost of war, how- ever righteous the cause or signal the victory.” The total casualties in killed and wound- ed in the army during the war witn Spain were: Officers killed, 23; enlisted men killed, 257; total, 280. Office.s wound- ed, 113; enlisted men wounded, 1,464; to- wound- inval- tal, 1,577. Of the navy: Ki led, 1’ ed, died as result of wounds, ided from service, 6; total, 91. “It will be observed that while our navy was engaged in two great batt.es and in numerous perilous undertakings in block- ade and bombardment, and more than 50,000 of our tloops were transported to distant lands and were engaged in assaul: and siege and batde and many skr- mishes in unfamiliar territory, we lost in both arms of the service a total of 1.668 killed and wounded, nd in the entire campaign, b did not lore a gun or ag port or a ship, and wit ception of the crew of the a so.die: or sailor was taken prisoner. The president bears testimony and pays fitting tribute “to the pate olism and de- votion of that large portion of our army, which, aithough eager to be crdered to the post of greatest exposure, fortunately as e@ ouside of the United ad their whole duty and tude or the nation. The a pr lent then says: “In tracing those events we are con- stantly reminded of our obligations to the Divine Master for his watchful care over us, and his safe guidance, for which the nation makes reverent atknowledg- ment and offers humble prayer for the continuante of his favors.” The peace negotiations which fol'owed soon after the capitulation of Santiago, and the preparation and signing of the protocol are discussed at length. Refer- ring to the work of the peace commission- ers in Paris the president says: “These negotiations have made hopeful progress, so that I trust soon to be able to lay a definite treaty befo.e the senate, with a review of the steps leading to its signature.” Our New Possessions, “I do not discuss at this time the gov- ernment or tenure of the new possessions which will come to us es the result of the war with Spain. Such discussion will be appropriate after the treaty of peace shall be ratified. In the meantime and un- til the congress has legislated otherwise, it will be my duty to continue the mil- itary governments which have existed since our occupation, and give to the peo- ple security in life and property, and en- oom gement under a just and beneficient ru “As soon as we are in possession of Cuba and have pacified the island it will be necessary to give aid and direction to its people to form a government for themselves. This should be undertaken at the earliest moment consistent with safety, and assured success. It is im- portant that our relations with this peo- ple should be of the most friendly char- acter, and our commercial relations close and reciprocal. It should be our duty to assist in every proper way to build up the waste places of the island, encourage the industry pf the people ‘and assist them to form a government which shall” be free and independent, thus realizing the best aspirations of the Cuban people. Spanish rule must be replaced by a ij benevolent and humane government, created by the people of Cuba, capable of performing all international ’ obligations and which shall encourage thrift, industry and_ prosperity, and promote peace and gocd will among all of the inhabitants, whatever may have been their relations in the past. Neither revenge nor passion should have a place in the new govern- ment. Until there is complete tranquillity in the island and a stable government erected, military occupation will be con- tinued.” The president says that with the one instance of the interruption of intercourse with Spain, the relations of the United States with the family of nations during the past year has been characterized py cordiality. Concerning negotiations wit! the Argentina government with a view to removing differences in cable rate charges imposed against messages passing from and to the United States, the presi- dent expresses his sincere hope of an international agreement whereby inter- | change of messages over connecting lines may be regulated on a fair basis of uni- formity, and adds: “it would be strange were the nations not in time brought to realize that mod- ern civilization, which owes so much of its progress to the annihilation of time by the electrical force demands that this ail important means of communication be a heritage of peoples, to be administered and regulated in their common behalf.” Referring to the killing and wounding of striking miners in Luzerne county, | Pa., which aroused the solicitude of the Austro-Hungarian government, many of the miners being subjects of that govern- ment, the president expects to reach a harmonious understanding on the subject with Austro-Hungary. The hope is expressed that the restric- fons imposed by Belgium on the importa- ticn of American cattle will at an early day be relaxed, so as to admit live Amer- ican cattle under proper regulations. ‘bhe president expects that the Nica- ragua canal commission will shortly be able to report finally. “I have not hesitated to express my convictions,’’ says the president, “that considerations of expediency and interna- tional policy as between the several gov- ernments interested in the construction and control of an interoceanic canal by this route require the maintenance of the status quo until the canal company shall have reported and the United States con- gress shall have had the opportunity to pass finally upon the whole matter.” The president regards, in view of our ly acquired interests in the Pacitic ocean, the construction of such a mari- time highway as now more than ever in- dispensable, Interests in the Orient. Concerning the extraordinary events in the Chinese empire, the pres nations gives the equitable c’'aim to con- sideration and friendly treatment in this regard, and that it will be his aim to subserve our large interests in the Orient by all means appropriate to the constant policy of our government. Reference is made to several claims of citizens of the United States pending against other nations, and to the settle- ment of other claims during the past year. After reviewing the work of the Paris exposition commissioner, the preseident recommends that an appropriation for the echibit of the United States at the Paris exposition be increased to $1.000.000. Oug, relations with Great Britain have continued on the most’ friendly footing, and the president says it would give him especial satisfaction if he should be qu- thorized to communicate to congress a favorable conclusion of the pending nego- tiations with Great Britain in respect to the dominion of Canada. The president reports that the Hawaiian commission has fulfilled its mission, and that its report will be laid before con- gress at an early day. “It is believed that the commission's reccmmendations will have the earnest consideration due to the magnitude of the responsibility resting upon you to give such shape to the relationship of these mid-Pacific lands to our home Union as will benefit both in the highest degree.” Referring to the proposal of the czar of Russia for a general reduction of the great military establishment, the presi- dent says: ‘‘His majesty was at once in- formed of the cordial sympathy of this government with the principle involved in his exalted proposal, and of the readi- ness of the country to take part in the conference.’” The president says that the newly ac- credited envoy of the United States to the Ottoman porte carries instructions looking to the disposal of matters in con- troversy with Turkey for a number of years. Alluding to the financial affairs of the country, the president says in part: ‘The secretary of the treasury reports that the receipts of the government from all sources during the fiscal bas ended June 30, 1888, including $64,751,223 re- ceived from sale of, Pacific anounted to ae and its ex- penditures to §. “It is estimated upon the basis of Po, ent revenue laws, that the receipts of the it for the year ending June 30, ‘899, will be $57,874,647 and its expendi- ares 874,647, resulting in a deficiency Currency Legislation. ‘In my judgment, the present condition of the treasury amply justifies the imme- diate enactment of the legislation recom- mended one year ago, under which a por- tion of the gold holdings should be placed in a trust fund from which greenbacks should be redeemed open presentation, but when once redeemed should not the: after be paid out except for gold. ‘ “It is not to be inferred that other legis- lation relating to our currency is not re- quired; on the contrary, there is an obvi- ous demand for it.’” The president says that in view of the recent acquisition of territory by the United States, there should be established regular and frequent Lenny 4 com- munication, under the American flag with the newly acquired islands. In view, also, of the increased impor- tancce of the proposed formation of a com- mission of sanitary experts to imvestigate the yellow fever problem, owing to the military occupation of Cuba, the presi- dent recommends that congress should provide for such commission. The recommendation made by the sec- retary of war for the increase of the regu- lar military establishment has the presi- Gent's unqualified approval. He saysthat it is his purpose to muster out the entire volunteer army as soon as congress shall provide for the increase of the regular es- fabli:nm-nt. He 1e-ommends the cretion of a building for the department of jus- tice, and suggests also the advisability of righ RED RCHer provision for the supreme court. He earnestly approves of the rec- ommendations of Secretary Long for the increase of the navy and recommends also that the grades of admiral and vice admiral be temporarily revived to _be filled by officers who have especially dis- tinguished themselves in the war with Spain, The president earnestly urges ear- ly legislation for the taking of the twelfth census and legislation providing for the educat'on of the 30,000 white children in the Indian territory. BEARS AS SLY AS FOXES. They Throw Lumps of Ice at Wal- ruses to Stun and Capture Them. London Telegraph: In his native home the polar bear dors not often meet with small boys anxious to treat him to buns and other dainties. The consequence is that Bruin has to devise many curious ways of securing his food, and none are mere strange and interesting than that related by two trustworthy travelers in Greenland, that country of strange sights. ‘They have known the polar bear to take a stone or a huge lump of ice in his fore paws and from a favorable height, as a cliff or a precipitous ice hill, to hurl the missile down upon the head of a walrus—an enormouse brute, often twice’ the size of a bear—and so stun him that Bruin could rush in and complete the destruction athis leisure, thus secur- ing a month’s raticns. The most useful food of the ice bear, as the Germans very appropriately call this beast, is the common seal of the arctic regions. The latter is the wariest enimal of the north, and both Eskimo and polar bear need their best strategy to catch it. In the summer time, when the snow is off the ice of the ocean shore and islets, the seals can be plainly seen as black dots on the ice, probably asleep, but elways near their holes, which lead down through the thick ice to the water below, and into which they can throw them- selves by the least movement. Bryin, seeing one afar, walks up as near as he deems safe, and then begins crawling on his wary prey. The seul, if the weather be sunny and pleasant, takes short naps, relicved by skorter moments when it is scanning the | vicinity for signs of an enemy’s approach. During these times the bear is very quiet and as still as death itself, with eyes ap- parently closed, though really a corner of each is kept open, and in this way he hopes the seal will take him for a heap | of snow, an appearance which his coat readily helps him to assume. During the naps he creeps forward with greater or less rapidity, according to his ‘ nearness to the seal and consequent fear of being heard or seen. When but ten ' or twelve yards away, and the seal is in the depths of a good nap, the bear rushes upon him, and with a single blow of his powerful paw knocks the smaller brute senseless and so far away from the hole that he cannot éscape by that way, even | if the blow received is not immediately fatal. In winter time the ice is covered with snow, and this is hollowed out by the seal into a snow house, covering the hole in the ice and connecting at the top of the dome with an aperture about the size of a | shilling, called the blow hole, for it is tWough this that the seal breathes when he is in want of fresh air. Here the bear watches for many a long hour, if necessary, and when the snorts of the seal are heard he crushes in the frag- ile dome of the snow house with his paw, impaling the seal on his curved claws, and proceeds to practically demonstrate how polar bears can subsist in an arctic winter. About Five Creamertes, How much butter would Mr. King be likely to want to handle? “Tf I could get the product of about five creameries like that—” It was Mr. Lawrence's turn to be as- tonished. If a creamery that made into high-grade butter the cream from 40,000 pounds of milk every day, was out of the ordinary to an Eastern man, the firm thar handled five times that was rather large for a Western man. Mr. King explained, and his project is the beginning of an im- portant development in Minnesota’s com- | merce. His firm does a large export ‘business, shipping direct to Liverpool for the Lon- don and other English markets. They have bought in Vermont and Massachu- | setts and to some extent in central New York, but they have not been able to get a satisfactory volume of uniformly high- grade butter. When he saw the Omaha awards, Min- nesota first, four times running, and not a poor exhibit anywhere, he made up his mind to investigate the Minnesota mar- ket. What he learned from Mr. Lawrence confirmed his impression that there were | great possibilities in this trade and the one thing he needed to know further was the scale on which the butter is made. It | does not seem that there is such a large | output anywhere else of this uniform high-grade. There is a market in England for this butter that is practically unlimited, and the transportation and refrigerating prob- lems are long ago solved. Mr. King has gone to look about the state, beginning with Meeker county, and expects to contract for the product of five large creameries before he leaves. Parisian Provincialism. Boston Transchipt: The provincialism of Paris always amuses Chicagoans on thel: tzay- els! The Chicago Mr. Ferd Peck, our ‘ale commissioner, refused to bundle his family out of the sleeping car on its early morning arri- val in Paris from Switzerland. His claim that he and his had a right to sleep at a terminal station until a proper time to get up astonis! the village-minded Paris railway officials. T! switched the car to a side-track and le: thi Pecks sleep until they got ready to get up at 8 o'clock. All Paris thinks this is very funny and very American. But the funniest thing of all escapes them entirely. They think Mr. Peck fag mind because he couldn't understand 'rench. Football Lost a College $5,000. Buffalo Express: Misss Anna M. Sackett of Waukesha, Wis., has revoked the legacy of $5,v00 to Carroll college, in that town, because the trustees permit the students to play football. She did this after witnessing a game. There® seems to be a chance for some institution to make $5,000 now by prohibiting every sport moze severe than tag. Washington, Dec. 6.—When the sen- ate convened yesterday to begin the closing session of the Fifty-fifth con- gress the chamber presented a notable and beautiful appearance. By 11 o'clock the public and private galleries were filled almost to their capacity with a distinguished assemblage, in- eluding many ladies in brilliant attire. On the floor of the senate the display of flowers was unusually beautiful, even for the ovening day of a session of congress. ‘The odor of the flowefs filled the chamber. ‘The memorable ‘scenes enacted in the chamber during the last session and the momentous events that have occurred since con- .gvess last adjourned, created a feeling jot intense expectancy, both by the \spectators and members of the senate, This was made manifest by the long lines of people in the corridors anxious to gain admission to the galleries, and by the early arrival of senators on the floor. Through courtesy of the vice president the members of the joint high commission were admitted to the jfloor of the senate and were the re- cipients of much attention. During a recess of three-quarters of an hour, while the senate was awaiting the pre- ‘sentation of the message from the jpresident from the president, the mem- ‘bers of the joint high commission held an informal levee, greeting personally nearly all the members of the Ameri- can senate. The reading of the presi- dent’s message, which occupied two hours and eighteen minutes, was re- ceived with very careful attention for an hour, but after that the senators drifted to the cloak rooms and to the committee rooms, where they could peruse the message at their leisure in the printed copies which had been furnished. : IN THE HOUSE, Reading of the Message Followed With Close Attention. Washington, Dec. 6. — The opening session of congress yesterday was a spectacular occasion, animated and brilliant. There were more than the usual number of distinguished per- sonages in the thronged galleries, in- cluding many representatives of for- | eign governments, high officials and ladies and gentlemen conspicuous in social and political life. The greetings of the members were most cordial and there was no outcropping of partisan rancor to mar the occasion. One of the most striking incidents was the cor- dial meeting between the floor leaders of the respective sides, Messrs. Ding- ley and Bailey. In view of the gossip about the possibility of Mr. Bailey be- ing deposed as the minority leader it is significant that the speaker named Mr. Bailey as the minority member of the committee to wait upon the presi- dent, an honor always bestowed upon , the recognized leader of the minority. Speaker Reed received a warm wel- come from both sides of the house when he ascended the rostrum to call the house to order, but perhaps the greatest personal ovation to any mem ber was that given Maj. Gen. Wheeler ‘of Alabama, who has not been seen by ‘many of his old colleagues since he went to the front at the head of the ‘cavalry division of Gen. Shafter’s ‘ammy. Mr. W. A. Stone of Pennsyl- vania, Mr. MeMillin of Tennessee and Mr. Sayers of Texas, who have been elected governors of their respective states since congress adjourned, were also overwhelmed with congratula- tions. The floral tributes were unusu- ally numerous and made the hall a veritable bower of beautiful flowers. The proceedings themselves were dull, all interest centering in the reading of the presidént’s message. For over two hours the clerk droned through the long document, but the interest of the members and the spectators never flagged. With rapt attention they fol- lowed the president's recital of the | war, and listened eagerly to every sug- gestion or recommendation he had to offer. No expression of approval or disapproval interrupted the reading. Washington, Dec. 7.—The first note of the anti-expansionists was sounded in the senate by Senator Vest of Mis- souri, who introduced the following resolution: “That under the constitution of the United States no power is given to the federal government to acquire territory to be held and governed permanently as colonies. The colonial system of European nations cannot be estab- lished under our present constitution; but all territory acquired by the gov- ernment, except such small amount as may be necessary for coaling stations, correction of boundaries and similar governmental purposes must be ac- quired and governed with the purpose of ultimately organizing such terri- tories into states suitable for admis- sion into the Union.” A brief discussion of the navigation laws was precipitated by the consid- eration of a bill amending those laws by the addition of a provision that for- eign built vessels wrecked in the United States, purchased by citizens of this country and repaired to the extent of three-fourtls of their value shall be subject to forfeiture if they engage subsequently in the coastwise trade of the United States. Mr. Vest, a mem- ber of the committee on commerce ex- pressed his opposition to the Dill, principally because it afforded protec- tion to the coastwise trade which need- ed no protection. Mr. Caffery of Louisiana, who is a member of the com- mittee on commerce, opposed the Dill. Finally it was made a special order for next Monday. At 1:30 the senate adjourned. In the House. The house was in session less than half an hour yesterday when the deaths of Representatives Northway of Ohio and Love of Mississippi were announced and an adjournment was taken out of respect to their memory. The customary resolution for the dis- tribution of the president’s message to the several committees having juris- diction was adopted, and the deficiency bill, carrying the appropriation for the extraordinary expenses of the army and navy from Jan. 1 to July 1, 1899, was reported and will be taken up by the house to-day. The report of the Hawaiian commission, transmitted by the president, was laid before the house and erred to the committee on territories, together with a bill of- fer2>d by Mr. Hitt to carry out the rec- ommendaticns of the commission. Washington, Dee. 8. -- No business was transacted by the senate in open session. A few minutes after the senate convened it went into executive session. At 2:15 business in open session was resumed. The daath of Representatives Northway of Ohio and Love of Mississippi was an- nounced and the senate adjourned as a mark of respect to their memories. In executive session the senate had a long debate upon the subject of con- fir nation of the Hawaiian commission- ers. The debate was started by Sena- tor Hoar, who made a vigorous pro- test against the practice of appointing senators upon such a commission. The method of appointing senators on com- The House. Washington, Dec. 8.—The house yes- terday passed the anti-ticket scalping bill by a vote of 119 to 101. This ac- tion is the culmination of a ten-years’ struggle on the part of the railroads to put an‘end to the business of ticket scalping. The interstate commerce commission first called attention to this in its report of 1888, and it has been before congress ever since in one form or another. During the last ses- sion extensive hearings were given both to the representatives of the rail- roads and the scalpers, and Mr. Sher- man of New York secured 174 pledges for the measure. It was, however, not deemed advisable to bring the measure forward until the present ses- sion. The debate lasted four hours and was spirited on both sides. None of the amendments offered were adopt- ed and the bill passed as reported by the committee. Washington, Dec. 9. — The senate held a_ short session and then adjourned until Monday after mak- ing the Nicaraguan canal bill the unfinished business before that body. Mr. Morgan called up the measure, whereupon Mr. Pettigrew moved to adjourn. This motion failed—13 to 42— and the bill was brought forward. An adjourrment was then taken. During the session Mr. Vest stated his objec- tion to the hurried manner of passing appropriation bills in the senate and gave notice that he would insist upon a quorum being present when pension bills were being acted upon. The House. Washington, Dec. 9.—The urgent de- ficiency bill to provide for the support of the military and naval establish- ments was passed by the house prac- tically without opposition. A fear had been expressed that the measure might open up a prolonged debate upon the conduct of the war, but the Democrat- ie leaders decided that such a debate would properly come later upon the regular appropriation bills or upon the bill for the reorganization of the army. There was not a word of criticism of the war during the debate. The only point upon which an issue was raised was as to whether the bill, providing as it did, for the pay of volunteers un- til Tuly 1, 1899, might not be construed as a modification of the law under which the volunteers were mustered into service. Mr. McRae of Arkansas offered an amendment providing that it should not be so construed, and upon it there was a general debate as to the advisability of mustering the yolun- teers out before the regular army was increased. Mr. Cannon finally accept- ed the McRae amendment and removed the only shadow of opposition to the bill. A number of amendments were adopted upon the recommendation of the appropriation committee, which re- ceived some supplemental © estimates’ after the bill was prepared. The larg- est of these was an item of $3,000,000 for an emergency fund for the war de- partment, increasing the amount car- tied by the bill to $69,859,892. The conference report upon the bill to ren- der the sureties of consuls, vice consuls and consular agents liable for damages in suits at law, was adopted. The house adjourned over until Monday to give the commercial committees an op- portunity to work without interrup- tion. FIRES AND POISON, Mysterious Occurrences in a Cali- fornin Town. San Diego,.Cal., Dec. 10. — Several mysterious fires and an attempt to poison the water used by railroad sec- tion men have caused much excitement in the little town of Delmar, twenty miles north of here. A vigilance com- mittce has been organized and William Bennett, proprietor of a hotel which was burned has been ordered to leave town within forty-eight hours. Mr. Bennett refuses to go, and defies any one to lay hands on him. He goes about the streets armed with a Win chester and serious trouble is feared. Bennett was not in Delmar when the hotel was destroyed. Entering a Vigorous Career. Kingston, Jam., Dec. 10—The Glean- er, a semi-official newspaper, d ing President McKinley’s mes p congress, says: “America is clearly entcring on a vigorous career which may carry her to heights of undreamed power or land her in woeful predica- ments. Therefore she is lucky to pos- sess the active friendship of England for ballast on her perilous voyage on the ocean of international bickerings.” Overcome by Gas. Chicago, Dec. 10.—While attempting to make a coupling on a gas main at Forty-tirst street and Vincennes ave- nue four men were overcome by es- eaping gas. William Armstrong and James Sharple died almost instantly. Thomas Hayes recovered several hours later and James Casey was only slight- ly overcome. ‘ Prof. Lord Called. Springfield, IL, Dec. 10—L. C. Lord, president of the Moorhead, Minn., normal school, has been elected presi- dent of the Hastern Ilincis normal at Charlestown. Prof. Lord has been a teached in Minnesota for twenty-five years, and president of the Moorhead | normal since its foundation ten years ago. 5 Chance for Tamasese. Auckland, N. Z., Dec. 10—The follow- | ing advices have been received from Samoa: “The supporters of Mataafa , having elected him king, certain chiefs lodged a caveat which the chief justice has decided in their favor. It is now understood that Tamasese will be nom- inated.” Fatally Injnret, La Crosse, Wis., Dec. 10. — Martin Peterson, aged 18, son of a prominent farmer of Holman, was thrown from a , load of hay here and fatally injured. { od MIKNESOTA ITEMS Receivers have been appointed for the Duluth Superior Bridge company. Three lives were lost in a hotel fire at Wadena. The Minnesota Horticultural society held its annual meeting in Minneapolis last week. There is a good prospect of the Thir- teenth Minnesota arriving home from Manila before Easter. The annual bonspiel of the North- western Curling association will be held at St. Paul Jan. 16 to 21. Suit has been brought at St. Paul to test the right of express companies to make the shipper pay the revenue tax. Conductor Michael Koop was killed in an accident at the Edgerton Street bridge at St. Paul. Grand Army men will erect a bronze tablet to Maj. Wilkinson at Fort Snell- ing. ‘The miscellaneous cash earnings of the Stillwater prison for November were the largest in the history of the institution, amounting to $143,674.11. Two spans of a bridge at St. Paul were wrecked by collision of a St. Paul & Duluth train with a pier. One man was seriously injured. Dr. Millspaugh of Salt Lake City has been elected president of the Winona nerimal school, and Prof. Cooper of Carleton of the Mankato school. James H. Southall was sentenced to ten years in prison by the court at St. Paul, for issuing fraudulent govern- ment time checks. T. D. Inman of Pine City, whose feet were so badly frozen that amputation of one was feared necessary, is report- ed as likely to save both feet. : Postmaster John G. Lennon of Blooming Prairie has been acevsed of being short in his accounts, due, he seys, to an error in bookkeeping. An unknown man was struck by a westbound freight one mile east of Wood Lake, and badly injured. He was somewhat intoxicated. The jury in the case of Gebhard Otto at Hastings, for the killing of Mathias Klein, the well known hotelkeeper of New Trier, returned a verdict of man- slaughter in the first degree, after be- ing out five hours. The district court convened at Owa- tonna, with Judge Thomas 8. Buck- ham presiding. The calendar is a light one, With little interest attached save in the case of Theodore Nelson, who is charged with receiving stolen goods. A St. Paul & Duluth switch engine killed an unknown man in the yards, at Duluth, the other day, cutting him to pieces. The man was not seen until after the engine had gone over him. Nothing about him gave any clue to his identity. He was appar- ently a working man, twenty-five The flag raising at Camp J. M. 8B: con at Walker, which was to have ta en place Dec. 13, has been postponed unail early in January. This became necessary on account of the threaten- ing outlook among the Indians and the rumors that the Third infantry is to be sent to the Philippines. Andrew Johnson, a fisherman of Red Wing. attempted to send two barrels of fish to the Maryland Packing com- pany of Des Moines. A deputy game warden seized the fish at the express office. The state law imposes a fine of $10 for each fish, and, as nearly 1,000 fish were confiscated, the shipment will prove expensive. The annual meeting of the Minnesota Valley Medical association was keld at the Salspaugh, Mankato, and was largely attended. The meeting closed after electing the following officers: President, Dr. G. J. Smith, Blue Earth City; treasurer, Dr. G. F. Merritt, St. Peter; secretary, Dr. E. D. Steele, Man- kato. William J. Birmingham, a popular young clerk, employed in the Model Clothing Store company’s store at Wi nona, died as the result of a fall from ¢ high step ladder, while arranging stocks. In the fall he fractured his skull. At one time Mr. Birmingham was in the employ of the Plymouth Clothing company in Minneapolis. H. H. Rolfe of Pine City was found dead in his bed. He was seventy-five years old, apparently healthy and strong, and did a fair day’s work the day before, retiring at his usual hour. Mr. Rolfe had lived with his niece, Mrs. J. Dosey, in Pine City, for twenty- one years. Sunday night burglars broke into the store of W. J. Sullivan at Swansvilie, Morrison county, blew open the safe and secured about $400 in money and some clothing. Three hundred dollars of the money belonged to the Northern Pacific, whose safe was located in the store. Albert J. Watson, a brakeman of the Duluth & Iron Rapge road, was run ‘over and killed by a train while walk- ‘ing on the track. A number of cars van over the back of his head, crush- ing it to a jelly, before the train could be brought to a standstill. His body was not marked in any way and there was searcely a bruise made except on the back of the head. Anton Wampa, a farmer of Swan riv- er, Morrison county, while trying to catch bis runaway team, was thrown down and rum over. The upper jaw 1/ne was so badly crushed that it had ‘to be removed. His back wes also in- pat and he received bruises on his eyes and body. He was taken to St. Gabriel's hospital,*but, owing to his age, he may not recover. Cc. R. Dolan, owner of one of the Verdon elevators, shot J. C. Allen, a prominent farmer, living two and one- half miles northeast of town. The bul- let from a 38-caliber revolver entered the fleshy part of the left leg above the knee, ranging downward and lodging within an inch of the back of the limb. They had a row before, but were parted, whem Dolan followed Al- len up town and shot him. During a quarrel in a grocery store in the West End, Winona, Mrs. Mar- garet Loftus assaulted a woman named Kate Muzure with a catsup bottle, beating her into a state of insensibility and badly disfiguring her face and head. Mrs. Loftus has been arrested and is now held on a charge of assault in the second degree. The fight start- ed over past family grievances, and was caused by Mrs. Muzure throwing an orange at her assailant. Mrs. E. L. George fell down a flight of cellar stairs at Pine City, fracturing three ribs and being. severely gashed and bruised about the head. She wilt recover. ae