Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, January 19, 1901, Page 2

BY AN#& § | ‘UNSEEN HAND # 7 i A Story of the Secret Society Known as « the “Ragged » = Thirteen” + 7 2 ¢ ¢ @ By Edward Hughes: “‘Good-morning, sir! I see you're seeking inspiration from Mother Na- ture,’ said he, lifting his hat; and, to give the scoundrel his due, he’s as po- lite as any man I ever met. “*Good-morning, sir,’ said I, slipping my notes into my pocket, and looking as confused as if I'd been caught poaching. ‘Yes, I'm trying to pick up a few ideas. Somehow the house seems to cramp one on a morning like this.’ ‘I'm rather pleased to have met you,’ he said, ‘for I wished to have a quiet chat with you about your neph- ew.’ “Indeed,” said I; interest you?’ “Well, he said, ‘if you are a man of discernment, you must see that he has taken a great fancy to my relative, Miss Courtney. Well, since this is a family matter, f should like to explain her position. Although they are living in comparative retirement, the Court- neys have the best of blood in their veins. They are not so well off as they might be, but when my uncle, as I cal) him, dies, the greater part of the estate ‘and how may he comes to me, so that Nora’s dowry will; be a very small one, and she will be de- pendent upon me. I don’t know the extent of your nephew’s resources, and I have mentioned this matter—and you | will please observe the strictest silence about it—because I shouldn't like it! said that he was in any way the victim | of an intrigue. You know, as a man | of the world—and that you are so, sir, Iam sure from what I saw last night —and it was wonderful how well he could ‘tickle’ one’s ears with his soft | words, though one knew very well that they w nothing but blarney from the Irish side of him—‘you know that the world is only too apt to bandy | about such names as “Irish adventur- and so forth, and they're not ant hearing for the lady’s friends.’ I'm sure,’ I interrupted, ‘no one could say that of Miss Nora Courtney. She's as innocent, sir, of intrigue-as: “*As you ar he suggested, ‘and there you are perfectly right: and I'm glad that, if matters should ever come to a head, we have had this opportuni- ty of discussing the affair. My cheeks had grown crimson as T listened to Anguish, and at this point I could no longer refrain from breaking in with: “Curse him for his consummate im- pudence! If ever I get within reach of him again, 'll—T'll—" robably have to let him go! But you are a long way off laying him by the heels yet, Mz. Tremayne, and if you let your impetuosity carry you away, you'll never do it. I'm glad to have had this fencing match with him when the buttons were on, and please goodness, some day we'll have a bout with sharper weapons. He's a keen, observant man, and it’s just as well that I had time to trample out your | footprints. He left me to go to the | station, and I saw him off this time, so that we can sit down for a while in peace under the shadow of our fig tree, or, better, perhaps, by a snug fire, though by this day month we may look out for squalis. Meantime, old Court ney will cultivate you, and maybe. be- fore the storm comes, you'll be a Unit- ed Irishman, or a Fenian, or some- think. Anguish was perfectly right with re- gard to Nora's father, for I could scarcly take my walks abroad, no matter the direction, without meeting him, and so eloquent was he on the wrongs of his native land, and so well up in chapter and verse as to this! and that hard treatment meted out to his suffering countrymen, that had I not been behind the scenes he would at least have deeply interested me, and, acting under Anguish’s directions I led him on to suppose that I had the greatest sympathy for the oppressed and down-trodden Irish. He had dropped in to luncheon once or twice, but Nora never came with him, ard T could catch no glimpse of her, not even on the occasion of my visits to Connemara Cottage. The spirit of study had once more taken possession of Travers, and so immersed was he in his books and problems, and so very dreamy was he becoming, that nothing but a shock of a very alarming nature could pos- sibly recuse him; but that shock did not propose to administer unless we sorely needed his help, and to this day I don’t believe that he realizes the ter- rible nature of the struggle through which we. passed. Three weeks had gone by since D’Or- ville left us, and one evening Mr. Court- ney was so pressing in his invitation that, without being almost rude, I could not avoid “just dropping in to have a bit of dinner,” and in the draw- ing room of the cottage I met Nora for the first time since I had parted from her in the woods. “Mr. Tremayne, ’ said the old gentle- _man, as he ushered me in, “has come to take pot-luck with us, Nora, dear, and perhaps he'll stay and have a smoke with me afterwards. We're nov the best of company, sir, for, somehow, this place doesn’t seem to suit us, and it’s longing we are to get back to Ire- land. If you'll excuse me one minute, Nora will keep you company.” ? As soon as the door had closed upou him she said to me: “Do you remember,” she said, what I told you about lending him money? He’s going to ask you for it to-night, and if you let him have it, I shall take it that you are trying to buy me, and Yll never open my lips to you again. Do you hear!” she said, almost fierce- ly. . “If you tell me to refuse him,” I said, “I shall do so to please you, even though I know what an enemy I shall make of Maurice D'Orville. I have something to tell you about him. If I promise not to lend this money, will ‘you meet me to-morrow at the old place in the woods?” and the “Yes” had i i hardly fallen from her lips when het father returned. The dinner that followed was one of the most cheerless meals at which I had ever assisted at. The momentous questign that he had to ask me had taken ion of Mr. Courtney's ch an extent that he was absent-minded and distrait: and the knowledge that I had promised to refuse his request did not tend to cheerfullness on my part—for, no mat- ter how gently I might do it, I knew that I should be putting the old man into a most awkward position. As I pondered over the matter—and I had ample leisure to do so, for our conver- sation was almost entirely limited to that required by the etiquette of the table—I determined that I would hint that, although I could not at present advance any money, I might be able in some other way to help on any cause that was working for the good of Ire- land, and this hint, I knew, would be reported to D’Orville. Little did I dream of the fruit it was to bear. When Nora left us I opened the door for her, and as she passed out she just touched my hand and whis- pered, “Remember!” I went back to the table, and I could not but pity the man who sat there, nervously pushing his glass hither and thither, and wondering how he should begin what he had to say. It was to the glass that he looked for inspiraticu, and wher he had swal- lowed whisky enough to reduce me to the condition of promising any and ev- | erything, he ind courage to begin. Mr. Tremayne he said, mofstoning | his lips, “I've known you some little | time now, and we've been pleasant | neighbors—-1 may say friends, I hope.” “Most certainly, Mr. Courtney.” “And,” he went on, “we've had long talks about the country that’s so dear to me, and I've never met an English- man that had such sound views on the matter as you have. You are at one with us, T know, and if you should think me presumptuous in what I am going to da you to do you must put my presumtion down to the love I have for Ireland. Will you help us, sir? We are in sore need of money—aye, it's that, no less, I'm begging for—and if you could advance us one thousand pounds, you'd be putting us on such a footing that we could demand terms. ’Tis only a loan I’m asking, and we can offer the y soundest security for its ;|heart, for her manner was so foreign ne, ve enough to tell me what you ha’ ‘Now I’m ready’to hear what you tosay.” * ae ; It was plain that she meant to keep me at a distance, but still I'did not lose to her that I knew it was costing her a great effort to maintain it, and, more- over, the fact of her having come to meet me was proof of the interest she took in what concerned me. be “If I say anything to offend you,” 1 began, “‘you will please stop me, and I must ask you te believe that it is your welfare I am thinking of quite as much as my own. You are no lover of your cousin, of whatever relation he may be, and from all that I have heard, he stands between you and the home you still remember and love so well. He has also injured me and mine, as [ | shall presently show you, and, there- fore, he is our common enemy, and what more natural than that we should work together against him? But you are getting cold standing still. Let us walk up and down this glade, and will you let me help you?” I offered her my arm, but her “No, thank you,” was so very decided that I ventured upon no further politeness, but, pacing beside her, sketched the history of the Ragged Thirteen so far as I knew it, and particularly drew her attention to the points which in our opinion proved that D’Orville was the head and soul of the concern. She listened to me in silence, but now and again she glanced at me quickly, and at times stood still and shivered. When [ told her of what had happened to Jim Maguire she laid ber han@ on my arm. “Tell me that again.” I repeated the story. “Then it was my telling yow that the cards made the Ragged Thirteen that made him crazy, anl maybe it was threugh me that Maurice found him out. Haven't I told you, Mr. Tre- mayne, te go away and leave us? why won't you, before iv is too late?” She was breaking down much sooner than I expected, but I took no notice of the alteration im her’manner, and went | on: | “Now you see that I understand per- | fectly well what sort of a man this’) Ahf} plan with Ahguish how we might heat what was to transpire at’ the meeting “| of the. conspirators. “ r ~ “You'see,” said Anguish, when I had communicated this information to him —‘tyou see, he suspected Nora last time, and he means to have her out of the way now. But he’s been a trifle too clever in getting rid of the servant, and if we've any luck I'll cook his din- ner for him the first night he comes.” ‘| “You?” I said. “What are you talk- ing about?” “I've some writing to do,” he said, “and when I've finished I'll come down and explain.” He had been gone more than an hour when Graves appeared. é “There's a—a—woman to see you, sir,” he said. ‘She's Irish, and I've told her to wait in the hall. Shall I ‘show her in?” “Yes,” said I, thinking, perhaps it was a messenger from Nora. | The woman who followed him in was of middle age and stout. “I’ve come after the place, your hon- or,” said she, dropping me the conven- tional curtsy, arid her brogue was so perfect that it is carce possfble to give it expression in writing. “I can cook and make myself useful, and av ye'd throw yer eye over my characther, sure you'd foind it plaisin’, and meselr a dacint, clanely body. How will that do?” was the question that finished up the oration, as Graves disappeared. The applicant for the post of cook was none other than John A'nguish, and the make-up was sw good that it was utterly impossible, even with’ the strictest scrutiny, to recognize in this: Irishman my good uncle;. tte clergy- man. | He had three or four’ testimonials: which, as he said, were bound to’ be satisfactory, since he had writteu theny | himself, and seeing that Mr. Courtney” | Was, most likely, hard pushed, he’ would not be over-nice, and would‘have no time to write to the peoplé: men- tioned. “Where did you get your dress?” I! asked. | “Oh! its part of my wardrobe. But’ I must be off, for the advertisement! may draw other applicants, and I want to be the first in the field. I shan’tt trouble Graves to show me out. Doe D’Orville is. and yet, in spite of this knowledge; I teil you that if you won't | help me to get your father owt of his | clutches, I shall. either free mine or | be killed: im the: attempt. [ have: told’ you all these: terrible incidents after the most careful! consideration; for, in telling you;. L am placing. my: life: in your hands, and in doing so I. am: prov- ing to you that, however little you. may trust me; I trust you: implicitly.” “You seem to forget,’ she said,.“that you could tell almost as much of me as: I could of you, and. yet—and yet J wouldn't even: whisper that: I: couldn't | trust you:’” “Then why are: you! so: cold to: me?’ You didn’t even: give me- your all when we met.. You. will hardly look at. me now.. And yet,.fou your sake L re- fused the loan, when by: doing wiht was wanted I might Have: been muvf: nearer getting this D’Orville: into my | power. Nora!. Nora!: for God's: sake; | i repayment.’ I looked at his twitching features, | and knowing him for the puppet that | he was. and knowing, too, who was | pulling the string that made the pup: } | | | pet dance, I aimost wished that I had not promised a downright refusal. But | Nora’ near me, and, after a short which he sat peer- | ing at me, I began: | orry you have asked me, Mr. | courtney, for, believe me, it gives me the greatest pain to say that I am un- | able to comply with your request. eBar with me one moment, and I will I have an ample allow- | tel you why. ance, it is true, but T have nothing be- ond it, and [ don’t even know the day or the hour on which that allowance may cease. I have some money, too, at the banker's, but it fs not a large sum—certainly not large enough to justify me in drawing uron them to the extent you suggest. You are perfectly right when you say that I feel a great | sympathy for Ireland and the Trish. | and if I could help in any other way for | the present I should only be too glad if | you would tell me how. I am young and active, and I may in time have more ample means. There must be some society or other that I could join, and@—"’ 4 “There are plenty.” he interrupted, “put they all want money—though, to | be sure, they want men of action, as well. I am sorry”—and here his voice quivered and the tears, that I looked upon as begotten for the most part of | whisky, began to fill his eyes—“I am sorry that—that you couldn't help us as we would have it. But if you can’t you can’t. I'll report wiat you've said about the other way ot helping to one that will know how to make use of your services, and if frou are still of the same mind, I'll arrange a meeting between you. The Fates are against us, for those who would give can't, by reason that they've nothing left to give. You'll not mention this matter, I know. Mr. Tremayne, and there’s one thing more I want to say about it, and then I'll have done. I wish you to under- stand that my daughter knows noth- ing of our movement, and I've brought her up in a way that she’s never like- | ly to know anything about it. She die for shame if she thought it was money I was asking you for, though she knew it wasn't for myself I was asking it. I have tried to keep her out of all these affairs, and God knows she’s the only comfort that’s left to me.” He sat with his hands over his face for a few min- | utes. “Let us go to her now,” sald he, presently, and, compcsing himself, by | a great effort, he led the way to the | | | | | | when that meeting took place I was re- solved that she and I should not part without a perfect understanding, and that she should know what an enemy I had in D’Orville. CHAPTER IX. The Conspirators’ Meeting. I sdw Nora walking towards me, as arranged. “You said you had some- that I ought to know,” she said, “but before you teil me, fet me thank you for | refusing my father this loan. I know you did refuse him, because he was up | half the night trying to write to Mau- rice, and I found some of the torn let- ters under the table. He thinks that I | name she gave, but, whatever it was, | drawing room. | I made no long tarrying with them, | for I had Nora’s premise that she thing to tell me of Maurice D’Orville | let there: be: no. misunderstanding: be- | tween us!" | She faced me: ati tliat, with tear-be- | dimmed eyesi. F “You won't go: away?” she saidi. “2 can. see you. getting nearer and nearer to the awfui time when you'll’ have to} meet him, and no: one has done- that | yet and got the best of Him. Oh! Jack, ’tis you ['m thinking of night ana. day when TI tell you to go!” Surely;. now w the: time: for com | fort. IT took her outstretched hands and drew her: towards: me,. and. she came: | like a child and Inid her head om my bosom and sobbed out. her trouble: And the- sunshine seemed brighter... A | rebin set up his carol in a busily hard | by, and I never heard music more | sweet., A faint perfume came frome her | wavy hair, and the: moments: laden with a wealth of happiness that might have been spread over a lifetime “ram themselves: in. golden san { It wanted but a few days to the} threatened visit of Maurice: D'Orville, | when Nora met me: in the woods and | brought me news that was as startling | | as it was unexpected. “We were at breakfast this: morn- | ing,” said she, “when cook came in wt | say that there was: someone waiting to | see father. I couldwt quite catch the father knew it, and I saw by the look of his face that he was anything but | pleased. He left the room at omee, and | I presently heard him walking down the hall, and when I got to the front room and looked through the window, I saw him ané @ tall man on the lawn. | At first I thought it was Maurice who | was with him, for he was a man of the | same build, and his shotlders and arms, and hands, too, if they had been whiter, were as like him as two peas. But when he turned I found that his face was an ugly likeness of Maurice. “They walked up and down, and the | tall man did al! the talking, my father | shaking his head now and then, but saying nothing, and when I saw them move towarl the gate I slipped into the It was from Maurice, and—but before I tell you, Jack, what was in it, yoy must make me a solemn promise. I don’t know how far my father has gone with these men, but unless you'll swear that you'll do nothing to bring him into trouble, I won't tell you another word.” “Bring him into trouble, Nora? It’s out of it we're trying to get him. If I do anything to bring harm upon him, you shall never see my face again. Now, go on.” “Well, you know, they think I can't read, but I made out that Maurice had arranged for a meeting of the leading would meet me on the morrow, and | men, to be held at our house. There which you might see them, but you are to be three of them besides Mau- rice, and they will come and go so that no one notices them. Father is to keep the cook, will be sent out of the way. Ah! if we could only hear what they have to say we might save him!” “We must hear it!” I said. | “If I help you, Jack,” she said, “ydu'll think of yoqur solemn promise, and if trouble comes to my father, I believe I'd kill you. I wouldn’t speak to you | again—no, not if I lived a thousand | yow come to the door yourself.” | evening. | while there was yet time, to withdraw, | Ing firearms—don’t do so. Select a room where they had been, and there | ‘ was a letter on the table. the place clear, and to get me sent to | London to Mrs. D’Orville, while Biddy, | A short note came to hand in the It had been left by an Irishman, so | Graves informed me, and was from Mr. Courtney, and certainly the ad- dress was a very good imitation of that gentleman's ealigraphy. It was from Anguish. He wrote: “All's well, and I’m engaged, and I believe [’ve spotted the place of meet- img already. If 'm right, it will be in one of the outhouses, and you'll have an easier task than we thought. I leave this note myself, as I'm on my way to the station to have my boxes sent on. Shall write you again to- morrow. Mind and give out that I’ve gone back to my forlorn flock. Burn this, for you mrustn’t make the ‘slight- est mistake. €an you use a pistol? If you cam, get ome; if you can’t, let it alone, for you'll most) likely shoot yourself. —J. A.” I strolled through the main street the next day, but evidently Mr. Courtney was: too busily engaged in preparing for his guests to allow of his paying | his wsual visit te the club, and I saw | nothing of him, though from a dis- tance I watched D’Orville’s arrival, and saw him walk to the cottage. IT had another note from Anguish, | and Ire Jaid before me very clearly the | danger to be faced and, and bade me, if I were so minded, adding that he would wr fully and finally in the morning. I sat writing unti? late into the night, giving, as far as I could, a history of the doings of the Ragged Thirteen, to- gether will a full descriptio nof Mau- rice D’Orvilfe, and I added that I was going to Connemara Cottage to over- hear, if possible, what should be saia, and that if { did not return it would be because the men who were members of the terrible “club” had made away with me. When I had finished this ac- count I made it up into a packet, and then wrote instructions for Graves, to whom I intended to intrust it, and bade him place what I gave him in the hands of the police, provided that I did not return at sueh and such an hour. It was 9 o'clock when the promised note came from Anguish. Without pre- amble he wrote: “You may, possibly, have been in many dangerous positions before now, but if you come to help me to-night, if you make one false step, you forfeit your life. I spoke to you about bring- weapon of any other description, some- thing that can be easliy carried. You | will come to the house by the back: way at 7 o'clock, for at that hour D’Or- ville will be busy with his dinner, and he lets nothing interfere with that. Ii am to prepare two or three particular~ ly tasty dishes, and some day, please goodness, I'll give you a proof of my skill therein. I can explain on some, future occasion how I came by my knowledge. Suffice it to say that they will be assembled at about 9:30, ory. at: | the latest, 10 o'clock, in the second of the three rooms that are built out from. the back of the kitchen. There is only one small window in it, and Courtney has carefully blocked this up say that no glimmer of light can escape: fron jt. Over the third room is a loft, ami into this loft you can easily get through some loose tiles near the end of the roof. You have only to detach them, and when you have squeezed in they can be pulled on again,. and, mind you, make them fit as accurately as possible. Then grope your way to the | partition. There is no loft over the | yoom in which they will meet, but you | will be able to hear every word ut- tered; and there are several slits from | should trust altogether to your ears— | in fact, you must nét move, once they | are assembled. Lie dewn with your head as near to the partition as you can get it. I shall be in the inner room, | concealed in a way that will baffle even a deliberate search. “] think we are doing right in trying to get at their secrets, instead of bringing enough men to arrest them, for at theiz next meeting we must so manage matters that we shall put an end forever to the Ragged Thirteen. If we hear their deliberations to the years, and every stroke of my heart beat your name! Do you mind me?” “Nora, dear,”’ I said, ‘I will do noth- ing to compromise him,” and with that can’t read, but" I easliy made out she went off to play the spy, and to end, you must lie quiet for an hour at Jeast before you attempt to get home. I shall turn up again as your reverend uncle when I have left’ my present sit- we fell to plotting, and when we parted | uation. First commit these lines to} ‘eath of Representative memory and to the flames, gw. A. CONGRESS Ce Im the House. Wasitington, Jan. 9. — By a vote of 165 to 102 the house yesterday accepted the reapportionment plan proposed by the Burleigh bill, which increases the membership of the house during the next decade from 357, the present membership and: the membership pro- ‘posed by the committee, or Hopkins bil, to 386. The result was largely brought about by the influence of cer- tain senators from several lafger Northern states; who threw the weight of their influence im the seale in favor of the larger membership. When it be- came apparent that these factors were at work against his bill Mr. Hopkins attempted to compromise by giving an additional representative each to North Dakota, Colorado and Florida, but his adversaries refused to’ compromise af- ter complete victory was. assured. The Crumpacker proposition to recommit the bill for the purpose’ of ascertaining what states abridged the right to vote to an-extent that would entail’ reduced representation was defeated — 136 to 110. There was mo’ ro}l' call on this vote, but a number of" thie Republicans voted with the Demerats;. . By the bill as passed no state loses @ representative; and the’ following make gains: Illinois, New York and Texas, 3 each; Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvanta, 2' each, and’ Arkan- gas, California, Colorado, Coimecticut, |Florida, Louisiama; Massachusetts, | Mississippi, Missouri North Carolna, North Dakota, Washington, West Vir- .ginia and Wisconsin 1' eacti: The bill \provides that whenever a new state lis admitted the representative: as- sigmed to it shall bein addition tothe idumuber provided in” the bill) It also: adds a provision never hitherto: incor- porated in a reapportionment bill to the effect that congressional districts itv addition to being “contiguous” shall also: be “compact.” States‘ which are allowed additional representatives by the bill shall by its terms elect them at large until the legislaturev shall’ re+ distitet the state. In the Senate; During the egislative ‘session’ of yes-- terday the senate had undér:comsider: atiom the much mooted canteen ques< tion: in connection with therarmy re- organization bill. The senate-commit-- tee itm effect restored the provision: for a post’ exehange or canteen whieh had been stricken out of the bill! by the housee For nearly five hovrs=the-sen- ate disewssed the committee: amend- ment; but a vote upon the proposition is not’ yet in sight. Senators Gallinger of Néw Hampshire and Hansbrough’ of North Dakota vigorously opposed the amendinent and in turn it!:was~ quite’ as strenuously supported by: Sénators Sewall’ of Delaware, Hawley of Con- necticut. Money of Mississippi: and’ Carter-of Montana. int Senate. Wastington, Jan. 10. — Tte+ army canteen is te be abolished, as the-sen- ate yesterday by a very decisive-vote, concurreté in the house provision reta- tive to the army canteen. Onis: 15 vetes*could be mustered in the senate in favor of the canteen while 34*were cast against it. Most of the time-was oceupi¢d by Senators Téller of Cole- rado, Pettigrew of South’ Dakota and Butler of North Carolina, who allop- posed the adoption of the senate-com- mittee’s# amendment which provided for the: continuance of the carrteen: Beyond disposing of the canteen ques- tion the senate accomplished littre. and it seems doubtful if a final vote-upon ¢ the measure will be reached’ before, Friday ov Saturday. In the Huuse. Thi ltwwse considered the river ang’ harbor appropriation bill: Little EHompshire was announceé and the house adjourned out of respeet.to his memory. The features of the débate were the hes of Mr. Cushman of Washington and Mr. Hepburn of Iowa. The latter has been a persistent op- ponent of the river and harbor bills - for years, and he attacked the bill alt along the fine in his usually vigorous fashion. My, Cushman’s speech was unique in many particulars. He was in favor of river and harbor appropria- tions, and his’ complaint was due to the fatt that the members of the com- mittee, according to his ideas, had lo- eated the bulk of the appropriations In their own states and had given scant consideration to the needs’ of other states—especially to the Seattle ship canal in his own state. Mr. Cushman illustrated his remarks with a series of carefully prepared charts. He: criti- cised several of the individual mem- bers of congress in breezy styie and became engaged in half a dozen very spirited encounters before he con- cluded. Members crowded about the area in front of the speaker's desk where he stood explaining the figures upon the charts and every one seemed’ to erjoy the picturesque performance immensely. When he wound up with a glowing appeal for justice to the Se- attle projeet he got a stirring round of. applause. Im the Senate. ‘Washington, Jan. 12—In the senate yesterday a vigorous attack was made upon ‘that portion of the army reor- ganization bill whicit confers upon the president diseretionary power to in- erease the strength of the army to the maximum limit fixed by the bill. An amtendment opening the way to the appointment of volunteer officers to grades as high as that of captain in the regular establishment was adopt- ed. Just before adjournnrent Mr. | Carter of Montana called up the bill | apportioning the represemtatives of the United States among the several states. Without debate it was passed precisely as it came from the house. | It new goes to the president for his signature, In the House. Not since the Fifty-first congress has the house passed as many private pen- sion bills at a single sitting as it did yesterday. In all! 170 special pension ‘bills were passed. The: most important was' ome to increase the pension of Gen.. Americus V. Rice: from: $60 to $100. Gen. Rice was wounded several times during: the Civil war and! lost a leg at Vicksturg. In the: Senate: Washington, Jan:. 15. — Just .at the close of a day of dreary discussion of teclinival delays of’ the army reorgan- ization bill Mr. Téller of Cvlorado, speaking to an amendment iie had of- fered] delivered a sensational’ denuncia- tion of Gen. Egan; former commissary general of the army. His denunciation included also the» administration, be- cause-Gen. Egan’ Had been: retired, ac- cordiirg to the Colorads senuator’s charge, as a “decoration and a reward” for lfis attack upon the commanding general of the army. In am appeal for the carly passage of the: pending bill, Senator Carter of Montana declareé that delay now would mean an addi- tionxl expenditure of $500;000 a day. He asked that a time be set for a yote but’ Mr. Teller objected. Absolutely nc progress was made witir the measure not'a single anmendment being disposed of” finally. ‘ Im the House. The house yesterday postponed Di trict of Columbia business wntil next Monday and’ proceeded’ with the river and Harbor bill: . Good progress was made; 59 of the 97 pages of the bill be- img completed. Many amendments were offered, but wizhout exception al! of’ them failed. ALS FAVOR EXPEDITION, Powers Reply to the Dispatch Urz- ing: Fhat Chinese Negotiations Be Expedited. Washington, Jan. t6.~—Secretary Hay progress was made. In a bill carrying: such a vast sum for local ‘improve- ments many localities are bound ‘to -be- disappointed and there is-generaliy | soreness among the members whp fat! to-get what they want. This soreness outcropped in several places -yesterday, the- disappointed members refusing: to allow any limit to.be placed-on the-| general debate. It extended" through- outt tite day, being seemingly 10 nearer’ a corelusion at: adjournment’ ‘tie, when it started. Mr. Burton, chairman offthe committee on rivers and harbers, who is in charge+of* the bill,, made.an elatiordte explanation of its<provisiens. Several Western- members» assailed: it: for mot containing provisions. for. irri-. gation reservoirs; and Mr. Corligs of Michigan attacked it for. not giving preper recognition to the.great lakes. dkep waterway: project. Im the Senate. Washington,. Jan. 11. — Considerable. progress wass made yesterday by the: senate with, the army- reorganization, Dill, but the imal vote-upon tie meas- ure seems tm be as far off as ever: Yesterday's proceedings were. charac-. terized by: several sharp celloquies, some of witich were- of a decidadiy personal character. An appeal was jpresented by Mr. Teller of Colorado from more than 2,000 persons in Manila urging the United States government to cease its. operations against; the Filipinos. Ttie appeal is sensatiowal in its statements and so. unusual in form that Mr. Haw- ley of Connécticut made. a vigorous objection to its publication as a doeu- ment. He declared that.it was a trea- sonable denunciation of the govern- ment and an agtack won our soldiers. Consideration was eoncluded of the committee anszendmeats to the army reorganization bill aad the senate took up the amerdments proposed by indi-~ vidual. senators. The amendments providing for the appointment of Gen- erals James Wilson, Fitzhugh Lee and Shafter to be major generals of the regular army and retired, precipitated an extended and, on the part of Mr. Pettigrew, bitter debate. The amend- ment prevailed, hewever, despite the opposition. * 3 Im the House, | 'The general debate on the river and harbor bill continued in the house yesterday until 4 o'clock, when the Clark of New (was back at the state department yes- terday for the first time in a week and although able to direct affairs, he still’ shows signs of the severe cold he has had for some time. Minister Wu called’ early and there was a confer- ence jasting half an hour on the Chi- nese: situation. The department has now received responses from all the powers-relative to the dispatch recently forwarded through our diplomatic rep- resentatives abroad, urgently request- ine that: negotiations be expedited a: fast as AN of the powers coneur if ar TO, .ee@rnes. desire to reach ,a 1 NEELY TO BE ‘TRIED. |Minieary Authorities Ready to Act | om Decision of Supreme Court. | Washington, Jan. 16r— The Uniteé ‘States supreme court: has announced ‘its decision in the case of C. F. W~ Neely, charged with embezzlement 0! the public funds of Cuba while acting as financial agent of the department» of posts of that island, holding tha+ Neely is subject to extradition. Jus-. tice Harlan handed down the -court's: opinion, which was unanimous, ané immediately after the opinion was cen: eluded an order was issued requiring: that the mandate in the case be: is~ sued at once. As soon as the war de- partment is officially informed of the decision of the United States supreme court in sustaining its contention ix the case steps will be taken to secure the prisoner’s removal to Havana for trial. STANDARDIZING BUREAC. Senator Nelson Will Report a Bil) : Establishing One. Washington, Jan. 16. — A mationa’ standardizing bureau may be author- ized by eongress before adjournment’ Representative Southard ef Ohio may introduce rhortly a bit? appropriating $370,009 for the establishment of a sys- tem which is demanded by agricultural seientific and manefacturing interest: all over the country, The administra- tion has been enlisted in favor of th¢. measure, and much favorable sens: ment is expressed by members of congress. Senator Nelson of Minnegote will report the bill favorably in the.sen. ate next Thursday, with a statement on the value of the system in making measures and standards empleyed by ecientists, mechanics and % * | ~—-+ | } | et | at f r € ‘ } Ww Ry} \ ( | a ~ 1 / a! - hd | Es, | - | =a | \ | ' » ¢ : ‘ 7 ys