Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, December 2, 1889, Page 1

WAS A REGULAR FIRE TRAP The Printers Had Often Warned the Tribune People. IGOE'S LAST "“GOOD NIGHT.” The Telegraph Operator Sits at the Sounder Till Retreat is Too Late —About Twenty Lives Sups posed to Be Lost. Ecenes That Awed the Spectators, MixNEaros, Dee. 1.—Four smoke-black- ened walls towering up above a steaming, smouldering mass of machinery, brick and building debris, is all that remains of the eight-story brick Tribune building, in which, until today, had been printed three daily and ® weokly papers, and where was located a number of oftices, All doy today a constantly changing and ever-increasing crowd of sightseers thronged the streets, watching the efforts of the fir men to entirely subdue the flames, which they brought under coutrol about 2 o'clock this morning, The building had been considered danger- ous for some time, its loose construction per- mitting the heavy machinery to jar the whole building, There was but one fire es. cape, and it was at the end of the building where the fire raged fiercest. The single stairway was spiral narrow and dark and wound around ths ele- vator shaft. Three years ago the inadequate fire pro- tection of the building was considerably agi- tated, the mutter being tuken up by the trades and lIabor nssembly” and carried tinally to the city officials, an attempy being made to have the building broperly pro- tected or condemned, but nothing came of it For some tme the Union League club room, where the firo started, has not been used, and its origin is a mystery, The room is close to the elevator shaft and the breal- g of a window in the effort to extinguish the flames gave a draft which quickly carried the fire to the elevator and cut off the escape of those who had delayed. A few broke through the stifling smoke and scorching flames, but others sought to escape elso- where, Being at the south end of the building, while the solitury fire cscane was atihe north end, the printers were cut off, A number of them ciimbed out of the windows and clung to the ledges waiting for help, whicn in severalcases camo too late. Their piteous cries attracted the attention of the firemen, wnd a number of them were saved, while otirers fell off the ledges or dropped on the telegraph and telephone wires down, which they tried to escapo. ‘I'he sight of the sufferings of the burning, struggling men brought tears to the oyes of the bravest. One of the most pathetic incidents was tho attempt of James Igoe to escape. e had got zlear of the building and was gradually working nis way along the wires to a place of sufety, while the crowd below anxiously watched his brave attempt to save his wife and four little ones their bread winner. But his strongth failed, and u groan went up from tho crowd, as he was scen to slip and fall to the roof of the boiler house, receiving futal injuries, He was lifted gently und taken to a arug store but died in a few moments, breathing a last word of loving care for his family. Seven bodies were found last night, all of which bave been identitied. They were: Milton Sickett, assistaut city editor of the Pioneer Press. James . Igoe, Associated press operator. Walter E. Miles, night agent of the Asoci- ated press. Prof, Olson, president of the South Da- Kota university, W. H. Millwaa, commercial editor of the Tribune. Jerry Jenkinson and Robert McCutcheon, compositors. Other bodies are known to be 1 the build- ing but how many is unknown. Two men who could not be igentified ware seen to shoot themselyes before the flames. reached them, and today the body of a man caught in the ruins is in plain view from Fourth street. It 1s believed that the num- ber of victims will reach twenty and per- haps twenty-five, but until the debris cools off positive information cannot be obtained. ‘Tne last man of the Tribune editorial stuff to leave the building was Managing Editor Williams. He was badly burned about the head and hands, Mr. Williams gives the fol- lowing statement of how scveral of those named above lost their lives, Miles and Millman, together with a number of printers started down the fire escape. A blast of hot smoke and flame struck Millman and he lost his Lold and fell, knocking Miles off. Both fell to the sixth floor, where they struck and knocked off Sickett and Prof. Olsen, The four men fu falling struck against the lowest latform of the cscape and bounded away rom the building um\ wera dead when they struck the ground, When Williams started down the ladder the fire was burning his hair and bands'and he narrowly escaped the fate of those who preceded him, The printers on the 1adder escaped with slight burns, Igoe and Jenkins sought to escapo by the wires, McCuteheon jumped from a window ledge for an extension ladder, but his bauds slipped and he fell to the pavement. A net was stretehed to cateh bim, but he was too heavy for it and striking the ground, was fatally injured. So far as learned nine of those in the building were quite seriously burned or bruised in escap- Ing, but it is not thought their injuries aro dangerous, REPEATEDLY WARNED, Minneapohis 'ypographical union, No, 42, met this afternoon und adopted resolutions stuting that the records of the Tribune and Journul chupels show that committecs had been repeatedly appointed to confer with A, B, Nettleton, who at the time had charge of the building, and begged him to furnish xmper means of escape in case of fire. ‘I'his o refused to do. The case was taken up by the trudes and lubor assembly, and a com- mitteo from that body lubored 1ong und earn- estly with Nettleton, but all its efforts failed. ‘The position in which the only fire escane on the building was placed rendered it prac- tically useless, and a prominent member of the tire department has said that he had been trying for three months to have an additional fire escape placed on the building. “Wa most severely condeman those whose Guty it was to placo a sufticient number of fire es- capes on the building for not ko doivg, aud in our judgment this is a proper subject for the coroner to carefully and fully investigate aud piace the blamé where it belougs,” Auton J, Danl, & bookbinder, wus on an upper floor, and it is believed ho is among tho lost. The elevator wav, who made three trips after the fire broko out, says he saw a man come from an oflice and try to escape, but a sheetof flame struck him ‘and the u fortunate man drew a revolver and shot hun- self. 'This, it is thought, was Dahl, Chiof Stettson of the fire departinent lays the blame for the loss of life to the lack of fire escapes. He says the department did all that was possible. ‘The elovator man, whose brave attempts to bring down the occupants of the upper floors while the elevator shaf was on fire have been ‘generally commended. says hethioks there were still several people on the eighith floor when escape was cut off. He took a couple of women up in the elevator a fow minutes before sho fire broke out, and be ® thoy aid uot como down ngain, e tinancial loss by the fire has been con- iderably reduced from lust night's estimates, and it is. thought that it will not exceed 000, Rgoe's Last 30" New Yok, Deo. 1.—~The western circuit wires of the Associated press were burdened Wwilh outgoing matter last night aud W. D, handler, one of the most rapid senders, was hurrying the lads hlong the lines that touches New Orleans southward, Kansas City westward and Minneapohis northward. The paco was W for it was Saturday night and papers ' would go early to Suddenly Chand- ler paused, shut his keys and looked up with an expression on his face that challenged inquiry from his coll eagues A9 to what was the troublo on the wire. The Associated press telegrapher, Tguo, at Min- neapolis, hiad “broken” and all the men on the “line” bad paused, like Chandler, to listen, ‘“Ihere’s a fire on the tuird floorof the Tribune building,” said Igos od the wires, “and I'm on the seventh.” Then after @ moment's pause ho added, “Go ahoad, Chandler,” and New York bagan again, and aftor a brief space paused, for Claveiund, who had a “1ush” aispateh and this was all of Cleveland’s message that Igoe received: HCLEVELAND, O.. Nov. 80.—Captaw Joe Moffatt, the well known lake man, was killed today by falling into the hold of his vessel—" Tust thore Igoe ‘“broke’” “Hoys,” he ticked on the wire, and there was another brief pause and ail the men on the circuit were listening with Interest for they had noted in the transmission by lgoe of the word *‘boys” a tremulousness of touch just as u laywan could detect a tremor in the human voice, “boys I've got to stand you oft.”" D' the only one left on this floor. Iiverybody is gone, and I can't stay any longor,” Clic on the Igoe s lak rm, Sunday press, shut went his key, and some operator ie quickly opened and shouted aiter shine along, Save the mi chino!” reforring to tho writing machin the Asso 1 press reports being executed iting machines at all points. But there was no response, Tho clicking instrument had ticked its balf jocular mes: 8age m an empty room. Near by sat the machine avd the last words taken, which had been Cleveland’s item ubout the violent death, Then the worlk went on again and no one of his colleagues thoucht seriously of Igoe's guod-by until there camo the bulletins of the loss ‘of life, among them a bulletn stating the fact that poor lzoe had stayed too loug. ‘Those 20 words he remained to take were fatal. They cost him his life and the men at their keys were grave as they worked on to “Good night.” One, who had started 10 at *“Good even- ing,” had reccived his 30" before the re- port was closed. It is now nositively known that Dahl, the bookbinder, was not the man who shot him- self in the Ball, he having turned up safo und weil. Who the two suicides were is unknown. It is also almost positively known that thero areno more printers in the rums, every- one’s card being nccounted for. ‘Thore isa bure possibility that some printors had gone 10 work witnout having turned in their {3, but this is deubted. Several employes of a Swedish poper which was published on tho eighth foor were in the habit of siceping in the building, and nothing has been heard of them. Also some law students slept in the building and somo of them may ba among the lost. To- morrow's search is all that can decide this matter, and it will also settle the question as to whether the two women taken up in the clevator just before the fire are among the victims, NETTLETON ISSUES A CARD, General Nettleton issued a card tonight in which he denies any connection with the burned Pribune building for two years past, and suys that while he was in charge of it no person or oc or requested of him better facili in case of fire, He expiaius the visit of the r sentatives of the trades and labor assemt with whom he went over measures for pro- tection, and thought they were fully satis- fled about the watter. THE CLEARANCE RECORD. Financial Transactions of the Coun- try Forthe Past Week BosTox, Dee, 1.—|Spacial Telegram to Tre Brk.|—The following table, compiled from special dispatches to the Boston Post from the managers of leading clearing houses of tho United States and Canada, shows the gross exchanges for the week ending November 50, with the percentage of 1ncreaso and decresse, ns compared with the corre- spond g OrTIEs, ** 95TALIUL -opeR0R([ New York, Toston Sun Francisc New Orieans Pittsbury, Baltimore, Cineinnati Kansas City. Minneapolis | Louisville. Providenc Milwaukes. Detroit phis, mbus Richmond Indianapois Gayeston. . Fort Worth Duluth Peorin. Portlznd, O Joseph Springtiald. New Haven, oreester, Norfolk. . Des Molues! Lowell ...\ Grana Itapids.; .l Wiehita, . B Los Angele: Topeka, *hualo. *Poriland, Ore. «Nashville 909,034 feexay] 2,601,095 1,515,082 1,486,854 &3] irminghum, *Montreal... . T*Not included in tot il o Ny CHINA HORRORS, An Amgrican Ship Wreoked—A Great Tvphoon—A Village Burne Sax Fraxcis0o, Cal,, Dee. 1.—The steam- ship Gaelic, which arrived from China and Japan today, brings the news that the Amer- ican ship Cheescborough was wrecked Octo- ber 80 by running on arock off Stuchi-ri- Hama and nineteen of her crew drowned. Four of the crew were saved. The most violent typuoon kuown here in many years swept over the island of Sado, on Oetobor 21. ifty nouses and as many boats were de- stroyed. g On October 26 at Kauldamachi, in Nugata- prefe, three-fourths of the village was de- stroyed by five. Threechildren were burned 10 death aud 153 houses destroyed, e The Weather Forsoast. For Owaba and vicinity: Fair, followed by ran. For Nebraska and Towa: Fair, followed by light rain or snow, sligntly cooler except in extreme eastern portion of Iowa, station- ary temperature, variable winds, For South Dakota: Light snow, lower temperature, northerly wiods —~——— Alderman Stone Found, Wioiira, Kan,, Dee. 1.—Aldorman Stone, the prominent business man who disappeared mysteriously some time ago, has been founa by bis son near Fort Scott, Kan, Stone bas been in ill bealth for some tiwe. and it now appears that he had become suddenly insane aud wandered away. For the past three wmonths e led the lifo of a wamp, “OMAHA, MONDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 2, 1889, SECRETARY NOBLE'S REPORT Recommendations of the Interior Department to Congress. THE BUSINESS OF UNCLE SAM, General Lana Eleventh Offees Afairs—The Census—Ratlrond Land Grants—The Indians—The Pens sion Burean—Irrigation. Noble's Report. Wasmixaroy, Dec. 1.--The report of the secrotary of the interior is a very exhaustive one. It first treats of the opening of Okla- homa; the successful negotiation of a treaty with the Sioux Indians in Dakota and the advent into the union of the four new states —North Dakota, South Dakota, Montaua and Washington, NERAL LAND OFFIOR. With reference to the business of the gen- eral land office for 1859, tho following table with reference to patents 1ssued is given: Acres. Agricultural patent GEINEIR T Mineral pateuts, 01 Joal patents, 135, co Railroad lunds, covering. Swamp lands, coverin State selectious under tional grants, covering. . Indian and miscellaneous patents 70,141, cov- Total. 0} Lt DL kLt L AL There can be found in the commissionor’s report tables assiguing these different selec- tions to the proper states aud territories in which they are situated. i ies mado durmng the year icres; tho original en- and tho railroad and 0.10 ac Tho covered 4 ries, 8,980,109 other ' selections, total amount of sales amounted to 70.410.40. The number of final entries disposed of during the year reached 80,000, There remained pending in the oftice on the 30th of June, 1550, 150,618 final entries of ses; of original entries of all classes then pending & Railroad section: disposed of, 20,444,251.64 acres (an increase over the amount pending av the beginning of the year of 4,014, cres). This does not include 30 of Oregon wagon road selectivn eloctions of vari- ous states covering over 2,000,000 acres were pending, and educational aud internal im- provement seloctions covering 1,078,472.88 acres. ‘Iho cash receipts for the year, from all sources, were $1,085,901.31, a decrease as ompured with the previous year of $3,801,- 236,08, This decrease, the commissioner ex- plains, was due mainly to the falling off in cash entries, IRRIGATION, The subject next in importance in the land oftice, 1 deem that of the system already in- for the redemption of irrization. The acts of congress on which it is bused are recent and are as follov On March 30, 1858, a joint resolution was aporoved directing the secretary of the in- terior, by meaus of the director of the geo- logical survey, to investigate the practicabil- ity of constructing reservoirs for the storage or water in the arid regions of the United States and to report to congress. After- rds, upon such report, congress inserted in the act approved October 2, 1388, making appropriations for the sundry civil éxpsuses of the governmeut for the fiscal year ending June 50, 1889, For the purpose of investigating the ex- tent to which the arid region of . the United States can be redeemed by irrigation, and the segregation of the irrigable lands in such urid region, and for the selection of sites for reservoirs and other hydraulic work neces— sury for the storage and utilization of water for irrigation and the prevention of floods and overflows, and to make the necessary maps, 1ucluding the pay of employes in fleld and in office, the cost of all instraments, ap- paratus und materials, und all other neces- sary expenses connected therewith, tho work 10 be performed by the geological survey, under the direction of the secretary of the in- terior, the sum of £100,000, or 50 much thoreof as may be necessary. The act apuroved March 2, 1889, making appropriation for the sundry civil expenses of the government for the fiscal year endinz June 80, 1890, makes an appropriation of $250,000 for the same purpose, In conformity with the provisions of the avove acts, the director of the geological suryey has notified the secretary of the in- terior of the selection of sites for reservoir purposes, situated in the following states and territori California, Colorado, Utah, Idano, Montana and New Mexico. These selections have been approved by the de- partment. In the circular issued by the act- ing commissioner, in compliance with the instructions of tne secretar; ated August 5, 1880, it was stated to the registers and re- ceivers of the land offices that nformation had reached the department that parties were endeavoring to wmake filings on aria louds reserved for reservoirs, irrigating ditehes and caaals, and for the purpose of controlling the waters of lakes and rivers and their tributaries in the arid regions, and the attention of these officers was called to the act of October 2, 1858, THE ELEVENTIL CENSUS, ‘While comprising all the investigations un- dertaken in the Tenth, it will include two ad- ditional and important features: An inquiry in relation to the recorded indebtedness of private corporations and individuals, and fist of the names, organizations and length of service of surviving soldiers, sailors und marines und their widows, Iam assured by the superintendent that the forthcoming cénsus;, as compared with any previous one, will be more statistical sod L,--u scientitic; more aaapted to an actual inventory of the nation's progress in popula- tion, industry and wealth, and less given to technology, descriptions and scientific dis- quisitions, The latest appliances for the rapid tabu- lation and presentation of the results of the census have been adopted, and o effort will be spared to present, ‘at us _early a date as ble, the entiro results of another decade e nation's progress, As an {ilustration of the magnitude of this undertaking, it is only necessary to mention the fact that it is estimated that there wiil be employed in taking the Eleventh census 42,000 enumerators, 2,000 clerks, from 800 to 900 special agents, 175 supervisors and 25 ex. ., ‘The number of published volumes probably exceed those of the Tenth census. The calculation has been made that ifsthe mnquiry 1n regard to veterans should yield 1,600,000 names, it will take eight quarto volumes of 1,000 pages each to con- tain them. It is to be remarked that by the last clause of soction 3 of said act (25, United States statutes, 761) it was enacted: **All exawmin- ations for uppointment and promotion under this act shall be in the discretion and under the direction of the secretary of the inter- jor.)? By this the appointments were re- moved from the control of the civil service commission and in order to secure compe- tent clerks in this office it was deemed sufticient to require them to pass an examin- ation before a board established by the sec- retary and upon such subjects as bore near relation to the work to performed, and not dificult for those of ordinary intelligence and education. Such a board has peen in operation almost from the beginning of the work in the ofice and the results have been very satisfactory. By 1t a Jarge force uuder the demands of particular stages of the work can boobtained near the place of demund; and Wuen this extra force 18 discharged, as it necessarily must be after a comparatively short use of from ‘six months to & year, the individuals will flnd their homes and not be in the distress or dauger that would await such & body drawn together from all parts of our wide country under the more general regulations of the civil service commission. BAILROAD LAND GRANTS, Where a railroad company is claiming the land by wictue of the grant, it imposes u great burden upon the commissioner of the land office and the secretary of the interior 10 have to determine whéther the patents shall be issued or not. It congress intends to forfeit the lands, all of the facts are bofore 1t The failure to act may well be taken as an indication on the part of the government that the forfeituro will not be insisted upon. Such would be a just conclusion on the part of the officers of this department, and these patents may yet be issued upon the ]vrl'!\mmlinn that con- gress does not intend that the forfeiture shull be exacted and that thera is no need of further delay. There should certainly be found somewhere the moral courage to give the evidence of title to tha railronds ns it is given to the individual, if 1t is intended that any possible forfeiture’ will not be insisted unon. he obligation, nowever, faicly rests upou con- gress, and it 18 hoped that the latter will as- sume it and act without farther delay. Not only the railroud companies aro interested in the decision of these matiers, but also the government, in order that its' business may bo disposed of; the citizens, who have pur- chased from the tompany relying upon the grant, and the settlers, who, in anticipation of the restoration of these lands to the pub- lic domain, have settled upon them under the homestead or other laws, Lapprove the recommendation of the com- missioner that the I'ifty-first congress should giVe some expression of lemslative opinion, by joint resolution or otherwise, as to whether or not action should ve tyken 1 the land office on selections now pending. AS to 8UCh portions of land grants us aro coter- minous with those portions of roads still un- completed, it is estimated that 5,000,000 acres might be restored to the public domain the immediate declaration of such for- feiture. INDIAN AFPAIRS Speaking of the Indian bureau, the secre- tary shows that the appropriation for the Indian bureau for 1880-00 was 8$5, 1, being a net increase over the provious year If from the sum expended during the year, £.301.675.88, wo deduct support of Indian 1,131,270.0: on trust funds, fulfiling treaties with Indian tribes, permanent, $376,5 making 82, 230, 7, the balance is 3,160,801 113 an this we may assume to be nearly the sum re- quired each year to supply the Indian tribes with food, blankets, clothes, medicines and implements, either us_absolute gratuitics or under treaties that will expire withio a few yeurs, The school system, with 1its attendant practices, is worthy of adoption and expan- sion until it may Le made to embrace all the Indian youth. It js a model produced by the government’s own generosity and by the ability of those selected by it for auperin- tendents and teachers, It is not something newly discovered or to be advocated asa recont invention, It has been in full opera- tion for years. In the department of letters it gives a good common scheol education. In the department of labor it inculcates both a love for labor and @ habit of working. It may be easily systomatized 8o as to have its form adovted in schools of different grades, and so that its bupils may bo eradually, when fitted and ontitled, trausferred to the white common schools, PENSION ESTIMATES. The estimates for pensions made for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1889, were not only inadequate but must have been known to be 80 when recommended to congress. The estimate for the previous year was $80,000,000. But before this estimate for the present year was completed it was apparent that a de- flsiency would be inourred, as it was in- curred for the previous year, to the amount of at least $3,000.000, and that this added to the original eighty millions would not be enouzh to meet tho obligations accruing be- fore the end of even that fiseul year. Tt was known also thatthe pension list was increasing, and if the payments of 1858-89 coul not be met with $30,000,000, but a de- ficiency bill had to be passed for $3 000,000 more, it must have been anticipatod that the former commissioner's successor would be run into a deficiency. Yel the estimate for pensions was confined to $80,000,000 for 1880~ 90. The result, if the cause were not so easily detected,. mighv produce an unfair comparison between the previous administra tion and the prescnt as to the amount ex- pended in this branch of the service. I do not hesitate, however, to assume the re- sponsibility, as I have done in tho estimates for the next fiscal year, of recommending an increase in the appropriatfon for pansions, 8o that a liberal and legal payment may be made to all the deserving pensioners of the ropub- lie. The sum will reach $07,210,252. ‘The report of the commissioner for the last fiscal yeur shows that there were onthe roils on June B0, 1889, 480,725 pensioners, classified as follows: 851,484 army invalids, 97,590 army widows, minor childven and dependent rela- tives; 4,547 navy invaly 2,206 navy wid- minor children and depandent reintives; survivors of the war of 1812; 9,934 wid- ows of those who served in that war; 17,065 survivors of the war with- Mexico, and 6,200 widows of those who served in that war, The names of 51,921 pensioners were added to the roll and the names of 1,754 pensioners dropped from the roll were restered, making an aggregate of 53,675 pensioners added to the roll during the year. The names of 16,507 pensioners were dropped for various causes, leaving the net increase for the year 87,108 Tho uverage annual value of each pension at the close of the year was $131.18, an in- crease for the year of $5.78 in the average amount of each pension, The aggregate an- nual value of all pensions at the close of the year was $64,246,552,86, an increase for the year of $7,630,331.44, . The amount paid for pensions during the year was $38.275,118.28, an increase of $0,499,251.86 over the amount paid in the previous year. The total smount disbursed by the ugents for all purposes was $39.131,- 968.44. At the close of the fiscal year there was due to pensioners as first payments of pension on certiticates which had been issued the sum of $5,565,270,81, ‘The whole number of claims presented during the year 244,240, of whicn 81,220 were for original pension, and 163,020 for in- crease of pension. The: number of claims for original pension allowed was 51,921; the number rejected was 10,147, The number of claims for increase allowed was 123,001; the number rejected was 56,679, The commi ner makes several recom- mendations as to ampndments of the law and additional legisiation, T — NO HELI WANTED, Cageam | South Dakota Able fo T ke Oare of Her Suffdrers. YaxkroN, 8. D., Dec, 1.—|Special Tele- gram to Tur Bue|—Large quantites of flour, clothing and provisjons have been con- trivuted in this city to §id the drouth suf- ferers in Sanborn and Miner counties, South Dakota peoplo abunaantly able to take cure of their fdw drouth sufferers and will do it, and they brand as infamous the falsehoods peing cirenlated -in the east about the total crop fuil and the univer- sal starvation in Dakota! Large shipments of hogs, cattle and sheep are going east from here daily, and the Y m flouring mill makes a frequent shipméant of flour to Bu~ rope direct. In 1850 ihe;Dakota wheat crop wus 44,000,000 bushels, gorn 23,000,000 bush- els, outs 23,000,000 bushiels, potatoes 4,000,000, enoush of all 10 keep the Bsople and Lo spare. Let the eastern money bags look out for the starving poor of lr;ir own communities and Dakota will tako cars of herself, g, o Lo ol More Santa e Kobbers Canght, GAINEsviLLE, Tex., Dac. 1.—City Marshal Honeyeutt received information last mght that three Sunta Fe traln robbers had been captured in Oklahoma Ciy, L T. The ar- rest of these parties makes almost a clean sweep of the entire party with those now arrested. Several are well known in Gaines: ville. The entire gaug will be taken to Pur- cell, L T, and will hagve their preliminavy hearing before the United States comm sioner tomorrow, . et TheVoracious English Syndicate, Citicdoo, Bee. 1.1t is-announced tonight that Lawyer Cobin of this city has about completed a deal whereby the great plant of the Michigan Stove company of Detroit may puss into the hands of yu Boglish syndicato company. It controls, beaides its factorics in Detroit, establishments is New York and Buffalo, by REED AND HIS REWARDS. His Late Opponents Will Be Re- membered First. HE KNOWS WHO STOOD BY HIM. The Gentlemen Who Came in Ont ot the Wet Will Find it Very Dry—~Democrats and the Conteste WasniNGgT & } Now that the speakership fight is over the interest naturally turns to the disposition that Mr. Reed will make of theimportant chairmanships at his disposal, in other words how he will reward those who have worked for him early and late. He will bo greatly assisted in this matter by the fact that the balloting was open. He knows exactly who voted for him on the second bal- lot. He knows who stood by him from the first and who the gentlemen are who climbed on his wagon when thoy saw that his was the winning team. . Of course his late op- ponents will come 1n for the first considera - tion. Mr. McKinley, as already stated in these dispatches, must be tendered the chairmanskip of the commit- tee on ways and means. There is o gencral belief that Mr. McKiuley, recog- nizing.ulready what the vencrable “Father” Kelley has done, or claims to have done for him, will prefer that the chairmanship of that committee be tendéred to Mr. Kelly instead of to himself. At the same time it must bo said that Mr. McKinley very diplo- matically worked himself clear of any pledge in that airection by saying that as the com- mitteeship had not yet been offered to him he could not say that he would decline in favor of Mr. Kelley. Mr. Caunon, of course, gots the appropria- ations chairmaaship. As for Colonel Henderson of Towa, he will likely remain on the appropriations com- mittee, Tom Bayne of Pittsburg will get tho chairmanship of rivers and harbors, It is said that Mr. Burrows will probably prefer to remain on the ways. and means com mittee. Harry Bingbam, the former postmaster of Philadelphia, has been active enough in M. Reod’s bobalf to earn the chairmanship of postoftice and post roads committee. Dorsey of Nebraska will probably obtain the banking and currency chairmanshin. Cabot Lodge has been Mr. Reed’s right bower in the fight, and hus been expecting the chairmanship' of elections, but Judge Rowell of Illinois will probably get it. Payson of Illinois will receive the public lands chairmanship. Perkins of Kansas Indian affairs. Boutelle of Maine naval affairs, Dingley of Maine me: nt_marine and fisheries. Farquhar of Now York wanted this latter committee, but Reed will probably not forget him for breaking the Reed New York Wheat combination and practi- cally electing Captain Adams for doorkeeper, 80 that he will probably not get that chair: manship. Milliken of Mairfe will get the public build- ings and grounds probably. McComas ot Maryland, for some remark- able reason, seems to beanxious to leave his present important position on the appropria- tions committes and nght for a chairman- ship. The district committee is said to be his ambition, He may get it, and if he does he will only hold it one week before he will believe what his friends now tell him that the powers to appoint a friend to a clerkship on his cotnmittee 18 t0o big a price to pay for his leaving the most important committee in the house. ‘The other chairmanships are still in doubt and it will probably be after the holidays be- fore Mr. Reed will be able to announce his selection. ‘T'ne disposition of the committess does not lio altogether in the hands of the speaker. The administration must be consulted, and Mr. Reed is under too many obligations to Senators Quay and Platt not to hear their ;.hcir requests before finally announcing his ist. REED INTERVIEWED. Speaker Reed was asked today by correspondent if he had any ides when his committees would be anuounced, 1t 1s im- possible to tell,” he answered in his slow, de- liberate way. *“I sbould think not for two weeks, and perbaps longer, Mr. Carlisle took until the 1st of January, aud I shall be doing well if I am able to make up the list in two weeks. 5o far I have mnot been able to give the matter one moment’s consideration.” “Then you do not look for much business to be done until after the recess?”’ “Hardly. If the committees are appointed in two weeks from now there will be only a few days left before the usual Christmas recess is taken,” ‘*Are you Jikely to appoint the committee on rules in advance of the other committees, 80 that the rules can be moditied before an attempt is made to do business?’ “I am nov prepared to say what may bo doune, but 1t would not be surprising if tha committee on rules should be appointed in the course of a few duys, 50 that the rules could be rovised while the house 18 waiting for other business.” “Can you express any opinion on the prob- able courso of legislation this winter?” “It would not be politic for me to do so, and in uddition to that, I am not able to an swer the question. ‘This somewhat unneces- sary contest,” and Mr, Reed smiled at the recollection of the fight, *‘has taken up all our time, and there has been no opportuunity for consultation. The views of various members will have to be ascertained and conflicting opin- ions reconciled. Measures for which there seems to be a public demand will be pushed, while others may be dropped. With our small' majority theve will have to be har- mony aud conciliation if we are to accom- plish nnytllln% n Mr, Reed has received numerous telo- erams of congratulation from all purts of the country, and “lh'r original Reed man’ was at the Shoreham today in full force. Ho has already received an application for & place. A lady called on him and wanted to be placed in charge of the ladies' reception room on the house side. Mr. Reed told her that the office was not in his gift, A WISE PLAN. It was learned today that the democratic members of the house yesterday adopted @ very wise course in one respect at least. It was agreed that & geuoral committee of fifteen should be appointed who shall have supervisory contcol of all watters 1o which it 18 necessury that the party policy sha Il be maintained. This committee will be divided up into tive sub-comwittees, each having cer- tain lines of work to look after and to {wr— form. One of these sub-committees will be charged with the duty of inquiring into all the points at issue on the seventean con- tested election cases which are to be con- tested, The policy as now outlined provides that wherever there 1s strong evidence thut @ repuplican contestant is entitled to the seat which he asks the sub-committee baving them in charge reports such cascs to the full committee and they will advise their party of the findinz and will recommend that no contest be muin- tuived against the wan who is evideatly eu- titied to occupy the seat for woich a certifl- cate s beld by a aemocrat at preseut, On the otber hand, in cases which show thet the holder has a prima facle right to his seat, or whera the doubts favor tne democrat, it shall be so reported and vigorously fought. This policy, if carried out, will materially aid in setthing the contested cases and will be likely to result in sumplifying the course of proceaure, INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW EXTENSION. Along with the proposition to extend and perfect the interstate commerce law will come before congress this wiuter the usual grist of schemes protecting railroad em- ployes and to prevent fires consuming pass- enger coaches iu cases of accident, The re- your | date cent report of the railroad ccmmissioner of lows on the subject of mortality by accidents on railroads has od a great doal of in- terest among congressmen. The last con- gress had beforo it probably a score of bills vroviding that there should not be stoves in passenger coaches and that they should be ted by steam, ot air, hot water, elec- A various other devices: also that all froight trains should bo provided with air brakes and safety couplings intonded to preserve the life and fimb of brakemen, It has been suggested that o section shail be placed in tho “interstate commerce law which will give the commission authority to sotup rates and regulations and make such Luws as the commission deom bropet to go ern the questions of heating and braking conches and cars on passenger and froieht ns. In other words, it is suggested tuat he 1Lterstate commerce commission be given the same latitnde that who civil service com mission is granted in tho way of extending the laws. This, of course, wili have to be done by the sanction of the president, IMPROVED LAND OFITOE METHODS, There is a very wide contrast between the methiods pursued at the genoral lana ofMce now and those which brought about a reign of torror among the settlers on the public do- main a year ago. A large force of special agents, dotectives, woro employed nnder the Cleveland aduministration to collect informa- tion intended to cast suspicion upon home- steaders and other settlers and deprive them of their homes, I'ie old adage was reversed, and everybody was regarded as a thief un- less he couid prove himsell otherwise. The privileges gratted by the constitution of the United States and the federal statutes,which give homes to honest-intentioned sottlors, were regarded as of no advantage to anyone, Now the good-intentioned sottler can have everything. Commissioner Groff and Secre- tary Noble expect the laws to be complied with, aud that the rules governing cutries upon the public domain shall be observed, but the mere fact that poverty or sickness prevents tho settler from complying with tho strict letter of the law 1s a great argu ment in favor of loniency. If it 18 proven that the settler has complied with the pri- mary requirements, observing the funda- mental principles, and has strivon to observe every point in the law, reason and manhood are exercised in behalf of the settler when contests are brought before the general land office. There will bo no raids mude upon the public domain, and those who honestly en- deavor to obtain a home 1n the far west will be assisted rather than prosecuted by the federal government. MISCELLANEOUS, Senator Allison and his pieasant family have located at 1024 Vermont avenue for the season, Hon, J. P. Dolliver of Towa. the youngest member of the house, and the most “cloguent political orator of the country according to isecretary Blaine’s way of thinking, is at the 1 for the winter, nator Pettigrew and family are stopping at the Riges houso for a few days before ig into the Randolph house on First hich has been leased for two years, enator and Mrs. Van Wyck and httle daughter arrived this afternoon from N braska and will be at the Riegs for se weeks. Perny S, Heatin The Chamber Devoting Most of Its Time to Contested Elections. [Copright 1889 by Jamss Gordom Beass) Panris, Dee. 1.—[New York Herald Cable —Special to Tue Bee.]--French politics nave entered upon a dull period. The cham- ber devotes most of its time to contested elections, and in their decision political con- siderations have no small weight, even though the votes of the deputies are in many cases most contradictory. When the elec tion of a monarchjal wmperialist, conserva- tive or Boulangist deputy has been con- firmed the majority are apparently seized with remorse, and the next contost 1s, if there i3 the slightest excuse for it, decided againsgthe anti-republican claimant. Still more extraordinary is an incident which oc- curred in committee, to which was referred the contested election in the Mont Martre district, After the committeo had twice decided that Jofferia was not legaily elected, they wraed around and came to the conclusion that he was duly returned and entitled to his seat. The roport of the committee and the debate on 1t will nardly fail to give rise to an interesting discussion. It will probably be violently op- posed by the rigat and Clemeuceau’s radical followers, and it 13 most likely that many re- publicans will take the same view of the question as does the right and refuse to ¢ mit a man for whom only a minority of the electors voted. Those who demand confirma- tion of the Mont Martre election are occupy- ing an illegal position and can assizn no rea- 0 ns other than political expediency for their votes. They fear that if the Mont Martre election is invalldated Boulanger will again offer himsell as o candi- and that he will again secure a majority of the votes cast. They therefore demand the validation pf Jofferin on the ground of political expediency. By so doing they are igooring the legal aspect of the question, What is at present taking place in the chamber is another proof that such is the violonce of political passions in France that itis impossible for a potitical assembly to decide questions of this sort im- partially. The electoral struggle is, as soon as the elections are over, transferred to the chamber. The victorious party at the polls has always a tendency toward an effort to make the victory more complete by unseating as many of their opponents as possible, either with or with- out good and suflicient reasons for so doing. Many faic-minded men think chis state of things might be remedied by depriving the chamber of its right to decide upon' the va- lidity of theelection of its members and to refer the contested election to the judicial authorities of the country or toa speciul tribunal creatad for that purpose, whose im- partiality would be above question. L A Letter from Stanley, (Copyright 1889 by James Gordow Bennett,1 Zaxziar, Dec. 1.—[New York Herald Cable—Special to Tue Bek. | —Stanley, writ. ing from Mikessi under date of November 26, says that the party areall well and en- joying the luxuries Major Weissmann sent them, but he complains bitterly of having been two years aud eleven months without news, the mail having been lost or robbed. A postscript, written on the morning of the 27th, states thav Stanley had just received Acting Consul General Smith's letter. Every one was rejoiced to hear that the queen still reigns and eagerly wanted newspapers to learn the iucidents of the last three years. —~——— Irritated Over False News, (Copyright 1889 by Jamss Gordon Bannett,) Rome, Dec, L —|New York Herald Cable—Special to Tug Bie, |—The pope has not, as reported, sout a telegram to Mgr, Salolli requesting him to visit Ircland on his way back from America, The false news which 18 continually bewg circulated m re- gard to the vatican and foreign ecclesiastis especially those of Ireland, is very irritating 1o the holy see, and all the more 5o as it only creates misunderstandings in Iroland and amoug the Irish in America., e November's Meteorological Feature, WasmiNarox, Dee, 1,—The sigoal service weather crop bulletin for the wouth says the most prominent meteorological feature of the month .was the great storm which moyed from Texas northeast to the lakes and thence to the maritime provinces, be- tween the 20th and 20th, The cold wave fol- lowing 1o the rear of the storm caused frosts and freezing weathier as far south as porto- ern Florida, ALLISON WILL BERE-ELECTED Iowa Demands It and Politiclans Will Wisely Obey. CAN DEMOCRATS SHOW THE WAY? Prohibition or License the Question Which 18} Hawkeye Parties—Killed i a Saloon— Hit With an Ax. uzzling The ¥ Des Morses, 1o rite Son . Dee. L.—[Special to ik Beg. |—The question of the election of & Uuited States senator to succeed Aliison I8 attracting moro atteation even outside the stato than within it, probably for the reason that outside the impression vrovails that he is in danger of defoat. No such impression exists in the miuds of ropublicans here, who are best informed on tne situation. By Common cons: he was the accepted can- didate of the party during the campaign, 1 the republicans had socured o majority of twenty-five {n tho noxt legislature 1o one would have thought of raising « question as to his re-olection. They have a mujority of six, and there is no good reason why tho tion should be changed on that account, ropublican wember who was elected this year, if not instructed by his county to vote for Allison, was at least mude aware of tho zeneral party desiro that ho do so, and he fully expected to do so. The repudlicalt hold-over senators also recogniza the genoral desire of the party for Allison's re-eloction, and probably without exception will vote for him. The only exception that any one has suggested 18 Senator Kinn of Taylor county But_ there is no reason to believe that Finn would bolt a pa cus on this subject. He was electe publican, and the republicans of this district want to sce Alison re-elected. More than that, Mr. Finn wants to bea candidate for congress from the Eighth district noxt sum- wer, and he would ardly begin bis candi- dacy by antagonizing Ul majority of the republicans of that d ‘'he democrats would be obliged to get not only Rinn, but at least three other repub- lican votes to defeat Allison, and they uever will be able to do it. The situation is such that no republican could afford now to betray his party or his manhood by eutering a democratic alliance to defeat so ominent & republican statesman as Allison, ‘Those who ure best informed beliove that Allison will redeive the caucus nomination and beelocted, without a single dissenting rebublican votes In a Quind Des Moises, Iu, Dec. L—[Spasial to BEE. |—Will it be liconse or pronibition ! is the question which several thcusand lowa people are daily askiog. ‘There has probably not been a legislature in twenty years whose coming has been awaited with mora public interest than the approaching one. The situation has its amusing as well as its serious sides. Botl).* ,°sare like the fellow who grabbed the bear und was calling for someoue to help Lim lot go. ‘Phe demo- crats have been saying all tho while that if they only had the chance they would settle the prohibition question mighty quick. Well, they seem to huve secured the chance, with the aid of a fow anti-prohibition repub- licans, but they are not at all ready to settle the question. ‘Nor are the republicans much batter prepared, ‘There is a genoral dispo- sition on the part of the latter to let the democrats take tho initiative. Since they think it is 50 casy to decide what to do, they will be given the chance. So the repuoli- cans aro waiting to see what the democrats have to of ‘There ara a few republicans, possibly four or five, whto will feel like uniting _with the democrats to secure some modification of the present la: But the difficulty will come in when it 18 attempted to form a law that will sat- isfy them and at the same time sutisfy the democratic party. . ‘There is a sharp difference of opinion be- tween the demoerats as to what is needed. ‘fhe democrats in the river countics don’t want any local option, they demand a gen- eral License | v high license cither. The rats of the interior counw ties favor local option avd a high license, ‘I'he republicans whbo want a change will eer- tainly not accept anything lower in the mat- ter of control than an optional prohibition and high license as an alternative, ‘The “republicans in the largor citie rule, favor a modification of the la will permit prohibition to remain as the gen- eral law of the state, for the counties that want it, and high license for those who do not. They claim that this does not surrender any advantage that vrohibition has gained und does secure some measure of legal con- trol in the counties where none at all now exists, Perhaps a majority of the republicans, at least a great many of them in the iterior counties, or the prohibition counties, want the law to rewain as it is with practicaliy n changes. They say that they arc su Ue% and they don't sce why everybody else i not. They talk ir a lofty way about “no backward stev” and ‘‘no surrender 1o the saloons,” when they know that for five years the law has virtually surrendered to the sas loons in moro than a dozen counties, S0 1ne stead, of taking things as they ure, they close their eyes to the real and talk aboug the ideal and impracticable, Some of them wind up their remarks by the llu‘en" that if the republican party “lowers its flag’ or “‘makes any compromise with the sas loons,” us they put it, thero will bo a third party in lowa of judefinite size the firss year, A good many ublicans are begine ning to hint that if it comes to a choice be- tween being ruled by democrats or being rum by cranks, they are ready for the former, The dictation of a few crank prohibitionists, who are never h unless attaining no- toriety, is_becoming very tiresome. Hhey would brobably have joined the St. John party, in a short time, at oy rate, for they were not attractiug enough attention s plain republicans to satisfy their vanity B. I\ Wrignt, the president of the State ‘Temperance ‘Alllance, who betrayed his trust and helped olect a democrat to the lecislature, is one of the conspicuous men o that class, Hit Him With an Ax. BUgLINGTON, Ia, Dec. 1.—[Spacial Teles gram 1o Tue tsee. |—~Churles Smith, 1n a row with *‘Don" Burfitt (both colored), bit the latter over the head with the blunt undfll a0 ax, felling him to the foor and in Il probability killiog bim, Smith is in Jail, d in a Saloon. BurLixaroy, In, Deo. 1.—[Special Tele= gram to Tug Bee]—Frod Peterson was bit over the head with & chair in the hands of an unknown party in asaloon L'nankse giving day, He died today. The polico have no clucs to the wurderer. estd el L Walnuc Notes WaLxus, Ia, Dec, 1—[Special to Tmm Bee,|—-Mr. and Mrs, J. P, Williams of Couns - cil Bluffs speot Thanksgiving with thew daughter, Mrs, J. C. Spangle, The Theuksgiving dwner and supper as the Grace M. I, church netted the Ladies Aid sociely between $10 and $30. The gravd ball at Germania hall Thanks= wiviog night was well attended and @ niog affull A Farmer Burned Out, Missourt Varrey, Ia, Dec. L—[Special to Tug Bee.]—The house and barn of 8 Mrs Brown, liviog three miles west of this cityy was burned Saturday afternoon, - Shot His Mother, S, Josery, Dee, |.—~Charlos Berlors, aged fourteen today shot bis wother, because shg refused hiw money,