Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 8, 1894, Page 1

OMAHA, THURSDAY MORNING, ARCH 8 1804 PENSION BILL PASSED After Five Days of—DT,h:\‘tu it Went Throngh the House Without Division, AMOUNT CARRIED BY THE APPROPRIATION Tucre Will Be Paid Out to the 01d Soldiers the Sum of $161,000.000. LITTLE OBJECTICN FRCM DEMOCRATS Thny Made No Criticism of the Sum of Money that Has Been Appropriated. GENERAL HENDERSON'S ELOQUENT TALK Brilliant De of the Vet Their ¥j Mo Makes n ense and Arraign 'y Cordinl K erar Gulusha Gro by All the Members WASHINGTON, March 7.—After five da of debate the pension appropriation bill, car- rying $151,000,000, passed this afternoon without division. Throughout the debate there had been no criticism of the amount carried by the bill, debate being confined on one hand to an assault upon the manner in which the previous democratic commissioner of pensions had administered the office and his glleged unauthorized suspension of pen- glons, and, on the other, to a defense of the attempt of the commissioner to purge the rolls of those who were not entitled to pen- sions, Today there were several very spir- fted specches. Those by General Henderson of Towa, Mr. O'Neil in closing the debate, and ex-Speaker Grow. All the amendments o the bill save one, that of Mr. Pickler, to make the reports of the examining surgeons open to the Inspection of the applicant or his attorneys, were defeated. They all fell under points of order that they were not germane. The one which attracted most attention was that of Mr. Enloe to repeal a portion of the ‘provision included in the act of last December to prevent the sus pension of any pension except on thirty days notice, 80 as to permit the suspension in case of plain prima facfe evidence that the pem- sloner had procured his pension by forgery, or perjury or other similar frauds. This amendment was offered at the suggestion of Commissioner Lochren himself, who, under the opinion of the attorney declared if the act of last December stood over $500,000 would have to be paid out to suspended pensioners, who were proven be- yond all question not to be longer entitled to the ponsfons they had been drawing. Mr. Outhwaite, the chairman of the committee of the whole, however, ruled that the amend- ment, on Mr. Martin's point of order, was not germane. In the house this morning the senate joint resolution for a commission to repre= sent the United States at the Antwerp In- ternational expoition was agreed to. Fiynn of Oklahoma secured the passage of a bill granting Oklahoma City, for educa- tional purposes, an abandoned military reser- vation in said city. Resolutions of inquiry, one asking the sec- retary of the treasury for information as to the authority under which the Bureau of Engraving and_Printing had submitted pro- posals to the Postoffice department for the mmnufacture of adhesive stamps, and, an- other asking the postmaster general for coples of proposals for the manufacture of these stamps, were adopted. The house went into the committee of the whole on the pension appropriation. OPENED THE DEBATE. Mr. Hudson, democrat, of Kansas opened the debate for the day, eriticised the conduct of the pension office, both under the Harrison and Cleveland administrations. He was drawn into a lively altercation with gomo of his republican colleagues from Kansas over the campaigning tours of Pen- slon Agent Campbell of that state. In Kansas, he said, there were 40,000 pensioners receiving an average of $160, while in Mas- sachusetts there were 34,000 pensioners re- celving an average of $150 per annum, “Do you think the Massachusetts soldier recelves too much?” interjected Mr. Walker. “‘Let me tell the gentleman that Massachu- sotts has pald her soldiers $23,000,000 in addition to all they had received from the general governmen! Mr. Morse, republican, of Massachusetts agreed with Mr. Sickles that the commis- sloner of pensions was gullty not only of bad law, but of bad manners. Mr. Stockdale, democrat, of Missi supported the pension policy of Commissioner Lochren and the president. — They were trying, he sald, to rid the roll of the camp followers and coffee coolers and deser in_order to make it an historic and honored roll of the nation's defenders, Mr. Johnson, republican, of Indiana made a vigorous onslaught on the policy of Secre- tary Smith and Commissioner Lochren. He reviewed what he called the wholesalo sus- penslons made. After a brief speech by Mr. Michigan, Mr. sippi Thomas of Springer of Illinois took the floor in defense of the policy of the pension office. He wanted to know why Illino's, having more population than Ohio, had but 68,000 pensioners, receiving $11,019,- while Ohio had 102,981 pensioners, re The ¥o'617,726,000. In Indiana $900,000 was uted to eacli congressional district, in " §866,000, while in Illinois but $300,000 The thg ibuted to the district, He attrib- the moteyig gpate of affairs to the fact that ~-&Uperiorngion office had been made a political machine by the republican party. - Ilinois was certein for the republican party, while Indiana and Ohio were doubtful. The slon cases were sottled In the doubtful les, while those from one solid state were pigeonholed. HAD MOVED FROM THE BAST. Mr Marsh of Illinols explaiued this dis- erlmination by pointing out that in Kansas, which sent but ffteen regiments into the fighd, there were 42,000 pensioners. The old soldiers from Illinols had moved west to Kansas and other states, Mr. O'Neil of Massachusett the bill, closed the debate. No looking to an Increase of t had been pi pted, he said. The debate had been merely volitical effect. The re- publicans, as they saw the lmit of pensions was foon to be reached, realized that their stock in trade would cease whe they could 10 longer go befare tho country, crying out ey b nereased the number of pensions. In concluding, Mr. O'Neil warned the re- publicans that they were in a poor business when they discredited General Black and Commissloner Lochren In the eyes of the 1 soldiers. Nelther could they discredit the president with the Awmerlcan people, They had ahsolute faith in his honesty, his pluck and his coura (Applauso.) At 8 o'clock general debate closed under the agrooment reached. and the bill was read for amendment and debate under the My winute rul Mr. Bingham of- Ponnsylvania and Mr Mopkius of [inols offerad amendments were deciared out of order, and M, of Tennesseo offerod his amendment wond the act, approved Deeamber 21 s0 it should not be coustrued to p vent the temporary withholding of payments to pensioners upen clear evidence that their pens! wore obtained by forgery, perjury or other actual fraud upon the United States. with a provisa that no pensions should be suspended until the thirty days notice pre seribed fn sald act has Loen glven and that the cases of suspended pensioners should b Wiven priority npon request of the pensioner Mr. Martin of Indiana made point of order against the amendment that It wus in charge of amendments appropriation general, | not germane, antl the point was sustained. Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio offered an amend- ment to {ncrease the appropriation for pen- slons carried by the bill to $165,000,000, which defeated without divisfon. GE BRSO} General Henderson of Towa, who ha Il for some time, next got the floor. eral weeks ago he submitted to another amputation of his limb. He had been pained beyond measure, he said, to find that upon a theme which ought to inspire every patri- otie heart this house was divided as if it was a war measure, General Black, who served every generous word that had been spoken concerning him, had stood here with a houquet of rhetoric for the soldier in one hand and a dagger to strike him to the goul in the other. “Oh, my country,” said General Flenderson—to the democrats, “he who wore rs. upon his shoulders In the cause of th can_do more harm to his old com 1 those who fought under the confederate flag. Mark the con- trast presented by the other distinguished soldier, General Sickles, who fearéd not the thunder of the executive or the refusal of patronage, who stands for the soldiers with whom he fought. ars are hon able, but they must-not be used as a cloak from behind which to strike equally honorable men This debate shall not close without my ecry- ing ‘shame, shame!’ at the soldier who sought to discredit his comrades in arms.'” Mr. Enloe replied to General especially as to his remarks on Black, who was absent, and then, after further debate by Mr. Springer, Mr. Lac and others, Mr, Mahon of Pennsylvanta p sented his amendment declaring a penston to be a vested right, Mr. O'Neil made the point the amendment was not germane, changed the existing law and did not reduce cxpenditures, The point |, was sustained. Mr. Grout offered an amendment to pre. vont any fee from being paid to a member of an examining board unless the board ghould send to the pension bureau rating for the degree of disability of the applicant, a degeription of the applicant, and a deserip- tion of the examination. The chair ruled it it of order and Mr. Grout appealed. The chair was sustained. Mr. Pickler of South endment to make the report of the ex- physicians open to the applicants und their attorn Agreed to. Mr. Grow offered the last amendment, pro. viding that no pension on account of dis- lity in the service shouid be less than $12 per month. With this amendment as . text, he made a brief speech, his first since his return to the house since he left it, thirty rs ago, as speaker. Mr. Grow's remarka over with eloquence. The members Jistened with close attention and a burst of applause from both sides greeted its con clusion. The bill was reported to the house and passed_without a division. The -house then, at 5:15, adjourned. CURRENTS OF THE GREAT LAKES, ome Dakota offered an Interestin Experlments Made by the Weathe Burenn Recently. WASHINGTON, March 7.—Prof. Harring- ton, chief of the weather burtau, has sub- mitted to the secretary of agriculture the resnlts of his investigation of the currents the great lakes. The inquiry was sug- gested by observation of the accumulation of wrecks and wreckage at certain points and along certain portions of the shores of the lakes. Bottles containing instructions from the bureau and constructed so as to float in the water for an indefinite period were sent to masters of vessels engaged in traffic on the lakes, lighthouse keepers, ctc., , with the request that they be thrown in the water after the paper in the bottle had been marked, with the time and place of floating and with the name of the person that con- signed it to the water. Within the bottle was algo placed a franked envelope ad- dressed to the weather bureau, a that the finder indicate the time and place of finding and send the blank filled out to the bureau. The investigation covered the summer sea- sons of 1892 and 1893, It was found im- possible to make any valuable deductions from bottles floating in the autumn and picked up in the spring. It was ascer- tained that there were four general cur- rents to be observed in all the lakes. The outtbw. toward the outlet of the lakes, continuous current affecting the entire mo of water and proceeding with a perceptible reactionary flow, resulting in more or less of a circular current around the lake; a sur- face current due to prevailing winds and consisting of a mass of water driven befors the wind and including also a return or re- actionary current caused by the flow in the depths made vacant by the action of the winds; return currents, and, finally, surf motion. The most fmportant current is the surface flow caused by the winds, It has long been known along the lakes that the water will be low in the direction in which the current was running from six to twelve hours before the wind begins. This fact is fully ex- plained by the result of observations taken. Much difficulty was encountered in at- tempting to discover the velocity of the various lake currents, but, in general, they are supposed to run at a rate of from four to twelve miles a day. There are certain currents which have at spectul seasons of the year been observed to run at a much greater velocity, but no general laws con- corning this have yet been discovered. The number of blanks returned was ouly about 10 per cent of the total number sent out. Those returned were as follows: Lake Superior, 1892, 85 blanks; 1893, 85; Lake Michigan, 189 f ; Lake Hur 1892, 142; 1803, 4 30; Lake Ontaric Many of the blanks were returned with great care, some from the shores of Canada as well as from the states. All were promptly ac knowledged, with a view to increasing by every means possible the per cent of blanks returned to the bureau. AWAIL Latest ndence from the Tslands Sent to Congress by the President. WASHINGTON, March 7.—The president today sent to congress the latest corrospond- ence In relation to Hawail, being three let- ters with enclosures from Minister Willis, covering a perfod from February 10 to Feb- ruary 15, inclusive. The lmporiant feature of the correspondence Is a statement that steps have boen taken to provide for a nes constitution and a new form of government for Hawail. The first letter is merely an acknowledgement of the recelpt of = dis- patches. The second, under date of Honolulu, Feb- ruary 14, describes the situation in Hawall during the month as having been unusually quiet Minister Willis mentions the changes in the executive council, which have already been noted, the report that Mr. Dole will prepare a new constitution, and sdys that a spirited st s now in progress looking to the introdugtion of ‘“the rbpresentat system” in the council of the provisional rnment. In this connection he mentions fon_passed at & mass meeting Feb- ruary 13 favoring the ebactment of a law ~ increasing the membership of the advisory council from thirteen to twenty- four, the new members to “be elected by the suffrages of loyal citizens In a manner to be hereafter provided.” The reasons for the demand aro that the council is not now representative; that tho legislative depart- ment I8 too compact and small; that it has been made objectionable by the action of re- tirlng members in practically seldcting their own successors; that the personnel has been changed, und In these changes the mass of the supporters of the provisional govern- ment lave had no yoice nd last letter is dated Honolulu, and is as follows: “After the g this afternoon of the gov- Hon. H. F. Hatch read the judiclary committee on tho potition for the enlargement of the ad- visory councll, recommending, as reported in the newspapers, that there be chosen dele- ! gates to A1 up the council and to prepar a constitution for a permanent form of gov ernment. Tho report was adopted and comittee appdinted by the president to pre E 15, mee conneil repert of rogular crnment the (Coutinued ou Second Page) request | IT CAUGHT THEM NAPPING Success for the Bland Bill Looked Almest Uertain for a Time Yesterday. WAS PASSED TO ITS THIRD READING Its Opponents Taken by Surprise and the Pushed Through the Se \ Interests Mensure N ate Wit ing Situatip out Debate the Result. WASHINGTON, March 7.—An exciting and Interesting dobate was precipitated in the senate today by Mr. Harris' motion for the second reading of the selgniorage bill. This was opposed by Mr. Sherman, who moved its to the finance committee, and in the course of a strong speech in opposition to the bill, said its object was to divert trust funds from their legitimate purpose—a thing which in Ohlo would be a penitentiary offense. His motion was defeated and the bill tekeh up as unfinished business, and almost before any one was aware of what had happened it passed its third reading and was of the point of passing. Then its opponents recovered from their surprise and endeavored to prevent its passage, and on requ Sherman it went over until tomorrow. In the morning hour Mr. Morgan intro- duced a resolution calling on the president for information as to the ocoupancy of Bluc- fields, Nicaragua, by the British, This was agroed to. Then the house bill appropriat- ing $15,000 for saving the Kearsarge passed, as did the bill permitting General 0. O Howard to accept” from the French goveri- ment the decoration of commander of the Legion of Honor. The senate this morning, on motion of Mr. Gibson of Maryland, passed the house bill appropriating $15,000 for the rescue of the armament and wreck of the United States steamship Kearsarg BRITISH OCCUPATION OF BLUEFIBLDS A resolution was reported by Mr. Morgan of Alabama, from the committee on foreign refitions, as follows: to inform the referenc of Senator ident be requested it is not Inconsis- tent with the pubi cst, whether the government of Great n’ has occupled Blueficlds ¥ ce on_the Mos- quito reservati ate of Nicaragu with a military force, and the character and strength of such force and the claim of authority of that government to occufy that countr. Mr. Morgan, $n explaining the resolution, said that the matter had been called to his personal attention by some,statement made in a reputable newspaper, and he supposed the information as obtained was accurate, and he wanted to know whether the pro- visions of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of 18 cing violated. He had no inclination ore with the diplomatic ofiicers of United States by calling attention to the matter. He understood that the Kearsarge, for the rescue of whose wreck the senate had just provided, was on her way to Blue- flelds when she struck on Roncardo recf. The resolution was then agreed to. Senator Harris, democrat, of Tennessee then opened the fight for the day on the sil- ver question by moving the second reading of the Bland seigniorage bill. He gave no- tice that when the bill should have been read the second time he would move to take it up for consideration. His motive in ob- jecting to its consideration yesterday, he sald, was to bridge over the gap until he could consult with his democratic colleagues as to further action in regard to the bill. Mr. Sherman objected to the immediate consideration of the seigniorage bill, and moved to refer it to the committee on finance, as he thought no matter of such importance should be reported to the senate without reference to the finance committec. The discussion was taken up by Senators Hale, Hoar, Cockrell and Aldrich. M. Cockrell said he was astonished at the action of the senator from Ohio (Sherman) in mov- ing the reference of the bill to the finance committee, He had supposed from the ac- tion of the minority yesterday that they were desirous of passing the bill. When the senate undertook to fulfill its pledges the senators from Ohio, lowa and Rhode Island would not give their assistance. GAVE A PLAIN ANSWER. The senator from Rhode Island said he wanted to take up the bill. “Then why did zou want, nquired Mr. Cockrell, ; S0 as to defeat it,” promptly replied Mr. Aldrich, The question was further discussed by Senators Hoar, Harris and Stewart and wa then Interrupted by Mr. McPherson of New Jersey who rose to a question of personal Drivilege, and proceeded to deny the state- ment in a New York paper that he and Senators Brice and Vest had invested heavily in Sugar stock in New York. Upon return- ing from a recent southern health trip, he learned his New York brokers had bought for him 1,000 shares of Sugar stock, which he had immediately ordered sold at a loss, as it might lead to a contention. He did not own any stock sold in Wall street ex cept Atchison stock. Mr. Wolcoy suggested that in view of the action antagonistic to silver which the senato might take he would advise the senitor to sell his Atchison stock. (Laugh- ter.) Continuing, Mr. McPherson said that as a great deal of criticism as to the delay in reporting the tariff bill to the senate had been made, he would say the responsibility was his and his alone. “I found the tariff bill made up by the subcommittce in lines sether too low. 1 have not been in of a gigantic slide downward from the McKinley bill, but to a revenue bill, I have ked for higher rates of duty on som articles that were put in the bill. The en- tire responsibility for the delay s on m: self, and T take it off the shoulders of the othér members of the committee.” Mr, Vest sald he should not have ferred to the matter had it not beén re- ferred to by the senator from New Jersey. He asserted it was not his fault the tariff bill had not been reported to the senate two weeks ago. He did not know any of the members of the firm mentioned nor had he been in York for some time. He characterized the story as scandalous and the man who spread it as a liar. Mr. Camden of West Virginla made a personal explanation In regard to the charges to by Senator Berry and others, He announced that he stood with his_colleague (Faulkner) and was in sym- pathy with his views on the tariff. Mf. Palmer of Illinois took up the discus- sion of the seignic bill, but stated he considered the tarift bill the question of chief importan WANTS A REVENUE TARIFF. A colloquy took place between Mossrs. Palmer, Teller and Aldrich, the latter inquir- ing what Mr. Palmer's views were on the tarift, “I am in favor of a revenue tarif," serted Mr. Palmer. “Has the senator any expectation of a revenue bill being reported to the senate at this session?” inquired Mr. Teller “Hope springs eternal in the breast,” replied Mr. Palmer. belong to the class who hopé. T hope we shall approximate a revenue tariff, even it we do not reach it. In my experience I have found things rarely turn out to be as bad as we expect them to be.” “Does that refer to the tariff bill? Mr. Aldrich. “Yes," replied Mr, Palmer, “I think it will not be as bad as it Is represented,” At the conclusion of Mr. Palmer's remarks Mr. Harrls moved to take up the selgnior- age bill and make it the special order. Agreed to. But Mr. Sherman's motion to refor it to the finance committee had first tc be acted upon Before consideration could be entered upon Mr. Dubois of Idaho briefly opposed its ref erence and was followed by Mr. Voorhees, | who thought the bill might as well be taken | Up in view of the time that must necessarily | to the to take it up?” re- as- human asked | pass before the tariff bill could be brought before the senate fof cansideration. The message of the president transmitting the latest Hawailan dispatches and also the response of the secretary of state to the reso- lution of the senato asking for reciprocity correspondence with Columbla, Venezuela and Hayti was taken to the senate and ordered printed with the accompanying doc uments, The vote Was then taken on Mr. Sherman’s motion. It was defeated by a vote of 6 to 50. ‘The following voted in the aflirmative: Messra. Davis, Gallinger, Mor- rill, Palmer, Sherman and Vilas, The blll was then fairly befors the senate, but no one appeared desirous of speaking on it. It was road o third time and before any one had time to realize it, it was about to be put on its fina) passag Senator Morrfll arose and uttered a warn- ing note. Senator_ Sherman also sought to check its passage, being, as he said, as much surprised as any one to see that the scnate, which was the greatest deliberative body in the world, without consideration, had gone to an extreme beyond anything since i was organizéd, in rushing a bill of this kind throughy pellmeli, refusing to con- sider it, refusfng to refer it and now it is proposed to pass the bill without debate. It was as indefensible as anything which had ever been proposed. Holding a copy of the bill in his hand he began to go over it word by word, but soon asked that the question go_over until tomoriow o he could debate it. Mr. Harris expressed a willingness to have the bill informally Iaid aside until tomorrow. IT WAS 4 SURPRISE. saldWMr. Sherman, in an aggrieved 0 {one dreamed the bill would pass matter what any dreamed,” replied Mr. Harr from Ohio wants time he shall have it.” Mr. Allison, who was absent while all these events were occurring, learning that the bill had come near to passing during his absence, moved (o reco der the vote by which the bill was ordered to be read the third time and engrossed, because he wanted to offer some amendinents, Mr. Harris replied he preferred to be frank and hence he should object to the bill £oing to the amendment stage. An effort was made by the opponents to prevent action by moving an adjournment, but the motion was voted down. Then, having eversthing in his own hands, Mr. Harris announced his willingness to have the bill go over until tomorrow It the senator from Ohic or any other nator desired it. The senate went Into executive session and at 3:15 adjourned. ARMOR FOR WAR VESSELS. Some Facts Abont the A m“n’ Delivered and to Be Delivered, WASHINGTON, Mareh 7.—In connection with the disclosures as to defective armor plates furnished by the Carnegie company, Chairman Cummings of the house naval committee has letters from the bureau of ordnance of the Navy department, showing where armor plates have come from and on what war vessel they. were used. The de- partment had an unexpended balance of £10,000,000 in February, 1803, which per- mitted’ an extensive purchase of armor . o Tllis balanice has sinco been reduced The contra company wi gate cost of hem Iron co of $6,569,717. The total amount of steel plates thus far furnished is 8,682" tons, at $4,502.315. The amount still to be furnished is 10,873 tons, at $6,978,607. The expense’ thus far has been increased about §300,000 By premiums, Harveyizing and_ tho introduction of nickel previous to settlement of the rate.) . Of tne armor yet to be furnished the Carnegie Steel company will furnish 4,980 tons and the Bethlehem Iron company 5,075 tons. It is estimated that the whole of this will be delivered by July 1, 1895, The Carnggie company has already finished 407 tons 'and the Bethlehem Iron company 1,078 tons. Tihis leaves 9,388 tons of armor for the next sixteen months, or 596 tons per month, o The’ burcav of ordnance reporis that the new presses which are being erected at the armor works of the Carnegie Steel company will be in operation in ahout three wecks, when their monthly output will be greatly increased. one may have “if the senator ts with the Carnegie Steel 78 tons, at the aggre- and with the Bethle- y for 10,527 tons, at the cost WORKIN WERE Yesterday's Proceedings Before the House Committee on Labor. ‘WASHINGTON. March 7.—Several repre- sentatives of labor organizations were pres- ent at the meeting of the house commit- tee on labor today whén the bill introduced by Representative Doolitttle of Washington to make an executive department of the bureau was considercd. Mr. Doolittle Stated the bill had been introduced at the request of labor organizations on the Pacific coast. He believed the bureau of labor i known to most of the people, and t status should be raised to that of a ecutive department 8o its importance might be realized. Representative Phillips of Pennsylvania advocated a forum for the settlement of labor troubles which could be appealed to voluntarily, but denfed such a tribunal conld enforce its judgments by compelling men to work on terms unsatisfactory to themselves. Representative Ryan of New York de- clared such tribunals have proved merely advisory. The question of the constitutional right to establish a_court empowered to adjudicate difficulties between employes and employers was raised. Paul T. Bowen of this city, who was in 1887 cl rman of the committee on legislation of the general assembly of the Knights of Labor aud is prominent in that order, has written Chairman McGann of the committee opposing the bill. He says the bill has been thoroughly discussed by the laboring people, but has few supporters, a | majority considering it wiser to continue the department as an independent bureau rather than to make a political office of it. NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT, Postmasters Appaluted and Navy Oficers Advanced in Rank. WASHINGTON, March 7.—The president today sent the followihg nominations to the senat Army and Missouri—V. P. Hart, Charleston; Aaron B, Richmond. Nebraska—Ira G. Fos- ter, Nelson. War Department—~Leutenant Colonel Al- fred T. Nelson, /Elghth infantry, to be colonel; Major George M. Randali, Fourth infantry, to be liewtenant colonel; Captain Gilbert 8. Carpenter, Fourth infantry, major; Second Lieutenant George E. French, Fourth infantry, first lieutenant; Second Lieutenant Frank Owen, Bighth infantry, first lieuten- ant; Captain’ Henry, 8, Kilbourne, assistant surgeon major and surgeon Navy Departmont—Captain Lester A, Beardsle, to be commodore; Commander Henry Glass, captain; L'eutenant Commander James H. Dayton, ecommander; Lieutenant T. B. Mason, lieutenant commander; Licu- tenant, junior grade, N. & Knapp, lieutenant; Licutenant, junior grade, William Rogers, licutenant; ‘Passeéd Assistant Paymaster Charles M. Ray, paymaster; Assistant Pay- master Frank Arms, passed assistant paymaster. The senate in executive ton yester- day made the following confirmations, which were announced today Postinpaters: Mis- souri—J; I Jones at Washington, 1. F. Priest at Moberly, Edward F. Wirick at Clarksville, Frank T. Meriwethar at Louisi- ana., Texas—C. *A. Wirthimer at Victoria, L. M. Logan at Vernon. Meteoralogy in Relath WASHINGTON, March 7 ton “has added the division to the weather bureau devoted to the subject ‘of me- teorology In its relation to agricultural soils The division is to study the climatie co ditlons of heat and molsture under the sur face of the ground and the relation of these conditions to crop production. Prof. Milton Whitney of Maryland, late of the Johus Hop kins university, has been appointed chiet of the division. ) to Solls. -Secretary Mor- PORTUGUESE AND BRITISH Skirmish in Southeastern Africa Which May Lead to Serious Trouble, TROUBLE WAS OVER A TELEGRAPH LINE English Blue Jackets I Workm¢n Fired Upon by the and the Fire R Hurrled nded to Protect Portuguese unboats PORT NATAL, 8. E. Africa, March The Portu e having obstructed the prog- ress of the British parties engaged in con- structing a tele line on the Zambesi, Lieutenant Commandor George S. Quarr ot the gunboat Mosquito landed a party ot blue jackets in order to protect the men at work upon the telegraph line, The Portugucse fired upon the Brit- ish landing party, and the fire was returned. The latest advices from the scene of the encounter say that Governor Quillimaine, the Portuguese official in charge in the district within the Portuguese boun- daries, ias been summoned to the spot where the confiict took place, and he is gaid to be on his way there with two Por- tuguese gunboats o number of troops. The British comn nden hds also asked for reinforcements and the latter are said to have been hurried forward immediately upon receipt of the message announcing {hs con- flict with the Portugucse The government has received no nev the reported encounter between FPor and Dritish forces in South Africa. It known to the government, howeve thers has been trouble concerning the tion of Commissioner Rhodes’ teleg across the strip of Portuguese territory at Tete. The Anglo-Portuguese treaty provided that either government shall have the right to lay telegraph lines across the territory .of the othe Five British gunboats are lying in the Zambesi. BRITISH TROC d a AT BLUEFIELDS. Oficial Information of Their Landing Re- ved at Washington. WASHINGTON, March 7.—The Depart- ment of State has reccived the first official information of the operations of the British naval forces at Blueficlds, near the mouth of the Nicaragua canal. It came in the shape of a dispatch from United States Min- ister Baker, at Managua. He says the United States consul at San Juan del Norte, Mr. Braid, telegraphs hig that the soldiers from the British war ship Cleopatra have been landed at Bluefields and strongly urges that a Unlted States vessel be sent there at once. There is no explanation in the minister's dispatch for the reason of the landing of the British forces. The preceding report of Consul Baker shows that when the Nica- raguan government forces occupied Dluefields the reigning Mosquito chief appealed to the British consul at San Juan del Norte for protection and the question of fnterest at this stage of affairs is whether the British troops have been landed to afford protection to the Mosquitos or whether the landing was made to protect British citizens only. ATTACKED THE NATIVE VILLAGE. English War Ships Bombarding Gongor, the Stronghold of Chief Fodisilah. BALTHURST, March 7.—The men-of-war are bombarding Gongor, the stronghold of Chlef Fodisilah, today. Firing can be heard in the direction of Fort Brekman, and from the clouds of smoke arising from the spot where the engagement is supposed to have taken place it is supposed that the stockade in the village has been captured and burned by the soldiers of the West Indian regi- ment. Tt is expected that the warships will land a strong force at Gongor tomOTrow. After shelling Gonjas fra 10 o'clock this morning proached and attempted to make a landing, The occupants of the boat were received with a hot fire from the enemy, who were posted behind a sand bank which was sur- mounted by dense brush. The British boat was forced to retire and the bombardment of the stronghold was again begun, continuing until 10 o'clock. STUDENTS DISAPPROVE, They Do Not Relish the Appointment of M. Brunetlere to the French Academy. PARIS, March 7.—The lecture of M. Fer- dinand Brunetiere at the Sorbonne today was listened to without disturbance, though in view of the riotous demonstrations Wednesday some trouble was expected. M. Brunetiere will be remembered as the new member of the French academy who de- feated M. Zolo recently in the contest for the seat made vacant by the death of John Emile Lemoulinne. Though the students aved shemselves —during the lecture, ¢ M, Bruneticre had closed his remarks the medical students made an attack upon the literary students and several sharp con- flicts followed. Finally th dents made a manife: Figaro, and for a time it loked as though the stidents would make an attack on the ro office, hut of po hurried ther students wer driven back to Latin Quarter, where this evening they are causing a great deal of Qisturbance. . MIQUEL ON ADSTONE. He Considers Him the Greatest Financial Genlus of Modern T BERLIN, March 7.—Dr. Miquel, Prussian minister of finance, has told a newspaper correspondent that he has no Intention of resigning, as was alleged of him last week. He feels strong enough to carry out his financial plans, in spite of the extent and th of \the opposition to them which 1 shown itself, and declared that any atement to the contrary might be re- arded_as wholly unfounded, 1el discussed the at _gome len retirement gth. He remier, the greatest of modern times, Mr, ¢ foreign policy, Mr. Miquel thought, w wealest point, but he was a true and rep) sentative Englishman and at all times able to advance England's commercial intercsts. Arzentine Ropublic Economizing. BUENOS AYRES, March 7.—The Argen- tine Times announces that the cabinet has agreed to economies amounting to $7,20,000 in the budge eady voted, and in addi- tion the cabinet has agreed to a saving of 810,000,000 for 1884, plans being already laid to economize this last mentioned amount British Forelgn T LONDON, March returns for February ports were nearly ade Improving, The Board of Trade show that the im- £43,000,000, an Increase of £4,000,00 over the sime tme last year exports were £17,500,000, or an increase 00,000 over the same period last yea Duteh and Chinese Fight. THE HAGUE, March 7.—Dispatches have been recelved reporting that fighting ha occurred between the Dutch and the Chinese near Melaboch in the lsland of Su matra. The Dutch amounted five killed ‘and seventeen wounded He'll Not Marry o Kustic loss to OTTAWA, Ont, March There, I8 no truth in the report that Lord Ava, son of the marquis of Dufferin, 1s to marry a farmer's daughter of thi$ province, con trary to the wishes of his friends. Extended the State of BUENOS AYRES from Rio de Ja in Brazil The ves at pres Ko, March 7.—A says: The state of has been extended until 1s of the insurgent squad nt inactive, dispateh May ron are Suspected Bank Officials Acquitted. MELBOURNE, March 7.—Sir Matthew Da vies, late cashler of the Mercantile bank of Australia, Mr, Mildeg late manager of the bank, and Mr, Munts, & director of the sawe institution, whe with conspiracyt sheet, were all & re been on trial charged fssuing a false balance ted today. - (DDENLY CRAZED. hat Overtook a Trio Maidens March THREE WOMR Pecullar Misfortn of New LOCKPORT, Telegram to village of ot Suspensior (Special The Hee)—The pretty little iborn, situated ten miles ecast bridge, is in a great state of excitement today over the misfortunes which bofallen one of the most respected of the place. Joseph Schenck, wealthy farmer, who has three daughters, Mary, Maria Ellen, lived happily in a handsome home the village, the young women being highly accomplished and de voted daughters, were admired by the peo- ple of the village and for miles around. Of late these women have been attending spir- itual seances, and it was noticed ange had come over them. However, nothing serfous was thought of the matter until S: urday evening, when the villagers were startled by seeing three women rushing through the roads, clad only in nightgowns. Investigation proved that the Schenck girls had run out of their rooms and were fleeing, « new where. The neighbors soon went ch of them. When found the three women were raving manfacs. They were taken back to their rooms, where everything possible was done to quiet them, but it was no use. It was finally found necessary to place them in Jackets. The father is prostrated at the ter- rible condition of his three daughters, and is unable to account for their sudden afllic- tion, have families \d B SETTLED BY BLOWS. Thentrical Companies Declde tho Merits of Thelr Picees. JACKSONVILLE, Ill, March 7.—(Speclal Telegram to The Bec)—This morning the Wabash train which leaves Quincy at an early hour was the scene of a riot which made, hair fly and women scream in the most approved fashion. On the train were two traveling theatrical troupes, “In Old Kentucky” and “Under the City Lamp The former was booked for this place this ovening and the latter for Danville, and there liad been considerable rivalry stirred up between them. The war first broke out between the stage carpenters of the companies, each man being decidedly the worse for liquor. They began a lively discussion in a somew friendly manner, but soon hot words flowed an blows came next. The men clinched and women screamed and fainted, while members of the respective companies rushed to the aid of their champion and a frec-for-all contest followed. The main combatants had hardly separated before all the women on the car had either fafnted or been transferred to another coach. At this city a surgeon w summoned and dressed the wounds sus tained in the Rival Cod SKI'S SCHEME ABANDONED. He WIll Not Start His Colony of Poles In o Count 7.—Count Lubienski, Wwho going to plant a Polish coleny of sugar beet far in Antelope county, Nebraska, has given up the enterprise. He d I an interview with a reporter for a local paper that the unfriendly tone of the Wilson bill toward sugar made it impossible for him to interest capital in the beet sugar refineries, which were included in the coloni- zation scheme, and until he knew just what the Wilson bill would do in the way of bounties znd tariff, he and his associates would do nothing. Saci o g STARTED FOR PORTLAND: CHICAGO, March Boston Bisiness Man Missing—Said to Have Been Scen Two Weeks Back. BOSTON, March 7—The strange disap- pearance of a wealthy Boston business man has just leaked out and brings to light a peculiar story. Last September, Alfred L. Oxnard, manager of the collection and mej tile agency at 13 School street, and v ing_in Melrose, left Portland and F t, Me., to contést his father's will, whicl ty to his brother John andleft him ing. He never reached Portland or edge of Boston parti 3 that way {8 not known. The will was Dated without contest and the property turned over to the brother. Oxnard made money in speculation here, and it is claimed that his close attention to business at times affecied him mentally. His business was in good shape when he went away, and the onl : missing among his papers is deed to some land in Georgia. His rel- atives have but little to say about the mat- ter and offer no_cxplanation. Mrs. Oxnard in an interview first said several times that it would be strange if she did not know o husband was, but later she ad- 1 she did not know where he i nov some it 18 cted that the man mur dered at s Oxnard, and the matter s “tiznted, PORTLAND, eh 7.—Alfred Ox- nard was within two weeks and is reported to be in this state at the present time by parties ng to Know. not Freenc s Me., at ¢ Mait Company. 0, March 7.—The Dac Mail company has evidently decided that fts war with the North Amerfean Naviga- tlon company 15 at an end, as It has lssued 5to to the merchants that with the e of the Acapuleo dates the death of low tariff schedu The Colon is the next vessel to leaye for Panamu and way ports after the Acapulco, and freights shipped by her will go al'the rate of $5 a ton. ‘The figure is only at ports at which the' vessel To other ports from Aci south from Champer- ico de Guatentala and dos rate has been inc to $ This {8 a big jump from $2 a ton, and will make a differénce to shippers and consignecs along the Mexican and Central American coast? The only reason for the sudden increase which can be ascribed 1s a conviction in the minds of Mr. Huntington's directors that the opposition, or Merchant line, 18 on fits last legs, It seems to be agreed here now that the officers of the North American Navigation company who recently visited New York failed to ven:w their contract with the Panama Railroad company. The present contract expire ay SAN I'RANC a mani departu e Tl nts of O St mers March 7. York 1dina, from Ro fanitoba, from London; Tauri pool; Lepant, from Antwerp} Chester, from Southampton, At the Lizard—Passed-—-Aller, to Southampton and Lremen. At re—Salled—RH for At Boulogne—Arrived—Obdam, terdam At Glasgow Philade 0. humpton—Arrived—Aller, Mov At New terdum; from L New York New York from Rot- Arrived—Peruvian, from from Philadelphia—~Arrived—Assyrian, from eral, The funeral of I12a the well known base bull player, at Calvary Episcopal church, drew togethe large number of his old friends today. Fred Pfeffer came from Loulsville to act as o pall bearer. Willlam Sunday was another. Brother Elks made up the re- malnder. On the coat lapel over the breast of the corpse was a bunch of violets, pinned there by the widow In compliance with Willlamson's only request when dying - Go, Wiliamson, March 7. For o Fast spacitie Line. OTTAWA, Ont., March 7.—Mr. Huddart of the Canadian-Australian line service has made a proposition to the government for the establishment of a service by twenty Kknot st s upon the payment of a su sidy of $760,000 a year for ten years. Mr., Huddart proposes to establish a from Great Britain to Austral Zealand, using the Canadi road for connection betwe and Pacific oceans Pacific rail- the Atlantic 1 BREAKWATI March The battle ship Indiana, which left Cramp's shipyard in Philadelphla yesterduy tng, dropped anchor off the breakwater la this afternoon after o most Successful pre liminary trial. Her speed exceeded con tract requirements and the Cramp: well pleaged with the showing. S END IS NEAR Mr, Gladstone Seems to Bo Almost at His Journey's Tormination, LYING IN LONDON NOW VERY So Sick that His Friends Fear tho Worst as the Outcome, ILL INSISTS THAT HE IS Old Man Himself Says that His Indisposi- tion is of No Moment, IN NO DANGER WALK IN THE NIGHT AIR GAVE HIM A CHILL Physiclans Insist on Keeping Him in Bed, in Spite of His Own Remonstrances ing that Some Dangerous Complis cation Muy Set In. onr- LONDON, March 7.—Mr. Gladstone Is serls ously il as the result of a chill. According to the statements made in con- nectlon of the of the ex-premier, the latter walked from Brooks' club, 60 St. James' strect, yesterday evening after dining there with his late secretaries, and walked home through £t. James' park, though the night was a chilly one for even a young and robust man to venture out intu after dining at a he club. As a result, he con= tracted a chill, and upon iing home had to be hurried off to bed. In spite of Mr. Gladstone's remonstrances, clalming that his indisposition was only a slight matter, a doc- tor was summoned and Mr. Gladstone was put under treatment. This morning his condition was such that another physiclan was summoned to attend him and‘this afternoon one of the physiclans in attendance on the distinguished patieng gavo a statement to the new; ra which indicates that Mr. Gladstone's illness is un= doubtedly serious. The physiclan said, how= ever, that the absence of a high fever indi- cated that there was no great danger at slekness home te Gladstone Is suffering conslderably from hoarseness and is Lopt in bed in spite of his remonst . He Insists that he is only suffering from a temporary indisposl- tion and that he will b all right’In a day or s0. His physicians do not take this view of the case, and while they say that the great English statesman is in no danger at present, they will not allow him to leave his bed un til a considerable improvement has taken place in his condition. Naturally the report of Mr. Gladstone's ille ness has spread with remarkable rapidity, and from many quarters inquiries are already coming in asking for_particulars concerning the distinguished sufferer's health and ex= pressing the hope that he will soon be on the high road to recovery. The report circulated in regard to Mr, Gladstone’s health caused a number of promls nent people to call at his residence during the day. Among those who called were Lord Rosebery and Rt. Hon. Henry Asquith, the secretary of state for home a Mrs. Gladstone has sent a letter excusing Mr. Gladstone from attendance at the dinner to be given by the duke of York this even- ing. Mrs. Gladstone, however, will be prese ent at the dinner if the improvement in Mr, Gladstone’s health is maintained. The following bulletin was Issued tonights “Mr. Gladstone is suffering from a cough due to a catarrhal inflammation of the throat, His temperature is only slightly above nors mal and his strength is good. ~ He remaing in_bed." Mr. Gladstone was cheerful during the day and was able to dictate replies to many ot the lette ived inquiring as to his condls tion and expressing sympath: DID NOT WRECK THE CITY. London Police Very Much Scared by Finde ing an Ilunocent Little Tin Box. LONDON, March 7.—The police of Londom are suffering from another dynamite scare, According to the story told by Superintends ent Richard W. Steggles of the B division, & tin box was found last night upon one of the windows in the historical Bow Street police station. The box is described being two inches deep, one inch broad, nfl as having a round hole in It from \vhlr,g protruded portions of a burned fuse. Afted seeing 1t very carefully watered the supers intendent of police, assisted by several ind spectors and sergeants, plucked up courage enough to open the box. They found within it a cartridge containing only ordinary powder. The box was found to be blacks ened with the smoke and fire from the burned fuse, and there s still some douby as to whether an attempt of a very weak nature wag made to cause an explosion or whether i®'was merely a practical joke. The police take the matter very seriously, assume an air of profound mystery and insist that somebody made an attempt to cause an explosion at the Bow Str polica station. The police arc emphatic In the opinion that the box contained dynamite and that it was intended by those who placed it where it W found to destroy the Bow Street station. It will, however, take cons siderable strong evidence to convince the eneral public that the policemen of Bow, street have not been the victims of a pracs The tin canister only contained a blank cartridge, covered with a quantity of sand and having a fuse attached to it. Changes in the British Ministry. LONDON, March 7.—Mr. Herbert Glade stone, member, for South Leeds and parllamentary secretary of the Home office, has accepted the position of first coms missioner of public works, made vacant by, the fact that Rt. Hon. Ge Shaw-Lefeyre, member for Cen r been aps pointed president of y t board. Mr. Herbert G however, will not have a seat in the eavinct, although his predecessor was o cabinet minister. 1t 18 clalmed thero are symploms of re volt among some of the leading supporters of the McCarthyites in rogard to the attls tude of Mr. Justin McCarthy, the leader of the Irish nationalist party on the question of the premiership. The attitudo of Mr, M- Carthy 18 considered by somo of his fricndy showlng wealkuess and as a sorlous errop of judgment Telt n Tate of Disaster. LONDON, March 7.—Puarts of lifeboats bes longing to the Dritish bark Afon Cefni were od up-off the coust of Cornwall day. The Afon C. sailed from Swansen January 9, bound fon San Francisco. Prior to January 51, a life buoy and a plece of wood marked Afon Cefn) were picked up on the coast of one of the Sellly islands, There can be little doubt as to the fate of the unfortunate vessel plek yosters ni, Captain Hughes, Prinve at Sen in o Galo, ILLES, March 7.—~The ot cutter Britannfa, with the prince of on hoard, started for Cannes today le of wind, and some anxiety s ex= as to the outcome of the trip, CANNES, March 7.—The cutter Britannia, with the prince of Wales on board, arrived here this evening MAH Wales' Wales In a g pressed her prince Lonls Kossuth's Condition March Louls Kossuth, whose of health ha recently caused some fety to his friends, passed a rests less night Thi morning, how the distiuguiuhed patient is calmer and his ate tendants say that he Is regalning strengtly TURIN, condition