Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, March 12, 1895, Page 5

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE: TUFESDAY, MARCH 12, 1895, EDMUNDS MAKES HIS PLEA Holds that the Income Tax is an Uncon- stitntional Enactment, GIVES A DEFINITION OF A DIRECT TAX Attorney General Olney, In Behalf of the nt, Will Commenco In the Ming~Two More Days for Argument, WASHINGTON, March 11.—Assistant At- torney General Whitney resumed his ar- giment In sustaining the Income lax law before the supremoe court of the United States today. Attorncy General Olney, Senalor Bdmunds and many other distin- gulshed counsel in the case, occupled seats at the desk reserved for attorneys. The court room was crowded, Mr. McMillin, Mr. Springer and several other members of congress who had taken part in the en- actment of the income tax, were among those present. Mr. Whitney addressed him- ®elf to the question of uniformity In taxa- tion, In answer to the charges that the income tax violated the principle of uni- formity, He contended that the limit of $1,000 fixed by the law was not class legis- lation. If a subsequent congress hal sought to amend the law by including those not previously exempted by the $4,000 limit, this amendment would no doubt be class legislation, as It would apply to a distinct class. Mr. Whitney reviewed prior decisiona in fnsurance and other cascs, showing that the Interpretation of this court on class legislation would not apply to the income tax. POINTS ALREADY RULED ON. Concerning the exemptions allowed to cer- tain corporaticns, the assistant attorney gen- eral said it was most surprising that this was st up as a ground for invalidating the tax. He read from numcrous federal tax laws, thowing repeated exemptions in the cases of art socleties and many other cor- porations. The court had sustained tax ex- emption to manufacturing corporations in the district of Columbia, building and loan aesociations and saving companics were fre- quently exempted by law, as they were made up of poor people to whom the law gave speclal consideration, During the war the lawmakers cven exempted the Mutual Insurance company from the operations of the general tax law. Mr. Whitney said that the superfor court had already overruled the contention that the taxation of land values and rentals as made by the income tax was invalid. The state taxes were against the land and not against the individual, but the income tax was not against the land but merely against the total income of the Individual. That this income came in part from land was merely an incident, The income tax s in tax. It is not on gross income from land or other sources, but on net income. Mr, Whitney took up the claim that the federal government cannot tax municipal and local securities held by Individuals, as, for in- stance, bonds issued by New York City. He sald it had been decided in the case of Bonaparte against the state of Maryland that a state could tax bonds of the city or state of New York. If the etate could exerclse this power, why could not the fed- eral government do the same? Mr. Whitney concluded at 1:30, followed by Mr. Edmunds, counsel against the tax. He spoke quietly and in a con- versational tone, much as he did when a lead- ing figure of the senate. He stated the contention of his client against an invasion of his rights and an inspection of his pri- vate books and papers. If there was a constitution the provision protecting the in- dividual was the rock upon which the con- tention against this tax was based. SENATOR EDMUNDS' OPENING. Mr. Edmunds read from the constitution as to tho protection of private rights. These provisions, he said, were trite, and yet It scemed necessary in these days with such legislative usurpation to call out these constitutional bulwarks against an invasion of private rights. In a question of this gravity he would feel disposed to ask the court not only to pursue precedents and fit them to their subject matter, but to go back and rule upon the entire subject, so vital to sustaining private rights. The worst tyranny of histery was that which came In the guise of a tax. He first spoke of the action of endeavoring to take away from the courts the right of appeal for protection as was the case in the income tax law. SHOULD BE AN APPEAL. He did not think the time had come when there should no longer be an appeal to the courts from the acts of congress. It would be beyond the function of congress to pass an act that would strip the courts of their rights, and this was just as true as to the Tights of the titizen as to those of the courts. Speaking of the income tax law, he re- ferred (o the provision that the taxpayer was required to make his returns to deputy collectors. He sald the deputy was not rec- ognized as a legitimate officer under the con- stitution. I do not, however, he said, mean to dwell on that, but merely refer to it in passing as one of the points of vice whi bloom in the garden of the last congress, He criticised many other features of the faw providing for the collection of the tax and polnted out ‘hat it left no room for resort or appeal to the courts, but left to the rey- enue officers the adjustment, who, he said, were not only the final judges, but the in- quisitors as well. “It §8 true,” he sald, “that these returns are o be regarded as confidential, but how are we to know they will always be so treated? 1t is possible that they may be 80 treated, but s it not possible that they may be handled, for instance, like the con- no sense a land and was fidence of the United States senate?” Mr. HEdmunds then reviewed the cases herctofore decided, which have been re- red o In the previous argument, and an- ed the points involved at length. He was referring to the Hilton case, involving the tax on carriages, when Chief Justice Tuller called his attention to the fact that Mr. Hilton had an unusual number of car- rlages, 125, as he remembered. “‘Unusual In numbers, yes,” Mr. Edmunds assented, *‘but he possessed them as many persons possess virtue and grace.” He asked. the court to overrule its former decision on the income tax as glven in the Springer case, ““Let us,” he said, “come back to the true Tule of the constitution. We are to expect gradual and finfinitesimal departures from the line marked out by the constitution and we may depart further and further from it, until at last, like the mariner after a storm, or the travéler in the wilderness after the stars come out, we are compelled to readjust our course In the new light that is given.” He argued the past congress had overstepped the limits of the constitution in imposing this tax, because, he sald, it was short of money. He argued that under the law 95 per cent of the tax will be pald by 2 per cent of the taxuble voters. “It becomes,” said Mr. Bdmunds, “an in- teresting subfect of speculation as to how long the government can last under a system which allows those who pay nothing to tax thelr fellow cltizens. One evil steps upon anather, until bye and bye we have revolu- tion, then anarchy, then a tyrant to rule us as the revolying changes go around DIRBCT TAX DEFINED. Justice Harlan asked Mr. Edmunds if he had formulated a definition of the difference between a direct and indireet tax, and he re- plied Le had. He thereupon proceeded to give It, saying a “direct tax was a tax on any kind of property and upon persons, not in respect of property in existence, acquired or to be acquired, not on a calling, on the im- portation of goods, but in respect to the things which belong to the existence of prop- erty; while an indirect tax included all the rest, as referred to in the constitution under the head of duties, imposts and excises, which would be heavy or light on each pers son_depending upon his will “Do you not,” asked Justice Brown, “re- &rd a tax that {s paid by a person himselt @s a direct tax?” and Mr. Edmunds assented. Asked by Justice Shiras to give a defini- tion of exclse, he quoted Jacobs and Samuel Johnson, where tho latter says It is a “hate- ful tax" collected by “‘wretches.” Justice Harlan suggested the definition would fit his (Mr. Edmunds) idea of the in- come tax, to which Mr. Edmunds replied that it did in part. #* Bdmunds closed with a plea for Ladies' Button Shoes, in shapes galore, ~Buffalo shoe store pri; for them were $250 and $3; never before, never since will you see such values and Btyles for......oiovviiviees One of the newest out for ladies {8 the white silk stitched Shoes; the Buffalo people had just received a hundred pairs of button and a hundred pairs of lace, beau- tifully stitched with ' white silk, "to sell as thelr $1.50 shoé; we turn them over for.. Cost’ you anywhere $1.50, excej Draper; they sell them ' for their greatest shoe effort. .00 t Wilcox & 0 at this Don't forget to look at what we will offer for $1. You may never have had a bar- gain_before. You can get one Tuesday by person, mail of telephone. 1.()0 Trere are dozens and dozens of ladies’ welt shoes and hun- dreds of turn .n‘iv?x that the uffalo people go or that we shall ask you $2.30 for; .30 it's_high priced in" Buffalo in Omaha it's... Children’s and Misses’. ‘We got them all and will sell them all. Infants' Shoes for a quarter y that they got 7c for; we (& get but..... Children’s Shoes for half o dollar_they got a whole dol- C Misses’ Shoes for Tic; the Buf- (¢4 falo price was $1.50, ours...... ’Twas Ever So. ““One man's loss was another's gain, This time it's the people's gain, We offer valu in Shoes of every description that should we try to buy thém from manufacturers at prices we sell them for They’d Laugh. WILCOX [LCOX (OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE HOUSE OF BARGAINS.) THIS SALE BEGINS TODAY. Buffalo Shoe Store BUFFALO, N. Y. ON SHLE TODAY, March 12th. Walk Slowly- In passing our store and take a look at that life-size Buffalo that formerly represented one of the leading shoe stores of Buffalo, N. Y. On exhibition after Monday in our east win- dow. There are others in this st of Shoes—there are mis shoes made in Philadelphi that sold in Duftalo for The misse: s are 11 2} 1 131 1, and 2,; smaller siz these and children’s s sell for less still. We shall sell the finest Misses' Shoe: for & DRAPER, 1.50 ¥ EAY QW) W Just vited, Douglas Wileox & Dr Otherwise known as explains Ladies' Shoes and Oxfords at $1, §1.50 and $2.30 are 14 the Buffalo price. Will you come to thi 1515-1517 e The House of Bargains, Selling the Buffalo $hoe Store Shoes, of DBuffalo, New York. (The original of this Buffalo, life size, may be seen in our east window after Monday.) What we bought for a third c?\\t‘\\\%\\d" RENRT N SR \k\f\\\ N Were in the Shoe RN business in Buffalo, N, Y., for the short space of seven months. They went to the wall, Every pair was new shape. was the cleanest failed stock ever known in the history of the shoe trade. Only seven months in business. It Prices will talk louder than words this week. It’s a Feast of Leather. - That it—the 1.00 1.50 And 7 Sglling the men that 3 there if they realize what's going on. and One thing 2.30 toe bal, son's feast—you are In- Bufralo, needle (o y m‘l v Men that Need Shoes don’t need shoes will be is o man's needle hought for this sca- ade o sell for §i in 2-50 shape it's the new we'll sell it for.... Buffalo Shoe & DRAPER Hundreds of these Ruffalo 1 and congress shoes, all siz Will be on our $1 tables; they arc plain and they tipped and in all sizes from the hundred welght man to the three hundred pounder ean get a pair for... 1.00 The next finest for men will be £1.50; the Buffalo shoe store 50 mot $3 and $.50 and $; we wet ... Supposing you take a look, anyhow? Our West Window Will show the leading Men's and 1loys' Shoes bargaing in the look 'em over. Men's Shoes SLO0 that o will n't be sold for be deseribed, You must see them to appre- sold in Omaha compared With Buftalo, N. Yuueruererssns ANl thelr tans in men's go at out tan hosin price, "o J 98 Men's and boy', regardloss of at they cost. Boys’ Lace Shoes. There are hundreds of boys' bals that the Buffalo sold for $250 and $2; we'll them out the first day o 1.00 c bill,” sizes an even one dol 11 to nd make from the smallest to t boy for....... We will put the youths 2, in the same lot, the st the larg 1.00 They had a Great Boys’ Trade— So have we—and it will be a boys' holl~ day when they find what we have for them in stylish footwear. We started after all the boys' trade in Omaha, and this do settle it. We may nev to buy a r have another opportunity ankrupt stock only seven months old, insuring the style and shapes to be the very latest. So take advantage of it early, that you may have no reason to res gret it in after day: Store’s Shoes Todal He declared it to be the mission of the supreme court, the tri- bunal of last resort to correct such mis- takes, and made a last appeal for a return to the principles of equality and uniform jus- tice, even if in doing 5o it became necessary for it to reverse a former decision. Mr. Edmunds closed at 3:30 and the court adjourned until tomorrow, as Attorney Gen- eral Olney, who is to speak next, stated the half hour left was not sufficient for him. Mr. Olney said in reply to a question from the court that he should not require more than an hour more of time, while Mr. Car- ter, who is to follow, said he should desire to speak for about two hours, and Mr. Choate, who is to close, said he would prob- ably ask for more time than two hours. It is, therefore, probable the argument will con- sume all the day tomorrow and a large part of Wednesday. LATE SUPKEME equality in taxation, COURT DECISIONS, Two Importunt Tariff Questions Settled by Judielal Opinion. WASHINGTON, March 11.—In the United States supreme court today two decisions were rendered in cases involving the question of the collection of duties. In the first of these, that of Beautell vs Magone, the collector of the port of New York, the question involved was that of the classification of certain rugs woven on looms not fit for weaving carpets, but which had been assessed as Wilton carpets because the surface was cut S0 as to give It the appearance of plush. The case was appealed from the circuit court for the southern district of New York, which had sustained the classifi- catlo of the collector, but the supreme court reversed this decision, saying the rugs were rugs and not carpets. The other tariff case was that of Cooper, collector, vs John & James Dobson, involving the classification of certain goat hair which the circuit court for the eastern district of Pennsylvania had held to be free from duty, contrary to the decision of the collector. The decision in this case was set aside and a new trial ordered. Justice Gray dellvered the opinion of the court in the case of Catherine Goldein, ap- pealed from the decision in the superior court of the central district of New York. This was a case In which the applicant asked dam. ges in the sum of $100,000 for alleged libel. The Judgment was affirmed. The case of James Henderson, et al, owners of the steamer Caledonia, vs Mayor Gold- smith, involved the question of the liability of a carrier for loss by delay in the ship- ment of merchandise. The case was appealed by the owners of the vessel from the decision of the circuit court of the Massachusetts dis- trict, which had held them responsible for loss caused by delay in the shipment of cattle, The defense in the original case was that the delay was occasioned by the breaking of the vessel's ehaft. The court held, however, that the exception was not sufficiently speeific and sustained the judgment of the court be- low. A vessel, said Chief Justice Fuller, in delivering his opinion, must be really sea- worthy; it s not sufficlent that its owners should think it was seaworthy. Justices Brown, Harlan and Brewer dissented The court announced that the interstate commerce cases, one of which involves the long and short baul and another which is known as the “‘social clrcle” case, had been restored to the docket for reargument at the next term. The court also announced a recess until Monday, the 25th inst., after disposing of the cases nOw on hearing. New Forw of Money Orders. WASHINGTON, March 11.—Postmaster jeneral Bissell has under advisement a new design of money order which will give more facility in handling it. It Is more nearly the size of the ordinary bank check, and this fact, it is thought, should increase its use. The statement is sent by Mr. Bissell In a letter to the committee on postoffices inquir- ing into the matter. The postmaster gen- eral encloses a report of the superintendent of the money order system, which he says “shows the decrease charged for money orders has Increased the business and that the amount of decrease In fees received for the quarter ended Septempber 30, 1894, has been more than counterbalanced in the re- duction made by the commissions to post- masters; and it is further shown that the abolition of the postal notes has resulted in the use, in its stead, of money orders, which afford greater protection to people using them." Articles Declured to Be Invalid. WASHINGTON, March 11.—Assistant Sec- retary Reynolds of the Interior department has rendered an opinion that the agreements filed since December 18, 1893, not acknowl- edged before an officer competent to admin- ister oaths, as required by section 4 of the -aet of July 4, 1884, are invalid and may not be approved. The matter came before the assistant _secretary on an appeal from a firm of Washington claim agents from the action of the pension bureau in allowing them but §10 as a fee in a certificate of pension issued April $10, 1894, On December 18, 1893, the pension claimant executed in the firm’s favor duplicate articles of agreement for a fee of §25, but before filing them the firm neglected to acknowledge the same be- fore an officer authorized to administer oaths, and the commissioner of pensions held that they were informal and could not be admitted. AGAINST ERROKS OF ENGROSSMENT One Recommendation of the Dockery Com - mission and Its Advantages, WASHINGTON, March 11.—Much of the trouble that was occasioned by reason of the errors and mistakes which occurred in the engrossment and enrollment of con- gressional measures by hand will, it is be- lieved, be obviated hereafter by the new method of having this work done by print. This change is the outcome of one of the recommendations of the Dockery joint com- mission and was put into practical effect during the last congress. An excerpt from the report of the commission on the subject scts forth the belief that in nearly every instance the errors made were directly traceable to the clerical force engaged in the work of engrossing and enrolling the measures. In the nature of things it was almost impossible to p: them often- times in_the haste in w the work was done. Before recommending the change the commission Investigated the methods pur- sued in the legislative bodies of other coun- tries than our own in respect to these mat- ters and found that in nearly all of the lead- ing foreign parliamentary debates and in several of our own states, the old method or system of engrossment and enrollment by hand and ink and pen has been abandoned. As far back as 1849 the British Parliament abandoned this method and adopted that of printing. They applied it at first to bills of a public or general character. It was found, however, that the new ‘“‘arrangement was soon productive of economy, convenience and dispatch, and tended so much to lessen the chance of errors,” that they speedily applied it to private bills and resolutions of every character. Included in the commis- sion’s report on the subject recommending the change was a letter from the Treasury department which shows that in consequence of error in engrossing the tariff act of 1883, by which fruit was placed on the free list refunds were made to the amount of about $500,000, and an act was subsequently passed correcting the errol IMPORTANT COME TAX RULING, Dividends from Foreign Corporations Must Be fncluded in the Roturns, WASHINGTON, March 11.—The treasury officials have made an important ruling in respect to the lability under the income tax law of dividends recelved from corporations, It is held that dividends received by a resident of the United States from corpora- tions, foreign or otherwise, doing business wholly without the United States and having its principal office and property out of the United States must be returned as income. Such corporation not being liable on its net recelpts the dividends must be returned as dividends by persons receiving the same. Secretary Smith Did Not Do It, WASHINGTON, March 11.—Secretary Smith sald today that no one from the In- terior department had telegraphed or written to E. F. Killner offering him the position of governor of Arizona. Charges have been filed against Governor Hughes, but as yet the secretary has not had time to look into them, though he Intends to very soon, “This," said the secretary, “Is the second man who has been appointed governor of Arizona without the knowledge of the de- partment."” Governmont WASHINGTON, Colyer of the Cxhibit for Atlanta. March 11.—Prof. C. A, International exposition of Atlanta 1s in Washington consulting with Dr. Day of the geological survey regarding the Interior department exhibit at Atlanta Dr. Day assured Secretary Swmith {oday that the exhibit of the department would be pushed rapidly forward. Sugur Witnesses Come Up Next Mouth. WASHINGTON, March 11.—District Attor ney Birney said today he had decided to call up next month the cases of the recal- citrant witnesses ln the Sugar trust investi- gation, WELCOME AT THE WAR OFFICE Army Officers Find Things Pleasant When They Vieit Washington, HOW THINGS GO AT THE DEPARTMENT Colonel Corbin's Reglster and Private Secre- tary Seager's Suave Smile—Colonel Henderson Says He is Strong and Full of Hard Work. WASHINGTON BUREAU OF THE BEE, 1407 F Street, N. W., WASHINGTON, March 11. .“It is not often,” says one of the oldest army officers on duty in the War department, ““that officers of the army who are on duty outside of the city of Washington have an oppor- tunity to visit the national capital and see the War department and the office of the sec- retary of war. As a rule, officers who are de- tailed for duty here manage to stay for many years, some of them permanently. When army officers on duty in the field secure leis- ure time, as when they are granted leave, they do not care to spend the time given them in taking a trip to. Washington to visit the department. A fow, however, do come here. When they arrive in the national capital they are interested in the department, and thus we manage to get a few calls from the By a requirement in the regulations all army officers who visit the War department must affix their names to the register in the office of the adjutant general. This book is in the room of Colonel H. €. Corbin, who is Adjutant General Ruggles' chief assistant, Owling to the fact that the register is in his room, Colonel Corbin has more visitors than almost any of the other officers here. One of the first of the duties of the officers who visit the department, on leave or on official business, is to call on the secretary of war, The secretary’s office is situated on the sec- ond floor of the State, War and Navy depart- ment building, at the Seventeenth street end of the long corridor which runs through the center of the building parallel with Pennsyl- vania avenue, This office is one of the hand- somest rooms in the building. Any person desiring to see the secretary is first shown to a reception room just to the right of the office. Here he meets Mr. John Seager, Lamont's privato secretary. Mr, Seager will, if possi- ble, give the information desired, and will en- deavor to transact the necessary business himself, without interfering with the secre- tary's other business, Mr. Seager s about 25 years of age, and is one of the most cordial young men one cowtt desire to meet. He always makes an effare:¢o please callers, and in doing 8o dismisses all needless formalitics in transacting business, making a stranger feel much at home. The reception room is very handsome in its decorations and furni- ture. On a wall in 4 large glass case is the United States flag which was used to decorate the casket of President, Lincoln when his re- maing were taken to his tomb. Next to the reception room is the office of he chief clerk of the War department, John weedale, On the right' hand wall of the little_alcove formed by the projections of two rooms out into the icorridors is another large glass case, apringed with swinging doors and connected’ yirh a small desk or table below. Within' fhe case there are posted on little hooks, printed copies of the army orders issuedifrom day to day. The army orders are pritited ‘daily on little paper slips of convenlent size' and are issucd in time to be printed and posted in the case by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, although they are often delayed until nearly 4 o'clock, when the department closes. Secretary Lamont makes an able executive officer. He was enabled to enter into the duties of the office as soon as he was ap- pointed, because he was well informed con. cerning the methods pursued in the different exccutive departments, having gained much valuable information and experience while he was acting as private secretary to the president during Mr. Cleveland's former ad- ministration, Secretary Lamont has beer assoclated with President Cleveland since the latter was first elected to the gov- ernorship of New York state. He was en- gaged as military secretary (o the governor, and was appointed to the position of private | secretary when Mr. Oleveland became presis dent. He filled that important position with distinction and honor. The president took a liking to Lamont and the latter to the presi- dent, %0 they have remalned together and ever | have been {dentified with one another's in- terests, The public career of these two officials, closely identified as they have been, is the history of the success of two life-time friends, and each owes his success, to a cer- tain extent, to the success of the other. HENDERSON'S LEG IS ALL RIGHT. Colonel Henderson of Towa, senior member of the house committee on. appropriations, who will probably be made chairman of that committee in the next congress, is indignant tonight over the fact that stories have re- cently been circulated to the effect that he will soon be obliged to suffer another ampu- tation of his wounded leg. He says: “I be- lieve that this new story has been circulated for the purpose of creating a sentiment to in- dicate that I am physically incapacitated for active work. I know that I am not to be per- mitted to receive the chairmanship of the important committee of which I have been 50 long a member without some opposition, and I am informed that my physical suffer- ings have been recently made use of in order to injure my official standing, It is all right for men to stand up in congress and shout for the welfare of the old soldiers while they stab them under the belt, when they happen to suffer from army wounds, but I do not like to have my army life used for the pur- pose of injuring me in my official capacity. I any grell and strong and my old wound has entirely healed. There will be no further am- putation, and I will goon be able to throw away my crutches and use my artificial limb again,” IN A GENERAL WAY, The comptroller of the currency has de- clared a third dividend of 20 per cent in favor of the creditors of the Nebraska Na- tional bank of Beatrice, Neb., making in all 50 per cent on claims proved amounting to §13 . The comptroller of the currency has been advised of the following changes in officers of Nebraska national banks: Geneva National, Geneva, A. 0. Taylor, president, in place of A. G. McGrew; M. R. Chittiok, cashier, in place of A. 0. Taylor. The secretary of the interior today passed upon two land contests in South Dakota, brought before him on appeal from the decision of the commissioner of the general land office, The first was a motion for review in the case of Herman Strutz against Robert B, Crabb, involving a tract of land in Watertown dis- trict. The motion was denied and Crabb's entry will be cancelled. The other case was that of John Steffes against Christopler Lofthouse in the Huron district. The former decision, allowing the pre-emption claim of Lofthouse and Lolding the entry of Steffes subject to the right of Lofthouse to prove his claim to the land, is afirmed. The Postoflice ‘department has called for bids for carrying United States mails from McCann, Neb., via Rlege, to Valentine, thirty- three miles, and back, ‘twice a week, from May 13, 1895, to June 1, 1898, Bids will be opened ‘on the 26th inst., and the contract awarded. The following examining surgeons for the pension burcau were appointed today: Ne- braska—Dr. C. G. Elmore, Valentine; Dr, Frank Simon, Tekamah. Towa—Dr, E. O, Bligs, Grinneil; Dr. A. L. Wheeler, Mason City. Seth Jones was today commissioned post- master at Winneton, Neb., and Margaret Lesan was commissioned at Lesan, Ia, JOBS OF MALL WEIGHT TO GIVE OUT, Men Likely to Be Yaken from Appil in the Postal Departmont. WASHINGTON, March 11.—The department 15 making more ants Postoffice now than 400 appolntments of mail welghers in 1llinols, Towa, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Indian territory, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Da- kota and Montana. The department regu- lates its payments to the railroads which carry the malls in bulk by a periodical weighing. The plan is to weigh average loads at a season of average activity, and the weights of the several classes of mail matter thus obtained are accepted as a stand- ard 0 govern the compensation of the com- panies until the next weighing takes place. The process requires good judgment, care, accuracy and an intelligent understanding of the geueral scheme of transportation, he department last year took the men from the head of the eligible registers in the railway mail service of men examined by the Civil Service commission The appointment of men thus examined was a decided success, 80 much so that the opinion was general that the new system should be permanently en- forced. The department called upon the | commissioner for 600 names from which to make these 400 appointments, and the per- sons taken will be employed about thirty- three days Must Be Tried In Argentine if at All WASHINGTON, March 11 in the police court of the bia, today Judge Miller, District of Colum- decided an important point of international law in the case of Manucl Almagro, charged with embezzlement of §3,000 from the Argentine minister resident in’ this city. The attorneys for Almagro put In a plea that he was a part of the Argen- tine legation, being a translator and secre- tary to the minister, and as such was not subject to criminal or other jurisdiction of the United States. After discussing the subject in all its bearings, Judge Miller | held that the statutes do not cover the case, and he ordered de Almagro discharged and the case against him dismissed. de REWARDS TO MARINE LIFE SAVEKS, President Remombers OMcers and Mon of Forelgn Ships, WASHINGTON, March 11.—The president has bestowed a number of rewards upon officers and vessels for rescuing distressed mariners, He has given a gold watch and chain to Captaln H. E. Thuestad of the Norweglan bark Chrysolite, in recog- nition of his heroic services in rescuing the officers and crew of the American ship Titan, October 9, 1894; a gold watch and chain to Captain George D. Keller of the German steamship Briiliant, for heroic sery- iczs in effecting the rescue of the officers and crew of the American schooner Wil- lamine, November 26, 1894; a gold medal to J. Siedenberg, a second officer, and M, Strathmann, boatswain of the same ship, and to H. L. Cochrs, H. Braun and H. Marshall of the same vessel; gold medals have been awarded to J. H. Orton, fourth officer; W. Fitzpatrick, quartermaster; and silver medals to L. Zeed, boa in's mate; D. J. Jones, D. L. McLaughlin and Albert Sayley, all of the British ship Teutonic, for gallant and heroic efforts to rescue the master and w of the American schooner Josie Reeves, February 8 last. Marine glasses have been awarded to Captain W. Thompson of the British steamship Dunham City for hu- manity in rescuing the officers and crew of the American schooner Alice T. Board- man, October 6, 1894; and to Captain Thomas Casperson of the Norwegian bark Johanne, for his humanity in rescuing two seamen of the American schooner Henry M, Stan- ley, July 6, 1894, A rican Interests Well Protected. WASHINGTON, March 11.—Cablegrams recelved at the N, department today an- nounce the arrival of the Alert at Panama from San Jose, and the Rallegh at Colon from Trini , 80 the United States now has four warships on the Colombian coasts, making a formidable flect combined. Af Colon there are the Atlan and the Ra- leigh, at Luena Ventura, on the west const, is the Ranger, and at Panamu, on the side, Is the Alert, It is probable that Atlanta will “profit by the arrival of th Raliegh at Colon to run to Boeas del Torb, where her marine guard is supposed to be stationed, Will o No Troublo with the Indians, WASHING ON, March 11.—The Indian office has received information that the In- dians No Shirt and Little Chief, arrested on the Umatilla agency and for whose safe keeping the Indian agent asked United States troops, have been released and that no further trouble will follow. It is expected that hirt, Little Chief and Peo of the Umatilla tribe will visit Washington In a ehort time, Refu WASHING of the treasu X on Burned Spirits, March 11.—The secretary y has abated the internal rey- cnue tax, amounting to $610,704, on 711,994 gallons of spirits destroyed by fire April § while “stored in a bonded distiller house at ilsville, Ky, The spirits owned by William ' 1 liradley, Allen Bradley Co., and John Mc¢Kim, Cividends for fnaolvent Banks. WASHINGTON, March 11.—The comptroller of the currency has declared dividends in favor of the creditors of the Insolvent na- tional banks as follows: Twenty per cent the Nebraska National bank of Beatrice Neb |4 per cent, the Columbia Chicago. Ll etary Gresh WASHINGTON, | Gresham Natlonal bank of s Hoalih 1 March 11. — Secretary continues to Improve. Mus Gresham returned to Washlugton yesterday from Chicago aproving. Yorktown Is at Che WASHINGTON, March 11 arrived at Chiemulpo Saturday, Hat Finishers Quit Work, NEWBURYPORT, Mass.,, March 11 al po. The Yorktown The finishers employed at ¢, . Coffin's hat fac. | tory today declded to quit work pending a | | settlement of the scale of wages, which | were reduced about one-third, beginning to day. The matter Central Labor | tlement, had been referred to the union at Havernill for set- HELPED HER HUSBAND KILL Singular Story Yet to Be Fathomed by Legal Process, ROBINSONS CHARGED WIiTH KILLING GIBBS Famous Case Taken Up In the Buffala Courts—Confession of Man and Wife Strongly Doubted by Many— Getting a Jury. BUFFALO, March 11.—The district atto, ney moved that the trial in the superior court today of Clarence and Sadic Robinson, ine dicted for murder in the first degree for killing Montgomery Gibbs, a young lawyer, a year ago be taken up. Gibbs was walking alone up a residence street bordered with mansions brilliant with lights about 10 o'clock in the evening. Suddenly three pis- tol shots rang out in quick succession and Gibbs was found dying from a bullet wound in the head, lying in the driveway leading to a fashionable residence. He expired with- out a word. His assallants had vanished and left nothing as a clew to their identity. Rumors soon connected Gibbs' name with fome of the familles in the Immediate vicin- ity and hints of love affairs were rife, much to the annoyance of many Innocent people. The theory that he was assailed by footpads was hardly credited. His watch and money had been untouched. A reporter found what he thought were the footprints of a woman near the spot, No arrests were made until Severai months later the Buffalo police re- celved word from the police of Cleveland that they had Clarence Robinson under ar- rest, and had worked out from his pals a charge that he was implicated in a Buffalo murder, Assistant Superintendent Cusack of the Buffalo police went to Cleveland, and arrested Robinson's wife, Sadie, who, think- ing that her husband was to be charged with murder, confessed that she killed Gibbs herself, but refused to give any detalls, Robinson, learning that his wife was under arrest for the murder, made a clean breast of the matter, telling how he and his wife had gone out to “hold up” somebody that night, Sadie being attired as a man, Gibbs had resisted and in the tussle he had been lot, The district attorney has found the disgulse which Sadie wore on that night and other corroborative evidence, and believes he has a strong case. There are many people here who belleve that the Robinsons are lying and had nothing to do with the affair, The question whether the confessions of the Robinsons will be admitted by the court as evidence against them or how much of it, and curiosity to see the pair and hear what they will say for themselves on the stand filled the court room as #oon as the doors were opened. The proceedings of getting a jury may take two or three weeks. Two emblems of good luck—the horses shoe and Dr, Price's Cream Baking Powder, el MADE A TWO MILLION CONTRACT, Four W dred Thousand Tons of Aallings Sold to a Syndicate. SAN FRANCISCO, March 11.—At a meets ing of the board of directors of the Holmes Mining company of Candelaria, Nev., today, a contract involving over §2,00,000 was en- tered into with an English syndicate. The Holmes company contracts to sell the syns dicate all the tailings which have accumus lated at its Bellevil mills for the past twenty-elght years, amounting to over 40),- 000 18, which have been sold at the rate of 50 cents per ton. The Holmes company also contracts to deliver to the syndicate 700,000 ores at $3.60 per ton for all tons of low gr ore running fifteen ounces per ton and for fifteen ounces 1l those ores running above 1 below twenty ounces the Holmes coms pany I8 to receive per cent of the bats tery assay value. The syndicate has obs tained the contract of clearing the Bellville ndelaria mills, agreeing to pay the Min and C Holmes company 45 per cent of these clean- ups. The syndicate agrees to begin the cleanup within thirty days and to have the plant for working the tallings in operation within four mon The syndicate will exs | pend $260,000 in e ting these plants. | - - | Lookiug After Thoir Own Interests. SALT LAKE, March 1L.—The constitus tional convention spent most of the afters | noon In iscussing | of “th the at 3 mileage and the report committee on rules. The time for Iy meeting of the sessions was fixed o'clock p. m.