The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 22, 1896, Page 2

gress in 1885, referring to this question, saxd: ‘The Argentine Government has re- ne dormant question of the by claiming from the ited States indemnity for their loss, at- tributed to the action of the commander of the sloop-of-war Lexington in breaking up a practical colony on these islands in 1831 and their subsequent occupation by Great Britain. In view of the ample justification 6f the act of the Lexington and the dere- lict condition of the islands before and after their alleged occupation by Argen- tine colonists, this Government considers the claim as wholly groundless." “Friends of the Argentine Government, howev m that tnis referred wholly to claims which the Argentine authorities were then preséing against this country, have now been definitely aban- or amicable reasons, they believe ted States will not disregard the fs of ownership which can now be preé- ,as they are similar in all respects to those of Brazil and Venezuela which have been espoused by Secretary Olney.” S S e NEGOTIATIONS TO PROCEED. Relations Between Brazil and England Not ¥et Ruptured. y G., Jan. 21.—The Brazilian nies the story printed by enos Ayres to the effect that Dr. Carvalho, zilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, would demand from Great 1 the immeaiate restitution of the 1 of Trinidad, off the coast of Brazil, y occupied by the British s territory. enza stated that in the event of the matic relations n would ted at declines \e ownership s to decide ad. The dema d being refused dip! and Great Biit ptu It was ed. s of t the question would be c; - TO TAKE POSSESSION. zilian nidad. LONDOYN, Exc., Jan. 2..—The Morning 1 to-morrow publish a dispatch Janeiro saving it is reported that ian corvette Benjamin Constant d for Trinidad to take possession Departure of a B E Corvette for , N. Y., Jan. 21.—The Her- ble from Buenos Ayres late ht conlirms tbe United Press dis- patch in regard to tne sailing from Rio Janeiro of the cruiser Benjamin Constant learned that her destination 1d that if the island is de- is to land a force. If theisland nd the landing of men is r is to return to Rio orders. tine Government has signed a the Creusot Works, 1n ing the guns ot the bat- Brown into rapia-firing 1 be 1,000,000 francs. CONSPIRACY GF LA MAFIA Assassins* Are Banded for the Commission of Various Crimes. Secret Service Agents Believe That They Will Flood the Country With Counterfeit Money. received information source that the Mafia— cret society of assassins— its organization in this a stronger manner than ever has planned a gigantic scheme The fresh impetus to the Mafia It of the recent discharge from al ‘prisons where Federal prisoners ined of-a number of desperate and leaders of counterfeiting gangs, who have just finished long terms of imprisonment. Although the police in this country have steadily denied that the Mafta has obtained old here, the secret service operators have been convinced by the most positive evidence that the society is in a most flou ng condition and is prepared to carry out 1ts schemes of crime upon a stupendous The evider vice men are c murderer: lected by the secret ser- ows that the Mafia has its locality where Italians very strong and active ous in this city, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, St. Louis, S8an Francisco, Buffalo, Toledo, St. Paul, Kansas City. Pittsburg, Charleston and other large cities in the East and West. The new scheme of the Mafia isin the counterfeiting line, and the plan involves a simultaneous movement in all parts of the country. A large amount of spurious coin and bank notes are to be put out at the same time, in order to flood the conn- try before any report is made to the Fede- ral authorities of tne existence of the spurious money. The Mafia’s plans are disseminated by messengers, who know full wel] that death awaits them if they are discovered or give any information about their business. The records of the secret service show that nearly all the counterfeiting done m this couniry is the work of the Mafia. The secret service agents are baffled in their in- vestigation of the Mafia’s work by the scarcity of informers among them. The man who turns informer condemns him- self to death, and the murder will be done in a wi hich will prevent detection. The secret service agents, though handi- capped, are doing a splendid work by get- ting at the bottom of facts in this stupena- ous conspiracy of the Mafia, and they con- fidently expect to block the game and t least a few of the leaders in the organi scheme. THE TURK. Reliable Reports of Nearly 13,000 Mur- ders in One Small Section. NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 21.—The Inde- pendent of January 23 will say: State- ments in regard to the massacres.in East- ern Turkey have come to us from a perfectly reliable source, showing that in a_ small portion of the empire in the vicinity of Harpoot and Diarbekir there were within one month, commencing with the latter part of October last, over 5000 bouses destroyed and nearly 13,000 Ar- menians butchered in a hundred or more villages in that distriet. The details of the atrocities committed by the Turks and Kurds are sickening and are simply a repetition of those reported from other parts of Armenia. g ' Sailors From Canada. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Ma- havy (R.) of New York to-day introduced abill in the House requiring Canadian sailors seeking employment in this coun- try to have a domicile of at least six months in the United States before they can be employed. Mahany says the measure has the indorsement of all the workingmen of his-Btate, ' | with Hon. Warner Miller of New York, ol MANUFACTURERS FMEAN BUSINESS, Protection Demanded for the Industries of This Country. CAUSES OF STAGNATION. Tinkering With the Tariff and Disturbance in the Mone- tary System. TWO IMPORTANT CONVENTIONS. Men Who Employ Thousands Meet at Chicago and Talk of Needed Legislation. CHICXGO, ILi., Jan. 2L.—Approval of the measure of legislation popularly known as the “McKinley bili,” denun tion of' that designated as the “Wilson bill” and a demand for prompt action by the National Legielature to the end that the present industrial depression might give way to a season of prosperity, were the keynotes of two important conven- tions of representatives of commercial | and manufacturing interests that opened in this city to-day. One, the second annual convention of the National Association of Manufacturers, was held at Central Music Hall; the other, a general convention of textile manufac- turers, called by the association of the West and South, assembled at the Palmer House. At both the addresses were pitched in the same key. The tariff re- form law of the last Congress was held to be responsible for the prostration of home industries and the disturbance to the monetary system, repeated changes in legislation affecting manufacturing inter- ests were forcibly deprecated, and a halt was called upon what was characterized as “‘the persistent efforts of politicians” to disturb and harass the trade and industry of the country. The proceeding of both conventions will be resumed to-morrow. ‘What the meeting of the National Asso- ciation lacked in numbers was more than made up by the earnestness and enthu- siasm ghat were manifested. Those present represented nearly every State in the Union and industries wide and diversified. Samuel Allerton, the millionaire packer and mammoth farmer, sat side by side and Senor Gregorio E. Gonzales, special envoy from the Government of Mexico, Charles Heber Clark of Philadelphia, and Thomas McDougall of Cincinnati were seated on the platform. M. E. Ingalls of Ohio, president of the “Big Four,” was represented for the session by a proxy, and special representatives of George M. Pullman, P. D. Armour, the Deering Com- pany and the American Book Company answered to their names. Altogether President Thomas Dolan of Philadelphia confronted an audience rep- resenting many billions of invested capi- tal and giving employment of scores of thousands of wageworkers when he arose to deliver the annual address. He was at- tentively listened to and frequently ap- plauded as he told of the progress of the new organization and its brilliant pros- pects for the future. After the report of the treasurer, show- ing receipts during the year from all sources of $20,000 and expenditures in the promotion of American trade of $11,000, had been presented, the various commit- tees were announced. This concluded the general business of the session and Thomas McDougall of Cincinnati, one of the found- ers of the organization, closed the day’s proceedings with an energetic speech, which provoked, tumultuous applause. A mention in a personal reference to the name of William McKinley brought out a storm of cheers, twice renewed, and re- peated when he denounced the meddling with the McKinley act as the crime of the century. Concluding, he said: ““‘We need statesmen. What should we think of a government which is constantly running in debt when it has unbounded resources to produce a revenue beyond its expenditures? Nothing but the potent voice of the united manufacturing indus- tries of the country will be able to say to these so-called statesmen: ‘We want ac- tion; we want such legislation as will ena- ble us to secure a permanent home market against foreign pauper labor,’’’ A Tesolution of sympathy with the Cuban patriots, and one introduced by Charles Heber Clark of Philadelphia call- ing for an immediate investigation of the printed statements that Oriental manu- factures were being imported in large quantities, and recommending action against this new menace to American in- dustries, were read and referred, and the convention adjourned. P S THE TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS. Delegates From Many States Attend Their Convention. CHICAGO, Irv, Jan. 21.—Fifty dele- gates from Western and Southern States Wwere present at the convention of Textile Manufacturers, and which was presided ouer by George 8. Bowen of Elgin, Ill. Extracts from letters from 200 manufact- uring firms in Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, California, Oregon, Ohio, Indians and Michigan were read. Nearly all contained bitter criticisms of the last Congress, deplored the present stagnation, and urged the re-enactment of the McKinley bill. President Bowen, in his address, said textile interests were conironting a con- tinual decrease in prices, and that manu- facturers were afraid to buy raw material, because after making it up they could not sell the finished product except at a loss. C. H. Mason of Illinois, chairman of the committee on resolutions, said that the country was approaching a great crisis in its industrial development and needs, and that it was plain to have prosperity we must have a return to protective duties, It had become so much a question of self- preservation with the Asiatics now invad- ing this market that not only protection but prohibition would be necessary, just as the Chinese were shut out, because they wiere not adapted to our civilization. [Cheers.] ? A lengthy report from the committee on resolutions was then adopted. The salient paragraphs read: Resolved, That we denounce British free trade asa scheme to protect British manufac- turers in our own market sgainst the com- petition of our own manufacturers; as a scheme to enable British capital and -labor to deprive American capital and labor of the just protection of our laws; as & scheme to dupe us into producing articles which contain much material and little work, ana generally as a scheme to make England the workshop of the world. 2 Resolved, That we favor the policy of tariff protection because it multiplies the establish- ments which give employment to labor and capital at home. Resolved, Thet it should he the policy of Congress in framing the free list to adopt the reciprocity principle, so that those countries which will open their markets to the entrance of our manufactures shall alone be privileged to free admission of specific articles of their own growth into our markets, as was done under the authority of the McKinley tarifi. CHANGES OF UARTERMANTERS. There Is a General Transferring in Sev- eral Departinents. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Secre- tary Lamont to-day ordered the following important changes in the duties of officers of the Quartermaster’s department: Major J. B. Furey, chief quartermaster, Depart- ment of Dakota, from St. Paul, Minn., to Philadelphia, Pa., to relieye Colonel A. F. Rockwell, who is granted six months’ sick leave, with permission to leave the United States. Major John Simvpson, who has been tem- porarily in churfe at Philadelphia, is ordered to 8t. Paul as chiet quartermaster of the Department of Dakota. Major C. A. H. Macaulay is ordered from Portland, Or., to Philadelphia. Major F. W. Jacobs, depot quartermas- ter, Washington, D. C., is ordered to Port- land, and Major C. H. Humphrey, chief quartermaster of the Depariment of the Plaite, headquarters Omaha, is ordered to Washington, D. C. MajorD. D. Wheeler, at present assistant .guntermuler at Omaha, is_ordered to uty as chief quartermaster, Department | of the Platte. MAY RETIRE. VERY SOON. Associate Justice Field, How- ever, Would Like to Name His Successor. Judge Ross of the Southern Circuit Said to Be the Choice for the Place. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Tke Post this morning says, upon Senator ‘White’s authority, that Associate Justice Field will soon retire, but hopves to be al- lowed to name his own successor, and that, if so, he will name Judge Ross of the United States Circuit Court for the South- ern circuit of California. Senator White said to THE CALL coresspondent to-day : “I donit know why such a statement coming from me should be printed in the Post. I certainly gave out no such in- formation. All I know about Justice Field’s intentions is what 1 have seen in newspapers from time to time for several vears. It is true that I am friendly to Judge Ross and 'mnaturally assume that others are, but 1 know nothing about Jus- tice Field wanting Ross to succeed him, though I must say Ross would be an ex- cellent man for the place.” Justice Field said to a friend last night, “I am ready to retire at any time if Iam allowed to name my successor,” but to- day Field gave out a statement to the effect that the Post’s story had no founda- tion in fact. AL OF INTEREST TO THI COAST. Plans to Build a Road From Sausalito to Point Bonita. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Acting chief of engineers of the War Department Mackenzie has written Senator Perkins concerning the construction of aroad from Sausalito through the Lime Point military reservation to Point Bonita. Mackenzie states that the construction of a good road would be of advantage to the Government, but that a poor one wonld not. The good road, he says, cannot be built for $2250. He, therefore, recommends that Congress be asked to make an appropriation for the construction of the road, or that the Sec- retary of War be authorized to use the proceeds of a lease for the purpose of the road construction and maintenance. In these recommendations Secretary Lamont concurs, and Senator Perkins and Con- gressman Barham will endeavor to secure the necessary appropriation from Con- ress. g The Senate to-day passed a bill restoring John Clyde Sullivan as paymaster in the United States navy. Paymaster Sullivan is well known at Mare Island, where he was stationed. He was rtried by court- martial for duplicating his pay accounts. Representative Barham was to-day ad- mitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, on motion of Mr. Maguire. he Senate passed a bill appropriating 25 per cent of the proceeds of the sales of mineral lands to the establishment of schools of mines in California and other mineral-producing States. The bill will go through the House. The resolntion granting certain war ma- terial to the Mountain View Cemetery Association has been adopted by the Senate. Representative Bowers to-day introduced a bill providing that there shall be two terms of the Circuit and District courts for the Southern district of California, held on the first Tuesday in February and the first Tuesday in September of each year at the city of San Diego, and there shall be appointed in manner proyided by law a deputy clerk, who shall keep his office at the city of San Diego. The House Committee on Pacific Roads to-day adopted the resolution of Maguire’s to reprint the report of the Pattison Pa- cific Railroad Commission. Representative Loud proposes to in- troduce a measure increasing the postal rate on magazines and other serials from 1cent to 8 cents per pound. Mrs. Leland Stanford, secretary, maid and Russell J. Wilson arrived to-night. Mrs. Stanford is here to attend the United States Supreme Court, when the Govern- ment’s suit against the Stanford estate is argued. Matlss i CLARA BARTON’S MISSION. With Her Assistants the Red Cross Lea e Will Sail for Turkey. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Miss Clara Barton, president of the American National Red Cross, accompanied by her essistants, left Washington to-night for New York. The pa: { will sail by the American liner New York at 11 A. M. to-morrow for Southampton en route to. Armenia on their mission of mercy. No intimation has reached Miss Barton through the Departmeat of State whether or ot the Sultan has consented to permit the party to enter Armenia. During the absence of Miss Barton, P. V. de Graw of this city, a director of the or- ganization, has been appointed as her rep- resentative in the United States, with ower to act in all matters affecting the ed Cross Societ; 2 S R > Irrigation Cases Postponed. WASRINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Owing to the death of a grandson of Mr. Dillon of counsel in the case the argument in\the California irrigation district bond cases, which was to Lave begun yesterday in the Supreme Court of the United States, has been postponed until Friday at the earli- est, and possibly until Monday next, on account of the other cases set down for argument. WORK OF HOUSE AND SENATE Third Appropriation Bill Passed in Very Short Order. TO MEET DEFICIENCIES. Reasons for Delay in Building the New Postoffice Are Demanded. THE CUBAN QUESTION TOUCHED. Two Resolutions Relating to Arrest of Citizens and the Progress of the War. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—The House of Representatives to-day passed its third appropriation bill—that provid- ing for urgent deficiencies for the current and past fiscal years, reported yesterday. The total amount carried by the bill as prepared by the Committee on Appropri- ations was $4,415,923 and as passed by the House $4,420,403, the only amendment made of any importance being one to ap- propriate $5000 for the survey of the Chico- vee lands in Wisconsin. Nearly three- quarters of the amount named in the bill was for court expenses, largely fees of wit- nesses, deputy Marshals and commission- ers, and much of the debate on the bill was ted to the necessity of reform in the system which now prevaiis. Early in the day a joint resolution pro- viding for an increase of twenty in the number of reports and documents fur- nished the State Department gave rise to a discussion of the printing bill passed at the last session of Congress. It was criti- cised by Cannon (R.) of Illinois and de- fended by Richardson (D.) of Tennessee, who managed its passage through the House. Resolutions were agreed to calling unon the Secretary of the Treasury to ‘inform the House whether or not, in hisopinion, the provisions of the law for the safety of the public in ocean travel were sufficient, and if so, whethernot they were being en- forced; and for a statement of the reasons for the delay in the construction of the San Francisco Postotfice building. s A bill was passed affirming and legaliz- ing the issue ofjcertain bonds authorized by the Legislature of New Mexico for public Idings. In his opening prayer Chaplain Couden invoked the blessing of God upon Miss Barton, president of the Red Cross Society, and her party in their trip to Turkey. Castron (R.) of New Mexico, from the Committee on Territories, reported a bill to aflirm various acts passed by the Legis- ture of New Mexico and it was passed. A resolution of inquiry reported from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds by Hilborn (R.) of California was agreed to, calling upon the Secretary of the Treasury for the reasons for the delay in the construction of the San Krancisco Postoflice building. Crisp (D.) of Georgia asked what had be- come of the unfinished business—the re- port of the Committes on Rules. Speaker Reed stated that all the pro- posed amendments save ore had been agreed to and were in force. Crisp said that the report asa whole had not been disposed of, and yet those officials were enforcing the changes recom- mended by the committee. It was not proper to proceed in that manner, he said. He had intended at the proper time to offer a substitute for the whole code of rules. Dalzell (R.) of Pennsylvania stated that it was the intention of the Committee on Rules to hold a meeting shortly and when the committee made its report the gentle- man from Georgia (Crisp) would have an opportunity to offer his proposed substi- tute. The House then, on motion of Cannon (R.) of Illinois, went in‘o committee of the whole to consider the urgent deficiency bill. A brief general debate ensued upon the subject of the fee system of paying officials of the United States courts and the necessity for its reformation if not abolishment, in which Cannon, Sayers (D.) of Texas, Henderson (R.) of Towa, Northway (R.) of Ohio, Swanson (D.) of Virginia and Daniels (R.) of New York participated. Dinsmore (D.) of Arkansas sought to amend the paragraph making an appro- priation to pay the salaries of court officials in Indian Lerritory by specially designat- ing L. L. Stowe, a marshal, and J. B. Walker, an attorney, one of whom died and the other resigned after a few months’ service without having been confirmed by the Senate. The amendment was offered to meet the ruling of Comptroller Bowler that he cannot pass salary accounts of officers not so confirmed. After a brief discussion, in which the Comptrolier's policy was made the subject of some criti- cism, the amendment was adopted. Lacey (R.) of Iowa discussed the neces- sity for a reform of the fee system in Federal courts, presenting some striking figures. The consideration of the bill having been concluded, several unimport- ant amendments being added, the com- mittee arose and the bill as amended was passed. At 4:15 o'clock the House adjourned until to-morrow, R A SESSION OF THE SENATE. Siwty-Five Bills on the Calendar Are Dis- posed Of. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—Neither the financial question nor the Monroe doc- trine engaged any part of the time of the Senate to-day. When at the close of the morning hour the House bond bill with the free-coinage substitute came up as the unfinished business Teller (R.) of Colo- rado, who had the floor to speak upon it, readily consented to a suggestion to post- pone bis speech till to-morrow, and Jones (D.) of Arkansas, who has the parliamen- tary management of the bill, just as read- ily consented to have vhe bill go over for the day, The Cuban question, however, came in for a measure of attention indirectly in connection with two resolutions offered by Call (D.) of Florida, one in reference to the arrest of United States citizens in Havana and the other calling on the State Department for copies of reports of United States consuls in Cuba relating to the progress of the war on that island. Both resolutions were referred to the Com- mittee of Foreign Relations after & brief THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1896. discussion in which Hoar (R.) of Massa- chusetts ridiculed the nation that the Senate was a “‘constantly loaded cannon,” ready to be “‘touched off”” at any Senator’s direction, and then Sherman (R.) of Ohio, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, remarked that the resolution would be setting an example that might give the Government a. great deal of trouble. Most of the day’s session was gpent in disposing of bills on the calendar that were unobjected to. Some sixty-five meas- ures were passed—a majority of them private pension bills. In the routine businessof the morning hour a “service pension bill” was re- rorted to the Senate from the Committee on Pensions without any recommenda- tion and was placed on the calendar. A resolution was offered by Call (D.) of’| Florida, requesting the President of the United States to inquire into the arrest and forcihle removal of Mark C. Radriguez, a citizen of the United States on board of the United States mail steamer Olivette, in the harbor of Havana on the 15th inst., and alse into the arrest of Louis S. Someil- lan and his son in Havana, and if no just cause for such arrests exists that the President shall demand their immediate aélease. He subsequently moditied the resolution so as to make it one of inquiry merely, at the suggestion of Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts, and at the further sug- gestion of Sherman (R.) of Ohio it was re- {ferred to the Committee on Foreign Re- lations. Call’s resolution, calling on the State Department for reports of Consuls in Cuba on the war now existing there, was taken from the Vice-President’s table and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Pugh’s resolutions, relating to the pav- ment of United States obligationsin silver, was then laid before the Senate, but it went over. A resolution to pay a year’s salary to the widow of the.late Captain Bassett, the assistant doorkeeper, was referred to the Committee on Contingent Expenses. The calendar was then taken up and several unimportant bills passed. At the close of the morning hour the bond bill was laid before the Senate as the unfinished business, Teller (R.) of Colo- rado having the floor to address the Senate upon it. At the suggestion of Hoar, how- ever, with the consent of Teller and of Jones (D.) of Arkanas,in charge of the bill, it went over for the day, and the calendar was proceeded with. Senate bills for oridges across the Co- lumbia River between the States of Ore- gon and Washington, across the Missis- sippi River at St. Louis and across the Missouri River near Chamberlain, S. D., were passed, as were twenty-five private pension bills, including one increasing the pension of Helen S. Dent, widow of Colonel Dent and sister to President Grant, from $40 to $50 a month; also a AN EXPLOSION OF NATURAL GAS, One Man Killed and Four Others Were Fatally Injured. DIED BEFORE HUNDREDS. Spectators Horrified by the Ter- rible Fate of an Engi- neer. BLOWN VERY HIGH IN THE AIR. Gruesome Experience of Those in the Vicinity of a Wrecked Pump- ing Station. RED KEY, Ixp, Jan. 21.—A terrific ex- plosion of patural gas at 7 o’clock ta-night shook the town from end to end, killed one man and injured four, it is believed, fatally. The pumping station of the Ohio and Indianapolis Gas Company is located on the main street here, and a 12-inch main leading to the building burst with awful force. The pipes were buried six feet underground, but the force of the explo- sion threw them about like cordwood and rendered the street impassable. The pipes were torn up as far as the pumping station, and here the escaping gas was ignited by the flame in the boiler- room. The station was completely wrecked and two buildings adjoining destroyed. Palmer Godwin, the engineer on duty, ‘was instantly killed and his body burned to ashes before the eyes of a hundred hor- rified spectators, who were unable to reach him. Joseph Watkins, chief engineer of La- fayette, who was in another part of the station, was fatally injured. Three other men, whose names are not known, are also believed to be beyond recovery. The force of the explosion blew these men 150 feet from the station. Immediately after the explosion the debris took fire, and as the town boasts Senate bill to amend the railroad land for- eiture act of March 3, 1887, in the matter of payment of purchasers; Senate bil! to reconvene the delezates of the United States to the international marine con- ference of 1889, Senate bill to protect the wages of seamen by exempting them from attachment; Senate joint resolution, look- ing to the establishment of a permanent census bureau; Senate bill to pay $7500 to Peter Grant Stewart of Oregon for certain property taken by the Government, and Senate bill to amend the act granting right of way through Indian Territory to the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Guif Rail- road Company. After having thus passed some sixty-five bills on the calendar there was a briet executive session, and the Senate at 3:55 adjourned until to-morrow., UPHOLDS BOWLER'S ACT, Secretary Carlisle Says the Comp- troller Did Not Exceed His Authority. But the Judiciary Committee Will Proceed With the Proposed Investigation. - WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—The Judiciary Committee to-day considered the Boatner resolution which recites the action of the Comptroller of the Treasury in refusing to countersign the warrants in payment of the money appropriated for the sugar bounty, and after some discus- sion a substitute, prepared by Ray of New York, was adopted. This gives the Judi- ciary Committee authority to inquire as to the condition of the law on the subject of the right of the executive officers of the Government to refuse to enforce or comply with any provisions of any act of Congress on the ground of its alleged unconstitu- tionality or_ for other reasons, and to re- vort to the House by bill or otherwise. Ray to-day received a letter from Secre- tary Carlisle, under date of the 20th inst., in which he replies at length to Ray’s re- quest for information whether there is pre- cedent or authority on the part of the Comptroller for declining to pay the bounty. ‘The Secretary shows the care with which the Comptroller investigated the subject and the conclusion reached by him that the constitutionality of the upgroprinion was at least doubtful, and that he deemed it his duty without allowing or disallowing the claim to have the question referred to the Court of Claims for adjudication, which the Secretary, after hearing written and oral arguments upon the Qquestion, agreed to. Secretary Carlisle in conclusion shows that the original Boatner resolution was based upon certain statements eontained in the preamble which are erroneous. “For,” he continues, “‘the Comptroller has not refused to perform a ministerial act or execute a statute passed by Congress; nor has he nullified or attempted to nullify any act of Congress. On the contrary, he has proceeded under and in accordance with the statutes of the United tes, which expressly authorized him to cause claims of the class to which this one be- longs (the Oxnard Beet Sugar Company) to be referred to the courts for adjudica- tion of the constitutional questions in- volved.” $ AR SR FAVORS THE CABLE. The House Commerce Committes Considors McCormick’s Bill, WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. 21.—The House Commerce Committee to-day con- sidered the bill of McCormick of New York for the construction of a Pacific cable. The bill isin charge of Bennett of New York, who will see Seereuriomey with relation to the effect upon his Govern- ment of lnnd&ngotbs cable on the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific, these islands being owned by Germany. The discussion in the committee devel. oped asentiment favorable to the proposed cable, provided the company shall see that all the privileges desired by the United States Government are granted. —_— In Favor of Minor. WASBHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21.—The House Committee on Eleetions No. 2, John- son of Indiana chairman, to-day decided the election case of Campbell against Minor from the Seventh New York Dis- trict in favor of Minor, the sitting member. The report was unanimous, but a small Fire Department the wreck was destroyed. The loss on the pumping-station alone is $100,000, and that on the other buildings about $10,000. There was great danger for some time of the fire spreading,and the citizeéns turned out and rendered all the aid possible to the Fire Department. The explosion was caused by a pressure of 300 pounds on the 12-inch main. This is the center of the Ohio and Indi- ana gas-fields, and this company supplies nearly a hundred cities from this station. They of course are shut off from their sup- ply of gas to-night, and considerable sut- fering will result, as the weather is ¢old. SARAH APPEARS YOUTHFUL. Mme. Bernhardt Plays in New York After a Long Absencs. NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 21.—Sarah Bernhardt appeared last night at Abbey's Theater in *‘Izeyl,’’ after an absence of nearly five years from the American stage. Tt was fifteen years ago that she acted here first, and those in the audience last night that remembered her debut as Adrienne Lecouvreur at Booth’s Theater must have found occasion for some rather optimistic reflection as to the flight of time and its proverbial ravages. There was nothing about the perform- ance last night tbat was quite so striking as the remarkably youthful appearance of the French actress. Those in the audience who had seen her before were amazed at the extent to which she retains the appearance and illusion of being a considerably younger woman than they know her to be in reality; and the younger playgoers, whom she faced for the first time, saw a woman who has been famous for twenty gears! and looks as thougn she might nifiedly con- tinue, so far as her personal charm goes, to exploit her genius for years to come. She is stouter, but none the less attractive in her own way through the change; and nothing of her sinuous grace has been lost. Mme. Bernhardt acted as perfectly as she has ever played any role, her genius and technique never iailing to make its certain and sure effect. The few words she spoke in the first act assured her hear- ers that her beautiful voice had lost none of the charm for which itisnoted. The scenery and costumes were npgn;grhtely beautiful, and her associates afforded her a most capable support. FELL AMONG THE DANCERS. Fatal Accident at a Fire-Engine House During a Ball. CHICAGO, Irr., Jan. 21.—The party and ballgiven in honor of Fire Marshal P. J. Donohue in the house of engine company 9, at the foot of Monroe street, last night, was suddenly broken up by an accident, in which Carl Kollmer met death. It some manner Kollmer lost his balance and fell through an opening in the second floor to the floor below, a distance of four- teen feet, breaking his neck. Over 200 men and women were gathered in the engine-house at the time. All of the fire apparatus had been moved out- side and the large floor was used for danc- ing. Suddenly, while the merry-making was at its height, the body of Kofymer shot through the opening and fell in a heap among the dancers. Women screamed and several fainted and men drew back for a moment. Then strong arms were ready and raised the motionless form from the floor and carried it to a bench. Death was instantaneous, S COharles W. Hewison Dead. NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 2l.—Charles William Hewison, who achieved some fame in the inventive world and was a life- long friend of John Ericsson, the inventor of the Moni- tor, died to-day at his home in this city. He wasborn in New York July 9, 1830, He went to California in- 1849 and secured a vosition on one of the Pacific Mail steamers, remaining as chief enmi. neer for a number of years. He made the principal engines of the Monitor and was chief engineer of one of the armored ships that went South at the beginning of the war. — i Failure of a Nebraska Bank. LINCOLN, NEsR., Jan. 21.—The Bank of Commerce at Grand Island, Nebr., was to-day turned over to the State Banking to take charge. The bank is one of largest under State control in cNab‘:u?: being capitalized, it is understood, for DIED. me, January & native of New York, aged 36 B9~ Funeral services willbe TO-MORRO! (Thiirsday), at the residance. fn BroiT o ROW the arrival of the 10:40 A, BROWN-—In Burling thur Page Brown, 1. 1896, Ar Board and a request sent for an examiner in Burlingame, M. traln lronaB:: \est of Missouri is inter- ing an officer. No fiobilmes has been for Grand Island $100,000. Senator ested in it, his son statement of assets an! made. An examiner le this afternoon. TRIBES IN INDIAN TERRITORY Dawes Will Recommend That Congress Act Arbitrarily. NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 2L.—A Sun special from Washington says: Ex-S Dawes says that the commission of which he is chairman had abandoned all idea of persuading the tribes in Indian Territory to organize themselves into a Territorial government, and would recommend that Congress take arbitrary and heroic meas- ures to accomplish/that end. “The trouble is,” said Dawes, “that we cannot get at the peonle. The govern- ment of all the Indian tribes is controlled by a few men. The Seminoles are con- trolled by one man. Nothing they favor can be defeated; nothing they oppose can be accomplished, and it is very profitable and satisfactory to them to let things run on indefinitelyas they are now. We have recommended that Congress pass an act dissolving the tribal relations of the five nations that occupy the Indian Territory and provide a Territorial government like that of other Territories, giving United States courts jurisdiction over land ques- tions.” S g SELECTING A BUJILIDNG. Republicans Preparing for the Conven- tion at St. Lowis. ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan, 21,—The members of the sub-committee of the Republican National Committee, representative busi- ness men’s league and Architects Taylor of St. Louis and Adler of Chicago were busily engaged to-day examining the plans of the proposed convention hall in the Exposition building. . The committee does not seem inclined to accept the plans of the local architect, and in accordance with the views of Mr. Adler have suggested changes which if carried out would involve an outlay of $25,000, and would interfere with the pur- pose for which the Exposition building was erected. X As a compromise, President Kennard of the Business Men’s League Las directed Architect Taylor to draft plans for a wige wam to be erected on_ Twelfth street, in front of the new City Hall, and to be capa- ble of seating 20,000 persons. s il it The Pallium on the Way. 8r. Lowss, Mo., Jan. 21.—A cable from Rome to Archbishop Kain announces that the pallium, the insignia of the archiepisco- pal rank, is now on its way to St. Louis. The papal messenger, Bishop Shanley of South Dakota, will arrive here next Tues- day. The Archbishop it is said will call a meeting of the clergy shortly to make ar- rangements for the invitation ot the church dignitaries to the ceremony of in- vestiture, It is almost definitely settled that the event will not take place until next May. e Torpedo Outfit for the Oregon. NEWPORT, R. I, Jan. 21.—The torpedos outfit for the batileship Oregon was shipped from the torpedo station to-day. It consists of ten Whitehead torpedoes, in all a full carload, which will go across the continent tc Mare Island Navy-yard and will arrive there long in_advance of the completion of the ship. This will be the first outfit delivered toa United States ship before she has <one into commission. WITH Easy, Soothing, Comforting Joy’s Vegetable Sarsaparilla CLEAN THE WITH Easy, Soothing, Comforting Joy’s Vegetable Sarsaparilla BRUSHES T 22 c ‘Siourmills, avers, laundrise, papes