The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 7, 1896, Page 1

TOLUME LXXIX.—NO. 69. HOIE SHITH R FORELOSUAE Secretary of the Interior Not an Advocate of Refunding,. 'BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. ‘Shows That Prompt Measures Should Be Taken With Pacific Roads. ALL INTEREST COULD BE PAID. Government Ownership Would Not Necessarily Follow the Sale of the Bond-Aided Lines. WASBINGTON, D. C., Feb. 6.—Secre- tary of the Interior Hoke Smith appeared before the House Committee on Pacific Railroads this morning in response to the request of Chairman Powers. He talked for an hour and a balf. His statements or recommendations were in line with his last annual report. The fact that the Smith refunding was referred to the Secretary of the In- terior, led some to believe that he was favorable to the refunding scheme, but this impression seems to have been erron- eous, judging from his statement before the committee to-day. The Smith bill was merely referred to him tor his opinion as to the practicability of certain features of it. Secretary Smith was called before the committee to-day to explain why land patents had been suspended, but did not confine his remarks entirely to this subject. Smith declared thatif the Government continued to patent lands there was no necessity for a provision for recovery of those lands subsequently patented. “The Union Pacific was about to become insolvent,” said he, *“and might thereby have forfeited its lands before I deemed it proper to suspend land patents, inasmuch as Congress was about to meet and con- sider the Pacific Railroads debt question. But this suspension of patents was not in any sense intended asan adjudication of this question. It was my purpose, in sus- pending patents, to leave the matter in statu quo, so that Congress might have perfect freedom in dealing with tbis ques- ion; but if Congress had failed to legis- late, or had signified its unwillingness to take any action concerning Pacific railroad land patents, the Interior Department would immediately have resumed their issuance.” At this point Chairman Powers sug- gested that, according to E. Ellery Ander- son of the Union Pacific Government di- rectors, purchasers of lanas and not rail- roads were the embarrassed parties. Sec- retary Smith replied : “Bona-fide settlers should be protected, of course, but how was this to be done? There is no provision of Jaw forit. The department could not undertake to dis- criminate between the two. The bill favored by Mr. Anderson proposes that patents shall issue without regard to the rights and equities as between settlers and the railroad and without regard to the real status of householding mortgages. The bill proposes to issue all patents and subsequently endeavor to reclaim some of the lands. But there might be nothing to reclaim. It would all be according to the extent of the insolvency of the roads. A Union Pacific sub-company was formed to dispose of these granted lands and did dispose of several million acres of them. The impovg question then arises, “Where did the proceeds go? Who got the money ? Boatner asked: ‘‘Were these lands dis- posed of by a sub-compangpinstead of the company itself?”’ - “That is correct, according to my infor- mation,” replied Secretary Smi'k, “and it might not be a bad idea for the “Govern- ment to try to trace that fund and as far as practicable apply it to tne discharge of the bonds and mortgages upon these lands.” Boatner—Mr. Secretary, it seems from the report of the Pacific Railway Com- mission that the proceeds of those land- grant bonds were divided among ‘con- struction companies,” which were, it appears, coniposed of members of these corporations. Can you suggest any way by which these diverted funds might be returned? Secretary Smith—Of course the Govern- ment would have the right that any cor- poration would have to sue the directors for the recovery of the diverted funds. If we can trace or locate these funds, or ascertain thefthey have been paid to any of these bondholders, we might reduce the amount of bonds and save that and the land. It seems to me that, instead of vroviding that Jand patents shall issue, it would be better to pass an act of forfeit- ure, with a provision protecting bona-fide purchasers, At this point a member of the commit- tee asked if the Pacific roads had done everything required by the act of Congress in order that they might properly dispose of the land granted them. “No,” said Secretary Smith. “A part of the agreement, viz., ‘That they should meet their Government bonds,’ has not been complied with. Congress thereore l_ma the right to pass a forfeiture act, and if Congress shall fail to do so I shall sim- Ply issue an order that the land be pat- ented and expedited asrapidly as possible. 1 confess not te understand the equities as between the Government and the bond- bolders, but T think we should act as in- ;i:)vxduuls would gct. My own opinion is 4t we should pass a general forfeiture 8ct, %0 s t0 protecy bona-fide landholders, and then, after investigation, 1ssne patents only 1o they extent to which they have met their obligations to the Govern- ment."”’ \ s,ff::;}" Eper_e a‘skedAy_ it were possible, in e e )j»vmuh § opidion, to foreclose on acific roads without providing for Government ownership. The Secretary bill replied emphatically there was no dilfiA' cuity about that. “The first consideration, I think,” he continued,” “would naturally be the value of the property. The cost of construction of a railroad does not by any means always represent its value, when such road has been for vears in existence, for its capacity toearn money has increased every year since its construction; and, too, I think it is possible for the Government to pursue some of the directors for the recovery of diverted fands.” . At this juncture a member of the com- mittee inquired as to the validity of the first mortgage bonds of the Centraland Union Pacific railroads,and SecretarySmith declared it his opinion that such a question would not hold, as the Government had several times recognized their validity. “Although under the sinking fund act we have charged up the bonds paid off against it, this is a matter of bookkeeping merely, and therefore it is no question in my mind but that the first mortgage bondholders could, if obliged, claim this sinking fund as against the Government. But this mat- ter is immaterial, inasmuch as the roads are worth a great deal more than the first mortgage bonds.” The Secretary showed from his last an- nual report that for the past ten years the net earnings of the Pacific roads had been $8,534,000, including, as expenditures, the amounts paid into the sinking fund. “Then your position, Secretary Smith, is that inasmuch as the first and second mortgages are the same in amount, and as the roads have been paying 6 per cént on the first mortgage, they could pay 3 )er cent on the entire debt?’’ was asked. “That is it exactly,” said the Secretary. “In other words.” suggested Faris, a member of the committee, ‘‘you contend thatin the funding proposition the roads would be able to pay 3 per cent interest without increased earnings?” “Yes, they could pay one million dol- lars per annum and yet leave a handsome profit to the purchaser.” He continued: “I am emphatically op- posed to Government ownrership, but this threat of Government ownership should not be allowed to prevent that purchase and re-sale.” Judge Patterson of Tennessee. asked: “Is it your idea for the Government to foreclose and then issue 3 per cent bonds for the entire lien?”’ *Yes “But would it not be better to sell the bonds to reorganized companies?'’ ““If the Government provided for a fore- closure sale it would not be hard, I think, to find an organization to buy this prop- erty, agreeing to issue its own bonds, guaranteed by the Government for its total indebtedness as a mortgage unon the prop- erty, in payment for it, and at the same time pay into the treasury a fair amount each year, not as a sinking fund but to the redemption of the bonds.” “But under your plan what would you do with the'lease of the Central to the Southern Pacific Railroad ?”* *“I would break it,” said the Secretary positively. “That lease was made by a company which is now insolvent.” Kyle of Mississippi inquired, *Have you seen and examined the so-called Reilly bill?” ‘‘Yes, and do not think it a good plan,” said Secretary Smith. “I have never and do not now believe in extending the Pa- cific roads debt.” Upon the insistence of Kyle that he (Smith) could learn much by careful peru- sal of the Reilly bill, the Secretary de- clared that the friends of the refunding | proposition hoped ‘that each fresh com- plication would tend to - discourage Con- gress, so that to get rid of this trouble- some matter they would be .willing to sacrifice a part of the debt due the Govern- ment, and that the more muddled affairs became the greater the sacrifice will be. “I think the Government,” he said, *‘should authorize some one to act for it, and provide that if the parties did mot carry out their contracts authority should be given to protect this property and meet’ the first mortgage bonds.” Farissaid: “A statement has been made before this committee that the receipts of one of these companies decreased $42,000. They declare they are poveriy-stricken. It seems foolish for us to trifie longer with meaningless propositions. Would it not be better to act upon Secretary Smith’s suggestions?”’ Secretary Smith concluded his state- ment by declaring that it was offensive to him to see this Government property cut out of San Francisco. “For the past ten years these roads (main lines) have aver- aged $3,089,000 net profits, after payving 3 per cent interest annually on the first mortgage bonds and Government bonds and interest. They also paid teolls on the bridge, and I think the bridge belongs to us.” Secretary Smith estimated that a bridge of that kind ought to cost about two mil- lions and a half. This is widely at variance with Central Pacific Attorney Tweed’s estimate. The House committee will probably take a re- cess for two weeks. Mr. Huntington appears before the Sen- ate corimittee next Saturday. NEARING A SETTLEMENT. Great Britain and Venezuela Said to Be Coming to Terms. LONDON, Exg., Feb. 6.—The Chronicle will say to-morrow that it learns from good authority that a partial settlement between Great Britain and Venezuela has been effected or is on the verge of being effected. Itadds that it believes the settle- ment refers to the Yuruan affair, which consisted in the arrest of British officials by Venezuelans, for which Great Britain demanded an indemnity. The latter has held that this affair is entirely separate from the boundary dispute. R PR DISSUADED BY THE POPE. Request of Princess Marie for a Divorce From Ferdinand. LONDON, Exa., Feb.6,—The Daily News. publishes a dispatch from its Rome cor- respondent saying that Princess Marie Louise, wife of Prince Ferdinand of Bul- garia, has asked the Pope to annul her marriage, owing to the decision of Prince Alexander to proclaim the conversion of their eldest son, Prince Boris, to the Greek church. The Pope dissuaded the Princess from insisting upon her request, declaring that although Prince Ferdinand had betrayed his promise the church would not inflict upoun him the punishment of apostacy. e Fled to Avoid Prosecution. LONDON, ExG., ¥eb. 6.—TFhe Paris cor- respondent of the Morning Post telegraphs under reserve that the inspector-general of telephones has fled to avoid meeting a charge of embezzling several millions of PRICE FIVE CENT ol s 111 i C. P’sS MERRY - GO - ROUND. PRECIPITATED INTO THE RIVER, Appalling Disaster Caused by the Fall of a Bridge. LOST IN THE PEQUABECK. Workmen Dashed Headlong to the Boiling Waters Without Warning. BRAVERY OF THEIR COMRADES. Many Are the Acts of Heroism in the Attempts to Save the Drowning. BRISTOL, Coxx., Feb. 6.—A most ap- palling disaster occurred here shortly after 9o'clock to-night in which twenty work- men were precipitated into Pequabeck River from the East Bristol bridge, and from ten to twelve of them are probably lost. The structure was found to be shaky, and the 4:42 train on the New England road had a narrow escape from wreck as it crossed on the way to Hartford. For some time the bridge had been looked upon with suspicion and a new bridge was in process of erection and almost completed. It was close alongside the bridge which was carried away. After the eastbound pas- senger train had passed to-night one side of the old bridge gave way to the current and with a crash went down into the boil- in; stream. 'he managers of the road immediately dispatched a wrecking train from Hart- ford, which arrived on the Forestville side of ‘the Pequabeck at 5:45. There were forty men on the train, all of whom had come from Hartford. They were imme- diately set to work to make the new bridge passable, and work was progressing satis- factorily, by the aid of lanterns, up to 9 o'clock. To facilitate the work half of the men were located on the remaining por- tion of the old structure, passing iron girders to another gang of men on the new bridge. The waters of the Pequabeck had been continually rising since morning, and at 9 o'clock were higher than ever before known. The water had risen two or three cet since the first crash at 5 o’clock, and the remainder of the bridge was really toltering while the men were courageously standing upon it. The outer end suddenly sank with a crash with its human freight and was carried off in the boiling current. The cries of the men, the creaking of timber and the falling of iron work made a com- bined noise which was heard half a mile away. The half of the gang which had been resting on more solid foundation were horror-stricken to see their working companions so suddenly precipitated to death. Inan instant, however, they were formed into a rescuing party and every effort was made to save the drowning men. Two men were fortunate enough to reach shore by their own exertions almost immediately after the fearful fall. A third was saved by a workman, who plunged in after bim and brought him to the shore. Finally a fourth, a fifth and then a sixth were saved by the heroic efforts of comrades. Others could be seen struggling away 1n the massof debris, clinging to it and crying frantically for help, while a number never came in sight after the bridge went down. - Allof Bristol was at once aroused, and | Barry, foreman of the construction gang preparations and volunteers immediately | rushed to the scene of the disaster. The night was darkness itself, and with the boiling stream overrunning its banks on both sides, efforts to rescue in the dark- ness were fraught with the greatest danger. Thomas Marine was the first man taken from the river. Boon after William F. in the East Hartford yard, was rescued. He was badly injured, having been crushed by falling timbers. He was taken to the house of Mr. Healy, in East Bristol and Dr. Brennan gave him immediate at- tention. Barry, in a. great effort to talk, stated thatef ceven ch hig gang, six,in- cluding himself, were amorng the saved. Their names are: Michael Sullivan, Thos. Marine, John Jones, —. Till, A. Pongelo and Barry himself. Nicholas Rich, of Barry’s gang, isamong the missing. The only body recovered up to midnight was that of Daniel O’Brien of Harttord. O'Brien was foreman of a section gang. His body was found crushed between tim- bers forty rods below where the bridge fell into the river. Scores of volunteers were at midnight searching both sides of the stream, which at this stage of the freshet is fifty feet wide. The six rescued men were taken to farm- houses 1n the immediate vicinity, where they were attended by Drs. Brennan, Wil- son and Hull, who are authority for the statement that none of them are seriously injured except Barry, whose condition is critical. < At midnight eleven persons were still among the missing. All the members of the construction gangs came from Hart- ford and East Hartford, and were resi- dents of those places. The men were con- mecting up iron rails on the old bridge and pushing them across to the new structure when the accident happened. A gang was workingon each end, andjby some mis- understanding, it is supposed, all of them were called to the center of the structure. Their weight, with the extraordinary rush of the current, is supposed to have directly caused thé fall of the bridge. WENT DOWN I A STORM Winds Wreck a Four-Story Brick Building in Brook- lyn. Three Men Were Caught in the Falling Structure and Killed in the Ruins. BROOKLYN, N. Y., Feb. 6.—A four- story brick building on Thirtg-ninth street, between Kirst and Second avenues, was blown down by the violence of the rain and windstorm at 9:55 o’clock this morning. Three men were buried 'in the ruins., They were: James Quigley, pro- prietor of the building which collapsed, Michael Mulcahy and Herman Siemann. Daniel Meeban had a miraculous escape from death. The building was a riekety structure. The violence of the gale was so great that it shook the building, and with- out any warning the center collapsed, burying the men in the debris. Quigley was the first of the unfortunates to be reached by the rescuers. He was dead. Muleahy was also taken out badly injured and removed to a hospital. He will prob- ably die. Siemann’s body was found in the ruins later in the day. Several other casuallies as a result of the storm hove been reported. PR et WILLIAM x;_fi‘fll DEAD. Was Freight Traffic Manager of the Rock 2sland Systems. CHICAGO, IrL., Feb. 6.—Wiiliam M. Sage, freight traffic manager of the Rock Island system, died in this city to-night. ‘While in his office yesterday Mr. Sagze was stricken with paralysis, from which he did not rally. Mr. Sage has been in the service of the Rock Island since 1867, and before coming West K was manager of a bank in Toronto, Ontario. During the war he was attached to the quartermas- ter's department here. Mr. Sage was 62 years of age and was$ born in ‘Scotland, - - HAVE: SUFFERED MOST SEVERELY, Italian' Troops Had a Very Hard Time of It in BLUNDERS OF BARATIERI The Loss of Hundreds of Lives Charged to the General's Incompetency. SOME STARTLING REVELATIONS. One Correspondent Who Sent a Truth- ful Report Expelled From Italian Territory. NEW YORK, N. Y., Feb. 6.—A special cable to the Sun from London says: The facts regarding Italy’s war with Abyssinia have been grosssly misrepre- sénted in Europe. Itis admitted that the Italian troops have suffered severely at the hands of the enemy, but this is only a small part of thetruth. General Baratieri has been a worse failure than Marshal Mar- tinez Campos in Cuba. The loss of many hundreds of lives of Italian troops 18 chargeable to his incom- petence and almost incredible mismanage- ment by the home authorities. A part of the! shameful story has reached London from a reliable source, and when the whole truth is known it will startle not only Italy but the now callous sensibilities of Europe. 5 The censorship exercised over the news from Abyssinia is rigid and as shameful as any ever enforced by Russia or Turkey. Telegrams are stopped altogether, or muti- lated in such a manner that their senders find it difficult to recognize them when published, and the inviolability of the letters of private individuals is in no way respected. Signor Schille Bizzoni, the intrepid cor- respondent of the Milan Secolo, who upon several occasions has managed to baffle the censors and send honest reports to his journal, has been expelled from the Italian colonial territory, and the same drastic action is about to be taken against several other fearless journalists who refuse to subordinate the truth to General Bara- tieri’s vanity. * All the evidence shows that the trans- port service of the Italian armies is utterly disorganized. The ammunition columns are in a worse plight. The main army at this moment is with- out medical stores, because they have stuck by the way. Immature young troops have been landed at the seashore and marched into the interior over a pesti- ferous, malarial country, when healthier routes were available and known to every- body except, apparently, General Bara- tieri’s staff. At Naples all is glitter and enthusiasm as the troopships depart, full of eager men, but empty of their equipments. “You will find everything at Massowab,” is the invariable official reply to the agi- tated regimental officers; butat Massowah there is nothing but superfluous generals, confusion and empty storehouses. No proper - camping-grounds have been prepared for the troops advancing to the front, although they have often started ‘with only a day or two's rations, and as a not unnatural result whole regi- ments have straggled into Baratieri'scamp starving, ragged, shoeless, with half their which were thrown away by men too weak to carry them. To sum up this damning indictment of military incompetence, tue Italian army, now faced by a gallant, chivalrous, confi- dent and numerous foe, ready to suffer and die in defense of their country, has not more than forty rounds of ammunition per man. The food is bad and insufficient in quantity. There is no hospital service, no ambulance, and no designated place to which the sick and wounded may be sent, Little if any drugs or medicines and no surgical instruments and appliances are at hand. If disaster does mot overwheim General Baratieri and his hapless army it will not be for want of invitation. Re-enforcements of about 30,000 men are about to depart from Italy. Anarmy of more than 100,000 men will be engaged on the Italian side. This wili be a really serious war before it is fought out. The enemy are by no means savages They are fairly well disciplined and desper- ate fighters. There is no disguising the fact that the garrison of Makalle owe their lives solely to the magnanimity of King Menelek. If the world’s attention were not distracted by the European polit- ical crisis it would be watching this strugele with the keenest interest. DEATH OF HARRY HOWARD. Close of the Carcer of the Noted Chief of New York's VWolunteer Fire Department. NEW YORK, N. Y., Feb. 6.—Harry Howard, the late chief of the old Volun- teer Fire Department, died at his home early this morning. He was one of the unique characters in the history of the city. He was born at Manhattanville on August 20, 1822. Harry Howard for the last half cen- tury had been one of the best-known fig- ures of New York. He was a foundling, having been left, in 1822, when but a few days old, with Mrs. Sarah Howard, who became his adopted mother. Howard never had any schooling, except what he got in Sunday-schools when he was a small boy. He was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, and worked at the trade for eleven years. On April 11, 1840, he joined the Volun- teer Fire Department. In 1850 he became foreman of the Atlantic Hose Company, and in the same year assistant engineer to Chief Carson. In 1857 he was elected Chief Engineer of the department. In the end of 1859 he suffered while at a fire from a stroke of paralysis, which led to his resignation in February of the next year. He was in the Assembly in 1853 and was Alderman in 1844-45. Since his re- tirement he had lived 1n his home on Elm street, taking an active interest in the af- fairs of the different volunteer firemen’s associations. — e GIANT POWDER IN THE OVEN. An- Explosion That Instantly Killed One Man and Critically Injured Two Others. ANACONDA, Moxr., Feb.' 6.—Martin Finell was instantly killed by an explosion of a dozen sticks of giant powder in the oven of .a stove at William Sebas’ silica auarry, three miles west of this city, yes- terday. Joseph MclIntyre and George Bradley were injured, and are now in St. Ann’s hospital in a critical condition. Finell was the cook and stood in front of the stove at his work. He haa on a hot fire, which is supposed to have been the cause of the disaster by overheating the powder. The cook was blown into an un- recognizable mass. MclIntyre will lose both his hands and Bradley has a fractured skull. The cabin is a complete wreck. S gt William H. English Sinking. INDIANAPOLIS, I~p., Feb. 6.—The condition of William H. English is becom- ing more alarming every hour and there is now little hope on the part of his friends that he will uitimately recover. To-day he was unconscious most of the time and there has been a steady and gradual loss of vitality for several days. s Death of Colonet Cocke. NASHVILLE, Texx., Feb. 6.—Colonel ‘W. M. Cocke, who represented the First Tennessee District in Congress, died at an advanced age this morning. While a member of Congress he caught John Quincy Adams in his arms when Adams fell inthe corridor of the Capitol and died shortly afterward. RO An Apartment Building Burned. CHICAGO, Irr., Feb.6.—The Brighton apartment building, a five-story structure at Indiana avenue and Forty-first street was completely gutted by fire atone end this afternoon. Bight families were burned out. The total loss is $60,000. ON TRIAL AT PRETORIA Beginning of the Examination of Prisoners Arrested at Johannesburg. John Hays Hammond Reported to Have Been Released on Bail. PRETORIA, Sourm Arrica, Feb. 6.— The examination of the prisoners who were arrested at Johannesburg and brought here for 'trial was formally opened Mon- day. After’ the reading of the charges against them furtber hearing was set for Tuesday. The prisoners were formally accused of having held possession of the city of Johannesburg by force for some time and of having openly avowed their opposition to the Government of the South African Republic. The evidence showed that the reform committee, of which the accused were members, caused a proclamation to be prepared declaring that a provisional gov- ernment was necessary, as Dr. Jameson, the leader of the raid into the Transvaal, was expected at Johannesburg and dis- orders might ensue. Though this procia- mation was prepared it was not issued. John* Hays Hammond, the American mining engineer, who is one of the pris- oners, was present in court on Monday, but was absent on Tuesday, he being in- disposed. 4 LONDON, Exc., Feb. 7.—A Pretoria dispatch dated Wednesday says: John Hays Hammond, who is charged with being the ringleader of the recent uprising at Jobannesburg, was to-day liberated on | number minus their rifles and kndpsacks, { bails FIRST BLOOD FOR THE BILL, Prospects Brighten for the Repeal of Huntington’s " Charter.” HEARD IN COMMITTEE. Senator Goebel's. Measure Will Be Reported for Passage in the Legislature, LOBBYISTS ARE HARD AT WORK Two Senators Join Them, but the Southern Pacific People Have a Desperate Fight. FRANKFORT, Ky, Feb.6.—Friends of the bill to repeal the Southern Pacific charter gained first blood before the Judi- ciary Committee, which considered the bill this evening. On a vote the bill. was reported with an expression of opinion that it should pass by a vote of 5 to 2. Chairman Goebel and Senators Fulton, Landes, Sayers and 8ims voted for it, and ‘Weissinger and Bennett against it. When the commitiee met Cbairman Goebel called for arguments. Senator Weissinger sfated that Genéral B. W. Duke, the weil-known raiiroad lobbyist, would appear against the bill. Hedid not, and Senator Weissinger took the floor against the bill. He argued earnestly against the bill, and asked that the com- mittee do nothing against ‘‘this defense- less and beneficent corporation.” Hesaid little of the unscrupulous methods by which the bill was passed, but took the bold ground that the charter had vested rights allowed under the old constitution, and that it would be a breach of faith on the part of the State now to interfere. Weissinger made his usual able speech from a legal point of view. Senator Goebel followed him, and took the ground that the conductef the rail- road in the passage of the bill took away all moral or other rights, in a logical ana forcible argument. Senators Landes and Bennett 'made speeches in eéxplanation of their position in the matter. Senator Goebel is cham- vioning the bill. He is well known as the most effective fighter in legislative mat- ters in the Degislature, and is in high spir- its over the vote on the bill. Senator Goebel said to THE CaLL: ‘I have not been deceived by the action of the committee. The bill will pass not only the Senate, but the House, when it comes to a yote.” Senator'Hays and Weissinger will lead the fight in the Senate against the bill, and will be assisted by a strong lobby, backed by Huntington. St. John Boyle of Louisville is one of the champions of the lobby now at work against the bill. Senator Powell Taylor is a strong friend of the bill, having previously resided in California, and is well informed as to all matters concerning it. He is outspoken in his opposition to the corporation, and will be a strong aid to Senator Goebel. A majority of the Legislators were elected pledgzed to reform, and represent constituencies which have been the vic- tims of abuses at the hands of Hunting- ton and others for years, and whose sym- pathiies are with the peopie of California in this fight; but this does not deter the lobbyists from their work. If they can delay final action till they haye the ropes all in hand and the wheels well geared they feel certain of winning. They have all the means at hand that can be needed. The difficulty is to use them with safety. The Senatorial fight is very complicated, outside of the guestion of whether a Dem- ocrat or Republican shall be elected. The nine sound-money won’t let Joe Blackburn be elected, and Joe won't get out of the way for any one else, nor will Dr. Hunter. If they were both to step down and let new men be nominated at once the election would soon be settled, and the Legislature would get down to work. There seems to have been a Jittle queer dealing between Joe Blackburn and the Republicans 1n the Senate, and Dr. State campaign, sent to Senat Quay for money. Quay said that he could only send his personal check, which he did for $1000, on condition that it was not to be used against Mr. Blackburn, on the ground of Senatorial courtesy. Now, Dr. Hunter is himself a candidate against Mr. Blackburn, and the knowing ones say that there is an understanding that if one can’t get the seat the other shall bave it. Though both declare they are taking no sides in the repeal bill fight, it is a fore- gone conclusion that wherever a trade can be made it will be made, and the Hunting- ton lobbyists understand this probably better than anybody else in Frankfort, and they are not letting a single thread drop as they go on weaving their web. If they can delay matters long enough they will win, and they know it. Prompt action will defeat him. Could not an appeal be sent by the many residents in California who have friends in Kentucky to urge their repre- sentatives to assist Goebel in getting jprompt action on the biil? It would have much weight. The average Kentucky legislator is quite responsive to appeals or requests from his constituents and will be very careful how he votes when he kuows they are watching him. The people of Kentucky are with the people of Califor- nia in this matter if they can be induced to act. Demand a Receiver, MINNEAPOLIS, Mixw., Feb. 6.—In the District Court here this morning applica- tion was made by certain creditors for the appointment of a receiver for the Home Savings and Loan Association. The mat- ter was taken under advisement. The as- sociation claims that they are solvent and deny the charge of extravagant manage- ment made by the applicants for a re- ceivership. The association has a capital of $800,000. l Hunter, who organized the Republican |