The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 28, 1896, Page 2

KOREAN REBELS ARE ADVANCING They Proclaim That All Foreigners Must Leave the Country. CLOSING IN ON SEOUL. The Government Cannot Raise Troops to Cope With the Insurgents. AN INSUPPORTABLE SITUATION Departure of the King From the Rus- sian Legation Will Cause the Cabinet’s Downfall. TOKIO, Jarax, March 13.—Returns com- piled by the Japanese authorities covering the period from May 26 to November 15, 1895, while the Formosan rebellion was in progress, show the Japanese lost dltogether 195 men in battle and had 579 wounded, but so severely did they suffer from sick- ness that 234 were thrown out of service daily on the average. The Cninese, dur- ing the same interval, are supposed to have had about 7500 kilied, but the number is probably below the truth, for 6760 bodies were actually found by the Japanese and undoubtedly many wounded men crawled or were carried away to die in the bush or elsewhere. The state of affairs in Korea goes from bad to worse. Politicians in Seoul insist that by taking refuge in the Russian lega- tion and remaining .there the King has virtually quitted his own dominions, since the precincts of alegation are extraterri- | torial. A similar view is held by the lead- ing citizens of the capital, who naturally | bills reached the Peers they rejected all see that very 'little power of govern- ing can be accredited to a sovereign and his Cabinet so long as they dare not ven- ture beyond the shadow of a foreign flag. As for the insurgents in the provinces they have adopted a new tone, dictated of course by adherents of the prince-parent’s party. They say that the men by whom the King was persuaded to seek asylum in the Russian legation are traitors to the country and must be exterminatea. But they also proclaim that all foreigners must be expeiled from the kingdom, an an- nouncement probably intended as a blind. They have pushed to a point not more than ten miles from Seoul, and the Gov- ernment has no troops to cope with them. The raising of several new battalions of royal guards has been ordered by ediet, but money to pay them is not forth- coming, even if they could be organized so speedily as to meet the emergency. Something like a panic was caused in the Japanese settlement of Gensan, owing to the apparent imminence of an attack by the insurgents in great force, there being oniy a mere handful of Japan- ese soldiers in the town. But calm was soon restored, and a Japanese man-of-war is now ancnored in the port. Frequent encounters take place between small parties of Japanese and greatly superior bodies of insurgents, but the courage and discipline of the former always prevail unless the odds are overwhelming. The whole situation, however, is rapidly growing insupportable, and a general idea gains ground that the departure of the King from the Russian legation will be the signal for the downfall of the present Cabinet. It has been pretexted by the pro- Russian ty that the King’s residence in tke palace is out of the question so long as Japanese troops have their barracks in the immediate vicinity. The troops were located there originally by desire of the Korean Government, but as the Japanese authorities bave neither need nor occasion to keep them there they are about to be removed. This state of confusion and tur- moil contrasts vividly with the tranquility and good order that existed while Count Inonye was in Seoul. His tact and ability never failed to still the strife of factions and to guide the country quietly into the vaths of reform. Russian interference has produced exaetly the opposite effect. The TUnited States’ representative in Seoul is winning golden opinions among the Japanese at this crisis. His influence, they report, is steadily exerted in the cause of right and justice. Ntrong, and in great part successtul, efforts are said to have been made by him to mitigate the cruel- ties practiced by the Cabinet against its political opponents and to lessen the bru- talities resorted to by the legal tribunals in their examination of prisoners. The Japanese Government has an- nounced another issue of the war loan. Power to raise 200,000,000 yen was origin- ally vested in the Government by the Diet, but of that amount only 80,000,000 was put upon the market. The resources actually at the Government’s disposal to defray war expenditures were thus only 81,000,000 yen of the loan (the bonds having sold at a premium); 35,000,000 yen of accumulated surplus revenue, and 4,000,000 yen voluntarily contributed by enthusias- tic persons, or 120,000,000 yen in all. On the other hand, the accounts up tothe present show an expenditure of 235,000,000 yen. By borrowing money from the Bank of Japan, temporarily diverting funds from special accounts, and issuing war checks, the Government was able to pay its way, but the deficit of 115,000,000 yen had ultimately to be met. For that pur- pose 80,000,000 were taken from the indem- nity paid by China, and a third issue of | the line. the war loan, amounting to 35,000,000 yen, is now made. Only 10,000,000, however, are offered for public subscriptions, the remaining 25,000,000 worth of bonds being taken by the Bank of Japan. T]_Je mini~ mum selling price of the bonds is to be their face-value, and the rate of interest 5 per cent, as before. Contrary to expectation, tbe Japanese Diet has passed all the taxation measures proposed by the Government for raising the public revenue to a figure commen- surate with the increased expenditures en- tailed by the country’s altered circum- stances. Having voted the budget, in which augmented expenditures are in- cluded, it followed that the Diet must consent to some means of increasing the revenue correspondingly. But the means contemplated by the Government evoked miuch criticism, especially a new registra- tion law, imposing payments on occasions of birth, death, marriage, succession, and so forth; a law raising the taxes on trades and a law providing for an official monop- oly of the sale of leaf tobacco. The special committees of the House of Representa- tives charged with the duty of examining and reporting upon these measures de- voted a long time to the task, and their hesitation was construed as an indorse- ment of the bills’ unpopularity. But they finally reported in a favorable sense and the measures were passed with very trifling alterations. The old question of freedom of the press has again brought about a collision be- tween the upper and lower houses of the Japanese Diet. Under the present law the executive is empowered to suspend a jour- nal for an unlimited time merely on the ground that its continued publication would be detrimental to public peace or morality. The incriminated article or articles need not be specially indicated. Against this law a majority in the lower house has always remonstrated. The Government, on its side, was willing to meet the House balf way, but unwilling to divest itself altogether of a power the occasional exercise of which appeared absolutely essential in the present state of Japanese newspaper development. This session the Cabinet introduced a new project of press law, in which the period of suspension was limited to one week, and it was provided that the objectionable matter must always be indicated. But these concessions, though large, did not satisfy the politicians in the lower house. They amended the nmew vproject in the sense of abolishing the power of suspen- | sion altogether, and they also introduced various other liberal changes. When the the amendments introduced by the Rep- sentatives, and restored the law to the form in which it had been presented by the Government. Thus the uncompro- mising attitude of the lower house 'in.:n- pedes the progress of the reforms that it is so anxious to effect. A document purporting to be a transla- tion of a secret treaty concluded some | months ago between Russia and China has been published in Shangbai. It isa strange and scarcely credible agreement. China, in consideration of the Northern | power’s good offices in backing her bil]s‘; upon France for a paltry sum which Eng- land would have supplied unconditionatly, and in’ combining with Germany and Franeeto drive the Japanese out of Liao- tung, places any or all of her harbors at Russia’sdisposal for belligerent purposes, | and also permits Russia to secretly raise levies, buy horses, and obtain coolies in Chinese territory. These various priv- ileges, if challenged by another power, are to be ascribed to force majeure, China pretexting inability to oppose Russia’s action. But, at the same time, China is to enjoy the pleasure of openly attacking Russia’s enemies, should she so desire. Further, when the Siberian railway is fin- ished, Russia is to be at liberty to build a branch line to Talien, on the northwest coust of the Guilf of Pechili, or to any other point she pleases, and will be al- lowed to occupy and fortify an island for the better protection of the terminus of She also obtains leave to select and entrench favorable positionson the | Chinese coast opposite Vladivostock and | to attack Korea via Manchuria, should difficulties arise with Japan about the peninsula. Per contra, Russia promises to use persuasion, or force if necessary, against any power attacking China; to lend several hundreds of officers for the | driiling of 100,000 Chinese troops in Man- charia and subsequently in the five north- ern provinces of China proper, and to hand | over the branch railway built to her in Manchuria should China, at the end of fifteen years, have proved herself compe- tent to manage it. 2 The opinion of intelligent observers in | the East is that no such treaty can have been concluded. Were China in ex- tremis she could scarcely pay a higher price for rescue, nor is it conceivable that Russia should have played so uniquely for her own hand without any regard for her allies, Germany and France. However, short-sichted and emotional the Peking Government may be—and it has never | exhibited such traits=—it can scarcely have | consented to the conversion of the whole | Chinese empire into a Russian military basis, or made such concessions in Man- churia as must inevitably bring the whole | of that vast district under Russian sway at last. The Japan Mail Steamship Company has opened a line of steamers to Europe. Special boats of high speed and great carrying capacity are being built in Eng- land for the service, but at present steam- ers of from three to four thousand tons, acquired by the company during the war, will be employed. The intention is to compete with the Conference lines, cargo being the chief aim. But excellent accom- modation for passengers will also be pro- vided. and as a first-class passage to Lon- don will cost only 350 yen, against 700 yen charged by the Peninsula and Oriental Company, and over 500 yen (plus heavy extras) by the Paciffc Mail Company, a very sensible effect may be produced on the passenger traffic of the two last com- panies. There can be no doubt that all Japanese traveling or sending caigo to Europe will give the preference to the Japan Mail Steamship Company's ves- NEW TO-DAY. THE ACADEMIE DE MEDECINE OF FRANCE HAS PLACED. Apollinarss (“THE QUEEN OF TABLE WATERS.”) «“At the HEAD of ALL the Waters examined for PURITY and FREE- DOM from Disease Germs.” JOHN CAFFREY, sels, and as Japanese merchants now ex- port to Europe and import thence no less than 24,500,000 yen worth of goods annu- ally, without the intervention of foreign- ers at the treaty ports, the steamers-of the new service should not lack for cargo. They have also the advantage of a tolerably liberal state subsidy, which may be roughly stated at about 100,000 yen for each all-round voyage, that method of encouraging navigation having been just established by law. I§Coastwise freights in Japan have fallen to an exceptionally low figure, owing to the greatly increase d number of steamers employed in the carrying trade. Many of these steamers were acquired during the war and chartered by the Government for transport purposes. The release from that duty has rapidly pulled freights down by as much as 40 per cent between' January and March. Going further back for a standard the comparison is still more striking, for the figures now quoted are a hundred per cent lower than they were at the corresponding weriod of last year. The customs revenue raised on the im- port of opium into Formosa aggregates $2,000,000 annually. That whole sum the Japanese Government is willing to devote to measures for eradicating the opium vice. Itis impossible to put any drastic measures of prevention into immediate force. To suddenly cut off the supply of the drug would produce terrible suffering among habitual smokers. Such persons only will be furnished with licenses to purchase a limited quantity, the use of opium by all others being strictly inter- dicted. To carry .out that programme the Gov- ernment must monopolize the trade; must establish a refinery; must appoint compe- tent medical experts'to examine applicants for licenses; must institute strict control over opium-sellers and opium-smoking es- tablishments, and must organize a special force of opium police. It will be a most difficult and arduous undertaking, but the Japanese authorities believe that by vigi- lance and perseverance they may hope to eradicate the vice completely in twenty or thirty years. It is alleged that the use of opium is necessary to persons living in the malarial regions of the island, but Japan- ese physicians do not share that view. In view of its greatly increasing opera- tions in foreign trade the Yokohama Specie Bank has decided to double its cap- ital of 6,000,000 yen. The 100-yen shares of the bank are now selling at 333 yen in the open market, and as the six millions’ worth of new shares go entirely to the holders of the old the latter will find the transaction very- profitable. The Salvation Army’s doings in Japan have been disfigured by dissensions among the officers. At the outset the commander instituted a programme of wearing Japan- ese dress and eating Japanese food only. It 1s impossible for Occidentals to subsist cn Japanese food without detriment to health, and the wearing of japanese cos- tume by persons coming to Japan as apos- | tles of a creed seems to the Japanesea mere burlesque—they do not want to have their inteliigence approached by such routes. Apart from the question of policy, however, the diet and manner of life proved too much for some of the married officers. They resigned, and one couple had to be sent back to England by public subscription. It is not to be supposed that they were left destitute by the army. The commander was prepared to pass them on to Australia in the regular rou- tine of service. But they wanted to go to England, and the charitable people that subscribed to send them there took such a vivid view of their hardships thatquite a scandal was created. Detailed accounts from Kiangyin—which lies midway between the mouth of the Yangtze and Chingkiang—show that a mutiny on a large scaleamong the soldiers there was only prevented by the explosion of a magazine. The disaffected troops were Anhui men who had been stationed at Kiangyin for twenty years. Last year an officer of some military competence and honesty was sent from Nanking to com- mand a portion of the troops. His re- forms soon created discontent, which reached a climax when at his suggestion orders arrived from headquarters to dis- band the superannuated braves. An in- surrection was planned, the programme being to kill the general in command, get possession of the magazines and rifles, and then master the city, the foreign instruc- tors in the forts being sent away by boat to Shanghai. Already the work had com- menced. Rifles had begun to crack and the muti- neers were removing the contents of the magazines, when the principal of three— coutaining about seven tons of gunpowder —blew up. The cause of the explosion is not known, since all in or near the maga- zine, to the number of about 300, were shattered to pieces. The catastrophe was | so terrible that it completely cowed the soldiers and they desisted from further acts of violence. But they had attained their object. The general in command was replaced, the too-conscientious cap- tain was put under arrestand the sentence of disbandment was revoked. Chinese soldiers can apparently get anything that they insist upon having. It is difficult to know how matters are really faring in Kansu. News received on one day that the Mohammedan rebels are as strong as ever is followed, on the next, by statements that their strength is completely broken. The latestintelligence is a telegram from Lanchow, the capital of the province, Gated February 28. It rep- resents the insurgents as quite unable to cope with the imperial forces under Gover- nor Wei of Shensi, who recently arrived in Kansu. The. principal chief of the rebels is said to have been captured in January and many of the Mussulman vil- lages have had to hand over a number of their elders by way of alternative to hay- ing their homesteads abandoned to the fury of the soldiers. 4 American and Russian kerosene is to meet a new competition at Hongkong. Tanks are in course of construction there for storing Lankat oil, which will be con- veyed from the wharf in underground pipes. The new oil will have the advan- tage of paying a considerably lower freight than its rival IN MILITARY AITIRE. of William Henry Harrison Placed in Position. 1INDIANAPOLIS, Inp., March 27.—The Monument Regents have placed the statue of William Henry Harrison in position in Monument Place as the representative of the Territorial period in Indina history, being one of a group of four nsar the sol- diers’ monument. The figure is of heroic size and stands resting on the right leg, the right arm akimbo. The left leg an Statue fleft arm are advanced and the left hand rests upon the hilt of the gword. The figure is clothed in the United States army uniform of the period of 1812, that of major-general, and the well-posed head 1s surmounted by a ¢hapeau bras. A martial cloak, sweeping almost to the heels, falls from the shoulders and is thrown back, disclosing the entire figure. FS A S ot Two of the €rew Drowned. BRIDGETON, N. J., March 27.—The schooner Mattie L. Ford was capsized in the Cohansey River duringasquall to-day. 47 First St., San Frarcisco, Representing CHARLES GRAEF & CO,, N, Y,, for Minexgl ‘Waters. Two of the crew, Newell Dutch and Frank M. Moore, were drowned. LEGISLATIVE -~ APPROPRIATIONS. Passage of the Bill in the Senate After a Week’s Argument. DISPOSES OF MILLIONS. Hill Succeeds in Defeating an Item for Expenses in New Mexico. HE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1896. ceeded to ‘the consideration of executive business and soon afterward adjourned till Monday. s S PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE. Consideration of the Civil Appropriation Bill Is Refused. ~ ‘WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—Quite unex ly the House of Representa- tives to-day by a vote of 142 to 77 refused to consider the civil approvriation bill re- ported yesterday, adopting the motion of Hepburn (R.) of Iowa to take up billsin | private calendar for the first time this ses- sion. The adoption of this motion ex- hausted an hour and another hour was spentin discussing a motion by Pickler (R.) of Bouth Dakota that only pension and private relief bills reported from the Committee on Military Affairs be consid- ered. This was finally agreed to. Only three bills were considered and they were reported to the House with a recommenda-~ tion that they be passed. Before a vote could be taken on them Hepburn (R.) of Iowa moved that when the House adjourned to-night it adjourn until Monday next. Despite the strenuous SAYS IT WAS “SNEAKED IN. Chairman Allison of the Committee Makes an Appropriate Ex- planation. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—The legislative appropriation bill passed the Senate to-day after occupying the atten- tion of that body every day during the present week. It appropriates in round numbers $25,500,000. There was much de- bate upon it—first, on Senator Sherman’s motion to strike out all the sections relat- ing to the compensation of United States Marshals, Clerks and District Attorneys (putting them on a salary system instead of the present system of fees); second, on Senator Hill’s motion to strike out a pro- viso changing the time of meeting of the Legislative Assembly of New Mexico. Sherman’s motion was defeated—ayes 18, noes 30—so that the bill remains, in that respect, as it passed the House. Hill's motion developed a political controversy, and notice was given by Gorman of Mary- lang that the discussion could not be cut off, but would assume pretty large di- mensions. With the object of avoiding this threatened political debate, Cullom of Illinois, who was in charge of the bill, moved to Jay Hill’s motion on the table, but Cullom’s motion was disagreed to— ayes 21, noes 29. The Democratic Senators were aidea by the votes of the Populists and of two Re- publican Senators—Frye and Wolcott. Thereupon Cullom withdrew all opposi- tion to Hill’s motion and it was agreed to. That practically ended the consideration of the biil and 1t was passed without a division. The legislative appropriation bill was taken up after some minor business had been disposed of, the question being on Sherman’s modon to strike out all the paragraphs relating to the compensation of United States District Attorneys, Clerks and Marshals. Pending action on Sherman’s motion Vilas (D.) of Wisconsin moved'to strike out the section in relation to District At- torneys and insert in lieu of it this: That the United States District Attorneys for each of the judicial districts of the United States (except the Southern district of New York, which shall continue under existing law) shall be paid an annual sal- ary of $4000, except that in the district of Massachusetts, the Eastern district of Pennsylvania, the Eastern district of Louisiana, the Northern district of Califor- nia and the Northern district of Iilinois they shall be paid an annual salary of $6000. Vilas’ motion to amend the sixth sec- tion and Sherman’s muotion to strike out all the sections relating to the compensa- tion of judicial officers were discussed at length. Allison (R.) of Towa, chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, expressed his entire concurrence in the arguments made yesterday by Sherman and Hill against general legislation on appropria- tion bills, but the committee, he said, re- garded and was compelled to regard this case as exceptional and had so treated it. After some discussion the Senate de- feated—30 to 18—Sherman’s motion to strike out of the legislative bill all the sections relating to the compensation of United States District Attorneys, Clerks and Marshals. The amendment offered by Vilas was rejected without a division. Hill moved to strike out of the para- graph making appropriation for the legis- lative expenses of the Territory of New Mexico a_proviso that the next session of the Legislative Assembly shall commence on the first Monday in May, 1897. He ‘said tbat this was another instance of general legislation, that it was a political amendment ‘‘sneaked in” on an appro- priation bill, and that it was a small, mean, contemptible, silly attempt to gain a political advantage. Elkins (R.) of West Virginia asked Hill what he meant by the phrase ‘‘sneaked in “I thought,” Hill replied with anima- tion, “that I would etir up the Senator irom New Mexico—I mean the Senator from West Virginia, but it is about the same thing, The Territorial Legislature will, under existing law, assemble next December, but this little trick is- to post- pone the meeting till May, 1897, when there may be a Republican President of the United States and a Republican Governor and Republican Territorial officers.” Cullom (R.) of Illinois in charge of the bill, made an explanation of the matter, and made a remark as to Hill getting into a “‘spasm’’ about it. Hill declared that the ‘‘spasm” was on the other side of the chamber. Carter (R.) of Montana made an expla- nation of the proviso, and stated why it should be enacted. Adfter further discussion Cullom moved to lay Hill’s motion on the table. The motion being undepatable, Gorman ap- pealed to Cullom not to persist in it, and he repeated the remsrk which he had already made as to the question being a political one, adding that it was one on which Senators were entitled to have a discussion extending far beyond the bounds which it had taken. Cullom said his object was to have a test ote. “If you want a test vote,”” Gorman said, ‘‘we are ready for it now.”” *“You can beat us,”’ Frye remarked in an undertone. The result of the vote showed Frye to be right. It was, ayes 21, noes 29. On thisaye and no vote the Populists voted with the Democrats in the negative, and there were also two Republican Sena- tors voting in the same way—Frye and ‘Woleott. opposition of Cannon (R.) of Iliinois, chairmaa of the Committee on Appropria- tions, the motion was carried to—103 to 25. The House then at 5 o’clock was de- clared in recess until 8 o’clock, the even- ing session to be devoted to the considera- tion of private pension bills. The evening session of the House devel- oped a family row among the Republicans regarding pension legislation. The first bill taken up was that discussed last Fri- day night—a Senate bill granting a pen- sion of §30 a month to Charles E. Jones, a photographer, for injuries resulting from a wound received while taking a picture of Longstreet’s fortifications at Suffolk, Virginia. Connelly (R.) of Illinois antagonized the bill, and in the course of his speech se- verely criticized the Committee on Invalid Pensions for bringing in bills of this class to pension men who were not enlisted. Pickler (R.) of Sofith Dakota bitterly re- sented the criticism of Connelly, declaring that it was not fair, and that his assertions were a base slander upon the Invalid Pen- sions Committee. The committee had recommended nothing for which it had not the precedent of many Congresses past. After amending the bill so as to give the man a pensionable status and leaving to the Pension Bureau the deter- mination of the amount to be paid him, the bill was laia aside with a favorable recommendation. Subsequetly Mahon (R.) of Pennsylva- nia, apparently laboring under suppressed feeling, said thata statement had been made on the floor which ought not to go out uncontradicted. When the gentleman from Illinois (Connelly) had charged that acertain gentleman whom he need not name, but whom all Republicans recog- nized as their leader [applause], had inter- fered to suppress legislation in behalf of the old soldier he spoke. without founda- tion. The Speaker of the House, Mahon asserted, had always given preference in granting recognition to members to those having bilis for the old soldier. The House has spent fifty-five hours this ses- sion in considering private pension bills and had passed forty. .Grosvenor (RK.) of Ohio followed in a similar strain, advising Connelly before he undertook to arraign the Republican majority to have more data to go on than he had at present. Conuelly, responding, said that with a great Republican major- ity in the House a Republican quorum failed to appear at these Friday night ses- sions, and there were too many candidates for the Presidency and their friends in this Congress engaged in promoting their interests to do justice to the old soldiers in the matter of pension legislation. The committee rose after having favor- ably acted upon four bills, and at 10:30 o’clock adjourned until Monday next. INTERESTS THE COAST Much Money Believed to Be Appropriated for Santa Monica Harbor. Perkins and Hilborn Pleased With the Prospect of a Public Building for Oakland. WASHINGTON, D.C., March 27.—Al- though the rivers and harbors bill has not yet been reported it is known that $100,000 is appropriated for Santa Monica harbor. Representative McLachlan was requested by the river convention delegates, who ‘were here several weeks ago, not to oppose an appropriation for Santa Monica for fear of prejudicing chances of San Pedro, but McLachlan is in a dilemna, for he hears the Southern California papers are criticiz- ing nim for not attacking the Huntington scheme. The California Congressmen say they can tell better what course they will pursue w hen they haveseen how much the river and harbor bill carries for San Pedro and Santa Monica respectively. Senator Perkins and Representative Hil- born are very much pleased over the re- E’n ot the Senate Committes on Public uildings and Grounds, recommending an appropriation of $350,000 for a public build- ing at Oakland, their home town. The bifi will undoubtedly pass the Senate, and as Mr. Hilborn is an influential member of the Public Buiidings and Grounds Com- mittee of the House it is altogether prob- able the bill will pass that body also. It is for Speaker Reed to eay whether any money shall be appropriated for public buildings, but it is safe to assume that if any bills are passed in the House Oakland will be one of them. Perkins and Hilborn are both natives of Maine, and are both quite friendly with the Speaker. Hilborn especially, who knew Reed when he lived in California. The remains of Sam B. Solomon of San Francisco, who died here last mght, will, by request of his relatives, be shipped by Benator Perkins to California to-morrow. The hospital surgeons were anxious to lo- cate the bone in Solomon'’s throat by means of the Cathode ray, and think they might possibly have saved his life; but be- fore an apparatus could be ‘secured the patient was too far gone te render such an operation of any avail. Mrs. 1da Harte Merritt, whose family resides at Oakland, Cal., died here to-day. Her body will be cremated on Sunday by her own request. The House Committee on Public Lands to-day directed Representative Bowers to report favorably Senate bill granting Cali= fornia 5 per cent of net proceeds from cash sales of gubflc lands in said Senate. The House bill in same subject Was ordered to lay on the table. G. Harrier of Vallejo was to-day ad- mittéd to_practice in the United States Supreme Court. G. W. Knight was to-day lp&flnud Postmaster at Fulton, Sonoma unty, Cal., vice Jarvis Chaffee, resigned. Pensione have been granted as follows: Original—Louis Benoe, S8an Francisco; John J. Cramer, Soldiers’ Home, Los An- geles. Increase—Warren J. Harris, Col« ton. Washington: Original-Thomas Finney, Olympia. Then Cullom withdrew his opposition, and Hill’s motion to strike out was agreed to. The bill was then passed withouta division. It appropriates $25,500,000. The Senate then at 4:50 o’clock pro- s e o Treasury Gald Reserve. ‘WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—The treasury gold reserve at the close of busi- ness :‘v. stood at $127,660,526. The withdrawais for the day were $157,700. EXPLAINED BY WARNER MILLER. Facts Presented to Show the Feasibility of the Canal. SURVEYS IN NICARAGUA Report of the Government Com- mission Scored in Telling Words. THERE IS NO DISADVANTAGES. The Government Asked to Take the Construction Under Control or Let It Alone. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—Ex- Senator Warner Miller of New York ap- peared before the House Commerce Com- mittee this morning and gave a history of the Nicaragua Canal Company from its nception down to the present time. He said his appearance was not for the pur- pose of advocating any Nicaragua canal bilk After traveling extensively in Ku- rope and the United States in an endeavor to educate the people to the necessity of the enterprise he said he found that capi- talists believed the canal ought to be a Government affair, and ° that the Government would sooner or later take possession of it, thus leaving no profit to the private investors. He related these experiences to the Senate committee and suggested that the Govern- ment guarantee the bonds of the com- pany, and for this guarantee take stock to the amount of $70,000,000 and $80,000,000, the company being capitalized for $100,- 000,000. A bill to this effect was reported and passed the Senate. The company now felt that they havea grievance against the Government, because from its action in the matter it has become impossible to get the money to construct the canal, either at home or abroad. Mr. Miller then paid his respects to the Government commission, which went to Nicaragua last summer to inspect the route of the canal. He asserted without qualification that the movement to ap- point the commission was made by the enemies of the canal enterprise. He as- serted that the commission had estimated the cost of the canal not as practical busi- ness men, but as men who had the great wealth of the Nation behind them. The company, on the other hand, estimated the cost at its lowest figure and with a view to keeping the expense within the limits prescribed. While the rainfall was great, Mr. Miller continued, the records show that there has never been a serious flood in Nicara- gua. No danger from floods was to be ex- vected. Referring to the reports of the earthquakes, he said thatin the knowledge of men there had never been a shock in the neighborhood of the canal which would bave damaged it. The commission criticized the surveys of the river and lake, but these, he said, were made by officers of the United States navy and not in the interest of the company. Referring to the prospects of the canal, he said commerce sought the cheapest route, under which conditions he thought the canal would get much business. The canal would develop the industries of the Pacific Coast, especially the wheat and lumber, and would double in a short time the population of that section of our country. He assumed that 4,000,000 tons of freight per year would pass through the canal shortly after its completion. At a tax of §$1 50 a ton this would give $6,000,000 per year. And, after further argument, he said, in concluding, that the company felt that the Government should now say that it would take the work under its control, or say to the world that it aid not intend to enter it. This should be done in fair- ness to the company. Ii the Government did not take it the company would go ahead and either complete the project or fail. DEBTS OF PACIFIC AOADS, Bills Relating to the Subject Will Be Considered This Session. It Is Evident That the Frye-Smith Bill Will Be Reported With Modifications. ‘WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—The managers of the House have agreed to consider the Pacific roads bills at this ses- sion. This information is given to Tme Carz correspondent to-night by one who is in close touch with Speaker Reed and his lieutenants. The news comes as a great surprise to the California colony here, who have felt certain all along that as a matter of political expediency as well economy of time Pacific roads legislation would go over until next wintér’s session, after the elections have been held. But Speaker Reed has ordained otherwise, and it is probable that bills will be con- sidered in both the Senate and House in a tew weeks. Senator Frye, as is well known, is Huntington’s right-hand man. Frye, by reason of long service and of his position as president pro tempore of the Senate, is a power in that body, and can bring the Pacific roads bill (his own meas- ure) to a vote if he wishes. The joint committee on Pacific roads is making slow progress in framing a bill. A majority of the members of this sub- committee are ignorant of what is baing done. Kyle, Faris and Sulzer stated to THe CALL correspondent to-day they had no idea of what was being done. The two chairmen, Powers and Frye, have the matter in hand and are trying to frame a bill which will satisfy both roads. Chair- man Powers said to-night that they were trying to frame a bill that would go through both houses. *‘There will be na trouble about the Sen- ate,” said he. “Most any kind of a bill will pass the Senate, but the House is al- together a different body.” TrE CALL correspondent learns that the Frye-Smith bill will certainly be reported with some modifications. The time will probably be reduced from 100 to 60 or 70 years with interest at 2 percent. The Reilly bill was for fifty years at 3 per cent. The Californians are to-night more confident than ever of beating the bill. The joint committee meets again to-morrow. The Senate Pacific Railroads Commities this morning appointed Senators Frye, Walcott and Brice a sub-committee to act. with a similar sub-committee of the Houge Pacific Railroads Committee in drafting the bill providing for a settlement of tha debts of the bond-aided Pacific railroads to the Government. —sei Electric- Light Signaling. ‘WASHINGTON, D. C., March Secre- tary Herbert and members of the Senate and Housa committees on naval affairs, and prominent officials, yesterday in. spected a method of elactric;]i§m signal- ing desilgned by L. B. Crandall. The in- ventor claims it can be easily used at a distance of five miles. for i TR Confirmed by the Senate. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—The Senate to-day in executive session con- firmea the following nominations: Frank ‘W. Roberts of Maine to be United States Consul at Capetown, Cape Colony. Post- masters—California: Dora Austin, Perry; W. A. Bucknam, Truckee. S Favorable to California. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—The House Committee on Public Lands to-day agreed to report favorably the Senate bill iving the State of California 5 per cent of he receipts from public land sales for school purposes. ot P 4 Building for Oakland. WASHINGTON, D. C., March 27.—The Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds to-day ordered a favorable report on the bill authorizing a public building at Oakland, Cal., to cost $350,000. . BIGAMIST AND EMBEZZLEEK. Crimes Arve Many Charged Against Arthur J. Goodwin. NEW YORK, Y., March 27.—Arthur J. Goodwin, who is charged, the policesay, with bigamy and robbing several firms by whom he was employed, was arrested Wednesday night, and in the police court yesterday he wasremanded until the police of Cripple Creek, Colo., are heard from. It is said that on March 1, 1895, while an agent of the Continental O1l Company at Cripple Creek be disa})‘peqred with $1200. He was arrested in St. Louis on September 30, 1895, and was taken to Cripple Creek, where he was to have had his hearing on January 20, 1896. He again disappeared, and it was learned that he sailed from this city to Europe on the steamer New York. He returnec here a short time ago. His presence in the city was discovered and his arrest followed. y The charge of bigamy against him comes from Brooklyn. It is stated that on Aueust 7, 1890, he was married to Mary Gallagher. She is still living, and it is charged that on November 21, 1891, Goodwin married Sadie 0’'Neil, also in Brooklyn. 3 The police say Goodwin while employed by the firm of Perking & Edwards in this city in 1892 fled with $400 belonging to the firm. They also say he stole $150 from Spencer & Son of Brooklyn. —e SEIZED JEWELS TO BE SOLD. At Public Auction the Leroux Gems Will Be Disposed Of. NEW YORK, N. Y., March 27.—United States Marshal Hayden has been author- ized to advertise and sell at public auction the famous Leroux jewels, which were seized by the customs authorities in 1893. This will be the largest sale of the kind ever held in Brooklyn. The property con- tains about 1300 pieces. The actual value of the diamonds is about $14,000. - The story of the seizure is interesting. In May, 1893, Jennie Dall, a young French woman, was arrested in Brooklyn while trying to pawn a number of diamonds. It was suspected she had stolen them. De- tectives found on her person and in her jewels worth $125,000. She wasarrested to- gether with a man named Eugene Leroux, who was mixed up in the affair, but it was afterward found that the jewelry had been smuggled into the country by a French jeweler named Fleischman, who, getting into debt in France, had packed up all his jewelry and deserting his wife fled to America. Fleischman returned to France before he could be arrested, but the dia- monds were confiscated by the Govern- ment. e Pearl Bryanw’s Burial. GREENCASTLE, 1xp., March 27.—The remains of Pearl Bryan were removed from the vault and buried in the Bryan lot in the cemetery to-day. e ————————— S i Is the season for purifying, cleansing and renewing. The accumulations of waste everywhere are being removed. Winter's icy grasp is broken, and on all sides ara indications of nature’s returning life, renewed force and awakening power, Spring Is the time for purifying the blood, cleans- ing the system and renewing the physical powers, Owing to close confinement, diminished perspiration and other causes, in the winter, impurities bave not passed out of the system as they should, but bave accumulated in the blood s ; Is therefore the best time to take Hood's Sarsaparilla, because the system is now most in need of medicine. That Hood's Sarsaparilla is the best blood purifier and 8pring medicine is proved by its wonder- ful cares. A course of Hood’s Sarsavarilis now may prevent great suffering later o Hoods Sarsaparilla 18 the One True Blood Purifier, Al droggists. 81 Prepared only by O. I Hood & Co., Lovell, Mass. lood’: oure Liver Ilis; essy tO take, H s Pills easy to operate. 20C tter, s Apyle Butter “Smith's W s all about the e Weskly tels il S ours: m&"f A 100 niles and over. A Smith's Monthly Catalgue iree forpos- § tal SMITHS' CASH STORE, 414,416, 418 FRONT ST, S. F. Largest Departm’t store west of Chicago Momn’ 2e=1T.