The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 9, 1898, Page 1

Thi be 5 Paper not from tak ob taken 1o the SAN FRANCIS CO, FRIDA DECEMBER 9, 1898. PRICE FIVE CENT PHILIPPINES WILL PROBABLY BE SOLD PRESIDENT SAID TO BE IN FAVOR OF THIS ‘ COURSE. JAPAN HAS ALREADY MADE AN OF- FER OF TWO HUNDRED MIL- LIONS FORTHE ARCHI- PELAGO. N W YORK, Dec. 8—A| Washington special to the| Herald says: In a conversation | yesterday between President Mec-| Kinley and a United States Sen- ator, I am informed, on the au- thority of the Senator, that the President has apparently signi- fied his approval of the policy of selling the Philippines. More- over, it was developed during the conversation that at the proper time a measure to this effect would be introduced in the Senate. This Senator stated that Japan had already offered $200,000,000 for the islands, and, though au- thority for this statement was not forthcoming, the Senator said| that it was semi-official. He favored, if such a thing| were necessary for the preserva- tion of the “balance of power,”| the selling of a portion of the isl-| ands to Great Britain, Fraucc.j Germany and Spain, leaving to | y these nations the problem . of properly governing the people of the archipelago. Such a measure, it was stated, would not probably be introduced during this session of Congress, but would be ma- turely considered pending the military regime, which would continue until the meeting of the Fifty-sixth Congress. It was urged that the holding| of the Philippines by the United | States would only demonstrate | the inconsistency of this country in insisting upon the Monroe | dqctrine, and that their sale| would keep the doctrine intact, | preserving the Western Hemis- phere from the occupation of for- eign powers. It was believed by the Senator | that this proposition would com- mand strong support in the coun- try, a proviso being always that | the United States should retain as a naval station the island of | Luzon. 2 FEDERAL OWNERSHIP, Found in the Telegraph Lines in the Islands of Porto Rico and Cuba. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—The situation in Porto Rico promises to force on this | Government, for a time at least, the ex- periment of Federal ownership of tele- graph and telephone lines. The War De- | nartment now controls all lines in Porto | Rico and In the evacuated sections of Cuba. In both places the lines are being repaired, and the Government is handling | commercial messages after Government | matter. The si sions as tp the e of the service, as the cost for maintenance and long-de- layed repairs is just now more than the Income from the line: But in six months from the 1st of January the signal service expects to be able to furnish some inter- esting data as to the profit in the insular his enforced object lesson wire service. anagement is natural ex- pected to have considerable influence in the agitation for like control in this o ; e GARCIA SERIOUSLY ILL. Attacked With Pneumonia---Has Two Physicians in Attendance. WASHINGTON seneral Gar- cia* who has been hotel ~ for gome days a d to be quite geriously sic Hi has developed | 3 into pneumonia a In attendance. v physicians are | = of his advanced | age, 62 years, the outcome is viewed with | some apprehensi e TAMASESE WILL BE , NOMINATED KING The Question of Selecting a Nominal | Ruler for Samoa Yet Caus- ing Strife. AUCKLAND, N. Z, Dec. 8—The fol- | lowing advices were received here from | Samoa: The supporters of Mataafa hav- ing elected a King, certain chiefs lodged a caveat, which the Chief Justice decid- ed in their favor. It is mow understood that Tamasese will be nominated. ASK AN INVESTIGATION OF INDIAN SCHOOLS Petition Presented to the House and | Senate From Archbishops of the Catholic Church. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—Cardinal Gib- bons, in behalf of himself and the Arch- bishops of the Catholic church in Ameri- ca, has submitted a petition to Congress asking that the question of the contract school system be reopened and that Con- gress again go over the whole subject of Indian education. The petition sets forth at length the history of the Indian school question and the legislation applying to it up to the recent provisions in a bill looking to the gradual discontinuance of Government aid to sectarian schools. The petition asks that a Congressional inquiry be made In place of the depart- mental inquiries, in order that the merits and defects of contract schools and Gov- | amendment, and that removed the only | supplemental estimates after the bill was ernment schools may be shown and ‘‘not kept as a secret of state concealed in | the flles of any department or bureau.” The 'petition -was presented by. Repre- sentative McIntyre of Baltimore, and was | referred to the House Indian. Affairs Com- | mittee, -which. is now .preparing.the In- | dian appropriation bill. Senator Gorman presented a similar petition in the Senate. | Representative Sherman, chairman of the House Committee on Indlan Affairs, is In- favor of granting the prayer that an Investigation be made. e is of the opinion that as the Catholic church has made ldrge -expenditures for Indian edu- cation in the erection of buildings, etc., it is fair that Congress should know the exact ‘condition of things. Mr. Shérman said that he probably would take some action to bring about such an investiga- tion, but not for some time yet. SUPPORT OF MILITARY AND NAVAL ESTABLISHMENTS Passage -of -the Urgent Deficiency Biil Practically Without Op- position. WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.—The urgent de- ficiency bill to provide for the support of thé military and naval establishments was passed by the House to-day, practically without opposition. A fear had been ex- pressed that the measure might open up a prolonged debate upon the conduct of the war, but the Democratic leaders de- | cided that such a debate would properly come later upon the regular appropria- tion bills or upon the bill for the reorgan- ization of the army. There was not a word of criticism of the war during the debate. The only point upon which an | issue was raised to-day was as to whether the bill, providing, as it does, for the pay | of the volunteers until July 1, 1899, might | not be construed as a modification of the | law under which the volunteers were mus- tered into service. McRae of Arkansas offered an amend- ment providing that it should not be so | construed, and upon it there was a gen- eral discussion as to the advisability of mustering out the volunteers before the regular army was increased. Cannon finally accepted the McRae shadow of opposition to the bill. A num- ber of amendments were adopted upon the recommendation of the Appropria- tions Committee, which received soma prepered The largest of these was an tem of $3,000000 for an emergency fund for the War Department, $578,000 for the Ordnance Department, increasing the amount carried by the bill to $59,859.892. The conference report upon the bill to render the sureties of Consuls, Vice Consuls and Consular Agents liable for damages In suit at law was adopted. The House adjourned over until Mon- day to give the committees an opportunity to work without interruption. - NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR The Hero of the Merrimac Among Those Nominated for Office by the President. WASHINGTON, Dec. §—The Fresident to-day sent these nominations to the Sen- ate: Assistant Naval Constructor Richmond P. Hobson to be naval constructor. Also a large number of appointments under the head of Interfor and a number of promotions in the navy which have been heretofore announced. Likewise the following appointments of Postmasters: California—Samuel J. Brunn at Stanford. Idaho—Robert N. Dunn at Wallace. Oregon—Samuel S. Train at Al bany. Washington—Lloyd Dubois, Van- couver. Navy —Citizens to be assistant surgeons: . G. Beebe of Minnesota; W. M. Garton of a; F. F. McCullogh of California; ‘W. H. Bell of Wisconsin; ‘H. C. Curl of California; W. L. Bell of California. M. A. Skinner of Illinois, to be pro- r of mathematics. . H. Rousseau of Pennsylvania, to be civil engineer. - BANKRUPTCY LAW UPHELD. But Judge Seaman Divests State Courts of Jurisdiction. MILWAUKEE, Dec. 8.—Judge Seaman upholds the Federal bankruptcy law and declares in an opinion filed to-day that it divests the State courts entirely of the jurisdiction in insolvency cases. Judge Sutherland of the Superior Court held a few days ago that he had exclusive jurls- diction of insolvency proceedings com- menced before him before the commence- ment of the proceedings in the Federal courts. Judge Seaman declares that the State courts are absolutely without juris- diction in such matters. TREATY IS READY FOR - SIGNING It Adheres Strictly to -the Protocol Pro- posals. TOOK LONGER THAN THE WAR | Spaniards Embittered and Crest- fallen Over the Results of Their Work. Special Dispatch to The Call, PARIS, Dec. 8—The United States and Spanish Peace Commissioners con- | cluded their work to-day and finally | settled the terms of the treaty of peace. They will meet once more in formal session on Saturday or Monday next, when the Spanish Commissioners, sor- rowfully. and the Americans, with feel- ings of rellef, will write their signatures upon the document which embodies the results of the war and the preparation of which has consumed eleven weeks, a longer time than the war itself. In the meantime the treaty will be en- grossed under the supervision of Mr. Moore and Senor Ojeda, the secretaries of the respective commissions. The Spaniards are exceedingly bitter over the result, though observing the forms of friendliness and courtesy. Montero Rios, whose strong and per- sistent struggle to save for his country every possible asset from the wreck of her colonial empire has cemmanded the respect and admiration of his op- ponents, went from the council cham- ber to-day to his bed in a state of com- plete collapse, as a result of the long straln and his chagrin over the small fruits of his efforts. Senor Ojeda has been prostrated since yesterday and was unable to attend the joint session to-day. The . Spaniards charge equal blame | upon the European powers and the United States for their downfall. One of the Spanish Commissioners said this evening: ‘“‘The European nations have made a great mistake in deserting Spain and leaving her to spoliation by the brute foree of a conscienceless giant. They all know that in the Phil- ippines .Amer ca has taken more than she can digest. She will ultimately sell the islands to England or Germany and when the transfer is made they will precipitate a general European strife. ‘We have refused to sell any island in the Carolines. We never thought of considering an offer. Nor have we con- sented to negotiate upon any questions except those directly involved in the | protocol signed at Washington.” Judge Day said to-day: “We have settled all the points on which we can agree. It only remains to engross and sign the treaty. That will be done in two or three day -— CONTAINS LITTLE OUTSIDE THE PROTOCOL PARIS, Dec. 8.—The members of the commissions say the treaty will contain little outside the scope of the Washing- ton protocol and the matters directly based thereon, like the provisions for the evacuation of the ceded territories, the transfer of public property therein and guarantees of the safety of the property and rights of the Spanish citi- zens remainins there. The details of the last class of ques- tions covered by the statement which the Americans handed to Senor Mon- tero Rios at the last meeting, were con- sidered to-day. but all the commission- ers refuse to divulge the details of the conference. Several points upon which they were unable to agree were left open for diplomatic negotiations. The Spaniards refuse to admit that they had failed to respect former treat- | les . guaranteeing religious freedom in the Caroline Islands or that there was a | necessity for new guarantees. The conclusion of the work was, ac- cording to the commissioners, marked by politeness and all outward evidences of good feeling and relief at the fact that-the task was accomplished. g WILL AGUINALDO SURRENDER PRISONERS 2| NEW YORK, Dec. 8.—The “"ashinz-‘ ton correspondent of the Herald tele- graphs: A report was current here to- night that Aguinaldo, the Insurgent leader in the Philippines, had refused the requést of General Otis to release the friars held by :him as prisoners of war., Secretary Alger, whom I saw. de- clared there was not a word of truth 1 nthe report, and that he had received no such information from General Otis and he appears to be ‘confldent the rebel leader wil surrender the prisoners | now that peace is practically concluded. | i e o5 | DIPLOMATIC CQNTEST ’, WITH FRANCE NEXT PARIS, Dec. 8,—Iiplomatlc circles in | Paris predict, as one of the results of the Spanish-American treaty, a dlplo-‘ SEQUEL PRAYER DROVE HER TO DEATH TO MAGDA- LENA WITTMEIER’'S SUICIDE. HAUNTED BY THE TERRIBLE VOW OF THE WOMAN SHE HAD ROBBED OF HUSBAND AND HOME. Prayed to death by the woman she had | lative disposition, and as soon as they had robbed of husband and home. The Coroner’s jury has returned a ver- dict of suicide, but there are some who, knowing all the circumstances, look be- yond the emptied bottle of strychnine found beside the body of Magdalena Witt- | the the meier, and see the answer to ers of the discarded wife of “Bottle Meier."” pray- late | For Bertha Wittmeier, or, as she is now | known, Bertha Bockman, made a vow | matic contest between France and the United States, which will have an im- portant chapter in history. The French Government is reported to have resolved to take up the case of the French holders of Cuban bonds, and it is believed France will declare that the repudiation of the bonds is the re- sult of the treaty which the victorious nation imposed upon Spain. It is ar- gued that, through the treaty, respon- sibility has been shifted upon America, and, therefore, the French Government will endeavor to exact some pledge for the payment or guarantee of the bonds. Il Health Causes Suicide. SANTA CRUZ, Dec. 8.—This afternoon M. Silva committed suicide at his home in Ben Lomond by shoooting himself through the head. The cause was ill health. He was a native of California, aged 33. * -« @A 7 SR (\ DEL 3U! % o LZAPATERO | B \— C OMETEPE | THE NICARAGUAN CANAL. Birdseye View of the Nicaraguan Isthmus, Showing the Located Route of the Canal From Greytown, on the Atlantic Coast, to Ochoa and Thence by the San Juan River, Lake Nicaragua and the Western Division to Brito, on thé Pacific Coast, a Total Distance of 169 Miles, of Which 31 Miles on the Eastern Slde and 17 Miles on the Western Side Are to Be Canal Construction Proper. . SANJULVAN B - B,c\y EAN SEA CARIBB 2 saved money enough the husband came to California, hoping to pick up gold in the streets, as people were supposed to do in those d: Fortune did not smile on him, however, for instead of making money he lost what little he had brought with him, and fell sick besides—so sick that he was removed to a hospital. and word was sent to the waiting wife that he could not recover. Mrs. Wittmier decided that if she were near her husband he would weather the storm, and she straightway made the rounds of her acquaintances in New York, and by borrowing a little from each man- aged to raise sufficient means to bring her to San Francisco. Arriving here, penniless and friendless, after comforting her "husband by her presence, she tried to find employment; but at last, in despair of securing any- MRS. BOCKMAN AND THE WOMAN SHE SWORE TO PRAY TO DEATH. that ghe widow of her former husband would die within two years, and within a month of the expiration of that perfod her enemy dies apparently by her own hand, but without any known reason for ending her life. Moreover, there were circumstances attending the. finding of her body in her apartments at 515 Pacific street Jast Tuesday morning that are dif- ficult of explanation. For instance, the woman was found with her hands folded across her breast, which in itself was remarkable, for phy- sicians will tell you that ordinarily per- sons who die from strychnine poisoning pass away in frightful convulsions, their features distorted and limbs and body drawn into most unnatural positions. That the dead woman was aware of Bertha Bockman's threat to ‘“pray"” her to death {is certain, for the threat was first made In the presence of friends who repeated the terrible old woman’'s words to the intended victim. That it made a deep impression was manifested by vari- ous acts of Mrs. Wittmeler during the twenty-three months prior to her death. Mrs. Bockman is not present to tell of the wrongs she has suffered at the hands of the woman she swore to pray to death. A month ago the rooms on Seventh street near Adeline, in Oakland, she had occu- pled with her son by her marriage to Bockman were vacated and nobody can be found who knows where she is now. To some of her neighbors she sald she was golng to Arizona. She told others she intended to remove to Idaho, while one family with whom she was on terms of intimacy has since recelved informa- tion that Mrs. Bockman is now in San Francisco. Her son, George Wittmeier, who lives in Alameda, has no knowledge of his mother’s whereabouts more than that she told him she was going 4o Ari- zona. The other son, Frank, gave up his po- sition with David Kerr & Co. in this city about a month ago, and this fact would indicate that he and his mother have left this vicinity. She was not an agreeable person, and her neighbors rejoiced when she betook herself to parts unknown, leaving only the tradespeople in the vi- cinity to mourn her departure, their grief being due to sundry unliquidated bills. The life story of the first Mrs. Witt- meler is full of pathos. Landing in New York some thirty-five years ago she en- tered service as a domestic, and at the house of a mutual friend, who had come from the same part of Germany as her- self, she met John Wittmeier, a sturdy Ko\m‘ German, working at his trade as a atter. It was a case of love at first -3)::. and within a year the pretty frau- lein—for she was pretty then—and the stout young hatter were married. They were both of a frugal yet specu- thing better, she was obliged to take in washing for some wealthy families. She prospered from the start—so much that she was soon able to give her hus- band the best of medical attendance and care, and it was not many months before he was discharged from the hospital a well man, his recovery being, the physi- cians in attendance said, almost a mira- cle, and entirely due to the influence of his young wife's constant devotion and self-sacrificing love. When he returned to active life he found a son as well as a wife awalting him, for a child had been born shortly after Mrs. Wittmeier's ar- rival in California, and the father and mother had an incentive to industry in the person of their baby boy. For some months the husband was en- forcedly idle, and tried to regain the strength he had lost, but meanwhile the bit of “hand wash” had grown into a laundry and Mrs. Wittmeler was, by close attention to business and good work, making money rapidly. At last John Wittmeler obtained work as a porter in a hotel down on the water front. Later he bought out a saloon on Pacific sirect and, aided by his wife's efforts, soon made it the popular resort of the seafaring men. The name ‘sottie Meier” was given to the proprietor because of his being the first one on the coast to bottle his beer and sell it in that form to his customers. For a time peace reigned in the Witt- meier houehold. The husband and wife were both engrossed in money making and all went well with them until Mrs. Witte meler, finding herself unable to attend te the demands of both business and home, engaged a pretty German girl as a house servant. That servant girl was the woman who was found dead last Tuesday. From that day trouble began in the ‘Wittmeier household. “Bottle Meier” fell in love with the buxom servant girl, and the hard working wife soon found herself relegated to second place in the household. Sent on some pretext or an- other to Germany Mrs. Wittmeier re- turned to find “‘Lena’s” personal belong- ings lying about Mr. Wittmeier’s room with an unpleasing appearance of famili- arity and habituance, and a divorce suit was the result. Mrs. Wittmeier won her case and a large share of the community property, together with the custody of George, the only child. Shortly after the decree was granted Lena and Mr. Wittmeier were married and kept on serenely making money at the old stand. For nearl twenty vears Mrs. Wittmeler No. 2 an‘ her spouse prospered; and then one day, Continued on Second Page,