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'^^^^^^^IP^^^^I ,,,)?' ' ' ' '' '' " ' VOL. LV. NO. 75. NORFOLK jy-IR&iNIA.N: TflUUS 1)AY FR 1?ItU.Vl{Y 17. 1898. PrFcE^T^CENTsT TALKS 1 COAST USE INCREASE FOR POWDER AND PROJECTILES IIociao Adopt* a Itcsoliition of Vow ?lolendfl for ilia rnmliics ot Men Who Lost Their Lives In-tlio .11 nine DlNiistoi'-Several Members .Spotlit on Hie llhntcrtintcjr Hill, Washington, F-b. 16, 1S9S. A discussion upon coast defenses was ith"' Interesting feature of the Senate to-day. Many senators t'jok Ithe ground ?that the appropriations should be for th-e full ainoun: of the estimates by ?the War Department Instead of some four millions less. In the cariy pan of the day there was a discussion ':f the Kansas Pacific rail? road sale, but u'i action was takct^. At 1:35 the Senate went Inlto executive ses? sion Open session was resumed at 3:15, when the fortifications appropriations 1)111 was taken up 'Mr. Perkins, in the course of a st.itement concerning it. said the committee on appropriations ?was unanimous '.n its actton in In creat? ing the aggregate sum appropriated by ?the House bill. I5v< ry member of the committee waa In favor of peace, hut all rsallzed 'that the best way ito ipre Berve peace was to 'be prepared for war. Mi-. Stewart i.bought that the appro iprlatii'iis should be increased so it'hatt th ro should 'be n' more talk about the defenseless condition of tii ? coasts. Mr. Chandler (X. ti.) wanted an In? crease made upon p wder and prbjec ttHes 'which, could be Immed'iai'.ely available. Mr. Gorman opposed the Increase, saying the cmir.'.ry could not, in v;;w ?of Vhe iprrsont '-condition of the finances. I and for oth v reasons, afford the Increase. Mr. StC'Waui said we did not carry on our negotiations w+lih foreign govern? ments iu a prop r manner because our great cities were not properly protected. Mr. Hawley favored liberal approprl af ions. iMr. Lodge advocated steady policy looking to the proper defense of our sea coast cities. 'Mr. Teller opposed the proposed In? crease, saying It was better to leave the amount as Itxcd by tip- commit? tee. He agreed with those who did not consider a war among the early probabilities, but thought the time of peace was the time to prepare forwar. ?Still the ihdicntii na were strong for a general war and while the Unite i States might escape by drawing Its head into ins shell like a turtle, still we as a great nation should be prepared for any emergency. Hero Mr. Teller made an evident al? lusion to the condition of affairs in Cuba, paying it was our plain duty when a nation was conducting a war upon our borders contrary !?> interna-! t-lonal law and tin1 rules of humanity ?to step to the front and tell that na? tion it must desist; let the consequences he to us what they might. Mr. Teller also spoke Incidentally of the Hawaiian question, lie said that K the Uivlted states wanted to become anything more than a hermit nation nn.i escape,war only by submitting to Insulte? it would have to prepare It? self to tnko part in (he affairs of the world. He not only wanted to provide the ships, but he believed in pend? ing them where they were needed for the protection .of our people nnd oc? casionally to places where their pres? ence was demanded in the interest of the hum in race. On motion of Mr. Pcttus, the appro? priation for the construction of sea ?walls and embankments was increased from $30,000 to J55.000. ?An amendment offered by Mr. Chan? dler, Increasing the amount appro? priated for powder and projectiles for a reserve supply for armament and fortifications from $650,618 to $950.618, was accepted. This completed (he con? sideration of the bill and it passed without division. At (1:05 o'clock the Senate adjourned. HOUSE. The dehnte on the bankruptcy bill, which Is lo continue until Saturday, when a vole will be taken, opened in the House to-day. but it attracted lit? tle attention, the Interest of the mem? bers being entirely absorbed by the disaster to the Maine. At the time the ball of the House was almost deserted, the members hems congrer.nted in the lobbies or cloak rooms discussing the accident and speculating upon its pro? bable consequence, .lust before the House adjourned Mr. LJoutelle, chair? man of the Naval Committee, present? ed the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: ^Resolved, That the House of Rep? resentatives bus learned with pro? found sorrow of the great calamity which has caused the destruction of the United States battleship Malm-, nnd ilie appalling loss <>f more than 250 lives and the wounding of many others of the gallant defenders of our ling, and that the House expresses it? sympathy for the injured and its sin? cere condolences wlWi the families of those who have lost their lives In the service if I'he nation/' Before the question was put Mr. Rnlley asked Mr. Rnutelle if his com? mittee was. in possession of any In? formation which threw any light upon the cause of.the accident. "I regret io ray that we have no In? formation," replied Mr. Il-outclle, "upon which a conclusion could be based. My own Impression, which may not be of value, is that it was an accidental occurrence." The speakers on the bankruptcy bill were: In favor of the measure, Messrs. Henderson (Rep.), of Iowa; Lanham (Dem.), of Texas, and Burke (Dem.), of Texas; In opposition to It, Messrs. Underwood (Dem.), of Alabama; Bell (Pop.), or Colorado; Henry (Dem.), of Texas: MoRac (Dem.), of Arkansas, and Coekran (Dem.), of Missouri. At 5:03 p. m. the House adjourned. EXUITEMKKT NVBKIDEOi Zulu Trial Proceeds in n ( ompnra? lively Orderly Manner. Paris, February 1C.?The approaches to the Palace of Justice and the lob? bies showed no evidences of unusual excitement to-d ty just before the open? ing of the ninth day of the trial of Mm. ICmile Zola and Perreux. There was ho demonstration upon AI. Zola'? arrival. The presiding judge rejected M. Cle menceuu's request of yesterday that he appoint a magistrate to question Ma? dame de Boulancey regarding extracts from letters site has from M ijor ISsier haay. General Pellieux, who conducted the Investigation into the charges brought against Major Edterhazy,created a sen? sation by protesting against the ac? ceptance of the evidence of "amateur experts who have not seen the original bordereau." adding that he also de? sired to ralsa his voice "in the most emphatic ni inner against slanders which are calculated to destroy confi? dence In the hands of the army, at a time when danger is perhaps nearer than people believe." Continuing, General Pellieux said: "l will prove to you here, with the papers in my hand, thnt the oflleer who wrote the bordereau belonged to the Mln Istry of War, was an artilleryman, and was seconded for service on the staff. All InfAirtry man could never In his lift? have spoken of the things of which the bordereau speaks." (Sensation.) "And now," exclaimed the general, raising his voice, "what remains of all this fabric'.' Not much. Yet they accuse ollicers of acquitting a guilty man In pursuance of orders." (Pro? longed sensation.) In conclusion General Pellieux said: "We rhould have been glad if the court-martial had acquitted Dreyfus, .13 It would have shoVri there was no traitor for the army, for all of us to mourn for." The presiding judge refused to al? low M. Lab ^rie to make j. reply to General Pollleuit. IM. Scheurer-Kestner, the former vice president of the 'Senate, called atten? tion to alleged inaccurncies in the evi idence of M. Teyss?nnlere, the hand? writing, expert. He sa'.d it was'quite Im? possible that he, M. Scheurer-Kestner, had ever spoken L> M. Teyss?nnlere 01 Major v hazy, because at the time referri 1 to he had never heard Major ICsterhazy's name. Therefore, lie char? acterized that portion of the evidence ns untrue. M, Tratdetix, the former Minister of Justice, was re-cnlied, and he accused the general staff of conniving with M. Tcyssonniere in order to paralyze the action pf Colonel Piccjuart. 'M. '.Morlaud, ;t stenographer, nftlrm ed thai the bordereau was in Major Bs terhnzy's handwriting, and he wanted t<> demonstrate this with the use of the black board. The presiding judge, however, re-fused to allow him to do so, and M. Morlaud entered into a techni? cal explanation of his assertion, amid mnnlfest impatience upon the part of those presont. The court tthen ad? journed. DC IS A N LI N IC'R I ,CST. Eighty-Seven Lives Los; by the Wreck of the Fiachat. Tenerieile, Canary Islands, February 10.?The Compagnle Generale Trans Atlantiquc Line steamer Fiachat, bound from Marseilles for Colon, was totally wrecked on Anagn 1'oint, this Island, at 1 o'clock this morning. Her captain, second oflleer, eleven of her crew aim one passenger were rtived. Thirty-eight ef the crew and forty-nine passengers were lost. The Fiachat was built at Stockton, England, by Pcarce & Co.. In ism. She was a. slern screw, iron vessel of 1.23D 'tons net, and 2,17? tons gross register. She wan :?00 feet long by :?> feet beam and 2i>.G feet diepth of hold. FILIBUSTEiR CAPTU It KD. Kingston, Jamnica (Via Bermuda), Feb. 1fi.?A filibustering expedition des? tined for Cuba has been Intercepted by the authorities and a quantity of arms and ammunition seized. The American schooner Corn M.. Captain Mitchell, last reported at Wil? mington, N. C, Is implicated. The seized material was shipped from Kingston as casks of cement for trans? shipment to Cora M. MORRILL OPPOSES ANNEXATION. Washington, D. C. Fab. it?Cenator Morri'.l. nf Vepmont, occupied the entire 'time of the executive session of the Seriate >to-d?iy with a speech opposing the raiti dealt ton of iche Hawaiian an? nexation treaty. Mr. Morrlll's speech was intended >to show that 'the nequlsl ?tlon of ?tlie Hawaiian islands would be against bcith good policy nnd ttihe traditions of this country. POSTM A STHRS CONFIRMED. Washington. D. C, Feh. 1C?The fol? lowing Virginia postmasters were con? firmed by tlit* Semite to-day: C. L. Dillon, Pulaski Cley; G. T. Holtz u'.tn, l/uray; w. L. Mustard, Pocnhon 't.lS. NOMINATED FOR JUDGE. Mii'lttnend, V?a? Feb. in.--The Demo? cratic leg'isK-.i.ive caucus to-night nomi? nated Judge J. w. G. Blacks-tone, e.r Acccnrack oouni'.y, to succeed Judge ? njarhln T. Gunter, deceased, ns Judge Of the Eighth Judicial Circuit. APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE I BY THE MAINE DISASTER Ninety-Six Men Saved Out of the Crew Nubering Three Hundred and Fitty-l'our. DULY 10 BE DOUBTED THAI 1 EXPLOSION IS 1GCHU Various Theories Advanced?The Ship May Float Again? Wounded Men Coming Home?Complete List of Survivors. ?Wash his fen. Feb. IC, ISPS. ?After a day of Intense excitemerrt ait the Navy Department and elsewhere, growing out of >'.hc destruction of the battle-ship Maine in Havana harbor lost night, the situation to-night, after the exchange of a number of cable? grams between Washington and Hava? na, can be summed up In the words o-f Secretary Dong, -who, when asked, as he was about lb depart for the day, whether he hod reason to suspect that ?the disaster was the work of an enemy, replied: "I do not. iln illi.it 7 am influenced by the fact that Oaptiadn S-igsbeo has not ye* reported to the Navy Depart? ment: on -the cauai. He Is evtdenltly waiting to write a full report. So long as he does not expnss himself I cer? tainly cann':t. 1 Should' think from the lndIca>llons, however, chat ithcre was an accident?(that tin.' magazine ex-plod d. How that came about I do not know. For the present at least no other war ship will 'be senit to Havana." The appalling nature of the disaster und 'the gravity of the situation that: ?would arise slvauld investigation give I a basis for the undercurrent ol suspi? cion of trcacbery and foul play iffrat ran through all minds had a sobering effedt on public men of all shades of political opinion. The fact stands forth, and is little less than remarkable, that not a single resolution was Introduced or a single speech made in 0kilter house of Congress bearing on the disaster, save one of condolence with the families of those killed, off, red by Mr. Bouteile and ad 'pted by the House ..f It Pre? sen tatives. Public men expressed their opinions with reserve when approached for interviews, but everywhere there was a. demand for an Investigation and rul 1 details In the light of which the horror may be justly viewed. Secretary l.ong undoubtedly s?nvma !?:?/.?. d the general opinion of ihe majori? ty of the naval experts in Unding It Im? possible Just now ito state the cause of destruction of the Maine. There are a great number of theories, but most of them are of a character thai makes it easy to prove or upscit them by a simple Investigation by n. diver. Secretary Dong has, taken Immediate stops to ?nv.ik? this investigation. Unite this af? ternoon he telegraphed -to Admiral Si card, at Key West, to npivoint a lwiard of naval officers to .proceed at once to Havana, employ divers and generally to make such inquiry as the regula? tions of the navy .Imand shall be made in the case of the loss of a ship, dit Is expected that 'this work will -take some time, and, while there are officers who say that, In their \ pinion, it will not be possible, owing to the probable dis? rupted condition of the hull of the ship, to niako out the cause of the explu sion, the opinion of the majority is that Hhe question will be easily settled by the simple observation of the condi? tion of the ship's hull plans In the neighborhood of the hole which sunk her, whether Mr not they are bulged out. ns would be the case If the explo? sion came from inside, or wh ither they were driven in, as would result from the 'attack of a 'torpedo or the oxp-lo-l slon of a mine 'beneath the ship. The luge majority of naval ollleor? are inclined to the belief that the ex? plosion resulted from spontaneous com? bustion of a coal bunker; the over? heating of the Iron partitions between the boilers and the magazine or from j the explosion of a boiler, though tin I last theory finds little support. Th j lists of survivors that came to tin Navy Department this afternoon In an? swer to telegram, was inaccurate and made out the loss of lifo eight more than tlie summary originally given by Captain Slgsbce in an earlier (? ?:?? gram, .-'? Secretary Long telegraphed for another corrected list, nnd nlso one that should show who were and who were no; wounded of the survivors. I: waa found necessary to do this bwliig to the eron.t number of pitiful appeals for Information as to the safety of some unfortunate on the Maine that came from all parts of the country. The naval constructors', in the light of the dispatches thus far received, say lliat it is by no moans certain that the Maine cannot be raised and again j carry the flag. They say that while she is a big ship others a-* large have been raised, ami at Havana the new ] floating drydock would receive her if: she could nnoo be gotten above th< water. Captiln Slgsbec Is evidently; taking an interest In tho future of 11 ship for he sent a telegram to Com-1 mnnder Foryothe, .it Key West, that was promptly : ansmltted to Secretary Dong, suggesting Ihit a light house: vessel or some such small craft be sta-1 Moned in Havana harbor to watch over j the wreck. The bitter, even If beyond ; resurrection, conta'ins valuable ord-| nance and oilier property that doubtless can be secured by^divcrs. U is said at the Navy Department that this disaster is the greatest of the kind in naval history since the sinking of the big British warship Vic? toria, by collision with the Camper down in tho Mediterranean off M ilia, June, 1S9X By that accident the Urlt Ish admiral commanding, twenty-two ollicers and 330 men l?st their lives. The Spanish Legation was early ad? vised of the horror by Captaln-Gcnc: ral Blanco, who expressed his pro? found regret, ami added that the oc? currence was a chance accident, the undoubted cause being an explosion of the boiler of the dynamos. This was the only specific cause assigned from an Official source during the day. Senor dCHosc, -the Spanish Charge, culled at the State Department to ex? press his profound regret, and the en? tire Spanish staff, left their cards at the Navy Department as a mark of personal condolence. At all of the for? eign establishments there was the deepest Interest and solicitude over tho affair, und during the day Am? bassador Cam bo n, of Prance; Sir Julian Pauncefote, of the British Embassy, and other foreign representatives called on the President or at the Stale Department to express their regrets. The disaster is remarkable In that, only two otllcers lost their lives, and these were of Junior grades. They I were- Lieul^nnfT'tF'vP?rteiia-*:\Vr- Jenkins and Assistant Bnglncer Darwin R. Merrltt. The former was unmarried, but leaves a mother and sister. The hitter, it Is thought, also was un? married, but the department was un? advised concerning his family. Mr. Jenkins was born in Allegheny City. Pa., June 20, lSC?. and was ap? pointed naval cadet September '28, 1S.X-, by Representative Thomas M. Bayne, of the Twenty-third Ooiigtes Slonal District. After a short cruise on the Atlanta ho was graduated June, 1SSS, after which he served successively on tlie Galena, Kenrsargc and Swatara. He was next, attached to the coast sur? vey and served with it until February, 1M?0, when he was again ordered to sea on tlie gunboat Benhlngton. Prom June, isoit, to September, 1895, he was on'ordnance duty at the naval proving grounds, Indian Head, Md., and on September IS, ISO,"., lie was ordered to the battleship .Main?- and has slr.ee been attached to that vessel with Die exception of i short Interval In the spring of is:<7. He reached his pres? ent grade of junior lieutenant in Jan nary, 1897. He had many friends In this city and was regarded us a most callable and efficient officer. Assistant Engineer Merrltt was born at Red Oak. Montgomery county, la., April 12, 1K72. He was appointed to the Naval Academy September 10, 1891, graduating at the head of his class four years Inter. He went t > sea on tin- Amphitrlte and was subsequently transferred to the Indiana, receiving his final graduation July 1st, 1 s:i7. After a short service at the New York Navy-yard lie was ordered to tlie bat? tleship Maine September 10, 1897, and has since been attached to that ill fated vesel. Although his naval ser? vice has been short it is said at the department to have been extremely cr< tillable. Captain Dicklns, chief qf the X ivl gation Bureau, expressed tlie opinion to-day that tho explosion look place in the magazine of the Maine. He said that this was evident for the reason that the ship was afloat for an hour after tlie explosion. Hid a torpedo been lired under the battleship she would have sunk almost Immediately. Secretary Long, for the President, has sent this tel .gram to Captain Sigs bce: "Slgsthee. U. S. S. 'Maine, Havana: ?fThe President directs me to express for himself and the people of the United States ills profound sympathy with the officers and crew of the Maine and desires that no expense he spared in providing for the survivors and the care cf the dead. (Signed) ??JOHN D. LONG, "?Secreta ry." The President has re-called his Invi? tations for receptions this evening and to-morrow, owing to the disaster which lias befallen the American navy. The President and several of his Cabinet associates held an extended conference about noon. It was not a Cabinet meeting, as no notices heal !, ? n sen; but, and only Secretary of the N<ivy Long. Secretary Gage, At? torney-General Otlggs, Postmaster General Gary and Former Attorney General MeKenna were present. The disaster to the Maine was the only topic considered. About 12 o'clock the Cabinet officers came from the President's office. One of them stated that the President had given directions that all official Infor? mation relating to the disaster should he given to the public. A message was received late hi the day stating that the total los;* or missing number 2511. The Cabinet officer staled that there were many evidences that the disaster was the result of accldnt. This afternoon Seej-etay Long nent the following dispatch to Commandant ForsyHh, at Key Weit: "Admiral Slcaid ordered to come to Key West, with his ship, and serve out clothing ns necessary. Should he not arrive before the Olivette you ore authorised to purchase the necessary articles nnd serve out." It Is said at the Navy Department that there Is no lack of precedent for such disasters its theit sustained by the .Maine, all of which can be traced to accidental causes. in 1SS5 the United states man-of-war Missouri. Iben lying at Gibraltar, was totally Wrecked by the explosion of her muga zlne. Another ease famous In naval history Is that of Her Majesty's ship Dbtcrcl. In 1SS7 she was lying at anchor off Puentn Arencus, in the Straits Of Magellan. An explosion wiped the ship from the face of the waters and loft almost none Of bet crew alive. 'I'liis was another case of magazine explosion, though it may have Originated in the coal hunkers or boilers. VIF.WS OF EURLIC M'lvN. Senator llale, chairman of the Com? mittee on Naval Affairs arid a member of the Committee on Appropriations, said that he had just come from nji interview with the Secretary oT the Navy and that he felt confident that the Nuvy Department would Institute a thorough Investigation into the dis? aster. The Senator expressed the op? inion that Congress would take steps to pi event the decrease of the navy, but did not undertake to say that there would be immediate efforts t-> replace the Maine. Senator Warren, or Wyoming?"If it should develop that the Spanish had anything to do with the occurrence both the United States Navy and Army ought to bo summoned b> take the matter up in earnest. If It should prove to be an accident. It should be carefully Investigated, for it is hljrh lime thai such accidents were brought to a close." Senator Clay, of Georgia?"The pre? sumption is that the Navy Depart? ment will give careful and thorough attention to the matter, ami that It will make such report as It may deem necessary, if then it becomes neces? sary for Congress to act I am sura, there will be no hesitation In dealing with the matter. There Is no proof thai the Spanish are in any way re? sponsible for this serious calamity, and we should be slow to make charges without proof to substantiate them:" Senator Perkins, California: "The situation In Havana Is so critical and the ?pnni?h fool' so'kecnly'Whnt appears to many of them an affront that the ?Maine should have been in the harbor 'that It seems not unlikely the catastro? phe was due to the notion of Spanish sympathizers. Thai it was an accident I feel acsurcd ami thai It was due lo treachery I am convinced." Senator '.Mills, of the Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed the opin? ion ilia; the occurrence was the work of i torpedo. "I would not say," he said, "that the spnivirh were responsi? ble for It, but some one must have been who had free access to the waters of I he bay. I don't think it could have been due to tin accident and 1 think Congress should immediately take the matter up for a thorough investlga i lion." Reprcsi illative Newla^dS, of Neva? da, member of the Committee on For? eign Affair.-', slid it would be very hard to convince the American people that th-,. explosion w..? an accident. He would not wish lo express an opinion until furthei information wan received. Mr. CummingS, Of New i'orki a mem? ber of the Naval Committee, unhesitat? ing gnve it as Ills opinion that the .-'hip had been blown up by a floating tor? pedo; iRepresentative Adams, of the same committee, says that everything Indi? cates that the explosion was an acci? dent ami occurred Inside the ship. Representative Mercer, of Nebraska, sC.I this afternoon: "if ;he death of 253 Am clean sailors can. upon investi? gation, be traced to Spanish origin, nothing will satisfy the American peo? ple except war." I DlSCUSStED IN COMMITTEE. Tb.- Maine Incident formed the prin? cipal topic of consideration by the Sen? ate Committee on Foreign Relations at its meeting to-day. The opinion gen? erally expressed by membra of the committee In this Informal conference were to the effect that the occurrence is one of very serious Import and that it may result in grave complications unless Spiln can make it very plain that no Spaniard was in any way re? sponsible for it. "It is too serious to talk about at present," said Senator Lodge, while .Senator Cullom said: "Lam too mad to talk about 4t," to which he added: "I can't see how the explosion could have been the result of an accident, and I think the time is rapidly approaching when this country must do something." CAIPTAIN SIOSBKK R KT I CP. NT. Havana, February 1C.?Captain Sigs bce, interviewed this evening by the correspondent of the Associated Press with reference to the cause of the ex? plosion, said: ? "I cannot yet determine the cause, but competent investigators will decide whether the explosion was produced from an Interior or exterior cause. I cannot say anything until after such an Investigation has been made. 1 will not and cannot conscientiously anti? cipate the decision, nor do T wish to make any unjust estimate of the rea? son for tip- disaster." iris iMnK.iso>NK.n by wati-i: ! New York, February 1C?A special copyright cable to the Evening World from Havana, says the officers of the I Maine state the explosion was In the ' central magazine ami that the Maine was raised out of .the water and then went partially to pieces. The dis? patch continues: "All but the surgeon were talking in the ward room at the moment of the explosion. Then came the stupendous shock. All the officers below rushed on deck, but could get no further for wa;d rhan the middle superstructure J ; (Continued on Sixth Page) | MUS Iffill REVENUE AND CONSTITUTIONAL MINIS Im ploy eis' Mobility IIMI lirlcnlod ? lllllix? I'lMNttll -tills Id BtellllCO I'een oi ('omtiioiitrcnttli's .Itioritoyn und 91 UffItiiroten?1*1 UN Ii on A pp ; -opl i n-. tion mil Kxiieetcd. (Special Dispatch to Tho Virginian.) Richmond, Vu., Pub. 10, 1808. Thiie weir many persons from the Norfolk district hero to-day, among theni being A. C. Cromwell, of Norfolk county; J. P. Lawler, of Norfolk; W. \V. bey, of Norfolk; Capt. IS. W. Owens, of Norfolk county; Treasurer ilennnn, of Norfolk; Col. It. C. .Mar? shall, of Portsmouth; George and Harry Hooker, of Old Point; "Due," Smith and Dr. J. II. Crafford, of War? wick; Dr. A. C. Jones und 1/. P. S tear lies, or Newport News. The most of these gentlemen were hen; in op? position to tho bill reducing the fees of Jailors. The Senate to-day defeated the em? ployers' liability bill. This measure j received only live votes less than Ha I opponents conceded to it. The speak (ers td-dtiy were Messrs. Flood und Mush back, both of whom opposed the measure. There was a. great crowd in and about tlie Senate chamber while the debate was being concluded and during the roll call. The only Senators who voted for tlm bin were Messrs, Olnytor, Clement, Mcllwainc, Turnbull and Withers. Twenty-six Senators voted against the measure. The Senatorial primary bill was on tlie calendar as the special order to? day, hut on account of the debate on the employers' liability act It went over until to-morrow as tho special order. The Withers constitutional con? vention net Is also a special order for to-morrow. It is understood that the. primary measure will he first disposed or. The debate on it will lie brief. While there will be six speeches, all of them will be short. The House passed the measures to reduce the fees of Commonwealth's Attorneys and magistrates. Mr. Win home is tin- patron of these bills. They were ordered to their engross? ment several days ago, but not until to-day did the fifty-one votes necessary I to pass them show up. At the meeting of the Senate Com? mittee on Public Institutions to-day j Mr. Wat kins' bill to protect the pupils of female schools was rejected and a substitute was reported for it. This substitute simply amends the law on I he sta tute books which gives to the Councils of eitle? the right to pass ordinances to punish persons who loiter about female schools and otherwise nunoy the pupils. The amendment give lo the town Councils the siuiur authority as now belongs to the city Councils. It begins lo look as though the only reform measures that would be carried out would be those to abolish the Reg? ister of the Land Ofllce and the state Hoard of Agriculture. Mor Is it by any means c. rtaln that those departments will be abolished. The Senate will have its appropria? tion bill re nly early next week. It can he stated that there will be a big tight over It. .The Committee on Finance realizes that the measure that that body W'ill report will occasion much de? bate and nearly everybody here be? lieves tlie Senate and the House will have a deadlock over the appropria? tions. If tin.' Academy of Music cannot be secured by tlie Legislative committee for the meeting to he addressed by Congressman Hailey next Tuesday night, an effort will be made to get Hie Armory Hall, which holds three thousand people. Mr. Hailey will be handsomely entertained, while in the city. Governor Tyler's recommendation of a commission lo amend the constitution meets with the favor of some of the members of the legislature, but upoa the whole, the proposition, appears to haye htit few advocates. A constitu? tional convention outright is what those who advocate orgniic reform de? sire. Tlie Senate, this afternoon passed by a vote, of 25 to 9. the bill to enlarge the penitentiary. The measure carries an appropriation of $100,000. An effort was made by Mr. Flanagan lo have the vote by which tlie bill to amend the Code in relation to express companies was ordered lo its engross? ment reconsidered, hut it failed, and the act was passed. During tlie discus? sion over this measure Mr. Harksdale took occasion to denounce a Norfolk paper for its criticism of the members of the Legislature. The Whartoh Mil to nrev-nt combi? nation- among lire Insurance compa? nies for the purpose of controlling rates, was made the spioial and continuing order for February 22d in the Senate. The following message- was sent to the Gcnera<l Assembly by 'the Governor this morn ins: GOVERNOR SENDS A MESSAGE. To the General Assembly of Virginia:" Your session Is fnsit drawing to a close, and I am -fully aware that t.he work of tlie Legislature has been ar? duous and delicate, The -members of -both houses are to l>3 congratula-ted upon the faithful and earnest manner In which -they have dlfl (Continued On Third Page.)