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VOL. LV. NO. 77._NORFOLK VIRGINIAN: SATURDzlY FEBRUARY 19, 1898. PRICE TWO CENTS. NO FURTHER LIGHT ON IHE SUBJECT War Humors without FouiwliUlou? High l'riiisc for ?'aptuin (Mysboe? Vultures Itovoi-lng; h Over (he IVrecit-Sonsutloiinl Storioti Co us trnillctctl. ??Washington, Feb. 18, 1S93. The feature of the ttay at the Navy Department was the large, number of rumors of a warlike tendency that came to the attention of the olllcials. So formidable had grown tlie list that tit the close of ollice hours Secretary L'ong ?was induced to 'make the following statement as tho easiest manner of dis? posing at one time of all these stories: "Really no information lias been re? ceived since Captain Sigsbee's first dis? patch adding anything to our knowledge of the disaster. All we know is that the Maine blew up. There is abundant room for -speculation of all sorts, but no conclusion can be arrived at until an examination has (been made by tlie divers and mere facts obtained. It is simple <ac?t to say than such a thing might-happen by design or It might hap? pen iby accident. As yet there is no in? dication" of design. Therefore toy im? pression has been all along and I rather thing the general opinion preponderates In the same direction'that it must have been accidental. "Alt tlie Cabinet meeting to day the emitter was not discussed, except as any body of men Unlit about an event of that kind and most of that talk ([elated ?to the terrible loss lof life and to ex? pressions of sympathy for tlie suffer? ers." "It certainly was a very kind thought In the President to send (lowers to the families r.C Captain Slgsbce, Of Execu? tive Officer Walnwrlght and of the lest seamen wiiose residences are in Wash? ington. "You may say absolutely that there has been no secret Cabinet meeting; that nothing has taken place In .the Cabinet that the public have not been informed about; that lie whole policy of his department lias been to give the public all the dispatches; that the de piuimtmt has no more knowledge on the subject id* the cause of the disas? ter, or even of the circumstances at? tending it tintn have the public, and that the report which -was to the effect that Captain Sigsbee had warned the department that the Maine was in dan? ger from submarine mines or torpedoes is utterly without foundation, no such report ever having been received from him or from anybody else." The Secretary also denied briefly and comprehensively wild rumors that he had requested tlie Chief of Police of New York 10 guard the Vizcaya, and that he had selected Constructor Bowles to go to Havana and raise the Maine. The last work of the day for him was to consult the representatives of the wrecking companies, Who pro? bably will have charge of this work and endeavor to arrange for both of them to work together so as to secure the use of cacii peculiar plant and to save time. HiOli PRAISE FOB SrCSBKK. The Secretary, when askeTTwliat was the department's estimate of the con? duct of Captain Slgsbce in the terri? ble situation in which be had been placed, replied: "I think I express the feeling of tin? President, us well as my own, when I say that Captain Sigsbee lias conduct? ed himself as an officer of our navy should. He was the last to leave his ship when she went down. Jlis dis? patch to me was so complete that, since then I have thought of no ques? tion of fuel to ask him which is essen? tial lo the situation and which he could answer, which is not covered by that dispatch. Its tone, too, to that of a discreet and level-headed man who realized the im? pression a word from him nt that time would have on the public mind. Noth? ing is harder than for a nav.il officer to lose his ship, r<o that 1 have great sym? pathy for him. I await with oonll dence further reports. During the day the department was In receipt of a number of telegrams from different parts of the country ask? ing in behalf of relatives of the dead sallos that their remains bo brought] hack to the United States for interment, among them were queries from friends of the two oflleersf Merritt and Jenkins. The department forwarded these to Captain Slgsbce, whose reply was that the oflleoiis' botlies have not been found; that as to many others Identification is not possible, and throwing great doubt upon the practicability of taking any of the remains a.wny from Havana. While no decision has yet been readied for? mally upon Ihe application of the Span? ish government for authorisation to ex? amine the wreck of the Maine to ascer? tain the cause of the explosion, the Officials seem Inclined to regard her request aa one that could not properly be refused, nnd it Is likely tiiat each government will make an investiga? tion of tiiis character concurrently. Tho miniature United States flag on the model of the battleship Maine, in the. main corridor of the Navy Depart? ment, was lowered to hair mast diitlng the day by direction of the Secretary of the Navy. The handsome mollel ha., ibeen n centre of Interest for the throngs at the dejuartmcnt within recent days, and the small flags hivo continued to fly at' the mastheads In apparent Irony of the actual condition of the Maine. A movement was started to-day to drape the model in mounting, after the man irer that the model of the British ship Victory was draped at the World's Fair. Secretary Long did not approve of this, however, as It suggested an osten? tation not fitting the circumstances. But he gave his consent to lowering the miniature colors, and accordingly the stars and ettipes flying from the stern of the Maine's miniature counterpart was lowered. FUNERAL 'OF THE? VICTIMS. General Lee was heard from in the shape of the f.ollowingcablegrJm at 1:06 o'clock this afternoon: "II.??? ana, Fob. 18, 131)8. '*-\<5s;stant Scur.-rary of State, Wash? ington: "Great popular demonstration at fun? eral yesterday. Military, naval, fireman and civil organizations generally rep? resented. Bishop of Havana, General Parado, next in command to governor general, autonomlstlc cabinet, civil gov? ernor, mayor and other prominent per? sons walked in procession part of route In accordance with custom to testify sympathy. Forty bodle? buried. Many coming to surface of water since, but now diillcult to recognize. Will be hur? ried with religious services as collected. (Signed) "LEE." SICVKCHIN'O FOB BODIES. Havana, Feb. IS.?The men search? ing for bodies have also recovered a number of sad relics of rhe Maine, in eluding a medical chest, enlistment re? cords, a gold watch and chain and five portraits. Approach to the M\alne is now pro? hibited inside a distance of 100 metres, excepting In the case of bants of the United Suites navy, or boats having a special permit. This action Is taken as a precautionary measure against any accident occurring during the Inspec? tion by tlie American divers and to prevent any interference with the work ordered by Captain Sigsbee. Patrick Gaffney, caul passer; Hub? erts, a fireman, and MoMnuus. a mar? ine, are reported to have died at the hospital. The ?ons?l-General said to-day. that he had not heard of any eight Inch hole being found in the bottom of the ship, and that tho United Stales court of naval inquiry would have charge of all questions affecting tho loss of the Maine. The Mangrove sails Ihia evening for Kt'v West with Edward Mattson, B. Tt. Wllber. J. C. White, Daniel Cronln, John Coffee, J. U. Glover, Alfred Homes, James Howe. Charles Pllkcr and William McOulness. Two more of the wounded sailors died this evening. Up to the hour at which Ibis dispatch is sent?2:30 p. m.?130 bodies have been recovered. Knt'h is placed In a collin and carried to the Colon Ceme? tery, where Chaplain Chadwick, of the Maine, conduct*) funeral services simi? lar to those of yesterday's ceremony. Admiral Alanteroln refuses to allow the divers sent here "by American news? papers to make any Investigation near the wreck, at least un't 11 Captain Sigs? bee shall have finished h'.s otliclal inves? tigation. This morning lieutenant Commander Walnwrlght Lieutenant Holaman and Chief Engineer Hiw.ll went with divers to search for the botlies of Lieutenant Jenkins and As? sistant Engineer Merrltt, bat the guards ?would not allow them to make the search and they returned to the consul ale and lodged formal complaint with Consul General Lee. However the agreement reached between Captain Sigsbee and General Blanco was that the American commander Is to be al? lowed to list any divers, even the divers sent here by the American newspapers in h<s official Investigation. Captain ChgsbSKS and I he commander of Ute Fern, accompanied by General Leo. vis litftd the Captain General this 'tviornlng and had a conference, at. which it was decided Hint the American press divers should not ibe altowod 'to %c\ inside the ?wreck, though any diver uppolntod 'by Captain Sigsbee Is Ho have full liberty of *the "movement. The government has wired to Washington requesting i>or tnission for Spanish divers to examine tho'wreck outside and inside. A revolting incident r>f the day has been Uho presence of vultures wheeling in 'the air above the wreck. Ait S o'clock this evening 135 bodies hail been recovered.. Alfred J. Holland died at the mili? tary hospital to-day. There remains ?at the San Ambrosia William Mattlson, Franciis D. Cahill, Frederick ('. lieber, and James W. -Allen, wtlll in a serious condition, b?t 'bebter than lliey were yesterday. George W. Koeibeler, John lloffron and Jeremiah Shea are some? what Improved. Dr. Mass does not de? spair of saving IhC'tn all. SIOARiD PREIWRl NG PKEOBPT. Key West. Fla.. Feb. IS.? Hear Ad? miral Slcard is preparing a precept, or advance order, for assembling the court of Inquiry here into the less of the Maine. The warships F>\va, Indiana onvd Massachusetts are expected ito night or to-morrow morning. Their officers and tb--.se of the cruiser New Vnrk will .probably compose a majori I y ?of tho court. As regards the story that one of the crew of the Maine saw a small object emitting smoke approaching the war? ship Just before the explosion, the cor? respond; nt of tho Associated Press has Interviewed the man in the hospital who was said to have circulated the report and has had from him nn abso? lute denial. fSPATNf AFHATD OF DRlBEfRT. Miadiid. Feb. 18.?The newspapers here are urging the Government to adopt, great precautions when the American divers arrive and not to al? low them to descend nlone and examine the Maine, "as divers sent by private persons might be bribed to report nt variance with the actual facts and might", even do something to tho hull, which would nerve us a confirmation of their report." 'PI HE TORPEDO IDEA. Jacksonville, Fla.. Feb. is.?.a special to the Times-Union and Citizen from Key West says: (.Continued on Sixth Patje!) HONOR OF THE NAVY . ASSAULTED IN THE SENATE Mason Unwilling to Trust Naval Officers to* investi? gate the Maine Disaster. WANTS fill IMOTli jjj W I CWIft Of CONGRESS Wolcott and L?dge Defend the Men Who Defend the Flag? Splendid Tribute to Sigsbee and His Men of the Maine?The Ship to Be Raised. Washington, Feb. 13, 189S. ?A debate, decided In its sensations, was unexpectedly precipitated in the Senate- today over ilhe consideration of tlie resolution of Mr. Allen (Nebras? ka), directing the Committee on Naval Affairs to investigate the disaster to the battleship Maine. An arrangement ?had been made for the adaption of the resolution, with a minor amendment, without debate. Mr. Mason (Illinois), however, proposed a substitute provid? ing {?)!? an investigation to lie conducted by a Joint com ml tit ee of the two branch? es of Congress. Upon this the "Illinois Senator, disregarding an appeal not to force a discussion at this time of so melancholy an affair, delivered a speech In which lie said that the people de? manded ?'.he truth concerning the ex? plosion and declared that they would not b-i satisfied with the investigations to be conducted by the officers Of the navy, who would vltnually try their own case, and would cover up any blame than the facts might show at? tached to them. lie fiercely denounced the policy of the Government in dealing with ithc Cuban question, Into which he went at length, and deolnred that the Culled Stalles had adopted the pollcy of Spain in putting overythling off until to-morrow. Sharp replies to Mr. Mason's charge: were mn.de by Mr. Wolcott (Colorado) and Mr. Lodge (Massachusetts). The resolution which precipitated the dis? cussion dually went to the calendar. ?Soon after the Senate mot Mr. Hale (Maine) introduced a resolution appro? priating $200,000 for the purpose of rais? ing the Maine and (transportation and burial of the dead. The resolution pass? ed. The resolution offered yesterday by Mr. Allen (Nebraska) directing the Com? mittee on Naval Affairs to make an Immediate examination of the disaster to the Maine 'was laid before the Sen? ate. Mr. Mason (Illinois) proposed an amendment striking out all after the ?word "resolved," and inserting ithe Pal lowing: "By the Senate nml House of Repre? sentatives concurring, that a joint com? mittee of live consisting of three mem? bers of 'the House v..f Representatives and two .members of the Senate be ap? pointed to investigate the disaster to the battleship -Maine." .Mr. Hale expressed ithc hope that Mr. Mason would not press his substitute. The? disaster, ltd said was even now being thoroughly Investigated by the executive department of the Govern ment, and thai as soon as tangible re? sults were reached the fun s would be communicated to Congress. Mr. Hale urged Mr. Mason to with? drew bis substitute, as it would only tend to embarrass the executive de? partment. Mr. Mason followed Mr. Hale In a speech replete with sonsatiipnal and pyrotechnic utterances. lie said, In beginning that he had no disposition io Inflame a situation already So exciting, bill he fell that his substitute was fully justified by rthe feelings and desires of the people. "I understand." said he, "that the Navy Department Is making an investigation of the disaster, but I also understand that Congress has au? thority to make an investigation, it is a Congressional investigation that the people are demanding; They are fast coming to ithe conclusion that matters concerning this Cuban affair, Including the dcf,nmc letter incident and the loss of the Maine, of which they ought to know, <ue b?|ng concealed from them. The people want to know ithe facts ami th y will know them.*' Mr. Mason said there was no calamity so great as a failure on the pari of fhose in j'ower to appreciate the real situation when It was so serious an it now is, and no sorrow so profound as that over indifference to this situation. The people were sick und tired of secret Investigations and reports by cipher and of having Information sup? pressed and then doled out to them as seme executive officer might think suitable. He wanted a Congressional Investigation and wanted it open to the world. An Investigation by Congr ss would only streiiMthcn the finding "f the Navy Department in case the ex? plosion proved to be an accident. He ' had no desire to stir up trouble, but would only insist, as Ho, had done be? fore, upon tho Stopping of human I slavery and inhuman warfare in the adjacent island. The record of the Spanish nation, continued Mr. Mason, wno appeared to lie laboring under considerable excite? ment, is one of continuous treachery, I and we have experienced that treach? ery In our history for the past hiin I dred years. It had been made evident that the Spaniard could not lie trusted In any capacity and for this reason we should now have American divers In? vestigating the hull of the Maine, and not depending upon those of an un? friendly power. We are told, he Bald, I that'the naval board may be able to reach Havana by next, Monday. "Ma hana," lie exclaimed, "Manana! to? morrow?always to-morrow. That Is the Spanish motto and we are falling j into It." In the meantime who Knows but thai some more dynamite will be put in and the evidences of the catastrophe avert? ed. He repealed that he wanted im? mediate action, but did not want "to be on tlie committee. He did not want to be anywhere tha't a Spaniard could reach him. He closed with an appeal for a prompt Inquiry and said -thai he thought the Senate, which had voted $200,000 to save the property of the United Slates, COUld1 and should vote $200,000,000 If necessary to save Its honor and Its, dignity. Mr. Mason had scarcely taken his sea>t when Mr. Wolcott addressed the chair. "Mr. President," lie said, and the words shot forth like a bomb to be exploded in tho Senate. It was evi? dent from the Colorado Senator's countenance und manner, to say noth? ing of the Intensity of his voice, that he was laboring under considerable feeljng. Ho had listened to Mr. Mason with ill-concealed feelings of emotion, his face growing redder and redder and his brow more and more ilk'.- a thunder cloud as the Illinois S-.-nator proceed? ed. He spoke- with great rapidity and occupied only u, few minutes of the Senate's time, refusing to be inler I rupted and speaking very sharply when Mr. Mason sought lo divert him. Mr. j Wolcoti spoke as follows: "Mr. President, the resolution of the Senator from Illinois, however Inoppor? tune It may lie, at this lime. In the opinion of seme of us, might well have been permitted to pass without com? ment had it not been for the remarka? ble utterances which he has given to the effect; that the people of these United Stales have lost confidence In one of tho great departments of the Goycrn ment." Mr. Mason made ri pealed efforts to Interrupt the- speaker, but without success. Mr. "Wolcott then continued: "I de? sire to resent as utterly unfounded the suggestion that there Is a patriotic.citi? zen in the brond con lines or this land who ltas not the fullest and most splen? did and glorious confidence in every department of this Government and in Wie Department, of the Navy particu? larly. It has Jieen true in every ail ministration since the time of Wash? ington. The people <;f the United Staks have never yet been called upon to distrust One of the co-ordinate branches of this Government, and they never will while the flag Heats Loa?! of all Is it decent, in my opinion, that in this chamber there ?hotiliT he in? sinuations tust at this critical lime that there is a lack In the minds of the people of the United States of confidence in the navy of our country. Mr. President, from the time of Paul Jones until now our ships have sailed In every war face always lo 1 he feb. The records of our naval battles arc the most glorious history in the page of j any country for the Inet 100 years, nnd from the earliest days until now there has neved been a step backward. To? day as always the officers of our navy are honorable, courageous, upright men ami above all they tell the truth. The Captain of this ill-fated battles-hip was walking his deck at 10 o'clock on the night when this awful explosion happened. It may be that his public I career Is ended forever, but tho awful disaster that overtook his ship will count for nothing by comparison with Che'degrading insinuation made here that an Ofllcer of our country, with the oath and with the Hag above him, would lie and east responsibility where it did not belong. Ah! Mr. President, we can stand much of discussion and debat'e, we can endure much of public discussion when there should be silence, but there Is one thing this country can never stand, and that it to listen and without resentment, to an Insin ont'ion lhat the ofllcers of our navy are not- men of honor and integrity and of truth. The ofllcers appointed lo in? vestigate will do their duty. I do not know what slums tho Senator from Illinois may have dragged y> find the expression of an opinion that there is lack of confidence in the personnel of our navy, but I know lie cannot find an honorable or a decent or it patriotic citizen who will stand up before the country and endorse for an instant the utterances which the Sena-tor lias made." Mr. Wolcott said that war might come soon, but when it o>mes, the cause of this country must be eternally grounded In the right. 'Mr. Wvlcott was followed immediate? ly tiy Mr. Lodge (MassachusglIs), who also sat very restive under ^fT. Mason's reflections upon the Navy Dopanlmenii. He, .tap, spoke with Intense earnest -' n-ss, isay'.ng: ".Mr. President, I have no desire and no Intention of saying one word In regard to the war thai: Is rag Ig In Cuba. No one <vin detest the -hor? rors enacted In that Island "more than I. j No one desires more than I to see the Spanish power Hwept from that Inland, as It has -been from all ithe Slates of I South Atmericat; ?bute, Mr. President, I that question is ?a; here, "Wc arc face to face at this moment with a groak na llonul calamity. The Aimorlcun people have received the awful news of the sinking of the ?we.rshi'.p Alaine with n splendid silence and seir restraint both in Congr fas and throughout .the coiin itry, They are waiting sternly, quietly to know the truth, and the truth they will have. This Is not a question which involves Cuban.* or ?nairiartls. This Is a question which involves brave Amer? ican seamen gone to their death In a foreign port. In the presence of that calamity what we ?want Is the truth. How are we to got S! Y I would rat her trust this 'Investigation to the pfflcera of the American navy tlran to any other men in 'the country. Does any one suppose that the captain of that ship, who, wounded, stunned by the explo? sion, remained the- last upon the sinking vessel and win, in the midst of all that awful terror and excitement will? every duty nobly done, sent a dispatch to this country showing n coolness and a nerve which are nn honor to -the American name?-tloes any one suppose that Cap? tain Slgsbee, capaihle \>f BUOh splendid conduct. Is going to ll-j about his ship? The Secretary of !he Navy is a man of distinguished ability, at honor and patriotism, if any one Imagines -that Secretary Long will net tell the truth and Insist lipon the wird" of it, he little knows it lie character of the man who hns the honor to nil that g'rentt post of the head of the navy. I for one trust that Congress -will await the action of the ?proper department charged with this inquiry and will not attempt to do anything which cou'.d in thi least de-, grec derogatto from the ntiiludo which 'the American people and Congress should hohl in the presence of a culain ity so dire and so tragis as that which befell the battleship Maine" Mr. Hodge also paid a tribute to As? sistant Secretary '{"losivoit. Air. Allen (Nebraska) said he desired p> secure a vote upon the resolution, but he desired to reiterate the suspic? ions expressed 0>y Mr. Mason that the Investigation by the Navy Department would not 'Iks satisfactory to ithe coun? try. "Can the Senator give the grounds for his suspicions?" inquired Mr. Cray (Delaware). "His s to lenient Is imponi ant." "My tJtatemeivt Is important," Mr. Allen replied. "I want to say that 1 have neu In my five years experience in the Senate known one of these investi? gations to result in anything.',' fending a motion by Mr. Hale that Die Senate go Into executive session Mr. Ha eon (Oeorgtia), lutpxluced the fol? lowing Joint resolution: "Tint there shall be prepared under the direction of ithc Secretary of the Navy and placed uj?oii the wall of stat? uary hall in the Capitol building, a bronze tablet, commemorative of the officers and meij of 'the United .Stales navy who perished in the loss of the battleship .Maine in the harbor of Ha vanla, Februury 15th', 1S9S "The said tablet shall contain the names of said officers and men, and shall be an enduring memorial to "their honor and a perpetual itokcn of the sor? row of the nation." Referred to Committee on Naval A-f falls. At 3:40 p. m. the Senate adjourned until Monday. HOUSIS. The House to-day promptly and unan hnously voted the $200,00 asked for by the Secretary of the Navy to recover the bodies lost In the Maine disaster and to raise the wreck if than Is deemed ad visa bio. FIGOltKM OS COTTON. Hepar I ot statistician MsXelll on l?r?i bible Kupply mill Consumption. New Orleans. La.; Fob. IN.?Mr. Tl. M. Nelll, the well-known cotton statis? tician, to-day issued a circular us to the probable supply ami consumption of American en lion for the current sea? son. After reviewing lh? results .of previous seasons, Mr. Nelll says: "In America the Southern mills are "billig well and will probably consume 100,000 more bales than last year. Hut the loverse Is the case with the North? ern mills. With these premises we may now form u fair Idea of the ac? tual consumption of American cotton during Hie yt ,ir ending the 1st of Sep? tember, 1898: Nov.- as to supply, European and American mill stocks, September 1, 1897, 400,000 bales. Visible supply, American, 1st of Sep? tember, 1807, 800,000 bales. Crop of I897-'9S, 11,000,000 bales. Total supply <i? American for the year. 12,L'i)u.(ino bab-s, from which de? ducting total consumption of all coun? tries. ?,050,000 bales, und you are left with visible and sleeks, 3,l??,000 bales, again-i visible, KOO.noo and spinners, 100,000 last ycarr-1,200,000 hales. Visible and Invisible excess at Sep? tember 1 over last year, 1.000,000 bales. While I have used the figures of 11, 000,000 bales In the speculations, It Is quite manifest from the average that the crop will be considerailly more. HKSTIOICS COTTON CROP. Secretary Hosier's weekly cotton statement shows an Increase In the movement into sight compared with tin- same period last year In round Hgures of 100,000 hales, ah increase over tin- same days year before last of &<>, ?. littles. Kor the 171 days of the peason that have elapsed the aggregate Is ahead of the same period last year 1,790,000 hales. The movement since September 1 shows receipts at all U. S. ports 7,207.308, against 5,878,618 last year; overland to Northern mills and Canada, 033,975, ngxinst 692,358 last year; Interior stocks in excess of these held at the close of She commercial year. 460,919, against 269,400 last year; Southern mill takings exclusive of consumption at Southern outpoi'ts, 636,615, against- C0S.615 last year. Fo:elgn exports for the week have heVn lofi,988, against 81,9715 list year, making the total thus far for the season 5,182,721, again**. 4,493 177 last year. The total takings c-f American mills North and South and Canada, thus far for the season havo been 2,279,190, against 1,910,851 last year. SOMETHING NEW IN VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE licit Drbmo ?11 Ncmiturlal Primary 1II1I -l.cgltliituro Will ilnvo to fibrli ovcrvi/imo- liixor Lnuor lim Has .Nearly Enough Votes to 1'asH, (Special Dispatch to the Virginian.) It ich me nd. Feb. IS, 1S0S. There was a hot debate over the Sen? atorial primary bill to-day. Mr. Boy kin opened in opposition to the measuru and was followed by Mr. Hale In favor of it. i.Mr. 'Morris, In opposing the measure, said there was no general de? mand for such a law -as that proposed. Those behind It were a few disappoint? ed oflice seekers. Later on he gave It as Iiis opinion that the Congressman from the flnst dist! let was In the scheme. Mr. Blakcy defended Mr. .Tones by say? ing that while that gentleman was fa? vorable lo the primary plan, he had in no way attempted to Influence Virginia legislation. He had not been to Rich? mond since the General Assembly met. While the Junior senator from Virginia and sum,, of the Congressmen were hero lobbying for candidates for olllcc Mr. Jones remained in Washington and at 1 tended to the duties of ids oillce. Sen? ator Mason, who represents Mr. Jones' district, Stated that he had not received it letter or it suggestion from his Con? gressman concerning any candidates for pfllce or legislation. Mr.Flanagan spoke for the bill and, in doing so, re? marked upon 'the fact that the two Senators who abused the .Republicans most were 'Senators Uarkydale and Wlckham, both former 'Republicans. Mr. Flanagan's objection to the. meas? ure was that under the existing elec? tion laws and with the present election ofllcers the primary was not likely to bo conducted fairly. Senators Barks dab' and Floyd will close the debute on the measure to-morrow. The finance committee reported the appropriation bill to the Senate to-day. Then something that has never before occurred i n the Virginia Logisatura happened. The newspaper men wero not permitted to copy the bill or inspect the measure. The finance committee did oot want the bill to be made pub? lic to-day ttnd Instructed the clerk to withhold It from, the press. The bill was made the special order for to-mor? row morning at 11 o'clock, when the provisions will be considered. Considerable of the time of the House was taken tip In discussing the bill to prohibit the cities and towns from Im? posing any fee or tax upon persons for selling their farm products within any city or town outside of and not within the regular market hours and sheds of such corporations. The measure was defended. Debate was begun in the House on the Wa t kins' 1*111 to authorize any State bank In Virginia to issue notes paya? ble in merchandise silver bullion at re? tail and to create a Hen in favor of the holder of such obligations. Judge Watkins made an able presentation of his side of the caw;. A vote was not reached at the morning session. Thi- session of the Legislature will expire one week from Monday, but it is probable the members will have to remain here a few days In order to finish up the work. Much remains to be done. The Senate has not acted upon the retrenchment measures passed by the House and probably will not do so. The great, fight will be made on the appropriation bill which* will take up the most, If not, all of next week. Governor Tyler Is still considering tho liill to allow women. te> qualify as notaries. A distinguished lawyer has written to 1dm claiming that the meas? ure is unconstitutional.. Applications from ladies who wish to become no? taries arc still coming In. On motion of Mr. Mlann, of Peters? burg, Senate bill 433 was taken up out of Us regular order in the House. It amends section 10S!) of the Code in.re? gard to tho change of location of rail? road lines. Mr. Mann stated that some time ago the bill had been passed by both Houses, but it was vetoed by the Governor because it was too broad. Since then an amendment had been prepared and submitted it to the Gov? ernor who approved of it. The object of the bill was to straighten out lines so as to save time and money. Mr. Saundera opposed the measure, saying that eacli railroad company that desired to straighten out their tracks should make a special applica? tion to the Legislature. The bill In II? entirety was vicious and should certainly bo so amended that railroad companies should be prevented from deflecting their lines from places' where permanent improvements had been made. On motion of Mr. Mann, the bill w,as passed by. Although the postmaster for Rich? mond to succeed Mr. CuUlngsworth has not been appointed it Is pretty well understood that Col. Otis H. Russell will be the man. The appointment would have been made yesterday, but in deference to the wishes of Judge Waddill, it was withheld for a few days. In order that he might confer with Judge L. L. Lewis, who was tho Republican aspirant for Congressional honors In this district at the last elec? tion, and other leading Republicans. Mr. Morgan Trent, the newly ap? pointed United States Marshal for this (Continued on Ofto.' page*