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It. B. ADAMS. Publisher. CAPF. GIRARDEAU. MISSOURI Orders were issued by the war de partment, on the 15th, making assign ments of troops to the new military department of Alaska. The coldest weather ever known in Santiago de Cuba was experienced, on the 19th, the themomeier falling to SS degrees. For the first time in 30 years snow fell on Mount San Piedro, 20 miles to the northwest. Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago, has rr.aae an offer to the Congregational Fdncational society of Boston to give Jlo.000 to the general treasury provid' ed the society will secure $30,000 add voral from friends of its work. Ex-Speaker Reed, who was in Wash ington on business before the depart ments, visited the house, on the 19th, for the first time since his retirement from congress, and was obliged to hold quite a levee in the ways aud mtans committee room. The British ship Westgate arrived at "New York, on the lath, from Chio, Xcw Caledonia, a French convict set tlement near New Zealand. The West- gate brought 2,750 tons in nickel ore to the American Metal Co., and is the first vessel, to arrive here direct front Kew Caledonia. Termer .Congressman. Isaac- Stephen eon made public announcement, on the 15th, of his intention to give to tha city of Marinette, Wia, where ha has lived for nearly fifty years, a public library building to cost $50,000. The structure will be built within two years of Marinette county granite. Acting upon the recommendation of Quartermaster-General Ludington, the secretary of war has ordered the es tablishment of a bi-monthly transport Ben ice between San Francisco and Ma nila. The sen ice will be started by the troopship Sherman, which will leave San Francisco for Manila on the 15th or l(th inst. Gen. French entered Kimberly, on the 15th, at the head of his victorious troopers. He dined at the club, aud next pushed on to get in touch with. th; retreating enemy. The success of Gen Roberts' initial move caused rejoicing in London, where it is hoped tTiat the long series of reverses has at lan come to an end. Th bill generally known as the Loud, bill, relating to second diss mail matter, was favorably acted on by the house committee on post offices on the 16th. As finally agreed on a uniform rate of one cent per pound is fixed, the proposed clause making ths rate two cents in case of extreme distance beingr omitted. Mayor Ashbridge of Philadelphia, on the 16th, sent to National Chair man Hanna a check of $25,000, repre senting the first quarter of the amount that city promised to raise for the Ite publican national convention in June. The work of collecting the second quo iter beg'un on the same day, and Dearly $5,000 was raised. Secretary Root has a plan to have the military schools and colleges ot the country brought into close touch with the regular army and track kept of pupils when they go into civil life. especially if they join the national gvard, and thus secure the creation of a reserve list of persons in civil life r.ro are fully equipped for instar- sdl itarj service. The speech of the governor. Sir Hugh McCulIum, at the opening of the New foundland legislature, on the 19th, in timated that the session had been ct-lled at the request of the imperial government to renew the modus Vi vendi on the treaty coast so that Frtich fisherman may be enabled to prepare for the summer's operations without delay. Commissioner-General Ferdinand W. Peck left Chicago, on the 15th, ea rc-ute for the Paris exposition. M feck leaves with the satisfaction of having succeeded in awakening Amer ican manufacturers and producers to the opportunity offered by the fair to American commercial expansion and of having secured and sent over the exhibits of some 7,500 exhibitors. The British embassy, upon inquiry being made, on the 18th, authorized thj statement that there was no truth whatever in the story contained in tha Paris dispatches that President M3- Kinley had sounded Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassador at Washing ton, to ascertain how an offer of medi ation in the Transvaal difficulty on the part of the United States would be re ceived by Great Britain. The state department has taken steps to make sure of the position it h-ts assumed toward ex-Consul Mic- rupi ' ' in anticipation of an inquiry f roi l congress, by directing an invev tigation into every phase of the alle gations contained in that officer's statement, including especially t the icugh" investigation of the coalition-, under which the consular mail en.t cable service were conducted. Wesley church, the largest Methodist church in Minneapolis, Minn., and the ha; dsomest house of worship in the northwest, is free from debt. At the morning service, on the lsth, in re sponse to the urgings of the pastor, Bcv. James S. "Montgomery, the con gregation contributed, in 90 minutes, at the- rate of 262 a minute, a total of $23,000, sufficient to pay every penny of the indebtedness and leave a' few thousands over for a rainy dav. NEWS IF BRIEF. Compiled from Various Sources. FlcTV-SIXTH CONGRESS. In the senate, on the 14th the discussion ot the financial bill under the ten-minute ruie occupied the session, at times becom Ine spirited and interesting. The amend' mei.t brought in by the finance committee declaring that the provisions ot the bill arc not intended to place obstacles in the way of international bimetallism, was the most important Involved In the aeoaie, and no vote upon it was reached In the house the legislative, executive ani judicial appropriation bill occupied the at tention of members during the session, the debate taking a wide range, merging, finally, into a somewhat caustic contro versy between members from Missoirl upon the Nesbit law and election methods In Missouri: In the senate, on the 15th, the senate substitute for the house currency bill was passed by the decisive majority of: Ayes, 4-".; nays, 2S. Of the amendments offered thj only two adopted were: One, offered by the finance committee, keeping the dior open to international bimetallism, at.d one by Mr. Nelson (Minn.) providing for national banks with J25.O0O capital in towns of more than 4.000 inhabitants. As passed the bill makes the dollar of to $-10 grains of gold, nine-tenths fine, the standard of value, all forms Of United States money to be maintained at a pari ty with it.' In the house consideration of the legislative, executive and judicial appropriations bill was continued. ' -In the senate, on the 16th, discussion of the Philippines question was resumed, Vr. McEnery (La.)opposinff the permanentae quisllion.of the islands, and Mr. Stewart (New) advocating the admission of the products of any of the Island possessions of the United States free. The bill pro viding a form of government for Alaska was read In the house most of the time of the session beyond that occupied In tho discussion of the civil service bill war devotd to attacks upon a pec--ii made by Mr.' Sims Idem., Tenn.), on the 14tl on the question of pensions. The currency bill was then received from the senate, its amendments disagreed to and conferees appointed. The flAnjjlA waA nnl in OMautn An 4Ha 17th.:..:. In the house the legiIar!vi, ex ecutive and judicial appropriation bill wan passed after four days' consideration, the civil service appropriation, which was striker, out Irv committee of the whole nris restored before the final vote on the "bill by a vote of 12S to 77. Mr. Sulzer dem.. N. Y.) charged the republican party with lowering -monster monopolies. wnt drew lurta a reply from Mr. Grosvimor (rep.. O.I, who accused Sulzer of "n!i- podroming through the west as a vtee- presiuentlal candidate.' In the senate, on the lflth hill for th oenent or claimants having cases pen lng against the United States in the or cun and district courts afleet.vl hv certain act of lCSS, was passed. Mr. l"la unerea a resolution, which, a i ter n or. constitutional debate, was adopted. eail ing for information as to whv the law congress relating to telephone charge; in me jjistn.i ot Columbia na not been enforced and practically inoperative in the house the delist on the Puerto Rican tariff bill, on .Ml nanos conceded to be the most far-reacn ing and Important measure to be Intro auced at this session and which is pecteo to last for several days, was gun. PERSONAL AND GENERAL. For the first time the Brjtirh ev erals have completely out maneuvered the Boers. Gen. Cronje has evacuate! his position at Magersfontein. and i trekking eastward towards P.Ioemfo:: xeir, witn me isntish pursuing 'ini SKjrmisning witn the Uoers rear guard. Gen. Buller began his fourth mov for the relief of Ladvsmith on tlie 14th bet the censor held up the infornii tion until the ItSh, when his position wa- at Hussar hill, south of the T:i gel. Owing to the nature of the country the advance is necessarily slow, the difficulties beincr describ:-! as incalculably great." Two men afloat on an ice floe made the trip from Yonkers to Xew York. on the lSth, and were rescued off the Fort T.ee ferry. From half past seven o'clock in the morning until half past five in the evening they sat in an open skiff, which had been nipped between two big ice cakes and hoisted npon one of them by the action of the tide. The rapid accumulation of money in the treasury during the present month is increasing the anxiety of the treasury officials that there will be intense pressure for currency in the autumn unless something is done by congress to increase tna currency sup ply or reduce the accumulation of money in Washington and Xew York. A dispatch from Monterey, Mexico, ?ays: "An American syndicate, with a capital of $10,00(1,000, will immediately begin the construction of a great steel plant in this cily. The plans for the mammoth concern have been com pleted, and the ground purchased for locating the several buildings." Leslie hnstburn, a 21-ycar-old ooy, shot Jasper Sutton, an aged and re spected citizen of Bloomficld, la., on the 18th, three bullets penel sating the abdomen and causing almost instant leath. Kastburn called nt Sutton's heme to take his lS-vear-old daughter Alice to church. Tlie father ordered him away and the tragedy followed. lr.cie tam now nas 61 vessels ri thorized or under construction. Some of the best of these ships are nearly 2cn;pleted, and by the end of the year 22 vessels will be commissioned, la May the Kearsarge will be ready fov its crew; in June the Kentucky will b- completed, and the Alabama will have the finishing touches put upon it in July. Armed with a shotgun and accom panied by his dog, Richard Cain left Shelbyville, Ind., on the 17th, in search of game, that his family might have meat for supper, he being out of em ployment. The next morning his dead bod; was found, with his dog by hi side. He had evidently fallen down, discharged his gun and blown his head ol The steamer Olympia brings news te Tacoma, Wash., that civil war in raging at Shantung province, t'hio;-. Ths anti-foreign society known as the "Boxers" is determined that all for eigners shall be driven out, including Germans. Mrs. Annie E. Lodge, mother of Sen ator Henry Cabot Lodge, of Massachu setts, died at her home, in Boston, on tin 19th. She was 79 years of age. Jean Louis Legare, who surrendered Sitting Bull and hundreds of other Sioui to the United States government in 18S1 end 1SS2, has gone from the northwest to Ottawa, Ont to push. witli the promised help of the Domin ion government, his claim for $13,400 and interest from the time of its pre sentation, 18 yean ago. The most important news from the war in South Africa, on the 19th, was to the effect that Gen. French had headed off Gen. Cronje's retreating cimv, and was only awaiting rein forcements to attack; Hlangwane hill, commanding the flank of the Boer de fenses at Colenso, had been occupied; Lord Methuen had reached Kimberley, and Gen. Buller hud won an important tictory and was again moving to the rebel of Ladysmith. Representative Lacey, of Iowa, ins introduced a bill to amend the civil service act. It provides that govern ment employes shall serve for hve years, with opportunities for reap pointment for another five years. These, now in the service shall serve our a term of five years, and those who have served beyond that time shall be divided into classes whose terms shall gradually expire. Lieut.-Col. Henry C. Brinkerhoff, of the Eleventh infantry, has been ap- xiited treasurer of the Island of Ptierto Rico, relieving Mai. Jas. A- Buchanan, Fifth infantry. LATE NEWS ITEMS. In the senate, on the 20th, discussion of the Philiumnes question was. re sumed," Mr. Kenny speaking against retention and in favor of self-goveha- nientv Fifty-two pension bills and" a number of bills on the calendar were parsed, after which the Hawaiian gov eminent .bill was taken up and some amendments agreed to. . . .In the house the time of the session was mostly taken up by three set speeches on the Puerto R-.can tariff bill, the constitutional question involved forming the princi pal subject of discussion. 4 . The board of naval construction, on the 20th, received estimates of the boaid of survey on the cruiser Boston. The necessary repairs to the ship wilf cost about $400,000, and occupy two years. When they are completed the Boston will be, like he Atlanta, a thor oughly modernized type of war ship. The work will be done at the Mate Island navy yard. During the discussion of the war budget in the French chamber of dep uties, on the 20th, the marquis de Gal- lifel said: "Thanks to the eminent di rector of infantry (Gen. C. F. Mallet), Fiance, in six months' time, will pos sess the finest rifle in the world, and only a slight modification of the pres ent weapon will be necessary. Let est intelligence from the war in South Africa, dated the 21st, said; "The Boers are leaving all the posi tions held by them on British terri- toiy and are concentrating for the Je fense of their own. Sir Redvers Buller thinks they are about to raise th; siege .of Ladysmith, and this is the large news of the day." Judge Taft, president of the Philip pine commission, had a long confer ence with Secretary Root at the war department, on the 20th, in regard to the proposed work of the commission. ll was said the commission would be completely organized in the near fu- tuu, and that it will start for Manila about April 1. A board of officers to consist ot Brig.-Gen. William Ludlow, Col. Henry C. llasbrouck. Seventh artillery and Lieut.-Col. William H. Carter, assist ant adjutant general, has been appoint ed for the purpose of considering rcg- uhitions with a view to the establisn- metit of a war college for the army. An interesting series of races be tween electro-mobiles will occur in Berlin during the spring, lasting four dsys. CURRENT NEWS U0TES. Mr. Mary Grindrod, aged 87 yearn died at Bloomington, 111. She came fioni Manchester, Kngland, 10 years ago Arrangements are being made foi the Missouri postmasters' convention, vlveh is to be held in St. Louis, Feb ruary 2. The state department has decided to fillip investigate the charges made bv Charles E. Macruui, former consul to I'retoria. Joe Choynski was given the decision over Peter Maher in a six-round con tent before the Fort Dearborn Athletic club at Chicago. Mrs. Catherine Rusmiscll, aged S9 years, died at Danvers, 111. She was the mother of 12 children, of whom live ar. living. Christopher Eblade, a farmer, living liear Wanda, 111., was frozen to deatii within a quarter of a mile of his home. he bad been drinking. Pnus McDaniel, a leading farmer, diet! near Pana, 111., Friday from the bursting of a blood vessel in his head during a fit of coughing. ear Minier, 111., Philip Railsback, aged 80 years, died of general debility. lie was born in Kentucky and settled in Tazewell county in 1S30. Co. llliam L. Distin, surveyor gen eral of Alaska, and wife have left Quii cy, 111., for Seattle, where they take the steamer for Sitka, James Zimmerman, one of the pio neers: of Colescounty,Ill.,and a wealthy and influential citizen, is dead. He was bom in Augusta countj-, Va, in 1827. The democratic senators held a enticus at Washington, and decided to continue their opposition to the re pi l.lican policy regarding our island pesstssions. The Rock Island (111.) shooters' an nual tournntment was concluded Fri day. II. Ealtentsein, of Cambridge, 111., won the gold medal, killing 00 birds out of a possible G4. A pro-Boer resolution with a rider expressing sympathy with the Fili pinos was voted down by an over whelming majority in the South Caro lina house of representatives. Fruit growers and commission men predict a short strawberry crop, due jiartly to a long-continued drought nd partly to the low prices of last season, which has caused manv crow- m nil Department Store Law So Declared by the Supreme Court of the State of Missouri. IT IS THEREFORE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. The Law 0ly Applied t St. Loala, Kansas City and St. Joseph The Coart Blasted the Last Hope of Trala Hobber KeaBedrSenteaced to Seventeen Years. Jefferson City, Mo., Feb. 2L The supreme court, in banc, in an opinion by Judge Robinson, declared the de partment store law passed by the last legislature to be unconstitutional and void, for the reason that law is clearly class legisation, and because the act is incomplete and not a' law, and docs not constitute a rule ol conduct; and for the further reason that the act imposes an occupation tax as a license to do business. The law applied to only St; Joseph, Kansas City and St. Louis, and to stores m those cities employing clerks. Th: feature is objected to in the opin ion as class legislation. The ease de cided was that of .State ex rel Wyatt against Ash brook and other officers of the city of St. Joseph, for a writ of mandamus to compel them to issue a b'ctnse to conduct a department store in that city. without paying the license tax requiredby the law. The court, in the opinion, orders, the writ awarded. This decision releases John W. Thay er, president of Emery, Bird, Thayer & Co., of Kansas Wty, from paying a fine of $100 imposed on conviction of violating the law, a case now before the supreme court. t The supreme court overruled the motion to transfer to the court on banc the case of the train robber, John F. Kennedy. This is the last attempt for him, and he must serve his 17-year sentence in the penitentiary. FORMER ACTION RATIFIED. Democrat! In Joint Senslon Confirm the Election of William Coe bel as Governor. Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 22. The demo cratic members of the two houses of the legislature met in joint session at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon, and by a vote of 72 to two ratified the for mer procedings by which William Goe- bel was declared governor and J. C. V. Btckham lieutenant erovernor, and through which Beckham, since tho death of Gov. GoebeL claims title to the office of governor. The republican members of the leg islature remained away from the joiut session in the afternoon, having de emed in caucus not to attend. The senate had adopted the resolu tions Monday, and the house Tuesday, and the adoption of them by the joint assembly, from the democratic stand point, puts the finishing touch as to its action on the contests. In the session of the joint assembly Tuesday afternoon Senator Triplet? ami Representative Grider voted against the ratification resolutions. Mr. Grider, in explanation of his vote, saia he had hoped that there would be a full and fair investigation of the contest, and that he hoped to be able to vote with the democrats, but he could not satisfy his own conscience ar.il do so in this matter. Mr. Orr declined to vote. He said he had voted with the democrats in their foimer action and did not think rati fication of those former proceedings necessary now. 1 be lobbies were crowded, s.nd when Speaker Trimble cr.iounced the vote in the joint as sembly there was a mild outburst of applause. GOYEKKORSHII COX TEST. Lawtert Laboring- to Avoid a Claah ot Aolhorltv. Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 22. The attor neys for Taylor and Beckham will hold a joint conference at ten o'cloclt Wednesday, for the purpose of dis- cur fing propositions to settle which of the two injunction suits relating to thii contest over the governorship shall have precedence on the consolidation of both cases, in order to avoid a clash between courts over the questions in volved of jurisdiction. The Beckham suit is set for hearing before Judge Cfxtrill, at Georgetown, Friday, and he attorneys will attempt to agree upot. a plan of action and facts form ing the basis of the suit, and as to what judge the agreed case shall be tried before. eenteneed to Baalnhmeat. Clinton. Mass., Feb. 22. Arthur Pjyne, a 15-year-old lad, was sentenced to be banished from the state for two years in the district court here Tues day after having pleaded guilty to a charge of forging a check. The lad's father will take him to California to remain with friends until the period of his banishment expires. At the end of tlie two years, if be conies back to Massachusetts, he will be placed in charge of a probation officer. The Muckross estate, which inclndei the famous lakes of Killarney, is an nually visited by so many vislton that their fees amount to at leas- $6,000 a year, which is two per cent of the price paid by Lord Ardilaun foi the property. One of the oldest hostelries in Kng land is the New inn at Gloucester, bu: in spite of tbe centuries which bavi rolled by since it was built its onct appropriate inscription still clings t it. A "cupful" In all cases la half a pint MISSOURI STATE NEWS. Recent Oeatha. William E. Bard, one of the pioneer merchants of Sedalia, aged 60.. C. L. Davis, a pioneer, at Monroe.' Mrs. Susan Vanliew, aged 68, at Knobnoster. Dr. Alexander Weenis, aged 77, at Pilot Grove, Cooper county. Mrs. John Lawcock, aged 60, in Powersville, Putnam county. Mrs. Susan Bupe Williams, one of the oldest residents of Howard county. in Fayette, aged 82. . . .. ; . James Gibbs, aged 30, a pioneer cit izen of Saline county, well known in central Missouri. Thomas' Lapsley, aged 72, for 33 years a resident of Knobnoster." : C. J. Van Cleave, a practfeinr physi- cinn of Browmngton, Henry county. Warren Adkisson, 77 year old, . and josepn G. Kitchen, 40 years old, at Marshall. Col." William P. Bush, aged 72, at Monroe Citr. '' Dr. Richard Huff, at his home in Jefferson township, Johnson county. He was 72 years old and one of the pioneers of Johnson county. . . Airs. Ann Shaw, widow of . Joel K. Shaw and sister of Gen. John B.!Hen- tu-rson, ol Washington, D. C at her homo, neap Louisiana,' after a long ill- oess, aged. 71. , - ... e .- '- . lief tike to Par Personal Taxes. " The St. Louis Single Tax league Baa bee requested by the president of th board 4f assessors to make fretnrns for taxes on pcsonal property for. the present year. ... , . ... In reply, Secretary of the Xeaeue George Bigley has written, saying that ine league declined to make return, for the reason that it considers oer- sonai property taxation in 'this state! unconstitutional. The league is now awaiting the action of, the board. of assessors, and is preparing to:. take tfce matter to the courts if necessary; fcecretary Bigley said that the'mem-1 bers of the league refused to pV tnxes on their personal property . because such property was earned by their in dividual effort, and the exclusive en joyment of their" personal property' is guaranteed by the laws of the state as their natural right. - - . As . our buildings and personal property are the result of our indi vidual effort," he said, "it is unjust to tax thein for public purposes until land and franchise values have first been taken in to bear the people's ex penses. Verdict In the Jesse Case. The jury in the case of the state kgamst C. C. Jesse, charged with h;fv- iog murdered Frank Griffin, editor of Griffin's Maryville Daily Review, re-1 turned a verdict, at Maryville, of man slaughter in the fourth degree. Jesse's punishment was fixed at two years imprisonment in the penitentiary. The jury was out 60 hours. Short Crop ot Strawberries. Fruit growers and commission men. ays the St. Louis Republic, predict a short strawberry crop, due partly to a long-continued drought and partly to the low prices of last season, which caused many' growers to reduce the acreage, an some discontinue raising them entirely. Mrs. Crumpacker, Attorney. The leading feature of the recent session of thj circuit court at Union- ville wa3 the admission to the bar of Mrs. Roxie Crumpacker, one of the best-known women in Putnam county. She is the first woman to be admitted to the practice of law in that county. An Old Time Slave. John Francis, who died at the Mul- lanphy hospital, fet. Louis, nearly a century old, was one of the last of the old-time slaves of the pioneer fam ilies of St. Louis. He belonged to Hen- rv Soulard at the time of the war of 1 812 and was set free by his master. Department Store Law Void. The state supreme court, in banc, in an opinion by Judge Robinson, de clared the department store iaw passed by the last legislature to be unconstitutional and void, for the rea son that "the la w is clearly class legis lation." Kenard for a Killer. (iov. Stephens has offered a reward of $200 for the arrest and delivery to the sheriff of Carter couuty of Grant Freeman, who ?hct and killed Mace Smith. Col. Theo S. Chime Dead. Theodore S. Case, who had been a resident, of Kansas City for 47 years, and who held the office of postmaster for 1- years, died recently of paralysis. Given Forty Years. A jury in the criminal court at Kan sas City broke the state record when it gave Ed Sims, a negro, 40 years in the penitentiary for highway robbery. Rnrnl Mall Delivery in CaldwelL Free rural mail delivery has been established from Kingston, Caldwell countv. The route is 24 miles in length aud supplies 200 families. Fell Dead Handling Ire. Jesse Dillender, a white man, C'i jean of age, fell dead at Louisiana, while handling ice. - His death is at tributed to heart disease. Preached for Hair Years. Rev. S. C. Givens, a well-known Bap- tisl, died at Louisiana. He was 4 yeais of age, and had been preaching for many years. Will Be Rebnilt. The Odd Fellows' home at Liberty will be rebuilt. A fire-prof structure will be erected, a pride and ornament to the order. A Weak Jail. Eight prisoners escaped from tha Wright county jail at Hartville, a few nights ago, by prying off a transaa over a door. THE POPULIST CONVENTION. Th Popallat Katteaal Ooavwtloa Will b- Hald at Sioax Falls, Dakota, afar S. Lincoln, Neb, Feb, 21. The Populist national committee, presided over by Senator Butler, took np the question of time and -'place for the national convention. A proposition from the Texas delegation that ' May 9 ' be fixed " upon as the date. ' wae ainended . to -f permit . a commit tee to . decided, on both time and place. The amendment was op posed vigorously by the Texas delega tion 'as "cowardly and truckling to the 'democrats."' Senator Allen, of Ne braska, spoke at length in favor of harmony, and fori the naming of date bv the whole committee. "Bryan Will be the nominee of both democrats and populists," said Senator Allen, "and the question of date makes little emtrence any now. The amendment to refer to a; co-.n-' mittee was voted, down,- and Wednes day, May 9, the same.da.te as that of the middle-of-the road convention at CiLcinnatir was decided upon. Thre eitie, Kansas City, Sioux Falls,' 8. D.,'Jand " Indianapolis, pre-' each was: granted Unlimited tine to set forth its respective advantages Sinn Falls war finnllv ReleeteH. HT. mii.ii.nicY i iihh VMiin. v. f-Ttli ' 1 ' li ¬ i. Filipino Guerilla to be Tried for Startler and fAvaa1 t to 1 alt with IB- "'-tent Kill. ' ' -.. r Manila, Feb. 2Q5;S$ p. &. A mili tary commission meets at Calamba, vveunesciay, to try a Mlipino memocr; of the guerilla band which attacked a squad of Aihericans "February' 2, kill- iDg aeorporah-The charges are mur--; der and, assault with intent- to kill. The case is important, as foreshadow ing the policy entreating guerillas as, bandits. It is supposed that one rea son which has hitherto 'deterred the American authorities from adopting this poling is that the in insurgents have rnore than fifty American pris oners, and may retaliate, although a. few, of them were . captured while fighting. A MYSTERIOUS SINKING. ' The Brltiah Steamer., RwloracL . Grain Laden, Sank Mysterioasly in Delaware River. Philadelphia, Feb. 21. The British steamer Restormel, which was ready to sail from this port with a cargo of' wheat for Limerick, Ireland, sank in the Delaware river, off Kaighu's Point, X. ,Tn Monday night. Considera ble mystery surrounds the sinking of the vessel, as it is reported that the grain was to be forwarded eventually to South Africa. The stermer had nearly ten feet of water in her fore- hold when the first mate discovered that the vessel was settling. Despite the efforts of the crew to keep her afloat, by use of pumps, the vessel sank in a short time. Cnpt. Merlin was not aboard when the accident oc curred. EX-CONSUL MACRUM'S MALL. The State Department Ha no Offl- elal Knowledge that it Was Interfered With. Washington, Feb. 21. The state de- - partnient has completed preparation for the reply to be made to the houso resolution inquiring into the allega tions that ex-Consul Maeruin's mail had been opened by the' British censor at Cape Town. The answer will be sent to the house Wednesday by the president, as is customary with com munications of the kind from the state department. It will show briefly that the department has no official knowl edge whatever that there was any in terference with the ex-consul's mail. us he made no complaint to the de partment on the subject. IMPORTANT TO CLAIMANTS. Substance of Rnlina;" by tbe Coma trailer of the Treasury in Re gard to Payment of Claims. Washington, Feb. 21. The comp troller of the treasury has recently rendered several decisions in which he holds that under the act of July 31. 1S94, clnimants against the govern ment who accept payment nnder a settlement by the auditor, are preclud ed from obtaining a revision by the -.cmptroller of such settlement as to any items which have been rejected. Persons, he says, receiving treasury warrants in payment of claims should not transfer or cash them if they are not satisfied with the amount paid. Otherwise they are stopped from ask ing for a revision by the comptroller. Political Crisis In Jamaica. Kingston, Jamaica, Feb. 21. There x excitement here over the political .risis. The elected members, as a pro test to the subversion of the leeis.'a- ture, left the chamber in a body. Ad ditional official members where then, introduced and sworn in, marking the re-establilbmcnt of crown govern ment. The American reciprocity treaty will be considered Wednesday. Hotel Fire at Knoxvllle, Tenn. Knoxville, Tenn Feb. 21. The- flotel Flanders was partially burned Monday morning, 75 guests being forced out into the streets, -with the mercury hugging Ihe zero mart. Mc Nabb's cafe, in the hotel block, wa? gutted. Six firemen were overcoire L' tmoke. Black Eye for the SaCraalsts. Boston, Feb. 21 In the house. Tues day, had its annual debate on womnq, tuffrage, resulting in ihe defeat of th proposition, 124 to 32, a larger n- fe s erg to reduce too acreage. I iority than for many years.