Newspaper Page Text
4
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1900.
THE DAILY JOURNAL
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1000.
Telephone Call (Old and New.)
Euslnss Office... .IS Editorial Rooms. ...M
Tcnjis or sl'bsciuptiox.
BY CARRIER-INDIANAPOLIS ar.i SUDURUS.
Daily. SunUy Included, cents icr month.
Pailj. without eunrtay, 4? tents pe.r month.
Funlay. without dally. per year.
fciLe ccrne: Daily. 2 cents; fjn.Jay, cents.
BY AGENTS EVERYWHERE:
I.i!! y. J er w?fk, 10 cents.
Daily. Sunday Included, per week, 15 cents.
Sunday, ptrl?sue, i cents.
I!Y MAIL. PREPAID:
Daily edition, one year $ c0
Dally and fc'urday, one year M
Sunday cnly. one year 2. CO
REDUCED RATES TO CLUE3.
Weekly edition.
One ccpy, one year W cents
Fire cent per month for periods le than a
year. No subscription taken for less than three
months.
REDUCED RATES TO CLUB3.
Subscribe -with any of our numerous agents or
send subscription to the
JOURNAL -NEWSPAPER COMPANY,
Indianapolis, Ind.
Ferson sendlnr the Journal through the malls
In the United States should put on an !l?ht-pajce
paper a ONE-CENT postage ftamp: on a twelve
cr ilxteen-pace papr a TWO-CENT postijre
stamp. Foreign postage Is usually double these
rates.
All communications Intended for publication in
this paper must, in order to receive attention,
be accompanied by th name and address of the
writer.
Rejected manuscripts will net be returned un
less xostage Is Inclosed for that purpose.
Entered as second-clasa matter at Indianapolis,
Ind., postofflce.
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL.
Can be found at the following places:
NEW YORK Astor House and Fifth-avenue
Hotel.
CHICAGO Palmer Honse. P. O. News Co., 217
Dearborn street. -CINCINNATI-J.
R. Hawley & Co., 154 Vine
street.
LOUISVILLE C. T. Deertn. northwest com
of Third and JefTerson streets, and Louisville
Hook Co., 2Z6 Fourtn avenue.
ST. LOUIS Union News Company, Union Depot.
WASHINGTON. D. C Rlggs House, Ebbitt
House and Willard' Hotel.
It is about time for the courts to decide,
once for all, whether a corporation deriving
Its existence and rights from the State is
trigger than the State.
What has become of the fears of the ora
tors who saw "the beautiful fabric of the
Republic crumbling In decay, Just before
the presidential election?
If the payment of dividends depends on
the collection of revenues,' there Is no rea
son why the Indianapolis Gas Company
should pass a dividend.
i
-The appropriation for the Civil-service
Commission went through the House with
out protest, as recommended by the House
committor. This Is unusual.
It 13 a question for the courts to decide
whether a corporation that violates a con
tract incorporated in Its charter does not
forfeit Its charter and the franchise it con
veys. The shoemaklng cities of Haverhill and
Brocton, Mass., which e'ected Socialistic
mayors a year ago, have chosen Republic
ans this year by larser majorities than
usual.
The defeat of the proposition to cut the
beer tax in two in the House, yesterday, by
a decisive vote, would indicate that the
moderate reduction of the ways and means
ccmmlttee will be adopted.
Accused of stealing gas, and, by Demo
cratic declaration, in the grasp of an East
em water company, people outside may
be inclined to pity Indianapolis; but it may
be added that all sympathy is wasted.
The open declaration of war made by
the president of the Indianapolis Gas Com
pany against this city Is about as. deliant
as Oom Paul Kruger's defiant ultimatum
to England. And Oom Paul got the worst
of it.
The two voting machine manufacturers
In' the East have formed a tru-?t. For
tunately, several of the score or more of
machines on trial In different-States are
likely to be as desirable as those in tho
combination.
At a banquet to bo given In Lincoln, Neb.,
Dec. 21. Mr. Bryan will speak of "The Fu
ture of the Democratic Party." Most in
telligent Democrats are convinced that the
party's only chance for a future is to un
load Mr. Bryan.
In the statement that the decline of
American shipping began with our civil war
Senator Hanna was mistaken. It began as
early as 1S50 and was quite marked by 1S33.
This point, however, does not seem to have
auy particular bearing on the subsidy ques
tion. The fact that the Pittsburg Iron mills
have orders for 1.000,000 tons of rails and for
$20.0X.n) worth of equipment show that the
predictions of the Carnegie people during
the summer, when trade was a little dull,
were based upon conditions known to them
one of which was the re-election of Mc
Kinley. The ultra Radicals who control the Cu
ban constitutional convention propose to
have a government with an army, a navy,
a full diplomatic establishment and all the
opportunities of uffieehoiding which go with
an expensive national government. In
other words, they will make a republic like
those of Central America.
More than a year ago the manufacturers
of cameras and photographic goods en
tered into a combination to control price?,
but in the face of a larger demand for
t'cods than usual the combination is not
able to pay the guaranteed dividends. As
tome of them made money as independent
companies, failure to do so now may be
Attributed to the watering of the stock.
When It was first announced that the tax
on beer would be reduced a number of pa
pers asserted that the reduction would be
made to ketp the pledge of Senator H inna
to the brewers for large contributions to
the campaign fund. This was followed with
an interview with Senator Hanna to the
effect that he did not favor the reduction.
Einre that time the Democrats who spend
a good part of the campaign in denouncing
trusts, corporations anil syndicates have
ccme out for cutting the tax on beer in
two. Such being the case, the extent to
which the brewers contributed to the Bry-
n campalyn fund Is a pertinent inaulry.
If excerlenca is a useful Instructor It
nay be expected that lomt Um In th
future those people who desire life insur
ance will go to regularly organized insur
ance companies and purchase it. Now that
life Insurance companies are on a sound
basis, there Is no risk in purchasing poli
cies, since companies will pay all they
promise. There may be sound and satis
factory insurance outride of such compa
nies, but experience does not sustain such
an assumption. Such orgir.izatlons arc
fraternal and scc!al rather than financial.
As a rule men of large experience do not
manage them, while their system for the
collecting and disbursement of money
seems not to be based upon the laws which
seem to limit human life as discovered by
actuaries.
canal postpom:mcxt.
Those who are opposed to the construc
tion of the Nicaragua canal must be highly
pleased with the situation which the vote
on the Davis' amendment to the Ilay
Pauncefote treaty has brought to light.
If the treaty should not be otherwise
amended the opinion i3 expressed that the
President might be able to obtain the ac
quiescence of the British government, but
the friends of the treaty are fearful that
the treaty with the Davis amendment can
not receive the necessary two-thirds. There
Is an element In the Senate favorable to
the abrogrtion of the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty. Some of those who favor such
action are enemies of the canal and others
ere the quiet supporters of the transconti
nental railroads. If the Senate divides Into
three or four factions regarding the policy
to be pursued In reference to the Clayton-
Bulwer treaty it may be expected that two
or three years may pa?s before a majority
of Congress can agree upon the construc
tion of the Nicaragua canal.
At the last session the House bill was
passed, which ignores the compact entered
into in the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. It as
sumes that the United States has the right
to construct the canal without the per
mission of any other power or regard for
th- provisions of treaties. This bill Was
passed, it is fair. to assume, largely for
political effect. The chatter of an alliance
between the United States and Great
Britain and the baseless charge that the
administration followed the policy dictated
by the British government led Republicans
to support the House bill, the passage of
which the speaker labored to prevent. Now
that that period of supposed political
necessity has passed there is reason to be
lieve that the Senate at least will not agree
to a measure which ignores the Clayton
Bulwer treaty. Then there Is the possi
bility, if not the probability, that the Pres
ident would veto a bill which ignored the
troublesome treaty.
These and other complications lead to the
conclusion that a Nicaragua canal bill will
not be passed during the present session.
In fact, unless there Is an unlooked-for
change In the Senate the Nicaragua canal
Is a matter some way in the future.
THE SMOKIl NUISANCE.
The smoke nuisance Is already a serious
question in this city and is becoming more
serious every day. Just how many smoke
stacks there are in the business and dense
ly populated parts of the city, belching
forth their contributions to the Impurity
of the atmosphere, the Journal does net
know, but the number Is much too great
and constantly increasing. Unless re
stricted it may increase to an extent that
will be a serious detriment to business,
as it already is to comfort. Even now the
health and comfort of a great many peo
ple who occupy down-town offices are
seriously affected by the coal smoke and
soot that invade them in spite of all they
can do. The injury to business, already
appreciable, will increase with the number
of smokestacks. Dry goods, clothing, no
tions and fancy stores will suffer more
and more. This condition should not con
tinue. It is neither just nor reasonable
that any corporation, firm or individual
fchould be permitted to maintain a public
nuisance of thi3 kind. It is a principle
or law that no person may use his own
rights or property to the detriment of
others. An ancient Latin maxim, freely
translated, says: "Use thy own only in
such a manner as not to injure others."
Every owner of a smokestack in the
densely populated part of a city violates
this maxim. If the smoke and soot ejected
from a chimney could be. confined to the
upper area owned by its proprietor I:
would not be so bad. In that case every
person might become his own smoke con
sumer and enjoy to his heart's content
the smoke and soot of his own creation.
But the case is very different when the
smoke and soot manufactured by each in
t,Jvidual become the invaders of all his
neighbors. Any person can stand a puff
cf coal smoke or a speck of soot occasion
ally, but to be enveloped in them all the
time Is more than anybody should be asked
to submit to. This in effect is the demand
that every proprietor of a smokestack
makes of his neighbors to a considerable
extent surrounding him. He demand.-
that in order to suit his business and his
.convenience the business, the convenience,
the health und the comfort of a large num
ber of people be ignored. Such a demand
has no justification in reason or equity,
and should have none in law. The smoke
nuisance Is not defensible on any grounds.
It is an invasion of public as well as of
private rights, and those who maintain it
cannot present a single reason for Its
existence that does not apply to every
other offensive and injurious nuisance. It
ihould be abolished.
Iu regard to the natural-gas controversy
the Chicago Tribune thinks the charges
made by Messrs. Benedict and Hastings
against the people of Indianapolis too
sweeping. "It is not customary," says the
Tribune, "to find any city made up alto
gether of thieves, and there has hitherto
been no suspicion that Indianapolis was a
glaring exception to the rule." It might
be added, it Is not customary to find cor
porations actuated by philanthropic or even
equitable motives. The Tribune concludes
that "If it comes to a question of relative
merits between the company and the whole
population of Indianapolis it will be safer
to decide for the people." And in reaching
a decision it will be proper to consider
whether boring mixers to get gas already
paid for is any worse than boring into
people's pockets to get money for gas paid
for and not delivered.
Senator Hanna nrade a strong argument
In favor of the ship-subsidy bill from his
pclnt of view. It was the argument of a
thoroughly patriotic American who has the
courage of his convictions, yet It was not
convincing. He did not produce any evi
dence to show that the decline of American
hipping wu owing to the lack of a money
subsidy, nor any reasonable argument to
prove that the granting of a subsidy would
cause It to grow faster than it is now grow
ing. The senator commented on the . ex
traordinary growth of the shipping indus
try on the lakes, which." he said, "had been
festered and protected by salutary and
wise navigation laws." He failed to men
tion, however, that this wise and salutary
legislation did not Include a money sub
sWy. BUBBLES III THE AIR.
Lo, the Poor Indian.
I once owned these States from sunrise to sur
fet; ,
And now an "art corner" is all that I get.
Sllscry Lores Company.
Age Is a bitter drink, yet it basely buoys man
up.
As cn he goes, to think that all must tip that
cup.
A Plea for Mercy.
'Ma, I think Mr. rerkin3 is gettlns ready to
rropose."
"Oh, daughter, den't get engaged again '
near Christmas. I have all the Christmas pres
ents to give that I can worry through with
now."
Harriers to Education.
"I'm afraid our son Is too delicate to take a
collegiate course."
"Can't you regulate his studies so he won't
overwork?"
"Oh. what we think he wouldn't live through
is the hazir.;r."
The Blunder of nn Admirer.
"I took that Boston girl a dollar box of cara
mels." "Well?"
"She gave me a severe, yet pitying look, and
paid ehe couldn't maintain a commendable men
tal condition on the pernicious habit of eating
between meals."
INDIANA'S INDEPENDENCE.
Her People Well Informed nnd There
fore Think for Themselves.
Richmond (Ind.) Item.
Judging from the comments of metropol
itan journals, the political free-thinking
of Indiana Republicans Is a source of won
der and admiration to people outside 'tlfe
State. They cannot understand why In
diana, the hotbed of politics and the scene
of the fiercest of party lights, should be so
independent in political thought and speech
and so aggressive in political reforms.
(We say ; Republicans, because the fact
the Republican party is in power gives
opportunity to Republican free-thfnking.
If the Democratic party was in the ascend
ency the same trait would no doubt be
observed among the rank and file of that
party. The characteristic is common to
the adherents of both parties in this State.)
Illinois to our west, and other States are
to-day wrestling with the problem of di
vorcing State institutions from the spoils
system. With Indiana this is history, no
longer an experiment, but an established
fact. Our county and township reform
laws, our progressive legislation to pro
tect our proposed primary election laws
are only additional evidences of our po
litical progressiveness within the borders
of our own State. In national affairs our
independent attitude is striking. This
State was the storm center of protest
against the Injustice of the Porto Rican
bill. The deeds of Neely had scarcely
been flashed over the cables until the Re
publicans of the State demanded his swift
and severe punishment. This was quite
in contrast to the passiveness with which
Ohio received the news of the complicity of
Rathbone. To-day the Republicans of In
diana are arrayed againsf the measure
which is the child of Chairman Hanna. the
ship subsidy bill, even though they incur
the title of "irregular" by their honest
criticism of a bad bill". The independent
vote is strong in this State, stronger prob
ably than any other State in the Union.
It is this vote which swings the State and
speakers of each party in" a campaign ap
peal to the thinking citizens rather than
the partisans.
Tuat this is so is due to Indiana's edu
cation. The Hoosier is a reading citizen.
Magazines find Indiana a wonderfully good
State for sales. The newspapers "of In
diana go into a greater per cent, of homes
out of the whole number than in any
State elsewhere, with the possible excep
tion of Massachusetts. The papers of out
side cities find an enormous sale In In
diana. Every community has a library.
The home of rural delivery and the scenes
of its greatest development, the country
districts read tons of literature every year.
All these thing3 count. These advantages
have broadened the horizon of the people.
They do not confine their source of in
formation to one paper, and that paper the
country weekly or town daily run by a
political clique of their own partj. They
take two papers and read both sides of the
question, or they take independent papers.
They take magazines which discuss pub
lic problems without political bias and
from economic standpoints. Indiana peo
ple of either party can never be brought
back into the camp of blind partisanship
and made to worship certain party leaders
as a fetich, incapable of error. Impossible
to corrupt. Having become liberal in their
views and free in their thinking through
the literary and educational advantages
given them, they will judge men and meas
ures, parties and movements by their mer
its, not by their label.
Possible t'c for Silver.
San Francisco Chronicle.
There is no obstacle in the way of pro
viding the Filipinos with a good silver
coinage which will meet their requirements
and prejudices. Perhaps the possession of
these islands may provide a method of
getting rid of a lot of silver which is piled
up in the national treasury, involving a
great deal of care and expense, but which,
now that we have the gold standard, it is
unnecessary to maintain. There is no sense
in employing a valuable commodity like
silver as a mere token money. Under ex
isting circumstances there is no more rea
son for having coins which are practically
mere representatives of money, and whose
intrinsic value is somewhere in the neigh
borhood of fifty cents each, than there
would be for printing dollar greenbacks
on paper costing fifty cents for each note
printed. When this is once appreciated
Congress may be Induced to recoin, as
rapidly as required, all of the standard
dollars into money available, for use in
the Philippines. The eight or more mil
lions of people in the islands would speed
ily absorb the whole amount we possess,
to their own great profit and to the relief
of the American taxpayer, who is paying
a pretty sum annually to keep in idleness
a commodity which would be better cm
ployed in doing its real work of helping to
effect exchanges.
Drnvrlng Instruments.
"Tipr in New York Press.
An experienced draughtsman calls my at
tention to a peculiar condition of things in
the manufacture of drawing instruments.
The finest of these are made in Switzerland.
the second best in (icrmany and the ordi
nary brass ones in the United States. En
gineers, architects and machinists are
obliged to have a set of one or the other,
and the prices are by no means insignifi
cant. Yet, no sooner is tho purchase made
than the dividers, drawing compasses, uni
versal compasses, bow pens, eccentric rules,
roulettes, etc., are sent off to some local
instrument maker to undego sundry
ehanpes. The expense may be from 510 to
$25. The strange part of the matter is that
the established houses in this country and
abroad do not fashion their instruments on
tho latest approved models to meet up-to-date
requirements, instead of clinging to
old forms which must of necessity be
altered.
Qneer Scnntorlnl Mens.
Buffalo Courier.
Senators like Teller and Money have
a queer Idea of international obligation.
The Colorado man declared that the United
States should build the canal without re
gard to the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and the
Mississippi senator even opposes tho pros
pective arrangements with Nicaragua and
Costa Rica for a right of way. The fact of
the matter is that neither the Clayton
Bulwer treaty ror the rights of the Central
American states can be safely or honestly
I disregarded in this Nicaraguas canal mat
ter.
SURPRISE IS HOUSE
TWO DEFEATS FOIt THE WAYS AD
MEANS COMMITTEE.
Stamp on Express Receipts ltentoreJ,
with u Prot Isla tl;nt the Com
puny Pay the Tax.
CARRIED BY VOTE OF 123 TO 108
THE USE OF SMALL HEER PACKAGES
NOT TO BE ABOLISHED.
Tax on Lnger, However, Will Remain
at $l.GO n Barrel, as Proposed
by Payne's Committee.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. The House to
day adjourned without disposing of more
than half the war revenue reduction bill.
General debate closed at 2 o'clock, after
which the bill was opened to amendments,
vnder the five-minute rule. A determined
effort was maue to reduce still further the
tax on beer below the committee rate of
$1.60 a barrel, but the ways and means
committee overwhelmed the opposition.
The committee, however, suffered two sig
nal defeats. In connection with tho beer
tax Mr. Payne offered an amendment in
the language of the bill passed by the
House" last session designed to abolish the
use of small beer packages one-sixteenth
and one-eighth barrels but it was defeated
by 85 to 91, after charges that its purpose
was to crush out the small brewers. An
other defeat occurred In connection with
the amendment offered by Mr. Henry C.
Smith, of Michigan. The bill abolishes the
1-cent starn tax on express receipts and
telegraph messages, but retained the tax
on railroad and steamship freight receipts.
Mr. Smith's amendment restored the tax on
express receipts and altered the form of
the section so as to compel the company,
instead of the shipper, to pay the tax.
The amendment precipitated a lively de
bate, in the course of which Mr. Smith
made a personal allusion to a United States
senator who is connected with one of the
express companies. Mr. Payne vigorously
fought the amendment, but it was carried
123 to 106. The text of the amendment
follows:
"Express and Freight. It shall be the
duty of every rqilroad or steamboat com
pany, carrier, express company or cor
poration, or person whose occupation is
to act as such, to make within the first
litteen days of each month a sworn state
ment to the collector of internal revenue
In each of their respective districts, stat
ing the number of shipments received for
carriage and transportation, whether In
bulk or in boxes, bales, packages, bundles
or not so inclosed or included, for which
any charges whatsoever have been mad',
and for each of such shipments received
for carriage and transportation the said
railroad or steamboat company, carrier,
express company or corporation or person
whose occupation it Is to act as such shall
pay a tax of 1 cent, provided that but one
payment of such tax shall be required,
on bundles or packages of newspapers when
Inclosed in one general bundle at the time
of shipment."
THE BEER SECTION.
When general debate closed the bill was
read for amendment under the five-minute
rule. As soon as the beer section had been
reached a half dozen members were on the
floor, demanding recognition. Mr. Payne,
chairman of the ways and means commit
tee, from the committee, offered an amend
ment to make the tax $l.C0 a barrel flat, in
stead of a discount of 20 per cent., as orig
inally drawn.
Mr. Newlands, of Nevada, offered an
amendment to reduce the tax to $1.20 per
barrel. He urged that the tax on beer
could be reduced and the taxes on the ac
cumulated wealth of the country, for the
first time placed under contribution, could
be retained.
Mr. Payne opposed the Newlands amend
ment, which, he said, would make a re
duction of $2G,000,000 on beer, or a total re
duction of $06,000,0. Such a reduction,
he said, v.ould necessarily create a deficit.
Mr. Newlands's amendment was lost, CO
to 127.
Mr. Bartholdt offered an amendment
making th rate $1.50.
Mr. Allen, of Mississippi, made a short
and witty speech, closing, he said, his
"great legislative career." He referred
ironically to the need of keeping up taxa
tion and spending more money. He raised
a laugh by describing a. walk in the fash
ionable quarters of Washington and finding
the palatial residences occupied by brew
ers. He opposed any further reduction of
the beer tax.
Mr. Bartholdt and Mr. Fitzgerald, of Mas
sachusetts, spoke in favor of the amend
ment, which was defeated CO to 131.
Mr. Sulzer, of New York, charged that
the Republicans had obtained a large cam
paign fund from the brewers on a pledge
to repeal the $1 additional on beer. They
had been falso to their promise, and he
predicted that the brewers would repudiate
at the next election.
The Payne amendment,' fixing the tax
at $l.ß0 per barrel, was then adopted with
out division.
Mr. Stewart, of New York, offered an
amendment providing that unless the beer
sold was made exclusively of milt and
hops, so pronounced by treasury inspect
ors, the tax upon it should be $2 per barrel,
and accepted an amendment by Mr. Taw
ney, of Minnesota, to include barley in
the ingredients of pure ber. The whole
amendment whs then defeated.
TO PREVENT FRAUD.
Mr. Corliss, of Michigan, offorel an
amendment to require the cancellation of
stamps by perforation. Adopted 123 to 23.
Its stated purpose is to prevent iratfd.t
Mr. Payne then offered as an amend
ment the bill passed by the House at the
last session fixing the siz.? of beer pack
ages. He said it abolished one-sixth and
one-eighth barrels.
Tho amendment was vigorously opposed
by Mr. Fletcher, of Minne va, who e'e
clared that it was a compromise l;y which
tie big brewers agreed to accept he re
duction to $1.60 per b-irrel provided ti:s
amendment was placed in the bill. The,
amendment, he sai3. would crush out the
.mri! brewers.
Mr. Payne denied that the amendment
was in the interest of the large brewers.
The amendment was defeated S5 to 94.
Mr. Newlands offered an amendment
providing that every person, corporation
or firm engaged in manufacture, whose
gross receipts exceed $500,000. shall pay an
excise tax of one-tenth of 1 per cent, on
such receipts above $100,000. and that such
persons, corporations, etc., shall make true
and accurate returns annually to the om
missioner of internal revenue, as in the
case of refiners of. sugar and petroleum.
The purpose of the tax, Mr. Newlands said,
was to make the great trusts and com
binations pay a portion of the war revonu..
It was lost-M to 119.
Mr. Kitchen, of North Carolina, offered
an amendment to reduce the tax on rra.M
ufacturcd tobacco and snuff from 12 to 6
cents per pound, the tax before the war
revenue act went Into effect. Lost 73 to
Mr. II. C. Smith, of Michigan, offered an
amendment to require u tax of I cent upon
express receipts, with a provision designed
to compel the express companies to pay the
tax. Mr. Smith charged that the express
and telegraph companies had been un
patriotic in refusing to bear their share of
the war taxes by compelling their custom
ers to ray the tax. He made a direct ref
erence to a senator of the United States
who Is connected with one of the express
companies, and declared that when the law
was passed that senator had advised the
company not to pay the tax.
2.1r. Payne replied that the express .com
panies had found that they could not pay
the enormous tax and live. He expressed
regret that Mr. Smith had seen fit to make
a personal attack upon a senator of the
United States.
Mr. Smith's amendment was then agreed
to 123 to 106.
Without completing the bill the House,
at 5:25 p. m., adjourned.
The Montnnn Senatorini Cane.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11. Throughout
nearly the entire legislative day the Sen
ate was in secret session discussing the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty. No business of
Importance was transacted in the brief
open session exrept the adoption of
the House resolution providing for a holi
day recess to extend from Friday, Dec 21,
to Thursday, Jan. 3.
Pending a motion by Mr. Lodge that
the Senate proceed to the consideration
of executive- business a brief contention
was precipitated over a phase of the Mon
tana senatorial case. Mr. Jones, of Ar
kansas, announced that he had been di
rected by the committee on contingent ex
penses to ask that a resolution pro
viding for the payment of the ex
panses of an investigation of the claims
of William A. Clark and Martin Magln
nis to a seat in the Senate under appoint
ment of the Governor of Montana, be re
ferred to the committee on privileges and
elections, as it had not come from a stand
ing committee.
Mr. Chandler, the chairman of that com
mittee, immediately reported it back to
the Senate and asked for its adoption.
This was objected to on technical grounds,
but the resolution finally was referred to
the committee on contingent expenses.
The Senate then, at 12:50 p. m., went into
executive session upon the Hay-Paunce-fote
treaty, and at 4:30 p. m. adjourned
until to-morrow.
THE PRECIOUS METALS
PRODUCTION OF GOLD AND SILVER
IX THE CALENDAR YEAR 18!K.
Output of Gold in the United States
Was 871,053,400, and the Ynlnc of
Silver Mined Wn $32,K5S,700.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 14. The report of
the director of the mint on the production
of gold and silver in the United States
during the calendar year 1SU9 shows only
slight variation from the approximate fig
ures given out early in the present year.
The final figures are $71,033,400 for gold and
$32,858,700 for silver at its average com
mercial value during the year. The gold
product was the greatest in the history of
the country, exceeding that of 1SD3 by $6,-
590,500, and greater by $0,053,400 than the
estimated product of 1S53, the record year
in the working of the California placers.
The principal gains in 1S99 over 180S were In
Alaska, $2,954,700, due to the Cape Nome
district; Colorado, $2,7S7,CO0, and Utah, $1.
165,400. The silver product of the United
States in 1S39 was slightly greater than in
1S98, being 54,764.000 ounces, against 54,438,000
ounces. The average price for silver during'
the year, on the London quotations, was
60 cents an ounce, as compared with 5D
cents in 1S9S.
The following figures, by States and Ter
ritories, show the value of the product of
gold and silver in the United States for
the calendar year 1S9-J, as estimated by the
director of the mint, the figures for silver
being the commercial value:
Gold. Silver.
Alabama $4.300 $00
Alaska 3,459.500 84,000
Arizona 2.5G6.100 946.9S0
California 15.197.SO0 494.580
Colorado 25.9S2.SO0 12,597,740
Georgia lll.Ooo. 21)
Idaho l,Sfc!M'J 2.311.0S0
Maine Z,(M , 300
Maryland M CO
Michigan - 100 ' 67.6S0
Missouri 100 00
Montana 4,700,100 9.657.CO0
Nevada 2,219,000 506.040
New Mexico SSl.ljO 301,90
North Carolina 34.500 1 80
Oregon 1.429.50J 80,580
South Carolina 160.M0 240
South Dakota 6.469.5W S7.360
Texas ClKHj 312.010
Ftah 3,45u,KK 4,Ä5..VJ
Vermont Km
Virginia 7.HJ0 60
Washington GS5,4iO 153,6'W
Wyoming 29,20u 210
Totals $71,053,400 $32.838,700
The world's production of gold in 1SD9
was of the value of J3O6.S84.90O, an increase
of 19.15?,300 over the yield of 1S9S. The
principal gains were $G.5fJ0,4W in the United
Mates. $7,4S5.600 in Canada (mainly In the
Klondike), and Australasia, $14,SG0,t:00. The
most Important loss was in Africa, which
lell about $7,000,000 below the output of
as a result of the war in the Trans
vaal. The war broke out in September,
and mining operations in that field were
almost suspended. But for the interrup
tion in the Transvaal tho world's Oproduc
tion for the year would doubtless have been
$25,000,000 greater. The Klondike output for
l&9ti was about $16,000.000. The world's pro
ouction of silver in 1K9 was 107.224,243 fine
ounces, against 1G5,2J5,572 fine ounces in
1S98.
The value of the production of gold and
silver in the world auring the calendar year
1S99 is as follows, silver being given its
commercial value:
Countries. Gold. Silver.
North America
United States $71.053,400 $32.S5S,7
Mexico &,5oo,OO0 33,367,300
Canada and New
foundland 21.321,300 2,047,000
Africa .: 73.227,100
Australasia 79,321,600 7,612,000
Europe
Russia 22,lhr,100
Austria-Hungary .... 1,943.900
Germany 74,200
Norway
Sweden 70,600
Itnly 1()D000
Spain 2.000
Portugal 4.700
Greece
Turkey K.200
Servia 13,300
France
Great Britain 5S.800
South America
Argentina 137.700
Bolivia CS.50J
Chile $03,000
Colombia 1.S09.5O0
Ecuador 47.900
Brazil 2,143.500
Venezuela 1.0S9.300
Guiana (British) 2.010,500
Guiana (Dutch) 5S7.CO0
Guiana (French)...... 1.6SK.700
Peru C2S.0O0
Uruguay 34,400
Central America 5S1.200
80,900
1,137,200
3,715,200
lOd.100
44.200
42,700
1,47U'X)
2,600
795.600
5.3rt0
11.000
276.600
111,900
230,100
6,506,400
2.S52.SU0
2.112.fMXJ
4,600
2,833,600
"kV.so'j
996,100
Asia
Ja ix in
790,500
China 5.574,400
Korea 1,450.000.
East Indies (Dutch).. 117,600
East Indies (British). 425.100
India (British) 8,517,500
Total $306,584.000 $100,221.1 00
Mexico leads, and Mexico and the United
Stales produce two-thirds of the sliver
yield of the world. The world's industrial
consumption of gold is estimatea at $72,-
G5S.50Q and of silver $21,595,600.
Demand for Family Bibles.
December Chautauquan.
People who deal in Bibles say that the
demand for family Bibles, having the fam
ily records between the two Testaments,
has almost wholly ceased. They do not
know whether thl3 is because family pray
ers have almost ceased, or are said to have
done so. or whether their place is being
taken by teachers' Bibles, the sales of
which are rapidly increasing. Some years
since Bibles bore the Oxford imprint. Now
almost all of the best Bibles are manufac
tured in (his country. Some plates arc
brought from England, but for tho - most
part these are reserved to print the cheaper
Bibles for the use of the Bible societies
One can buy Bibles at JtOO a copy, but tho
Bible trade says the average price paid
nowadays for Bibley is about $1. Apart
from the American Bible Society and its
auxiliaiies, the public absorbs about 2.0J.-
000 copies a year. Hence the general pub
lic of the United States spends $2.000.000 a
year for Bibles at this end of this century
It is not so great a sum as it ppends for
tobacco or tome other things, but Bible
sellers say it is a greater amount than ever
before, and one that Is steadily Increasing.
SEVEN WERE BURNED
LIVES OF SEVEXTY-FIVE GlItL STU
DEXTS PERILED I1V FIRE.
Xormal nnd Training; School' De
stroyed and Sonic of the Occu
pants I'nnble to Escape.
SCREENS BARBED WINDOWS
AD THE LADDERS OX THE OUTSIDE
COULD XOT BE REACHED.
Janitor and Six Student MIssinsr
One Girl Went Back After a
Rlns and Petiahed.
DUNKIRK, N. Y., Dec. 14.-From the
smoldering ruins of the Fredonla State
Normal and Training School, which was
destroyed by fire this morning, one charred
body has been recovered. A revision of
the list of missing makes It certain that
seven persons perished in the fire, which
also entailed a property loss of $200,000.
There were seventy-five young women stu
dents in the building. Six of them perished.
The other victim was the aged janitor. The
dead are:
PHINEAS J. MORRIS, Janitor.
IRENE JONES, of Bustl. N. Y.
BESSIE HAT1IWAY, of Cannon3ville,
N. Y.
RUTH THOMAS, Pike, N. Y.
CORA STORMS, Boston, N. Y.
MAE WILLIAMS, Lake Coma, Pa.
MAUD F. FIZZELL. Bradford. Pa.
The young women occupied rooms on the
third floor. On this floor was also a
matron and fifty other young women, who
succeeded In escaping by the fire escapes.
The body which was recovered from the
ruins is supposed to bo that of Miss
Storms. It was burned beyond recogni
tion. To account for the origin of the fire puz
zles the local board of managers, as there
is no fire in the building, the heat being
piped from a boiler two blocks away. The
fire started in the private room of Janitor
Morris, and was discovered by Charles
Gibbs, assistant Janitor, who notified Jan
itor Morris and then ran to the fire alarm
station, a block away. Janitor Morris
evidently lost his life while fighting the
fire. Miss Fizzell was at the head of the
fire escape and turned back into the burn
ing building to save a diamond ring, thus
losing her life. The others who perished
suffocated without being able to find the
fire escapes. It is said that heavy wire
screens were firmly nailed across the win
dows leading to the fire escapes, and the
only way the lucky ones escaped was by
crawling through windows adjacent to the
escapes and then creeping along the gutter
of the mansard roof. Lawyers say there
will be damage suits Instituted against
the State because of the fire escape screens.
A search for remains is being made as
rapidly as possible, but, digging over an
acre of debris, which is still burning, is
slow work. Principal Palmer estimates the
loss at $200,000, with $93,000 insurance. Noth
ing was saved from the magnificent build
ing, not even the personal effects of the
ladies in the dormitory or the valuable
records of the school. Grief-stricken par
ents are arriving to assist in the search
for their dead.
School has been adjourned until Jan. 3.
Then classes will meet In the different
halls and churches of the village. Plans
for a new and larger structure are already
under way. The Legislature will be asked
to make an appropriation equal to the in
surance. Theater Damaged by Fire.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 14. The Standard The
ater, well known throughout the country
as a variety and vaudeville house, was
damaged by fire to-day. Loss, $20,000, cov
ered by Insurance. The Utopian Burlesque
Company suffered a loss of $2,000.
Bicycle Works Destroyed.
CHICAGO. Dec. 14. The Fowler bicycle
and carriage works, on Carpenter street,
were destroyed by fire to-night. Loss on
building and contents, $80,000.
. . MAY BJEXECT IT.
(CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE.)
ton-Bulwer treaty is. He thought it en
tirely competent for this country to pass
the Hepburn canal bill and proceed with
the canal Independently of all treaties
either in force or pending.
Senator Spooner combatted tho argu
ments of Mr. Culberson. He said he favored
the canal and believed the United States
should have the right to fortify and defend
it, but could not accept the view that we
should proceed in that great work in total
dtsregard of the existence of the agreement
of 1850. Great Britain, he said, is a friendly
power, and he would not consent to any
ruthless proceedings. But he would go at
the work of preparing for the construction
in an orderly way, which would insure the
support and good will of a kindred people,
lie was, therefore, an advocate of the pend
ing negotiation. He said that Great Britain
on three different occasions had approached
this country to secure the abrogation of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty, but on each occa
sion tho United States had declined the
overture. True, the proposition had been
acted on by the State Department without
consulting Congress, but at any rate the in
cidents at least Indicated the English atti
tude upon the question of abrogation.
Senator Lindsay spoke for the ratification
of the treaty without further amendment.
He said he had even opposed the commit
tee's amendment adopted yesterday be
cause, to his mind, the amendment Is a con
cession to Great Britain which it Is un
necessary to make. "It concedes," he said,
"that without the amendment Great Britain
would have the right to pass ships through
the canal in time of war, and I am not
willing to have the United States take that
position. I think the treaty would have
been stronger without the amendment."
Mr. Lindsay also announced his willingness
to treat with Great Britain for the total
abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
Senator McCumber also favored ratifica
tion of the treaty without amendment. Sen
ator Elklns repeated the views expressed
by him yesterday for absolutely independ
ent action in the construction of the canal
and in the operations of the United States
in Central America.
STILL KESEXTFIL.
London Xevrspnpcrs Object to Amend
ment of the Treaty.
LONDON, Dec. 13. "No other construc
tion can be placed upon the action of the
United States," says the Daily Chronicle,
"than that senators have deliberately made
up their minds to force England into a
false position and to make the refusal to
ratify the Hay-Pauncefote treaty come
from this side. President McKinley, as
usual, shouts with the larger crowd. If
the United States goes out of the way to
break treaty engagements such conduct
will come within the definition of an 'un
friendly act.' We are loath to think that
the era of good relations with America is
coming to an end, but If she were to take
advantage of our complications in South
Africa and China after we had given our
aid during her complications with Spain
we could neither desire nor trust her
friendship in the future."
The Dally Chroniele publishes an article
from a correspondent who contends that it
would be rather to British interests than
otherwise for the canal to le fortified. lie
snys: "Forts cannot protect a canal if
an enemy operating against them has com
mand of the sea. because the blockading
tquadron beyond the range of the forts can
completely block the canal as a highway.
It is difficult to understand why Great
Britain objects and why the Americans
desire to fortify; and it is rather unfortu
nate that the matter should have be
come one of principle. Germany, Japan
and Russia have ail more cedent reason
to wish the canal unprotected than we
have, because, if unfortified, it could more
easily be pelted to our detriment"
The Times, which regards the matter as
a "check to President McKinley." nnd
suggests that "'the new Senate, meeting
In March, may not consider Itself bound
by the present vote." pays: "In any rso
our course is perfectly clear. Mr. Mc
Kinley is well aware that it would 1 a
superfiuous and unmeanincr formality to
present the mutilated Hay-Pauncefote
treaty before her Majesty's government.
The proposal to give the United States mil
itary authority over the canal is analogous
to that technicality reserved to Turkey
under the Suez convention. It ignores such
vital distinctions as that Egypt Is a vassal
of Turkey and that the exercise of tho
authority In question requires to be sanc
tioned by the protecting powers under the
treaty of London. England has made a
frank -and literal offer in the hope of re
moving any possible cause of discord, and
despite the action of the United States
Senate we believe the course of Great Brit
ain is appreciated by the people of the
United States. If concessions are refuse-1
we can only express our regret. Our ex
isting treaty rights remain untouched."
The Dally Telegraph says: "Nothing
could be more unfortunate. The temper of
the Senate is clear and unmistakable. It
is quite possible that tne result will be to
postpone the construction of the canal for
years. Great Britain has clearly defined
rights under the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
At the Käme time it needs scarcely be said
that her Majesty's government will not
display any dog-ln-the-manger temper
towards the United States. Proof of this
had already been given and will certainly
be forthcoming again when the British
Foreign Office Is approached with respect
to the Senate's amendment through the
usual diplomatic channels."
The Dally News, which argues that the
question is one primarily for the Amer
ican people themselves, ays the amend
ment denotes hostility to the canal quite
as much as to Great Britain.
Attitude of the French.
PARIS, Dec. 14. The French government
will not offer objection to any action of
the United States Congress regarding the
Clayton-Ilulwer treaty. They prefer that
the Nicaragua canal should be neutral, but
they appreciate the United States strategic
reasons for fortifying tho canal, and
France's interests are too small to induce
the government to interfere in any way
in the matter. It is thought, however, that
while it is natural the United States should
close the canal in case of a war in which
she herself is concerned the canal might
reasonably be expected to be left open
In the event of a war between other pow
ers. This, however, is only an expression
of opinion.
CANNOT SEND WARSHIP
3IISSIOXARY APPEALS IX VA1X TO
THE GOVERXMEXT.
Wants Protection In the Xerr
Hebrides, bnt They Are Too Far
Array Special Pension Ullis.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. About the only
subject of popular interest discussed in
the very short Cabinet meeting to-day waa
the i iication of the Rev. James F. Hill,
of Cannonsburg, Pa., for governmental ail
in protecting native Christians in tho New
Hebrides islands. The subject was brought
before the Cabinet by Secretary Long, to
whom the application had been made for a
warship In behalf of the missionary Inter
ests. The islands lie about a thousand
miles east of Australia and just north of
New Caledonia. They have been under
divided French and British protectorate.
There was a general disposition on the part
of the Cabinet officers to do everything
proper and possible to meet the request of
the missionary Interests. But it was found
to send a warship to this out-of-the-way
part of the .world would require a trip of
about 4,000 miles from the nearest Amer
ican station, and the Navy Department
has no vessels now available for such pur
pose. It was also reported that French
and British gunboats patrol these seas,
and doubtless would seek to prevent any
such attack on the native Christians as is
said to have teen planned.
Xovcl Substitute for Subsidy Bill.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 14. Senator Allen,
of Nebraska, ' to-day proposed a substi
tute for the pending ship subsidy bill pro
viding for. "the protection of agricultural
staples and American ships in the foreign
trade by authorizing the payment of boun
ties on exports of agricultural products of
tho United States." The substitute pro
vides for a bounty of 10 cents a bushel on
wheat; 50 cents a barrel on wheat Hour;
10 cents a bushel on rye; 50 cents a barrel
on rye flour; G cents a bushel on corn; 7
cents per cental on corn, ground; 1 cent
a pound on cotton; 2 cents ,a pound on
bops, and 2 cents a found on tobacco. It
also directs the President to arrange for
the abrogation of all treaties in contraven
tion with the proposed legislation.
Special Pension Bills.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14. The Hous
committee on pensions will report back the
Senate bill pensioning Mrs. Lawton at $100
monthly with an amendment reducing it to
$50 monthly. This was the pension given
the widows of General Egbert. Colonel
Stotsenberg and Captain Capron. Mrs.
iAwton's friend. in Congress will try to
have the Senate figures retained in con
ference if the Hou?e will not restore them
over the committee's report.
Senator Fairbanks to-day Introduced bPls
to pension William Mathers, of the Maren
go Light Guards. Indiana Legion, at $12
monthly and increase the pension of
Andrew M. Banks, Company II, Thirteenth
Indiana, to $72 monthly.
General Xotes.
Percy A. Parry, editor of the Hammond
(Ind.) Tribune, Is at the Arlington.
The postofflcca at Arcana. Jadden. Pucket
and Union Grove. Grant county, Indiana,
have been ordered discontinued. Mall to
Marlon, whence it will be distributed by
rural free delivery.
The newly-elected commissioner from
Porto Rico, Mr. Degttau. made his appear
ance at the Capitol yesterday for the first
time, and was cordially welcomed by sen
ators and representatives.
The Senate has confirmed the following
nominations: George V. L. Meyer, of Mas
sachusetts, to be ambassador to Italy;
John R. Brennan. to be Indian agent at
Pine Ridge agency, S. D.
The Cabinet held a brief session yester
day, all the members being present except
Attorney General Griggs. A number of
subjects were discussed, but nothing of
public interest transpired.
The House committee on judiciary has re
ported favorably bills establishing two
United States judicial districts in Ken
tucky and West Virginia, respectively, and
making the requisite provision for addi
tional Judges.
Senator Vest, of Missouri, lias Introduced
a bill for the establishment. In connec
tion with the Depanment of Justice, of a
national bureau of t.rimlnal identiticntion.
The measure i urged by the ixillee super
intendents of the United States.
The lowest bidder for the contract for
furnlfhlng seeds for congressional distribu
tion during the fiscal year 1JKÜ received by
the Agricultural Department was the New
York Market C.ardeners' Association. $101.
973. Among other estimates submitted were
the Henry Philipps Seed and Implement
Company. Toledo. O.. $11.1. OfC; Ullathorno
Seed Company, Memphis, Term., 119,0C7.
Privates Benjamin Staley and Thomas
Feaster, cf Company G. Forty-eighth
Volunteer Infantry, stationed in the Philip
pines, were convicted recently by court
martial of rape and desertion, and each
was hcntenced to be hanged. The Presi
dent has commuted the sentence in cadi
case to dishonorable discharge, forfeiture
of all pAy and allowanees. and confine
ment at hard labor at Leavenworth ri.-:ca
for a period of twenty years.
Nothing Is known In Washington of any
Intention on the part of the PresiiUrst tj
make such a change In the personnel tf
the United States legation ot Madrid u
would be involved in the appointment cf
Volney W. Foster, of Illinois, to b min
ister in place of Bellamy Storer. It l
that Mr. Foster was one of the orljrinal
asplrr.nts for the Spanish rrUsIon hen
Mr. Storer was appointed. i.nl It Is net
known he has renewed Ids effort to secure
the place since the President acted. So
fur as Mr. Storrr Is cf.rcernd It is tated
I twltively thnt nothing !ut 1.! ow deter
mination would cause him to be rcllcvcJL