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Hi , 1 , i ii -,.,..,.,,. ii i . . ,1 ti .4, l WEDNESDAY. JAKUAnY 4. 18f6. Subscriptions hf 3f nil. roitpnld. XrAHV. per Month 0 fto 'DAILY, per Ycr . .. .( OOO SUNDAY, per Year 9 00 DAILY AND SUNDAY, per Year 8 OO DAILY AND SUNDAY, per Monti 70 ote to foreign countries added. Tin Stra. New York City. ysnis Kloiaas No. 13, nesr 8mnd tlotel, and JUosque Mo. 10, Boulevard dea Cspuclnn. If tur friendi trse favor ut Kith nanuterittli for pvbUetHon with lo r rtiected artic'tt returned, Uiv jlj mtutinaUcait) lend itampt for thai purpoie. Mi Idncolnon tlie Authority of the Fathers. During tho antl-slavory contest tlmt rent U tho nntlon, tho authority of tho fathers of W tho republic was constantly and confidently jjl appealed to by tho supporters of tho slavo ff power as n Justification of tho doctrlno that W mnn could lawfully hold property In man. Mp Tho early abolitionists and. later on, tho jjp leaders of tho young llcpubllcan party Jr , woro swift to discover In tho writings of IE, AYabiiinoto.v, Adams, Fiunkmn, JEFrxn- II I fox and many other Revolutionary pn- j s trlots nrgumcuts equally cffcctlvo and con- ylnelng on their sldo of t ho great argument. L' Adhauam Lincoln, for Instance, In tho I first address that ho mado boforo an liist- ? ,crn audience, delivered at tho Cooper Instl- tuto In February, 1800, mado a most dab s'1 rato analysis of tho atlltudo on tho slavery '- .question of tho men who framed tho Con- aUtution and piovod conclusively that n majority of tho "thirty-nlno fathors" who f Appended their names to tho organlo law of 1 the Union clearly runnlfested by their votes In tho early Congresses that followed that 'thoj' woro opposed to tho extension of 'star f fry. That speech was noversucccssfully an- Ii 'BWred by thochamplonsof tho slavo powor. " - In tho samoo(ldro8s tho mat lyr President formulated n rule In regard to! tho binding forco of tho "authority of tho fathers" f 'vhlchhaBspeclnl and forceful application at f tho presont timo when so many nativo and ' forclgn-born anti-expansionists aro delving I Into tho mlldowcd archives of a century and m quarter ago to find arguments agnlns't tho manifest dostiny of tho ropubllo In tho -twentieth century. Mr. Lincoln said: ' "i" I do not mean to say wo are bourn! to follow Im plicitly in whatever our fathers did. To do bo would ba to illirard all the lights of current experience to I reject all progress, all improvement. What I do ssy f It that If we would supplant the opinions and policy I x of our fathers In any case, we should do so upon (r Svldence so conclusive, and argument so clear, that r Tn their great authority, fairly considered and welshed, cannot stand." T' Mr. Lincoln was discussing slavery. Ho j I had established his point boyond nil refutn-- tlon that tho majority of tho fathers woro J opposed to carrying inepecuilar institution , ? Into tho Territories, but still whllo trl- umphontly quoting them on his sldo ho t' was not willing torost his' nrgumenton that ground alone, for to do 60 " would bo to y' discard nil tho lights of current experience & to reject all progress, all improvement." B In his beneficent policy of expansion f Thomas Jefferson hod tho earnest sup- h port of Madison, who was then tho fore- i most uIhii In public life of all who had helpedto frame tho Constitution. Madison : was then called " tho father of tho Constl- ' E" ttition ;""b'ut tho third President did not Y base his action in tho Louisiana purchase t upon tho authority of his great Secretary fr of Stato and successor in tho Presidency. W rio carried his splendid project to complc- I tlon because, to quote Abraham Lincoln, , he was unwilling "to discard all tho lights . ot current experience to reject all prog- P- xes, nil Improvement." i JP'fl Jefforson-Llncoln doctrlno embodies ? tjie policy of tho Republican party to-day. tVhlle living tip to tho teachings of tho ' 'majority of tho " fathers" in enlarging tho ; area and extending tho power nnd influ enco of tho republio above nnd boyond .thy m it follows tho higher law of progress arid civilization. ,' ' -J ': The Subjects In Dispute Between ; ,-v France nnd England. I It Is said that negotiations aro now going cn'betwocn Lord SALisnuitY and tho French ( Ambassador In London with tho view of uf- feeling u general set tlomcnt of nil tho mat- ters in controversy between Great Britain i and Fiance. Wo connot accept tills report I without somo qualifications, for inasmuch if as the Interests of tho two countries seem Jr'reconcllnblo In Egypt and In China, nnd even In other parts of tho globe, it will ? rjrovo extremely dlflicult to bring about an accommodation. " ' Credible enough is tho announcement I that the British Foreign Offlco is willing to concede n good deal to tho French in West Afriea by way of compensation for tho abandonment of tho fishery rights off tho ehoreo of Xewfoundlnnd given to Franco by tle rcacoof Utrecht in 1 71 :i, and confirmed by tho Pcnco of Versailles in 1783. An ; authority on International questions, Kir Cuaiileh Dilki:, formerly Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has often declared that, B" long ns tho Newfoundland question re mained open, tho maintenance of friendly relations between Frnnconnd Knglnnd could L not bo regarded ns assured. In return for p tho surrender of tho rights just mentioned, 1 Iord SALisnunv Is willing, wn aro told, to cedo Oamhinand n part of Sierra Leono to Frnnee, thus materially strengthening tho f position of that country on tho west const L of Africa. The consideration will bo deemed f Adequate by Impartial obsorvers, for tho R Jif wfoundland fisheries havo lost much of tlielr former valuo for Franco, nnd it Is h cjijelly tho sentiment of national prldn that hhs withhold lii-r from parting with tho I Inn romnnntf her quondam emplro in Kbrth America. .Jn Africa, on tho othor hand, Franm ! has boforo her tho proppot of creating '.' B'now colonial dominion In tho vnst re- r ,Btpn which lies south of tho Sahara, arid which stmtclies from tho Atlantic to the westei n shnrosor Lnko Tchad. What Ik should constituto tho eastern boundary of K this dominion is, of course, ono of tho ques- ' tlons nlxmt which Franco nnd Etiglnnd dls. I agree, tho former country contending that, - even if tho occupation of Faslioda by Major i MAKCiiA.sn bo disavowed, her sphere of In- flupnee should include nt least a part of tho K Btir-el-fihnzal distilct, so that sho might ir havo commercial nccoss to tho valloy of tho X?ppcr Nile. V ' Hut tho British Foreign Office has as- B, seited that Its spln-ro of Inllunnco In g; tho Kastern Soudnn extends westward- T. ly'to d iiicilillan drawn along tho east- ern ehoro of Lnko Tchad, and Including !e the wholo of tho fntllo tract watered ,L by tlm Bahr-cI-Gliazal nnd Its affluents, j It would nppear thnt theso conflicting ijp claims might be compromised by a mod- erste concession on tho part of Great I BUtaln, Buch as, It Is reported, Lord Salis- J . nunv Is disposed to make. It will bo more difficult, howoror, to rcconollo Franco to tho execution of tho tripartite treaty by which Portugal, It Is understood, has cove nanted to dlvldo her possessions In South eastern Africa botwoon England nnd Ger many. Tho French Forolgn Offlco will un doubtedly nrgtio that, by this transaction, tho principles of partition laid down nt the Borlln Conference havo been violated. Technically, that may bo true, but, na n matter of fact, Franco possesses, In hor right of preemption with re gard to tho Congo State, moro than an equivalent for tho blocks of torrltory which Germany nnd England mayncqulro from Portugal, Thoro Is reason to bcllcvo that on tho death of tho present King of tho Bolglnns tho Congo Stato will bo for sale, nnd France should bo glad of nn as suranco from Great Britain that no resist ance will bo offered to tho oxorclso of tlm French right of preemption. On thowholo there seems to bo no reason to doubt that If tho cause of Incossnnt friction In New foundland waters could bo removed a de limitation of tho French and British spheres of influcnco In Africa might bo mado satis factory to Franco. As for Egypt, tho French havo no moro right to object to tho assertion of a British prqtcctorato over that country than Eng lishmen havo to tho pursuanco of a precise ly slmljar courso by Franco In tho Tunisian Regency nnd In Madagascar. It Is Im probablo Hint Lord Salisbury will consent oven to discuss tho presont nnd prospcctlvo status of tho Nllo valloy. Ho may deem it judicious, howovcr, to postpono tho procla mation of a proteotornto until tho matters In dlsputo between Franco nnd Englnnd, to which wo havo referred nbove, havo boon arranged. It Is also probablo that ho will Insist upon leaving tho respective rotations of tho two countries to Cldna out of tho question. English and French Interests In tho Far East would be, as wo havo snld, Irreconollnblo, oven If Franco woro not committed to corporation In tho Russian programme which contomplates tho dismemberment of tho Mlddlo KIngr dom. Tho irreducible minimum of tho French demands In this qunrtor Is tho cxcluslvo right of access by railway to tho southwestern provinces of tho Celestial Empire. That Is somothlng to which Great Britain will nover consent, though sho might not object to tho French entering Yunnan by railway from Tonquiu, provided thoro wcro given to hor tho corresponding prlvllcgo of penetrating tho same Chineso province by an Iron road from Burmah. In Slnm also It Is probablo that England has reached the limit of hor concessions, and that Franco will not bo sufforcd to push her frontier In farther India westward. So numorous, indeed, nnd complex nro tho subjects of controversy between Franco and Great Britain Unit a paclllc settlement of all of them seems boyond the rango of practical diplomacy. New York Saved In Spite of Itself. The swelling wave of prosperity which is now gladdening every heart in Now York set In after the November election, and Is a direct consequence of It; yet through tho leadership of tho Tammany organ ization at that election this city did all In Its power to prevent tho happy re sult by giving ono of the greatest ma jorities of Its history against tho party of honesty. nnd prosperity, nnd, conse quently, directly against It? own Interest. Governor Roosevelt carried tho Stato by a plurality of 17,780, but, as tho official te turns show, ho had to overcome pluralities in Democratic counties aggregating 89, 108, to which total this city of Now Yoik nlono contributed 84,530, or all ex cept 4,008. Tho largest Demociotle plu rality In any other county was in Erie, where it was furnished by Buffalo, tho sec ond city In tho State, but It was 2,242 only. Tho remaining Democratic pluralities In outsido counties wcro comparatively trifling 025 In Albany, 102 in Chemung, 52 In Hamilton, 001 In Rensselaer, and 743 in Schoharie. Tho State outside of this clty-of Now York voted for honor and honesty in tho Stato nnd tho nation nnd for tho 'prosperity of both. Tills great city, by a plurality of 8 1,530, voted to arrest tho current of pros perity which had set in so powerfully after tho defent of Bryan in 1 800. Tho financial nnd commercial capital of America, des tined to become tho financial capital of tho world, if still restrained by tho political wisdom and patriotism of tho rest of tho Stnto and nation, voted by a vast majority to send back Itself nnd tho whole country to tho doubt, nnxicty, depression, nnd paralysis which prevailed In 1800. Tho essential Importance of tho last elec tion, as was evident nt tho timo and ns has been demonstrated so completely since Its occurrence, was in its bearing on tho vital national question of tho currency. Ob viously, n Democratic majority in Con gress meant business disturbance nnd disaster, a )xar markot, a winter of dis-, Irsss. Yet New York, tho commercial and financial capital of Ameiico, rejected overy outspoken honest money enndidnto for Congress and elected only candidates avowedly for freo sliver or ashamed and afraid to confess their opinions on tho ques tion, or to givo any Indication how they would voto upon it In Congress. Tho city of Now York In 1808 did all it could to destroy tho effect of tho victory over Brynnlsm In 1800, and It was so far successful as to reduco tho euro sound money majority In tho Houso of Representatives to n limit so small that Immediately after tho election fnlso reports that actually It had been trans formed Into n Democrntlo majority sent a chill to overy mnrket. Now York also voted by n vast majority for n Ldglsla turo which would havo elected a freo silver Senator to tho United States Sennto, to In crease tho danger. Nor was this great Democratic majority In tho city of Now York mado up from tho "slums" of tho town. It Included prac tically fho whole party ns It now exists nnd most of tho Mugwumps, Its allies bankers, bank Presidents, merchnnts, law yers, men of property, men who protend to bo governed by reason nnd conservatism. All tho same, they voted for depression and disaster, knowingly, deliberately, after n thorough understanding of the danger In volved. Tho llnnnclnl and commercial mar kets havo celebintcd their defeat evor since tho 8th of November, for It hna as sured a period of financial prosperity prob ably moro brilliant than any In our post history. Evon tho Democrats thomsolves nro now participating In tho blessings con sequent on tho fidelity of tho outsido Stato to sound principle, many of them In largo mcasuroj for " Ho niuketh His suntorlso on tho ovll and on tho good, nnd sendeth rain on the Just nnd on the unjust." Now. why was such a demonstration pds siblo in the great centre of American com merce nnd flnanco, with nil its Intorcsts vitally dependent on tho triumph of tho 1 a very political principled nnd policies to which It opposod Its vast majority of near ly 85,000? Excepting tho city of Now York, tho old Confederate South and tho potty silver producing States almost ex clusively) tho wholo Union voted for national prosperity. All tho othor great cities voted for It. Why was It that Now York alone, moro deeply concornod In thnt prosperity than any other American com munity, votod for national adversity, to ar rest tho progress of trade, and to send back tho country Into trotiblo and anxloty ? It had to bo saved from Itself, llko a luna tic who would cost himself over a precipice. If tho Crokor-Van Wyck party had hnd its way evorywhoro nnd salvation had not cotno to this city from outsido, tho porlod of unoxamplod national prosperity now begun would havo boon transformed Into a time of doubt and confusion. Tho Great Detroit Uprising Against Im perialism. When tho Hon. Potato PiNOREn nnd tho Anll-Impcrlalist Lcaguo unito to savo tho country, tho country Is mighty ungrateful If It refuses to bo saved. It History Is worth her salt, bIio will record In lotters of brass that tho Hon. Potato Finqree and tho Anti-Imperialist Lcaguo have so unltod, and also, alas) that tho country declined to accept their obliging Joint ofTor. When Pinoree wonted to savo tho country, ho bid expense go hang. So ho hired a hall In Detroit last week; Imported, llkowlso at his own charge, a Boston contractionlst shlppod to him by tho Lcaguo; and sent out somo 2,000 postal cards urging tho citizens of Detroit to cotno and seo tho Mugwump missionary rip up Imperialism. PotXto himself, ono of tho best known attractions In tho West, wns booked to prcsldo at his meeting. Wo should havo supposed thnt at least 5,000 persons would want to seo an anti-lmporlallst drummer from Boston. Thero wns every reason to hopo for a grand popular niBh to tho show. Tho Dotrolt pollco must havo beon very anxious. Tho Light Guard, whoso armory wns to bo thosccno of tho tromendous dem onstration, must havo trembled for tho safety of their building. At last tho fateful night came. Tho Bos ton contractionlst had arrived safo and had been duly delivered to tho consignee. Escorted by tho beaming Pixqree, ho mado his way through tho surging multitudes to tho platform. Pinoree introduced him. "I havo been watching our good Presi dent," cried Potato, "and I must say that ho has never uttered a word against trusts nnd monopolies, yet he is anxious to do something for humanity," whereas tho tuber statesman Is always uttering words against trusts nnd monopolies and Is always anxious to do something for Pinoree. And now tho Boston delegate Is swatting imperialism. Just ns ho Is showing by un erring statistics worthy of tho Hon. Alad din Atkinson himself, thnt "for every dollar taken out of tho Philippines twenty will bo taken from tho peoplo of this country," we can thrown lend Into tho sea of faces : Number of scats lu the hU :,ArtO Number of seats occupied 300 According to another enumerator, thero weio only 200 peoplo present, but wo gladly accept tho larger figure. Wo will not subtract ono drop from that bucketful of faces or seek to diminish the significance of tho great popular uprising In Detroit against Imperialism. It Is not certain whether tho 200 or 300 were hired orwhotlier they wcro frionds and heelers of tho Hon. Potato Pingbee. The Outcome of the Massachusetts Contempt Cnsc. The editor of tho Boston TrarrUr, who recently was sentenced to imprisonment in tho Deilhnm jnll for contempt of court, has acknowledged that the judgment against him was warranted by the laws of Massa chusetts. This Is his statement in refer ence to tho matter: "On Dec. 2.1 last I was sentenced to a term of Im prisonment for contempt of court in publishing sn srtlcle entitled "A Servant's Responsibility," which appeared lu the Jloiton Traveler of Dec. 15. What erer criticism of my attitude may hate appeared in the public press, I desire to ststethat I have become convinced that it is the law of this Commonwealth that during the progress of a trial no newspaper shall publish criticisms of or comments on the trial which may come to tho Lunwlede of the jury, and which. If they do come to tho knowledzo of the Jury, may influence the result of the trial, "Asa la -abldliiK citizen it is my desire and inten tion to ronforin to the law of the Commonwealth, I admit that mysintencoby the Superior Court, which sentence wat affirmed by ihe Supreme Judicial Court, was within tho law, and as long as this continues to bo the law of the Commonwealth I purposo to ob serve It. Tobhet K. WRDNrn, "Editor of the 'rQreler." The offending nrliclo must bo read in full In order to appreciate tho preclso character of tho alleged contempt. Wo copy It from tho Traveler: " a srnvAST's nturojcsiim.iTT. " The public will await with the most lively interest -the results of tho trial now in progress in the Ded ham Court House, In which Dakiei. W. Oncilr.i.r. ap pears to suswer to the charco of manslaughter. Uf.tciifm., it will be remembered, waa tho engineer of thn second section of the New London tialn on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad which on Auk. 'Jl crashed Into the rear end of the first sec tion, causing the death of five persons snd severely injuring many others, liu was indicted by the Grand Jury on thn charge of having 'feloniously and wil fully killed Frsnklln M. Waters of Bomervllie.' It is explained by the District Attorney that 'wilfully does not mean 'with nnlico aforethought,' si thouzh what It d"C-. mean Is not made clesr. "Tho prosecu'lmc attorney expects to prove that Engineer Orrciin.i, :."cd to attempt to check his train until It was too late In bring it ton stop snd prevent th accident, To the ordinary citizen it would aeem that It will not be an easy matter to prov e this, and so shift the responsibility of the acci dent from the railroad corporation to a servant of the road, a thing which it Is v ery desirable, from the standpoint of the corporation, should be done. " It was brought out In the evidence that (li.T ciikli.'s regular' duties consisted of running a shift ing engine in the yard at Mansfield, and that he was put In charzo of a heavily laden passenger train without having had much eiperlence at that work and without familiarity with the road over which the train was run. It may well be imagined tbst It would be Impossible for a man so circumstanced to be responsible, through lnexperienoo and not through anj- fault or neglect, for an accident. Hut no ono would fall to relieve him of moral or legal responsibility In such a case, and to place the blame where it would belong, upon tboae who Intrusted to au inexperienced man such onerous duties. " A witness who waa on the engine with (Istciifll testified yesterday that he saw no red light or futea as tho tialn ran Into Sharon station. 'Jhe first In timation ho had that there was to be a collision was when tne engineer reversed bis engine, and lie could then see the rear end of the first section of. the trsln. this witness, ss well as the fireman, testified that the application of the brakes did not seem to affect the train's sueed. This renders certain one of two things: either that Ihe brakes did not work well or that tho engineer did not know 'how to operatethem, In either case who is to blsrfieT Certainly not Kn gluecraETCiitLL, for if he vjss Inexperienced in the use of the air brake he Is not to be cenrured, but the fault lies with tho road facial pvbo allowed him to operate the train, "From the evidence thus far given it Is probable that the results of tjue trial will be In Oucuiu-'a favor. The responsibility may never be flied." In what did tho contempt consist? Tho basis of tho ehirgo Is tho attempt to obstruct tho duo ndiftlnlstnttlon of Justice. The manifest Intent of tho article, according to tho vlow takon by tho Massachusetts courts, was to.lnuuonco thojury lo decldo thotSolch ell ensoonowoy rather than tho other, upon consldornilons,.and for reasons which wcro suggested jn tho nrtlclo Itselfi It mattered not that tho publication might never havo coino to tho attention of tho Jury until after tho end of tho trial, Thero was tho design to Influcnco thorn In tho lawful oxorclso of their functions and thoro was1 tho attempt, although It provod unsuccessful, Undor tho law of contempt, as It exists In Massa chusetts, this Is enough to render tho pub lisher llablo to punishment in a summary proceeding In which ho Is not entitled to a Jury trial. Wo look with cxtremo disfavor upon any oxorclso of tho summary powor to punish for contempt, oxcept In cases whero It Is ossontlal to lnsuro tho duo administration of tho law. It cannot be tolerated, however, that whllo a casolsbolng tried In court be fore a Jury, It Bhnll dally bo argued t.o tho Jury through tho medium of newspaper nrtlclos designed lo bo read by tho Jurors. Attompts to oxorclso inllllcncoof this kind havo become rogrottably frequent. To check them cffootlvoly, tho court must pos sess Jurisdiction to proccod summarily ngnlnst offenders; otherwise tho certainty that punishment could only bo Inflicted at aromotodatonud after n jury trial would removo all senso of risk from tho minds of writers or publishers, nnd overy Important case of publla Interest would bo trlod by newspaper step by stop with its trial In court. Upon tho acknowledgment of his error and an expression of regret Mr. Wardner was releasad from Imprisonment by order of Judge Sherman of tho Superior Court, by whom ho had been adjudged guilty. Tho disavowal In such a caso of any Inten tional disrespect by tho accused constitutes what lawyors call "purging himself of tho contempt." This process usually suffices to seouro tho roleaso of tho offender whoro tho offenco consists of publishing Improper comments upon a pending trial; but in somo of tho States tho courts havo refused to givo such an effoct to tho dlsclalmor. TnK 8un announces Hi deliberate conviction that the timo has come for a radical and extensive change in the tariff policy of the country. Tuk Scn aeenis now ready to accept an income tax. Button Batty AUrtrtiilr. , Two statemonts. neither of which la true. Having unlimited powers in connection with Cuba, tlio Administration will certalnljrdo well to allow Gon. Wood to Jovoto the customs receipts from Santiago to his plans for lmprov Inu the town. Santiago marked the first Span ish defeat in Cuba. Tho sooner it blossoms Into comploto ordor and healthfulnes3. to which Gen. Wood is cuidlnu' It, tho soonor will tho now spirit spread throughout tho Island. Citizen Sumo Bowles of Spilngfield, Mass., Is cottliiB wnrlike. nnd tho watchman nt tho armory Bliould keep an eyo on him. Ho smolls tho warpaint, and there Is golnc to be trouble His heart bleeds for the downtrodden natives of Hollo, and ho is llablo to deelaro war against tho United States nt any moment. We warn tho r'cdoral authorities that Citizen Biuno Bowi.ks Is mobilizing himself nnd re fuses to submit to arbitration. To-dny tho Hon. Joe Bailey will tnko tho temporaturoof tho Constitution overy quarter of nn hour, suppress Qen. Joe Wiireleii. hurl back three Infamous lies fois nnd gore tho plutocrats, investlgnto tho conduct of the war. weep ovor tho Philippines and exhibit to tho galleries tho largest slncle acreage, of shirt bosom in tho world. Beneath that shirt bosom beats the ono heart that Is truo to tho Consti tution In n dogenorato ace. Well may Cooko county. Tex,, rejolco in this nobio young mnn. There nro few creator statesmen In Cooke county. Tho Hon. EnvrNo Winslow, SocreUry of tho Antl-Imperinllst Leaguo, will occupy Washington this weok for tlio purpose of insttuctiiig tho Sonnto to voto against the penco treaty. Mr. Winslow Is one of tho wisest men In tlio league, prophesies with Croat rapidity, makes statistics whllo vou wait, has the cift of tongue, nnd carries a full stock of erlsisos. We trust that tho Sonato will recelvo hint raeokly and reverently. Ho Is a creat show. TUB T.ECitETVOItn UIIT.E IX ACTIOS. Terribly Urnted nnd Innccurnte. Tlio battle of Omdurmnn revealed defocts in tho Lee-Motford rifle, tlio weapon of tho Brit ish Infantry. Into which It Is reported that in uuiry Is to bo made, and a series of experi ments is projected with a view to Improvement. It appears that during tho action tho effective ness of the rlllo was Impaired by tlio rapid con tinuous flrlnc Tho men In the flfrhtlncHno found It almost Imivoshiblo to hold their over hoated woupoim.nud it became evident Hint the flight of tho bullets wns wild. Whllo no doubt thu overheating nioducod In tho barrels of tho rifles was mainly duo to the great rapidity with which they were llrod. a certain slinro of tho result may also bo attributed to the particular oxploslvo employed. It Is well known that cordite, with which tho cnrtrldgt-snro charged, evolves n high decree of hont, which, added to the grout friction pro duced by tho passage of tho projectile through tlio harrol, would bring about the reported overheating described. Tho friction would In crenso with the inward expansion of trie metal of tho barrel, until nt last the heat would ho sn f :rent thnt the surface, of tlio projoctllo would ie fused or softened to such an extent that It would pabs out of tho barrel wlthAit having taken tho groovos. llenco tho inaccuracy of flight reported. With regard to tho Improvement in the con struction of tlio I.ce-Motford rlflo thnt would enable tho soldier to hold his ovorhented wenpont. thero should heinodlflloulty; hut it Is attestlonnlilo whether thocniiBosof the erratic, ishtof the projectiles can be so easily overcome. The rnrlfle Cnlile Hurry, or slubber May lie Henrcc. rrini Ms Engineering Magatine. Assuming ths,t the United States will subsidize a company to lay a cablo from the Philippine! to San Francisco, the first landing place would be In the Hawaiian Ialands. The next possession of the United States Is the island of Guam, In the Lsdrones, which Is about n, 100 nautical mlhs west of Hawaii. Trom this Island to the mainland of Luzon, In the Philip pines. Is about tir.O nautical miles. The longest cable now operated la that from Ilrest to New York, which Is a.OHO nautical miles in length, The cost of csblss Increases with their length In a geometrical ratio; the illfllcutty of working them In cieases about as rapidly. Remembering that tho cost of the New York-Ureit cable waa greater than that of any other cable ever laid.lt is readily seen thst the construction of the American transpacific cable, InvnlvluK the link between Hawaii and (luam, may well be approached with caution, The solution of the difficulty Is In the acquisition of an Island of the Caroline group, In connection with the Psclllo cable a very Inter esting question arises. From whence Is the gutta percha for this glgantlo cable to come? Every wni-per of the construction of a transpsclno line ssnds the gutta market at Singapore up by leapt and bounds, The ruling price of the gum Is the highest that has ever obtained. It la stated, pu what authority It is hard to ssy, that the visible htip ply of gutta is Insufficient for the task, and that If this cable Is laid it will be the last-the last with a guttapercha Insulation, at least. A Congressional Directory Crisis. from He WatMnaton Tribune, In the Congresslonsl Directory the uamti appear thus; Durrows, Julius C. I I I Oormau, A. P. I si U II Roach, William N. The means that their wives accompany them: the I the daughters, and the 9 "other ladles," When Representative Roberts of Utah arrives In Washing ton with bis three wives, bow will the editor of the Congresslonsl Directory classify his tutnecet Will Roberta dsre file one of his wives with an for pub lication, and put the others with OK? Ijsrs Is a I crisis, right at band, tuk ivontc OP xnttononn ttoofxabto A Wenkness in Ihe Art Museum's Collec tion Folnted Out. To tiir Erinon or This Sun Sir: Tho writer has just read In Titic KveninO Sun of Deo. 20 tho account of tho rejection of the pic ture palntcd,by Thoodoro Boblnson by tho Art Commlttao of tho Metropolitan Museum of Art,' tho roason given being "that it whs good enough In its way, but It wasn't rmlto enough of n picture," Evory ono conversant at all with American art known that Mr. Itoblnson Is a rlalntor of tho Impressionist school nnd a man who has mado a namo In his particular branch of art. Tho gontlomcn also who havoscloctod this painting aro men whose judgment of tho morlts of a plcturo Is well known, who stand In their pro fession nt tho head of soma of the art schools mid societies of art In this city. A fow years ago on offer was mado to tho Metropolitan Museum of Art of ono of tho most historical co&ohos of America, a coach or CAlucho of about 1781 In perfect ordor. Tho offer was rcfit'ed becnuso thoro wns no room forlt. tho museum nt tho time making a largo collection of sarcophagi, to which amnio room was given. Boon aftor one of our well-known artists, a palntor o( Amoricnn historical sub jects, feeling tho great need of n place for him self, as woll as others, whoro he could mfiko studies from thn real data of American his torical objects of all kinds, told ono "digit In authority" his Idea of a colonial room In tho. Museum of Art. saying ho wouldjvllllnglr glvd dresses, laces nnd many other articles of his torical valuo which ho owned, bosldes his timo and personal supervision. He wns advised towrito to Mr. Marnuond, nnd sent his lettor through tho one. who ad vised him to wrlto It. It was rocelTOd, but never noticed. In nil Europonn museums the first thing ono notices Is that everything portnlnlng to that particular country lins been collectod, and gen erally Is tho nucleus of tho collection. If an artist or writer wishes to represent Bomo his torical fact ho can so to tho museum and be euro to tlnd what ho wants. Here ho must go to Bomo brother nrtlBt to borrow or hunt through somo old llluBtrated book. Would a plcturo by Whistler, who Is Amorlcan only by birth, or Monet, who is ft Frenchman, be ro fuscd. both of tho satno school of Mr. Itoblnson? A great donl of room Is given to cheap Italian marbles: "tho work of tcnth-rato Frenchmen or elevonth-rato Gorman professors" Is nc repted. A largo sum of monoy was paid by tho Museum for a collection of glass (Iridlzed). of which a fow specimens woro BUfllcient. Would tho commltteo of tho Museum of Art do tho favor to tho pubilo to dollno what class of work would boaeceptnblo? Could thoy not nnswor It thoy would: Anything but American ? Artist's Wife. The Itoblnson ricttirr-A Cnrd from Mr. Will II. Low. To Tns r.DiTon of The Sun Sir: In regard to tho controversy which has arisen concern ing the plcturo by Thoodoro Itoblnson which has beon offered to tlio Metropolitan Museum of Art by tho 8ocIety of Amorlcan Artists, and which has been, by common report, refused by tho Museum, It Is most unfortunate that amin authorized partial vlow of tho wholo matter has alono been disclosed as yet In tho public prints, rending tho conclusion of tho offlcinl action of tho Society of American Artists taken ut Its annual moetlug On Dec. l.'l. nnd an couallv official action on tlio part of tho Metropolitan Museum of Art which will naturally follow, thoro is perhaps no reason for controversy or discussion In tho pross. As tho Chairman of tho Committee of tlio So clotyof American Artists appointed to pur chase a plcturo by Thoodoro Itoblnson for pres entation to the Metropolitan Musoum of Art. I may say, howover, that tho Invitation to sub scribe, to tho fund wns addressed exclusively to tho mombors of tho society and to a few porsons known as possessorsof Mr. Robinson's works. In two instnncos theso latter were gentlemen who. as Individuals, had mado val ued donations of pictures to the Musoum. Tlio subscription to the fund wns very general, and represented fairly every shadoof opinion In tho society, which ombraces painters of n tylng schools. This should dlsposo of the asser tion that the subscription wns one made by "a few friends of Mr. ltobinson." It was an ofllelal net of tho society, and In its spirit conformed to n precodent ehtnbltshcd by the presentation to nnd acceptance by tlio Museum of works by other deceased members of tho society. Tho picture was tho most Important work of Mr. ltobluson's available for the purpose, and moro Important, by reason of Its previous exhibition at tho society nnd at an exhibition in Cleve land, where It had taker: a prlzn as tho most meritorious landscapoin the exhibition, than the plcturo chosen by tho Pennsylvania Acad emy of Fine Arts from the sale of Mr. Itobln son s works, A member of tlio Committee on Painting nt tlio Metropolitan Museum was invited to join tho 1'iesiilont of tho Hocloty of American Artists in tho solection of tho picture, and tho failure of tho gentlomnn thus Invited to bo presont nt tlio meeting for this purposodoes not affect tho Intention of the Boeioty of Ameii ean Artists to show every possible courtesy to tho commltteo of tho Musoum. It Is a prin ciple bo well established that a museum which admits tho works of living or recently de ceased painters should recelvo tho work of men of distinction in nil schools of painting, rcgnrdlcss of tho Individual preferences of members of a commltteo. that It goes without Baling that tho two gentlemon who hnvocho'.eii In this caso to reject the picture might, without sacrifice of dignity, voto for a reeonsldoration of thoirnctlon. It is ii ul to pos sible that, occupied in other directions., they havo hardly realised that Theodore Itoblnson lived his too brief life, ncquired a reputation nnd was tho recipient of such honors as wo havo to bestow on our artists in such a manner that a largo number of his follows, represent ing in many eases principles of nrt at variance with those of Mr. itoblnson. unite In demand ing that a small though worthy examplo of his work may help to perpetuate tlio memory of his faithful Borvleo to art on tho walls of tho Museum of tho city wliero his chief honois were won. Tliut such a reconsideration may be had as tho result of thn roccnt unanimous action of the Society of American Artists.nnd that tho premature disclosure of tho existing misun derstanding may help rather than hindor such a solution, must ho tho sincere hope of nil who have pride In our achiovemont In any walk of art. Will Ii. Low. Chairman of tho late Commltteo of tho Society of American Artists for tho presentation of a work of Theodore. Itoblnson for tho Metropolitan Musoum of Art. BnoNxviLLE. N. 1'.. Jan. 3. lln). The Contest nf 1003. To the Editor of The Sun Sir: Tlio sug gestion of Honry Wnttorson of tho Loulsvlllo Cnttrier:lourunl that tho Democratic party nominate Admiral Dowey and Gen. Fltr.liugh Leo as their ticket In 1000, on tho platform "tho Stars and Htripos, God bless thorn," does credit to tho lioart of that gontlcman, undoubt edly, but less to his knowledgo and judgment. In tho first place. Admiral Dowey is not a Democrat and has no motivo for lifting the Democratic party oat of the slough in which it Is now. In the second piaco, tlio Ideas and con victions regarding tho expansion nnd progress of America which aro his, and have been ex pressed by him so emphatically, aro directly opposed to the policy of tho Democrntlo party as announced by both Bryan, tho loader of ono branch of It, nnd by Clovclnnd, the exponent of tlie reactionary Bpirlt of the other branch, in stead of Col, Wntterson's Impossible ticket lor 1(K)(), a more truly representative Domocratio ticket would bo Bryan and Gamaliel Bradford, for Instance, or Edward Atkinson, or Charles Eliot Norton, or Theodore Bacon, the glo rious Citizens' Union hero of two thousand votes In tho last campaign In this HJato. Neither Godkln nor Sehurz can go on It, for thoy aro of allon birth. Of courso, tlio sentiment of nationality, of progressiva putrlotism. will bo represented In the cnmpnlgn of 1IH)0 by William MeKlnloy. nnd it cannot havo nn opposing representative. The contrary nnd reactionary seutlmont, which has always existed In a small minority of this country from tho time of the outbreak of tho Involution, bolng then known asthedetestable Tory sentiment, will demand representation, and Bhould havo it, on the ticket which will bo defeatod overwhelmingly by William MaKlnley. Progress and prosperity will again oppose nnd overcome retrogression and adversity. New YonK, Jan. 3, American, After n llrynn Speech. To Tiir. EniToa or Til Bdsi Sir: After reading Mr. Iirj an'n si'ecch st Lincoln agalnat expansion I feci that this nation ahould be grateful to the Clod of our fathers thst W. J. Bryan Is not President of the United Bute lu this crisis. His statrsmsnshlp Is prattle, and v rry poor prattle. Mount Vehmix, Jan, ;t. Or.onor- T. Lovru, Hurt Hoots. lo Titr. Emroa or Tun 8oi(-.Vr Hurt Boots of Cells, Ileaver county, is one of our subscribers, . T risnr. OriicEnr mr. KvrxiNU TELtaiuu, EU.W00U City, Pa. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBmSBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBl AHT SOTE.1. t ii.... The Thomns It, Clnrlte Collection. The rumor that Mr. Thoniii B.Clarke wns going to sell hli collection of pictures has beon verified The salo will tnko plnco for tho pictures ntChlckorlng Hntlon tho evenings of Fob. 14, 15, 10 and 17, nn nvcragu of nlnoty pictures onch night, nnd Mr. Thomas E. Klrhy of the Anlorlcan Art Association will bo tho nuctlorlccr. Boforo tho salo thero will bo ah' exhibition beginning In tho first days of February. It Is needless lo sav that the exhibition will attract orowds of visitors. Mr. Clarko began collecting years ago. paying for his acquisitions with I hard cash, nnd supporting by tils purchases tho nativo school of painters. Sometimes ho bought closo and sometimes ho bought high, but the result wns a collection of pictures that no other collector can duplicate. It Includes groups- of landscapes by tho great mas ter Inuuss, thlrty-flva in number: by Homor Martin, by Tryon, twelve: by Wyant. soven; by that othor master. Win slow Homor, thirty works in oil nnd water color, including tho famous "Eight Bolls" and "Tho Llfo Lino;" by John La Targe, William M. Hunt. 0. H. Davis, ricknell. Mur phy, Dearth. Thomns Allon. Ochtmnn. Coftlh, Boiton Jones, Bold, Hnssatn, Georgo Fuller. Abbott Thayor, Eastman Johnson, Thomas Moron, Eaklns. Dewing, Dlclmnn, V. S, Church, Blum, Volk, Uoorgo Do Forest Brush, Milct, Jnul. Abbeyf Sprnguo renrce, Dantint. Blashfleld. Bhlrlaw. Elilitt Vcddor, Charles X. Harris. Freer, Georgo H. Dough ton nnd Alfred Kappcs. Thoro aro groups of figure works by Louis Moollor, Slddons Mowbray. Curran. uoorgo Butler. Francis 0. Jones, Hovcndon, Honry 0. Wnlkor nnd Horatio Walker. Further back in tho history of American art wo find ropresonted In tho col lection the nnmos of MoEntco. Kensott, Gllbort Stuart. F. K. Churoh, nnd Homer Martin. Tho objects of art will bo sold ut the gallorios of tho American Art Association In tho after noons, tho same days ns tho sales of tho pictures nt Chlekorlng Hall. Greek vases, statuettes and irldescont glass will come up tho first day. On tho socpnd day will bo tsold tho Hlspano Mauresquo. Indian nnd Persian plnuuos and other objects of art. On the third day tlio an tique Chinese porcelains and curios will como under tho hammor. On the fourth day of tlio salo tho French, Bdsslan, Dutch, Spanish and Orlontal raotals, plaques and vases will bo sold. Among the Qrcok nrt pieces may bo specially montfonod a collection of most beautiful vases, dating from about OHO B. C. to 200 A. D. Tlio most notablo Btatuottcs aro tlioso of "Escu laplusand Hygca." tho"Kneollng Muse." nnd tho celebrated Farneso family piece, a nso In blact nnd rod, found nt Apulia In 178(J. It Is about :i feet 0 Inches In height nnd Is ono of the finest specimens ovor brought to llcht. A notablo antique statuette isaYonus arranging her headdress (engraved in tlio Do Chnrmlao MuRtfodo Sculpture) of tho art porlod belonging to tho time of Nero. (This stntuctto was presented oy tho King or rvnples to tho Empress Josephine, and tho Empress kept it for many years at Molmalson. She afterward gavo It to tho Count I'ortales. nnd It was sold In his collection nt Paris In 18tJ3. There aro exquislto specimens in tho Chineso collection, such as tho small vases lu blue and white. Tlioso form the keynote in Mr. Clarke's collection, so to speak, for they rovcal the lovo of tlio truo collector. It would bo impossible to imagine any thing finer. Alter tlioso como tho lustrous plaques of Hispano-Maurcsquo manufacture, mostly of the sixteenth century. Mr. Clarko has been collecting tliom-for somo fifteen years orlongor. His Persian Indian, nnd Turkish tilings enmo In largo part from tho formor United States Minister to Iorsla. S. G. W. Ben jamin. This salo will bo tho most notable one of the year. Tlio owner of tho collections is an amateur, whoso Influence has boon for good wherever ho ha exerted It. Ho Is Chairman of tho Union Lcaguo Club Art Committee, likewise of tho New York Athletic Club. He lias organized exhibitions at tho Manhattan and "Tho Lambs." IIohhs presented to various clubs during Ills career somo S'JO.000 worth of pictures. Including a collection of siuglo color poicolalns, to tho Union League Club, and a frieze paintod by II. Slddons Mowbray, callod "Tho Month of Hoses," to the Now York Ath letic Club. To "Tho Lambs" he has given some H00 mugs and flagons, endeavoring to bring art within the rango of dally vision, for It Is not often that, ono shakes off one's lethargy sufficiently to makoa visit to tlio Metropolitan Museum, where the best of theso things may be seen nnd admired. In short. Mr. Clarko has pursued n long career of usefulness as a collector and it will bo a trtat to seo his treasures when they are exposed to vlow next month. JXTI-VSUllY l.Atr SUSTAIXriK The Minnesota Stntute Upheld Iii tlie United Suites Supreme Court. Washington. Jan. .'). Tho statute of Minne sota, similar to lawsin Arkansasaitd Now York, Intended to prevent tho lending of money at usurious ratos of Interest, was sustalnod in Its broadest, application to-dny by tho Supremo Court of the Unltod Stntos. The opinion was announced bv Justlco Slilras. A trust company of Kansas made a loan of $1,070 toTheodoro M. nnd Louise Krumsoig. taking fts security ten notcsof $.'100 each, paya ble. In monthly Instnllmentsof t.'il). a policy of Insurmico on Theodore Krumselg's lifonnd a mortgago upon a pieco nf property In Duluth. After paying SI. '.KM the Krumselgs sued forn cancellation of tho notes nnd mortgage on tho ground that the contract was In violation of the Minnesota law against usury, which pro jldod for cancellation ns a nonalty. Tho de fendant took the caso to the Federal Court and resisted thp petition of tho plaintiffs upon tho rulo of equity that a tnakor of n usurious con tract cannot maintain n bill to cancel thesamo for usury without first paving or offering to pay tho principal sum borrowed with lawful Interest." The Circuit Court hold that tliisruleof equity wasnbrognted by tho State stututo and thnt It was obligatory upon tho court, when tho usury Is established, to annul and cancel thocontract, with all conveynneoH given to secure perform ance of It. without requlrlngthe plaintiff to pay any part of tho usurious debt or interest. This decree of tho Circuit Court was afllrmed by tho Court of Appeals for tho Eighth Circuit, and In turn by the Hupromo Court to-day. Justlco Shirnssald: "If tho causo had remained In tho'Stato Court, wl'iro-lt was originally brought, tho complainant would have been entitled, under the pubilo policy of tho Stnto of Minnesota, to have this usurious contract cancelled without tondorlng payment of tho wholo or any part of tho origlnnl Indebtedness. The defendant could not. by removing tho enso to tho Federal Court, doprlvo tin. complainants of sucli a sub Mnntlvo right. Willi, the policy of the State legislation the Federal courts have nothing to tlo. MAXOIVS CAl.h TO SCHOOL UOAItlK He Snys There's Xu Itrnson Tills Yenr Why There Hlinuldu't He Lots or Schools. Mayor Van Wyck has sent tho following cir cular letter to evory School Commissioner In tho live boroughs of tlio city: , Deaii Bin; Tho erection of sufllelent school buildings lo accommodate every child In this city entitled to public education Isnu linpcra tvoduty. Othor matters have claims on vour timo and attention, but thore aro nono moro Important than this. ' Tho Hoard of Estimate nnd Apportionment hail provided In the budget, for this jear for the Issue of bonds for sclioolhouses and sites to the amount of S7,U7.'i.UiD, and theso bonds will be Issued on proper, requisition made. Thore Is no reason why. vyith unorgotlouetlon on the part of those administering school af ulrs. thero should bo any lack of accommoda tion for nil who present themselves for admis sion at thoopeningof the schools in tho present yenr. This cannot, however, be, accomplished by merely perfunctory action In selecting sites and drawing plans nnd awarding contracts for the erection of buildings. It can only bo at-, talned by vigorous and constant attention on the part of those representing the pubilo to see that condemnation proceedings are progressed and that contracts for buildings are executed not at the contractors' pleasure, but accordlnc to tho provisions of the contracts themselves, especially as to tho time llxed for tho comple tion of tlie work. ' I desire to bring these matters to your per. sonal attention to insiim your personal ennr getlo action find to miiko plain tho fact that with the facilities nvatlablo a failure to supply the accommodations for pupils required nt tlio Opening of the schools In the fall of tills yenr will be strong evidence of neglect on the part of those charged with the administration of school affairs, ltespectfullr yours. ItOUEUT A. VAN WlCS. i.!.iirtlsa--yj'i,.ni ,:.... i iiBwaaisssiiTraVflysaitljijTviflilir BBBVslBBBBBBBBBBBBBBkaBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBHI ' ' I V. -v vtiwKva srroBD of notion. The Splendid Weapon Voted the AdmlrM by n brnteful Nation, Tho sword of honor voted to Admiral Dewey by joint rceolutlbn of Congress last June Is now comnlotod nnd will bo on oxhlbltlon for throo daw. beginning to-morrow morning, nt.lheCstoro of Tiffany A Co.. by whom It was mado. It Is said to bo ono of tho handsomosi weapons over mado In this eountrr. Pauld ing Fnrnham Is Its deslgnor. Tho swonl. with tho oxceptlon of the stcsl C r blado nnd tlio bodv metal of tho scabbard. Ii ontlrclv of t!2-carnt gold. On tho pommel are t carved tho namo of tho crulsor Olympla nnd . the 7.odlacnl sign for December, the month l of Admiral Dawoy's birth. Circling these, ji thero Ii n closely woven wreath of oak leaves. Ii Continuing down tho raotnl work giving the TUt proper form Is a gold collar on the front ot jV, which nro tho arms ot thoHIntted States with M tho bluo field ot tho shield In enamel, and be H low (hem nro tho arms of Vermont, tho Ad- mf ml rat's nativo Stato. with Hio motto "Freedom Hf . and Unity," and tho colors of tho shield In B cnamol. Stars doooratn tho plain part of the He collar, and this nart of tho hilt tormlnntos In M n" narrow band of onk loaves. Tho grip is cov- H ored with flno sharkskin bound with gold Wire H and Inlaid with gold stars. The guard Iscomposod of n conventional Hfl enalo, terminating Inn claw clnsplng tho top. HI the outspread wings fotmlngthe guard prop- U or. ITho enalo holds in its benk a laurel wreath Hal irhlch servos as n protection, covering ths Um point of tho beak, nnd nt the same time pre- H sorves the tironor outlines of the guard, Ms The scnbbanl Is of thin steel, damascened HH In gold iwlth sptnys of n delicate sea plant interlnccxl In the form of a series of cartouche wlthl a star In tlio centro of each, whllo dol- BH tililns fill tho outor spaces. Sprays of onlc H fenves and ncorns seouro the ring and trap- Ha pings of tho scabbard; nbovo theso on tlio Ma front of thu scabbard. Is n ralsod monogram Ba In diamonds entwining, tho letters "G. I).." gHa nnd Immediately under them nro the lotteis "V. S. N." surrounded by sprays of tho sen. HB Plant. Thol.'orrale. or lower ond of tho scab- sWB hard, terminates In entwined gold dolphins. BB The swonl blado is damascened with the In- K scriptlou: HB Tho Olft of the Nstlon to Hear Admiral ! aaaW ; Ooorgo D3vrey, U. B. N., lu Memory of the t LHaw J Victory ut Maidla. Ha)-, May I, ltiluj. Ill A I'hocnlolnn galley representing tlio first HlF craft of the navies of the world supplies ths Bk. rest ot tho ornament on th'n sldo of tho blade. IBM On the other sldo is shown tho flight of tho Bf 1 cnglos of victory, boarina festoons of laurel BU to tho four quarters ot the enrtli. .BB Tho mountings of the'bclt nnd tho trappings VT nro tho regulation buckles, pierced slide rings BSr and swivels, nil of '.'l!-crat go'd, and ornn- BH mentcd with tho oak leaves nnd acorns. Uho Bi I bullion tassel and embroidered belting are BL' spoolally mnde. and will bo much superior to B tlioso usimllyTem ployed. aBa Tlio steel blado ot tho swonl Is from Ihe Bt! Government nrsennlat Springfield, and ths B?" entire weapon is so made as to bo ot practl- Bl eal vnHio should nn enemy evor get within Br rencblng distaneo of Admiral Dewey. Tho Br sword box is of white oak Inlaid with black BiK vlvot.'and.atllho'eentro of tho cover has a gold BT shield surmounted br an coglo and Inscribed Bfir with a slnclostnr and the words "Hear Ad- BV mlral Georgo Dewov. II. S. N." Tho swonl ) will be sent to the Navy Department on Sutur- B7 liVItT STAT EM EST FOn DECEMBER. l Incrrnso In Customs nnd Internal Revenue fi Receipts for the I.nst Six Months. f Washington, Jan. 8. Tlio debt statement issued by tho Treasury Department to-day shows that in tho month of Decembor tho dobt o( tlio United Btatos was increased by Sl.702.700. Tho Interost-benring dobt In- ! creased $.'1,810,3.10; that bearing no Interest Increased $275,784. and tho debt on which In terest has ceased decreased $4,430, while the cash lu the Treasury Increased $2,:f87.1)05. , Tho debt on Dee. .'10 stood: Interest-bearing j debt, $1.040,''ir..0.'t0: debt on which interest lias ceased, $1.2:17,200; bearing no interest. I I $:t82.487.801.n total of $l,42.'l.O40.081. I I Tho cash In tho Treasury Is mnde up of ths I following Items: Gold. $281,720.4:15: silver. I I $50:1.212.854: pnpor. S50.25.207 : other cash, B $05.2:15.855. Total. $030.4:11.351. Against this 1 there aro outstanding: Gold certificates. $30.- r- I, 808.000: silver certificates. $300.430.604 ; cer- f 9 tlflcates of deposit. $20,035,000; Sherman ll notes. $00,523,280; other liabilities. $82,218.- IP. fi 872. leaving a balance Including gold reserve), & of $204,704,005. Thn receipts of tlioflovornmontforthomonth I I ot December wero $41,404,703'. nnd for the six I months endod Doc. 31, $245,701,880. nn in- crease of $13,381,025 and $80,110,055 respec tively over tho corresponding periods of Inst year, with tho transactions with tho I'ncitto lailroads excluded. Tho receipts from customs , for the six months show an Increase of $33,- i 220.810 compared with similar months last year, whllo the receipts from Internal revenue in tho six months' operations of tho War Rev enue act show an Increase of $52,800,130 over tbecoriespondlng period ill 1807 The expenditures for tho month of Decem ber wore $41,804,807. and for tho six months t:i20.t!81.:ill. an Increase of $14,230,715 anil 121.477,100 respectively over tlioso for cor lespondlne periods of the previous yenr. Tho '? ' expenditures for the army In tho six months, compnred with the similar months of 1807. In- I creased $1 1.085.183. anil for tho navy S10.- t 343,843, making n total of $l:i0.42O.0OOcharge- ' nblo during that period to war expenditures. , Tho circulation of national bank notes on Dee. 31 wns $243,735,105. nn Increase of I $1,033,007 for tho month, and an Increase ot $14,804,824 eo ml tared with the same date a enr ago, Of tho total, $214,015,087 was se cured bydonoslt of United Htates bonds, an Increase of Sl7.H0l'.R4 for tho year, and by lawful money $20,710,118. a decrease of J3.O05.070. for tho same porlod. The total amount of United Htntos bonds de posited with tho Treasurer by national banks nt tho date r.nmcit was $311,200,770. of which $71,323,020 wns to secure deposits of pubilo money. Of the $200,000,000 of war bonds recently Issued. $75,020,420 have beon depoa- lied by banks to secure circulation or pubilo I funds. . T CVIIAS niXTS FIIOM JAMAICA. ' T Robert P. 1'nrtor's Report nn the Measure Ji Adopted by the Ilritlsli (Internment. ' v f Wasiiinoton. Jan. 3. A report has been mado to tlio Secretary of tlio Treasury on ths Industrial and fiscal conditions In the British Island ot Jamaica as thoy apply to the Pro visional Government just established In Cuba. It embodies a full account of the observations ! of Itobort J'. 1'ortor, spoclal Commissioner of the Unltod States to Cuba and I'orto Blco, who also visited Jamaica, ' Mr. Porter rot'lows thn administration of , ths British Government ainco it took the island "as n trust and not ns n possession In 1834." Ho shows that despite tho fact that by far ths i greater numbor of peoplo In the Island are blacks, tho advance In Industrial prosperity nnd social conditions has been remarkatil. Ho gives figures estimating tho conditions widen wou d probably have resulted In Cuba If the Island had boon ruled by the British, ns in Jamaica, Instead of misruled by Spain. The fact that n majority of tlio people In Cuba are whites. Mr. 1'ortor says. Insures prompter sue coss for American government In the Island than was posslblo for tlie British In Jnmalca. ahorecommondntlonsmndo by tho British at I tho yutot. Mr. I'ortor says, nro of Interest for tho United States (lovernmontln Cuba. These I recommendations wore: I 1. Settlement of laboring poople on small plots of land. 2. FjStabllshmeiit of minor agricultural In dustries nnd tho Improvement of the system of cultivation. L 3. Tlio improvement of means of communi- I cation botwoon different Islnnds. ,, 4. Liicoiiriigemnt of the trade In fruit with p New lorknnd Indon, I Commlssioneri'ortorurgesallbemlexpendl- I turo of tho ('ubnii revenues in building good ronds InCiibn. following thu example ofths ', . British In Jamaica. ' I'M V ATE TALK OX CITY 'PnoXES. ! City Will l'ny No .Mure Hills for Convers. tluii with the biiliurbs, Henry K. Kearney, Commissioner of Publla Buildings, Lighting and Supplies, sent a letter to the Council vesterday saying that he had nntlllcd tho Now York and Now Jersey Tele phono Company not to nnsvver any calls for t ' out-of-Ipivn connections coming from tele. Pi'"VV; 'I'lfi ,bllf "lidlniw- Jlr.l'eainey said that the- bill for long-distance calls for last year had been enormous, ond that ho Ih satisfied but all or nearly till of them woro for private business. ' " "I'ntrlaV Work Is Hone. lilrln. which has for seven jonts been ths I i ofllelal organ of the Cuban revolutionary party I ended its successful career with yesterday's ) numbor. Tho puper was founded by Jos4 I Jmti Marti, who also organized the Cuban Junta. laSl M &ipiym;&feJs .rQuesTdrf& W4 Ifili I L.