No. 15,124. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, AUGUST 17, 19 01 ?T WENT"Y -FO U R PAGES. TWO CENTS. THE EVENING STAB. PUBLI8HED DAILY, EXCEPT SUSDAY. Bniinen OfPoe, 11th Street and Pennsylvania Arenas. The Evening Star Nowspnpor Corafan7. B. H. KAUFFStANN, Prea't. Kew York Offioe: 126 Tribone Boildiaj. Chicago Office; Boyoe Building. The Kvpnlnc Star I* serr?J to subprrlTters In the city by carriers, on their own account, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. Copies at tb? counter. 2 cents each. By ruail-anywhere In the U.S. orCanada?postape prepaid?50 cents per month. Saturday Quintuple Sh^-t Star, fl per year; with foreign pestaife added. $3.08. (Entered at the I Viet OffW at Washington, D. C., as second-class mail matter.) C7' All mail s'ibscriptloni* must be paid in advance. Kales of advertising made known on application. CRISIS IN THE STRIKE, All Depends Now on Action of West ern Mills. PROSPECT OP TROUBLE INCREASES ^ . I President Shaffer Makes Signifi-1 cant Remark on That Subject. THE GENERAL SITUATION 8{>eelal From a Staff Correspondent. PITTSBURG. Pa., August 17.?The crisis in the strike is now at hand. If the Mil waukee men go out tonight it is the belief of the strike managers that Chicago will follow, and that the strike will even extend ultimately to Lorain. In Pittsburg the situation is considered to be one of great gravity. Conservative observers cannot see the end in sight. The success of the strikers during the past week has been phenomenal. No one can tell where the thing is to end. There are possibilities that the strike may involve allied indus tries to an extent beyond present compre hension. At the beginning of this week the steel trust managers were confident of breaking the strike in a short time. The gains made by the strikers during the week have dissipated that confidence, and the steel trust thinks now that a long struggle is at hand. It is the policy of the trust at present to play a waiting game. There is nothing else to do. The men are losing more money every day than the trust in j comparison to the resources. Situation at McKeenport. Every mill owned by the United States Bteel Corporation in McKeesport is now idle on account of the strike. The last of these plants closed yesterday when the 2&?u men employed in the galvanizing de partment of National Tube Company in Versailles borough came out. President Shaffer regards conditions in Monessen as serious, owing to the attitude of the borough officials toward the strikers. He has made complaint of the actions of the coal and iron police, who are guarding the Clark mills in Laurenceville, to Di rector Brown of the department of public safety, and says that legal action is to be taken to prosecute these officers for as saulting peaceable strikers on public prop erty Confidence Is felt by the leaders of the strike in the unionism of the mill workers in Milwaukee, who are expected to follow the action of the men in Joliet at once. Rumors are current that some of the men on strike in McKeesport would like to re turn to work if assured of protection. The general situation about the Pittsburg mills of the United States Steel Corporation re mains quiet. President Shaffer Talks. President Shaffer, discussing the general situation of the strike, said: "Any breach of the peace that has taken place since this strike began has not come from the side of the strikers, but from the other side. W e have obeyed all laws, counseled peaceful means to conduct the strike, sent circulars and letters, and personally ad vised our people to keep wrfolly within the laws of the community in which they live and of the commonwealth. If the trust continues to openly transgress the law. and the authorities, as at Monessen. continue to show the same disregard for the rights of citizens, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences. "We fear no trouble here. So long as the authorities treat us in the same manner as they treat the other side and show no favoritism there is not the least danger of trouble. The difficulty will come whenever the acts are allowed on the side of the trust and our people are harassed and in sulted on every hand." Trouble Kxpeeted at Monessen. There are fears af trouble when the American Steel Hoop Company attempts to start the Monessen mills. It was an nouni^l last night that the company had assurances that they would have men enough to start the plant next Monday morning. The men are und^r contract to 1* at th<- mill by <1 o'clock on that morning. The plant has been entirely fenced in, and a complete system of guards has been organized, which will be large enough to give ample protection to the men while at work. The plans of the company are well kn.iwn to the strikers, and the men In Monessen are using the most determined vigilance to prevent the entrance of the strike breakers to the hoop mills. The efforts to bring about a settlement of the strike continued today without effect. N. O. M. AVATt HINti srri ATIOX IX WKST. SlrlUcr* ut I'lttnlMirK Expect Much of Milwaukee Brethren. Uy Af*<>viatcleeti?ic at Duqneane Tonlicht. The strike leaders plan to hold a meeting at Duquesne tonight and that fact Is taken as an Indication that the commencement of the new turn on Sunday night and Monday morning marks the time for action. President Shaffer and his associates have several times intimated that they had a surprint- in store f^r the corporation, and the move against the Carnegie properties is now Itelieved lo be what they had in mind. The Carnegie officials have been watching the progress of events closely and are m iking every possible effort to head the strikers off. There is a growing belief that the good order which has been general, will not pre vail much longer. The strikers show a spirit of restlessness, and Irritation at the points where the union and non-union men ccme In contact is increasing. A party of strike breakers from the south is expected at Monessen, and the strikers are patrol ling the town in anticipation of their ar rival. Trouble Is ieared when the two forces meet. It is also believed that some tiouble will result fton; the effort to tie up the Carnegie properties. The strike lead ers continue to warn the men against acts of violence, and ciairn there will be no trouble, unless the strikers are denied rights which the law gives them. Sewn From Milwaukee. President Shaffer was at strike headquar ters today, and when seen, said: "I have received a telegram from Mr. Tighe at Milwaukee. He savs the meeting will be held this afternoon, but makes no predic tion as to the result there. There is noth ing new in the" situation today. Monessen cannot be started, /or the corporation lacks the men necessary to do bo. I am not sure that I will go to McKeesport to night." No more mills were started at the Paint er works today, out the company expects to have another mill going on Monday. There were no changes at the other local properties today. President Shaffer said today that If the Republic Iron and Steel Company was pur chased by or came under the control of the I'nited States Steel Corporation that the : men would be called, out at once. He said the men were thoroughly organized and that he had no doubt that they would promptly respond to a call. The steel workers in the Riverside plant at Wheeling who are still at work will hold a meeting tonight and it is believed they will finally decide what they will do. They have a contract which calls for thirty days' notice, and many of them insist that the notice be given. They are being urged, however, to strike at once. The independent mills continue to take on skilled men from among the strikers, and in one instance a mill has allowed its men to make an arrangement with strikers un der which the strikers do substitute work for a few days each week. The strikers of the Keystone mills and the Continental Tube "Works. In this city, are holding a meeting in secret today to discuss the situation. WIRE MILLS SHORT OF RODS. Pro?p?ot That More Men Will Re Forced Oat at Joliet. JOLJET, 111., August 17.?It is expected that the lack of rods at the American Steel and Wire mills will force them to shut down as early as Tuesday, thus in creasing the number of men out to 6,000, nearly half of them involuntarily. The rods are furnished by the Illinois Steel Com pany. There were no signs of violence today, though the streets were full of idle, talka tive men. The announcement is made that an effort will be made to organize the skilled workmen in all Joliet mills. The scope of the movement has not been defi nitely outlined, but the strike leaders be lieve that a membership of close to 2,(KH) can be secured. There is fear that the com pany may endeavor to operate several branches of the Illinois plant with what are known as skilled workmen and handy men not Identified with the union or affil iated with the Amalgamated Association. One of the first moves to be made will, it is said, be directed against the American Steel and Wire Company, a constituent of the United States Steel corporation. Four plants of that company in Joliet have no union, and all efforts to organize these men in the past have been frustrated. There are 2.000 men employed in these mills, and It Is stated that at least 700 men are eligible to membership. The four steel mill lodges on strike have been in secret session since early today.^ How long the conference will last or the nature of the proceedings could not be ascertained. STRIKE PLEASES THE RRITISH. They Hope to See American Prosperity Handicapped by It. LONDON, August 17.?Prior to his de parture for New York today on-the Amer ican line steamer St. Paul, Representative Grosvenor of Ohio referred to the wide spread interest taken in Great Britain in the American steel strike. The small items of news appearing in the press are dis cussed and repeated on every hand. "The sympathy of the British public," said the representative, "Is strongly with the strikers, not for any good feeling for the men, but they hope our industrial sys tems may be as damaged and crippled as theirs have been. They hope the closing of our mills will force us to buy from theirs and permanently defeat our prosperity." TO DISCUSS RECIPROCITY. President Search Calls a Meeting: of Manufacturers' Association. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., August 17.?Pres ident Search of the National Association of Manufacturers has called a meeting of the executive committee of that organization for September 4, for the purpose of taking up the question of reciprocity. The subject will be considered in all its phases, after which a call will be issued for a national reciprocity convention. This action is taken as the result of dissatisfaction among man ufacturers who are in the export trade, and Congress at its next session will be asked to give the desired relief. The sentiment of the manufacturers, says President Search, is in favor of secur ing treaties of commercial reciprocity with other countries, with a view to the exten sion of America's trade In foreign lands. Within the past few months, he says, Russia. Italy and some other countries have dealt a heavy blow to our foreign trade by the levying of a countervailing duty. It will be endeavored to show to Congress that American Industries have suffered by the present tariff laws and their Interpretations, and Congress will be asked to give the required remedy. COMMERCE TIED UP AT 'FRISCO. Over Fifty Vessels Detained by the Strike There. SAN FRANCISCO. August 17.?Twenty nine deep-water ships, all chartered to carry grain out of this port for European markets, are tied up in the harbor unable to take on their cargoes because of the strike. These vessels aggregate 74,462 reg istered tons displacement and have a car rying capacity of about 100,000 tons of grain. Besides this fleet of chartered grain ships there are four other grain-carrying vessels in the harbor, with an aggregate tonnage of 8,420 tons, which have not ec cepted charters. Four other vessels are chartered to carry away cargoes of California products, but they cannot get away for want of men to load them. In addition to the grain fleet there are fifteen vessels under charter to sail for Hawaiian Island ports and return with sugar cargoes. FORGED CHECK FOR f7SO. Name of a Detroit Firm Being Hie * Kally Used. DETROIT, Mich., August 17.?A check for frno, drawn on the Detroit Trust Company, to which the signature of Hammond, Stand ish & Co., packers and meat dealers of this city had been forged^ was received here to day for collection. This is the third forged check bearing Hammond, Standiah Co.'s signature that has been received here this week, and the Arm fears there are a number of others afloat through the east. The check receiv ed today was cashed p.t the Bank of Ja maica, In the borough of Queens, Greater New York. DISTINCTION MADE Secretary Brackett's Paris Living Ex penses Disallowed. COMMISSIONER PECK'S VERE PASSED An Interesting Opinion by Con troller Tracewell. 1HE FACTS IN THE CASE Controller Tracewell has renedered an in teresting: opinion as to the personal ex penses of Major Fred Brackett, secretary and disbursing agent of the Paris exposi tion commission. Mr. Tracewell took up a number of items which the auditor for the State and oth?r departments had disal lowed and on which Major Brackett had appealed to the controller. One of these was for "Fred Brackett, traveling expenses in Paris on exposition work; for actual and necessary living expenses from April 1 to :*(. 1!RH). both dates inclusive, thirty days at $7 per day, $210." The controller de cides that Major Brackett is not entitled to this, and in the course of a long opin ion says: "The auditor disallowed the amount of this voucher for the reason that Paris was held to be the official headquarters of Mr. Brackett during the period for which lie claims reimbursement, and that he was not entitled to personal expenses while there. Commissioner General Peek'* Case. "It was said in my decision of May 11, 1J*U. that Paris was not the official head quarters of Mr. Brackett for this period, but that decision was based upon a voucher presented for payment by Commissioner General Peck for traveling expenses while living at a hotel in Paris. As presented the onlv question involved was whether Com missioner General Peck was to be consid ered as traveling while at P^s'lnt^ sense that he was not at his official heart quarters, and it was held that netherMr Brackett nor Mr. Peck was at his official headquarters while in Paris. It now ap pears that Mr. Brackett charges 'or travel ?in* expenses while keeping house with his family in Paris. In a note on the voucher Mr. Brackett states: 'It Is not possible fo me t* itemize the said expenses, as 1 am keeping house In the apartment where my own individual living expenses in rooms and food exceed seven (i) dollars :diem. "It appears from evidence submitted in response to inquiries from this 1g* during a period of 2S? days, of which th period covered by this particular voucher was a part. Mr. Brackett was lHing with hi" familv ond keeping house in a rented apartment in Paris. He bought furniture, set a common table, hired servants and paid all the household expenses in co? mnn. He kept no itemized account of the common expenses and no account whate e of his individual expenses. Three Qneition* Rained. "This raises the following questions In regard to this expenditure: "1st. Does the action of Mr. Brackett constitute Paris his home for this Perlod. within the meaning of that term as oon strued by the accounting officers as It affects traveling expenses? , "2d. Does his status as a traveler witn in the meaning of the act of March 3. 1875 continue during this period. "3d. Is the proof submitted in support of the items claimed such as is required,b> the accounting officer In support of for reimbursement for traveling and If not. has he shown any valid reason for not furnishing such proof that would justify this office in accepting the evidence presented as the best obtainable, and In ad justing the account in the best manner pos sible from the evidence submitted. The lTnlform Practice. '"The uniform practice of the accounting officers in construing the law has been to hold that a person cannot be paid travel ing expenses under it while he was at his home, official station or headquarters, the theory being that he cannot travel while at these places. In order to be entitled to be reimbursed for traveling expenses this statute it has always heen heid and correctly so, that the status of the person seeking reimbursement for traveling ex penses under it must be that of a traveler (as contradistinguished from that of a per son living at home or with his family). "When a person rents an apartment, fur nishes it, moves his family therein, hires se?vants, sets a common table, pays tne expenses in connection therewith in com mon with his own expenses, and,doe8 acts usually done by a householder and makes no attempt to keep his ^dividual expenses separate from those of his family he must be held to abandon his status as a traveler within the meaning of this stat ute. His expenses become common ex penses and are not divisible, and It Is im practicable to determine what his actual individual expenses are for any given period while so living. He emjoys the com forts of home and family and Is not put_to the extraordinary expenses of travel that is contemplated by the act above quoted. Whether such place be called his home or not, he has abandoned his status as a traveler, presumably for his own conven ience, and cannot while so living be al lowed traveling expenses. Effect of Mixing Accounts. "When he bo lives and keeps his ac counts as to bring an element Into their audit that is entirely foreign to the duties of the accounting officers to settle it will be assumed that by so mixing his accounts he abandons his right to reimbursement for any portion of the expenses incurred dur ing such period. He cannot be permitted to live and keep his accounts as a house holder and the head of a family and ac count for his traveling expenses as apart of the common expenses of maintaining said household at the same time. The two relations are inconsistent, and having chosen the one that he will assume for the period he Is bound by It and Its conse quences. . , . ..... "For the reasons given he Is not entitled to traveling expenses for the period claimed and it Is not necessary to determine wheth er Paris should be considered his home within the technical signification of this term during this period or not. The char acter of proof submitted in support of the Item for reimbursement is for the reasons above given not sufficient to Justify an al lowance." Allowed Mr. Peek's Expenses. The controller allowed the expenses of Commissioner General Peck for the rea son, It Is stated, that Mr. Peck boarded at a hotel and kept Ills expenses separate from that of hts wife nnd other members of the family. His bill was Tendered sepa rately. While the decision of Major Brack ett's case is for only one month It really covers nearly a year. Taxed on Amount Paid In. Assistant Secretary Taylor today heard argument of counsel in the matter of the amount of stamp tax due on certificates Issued by the United States Mutual In vestment Company of Louisville, Ky. The question at issue was whether the company should affix stamps to its certificates on the basis of what the Investor would re ceive at the expiration of the full term in case the oompany's promises were fulfilled or on the amount he actually paid in. Mr. Taylor held that the latter amount should determine the rats of tax. BOTHA TO SURRENDER LO\DO\ SIX HEARS THIS REPORT FROM DIRBAN. Another Dispatch Says Kftfheaer Has Gone Oat to Fight With the Boer*. LONDON, August 17.?The Sun today says it hears that the concentration of General Botha's forces at Hondwent, on the borders of Zululand, announced In & dis patch from Durban last night, does not foreshadow a fight with Botha, but his surrender, in pursuance with an under standing reached between General Botha and Lord Kitchener. The Sun adds that the government is so satisfied that the war is virtually over that Lord Milner, now on his way back to South Africa, has in his pocket the draft of a complete constitution and plans for the future government of the annexed territories. A dispatch from Durban says: Lord Kitchener, with a strong force, is moving on Hondweni, on the border of Zululand, where General Botha is reported to have concentrated 4,000 Boers. An important engagement is expected to ensue. Emmet's command of 3?j? men has rein forced the Boers at Babango. The Boers appear to be hemmed in. Sixty burghers attempted- to rush a British post, but were repulsed. Commandant Potgieter hae issued a warning that British soldiers crossing the border will not .be allowed to return with out molestation. The British war office has received the following dispatch from Lord Kitchener, dated Pretoria, August 16: , "While a party of fifty of French's scouts were proceeding to. join a column near Bethesda they were sdrrounded in the hills by a superior force under Theron and surrendered. One was killed and three were wounded, Captain Bethelhelm dan gerously." Lord Kitchener does not give the date, but the casualty list indicates August 8. Bethesda Is in the southeastern part of Orange River Colony, formerly Orange Free State, in the triangle formed by the Orange and Coliden riYers. It was near Bethesda that General De Wet, when headed off in an attempt to Invade Cape Colony and hemmed in by the British un der General Knox, broke through the cor- J don by a brilliant dash and retired north ward, successfully eluding pursuit. Reporting upon the engagement between Colonel Gorringe and Comitiandant Krit- j zinger at Middleburg. Lord Kitchener says that the British commander drove the Boers north to Venterstad In confusion. He asserts also that General French's other column in Cape Colony is gradually driving the enemy northward. ADVERSE TO PORTO RICO CAlfSOT IMPOSE PROTECTIVE TARIFF OX COliTKE. Opinion of Acting Solicitor Reeve on the Question Knitted by Oem mlssioner Degetaa, Felix A. Reeve acting soficltor of the treasury, has rendered an opinion on the Question raised by Federico Degetau, resi dent commissioner from Porto Rico, as to whether a customs duty of jt .cents a pound should not be imposed on all cofTees im ported into Porto Rico from the United States. Under the terms qf the Foraker act the solicitor holds "adversely to Mr. Degetau's contentions, and In the course of his opinion says: "It is evident from the care with which coffee was excluded in the Foraker act from the free list in respect to importations from foreign countries, and in respect to Importations from the United States during the existence of the 15 per cent duty sys tem, that it was the intentfpn of Congress to recognize and protect the coffee Indus try in Porto Rico. It can hardly be doubted also that it was not tf?e purpose of Con gress that such protection should cease upon tne enactment and Installation of a local system of taxation in ?orto"Rlco. The duty of 5 cents a pound on coffee was, I think, distinctly a protective measure. But I regret to say that I see no escape from the conclusion that the broad and unre stricted provision of section 8, abolishing 'all tariff duties on merchandise and ar ticles going into Porto Rico from the United States' upon the enactment of a local system of taxation, etc., embraces the duty on coffee, as well as th$ dUty on any other article of merchandise. This case seems to me one of mere inadvertence on the part of Congress. That body merely neglected to make the exception of coffee from the free list applicable as well after the adoption of the new system of taxation as during the existence of the 15 per centum duty system." In the meantime the Porto Rlcans are wrestling with the problem, and have suc ceeded in Inducing all Porto Rican Import ers to promise not to Import any coffee from Brazil or any other country. When Congress assembles the Porto Rlcans will undoubtedly use all the pressure available to have some kind of protection extended to the coffee Industry of the Island. This Industry has been an important one for years, and when Spain had possession of the island the planters made much money out of coffee growing, as they had a free market in Spain, in which country the peo ple were- fond of Porto Rican coffee. Spain's markets were practically closed to the cof fee after the Spanish-American war, and this country was not accustomed to the coffee, and so the Industry has been con sidearbly crippled for a long time. LIST WILL BE 6IVE>I SCHLEY. To Be Furnished With Xante* of Wit nesses, According ts Custom. Admiral Schley has got asked the Navy Department for a. list of the witnesses which the department ha*" sipnmoned for the court of Inquiry next month, and it Is not believed at the departnflcnt that he will make such a request, for ne very good reason that It Is always customary in such cases for the department to fiirnlsh to an officer whose acts are to be investigated a list of the wttnesses to be calMd by the Judge advocate as" soon as duoh ttrt la pre pared. This has always betn the practice, and It is said at the Nafry Dapartritent that It will be followed In tftis case. Judge Advocate General Lemly, #ho la to be the judge advocate of the codfrt, hsa not yet completed the list of his ^wltnfcss^s. but when It Is concluded it wilt" in th* ordinary course of courteous procedure obtaining in Buch cases, be turned over to Admiral Schley, in order that that officer may be able to h$ve summoned any persons wnose names are not" on the Judge advocate's list, and whose testimony be considers per tinent or important. '' ? ?? i i ?? ? XEW CHIEF OP DIVISION. Was. C. MeKtuaiey Appointed to Sac e'eed John Pi Swan. John P. Swan has resigned his position as chief of the printing division of the bureau Df engraving and printing, to take effect August 31, and Wra. C. McKlnney has been appointed to succeed him. Mr. Swan to an old and efficient employe of the bureau. He had been foreman of the printing division since 1804. Mr. McKlnney has been one of the foremen under Mr. Swan, and Js well qualified for the promotion he has received. STRONG NAVAL FORCE: * Three Warships Will Soon Be on Their Way South. BARBER'S DELAY HOI UHDEBSTOOD No Rupture Between Colombia and Venezuela. OFFICIALS ARE GRATIFIED The Navy Department today concentrat ed its energies in the direction of mobiliz ing a naval force in the immediate ? neigh borhood of the Isthmus of Panama, de signed to protect American interests on the scene "of the rebellious disturbances in that locality. Within the next twenty-four hours three American warships, including one first class battle ship, will be on their way southward, and within ten days, in all probability, the battle ship Iowa will be anchored oft Panama to render whatever military assistance Americans located there may demand, Naval Movement* Contemplated. The Machias. the gunboat which has been held at Hampton Roads for the past few days, on account of the unfavorable weather, is expected to leave that port some time this afternoon. Advices receiv ed by the Navy Department today indicat ed that the weather conditions had modi fied. A statement to that effect was for warded to the department by the weather bureau, stating that conditions along the coast were such as to allow the Machias to sail. The commandant at the Norfolk yard was immediately notified, and inas much as the boat has been in complete readiness for her voyage for several days her departure is expected to occur before tonight. No notification of the sailing of the Ranger from San Diego, Cal., had been re ceived at the department up to a late hour this afternoon, but it is expected that she will also depart before evening. Officials of the department are somewhat at loss to understand Just why this vessel has not sailed, as she was expected to do so last evening. She has made all preparations for her voyage, and there is nothing, so far as the-department is aware of, to hold her in port. The Machias will arrive off Colon on the Atlantic coast about the same time the Iowa will cast anchor at Panama. Thus the United States will be represented at both of the principal ports In the disturbed district within a very short time. The arrival of the Iowa was reported from San Francisco this morning, the ves sel thus completing her yoO-mile trip from Puget sound. She was in readiness for a long cruise when she left Puget sound, but it is expect ed that she will replenish her coal supply I while at San Francisco. This will require only a few hours' time, however, so that she Is expected to leave for the south not later than tomorrow. The Ranger will probably get a start over the Iowa on the trip southward, but the gveat difference in the speed capacities of the two vessels will soon place the bat j tie ship ahead of the cruiser, and she will arrive there considerably in advance of the Ranger. j Aside from these naval movements there were no developments in the Colombia | Venezuelan situation. The State Depart ment was entirely lacking In advices from | the disaffected district. Treaty With New Granada. Incidental to the talk abroad concerning the United States' attitude in the present | difficulty and the possibility of an Intention on the part of this government to form a "confederacy of nations," It is pointed out in well-informed circles that the treaty of 1846 entered into between the United States and New Granada, now Colombia, contains provisions which entirely justify this country In being so active in the di rection of dispatching such a strong naval force to the scene. This treaty granted the right to Ameri cans to construct a railway across the isth mus, and on the other hand the United States was bound to maintain neutrality within the limits of the territory indi cated. The presence of American naval repre sentatives In both Atlantic and Pacific wa ters off the isthmus is therefore held to be entirely Justifiable. Satisfaction at the Department. Great satisfaction is expressed over the announcement that diplomatic relations be tween the governments of Venezuela and Colombia have not been ruptured. The fact that the Colombian minister had left his post at Caracas and that instructions sent later to Charge d'affaires Russell to as sume direction of Colombian diplomatic af fairs at the Venezuelan capital if found to bs necessary was taken to mean quite gen erally that the Colombian representative had left under circumstances which pre saged a conflict between the two coun tries. The announcement that the minister will in all probability return to his post is gratifying, therefore, indicating, as It does, that no open rupture has occurred between the governments of Colombia and Ven ezuela, as was reported. SAN DIEGO, Cal., August 17.?The, Ranger, ordered to Panama, finished tak ing on supplies this afternoon and started southward. NO NEWS OF THE REBELS. Confidence Restored Alonar the Line of Isthmian Railways. COLON, Colombia, via Galveston, Tex., August 17,?Nothing was heard of the reb els yesterday. A certain degree of confi dence has been restored along the railroad line, owing to the presence of the troops. The French cruiser Suchet is coaling at the railroad wharf. Several of her officers went to Panama today on an excursion trip MIGHT RELEASE TEGKLER. Officials of the Navy Department Con sidering the Matter. Officials of the Navy Department are considering the advisability of temporarily releasing from custody Robert G. Tegeler, the coal passer, sentenced to serve a term In prison by a naval court-martial for dis obedience of orders Issued by Lieut. Com mander Sherburne G. Hopkins of the Dis trict Naval Militia. At a late hour this afternoon no decision had been reached, but Monday Assistant Secretary fLackett will decide the matter. It is intended, however, to release Tegeler only until the District Court of Appeals renders a de cision on the question of the regularity of the recent decision of the lower court re fusing a writ of habeas corpus designed to obtain the permanent release of the con victed man.* At the office of the Judge advocate gen eral of the navy this morning It was stated that Tegeler" s release would be ordered at once during the period stated, but later In the day It was announced that a snag In the proposed proceedings had been struck in the relation to disciplinary regulations of the navy bearing upon the subject. Final action was therefore postponed. Assistant District Attorney Taggart and Attorney Glassle, the latter representing Tegeler, were at the department this after noon and consulted Acting Secretary Hack 1 % th Company, Coast -Artillery; Alfred Hasbrouck, Wist Co?npany, Coast Artillery; James L. Long, KT/th Company, Coast Artillery; .Earl C. Pierce, 5t>th Company, Coast Artillery; Moses R. Ross, 5!5d Company, Coast Artil lery. Lieutenants Cootes, Mowry, Smith. Bon ham, Clendenin and Morison will report^ to the commanding officer, Mort Myer, Va., for temporary duty. Lieutenant Supplee will report to the commanding officer. Fort McHenry, Md., for temporary duty. Second Lieutenant George A. Taylor, Ar tillery Corps, recently appointed, is at tached to the 104th Company, Coast Artil lery, and will proceed to join that com pany at Fort Washington. Md. The following-named officers, recently ap pointed, are assigned to regiments as Indi cated: First lieutenants of cavalry?Ewing E. Booth, 7th Cavalry; William F. Herring shaw, 13th Cavalry; Robert J. Reaney, 2d Cavalry; Harry N. Cootes, 12th Cavalry; Duncan Elliott, 8th Cavalry. First lieutenants of Infantry?Frank H. Buiton, 20th Infantry; Austin F. Prescott, 28th Infantry. Second lieutenants of cavalry?Edward C. Wells, 10th Cavalry; William A. Austin. 7th Cavalry; John A. Degen, 4th Cavalry; George P. Tvner, 7th Cavalry; Oscar S. Lusk, 12th Cavalry, Philip Mowry, 4th Cav alrv; William W. Overton, 4th Cavalry; Selwyn D. Smith, 1st Cavalry. Second lieutenants of infantry?Charles H. Danforth, 10th Infantry; Frederick S. Young. 17th Infantry; William E. Gillmore, 15th Infantrv; Ernest A. Jeunet, 1st In fantry; Carl C. Jones, ad Infantry; George E Kumpc, 28th Infantry; Alvin C. Voris, i 2d Infantrv; William B. Bonham, 2d In fantry; William H. Clendenin, 17th In fantry; Charles R- W. Morison. ;?th Infantry; H. Clay M. Supplee, l?th In fantry. .. .. First Lieutenant Walter B. Elliott, re cently appointed, is assigned to the w?th The following second lieutenants, recent ly appointed, are assigned to regiments as follows: Frank I. Otis, to the 8th Cavalry. William G. Murchison, to the 8th ; Charles C. Finch, to the 11th Infantr> , Thomas B.