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No. 15,292. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MAftOII A 1, 1902?THIRTY-TWO PAGES. TWO CENTS. THE EVENIKQ STAB. PUBLISHED DAILY, EXCEPT STJB DAY. Offk*, 11th Pinet acd Fenarylrania ATt?ni> The Evuain^ Star Nojrgpapor Company. 8. H. KAUFF1IA5K, Prw'U New York OtTicoi 1^8 int?B.ntJ Baildioj. Chicago 0:; co: Boyoe Bui ding. Tbe Errnlnj; Star l? aerrrd to f-.br. rtb^r* Id tte *lty by i-arrters, on thetr own n -co int. at 10 t ents ft ?wk. or 41 coats |w?r inun'.li. Copies at th? counter. 2 cents ca-h. P*- mail-anywhere la tho U.S. orCanatla-; oata^?* prrpalrt Sn.-ent* per month. Hatunlar Qtiinf.ipla shr^-t Star. $1 per year; with f. relrn [M?ta?o a-lrt^. f:\ OS. (Knterwl at tho IVsi <trti?-o at Washington, D. C., t? ae?-ond-< laws mall inr'teri t~7All mall ?iilw rlptlon* rn-iM he pa! 1 In advance. IUIp* of advtuialn^ made known en application. POTOMAC RUNS HIGH Does Much Damage to Prop erty Along Course. BEGINNING TO RECEDE CITIZENS OF CUMBERLAND BEGIN TO MAKE REPAIRS. People cf Williamspovt Frightened at Outlcok?Still Rising Here?The Floods Elsewhere. Bp<-< i;. 1 l>isp:ii)-h to Tin1 Kveiiinir St;ir. ' 1 illfl.KljAM'. Aid., March 1.?At i.oon today the water is tw. nty feet above the Baltimore and Ohio tracks at Sir John's run, fifty miles e;tst of here, and is rising two inches an hour. At Cumberland the l'otomac is gradually falling. The Haiti more and Ohio oiliciais say it is the worst flood in their history, and they fear the damage is appalling. Jiui'h apprehension is felt regarding steel bridges. They are all weightt <1. but despite this the Confluence bridge wi nt out lust ni<ht loaded with ten steel cars of coal. At Sleepy creek there is seven feet of vv.it' r over the Baltimore and Ohio tracks. It Is feared the immense tannery o? the Lnited Siates Leither Comi any at Paw Paw Is entirely washed away. The com pany l ist .hni tons of bark at their ir.unelat e-1 Cumberland plant. The Baltimore and Olro has several thousand men in the flooded district awaiting the receding of waters to work ou restoring the track. It is not likely there will be any trains from the east before tomorrow night. At Dry \\ all. Conductor G. A. Zimmerly's train was water-bound fourteen hours, sur roundeil by five f? et of water. The train men expected ev? ry moment to b.^ washed away. Another freight n the same locality was engulfed l>y the water washing the bank from un.h r it Tiie trainmen escaped up the hillside. It is expected trains w.ll be pushed through on the Pitisburg division this evening. Cumberland Cut Off From East. Cumberland is completely isolated from the east, as the Bedford division of the Pennsylvania, running here, is also com pletely tied up. The Cumberland and Penn sylvania. which suffers severely, will likely to be able to run trains through by the middle of the week. The flooding of the mines along this line is one of the most serious results of the flood, as several thou sand men are affected. The Ocean mine is the largest in the region. No word has been received as to the con ditioni of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. It will take about a week to fully explore the banks and ascertain the damage, which Oflioials here believe will be great. T he floods have receded in Cumberland. r ire engines are now pumping out water from busnu ss houses. Pavements, some of them almost a square in length, were com pletely washed out. Below Cumberland the river and canai were one. .(,n *'?} Liquor Level, a squatter section along the canal, where poverty reigns un der best conditions, the distress Is awful, ?s all the shanties, some made out of the nulls of old boats, were completelv sub merged. Heavy Loss at Hancock. From Hancock comes the report of the ?mire inundation of the west end of that town. At least forty houses are under wa ter. some being almost entirely covered. The loss there will be heavy. The work of restoring the West Virginia Central railroad slarted this morning. The landslides west of Piedmont have been re moved and a train went through to Elkins from Piedmont. The main trouble is be tween Cumberland and Piedmont. Tele grams for points along the West Virginia Central have been delayed here several days. Rumored Loss of Life. Most harrowing reports are received of ?uff. ring at Hyndman. a town of 2.000 peo ple fourteen miles northwest of here. \ reservoir used for water supply broke and added to the torrent of Wills creek that swept through the mountain valley in which the town is located. Scores of houses we*re moved from their foundations and some are badly wrecked. The flood came so suddenly that the people were unable to secure their be lemgings. Lives are reported lost, but as all the wires are down this cannot be confirmed. Two big steel brielges on the Baltimore and Ohio at Hyndman were washed away. The town is in the midst of a water famine, as the mains are broken. The wells were filled up when the water works were introduced. Many Baltimore and Ohio engines are "deaii" there for lack of water. It is said that outside aid will have to be called to relieve suffering. Alarm at Williamsport. HAGKRSTOWN, Md., March 1.?At 1 o c!ock this afternemn the Pote>mae rive^r at \\ illiamgport was twemty-eight feet above luirmul and still rising at the- rate of six inches an hour. This second rise in the river within a week is unprece dented and has caused the greatest alarm. The water is eighteen inches above the top of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal aqueduct over the t'onoeocheague ur?vk. At no point for miles above or below Will Can, a?y tract* of thp canal be wuu bt V?ni1 of th'' 'ar6e warehouses at Williamsport are flood?d. Nw trains have i?een running on the Cum berland \ alley railroad between Hagers towni and Harrlsburg since noon yesterday \ rV ?' three *>lg washouts. An official of the road stated today that at H ^fPaSStntIer trafflc could not be resumed before tomorrow noon. All traffic Itu J w Up on the Norfolk anri Western nok?? between Hagerstown and Roa At Hancock, twenty miles above Wil liamsport. the river was rising six inches an nour at noon. SCHUYLKILL ON RAMPAGE. Widespread Damage Along Its Entire Length of 140 Miles. PHILADELPHIA, March 1.?What Is said to have been the greatest flood that has ever been experienced along the Schuylkill river, certainly the moet disastrous In re cent years, tore its way down that stream last night and early this morning, and from Us source to its mouth?120 miles-damage that will reach into hundreds of thousands of dollars has been done. It was an anxious night for the residents and property owners along the river. Thus far only one life has been lost in this city. Michael Igol, aged forty-four years, was at JO? ?'c,ock thls morning in HE ^en of hl* home at Falls of Schuyl 1? 6 ot thf flood was cached w, w 5 , k thia morning when the river, which had expanded to twice its width be gan to slowly recede. Communication by telegraph and 'phone with the upper Dart of the river early today was cut off, and Information as to the conditions in towns situated on tlje river banks was meager. The melting ice and snow, coupled with heavy rains of the past twenty-four hours fn the eastern seetion of the state, was the cause of the rapid rise in the water. A few days ago the Schuylkill went up rap idly. then began to fall slowly. The ter rific rainstorm of yesterday, however, sent it up again. Flood Was Anticipated. The flood was anticipated and as a result much property in the way of manufactured ?tock and raw material stored in buildiugs along the river banks was moved to places of safety. Incalculable damage, however, has been done along the course of the river in this city. The water came within a few reel of the low< r girders of live city brioges and swept back from the wharf lines for three blocks in some .piaccs. surrounding dwelling houses, great mannfactur.ng plants. Inundating railroad tracks, and causing a chaotic condition that wi.l take many days to eradicate. Several hundred ?h< ep and hogs v.t ie caught in the flood in thrlr pens m the abattoir yards and drowned. The wards are located on the west bank of the above Market street. When the flood be-, can to rise above the danger mark early last nifiht the cattle wire removed to a place of safety, but before the attendants could reach the smiiil stock all were drowned. Some of the cattle, too. Wire lost, but most of this flock was sa\cd. Daiuege to B. and 0. Road. Probably the greatest sufferer is the Bal timore and Ohio Railroad Company, whose tracks run along the eastern shore for a distance of about three miies. This road has abandoned service over its main line and is sending its through trains via the junction railroad, which runs along the western shore just out of reach of the | flood. Its other trains are being sent from ^ the lGth street station, in West Phlladel- j phia. The company's waiting rooms in the main depot, at 24th and Chestnut streets, were three feet under water, and in the tiainshed the water was as high as the windows of the passenger coaches. The superintendent of the division expected the flood vesterday afternoon and had every movable article taken to the upper floors of the station. The company's tracks are covered with water from Fairmount Park for a distance of nearly ?ree miles south to Wharton street, where the tracks cross the Schuylkill river bridge, a short distance below. The Delaware extension of the Pennsyl vania railroad, on the west side of the , river, which is used only for freight, was covered with muddy water as high as the tops of freight cars. Lumber yards In most Instances were swept clean of their stock, the flood car- j rying the lumber down the river in great piles. Thousands of tons of coal and sand in the yards along the river banks were swept down the river. City's Puinps Under Water. The city water works located in Fair mount Park are under water, compelling the stoppage of the pumps. In the vicin ity of Arch. Race. Vine and Callowhill streets, north of Market street and Sam son, Pine and Bombard streets south of Market, the water reached above the first floors of many dwellings. The residents in these sections passed an anxious night. It was feared that their houses might topple into the rushing water at any moment. Numbers of them removed household ef fects in boats to safer places. Horses and mules were removed from stables along the river, and kept standing in the streets all night to await the passing of the flood. | A portion of the downtown section of the city was in darkness all night owing to the flooding of an electric light power house. An incident of the terrible night was the burning of a large frame building at Vine street close to the river. The structure was filled with lime, which began to slack when the water reached the building, and finally set the place on fire. When the flames were first seen the water had gone 200 yards east of the building. The fire de partment was unable to reach It, and the building was consumed to the water's edge. Scene of Desolation. When dawn broke this morning the scene aiong the river was one of desolation. There was destruction to be seen on every side, and as the water receded thick layers of mud and piles of debris were left behind. Several tugs and barge3 were left resting on wharves, where they had floated during the height of the flood. Not one of the doze-n schooners, however, which are tied up at the several wharves, received serious damage. The east and west drives of Fairmount Park are under water to the depth of sev eral feet. Railroad service from this city to points up the Schuykill valley on the Pennsyl vania railroad and the Philadelphia and Reading railway, which was abandoned last night. Is still suspended. Between here ^n>.l Manayunk, a suburb, both roads are in good condition, but north of that point the tracks are under general feet of water in many places. Manayunk suffered greatly from the high water. This district In which there are numerous mills, is a frerjuent sufferer from floods, but it never underwent such a night as that just passed. The water reached to the second-story windows, and it will take some time before the mills are in runn ng order. This will affect thousands of mill workers. BAD CONDITION AT PITTSBUBG. Many Factories Closed by Flood and Men Idle. PITTSBURG. March 1.?Western Penn sylvania is suffering from the worst flood since the record-breaker of 1884, when the Allegheny river at this point reached a stage of 33 feet 3 inches, and two-thirds of lower Pittsburg and Allegheny were sub merged In from two to ten feet of water, causing millions of dollars' damage. At 9 o'clock this morning the marks showed thirty feet of water and rising at the rate of from five to six inches an hour. Street ear traffic between the two cities has been entirely abandoned. Scores of mills have been forced to close down, and hundreds of families have, been compelled to move from their homes. March's mild entry Into the calendar will help the bad conditions, and many were this morning fervently hoping for a cold snap to check the rising waters. In Pittsburg. Uuquesneway, portions of Pennsylvania avenue, Water street and the Point section where inundated and the south side river front was under several feet of water. In Allegheny, Bacock, Rob inson. Madison, Kiibuck, Craig, Corry. Itasca. River, Anderson. Sandusky and South avenues were impassable. In Second Stories of Buildings. In some cases the water was up to the second floors, and many houses were de serted, while In others the occupants were ^compelled to use skiffs. Special details of police surround the flooded district to guard property and lives. Thousands of workingmen were idle today and will probably not be able to resume work for several days on account of the flood. Among the plants forced to close are | Spang-Chalfants steel works, Pittsburg stove works, Armstrong & McKelvey's lead works, Marshall & Kennedy's flour mills, Porter's foundry, Pittsburg and Western shops, American Steel and Wire Company's rod mill at Braddock, Du^juesne Forge Company, Chess, Cook & Co., Gar land chain works, Braddock Machine and Manufacturing Company, W. Dewees Wood plant, McKeesport; H. J. Heinz pickle works. Brown's mills. Oil Well Supply Co.. La Belle steel works, Lindsay & McOutch eon's steel hoop plant, Charles' nut and bolt works, Zugs' iron works. Shoenberger steel i works. Black Diamond steel works. Paint I er*s and Singer Jk Nlroick mills. Republic I iron and steel works. Oliver Iron and steel i (Continued sw Bseand Page.) Director Merriam Will Prob ably Succeed Himself. CLERKS ARE ANXIOUS IF BILL IS NOT APPROVED SOON MANY WILL BE DISCHARGED. A Protest Against an Illinois Candi date?"Webb" Flannagan to Win Out. There is thought to be no doubt that President Roosevelt will nominate ex-Gov ernor William R Merriam as direetor of the permanent census bureau under the bill Just passed by Congress and which will become law when the President's sig nature is placed to it. Senator Quarles of Wisconsin, who has been in charge of the census bill in the Senate, said today, when leaving the White House, that it was the unanimous desire of the members of both houses of Congress that Director Morriam's splendid work should be recognized by his nomination to succeed himself as director of the permanent establishment. Senator Quarles said that the work of this office bad been most satisfactorily car ried on, and general satisfaction given un der most embarrassing and trying circum stances. This was true of the officials un der Direetor Merriam, and it was hoped that they, too, would be retained. The fact that the House was not in ses sion today prevented the bill being signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House. This will not be done until Monday, and the bill will not reach the President until Monday afternoon. He will sign it soon after it reaches the White Hou?e, as any material delay would result in about .VH> census employes falling out side the civil service breastworks. The dismissal of these employes is held up pending the President's disposition of the bill. -If the measure is not signed in four or five days these employes will be re leased and will thus fail of the privilege and right of transfer to other departments of the government. The President under stands this ar.d probably approves of the retention of these anxious clerks. Senator Quarles says that there are about 1.700 employes now in the bureau. Of these he believes that 1,000 will be required in the permanent bureau after July 1, leaving only 700 to be absorbed into the otfyer branches of government service un der the civil service laws^. Senator Quarles thinks this number can easily be provided for without serious disadvantage to the eligibles on the civil service list. There is a strong belief among numerous congressmen that Director Merriam stands a good chance of entering the cabinet in the course of the next year. The talk that Secretary Hitchcock will leave the cabinet makes an opening that would, it is said, be appropriate for Mr. Merriam and for which he would be strongly backed. A Protest Against Hogan. Wilfiam S. Warren, president of the Chi cago board of trade, was presented to the President tejday by Representative Hopkins of Illinois. Mr. Warren came to Washing ton to protest against the possible nomina tion of Daniel Hogan as collector of inter nal revenue of the southern district of Illi nois. The protest was made, it is claimed, in behalf of the entire board of trade and business element of Chicago. Hogan was grain registrar of Chicago during the ad ministration of Gov. Tanner. He was held in that position bj* Gov. Yates, and, it is claimed, has the Indorsement of Gov. Yates. Representative Hopkins and ex-Representa tive "Billy"' Lorimer, who are charged with being in a political combine to overthrow Senator Mason and nearly everybody else in their way. Recently serious charges have been made of the false grading of wheat in the registrar's office, and some indictments are pending as a result. "Webb" Flannagan to Win Out. Although a most severe flght has been made to prevent another term being given to Webster Flannagan, collector of inter nal revenue of the third Texas district, the President has finally decided, it was stated today, to renominate the redoubtable Texas politician. Flannagan is known all through the south. He belongs to the re publican organization in Texas. Senator Dubois and ex-Senator Shoup of Idaho presented Thomas Cobb, editor of the Idaho Statesman. Mr. Cobb is on his way to Europe, but stopped in Washing ton to say a good word for Joseph Perault, surveyor general of Idaho. Charges of vio lating the civil service are pending against Mr. Perault and threaten to prevent his being again nominated for the office. Mr. Oxnard and Sugar. Henry Oxnard, head of the beet sugar industry In this country, had a talk with tne President this morning. He urged that a rebate on Cuban sugar, such as proposed by Representative Tawney, would accom plish the desired relief, and, moreover, have the advantage over a tariff concession of placing the money dlrertly into the pocket3 of the Cuban sugar planters. Mr. Oxnard also called the President's attention to the report that the Brussels international sugar conference had agreed upon the abolition of all sugar bounties, direct and indirect, and te>!d him if this reperrt was true It woul.l solve the whole problem by raising the price of sugar throughout the world. For this reason Mr. Oxnard contended that there is no reason for haste in settling the Cuban tariff problem. President Will Be Here. Ell Torrance, commander-in-chief of the | G. A. R.; B. H. Warner and John McElroy called on the President to day to inform him that the annual encampment of the G. A. R. will be held in. this city the first week In October and to express the hope that he would be here. The President said that it would be Impossible to keep him away from Washington on that occasion ai d that it would certainly give him^leaa ure to attend some of the functions of the encampment. The President, in response to the requests of the delegation, said that he would gladly co-operate With the dpodi* of the city and the officials of the organisa tion, and could be depended On to give his hearty assistance in any way desh-ed of him. The President said that he would have a number of guewts during the encampment, and that the White House, like all other Washington at that time, would be tilled with visitors. Doesn't Voice Public Sentiment. Ex-Senato# M. C. Butler of South Caro lina called on the President today to ex press the earnest hope that the Tillman McLaurin episode and the letter of Lieut. Gov. James Tillman would not interfere with ahy plans he had made about going to the Charleston exposition. Gen. Butler told the President in emphatic tevoap that the action of 14eut. Gov. TUbam) was not approved by the people of state and that it would be a hardsbiytiot to at tend the exposition. Gen. Butler said that t?j?!!??,? tin the world those at Charles ton would be the last to cast any insult lhe rhlef executive or to approve an insult ?y any one else. The President an swered that the letter of young tiii?.? would not interfere m the least witJkhis intentions, but did iot say definitely what he would do ai>out going to Charleston. A Call From Iildians. A r-rlegation of Coeur D'Alene Indians called on the President today to pay th^ir respects. The callers were Paul Po-lot-kin, Louis Wis-tis-rah, Pierre Moc-til-ma, Louie Mich-tah, Petof> Cher-rep-pa, Daniel Quin ne-raos-sie. and Bonlmaster, chiefs and counselors of the CoeuvU Alencs. They are weil-to-do Indians, owning 3and.?. cattle and f-plendid farm?". Some ,jf them live in houses costing severer thousands of dollars, and their homes are furnished with p'.anosj pictures and everything modern. One of them has a large artificial lake in front of his home in Idaho. Petrr-Cher-rep-pa re member* the President when ha lived on his ranch near Med->ra. Dak. A number of Wisconsin lumbermen called on the President toctay to pay their re spects. Gov. Herried of South Dakota was a caller during the day. Presidential Nominations. The President today sent the following nominations to the Senate: Benjamin B. Brown, eolicctor of cus toms, district of Erie, Pa. Army?Geo. W. Bieglcr, Indiana, late cap tain 2Sth Infantry Volunteers, second lieu tenant of cavalry. Second lieutenants, artillery?II. W. Mc Cauley, late corporal Company E. 1st Col orado Volunteers; Wm. R. MeGill, Penn sylvania, late quartermast? r sergeant Com pany L. 41st Infantry, I'nited States Vol unteers: Robfrt J. Arnold, late first Hcu tinam 2J'th Infantry, United States Volun teers; Albert H. Stevens. District of Co lumbia. late second lieutenant :>lst Infan try; C. E N. Hrtward. late second lieuten ant 45th Infantry. I'nited States Volun teers: Jairus A. Moore, second lieutenant, transferred from the infantry arm. Navy?John Gibbons, to be lieutenant commander. GOV. TAFT'S TESTIMONY ITS EFFECT ON PENDING PHILIP PINE LEGISLATION. Purchase of the Friars' Land Regarded as Conducive Toward Restor 0 ation of Peace. Governor Tail's test'mony on conditions in the Philippines has pearly concluded be fore the House committee on insular affairs. In speaking of the effect of tiie information which the governor has given Congress, Chairman Cooper of the insular affairs committee of the House said to a Star re pot ter today that before the governor was heard by the Senate committte that body was opposed to any legislation at this time looking to ihe establishment of a permanent civil goveinimnt in the Philipp nrs. It is understood now that the Senate com mittee is willing to consider a bill to this end. and as Mr. Cooptr's bill is drawn in accordance with the recommendation of the Philippine commission, that will likely be the measure taken up by the Senate committee. The Cooper bill provides thi.t civil govern ment shall go Into eff :ct January 1. 1D04. This date, Mr. Cooper now believes, should be eliminated, and the bill made to go into effect when peace shall be restored. Would Hasten l*eafce. "In my opinion," said Mr. Cooper, "the purchase by this government of the lands belonging to the friars in the Philippines will do more toward restoring peace in the archipelago than any other thing. The native Filipinos, although they are Catho lics in religion, have a strong hatred of the Spanish friars. The title to these lands is ? held by the i>ope in Rome, and nego tiations for their acquitment will likely have to be conducted there. "The friars own over -fbo.000 acres of land in the Philippines. They are mostly Spanish, nnd if their lands were sold they would naturally retire from the islands." Mr. Cooper was asked if he knew of a proposition to send a commission with Gov. Taft at its head to Rome for the purpose of negotiating for the land, but he could give no information on the matter. PURCHASE OF FRIAR LANDS. Proposed Bond Issue to Pay for Them. Gov. Taft today further discussed the disposition of the friar lands and 'corporate franchises in the Philippines before the House committee on Insular affairs. As to the prospects for floating the bonds which are to take up the friar lands. Gov. Taft said he had spoken recently with J. Pier pont Morgan, who had said there was no doubt as to the bonds being salable, al though Mr. Morgan could not state what interest rate they would command. As to the Interest rate, Gov. Taft said Mr. Vanderlip, former assistant secretary of the treasury and now a New York finan cier, had stated that the rate would have to be five per cent for the bonds to be sold at par. if there was no express guarantee by the government of the United States. The governor advised a government guar antee In order to reduce the interest rate. The question of sending American ne groes to the Philippines came up while Gov. Taft was discussing the extent of labor required for developing the rail roads in the Islands, Mr. Williams of Miss issippi and Mr. Patterson of Tennessee ask ed if negro labor from this country could not be utilized un this work. Gov. Taft thought this Inexpedient, as it would subordinate the Filipino to the ne gro, whereas the Filipino considered him self superior to the negro. Gov. Taft said he knew little of the negroes of the south. He summed up his views as fol lows: "In present fitness for government I think the average Filipino, especially the 1(0 per cent uneducated, is low, quite low. In capacity for learning government and in capacity for future development I think the Filipino is equal to May race except the white." _ ?- _ THE NBT_ Sl&EIPTS. Distribution of Fun4 ^ised 'or Be nevolent'Purpoees. Mrs. Albert Clifford Barney and Mrs. Archibald Hopkins announce the gross re ceipts of the entertainment held at Chase's Theater February U to be $3,549.80; ex penses, $406.47; balance, r$3,143.33, which has been divided as follows: Junior Republic $2,043 33 Associated Charities*- v 500 House of the Good Snepbew 200 00 Diet Kitchen 200 00 District Nurse Society 2J0 00 Total $3,143 33 Mrs. Barney and Mrs. Hopkins, on their ofn behalf and on behalf of the institutions benefited, express warm appreciation of the generosity of the ptjbllc and sincere thamcs for the kindness and assistance Of all who helped to bring about sB great a success. The Daughters of t!i,? American Revolu tion; the msoaaement of Chase's. Mr. Regi nald De Koiks and Schroeder's. Orchestra.. J. H. Small *;Sons, Mrs. JUnioln, Miss Berry, Mrs. 8h*de, Mrs. StUssn-Hutchins, Mr. OhspJn Mr; Marrow, Mr. Wk L. Morse and Mr. Hobart|KiehoW contributed largely to ths rpuk. well as the yijung ladies manager* sty, "nothing could ffceeed the patience sad painstaking ears df all who took part in tha cast for the ?toning and is ths teUMMC THE CANAL OUTLOOK Congressional View of Co lombia's Action. OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE UNFRIENDLINESS MANIFESTED AMONG THE FRENCH. Declared That a Good Title Cannot Be Obtained?Views of Senator Mor gan and Mr Hepburn. The situation in relation to the Panama canal, as developed at the meeting of the directors of lhat company. In Paris, yester day, is regarded at the Capitol as of the utmost Importance in its bearing upon the canal problem now being considered by Congress. The situation is such that many people here regard the possibility e>f this country securing the Panama canal route, even if it should so desire, as entirely out of the question. Beskles the objections on the score cf engineering difficulties that advocates of the Nicaraguan route have to any attempt to build a canal at Panama, there is the practical impossibility of get ting a title to the Panama .route, even if it should be willing to appropriate the forty millions of dollars asked for the property of the Panama company. A Confused Situation. Colombia having objected to the sale of the Panama property, the Panama Canal Company is obliged to face the provisions of the concession under which it has prose cuted its work, and has secured such rights as it has enjoyed e>n the Isthmus of Pan ama. Continuing the work on the canal the Panama company can remain in possession of its canal route until the >ear 1010. It makes no difference whether this work is prosecuted with a few men or with a large number of men. The fact that the work continues would, it is confidently believed by those who are fully posted on the canal problem, warrant the French government in representing to Colombia that no ae*t should be attempted by that government to dispossess the canal company until the con clusion of the concessionary term is pro nounced. On the other hand the stipula tion in the concession is such that the canal company itself cannot elispose of its property to this government without the consent of Colombia. Even should Colombia and the esanal com pany come to an agreement for the disposi tion of the propeity to the I'nited "States, a result that is not likely in view of the posi tion taken by the government of Colombia and by the attitude of the French people during the last few days, the property could not be conveyed to this government. This is so for the reason that the conces sions which have been given the French government have been acts of congress of Colombia, and in order to nullify them other acts of congress would have to be passed. The present condition of tfce-^VJ lombian government is such that men who are well posted in diplomatic affairs de clare that they elo not know what the Co lombian government is today. It is entirely problematical how long it will take in order to clear up the situation in Colombia so that a stable government will be recognized to deal with. The entire situation is re garded as one promising indefinite delay on any proposition relating to the Panama canal, anel only trouble is anticipateel in any attempt on the part of this government to straighten out the tangle that has been woven in every part of the problem. Attitude of the French. But much more important than the action by the Colombian government in notifying the new Panama Cnnal Company of its opposition toward any prope>sition for the transfer of that canal -property to the i United States is the attitude assumed by President Loubet and prominent French men toward the suggestion for selling the exinaJ property to this country. Senator Morgan, chairman of the committee on interoceanic canals, when this suggested purchase of the Panama canal property was first made objected to it on the ground that he was satisfied that it would result only in breeding bad feeling between the United States and France, and he did not believe that if the canal property could be obtained for practically nothiyg that this country would be justified in stirring up such animosity with a people with whom it has always been on friendly terms in order to obtain what some people might re-gard as a bargain. The developments in France witnin the last few days are re garded as amply justifying this view of the situation. The French people are asking themselves why they should not build this canal and reap whatever benefit is to be de rived from it if it is gex>d enough for the United States to take and build. The report of the isthmian canal com mission of the United States has produced a profound Impression on many French men. Its indorsement of the Panama route as a practicable one is strengthen ing the old reports of French engineers to the same effect. On the other hand. Pres ident Loubet, as the advocate for the rights of 800,000 Frenchmen who have put their money Into this project, believes that 110 effort should be spared to allow them to get some benefit from the eianal if that Is possible. The situation is now such that if the ca nal route were sold to the I'nited States these 800,000 persons would be absolutely without benefit by the transaction. Forced Into a Profitable Deal. It will be remembered that the organizers of the new Panama Canal Company tcok stock in that company as a compromise with the French court of the suits that were pending against them because of their connection with the old Panama canal scandal, and in order to compromise these suits they subscribed sixty millions of francs toward the new Panama company's stock. Under the terms of sale of the property to the United States these s--ame men would receive 78,000,000 francs, which would give them a profit of about SO per cent on their investment. This proposition is regarded as highly humorous If it were not connected with so sad a transaction as has been the entire Panama canal business. It shows that men who were practically forced into subscrib ing to the stock of the new Panama Canal Company, and thereby were relieved from the effect of suits against them, would re ceive a handsome dividend of 30 per cent on their investment. Colombia's Action. The action of the Colombian government is traced by some directly to the sugges tion that has been made in Congress, that if this government is to have a canal at Panama at all it should secure it by means of a concession from Colombia direct, with all the guarantees that this government would require in order to thoroughly pro tect its rights in the future and to keep ! clear of diplomatic entanglements, rather than to receive it from the hands of a com pany whose right to give a title to the property Is at least -questioned by so many high authorities and is likely to prodqee trouble, not only In the French courts, but between this government, and that of Prance. The Colombian government, however, has 1 Its hands tied and can do nothing, at I^ast until after the year 1810, by which time It Is declared that a canal cnuld readily be built through Nicaragua if the Senate simply passes the Hepburn bill, which has 1 already twice passed the House of Repre sentatives. Congressional Hearings. The Senate committee on lnteroceanic canals has now concluded the taking of testimony so far as witnesses tiesired by Senator Morgan are concerned. Whether other members of the committee will desire to introduce witnesses Is yet to b> s?en. Th ? next meeting of the committee will be held Monday, and at that meeting it !s expected tnat much concerning the attitude of tiie committee on the project as a whole can be developed. In view of the complications in Colombia and in France especially in view hoHnt tV,at the Krfnch are har boiln* ill feel!ng.? toward what they rig.ird as a hard bargain that this- country i3 at t0 drive with France, it is not be lieved by senators generally that th ? com mittee on lnteroceanic canals will c >ns. nt to tie up the whole canal problem by any longer dallying with a proposition for a canal at Panama. There are many objec tions that have been urg.ul before the com mit eo by distinguished civil engines against a canal over that route, becaus" of physical characteristics of the ground, and although tae isthmian commission has pro nounced the route practicable these objec tions have been so gr-at that they have pro duced. a profound impression on the nunds of senators The Senate Responsible. ith the House of Representatives prac tically unanimously in favor of th<? Hep burn bill, the Senate of the United States will be held responsible for any failure to enact canal legislation. While Senator Morgan, chairman of the committee, at the time the Hepburn bill was passed bv the House, had some objections to the details of that bill, he has. after very careful study of its provision*, concluded" that the bill as passed by the House entirely meets the situation today, and would be satisfied to see it passed by the Senate without a single amendment. The meeting of the canal committee Mon day morning, the regular meeting time for the committc e, is looked forward to by e\'?P. one lntprested in canal legislation I with keen anticipation. It is expected that meeting will develop the situation suffi ciently to show whether the committee wil! act promptly and as a unit in favor of prompt canal legislation for the building of a canal at Nicaragua, where not a single obstacle either from an engineering po.nt of view or of a diplomatic nature has been devcloped. Mr. Hepburn's View. Chairman Hepburn of the House commit tee on foreign and interstate commfrce, and author of the canal bill which passed the House this session, read with interest the news from Paris. "It simply shows," he said to a Star re porter today, "what we have contended all along, that those Panama officials had nothing to sell us, and could not make us a genuine offer. They were simply experi menting. "It also proves, as we have Insisted from the lirst. that to attempt to take over th? lanama project would Involve us in inter minable difficulties, litigations and negotia Hons. It is more evident than ever that the way to get an isthmian canal is to pass the Nicaragua canal bill and get to work building the waterway." Colombian Minister's Statement. In view of the dismay reported to have been caused at Paris yesterday among the shareholders of the Panama Canal Com pany by i'ie reading of a dispatch from the Colombian government, announcing that the company could not transfer its concession to any nation without the con sent of the Colombian government. Dr. Sllva, the retiring miniver from Colombia at Washington, today authorized the fol lowing statement: "The Panama Canal Company, through Mr. Lam pre, its secretary general, and others, was informed some time ago that it could close no deal Involving the trans fer of its rights to any nation without first obtaining the assent of the Colombian gov ernment, the grantor of its concession. This matter was made very clear. The Colombian government gave the company the right to Initiate negotiations looking to a transfer of its rights to a nation, but never to finally close such a deal." Continuing, Dr. Sllva said that he could not comprehend why a situation, which had been made so clear to the company, should have caused such a flurry of ex citement among its shart holders when pre sented to them In the form of an official cablegram, unless they had construed the notification to mean that the Colombian government was not yet prepared with its terms of transfer to the government of the United States. The Protocol. The protocol providing for this transfer was practically completed as far as Dr. Silva, acting for the Colombian govern ment, was concerned, but with the appoint ment of a new minister, Dr. Concha, who is expected to arrive at Washington from New York in a few days, a change takes place in the Colombian negotiator at Wash ington and the protocol will be turned over to Dr. Concha for his supervision before being presented to Admiral Walker, chair man of the canal commission. Of course, the arrangements which Co lombia must make with the canal company are contingent upon an agreement with the United States. In other diplomatic quarters the officials are inclined to minimize the actual signifi cance of the reported excitement at Paris yesterday, pointing out that there are a number of shareholders in the new com pany who were in the old one. and who are apt to become alarmed at the slightest development which appears to threaten their Interests. Colombia After Better Terms. In Is gathered from inquiry here ad dressed to persons familiar with the trian gular negotiations that have been in progress between the United States govern ment, the government of Colombia and rep resentatives of the Panama Canal Company that the government of Colombia holds the key to the situation and is therefore respon sible for the check that has been received. The exchange of ministers at Washington in the middle of the negotiations for a proto col stating the terms upon which Colom bia will convey the necessary powers to the United States government for the con struction of a canal really marks a Change in policy, it is said. Colombia is now believed to have deter mined to make the effort to secure much more favorable terms and vastly greater pecuniary consideration In return for what she is asked to give than the protocol, as p-epared by Minister Silva, who is now re tiring. contemplated. What Angers the French. If this additional compensation cannot be secured from the United States (and it is intimated that an attempt in that direc tion is sure to fail) then the plan is to have recourse to the _ anama Canal Com pany and in some manner to obtain a por tion of the sum of $40,000,0uo which the United States government is to pay for the works and franchise, if it decides upon the Panama route. Naturally, this contingency has aroused the fear and anger of the Panama canal managers, who perhaps are not a\ are that the United States govern ment has refused, or will absolutely refuse to enter Into any agreement In the protocol wita Colombia which even indirectly * sane tlons the spoliation of the stockholders of [ the company. ... Coinage in February. The monthly coinage statement issued by the director of the mint showa the total February coinage was $0.2 >1.340, as fol lows: Gold, $0,043,850; silver, 12,480,0^0; mlnnr $12j,490. ?* THE FOR TIMS FFTCHEH. Frequent ami constant advertising: brought ire all I own.?A. T. Stewart. A Tiff" SITUATION Dominant Party in House Much Embarassed. CUBAN AID THE CAUSE NO AGREEMENT HAS YET BEEV REACHED. A Belief, However, That Future Con ferences Will Solve the Difficulty. Not within many years lias a more Inter esting tariff situation confronted the domi nant paity in the House than the one now existing- None of the leaders can yet sei? the way out. but are confident that in one or two more conferences a solution of pr?? ent difficulties will be found which will ob viate the threatened dissension In the party. The majority of the ways and means re publicans are In a very embarrassing posi tion. They tind themselves, while support ing the administration, being put in the at titude of opposing a party policy. The Beet sugar republicans have thus p l loried the supporters of the administration plan for Cuban relief. "How can you." they say to Chairman Payne, "you, who helped to make the present sugar schedule and put in it protection for the American beet sugar Industry, propose to make a per cent cut in that tariff? And at the same time you Ins sH upon the full extent of protection to the steel trust, which needs protection so little that it is selling its products abroad at a price lower than it charges American consumers." At Future Conferences. So there is an increase of the talk of com bination of the beet sugar men with the Babcock tariff revisionists to force conces sions from the House leaders. It Is the general belief in the House that the situa tion will crystallze at the next conference. Monday night, or possibly at a third meet ing, in the adoption of a plan which will not be objectionable to the beet sugar in terests, something along the line of a re bate. Mr. Tawney of Minnesota, one of the ways and m?at.s republicans insists that no American industry needing protection must be assaulted for the benefit of the alien owners of Cuban sugar land?. He says It has been confessed that two-thirds of the sugar crop is the output of lands owned by non-residents and fortign corporations. Protectionist Lines Strengthened. Mr. Tawney will aid in the light Monday night against tariff reduetU>n, and will also protest against action which would admit of Indiscriminate distribution of whatever form of relief is provided. The Michigan delegation is leading the fight against tariff reduction. It was said today that the protectionist lines are daily being strengthened. PHILIPPINE TARIFF. Conferees of the Two Houses Reach Agreement. The conferees of the two houses of Con gress on the Philippine tariff bill reached an agreement today after one sitting, the representatives of the House accepting all but one of the material amendments made by the Senate. The amendment which was not accepted is that imposing the tonnage taxes of the United States upon foreign vessels engaged in inter-island tralfic in the Philippines. The House conferees also re fused to accept the proviso connected with the Senate amendment limiting the opera tion of the sedition laws of the Philippines, leaving that provision to declare simply that "no person in the Philippine Islands shall under the authority e>f the United States be convicted of treason by any tri bunal. civil or military, un'ess on the testi mony of two witnesses to the same overt act or on confessions in open court." The part stricken out exempted members of a family from punishment for failing to give information concerning the treasonable acts of one anetther. The Senate reduction of 2."? per ctnt on * the rate* of duty is retained. MAIL BAG REPAIR SHOP. Proposed Building to Be Erected South of City Post Office. Mr. Martin of Virginia today introduced a bill in the Senate providing for the pur chase of the north half of the square imme diately south of the city -petst office bulg ing for the erection thereon of a mail-bag repair shop. The bill provides for a build ing to go on this site to cost not more than $300,c00. and limits the price that may be paid for the land to $10.50 a square foot. The land that is desired contains IfiTi.uOO square feet of ground. The bill was re ferred to the Senate committee on public buildings and grounds. ADMIRAL ftEMEY SAILS. Departure From Cavite for the United States. The Navy Department received a cable gram this morning announcing the depart ure of Rear Admiral George C. Uemey. aboard his flagship, the Brooklyn, from Ca vite for the United States by way of the Suez canal. Admiral Remey's departure from the Asiatic station, where he has been commander-in-chief of the naval forces since April. 1JNM>, leaves Rear Admiral Fred erick Rodgers In supreme command. Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans, who has been in command of the Prince Henry reception squadron, will leave the latter part of this month for the Asiatic station to assume the duties of senior squadron commander. Rear Admiral Kempff. who has been the junior squadron commander on the station, has already been relieved of that duty by Rear Admiral Prank Wlldc-s and has started for the United States aboard the steamer City of Peking. THE RURAL FREE DELIVERY. Opposition to the Proposed Contract System. Representatives Swanson and Cromer have made a mdnorky report against the bill changing the rural free delivery sys tem from the srlary to the competitive contract basis. They say they think It un wise in Congress to Attempt so radical a departure, one which at best must be ex pertaiental and which might result disas trously. Owing to the Interest aroused la this bill It Is to be considered by the House on Monday, preceding the post office appro priation jbilL Personal Mention. Col. E. V. Andruss of the Artillery Corps, stationed at Fort Washington, Maryland, is at the BbUtt for & few days.