Evening star. [volume], April 20, 1905, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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No. 16,278. WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1905?TWENTY-TWO PAGES. TWO CENTS.
THE EVENING STAR
WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION.
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Tie Er?ning Star Newiptp?r Company.
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THE RUSSIAN FLEET
Is Reported to Be Still in
*
Kamranh Bay.
NEUTRALITY QUESTION
NOW AGITATING THE COURTS OF
THE BELLIGERENTS.
Paris Not Yet Advised of Protest From
Japan?Rojestvensky Outside
Three-Mile Limit.
ST. PETERSBURG. April 20. 5 p.m.-lt
Lei claimed here that Admiral Rojestvensky
has not overstepped the French rules of
neutrality at Kamranh bay. the coaling and
provisioning of his ships occurring outside
territorial waters. Russia has not been
advised that Japan has lodged a protest In
Paris.
The charges of Russia's violation of neu
trality. coupled with the revival of
story that Russia Intends to send her Black
sea fleet through the Dardanelles, and the
report that the British Mediterranean fleet
has been sent to the Aegean sea to head
cff the Russian fleet, cause extreme irrita
tion.
The Associated Press is again authorized
to state that Russia has no intention of
sending out the Black sea fleet.
The admiralty officials are quite elated
over the receipt of news showing that not
a single collier dispatched to the China swi
through the Straits of Sunda for the pur
pose of throwing the Japanese off the scent
when Admiral Rojestvensky passed througa
the Straits of Malacca fell into the hands
of the Japanese.
Rojestvensky reached the Straits of Ma
lacca before the colliers arrived at tae
Straits of Sunda, and the Japanese then
withdrew from the latter straits, having
missed both the quarry and the decoys.
The admiralty is silent as to whether Ro
Jtstvensky has left Kamranh bay.
Still at Kamranh Bay.
SAIGOX, French Cochin-China, April 20.?
Admiral Rojestvensky's fleet is still In
Kamranh bay.
The French admiral, Jonquieres, has taken
every step to secure neutrality.
COMMENT AT PARIS.
Formal Denial of Any Protest From
Japan.
PARIS, April 20.?No confirmation has yet
been obtaintd of the report that Japan has
formally protested against the stay of the
Russian squadron in the waters of Indo
Cliina as being a breach of neutrality. The
following guarded semi-official statement
was Issued:
Nothing is known in the highest French
diplomatic quarters concerning the protest
which according to certain foreign reports
lias been formally addrt ssed by Japan to
the French government relative to the vio
lation of neutrality by the Russian squad
ron. Furthermore, this squadron has been
outside French waters for several days
asst."
In view of today's press dispatches saying
the Russian squadron was still at Kamranh
bay the last part of the semi-official state
ment appears to indicate that Admiral Ro
jestvensky has withdrawn outside the three
inile limit from the shore line of the bay,
which, according to French law, constitutes
the oten sea.
Later the foreign office gave out a for
mal denial ol the reported protest of Japan,
saying, in response to many inquiries:
"Neither Dr. Motono (the Japanese min
ister) nor the Japanese government have
made any protest or complaint to the
French government relative to an alleged
breach of neutrality."'
It was learned in other quarters that Dr.
Motono made his usual weekly call at the
foreign office yesterday, which was diplo
matic day. The report of a protest prob
abl> grew out of his call, but the question
of France's neutrality has not been pre
sented here irv any form.
Denied Sending Wireless Report.
LONDON. April 30.? Foreign Secretary
J.ar.sdowne has taken occasion formally to
deny to the Russian government the s:ate
ment of the Novoe Vremya in regard to
the British cruiser Iphigenla, which vessel,
the newspaper said, had transmitted by
wireless telegraphy the Information that
she had passed Admiral Rojestvensky's
qu.tdroti 14o miles from Saigon. This, the
Nuvoe Vremya declared, was very impor
tant news to the Japanese, inasmuch as
Rojestvensky had succeeded in slipping by
the Japanese scouts. The denial of the
British foreign office contained the specific
statement that the Iphigenia did not even
sight the Russian squadron.
NO REPLY FROM FRANCE.
Tokyo Awaiting Answer to Protest
Against Russian Fleet.
TOKIO. April 211?3 p.m.?The reply of
France to the protest of Japan against the
Russian squadron using Kamranh bay has
not been received In Tokyo, but Is expected
Shortly.
The statement that the cabinet and the
elder statesmen, after a conference, had
forwurded a protest, is incorrect. France
was approached through the usual diplo
matic channels.
The officios here are not certain whether
the Russians are still at Kamranh l*iy, al
though they wore reported to be there yes
terday.
To Make Tour of the Coast.
PARIS, April 20.-A dispatch received to
diiy says M Beau, governor general of
Indo-China. recently dee ded on making a
tour of the coast on boad a navul auxiliary
vessel. He stopped at (julnhon which is 150
miles north of Kamranh hay and after
ward procofJed to Hanoi, capital of Ton
quin. This indicates th?? absence of the
governor general from his usual headquar
ters at Saigon. The purpose of his trip
was not stated, but It appears to have given
him an opportunity to observe .the coast
which Is the subject of controversy in con
nection with the presence of the Russian
squadron in lndo-('hina waters.
STEAMER AGENTS PROTESTED.
Against Refusal to Allow German Ship
to Coal.
PORT I.OI'IS, Island of Mauritius, April
20.?The agents of the German steamer
Juliette have formally protested to the Ger
man consul agalnnt the local government's
refusal to allow the vessel to coal and
against the consequent delay here.
The action of the local officials was due
to statements made by British members of
the crew to the effect that the Juliette is
carrying stores to the Russian squadron In
the China sea.
THECANALCOMMISSION
NOT ALL THE EXECUTIVE COM
MITTEE HAVE RETURNED.
Chairman Shonts of the Panama canal
commission and Judge Magoon of the ex
ecutive committee of that body returned to
Washington from New York last night. Mr.
Shonts was unable to finish up all of the
many details of the work in connection
with his recent election to the presidency
of the Panama Railroad and Steamship
Company, and after a few days In Wash
ington will return to New York for that
purpose. Chief Engineer Wallace of the
commission did not return to Washington
with his colleagues last night, as was ex
pected, and will not be here "for several
days Consequently the dally meetings of
the executive committee, which were sched
uled to take place immediately, have of ne
cessity been postponed. Mr. Shonts had a
number of conferences with his subordi
nates today, however, and upon the return
of Chief Engineer Wallace the executive
committee will settle down to work and
keep at it from then on.
It has been decided that Mr. Dominic
Murphy, the secretary of the isthmian canal
commission just retired, shall be continued
in a like capacity with the new commis
sion at and with the same salary and al
lowances. It will be necessary, however,
for him to take his station on the isthmus,
where the executive offices of the commis
sion will be located. A portion of the regu
lar force of employes necessary to conduct
the business of the administrative branch
in Washington will be retained here, and
such as of the remainder of the clerical
force as are willing will be transferred to
duty on the isthmus.
There were many callers at the head
quarters of the commission in the Mills
building annex this afternoon, including
tl'.e members of the New Orleans board of
trade, who have come to Washington to
talk things over with Chairman Shonts.
New Orleans business and commercial in
terests are. of course, intensely interested
In the construction and operation of a
trans-isthmian waterway, and each step in
the construction of the canal by the United
?States is being followed with the greatest
interest by the business men of that city.
Great things are expected of the new com
mission by the people of the crescent city,
and the members of the board of trade de
cided to come to Washington and make
themselves acquainted with Chairman D.
BIGAMIST HOCH'S TRIAL.
Requested That His Jury Be Composed
of Germans.
CHICAGO, April 20.?Johann Hoch, on
trial for the murder of one of his wives,
Marie Walcker-Hoch. expressed the de
sire today for German Jurors to try him.
The confessed bigamist already had se
cured a change of vfenue to get before a
German judge. With a German jury Hoch
professes to believe that he will succeed
in getting his liberty.
Hoch's counsel contends that the new
i Indictment voted against Hoch is invalid.
The indictment was voted on the re
quest of Assistant State's Attorney Olson,
because the name of Mrs. Marie Walcker
Hoch was mispelled in the first Indict
ment, which was returned by a grand
Jury some months ago. The present grand
jury heard no witnesses against Hoch, it
is contended, and, therefore, was unable
to vole a valid true bill against him.
FAVORED UNION WITH GREECE.
Cretan Chamber of Deputies Opened at
Canea Today.
CANEA, Island of Crete, April 20.?The
Cretan chamber of deputies was opened to
day by Prince George, the high commis
sioner of the powers, who, In his speech,
blamed the revolutionists and declared his
readiness to grant every reasonable reform
properly proposed.
On the withdrawal of the prince, the
chamber of deputies unanimously declared
in favor of the union of Crete with Greece,
and deputies proceeded to the palace to so
Inform the prince.
ANXIETY OVER LAUNCH.
Non-Arrival of Gregory at Gibraltar
From New York.
GIBRALTAR, April 2D.?Considerable
anxiety is felt here at the non-arrival of
the gasoline launch Gregory.
The Gregory arrived at Ponta l>elgada,
Azore Islands, April 4, but no announce
ment of her sailing for Gibraltar has been
received here.
The Gregory was built by Lewis Nixon of
New York. She is ninety feet long, is of
steel and has two 300-horse power motors.
The vessel started from New York. Janu
ary r., to make a trip to Europe, for the
purpose of winning the prize of $10,000 of
fered by a European enthusiast for the
first motor boat to cross under her own
jjower. The Gregory left New York with a
crew of nine men. She was loipfuunded by
Capt. August W. Loose, and as chief
engineer Philip R. Adam;<ojie or.the best
known gas engine experts.
HIMERA REACHES NEW YORK.
Steamer in Port 1&r Repairs?Damaged
by Explosion.
NEW YORK, April 20.?The British
steamer Himera, which put in at Norfolk
several days ago while bound from New
Orleans with a cargo of cotton, and report
ed that one of her crew had been killed
and several injured by an explosion of one
of her ooilers, arrived here today. She will
make repairs at this port before proceed
ing.
The Himera's cargo is destined for
Venice. About a month will be required to
make repairs on the steamer.
The accldcnt to tiie Himera occurred on
April 0. Her starboard boiler was made
entirely useless by the explosion, but her
other one was not damaged and she con
tinued at reduced speed. She reached Nor
folk April 14, and secured medic.il attend
ance for the injured men. It was thought
that repairs would be made at that port,
but the steamer's agents directed that she
replenish her coal supply and proceed to
New York.
Hay Off for Genoa.
NERVI, Italy, April 20.?Secretary Hay
and his party, all in good spirits, left here
at 11 o'clock this morning for Genoa.
Greater Pittsburg Bill Signed.
UARJtUSBL'RG. Pa., April 20.?Gov.
Penny packer today signed the Greater
Pittsburg bill, which provides for the con
solidation of the cities of Pittsburg and Al
legheny City.
The Columbia Passes Tortugas.
The Navy Department is informed that
the cruiser Columbia passed Tortugas,
Fla., yesterday, on her way to Vera C'rui
with the remains of the Mexican ambas
sador.
Secretary to Legation at Panama.
Mr. W. S. Sands, former secretary of
legation to Korea and adviser to the king,
has been appointed secretary of the
United States legation,at Panama, to suc
ceed Mr. Lea, made consul general there.
PLANS FOR DEFENSE
Counsel for Nan Patterson
Conferred With Prisoner
IN TOMBS PRISON TODAY
PERSONNEL OF JURY MINUTELY
CONSIDERED.
Accused Expressed Herself Confident of
Acquittal?New Witnesses to
Establish Her Innocence.
NEW YORK, April 20.?The three lawyers
who are acting as counsel for Nan Patter
son In her trial for the murder of "Caesar"
Young had a conference with her In Tombs
prison today, at which the plans of the
defense and the personnel of the jury were
discussed. Lawyers Abraham Levy, Henry
\V. Unger and Daniel O'Reilly were pres
ent. Miss Patterson expressed her pleas
ure at the composition of the jury, which
was completed yesterday, and disappoint
ment at the delay in postponing the tak
ing of testimony until Monday.
Sure of Acquittal.
"I am sure of an acquittal this time,"
she told Lawyer Levy, "and e%'ery day only
adds to my misery in the Tombs. Ten
months and three weeks is a long time to
be shut up in prison."
Lawyer Levy said today: "We have new
witnesses who will establish Nan Patter
son's innocence beyond a doubt. We go
Into this trial 1()0 per cent stronger in point
of evidence than we did the last trial.
"We are not going to rely upon the fail
ure of the prosecution to prove its case for
an acquittal. We are going to prove tlie
j Innocence of Nan Patterson."
FLATTERED THE JURY.
Counsel for Nan Patterson Compliment
ed That Body.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April 20?Abraham Levy,
senior counsel for Nan Patterson, said to
day:
"The jury that will try Nan Patterson
represents the finest combination of brains
ever summoned in a New York murder
trial. I have never seen a finer, more able
looking set of men," said Mr. Levy, "and
I have the greatest confidence In them. Miss
Patterson is greatly pleased with the jury,
too. She knows, as we all do, that they
will weigh the evidence minutely. There
can be only one verdict and that will be
an acquittal. The expeditious methods
employed by the recorder In selecting the
jury pleased us all greatly. Miss Patterson
more than any one else. We have new wit
nesses who will establish her innocence
beyond a doubt," Mr. Levy continued. "We
go into this trial one hundred per cent
stronger in point of evidence than we did
in the last trial. We are not going to rely
upon a failure of the prosecution to prove
its case for an acquittal. We are going to
prove the innocence of Miss Patterson."
Daniel O'Reilly, junior counsel, said:
"Nan Patterson was a delighted young
woman last night, and today finds no
change in her feelings regarding the jury
chosen to try her. She is so confident that
this jury will believe fully in her innocence
that she is only nervous and impatient for
the trial to begin."
Mr. O'Reilly continued: "Neither Mr. Levy
nor myself can regard the rapid method in
which the jury was completed by the action
of Recorder Goff in keeping the panel until
late last night as being in any way harm
ful to our client. We did not relax our
own deliberation or carefulness in choosing
the men, in spite of the pressure. I think
it noticeable, however, that District Attor
ney Rand did grow less cautious and let
things pass that he had deemed cause for
challenging talesmen earlier in the session.
I think we have begun well. I think it's
our jury from the start."
THE SMITHS' CASE.
Motion to Inspect Minutes of Grand
Jury Granted.
NEW YORK, April 20.?The motion made
by J. Morgan Smith and his wife, the
brother-in-law and sister of Nan Patter
son, to inspect the minutes of the grand
jury in the case against them In which
they are charged with conspiracy, was
granted today by Judge Foster in the court
of general sessions.
At the same time Judge Foster disal
lowed their demurrer to the indictment
and denied their attorney's motion for a
summary order to compel the district at
torney to turn over to them the letters
taken from them after their arrest in Cin
cinnati.
ORDER FOR ORDNANCE.
Branch of Krupp Works Busy on Guns
for Russia.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
A cablegram from Vienna says: The Rus
sian government has ordered 500 new field
guns and great number of heavy siege guns
from a branch of the Krupp works at Tral
sen, in lower Austria. The order calls for
delivery at the earliest date possible, and
the works are now running twenty-four
hours a day to hurry the order through.
Three high Russian officers are living at
the works to supervise the manufacture of
the guns and several Japanese who are
"studying" in a village near by are being
closely watched by the Russian secret serv
ice agents.
MR. MORRISON PROTESTS.
Alleged Interference With Rights of
Labor in Porto Rico.
Mr. Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, called on
the Secretary of War this afternoon In ref
erence to certain appeals that have been
made to President Samuel Gompers of that
organization by the labor interests of. Porto
Rico. The appeals are for support in their
effort to obtain an Increase of wages,
which hus resulted In conflicts with the
police authorities of the island. The ap
peal came from Santiago Iglesias, the local
organizer of the Federation of Labor In
Porto Rico, who cabled to President Gomp
ers from Ponce as follows:
' Pacific meetings, thousands of workers
being destroyed by the police. Sixty work
ers wounded by shooting and beating:^our
teen thousand strikers asked incrfllscd
wages. Your soldidarlty should cause great
benefit."
Mr. Morrison, on behalf of the federation,
asked for Information as to the alleged
abuses. He also entered a vigorous protest
against the alleged Interference wlt'h the
Worklngmen of Porto Rico while they are
holding peaceful meeting In the Interests of
their crafts under-the guarantee of free
'?peech as provided by the Constitution of
tte United State*.
&L .... *
OFF TO INDIANA.
Senator Hemenway Cuts Short His Va
cation.
Senator Hemenway of Indiana, who came
to town the other day exporting to stay
some time, has hurriedly returned to In
diana on a peace mission. The republicans
of the first congressional district are hav
ing a cat and dog time over the selection
of a candidate for the House of Repre
sentatives to succeed Mr. Hemenway. who
hus gone to the Senate. There are two
candidates for the nomination, John W.
Brady and George A. Cunningham.
At the district convention this week the
rival factions had a free tight, threw
chairs and benches at each other and be
haved most scandalously, finally breaking
up in a split and calling two separate con
ventions In different places for next Satur
day. Both factions declared they were out
for blood und the prospect seems stormy.
The first district was formerly a demo
cratic district and Mr. Hemenway has been
given the credit by republicans for carry
ing it for his party. He regards the pres
ent situation as menacing republican In
terests and creating a possibility of thp
democrats sending a man to Congress.
So he has abandoned a contemplated
three weeks' vacation and is now scurry
ing back to Indiana with his gripsack full
of olive branches for the warring fac
tions and a supply of oil to Pour upon the
troubled political waters. He did not inti
mate before leaving what plan he will put
Into effect to bring about peace, but is go
ing to have peace if he has to fight for It.
There are only two democrats from In
diana In the next House of Representa
tives and Mr. Hemenway cannot with
equanimity contemplate the possibility of
increasing the democratic representation
in the delegation.
RESIGNATIONS ACCEFTED.
Nine Members of Board of Review Now
Out.
The Secretary of the Interior has ap
proved the action of the commissioner of
pensions in accepting the resignations of
nine members of the board of review of
the pension office as a result of the In
vestigation of the charges of misconduct
against these men. The resignation of
the tenth member of the board, which
was submitted to the commissioner, has
not been acted upon for the reason that
nil the facts in his case have not yet been
sifted. It is claimed that this member of
the board did not act on an original
claim, but simply on an application for
increase, and that his action was in ac
cordance with the practice of the office.
Commissioner Warner is very free in ex
pressing his opinion of the practice, but
does not believe the member of the board
of review should suffer for an error in
the practice of the office.
TO PROMOTE GEN. RANDALL.
Important Changes in Duties of Gen
eral Officers.
Gen. Taft has authorized the statement
that Brig. Gen. George M. Randall, com
manding the Department of Luzon, will be
promoted to the grade of major genenl
and assigned to duty in this city as assist
ant chief of staff on the voluntary retire
Went of Maj. Gen. G. S. Gillespie in June
next, and that Col. Arthur L.. Wagner of
the general staff will be promoted to the
j grade of brigadier general, vice Randall,
j and assigned to the presidency of the Army
j War College in this ?ity, vice Brig. Gen.
I T. H. Bliss, ordered to duty in the Phil
I ipplnes.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
Secretary Shaw's Circular Giving Its
Official Designation.
According to an order issued by Secretary
Shaw, President Roosevelt still insists on
his official home being designated as "The
White House" and not as "The Executive
Mansion." Secretary Shaw has issued an
order to officers and employes of the treas
ury directing that hereafter all official
matter prepared or written in the executive
departments of the treasury, where refer
ence has to be made to the presidential
headquarters, shall contain "The White
House" and not "The Executive Mansion."
It is stated that the President recently
had Secretary Loeb call the attention of
executive heads to the desire of uniformity
In official documents and directing the dis
continuance of "Executive Mansion" in any
way. Soon after President Roosevelt came
Into office he discontinued the use of the
term "The Executive Mansion" and sub
stituted "The White House." all official
paper being printed that way and all state
documents, messages to Congress, etc., go
ing out of and being signed in "The White
House." Until the orders for the change
"The Executive Mansion" had been the offi
cial title of all Presidents since Washing
ton. The letter heads, envelopes and other
pat>er during the McKinley and prior ad
ministrations bore the inscription "Execu
tive Mansion" and presidential documents
were issued from there.
Older clerks of the government, accus
tomed for so many years to writing "Ex
ecutive Mansion," have failed to fall Into
the new style and continue to forget the de
sires of the President. The orders of Sec
retary Shaw are the first of an official na
ture that have been printed on the subject,
the President not having issued orders
when he first made the change, assuming
that the executive departments would easily
and quickly fall into the style.
TRANSPORTATION CONTRACTS.
Carriage of Sailors and Marines Across
the Continent.
After several weeks careful consideration
of the bids received for the transportation
of sailors and marines between eastern
ports and San Francisco, the Secretary of
the Navy has awarded contracts, as fol
lows:
Between New. York, Philadelphia, Wash
ington and Norfolk and Chicago to the
Chesapeake and Ohio road; between Chi
cago and Omaha to the Chicago, Milwaukee
and St. Paul road, and between Omaha and
San Francisco to the. Union Pacific and
Southern Pacific roads. These contracts pro
vide that the transcontinental trip between
Norfolk and San Francisco shall be made
in 6 days, 3 hours and 35 minutes, at a to
tal per capita cost of 142. of which $24.21).
is railroad fare and 117.71 Is for sleeper,"
meals, etc. The cost from and to New
York Is $4.50 higher per man and from and
to Philadelphia it Is $4 higher for from one
to nine men, and $2.72 higher for ten or In
the case of ten or more men.
REGARDED AS THREATENING.
Suspicious Movements of Guatemalan
Refugees In Mexico.
Senor Munnc, the Guatemalan minister
here, called at the State Department to
day to discuss with Acting Secretary
L.oomis certain suspicious movements of
Guatemalan refugees in Mexico and also
the attitude of Salvador, which are re
garded as threatening a revolutionary at
tempt against Guatemala. These move
ments have been watched for some time
by the Guatemalan government with ap
prehension, but so far they have not as
sumed a phase warranting action by the
State Department here, even to the point
of friendly representations.
Board of Charities Statement
to Commissioners.
| GIRLS' REFORM SCHOOL
I
I
MATTERS IN A MUCH DISORDER
ED CONDITION.
Methods of Management Severely Crit
icised?Altogether an Unusual
Paper?Its Contents.
After nearly seven months of in
vestigation, the board of charities
today made a somewhat sensational
report to the District Commission
ers concerning the conduct and man
agement of the girls' reform school.
It is even intimated that employes
of the institution have been d*s
charged for no other reason than
testifying before the investigating
committee to the detriment of the
officials in charge. The report also
declares that the recommendations
of the fire department have not been
complied with; that the engineer
knows nothing concerning the avail
ability of the fire hose, and that the
hose connection on the outside of
the building is broken and has been
useless for a long time. The engi
neer testified that he had appealed
to the trustees, and it appears
further along in the report that the
trustees "considered" the matter,
but took no action. Hie methods of
school management are criticised,
and in many other respects the re
port is unusual, judging from others
which have emanated from the board
of charities.
Commissioner Macfarland was the first
of the triumvirate to read the report, and
when he had acquainted himself with its
contents his features assumed a decidedly
serious expression. He will recommend
that a copy of the report be sent imme
diately to the trustees of the reform
school, and while believing? the trustees will
make a satisfactory .answer, he said that if
such answer is not satisfactory a copy of
the report will be sent to the President and
to Congress, who have jurisdiction over the
institution. The Commissioners are power
less to act. The members of the board of
trustees are appointed by the President and
confirmed by Congress. The only jurisdic
tion given the Commissioners is the ap
proval of appointments.
Discharge of Employes.
A part of the report which will attract
attention, is the last page, as follows
"During the progress of the Inquiry sev
eral employes of the school, who testified to
the existence of unfavorable conditions,
were requested to resign. On this account
the committee was somewhat embarrass cm!.
Whatever the reasons were that governed
the trustees in the discharge of these teach
ers, In the testimony of the pres'dent of
the board of trustees and of the former su
perintendent, they stated that two who
were asked to resign had been connected
with the school for four and nine
years, respectively, and tliat they wero
considered most efficient and acceptable to
the authorities in charge, and that they
were fitted for and devoted to the work:
That these teachers should have been re
quested to resign under these circumstances
I seemed to be most inopportune, and it like
ly influenced other witnesses from giving
their testimony as freely as they otherwise
would have done. It is of vital importance
that witnesses, at such an inquiry, should
feel assured that their positions were not
I in any wise endangered by the testimony
given under oath."
j When a representative of The Star asked
Commissioner Macfarland what he thought
of the preceding paragraph, the Commis
sioner replied that he had held up his ap
proval of the appointments made by the
1 board of trustees until the trustees should
give good and sufficient reasons for the
discharge of the employes which caused the
vacancies. Mr. Macfarland stated that the
trustees had never explained this matter to
him to his satisfaction, and that in conse
quence he has not yet approved the ap
pointments of successors to the discharged
employes, and that he will not do so. So
if the new appointees are working, they
are working without pay and without au
thority, according to the president of the
board of District Commissioners. If no ap
pointees are working, then the fore? is
much too small to cope with the conditions
which -exist, is another deduction made
from the report of the board of charities.
Fire Protection.
With regard to Are protection, the report
says:
"The conditions at the Institution, with
respect to fire protection, are not what
they should be, and In some respects are
not In accordance with the advice and
suggestion of the lire department, made
by letter, sent to the reform school October
29, 1904. The equipment is not always in
working order, and at the time of the in
quiry was not in proper condition. The
engineer did not know as to the avail
ability of the hose. There Is but one out
side connection for hose, and that had
been broken and useless for a long time.
The engineer said that he had reported 'he
same to the proper authorities, but nothing
had been done to replace or repair the de
fect. It is shown by the testimony that
in order that the Inmates may escape In
case of Are at night It is necessary for
a teacher to be awakened, who must first
unlock her own door, then an Iron grating
separating the teachers' departments from
the girls' corridor, then unlock a door runn
ing to the window where the fire escape is
located, and there unlock an iron grating,
and then unlock the doors to the girls'
: rooms, one after another. In the case of
Are in the basement or first floor, with
dense smoke?and conditions are favorable
for such in the new building?the only way
of escape for teachers or Inmates would be
by the fire escape, for all doors at the
bottom of the stairways at the ends of the
corridors are kept, locked. Your committee
Is of the opinion that more careful atten
tion should be given to the Are depart
ment's advice. The watchman is supposed
to make a complete circuit of his beat once
ar. hour. The clock upon which he regis
ters his rounds In one of the two buildings
Is out of order, so he registers only in the
other building. The president of the board
(Continued on Sixth Plffe-)
CONFESS IGNORANCE
NAVAL OFFICERS DONT KNOW
WHERE THE FLEETS ARE.
Expert Speculation as to the Move
ments of the Japanese and
the Russians.
Naval officers here are awaiting- with
keen interest some definite information re
garding the whereabouts of the Russian
and Japanese fleets and the expected nav.il
battle, the result of which may decide the
war In the far east.
"The prospective meeting of the hostile
fleets." said one officer, "me tns a great
deal more to Japan than It does to Russia.
Japan has little to gain by the fight and
everything to lose, while Russia has every
thing to gain and comparatively little to
lose. It is Impossible for any one at this
distance to predict when or where the bat
tle between the Russian and Japanese
fleets will occur.
No Information at Hand.
"We have absolutely no information as
to the exact whereabouts of the fleets. The
report from Berlin that the Russian fleet
is coaling atCuyos Islands is merely a guesi-.
We have no such Information. I know that
It would be a good place to c>>al, as there
is quite smooth water beyond the three
mile limit, for the bottom of the sea there
is hard and smooth and it would afford
a good coaling point; but I believe the
Russians, in view of a mot-ting with the
Japanese at any time, have kept their
bunkers full of coal. They have coaled at
sea.
Time Required for Coaling.
"I know how long it would take to coal
an American or English fleet, but 1 have
no idea how long it would take the Rus
sians to do the work, nor the number of
colliers or number of ships to be coaled.
As to what the Russians are liable to do. I
don't know. If they are at the Cuyos Is
lands, which is a small group in the Suiu
sea. about the middle of the Philippine
archipelago, they might steam through the
islands, for there is a deep channel there,
and up the east coast of Luzon toward
Formosa. Then, again, they might go south
and sail around Mindanao and go up the
cast coast, or again they may go up the
west coast and pass north of Luzon toward
Formosa. Take your choice.
Probable Japanese Movements
"I do not know where the Japanese fleet
Is, nor does any one In the department
here, but I believe that, as they have a
base at Formosa, the fleet is near it. Scouts
are most likely spread all the way from
Formosa down toward the Philippines, so
as to detcct the approaching Russian fleet,
no matter which way it conies. 1 might
venture the prediction that, if Rojestvensky
moves toward Formosa, you may expect a
battle at any time, for the Japanese are
waiting for them. It will be the Japs'
policy to attack the Russians in detail and
not as a solid fleet. In other words, the
Japs will attempt to fight one Russian *hip
at a time, disable or destroy it, and then
pick off another."
WILL VISIT TOKYO.
Secretary Taft to Go to the Japanese
Capital.
Upon further consideration of the matter, j
as laid before him by Secretary Hiokl of i
the Japanese legation. Secretary Taft has :
concluded to visit Tokyo, while his ship,
the Manchuria, on which he will make his
Philippine trip, Is coaling at Yokohama.
The Secretary has made such a visit on the
occasion of other like detentions at Yoko
hama, and could scarcely fail to make an
official call on this occasion. It has not
yet been decided whether or not the entire
party of sixty accompanying the Secretary
shall join him in the visit to Tokyo.
DEATH OF JOSEPH LEANTO.
Acting Secretary Loomis Receives Re
port of a Special Inquiry.
Acting Secretary Loomis has received |
from the Department of Justice a report |
upon an investigation conducted by one of
its special agents at the Instance of the
State Department into the death of Joseph
Leanto, an Italian citizen, who was shot
at the little station of Lorton, a few miles
below Alexandria, about two weeks ago.
The agent reports that Leanto ."died from
gunshot wounds while offering resistance
to lawful arrest."
When the report of the governor of Vir
ginia is received on the same affair, the
two will be communicated to the Italian
embassy here. The ambassador, who is
deeply concerned in stimulating Italian im
migration to the south and consequently in
making sure that such Immigrants would
be accorded the full protection of the laws,
caused the Italian vice consul here to in
vestigate this case, with the result that the
theory of suicide was negatived.
PLANTED ANOTHER OAK.
Secretary Hitchcock Replaced the One
That Died.
Another small oak sapling, grown from
an acorn taken from under a George Wash
ington oak at St. Petersburg, has been
planted In the White House grounds by
Secretary Hitchcock of the Interior De
partment. Many years ago some Russians
who came to this country and went to
Mount Vernon picked up some acorns from
the Immense oak close to the Washington
home. The oak had been planted by Wash
ington himself. The acorns were taken to
St Petersburg and planted and several of
them grew into splendid trees on the beau
tiful avenues. When Secretary Hitchcock
was ambassador of the United States to
St. Petersburg he picked up some acorns
from under this son of the Washington
oak. He brought tnem to this country and
planted them In his Missouri home. They
grew into saplings. A year ago he brought
one of these saplings to Washington and
planted it in the White House grounds near
the upper gate at the east entrance. It
died during the winter and was removed
several weeks ago. Mr. Hitchcock and his
daughter, accompanied by Col. Bromwell.
planted another oak of the same kind at
the same place a few days ago, and it Is
hoped this one will live, giving it an inter
esting history.
Proposed Treasury Promotions.
Commissioner Yerkes has not made an
announcement of his selection as chief of
the claims division of the internal reve
nue bureau, to succeed the late Dr. J. Lee
Adams, whose funeral -services were held
yesterday, but It is said to be likely that he
will recommend to Secretary Shaw the
transfer of E. C. Johnston, chief of the
stamps division, to the vacancy. Mr.
Johnston will receive the salary he is now
paid. For chief of the stamps division the
intention is to recommend Henry Giovan
noll, at present private secretary of the
commissioner. Mr. Giovannoli is from
Kentucky and was a newspaper man until
he came here with the commissioner. His
faithful work entitles him. the commis
sioner thinks, to a promotion, and his in
tention Is to recommend it. Such a recom
mendation will undoubtedly be acted upon
in favorable manner by Secretary Shaw.
TO ADVERTISERS* ^
(Wo. 1) *
The Sunday Star is deliv
ered bv carriers to twice as
many regular subscribers
in the homes of Washing
ton as those subscribing to
tny other Sunday paper.
THE EQUABLE CASE
Principal Topic of Discussion
in New lork Today.
HYDE WILL NOT RESIGN
SITUATION IS RAPIDLY ASSUM
ING THE ACUTE STAGE.
Action of General Agents and Receiver
ship Proceedings Haking Affairs
Critical?Hyde's Statement.
NEW YORK. April an.?Development* In
the Equitable Life controversy, ineludln*
the engagement of Joseph 11- C hoate a?
counsel by Jamev H. Hyde, the demand
of the organization of general agents for
Mr. Hyde's resignation and the Institution
of proceedings in Louisiana asking for a.
receivership f 11 r tho society under the
Louisiana, law. engaged public attention to
day almost to the exclusion of other topics.
Mr. Hyde made an appointment yesterday
to meet today the committee of general
agents appointed to demand liis re/ignatlon.
This committee was made up of Joseph
Bowes of Baltimore. W. J. Roddy of South
Carollnu. Frank C. I>evy of Sew Orleans.
Charles Jerome Edwards of Brooklyn and
Charles Wake of New York.
While Mr. Hyde agreed to receive tills
committee, he declared th.it he had no In
terna:;) whatever of resigning, and that he
regarded the action of the general agents
in makinR ^uch a request as "impertinent,
extraordinary, insulting, and most pre
post* rous."
The demand by the agents for an In
vestigation and the action inaugurated in
Louisiana were regarded as making critical
a condition which already was extremely
serious.
When the committee called at Mr. llyde 3
home, at East 4<>th street, they were
met by Mr. Hyde and W. 11. Mclntyre,
Charles 1!. Alexander. W. C. QulUver and
Alvin Krech. his advisers. The committee
remained in the house twelve minutes and
returned to the Hotel Savoy without giving
anv intimation of what occurred. A repre
sentative of Mr. Hyde announced, however,
that a stenographic report of everything
said at the meeting bad been made, and
that an official statement would be issued
by Mr. Hyde later in the day.
Hyde's Official Statement.
The official statement given out by Mr.
Hyde of his meeting with the committee
follows:
Mr. Bowes, as chairman of the committee,
sa d: "1 am charged, sir. with a somewhat
disagreeable task, the bearing to you of a
request from a convention of manners arid
agents now assembled in the Hotel Savoy
that you voluntarily resign your imsition as
vice president of the Equitable. Following,
is the request of the convention:
"?James H. Hyde, vice president of the
Equitable Life Assurance Society of Amer
ica: We. the general agents and managers
of the Equitable, assembled in convention
from all parts of the United Slates and
Canada, ate personally, and through our
agents, in close touch with the people, and.
knowing the deep-seated convictions of the
policyholders, and deeply deploring the ne
cessity for our action, therefore scncerely
and earnestly appeal to you. on behalf ot
the Equitable, to the creation and upbuUd
inir of wiiich your father devoted his life,
and for the sake of its policyholders and
its agents, to set aside all personal inter
ests and now voluntarily retire from the
vice presidency. (Signed) Henry J. Powell,
Chairman: F.-A. McNamee. Frank L. Levy
and J. w. Estes. Secretaries.'
Mr. Hyde's reply to the committee was
as follows: . ? ,, .
"In the first place, I have no intention oc
resigning the office or the vice presidency
of the Equitable. Such a course 1 would
consider cowardly and disgraceful to the
memory of my father.
"Second It is evident from your extraor
dinarv request and from the report of the
proceedings at your meeting that you ha\e
not the remotest conception of this unlor
tunate controversy or the mot!', es behind
the selfish struggle for the control of the
society. I think, however, that you are
entitled to know something of the real facts
on which my attitude is based, and I will,
therefore, write you tomorrow in reply to
the request made in this remarkable com
munication.
"I think, however, that your request
might have been far more justified had it
been made to those having no interest in
the society who precipitated this unfor
tunate controversy and are keeping the
agitation alive to serve their own selfish
purposes. You will hear further from me
tomorrow.
The Question at Issua.
"Of course, you gentlemen must know
that the questions at issue are now in the
hands of the department of insurance and
Mr. Frick's committee, who, I think you
will agree with me. are the ones to Judge.
It is but fair to them to say nothing
further.
"I appreciate how greatly you have been
afflicted through this misfortune, but I tell
you again that the best way to bring about
a satisfactory conclusion for your men is
to remain loyal to the Equitable, and not
to do anything before the report of the
investigating committees. On reflection I
think that you will be able to see impar
tially and to judge these matters which
now are the subject of controversy in wur
society." J ,.
Mr. Hyde and his secretary received the
committee alone, his lawyers and advisers
having left the house just as the commit
tee entered.
Not Offered an Office.
E. A. Woods, general agent of the Equita
ble in Pittsburg, said today it was not true,
as -reported, that he had been offered *a
vice presidency In the society in return for
support to Mr. Alexander and Mr. TarbelL ?
Mr. Woods also said:
"It has been claimed that Mr. Alexander,
in his efforts to bring about mutualization,
was influenced by the fact that he would
control the proxies of the policy holders.
The public evidently does not know the
proposition Mr. Alexander made to the so
called committee of eleven. Mi*. Alexander
told them he would agree to have tfoe
proxits of the policy holders sent to and
deposited with President Roosevelt Grover
Cleveland or the presidents of any six Amer
ican universities. In the presence of Mr
Alexander. Mr. TarfceU announced this
from the platform at one of the meetings.''
Argument Adjourned.
Justice McLean, in the supreme court, to
day adjourned until April 21 the argument
in the suit brought by Henrj G. Tull, a,
policy holder of Philadelphia, for an in
junction to restrain the Equitable Life As
surance Society, its directors and the stale
superintendent of insurance from taking
further proceedings regarding the proposed
amendment to the charter of the Equitable
Life Assurance 8ociety
An attorney for James H. Hyde said to
day the report that Ellhu Root had reUrea
from his place as one of Mr. Hyde^coun
sel wh.s erroneous. Mr. Root continues st
one of Mr. Hyde's adviaers, and the retail