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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. Offlw, Utt Stmt ui Punsjtossls Amu. Tie Er?ning Star Newiptp?r Company. B. H. ZAUTTUAHN, Prnltal. Xtw Tirk OMm: Trikont BaiUiag. Chiosgo OSm: Trltac* Building. Th-? Evening St?r, with the Sunday morning f<11 tlon, la delivered by rnrrlem within the city at 50 eenta per month; without the Sunday morning edi tion at 44 cent* per month. ^ By mail, postage prepaid : P*lly, Sun lay Included, one month. AO cents. iJally. Sundny excepted, one month. 60 centa. Saturday Star, cne r??ar. fl.OO. Sunday Star, with Sunday Mag-atlne. one year. $1.50. 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