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ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES. VOL. Ill, IsO. 306. Trial of "Badger" Moore's Wife Nearingan End. DEFENSE RESTS ITS CASE Sentence of Court Upon the Convicted Man Defci rjd, rending the Proceed? ings Against His Alleged Accomplice, NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-WiIliam A. Moore, convicted of working- the ".badger" game on Martin Mahon at the Hotel Grenoble, was to have been sen? tenced today but the trial of his wife, Fayne Strahan Moore, accused of com? plicity in the crime, being still in prog? ress. Recorder Goff announced when court convened that the passage of sen? tence would be deferred, the time to be s?t- later in the day. '.The cross-examination of Fayne Moore was continued. The assistant district attorney, Mr. Mclntyre, sought to'elicit the admission that Moore came from Atlanta with a man named Ryan, s?id to be a gambler. Mrs. Moore refused to give the name o? the man with whom she went to j Europe. She denied that she had ever travelled from Europe to the United States with a confectioner from Mem? phis, Tenn. -Mrs. Moore also denied various alle? gations of immorality implied by ques- j lions of the cross-examiner. An e&itry from her diary gave evidence of her in- I timacy with Ellis, the Cuban, who has been frequently referred to during the j trial. MRS. MOORE DENIES. Mrs. Moore said she knew there was a woman travelled with Moore and who i claimed to be his wife. Mrs. Moore stated that this woman had told her that she was not Moore's wife. She thought Moore had left this woman in South Africa. Mrs. Moore indignantly denied that she and Moore "badgered" Jules Alexandrovitch out of 15,000 francs in Paris. She also denied that Moore's papers of appointment to the consulate at Durban were cancelled as the result of any complaints made regarding their proceedings in Paris. She said Moore had interests in the Great Lakes, as well as mining interests in South Africa, and that she owned a two-story build? ings in Oregon. Moore had a desk in 'his uncle's office, in Cleveland. v DEFENSE RESTS. . ?...'. _: te.rday of ifhe" meeting, wini. Mahon . oh ?.N?vienlher' 4;.'-'-She/ag?ta' described the ' details of her conduct with Mahon pre? vious to Moore's sudden entry. She was sure that Moore did not rob Mahon. She averred that Moore did not strike Mahon with the revolver, but with his fist. After a lengthy cross-examination Mrs. Moore was excused and the de? fense rested its case. A motion to acquit was denied. Late in the afternoon Mr. Hill began summing up the case for the defense. He told of his professional services in Gtorgia and said that he had at one time resolved never again to take part in criminal proceedings. "In this case," he said, "my sympathy was so profoundly and deeply aroused that I volunteered to come here at the request of her widowed mother to help defend the girl. MR. HILL EMPLOYS PATHOS. "Every fibre of my nature, was fired with indignation at the treatment re? ceived by this young defendant. The fjreat press of this city has raced head? long, over the wounded and bleeding body of this girl. The detective force of this city have been busy with her life and the great powers of the district attorney's office have been brought into play against this woman. Scandal and defamation have been allowed to run riot over her and I confess that I was appalled and thought that the ancient Saxon blood would have con? gealed in the veins of the assistant dis? trict attorney before he would make all the sweeping charges by innuendo which he has made against one of his own race." . . After reviewing the testimony, Mr. ? Hill referred emotion?llly to the prison? er whom he termed "a weeping child," and made an eloquent plea to the jury to give her the benefit of the doubt and not send her away a convict to repine in a prison cell. CRUISER HORNET SATE. Apprehensions Allayed by Her Arrival in Wilmington. Delayed by Fog. (By Telegraph.) WILMINGTON, N. C-, ec. 23.?The cruiser Hornet, loaned to the North Carolina naval reserve by. the Uni? ted States Navy Department, arrived safely in this port at 2:15 o'clock this afternoon. The cruiser was about thirty-five hours overdue and some uneasiness had been felt 'by many people, lest she had come to grief in the fog oft Hatteras. Commander Morton reports a very pleasant trip save that the fog did very much impede their progress and occa? sioned the delay. Senator Boar Entertains. (By Telegraph.) CHARLESTON, S. C, Dec. 23?Sena? tor George F. Hoar, was today enter? tained by the Bar Association of Char? leston with an excursion to Fort Sump ter and a trip to the Isle of Palms. At the latter place an elaborate lunch was served, about 100 eovers being laid. In response to enthusiastic calls Sena? tor Hoar made a hrlef address. Stamp T?x on Securities. (By Telegraph.) PARIS, Dec. 23.?The Chamber of Deputies today adopted a bill imposing a stamp duty of one per cent, on foreign securities. Evidence Against Oil Trust. (By Telegraph) CLEVELAND, O., Dec. 23.?Evidence was secured from additional witnesses today to show that books and papers belonging to the Standard Oil Company had been destroyed on November 19 to 21. The hearing will bsj-resumed to morow. NEWPORT NE1 EXCHANGE OF FLAGS. Final Ceremony of the Spanish Evacua? tion of Cubr. (By Telegraph.) HAVANA. Dec. 23?At the joint meet? ing of the United States and Spanish military commissioners today the pro? gram was finally agreed upon for the exchange of flags on January 1 at noon, just before 12 o'clock the American war vessels will fire a salute of twenty-one guns in honor of the Spanish flag. Promptly at 12 o'clock the Spanish flags on the various public buildings will be lowered and immediately thereafter the .Stars and Stripes will be hoisted over El Morro, and the public buildings of the city, while Spanish artillerists at Cabanas fortress will salute the Ameri? can flag with twenty-one guns, Spanish warships in the harbor participating in the salute. At the same hour the Spanish troops, if any then remaining in the city, will be paraded in barricks and will render proper salute to the American forces passing. SURRENDER GOVERNMENT. Just before noon the American and Spanish commissioners. General Jiminiz O-iStillenos, the Spanish capitan general and the American ranking officer in Cuba?Major General John R. Brooke, if he arrives in time and otherwise Major General Lee, will assemble at the palace. Spanish commissioners will then form, and surrender the govern? ment to the United States commission? ers, who will immediately transfer it to the American general commanding. After this the various functionaries will remain a while to receive those who may wish to pay their respects to the incoming authorities. It was agreed at tne joint meeting that the Spanish troops remaining in Cuba after January 1 should be considered in the light of foreign troops in a friendly country and to be accorded the privileges usual? ly granted under international law. SICK WILL REMAIN. Matanzas and Cienfuegos will doubt? less be the only places where Spanish troops will remain after January 1 and Cienfuegos will be evacuated last. The Spanish sick in the hospitals will remain under the safeguard of the American flag, the Spanish authorities providing medicines and attendance with food, and repatriating them on re? covery. ? A ? Generals Wade, Butler, and Clous, ac? companied by the aides, were received ; at the palace today with full military honors. The Spanish trumpeters blew a flare and the police guards saluted. The same ceremonies marked the retire? ment of the American officers.. A New Corporation. The Journal Publishing Company was chartered yesterday. The. following gentlemen are named as the officers: J.ohn B..Docke,' president;.; Edward S. Campbell,- secretary an? treasurer; di? rectors:'the above named and R. P. Orr and George A. Schmelz. The company's capital is placed at not less than- $5,000 not more than *20,000, divided into shares of $25 each, subscriptions to be in money, land, property, or other valuable considera? tions. The charter provides for com? mon and preferred stock in such pro? portions as all the stockholders may j elect, the preferred, however, not to ex? ceed 50 per cent, of the whole. Real estate may be owned in the city not to exceed 500 acres. The company pro? poses to run a publishing and job print? ing establishment. It scharter permits the publishing of both a morning and evening paper. It is said that the gentlemen in the a^.ove enterprise secured control of the Daily Commercial early in the week, Messrs. John A. Robinson & Son retir I ing from the management of that paper I last Saturday. First Texas Off for Cuba. (By Telegraph.) SAVANNAH, GA., Dec. 23.?The headquarters and one battalion of the First Texas regiment, together with Colonel Wheatoin's headquarters sailed for Cuba this afternoon on the trans? port Michigan. The other two battal? ions of the First Texas and the Second Louisiana Regiment will leave tomor? row on the Mobile. Sixth Ohio to Cienfuges. (By Telegraph.) KNOXVILLE, TENN., Dec. 23.?The Sixth Ohio, Colonel Makin, received or? ders today to remove. The regiment goes from here to Charleston, S. C, where a transport will be taken to Cienfuegos, Cuba. The Sixth expects to leave Camps Poland tomorrow night and will spend Christmas on the road. Sultan's Aide Murdered. (By Telegraph.) CONSTANTIOPLE, Dec. 23.?Ghani Bey, the sultan's aide de camp, was murdered yesterday by Hafuz Pasha in a quarrel .which took place in a pastry cook's. Ghani Bey became notorious owing to his lawless proceedings in Epirus. He also inspired terror here by extor? tion of money under threats of death. The officials of the foreign embassies | have frequently demanded the punish-j ment of Ghani Bey, but were always i unsuccessful. Flag Floats Over Malate. (By Telegraph.) MANILA, Dec. 23.?The first Ameri ican flag was raised over the Malate school house yesterday. It was sent by the Unuiversity of Pennsylvania. The native troops encamped in the suburbs are again causing anxiety. The atti? tude of an insurgent detachment at the Panduchan bridge on Wednesday was such that the California, Idaho and Washington regiments were concen? trated in light marching order at short r>otice at Paco, but trouble was avoided. Brooke falls for Havana. (By Telegraph.) SAVANNAH,. GA., Dec. 23.?General John R. Brooke and the members of his staff left this afternoon for Miami, where they will take a steamer for Havana. General Brooke has been in Savannah several days recovering from an illness which began scon after his teturn from Porto Rico. (By Telegraph.) Buy your Whiskies and Wines for ooking and medicinal purposes at New? port News Wine and Liquor Co.'s. dec 15-tf WS, VA., SAT?R? FOR AC ABLE STATION United States Seizes Wake Is= land, in the Pacific. UNINHABITED TERRITORY KcfuKal of Spain to Cede One of tlic Caro? lines Rendered a Station Giving Con? nection With the Philippines. Absolutely Necessary. (By Telegraph.) WASHINGTON. Dec. 23.?The Gov? ernment has determined to hoist the Hag over another island far out in the Pacific ocean and orders were sent out late this afternoon to the commander of the Bennington, Captain Taussig, to proceed at once to take possession, In the name of the United States Gov? ernment, of Wake Island, lying in lati? tude 19 north, longitude 166 east. It is distant about 2,000 miles from Nihau, the westermost of the Hawaiian islands, and 1,300 miles east from Guam. It is almost in a direct line between these possessions of the United States, and is admirably adapted for use as a station for a Pacific cable to connect the Philippines with Hawaii and the United States. It is about three miles in length and encloses a lagoon of salt water. The average height of the isl? and is eight feet above high tide. It is scarcely capable in itself of sustaining life, but it is expected that the cable j station can 'be maintained without diffi? culty by the erection of a condenser to supply fresh water. ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. j Some station in this lacolity is deemed necessary to the maintenance of a cable and for that reason the American Peace Commissioners at Paris endeavored to secure one of the Caroline Islands without success. Wake Island is said to be by right already American territory, for in 1S51 Ad? miral Wilkes surveyed the place and secured the title. It is not inhabited so far as is known at this time. The Bennington is now at Honolulu and the orders to her go out by steamer. After the hoisting of the flag on the island she will proceed to Guam and make the survey of the island which was ordered some time ago. She has already completed a survey of part of the harbor several miles from Honolulu which will form the foundation of the government plans for the enlargement of the harbor there and the straight *enihg;"of "tber- c*s?B^l';^^ne:c^nffiritttei inner harbor with the ocean. WAR PRIZE RELEASED. French Liner Captured by New Orlean Discharged Uy Court. (By Telegraph.) CHARLESTON, S. C. Dec. 23?In the United States District Court here today Judge Brawley handed down a decision discharging the Olinde Rodriguez, the French steamship macie a prize of war by the cruiser New Orleans on July 17. Tue ship belonged to the Transatlantic Line and was a most valuable one. At one time it seemed as though interna? tional complications might grow out of her retention and the fight in the United States courts over her has been long a:id bitter. Judge Brawley's decision is a very long document, and it goes into an ex? haustive discussion of the law and the facts of the case. He compliments the officers of the New Orleans, but releases the ship on the grounds that the block? ade of San Juan was not effective on the 5th of July in the sense in which that term is accepted by the nations. DIED IN AGONY. Two Children in Atlanta Perish, the Victims of Ptomaine Poisoning. (By Telegraph."! ATLANTA, GA., Dee. 23.?Robert Frazier, the ten year old son of Robert A. Frazier, who lives on Lee avenue, just outside of the city limits, died to? day in great agony and the death of his seven year old brother is expected. Their sudden illness and frightful con? vulsions have given rise to the theory that they were poisoned by drinking buttermilk at supper Wednesday even? ing. The death of the body was caused by ptomaine poison generated by the liquid and tin coming in contact. Dun's "Weekly Review of Trade. (By Telegraph.) NEW YORK, Dec. 23.?R. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review of trade will say in tomorrow's issue: It is a year beyond .parallel and goes to its close with the biggest volume of business ever seen. Enormous trans? actions at the Stock Exchange make some difference and heavy railroad earnings, but when all the transporta? tion and speculative Interests are t liminated there is still a much larger business than in any other month of the year. Last year the exports were in volume greater than in any previous month in the history of the country, hut this year the three weeks' report shows an in? crease of 25 per cent, against nine per cent, against imports which would indi? cate much more than $70,000,000 excess of exports this month. The payments through clearing houses have been for the week 26.5 per cent, greater than last year and 14.4 per cent, greater than in 1892 and for the month 17.8 per cent, larger than in Is*.i2. Until now no greater volume of business has ever been done in the his? tory of this country than in the closing month of this year. Shipments of " wheat have been .1,285,704 bushels, flour Included, at At? lantic ports, against 3,698,321 last year, although western receipts for three weeks have been 25,088,581 bushels against 10,309,929 last year, a fact which the believers in a small crop may well consider. Rank Clearance. (By Telegraph.) NEW YORK, Dec. 23.?The total bank clearings in the United 'States for the week were $1,673.030,023; per cent, in ei case 25.7. Exclusive of New York $029,963,645; per cent, increase 17.9. >AY, DECEMBER 5 r;i: ?-? ?: r Capt. Fred. Cotton Shoots Him= self In a Norfolk Hotel. PISTOL BULLET IN HIS HEAD An Kx-Britlsh Officer and JI.ives in Prlnve I William County. Friends Attribute tlic Rush Act to Despondency Brought on by 111 Health. (By Telegraph.) NORFOLK, VA? Dec. 23.?Captain Frederick Cotton, of Virginia, an ex British officer, and well known in Washington, D. C, attempted suicide here this morning by shooting himself in the head. Captain Cotton arrived in Norfolk last night from Washington and went at once to the Hotel Gladstone. He con? versed pleasantly in the lobby, but re? tired to his room immediately after the receipt of a telegram from Mrs. E. S. Williams, a Washington lady. The telegram said his things would be sent him as soon as his address was fur? nished. WANTED A LAWYER. About. 8 o'clock this morning he asked the hotel clerk to send for a lawyer, but as he would not let the clerk come into his room no attention was paid 'to his request. About 9 o'clock a report from a revolver was heard in the officer's room. The police were summoned and an entrance forced into the room. A ghastly sight was then discovered. Lying in bed with a pistol in each hand and blood gushing from a hole I near the right ear, was the Englishman. Physicians were summoned and the stranger removed to St. Vincent's hos? pital. He has a chance to recover. SURMISES AS TO MOTIVE Captain Cotton's home is in Prince William country, Virginia. He has been at the Grafton Hotel in Washing | ton for some time and left there last Tuesday. It is thought he came U*re by way of Baltimore. He is said to have been swindled recently in selling horses to Baltimore traders, which has caused him considerable worry. His friends in Washington attribute the act to ill health, as he has been j known to suffer very much from a wound received while hunting in Africa some years ago. CSXClECIC ..PJHptl^pJlflSNA-. . Hypnotism Employed Successfully In Cnse or a Woman Five Mouths in a Trance. (By Telegraph.) MILWAUKEE, WIS., Dec. 23.?To? night Miss Brosheit, a young woman, 23 years of age, who has been in a trance for the past five months at her home in this city, was brought to her normal condition through the influence i of hypnotism. Miss Brossheit retired as usual in her apartments on the 23rd of July last. On the following morning when it was time to awaken she kept on sleeping and though at times she would open her eyes, she seemed unconscious to her surroundings. The case has baffled many physicians. At last an applica? tion of "suggestive therapeutics", a form of hypnotism, was tried and the patient today was successfully brought out of her long trance. Though very weak she is able to say a few words to those around her. She has been kept alive with liquid food. TAKING PRECAUTION'S. No ItecklesN Distribution of Franchises to Promotors in New Possessions. (By Telegraph.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 23?The War Department today authorized the fol j lowing: The following order has heen ; issued by the Secretary of War j to the commanding officers in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil? ippines: Until otherwise author? ized it is ordered that no grant or con? cessions of public or corporate rights of franchises for the construction of public or quasi-public works, such as rail? roads, tramways, telegraph and tele? phone lines, water works, gas works, electric light lines, etc., shall be made by any municipal or other governmental authority or body in Cuba, Porto Rico or the Philippines, except upon the ap? proval of the major general command? ing the military forces of the United Slates in Cuba, Porto Rico or the Phil? ippines, who shall, before approving any such grants or concession, be so ! specially authorized by the Secretary i of War." Modify Itulwer-Clayton-Treaty. (By Telegraph.) j WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.?It is ac i cepted as little short of certain, in the I best informed official and diplomatic ! circles, that negotiations will be opened I at an early day toward so modifying thi I Clayton-Bulwer treaty as to meet the ! conditions of the present day, concern j ing American construction and control i of the Nicaraguan canal. Reception to Bryan. (By Telegraph.) j LINCOLN, NEB., Dec. 23.?Colonel I W. J. Bryan returned to Lincoln this I afternoon and was tonight tendered a ; reception at the Oliver theatre by the Women's Bimetalle League. The house v.-?is crowded and the Colonel received an ovation. He was introduced by Gov? ernor Holcomb, who formally welcomed him home and complimented him for his patriotism in enlisting in the army. Colfax Safe in Port. (By Telegraph.) WILMINGTON, N. C, Dec. 23.?The United States revenue cutter Colfox ar? rived this evening. Mr. Young, librarian of congress, has ! s^t apart a room for the sole use of j children, and Professor Langley is hav j ing an especial exhibit collected at the Smithsonian Institute for the little folk. >4, 1898. PRICE IN THE CHURCHES. Interesting Services in All the Houses o Worship Today. The services in all the churches Will be unusually interesting tomorrow. Christmas sermons will be preached and Christmas music rendered. The at? tendance will probably be the largest of the year, especially If the day is a pretty one, as is expected. It was impassible to obtain from all the ministers last evening the subjects of their sermons. Following are those which are announced: At 'the Thirtieth Street Christian church, the pastor. Rev. W. R. Motley, will preach in the morning upon "Les? sons From the Beautiful Story," and in the evening upon "The 'World's Great? est Birthday." A special program of music has been prepared. At Wesley chapel, corner of Thlrty fourth street and Lafayette avenue, the pastor, Rev. W. F. Sheppard, will preach at 11 A. M., his subject being "The Unspeakable Gift." The evening subject is "Love." Sunday school at 2:30 P. M. At 'the SecoVid Baptist church, Rev. Thomas J. MacKay, the pastor, will preach in the morning on "A New j Birth," and in the evening on "Good Tidings." Rev. M. S. Colonna, Jr., pastor 'of Chestnut Avenue M. E. church, has chosen for his morning subject, "The Christ of Prophecy." and for the even? ing theme, "The Christ of History." No leader has been obtained for the men's meeting at 'the Young Men's Christian Association at 4 P. M. The general secretary, Mr. C. C. Kent, will lead the boys' meeting at 2:30 P. M. There will be special Christmas mus'.c with orchestral accompaniment. Religious services will be held at the other churches at the usual hours. PEUfiMTriiL ENTERTAINMENT. Christinas Exercises of the Washington Avenue Methodist Sunday School. Tne large Sunday school of Wash? ington Avenue Methodist church gave its Christmas entertainment last even? ing, a large number of friends and rela? tives of the pupils being present. The exercises were of a most enjoyable na? ture, and the children went through the difficult program in the most praise? worthy manner. Candy was distributed to the litt)* ones, for whom, it was a notable, occasion. The program was as follows: Chor?3^"Heraia " Afitels^i-By the school. Prayer?By the pastor. Rev. B. F. Lipscomb. Solo?Miss Polly Murray. Recitation?Miss Ella Davis. Duet?Miss Susie Lipscomb and Ed? die Cornwell. 1 Solo?Miss Carrie Davfs, and eh/irus I by Misses Willie Slstrunk, Ada Brooks, Laura McCulloeh and Iva Binns, and Masters Eddie and Earl Cornwell and Joe Trimyer. Recitation?"Jes' 'Fore Christmas"? Mr. W. F. Leath. Chorus?"Ring, Ye Bells"?By the school. Pantomime of St. Nicholas?Reading, ; by Miss Ethel McGee; impersonation, : Mr. W. C. Nickum; Mother Mary, Miss Bessie Walton; Granny Kringle, Miss Annie Brooks. Awarding of medals and prizes. Closing. Chorus?"Praise Ye the Lord"?By the school. CITY NEWS IN It KIEF. Newsy Locals and Pointed Paragraphs Preparetl for Hurried Readers Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Nelms, of Balti? more, have arrived to spend Christmas with Mr. G. T. Nelms, of this city. Mr. Ambler Newton, now attending college in Washington, is here to spend the holidays with his brother, Mr. J. K. M. Newton. Miss Mamie Rogers, of East End, is visiting in Roanoke. Mrs, Logan T. Davis is very ill at her home on Twenty-eighth street. Miss Sister McPherson, of Richmond, isthe guest of Miss Nora Donaldson. Mr. Arthur Wilson, the representative of the Duplex Printing Press Company, who erected the new press for the Dally Press and Evening Telegram, and who will remain here for several weeks in? structing the pressmen, left last after? noon to spend the holidays at his home in Cincinnati. '. - I Assisitant Postmaster J. T. Read I left yesterday for Williamsport, Md., his former home, where he will visit his parents during the holidays. He wiil return next week. Mr. and Mrs. Beverly T. Partlow, of Richmond, are the guests of their daughter, Mrs. Thomas A. Lowell. Deputy Clerk C. C. Hargraves leaves today for Surrey county to spend Christmas with his home folk. Are Clad it Has done. The dense fog which hung over this section for the past few days, lifted Thursday night, releasing the numer? ous vessels it haoVneld as prisoners, and causing general joy among the ship? ping men to whom a fog like this one is j a nuisance, aggravated and without ex i cuse. Making Progress. The new city jail is going up at a great rate. The large steel door that will lead from the front portion of the building to the prison department was put in place this morning and the steel wlndow? will soon follow. LOW XMAS HOLIDAY RATES. On December 21 to 24 inclusive, and 29 to 31 inclusive, the M. and M. T. Co will sell over their line tickets at great? ly reduced rates on account of the Xmas holidays. Tickets limited to Oan 4th. For further information ami full par? ticulars, apply to L. C. Saunder.j, Agent 1 6 PASES TODAY 1 SIKGLE COPY, TWO CENTS ONE WEEK TEN CENTS Objections to Passage of Hull Bill Specified. A SUBSTITUTE SUBMITTED Enormous Cost of tfaintalnance One of Chief Objections to Measure Provid? ing for Increase of the Army to 1OO.000 Men. (By Telegraph.) ' WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.?The minor? ity report of the House Committee on Military Affairs today filed with the clerk their report in opposition to the Hull bill, for the increase of the regular army to 100,000 men. It is as follows: The minority of the committee dis? sent from the views of the majority of the committee, because the bill reported makes a permanent standing army for the United States of over 100,000 men. Such an army Is not necessary to be maintained in this country now, neither because of our relations to the Islands of the sea, nor because of any necessity j which In the past year has arisen in this country itself. The evils of stand? ing armies are too well known to be dilated upon here. Such a standing army as the one proposed would In time of peace be a menace to the liberty of citizens and in time of war would i:ot be sufficient to meet successfully the armies of the first class powers of the world. NOT A NECESSITY. Happily we are so situated that a laige standing army is not a necessity and would only be a luxury to be sup? ported by the taxes of the people. It is estimated that the Hull bill will cost the people annually the sum of $150,000, 000. This would be a permanent charge upon the people of the United States. {?15,000,000 are being paid to the soldiers of the Civil war and the war with Spain, thus placing a permanent charge of $195,000,000 annually upon the people of the United States, and this to main? tain the military establishment alone, to say nothing of the navy. The pas? sage of this bill means the practical destruction of the national guard and the volunteer troops of the States. With such a large standing army the citizen soldiery of the country would feel that it was not necessary to pre? pare for war In time of peace, nor to i go to war in time of war. TAXES^WI^iolNCREASK. The t?xes wfeieti are how so burden? some to the people' will 'continue to be collected and will rather he increased ? than otherwise. No hope of economi? cal administration can be indulged in while such permanent and lavish ex? penditure is provided for. It is well understood that the great corporate interests of the country are demanding this large standing army; 1 their reasons for such a demand are too obvious to be pointed' out. These in-> ; terests want force to enforce their de? mands, and a President nominated and dominated by such interests would have such a standing army, by the means at his hand, to invade the liber? ties of the people, to suppress freedom of speech and to desecrate the ballot box itslf. EVILS OF THE BILL. It is needless, however, to continue to point out the many evils of this bill; ' suffice it to say that both in form and i substance it overturns the policy which has been pursued so successfully by this government for so many years and launches the country upon a course which can only terminate in the des? truction of the liberties of the people. The minority holding the views above expressed have thought they owed it to the country to prevent to the House of Represntatives a substitute. They herewith present a substitute embody? ing every need of the government and at the same time preserving with scrupulous care the liberty of the citi? zen and avoiding the evils of a standing army. The substitute provides for a Ftanding army of 30,000 enlisted, about the number in the army 'before the war with Spain. The substitute also provides for 5,000 vclunteers, to be taken from the States and territories and the District of Columbia in proportion to the popula? tion; these volunteers are to be muster eel out of the service of the United States within two years from the pas? sage of' the act, unless sooner deter? mined. Their organization is to be the same as that of the regular army. TO MUSTER VOLUNTEERS. Volunteer organizations now in ser? vice are to be given preference as to re-enlistment. All volunteers now in the service of the United States are to ba mustered out within sixty days from the passage of this act. The substitute is not to operate to discharge any commanding officer who was in the army of the United States prior to the war with Spain. The ne? cessity of this body of volunteer troops . arises from the relations whlcli: the United States Government now bears to Porto Rico, Cuba, the Philippine Islands, the Hawaiian Islands and the Ladrone Islands. Fifty thousand men are very near the mark which the gen? eral of the army said would be neces? sary in these islands in his testimony before the comittee of military affairs. The War Department is preparaing official estimates which will be ready in i j a few days. . . FIGHTING IN PAN AY. Spaniards and Insurgents I)o ISattle. Many of the latter Killed. . (By Telegraph.) ' Madrid, Dec. 23.?According to a dis ? patch received here from Itoilo, island 1 of Panay, several engagements have taken place between the Spaniards and the insurgents and many of the latter have been killed or woundd. It is asserted that Aguinaldo has ' cabled to the government. saying he will shortly release the Spanish prison? ers in the hands of the insurgents. . Tnis statement, however, has not been confirmed. The minister of the colonies, Senor Giron, announces that the payment of ? the coupons of the Cuban mortgage ? bonds has been assured. .