The evening times. [volume], February 28, 1900, Image 1

About The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902

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Number 1431.
WASIffirGrTCXN, WEDNESDAY, 3TEBIITJABY 28, 1900.
Price One Cent
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Heavy Losses of Irish Regiments at
Piefers Station.
The Britlxlt Commander Iteportu An
other Frontal ttneK lit DcMpatch
IndicnteM nn Aihnncc at Fearful
Gout Queen Victoria HenuetH De
tails niul Cnhles an na.tircsion of
Her Surron at the Dentil of bo
"Man? Ilraie Soldier Tlie "War Of
fice 1 ithholds the List of Cnsual
tien Loudon Tenrs Hint More
Blundering: linn Been Co mini t ted.
LONDON, Feb 28 From a happiness
equaled onlj whon the relief of Lucknow
was announced half a century ago, to
heart-broaklng suspense that is the story
of the past twentj-four hours in London
While the cool judgment of Roberts and
Kitchener was pre ailing in the Orange
Free State, it seems almost certain that af
fairs in Natal are being mismanaged " he
War Office tode publishes an official des
patch from General Buller, but it with
holds anj list or even an estimate of the
tremendous losses at which the deppatch
hints darklj The report of General Dul
ler sajs:
"HLANGWANE PLAIN. Feb 2S
(S 06 a m.) Finding that strong en
trenchments commanded Langew atche
Spruit I reconnoitred for another posi
tion Colonel S&ndbach found one, and
on February 25 I commenced making
an approach On Februarj 2G, finding
that the approach -was practical, I
crossed the guns and baggage back to
the south of the Tugela We took up
the pontoon on the night of Februarj
20 and relaid it in a new position
"During all this time the troops had
been scattered crouching under hasti
1 j -constructed small btone shelters and
exposed to a galling shell and rifle fire,
but maintained throughout an excellent
spirit. On Februarj 27 General Bar
ton, with two battalions of the Sixth
Brigade and the Rojal Dublins. crept
one and one-half miles down the bank
south of the river, and. ascending an
almost precipitous cliff for fie hun
dred feet, he assaulted and carried
Pieters Hill This, to a certain extent,
turned the enemi's left flank
"The Tourth Brigade, under Colonel
Norcott and the Eleventh, under Col
onel Kitchener, the whole under Gen
eral Warren issailed the main posi
tion which the South Lancashires car
ried about sunset. We took sixtj pris
oners and scattered the enemj in all
directions There soem6 still to be a
considerable bodj left under Bulwano
Mountain I hope our loss was not
large and certainlv it was less than it
would have been onlj for the admira
ble manner m which the artillerj as
served, especiallj the guns manned bv
the men of the Royal Navj and the
Natal Volunteers "
It is believed in London that the losses,
which General Buller hopes are not large,
will reach an appalling total Thi6 fear is
based on the character of the tactics cai
plojed by the British commander and also
upon General Buller s almost preparatory
allusion to the subject This fear is in
part substantiated b the fact that the
Queen cabled General Buller as follows
"Ihave heard with the deepest con
corn of the heavj looses sustained bj
nij brave Irish soldiers I desire to
express mi sjmpathi and admiration
for the splendid fighting qualities thej
haie exhibited throughotu the trying
operations "
London, in the midst of rejoicing at the
nctorj of General Roberts over Cronje,
awakens this morning to a realization of
the fact that Buller. while the British
were circumventing the Boers at Paarde
berg, made a desperate attempt to cap
ture a minor position of the Boers near
Pieters Station, and, as in man former
similar attempts failed, and that the pen
alty his men hae paid for what people
are beginning to call blundering is almost
as severe as that at Spton Kop The Dub
lin Tusiliers, the Innisktlling Dragoons,
and the Connaught Rangers all Irish regi
ments were ordered to take Railvay Hill
not Groblers Klof, as at first reported.
Thej tried it, fought for four hours in the
face of a murderous Boer fire, and then
quit, more than half of them killed or
wounded.
The Queen was so concerned about the
reported losses that she requested the War
Office to ask for details, and Buller replied
under todaj's date, Februarj 2S, from
Hlangwane Plain, claiming that he had
"just fought a successful action, had scat
tered the eacmj, aad had captured sixty i
prisoner "
Notwithstanding this despatch from Bull
or, seeral leporls show that In preious
ongagemonts he met with tremendous
losses Socral despatches state that when
the advance of the Inniekillings reached a
lavine in front of the Boor position they
wore subjected to a cross fire which mow
ed them down in dozens The Dublins and
Connaughts went to the aid or the Innis
kilhngs, but thej too, were torn bj the
av ful rain of Boer bullets, so that thej
had actuallj to dig burrows in the face of
the hill to escape annihilation.
Here they remained all night, the Boers
keeping up a terrific fire. General Little
ton's brigade was sent to the relief of
Hart's men, and the terrible duel contin
ued throughout Saturday. An armistice on
Sundaj permitted both sides to bury their
dead In the Innlskllllngs alone, fourteen
of the seventeen officers were killed or
wounded, and fiftj non-commissioned offi
cers and men were killed or wounded. The
Dublins were almost wiped out, not more
than a hundred of them remaining
Ater the armistice, the Boers made a
savage attack in force upon the British
positions at Fort Wjlle and fought for
hours, een attempting to rush the Brit
ish trenches. The English kept the po
sition, but at a terrible cost.
It is believed In London that Buller's
losses, when made known, will appall the
English people. There is much criticism
of his tactics, and especially in ilew of
the plans followed bj' Roberts and Kitche
ner baing been successful. Buller's at
tack on Tridaj was what is called a frontal
attack, and he has never won one of these
from the Boers. The War Office undoubt
edlj has full reports from Buller as to hla
usus, uui is seeping mem oacic, j
The Canadian Lonmk.
LONDON. Feb. 28. The War Office has
Issued a list of casualties among the Ca
nadians in the fighting on February 20 and
Februarj 21. Prliate Downings was S2
xeroly wounded. Buglers Holland, Kidner,
and Tarker were slightly wounded
IMj mi's UtiKincK CollcKe, stU and K.
Business, Shorthand, tTjpewriUac 25 a. jcy.
WHEN CRONJE SURRENDERED.
A CorrcK-iotiilcnt Describe the Scene
in the British Camp.
PAARDEBERG. Feb 27, lia Modder Riv
er, Teb 27 (Delajed by the censor).
From a correspondent with General Rob
erts' forces: At C o'clock this morning the
white flag was hoisted oer the Boer, laa
ger and General Cronje sent a message to
the British headquarters, offering to sur
render. Lord Roberts sent General Prettyman'to
the Beer laager to bring General Cronjo
in. He returned shortly with the Boer
commander, and an escort from the
Twcirth Lancers. At 7 20 o'clock the Sea
forth Highlanders, acting as a guard, linol
up around the spot, where Central Crouje,
through an Interpreter, tendered his sur
render. V was a bright, sunnj morning Gen-
eral Roberts was in TOiaki, and wore his
sword. lie, seated General Cronje on his
j right Most of the members of Lord Rob
erts stall were present. The interview
was brief, and General Cronje's secretary
acted as Interpreter.
General Cronje asked that his wife, who
was at the Boer laager, his grandson, and
his private Eecretarj be allowed to aecom
panj him. Lord Roberts granted all these
requests and shortly afterward withdrew
General Cronje remained and breakfasted
uith the staff.
Afterward one of the officers gaie him a
cigar, which he smoked iu a qukt, preoc
cupied manner, sajlng verj little He wore
a wide, soft graj hat with a cord of orange
leather and a band of dark green. His
coat was" of duck cloth and he wore black
trousers and dark brown boots. In his
hand he carried a thick cane.
General Cronje looks like an elderlv, sub
stantial farmer- He has broad, round
shoulders, a wide brow, a weathei -beaten
oval face, and wears a short gnzzlj beard
He is ery quiet In his demeanor. About
the onlv thing he said was that there were
3,000 men in his laager.
The surrender came somewhat suddenlj
On Tucsdaj morning, under Geneial Rob
ert,' direction, the Canadians were told
off to rush the enemj 's first line The
Gordons and Shrorshires were ordered to
support them.
The Canadians reached a romt within
one hundred yards of the Boers rifle pit.,
despite a hail of bullets and worked like
demons, fighting and entrenching. The
Boer fire was terrific for fifteen minutes
Then the Canadians secured good cover
and replied steadily. In the meantime the
British six-inch howitzers grcatlv in
creased the wreckage in the Boer laager
while the Vickers and Maxims searched the
river banks until darkness bettled down
The night was normallj quiet, till a
sharp Mauser fire at 2 o0a jn , from the
north side of the Boer laager, awoke the
camp The Boers had located the Cana
dians and Gordons, and the-e was fighting
for about half an hour, when the Caia
dians mastered the Boer defence, and at
daj break General Cronje suneudered
ELECTION IN SOUTH MAYO.
An Irish liner boldlcr Deflated bj a
Heaij Mnjoriti.
LONDON. Teb 2S The election foi a
successor in Parliament to Mr Michael
Davitt, who resigned some time ago i at
held in South Majo Ireland, on Mondaj.
At the last election Mr. Daiitt was re
turned unopposed. There were two Na
tionalist candidates at this election Mr
John O Donnell and Major John McBnde
The latter is serving with the Irish brig
ade in the Boer armj. Mr O Donnell was
elected receiving 2 401 votes to Major Mc
Bnde s 427.
BOERS AT CAPE TOWN.
Six Hundred Madder Hlver Prisoners
in "Wire Enclosures.
CAPE TOWN, Teb 2S Six hundred
Boers, who surrendered at Modder River
on Fndaj and Saturdav, have arrived here
They arc kept In wire enclosures and
are well guarded.
OFEER TO SURRENDER.
Uoers nt Unrklv Knst Present Terms
ttf Capitulation.
CAPE TOWN, Feb 27 (310 p. m ). -It
Is learned heie that the Boer commando at
Barkly East, Capo Colony, ha- offerel to
surrender if the safetv cf the colonial
Dutch, who have joined th Bop--, is as
sured The British commander icpliel that
he would onlj accept uac-jnd'tiou.tl sur
render A MILITARY WRITER'S OPINION.
He diists England to Make Peace
at Once.
VIENNA. Fen 28 Herr Bio h, the mil
itarj writer, sajs in an article published
todav, that the resistance of the Boers
Is not jet broken, and that England wo ild
do well to make peace.
COMMENT IN PARIS.
eiispnpci s
t'rKc Mediation
the
lloer War.
PARIS, Teb 2S Tho newspapers here
all comment on the surrender of General
Cronje and Its probable effect Thej pay
tributes to Cronje for his struggle, but ac
knowledge the abilltv of Roberts and an
ticipate the occupation of Bloemfontem and
the relief of Lad j smith But the papers
are unanimous in declaring that the issue
of the campaign has not been decided.
Some of the papers think that the pres
ent would be a good time for mediation,
and the "Gaulols" thinks that niperor
William ought to begin such a movement.
The "Intransigeant" has opened a sub
scription for a sword of honor to be pre
sented to General Cronje.
A Correspondent Murdered.
LONDON, Feb. 2S Mall communica
tions from Maf eking reveal the fact that
an inquest was held into the death of Mr.
Parslow, the correspondent of the "Chroni
cle," who, it was supposed here, had been
accidentally shot The inquest, which was
held on November 2, resulted in a lerdict
of willful murder against Lieutenant
Murchison. of the artillery, who was com
mitted for trial.
Forced Mnrclies to Patirdelier.
PAARDEBERG, Feb 2C In the pursuit
of General Cronje to this place, some of
the British regiments marched twenty-seven
miles in twentj-four hours. They got
ahead of the transport and the men lived
on quarter rations.
Afrikander Congress Postponed.,,
CAPE TOWN, Teb. 26. The proposed
Congress of the Afrikander Bond has been
postponed, owing io the prevalence of mar
tial law in several districts
Pleased "With. Consnl Unj.
LONDON, Feb 2S A despatch to the
"Times" from Lourenco Marques, dated
Februarj 27, sajs that Mr . S Haj, the
new American Consul at Pretoria, is earn
ing the respect of the Uitlanders and
Boers, and is proving himself tactful an J
assiduous in his attention to his duties.
VOTE THIS AFTERNOON
Closing the Debate on (lie Porto
Rican Tariff Bill.
Mr. Pajne Offers a Substitute for One
Section, HeilmMiiK the Tax Prom iir
to 3.1 Per Cent Ills explanation
of the Coiiiiiromlse Mr. Rerrj
Calls It a Case of Petit Larcenj.
It is expected that the House will take
a ote between 3 and 4 o'clock this after
noon on the Porto Rican Tariff bill. The
fact that the bill would be considered in
Committee of the Whole House, and un-
' der the five-minute rule, subject to amend
ment, drew a large attendance of Repre
sentatives and spectators at the opening
of the session this morning
Just before the House was called to or
der, Chairman Pajne, of the Committee on
Wajs and Means, expressed th" opinion
that the bill, as it would be amended, would
pass. He gave no figures The situation
was still unsettled, and the consideration
of the bill was begun with the Republi
ean majority deeplj concerned and dubioub
regarding the outcome Air Tavvnej, the
Republican whip, stated that the majorl
tj for the bill ould be five, if thej held
all the otes thej then had
When the House had gone into Com
mittee of the Whole the bill was read,
and Mr. Pajne then offered a substitute
for section 3 to make clear the meaning of
the bill, that but one internal revenue tax
was to be levied on articles of Porto Rican
manufacture The amendment road
1 he Vinciiriiiicnt.
' Section 3 That on and after the pas
sage of this act all merchandise coming
into the United States from Porto Rico
and coming into Porto Rico from the Unit
ed States shall be entered at the several
ports of entrj upon pajment of 15 per cent
of the duties which are required to be
levied, collected, and paid upon like ar
ticles of merchandise imported from for
eign countries; and, in addition thereto,
upon articles of merchandise of Porto
Rican manufacture coming Into the United
States and withdrawn from consumption
or sale upon pajment of a ta, equal to the
Internal revenue tax imposed in the Unit
ed Slates upon the like articles of mei
chandise of domestic manufacture, such
ta to be paid bj internal revenue stamp
or stamps to be purchased and provided by
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and
to be procured from the Collector of In
ternal Revenue at a most convenient place
to the port of entry of said merchandise In
the United States and to be aflixed under
such regulations as the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue with the approval of the
Secretary of the Tieasurj shall prescribe,
and on all articles of merchandise of "Luit
ed States manufacture coming into Porto
Rico in addition to the dutj above provid
ed, upon pavment of a tax equal in rate
and amount to the internal revenue tax
imposed in Porto Rico upon the like arti
cles of Porto Rican manufacture "
The new section. Mr Paine said would
provide a customs dutj of 1" per cent
Mr Pajne said he had been compelled to
offer tne 1" per cent proposition after con
sulfation with members on the Republican
side He had, however, learned that there
was a larger amount of goods stored in
Porto Rico than he had supposed when the
bill was presented the block amounting tc
about tnree millions
Answering a question hi Mr J. R Will.
lams Mr Pajne said that the bill as
amended would provide an annual revenue
of about $1 2)0 COO Referring to the letter
lead jcslerdaj written bj him in January
printed in the ' Record ' this morning in
a speech bj Mr Clavton, and faionug frei
trade with Porto Rico. Mr Pajne said be
was proud of it and he stood bj it In the
light of the information he had then it was
right, in the light of later Information the
bill was right and he stood bj it.
V (axe of Pitit I,arcen.
Mr. Berrj said that having whipped the
Republicans Into line Mr Pajne todav
introduced a proposition that intenJed
petit larcenj of the Porto Ricans instead
of grand larcenj a lobberj of 13 per cent
instead of one of 23 v
Mr. Grow made his first speech on the
bill saving that a verj general misappre
hension existed as to its terms and pur
poses, which accounted for the opposition
to it. The bill did not purport to legislate
a territorial form of government for Porto
Rico, but meielj to change the customs
rates on business to and from the island
with the United States, -while it was un
der the militarj government and for tbo
bnefit of the people of the island The
revenue derived under the bill would be
paid to the Porto Ricans, uo that thej
would have free trade with the United
States "And that is the robberj and out
rage that it Is proposed to commit against
Porto Rico," he added
Brief speeches were made bj Messrs Do
rmond and Graff, the former reasserting
that the bill was a nolation of the Consti
tution, the latter announcing his intention
to submit hlb judgment to that of the ma
joritj of the Republicans as he had done
in the matter of the recognition of the in
dependence of the Cuban Republic, and
expecting that the future v ould i indicate
his action He advised the Democrats to
follow Thomas Jefferson, who said more In
favor of a strict construction of the Con
stitution and more to carrj out a liberal
construction than anj other man In the
historj of the country.
Mr. Fitzgerald said that If It had not
been foi the Democratic mmorltj In the
Fiftv -fifth Congress President McKinley
would not have Intervened in Cuba when
he did. and had he arted when he should
the gallant bojs of tne Maine would now
be alive
Mr. Bromwell, referring to Mr. Grosven
oi s remarkB that he (Bromwell) met in
secret conclaie to destroy the President's
policy regarding Cuba, said that the gen
tleman had become so accustombed to vi
tuperation and abuse in dealing with Dem
ocrats that he had fallen Into the habit in
his relations with the Republicans.
That gentleman relegated the speaker to
the tender mercies of the cigar makers of
his district. Had he been incline 1 to treat
his colleagues as he had him, Mr. Brom
well said, he would eay that in Grosie
nor's district there were many old sol
diers He had introduced a Service Pen
sion bill, which for three months had lain
in the committee-room without Grosvenor (
once asking for a hearing on it. He might
relegate him to the old soldiers of his dis
trict, but he would not do it. (Democratic
applause and laughter.)
Mr. Bromivcll'H Position.
Upon the merits of the bill, Mr. Brom
well said, that after a talk with the Presi
dent he was convinced that those who
three months ago recommended free trade
now favored the passage of this bill; and
while he still belieed that the people of
Porto Rico should not be taxed diffeiently
from other inhabitants of the United
States, he had decided to support "the Re
publican majority at this crisis and vote
for the bill.
Mr. Grosienor was recognized and ex
pectation was general that he would reply
to Bromwell, and he was heard with inter
est. He said that the debate now nearing
its close would be alwajs recognized as
one of the greatest in Congressional nn
nals. When the first bill was Introduced
it was supposed that nothing was Involved
in it except the benefits that might accrue
to tho people of Porto Rico from free
trade. But it developed in the discussion
of tho bill that much else was Involved,
and his attention was first directed to the
matter by the suspicious advocacy of the
original bill by the Democratic party. No
measure in Congress since he had been
here had ever awakened the zeal that
marked their advocacy of that measure.
Mr. Grosvenor recited two or three In
stances to show the Ignorance in the coun
try concerning the bill, men of presum
able intelligence asserting that Congress
was putting its hands in tb pockets of the
Porto Rican people and taking money from
these helpless beings. In closing, he tald
he should always follow the majority of
nls party whenever it spoke, "but I should
regret to be compelled refusing to tax the
speculators upon the crops already pr"
duced In Porto Rico, to ote to institute a
colonial policy bj taking this monej out of
the Treasury."
the Porto Illenn Petition.
After Messrs Otej and Recder had spo
ken the substitute for section 3 was adopt,
cd, and Mr Payne moved to amend sec
tion 4 bj changing the word "customs" to
"duties and taxes," made necessarj bj the
new section 3.
Mr Richardson presented the petition of
several delegations from Porto Rico sent to
the United States asking for the establish
ment of free trade to prevent bankruptcy,
indorsed bj the Merchants Association of
New York
The signers to the petition, Mr. Payne
said, were men pecunlarilj and personally
j interested In exporting sugar and tobacco
free of dutj from Porto Rico, who, not
satisfied with getting 5100,000 more for
their sugar bj reduction of the terlff by 73
per cent, wanted $100,000 additional by
the total abolition of the dutj, not for
the benefit of the people of Porto Rico,
but for themselves
It was claimed late this afternoon on be
half of the Republicans that the hill would
pass with a rnajoritj of fi.e. Tour Demo
crats are counted In Its favor, Represen
tatives SIblej, De nes, Davej. and Meyer.
Republicans who are expected to vote
against the bill arc Messrs. Littlefleld,
McCali. Cmmpacker, Lorlmer, and Heat
wole The votes of Watson and Fletcher
are in doubt but claimed by the Republi
cans Mr. Warner oi Illinois is paired
against the bill Messrs. Faris of Indiana
and Lane of Iowa are absent and unpaired.
PORTO RICAiV STHIKEBS.
'lhij Tlciiiniid a Halse of Two Cents
I't r lloui .
SAN JUN, P R Feb. 28 Five hun
dred workmen who have b?cn engaged in
the construction of the military road from
Ponce to Adjuntas are out on a strike.
Thej demand o cents an hour instead of 3
from the contractors The strikers marched
into Adjuntas last evening waving banners
inscribed " We demand 5 cents per hour"
The strikers appointed a committee to
consult with the contractors Thej saj
that thej cannot live on their present
wages because tbe American occupation
1 as increased the price ot all necessities
of life.
DISTRICT TELEPHONE BILL.
Amciidnii nt VffeetliiK the 'WnshinK
Iiiii ( .m pnin ' Clnrtir.
The sub-committee on telephone of the
House District Committee met today and
decided to recommend various amend
ments to the bill affecting the charter of
the Washington Telephone Companj
The full committee will meet next Sat
urdaj to consider the bill and the amend
ments suggested bj the sulr' mmittee.
FAILS TO SEE THE PRESIDENT.
The Princess Snliii-h.slin's Plan to
lid the IIcur.
The Princess Salni-Snlin called at the
White House this morning but the Presi
dent was engaged She is in the citj on
business connected with the latest plan to
assist the" Boers which is (o laise funds
for the establishment of the Princess
Salm-Salm Boer Ambulance."
As she explained It will include everj
tlung that can be of assist ince to the Bo
ers, such as ambul lrces, horses mules,
beds, doctors nurses, medicines instru
ments, bandages food, in ?ct. everj de
tail of hospital supplv. She Intends to go
to Chicago where a mass meeting will be
called and funds appealed lOr
A committee of business mei will be ap
pointed in Chicago to take chaige of the
funds raised there, and Mrs Barber, of
Clifton Park, this citj. will act as treasu
rer of funds received here.
In New York Mrs Donald McLean has
piomied her assistance, and the Princes?
expects to meet with such success as will
enable her to ill for Pctrona via Europe
in Vpril 1
In South Africa she will disburse the
funds and distribute suppl.ee In person In
the event of the war being ended, the sup
plies ard funds are to bf used for the
benefit of the widows of the Boers killed
in the war The Princess will go to Vine
land N J where f-he will nit her sis
tcr, leaving there for Cnicago on Saturdaj
In the lattei citj she will be the guest of
another sister Mrs i)r. Raj.
THE PRESIDENT APPROVES.
Plans of the Veiitcniilal Committee
PI ase Mi. Mi Ivinlei.
The President this morn.ng received the
members of the Executive Committee of
the Centennial Committee and heard its
report on plans adopted jI the meeting on
Februarj 21 The rcpoit approved of an
enlarged White House and a broad loal
waj to be known as Centennial Avenue, to
run from the Capitol to the Monument
and to the Memorial Biidge.
The plans for the enlargement of the
White House do not attempt to change
matcnallj am portion of the building as
It now stands, but simplj provides for ad
ditions The plans for the centennial celebration
in this citj were fullv outlined in the re
port, and the President heartilj approved
of them
The features of improicment to the
beaut j of the city were endorsed, and Le
complimented tho committee upon the le-
sults of its labors.
AN OFFICER'S SUICIDE.
Second Lieutenant AVnnR-H Kills
Himself in the Philippine.
The War Department received a cable
gram from Genera' Otis todaj announcing
the suicide of onotifer officer Second Lieut.
John R Waugh, of the Thirjtj -ninth Regi-
ment t Volunteer Infantry. This is the
sixth or seventh officer whq has committed
suicide in the Philippines in the last few
months, and is said to confirm the re
ports sent out from Manila that the cli
mate of the islands- is driving manj of
the soldieis and officers trt Insanitj. The
cablegiam from General Ons is as follows:
"Second Lieut John R Waugh, Thirtj
ninth Regiment United States Volunteer
Infantrj, shot himself through the heart
while temporarily insane liqm nervousness
at 9:15 morning Febfuarj 27."
The War Department gives the follow
ing record of the dead officer John Rich
ard Waugh was born at Crete, Neb , Janu
ary 29, 1876; was a cadet at the. United
States Militarj Academy. Jiine 15, ISO, to
March 1, 1S95; private, I), First Artillery,
May 15, 1837 to Maj 0, 188; corporal sig
nal corps. May 9, 1S9S. to August 22, 1S99,
second lieutenant Thirtj -ninth Volunteer
Infantry August 17, 1S99; served with regi
ment in Philippines since December 27
1699.
CORRBNCiMLTAKENOP
j A,
Mr. Aldi'icli Explains the'Confer
ence Report in the Senate.
The Amendment DixciiHitert In De
tail The ClinnBc of Standard
Styled Purely Vcrhal Impractica
ble to Keep the AV hole Uc-Merie
Fund In Gold, Coin Other Features.
In the Senate thl3 morning the confer
ence report on the Currency bill was taken
up and Mr. Aldrlch, in charge of the bill,
made an explanation of the report He
would confine his statement, he said, to
an explanation of such of the provisions of
the conference report as were amended.
The first conference amendment was
concerning the change of standard. This
Avas a purely cirbal amendment, not af
fecting in any vvaj the purpose of the
original provisions. The second confer
ence amendment was adding to the Senate
provision for parity these words. "And it
shall be the dutj of the Secretary of the
Treasury to maintain such parity."
The bill, he said, originally contained a
most sob-inn and direct pledge on the part
of the United States that that parity
should be maintained; and in his opinion,
it did impose on the Secretary of the
Treasury (without this language) the
strongest possible obligation to maintain
parity by all possible means The House
conferees, howeier, were desirous that the
Injunction on the Secretary should be put
into the law, in terms, and the Senate con
ferees agreed to it.
The next amendment Mr. Aldrich said
was in section 2 where the words "and
bullion" were Inserted, in relation to the
reserve fund of $150,000,000.
It was co.v to be held in gold coin and
bullion It had ben found impracticable
to keep the whole amount of the fund in
gold coin, the coinage capacitj of tho
mints not being adequate.
As soon as the new mint at Pnlladelphia
was completed that difficultj would be
obviated The conference amendment was
also in section 2, which provides that the
Secretary of the Treasurj maj In hh dis
cretion use notes in exchange for gold or
purchase or redeem any bonds of the Uni
ted State?, except that the notes redeem
ed and held for exchange shall not be
used to meet deficlenc'e3 In the current
revenues The House, conferees, Mr. Al
drich said, insisted that there was a pos
sibility tb.it, without that provision, the
so-called "endless chain" might be rem
stituted. The Senate conferees had insisted that
the point v-ould never be reached, in the
historj of the reserve fund, when a sale or
bonds to maintain it would be necessary.
The committee, however, had realized that
if this point were reached the notes might
be ued In cae of a deficiencj in current
revenues
Ktter discussion, Mr Aldrlch said, the
language no in the section, had been in
serted. In order to take away all rossiblo
doubt The next amendment was In the
form of a new section (section 3), that
nbthing in the act should be construed to
affect the legal tender qualities of the
silver dollar, or any other money coined
or issued by the United States
It had been argued, he said, that the
declaration qf the gold standard took away
from th silver dollar its legal tender
quality, and tho-coiwfcrence conferees had
thought It desirable to Insert that express
provision in the act. The next conference
amendment was the insertion of a provi
sion in the sinh section that whenever the
gold coin In the reserve fund shall fall and
remain below $lCO.0CCGQ0 the authorltj to
Issue certificates shall be extended
THE TJISTKICT SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Ihe ieopc of the In- estimation to He
Made 1j Concress.
The Congressional investigation of the
public school system of this city will be
continued in a new direction some tlm
next week. The sub-coinmlttoc of the
Senate District Committee, in charge of
this investigation, has arranged for an
examination of all the pupils in the first
j ear of the larlous high schools for the
purpose of ascertaining the degree of edu
cation obtained in the first eight grades of
the public schools.
The ouestions to be asked are practical
ones, and arc such as to test the intelli
gence of the pupils, without subjecting
them to catch Questions.
These examinations will all be held at
oi.e time, and will embrace the subjects to
which the greater part of the time Is de
xoted in the Eighth grade
It is the belief of the committee that in
this wai a practical idea may be obtained
of just what the present educational sjs
teni has accomplished
In addition to the above plan a number
of the leading educato-s of the countrj
are to be invited to visit this citi, to make
an examination of the public school sjs
tem, and to report to the sub-committee
their opinlors of it. They will also be re
quested to suggest anj improvements that
maj seem to them to be desirable.
It is believed that bv such methods as
these Congress will be given an under
standing of the needs of the public schools
here, and that thej will legislate accord
ingly. THE SUICIDE-J3URIED.
1 lie Kemnini of 1'rederie P. Leu Is
Interred .it talcntiood.
The funeral of the lat" Frederic Porter
Lewis, who committed jmoiAe early jes
'ddaj morning at U2 I one of Mrs
AniJtjc'a V. Ener, 472 O Street northwest,
was held from the umLvtakli.; establish
ment of Joseph Gaw.'cr. i.i Pennsylvania
Avenue northwest, at 2 30 o'clock this
afternoon.
Tie interment was at iJlnvnoJ Ceiic
'erj. Tne funeral wa. anlcr 'he dlrec
.1011 of Columbia Tjpcra,'l.ui! Unioj, of
which the deceased wns a memrci.
BURIAL OF DEAD SOLDIERS.
Mnetj-seien Bodies to lie Interred
in Arlington Ct-inetert.
The bodies of ninetj -seven sold era
biought from Cuba to this countrj on the
transports Sedgwick and McPherson will
be buried at Arlington Cemetrj at II
o'clock tomorrow.
The commanding officer cf Foit Mjer
will detail a detachment of troops with
several officers to conduct the funeral
sei vices The burial services for th' dead
will be read, and a lolley w.ll be bred
over the graics. The President ntul sev
eral members of the Cabinet will piolably
be present at the ceremonies
nrojincd Dead Dtirinur a Fire.
CLARION, Par, Teb 2i Fue destrojed
the business pait of Clarnn jesterday
morning, and resulted In the dei'h of f r
mer Judge W. W. Barr, who exp'red f cm
excitement. Fourteen bus'n'-sj houses
were iest7ojcd The lo s will amo nt to
?15O,O0O.
rii.'iiniinne Import in Jfr.'.
.Is -.bourn lij ciis'oin-, etatitu-s the impor s jn
1C'J9 of (J II. Viirim'fi 1 xtn Dry rcjthcd the
enormous figure of IOO.'iC ca, I nnx 72,41)5
cues more than of ihv other liratid a record
nnprecedr nted in the historj of 1 hampapne. Its
lSlb vintage now imported la no equal.
AFTJR the traction road.
The Sjndlcate Makes an Offer for Itn
Control.
It Is stated on excellent authority that
the Washington Traction and Electric Syn
dicate this morning made an offer for ttc
control of the Capital Traction Company's
roads.
The price offered was ?100 a share. The
Capital Traction people, it Is said, held
out for a sllghtlj higher price, but F Street
financiers say that it 13 quite probablo
that an agreement as to price will be made
and a sale of the controlling interest in
the Capital Traction Company effected
within a short time.
A j ear ago when the syndicate was buy
ing the various constituent companies now
owned and controlled by it numerous ru
mors were heard that it would also secure
the Capital Traction Company.
It Is known that an offer was made by
the syndicate and that it was refused by
the people who could have delivered the
controlling Interest. The price then offered
Is said to have been $50 a share. Since
that time the deal has been in abeyance,
but F Street business men have at all
times considered It likely that the negotia
tions woj'd be taken up again.
The Capital Traction Company is the
only local street railway net no-v o vtel
by the Washington Traction and Ele tr.c
Company. It is capitalized at $12,000,000,
and a controlling Interest would require
CO.000 shares, which at par vvou.d cost the
syndicate $6,000,000.
Insiders have been buving Capital Trac
tion stock for some time past, but it ha3
been supposed that this was on account ot
the increased dividend which Is to be paid
in April.
AN IMPOB.TANT BUXING.
Commissioner IInoii Passes I poll
the Taxation of Transfers.
Commissioner Wilson, of the Internal
Revenue Bureau, has decided an Impor
tant question relative to the taxation ot
transfers of mortgages, both real estate
and chattel. The question came up on a
recent decision in a replevin suit brought
by the State Bank of Orion, HI . through
its Kansas City attorneys, Wollman, Solo
man & Cooper, In the United States Dis
trict Court at Keokuk.
Judge Woodson refused to allow a mort
gage to be offered In evidence because it
was not stamped as a transfer. The mort
gage was given to secure the payment of
a note which passed by endorsamsnt
through several hands
The attornevs for the State Bank of Ori
on, III , received a letter from Commis
sioner Wilson, which reads as follows-
"I have to acknowledge receipt of jour
letter of recent date, in which jou discus?
the question of the taxation of the trans-
I ferof mortgages. Where no express trans
fer or assignment lb made, but in conse
quence of the note evidencing the debt be
ing transferred by endorsement, there ap
pears to be an implied transfer of the
mortgage in contemplation of the law. In
replj jou are advised that this office has
ruled that implied transfers ot mortgages
are not taxable and that the transfer of
or assignment of a mortgage in order to be
liable to stamp duty, under schedule A,
act of June 13, 189S, must be made in
writing and signed by the as3ignor."
THE KENTUCKY HUDDLE.
The Finances f the Mate herionsly
( omitlicntcd.
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Feb. 2S Kentucky
awoke today to face a situation unparallel
ed in Its history State, countj, and, in
some places the city treasuries are para
Ijzed. Ov ing to the dual governments no
salaries can be paid. Today was paj daj
for every court judge. Commonwealth at
tornej, auditor, agent, every State poltee
raan in 113 counties the members of tht
General Assembly, and the State officials
at Frankfort. Not a man- was paid, the
banks refusing to honor checks drawn by
either State Treasurer
Then, to cap the climax, the State Elec
tion Board, in deciding that no election was
held in Louisville, practically decided that '
the present citj council, school board, and
city recorder of Louisville were usurpers.
It follows, If this be true, that all ordi
nances, parsed by the council, and all sen
tences, imposed bj' the recorder, are ille
gal. Five hundred thousand dollars is due
the various school boarus in Kentucky
from the State today. It was not paid and
weeks TI1I3 may result In the closing of
all the public schools in Kentucky.
All acts of the Legislature are also in
volved and the complications, which are
growing worse each daj, threaten to
plunge the State into a legal chaos that
can onlj be soiled bj a joint board of ar
bitration that will agree to begin over
again, dating the agreement from Decem
ber 10 last. Lawjers saj this is the only
way out of the difficultj. Eiery county
official in Kentucky todaj refused to turn
over State revenues to the State Auditor.
FLAG FIGHT IN MEXICO.
Three rierienni and I'll c ."Vntlics
Killed in an VlTrnj.
GUAYMUS, Mexico. Feb. 2S. New3 has
reached here to the effect that on Wash
ington's Birthday a shooting afiray occur
red at Pilares de Tierra, In which three
Americans and five Mexicans were killed.
Trom all accounts it appears that a lery
friendly feeling had existed between the
Americans and Mexicans at Pilares. and in
order to do honor to the Americans it was
ananged on February 22 to raise the flag3
of the two Republics together on the flag
staff. The Mexicans had charge of the affair,
and raised the American flag above the
Mexican, to the complete satisfaction of
the Americans, but when the latter showed
so much appreciation of the act the Mex
icans found thej had made a mistake and
decided to lower and rchoist the flags with
the Mexican emblem on top. Then the
Americans oDjecteu, aeciaring such a
transaction would be an Insult to the flag
Superintendent Danforth told the Mexi
cans that they would have to shoot him
before thej could haul down the American
flag The Mexicans were about to mot
Danforth. when Charles Hogsett, who was
with tlf3 Rough Riders in Cuba, interposed
with a sK-shooter in each hand.
Firing from both sides began and Hog
sett was instantli killed. John Evans and
Dick Rea, two other Americans, were mor
tally wounded. But the Americans held
the flagpole and both flags floated through
the daj-. rive Mexicans were killed, an I
the dance whhh was to have taken place
was postponed.
District IHlli Approved.
The House District Committee met to
day and agreed to report fa-.orably on a
LIU authorizing the Health Officer of the
District to Issue a permit for the removal
of the remain"? of the late Brig. Gen. E. O.
C. Ord from Oak Hill Cemetery to Arling
ton. This bill parsed the Senate last Fri
day. The committee alo authorized a fa
vorable report on the bill of the District
Commissioners to amend the act providing
for the opening of allej-s.
THE SENATOBIAL ENQUIRY
Rcpresentiiiire Campbell Appears
on the Witness Stand.
He Explains His Connection "With the
Clnrl- Case Cloxely Quentloned Ijr
Messrs. Hoar, differ, and Pettus.
Detailed Teatlmun) Given, lint
I'evv .Material 1'actx Brought Out.
Few material facts were brought out in
the Montana Senatorial enquiry during
the forenoon session today. The defense
sought to re-enforce one of the statements
made by State Senator Bywatr yesterdHy,
and Representatlie Campbell or Msatana
went on the stand to explain the charges
which had been made a galas t him by two
Clark witnesses Thomas Lyen and Ben
Hill He explained in considerable detail'
bis transactions with these men and hl3
connection with the bribery case. He was
at times Questioned closely by Senator
Hoar, Senator Caffery. and Senator Pottos.
Senator Chandler, owing to sickness, was
absent, and pending the arrival of Senator
Hoar, Senator Burrows presided as chair
man. Mr. Pealer. President of tho Kalispell
National Bank, was recalled to the witness
stand to corroborate the testimony of Ste
phen Bywater, who said yesterday that he
kept about $6,000 in a deposit bx at tho
Kalispell Bank. Mr. Pealer said that By
water kept in the safe a package whleh. he
the witness, supposed contained msnej'.
As he searched his memory he was posi
tive that that package contained money.
Bywater would bring in small bills, hvo
them exchanged for large bills, go bak
in the directors' room, aad place tb aw
bills in the package.
Bywater was eleeted te the Meafeiaa
Legislature from Flathead couaty At the
close of the legislative soooioa, a depos
ited on March 3, 1S9, $15,069 )b tlw Mon
tana National Bank, of Hetoaa
The next witness was Representative
Campbell, cojnael-in-eWef for the mm
rialists He appeared of his own volttlon.
He gave his age as forty-two years, and
said he was born ia Peat we Mick H had
known Thomas Lyon for three year, or
longor He told of the coBversatfoas with
Lyon concerning Sta'e Senators Warner,
Hill, and Laddy Ljon came to hte office
and said he had a story to tell, indicating
that he wanted some pecuniary considera
tion He Anally said that he weuld tes
tify before the committee for $5,fl00. "I
told him, said the v Uses, "that we eoald
net ray for any testimony whether it was
true or false Later he told me that he
had entered into a scheme with Mr Wall
come to purchase the votes of Wa-raer,
Luddy and Hill for Senator Clark. Lyoa
said that he had negotiated the purchase
of these votes.
The reason for his betrayal of Clark vaa
that be had not "treated him right."
Mr. Campbell told the story of tho par
chase of State Senator Waraer's property
oy rharles W. Clark, as bo wadorstood
that transaction. Mr. Caapbeil soM ho
understood that Warner bad gom te Sooa
tor Clark to oataia sat -- vh
and thai. Seaator Clark i
not do anything Mke tht i
to John B. Welleene. 1 ne i-
aer. aad his sob. Caar
Seaator saW that what '-
men did would be sa oav
The test J m or j of Mr C oiat-
edly eontradietory of Lj i "lec cm
the stand. Lion bad airetMtt & aaauar
dieted by Attorney Geaera! Xotoa caYlt
Henry G Rickett Clerk of tk guanine
Court of Montana.
Mr. Campbell then told ot eoaveTonrt a
which he had with Ben Hill, eoatredfella?
him at all material points. Hill Is a wit
ness who admitted having made false affi
davits and perjured testimony and who
was denounced by several members of the
committee as unworthy of belief.
Mr. Campbell, under examination bjj
members of the committee, said that he
had been invited by Senator Clark to at
tend the meeting of friends at whfeh he
(Senator Clark) agreed to put up $35 WO to
carry the primaries. Seeing that it was to
be a "boodle" campaign, he concluded to
have nothing to do with it. He took the
lead in the fight against Senator Clark, be
cause, after the exposure by "Whitehead,
the Clark faction and their newspaper
charged that he (Campbell) was in a een
spiracj to fasten a crime upon innocent
men
The committee took a recess at aeon, the
cross-examination of Mr Campbell by Sen-
ator raulkner t0 proceed at the afternoon
seseion
THE BUBONIC PLAGUE.
The llarine Hospital Service Disturb
ed lj Ven lairi.
The Marine Hospital Service officiate are
much concerned over the report from Hon
olulu that three new eases of the anaawlc
plague have developed ia that elty. Stor-
geon General Wyman soM this morning
that be had received no official cotftra
tion of the retort, but that every precau
tion possible Is being taken to stamp oat
the disease and prevent its spread.
' Without exception the greatest diffi
culty .vlth which we have te eoatead la
our eft or Is to eheek the plague," saW Dr.
Wyman "is the infection of rats. Taeeo
little pests are more subject to plague than
any other animal, and oaee tafeeted
are more dangerous than a human plague
patient.
"Rats die in large numbers, bat the
cause of their infection is still a anbjeet
of discussion."
At Kahuiui on Maul there have been no
new caes of plague since the first seven
deaths reported, and in every way the sit
uation is hopeful there. No reeent eases
have de eloped at Hilo, and Dr. Wyman
says that the usual precautionary measures
have been taken in burning the infected
districts.
Dr. Wjman explained that the sugar
which is shipped from these islands is
carefully guarded. The sugar Is carried
direct from the plantations to the wharves,
and there is no chance for It to become In
fected. A new quarantine wharf has been erected
near tne entrance 10 tne naroor, anu
stevedores engaged in the work of handling
merchandise are compelled to remain on
the wharf night and day, so there can be
no danger of infection.
The Administration has authorized that a
court of claims be called to determine ac
tions for damages to property arising from
efforts to stay the plague. The council of
state has appropriated $350,000 for tha
completion of the Honolulu sewer system,
subject to the approval of President Mc
Kinley. and $100,000 additional for the sup
pression of th plague.
Surgeon General Wjman could not say
this morning whether that large amount
of money was necessary to stamp out tho
disease.
Taken to an Insane iylmn.
SING SING. N. Y.. Teb. 2S Kidnaper
Barrow, who was convicted for stealing
Babj Clark, was taken to the Insane Asy
lum at Mattewan today. The papers la
which a mistake occurred have been ean
celled.
Xortolk JL Washington steamboat Co.
Delightful trip daily at 6 30 p. m to Old Taint
Ccmfoit Newport News. Nofo!. and 1rgu114
uVtaJjj For schedule, see paje 7.
MfciiS- - -
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