__ BIRMINGHAM STATE HERALD.' VOLUME 22; i BIRMINGHAM, ALA., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1895. NUMBER. 26. NATIONAL UW MAKERS Members of Both Houses Are Hard at Work. SENATOR JOHN T. MORGAN Addressed the Senate at Length on the Beh ring Sea Claims. SIR JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE ROASTED His Bacent Utterances Characterized as “Offensive”—Bills for Public Build ings Aggregating $3,850,000 Introduced in the House. Washington, Dec. 9.—The senate was addressed today by Mr. Morgan, chair man of the committee on foreign rela tions and formerly a member of the Beh ring sea Paris tribunal, in support of his resolution offered on the 3d of December referring to the committee on foreign relations, the president’s special mes sage on February 3, 1895, and his recent annual message relating to the payment by the United States of the claims of Great Britain arising out of the Behring sea controversy, with instructions to ex amine into the question of liability on the part of the United States and of lia bility on the part of Great Britain or Canada. Mr. Morgan, who. read his speech from printe# slips, was very se vere upon the British ambassador, Sir Julian Pauncefote, characterizing as "offensive” the ambassador's comments upon the action of congress in refusing an appropriation to pay the indemnity for losses of British subjects owing to the seizure of "sealers,” and asserting that, as to many of those sealers, they were the actual property, in whole or in part, of American citizens who had no such claim upon their own govern ment. The British ambassador, Mr. Mor gan stated with emphasis, had no right to question members of congress for the words spoken in debate, and his doings also in diplomatic papers, whioh he hand ed over to the American press for pub lication, was an act of "intrusive arro gance.” At one point of the speech he indulged in a touch of sarcasm at the expense of Sir Julian Pauncefote, who had, he said, "buried him under his pon derous logic,” and of the Earl of Salis bury, who had "exhumed him for such use as he might be found most conven Mr. Morgan occupied two hours In the delivery of his speech, and then the res olution was agreed to. The first two bills of this congress were passed today—one of them to allow the superior court of Pennsylvania the use of the United States court houses at Scranton and Williamsport, and the oth er making an appropriation of *100,000 for a survey and plans of improvement at the entrance of Biscayne Bay, Fla. Senators Hill of New York and Caffery of Louisiana made their first appearance at the session today in the senate cham ber, and the latter took the oath of office under his election for the full term be ginning March 4, 1895. Mr. Cullom gave notice that he would address the senate tomorrow on the sub ject of the Monroe doctrine. Mr. Berry of Arkansas introduced a bill to form the Indian territory into the ter ritory of Indianalo, and gave notice that he would hereafter address the senate up on the subject. Among the number of bills referred was one by Mr. Voorhees to pay a pension of *200 a month to the widow of the late Secretary of State Gresham. A resolution calling on the president for copies of all correspondence in the state department on the subject of the trial and imprisonment of John L. Wal ler by the French authorities at Mada gascar as introduced by Mr. Baker, re publican, of Kansas, and was agreed to. ivir. ntuc uucicu « ...— Ing the judiciary committee to inquire and ascertain what is the existing law in the District of Columbia In relation to the custody of minor children, and es pecially whether the father of any minor children may dispose of their custody after his death by the provisions of his last will and testament. The resolution has reference to the ease of the Slaclf children, now pending tn one of the dis trict courts, In which the mother seeks to regain possession of her children, now held from her by virtue of their father's wlU. Mr. Hale said he wanted to know whether any such relic of barbaric law existed here. Mt. Harris suggested the committee on the District of Columbia as the proper committee to which the resolution should be referred. Mr. Hale expressed his willingness to have the change of reference made. Mr. Vest argued against the making of. any report while the subject was pending in a oourt of Justice. Mr. Pugh objected to the resolution being referred to any committee. Mr. Hale said that if the low stands as it Is set out In the petition of the Slack case, then the thing is Intolerable and the committee should report a new law on the subject. The resolution was finally referred to the committee on the District of Colum bia. Among the bills introduced were these: By Mr. Quay—To establish postal sav ings banks. It provides for deposits of from 10 cents to $10 at all money order postofflces and for Interest on deposits which do not exceed $500. By Mr. Kyle, populist, of South Dakota —Providing for the erection of buildings costing not less th3n $6000 or more than $50,000 In all towns with a population of 3000 or more, provided a suitable site is donated by the people. It also provides for the Issuance of treasury notes not to exceed In the ag gregate $100,000,000 to defray the cost of these buildings. Among the public building bills Intro duced were the following: By Mr. Call—Appropriating $200,000 for a building at Ocala, Fla.; appropriating $125,000 for a light house steamer for use on the gulf coast of Florida; also appro priating $25,000 for range lights at St. Joseph bay and at St. Andrews bay, Fla.; also placing the river and harbor im provements of Pensacola, Fernandina, Key West, Tampa bay, Charlotte har bor and St. John’s river under the con tract system, and appropriating $150,000 for various other -river nnd harbor im provements iln Florida: also Igranting American registers to the foreign built barks Mlnde and John Ludwig, owned by citizens of Florida. " By Mr. Cameron—Authorizing the sale of St. Francis barracks. St. Augustine, Fla., and the purchase of a site of nine acres between Marla Sanchez creek and Matanzas river at a cost not to exceed $30,009 and the erection thereon of the necessary buildings for a military post. After a brief executive session the sen ate adjourned until tomorrow. The House. Washington, Dec. 9.—The house was in session an hour and fifteen minutes to day and almost the entire time was spent in the discussion of resolutions for the appointment of minor officials and the employes of the house, including those by courtesy given to the minority and selected by the democratic caucus. The first bill passed this session was that changing the collection limits of the port of Chicago bo as to include the state of Illinois. Mr. Price, democrat, of Louisiana, made his first appearance at this con gress and took the oath of office. Various executive documents, includ ing the annual reports of the attorney general and the board of managers of soldiers’ homes, were presented and re ferred. The consideration of a resolution call ing on the secretary of state for the cor respondence in the Waller case, and an other calling on the commissioner of pen sions for the names of all pensioners dropped from the pension rolls or re duced met with objections. Bills were introduced providing for public buildings in different parts of the country to cost in the aggregate $3,850,000. Among these were the following items: By Mr. Sparkman of Florida, $500,000 for Tampa; by Mr. Tyler of Virginia, $150,000 for Portsmouth, Va., and $100,000 for Newport News, Va. Mr. Low of New York introduced a resolution directing the appointment of a board of engineers to report upon the feasibility of the establishment of a har bor of refuge at Cape Lookout or at some other point near Cape Hatteras. Mr. Huling, republican, of West Vir ginia, introduced a bill to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the navy and marine corps. The measure is the same as that of the last congress intro duced by Mr. Myer of Louisiana. Other bills were introduced as follows: By Mr. Johnson, republican, of Indiana —Increasing the circulation of national banks by authorizing them to take out circulating notes to the par value of the bonds they have on deposit. By Mr. Noonan, republican, of Texas Imposing an import duty of $30 per head on Horses and mules and $10 per head on all cattle; increasing the duty on wool from 8 to 24 cents per pound, according to the grade, and on hides rrom 5 to 50 cents. By Mr. Bell, populist, of Colorado—To maintain the parity between coins of the United States by providing for payment in gold and silver at the discretion of the secretary of the treasury; also withdraw ing the right of the secretary of the treasury to issue bonds. By Mr. Bailey, democrat, of Texas—To secure the separation and independence of the executive and legislative depart ments by forbidding senators and mem bers from soliciting, directly or indirect ly, the appointment of persons to office. Adjourned at 1:16 p. m. until tomorrow. SHOT AT A SCHOONER. She Is Supposed to Be Loaded With Filibus ters—She Was Too Swift fer the Cutter Forward. Key West, Fla., Dec. 9.—The revenue cutter Forward returned from Cape Sa ble today, where she had been sent by Collector Brown to watch the Cuban filibusters at that point. She reports that on Saturday a steamer of about 600 . tons, apparently a yacht, came to anchor about twelve miles from the cape. The cutter got under way and steamed to wards the stranger, and when within about three miles of her the latter hove up anchor and proceeded to sea, going about three miles to the cutter’s one. Several shots were fired at her, but no at tention was paid to them. The cutter picked up a ship's yawl boat with four men—one American, two Cubans and one negro. The American acted as spokesman, and said that they were bound to Key West from New York by way of Tampa, but as they were so near they had decided to take their boat for Key West. He claimed not to know the name of the steamer or Its destina tion. Captain Roberts of the Forward released the men. It is thought by the officials here that the camp at Cape Sable has been broken up. For three months Collector Browne has been watching the movements of this party, and several times they have changed their camp only to be again located and closely watched, but not withstanding all the precautions to pre vent the sailing of this expedition taken by the customs officials, the Tlmes-Un lon’s correspondent Is reliably informed that most of the men have left Cape Sable and were on the steamer sighted by the cutter Forward. The capture of the arms and ammunition and a return of part of the original party was part of a well laid plan to deceive the officials and call off the several cutters stationed in that Vicinity. The many reports made by the returning members vrere calcu lated to create the Impression that the expedition had been abandoned. It Is re ported that the steamer had many men on board, and also a large amount of ammunition which had been picked up at several places along the coast. Enrique Collazo Is said to be In command of the party. News of their safe landing Is momentarily expected._ A Tug Lost. L’Anse, Mich , Deo. 9 —The tug Pearl B Campbell of the Inman line of Duluth was lost off Huron island about forty miles from L’Anse this morning. The , entire crew was lost. The Campell was under way from Marquette to Duluth. The lost are: Capt. W. L. McGllvra, master: Capt. John Lloyd, first mate; George McCort. chief engineer; Fred England, second engtneer; cook, name 1 unknown: two firemen, names unknown. The tug had been working on the schooners Kent and Moonlight, attempt ing to release them, and good progress was being made when heavy weather compelled her to cease operations. The crew of the Campbell said they were In good condition for the trip and could stund anything. They were advised to wait until after the storm which, threat ened, but nevertheless they put to sea. A captain of a vessel In that vicinity at the time says a fifty-mile an hour hur ricane was blowing. The. tug was of twenty-two tons burden and was valued at $5000. All of the crew, with the excep tion of McCort, were Duluth people, Mc Cort being from Sheboygan, Mich. All were single, but both captains were to have been married shortly. A Lumber Firm Fail*. Kansas City, Mo.. Dec. 9.—The E. P. Cowen Wholesale Lumber company made an assignment this morning to O. G. Young. Its assets are $30,000: liabili ties, $100,000. Ten years ago this com pany, under the management of Cowen, made an Immense amount of money, but Cowen became financially Involved, and two years ago the business was pur chased from him In a heavily embar rassed condition by D. G. Saunders, Its present proprietor. The company does an exclusively wholesale business, but creditors are nearly all out-of-town par ties. Its offices are In the Keith & Perry building. Luther C. Reason Is secretary. Building His Scaffold Within His Hearing. IT SEEMED TO UNNERVE HIM He Assumed an Air of Braggadocio at the Beginning. "THEY ARE OFF," HE SAID LAUGHINGLY As He Listened to Them Driving Nails in the Scaffold—If His Spirit Comes Back to Earth It Will Torture Both Blixt and Adry. Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 9.—Harry Hayward paced his harrow prison cell this morning, while within 100 feet thfe carpenters clattered boards and drovfe nails, heralding to' the restless wretch that his scaffold was in process of erec tion. The Iron door between the cell room and hanging court was closed, but this did not prevent the muffled but dis tinct sounds of preparation from smiting the ear. Harry had not been informed as to the work, but at the first sounds he said, with a laugh, to his guard: "They are off!" He began to get moody In a short time, however, sitting down only to arise with a nervous movement, and uttering as he walked: “They can’t hang me but once, and I guess I can stand that. Say, if I take the rope all right and wait until they cut me down, will they let me go If I get up and walk oft?" "Yes,” shortly replied the guard, but he did not join In the laugh that rang out from the lips of the prisoner. "Say," and Harry loosened the clothing about his neck with his index finger, • thot T ixrr»r» ’ ♦ hp hurt all. I won't know just when it occurs, unless some devil who stood waiting for me tells me all about it afterwards, for the doctor says there is nothing but a sud den soothing, dreamy feeling, and then a blank. If the thing works all right I won't care. Say, If a spirit can come; back to earth you oan bet your last do!-, lar I will, and then the prison bars will not keep me from Bllxt or Adry. I will torture both until they die. Somehow or other I believe in a hereafter; but it is such an uncertain quantity that I don't take In much gospel stuff. I guess that I will trust to luck and do the best I can af ter I get Into the next world. Perhaps they will give a fellow a chance to square himself. There they go again, hammer ing on that scaffold. That's right; I hope they have good men, and will make it strong. Everyone wants me to get weak in the knees, but I am going to fool them. They will find out whether Harry Hay ward is a man of nerve or is the devil in disguise.” Clenching his teeth and looking savage ly before him, Harry raved while Ex Alderman S. C. Cuttor and his men were building the platform and placing the 10 by 12 hanging beam. The platform will be 8 feet 10 inches high, and the drop will be between 7 and 8 feet._ CAFtThUGHES BOUND OVEK. He Committed No Offense in the Territory of the United States. Charleston, S. C., Dec. 9.—Judge H. W. Brawler of the United States district court handed down today his decision in the case against Capt. Samuel Hughes, the master of the steamer Laurada, with which he is charged with violating the neutrality laws of the United States. Judge Brawler holds that while there is no proof of an expedition begun within the territory of the United States, there is sufficient proof of an offense commit ted on the high seas to Justify further in vestigation. He therefore Issued an or der holding Captain Hughes under bond for trial at the approaching January term of the court for the Eastern district of South Carolina._ THE HALL WAS rAUKtU. The Author of Coin’s Financial School Had a Big and Enthusiastic House at Nashville.* Nashville, Dec. 9.—(Special.)—Mr. W. H. Harvey for three hours held spell bound a packed audience at the Masonic theater tonight. His speech was full of facts, reason, history and force. The silver men are Jubilant. Harvey charac terized Cleveland and Carlisle as bastard sons of democracy. He touched up Joslah Patterson, which was applauded to the echo. He told the republicans that when they Indorsed John Bhermanism they Indorsed Clevelandism. The Intro duction of the speaker by Dillard Thomp son was beautiful, eloquent, forceful and was applauded for several minutes. MICHIGAN DAY. Representatives of the World’s Pair Wom an’s Board Royally Entertained. Atlanta, Dec. 9.—This was Michigan day at the exposition and about 300 mem bers of the Detroit chamber of commerce and Detroit Manufacturers’ club came to represent the state. They left Detroit Friday afternoon and stopped at Chat tanooga on the way. At Chattanooga they were tendered a reception by Mayor Ochs. They arrived in Atlanta this morning and assembled in the auditori um at the exposition at noon. President Collier presided and delivered an address of welcome. President J. H. Howard of the chamber of commerce responded in behalf of Michigan. The party will re main in the city until Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. Potter Palmer, Mrs. W. Q. Gresham, Mr. Otto Gresham, Mrs. H. M. Shepard, Mrs. Susan G. Cook, Miss Harriet Monroe, Dr. Streeter, Mr. A. C. Honore and Mrs. Roslna Ryan, representing the woman’s board of the World's Columbian exposi tion, reached the city today and were escorted to the exposition by Mrs. Jo seph Thompson, president of the wom an's board, and Mrs. Clarence Knowles. They were tendered a reception in the assembly room of the woman's building at 1 o’clock by the woman’s board. This evening Mrs. Joseph Thompson gave a reception to Mrs. Palmer at the Capital City club, which was the most brilliant event of the exposition season. A King Dethroned. London, Dec. 9.—A dispatch received here from Cape Coast Castle says it Is reported there that the ^shantees have deposed King Premkeh, and that the war: party have 'enthroned his mother as queen in his stead. THE LABOR™ MEET Convention of the American Fed eration of Labor. CANDIDATES ARE AT WORK Samusl Compers, Its Ex-President, Will Be a Candidate. THE ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT McBRIDE He Wants the Convention to Define Its Po sition on Politics—The Bond Deal De nounced—New Constitutions Are Badly Needed. New York, Dec. 9.—The convention of the American Federation of Labor was opened this morning at Madison Square garden. Labor leaders from all over the country, Canada and Great Britain were present to lend their hostage to the con vention as an assemblage of the leading representatives of the organized working class of the United States. The greatest interest is already dis played in the election of officers, antT'the friends of candidates are actively can vassing for votes. Samuel Gompers, ex president of the federation, Is sure to be a candidate for the office again. There was also some talk of removing the head quarters from Indianapolis. The convention will remain in session for more than a week. Many important questions will come up for debate and action. Among the matters to be consid ered is the subject of a general move ment for the eight-hour work day on May 1, 1896. " euuesuay evening mere win De a grand boll and reunion of all the labor leaders at. Madison Square garden. In vitations have been sent to men of prom tence in nearly all the walks of life. The convention opened in the assembly rooms of Madison Square garden shortly after 10 o’clock. The hall was elaborate ly decorated with bunting and streamers, and banners of various labor organiza tions *ere also hung upon the walls. As this Is the first time in twelve years that the federation has met in this city the convention has excited exceptional local Interest, and th« assembly rooms and corridors were crowded some time before the proceedings begun. John McBride, president of the federa tion, called them to order, Introducing Mr. Sullivan of this city, who delivered the address of welcome. President McBride responded in appro priate terms as follows: "Meeting as you do in this great city of New York, the metropolis of America, the center of wealth, pauperism and crime, where dependence upon the part of labor almost eliminates that spirit of independence needed to assure good citi zenship; where political jugglery with the people’s Interests on one hand, and reform movements that do not reform on the other, eclipse the labor movement and render It difficult for organized ef fort to progress as it should, you will be permitted to cast your eyes to Bedloe’s island and feast them upon the statue of Liberty Enlightening the World and to take a glance at that noted thorough fare called Wall street, where men learn to prey upon their fellow-men; where a few men concoct schemes which, when put into operation, enable them to de mand and collect tribute from the people of all sections of our country, and, to our shame be it said, frequently defy the government by threatening to throttle It financially—a threat that, because of our peculiar system of finance, they are able to execute successfully. "The duty assigned to you by your con stituents should be done fearlessly, but with a proper regard for the rights of all men. The task which you have before you Is not a light one, but prompted by the aims and purposes of our grand or ganization to alleviate labor’s Ills, ame liorate Its conditions and Improve Its environments, the work to be done Should be a work of love.” On the vexed question of political ac tion which has attracted so much atten tion to the present gathering, and upon ivhich nearly every delegate has been In structed by his respective organization, the president spoke at length, adopting In a measure the views of both the con servative and socialistic factions. .This Is what he said: Political Action. "Have we a political programme? This Is a disputed question. The Denver con vention. by separate and distinct votes, adopted twelve declarations of practical belief, but a motion to adopt as a whole was defeated, and In consequence of this It Is held by some that the previous decla rations were invalidated, while others are of the opinion that each declaration was complete in itself, and that the mo tion to adopt as a whole was superfluous, and Its adoption or rejection by the con vention could neither add to or take from the declarations previously made. In my Judgment the latter position Is the cor rect one, but I have not been called upon to render a decision upon the ques tion, and to satisfy those who have en tertained doubts In the matter I ask that you clearly define the position you intend to bold along political lines. Whether the declarations made at the Denver con vention are approved or disapproved by you, the self-evident truth confronts us that wage-workers cannot hope to be iree In the shops, mines and factories while trudging In party slavery to the polls. We cannot close our eyes and thu* conceal the glaring effects in our governmental treatment of Industrial la bor, nor will we be permitted to much longer neglect our duty to the people's Interests, and to allow to go on un checked and unchanged a system of dis tribution In the value of labor's produc tion which had Its greatest achievement during the last decade, according to the late census. In the phenomenal growth of wealth, pauperism and crime. We are compelled to admit, as we have long recognized, that the denial of that lib erty of a<*llon which permits men and women to organize for mutual aid and protection comes largely from corpora tions engaged In operating plants of a public character, and the franchises of which thev obtained from the people. "The railroad, telegraph and telephone corporations in a national sense, and the street railway, electric plant and water work corporations In a municipal way, ate more responsible for the curtailment of liberty on the part of the employes than Is all the manufacturing and pro ducing capital In the country. To de stroy this species of tyranny and op pess'ion. and to restore and maintain for employes the greatest individual liberty consistent with public good, will neces sitate the nationalizing of railroads, tel egraphs and telephones, and the munic ipal 'ownership of street railways, elec trio light, gas and water work plants. The people’s Interests can be better sub served by employing public servants than they can by the people themselves remaining servants and serfs to individ uals or corporations of the character named. Besides the profits of operation should accrue to the people rather than to Individuals. "As an organization we may decide to leave polities alone, but unfortunately for the interests of the organization and Its members, politics will not let us alqine, hence we are compelled, not from a sen timental, but from a purely business standpoint, to consider and act political ly in such a manner and along such lines as will yield practical results to the trade union movement in its efforts to emelio rate the wage workers’ condition In life. We may not be agreed as to the scope of\ political work needed, and we may differ as to the methods employed In political reform work, but regardless of our dif ferences in opinion as to either scope orji methods, we all recognize the necesslt’5 of doing something, and doing It in £ manner that will Insure the hearty c® operation of all our forces. The ld^ state of society, or form of governm4>, aimed at by state socialists, phlloscJp - cal anarchists, populists, single ttC?.s and others should not be permitted to stand in the way of immediate and prac tical efforts, because the ideal state of society hoped for can only be reached, If ever It is reached, by an educational evo lutionary process, which means too great a delay to suit the masses of our wage workers, who are asking for relief from the ills of today rather than agitating for reform that will secure the comfort and happiness of coming generations. According to the most reliable statistics obtainable, there are fully 23,000,000 of people employed, or should be, at gain ful occupations in this country, and In view of the fact that about one-teinth of that number are members of organized labor, and only a large portion of the lat ter in the American Federation of Labor, it would be a useless waste of time and effort for you to attempt political reform work along Independent lines. While disagreeing over different isms we all agree that reforms are needed, and It should be our purpose at this time to act only on matters of moment upon which all are in hearty accord, and if this is done 1t will be an easy matter to form a plan of action, both political and co operative, that will succeed in taking from our federal courts powers which have lately been arrogated by and not delegated to them; to agree upon a meth od for shortening the hours of labor, by legislation, to eight per day or less, thus enhancing the value of work and wages. At this time it is not Independent party, but independent voting that will accom plish beneficent and speedy results. By co-operating In the support of men and measures favorable to labor Interests you would soon have all parties striving to secure the votes of organized labor. By this means the nationalizing of tlto means of transportation and communi cation could be accomplished and the municipal ownership of water, heat, light and power plants be assured.” XVUU.SMS tue xjouu uom. On the recent Issue of government bonds President McBride talked some vigorous English. He said: "The greatest crime of the nineteenth century, and the most remarkable ever perperated upon our people, was that committed by the present national ad ministration In adding to the bonded In debtedness of our country In a time of peace. The attempt to maintain a gold reserve of $100,000,000 by a contract such as was made by the Belmont-Morgan syndicate was farcical to say the least, butafarce only in so far as It was intend ed to blind the people to the fact that they were being robbed, deliberately and unmercifully, In the interest of eastern bankers and bondholders, whose only de sire has been and now is the perpetua tion of a system of bonded Indebtedness on the part of the government. The wickedness of the bond deal was exposed to the syndicate advancing gold to the government one day to increase the re serve and the next day decreasing the re serve by handing In national securities and getting gold for them, and with this gold purchasing new bonds having a long lease of life. The eastern bankers, it permitted, will continue draining the gold reserve until new bonds replace the old ones and an interest-bearing indebt edness has again been established and the life of national banks prolonged be yond the present generation of men. The I'unncio u-i tiUl. ill UUOU1CB3 1UI l II til health, and they do not care what mis ery they plunge the people Into, how em barrassed the government becomes or how heavily the people are taxed, so long as their profits are assured; and why should they? They are not fb blame. It It humiliating, however, to think, at the close of the nineteenth century, that a national administration can be found su pine enough, or corrupt enough, to per mit the government to be held up and plundered as ours has been plundered during the pa3t year and a half. In the earlier days of this government, when statesmen and not politicians were guid ing the ship of state, the banks were sub ordinate to the government, but today the government is at the mercy of the banks, and the bankers dictate our sys tem of finance snd laugh atf.ie protests of the people against the tyranny of their rule. You should not only protest by resolution against the crime com mitted, but bring your Influence to bear upon your representatives In congress to the end that they may provide against a repetition or a continuance of this great crime. Sympathy for Cuba. “What stronger evidence can be given to the world to demonstate that the spir it of liberty and progress still lives than that of Cuba, formerly the slave mart of the western world, now shaken from center to circumference by a revolt for freedom on the part of men who a few years ago were sold as slaves to the high est bidder? The Cuban revolt is in itself deserving of a consideration and recog nition at our hands, but when we remem ber that the Spanish dynasty has always evidenced hostility of republican govern ments, even in the case of this country we should be all the more determined to insist upon fair treatment being ex tended by the congress of the United Slates to the revolutionists of Cuba and 1 J,™? ere tf!is convention adjourns you will have adopted resolutions petltlon ing congress to at least recognize Cubans as 'belligerents. Improvement Under Difficulties. “While there has been and is now a ma terial Improvement in trade conditions as compared to those of the previous two and one-half years, yet the improvement has not been as pronounced as press reports would lead us to believe and such as It was—beneficial as It has been —It did not relieve the strain upon the American Federation of Labor until late In the year. This was because nearly all affiliated organizations had created obligations during the continued indus trial depression that had to be discharged before their obligations to us could be met. Regardless of the many disadvan tages under which the federation labored during the year, such progress was made In our work that I am able to congratu late you upon the fact that both numer ically and financially til,* American Fed eration Is stronger today than it was at the end of 1894, and to assure you that the prospects for the future are full of (Continued on Beoond Page.) ! NOMINATIONS_CONFIRMED Senator Hill Is Satisfied With Mr. Peckham. AN ALABAMA CASE DECIDED ger, Bloom & Co. vs. Schoolfield, V Hanauer & Co. - p ° HE COURT BELOW WAS AFFIRMED Senator Cameron Has Announced That He Will Not Be a Candidate for Be- • Election—A Change in tho Plans of Silver Men. Washington, Dec. 9.—The senate com mittee on the Judiciary, on motion of Mr. Hill of New York, decided that a fa vorable report be made on the nomina tion of Rufus W. Peckham of New York to be associate Justice of the supreme court of the United States. Similar ac tion was also taken with regard to the nominations of Ex-Representatives Kil gore and Springer, nominated to be Judges of the United States court for the district of Oklahoma. There was but little discussion over the nomination of Mr. Peckham, Mr. Hill stating that he was perfectly satisfied with the petition of his name; that If he had been called upon to select a candi date he could have made no better choice. It will be remembered that when the name of Judge Hornblower was sent in Mr. Hill remarked that Rufus Peckham should have been nominated. The nom general way, Mr. Hill being able to en lighten the rest of the committee as to the legal attainments of the new justice. Later in the day the senate in executive session confirmed the nomination of Judge Peckham, and also those of Walter E. Faison of North Carolina, solicitor for the department of state, and Elmer B. Adams, United States judge for the East ern district of Missouri. A cable received at the navy depart ment today reported the arrival of the United States flagship San Francisco at Berut, Syria, Saturday, from Mersine. As now arranged Secretary Carlisle’s annual report will not be presented to congress until next Thursday. The supreme court today issued but one opinion, that by Mr. Justice White in the case of Bamberger, Bloom & Co. vs. Schoolfleld, Hanauer & Co., from the cir cuit court for the Northern district of Alabama. The point In the case was as to the power of a debtor in failing cir cumstances to give a preference. It waa announced that under the laws of Ala bama the preference was properly given, and the judgment of the court below wa^ affirmed. The court today disposed of the appeal of the board of flour Inspectors, etc., of New Orleans from the Judgment of the circuit court for the Eastern district of Louisiana in favor of B. F. Glover et al., enjoining them from forcing against ap pellees an act of the Louisiana legisla ture requiring certain inspection of flour at New Orleans. The chief Justice said the act In question had been repealed in 1892, and the appeal was dismissed on the authority of Mills with Green, 159 United States. The letter of Senator Cameron an nouncing his retirement from the senate in 1897 at the expiration of his present term has made a change In the plans of the silver men. Senator Cameron had been agreed upon as the silver candidate for the vacancy In the committee on finance, and would have been selected. It would be useless to place him in that now, and the senator has suggested that some one else be agreed upon. It is understood that this has been done, and Mr. Wolcott of Colorado will bo given the place. t NO ONE TO BLAME. Coroner Arbuckle Buys There Was No Evi dence of Criminal Negligence. Cleveland, O., Dec. 9.—Coroner Ar bucklc this morning rendered a verdict in the viaduct disaster in which eighteen people were killed. He finds no one guil ty In the case. The points of his verdict were: "Nowhere are we able to find that said deaths were due to an act on the part of any person or persons which in itself was a crime. I fail to find sufficient evi dence of an act committed or omitted on the part of any person or persons to warrant me in holding said person or persons criminally liable for causing the death of any one or ail of the persons aforesaid. I therefore find that the afore said persons came to his or her death on. November 16, 1895, and that said .persons came to their said deaths as a result of-‘ said accident, either from injuries sus tained then and there, or from drowning in said river, and that said accident was not the result of a wanton, reckless and, willful disregard of duty on the part of' any person or persons liable to criminal, prosecution under the laws of Ohio.” A Well-Known Tug Sold. New Orleans, Dec. 9.—The ocean tug Woodall, about which so much has been, said and written on account of her al leged filibustering intentions, will leave, here In a few days for Baltimore with a. cargo of sugar and molasses. She has been purchased by a sea captain living near Baltimore, who will use her In tbs fish business, for which purpose -he was originally designed. She cost to bulld about $16,000, but It is stated the present owner bought her for about half that sum. It will be remembered that the Woodall a short time ago was said to be assisting the cause of the Cuban in surgents by smuggling out of this coun try contrabands of war and freighting same to Cuba. It was never definitely proved that she was engaged in this bus iness. but it appeared then as an open secret that she was engaged In the Inter est of the revolutionists During her stay In this part, and while under sur veillance by the Spanish consul as a sus pect, she was owned by a New York syn dicate, from whom the Baltimore sea captain purchased her. CONCEALED A PRISONER. The Prisoner Violated His Relative’s Hos pitality and Daughter. Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 9.—Sheriff Westcott of Bibb county left Macon last night with a posse in search of Tom Allen, an escaped murderer. Allen is under set** tence of death. He has been concealed since his escape by a relative, wheat hospitality and daughter he violated/ The relative betrayed his hiding placet but the posse did not find him there tbla? morning, although he was there yester day.