Birmingham state herald., December 27, 1895, Image 1

About Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897

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BIRMINGHAM STATE HERALD.
VOLUME 22: B IE MING HAM, ALA, FEIDAY, DECEMBEE 27, 18951 NUMBEE 41.
PARTY LINES DRAWN TAUT
The Revenue Measure Receives
Republican SDpport
AND 81 DEMOCRATIC NAYS
Consequently Passes the House by a Heavy
. ^ Majority.
ORIGINATORS CALL IT NON-PARTISAN
Packed Galleries Fasten to a Spirited De
bato From 1:30 Until 5 O’clock.
General Synopsis of the
Discussion.
Washington, Dec. 26.—By n vote of 205
to SI the house at 5:30 o'clock passed the
bill reported by Mr. Dingley from the
committee on ways and means to tem
porarily increase revenue to meet the
expenses of the government end to pro
vide against a deficiency.
The bill was reported to the house im
njedtately after the reading of the Jour
nal. and then Mr. Henderson, republican,
of Iowa, reported a resolution from the
committee on rules providing for debate
on the bill until 5 o'clock, a vote to be
then taken on Us passage. In anticipa
tion of this programme the galleries were
crowded to the doors, even the diplotnalic
gallery being occupied by a representa
tion of the official foreign colonies resid
ing in Washington. On the floor were
over 300 members of the house,
ana interspersed among uicm several
senators. The rule was antagonized by
Messrs. Crisp, McMUlin and Turner of
Georgia on the ground that it afforded
no opportunity for amendment and not
sufficient time for debate, and advocated
by Messrs. Dalzell and Henderson, who
argued that the situation admitted of no
delay. It was finally passed—yeas 213,
nays 85.
Several republicans were recorded as
voting against its passage. When this
had been disposed of there remained
three and a half hours for the discussion
of the bill Itself The debate was par
ticipated In for the republicans by
Messrs. Dingley, Dalzell, Hopkins, Gros
venor, Arnold, Knox and Deliver In sup
port of the bill, and by Messrs. Crisp,
Wheeler, MCMillln, Dockery and Turner,
democrats, and Mr. Bell, populist,
against the bill. The opposition was
based on the theory that the remedy pro
posed—an increase of revenue—was not
what was needed, that there was money
enough in the treasury to meet all
claims for two or three years to come,
even if the present rate of deficit were
maintained. It was also contended that
the bill was a general revision of the
tariff.
Republicans Insisted that more reve
nue was the key to the situation, and de
nied that the bill was In any sense a gen
eral tariff measure. It did not represent
republican Ideas on that subject at all,
was intended only as a temporary reve
nue measure to meet a pressing exigency,
and its passage was advocated on the
high ground of patriotic duty in the hour
of the republic’s peril.
That measure having been disposed of
a joint resolution was passed, offered by
Mr Cannon, republican, of Utah, provid
ing for the transfer of territorial prop
erty to the new state.
As soon as the journal was read Mr.
Dingley. chairman of the committee on
ways and means, rose and reported from
that committee the bill to temporarily in
crease revenue to meet the expenses of
the government and provide against a
deficiency. Having been read by its ti
tle. the speaker declared that the bill
was referred to the committee of the
whole.
Mr. Crisp, representing the minority
of the committee complained that the mi
nority had had no opportunity of prepar
ing and submitting their views ("if they
have any,"a republican member Interpos
ed in a low voice). The minority had ask
ed,Mr. Crisp said.for time to obtain esti
mates from the treasury department as
to the effect of the proposed measure
apd had been refused. They had asked
gentlemen of the majority If they had
any estimates themselves on which they
had based the bill, or whether they had
the opinions of experts, and they ad
mitted that they had ndt. Then the mi
nority had asked for a reasonable time
to prepare a minority report, and that
was also refused.
After Mr. Crisp had made this protest
Mr. Henderson of Iowa rose and reported
from the committee on rules a rule that
It will be immediately In order to call
for debate on the bill Just reported,
and to have the debate close at 5 p. m.,
when the vote shall be taken. He stated
that the other bill agreed upon by the
ways and means committee would not
be brought up till tomorrow. The one
now before the house was in no sense
a general revision of the tariff, but it was
legislation to provide promptly and effi
ciently sufficient revenue for the govern
ment.
Mr. Crisp objected to the proposed rule
as preventing the consideration of what
he called "a general tariff bill.” If the
rule were adopted no amendment to the
bill would he in order.
"Under the crack of the whip of repub
lican leaders members were not to be al
lowed to criticise ihe bill or to otter any
amendment to It. The house was called
upon not only to pass the Mil, but to pass
It without any sort of consideration.
Members were to be chained to the char
iot. There was no suggestion from any
source that there was not a sufficiency of
revenue And yet. under the whip and
spur, without having the bill sent to the
treasury department to Invite the Judg
ment of experts as to its effect, it was
to be driven through." said Mr. Crisp.
Mr. Dalzell, a member of the committee
on ways and means, supported the pro
posed rule.
Mr. McMillln taunted the republicans
who supported the proposed rule with
selling their birthright for a mess of pot
tage. He also spoke of It as "a perfidious
manner of dealing with the measure.
(Ironical laughter from the republican
pending bill, he said, would tax
the people $44,000,000, or at the rate for the
time allowed for debate of $11,000,000 an
hour. In conclusion he exclaimed: “Go
ahead, gentlemen. There was a power
that checked you once before. There is
a power that will check you again." (Ap
plause from the democratic and sarcastic
laughter from the republican side.)
Mr. Turner said that it was Idle per
haps on this occasion to Indulge in epi
thets, and perhaps it would be unprofit
able to make comparisons, but it might
not be amiss to pause and ask gentle
men to consider the situation. The presi
dent had last Friday sent a message In
forming congress of the gravity of the
financial situation, and has, in his annual
message, suggested a remedy. The sec
retary of the treasury, In his able re
port, had given assurance that the reve
nues of the government were sufficient
to meet all its ordinary expenditures.
Not only that, but the secretary said that
there was a surplus in the treasury that
would reach through two or three years.
The great party to which he (Mr. Turner)
belonged believed that-though there
might momentarily be a deficit there was
no question of a sufficiency of revenue.
The president asked for financial legis
lation and the pending bill was offered
as an answer. The president had asked
for bread and they gave him a stone.
They had presented as remedial legisla
tion a proposition, to further tax the
American people.
Mr. Henderson again took the floor,
and in. reply to the speeches on the demo
cratic side declared that the action r.i
the house today would show, whether the
republican party was prepared to take
the responsibility or not (republican ap
plause), whether the country was pre
sided over by a republican or by a demo
cratic executive, whether it was threat
ened with ballots or bullets, whether
there was a treasury deficiency or a
treasury surplus, the republican party
never shrank from its duty to the coun
try. (Applause.)
Mr. Crisp declared that the purport of
the proposed rule was to prevent the of
fering i ' amendments by democrats
which some republicans might feel in
clined to vote for In the interest of their
constituents. That was Its sole ob
ject.
The discussion on the rule tying closed
the vote was taken and the rule was
agreed to, yeas 213, nays 89.
The vote was on strict party linos ex
cept that Messrs. Connolly, Illinois;
Heiner, Pennsylvania: Llnney, North
Carolina, and Wilber, New York, repub
licans, voted "no" wdth the democrats.
The bill was then read In full, and at
1:30 the debate upon it commenced, with
three and a half hours to run, the time
to be divided equally between the two
sides of the house.
Mr. Dingley. republican, or Maine,
chairman of the committee on ways and
means, opened the debate on the side of
the majority. He said that when the
president's special message was read at
the clerk's desk last Saturday Inform
ing congress that there existed a serious
condition of the finances of the country
and of the federal treasury, and appeal
ing to the senate and house not to take
a recess until relief was afforded, every
member felt that there was imposed upon
the house not only a special responsibil
ity, but an urgent demand for Immediate
action, and that it was the duty of the
house to remain in session until some
measure of legislation was passed that
would afford relief to the exigent state
of the treasury. The committee on ways
and means had taken the matter up and
prooeeded to consider what measures of
relief should be proposed The first
thing that had attracted the attention of
the committee on ways and means was
that for two years and a half there had
been a constant deficiency of revenue,
until that want had become chronic. He
knew that gentlemen on the other side
claimed that the revenue was sufficient,
hut the fact was that from July 1. 1893,
up to today there had been an insuffi
ciency of revenue to cover the current
expenses of the government to the ag
gregate amount of 8123,000,000. The de
ficiency for the current year was over
818.500.000, and for the current month of
December the deficit approximated
83.000. 000. What, then, did the gentlemen
mean, and what did the secretary mean
In saying that there was not need of ad
ditional revenue?
They mean that with the proceeds of
the sale of bonds and the use of the
greenbacks received for them the receipts
exceeded the expenditures. It seemed to
him and to the majority of the commit
tee on ways and means that the first
course to be taken was to legislate so
as to provide sufficient revenue to meet
the expenditures of the government.
Mr. Dingley went on to dlrcuss and to
uphold the bill In detail, and said that
If It became a law it would not only In
crease the revenue by over 840,000,000,
but would also give to the business Inter
ests of the country the moral influence
of a government which wos solvent,
which paid Its debts and whose credit
was second to no government on the face
mi me em m i j»u iii;u 11 list',;
Mr. Crisp said that the bill. In order to
be responsive to the request of the presi
dent. ought to be In line with tb" sug
gestions that came from that source. He
Insisted from Secretary Carlisle's report
that the cash balance In the treasury on
December 1. 1895, was $170,000,000. being
$98,000,000 In excess of the gold reserve
and $77,000,000 In excess of any sums nec
essary to build up the gold reserve.
There was. therefore (quoting from Mr.
Carlisle), “no reason to doubt the ability
of the government to discharge all Its
current obligations during the present
fiscal year, and have a large cash balance
at Its close, without imposing additional
taxation in any form on the people."
His friend from Maine (Mr. Dlngley)
knew—no one better—that there was In
the trensury today, over and above the
gold reserve, more free money -three
times over—than any deficiency which
might occur during the fiscal year. It
was not aquestlon of borrowing money to
meet expenses. The money was already
borrowed, and was in the treasury, and
the question was whether it should be
used now, or whether the house should
rush, posthaste, to impose additional
burdens on the people In order to pile up
money In the treasury .
Mr Crisp went on to taunt the com
mittee on ways and means with report
ing a bill for a horizontal rise In duties,
after all the ridicule which had been cast
on Mr. Morrison's bill for a horizontal
cut. and he said that the effect of the
pending measure was to declare that the
McKinley tariff bill was 60 per cent right
and 40 per cent wrong. (Laughter.) He
quoted Mr. McKinley’s criticism of the
Morrison bill as patchwork and a proof
Of Indolence, and said that on the Issue
of the pending measure the parties would
go before the people In the next presiden
tial campaign, and he had no doubt that
the people would respond, as they had
always responded, in favor of them
selves—that was, In favor of lower
taxes ■ (Democratic applause.)
Mr McMtllln. democrat, of Tennessee,
Ing measure.
Mr. Payne, a member of the commit
tee on ways and means, said that the re
publicans In the house being ready to
meet the responsibility which was on
them today, had presented a bill to in
crease the revenue. Two years from
now, however, they would meet the re
sponsibility of that hour and would pre
sent to the house and senate and to a
republican president a bill for the pro
tection of American labor and American
agriculture and write it on the statute
book. (Applause.)
Mr. McMtllln, democrat, of Tennessee,
a member of the committee on ways and
means, argued against the bill, and re
minded the republican side of the house
of the wise warning given by the present
speaker In the republican caucus which
nominated him, In these words: "His
tory will accord us praise for what we
did' in the Fifty-first congress, and may
it accord us praise in this congress for
what we def not do.”
What the house was doing today was
one of the things to which that warn
ing was applicable, and the country
would give them more praise for ab
(Continued on Fifth Page.)
LANGUAGE OFJHE CABLE
Spanish Armies Repulsed by In
surgent Vanguards.
.'fcA.il 1 -
COLONEL PRATT KILLED
Twelve Soldiers Convicted and Shot at El
Roque
FOR POISONING THE RESERVOIR WATER
Zeitouo Falla Before Attacks of the Turkish
Troops and the Government Is En
quiring Into Outrages at
Harpoot.
Key West, Fla., Dec. 26.—Advices re
ceived from Ci^ba today Bay that a bat-;
tie occurred yesterday afternoon between
the vanguards qf the insurgents and
Spanish armies and that the Spaniards
were repulsed. Cqlonel Pratt, who com
manded the Spanish vanguard, was
killed. Martinez Campos was present
and directed the retreat of the Spaniards
to Jovellanos. Campos' forces are now
entrenched at that place expecting to be
attacked by Gomez's main army. Cam
pos has armed all the civilians in Jovel
lanos and is forcing them to do military
duty. Advices received by Cuban lead
ers via the steamer Olivette confirm the
report of the capture of the town of El
Roque by the Cubans. The Spanish
regiment stationed at El Roque surren
dered without firing a shot. All of them,
were paroled except twelve who we#e
charged with having poisoned the water
in the reservoir of the town. They were
tried, convicted and shot. After taking
all the arms and provisions found in the
town the insurgents set fire to them and
then left, going in the direction of
Quintana and Jovellanos. They also
destroyed the sugar plantations near San
Vicente and La Antonia. The vanguard
of Gomez's forces, under the command
of Lacrete, has entered the town of Quin
tana, between Matanzas and Colon, and
destroyed by fire the largest sugar plan
tation on the island.
The train that left Colon for Matanzas
was detained at Quintana by the in
surgents. Columns of smoke could be
plainly seen from Jovellanos. The sup
position is that all plantations in that
district have been destroyed. Maceo and
his forces have encamped at the plan
tation A1 Harmola, and Gomez has es
tablished his headquarters at the plan
tation La Espano, belonging to Romero
Robledo, of the Spanish cabinet.
All telegraphic communication .be
tween Las Villas district and Havana
has been destroyed by the Insurgents and
no trains have passed over the road since,
Saturday last. The railroad stations tit
Madana and Toca, belonging to the
United Railroad company, have been de
stroyed by fire.
The insurgents under Nunez have en
camped at the plantation Revido, and
destroyed all the cane.
The forces of Antonio Maceo and Quin
tin Bandero compose the rear guard of
the army under Gomez
The Spaniards prohibited all public en
tertainments on the 25th and ordered all
saloons closed at 12 o’clock at night.
Lacrete with a large force is march
ing towards Guinea.
The insurgents assert that no crops will
be gathered this year. Gomez has noti
fied Campos that it is his intention to de
stroy all the sugar cane to prevent its
being gathered.
Officially Confirmed.
Constantinople, Dec. 20.—The capture
of Zeitoun by the Turkish troops is offi
cially confirmed. No details of the fall
of the plaee are given.
Izzet Pasha, who recently addressed a
large report to the sultan pointing out
the deplorable condition of the country,
has been placed under arrest and Is now
awaiting trial by court-martial. His trou
bles are due to the report, which the sul
tan refused to read. When Izzett Pasha
found that the sultan refused to pay
any attention, to his report he resigned
his office of chief equerry, but the sultan
refused to accept his resignation. Five
times was the resignation repeated, but
the sultan refused to allow Izzet to re
tire voluntarily.
An official report has been Issued stat
ing that the government is making on In
quiry into the outrages at Harpoot. It
denies that any missionary property was
burned In the presence of the troops. On
the contrary, it says that the officials
used the troops to the utmost of their
ability to protect the missionaries and
other foreigners and thereby prevented
the burning of a large part of the mis
sionary buildings. A company of troops,
the report adds, Is still guarding the mis
sionaries' property.
Fled to the Hills.
London, Dec. 26.—The correspondent
In Constantinople of the United Press
telegraphs under date of today that it is
reported there that Zeitoun, which was
In the possession of the Armenians, has
fallen before the attacks of the Turkish
troops, and that many of those who were
holding the place against the forces of
the sultan have fled to the hills.
Manitoba’s Beply. »
Winnipeg. Man., Dec. 26.—The full tetkk
of Manitoba's reply to the dominion gov
ernment on the separate school questloar
is made public. The Manitoba govern
ment positively . refuses the proposal tn
establish a system of separate schools
any form._
OFFICERS DISMISSED. .* !
The Lexow Committee Charges Failed tar
Hold Qood.
New York, Dec. 26.—Iu the court of
oyer and terminer this morning Indict
ments against a number of members of'
the police department, which were found
as a result of disclosures before the
Lexow committee, were dismissed.
Colonel Fellows made the motion to that,
effect, which was, he said, the result of,
consultations between himself and Ex
Surrogate Rollins and Austin Q. Fox.!
who ttfere appointed special counsel to'
prosecute the police cases. Justice In-!
graham, who presided over the last ses-1;
sion of the court of oyer and terminer,
acquiesced in the recommendation of tile
district attorney. The others,Colonel' Pel
lows said, would be brought to trial
speedily.
8choo! of Militia.
Ottawa, Ont.. Dec. 26.—The government
has decided to at onoe establish a school
of militia instruction In Montreal. Sev
eral Informal delegations waited upon
the authorities in this connection, and
the government decided to accede to
their demands.
TOMPKINS mm SENATE
Chairman of the State Executive
Committee Will Resign
AND ASK GREATER HONORS
Will Measure Political Lengths With Gov
ernor Oates.
AN EARLY CALL WILL BE SENT OUT
And a Meeting Held to Fecoive Ilia Resig
nation-Candidates for the Jefferson
Solicitorship—Groans of
t Old Granny.
Montgomery, Dec. 29.—(Special.)—A
eajl will be Issued In a few days for the
democratic state executive committee to
meet In this city on January 21. It Is au
thorltalvely announced that one of the
prime reasons that the committee has
been called to meet so much earlier than
usual is that Col. IT. C. Tompkins desires
to present his resignation as chairman.
Colonel Tompkins considers that it is
improper that he should remain at the
head of the committee, being, as he Is,
an avowed candidate for the United
States senate.
Secretary Thomas H. Clark regards It
as only fair that all parties In interest
should have full notice of the terms of
participation In the primaries, and he be
lieves, with others here, that the earlier
that proposition Is decided the better It
will be for all concerned, and for the
party as well. The democratic national
committee will meet on January 16, and
the state committee’s meeting five days
later will make the third week in the
Candidates on the Hustle,
new year full of interest to Alahsmlnns.
Mr. Lee C. Bradley, Col. S. W. John
and Mr. H. H. Brown, all of Birmingham,
were in the city today, to confer with
Governor Oates relative to their pros
pective candidacies for the Jefferson
county solicitorshlp. A very large num
ber of letters and petitions have been
presented to the governor in the Interests
of the several gentlemen, and also in be
half of Messrs. John McQueen and H. P.
Heflin, who are also prominent candi
dates. It Is believed that the appoint
ment will he made in a day or two.
Murder Near Greenville.
Near Greenville, flfty miles south of
here, yesterday the body of Hob Wil
liams, a negro, was found dead in a pub
lic road. His head had been crushed In,
and he had evidently been murdered. A
negro named Kllas Thornton was arrest
ed today, charged with the murder, al
though the evidence against him so far
Is purely circumstantial. Robbery is be
lieved to have been the motive for the
igiirdor . Williams had been working at
Rolling, near Greenville, and Is supposed
HP have been on bis way to Greenville to
speml Christmas with relatives there,
when he was killed. He left Bolling with
$45 In pockets, and when his dead body
was found yesterday the pockets were
empty.
Violent in Its Madness.
The Montgomery Journal prints the
following editorial leader this afternoon:
"The Montgomery Poeiofflce has be
come violent In: Its madness. It sees that
Captain Johnston is going to be nomi
nated. and it Is this very thing against
which It has fought for so many years.
It sees Us waning glory depart, and as it
rants and raves It gives utterances to
expressions which explain and point to
the seat, of Us disease. Instead of allow
ing Itself to enjoy the sacredness of
Christmas day. and following the injunc
tion, 'Peace on earth, good will to men,’
the Postofflce closeted itself to ponder
over Its waning glory and pending mis
fortunes, and having wrought Itself Into
4k paroxysm of despair, gives vent to the
following furious assault upon Captain
Johnston:
ll line 1UBlUllii.ef legdrus nun as ari
Insincere trimmer who Is always looking
for the currency that he may Jump to
the front of It yelling louder than the
loudCBt Irrespective of party principles,
or party consequences, or the general
good. He Is constantly on the alert for
some policy or movement upon which
he can ride into leadership Irrespective
of Its soundness or ceihsequences. Hls
eye la Invariably single to hls own politi
cal welfare. He never strikes one lick
for the party without calculating that he
Will count two for himself. The result
of this Is. of course, that hls cunning
never amounts to craft; that hls smart
ness never attains the proportions of
sagacity: that hls rashness never be
comes boldness. Hls coup d'etats have
Invariably turned out to blunders and hls
pathway has been marked by failures.’
“This hysterical outbreak on Christmas
day. which found Its way In the Mont
gomery Postofflce personal grievance or
gan on the following day, shows only
what the Journal has too often pointed
put, that the Personal Qrlevance Is In
ia bad way. Its hatred of Johnston borr
ders on madness; tmplicable In Its rage,
senile In Its stupidtty, and vile In Its purs
poses and unrelenting In savagery.”
Negro Day at the Expo.
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. 26.—This was negro
day at the exposition, and large numbers
•f the race braved the severe weather to
•ttend.
r Very Interesting exercises were held at
*h auditorium. Governor AtkinEon and
State School Commissioner Glenn deliv
ered interesting addresses. Prof. W E.
Holmes of the Atlanta Baptist seminary
•cted as chairman. Prof. R. R. Wright
g>f the Georgia Industrial school for ne
itroes delivered an address on the his
tory of negro education1 In the south, and
isalah Montgomery, negro commissioner
sof Mississippi, delivered an address on
(behalf of the commissioners of the negro
exhibit.
,B The board of directors this afternoon
Voted to terminate all salaries and wages
<at the exposition with December 31. The
jiast day was made directors' day and
stvoman's board day, and souvenir tickets
rwlth a likeness of Mrs. Joseph Thomp
rtjon. president of the woman's board,
tbave been ordered printed.
GORMAN CALLS A CAUCUS.
Democrats Will Not Impede Reorganisation
of the Senate.
Washington, Dec. 26.—Senator Gorman
has issued a call for a caucus of demo
cratic members of the senate, to be held
tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock, for the
purpose of acting upon the report of the
committee charged with the duty of fill
ing vacancies on committees and mak
ing minority assignments.
The policy of the democrats will be to
not Impede the reorganization of the sen
ate. The republicans have acquiesced
In an understanding that such reorgani
zation shall not be operative until Janu
ary 1, Inasmuch as all employes have
been paid for the present month, and
confusion would result from an Immedi
ate transfer. It is not thought that a di
vision will be called for when the reso
lution determined on by the committees
Is laid before the senate, although It Is
not improbable that some one may desire
to put the senate on record. If the yeas
and nays are called for the democrats
will vote against the republican resolu
tion, but the republicans, having more
votes than the democrats, will have a
majority of a quorum and carry their
programme through. This will probably
be done Monday next, the senate, under
the present understanding, not intending
to be in session Saturday.
PRESIDENT-CLEVELAND SCORED
A Pastor Creates Stir in His Congregation
by Abusing the President .
Hagerstown, Md., Dec. 26.—The Rev.
Henry Evans Cotton, rector of'St. John’s
Episcopal church, In his sermon yester
day morning made a violent attack upon
President Cleveland, for whom he had
voted for president, though the pastor is
a republican.
“Hour by hour,” he said, "the presi
dent's utterances stand Impeached by the
honest common sense of the people. Bit
ter disapproval has come to many who
felt that with his great gifts he might
have lifted the nation to higher, surer
planes of action; but he has been dragged
from his place as a statesman down to
the level of the political leeches lhat sur
round him. By one breath of his mouth
he threw’ millions of the people’s money
Into the maelstrom of financial ruin; In
another breath he piteously. Invokes his
congress to avert the crash he has called
down upon our heads, and millions of
lives are disturbed by the horrible possi -
bilities—Cod grant, the impossibilities—
of cruel war.”
The pastor’s words created a great stir
in the congregation.
THE IRON TRADE REVIEW.
* _
The Early Months of '96 Will Doubtless See
a Rise in Pig—Reports of Numer
ous Inquiries.
Cleveland, O., Dec. 26.—The Iron Trade
Review today says:
While holiday dullness is upon the iron
market in all its departments and seem
ingly intensified by contrast with the his
tory made in the year just closing, there
are reports from all quarters of inquiry,
much of which means early business.
Hesitation, rather than stagnation, is
still the word. Here and there a buyer,
who must know the cost of his raw ma
terial for the next six months, because of
pending contracts with the consumers of
his product, is taking hold at current
prices, and these are so close in nearly
all cases that the transactions Involve
little or no risk. The truth is forced
home upon many producers that the
principal basis of labor cost is out of
proportion to current prices, and It would
not be surprising, if the market contin
ues at the present level, to see In January
a movement for such a readjustment in
wages as has been taking place In the
product. Sales of Ressemer pig Iron the
past week have been at $in.75 at valley
furnaces, and It is intimated that $10.50
is a possibility. The fact 'hat the buy
ers who took considerable blocks of
metal a few months ago, with dSJIverles
In December and the early months of
1806. have paid a price per ton for the
cancellation of their contracts, leaves the
Iron on the furnace companies’ hands.
To get this iron out of the way the
makers have been content to realize cost,
having already been paid their profits by
the original buyers. Foundry irons do
not show like weakness, because they
were free from speculation, hut prices
are lower, at $13.50 at valley furnaces for
No. 1. and $13 for No. 2 Is current for
small lots. What could be done on con
tracts for the first half of the year will
only he known as inquiries come up.
There Is a report that the present $1.60
basis for furnace coke will be continued,
and that it will not only be the circular
price but the actual price. There is also
a report that the $2 programme will be
carried out. It is believed that any con
tracts made will be limited to thirty
days.
CONTRACT AWARDED.
Newport News Company Will Build the
Battleships.
Washington, Dec. 26.—Secretary Her
bert today, with the approval of the
president, awarded the contract for the
construction of battleships Nos. 5 and
6 (the Kearsage and her unnamed mate)
to the Newport News Ship Building and
Dry Dock company of Newport News,
Va„ at its bid of »2,250.000 for building
each ship according to plans prepared by
the navy department. The secretary
closes a long communication to the presi
dent setting forth his reasons for taking
this course Instead of awarding one to
San Francisco at a greatly Increased
coat, or accepting the proposition of the
Cramps, as follows:
"To me It seems clear that the depart
ment cannot undertake to say that a bid
by a responsible and competent com
pany, fairly made after due considera
tion, Is lower than a fair price for such
work. This company Is bidding, not only
for one of these ships, but for both, and
It Insists upon Its right to build both:
For the government to reject the bid
under these, circumstances, and insist
upon paying a higher price for the ships
or foi one of them, to be built elsewhere,
ony any such ground as that the bid
of the Newport News company is below
the market price would be a ruinous
policy * The government Is entitled to
have Us ships built at the lowest price
at which It can procure the doing of the
work, and the policy would dictate the
encouragement Instead of the discourage
ment of low bidding.”
MISTAKEN REPORT.
Patton A Co., the Lumber Merchants, Are
Still Solvent.
■Albany, N. Y., Dec. 26.—There were
many rumors floating about the city to
day concerning the financial standing of
Patton & Co., lumber merchants. Henry
Patton, one of the members of the firm,
was seen today at his office, and said:
"The report published this morning was
largely a matter of fiction, and I wish to
say that we have not made an assign
ment, and are paying bills as presented,
even this morning. In regard to our
financial matters, we are In consultation
with our friends, and hope to be able to
straighten out any difficulty that may
have arisen. As to the Forest report
and Beaver river concerns, they are
solvent. Our clerks are now at work on
the books, and our exact standing will
soon be known/]_
Snow Storm Raging.
St. Louis, Dec. 26.—Specials from cen
tral Indiana and Illinois say that a
very heavy snow storm Is In progress.
Along the Wabash river valley the snow
Is already 6 Inches deep.
The Wabash river rose 15 feet within
five days, and Is stl)l rising.
TO INCREASE PENSION ROLL
Seven Thousand Pension Bills
to Be Referred.
MR. PEFFER OFFERS A BILL
For the Protection of the Wives of Dissipated
Pens oners.
TARIFF PROPOSED BY REPUBLICANS
V -
Admit le Superiority of the Last Tariff
o
At ver the McKinley Bill—Mr. Jus
$ ce Shiras Besponaible for the
£ Defleienoy.
■«« -
,“l
;3P shington, Dec. 25.—(Special Oorre
spoi.Jence.)—Thut the present congress
will increase the already over-burdened
pension roll seems to be a foregone con
clusion, if the number of bills Introduced
at this time Is to be taken aa evidence.
The calculation is that over 7000 pension
bills will be referred to the committee on'
invalid pensions during the Fifty-fourth
congress, and from a resolution Intro
duced In the house last week to allow Mr.
Jones' (of Virginia) seat to be contested,
who, it will be remembered, in the Fifty
third congress, by raising the point of no
quorum at the Friday night sessions of
the house, kept many a bill for pensions
from becoming a law, together with the
fart that Mr. B. A. Enloe of Baum in
vestigating committee fame, is no longer
a member of the house, It looks as if
there will be nothing to prevent the re
publicans from duplicating their acts of
the Fifty-first congress.
Senator PefTer Introduced the following
bill:
He it enacted by the senate and house
of representatives of the United States
of America, in congress assembled, That
in any and all cases where male pension
ers of the United States desert or aban
don their families, or where such pen
sioners are addicted to habitual drunk
enness, or where for any reason or cause
such pensioners do not use their pension
money for the support of their families
and do not suport them, and when they
have no other sufficient means of sup
port, the commissioner of pensions, on
Such facts being made to appear by com
petent testimony and on application of
the wife of any such pensioner, shall pay!
the money due such pensioner from time
to time to his said wife so long as such
condition of failure or neglect to support
continues.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and
be in force on and after the first day of
the first calendar month after its approv
al by the president.
The bill has occasioned considerable
merriment among those who have read
it, though there is much merit contained
therein. The scoffers say that In the
backwoods, whenever it is found that
an old soldier is drawing a {tension, all
the old. maids and widows for miles
around make a "dead set” for the pen
sioner, and that after marrying him in
n ie cases out of ten the woman turns
out to be such a shrew: that it Is no sur*
prise that the old soldier is “driven to
drink,” and if Senator Pefter's bill be
comes a law it will result in a regular
bunco game with all the maiden ladies
and bereaved widows in the rural dis
tricts. •
The Proposed Tariff Measure.
The tariff bill proposed by the repub
licans as a relief for the treasury Is, to
say the least of it. an admission that the
tariff act passed by the last congress is
far superior to the McKinley bill, and is
also an admission that In two years' time
the present tariff law will raise enough
revenue to support the government.
This acknowledgment by the republicans
brings to the tore ths late lamented
Income tax, and It Is conceded by every
one that, In a word. Mr. Justice Shlrae
is responsible for the deficiency In the
revenue.
Internal Revenue Commissioner Mil
ler, In conversation with prominent
democrat a few days ago. said that had
the income tax not been declared uncon
stitutional by the supreme court the gov
ernment would have received $50,000,000,
and perhaps $60,000,000. from It the first
year, and that In five years would have
received nearly $100,000,000. Thus it Is
seen whnt burdens the people bear, for
had the commissioner's predictions be
come true we could have abolished the
customs houses and raised sufficient rev
enue to run the government from the
income tax and the whisky end tobacco
tax.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED
By the New York Produce Exchange
Touohlng the Financial Question.
New York, Deo. 26.—The members of
the New York produce ej change, at a
meeting at noon today, unanimously
passed the following resolutions:
Whereas, The members of the New
York produce exchange with concent
view the depletion of the gold reserve, re
sulting In distrust of the government’s
ability and determination to meet Its
obligations, tending to gravely Injure all
business Interests and disastrously affect
values; therefore, be It
Resolved. I'hat we strongly urge upon
congress the necessity of taking. In ac
cordance with the recommendations con
tained In the recent message of President
Cleveland, such Immediate action at this
time as will meet the exigencies of ths
case and restore public confidence in tbs
financial ability and Integrity of our gov
ernment, and we appeal to the patriot
ism of our representatives to see that ths
action taken Is free from any polltloal bias
or party prejudice, which might endanger
Its success; and the president of the ex
change Is directed to transmit a copy of
these resolutions to the president of the
United States senate and the speaker of
the house, and to each member of the
New York delegation In congress.
CONGRESSIONAL CONTESTS.
Committee No. 2 Will Take Up Cases in
Order.
Washington, Dec. 26.—House committee
on elections No. 2, of which Mr. Johnson
of Indiana Is chairman, met today and
decided as far as possible on a pro
gramme of business. Under the present
arrangement the contested election cases,
eleven In number, will be disposed of In
the order they were referred to the com
mittee. This will bring the three Louis
iana cases up first, then the one Mary
land case, then the one Missouri casa
then the three New York cases, and last
the three North Carolina cases.
On Tuesday next the committee will
meet for the purpose of hearing prellmh
nary motions regarding the cases only. ,