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A DAY WITH THE NATION'S LAWMAKERS. Hon. Chas. A. Towne Successor to Late Senator Davis. SITS VITl! THE DEMOCRATS. Xlio Legislative, Executive and Judicial Hill, Um first "I the Groat Supply Ullis, Passed liy the Uouso li> Record Time - UuJiihI Discrimination Against Clerks Complained <>r Mr. Oloy, of Virginia, Introduces it Resolution for I'rliil log j.-.,tinn Copiesef "itlvssngo of the Presi? dent." (By Telegraph tu Virglrilan-Pllot.) Wash inn ton, N. C. Dec. 10.?Hun. Charles A. Towne tho recently appoint? ed successor to the late Senator Da via, of Minnesota, a (tendud to-day's session of the Senate and took the oath of otllcei No business of; importance wan traiisactc i In tho open session, the Senate going into secret session on the Hny-Pnuncefote treaty as .soon as rou? tine business had been concluded. Sen? ator Morgan occupied the lirst two hours In executive session , Senator Teller following. ON DEMOCRATIC S!I>E. When .Mr. Kelson (Minn.), presented Mr. Towne's credentials, Mr. Chandler (N. II.). chairman Of the committee ph privileges and elections, directed atten? tion to the last cluase of the creden? tials. This Was that Mr. Towrie shduld hold his seat until "hla successor was elected and qualified." tie imld ihe constitution provided simply that the appoihtee should Hold o(llco uniil the Legislature had met. Mr. Chandler Mild the lidded cluase, in which the Governor had undertaken to prescribe the length of the term, was merely Huperlluo'us, ami he had no intention of making objection. .Mr. Towne took hin seat on tle> Democratic side. INAUGURATION. Mr. ITnnna (Ohio), offered a resolu? tion thai a committee of three Sena? tors be appointed by the president pro teni to maka the necessary arrange? ments for tiu> inauguration of the Pres? ident nt the i hltod States on the 4th of March next. Under Ihe rules the resolution went over. At 12:35 thti Ken alo i.. nt. into executive session and at 6:05 o'clock adjourned. St PPL* BILL PASSED. Washington, pec; r>.?The first of the great supply .bills, the legislative, exec? utive und .judicial appropriation hill was passed by '.lie House today In rec? ord lime. The bill carries $24.490,308 and has 131 pages, but there was Kiss than len minutes debating upon it. Mr. Ringham (Penn.), who was In charge of the mens uro, tendered his thanks lo ihe Hons.; for the confidence shown in the appropriations committee. It re? quired about three hours for the clerk to read the bill. No other business was transacted. Th? bill was read for amendment under the live minute rule. Mr. Dinghahl said that both part? ies in tlii- recent campaign, pledged themselves to economy ami retrench? ment. The pending bill was a step In that direction. AN UNJUST DISCRIMINATION. Mr. Robinson (Ind.), protested Hint clerks In the Government service out? side of Washington did not receive the same leave privileges received by those hero, and he thought tho unjust discrimination against tire former should cense, only one amendment, a minor <?. van accepted and (bo bill was then passed, and at 3:15 p. in. the House adjourned. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Washington, Dec. 10.?Representa? tive Otcy, of Virginia, today Introduced n resolution for printing 15,00 copies of ".Messages of the President" now cir? culating as a private publication. WAR REVENUE TAXES. HEPOrtT OF MINORITY MEMBERS li|>- WAY:! AND MEANS COM? MITTEE. (lly Tel -crr.iph to Virginian-Pilot.) Washington, D. C, Dec. 10.?The views of the minority members of the ways and means committee oh the bill reducing war revenue taxes about $10, 600,000 was completed and made public lute this afternoon, it is signed by, Ihe entire Democratic membership of the committee ?Messrs. Richardson, of Tennefiseo; Swanson* of Virginia; Mo Cleilan ;of New York; Newlunds, of Nevada: Cooper, ol Texas, and Under? wood; of Alabama. The repoi'l says the proposed reduc? tion of revenues is too small and that .Ihe bill doe.-- not go far enough In re? lieving tin- : eople pf the burdens Im? posed upon them for war purposes. Tho remaining taxes, says the report, are unnecessary : .id should ho removed. The minority lake !s--ue with Secretary tinge's estimate ol $2V..non.ivio surplus in 19G2, ami say (hat if Congress observes proper economy In expenditures the surplus ought t" bo $109,000*000; ??Instead of tailing Off the Finn of r:?.>.,.(.. ,i. ?s ?.< i ri'i -i-ed. we would go further and reduce taxation not less than $70.000.000. "We would make these reductions on those articles which are must nearly the necessaries of Hie. and would take oft' the luxe.: that are most annoying pnd vexatious to the people. This wenld in no way eripi le or Impair the public service. We believe Hint by a re mm to proper economy in appro? priations reduction greater than we advocate could be made, and we should ut once onforce ithtfl economy. The war being over the war taxes should cease, and .the 'train or extraordinary ex? penditure*' following the war should also terminate. "We shall not oppose the passage of the bill.' .'or it gives some relief, but will endeavor lo properly amend It. The serious objei ilon is that the b?r? den.? of taxation throughout tie- coun? try are unjustly distributed. This be? ing true, of necessity the revenues col? lected me Inequitable'," The report continues: "Wo favor nn alteration of the pres? ent tariff laws; certainly to the extent that they have promoted (monopoly, It lins been proved beyond question) by evidence before the Industrial commis? sion appointed by Congress, that many of the powerful trusts Unit have an ubsolute monopoly of their business iu this country ami phat exercise their power despotically und Injuriously to tho people, largely owe their growth to Hie customs duties imposed in the Dlnglcy tariff law. which prohibits for olgn competition^ "By destroying, in many eases, all foreign competition, this bill has made possible home combination with all of the evils ot monopoly. We witness daily Hie gross Injustice of these mo? nopolies, created and fostered by the governonint, selling1 goods, us they con? tinually do, to foreign consumers; out of i ho suine fuctory, at u lower price I ha n i hey sell the same K""ds to home consumers. "We urgently insist that the present tariff laws should be ?modified to pro? ven! this Impost I Ion. We favor an al? teration in our system of taxation which would collect more revenue from the accumulated wealth of the country and correspondingly less from the pro? ducing energies and enterprises. We favor a. system by which u reasonable portion Of the present tuxes should be collected from incomes, or from profits, rather than that almost tho entire bur? den of taxation should bo placed on consumption. ''Wo believe that :t provision could anil should be prepared which would accomplish the just cuds Bought in an Income lax, yet escape an adverse de? cision or the Supremo Court of the United Stales such ns .-was rendered tigalnst the Income tax provided for In the Wilson law." The report fays that a reduction of S70.000.ou0 hi taxation would permit iho relief of the tobacco and beer pro? ducing interests which have suffered from heavy war taxes, ami would en? able tho abolition of ninny vexatious and annoying taxes that will be con? tinued under tho proposed legislation. "Wo contend," conclude the minor? ity, "tho vice? of our existing legisla? tion is that almost nil the burdens of live Federal Government are imposed upon consumption rather than upon productive. For Federal purposes the people are taxed for what they want und not for what they have, and a false system of taxation has thus been inaugurated which has practic? ally made a per capita distribution "( tho burdens Instead of n distribution in some degree proportion'atc to tho wealth which is protected." THE SEABOARD AIR ? LINE AND SOUTHERN. The Two Lines Will Be Operated in Harmony Hereafter. DISMISSAL OF ALL THE SUITS. Tho New York Mail :>ml Express S?y? That Out ?f Confused und Contradictory l!r Itorts <>f Changed feelings Existing Be? tween the Two [.Ines, the t'aot of future Harmony, So Fur us Freight Itatea Are Concerned, Booms Established The Itynn and Williams Disputes. New York, r>cc. 10.?The Mail and Express says: Out of tho confused and contradict? ory reports regarding the changed relations existing hot ween the Sea? board Air Line and Southern Hallway, one fact seems established, the two lines are to bo operated in perfect harmony hereafter, so far as freight rates are concerned. All talk of a con? solidation of tho route is declared untrue. 11 VAX-WILLIAMS SlMTS. Regarding the changed relations be? tween Thomas P. Ryan ami John Skclton Williams, representing the two systems in certain lawsuits, no Official announcement is to !>.?- made. The mat? ter will simply he dismissed and no more will be heard of it. This accords With the wish of both gentlemen, who, in times past, have indulged In some very bitter language concerning each other. A public reconciliation i.i out of Hie question; but private animosities may lie sunk in the excitement of sue ? essful business. PLAIN TALK IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. Member Charges Nepotism in the Army and the Navy. LORD SALISBURY'S FAMILY. .Many of Disasters In soutli Africa Trace? able tu Officers Who Owe Commissions l<> Family Inllueiico Anotber Membor Urines Together n Series <>f Aeons \i Ions Against Mr. Chamberlain, Who Replies In His Own Defense Tliiuks it Haiti That lie Stuil Defend lllmscir. (Ry Telegraph to Virginian-Pilot.) London, Dec. 10.?In the House of Commons today. O. C. T. Hartley, Con servutive. representing North Islinglon, moved nn amendment to the address from the thron?,, asking the House to express regret that Lord Salisbury has recommended so many of his own family to offices under the Govern? ment. Ohc-flfth of the cabin* t members, Mr. Hartley said, are of the same fam? ily. Sons would obey their father and sons-in-law and nephews would yield to the snme Influence. Such conditions ] precluded ah independent Inquiry intu , the army failures In South Afrlj ft and I were calculated to Impair gravely the ! efficiency of the public service and dl ! rhlnlsh the chances ?f reform In the . system Of national defense The same ? ahker worm of Napoleon had entered the army and navy, and It was the general opinion that many of the dis? asters In South Africa were traceable to officers who had obtained their commissions by family InflOencc. PREMIER'S NEPHEW REPLIES. When the Premier's nephew arose to reply the House was mied with expec? tation. Mr. A. .). Balfour said the tin THE HOLLAND-PORTUGAL DISAGREEMENT. The difference between these two queens is wholly a diplomatic one and has arisen from the neiion of tlie Netherlands consul nt Ixiurenco Marques, It is probable that the rumors o? war between Portugal and llollaiul are wholly uiifouu<l< cd, for U?e dilDcully is bow being adjusted peaceably. ^ AMICABLE RELATIONS BROKEN. (Ry Telegraph to Virginian Pilot.? The Hague Dec. 10.?Tho Portuguese minister to the Netherlands, fount de Slier, has started for Lisbon, and the luiteh minister to Portugal, Huron Von Heerkcren, is expected here fro m Lisbon this evening. B- Sc O- CONSOLIDATION PLAN, BEGAN SEVEN YEARS AGO, PRACTII ALLY COMPLETED. (By Telegraph to Virginian-Pilot.) Cincinnati, Ohio, 10.?The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Baltimore and Ohio South western Railway Company today elected the following officers: Rdwarri IL Bacon, New York: Will lain M. Greene, Cincinnati; William Solomon, .New York: John K. Cowen, Baltimore; Otto M. Kahn, New York; .tames McCren, Pittsburg; Frank w. Tracey, Springfield, 111.: J. G. Schmid Itipp, Cincinnati; II. Clay Pierce, St. Louis. The directors elected the following officers: Edwnrd R. Bacon, president; William M. Greene, vice-president and general manager. George V. May. secretary. William B. Jones, treasurer and as? sistant secretary. The lease relating to tho operations of the railroad between the Baltimore ami Ohio and tho Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern Railroad was approved. Under this lease .Mr. Greene becomes third vice-president of tho Baltimore .-!!)?: <>hio. as well as vice-president and general manager of the Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern. This practically completes the plan of consolidation which originated seven years ago; although the Baltimore ami Ohio .Southwestern still retains Its cor? porate existence. The general ofliees will remain In Cincinnati. Sultan Recoivcs Kantucy'a Officors (By Telegraph to Virginian-Pilot.) Constantinople, Dec. 10.?A dinner was given at the Ytldiz Palace' to? night In honor of tho officers of the United States battleship Kentucky, now at Smyrna, previous to which tin? United States charge d'affalrs Mr. Lloyd C. GrlSC?in, introduced the offi? cers, to the Sultan. Tho Grand Vizier ami other digni'arles wore present at the dinner. Subsequently, Mr. Grlscom and Captain Colby M. Chester w-ere re? ceived In private audience by,the Sul? tan, who afterwards received the other . oillcers. POPULATION STATISTICS OF INCORPORATED PLACES IN STATE OF VI Rd INI A. (By Telegraph to Virglnian-Pllot> Washington; D. ('.. Doc. 10.?The population of certain Incorporated! places in Virginia having more than I 2.000. hut. less than 26,000 Inhabitants, Is j as follows: Alexandria City. 14,528 I Bedford tMty town . 2,416 Berkley town . 4.?8S Bristol City . 4,670 Bueha Vista I'hy . 2,388 Charlottesyllle City. <'-.l4:i Clifton Forge town . 3.: Covlnglon town . 2,960 Danville City . 16,620 Farmvllle town . 2,471 Fredericksburg City . 5.068 Hampton town . 3,441 I HarrlsonbUrg town . 3.521 . Lexington town . 3,203 Lynchburg City . 18,891 Manchester, City . 0.715 Marlon town . 2,045 Mnrtmsvllle town . 2,3S-1 ! Newport NowsCity.. 19,635 Petersburg City. 21.mo Phoebus town . 2.0;>t pocahpntas town . 2.7S'.i Portsmouth City . 17.127 Pulaski town . 2,818 Radford City. : :i Roanoke City . 21,495 Salem town . 2 1!'. Staunten City . 7.2S0 Suffolk town . ::.S27 Winchester t'ity . D.ltil Williamsburg City . 2.M4 i Wythevllle . 2,003 QUEEN OF HOLLAND WANTS TO INTERVENE IN SOETll ' AFRICAN WAR. (Ry Telegraph to Vlrglnlan-PlIot.) London. Deo. 11.?"Dr. Leydf and his friends are spreading a rep?rt," says the Amsterdam correspondent of the. Daily Mall, "that Queen Wilhelmina will intervene after her marriage. This Is meant lo blind the public to the real facts, which nr>* that she wrote per? sonally to every European ruler on Mr. Kruger's arrival in Europe and from : two other countries at least, Russia : and France, received conditional prom I lsea of help In the direction of Interven ' tion, hut the plan failed In Berlin." happy accident of birth ought not to be a bar to public service. There was only one member of Lord Salisbury's family in the present Government who was not In thv last. Mr. I lari ley. he added, had hot shown thai the ap? pointees complained of were Incapable, while the country, at the recenl erec-r linn, had shown confidence that the Premier would carry, .out with ability and integrity his thankless, heart? breaking task. Tho amendment was lost by a vote of 230 to 128. CHARGES AGAINST CHAMBER? LAIN. Dv Lloyd-George^ Radical, member for Carnarvon district, brought :o gothcr a series of accusations against Mr. Chamberlain that had been figur? ing In the newspapers and moved" thai no member of the government ought to have a direct or in? direct interest in concerns com? peting for government contracts, lie pointed out that the Se< retnry of state for the Colonies held 5,(100 shares and other members of his family 07,?00 share-- in the Birmingham trust, which In turn was a share owner in the 'lakes I.Imlied. meaning (pounds) IIO, 000 a year bul ot government contracts. He assorted also that Mr. Chamber land and his relations held shares worth from (pounds) 2::o o 0 to (poun i i 250,000 In Blllott's Metal Company, contractors to the admiralty, and shares valued at (pounds) 250,000 In ICynech's Dynamite Company, contrac? tors to the war otlice. After enumerat? ing other companies In which tho Chamberlain family,,'ho asserted, had interests. Mr. George declared that he was not hi lacking the privat?? charac? ter of the minister, but had raised the matter because "this case might be used as a precedent later to Justify corruption." CHAMBERLAIN* EPREPLY. After various speeches ror and against the resolution, Mr. Chamber? lain replied: "It Is my personal honor that Is In? volved in this question,'' ho said, "and 1 think it hard after 25 years of life In the full light pit Parliament to have to stand up and explain that I am not a scandalous -thief. These attacks tire monstrous and absurd. 1 took no no? tice of the charges during the election, although there had been a conspiracy of Insinuation. I had been charged with rattening on ihe profits of a war I had provoked. "Ol an tho companies mentioned 1 hold shares in two. My relations In? tend to take legal proceedings and the public win hi.' now these uobmlnable charges win i.e. dealt with by the courts. My relations are all business men and have had to make their own fortunes, i come of a family which Roasts nothing oi distinguished birth or lulterited wealth, out lias an unbroken reeoiti foi nearly two centuries of un stalaeil commercial integrity. Never, (luting ill'' v. i.o.e course of my politi? cal career, have I been asked lo use my Intluenco to secure pecuniary gain for m'yseli or my relations." Proceeding to explain his connection with tie two companies, -Mr. Chamber lain said !:?? joined the Colombo Com? pany twenty-three years ago. Its shares had never been quoted on the stock exchange. HUTS POR BOER PRISONERS. The conti net to build huts for Boer prison- i ? in Ceylon was given to the Colombo Company on tin? responsibility of the lo.-:.! government, without any communication with himself. So far as the Birmingham trust was concerned, be said, lo- knew nothing whatever of Its movements, although sjie had re centlj ascertained that there was a trilling Investment in the Tubes Limit? ed, site , his brother managed the busi? ness oi- thai organization, but the com? pany's already small business with ihe admiralty had largely decreased. After having made further explanation of a i similar kind. Mr. Chamberlain ex? plained amid ministerial cheers: PRONOUNCES CHARGES RUBBISH. ?'It Is nol hard to have to deal with such rubbish as this? When all is re. koned up perhaps my Indirect Inter? est in government contracts Is a few pounds or even shillings. And yd the Ilmise of Commons is called upon to pass a solemn resolution which will not strike me. but will be a self-denying ordinance I'm several members who do not nhtlclpatc that'result." He was loudly cheered as he resumed '.iis . eat. UP- son, Mr. .1. Austen Chain berlain, financial secretary to the Treasury Department, followed with a similar denial. A M ENDMENT LOST. Mr. R. Ii. Haid,me. Radical, member for Hoddlngtonshire, and others spoke, after which Mr. I.loyd-tieoi-ge's motion, which was offered as nn amendment to i hi; nddress, was rejected by a vote of 269 to 127. r Mr. Arthur .1. Balfour, the govern? ment lender, then moved tin* closure; Which was carried by 263 votes against Iv ami tie nddress to the throne was adopted.by 265 vote's against 23. N- C CONFERENCE. COMPLETES ITS LAHORS?THE VPPl11 N "I'M BN TS. (By Telegraph to VIrglnian-PIIot.) Ne\. Bern, N. ?'.. Dee. 10.?Tho sixty second session of |tho North Carolina Cbht&re'ncO, Bishop IT, C, Morrison pre? siding, completed its labors and ad? journed sine die tonight. The session today was devoted largely to discussion ? l' reports on Sabbath observance, temperance, education and Epworth Lengdes. The following are the ap? pointments for districts bordering on Virginia: WASHINGTON DISTRICT?P. A. BISHOP, PRESIDING ELDER. Washington S.tatiori?L. L. Nash. Wnslilhgton Circuit?D. A. W.uklns. Aurorn P. Greening. Swan Quarter?R; A. Ilruton. MattrimUSkCt- .'. O. Johnson. Ehh Held Station- J. E. Holden. Greenville H. M. Bure. Enrrnvlilo?To be supplied. Gi-lmcsland and Vitriceboro?P. Eure supply. Ii 'thi i and Jnmosville?A. D. Betts. T irborh?-i'. W. Robinson. <!om ioe- !:. K. Gr.nul. South EdgecOmbe -C. L. Reed, lioeky Mount?N. B. Coietrnlnc. South Rocky Mount and Marvin? P. 1>. Woo lall. Na ihvllie- Ii. E. Trlpp. Spring Cape?-L; H. Joyner. From on I ?T. J. Dalloy Portsmouth and Ocracoke?B. H. Block. WARRENTON DISTRICT?jr. B. UN? DERWOOD, PRESIDING ELDER. Warrenton ?o. IL Davis. Wai l .-n Circuit?J. M. Rice. Henderson?Mi II. Tuttle and one to be supplied. Littleton?H. A. Humble and W. E. Nicholson. Weldon -J. D. Bundy. Lo. ;. ike Rapids ?L. M. Chnllln. Halifax?R. L. Davis. Uattleboi-o and Whltnkers?B. E. Rose. Scotland Neck- -O. Ryder. I iob| ootl -W. A. Pllnrd. Wllllamston and Hamilton?T. H. Sut .on. Oarysburg?G. W. Fisher. Northampton? J. C, Jones. Lieh Square W. P Jones. Mi In rrtri W. C. M-.rrKt. Mtirfrocshoro?J, A. Load. Harrollsvlllc -B. Thompson. i ,.. _.v R, Goodchlld, president Ll don Fi n ale College; J. M. Rhodes. Rldgewny- i'. L. Earnhardt. ELI/ \T!1 i ll CITY DISTRICT 1*. A. WILLIS. PRESIDING ELDER. Elizabeth City?R. C. Beamtin und ,T. L. Gujiingglm; Pasqudtank -*C. R. Taylor. Camden?W. B. Hocutt. Solltli Camden?J. Y. Old. Cun Ituck- R. Bradley. North Gates?f!. W. Starling. Gates?C. I*. Jerome. j'ci iiilmafts?H. M. Jackson. Hertford?Mi D. Hlx. Bdentbn?R. H. Willis. Plvrriouth .1 H. Ituffalo, supply. Ro] er?A. J. Parker. Pahtcgo?0 .B. Parker. 1 >are-J. A. Peeler. Roanoke (aland?S. T. Moyle. Kitty HnWk?L. B. Sawyer, supply. Kennekeet?A. W. Price, supply. Hat tern a?To to be supplied. Columbia?To be supplied. Anti-Cic;aretto ' aw Unconsti? tutional Knoxville. Tfnn.. Dee. 10.?Judge Sneed, Of tin- Knox County District Court, today decided 'hat the anti-cig? arette law passed by the Tennessee Legislature in P>0'J. was unconstitu? tional ami. void. Judge Speed's holding is based upon the point that the net, as recorded In Nashville, does not bear the signature of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Charlotte, N. C, Dec. 10.?Attorney General John W. C.rlggs Is spending some time hunting birds in Curabbua county, N. C, ns the guest of Shake speare Harris, a proinlnent farmer. HAY-PAUNCEFOTE TREATY UP AGAIN. Senator Morgan, in Executive Session, Elaborates His Position. CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY. He Discusses at Longtli Its Effect and Take? Issue With Senator Teller, Claiming That Hie lirst Clause of That Treaty _\ i?]?Hi- ? Only to England's Right to Cor? Uly Nicnrngttan Canal l (self - Senator Money Advocates Sew Convention?Sen* ale's Executive Secret* lu Newspaper*. (By Telegraph to VIrginlan-Pllot.) Washington, D. c, Dec. 10.?The Pen ate spent almost five hours today in executive session considering the Hay? Pauncefoto treaty. There were live or six speeches made. Senator .Morgan elaborated somewhat his position as to the effect of tho Clayton-Bulwer treaty. He took issue with Senator Teller as to the purport of the first clause of that treaty, claiming that it applied only to Croat Britain's right to fortify the Nicaragua canal itself. Senator Teller replied at some length, asserting that the provision was of more general import! as, he said, any one could ascertain for himself by reading President Buchanan's views upon the subject when ho was minister to England* The declaration then made showed plainly, he said, that England had attempted to extend her right be? yond the immediate vicinity of the canal. Mr. Teller repeated his declara? tion that the United States should con struct tln? canal If at all regardless or the English position and without going through tlie formality of ratifying the pending treaty. OTHER SPEECHES. During the day speeches were made by Senators Money, Stewart, Frye ami others. Senator Stewart announced that ho was for the treaty without amendment, and Senator Money that ho was against the treaty in any form, lie wanted tho canal built as much as any Senator could, ho said, but he considered the pending treaty nothing less than an Insult to tho Intelligence of the American people. Ho had no doubt that if propei- diplomatic efforts should be made It would he possible to secure the complete abrogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and that was what he wanted. Ho did not. In? deed, believe the people of this country would be satisfied 80 hmg as any vest Ige of that Instrument remained among existing international obligations. The convention, he said, is contrary to the wishes of the people of the United States and they could be satisfied only by definitely erasing it once and for? ever. NEW CONVENTION PROPOSED. There also should be new conventions between the United States and Nicara? gua and Costa Rica, giving absolute control of the water-way to this coun? try, lie wanted no partnership with any country in ownership or manage? ment of the canal when built. The possibility of Secretary Hay's re? signing in case tho foreign relations committee amendment to the treaty should prevail having been alluded to Sena lor Pye said he was In position to make the official denial of that report. Tho Secretary had no such intention. HAV-PAUN< !EFOTE TREATY. Mr. Klye announced himself as fa? vorable to the Hny-Pauncefote treaty. Ii.- sai.i that, deny tho effect of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty as much as we may, he still Is on tho International records of this country and Is given more or less recognition by every ad? ministration that has to deal with the question Of the destruction of an Isth? mian canal. It has been a constant source of vexation in connection with the canal subjoin, and he apprehend? ed that It would continue to be B?ch until that portion relating to tho canal should be disposed. He was satisfied, for Instance, that the canal would have been constructed during the ad? ministration of President Arthur if the old negotiation had not been In exist? ence. A REQUEST DECLINED. Senator Chandler asked Senator Frye to make Secretary Bay's posi? tion with reference to resigning pub? lic, but the Maine Senator declined, saying that he was only authorised to make the statement to the Semite. Mr. Chandler retorted that to do that was equivalent to giving it to the pub lb- and the Senate then lapsed Into a discussion of the ways in which their executive secrets got into the news? papers. _ THREK NEW BATTLESHIPS. THEY ABE SAID TO BE PRACTI? CALLY COMPLETED. (Bv Telegraph to Virginian-*Pilot) Washington. 11. C. Dec. 10 - Three ot tho battleships now under construction _the Illinois. Alabama nnd Wisconsin I ?are reported by Chief Constructor H Ich born to be practically complete, tlie work done upon them ranging from s; jp 99 per cent. Tho Maine, at Cramps, is sei down at 3< per cent.; the Missouri, tit Newport News, at 19 per cent., and the Ohio, nt the Union iron Works, at 35 per cent. Ail of llie six protected cruisers are now tin ier way. The four monitors are set down ;is from 45 to 71 per ?ent. ad? vanced, and the torpedo boats and de? stroyers are now nil under construc? tion. CLASSIFICATION OF NEWS. BY DEPARTMENTS. Telegraph News?Vage 1. Local News- Vages 2, 3. o. 6. Editorial- Page Virginia News-Vage 8. North Carolina News-Vagi? Portsmouth News ?Vage 10. Shipping News?Page '.? Berkl?) News- Page 11. Veal Estate N.\vs?Vage 12. Markets?Page 12.